Sunday, October 31, 2021

What's On Tonight (Monday): Lady Justice Is Served

Via Imgur


Politics Corner October 31st

 

Via National Park Service


BOO!



Via Giphy

Political discussion welcome.

Cancellation League Update

 

via Giphy

This week, most eyes were on ABC-ABC-ABC.

Thoughts on Mama's Family and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

 

via Pinterest

"Well, the truth is, when I think about my family, my kids and all their kids, it kind of chokes me up. I really mean it. I know none of us have ever set the world on fire. ... Except for Cousin Oscar, and that was just a service station. ... Still, in all, I'm real proud of us Harpers. And when I think of what has happened to the family unit nowadays, it just turns my stomach. Husbands beating their wives, wives cheating on their husbands, kids stealing and running wild. And you know where I place all the blame? On all these TV shows that are supposed to be so funny. They've all got kids being raised by everybody except their parents. One program, there's a butler raising the kids. Another one's got an aunt raising Rhoda's kids. There's even a program with three guys raising kids, you don't know where they came from. ... It might be all right with those network honchos, but it does not sit right with this old lady. I guess some people might say that I'm a failure as a mother, but, when all of my children gather around at Christmas, before the mood turns ugly ... they always say, 'Mama, you're the greatest.' And I would have to agree with them."

CBSSM: The Return Of ABBA

Via Giphy

Saturday, October 30, 2021

What's On Tonight (Sunday): Spooks in Chapelwaite

Chapelwaite

Happy Halloween! Here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, October 31!

In the spirit of Halloween, the Top Pick is the finale of the horror drama Chapelwaite (Epix, 9 p.m.), an adaptation of Stephen King's Jerusalem's Lot with Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody as Charles Boone, who relocates his family to his ancestral Maine home after his wife dies. They are joined by Not-Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire), a writer who becomes the family's governess. Now, the family must confront the darkness that has plagued the family for generations with the help of a powerful book.

Elsewhere, the Doctor is back to save us all, Decades goes to the House of HorrorBaptiste investigates the far right, The Equalizer saves her foe, The Canterville Ghost is loose, Succession picks sides, Jackie abandons her Hightown stakeout, and The Rookie saves Halloween from drugs.

Politics Corner October 30th

 

Via National Park Service


It's the weekend of scary things so let's dive back into American fascism. [Guardian]


Via Guardian

Political discussion welcome.

This Weekend in Pop Culture: October 29-31

Welcome to the Weekend in Pop Culture! Let's examine what's coming out in theaters this weekend...

Antlers
A teacher becomes concerned when her student's stories mirror real deaths.

Last Night in Soho
A girl has visions of 1960s London, and soon sees a murder.

What have you been watching?

Box Office Flashback: June 11, 2021

Mid-June is an ideal time to release a blockbuster.  Sometimes they're one of the biggest films ever released.  Other times...well, not every movie released this weekend was a classic.

Thoughts on Tidy Endings and Mystic Pizza

 

via Giphy/Courtesy HBO

"... I met Colin my sophomore year, and we got married right after graduation. And settled in for a nice quiet life of kids and careers. ... You think I was ready for this? Talk about life's little surprises. You live with somebody for 11 years and you share a life, a bed, you have a child, and one day you wake up and he tells you it's all been a lie. A lie. Try that one on for size. Here you are, the happiest couple you know and he tells you it's all been a lie."

Pumpkin Bread Day And Make Your Own Saturday Headlines

Via Gifs

PET SET

Friday, October 29, 2021

What's On Tonight (Saturday): A Shakespearean-inspired Top Pick to avoid

Much Ado About Christmas

Merry Halloween Eve! Here's what's on television for tonight, Saturday, October 30!

Tonight's Top Pick is from the newly rebranded GAC Family (RIP Great American Country) as it gets into the Christmas movie business with Much Ado About Christmas (GAC Family, 8 p.m.). However, this is to tell you to avoid the network, if it's available to you. The network is helmed by Bill Abbott, ex-CEO of The Hallmark Channel — you know, the guy who pulled an ad featuring two brides kissing — and the main investor is Tommy Hicks, majority stakeholder in OANN, and runs the America First Super PAC, which is part of an org that has a history of staff demonizing minorities and women as well as helped fund caravans to Washington for the January 6 insurrection.

Elsewhere, HBO goes to the Heights, Side Hustle recovers a stolen recipe, Frankie Drake searches for a ghost, Inspector Koo is on the case, even more TV Christmas movies, and Brandy Clark goes to the City Limits.

Politics Corner October 29th

 

Via National Park Service


Trump's Truth Social may not be setting the world on fire but it might attract the attention of the Securites and Exchance Commission. Or it might just disappear altogether. [Raw Story] [Bulwark]


photo mine

Jeopardy! recap for Fri., Oct. 29

 Introducing today's contestants:


- Wren, a Ph.D. candidate, knows about ghosts in American literature; 

- Emily, a political strategist, taught English in Honduras; and

- Tyler, a healthcare data specialist, turned Roman love elegy studies into cash. Tyler is a two-day champ with winnings of $35,301.

Totally Tunes...Halloween edition






Music News

The 50 best Halloween songs of all time, fresh from WaPo. Click song titles for the video.
1. 'The Monster Mash' by Bobby Pickett
2. 'Spooky, Scary Skeletons' by Andrew Gold
3. 'Werewolf Bar Mitzvah' from '30 Rock'
13. 'Psycho Killer' by Talking Heads
14.'Werewolves of London' by Warren Zevon
16. 'Space Oddity' by David Bowie
19. 'Evil Woman' by Electric Light Orchestra
32. 'Don't Fear the Reaper' by Blue Oyster Cult
44. 'Time Warp' from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
50. 'The Wobblin' Goblin' by Rosemary Clooney

Brian Wilson shares the trailer for his new documentary, Long Promised Land.  It is set for simultaneous release in theaters and VOD on November 19. It features extended interviews between the Beach Boys co-founder and Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine, as well as appearances by Al Jardine, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Nick Jonas, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Jakob Dylan, Foo Fighter’s Taylor Hawkins, and more.

Paul McCartney bans autographs because "we both know who I am". Sheeesh. 

Man agrees to plead guilty to Fentanyl distribution in connection with Mac Miller’s Death.  Miller died in 2018 of an accidental overdose. You may remember him for dating Ariana Grande and admiting he hated being sober.  Check out  one of his popular tracks here.

The Posies Breaking Up as Ken Stringfellow (also played with R.E.M.) Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations.

Wilco share 2 Beatles covers. Listen here

Björk’s new pandemic album will be ideal for clubbing in the living room. “I’ve recently started listening to beats that move around like a virus — sort of still-standing, yet making quick moves at the same time,” she said.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters announce new album The Boy Named If, share song: Listen here.

Dave Grohl on Nevermind Baby Lawsuit: “He’s got a Nevermind tattoo. I Don’t.”

A ‘Blues Brothers’ docuseries featuring unseen footage in the works. The documentary is in development with Dan Akroyd and the estate of John Belushi. The series will feature unseen material and explore the music and legacy of the characters. Akroyd says it will be about the artists and their music. Title, distributor, and release date TBA.

Courtesy of Everett Collection


Music History
[Courtesy of Marqueemag.com, www.on-this-day.com]
 

October 25
1969: Rolling Stones performed on Ed Sullivan's popular CBS variety show for the first time.

October 26
1981: Queen and David Bowie released the single "Under Pressure" in the U.K.


October 27
2013: Lou Reed dies at the age of 71.


October 28
1977: The Sex Pistols release Never Mind the Bullocks.


October 29
1995: Paul Anka is the featured guest on an episode of Fox-TV's The Simpsons.





October 30
1970: Black Sabbath played their first U.S. show.


October 31
1975: Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" was released as a single.


Billboard Chart Toppers the week of October 18

2021

2010 'Like a G6' by Far*East Movement

2000 'Come On Over Baby' by Christina Aguilara

1990 'Black Cat' by Janet Jackson

1980 'Woman in Love' by Barbra Streisand

1970 'I'll Be There" by Jackson 5

1960 'Save the Last Dance for Me' by The Drifters

 

A snippet about...

