Well you know this Hollywood Writers strike is almost three months old now. Most of our favorite TV shows have run out of new episodes. Networks are scrambling to find things to put on that won't bore us to tears. Some of your fav's are getting ready to come back on for a while. In short...it's a mess.
Well....I would like to go on record and bring you the good news that relief is more than likely on the way. We've already lost the Golden Globes, and the People' Choice awards were a disaster, the SAG awards were on with no problem, and word is the Grammies are a go in a week or two. But the big one is still floating out there. The McDaddy of all award shows, the big cheese, the head honcho, the huge kahuna....the big fat all time huge red carpet roller coaster....The Oscars!
Oh the drama, the pageantry, glitz, glamour, the limos', tuxedos, small shoes, smaller dresses Hollywood event. Dreams of a lifetime racing to a crescendo in one unforgettable night! Did I mention the world wide TV audience? All of this will prove too much for the Hollywood types to miss.
This is no different than any other strike no matter what the business is and this one will end like all other strikes. One side will give some, the other side will give some, and they will meet somewhere near the middle. There is no drama in that. BUT...the drama of getting it fixed in time for Hollywood to honor and promote itself on the second largest TV audience of the year? That is the only drama left. I am confident they will. Just in time for all sides to go on TV at the Academy Awards and have the proverbial love-fest that is no doubt to occur. 4 hours (at least) of patting each other on the back....THAT is the drama they will not be able to resist....and that's what Hollywood does best. And they are good at it.
They may not be real good at the majority of TV shows, and they may make about 5 in 10 movies that are REALLY worth seeing.... but they do know how to promote themselves like no other. The idea of missing this opportunity will organize all parties involved and get it done. You may remember the baseball strike of 1981....the return to the field?? National TV..All-Star Game from old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The drama's been done before in entertainment, and it will be done again only bigger. And this is the time to do it!
If by chance this chance does go by the wayside.....you may have to saddle up for the long strike haul. But I am preparing now for the Oscars...The envelope please.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Cloverfield!
Went to see the hit movie Cloverfield this week. This flick has been causing a huge buzz all over the country, thought it was high time I went to see what all the fuss was about. Been hearing too about all this motion sickness and people running out of theaters from fear so I put my fortitude to the test.
In the Winter there really isn't usually whole lot to talk about at the movies. Like every other business, it's Hollywood's slow time. Until Cloverfield. 42 million dollars the first weekend, and that's a January opening record. Made on a tight budget by two guys who grew up like us watching Godzilla scarf down Tokyo movie after movie, and whose previous claim to fame was producing the "cute com" Felicity in the 90's.
I'm not going to review the movie here just lay out some facts and impressions. You've probably heard of the premise. New York City is attacked by "something." And the movie is filmed from the point of view of a guy carrying a video camera around with him. Complete with all the herky-jerky....tough to watch sometimes out-of-focus shots you would expect if you were filming panic. After the movie was over, some guy was complaining to the manager that the movie was unsteady, and was screaming that HE could have filmed it better with a 100 dollar video cam..(get a clue man....put him in the "miss the whole point line".....hello??? McFly???? anybody home???) Don't be that guy. it's NOT a regular movie. I'm here to help.
It is extremely interesting movie making to be sure. You've heard it compared to the Blair Witch Project but it has two differences. One it's GOOD...and two it's SCARY. And for some this movie will be a little too scary. No one ran out of the theater I was in flailing their arms, crying for their mothers but it was a matinee. I was hoping to see that. Maybe if the crowd had been bigger....Might have been fun to watch.
But at this time of the year with lethargy setting in and cabin fever running amok, maybe it's good to go to the film house and get a good old adrenaline rush and get the pants scared off you. Just a little jolt. Might hold you till Spring. Get the blood pumping...it's good for ya!
Cloverfield..... the beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time. If you're scared easy....get an aisle seat.
In the Winter there really isn't usually whole lot to talk about at the movies. Like every other business, it's Hollywood's slow time. Until Cloverfield. 42 million dollars the first weekend, and that's a January opening record. Made on a tight budget by two guys who grew up like us watching Godzilla scarf down Tokyo movie after movie, and whose previous claim to fame was producing the "cute com" Felicity in the 90's.
I'm not going to review the movie here just lay out some facts and impressions. You've probably heard of the premise. New York City is attacked by "something." And the movie is filmed from the point of view of a guy carrying a video camera around with him. Complete with all the herky-jerky....tough to watch sometimes out-of-focus shots you would expect if you were filming panic. After the movie was over, some guy was complaining to the manager that the movie was unsteady, and was screaming that HE could have filmed it better with a 100 dollar video cam..(get a clue man....put him in the "miss the whole point line".....hello??? McFly???? anybody home???) Don't be that guy. it's NOT a regular movie. I'm here to help.
It is extremely interesting movie making to be sure. You've heard it compared to the Blair Witch Project but it has two differences. One it's GOOD...and two it's SCARY. And for some this movie will be a little too scary. No one ran out of the theater I was in flailing their arms, crying for their mothers but it was a matinee. I was hoping to see that. Maybe if the crowd had been bigger....Might have been fun to watch.
But at this time of the year with lethargy setting in and cabin fever running amok, maybe it's good to go to the film house and get a good old adrenaline rush and get the pants scared off you. Just a little jolt. Might hold you till Spring. Get the blood pumping...it's good for ya!
Cloverfield..... the beneficiary of being in the right place at the right time. If you're scared easy....get an aisle seat.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
King Of The Road? You Bet!
Tuesday morning's snow came at the worst time possible. Snow started falling about 7AM, and what normally is "rush 15 minutes" in Akron suddenly DID become "rush hour." 28 salt trucks were dispatched out to fight the fight, and even though there were some tough spots we all got through. Tuesday's snow was small but it got me thinking.
I knew a salt truck driver when I lived in Jefferson City, Missouri. I rode with him once during an 8 inch snowfall for a couple of hours for the radio station I was working for. I hosted the morning show and I wanted to know what exactly it was that they go through out there so I could talk knowledgeably on the air. That was about 20 years ago and I'm sure much has changed in the cab and on the truck, but I am pretty confident that the experience these drivers go though remains the same.
First we should all be thankful for these drivers. During the worst weather possible, somehow they get to the depot to even go out in the truck. At 3 AM I'm confident they would rather be at home sleeping with their families warm in their beds, but the show is falling and the job needs to be done. They are also very skilled as to the knowledge of the truck itself. Which I can say has changed immensely over the years.
Second their job is thankless. No one really stops a salt truck driver and says "thanks man, appreciate it." No...most just crowd the truck, pass on the right, beep at them, flip 'em off, complain that they haven't been on their street yet or scream because the plows going too slow. And that's a shame. These drivers work long hours all times day and night, and in a heavy snow fall they plow and salt the same stretch of road again and again. They are a special breed. I always joke about how much I'd like to "drive the big rig" but I'm not sure I'm right for it. To me it would be very frustrating. "Didn't I JUST do this street???"
Cynics would say to me, "well...they make all that overtime....blah blah blah....." Well good!! I hope they do. I hope these drivers make a lot of overtime because they darn well earn it. I'd rather give it to a salt truck driver than some politician or elected so and so who's sitting the storm out in front of the fireplace fixin' to crytic their performance the next day on the news or in the paper.
I know, I know you have some story about a bad experience with a salt truck, and I'm sorry for that. These stories do exist and that can't be helped. BUT that is the exception and not the rule. Think about it. When it snows, even REAL snow in short order we're driving highway speed to work or play. They do an amazing job that NONE of us REALLY knows the enormity of it all. Think about all the miles of all the interstates, main roads, side streets, parking lots..man when you really THINK about it..... it's huge!!!! And for the most part we take it all for granted.
Well thank you drivers. The Sultan of the Salt....The President of the Plow....King of the Cab....The Brewer of the Brine.....The Titan of the Truck. You're riding high atop the cab..King of the Road, ensuring safety and clear sailing for the masses. And this is one thankful commuter that wants to say "way to go" and have a Rolling Rock with you when the snow stops flying and we're celebrating a job well done! Think about it, it's a huge job that never really is done. The only thing that really finishes the job is late April or early May.
Spread out. Give them room. Buy a driver a cup of coffee. Shake their hands... maybe...just say thanks and appreciate and respect the job they do and the equipment they do it with. And know this.... that know matter what you do for a living on a day that the temperature drops and the snow flies heavy no one has a bigger job that day than they do. Thanks drivers..well done. Roger 10-4 and out.
I knew a salt truck driver when I lived in Jefferson City, Missouri. I rode with him once during an 8 inch snowfall for a couple of hours for the radio station I was working for. I hosted the morning show and I wanted to know what exactly it was that they go through out there so I could talk knowledgeably on the air. That was about 20 years ago and I'm sure much has changed in the cab and on the truck, but I am pretty confident that the experience these drivers go though remains the same.
First we should all be thankful for these drivers. During the worst weather possible, somehow they get to the depot to even go out in the truck. At 3 AM I'm confident they would rather be at home sleeping with their families warm in their beds, but the show is falling and the job needs to be done. They are also very skilled as to the knowledge of the truck itself. Which I can say has changed immensely over the years.
Second their job is thankless. No one really stops a salt truck driver and says "thanks man, appreciate it." No...most just crowd the truck, pass on the right, beep at them, flip 'em off, complain that they haven't been on their street yet or scream because the plows going too slow. And that's a shame. These drivers work long hours all times day and night, and in a heavy snow fall they plow and salt the same stretch of road again and again. They are a special breed. I always joke about how much I'd like to "drive the big rig" but I'm not sure I'm right for it. To me it would be very frustrating. "Didn't I JUST do this street???"
Cynics would say to me, "well...they make all that overtime....blah blah blah....." Well good!! I hope they do. I hope these drivers make a lot of overtime because they darn well earn it. I'd rather give it to a salt truck driver than some politician or elected so and so who's sitting the storm out in front of the fireplace fixin' to crytic their performance the next day on the news or in the paper.
I know, I know you have some story about a bad experience with a salt truck, and I'm sorry for that. These stories do exist and that can't be helped. BUT that is the exception and not the rule. Think about it. When it snows, even REAL snow in short order we're driving highway speed to work or play. They do an amazing job that NONE of us REALLY knows the enormity of it all. Think about all the miles of all the interstates, main roads, side streets, parking lots..man when you really THINK about it..... it's huge!!!! And for the most part we take it all for granted.
Well thank you drivers. The Sultan of the Salt....The President of the Plow....King of the Cab....The Brewer of the Brine.....The Titan of the Truck. You're riding high atop the cab..King of the Road, ensuring safety and clear sailing for the masses. And this is one thankful commuter that wants to say "way to go" and have a Rolling Rock with you when the snow stops flying and we're celebrating a job well done! Think about it, it's a huge job that never really is done. The only thing that really finishes the job is late April or early May.
Spread out. Give them room. Buy a driver a cup of coffee. Shake their hands... maybe...just say thanks and appreciate and respect the job they do and the equipment they do it with. And know this.... that know matter what you do for a living on a day that the temperature drops and the snow flies heavy no one has a bigger job that day than they do. Thanks drivers..well done. Roger 10-4 and out.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Way Things Ought To Be!
Every once in a while everything just lines up perfectly and for one small moment in time, some THING is just about as good as it can be. Sadly these moments in our lives are for the most part few and far between. You know them when you see them. Let's paint a picture.
There's just the right amount of sea breeze blowing in the open sliding glass door on the tenth floor of the ocean front hotel room you're staying in on your June vacation. Full moon, light mariachi music from a resort two hotels down at 11:30pm 78 degrees. All while you're standing on the balcony over looking the moon beams on the water. Perfect? You bet. How about some more.
Listening to a soft jazz quartet in a dimly lit bar at 2AM. Hearing Bing Crosby sing White Christmas in front of the fireplace on a snowy Christmas eve night that you don't have to drive in. Elvis singing The American Trilogy on the 4th of July at the BBQ while watching fireworks. And there are simpler ones too. Tom Hanks in Forest Gump, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, and getting that isle seat on a flight NOT the red eye to Vegas for that one hundred dollar round trip you found. It's just the way things ought to be.
Well it looks like this weekend we could have another one of those moments. Thanks to the NFL's NFC Championship game with the Giants and the Packers at (come on.... say it with me...Laaaambeauuuu Field) The date will be January 20th. The starting time is 6pm. It's going to be about 0 degrees, windy, frigid cold and a sloppy field. 38 year old Brett Favre could be playing his final game in a small market city where he's set every NFL QB record over the last 15 years or so. All while playing for a team that is owned by its citizens and season ticket holders. Is it me, or isn't this the real reason we watch football? It couldn't be more perfect.
Next it's two OLD NFL franchises. The Giants and the Packers. (no expansion teams in this game.) An old stadium, grass. The old QB and the young one. It's a Championship game.....zero degrees. It has the makings of a game that will be talked about as much as the Ice Bowl played with the Packers and Cowboys in the late 60's. Again, at Laaaambeeeauuu Field. That was a championship game too and might be the NFL's most famous game ever. (Packers won.) It is certainly more famous than ANY Superbowl. I promise you no matter who wins this game or the Superbowl, THIS is the game you'll remember in June, the June after that, and so on and so forth.
With field turf, indoor stadiums, retractable roofs, and neutral sites for big games, we may have forgotten why we really love football. Forget fancy uniformed expansion teams in exotic, trendy warm weather cities with state-of -the-art stadiums that serve sushi and two pump lattes. This weekend beer drinkin', kielbasa cookin' Lambeau Field once again will remind us that things that are pure, are things that endure.
It's all lining up. It's going to be one of those moments when you're sitting in your recliner in front of your fireplace.....warm...with your slippers on and your unending supply of food watching this classic that sometimes things are just about as good as they can be.
But you know...the whole hotel scene at the top of this page ain't too bad either.
There's just the right amount of sea breeze blowing in the open sliding glass door on the tenth floor of the ocean front hotel room you're staying in on your June vacation. Full moon, light mariachi music from a resort two hotels down at 11:30pm 78 degrees. All while you're standing on the balcony over looking the moon beams on the water. Perfect? You bet. How about some more.
Listening to a soft jazz quartet in a dimly lit bar at 2AM. Hearing Bing Crosby sing White Christmas in front of the fireplace on a snowy Christmas eve night that you don't have to drive in. Elvis singing The American Trilogy on the 4th of July at the BBQ while watching fireworks. And there are simpler ones too. Tom Hanks in Forest Gump, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, and getting that isle seat on a flight NOT the red eye to Vegas for that one hundred dollar round trip you found. It's just the way things ought to be.
Well it looks like this weekend we could have another one of those moments. Thanks to the NFL's NFC Championship game with the Giants and the Packers at (come on.... say it with me...Laaaambeauuuu Field) The date will be January 20th. The starting time is 6pm. It's going to be about 0 degrees, windy, frigid cold and a sloppy field. 38 year old Brett Favre could be playing his final game in a small market city where he's set every NFL QB record over the last 15 years or so. All while playing for a team that is owned by its citizens and season ticket holders. Is it me, or isn't this the real reason we watch football? It couldn't be more perfect.
Next it's two OLD NFL franchises. The Giants and the Packers. (no expansion teams in this game.) An old stadium, grass. The old QB and the young one. It's a Championship game.....zero degrees. It has the makings of a game that will be talked about as much as the Ice Bowl played with the Packers and Cowboys in the late 60's. Again, at Laaaambeeeauuu Field. That was a championship game too and might be the NFL's most famous game ever. (Packers won.) It is certainly more famous than ANY Superbowl. I promise you no matter who wins this game or the Superbowl, THIS is the game you'll remember in June, the June after that, and so on and so forth.
With field turf, indoor stadiums, retractable roofs, and neutral sites for big games, we may have forgotten why we really love football. Forget fancy uniformed expansion teams in exotic, trendy warm weather cities with state-of -the-art stadiums that serve sushi and two pump lattes. This weekend beer drinkin', kielbasa cookin' Lambeau Field once again will remind us that things that are pure, are things that endure.
It's all lining up. It's going to be one of those moments when you're sitting in your recliner in front of your fireplace.....warm...with your slippers on and your unending supply of food watching this classic that sometimes things are just about as good as they can be.
But you know...the whole hotel scene at the top of this page ain't too bad either.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Heroes and Zeroes
This morning on the show my partner Shannon and I were talking about this extraordinary woman we ran across in the news. She is 80 years old and from South Dakota. The other day she went outside only to see her border collie dog getting ready to square off against a mountain lion. I think we know what would be the end result there.
First let me remind you I am an animal lover. But I think we all recognize extraordinary circumstances when we see them. She went back inside, (and keep in mind she is 80,) grabbed a rifle and fired. She missed. Went back inside to call 911. Came back out fired again and killed the lion! And the dog is OK! Now I gotta think that she's a hero. At least to her dog! Her name is Martha Smith. (How fitting...Martha!)
It got me thinking about my own mother about 15 years ago at the age of 65 or so, her dog Mariah fell through the ice of a nearby pond. Being alone at the time she went out into the muddy pond breaking the ice and with icy water up to her chest saved the dog. She had to go out about 50 feet or so! What was she doing??????????
But you know remarkable things can happen in remarkable circumstances and these are two examples. I'm sure you know of many more. Hero's don't have to be written up in the paper or be put on tabloid TV. And it's better that way. True hero's after an heroic act don't even look back on the episode as heroic. There was just something that needed to be done and they did it. It's fun to hear of the Martha's of the world!
Lord knows we have enough Zero's that we hear about every day. We can use a good HERO once in a while. I hope that we can always clearly differentiate the difference. Good lesson here. There is a definite line drawn here between hero and zero...and Martha did it. Look, I know when I hear of an heroic act...and Martha did one. Being heroic is not being in the paper or on the news every day. It's not making movies, scoring touchdowns, hitting home runs, or being chased by the paparazzi! Shooting a mountain lion at 80 to save a dog ....IS.
Amazing people these simple hero's. Sometimes springing into action takes a lot of guts.
But they understand that if you always do things the way you've always done them, you'll always get what you always got. And sometimes that's just not good enough.
You know I've been hearing enough about writers strikes, big time contracts and Brittany lately, I needed somewhere else to hang my hat for while. Nice job Martha, we needed that!
First let me remind you I am an animal lover. But I think we all recognize extraordinary circumstances when we see them. She went back inside, (and keep in mind she is 80,) grabbed a rifle and fired. She missed. Went back inside to call 911. Came back out fired again and killed the lion! And the dog is OK! Now I gotta think that she's a hero. At least to her dog! Her name is Martha Smith. (How fitting...Martha!)
It got me thinking about my own mother about 15 years ago at the age of 65 or so, her dog Mariah fell through the ice of a nearby pond. Being alone at the time she went out into the muddy pond breaking the ice and with icy water up to her chest saved the dog. She had to go out about 50 feet or so! What was she doing??????????
But you know remarkable things can happen in remarkable circumstances and these are two examples. I'm sure you know of many more. Hero's don't have to be written up in the paper or be put on tabloid TV. And it's better that way. True hero's after an heroic act don't even look back on the episode as heroic. There was just something that needed to be done and they did it. It's fun to hear of the Martha's of the world!
Lord knows we have enough Zero's that we hear about every day. We can use a good HERO once in a while. I hope that we can always clearly differentiate the difference. Good lesson here. There is a definite line drawn here between hero and zero...and Martha did it. Look, I know when I hear of an heroic act...and Martha did one. Being heroic is not being in the paper or on the news every day. It's not making movies, scoring touchdowns, hitting home runs, or being chased by the paparazzi! Shooting a mountain lion at 80 to save a dog ....IS.
Amazing people these simple hero's. Sometimes springing into action takes a lot of guts.
But they understand that if you always do things the way you've always done them, you'll always get what you always got. And sometimes that's just not good enough.
You know I've been hearing enough about writers strikes, big time contracts and Brittany lately, I needed somewhere else to hang my hat for while. Nice job Martha, we needed that!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Winds Of The New Year
The other day I was driving home when I saw a sad sight at least to me. I'm sure you'll be able to relate to this and maybe even think of an example or two in your own life. There is a huge house not far from where I live that sits in a rural setting of sorts. It's on a large piece property and I think the inhabitants of this dwelling would certainly qualify to be the "other half."
In the front of their lot is an old wooden baseball backstop not far from the road, a long way from the house so no windows could get broken from even the most behemoth of home runs. It looks like someone years ago forged this out of heavy lumber, thick poles, and love. It has been there my whole life and probably beyond that. I notice it every time I drive by because how many homes have a backstop and their own ball field like them? Well the straight winds of New Years Eve blew the old backstop down to the ground. Snapped off at the legs. Shame too. They had just refurbished the old backstop and painted it a nice green. It has been restored many times, but this injury could be fatal.
To be honest, I never saw one baseball game going on there in all my years of driving by this monster of a house. Maybe that was part of the allure. A ball field from years gone by. I stopped to look at the ruins yesterday and wondered how many pick up games were played there. "I get first pick.......ghost man on second.....four fouls and you're out.....I always get picked last.....if it hits the tree, it's a home run!" You remember all of these, and they ran through me as I thought of all the kids that once played there. They were probably all parents or grandparents by now.
How many hot summer afternoons were spent there? How much of a treat was it for the non members of that house to have their own private ball field complete with a backstop? No more running after foul balls and errant pitches. I'm thinking one of two things here. Either this is the same family that has kept up this beautiful backstop all these years because their kids played there, or subsequent homeowners have chosen to keep the backstop for no other reason than no one had the heart to tear it down. I'm good with either one.
I always feel a little sad whenever I see a few things change or disappear from our landscape. A school that has been closed, on old movie theater, an old stadium, and even an amusement park. I think these feelings are normal and they really move us all. When we see the end of an era for a physical place that was built specifically for our learning or fun, you can't help but feel a loss. I know many schools have become homes for the aged, movie theaters become new stores, stadiums many times give way to newer ones, and amusement parks....just die hard. But no matter what they become, it's just not the same.
I will miss driving by and seeing the old wooden backstop. This time I fear they will not salvage the home made structure. I sense this is the end. BUT if the dreams of games yet to be, and the memories of games played long ago are just too precious to part with, call me and I'll help set the posts.
In the front of their lot is an old wooden baseball backstop not far from the road, a long way from the house so no windows could get broken from even the most behemoth of home runs. It looks like someone years ago forged this out of heavy lumber, thick poles, and love. It has been there my whole life and probably beyond that. I notice it every time I drive by because how many homes have a backstop and their own ball field like them? Well the straight winds of New Years Eve blew the old backstop down to the ground. Snapped off at the legs. Shame too. They had just refurbished the old backstop and painted it a nice green. It has been restored many times, but this injury could be fatal.
To be honest, I never saw one baseball game going on there in all my years of driving by this monster of a house. Maybe that was part of the allure. A ball field from years gone by. I stopped to look at the ruins yesterday and wondered how many pick up games were played there. "I get first pick.......ghost man on second.....four fouls and you're out.....I always get picked last.....if it hits the tree, it's a home run!" You remember all of these, and they ran through me as I thought of all the kids that once played there. They were probably all parents or grandparents by now.
How many hot summer afternoons were spent there? How much of a treat was it for the non members of that house to have their own private ball field complete with a backstop? No more running after foul balls and errant pitches. I'm thinking one of two things here. Either this is the same family that has kept up this beautiful backstop all these years because their kids played there, or subsequent homeowners have chosen to keep the backstop for no other reason than no one had the heart to tear it down. I'm good with either one.
I always feel a little sad whenever I see a few things change or disappear from our landscape. A school that has been closed, on old movie theater, an old stadium, and even an amusement park. I think these feelings are normal and they really move us all. When we see the end of an era for a physical place that was built specifically for our learning or fun, you can't help but feel a loss. I know many schools have become homes for the aged, movie theaters become new stores, stadiums many times give way to newer ones, and amusement parks....just die hard. But no matter what they become, it's just not the same.
I will miss driving by and seeing the old wooden backstop. This time I fear they will not salvage the home made structure. I sense this is the end. BUT if the dreams of games yet to be, and the memories of games played long ago are just too precious to part with, call me and I'll help set the posts.
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