I went out for dinner for the first time since falling ill. It was our anniversary, so we went to our favorite special occasion eatery, Brigtsen’s. I usually have two cocktails but only had one because I haven’t been drinking. It was good to do something normal even if I was worn out by the outing.

It’s hot, hot, hot in New Orleans this week. Hence the Joan Miro featured image, Summer. I decided to decouple The Kinks and Salvador Dali after two weeks together and went with Dali’s fellow Catalan. Does that make it goodbye Dali week? Discuss amongst yourselves.

Ray Davies wrote this week’s theme song in 1984. It’s the title track of the same Kinks album from whence Living On A Thin Line came. That news came to me via Word Of Mouth:

Cassandra wrote about pop songs this week. This is a pretty good one that has the same title as The Kinks tune. The Mike in question is Mike Rutherford of Genesis.

Ready for another mouthy song?

We begin and end our second act with a review of a Showtime series.

A Gentleman In Moscow is based on a 2016 novel by Amor Towles. I’ve heard good things about the book but haven’t read it. I have, however, seen the 8-part mini-series based on the novel.

The series is a whimsical look at the fate of a Russian aristocrat after the Bolsheviks came to power. Alexander Rostov is the sort of person I usually wouldn’t have any sympathy for, but Ewan McGregor’s performance is so compelling that you wind up falling in love with his character.

The reason I called the series whimsical is this set up: Instead of being executed or sent to Siberia, McGregor is placed under lifetime house arrest at The Hotel Metropole. He’s under the protection of some powerful Commies, so the sentence sticks.

The series spans the years 1922-1953 at which time McGregor finally attempts an escape before disappearing. During that time period, McGregor’s character goes from being a somewhat haughty guest to one of the hotel staff, which gives him a family to replace the one he lost.

I was charmed by the first three episodes but got a bit frustrated since I’m well-versed in the history of the time. The story really comes together in the fourth episode, so patience is in order. It’s worth it.

The cast is marvelous, but the real star is the setting, The Hotel Metropole, which like the Hotel California is a place you can’t check out from; at least that’s true for A Gentleman In Moscow.

Suspension of disbelief is called for when watching a series in which Russians all speak English but the series is so charming that I gladly set aside my skepticism and went along with Alexander Rostov’s ride. Charm and whimsy are in short supply in 2024, after all.

Here’s the trailer:

We watched the series weekly, but I think it’s best binged. I might not have experienced any early frustration that way.

Grading Time: A Gentleman In Moscow is a charming fable with a great star performance by Ewan McGregor. I give it  3 1/2 stars and an Adrastos Grade of B+

The last word of our second act goes to Benny Goodman:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: Many actors have played Lucky Luciano over the years, Rock impresario Bill Graham played him in Barry Levinson’s Bugsy. He’s the only Lucky I’ve ever met, so here he is.

FYI, I told a funny BG story in my 2019 tribute to Art Neville.

Pondering Charlie Lucky gave me an earworm from the mob musical Guys and Dolls. Nobody sings it better than Francis Albert:

Your Weekly Oscar: Don’t stomp off to or from the Savoy. Why? We have an OP doubleheader: first with the trio followed by our hero backing up Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson? That goes for Ella and Louis too.

Best Of Johnny: We’ve had a surfeit of charm and whimsy in this post, it’s time for some raucous belly laughs.

Saturday GIF Horse: Speaking of fictional gangsters,  The Sopranos are never far from my mind. Here’s Paulie Walnuts sunbathing outside the Pork Store. Don’t try this at home or anywhere else for that matter.

I wonder if Sam the Sham does that at his Jersey Shore pad? Cue obligatory Springsteen video filmed at Asbury Park on da shore:

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

Saturday Closer: I’ve had pop songs on my mind since Cassandra’s aforementioned post about perfect pop songs. This song about my other hometown is pop perfection from Steve Perry and Journey:

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to the cast of A Gentleman In Moscow: