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PCR #267. (Vol. 6, No. 18) This edition is for the week of May 2--8, 2005.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello, gang! While coming down from "Episode III" I've got some news and this week's JAWS chapter is close to my heart. Shall we begin?

LA FLORIDIANA
Charlie Carlson's "Weird Florida" Unleashed! Book Signing Party
 by William Moriaty
THIS WEEK'S MOVIE REVIEW
"House of Wax"
 by Mike Smith
Special Preview:
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith  by Mike Smith
CREATURE'S CORNER
Heading South....The Devil Rays....Infinite Crisis....Free Comic Book Day
 by John Lewis
MIKE'S RANT
Hold The Pickle, Hold The Lettuce....Straight Up....Jaws: The Story, Part 17
 by Mike Smith
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HOLD THE PICKLE, HOLD THE LETTUCE
Last year, Hardees introduced a hamburger sandwich that, with 1/2 pound of beef, lots of bacon and slices of cheese equaled more then 1000 calories. Of course, not one to pass up a challenge, both my son, Phillip, and I tried one. We couldn't finish them in one sitting. But now, a restaurant in Pennsylvania has come up with a burger that makes Hardees' look like a White Castle (or Krystals for those of you in the south) reject. Denny's Pub now features a 15 pound sandwich, served on a specially baked 17 inch bun. Made with 12 pounds of beef, it also features 25 slices of cheese, a whole head of lettuce, three tomatoes and two onions. Pickles are optional. Cost is $30.00 but if you eat it all it's free. Denny's owner says a few people have tried but all have failed. He claims that mostly two people share the burger and still don't finish it.

STRAIGHT UP
I can't help but feel sorry for "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul. The woman obviously has a problem and I hope she gets it taken care of. This past Wednesday night, ABC aired a program that purported to show that Abdul showed a personal interest in former "AI" contestant Corey Clark, going so far as to buy him clothes and pick the songs he should sing. According to Clark, the relationship became physical later in the contest. In response to the story, Abdul has said that Clark taped her illegally and edited the tape. Which means what, Paula? That everything else he's said is true? How could he have taped your phone conversations if, as you've said in the past, you NEVER spoke to him on the phone. In watching the footage provided and seeing the phone bills, store receipts, etc, I can't help but think that the majority of what Clark is saying is true. And let me add that I'm so glad to see Scott FINALLY booted off the show. He's sucked the past few weeks and this week voters mercifully put us viewers out of our misery. After showing a retrospect of clips about Scott, who it was recently revealed had been convicted of assaulting his girlfriend, Abdul commented that he did well by singing songs that dealt with his life. To bad they didn't have Hip Hop night, he could have sung "Smack My Bitch Up!"

THE STORY OF JAWS - PART 17
I first saw "Jaws" on Sunday, September 23, 1975. And I only saw it because I was too young to see "Dog Day Afternoon." I was, of course, fascinated by what I saw and soon I was reading everything to do with the film. Books, magazines, newspaper articles. I was a certified Jawsaholic. One of my favorite memories are the phone conversations I had with Edith Blake, who had written a very popular book on the making of the film. After speaking for several weeks Ms. Blake asked me for my address. I soon received in the mail some beautiful photos that she had taken while the film was being made on Martha's Vineyard. A couple of them ran earlier in the series but this week I'd like to run my favorite. The shot shows an obviously giddy Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss in what can best be described as some friendly male bonding! Years later I asked Mr. Scheider to autograph the photo, which he did with a laugh and a smile. I hope it makes you smile, too!

Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!


"Mike's Rant" is ©2005 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 ©2005 by Nolan B. Canova.