From the Couch Hole: Start Living for the Moment

Previously on FTCH, Rocky had a return to innocence when he went back to the future to the happy days of Caramel Corn Chex. This week was the last full week before some rest and relaxation, even though the children aren’t here until Christmas. I’m off eight days of ten, so hopefully time to catch up on a growing number of shows that have debuted this fall. I hope my readers enjoy the warmth of family or friends until we meet again next week. This week the running man finds a companion on the road to Omaha and it’s love so right. The works of man hot cocoa creamer and crackers. Remember, FTCH, body by Plymouth, Soul by Satan.

Pop Culture Ephemera

Buy The Road to Omaha

• Robert Ludlum – The Road to Omaha (1992) (Published by Random House): “You say one more word, butter skull, and you’re gonna be in a cement bathrobe at the bottom of the Potomac, do I make myself clear?” – Vinnie the Bam-Bam, CIA Director. I didn’t expect that I’d have two Robert Ludlum on my 2025 Books Read list when the year started, but here I am. Instead of political thrillers, they are both comedies. I enjoyed the twists and turns of The Road to Gandolfo (1975). This book picks up again with disgraced General Mackenzie “The Hawk” Hawkins in the middle of a complicated scam that he ropes lawyer, Sam Devereaux, into against his will. This time, The Hawk takes a role as Chief Thunder Head to bring a suit against the government for a broken treaty that will give Omaha and the Strategic Air Command to the Wopotomi Tribe. This one has some humorous scenes, but the outrageous characters from the United States government are just too over the top for this type of satire. The best characters are Desi 1 and Desi 2 who the Hawk picks up after a fight in the Boston Airport bathroom. They become valuable aids in ways that defy the stereotype of the first encounter. The book would have been better to have more like this, as Carl Hiaasen does effectively. Some laughs, but the sequel doesn’t hold up to the original.
  
• Neon Genesis Evangelion – “The Works of Man (aka A Human Work)” (1995) (S.1 E.7) (TXN): “Nerv’s reign won’t last forever.” – Jet Alone’s creator. This isn’t the best episode yet, but with all that’s going on in 30 minutes, I can see why the show has maintained popularity. The episode addresses the debate between AI-controlled robots (before we knew what to call it) and human-controlled robots. The idea to “take the heart” out of battle decision has been addressed in other mecha series, but usually with the idea of robots being a better choice as the outcome. There’s elements of the “man vs. machine” portions of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) in the philosophical arguments. I love that the opposing robot is named Jet Alone as a tribute to the Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) villain, Jet Jaguar. This latest watch is showing me much more than previous viewings.

Buy Bee Gees – Children of the World

• Bee Gees – “Love So Right” (1976) (from Children of the World): “She came on like the night and she held me tight / And the world was right when she made love to me.” They had some disco songs on their resume at this point, but the full transformation hadn’t taken place yet. This song of longing features their lovely harmonies in a way that the disco songs just won’t capture. There are echoes back to their early songs like “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart” in the way the vocals build through the song. I love this era of their music, and it brings back good memories of hearing it on local AM radio.

• Companion (2025) (Directed by Drew Hancock): “Welcome home, Beep-Boop.” – Josh. The trailer and movie posters gave away the basic conceit of the film. Josh (Jack Quaid) and Iris (Sophie Thatcher), his sexbot humanoid companion, are headed to a weekend retreat with some friends up in the mountains. The reveal isn’t the reason for the film as it might be in another day. I had a fear that this was going to be another take on Megan (2022). The opening scene hinted that there was much more going on. Iris pushing a cart down the aisle of the grocery store is a clear reference to The Stepford Wives (1975). The themes of misogyny, loneliness, and lack of social interactions in today’s society are all danced around without the exploration that could have happened. The film balances the horror-to-comedy ratio a little too self-consciously. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the film despite how hard it tried to check off all the boxes. It’s a promising entry from a director that I now want to pay closer attention.

