It’s been wickedly hot across the country. It’s been hotter in Portland and Seattle than in New Orleans; that’s some weird shit. We all have air-conditioning and most of my friends in the PNW do not. Imagine how hot Paco the Maine Coon mix was during the heat wave. It’s hard having a luxurious fur coat.

I’m sticking with a witchy/magical theme this week. How can I follow Witchcraft with a chirpy tune? I used a painting by proto-surrealist artist William Blake since Magritte and Ernst are overheated and didn’t feel up to it. I know, dead guys can’t suffer from heat stroke, but some humor was in order.

Chris Isaak wrote this week’s theme song in 1989 for his Heart Shaped World album, which established him as a major rock star. The video for Wicked Game established him as a major heartthrob. Some guys have all the luck.

We have three versions of Wicked Game for your listening pleasure: the sexy video, a 2006 live version, and Tom Ellis at the piano in Lucifer.

Dr. A and I watched the second half of season 5 of Lucifer this week. It had its ups and downs, but an emphatic up was Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam in which the gang broke into song at the behest of God played by Dennis Haysbert. I was three years behind God at San Mateo High School. Go, Bearcats.

Here’s one of the songs featured in that thrilling episode of Lucifer:

Now that we’ve gone to hell and back, let’s jump to the break where more wickedness awaits.

I promised more wicked awesome songs, here they are.

We begin our second act by skipping it altogether. Between the news cycle and 13th Ward Rambling, there was so much going on this week that something had to give. Apologies. We’ll have a proper second act next week. Pinky promise.

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: CSPAN published its fourth presidential survey. The Kaiser of Chaos debuted at number 41. The guy below was number 2.

Speaking of Bearcats, Barry Bostwick also went to San Mateo High. He had matriculated by the time I was there, but I knew one of his cousins.

Back to presidents. I’d rank GW third behind FDR and Lincoln. Woodrow Wilson continues to slip in the rankings whereas Grant and GW Bush are on the rise. I approve of the former but I’m bewitched, bothered, and bewildered by the latter. Oh well, it gives me an excuse to post a version of that tune I didn’t use the last Friday in June.

The Movie List: Gene Tierney was plagued by personal problems and mental illness, so her film career was short with only 41 credits. But she appeared in a string of great movies. Hence this list.

My Top Ten Favorite Gene Tierney Movies

1.   Laura
2.   Night and the City
3.   Leave Her To Heaven
4.   Heaven Can Wait
5.   Where The Sidewalk Ends
6.   Whirlpool
7.   Dragonwyck
8.   The Razor’s Edge
9.   Advise and Consent
10.  Rings On Her Fingers

We go from a list with two movies with heaven in their titles to America’s favorite demon.

Saturday GIF Horse: Lucifer’s Maze. Say no more.

One Maze deserves another:

Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.

Saturday Classic: Humble Pie front man Steve Marriott had a wicked voice. I recall seeing him live and being astonished that such a big voice resided in such a small body. Marriott was 5’4″.

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to DB Woodside, Dennis Haysbert, and Tom Ellis of Lucifer fame: