One of my correspondents, James H. Burns, writes: "I have a piece in today's Sunday New York Times. I don't quite get around to how I once invented the word 'gore-or' — as in 'gore-or movies' — but I think there may be some neat stuff in there on our country's Halloween legacy of fantasy films, and an unfortunate problem that's arisen, in how some horror movies are promoted." Here's a link to the piece which makes, I think, a good point. Not everyone wants to see (or can handle) some of the more graphic bloodshed in movies today. Especially around the dinner hour.
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Lou Jacobi, R.I.P.
We're losing our funny people too rapidly. The above pic is of a hilarious man named Lou Jacobi who you may remember from Woody Allen's movie of Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask. Mr. Allen used to — and may still for all I know — cite Jacobi as the perfect comic actor…the guy who'd get every single laugh it was possible to get in a scene…and then some. Neil Simon felt much the same way about him. The general public may not have known the name of Lou Jacobi but among folks who create comedy for a living, he was very well respected.
I don't have any great stories about the man, I'm afraid. I met him once on the phone and once on the set of The Dean Martin Show, where he was a regular for a couple of years. He spent much of this time on that series annoyed that he didn't get to rehearse with Dean. That was a point of annoyance with many actors who worked that show, especially stage-trained actors…and that's what Jacobi was, scoring his greatest successes on or around Broadway. But his co-workers didn't mind too much when Lou was riled because Lou was very funny when he was riled. He was very funny when he wasn't riled, too. He just left us at the age of 95 and I'll bet he was funny right up until the second he died…and then some.
Cat, Interrupted
Hey, remember I announced that The Garfield Show was debuting on Cartoon Network this Monday? Well, it said so on the Cartoon Network website and it said so on my TiVo schedule. In fact, it still says so on the TiVo schedule and I have a "season pass." But some time yesterday, it disappeared from the Cartoon Network schedule. Other shows are now in those time slots and I'll bet they, not the cat, will be broadcast next week.
No one involved with the series on our end seems to have any idea wha' happened…and it seems that Cartoon Network does not yet even have the shows to broadcast, though the deal has (I'm told) been signed. This channel is doing a big week-long Halloween promotion, airing spooky-themed shows, and I'm guessing the folks there got their signals crossed. Someone wanted to delay our premiere until after that and someone else didn't get the memo and stuck it on the schedule prematurely. Or something. Anyway, when I have more info, I'll post it here. If you see them running any promos, let me know.
Recommended Reading
I've pretty much lost interest in the Roman Polanski matter but I did read this overview of the case, which strikes me as a pretty fair account. It reinforces my feeling that justice was largely trampled when this matter was first in the courts. I have a hefty prejudice against plea bargains but won't rule out the possibility that maybe, to those close to the case at the time, the "settlement" made more sense than it does now from afar. I just don't see that any resolution of the current matter is going to make any sense at any time.
Today's Video Link
Doug Molitor (hi, Doug!) tells us the twelve worst things you can say in a Hollywood pitch meeting. I am proud to report I've never said some of these…
Recommended Reading
Thomas F. Schaller on the U.S. Postal Service. Over the years, I've written my share (and probably some other folks' shares) of jokes about lethargic or insane postal employees. I've also done what everyone does, which is to blame the post office when I was tardy in mailing something to someone. The truth is I think the post office does a great job providing a vital service for fees that, since they can't raise 'em by fiat, pretty much guarantee they'll always be operating at a loss. In this blog post follow-up, Schaller adds another point to his argument.
Wouldn't It Be Loverly?
So they're saying a new surgical procedure may enable Julie Andrews to get her singing voice back…
Custard's Last Stand
It is customary when a TV or movie celeb dies for his or her fans to place flowers on the celeb's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Comedian Tim Powers just e-mailed me from the star for Soupy Sales to let me know what an inspiration the departed comic was…and to show me that someone has left a pie there.
What Is "Set the TiVo?"
Attention, most of my friends. You all know Chris Valada…lawyer, photographer, horsewoman. The lady married to Len Wein. You all know how smart she is. Well, let's see how smart she is on Jeopardy! Tune in on Monday.
Good Morning, Internet!
Let's see if things are funny again today. If not, I'll work on Groo…
Working Late
I've passed the stage where everything is funny. I'm now in the stage where nothing is funny. Time to go to bed. Good night, Internet.
More on the Soupman
L.A. Times obit on Soupy, who is much-mourned across Ye Olde Internet this morning. I can't imagine any current local performer meaning so much to viewers that they'll care like this when he or she goes.
Today's Video Link
All-around silly person Barry Mitchell wrote and performed a tribute song that was performed at a Soupy Sales birthday dinner at the Friars Club in New York. Here's the video version…
Update
Back in this item, I linked to a Fred Kaplan article about how the Army was cooking the books (sort of) when it reported on its success in recruitment. Fred has now issued this article which corrects, clarifies and amplifies on his earlier piece. If you read the first one, you oughta read this one.
Recommended Reading
An article about the recent Hollywood Collectors Show. I always find those events fascinating for the intersection of stars — some of whom haven't worked in a long time, some of whom worked last week — with folks who've always wanted to meet them.