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Photo from Grand Valley Lanthorn

I'm probably stretching the guidelines of the post with a movie, but it is, after all, a musical. This write-up contains spoilers, so beware.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a cult classic musical comedy horror film that was released in 1975, but started as a 1973 London stage production created by Richard O'Brien.  The screenplay was written by Jim Sharman (the director) and O'Brien (who played Riff Raff in the film). The production is a parody tribute to the science fiction and B Horror movies of the 1930s to the 1960s. 20th Century Fox offered Sharman a 'reasonable' budget if he cast current rock stars. Instead, Sharman fought for and agreed to a smaller budget in order to keep all of the original stage cast, with the exception of the addition of Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon.  The story begins with a couple whose car breaks down near a castle where they go to call for help. They are taken in by an alien drag queen/mad scientist who has created his very own perfect man. The couple is seduced by the mad scientist and held hostage. Eventually, they are released. 

There is some mystery surrounding the evolution of audience participation and call outs in the film; some sources say it was out of boredom but another claims that "David Bowie’s first wife, Angie, gave the first audience participation ‘call-back’ when she yelled “No, don’t do it!” as creator Richard O’Brien’s Riff-Raff threatened to zap Tim Curry’s Dr Frank-N-Furter with a laser gun". Not sure about the call outs? Playbill has a guide to educate. The movie was a flop upon release with critics saying the stage production was more fun. As if taking a cue from critics, Rocky Horror fans pioneered an immersive movie-going experience (before it was a thing) by returning to screenings dressed in costume as their favorite characters armed with props such as water pistols, rice, and toast to throw when Frank proposes ‘a toast’ etc.

There is so much to say about this musical, I could devote a whole page, however, I'll end with some interesting facts:

  • Mick Jagger expressed interest in the part of Dr. Frank-n-Furter but Sharman wanted to keep Tim Curry, who held the role in the original British stage production. This would be Curry's film debut.
  • Steve Martin auditioned for the role of Brad (it went to Barry Bostick).
  • Cast and crew wanted Vincent Price to join the film cast, however, filming conflicts prevented him from joining.
  •  Rocky Horror, the "hot" underwear model, was played by Peter Hinwood.  Hired only for his looks, his speaking and singing voice wasn't up to snuff, so everything he said/sang was dubbed.
  • Only Tim Curry and Richard O’Brien knew Eddie’s remains were under the table during the dinner scene—when the body is revealed, the looks of horror on the actors’ faces were real.

For more fun facts, go here.

The cast didn't know Eddie's remains would be under the table; looks of horror are real. Image courtesy of whatculture.com

 

 

What have you been listening to?

Thoughts on four episodes of Married ... with Children

 

via ResetEra/Courtesy Sony

"That's it, kids. Let's hear it for your mom. We're always quick to criticize her when she doesn't wash or cook or clean or scrub or ... well, let's face it, she does nothing ... but you've got to admit after all these years, she's finally found a way how to get our clothes clean."
*The doorbell rings. Peggy (Katey Sagal) answers it, letting in Marcy (Amanda Bearse), who's been doing the Bundys' laundry.*

The Right Wingnut Stuff And Other Friday Headlines

Via Imgur


Evergreen News Blurb: Hey, It's This Asshole Again! [Wonkette]

'The Theater Of The Deplorable' [The Bulwark]

Thursday, October 28, 2021

What's On Tonight (Friday): You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Halloween

 

via quotesquare

One of my holiday pet peeves is the difficulty of finding good Halloween movies on TV around Halloween so today's Top Pick is a regular Shoney's-style buffet of scary movies you can watch today.  AMC and Hallmark in particular should be commended for committing to scary movies all day long  Your mileage may vary as to how frightening you find some of these films but if you aren't freaked out by Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater then you are made of sterner stuff than I.

TOP PICK(s)

Happy Death Day (FX, 7:30 AM); Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy (Hallmark, 8:00 AM); Christine✔️(AMC, 9:00 AM); Happy Death Day 2U (FX, 9:30 AM); Silent Hill (Starz Encore, 9:43 AM); The Nine Lives of Christmas (Hallmark, 10:00 AM); Scream 2 (AMC, 11:00 AM); Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses (Hallmark, 12:00 PM); Arachnophobia (IFC, 1:00 PM); Scream✔️(AMC, 1:30 PM); Christmas Under Wraps (Hallmark, 2:00 PM); Thirteen Ghosts✔️(AMC, 4:00 PM); Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (Hallmark, 4:00 PM); Halloween (AMC, 6:00 PM); The Santa Stakeout (Hallmark, 6:00 PM); The Lost Boys✔️ (Paramount, 7:00 PM); Halloween II (AMC. 8:00 PM); The Abominable Dr. Phibes✔️(TCM, 8:00 PM); The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney, 9:00 PM); Shaun of the Dead✔️(TruTV, 10:00 PM); Paranormal Activity✔️(Starz Encore, 9:31 PM); Night of the Living Dead✔️(TCM, 10:00 PM); Snow Bride (Hallmark, 10:01 PM); Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (AMC, 11:00 PM); Paranormal Activity 2 (Starz Encore, 11:00 PM); Pet Sematary (Paramount, 11:30 PM); Invasion of the Body Snatchers✔️(TCM, 12:00 AM); Christmas at the Plaza (Hallmark, 12:01 AM); Halloween: Resurrection (AMC, 1:00 AM)

