November has been a tough month. In fact, 2024 has been my annus horribilis. I stole that phrase from QE 2, the monarch, not the ship. For her it was 1992, for me 2024. I’ll be glad when it’s over: next year has gotta be better, right?

We had an unconventional Thanksgiving at our friend Swati’s house. It was vegetarian Indian food all the way: spicy and tasty. I dig a traditional Thanksgiving meal but this was an excellent replacement.

Befitting a tough year, I’ve chosen one of the saddest songs I know as our theme song this week. The Band are always on my mind at this time of year because I’m old enough to have attended The Last Waltz.

Robbie Robertson wrote The Moon Struck One for The Band’s 1971 album Cahoots. I’m on the record as believing that Cahoots is the group’s most underrated album.

Richard Manuel specialized in singing sad songs; none is sadder than this week’s theme song.

Here’s another sad song sung by Richard:

I never thought I’d say this but let’s lighten things up with a number by Lady Day:

Our second act is taking a holiday this week. Let’s give it a proper send off with another moon song:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Skeet Edition: This paring made me chuckle. We all need a good laugh right now.

Separated at Birth:This bird and Roy Orbison

— (@zaddysocks.bsky.social) 2024-10-13T19:26:02.395Z

Instead of giving Roy the bird, let’s play one of his last hit songs, which he co-wrote with Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. You got it?

Your Weekly Oscar: I don’t think I’ve ever posted a song with thou in the title before. I’m not big on all that biblical shit. But what’s not to love about Oscar Peterson, Richard Rodgers, and Stephane Grappelli?

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

I love him so much that I’m posting a picture of the OP statue in Ottawa, Ontario.

Trivia time: OP went to whatever Canadians call high school with the great actor Christopher Plummer. Plummer played the OG Kaiser of Chaos in the 2017 movie, The Exception:

What happens if you spill when you’re wearing a chestful of medals? I’m a spiller, so this is a practical question for me. Who the hell wants a wine stained iron cross?

The Best Of Johnny:  Let’s circle back to the recent holiday with an epistolary segment from The Tonight Show.

Damn, lapels were wide in 1977. Give me skinny lapels and ties any day.

Saturday GIF Horse: I’ve always thought the turkey pardoning was weird. In the GIFs below, Obama’s turkey was much more tranquil than Reagan’s. It looks as if Barack was going out of his way to embarrass his daughters.

I beg your pardon, I never promised you a turkey pardon in the Rose Garden:

That segment calls for some fiddle music by Papa John Creach:

I met Papa John several times. Lovely man with a wicked sense of humor.

Celebrity Ad Corner: What are the holidays without a splash of Bourbon? It’s what Bette and Ella would want. Never argue with them.

Did Bette Davis do anything without smoking? Discuss amongst yourselves while listening to this Smithereens song:

Skeet Of The Week: The toon speaks for itself.

Please enjoy my cartoon in today's Toronto Star

— Theo Moudakis (@theomoudakis.bsky.social) 2024-11-21T13:08:37.601Z

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

Saturday Closer: If you thought concept albums were a rock thing, think again. This 1962 Peggy Lee album is a hidden gem that takes us on a musical journey across America. Adding to the awesomeness are the arrangements by Quincy Jones.

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to the Moon: