Wake me when football season starts.
Pop Culture Ephemera
- John D. MacDonald – The Green Ripper (1979) (Published by Fawcett Publications): “Being an adult means accepting those situations where no action is possible.” This is the 18th Travis McGee novel of what will be a 21-novel series. It’s my third, and I’ve already seen an evolution of the character from the post-Watergate paranoia of 1975 to the rise of terror cells in 1979. MacDonald is a great writer, which is why I’ll continue reading this character. This story puts McGee undercover with an SLA type terrorist group in order to get revenge for a murder. It suffers a bit from having less of his sidekick, Meyer. I don’t know the character well enough, but his almost Jason Bourne-like abilities in the last act feels out of place. It’s an easy summer read, and soon I’ll move on to number 19.
- R.J. Decker– “The Needle and the Damage Done” (S.1 E.3) (ABC) (2026): “So, this is the house of the gentleman you believe dressed up as a sea cucumber to kidnap his high-school bully at gunpoint.” I liked the pilot episode, but I’ve been slow at keeping up with the show. This is much better than an ABC detective show has a right to be. There are a dozen of these “Generic Character Name” shows on each network. This one shines because it sticks close to the themes of the Carl Hiaasen backstories. The simple investigation of a wealthy Florida couples’ son abduction by a mascot keeps taking fun twists. The show works because even the short-term characters have great details that flip the usual tropes on their heads. I’m worried that such creativity won’t be rewarded with a second season. Bonus points for the references to the Neil Young song in an episode about drug addiction.
- Paula Abdul – “Straight Up” (from Forever Your Girl) (1988): “Is it gonna be you and me together oh, oh, oh / Or are you just having fun?” This song captures so much of the vibe of that late 1988/early 1989 culture. It’s got all those elements of New Jack Swing. It’s ultra produced with hooks on top of hooks and drums that never disappear in the mix. It’s amazing that this was the third single off the album, when it’s clearly the best song on the album. There have been hundreds of remixes, I swear, but I still love this original. The video, directed by David Fincher, with Arsenio Hall cameo was part of the reason that this succeeded. I don’t know that there was a video in heavier rotation at the time. It’s hard not to miss those innocent days when you hear this song again.
- No Other Choice (2025) (Directed by Park Chan-wook): “Do you know what I’m feeling right now? I have it all.” – Yoo Man-su. The premise is brilliant. Man-su is fired by his paper company. In order to make sure he gets his next job, he develops a plan to murder the rivals that could stand in his way. Like fellow Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite (2019), it is beautifully filmed, centers around family, and has a number of social commentaries happening all at once. I don’t know why this didn’t get more attention when it was out at the end of last year. Lee Byung-hu is award worthy as Man-su who seems to cross back and forth over the morality line of what he intends to do. There are so many moments when the film feels like it could go off the rails and become cartoonish or mean spirited, but it maintains just the right balance. I wish more films had such impressive camerawork.
- Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0: Thrice Upon a Time (2021) (Directed by Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki): “The stage is set. How will you bring the drama to a close, Ikari?” Kozo Fuyutsuki. After having equally terrible endings to the television show, the rebirth, and then the previous film, I was skeptical of the fourth film in the series. The last film in this series was 2012, then after a bout of depression, director Anno made Shin Godzilla (2016) and got some creative energy back again. What we get is a very satisfactory conclusion a couple decades after it all started.
The film is a bit bloated in length at over 2.5 hours, but it’s so beautiful, that I never felt that I wanted it to hurry up. The film has two distinct parts. We start with a quiet first half of the film with Shinji in the future, in a village, able to gather his thoughts and contemplate his relationships. The battles of the second half are rewarded by this depth of characterization. The film gives Anno time to allow each of the main characters to close their arcs. The themes of dealing with change and trauma are finally fully explored. If I was going to see any of these in theaters, it would be this very lovely finale.
Best of the Rest
- There are covers and then there are reimaging versions. Norah Jones strips the song down to her voice and a piano. Her ability to add the jazz elements turns the song into a contemplative love song. This version should be a staple at her concerts. I’m waiting for someone to find a perfect use in a film or show. I couldn’t love this more.
- Mountain Dew isn’t messing around this summer with their Halloween release. Since 2019, they had been releasing a Voo-Dew flavor that was mystery-candy flavored. Last year, they dropped the mystery and had a Zero Sugar Trolli Cherry Lemon. This year, come late August (about the time that the Monster cereals drop), there will be a Mountain Dew x Trolli flavor. Count on it being super sour and seeing it reviewed here soon afterwards.
- There are a few landmarks left in the year once we get to August. The next big thing I look forward to is the release of the Monster Cereals around Labor Day. This year we’ve got another Muppet release with different box art. It’s the 55th Anniversary, and it is nowadays my official “now it’s Halloween season” for me.
Sunday Morning Tuneage Flashback
- Sunday Morning Tuneage from 8/8/2010, it was eight straight days over 100 degrees (I believe we went another twenty straight) and most of the summer over 90 since Memorial Day. I was enjoying Hung (HBO) (a show I never finished) and a show called Huge (ABC Family) that I can’t even remember now. Summer reality shows were our main entertainment with So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) about to end and the fun of Big Brother (CBS) with the season of Enzo (the “meow meow”) and the Brigade. My list of the week was influenced by a panel at the recent Comic Con that had me thinking movie posters. I don’t know that the entries will have changed as much as the order. I haven’t watched the 2013 documentary, Drew: The Man Behind the Poster (of which he also did the poster), or I’m sure I’d have an even more nuanced view of this list. Sadly, he passed away in 2025.
My #54 Top TV Show of All-Time was Undeclared (Fox) (2001-2002): This Judd Apatow show has almost disappeared from the public consciousness. It lasted a single season of only 17 episodes. The irony is that the ratings of 2001 of 7.3 million viewers placed it in the nineties in the Nielsen Ratings. Today it would be a runaway hit with those numbers. It’s easy to see it as a Freaks and Geeks (NBC) sequel. It’s a solid college-dorm comedy. The paradigm has shifted and now stories set in college mostly exist in film instead of television. The casting is the best with Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, Carla Gallo, and Charlie Hunnam. I enjoy the show tremendously, but seriously, I understand that it isn’t a #54 ranked show. It’s likely not even in the Top 100 in the scheme of things. I was overly influenced by it being only nine years removed in 2010. - BEST MOVIE POSTERS BY DREW STRUZAN OF ALL-TIME (2010)
- 10. The Goonies (1985)
- 9. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
- 8. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- 7. Cannonball Run 2 (1984)
- 6. The Muppet Movie (1979)
- 5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
- 4. Back to the Future (1985)
- 3. Blade Runner (1982)
- 2. The Thing (1982)
- 1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- BEST MOVIE POSTERS BY DREW STRUZAN OF ALL-TIME (2026)
- 10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001): The tagline “Let the Magic Begin” couldn’t have been more prescient. The poster perfectly lays out the main characters in a way the reflects their personalities. By the end of the series, they were using digital cast photos, and they were terribly boring.
- 9. Muppet Treasure Island (1996): Great colors and talk about a huge cast of characters on the poster!
- 8. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977): It’s his work on the Special Editions that catches my attention. The ships go right off the page. There’s a reason for that. All three Special Edition posters form a single triptych. This one just happens to be the best of the three.
- 7. The Muppet Movie (1979): “Frankly, Miss Piggy, I don’t give a hoot.” with Kermit in Miss Piggy’s arms over top of the rest of the cast is my favorite.
- 6. The Goonies (1985): There’s no doubt that if this came out today, it would be a photoshop version of the same thing, and it wouldn’t have half the heart of this awesome piece.
- 5. Big Trouble in Little China (1986): Not the only Kurt Russell film to make the list, but he’s the huge star of this poster. Over the years of looking at it, I’ve come to love the portrayal of Kim Cattrall over the credits on the poster.
- 4. Adventures in Babysitting (1987): I too often forget his great work on this poster. It’s an upgrade from The Goonies (1985), with the cast on the rope and the great Chicago architecture in the background.
- 3. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999): Talk about a poster outpacing the film. I’d give Drew credit for doing that multiple times through his career. This poster with Darth Maul’s eyes staring at you through the top of the poster are haunting. It built up a type of film that it just couldn’t deliver.
- 2. Back to the Future (1985): There’s lots to love about this poster. The flames below Marty’s legs and him looking at his watch. I remember how I wanted to see this film after only seeing the poster.
- 1. The Thing (1982): The faceless alien with light bursting out from under that hood is what comes to mind when I think of this film. Of all of his iconic posters, this one is definitive for me.
1976 in Review
- August – Captain America #200 (Marvel Comics): Cover by Jack Kirby. Written by Jack Kirby. Art by Jack Kirby. Two hundred issues later, the King Kirby can still draw this character better than anyone ever. That cover should be a poster. The Royalist Elite are going to detonate a madbomb on the Bicentennial to create sonic waves that will drive Americans mad and allow them to take over the government. I think S.H.I.E.L.D. and Cap might save the country at the last moment.
- August 1 – The 1976 Summer Olympics ended in Montreal. On the last day, Teofilio Stevenson (Cuba) won the Heavyweight boxing gold medal and East Germany beat Poland for the soccer gold.
- Aug. 14-20 – TV Guide. Amazing cover art by Al Hirschfeld. Every time he did a cover, the game was to find where he put his daughter’s name “Nina” in the pencil lines. There was lots going on in August 1976. Peter Falk was intensely protective of the Columbo character, demanding a level of control over the character’s writing and directing that was unique for the era. The Republican Convention was about to get complete coverage from Kansas City by ABC, NBC, and CBS as Ford and Reagan battled it out. There was a nice article on the upcoming debut of Jim Henson’s new program, The Muppet Show in syndication.
What the Hell Did I Put in My Mouth?
Oreo: BTS
I’ve never had a hotteok Korean pancake that these are based upon. I’m willing to try one after tasting these cookies. The first purple Oreo biscuit opens up some possibilities. The brown sugar pancake creme has a hint of molasses and maple syrup. They aren’t terrible, but I lean towards the more chocolate-based offerings. I can see that if you like the pancake that these would be a popular offering.
H.E.B. Wavy Chips:
Caesar Dressing
The idea is sometimes better than the execution. In general, some of the worst flavors I’ve ever experienced are salad-dressing based, so I was leery. I don’t even have a great idea of what makes Caesar Dressing unique. The wavy chip is my favorite, so this was a no-brainer. What I tasted was like a sour cream and onion chip with a Romano cheese aftertaste. It wasn’t great, but it was edible. I wouldn’t buy these again, but I was able to finish the bag (with a little assistance from the dog).
Pepperidge Farm: Maggie’s Apple Pie
The cookies are named after the company founder, Margaret Rudkin. They taste like something your grandmother would have had on a plate for a snack. The cookie itself tastes like very buttery pie crust. Maybe too buttery for my own taste, but it tastes “old fashioned” to me. The apple flavor was decent, but too “fake” for my preference. While it has pie-filling consistency, it’s a little like apple-juice flavored. No matter, I was able to finish them quickly. This is still one of our best quality brands.
“Time’s standin’ still
Waitin’ for some (waitin’ for some) small clue (oh, let me tell you)
I keep getting chills
When I think your love (when I think your love) is true” – Paula Abdul