Night of the Living Dead via tenor

Politics Corner October 28th

 

Via National Park Service


Most of the US intelligence forecasted a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. None of the US intelligence expected that to happen before the end of the year. Most intelligence expected it to take longer or not happen at all. [Daily Beast]



photo mine

PRS19, E3: 'If You Got It, Haunt It'

Via Instagram/Imgur

From Zap2It: 
The designers are sent to sleep in a haunted mansion to find inspiration; if they can survive the night, they'll have two days to create a hauntingly chic masquerade gown for a runway show with award-winning actress, Taraji P. Henson.

 Airs at 9:00 PM (ET). Encores Saturday at 6:00 AM and Monday at 1:30 AM.



Jeopardy! recap for Oct. 28

 Today's contestants are:


- Judi, a management consultant, visited the largest voodoo market; 

- Peter, a documentary filmmaker, constructed a NYT puzzle; and

- Tyler, a healthcare data specialist, commissioned art of his cat. Tyler is a one-day champ with winnings of $12,500.

Box Office Flashback: June 4, 2021

After a brief pause after Memorial Day, it's now June, and the blockbusters are rolling off the line again.  We're also beginning to hit the Disney spot, the mid-June weekend when, since the mid-90s, Disney usually debuts a major animated feature, which (usually) dominates the box office for at least that week.

Thoughts on a 1988 daytime TV sampler (with some bonus nighttime stuff)

 

via Tumblr

"I wouldn't be surprised if there were some submissive men in the audience right now who would love nothing more than to sit right here by my feet and play with my boots and kiss my feet, but they wouldn't have the nerve to do it in public. ..."

-- Mistress Kellie, a sexually dominant woman, on Sally

There May Finally Be Some Blood and Other Thursday Headlines

 

via Tenor

Judgement Day for Big Oil? (Reuters)

The dingleberries are talking, even if they claim otherwise (The Bulwark)

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Politics Corner October 27th

 

Via National Park Service


Much of the bullshit Manchin pulls isn't about reelection at all. He's not acting in the interest of West Virginians or even what many West Virginians think is their interest. Joe Manchin is only acting in his own interest. [CNN]



photo mine

What’s On Tonight (Thursday): No longer a stranger Texas ranger

 

via Tenor

Our Top Pick is the second season premiere of Walker. The episode is known as “They Started It,” which is a funny title. Makes me think of bratty kids.

Occasional cooks: roast chicken, and being green in the kitchen

Here is your weekly thread to talk anything and everything food. 

Share what you're cooking this week, ask for tips or recipes for a dish, tell us about your meals out.


via Good Food

This one-tray creamy potato, mustard and tarragon chicken looks like just the thing for a cool autumn night.

Jeopardy! recap for Wed., Oct. 27

 Let's meet today's contestants:


- Jennifer, a data specialist, shares a close time of birth with her husband; 

- Tyler, a healthcare data specialist, taught health education as a volunteer college freshman; and

- Nancy, a retired college admissions counselor, went to see Art Fleming's Jeopardy! in New York. Nancy is a one-day champ with winnings of $19,400.

Box Office Discussion: "Dune" Is Bustin' Out All Over


 Dune has a solid opening, while Ron's Gone Wrong does exactly that and art house audiences say oui to The French Dispatch.

Fistfight Plan And Other Wednesday Headlines

Via Gfycat


Ron DeSantis, 'Logic Pretzel' [The Bulwark]

Mike Lindell's Thanksgiving 'Dear Leader Is Coming Back!' Prophecy Involves Punches Thrown At Dinner Tables [Wonkette]

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

What's On Tonight (Wednesday): NuDoogie

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Tubular! Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, October 27!

