Here comes the sun.
Pop Culture Ephemera
- Frank Herbert – God Emperor of Dune (1981) (Putnam): “When I need to identify rebels, I look for men with principles.” Herbert took five years after Children of Dune (1976) to figure out he needed to take the story 3,500 years into the future and let Leto, the son of the Messiah, Paul Atreides, become a God. Leto isn’t a religious god, but he’s a creation that I can only describe as what Nietzsche would come up with as an all-powerful being. My complaints about books two and three were consistently about the length of discussions and the lack of any thrilling action. This book remembers to have some action, mostly structured around a rebellion to Leto’s rule and the protection he receives from our old friend, Duncan Idaho. Did I mention that Leto Atreides has become a worm? He’s a precursor to Jabba the Hutt, if Jabba liked to have his trusted advisor Moneo around instead of Slave Leia. I enjoyed the action more than the previous two books, but Herbert can’t resist having Leto the Hutt have philosophical discussions for pages at a time with Duncan and Moneo.
- MST3K – “Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster (1966)” (1991) (S.2 E.13) (COMEDY): “James Bond is back as the spy with the biggest crab claw you’ve ever seen in your life! Double-O crab.” – Servo. The last episode of the second season is the last episode to air on Comedy Channel before moving to Comedy Central for the third season. After riffing on five straight Gamera films during the KTLA season, this is their second Godzilla film in a row. This is the most superior of the Japanese monster films that they have riffed. The appearance of Mothra leads to some great Host Segments. Joel is really on for this riff. The references vary from It’s a Wonderful Life, Planet of the Apes, Red Lobster, Parliament’s “Aqua Boogie,” and Montreal Canadian’s legendary goalie, Jacques Plante. Future releases are unlikely because of Toho’s lock on their distribution rights, if you come across the DVD, pick it up immediately.
- Gordon Lightfoot – “Carefree Highway” (1974) (from Sundown): “I guess it must be wanderlust or trying to get free / From the good old faithful feeling we once knew.” The story is that this was written in a rental car on an Arizona highway (Route 74 just outside of Phoenix). That’s just detailed enough to feel legitimate. Those are some beautiful highways and you couldn’t be blamed about daydreaming about women from your past, a love that didn’t work out. This edges out “Ventura Highway” and distances from “Highway to Hell” as the best Highway song.
- Bad Ronald (1974) (Directed by Buzz Kulik): “Atranta isn’t fantasy. It’s real!… You’ll see.” – Bad Ronald. This made-for-television film was aired on ABC just before Halloween on 1974. It’s directed by made-for-television specialist director Buzz Kulik, who brought us to tears with Brian’s Song (1971). Oddball, Ronald Wilby (Scott Jacoby) lives with his mother, Elaine (Kim Hunter). He kills and buries the young sister of one of his bullies, so his mother decides the next best step is to wall up part of the house and let Ronald live there in secret. It’s a great plan until mom dies and a new couple with three young girls move in. Ronald can’t hold off his badness for long and falls in love, obsessive love, with the youngest daughter.
We are just a year removed from gremlins hiding in the fireplace in Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973). We are two years removed from another odd hiding teenager in a made-for-television film in Crawlspace (1972). This film functions as a combination of both as Ronald is a dangerous psychopath who is hidden by his family member, and he’s a stranger preying on a family from within the house. The concept that the worst horrors are coming from within our homes, our most trusted of places, is reflective of our distrust of internal affairs in 1974. This concept popped up again in the late ’80s with Hider in the House (1989), Through the Eyes of a Killer (1992), and The People Under the Stairs (1991). This film isn’t long enough to really develop the creepiness of the scenario. There would be more terror in the second half if we had time to develop Ronald’s descent over the year or more that I assume the story takes place. Watch this for the same reason you watch all of these films, for the moment that the victim realizes they are being watched through a peephole.
- When You Finish Saving the World (2023) (Directed by Jesse Eisenberg): “I’ll have a logically good thought but my feeling is still bad and that just kills me because that means my thoughts and my feelings are disconnected and I could be the most popular songwriter in the world but it still won’t solve any real problems.” – Ziggy. Nathan Fielder makes a living with cringe scenes that actually end up having a layered meaning and explore themes about why we are who we are. Director, Jesse Eisenberg’s first film is a series of cringe scenes that don’t give me any resolution.
It’s satire. I’m fairly confident of that. Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard) and his mother, Evelyn (Julianne Moore), don’t “see” each other. Ziggy is a shallow, influencer wannabe and his mother wants some ideal relationship with her son that only happens in stories. Ziggy seeks his mother replacement with his pursuit of a politically active girl at school. Evelyn pursues her son replacement with the son of a battered mother at her work. The issue is that Ziggy’s relationship is just misguided, and Evelyn’s is downright creepy. Eisenberg has created an interesting premise, but he doesn’t seem to know what to do with it. Finn Wolfhard plays cringe really well, but there’s never that moment when we really see his heart.
