Silently judging the dog.
Pop Culture Ephemera
- Edward Abbey – The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975) (Published by Harper Perennial Modern Classic): “One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain’t nothing can beat teamwork.” The unlikely grouping of eco terrorists (before we had that term) feels like the origin story of a superhero team. The wilderness guide, the Vietnam vet, the eco-feminist, and small-town doctor are an unlikely group, but that’s what usually makes the best stories. I’ve meant to read this book for decades. It’s interesting that this hasn’t been updated and adapted for a film or television show. There’s a good balance of comedy and chase scenes. I just wonder if there’s enough character development to make this worth adapting as a television series. It was an easy read, with a simple enough plot to follow. I don’t know that I’d recommend it to all readers, but if you have interest in throwing a monkey wrench into a government only interested in how much money it can make, this is a good primer.
- Arrested Development – “Emotional Baggage” (2018) (S.5 E.6) (Netflix): “The Bluth project is dead . . . because it’s going to be a streaming series.” – Michael. I know, I know. I’ve watched the first three seasons of this shows at least three to four times straight through. Yet, I’ve never finished the end of the last season. I’m back on it again. If you don’t like the Ron Howard stories, then this episode isn’t for you. The Ron Howard and Rebel Alley stuff has run its course and drags down the momentum of this episode. When we get back to Gob and Tony Wonder or Maeby and George Michael, that’s when the series still feels fresh and funny. The adventures of Tobias and Murphybrown could be there own spin-off. There are still plenty of laughs, but the series is only a shadow of those first few seasons.
- James Taylor – “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” (1975) (from Gorilla): “I needed the shelter of someone’s arms / And there you were.” Written by Holland/Dozier/Holland in 1964 and released by Marvin Gaye in 1965, this song found its master not in Motown but with singer-songwriter James Taylor. Released at a time in his life when he was feeling all the love, his wife, Carly Simon, provides harmony. The production is a nice hybrid of Motown Soul and 1975 Easy Listening; listen to those drums that start the song and that David Sanborn sax. It’s not my favorite James Taylor song, but it’s hard to imagine hating this upbeat and smooth song. My toes are tapping.
- Queer (2024) (Directed by Luca Guadagnino): “There is nothing recreational about heroin.” I got lulled in the first third of the film and forgot that it was based upon a novel by William S. Burroughs. That last act leaves no doubt. This definitely needs to be shelved next to Naked Lunch (1991). Daniel Craig is the glue that stops this film from completely falling apart. He plays William Lee in Mexico City in the mid-’50s who falls in love with a younger man. Then it falls into a drug-addled journey into South America in search of telepathy. I don’t know how else to summarize it. The lack of an actual plot made me think of the similarly gay-themed Death In Venice (1971). The film is just disconcerting. Not much is happening, then there are drug fantasies and the music is by Nirvana and Prince. It is a version of the ’50s as seen through the lens of the ’80s with current morals. Just know what you are starting when you hit “PLAY.”
- Y2K (2024) (Directed by Kyle Mooney): “They made a video and everything. That’s crazy!” Garrett. The plot seemed simple in the trailers. Eli (Jaeden Martell – young Bill from IT (2017/2019)) and his friend Danny (Julian Dennison) go to a party on December 31st, 1999. At Midnight, the computers take over and the stuff happens. That’s what I’m still trying to figure out how to tell you without just telling you what happens. After a promising first 30 minutes, it turns into the worst type of horror comedy. It’s not funny enough to be a comedy, and it’s not scary enough to hold up as a horror. I think it would have worked best as a retro-set Final Destination with computers doing the killing. Instead, it leans into being a horror version of Superbad which, while having a pleasant cast, it just can’t equal. It’s just disappointing that when Midnight hits, the film should kick into gear, but that’s when it runs out of gas and coasts to the end.
Best of the Rest
- The Marvin Gaye version of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” is considered the definitive version. Before it made its way from Marvin to JT, it stopped off with Jr. Walker & the All Stars. Not a major hit, this version is a favorite of mine because it sounds like a song that had a great routine by your local cheerleading squad. Maybe you and your friend had a dance you did to this version at The Hop.
- Entertainment Weekly (3/28/97): “Best Commercials of All-Time” #26: Maypo “Marky Maypo” (1956): “I want my Maypo.” If you don’t scour the breakfast aisle at strange stores, like me, you might not realize that Maypo is still manufactured. Calling it a cereal is a misnomer, it’s really just a maple-flavored oatmeal. The catchy commercial would be the inspiration for the “I want my MTV” campaign in the ’80s. Watch closely for the appearance of this ad in The Iron Giant (1999) when the Giant is watching television. Important early ad, but maybe not the best.
- May 8th is circled on my calendar for the return of Poker Face on Peacock. It’s been two years since the debut of the Columbo-influenced mystery-of-the-week show. I was charmed by Natasha Lyonne’s take on the ’70s detective genre. This article breaks down an incredible list of guest stars in the upcoming season. I think I’m most anxious to see Lili Taylor with Lyonne; two actors I imagine in the same niche just a dozen years removed.
Sunday Morning Tuneage Flashback
- On the Sunday Morning Tuneage from 6/4/2007 to 7/12/2009, I ranked my 100 Favorite Films of All-Time. I did one per week with the arbitrary rule that they had to air on television that upcoming week. It ended up being a pretty representative list in retrospect. A few were ranked out of order, but I stick with that list for that point in my life. The 2009 stats check out.
6 – Alfred Hitchcock films.
5 – Steven Spielberg films.
4 – Stanley Kubrick films.
4 – Billy Wilder films.
I’m going to attempt the impossible over the next 20 weeks. I’m going to use that old list as a template and rank five films a week, without planning it all out ahead of time. Remember, these are “favorite” and not necessarily “best” movies. Enjoy critiquing me along the way.
2025 Running Stats (#36-100)- 3 – Directed by Terry Gilliam
- 3 – Directed by Steven Spielberg
- 3 – Directed by Quentin Tarantino
- 3 – Directed by David Yates
- 2 – Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
- 2 – Directed by Brian De Palma
- 2 – Directed by John Hughes
- 2 – Directed by Terry Jones
- 2 – Directed by Sergio Leone
- 2 – Directed by Rob Reiner
- 2 – 1920’s
- 3 – 1940’s
- 1 – 1950’s
- 6 – 1960’s
- 14 – 1970’s
- 13 – 1980’s
- 15 – 1990’s
- 7 – 2000’s
- 3 – 2010’s
- 1 – 2020’s
- FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL-TIME (2009)
- 40. North by Northwest (1959)
- 39. On The Waterfront (1954)
- 38. Dr. Strangelove (1964)
- 37. M*A*S*H (1970)
- 36. Annie Hall (1977)
- FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL-TIME (2025)
- 40. Citizen Kane (1941) (Directed by Orson Welles): I tend to fall into the camp that this is one of the most important “style” films of all-time. I learned so much of the “language of film” from watching this and reading about it. This is about the right point in the list for it as a “favorite” to just watch.
- 39. Scarface (1983) (Directed by Brian De Palma): The twists and turns of De Palma’s career are amazing. This story wraps up so much of what the ’80s were about and they were just barely started. I’m fascinated with how this film has aged into a “hero” story.
- 38. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) (Directed by Steven Spielberg): I would fully expect to get some pushback on this being ahead of at least a dozen other Spielberg films. I feel like you have to take into account that I was 16 when this came out, and it was exactly the type of action film that I wanted every film to be.
- 37. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) (Directed by Peter Jackson): This is the middle of three films in this list that I put all together because they are interchangeable in many ways because of how I enjoy them more than most fans of the director/series. This was out just as I was leaving Lansing to move to Texas, and just before the birth of my third child. A trip to the cinema was a treat, and this was perfect for the time.
- 36. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) (Directed by Chris Columbus): The first notes of the theme take me back to a place and time. I was just coming out of seven years in the comic book/video rental business when I picked up this book on a whim. I was instantly hooked, and for a decade I would be able to share that love with my children. This is still a wonderful theater experience.
1975 in Review
- April – The Incredible Hulk #186 (Marvel Comics): Cover art by Herb Trimpe. Written by Len Wein. Art by Ernesto Patricio. The continuation of the story from last issue. First thing of note is that Betty Ross is the least consistent character of the era. I never know what she is going to do. This is example #342 of when you think you have the Hulk asleep, he’s going to wake up and destroy everyone around him.
- April 14 – A Chorus Line is performed for the first time at the New York Shakespeare Festival and it would go on to become one of the longest-running Broadway musicals of all-time.
- April 21- Sports Illustrated: Jack Nicklaus won his fifth Masters and thirteenth Major. The one stroke victory over Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller is often ranked as one of the best Masters ever. Jack would win again in 1984.
What the Hell Did I Put in My Mouth?
Nutty Buddy Creme Pies
The Nutty Buddy is having a resurgence after all of these years. It started with an ice cream a few years ago. Last year they were their own cereal. This spring, Little Debbie made a sort of hybrid of their products. The Nutty Buddy essence is peanut butter and crunchy. This one accomplishes only the peanut butter. The soft-shelled Nutty Buddy just doesn’t do much for me. A circular crunchy Nutty Buddy would have been much better.
Breyers: Campfire Collection
S‘mores
The flavor-of-the-year nominee, S’mores shows up in one of the more obvious places, ice cream. The problem here is the mixture. I had a bowl and didn’t taste the toasted marshmallow. My bowl was heavy into the chocolate swirl and graham cracker flavor. Bryers has quality ice cream and the team-up with Hershey’s was a great idea. I’m not likely to buy another quart of this, but you could do worse this summer.
7-Up: Endless Summer
What is going on with the marketing budget at 7-Up? In less than half a year, we’ve had Shirley Temple, Tropical, and now Endless Summer flavors. This summer is Endless with watermelon and strawberry. There are hints of each in this beverage, but the strawberry is what sticks with me. It’s a fun summer taste. Pass the BLT and chips.
“With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you, baby
I wanna stop and thank you baby, yes I do” – Holland, Dozier, Holland
