From the Couch Hole: We Are Passengers in Time

Previously on FTCH, the Dark Knight and King Sorrow say, “Welcome to Matheson,” with very little sentimental value since I believe our time is going to come for breakfast with Peanut Butter Cinnamon Toast Crunch. This week we’re solidly into May. Sports (some of the best hockey playoffs in years, even without the Stars) continue to be the saving grace as work ramps up for Summer Terms. This week the lowdown on the little sister was that there was a secret separation from Ultraman. Wall-E arrived to clean up the Protein Doritos mess. Remember, FTCH has zero down for 39 months.

Pop Culture Ephemera

• Raymond Chandler – The Little Sister (1949) (Published by Houghton Mifflin): “She was staring after me with an expression she probably would have said was thoughtful.” The fifth Philip Marlowe novel is my favorite so far. It had been six years since The Lady In The Lake (1943) and Chandler had spent some time writing for Hollywood, including on Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944). This is a story on the surface about a lost brother, blackmail and stolen photographs. The plot serves as a device for Chandler to portray the phoniness of Hollywood and the people who make the movies. These books aren’t ones I read like the Agatha Christie stories where I put value on the solution to the mystery. Marlowe solves the crime or doesn’t solve the crime until the story is finished. He is an observer of people and places, and that’s why I have been burning through these novels over the last year.

Buy The Little Sister

• The Lowdown – “Pilot” (S.1 E.1) (FX) (2025): “A faint heart never f***ed a bobcat.” – Lee Raybon. I was drawn to this show because of the cast, but I was convinced I would follow this through after the first 15 minutes. Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) calls himself a “truthstorian.” He owns a rare bookstore and is a citizen journalist (think somewhere between private investigator and writer). The Tulsa setting feels like Fargo South in many ways. The characters that populate the town could come from a Carl Hiaasen novel if this was set in Florida. I’m still getting a pulse on the vibe of this show as part comedy, part crime drama, and full of quirky characters.
  
  Created by Sterlin Harjo, I have meant multiple times to start his first show, Reservation Dogs (FX), and maybe this will finally get me on that project. The literary and cultural references are smart, and I hope that continues through the series. References to Harold Pinter, Jim Thompson, and early Waylon Jennings (within a Bob Willis reference) are little short cuts to character that I love. The cinematography is a stand out here too, with Tulsa forming into a character that should run through this season.

Buy The Fixx – Walkabout

• The Fixx – “Secret Separation” (from Walkabout) (1986): “You touched my heart so deeply / You rescued me, now free me.” This video takes me back to a very specific time and place when the best way to hear a new song was a “video debut” on MTV. I was already a Fixx fan when this came out on their Walkabout album. I love Cy Curnin’s voice and he’s an excellent songwriter. I’ve always read these lyrics as being about soulmates across time. Is this the Fixx song that people know more than any other? I was surprised to read it hit #1 on the Billboard Album Rock charts. I saw them on this tour, but I was more into the Post-Punk/New Wave sounds of their Shuttered Room (1982) album (listen to “Stand or Fall” for some of their best work).

• Ultraman Taiga: New Generation Climax (2020) (Directed by Ryuichi Ichino): “I arrive with the wind of the galaxy! No one can match my speed!” – Ultraman Taiga. I’m starting to understand how this works. Much like the previous film I watched, Ultraman Trigger, this is a film that follows the conclusion of the Ultraman Taiga television series. I was pretty confused for the first third of the film, but I don’t watch these for the complex themes. The film does its job and gets right to multiple battles. What stands out is the return of many other Ultra Heroes to help Hiroyuki Kudo who can turn into Ultraman Taiga, Ultraman Fuma, or Ultraman Tigas. I wouldn’t want to have to describe the plot beyond the fights, but it’s an enjoyable way to spend just over an hour. The video-game influence continues to show in the characters and score, but true to the what I liked about the original shows, there’s two men in rubber suits fighting over models of buildings.

• Wall-E (2008) (Directed by Andrew Stanton): “Try blue, it’s the new red!” – Ship’s computer. This is the #34 NY Times Best Films of the 20th Century. It happens to also be arguably the best Pixar film. For me, it’s in the argument with Up (2009) and Ratatouille (2007), part of an amazing three-year run for Pixar. These three have one thing in common: storylines about adulthood, connection, and loneliness that also have elements that appeal to children. The first 30 minutes of this film is where Pixar is at their best. It’s almost a short silent film that manages to convey emotion without dialog. Director Andrew Stanton previously brought emotional storylines to life with fish in Finding Nemo (2003), but he outdoes that with robots that can bring us to tears. The more science fiction of the ’60s and ’70s that I read, the more I see the influence on the return to Earth by humans who have been gone for generations. I love The Incredibles (2004) and even Cars (2006), but they don’t bring the depth and emotions that this film taps into. I haven’t watched this in probably a decade, and I sat just as wrapped up in the film as I did in 2008.

Buy WALL•E (Criterion Collection)

Best of the Rest

• My love of noir, Nicolas Cage films, and the Marvel Universe all come together. You’d think I would feel really good about this noir that seems more Hammett than Chandler just from the preview. Cage as Ben Reilly is an interesting choice because Peter Parker is too young and just doesn’t have that dark side. I worry that it will just be Cage trying to be Bogart instead of the Sam Spade character. Having it available in B&W and whatever “True Hue” means is an interesting choice by Prime. If it’s supposed to be B&W noir, then stick with your choice and let the consumer catch up. I’ll likely be reporting back here on it in early June.

• I love that they’ve remarketed this as “the movie that ACME doesn’t want you to see” in a nod to their own cancellation of the original theatrical release. There’s so much positive about this film and the momentum it has culturally. My only concern is that an August 28th release is backed up too closely to the start of school everywhere. That only really gives it the Labor Day weekend to succeed for fail.

• The details of IT: Welcome to Derry Season Two are starting to paint a picture of what to expect. I was impressed with the way Season One crossed the differences of the book and the later two films. There was a need to work in another generation difference between the Loser’s Club of the book and film. The second season will put us back into 1935 and explore the Bradley Gang. It’s part of the book that didn’t get the same level of detail as other eras. I was hoping for the Kitchener Iron Works storyline, but that’s best saved for a final Season Three, which can tie back into Season One if told faithfully.

Sunday Morning Tuneage Flashback

• Sunday Morning Tuneage from 5/23/2010, I was lamenting that baseball season was over for the boys (although I think we’ll find that at least one of them continued to play as an All-Star). But never fear, it’s Texas and football practice was only a couple weeks away. After six years, Lost (ABC) was coming to an end and I bravely said that in a few years I would watch it again with perspective (spoiler alert: I haven’t). I was disappointed with the lukewarm finales coming up for American Idol (FOX) (the last season with Simon) and Biggest Loser (NBC). I’m not even sure what my criteria was for my Top Ten list of the week. I’m going to rethink it and try again. I believe I was trying to capture songs played at stadiums during sporting events as opposed to concerts. Alert: the Top Ten has nine new entries.
  
  My #62 Top TV Show of All-Time was The Bob Newhart Show (CBS) (1972-1978): I have rightly called this the first “adult” show that I fell in love with thanks to the beauty of syndication. You can rightly trace my love of “dry humor” to this show. With a superb structure and cast of supporting characters to play against Bob’s straight-man act, this is still a meaningful show. As much as I love the characters of Carlin and Howard, it’s his marriage to Emily (the beautiful Suzanne Pleshette) that keeps the show fresh. Track down “Over the River and Through the Woods” (S.4 E.11) to really see how their marriage helps fuel the comedy. I have convinced myself that it would rank at least this high if done again.
  
• BEST STADIUM ANTHEMS OF ALL-TIME (2010)
  • 10. Gnarls Barkley – “Crazy” (2006)
  • 9. Blur – “Song 2” (1997)
  • 8. Steppenwolf – “Born to Be Wild” (1968)
  • 7. The Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop” (1976)
  • 6. Rob Base – “It Takes Two” (1988)
  • 5. Kiss – “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975)
  • 4. Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye! (1969)
  • 3. Survivor – “Eye of the Tiger” (1982)
  • 2. Queen – “We Will Rock You” (1977)
  • 1. Gary Glitter – “Rock and Roll Part 2” (1972)
    
• BEST STADIUM ANTHEMS OF ALL-TIME (2026)
  • 10. Alan Parsons Project – “Sirius” (1982): First and most recognized as the Chicago Bulls intro song during their Jordan Championship years. What had to feel like a throwaway introduction song to start their album is now a legit “hype song.”
  • 9. Europe – “The Final Countdown” (1986): It seems to play mostly at the start of an event. I’ve heard it at hockey games, but I now associate it with UFC fights. It’s a funny anthem because while most people recognize the music, I’d venture to say most people don’t know a lyric other than the title of the song.
  • 8. Black Eyed Peas – “Let’s Get It Started” (2004): Is there a sport among the Big Four (or Six) that doesn’t play this just before the match starts? They’re careful to only play the chorus, since most of the rest of it isn’t safe for family play.
  • 7. AC/DC – “Thunderstruck” (1990): I apologize to everyone back in 2010 that I didn’t include an AC/DC song. There are any of about six of their songs that actively still play at sporting events. This is by far the one that seems to get the crowd engaged. It’s really a great “full volume” song when you are in a stadium. Similar nod to “You Shook Me All Night Long.”
  • 6. Metallica – “Enter Sandman” (1991): Once just an entry song for Yankee’s reliever Mariano Rivera, it’s now ubiquitous at baseball games. The one thing that has become clear in the stadium experience is that heavy metal and hip hop are the dominant formats to get the crowd hyped.
  • 5. Eminem – “Lose Yourself” (2002): I have read that this is on more athletes’ workout playlists than any other song. I can’t deny that the first 30 seconds of this song are iconic. I associate it with college football, but I’ve heard it at the start of NBA games also.
  • 4. Queen – “We Will Rock You” (1977): This is probably the most ubiquitous of all the songs on this list. I can’t recall a sport that I haven’t heard it at yet, and I think it’s the most dependable “get the crowd clapping” song ever written. Bonus points because what other songs also get the crowd “foot stompin'”?
  • 3. Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin'” (1981): This is and will forever be the Detroit Red Wings and Joe Louis Arena song for me. During the Championship run, “born and raised in South Detroit” would echo through the rafters there. It’s still as dependable a singalong as Neil Diamond for generations at sporting events, but there’s a reason it was the last song played when they closed “The Joe.” Side note: I did consider their “Lights” because of the iconic moments for the SF Giants during their World Series runs, but that song doesn’t have the same life outside of the city.
  • 2. Guns N’ Roses – “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987): Is that a freight train entering the stadium or is it Slash on lead guitar? I actually prefer the use of “Paradise City” to get the crowd off their feet, but this one has taken over every sporting event I’ve attended in the past decade. When I made the original list, it was “Born to Be Wild” that encouraged all of the drunken air guitars at games. Now it’s a guaranteed “five beers in” dude to stand and air guitar to this on the Jumbotron.
  • 1. The White Stripes – “Seven Nation Army” (2003): It came to stadium fame from European Soccer chants. It has migrated here to college football in particular. I love that marching bands have picked this up at the high schools around here. My son, Caleb, may have broken multiple drum sticks while playing this in percussion. My inclusion of it as the best may or may not be related to its pre-kickoff hype at the Michigan football home games. Bonus: Michigan football has perfected The Killers’ “Mr. Brightsides” between the 3rd and 4th quarters of home games, it has leaked over to their basketball games, but not included on this list because the imitators haven’t come close.

Buy The White Stripes – Elephant

1976 in Review

• May – The Flash #241 (DC Comics): Cover by Ernie Chan, Tatjana Wood. Written by Cary Bates. Art by Irv Novick. In “Steal, Flash, Steal,” the Mirror Master hypnotizes Barry Allen into thinking he’s really a criminal. There’s a Green Lantern backup story called “To Kill a Star!” I wasn’t reading these books at the time, but I do love these covers.
• May 3 – The Wings Over America tour started in Fort Worth, TX. It was McCartney’s first American performance since Candlestick Park in 1966. The tour broke his “no Beatles’ songs” rule that Paul had up to this point. The tour would be captured in the movie Rockshow (1980) filmed at the Kingdome in Seattle.
• May 17 – Sports Illustrated. The ABA comes to an end with the New York Nets defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games for their second ABA Championship in three years. Dr. J helped the league end on a high note with 37.7 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists averages in the Finals, including a Game One buzzer beater. Not long after the season ended, it was announced that the Nets, Spurs, Nuggets and Pacers would be joining the NBA.

What the Hell Did I Put in My Mouth?

“Lost in motion, locked together
Day and night, by trick of light
But I must take another journey
We must meet with other names” – The Fixx