I drove past the local elementary school and noticed their sign:
REGISTER NOW FOR FALL
Jumping Jehosaphat! The poor kids were free for mere days before someone put that up in big letters, a stark reminder that you'd better enjoy your summer while it lasts because, to borrow a phrase from the great Walt Kelly, "It ain't nohow permanent."
Well, maybe the other side of the sign had something a little more fun. I kept an eye out on the way back home and read this on the reverse:
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
READ EVERY DAY!
That's right, folks. This school can't resist giving homework in the middle of an ostensible "summer fun" message.
Makes me glad I graduated.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Panel Discussion: The World's Fastest Klutz
I think Barry Allen is a fine police scientist and an even finer superhero, but, boy, does he ever look like a tool each time he's trying to get together with Iris:
In these old "Flash" comics (this is from #109), Barry closes almost every single story with some kind of wacky mix-up or misunderstanding that leads to Iris thinking he's a tool. And really, who can blame her? She just has her reasons wrong.
See, we readers know that Barry's not a tool for being the slowest man alive, as she thinks. He's a tool because after beating the Mirror Master, he stumbles on one of the mirrors he left behind and is knocked cold for 30 minutes.
In these old "Flash" comics (this is from #109), Barry closes almost every single story with some kind of wacky mix-up or misunderstanding that leads to Iris thinking he's a tool. And really, who can blame her? She just has her reasons wrong.
See, we readers know that Barry's not a tool for being the slowest man alive, as she thinks. He's a tool because after beating the Mirror Master, he stumbles on one of the mirrors he left behind and is knocked cold for 30 minutes.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Can a bad theme song ruin a TV show?
I know you're thinking, "Well, sir, you are Cultureshark, and I expect YOU to have all the answers, so how can I possibly be of service to you in answering this query?"
But, no, I'm really asking. The problem for me right now is trying to think of bad TV theme songs. Even if you don't like "Gilligan's Island," you can't deny the appeal of the great title tune. The bad songs I can think of accompany songs so horrible they couldn't be "ruined" by a mere piece of music (I'm thinking "Full House" here).
I do know at least one case of really good show saddled with a terrible theme song, though. I just finished the first disc of Shout Factory's recent season 1 "The Paper Chase" release, and, hoo, boy, does it offer a stinker.
The series itself is quality entertainment, and I look forward to seeing the rest of this and of future seasons. But that Gimbel and Fox (who also brought us the theme from "Happy Days") theme song almost wrecks the whole enterprise. In fact, it might have done just that for me, but fortunately the pilot holds it until the end. Thus, I enjoyed the first episode without having that wretched number clouding my judgment of more important things like the writing, the acting, etc. When it DID come, though, I burst out laughing and actually forgot I had been watching the real "Paper Chase" pilot. The combination of the classic freeze frame and the onset of Seals and Crofts suggested I was watching a parody. I had to double-check to ensure I hadn't somehow put an "SCTV" episode in the player.
The first years are hard years
Much more than you know
With good friends to love us
We'll field every blow
Don't get me wrong, I like a solid dose of sentiment every now and then, and indeed much of the appeal of "The Paper Chase" is in the warmth of the interpersonal relationships and the sincere, heartfelt tone of the series. But these lyrics are laying it on a bit thick.
I'll spare you the second verse because you're not really getting the full effect, anyway, unless you hear the song as performed by Seals and Crofts in its twee glory. If you have a song with sappy lyrics but you want to avoid complete sappiness, I think the last thing you should do is bring in Seals and Crofts to perform it.
The producers of "The Paper Chase" saw this differently.
As I said, avoiding the song till the end of the episode in the pilot gave me a chance to appreciate this comedy-drama as one of the better series of its time. Had I watched one of the other episodes on disc 1 first, who knows? I don't _think_ the theme song would have spoiled the whole series for me, but I'm glad it didn't get the opportunity.
I do know at least one case of really good show saddled with a terrible theme song, though. I just finished the first disc of Shout Factory's recent season 1 "The Paper Chase" release, and, hoo, boy, does it offer a stinker.
The series itself is quality entertainment, and I look forward to seeing the rest of this and of future seasons. But that Gimbel and Fox (who also brought us the theme from "Happy Days") theme song almost wrecks the whole enterprise. In fact, it might have done just that for me, but fortunately the pilot holds it until the end. Thus, I enjoyed the first episode without having that wretched number clouding my judgment of more important things like the writing, the acting, etc. When it DID come, though, I burst out laughing and actually forgot I had been watching the real "Paper Chase" pilot. The combination of the classic freeze frame and the onset of Seals and Crofts suggested I was watching a parody. I had to double-check to ensure I hadn't somehow put an "SCTV" episode in the player.
The first years are hard years
Much more than you know
With good friends to love us
We'll field every blow
Don't get me wrong, I like a solid dose of sentiment every now and then, and indeed much of the appeal of "The Paper Chase" is in the warmth of the interpersonal relationships and the sincere, heartfelt tone of the series. But these lyrics are laying it on a bit thick.
I'll spare you the second verse because you're not really getting the full effect, anyway, unless you hear the song as performed by Seals and Crofts in its twee glory. If you have a song with sappy lyrics but you want to avoid complete sappiness, I think the last thing you should do is bring in Seals and Crofts to perform it.
The producers of "The Paper Chase" saw this differently.
As I said, avoiding the song till the end of the episode in the pilot gave me a chance to appreciate this comedy-drama as one of the better series of its time. Had I watched one of the other episodes on disc 1 first, who knows? I don't _think_ the theme song would have spoiled the whole series for me, but I'm glad it didn't get the opportunity.
ESPN loves the stars
I was watching a bit of Wimbledon coverage while dining with my wife last week, and, boy, did I feel sorry for whoever was playing with Maria Sharapova. This was the superstar's first round match, not the second round one in which she was upset, so her opponent didn't even get the satisfaction of winning.
See, ESPN's coverage was all-Sharapova all the time. Well, at least all the time that I was watching, and I confess I had to keep my eyes moving across the various big screens in the restaurant so as not to be accused of ogling by Mrs. Shark. Not once did I see who she was playing, except as a tiny figure at the top of the screen. I understand giving the popular Sharapova plenty of camera time and closeups in between points, during her service, et cetera, but even when she was returning serve, the ESPN cameras were fixed on the tall blonde.
I still don't know anything about the other competitor, let alone what she looked like. I doubt that her appearance would turn viewers to stone, but even if it would, she's in a grand slam event and deserves some screen time. I know it's money to follow the stars, but, jeez, ESPN, can't you show the other player every now and then?
See, ESPN's coverage was all-Sharapova all the time. Well, at least all the time that I was watching, and I confess I had to keep my eyes moving across the various big screens in the restaurant so as not to be accused of ogling by Mrs. Shark. Not once did I see who she was playing, except as a tiny figure at the top of the screen. I understand giving the popular Sharapova plenty of camera time and closeups in between points, during her service, et cetera, but even when she was returning serve, the ESPN cameras were fixed on the tall blonde.
I still don't know anything about the other competitor, let alone what she looked like. I doubt that her appearance would turn viewers to stone, but even if it would, she's in a grand slam event and deserves some screen time. I know it's money to follow the stars, but, jeez, ESPN, can't you show the other player every now and then?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The obligatory Michael Jackson post
It's really tempting to make a reactionary post tearing the guy down, especially after seeing so many people come out of the woodwork this weekend and act like it was 1987 again, but I'm not happy to see him go, and it's never a good story when a parent leaves young children behind. But I can't join in the praise for Michael Jackson, either. The Jacko I knew and liked disappeared about 20 years ago.
Where have all these admirers been? Jackson hasn't been musically relevant for years--heck, he hasn't done anything of note in years. I'm sure questions are going to be asked along the lines of, "Why wasn't anyone looking out for him?" But his long-term drug abuse was no secret. Anyone who really cared about his or his kids well-being should have stepped in years ago.
And you know what? I'm sure people did, or at least tried to. But ultimately, Jackson himself bears responsibility for how his life turned out (though he sure seems to have gotten a lousy start thanks to his father). Jackson was a self-aggrandizer who was capable of being a lot colder and more calculating than the Neverland image he--yes, he himself--cultivated.
Even if I could separate the man from the child abuse allegations, there's all the other stuff, like his maneuvering to get the Beatles' catalog from Paul McCartney (I don't know if the true details of that will ever come out, but I'm backing the Beatle) and his ridiculous insistence on being called the King of Pop. Plus the anti-semitism, the tired martyr-like posturing, and the increasingly self-important videos. How can you root for a guy like that?
And even if I could separate the man from the music, well, how much music is there? His output as a recording superstar sure looks a lot smaller when you really look at it. Sure, everyone loved "Thriler" (my wife insists she never did, but I'm skeptical), and "Off the Wall" was a great album, but since then? I won't deny his huge post-"Thriller" success, but I moved on. And how much of "Thriller" and "Off the Wall" was Quincy Jones, anyway?
OK, so this is starting to sound like a big rip job. But I did like Michael Jackson's music, and I think I'll play some this week. But I liked his music in the Jackson 5, and I'll be playing it this week not because it offers the younger, simpler Jacko, but because I like it better.
I bought a Jackson 5 compilation CD a few years ago, finally replacing a 20-some year-old cassette tape, and listening to it made me feel good, but also sad. I was saddened because Michael Jackson sounded so vital on those early records, only to become...well, you know. It amazed me then, and still does, that a 12-year-old could sing a poignant love song like "Never Can Say Goodbye" so well. That song gets me every time, and even knowing what I do about what happened to Jackson, it never sounds less than authentic. That's the other amazing part of it: that Jackson was such an effective vocalist at 12, yet somehow devolved to the point where you couldn't take him seriously even when he sang about childhood.
So, yes, I'm sad about the death of Michael Jackson, but I've been sad about the loss of Michael Jackson for a long time.
Where have all these admirers been? Jackson hasn't been musically relevant for years--heck, he hasn't done anything of note in years. I'm sure questions are going to be asked along the lines of, "Why wasn't anyone looking out for him?" But his long-term drug abuse was no secret. Anyone who really cared about his or his kids well-being should have stepped in years ago.
And you know what? I'm sure people did, or at least tried to. But ultimately, Jackson himself bears responsibility for how his life turned out (though he sure seems to have gotten a lousy start thanks to his father). Jackson was a self-aggrandizer who was capable of being a lot colder and more calculating than the Neverland image he--yes, he himself--cultivated.
Even if I could separate the man from the child abuse allegations, there's all the other stuff, like his maneuvering to get the Beatles' catalog from Paul McCartney (I don't know if the true details of that will ever come out, but I'm backing the Beatle) and his ridiculous insistence on being called the King of Pop. Plus the anti-semitism, the tired martyr-like posturing, and the increasingly self-important videos. How can you root for a guy like that?
And even if I could separate the man from the music, well, how much music is there? His output as a recording superstar sure looks a lot smaller when you really look at it. Sure, everyone loved "Thriler" (my wife insists she never did, but I'm skeptical), and "Off the Wall" was a great album, but since then? I won't deny his huge post-"Thriller" success, but I moved on. And how much of "Thriller" and "Off the Wall" was Quincy Jones, anyway?
OK, so this is starting to sound like a big rip job. But I did like Michael Jackson's music, and I think I'll play some this week. But I liked his music in the Jackson 5, and I'll be playing it this week not because it offers the younger, simpler Jacko, but because I like it better.
I bought a Jackson 5 compilation CD a few years ago, finally replacing a 20-some year-old cassette tape, and listening to it made me feel good, but also sad. I was saddened because Michael Jackson sounded so vital on those early records, only to become...well, you know. It amazed me then, and still does, that a 12-year-old could sing a poignant love song like "Never Can Say Goodbye" so well. That song gets me every time, and even knowing what I do about what happened to Jackson, it never sounds less than authentic. That's the other amazing part of it: that Jackson was such an effective vocalist at 12, yet somehow devolved to the point where you couldn't take him seriously even when he sang about childhood.
So, yes, I'm sad about the death of Michael Jackson, but I've been sad about the loss of Michael Jackson for a long time.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Cultureshark remembers Farrah Fawcett...sort of
It may seem petty to complain about rerun selection after a celebrity's death, but, hey, it's kind of what we're about around here. So I ask, is TV Land really paying "tribute" to Farrah Fawcett by rerunning "Chasing Farrah" this weekend? That disaster did Fawcett's image no favors, and, to me, it was the tipping point in the sad decline of the once-great TV Land.
At least the channel is also showing an episode of "Charlie's Angels," and WGN America is stepping up by showing a marathon of the series that remained Fawcett's TV pinnacle. I guess it's too much to ask that someone show a few "Harry O" episodes.
I'm too young to really appreciate the Farrah phenomenon. When NBC showed its Farrah special a few weeks ago, my wife told me she just didn't get her appeal. Fawcett was not my kind of sex symbol--I'd take Lynda Carter as 70s icons go, thank you--but I recognize how big a deal she was at her peak, when everyone apparently had that poster on their wall.
I don't think she's a timeless icon, but a fantasy object of her time. My generation was more about, say, Pamela Anderson. Again, she's not my number one sex symbol. I was more a fan of Debbie Dunning as a Tool Time girl and Carmen Electra as a "Baywatch" Babe. Yet I understand her appeal and I was there to see the impact she had.
I think that's how it is with Farrah Fawcett: You kind of had to be there. I wasn't, but I realize that for a whole bunch of people (mostly men) who were, she was IT. I'm sure they feel this loss big-time, and I feel for 'em.
At least the channel is also showing an episode of "Charlie's Angels," and WGN America is stepping up by showing a marathon of the series that remained Fawcett's TV pinnacle. I guess it's too much to ask that someone show a few "Harry O" episodes.
I'm too young to really appreciate the Farrah phenomenon. When NBC showed its Farrah special a few weeks ago, my wife told me she just didn't get her appeal. Fawcett was not my kind of sex symbol--I'd take Lynda Carter as 70s icons go, thank you--but I recognize how big a deal she was at her peak, when everyone apparently had that poster on their wall.
I don't think she's a timeless icon, but a fantasy object of her time. My generation was more about, say, Pamela Anderson. Again, she's not my number one sex symbol. I was more a fan of Debbie Dunning as a Tool Time girl and Carmen Electra as a "Baywatch" Babe. Yet I understand her appeal and I was there to see the impact she had.
I think that's how it is with Farrah Fawcett: You kind of had to be there. I wasn't, but I realize that for a whole bunch of people (mostly men) who were, she was IT. I'm sure they feel this loss big-time, and I feel for 'em.
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