• Vladimir de Pachmann hated music critics and especially a critic who worshipped Chopin. At a concert he knew the critic would attend, de Pachmann walked out on stage, holding a pair of socks. He announced to the audience that these socks had been worn by Chopin himself, then he draped the socks over the piano and played a concert of Chopin's works. The next day, the critic visited de Pachmann and asked to see the socks and perhaps even touch them. De Pachmann granted the critic's request, and the critic kissed the socks reverently. Later, de Pachmann revealed to his friends that the socks had never belonged to Chopin and that he himself had worn them for two weeks straight without washing them.
• Conductor Arturo Toscanini once swore in Italian at the Metropolitan orchestra, saying that it played like a pig. After the rehearsal, the remark was translated and disseminated, and members of the orchestra demanded an apology; otherwise, they would not play for him. Toscanini refused on the grounds that his remark was true. However, he did say "Good morning" at the next rehearsal, and the members of the orchestra decided to play once more for him.
• Soprano Frances Alda wrote a book in which she criticized baritone Lawrence Tibbett. Later, she dined with Mr. Tibbett and his wife, Jane. No one said anything about what Ms. Alda had written in her book until Ms. Alda said to Mrs. Tibbett, "I'm surprised you speak to me after what I wrote about your husband in my book." Very politely, Mrs. Tibbett replied, "But I haven't read your book, Madame Alda."
• In early 2008, Maxim magazine reviewed the album Warpaint by the Black Crowes, giving it a mediocre 2½ stars and saying that "it hasn't left Chris Robinson and the gang much room for growth." There was just one problem: The reviewer had not heard the album. Faced with a deadline, the reviewer had faked a review. Boo. Fortunately, Maxim was forced to apologize.
• Lilli Lehmann could be a severe critic. After the first two acts of a revival of Tannhauser, a critic asked for her opinion. Ms. Lehmann had not been impressed, so as she walked out of the theater, she told the critic, "Say that Lilli Lehmann leaves her loge [box or seat in a theater] in disgust at the travesty they call Art in this opera house!"
• The very successful and very rich pianist Liberace was not bothered by criticism. In 1954, he told a critic who had written a bad review of one of his performances, "I cried all the way to the bank." In 1974, he told the same critic, who still disliked his performances, "You remember that bank that I cried all the way to? I bought it."
• During one tour, Sir Rudolf Bing and the Metropolitan Opera was criticized mercilessly for five days in a row in the Chicago Tribune by Claudia Cassidy. On the 6th day of the Met's stay in Chicago, Sir Rudolf met Ms. Cassidy as she was entering the theater and said to her, "Oh, Miss Cassidy. I didn't know you were in town."
• Charles Ives used his composition "Three Places in New England" to make fun of marching bands in small towns. One of his instructions for playing the piece is to "count as if practicing the beginning and getting it wrong."
Nicknamed "The Unmelancholy Dane", and "The Clown Prince Of Denmark", this comedian, conductor, and pianist was born Børge Rosenbaum in Copenhagen. By what name is this practitioner of Phonetic Punctuation professionally known?
Børge Rosenbaum (3 January 1909 - 23 December 2000), known professionally as Victor Borge, was a Danish comedian, conductor, and pianist who achieved great popularity in radio and television in the United States and Europe. His blend of music and comedy earned him the nicknames "The Clown Prince of Denmark," "The Unmelancholy Dane," and "The Great Dane."
Borge played his first major concert in 1926 at the Danish Odd Fellow Palæet (The Odd Fellow's Lodge building) concert hall. After a few years as a classical concert pianist, he started his now famous "stand-up" act, with the signature blend of piano music and jokes. He married the American Elsie Chilton in 1933; the same year he debuted with his revue acts. Borge started touring extensively in Europe, where he began telling anti-Nazi jokes.
When the German armed forces occupied Denmark on 9 April 1940, during World War II, Borge was playing a concert in Sweden and managed to escape to Finland. He travelled to America on the United States Army transport American Legion, the last neutral ship to make it out of Petsamo, Finland, and arrived 28 August 1940, with only $20 (about $365 today), with $3 going to the customs fee.
Even though Borge did not speak a word of English upon arrival, he quickly managed to adapt his jokes to the American audience, learning English by watching movies. He took the name of Victor Borge, and in 1941, he started on Rudy Vallee's radio show. He was hired soon after by Bing Crosby for his Kraft Music Hall programme.
One of Borge's famous routines was "Phonetic Punctuation," in which he read a passage from a book and added exaggerated sound effects to stand for all of the punctuation marks, such as periods, commas, and exclamation marks.
Source
Saw Victor Borge at the Hollywood Bowl in the 80s - a pal set me up on a blind date with one of her acquaintances.
My pal, as liberal and progressive as they come, had neglected to tell me that my date was with a former speech writer for Raygun.
So, we're in his 10-year-old Datsun, heading to the Bowl on the 170, when his car craps out.
We limp to the berm of the freeway, and republican gentleman that he was, sent me down the freeway ramp to look for a phone, while he stayed with his precious car, protecting it.
Found a phone, called a friend, she picked me up and I wanted to go home and leave him standed on the freeway, but she insisted we be honorable and 'rescue' the writer, so we did.
Never expected to hear from this son of Arizona again, but he called a day later, apologized profusely, offered a 'make good' date at the Bowl, and that's how I got to see Victor Borge.
Borge was quite entertaining and the writer turned out to be a dear man.
A bit dull, but dear.
Mark. was first, and correct, with:
Victor Borge.
Randall wrote:
Victor Borge
mj said:
He was quite talented
As a pianist. Victor Borge.
Alan J answered:
Victor Borge.
Stephen F responded:
Victor Borge
Mac Mac replied:
Victor Borge
Kevin K., back in Washington DC, about 8 blocks from #BunkerBitch, wrote:
Must be Victor Borge. When I was a kid he'd appear as a guest on TV shows, playing the piano and weaving comedy into it.
Cal in Vermont said:
Victor Børge. I couldn't quite remember his name until I smacked my fivehead and then it came to me.
Dave responded:
Victor Borge. I knew exactly who that was, but I couldn't recall his name until I Googled him. Already famous in Europe in 1940 the Jewish Borge , upon hearing the news that Nazi Germany had invaded Denmark, fled to the US from Finland with $20 in his pocket and no English. He quickly learned the language and was a big success and eventually was granted US citizenship. Once during the war, in a courageous show of devotion, Borge risked his life and briefly snuck back into Occupied Denmark to visit his dying mother. You have to like a guy with the guts to do that.
zorch replied:
Victor Borge.
Jim from CA, retired to ID, said:
Victor Borge
Jacqueline wrote:
Victor Borge? They thought he was hilarious back in the day. Never saw him perform on t.v
Daniel in The City answered:
Victor Borge
Deborah, the Master Gardener, responded:
I'm going with Victor Borge - his given name is the clue.
What a week this has been, and it's only Thursday!
Harry M. replied:
Victor Borge
John I from Hawai`i says,
Victor Borge
Dave in Tucson wrote:
The answer is Victor Borge.
Billy in Cypress U$A said:
Victor Borge, a very talented and funny man.
Michelle in AZ answered:
Victor Borge
Jon L took the day off.
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CBS begins the night with a RERUN'MacGyver', followed by a RERUN'Magnum PU', then a RERUN'Blue Bloods'.
Scheduled on a FRESHStephen Colbert are Rep. Karen Bass and Judd Apatow.
On a RERUNJames Corden, OBE, (from 5/5/20) are Alain de Botton and Barry Manilow.
NBC starts the night with a RERUN'World Of Dance', followed by a RERUN'The Wall', then 'Dateline'.
On a RERUNJimmy Fallon it's TBA.
On a RERUNSeth Meyers (from 2/11/20) are RuPaul, Stacey Abrams, Maria Bamford, and Elijah Wood.
On a RERUNLilly Singh (from 1/21/20) is RuPaul.
ABC opens the night with a RERUN'Shark Tank', followed by '20/20'.
On a RERUNJimmy Kimmel (from 5/26/20) are Lisa Kudrow, and Jacob Collier with Ty Dolla $ign & Mahalia.
The CW offers a FRESH'Masters Of Illusion', followed by a RERUN'Masters Of Illusion', then a RERUN'Whose Line Is It Anyway?', followed by a RERUN'Whose Line Is It Anyway?'.
Faux has a FRESH'WWE Friday Night SmackDown'.
MY recycles an old 'CSI: Miami', followed by another old 'CSI: Miami'.
A&E has 'Live PD', followed by a FRESH'Live PD: Rewind', then a FRESH'Live PD'.
AMC offers the movie 'Vegas Vacation', followed by the movie 'National Lampoon's Vacation', then a FRESH'Friday Night In With The Morgans', followed by the movie 'National Lampoon's European Vacation'.
BBC -
[6:00AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - Booby Trap
[7:00AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - The Enemy
[8:00AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - The Price
[9:00AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - The Vengeance Factor
[10:00AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - The Defector
[11:00AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - The Hunted
[12:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - The High Ground
[1:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - Deja Q
[2:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - A Matter of Perspective
[3:00PM] SPIDER-MAN 3
[5:59PM] POSEIDON
[8:00PM] A FEW GOOD MEN
[11:00PM] THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW - Actor Josh Gad; actress Michaela Coel; singer Niall Horan.
[11:40PM] A FEW GOOD MEN
[2:42AM] SPIDER-MAN 3
[5:44AM] HIDDEN HABITATS - Great Barrier Reef (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'Southern Charm', another 'Southern Charm', followed by the movie 'Sweet Home Alabama'.
Comedy Central has 3 hours of old 'South Park', followed by the FRESH'Esther Povitsky: Hot For My Name'.
FX has the movie 'Avatar', followed by the movie 'Avatar', again.
History has 'American Pickers', another 'American Pickers', followed by a FRESH'American Pickers', and another 'American Pickers'.
IFC -
[6:00A] The Three Stooges - Boobs in Arms
[6:15A] The Three Stooges - Half-Shot Shooters
[6:45A] Mystery Science Theater 3000 - The Giant Spider Invasion
[9:00A] Back to School
[11:00A] Cheech & Chong Still Smokin'
[1:00P] The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
[3:00P] The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
[5:00P] Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
[7:00P] Old School
[9:00P] Caddyshack
[11:15P] Old School
[1:15A] Caddyshack
[3:30A] The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
[5:30A] The Three Stooges - Half-Wits Holiday (ALL TIMES EST)
Sundance -
[6:25am] the andy griffith show
[7:00am] the andy griffith show
[7:30am] the andy griffith show
[8:00am] the andy griffith show
[8:30am] the andy griffith show
[9:00am] the andy griffith show
[9:30am] the andy griffith show
[10:00am] the andy griffith show
[10:30am] mystic pizza
[1:00pm] law & order
[2:00pm] law & order
[3:00pm] law & order
[4:00pm] law & order
[5:00pm] law & order
[6:00pm] law & order
[7:00pm] law & order
[8:00pm] law & order
[9:00pm] law & order
[10:00pm] law & order
[11:00pm] law & order
[12:00am] the split
[1:22am] law & order
[2:21am] law & order
[3:20am] the split
[4:40am] the andy griffith show
[5:15am] the andy griffith show
[5:50am] the andy griffith show (ALL TIMES EST)
SyFy has the movie 'Resident Evil: Retribution', followed by the movie 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter'.
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter delivered an uplifting video message to graduating students at the high school featured in the Bill & Ted franchise.
The actors - who are due to reprise their roles in Bill and Ted Face the Music, coronavirus pending - appeared in a special video as part of the online graduation ceremony held by San Dimas High School in California.
The duo recounted their characters' "be excellent to each other" catchphrase as they congratulated the graduates.
The high school has served as a location for all of the Bill and Ted movies, with the characters attending the school in the first two films and scenes being shot there for the belated threequel.
Neil Young's "Southern Man" came out in 1970 (via After the Gold Rush), but the singer-songwriter thinks it's just as relevant today - with one caveat. He's not just singing about the South anymore - but the whole country.
Young posted a 2019 performance of the song on his Archives Wednesday, writing: "Here's me as an old guy singin' his 50-year-old song that was written after countless years of racism in the USA. And look at us today! This has been going on for way too long. It's not just 'Southern Man' now. It's everywhere across the USA. It's time for real change, new laws, new rules for policing."
The lyrics of "Southern Man" draw heavily on the years of slavery in the U.S. - specifically in the South. It's far from Young's only politically driven track; Crosby, Stills Nash and Young's "Ohio" recently turned 50. That song dealt with the Kent State Massacre, during which the Ohio National Guard shot at students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four.
"It's like Trump today, treating things like a WWF smackdown," Devo's Gerald Casale told Rolling Stone of the clash between students and law enforcement. "It was Governor Rhodes, unbeknownst to us, who conspired with the dean at Kent State University to house the National Guard in buildings on Sunday night so they'd be ready to pounce at the protest that everyone knew was coming."
Gabrielle Union filed a harassment complaint Thursday in the state of California against the producers and network behind "America's Got Talent." In addition to the complaint, she raised a new accusation that NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy threatened her over speaking out against racism on set.
Union, through power attorney Bryan Freedman, filed the complaint with California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), naming producers FremantleMedia and Simon Cowell's Syco as well as NBCUniversal. DFEH complaints are often precursors to lawsuits.
"When Gabrielle Union informed NBC of racially offensive conduct during the taping of 'America's Got Talent,' NBC did not 'stand' with her in 'outrage at acts of racism,'" Freedman said, invoking the company's recent support of #BlackLivesMatter. "Instead, NBC did not care enough to either promptly investigate Ms. Union's complaints or even ask HR to get involved. Rather, NBC stood against her and directed its "outrage" at Ms. Union for whistleblowing about the racially offensive conduct she experienced while working for NBC on 'America's Got Talent'."
Freedman continued that "in sharp contrast to NBC's recent statement on race, what was truly an "outrage" was the fact that Paul Telegdy, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, actually threatened Ms. Union in an attempt to silence her from telling the truth about racist actions that took place on the show. There is no place for this type of racial bullying in the workplace, and it is going to take more than a Tweet from NBC to demonstrate that NBC intends to create an environment free from racism."
Fox "News" host Brian Kilmeade has been met with mockery online after claiming that John Lennon would be unsafe in New York City due to the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd.
Lennon was famously shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside his New York apartment in December 1980.
The host said: "[de Blasio] wants you to hum 'Imagine' by John Lennon... John Lennon wouldn't be safe in this city right now. He'd be hiding in his apartment."
One commenter quipped: "John Lennon, most famous for being safe in nyc."
Another wrote: "Well, this one hits home, because if there's one thing I thing I associate with John Lennon it's 'being safe in New York'."
Donald Trump (R-Buffoon) has been railing against vote by mail for the past few months - falsely citing the potential for voter fraud, which is extremely rare. As it turns out, the president himself bungled the system.
Trump registered to vote in Florida last September under his White House address - 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, according to the Washington Post. But Florida does not allow people to register to vote without an in-state address, and one month later, Trump resubmitted his application with a Florida address and voted in the Republican primary.
On his registration form, Trump told Florida officials his legal residence was in Washington DC but on another day also said he was a "bona fide resident" of Palm Beach, Florida, home to his Mar-a-Lago Club, according to the public records reviewed by the Post.
Other voters have faced significant consequences for the same mistake. In fact, as some Democrats pointed out, the same issue is listed on White House website as voter fraud.
A city manager in Florida paid $5,000 in fines for putting the wrong address on her registration, as did a restaurateur in Palm Beach county. Florida Republicans also challenged state Democrats in 2018 in a vote-by-mail investigation, but the state found there was no fraud. Florida also tossed out thousands of mail-in ballots for supposedly having signatures that did not match original registration forms.
Piers Morgan and Donald Trump (R-Grifter)'s attorney Rudy Giuliani (R-Philanderer) were involved in a fraught exchange on ITV's Good Morning Britain today over the U.S. president's remarks about the George Floyd protests.
Morgan, who claims to be a personal friend of Trump's and has scored several exclusive interviews with the president, clashed with Giuliani over a Trump tweet, in which the U.S. leader declared that "when the looting stars the shooting starts."
Morgan said it was Trump's job to calm down tensions not throw "fuel on the fire," but Giuliani staunchly defended his man, arguing he doesn't "have a racist bone in his body." He added that news coverage of the phrase was part of a "completely warped" left-wing media agenda.
"What happened to you? You used to be one of the most respected and revered people in America," Morgan said to the former Mayor of New York City. He added: "You sound completely barking mad… you have lost the plot, and it's sad to see."
Giuliani then attacked Morgan over the cancellation of his CNN show in 2014 following a drop in ratings. "You were the one who got thrown off of television here… so don't tell me I've lost anything. I know what happened to your show Piers, and I remember the mistakes you made," he said. "Everyone in America knows you are a failed journalist."
The Frank Rizzo (R-Racist) statue in Philadelphia's Center City was removed overnight, CBS Philly reports. It was vandalized during protests over George Floyd's death. There were also attempts to tear it down. The statue, which has stood on the steps of the Municipal Services Building for over a decade, was removed around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Crews used a crane to lift the 2,000-pound, 10-foot tall bronze statue and take it away. It happened under the watchful eyes of the National Guard and very few other onlookers.
The process took about an hour.
Unveiled in early 1999, the statue was a gift to the city from Rizzo's family and friends but has long been a target of vandalism. The former police commissioner and two-term mayor was a controversial figure in Philadelphia.
Almost any grocery store is filled with products made from corn, also known as maize, in every aisle: fresh corn, canned corn, corn cereal, taco shells, tortilla chips, popcorn, corn sweeteners in hundreds of products, corn fillers in pet food, in soaps and cosmetics, and the list goes on.
Maize is perhaps the most important plant ever domesticated by people, topping 1 billion tonnes produced in 2019, double that of rice, according to University of New Mexico Anthropology professor Keith Prufer, Principle Investigator of a team that just released new research that sheds light on when people started eating maize.
Recently published research from his team in the journal Science Advances reveals new information about when the now-ubiquitous maize became a key part of people's diets. Until now, little was known about when humans living in the tropics of Central America first started eating corn. But the "unparalleled" discovery of remarkably well-preserved ancient human skeletons in Central American rock shelters has revealed when corn became a key part of people's diet in the Americas.
"Today, much of the popularity of maize has to do with its high carbohydrate and protein value in animal feed and sugar content which makes it the preferred ingredient of many processed foods including sugary drinks. Traditionally it has also been used as fermented drink in Mesoamerica. Given its humble beginnings 9,000 years ago in Mexico, understanding how it came to be the most dominant plant in the world benefits from deciphering what attracted people to this crop to begin with. Our paper is the first direct measure of the adoption of maize as a dietary staple in humans," Prufer observed.
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