ELECTION FALLOUT
OK, I'm unhappy my guy lost. See the message board if you want to know why.
VINNIE COME HOME
I've known Vin Blesi since high school. He was firm in his thoughts and beliefs then and he still is today. I've tried to woo him back with a flattering email. I hope it works. As someone who only watches "NYPD Blue" and "The Simpsons" faithfully, I'll have no idea what I'm missing if there is no Couch Potato Confessions! I've spoken to the main man and he assures me the door is always open my friend. Besides, with you gone Plant High Alumni no longer outnumber those Robinson boys!
MUSIC NOTES
Thanks to Terence for his review of "SMILE." I bought it this evening and plan to listen to it this weekend. I've always believed that, along with Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson is this countries' greatest contemporary songwriter.
This Tuesday will see the release of "Acoustic," a collection of songs performed by John Lennon at home, backed only by his guitar. It will include some familiar tunes ("Imagine") and some never before released songs. It's been almost 24 years since Lennon was taken from us. What a great holiday gift it will be to hear his voice one more time.
Back in April, I mentioned that the historic 1985 LIVE AID Concert was being prepared for DVD release. That day is Tuesday, November 17. Apparently one of the groups from the show didn't remember what they were playing for and refused to let their music be used. So let me just say to Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.........BOO! Proceeds from the sale of the DVD set will continue to help those less fortunate then us around the world.
STAMP OF APPROVAL
The government has announced the stamps that the Post Office will release in 2005. Among them will be stamps honoring:
RONALD REAGAN
ARTHUR ASHE
MARIAN ANDERSON
GRETA GARBO
HENRY FONDA
THE MUPPETS
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.............
THE MUPPETS!!?? Yes indeed, stamps featuring the late Jim Henson and such characters as Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie Bear and the multi talented BEAKER will be included in the set. Not even Statler and Waldorf (who are also featured) can complain about this.
SCARY MOVIE MOMENTS
Though we were unable to do a new "Scariest Movies of All Time" list this year, both Bravo and Entertainment Weekly took it upon themselves to list their top 10. The list:
| BRAVO | ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY |
| 1. JAWS - well, can't argue here! | THE SHINING |
| 2. ALIEN | THE EXORCIST |
| 3. THE EXORCIST | TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974) |
| 4. PSYCHO (1960) | SILENCE OF THE LAMBS |
| 5. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974) | JAWS |
| 6. THE SHINING | HALLOWEEN |
| 7. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS | PSYCHO (1960) |
| 8. CARRIE | SE7EN |
| 9. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET | ROSEMARY'S BABY |
| 10. WAIT UNTIL DARK | POLTERGEIST |
Bravo entitled their list "Scary Movie Moments," but didn't really clarify which ones they were in their series of clips.
SPEAKING OF SCARY
I loved reading the story Will Moriaty had last week about Carl Tanzler. HBO is currently running one of their "Autopsy" specials, entitled Sex Crimes, and the Tanzler case is featured, with some pretty interesting photos of the actual people involved.
PASSING ON
Sorry to see that comedian Vaughn Meader passed away this week at the age of 68. Meader shot to fame when his comedy album, "The First Family," sold more then 7.5 million copies in 1962. The album was a send up of the Kennedy family, with Meader portraying JFK with lots of "vigah." The album went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. Sadly, Meader's career stalled following Kennedy's assassination and he went through a period of depression and drug use before finding a career as a musician.
MEET THE BEATLES - PART 41
November 2 - 3, 1967: On the 2nd, the group finishes the mixing of the first record I ever bought with my own money, "Hello, Goodbye." It is released on November 24 as the "A" side of the Beatle's third single of the year. The "B" side is "I Am the Walrus." On the 3rd, the boys complete the filming of their BBC Television program, "Magical Mystery Tour."
Well, all for now. Have a great week. Vinnie, I miss you! See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2004 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 ©2004 by Nolan B. Canova.
