Brooks on Books: "Carry on, Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse

There are a lot of people out there who know a whole lot about humor writer P.G. Wodehouse, and I won't pretend to be anything but a novice. But, boy, I had such a good time reading my first Wodehouse book that I had to say something about it.

While there is a lot of biographical and bibliographical info about this British author, it's tough to find authoritative statements about where to begin if you want to enjoy the work. even if you narrow it down and decide you're interested in his most famous creations, Bertie Wooster and his amazing butler Jeeves, you'll find a bunch of people saying, "You can't go wrong starting anywhere," and a good number declaring, "Might as well start from the beginning," as apparently some stories and novels reference earlier ones.

Well, I forgot how I settled on "Carry On, Jeeves," but I was certainly not disappointed by this hilarious book. Wodehouse's prose, most of it delivered by Wooster, is of a certain British style, and you'll know almost right away if you're into it or not. Me, I was hooked early, and I loved this collection of stories (many of which referenced others in the same volume). In "Carry On," you get the apparent Secret Origin of how Jeeves becomes employed by Wooster, a change-of-pace tale narrated by Jeeves, and many other fine short stories.

There is a definite formula here. Virtually all these stories feature Bertie Wooster (or a friend or cousin of his) getting in some kind of socially awkward predicament involving aunts, uncles, and/or clingy women of some type. Then Jeeves, often after apparently coming up empty, concocts a deft scheme to save the day, one usually dependent on some coincidental relationship or situation of which he is aware and is able to exploit.

Because this formula is so consistent, I actually put aside "Carry On, Jeeves" a few stories in, fearing I would burn out. I figured these stories were best read with some space in between so that they would not seem repetitive.

You know what, though? Wodehouse's use of language and his impeccable command of his character's voices are so irresistible, the stories don't seem at all repetitive. I quickly picked the book back up after a day or two and tore through the rest of it. It's just that good.

Maybe after a bunch of these, I would start to worry about the formula, but that sure isn't a consideration yet. I may find out soon because I intend to read a lot more Wodehouse, including a lot more Jeeves and Wooster. "Carry On, Jeeves" pulled me into a world I look forward to exploring.

This Week in DVD

This period between two major holidays creates some bizarre release dates, so much like last week's post, consider this a catch-all for the DVDs that are coming out over the next week or so.

Eagle Eye: Jamie Foxx tries to catch lightning in a bottle again as he stars in this biopic of the guy who sang "Save Tonight."

The Duchess: Keira Knightley in a period piece about longing and love. A real change of pace for her.

Resident Evil Degeneration: An ad for this came on TV the other day, and my Dad got excited until he realized it wasn't a game. "Aw, that's a movie? Ah, never mind." I thought it was funny that it looked like a cool game but a crummy film.

Ghost Town: The crowds for this movie were so small, each theater felt like a...OK, I'm sure that joke was used a thousand times already. But while this romantic comedy does look a tad limp, how bad it can be with Ricky Gervais?

Nip/Tuck Season 5: Hey, I think this is the season where those two docs really act like a-holes and get into all kinds of shocking sexual situations.

Classic TV Christmas Festival Part 7: Good Times

OK, "Good Times" may not be some people's idea of a "classic," but like "What's Happening!!" it was a big part of my misspent youth. Watching it now, I have to recalibrate myself to take its brand of comedy. It's one of those shows where every single character at almost every single entrance has to deliver the same type of sassy remark. It's funny if you can take it in stride, but grating in large doses...and a lot less tolerable once John Amos left.

The show had several Christmas-themed episodes, but recently I watched "Sometimes There's No Bottom in the Bottle."

Now, what the show wants you to focus on is the Evans family cousin Naomi's drinking problem. The 16-year-old is sequestering herself in the bathroom and hitting the liquor early and often, and it takes a long time for anyone besides Thelma to notice what's going on, and even she kind of stumbles on it.

You expect this to be a Very Special Episode, but there isn't much time for Very Special Messages, what with the ongoing Christmas season celebrations in the household. So while Naomi's unintentionally hilarious drunk scenes are amusing, this episode stands out today for 3 reasons:

1) Thelma sure is a fox in those old "Good Times" episodes, isn't she?

2) As the adults in the house (Yes, I guess I can call Wilona an adult) set a good example by celebrating James' Christmas bonus with a round of booze, they discover someone's replaced the good stuff with water. What's great about this scene is that while an irritated James wonders who would do such a thing, Florida is more concerned with something else: "Who put a glass back in the cupboard without washing it?" she asks, astonished. Oh, it may be cause for concern that one of the kids is sneaking alcohol, but first things first--who isn't busing their dishes?

3) Naomi's domination of the single bathroom in the apartment forces a frantic Michael to wait outside when he really "has to go." This scene gives the great Ralph Carter a chance to display his genius for physical comedy.

OK, I admit I'm only including that last item because I want to see what the Ralph Carter statement looks like in print.

Classic TV Christmas Festival Part 6: The Flintstones and Buffalo Bill

You might think these two shows couldn't be more dissimilar, but think again. Here are just a few of the ties that bind "The Flintstones" with "Buffalo Bill."

*They're both half-hour shows.
*They're both comedies.
*Each had a Christmas episode that is now available on DVD.
*Each had a Christmas episode that was padded and insubstantial enough to the point where I can't justify a distinct blog entry for either.

I'm not complaining about "Bill's" "Have Yourself a Very Degrading Episode," because I'm just thankful the series made it to DVD. It's not a bad installment per se. It's just not as sharp as the series is overall, and I wonder if it's one of those "Just had to do a Christmas show" deals, something contrived just to fit the season. The storyline revolves on a Big Reveal that was surely funnier and more shocking back then, and even Dabney Coleman's reactions (and his subsequent squirming in the final scene as he tries to deflect the situation) aren't enough to make this anything more than a disappointing Christmas episode when seen out of the series context.

"A Flintstones Christmas" doesn't quite have the same psychosexual angst, but it is also stretched a bit thin. There's a nice story in which Fred becomes a department store Santa (incidentally, "Macyrock"=not one of the series' more clever brand name substitutions) but winds up getting some help in his own house from the REAL St. Nick. I enjoyed this one as a kid, and I loved Fred's rendition of his "Merry Christmas is my favorite time of year" song.

Looking at it for the first time in years, though (I actually watched it on Boomerang, not on DVD), I'm disappointed at how padded it feels. Considering the show only had this one Xmas episode during its original run, you'd think they could have packed this one with yuletide fun without resorting to Fred singing not one, not twice, but 3 different times. It's an enjoyable way to get in the holiday spirit, though, and maybe I'm being a bit grouchy.

That's about all I have to say about "The Flintstones" and "Buffalo Bill," but perhaps I'll make an extended thesis comparing the two shows my big priority in 2009.

Classic TV Christmas Festival Part 5: The Dick Van Dyke Show

"The Alan Brady Show Presents" is one of those "DVD" episodes that basically lets the cast put on a little mini-revue. This time, of course, it's a Christmas theme, with the setup being that Brady thought the holiday presents a perfect opportunity for the writers and their families to put on a show for the viewers.

Somehow I doubt that would happen today. Can you imagine Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer taking a week off from "Two and a Half Men" so that the head writer and his wife could do a soft-shoe routine?

It's a fun episode, but what really interests me is the performance of Richie Petrie, who gets a prime solo spotlight to sing "The Little Drummer Boy." I think it's a fairly common sentiment among "DVD" fans that Larry Mathews, AKA Rich, is not the most, uh, sophisticated actor on the show. I can't help but wonder what dialogue led to his role in this episode. Just picture a couple show bigwigs brainstorming, whether it be Carl Reiner, credited episode scribes Sam Denoff and/or Bill Persky, or whoever.

