My insomnia is back so I’ll keep it short and snappy. We’re still experiencing Winter Weather Whiplash and I’m still dubious about Carnival 2021. If it happens, I may turn into a Carnival Scrooge for this year. Bah humbug.
This week’s theme song was written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter for the Dead’s 1987 album, In The Dark. It’s my favorite Dead studio album and I’ve studiously listened to them all.
We have two versions of When Push Comes To Shove for your listening pleasure: the studio original and a live version from NYE 1987. Jerry was not in good voice that night, but Brent Mydland makes up for it with some pianistic perfection. The guitar player is pretty good too.
It’s time for a trip to Disambiguation City with a Van Halen tune with the same title.
Go ahead and jump to the break.
Are you expecting Van Halen? Too obvious. Here are The Rolling Stones with Brian Jones: getting circusey. Is that a word?
It’s a gas to begin our second act with a piece from the world of sports. Is it wild or wide? You decide.
The Jackie Robinson Of The NFL: Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball. His UCLA football teammate, Kenny Washington, integrated the NFL. Everyone’s heard of Jackie, few have heard of Kenny.
Slate’s Joshua Newman ponders this discrepancy. In part, it boils down to temperament: Jackie was fiery, Kenny was quiet. That shouldn’t matter, Kenny Washington should be remembered.
Follow The Yellow Brick Doc: I’m already on the record as an Olivia Nuzzi fan. This time she looks into the mysterious candidacy of Ahmet Oz whose handlers are keeping him away from the media. It’s odd for such a media whore but he has that pesky residency problem. Get thee to NYMag.com.
In the spirt of avoiding the obvious, the last word of our second act goes to Jefferson Starship with a song with Oz as a component of the title:
We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.
Separated At Birth Casting Edition: Phil Spector was a wealthy has been when he killed wannabe starlet Lana Clarkson. Al Pacino played the diminutive Spector in the HBO movie about the murder case. Al is short too.
Spector was crushed when River Deep Mountain High didn’t become a big hit. It really should have: it contains one of Tina’s best vocals.
The Movie List: Robert Duvall turned 91 on January 5. That’s all the inspiration I needed for this week’s list.
My Top Ten Favorite Robert Duvall Movies
- The Godfather/Godfather II
- Lonesome Dove
- Network
- Apocalypse Now
- Tender Mercies
- The Great Santini
- True Confessions
- The Natural
- The Apostle
- Open Range
Lonesome Dove, of course, was a teevee mini-series but it’s too brilliant to exclude.
Saturday GIF Horse: Dr. Oz shrugs. Sounds like an Ayn Rand reboot.
Celebrity Ad Corner: I hope Fred MacMurray was hungry when he did this 1937 ad. Wait, it’s a drawing. Never mind.
Fred was notoriously frugal. I suspect het got some cases of Campbell’s Soup as part of the deal.
I wonder if they asked Fred to endorse this soup too. Carole King did it for the chirren.
Tweet Of The Week: I felt snarky for a variety of reasons on Twelfth Night. I offered some unsolicited advice for the twitteratti:
I have a novel solution for people muting all references to the Dipshit Insurrection. Stay off Twitter for the day. It's good for your mental health.
— Shecky (@Adrastosno) January 6, 2022
Addiction is never attractive whatever form it takes.
Let’s close down this virtual honk with some more music.
Saturday Classic: I love Los Lobos. Kiko is my favorite album by the band from East LA.
That’s all for this week. The last word goes to Al Pacino and Robert Duvall in II and I’m not talking tea for two.
Nobody ever mentions “Assassination Tango” as a favorite Robert Duvall movie but it is definitely one of my favorites. Love the story, the music & the dancing.
I have not seen it. Will have to check it out.