Adrastos, Books, Comedy, Diary, Fog Of History, Lost Cause, Odds & Sods, Television

Saturday Odds & Sods: The Nightfly

It’s been cold all week in New Orleans and it’s about to get colder. Extreme weather is 2024’s jam. The cats love it because they dig the living room space heater. I hate it because our hundred+ year old house is drafty.

The featured image is of Fred MacMurray pretending to be lame in Double Indemnity. It’s appropriate for a post featuring a Donald Fagen song. Many of the best Fagen songs involve lowlifes and criminals. I’ve long called Steely Dan a louche band. Perhaps they’re a noir band as well.

This week’s theme song was written in 1982 by Donald Fagen. It was the title track of the Dan Man’s first solo album.

We have two versions of The Nightfly for your listening pleasure: the studio original and a 2019 live performance.

Speaking of louche Steely Dan songs:

We begin our second act with another Lost Cause piece. I’m not letting up until the Lost Causers do.

Another Lost Cause Monument Bites The Dust: Clint Smith is one of the best things about The Atlantic. He’s written many fine articles about the Lost Cause, which is the semi-respectable face of American racism.

The title of Smith’s latest piece says it all: Arlington’s Civil War Legacy Is Finally Laid To Rest.

A close up of the removed monument:

Who knew that Black folks were pro-Confederacy? I certainly did not.

The monument has been rescued from oblivion by Cassandra’s pal Glenn Youngkin. It will be displayed on property owned by VMI.

Sometimes the obvious song is the right choice:

Thanks, Freddie.

Documentary Of The Week: Radical Wolfe is a Netflix documentary inspired by a 2015 Michael Lewis article in  Vanity Fair. In turn, Lewis is one of the main talking heads in the movie.

As a satirist, I’ve long admired Tom Wolfe’s zippy writing style. Wolfe was fearless, taking on sacred cows wherever he found them. His politics are obscure, which is how he wanted it. He was an equal opportunity offender who became one of the most famous writers in the world.

Lewis maintains that Wolfe would have a harder time operating today. I’m inclined to agree. Fearlessness is out of fashion and partisanship is in and I say that as a card carrying member of the Democratic party. People have a harder time laughing at themselves than they did in the 20th Century. Oh well, what the hell.

Here’s the trailer:

Grading Time: I enjoyed Radical Wolfe even though I didn’t learn anything new. I give it 3 stars and an Adrastos Grade of B. It was good but it didn’t make me break out a white suit to wear in winter. Only Tom Wolfe could get away with that.

The last word of our second act goes to Todd Rundgren:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Twitter (Never X) Edition: I give you directors of a different kind:

I wonder if Christopher Wray is related to this guy:

Link Wray, not Jack the Ripper. It wouldn’t surprise me if the guy who appointed Wray as FBI director was related to Jack. He’s certainly a jack-off…

How about another Jack the Ripper song for the road?

Your Weekly Oscar: Ella and Oscar. Say no more.

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?

The Best Of Johnny: In which Bob Newhart proves he ain’t too proud to beg:

The second obvious song of this week’s post:

The Best Of SNL: Eddie Murphy’s career trajectory has been frustrating for those  of us who first saw him on SNL. He’s a brilliant comedian who has done many shitty movies. Oh well, we’ll always have his James Brown impression:

This time, I skipped the obvious song. I can’t find my hot pants…

Saturday GIF Horse: The Cary Grant Dozen was a big hit with our readers. Hence this Bringing Up Baby GIF:

Poor Archie. At least he didn’t drop Hepburn.

Things You Don’t Know About Me: I’ve always sung to my pets. They seem to like it, certainly more than people with any discernment. Claire Trevor has her own song. All you have to do is change Peg to Claire and Walter’s your uncle. I decided to give Bob the day off.

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

Saturday Closer: Alert readers will know that Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs are friends and musical associates. Remember the Dukes of September show I posted last month? Here’s an audio only Boz show:

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to Tom Wolfe and his typewriter:

3 thoughts on “Saturday Odds & Sods: The Nightfly”

  1. Agreed that Eddie Murphy’s “Hot Tub” is one of the funniest things he did. His movies, meh.

  2. FBI Director Wray must have doppelgänger genes because I see him separated at birth from musician Chris Isaak and actor Kurt Russell. Now Christopher Nolan. My goodness!

    1. I have not seen those. Thanks for telling me., There may be a Chris Wray Sequel. Stay tuned.

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