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Now in our fourth calendar year!

PCR #194. (Vol. 4, No. 50) This edition is for the week of December 8--14, 2003.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello, gang! A short one this week. Keeping that streak alive. Shall we begin?

LA FLORIDIANA
The History of Aviation in Florida, Part Four: The Pioneers, Barnstormers, World-Beaters and Patron Saints of Florida Aviation
 by Will Moriaty
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW
LOTR: Return of the King
by Mike Smith
"Something's Gotta Give"  by Mike Smith
COUCH POTATO
BattleStar Melodramatica
 by Vinnie Blesi
SPLASH PAGE
Not Your Average Joe....Slush Pile....Weird Crap on Ebay
 by Brandon Jones
CREATURE'S CORNER
Saints & Sinners 4
....Comics
 by John Lewis
MIKE'S RANT
Happy Trails....Screening Ban, Take 3....Battlestar Galactic, Redux....LOTR: Return of the King
 by Mike Smith
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HAPPY TRAILS
If you are close to my age (43), you have pretty much grown up with Casey Kasem. The voice of Shaggy on "Scooby Doo," Robin on "Superfriends," Alexander Cabot on "Josie and the Pussycats" and countless other cartoons for as long as I can remember. He has also been the host of the syndicated radio program "America's Top 40" since 1970. This week Mr. Kasem announced that he is retiring from "AT40" after the last show this year. He will be replaced by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest. Casey will still host the adult contemporary "America's Top 20." Thanks for many fond memories, both on the tube and on the air, Casey. And remember.......Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for cigars!

SCREENING BAN, TAKE 3
As you may have read last week, a federal judge overruled Jack Valenti and the MPAA and authorized film studios to send out screeners to various critics and award groups. Happy to say that my mailbox has treated me with many surprises this past week. And, honestly, they are films that I may never have had the time to see, or may not have made it to Kansas City before my group holds their end of the year best voting in early January. So once again, I say thank you, your honor!

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, REDUX
My first thoughts: Did this thing need to be 4 hours long? It dragged so much on night one that I almost didn't watch night two. Thankfully there was much more action in the second installment. Is it me or did the Cylon ships look like the Batplane from the first "Batman" film? And while I usually enjoy watching Edward James Olmos, he was so serious I kept waiting for Sonny Crockett to pop by and ask him for a case to work on. Olmos also seemed really disinterested in the whole project. I haven't seen him look like that since Harvey Keitel accused him of molesting his (Keitel's) young daughter!

LOTR: RETURN OF THE KING
YES! I've seen it! YES! It's INCREDIBLE! YES! The review is here!

Well, that's it for now. Told you it was a short one. Have a great week. See ya!


"Mike's Rant" is ©2003 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2003 by Nolan B. Canova.