Best of the Rest
- It’s not that I sought out putting a Beyonce ad for Levi’s Jeans where she takes off her jeans into my blog. It just sort of happened. I don’t make the news. I just report it. When your brand is on a downturn, like Levi’s, I can’t think of a better plan than to feature Beyonce in your product.
- It’s been ten years since we had a new Butterfinger flavor. When they announce a new flavor, you pay attention. Coming soon – Butterfinger Salted Caramel. Let’s just think about that combination. It’s mouth-watering for us fans of both the Butterfinger and Salted Caramel flavors. Twix had a winner with their Salted Caramel, but this is an even better combination with the caramel and crunch combination.
- Entertainment Weekly (3/28/97): “Best Commercials of All-Time” #50 – The Veg-O-Matic. “It slices, it dices” was one of Ron Popeil’s first inventions to market. I always wanted one of these to make perfect French fries. I couldn’t find one of the really older ads, but I’m going to place this one at some point in the ’70s.
Sunday Morning Tuneage Flashback
- On the Sunday Morning Tuneage from 4/19/2009, a rainy Saturday had cancelled the boys’ baseball games, so I was relaxing and set to watch some Rangers baseball. My Best-Of list of the week was “Best Documentaries of All-Time” and I gave the #1 spot to the 7-Up series. I can’t begin to try to narrow it to ten today, and I think that’s a quality top pick. My #22 Favorite Movie of All-Time was City Lights (1931) by Charlie Chaplin. There weren’t enough Chaplin films on the list because of my methodology, but this is a fair rating if only for the boxing scene. There was a new addition to Animation Domination, Sit Down, Shut Up (FOX) and for the life of me I can’t remember a thing about it. I was excited about the developments on Fringe (FOX) and really just sad how Prison Break (FOX) was limping to an end. There was a documentary I meant to watch, and I guess I should get it off my WatchList after 15 years.
- Trouble the Water (2008) (Directed by Carl Deal, Tia Lessin): “The police are not coming out until the weather conditions get better.” – 9/11 Dispatcher. I’ve seen multiple documentaries on Hurricane Katrina, including the comprehensive Spike Lee one. This is different because it’s the experience of a person who lives here and knows everyone in the neighborhood. Kimberly Roberts was an aspiring rap star but she became a documentarian. It’s the voice of the people that tells the best stories. It’s ultimately a story of humanity and redemption. This is the story that those who choose to not leave when they can should see.
1974 in Review
- October – Superman #280 (DC Comics): Cover art by Nick Cardy. Written by Elliot Maggin. Art by Curt Swan. This cover brings back such good memories. This has to be one of the first Superman comics that I ever owned. Diamond Superman was short-lived within the book, but it was a cool look for the Curt Swan artwork. Morgan Edge serves as the villain in this era as Clark’s boss at the television station. Clark pulls a Peter Parker move to increase ratings by filming himself making rescues.
- October 2 – The Cleveland Indians announce the hiring of the first African American manager in MLB history. They chose to employ Frank “The Judge” Robinson to lead them for the 1975 season. He would earn $173,500 for the season and played in 49 games that season, batting .237.
- October 5-11 – TV Guide: Cover art by Bruce Stark. In their fourth season now, Sanford and Son (NBC) rule Friday nights and are the #2 ranked television show, just barely behind All In The Family (CBS) and almost tied with the Friday night partner Chico and the Man (NBC).
What the Hell Did I Put in My Mouth?
Monster Cereal:
Franken Berry
We’ve known Franken Berry since 1971 and this is the first time we’ve seen his frightful friend, Bennie the Bat. I now want a commercial featuring Bennie and the Bats. Like the other cereals this year, the friends would be impossible to identify in marshmallow form without the cover. The art is less exciting than the previous few years, but Bennie is cute. My dog would like a stuffed, squeaky version.
Oreo: Coca-Cola
This is the most intriguing combination of brands in 2024. My first dip is into the cookie version of the buddies. We may have had Sour Patch Kids versions of the cookies this year, but this is the most inventive the brand has been in years. The dark biscuit is said to be made with Coca Cola syrup and the red biscuit is just a dyed golden Oreo. There’s a hint of cream soda and vanilla in the creme. The final result is closer to a Vanilla Coke float, but I’m not arguing. These smell amazing, and the taste is unique and new. This is an example of why I have a passion for snack technology.
Monster Cereal:
Count Chocula
The classic Chocula is still the GOAT of the flavors. His frightful friend is a spider. How Franken Berry got the bat and the Vampire didn’t is a mystery known only to the marketing team at General Mills. I don’t love the more full-bodied depiction of the Count. His chin had been getting more elongated over the years, but it’s less pointy this year. His one tooth doesn’t speak to the healthy content of this chocolate cereal.
“Turning back the pages to the times I love best
I wonder if she’ll ever do the same?
Now the thing that I call living
Is just being satisfied
With knowing I got no one left to blame” – Gordon Lightfoot
Stay hard.
Shawn