Wednesdays in 2021 keep 1988 alive. It was the year The Wonder Years and Roseanne debuted, both of which are alive on ABC. It was also the year Doogie Howser, M.D. debuted, which has been reinvented as Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (Disney+, 3 a.m.) and is tonight's Top Pick. Lahela "Doogie" Kamealoha's parents can be a little too sitcom-y, but I think the show's approach to teenagers is an improvement on the original. Don't expect peak TV, this is family television and a pretty clear cut remake sans setting move, gender flip, and ethnicity switch. But Peyton Elizabeth Lee is perfection in the title role. (Andi Mack deserved more attention!)

Elsewhere, the Legends of Tomorrow turn 100 with some old friends(!), Wu-Tang goes for domination, Dopesick seeks a whistleblower, The Goldbergs meet Elvira, Discovery Channel distills MoonshinersThe Wonder Years go camping, computers take over the Fire station, and  Dead prehistoric women have Secrets.

Politics Corner October 26th

 

Via National Park Service


It was a coup, Part oh I don't know can we just stop playing both sides already? [Rolling Stone]



photo mine

Jeopardy! recap for Tue., Oct. 26

 Please welcome today's contestants:


- Mandela, a writer, has a middle name of Peace and a sister named Justice; 

- Nancy, a retired college admissions counselor, lived near a legendary golf course but never played; and

- Jonathan, an actor, whose Latin teacher was into the NYT crossword. Jonathan is a 11-day champ with winnings of $246,100.

Box Office Flashback: May 28, 2021

 While summer movies are gonna summer movie, the weekend after Memorial Day tends to see the release of films that aren't quite at the blockbuster level of the films that opened the previous weekend--especially if the weekend is at least partially in May.  Hollywood takes a bit of a breather before the mega-blockbusters begin arriving again.

Thoughts on four episodes of Roseanne

 

Courtesy YouTube/ABC

"Well I do know everything, Crystal. A guy is a lump, like this doughnut. Okay, so first, you gotta get rid of all the stuff his mom did to him. *flicks off chopped nuts* And then you gotta get rid of all that macho crap they pick up from the beer commercials. *breaks doughnut in half, then in half again* And then there's my personal favorite, the male ego. *devours that portion, to the audience's delight*"

Cancellation Fatigue And Other Tuesday Headlines

Via Giphy
October 26th Is... Pumpkin Day

'What Cancel Culture Is - And Isn't' [The Bulwark]

Philly Police Lied About People Not Doing Anything To Stop A Sexual Assault On An El Train [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Monday, October 25, 2021

What's On Tonight (Tuesday): America's Pastime, America's Veterans


Via PBS/YouTube

Politics Corner October 25th

 

Via National Park Service


I'm in a plane somewhere over the middle of the US. I'll be back here in a little while but I expect to be exhausted. Tell me everything that happened while I was gone.



Via USA Today

Political discussion welcome.

Jeopardy! recap for Mon., Oct. 25

 Here are today's contestants:


- Hilary, a visiting assistant professor, teaches classic languages and ancient culture; 

- Stephen, a business operations professional, is a heavy sleeper; and

- Jonathan, an actor, will put some winnings into a Shakespeare adaptation. Jonathan is a 10-day champ with winnings of $230,100.

Sportsball October 25th

 



Sportsball is on vacation for the weekend. It's a small destination birthday which means that I can't skip out and follow all the sports. The other three people would surely notice and I would never do that to the birthday girl. So tell me all about how I managed to lose at fantasy football again.

And PUPPIES!


Via Sharing Santa Fe

Sunday, October 24, 2021

What's On Tonight (Monday): An American Dad Halloween

Via Giffiles

Politics Corner October 24th

 

Via National Park Service


Another day in Santa Fe, this time I've been hiking (hopefully) and seen the historic plaza. By now I know we'll be sitting down for dinner because I made the reservation. I'm taking them to Geronimo on Canyon Road so we've also been to the art galleries. The birthday girl is an overachiever so we're attempting to keep up with her. No time for politics so fill me in below.



Via Pinterest

Political discussion welcome.

Cancellation League Update

 

via Giphy

October continued with a new show bombing and another one getting a full season order.

CBSSM: Barack & The Boss