I was watching some recent SNL on Hulu, and I noticed something. As they introduced all the cast members, there were A LOT of them. And I thought back to the originals. The first cast members were Second City alumni Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Gilda Radner and National Lampoon "Lemmings" alumnus Chevy Chase (whose trademark became his usual falls and opening spiel that cued the show's opening), Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, and Garrett Morris. And I thought, they had these few. They didn't try to make Chevy Chase LOOK like Ford, no. He just ACTED liked him. Notice I said, ACTED. Something that I think a lot of the alum of SNL didn't do. Not all, just a lot of them! Hell I couldn't tell you who has been on SNL over its 35 yr run. I just know who was there first. The ground breakers, and they were.
I am always reminded by the tape-Best of Belushi. At the end he was the last to be alive, and he was one of the first to go. Irony I know, and Belushi is loving that. I was also looking over the bio for John Belushi and I can not help but still get teary eyed thinking about him. Dam he was funny. I guess I cry as much for him as I do the time I remember seeing him. I just wonder how he would have translated to this time. Not well I think if he fellow SNLers of the time are any indication. In some ways, those who go out, on top, never are seen as fallen. I mean they live sometimes tragic and 'flash in the pan' lives. And while it is tragic, I just wonder. I mean look at Chevy Chase now, in that, IMO, horrid, insipid comedy "Community." Jane Curtin did some more stuff as did Aykroyd, and there will always be hard core "Animal House" and "Blues Brothers" fan, and yeah, count me as one of them! But for the most part, they have faded. A lot from time, but also for the 'times they are a-changin.' Like old soldiers: I don't know if John wanted to go out they way he did. But I also think he wouldn't want to waste away on a porch playing checkers either. I always like to think when they go like John did, that God wanted someone with him to give him a good laugh. And the Lord knows that Belushi could do that.
I hope SNL keeps going. I just wish they would get some more quality than quantity actors/actresses. I know Jamie Foxx has kinda gotten out of the slap stick comedy and has even tackled serious stuff. But, he was also a ground breaker, along with all the Wayen brothers. There are people out there that deserve the rich awards they get. Thank goodness for them, and I hope all are remembered as favorably as I remember Belushi, Aykroyd, Chase, Radner, Morris, Curtain and Newman.
R.I.P. John and Gilda. And all those we have lost from other SNL's. Phil, Chris, etc. Don't cry as they would want us to laugh for them. God Bless.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Stop And Smell The Roses
For some, that's the reason they want to slow down. Well I used to be that person; and you know, after a few minutes I got tired of smelling the roses. What I didn't get tired of was taking my 1979 Buick Skyhawk with the Roadhawk package and going between the farm and Kemper. I remember looking over and seeing things as a blur. Like a movie. Like Smokey and The Bandit. There is a saying that I know I will mangle: but it goes something like this: once a man has lived as a matador, its very hard to do anything else.
I think Beck and Wilkey are similar as they are still living as matadors. Others have slowed down. And that's great for them. All my friends that I know deserve happiness. Just don't try and re-write history or remember things differently now. Don't tell your kids to do one thing or say you never did, when I KNOW dam well you did.
As I said, I hate hypocrites, and I do try not to be one. Neither should you.
Also, as I write this I wonder, how much should I share? Am I afraid of putting it all out there. I don't know. I am not posting pictures of drunken debauchery (thank God there were no cell phones with cameras in my college days). But I also never did alot of stupid things. Did I do stupid things? Yes. Am I lucky to be alive in some cases? Yes. All in all, so far, (knock wood) I have had an interesting life. I remember saying something about it being a good day to die when I was at Kemper, wayyy before it became a Klingon saying. I remember I was between K barracks and A barracks. I don't remember the time of year, probably spring time, right when it was getting hot. It was a beautiful day, clear. A little hot, but not bad. And I remember commenting about the day being a good day to die. It was.
And no, not having any suicidal thoughts or anything like that. I was referring to the aspect that if you had to die, that day would have been good. Referring more to dying in combat. Also, at that time, never thought about death as something bad to look forward too with the coming of age. We were young, we were Kemper. We were going to live forever, or die trying.
And by remembering those times and those men and women, we do live forever until the last of us dies and takes those memories with them.
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.
I think Beck and Wilkey are similar as they are still living as matadors. Others have slowed down. And that's great for them. All my friends that I know deserve happiness. Just don't try and re-write history or remember things differently now. Don't tell your kids to do one thing or say you never did, when I KNOW dam well you did.
As I said, I hate hypocrites, and I do try not to be one. Neither should you.
Also, as I write this I wonder, how much should I share? Am I afraid of putting it all out there. I don't know. I am not posting pictures of drunken debauchery (thank God there were no cell phones with cameras in my college days). But I also never did alot of stupid things. Did I do stupid things? Yes. Am I lucky to be alive in some cases? Yes. All in all, so far, (knock wood) I have had an interesting life. I remember saying something about it being a good day to die when I was at Kemper, wayyy before it became a Klingon saying. I remember I was between K barracks and A barracks. I don't remember the time of year, probably spring time, right when it was getting hot. It was a beautiful day, clear. A little hot, but not bad. And I remember commenting about the day being a good day to die. It was.
And no, not having any suicidal thoughts or anything like that. I was referring to the aspect that if you had to die, that day would have been good. Referring more to dying in combat. Also, at that time, never thought about death as something bad to look forward too with the coming of age. We were young, we were Kemper. We were going to live forever, or die trying.
And by remembering those times and those men and women, we do live forever until the last of us dies and takes those memories with them.
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Jonah Hex & True Grit
NO. No, No, No, No! I am so sick of Hollywood screwing with my comic book heros. And now they are screwing with the Duke.
I know that Jonah Hex was not as known as the big "S." and that could either be Superman or Spiderman. Still...after "avatar" (I am NOT going capitalize that) I wonder what message they (Follywood) will try and ram down our throats.
And now I see they are remaking True Grit with Beau Bridges as Rooster. PLEAZZZZZZZZE. I am still trying to swallow that they are remaking "The A-Team."
So far the only really good remake is Battlestar Galactica. Another good remake is The Night Stalker, and trust me...I didn't like it the first time, but after watching on SciFi channel (Not whatever they are calling it now) I really enjoyed it and wish it had continued. An honorable mention to Knight Rider.
Of course, all the good ones that don't have messages, seem not to make it. I guess Follywood could peddle their crap, so people wouldn't back their movies. Am I getting cynical in my old age... maybe. At least about movies. If I was only paying 3bucks for a movie, MAYBE. But now they are $10! Sorry, in this case I will either wait for the rental or wait and see them on line, free.
I know that Jonah Hex was not as known as the big "S." and that could either be Superman or Spiderman. Still...after "avatar" (I am NOT going capitalize that) I wonder what message they (Follywood) will try and ram down our throats.
And now I see they are remaking True Grit with Beau Bridges as Rooster. PLEAZZZZZZZZE. I am still trying to swallow that they are remaking "The A-Team."
So far the only really good remake is Battlestar Galactica. Another good remake is The Night Stalker, and trust me...I didn't like it the first time, but after watching on SciFi channel (Not whatever they are calling it now) I really enjoyed it and wish it had continued. An honorable mention to Knight Rider.
Of course, all the good ones that don't have messages, seem not to make it. I guess Follywood could peddle their crap, so people wouldn't back their movies. Am I getting cynical in my old age... maybe. At least about movies. If I was only paying 3bucks for a movie, MAYBE. But now they are $10! Sorry, in this case I will either wait for the rental or wait and see them on line, free.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Trek & Jouneyman
All I can say is: Thank God for Hulu.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed and cringed at Journeyman. A unwilling time traveller. Love time traveller. Anyway, I am so glad that Hulu has it-but don't know for how long. And he works for a newspaper, so how Nigh Stalker-ish is that. Not to mention that I do also, and love the parallel.
As for Trek-here is another comment about the latest Trek movie: if the Romulan could go back into time and blow up Vulcan, and Romulus and Remus are still around, why didn't he just tell the Romulans when and where and get that device there earlier so as to prevent their destruction. I know, I know.. wouldn't make for a good movie. Still....we have enough plot holes as it is.
And I have a fever blister on the back of my tongue.. and it sucks... So i fell off my New Year's resolution as I had a 2nd Coke. It cools and helps it. Water doesn't last as long as the cola does. So strike one on my New Year's resolution. But since I didn't have one yesterday, maybe it could count towards that?
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed and cringed at Journeyman. A unwilling time traveller. Love time traveller. Anyway, I am so glad that Hulu has it-but don't know for how long. And he works for a newspaper, so how Nigh Stalker-ish is that. Not to mention that I do also, and love the parallel.
As for Trek-here is another comment about the latest Trek movie: if the Romulan could go back into time and blow up Vulcan, and Romulus and Remus are still around, why didn't he just tell the Romulans when and where and get that device there earlier so as to prevent their destruction. I know, I know.. wouldn't make for a good movie. Still....we have enough plot holes as it is.
And I have a fever blister on the back of my tongue.. and it sucks... So i fell off my New Year's resolution as I had a 2nd Coke. It cools and helps it. Water doesn't last as long as the cola does. So strike one on my New Year's resolution. But since I didn't have one yesterday, maybe it could count towards that?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Star Trek post
I have joined the Obsidian Fleet, which is a Star Trek PBeM, (Play By Electronic Mail) meaning that you have a character and you write what happens. I am enjoying it as it has helped me get beyond my writer's block. I am going to post the beginning of a story that I am posting aboard the USS Rook (I am Caruso)
Caruso and Hemingway made their way over to a table in The Forecastle, the comfortable lounge of the USS Rook that already held three other officers. Hemingway made brief introductions as they sat down and ordered something to drink.
Looking at the faces of his new ship mates, Caruso thought, ‘God, they seem to get younger all the time.’
His coffee arrived and the group looked at him.
“Don’t you drink?” Asked Hemingway.
Smelling the thick aroma, “Oh I do. It’s just been a while since I had a good cup of coffee. That was one of the things I have missed for the last couple of weeks.” Adding cream and sweetener, he took a sip and sighed.
“So why did you join Starfleet?”
As he sat with this group of officers, Caruso thought that question was SOP to be asked of anyone new joining any ship, anywhere. Taking another sip of coffee, he yawned and thought, ‘Why did everyone always seem to want to know your back story?’
“Well,” he drawled. “I wanted to see the stars. You know; travel to exotic and distant planets, meet exciting and unusual people…”
“And kill them.” This was finished by someone coming up to the table.
Caruso just shook his head, he couldn't’t believe it. Out of all the ships, stations, and planet installations; out of all the places someone could be assigned, it was almost an unwritten guarantee that you were going to end up serving alongside someone you never wanted to see again.
“Hello Ray. Been along time.”
The big man in a security officer’s uniform placed his hands on an empty chair and leaned towards him. Lt. Ray Kennedy looked at Caruso like he was dead and just didn’t know it yet.
“I heard you transferred aboard and I thought to myself ‘how lucky could I be?’”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
Leaning down so he was only three feet from Caruso, he gripped the back of the chair so hard you could hear the wood start to crack, “One day you are gonna look at death…when you’ve killed too much even for his liking. And on that day you will see my face.”
About that time the Lt. Cmdr. Thomas came over, “Everything going ok over here?”
Straightening up, “Fine sir.” Ray answered. “Just saying ‘Hello’ to an old friend.” And with that he walked away.
The XO watched him leave, then flashed an annoyed look at Caruso before moving back to the bar.
“Friend of yours?” Someone asked as Caruso watched Ray’s back retreating through the door of the lounge.
Sighing, Caruso downed his coffee even though it burned his throat, “The funny thing is; he was a friend. My best friend at one time.”
“What happened? You kill his dog?”
“No,” Caruso said and knew that coffee wasn’t going to do it now, “I killed his daughter.”
Caruso and Hemingway made their way over to a table in The Forecastle, the comfortable lounge of the USS Rook that already held three other officers. Hemingway made brief introductions as they sat down and ordered something to drink.
Looking at the faces of his new ship mates, Caruso thought, ‘God, they seem to get younger all the time.’
His coffee arrived and the group looked at him.
“Don’t you drink?” Asked Hemingway.
Smelling the thick aroma, “Oh I do. It’s just been a while since I had a good cup of coffee. That was one of the things I have missed for the last couple of weeks.” Adding cream and sweetener, he took a sip and sighed.
“So why did you join Starfleet?”
As he sat with this group of officers, Caruso thought that question was SOP to be asked of anyone new joining any ship, anywhere. Taking another sip of coffee, he yawned and thought, ‘Why did everyone always seem to want to know your back story?’
“Well,” he drawled. “I wanted to see the stars. You know; travel to exotic and distant planets, meet exciting and unusual people…”
“And kill them.” This was finished by someone coming up to the table.
Caruso just shook his head, he couldn't’t believe it. Out of all the ships, stations, and planet installations; out of all the places someone could be assigned, it was almost an unwritten guarantee that you were going to end up serving alongside someone you never wanted to see again.
“Hello Ray. Been along time.”
The big man in a security officer’s uniform placed his hands on an empty chair and leaned towards him. Lt. Ray Kennedy looked at Caruso like he was dead and just didn’t know it yet.
“I heard you transferred aboard and I thought to myself ‘how lucky could I be?’”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
Leaning down so he was only three feet from Caruso, he gripped the back of the chair so hard you could hear the wood start to crack, “One day you are gonna look at death…when you’ve killed too much even for his liking. And on that day you will see my face.”
About that time the Lt. Cmdr. Thomas came over, “Everything going ok over here?”
Straightening up, “Fine sir.” Ray answered. “Just saying ‘Hello’ to an old friend.” And with that he walked away.
The XO watched him leave, then flashed an annoyed look at Caruso before moving back to the bar.
“Friend of yours?” Someone asked as Caruso watched Ray’s back retreating through the door of the lounge.
Sighing, Caruso downed his coffee even though it burned his throat, “The funny thing is; he was a friend. My best friend at one time.”
“What happened? You kill his dog?”
“No,” Caruso said and knew that coffee wasn’t going to do it now, “I killed his daughter.”
Saturday, January 2, 2010
I Wish I Had Said This
I found this quote on a Blake's Seven web site, and I couldn't have said it better my self when it comes to movies like the new Star Trek or Avatar.
IMO, these films "discard good story telling for over blown visual effects."
Look at the original Star Trek and Blake's 7; even the old Dr. Who. These had stories. And any detractors to my statement: they just MADE a NEW Star Trek movie and there is a NEW Doctor. The ideas of those stories have survived. Too bad the actual stories and ideas didn't. It just proves that today's movie goers like shiny things and have no concept of a story.
IMO, these films "discard good story telling for over blown visual effects."
Look at the original Star Trek and Blake's 7; even the old Dr. Who. These had stories. And any detractors to my statement: they just MADE a NEW Star Trek movie and there is a NEW Doctor. The ideas of those stories have survived. Too bad the actual stories and ideas didn't. It just proves that today's movie goers like shiny things and have no concept of a story.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year - New Resolutions
Happy New Year!
Here are my 2010 New Year's resolutions:
Write everyday
Go to church once a week
No more than 1 soda a day
According to the post count on here I had 164 for the year of 2009. Of course that doesn't take into the things I wrote that I didn't post or the multiple posts I made on the same day. Still, I started strong last year. And I tried to give up soda for 1 year. I made it to March. Which isn't bad. Also, I really cut back on my soda intake, so it helpped. Thats why I am saying a soda day. Not that I have to drink a soda a day, but limiting it to 1. When I am at my part time job I have been drinking sweet tea. And I try to drink water when I am at home. So we shall see.
Also, I will post what I am writing on here also. I am writing on a couple of Star Trek PBeM sites, so I will post what I post there on here. I must say that has helped my writer's block.
I wish I had more to say-you know, something profound or something that would get me the ability to just write and get paid for it. I always wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.
In closing, its 19 degrees now at 3:11 pm in Columbia, Missouri. Mizzou lost to Navy yesterday 35 to 13. I have great friends.
Here are my 2010 New Year's resolutions:
Write everyday
Go to church once a week
No more than 1 soda a day
According to the post count on here I had 164 for the year of 2009. Of course that doesn't take into the things I wrote that I didn't post or the multiple posts I made on the same day. Still, I started strong last year. And I tried to give up soda for 1 year. I made it to March. Which isn't bad. Also, I really cut back on my soda intake, so it helpped. Thats why I am saying a soda day. Not that I have to drink a soda a day, but limiting it to 1. When I am at my part time job I have been drinking sweet tea. And I try to drink water when I am at home. So we shall see.
Also, I will post what I am writing on here also. I am writing on a couple of Star Trek PBeM sites, so I will post what I post there on here. I must say that has helped my writer's block.
I wish I had more to say-you know, something profound or something that would get me the ability to just write and get paid for it. I always wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.
In closing, its 19 degrees now at 3:11 pm in Columbia, Missouri. Mizzou lost to Navy yesterday 35 to 13. I have great friends.
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