Buy Companion

• The Running Man (2025) (Directed by Edgar Wright): “Stop filming me!” – Ben Richards. We’re getting closer. Edgar Wright was the right director for the project. What I wanted was the Edgar Wright who directed Shaun of the Dead (2004). Glen Powell was a good choice because what this story needs is less Arnold Schwarzenegger and more “everyman.” The thrill of the action was great in the theater, but the nihilistic themes of the book got lost after the first hour. We’re still waiting for the definitive adaptation of the dark vision of the future in the book. The world building of the first scenes show off Wright’s strengths. I wanted to live in that world a little longer to understand Ben’s desire to “burn it all down.” The 1987 version was a satire on the get-rich-quick elements of ’80s culture and the dumbing down of society by popular culture. Both of those themes have sailed in 2025. This film turns itself to affordable care, distrust of the government, and the power of social media on the general-public psyche. That’s closer to the book, but it still allows the film to veer from the Orwellian ideas that King explored. I encourage you to see this in theaters because it’s an old-fashioned loud, action adventure that plays well straight through, but as I ponder it from home, there’s still a different version that might come our way someday.
  

Best of the Rest

• I thought that this was some dream of mine. Or at least, it was the work of a misguided DJ from back in the day. I have rarely thought “Wow, I’d like to mix Peter Cetera with the Bee Gees.” Don’t get me wrong, I like both Chicago and the Bee Gees. But like they sing how could it “turn out to be so wrong.” This Thelma Houston and Jerry Butler mash-up (called a “medley” back in 1977) seems like it was supposed to be a disco single but who is dancing to this mess? If you listen to this, please go back and listen to the Bee Gees version at the top to cleanse your brain.

• The ad for Hawkins’ Fried Chicken is one of the more awkward tie-ins for Stranger Things (Netflix). We’re finally getting to the release of the show, and we can be done with these crossovers, no matter how much I enjoy the usual TV or movie tie-in. This is part ad, part cut-scene feel. There isn’t much context for a 90-second ad. The result is the choice of Stranger Wings or the even more confusingly named Spicy Zinger Stranger Thing Burger. I have no clue or idea what either of those would taste like or what the tie-in is to the show. Stay tuned in our near FTCH future for some thoughts on the new season.

• I had just finished typing the above note when YouTube reminded me that there was one Stranger Things ad that I had forgotten. This Target commercial works because it does look and feel like a 1987 Target or at least what I would think a Target would have looked like then. Then to flip it over to the new Target at the end is a great twist. Maybe not the action of the KFC ad but more clever.

• First, I was confused that there was still a Hugo Boss. Then I was equally perplexed at what they sold (later to find out this is a very generic sounding “fragrance”). I came to the ad only because I read on multiple sites about it being the worst ad of the year. I am always on the lookout for the best ad of the year, but I figured I should see what constitutes a bad ad. I don’t know about worst, but I’ll say that very little about this makes sense. I think we are supposed to see some connection between these three men. But all I see is what at best feels like an AI-generated ad or at worst, some terrible editing. The tagline of “Boss Recognize Boss” is throwing me into a syntax fit. I’m coming around to this being the worst ad of the year too.

Sunday Morning Tuneage Flashback

• Sunday Morning Tuneage from 1/3/2010, I’m going to pause here for a few weeks while I look deeper into my Best of 2009 lists that I released on this morning. My lists have evolved/devolved over the years. This was probably only the fourth or fifth year of standardizing my lists. In general, 2009 was a good year for pop culture and for me, I remember it positively with six-, twelve-, and thirteen-year-old children at home. I’m going to rank my Best TV of 2009 from my current perspective, holding shows responsible for what came after this year.
  
  My #82 Top TV Show of All-Time was Quantum Leap (NBC) (1989-1993): This list is paused until I move forward to the next Tuneage release.
  
• BEST TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2009 (2010)
  • 10. The Simpsons (FOX)
  • 9. Family Guy (FOX)
  • 8. Californication (SHO)
  • 7. Eastbound and Down (HBO)
  • 6. The Office (NBC)
  • 5. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
  • 4. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)
  • 3. True Blood (HBO)
  • 2. Lost (ABC)
  • 1. Fringe (FOX)
    
• BEST TELEVISION SHOWS OF 2009 (2025)
  • 10. Archer (FX): It had just started in the Fall of 2009. It would last 14 more years of pretty high quality animated comedy. I didn’t have the imagination back in 2009 to see how they would keep evolving their stories.
  • 9. True Blood (HBO): This show surprised me out of the gate because I had read the first few books and expected much more of a drama. It quickly turned into a trashy soap-opera guilty pleasure, right through until the end.
  • 8. Community (NBC): I do remember being skeptical of the first few episodes. Then it just took off into creative craziness. There were some rocky episodes, but they are almost always offset by some unique takes on the sitcom genre that would follow.
  • 7. Parks and Recreation (NBC): One of the most likable casts ever to grace the television. This is one of the few shows that I would want to live and work in. Consistent for all seven seasons.
  • 6. Lost (ABC): After such a promising start, those last few seasons were the viewers just waiting for some form of conclusion. Be careful what you wish for.
  • 5. Eastbound and Down (HBO): This maintains a high spot because of the future shows that take inspiration from this like Vice Principals (HBO) and The Righteous Gemstones (HBO).
  • 4. Castle (ABC): The series had just started that previous fall. I wouldn’t catch up with it until between Seasons Three and Four. Then I was obsessed. It’s still one of the best crime dramas with a sense of humor. The eight-season run is notable for having a satisfying last season.
  • 3. United States of Tara (SHO): I only started to catch up with this show a couple of years ago. The Diablo Cody-created show let Toni Collette really shine. I’m way more impressed with this as a drama as much as a comedy than I expected to be.
  • 2. Bored to Death (HBO): I don’t know how this wasn’t on the original list. Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman, and Zach Galifanakis make such a weird trio that somehow it works. It was one of the more unique detective shows until Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) came along.
  • 1. Fringe (FOX): The show got a little too far into its own head by the fifth season, but it gets more bonus points for making the time-travel stuff as simple as any show has managed to do. This was the best FOX has done to giving me X-Files (FOX) satisfaction since the show ended.
  • Unrated. Breaking Bad (AMC): The show started in 2008. I was still four years away from catching up with it. It’s a show that stands out so much better than the other shows, that I’m reluctant to even put it on a list because it’s just that superior. I just didn’t know that in 2009.

Buy Fringe: The Complete Series

1975 in Review

• November – Sad Sack Comics #247 (Harvey Comics) Written and Cover Art by George Baker. Interior art by Fred Rhoad. The Sad Sack character was created by Sgt. George Baker during World War II as a typical soldier who caught every bad break. The most famous enlisted cartoonist had been Bill Mauldin. The most famous character to come out of enlisted comics was G.I. Joe. The character that was most beloved was Sad Sack. George Baker passed away in March 1975. The Harvey Comic book ran from Sept. 1949 until Oct. 1982. The character was even inspiration for a 1957 film starring Jerry Lewis.
• November 22 – Juan Carlos de Borbon was installed as the first King of Spain since 1931. He would rule until June 19, 2014. Francisco Franco had passed away on November 20th and would be buried in Madrid on November 23rd.
• November 17 – Sports Illustrated article entitled “Mayhem”. The Summer of 1975 featured the trial of Dave Forbes of the Boston Bruins for assault of an opponent. That seemed to be a one-off until November 1975 when Detroit Red Wings’ Dan Maloney took a flying punch on Toronto Maple Leaf’s Brian Glennie and bounced his head off the ice twice causing a concussion. An Ontario attorney filed assault charges against Maloney that he would later be exonerated. He had already received a $50 fine from the NHL for the hit. The Philadelphia Flyers were the most penalized team over the past four seasons, and they had won two Stanley Cups. The call to end fighting had been going on for 50 years previously and would continue for the next 50 years. This article predicted that the sport would lose television exposure if they didn’t put a stop to the violence.

What the Hell Did I Put in My Mouth?

“She moved in like a friend, started loving me
And I thought I’d found my heaven in her arms
But the morning when I woke-up
I was here and she was gone
Now I’m hanging on” – Bee Gees