"Hey, are we gonna give Richie something to do in this one?"
"Well, we said writers and their families, so maybe we should."
"Yeah, it's Christmas, and the kid should be there."
"Well, we can't give Larry too much to do, you know, because--"
"I know, I know. But he's a cute kid, and people eat up cute kids around Christmastime."
"We could give him a song."
"A song? Can he sing?"
"I don't know, but how hard can it be?"
"Oh, yeah, sure, no pressure there. Why don't we make him go out and do it all by himself, too, without Dick or Mary?"
"Yeah, great idea. Why don't we give him a real solemn number, too, so all the attention is on him the whole time."
"Yeah, and we'll make it one that exposes him if he CAN'T sing--like Little Drummer Boy?"
"Perfect."
[brief pause]
"HA HA HA!"
"Yeah, right."
"Ok, seriously, guys, what can we put in that slot?"

Only they got stuck for time and had to go with that idea after all. Could this be what happened?

Hey, I don't mean to bag on the child actor, and his musical number is a little rough, but it's sweet. It's a nice, quiet several minutes in a fun but sometimes wacky episode, and I'm glad it's there.

But I do wonder if poor Larry Mathews was cool with it.

Gift GETTING Guide--selections from my wish list

You may be saying to yourself, "Well, Mr. Shark, I loved those gift-giving ideas you shared the other day, but what about you. What do YOU want for Christmas?"

I'm glad you asked, and I'm glad to share some ideas. These aren't necessarily the only gifts I'd like or the ones I want most, but they're a representative sample of some of the junk I ask for.

Now, let me get this out of this way first: Yes, I know the economy is hurting and we're all panicking, and I don't mean to promote selfishness and greed. But if we stop buying things for each other, even things that aren't necessities, the spiral only continues. And these aren't things I expect to get, just things it would be nice to have. I already have a loving family and my health (except for this nagging cold), and I'm happy even without this frivolous stuff.

But, boy, would I love to get...

Movies on DVD: I mentioned the Touch of Evil package the other day, but I also have my eye on the new L.A. Confidential Special Edition. I enjoy the VCI noir/crime B-movie collections, and I think by now there must be about 5 or 6 I don't have.
Is it just me or did Warners not deliver a noir box set this year? Well, they did give us a Gangsters Collection, Volume 3, to be exact, and, oh, how I'd love that, though I can wait till its inevitable big price drop. Plus their Warner Brothers and the Homefront Collection is an eventual must for my OWN collection.
I'm also behind on my Sony chronological 3 Stooges discs, my Popeye collections, and my Looney Tunes sets.

TV on DVD: I'm a big fan of the Abbott and Costello Show, and there are two big volumes' worth of DVDs collecting the entire series. I mentioned the Mr. Peepers Season 2 box the other day. The Father Knows Best Season 2 set intrigues me. If money were no object, I'd love to finally get that Twilight Zone Definitive Collection.


Books: Somehow I have yet to purchase the latest Chris Elliott comic novel, Into Hot Air. There's a well-received new biography of legendary pro wrestling innovator Gorgeous George and an acclaimed autobio by Bret "the Hitman" Hart.

I love just about all of the ongoing hardcover reprint series bringing back vintage comic strips. I am collecting Peanuts, Dick Tracy, Steve Canyon, and Popeye...and I'd love to start on the Beetle Bailey, Little Orphan Annie, and Terry & the Pirates editions. And those Showcase and Essential editions reprinting vintage DC and Marvel, respectively, are always welcome on my bookshelves.
And there's always a ton of baseball, history, and movie books I want. I just need time to read them all...

Music: I'm not that hip when it comes to new music, but there are plenty of discs I need from artists I like, such as Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams, Butch Walker, and Ben Folds. And I just discovered this cool-looking Easybeats greatest hits disc.

Do I NEED all this, or even any of this? Nah. But any of it will make me happy. Oh, and as I alluded to when listing some books, "time enough at last" to enjoy the stuff I DO have would be a great gift, too.

I hope each of you get something cool under your tree this year! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone.