'Best of TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Baron Dave Romm
Dr. Demento and Me
By Baron Dave Romm
This weekend was a busy one, and so I only have time to update an old column which itself was largely a repeat. I was Guest of Honor at Marscon 2004 with (among other people) Dr. Demento and the Great Luke Ski. I taped a lot of it (including the Shockwave performance with all of us) and will have a CD available at some point in the near future. Look for pictures at the romm.org site.
Dr. Demento is the Mad Magazine of the radio, corrupting young and old since 1970. In the music biz, odd, funny, unusual songs are called "novelty" numbers; the concept goes waaaay back and slopped over into recorded music Over the years, Dr. Demento has collected some of his favorites (and the ones he could get the rights to) in CDs. While you can get some of them at other various online shops, probably quicker, the most complete collection is from the Dr. Demento web site catalog. Seems to have more stuff than last time I checked.
He's released 20th Anniversary and 25th Anniversary and 30th Anniversary 2-CD sets. They have some of my favorite demented songs: Dead Puppies, Cocktails for Two, Existential Blues, Star Trekkin' and Witch Doctor, Highly Illogical and Tip-Toe Through the Tulips With Me, Bulbous Bouffand, Dead Skunk, I'm The Urban Spaceman, and Lumberjack Song among others. These are double-CD sets. For the undemented (yet), you might get your ears wet with the single CD collection The Very Best of Dr. Demento. Many of the specialty collections dig a further niche.
Dr. Demento's Country Corn is a good collection, and his Christmas collection has both A Christmas Carol by Tom Lehrer and Green Chri$tma$ by Stan Freeberg, as well as Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer and All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth instantly making it worthy if you don't have these songs individually. This is No. 6 in a series of CDs, no longer listed on his site. You can get cassettes of compilations of songs by decades, which can be fun and hit the proper nostalgia demographic.
It's been a while since I was a member of the Demento Society, and it seems they've upgraded the membership so it includes a bumper sticker, autographed photo, a 10-inch ruler and the collection Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes #10 that isn't available elsewhere. Hmm... time to re-up.
Outside his Dr. Demento persona, Barry Hansen is incredibly knowledgeable about a wide variety of music, notably R&B. Cruise Through The Blues covers much of this American music from the turn of the 20th Century on. Forward by BB King. I haven't read the book but we had several chances to chat about the Blues and music forms. He knows his stuff and writes well.
Baron Dave Romm is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia with a radio show, a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. He reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E here.
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from Mark
Bush the Failure
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Yowee - we jumped right into the middle of summer - nearly 90°(F) this afternoon.
Middle of the afternoon the kid said his science project was due Monday morning. Argh!
So, I'm running late & even crankier than usual.
Tonight, Monday, CBS opens the night with a RERUN 'Yes, Dear', followed by a RERUN 'Still Standing', then a RERUN
'Raymond', followed by a RERUN '2½ Men', then a RERUN 'CSI: Miami'.
On a RERUN Dave are Drew Barrymore and Jack Hanna.
On a RERUN Craiggers are Scarlett Johansson, Adam Brody, and Story of the Year.
NBC starts the night with a FRESH 'Fear Factor', followed by the FRESH made-for-TV-movie, 'Behind The Camera: The Unauthorized Story Of Charlie's Angels'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jay are Vince Vaughn, Molly Shannon, and Brides of Destruction.
On a traditional Monday-night-RERUN Conan are Jude Law, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Branch.
Scheduled on a FRESH Carson Daly are Kelsey Grammer, John Larroquette and Default.
ABC begins the night with '20/20 Special Edition: Great Comebacks', followed by the FRESH made-for-TV-movie, 'Judas'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jimmy Kimmel are Zach Braff, Robert Iler, and Grandaddy, with this week's guest co-host Kevin Nealon.
The WB offers a RERUN '7th Heaven', followed by a RERUN 'Everwood'.
Faux has a RERUN 'That 70s Show', followed by another RERUN 'That 70s Show', then a
FRESH 'Forever Eden'.
UPN has a RERUN 'The Parkers', followed by a RERUN 'Eve', then a RERUN
'Girlfriends', followed by a RERUN 'Half & Half'.
A&E has 'American Justice', 'Biography' (Simon Cowell), 'Who Killed Kathy Durst', followed by a FRESH 'Airline', then another 'Airline'.
AMC offers the movie 'Bugsy', followed by the movie 'Coal Miner's Daughter', then the movie 'Once Around'.
BBC -
[6pm] 'BBC World News';
[6:30pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Peltier;
[7pm] 'House Invaders' - Northfield;
[7:30pm] 'Changing Rooms' - Disney;
[8pm] 'Red Cap' - Friendly Fire;
[9pm] 'Wire in the Blood' - Sharp Compassion;
[11pm] 'Red Cap' - Friendly Fire;
[12am] 'Wire in the Blood' - Sharp Compassion;
[2am] 'House Invaders' - Northfield;
[2:30am] 'Changing Rooms' - Disney;
[3am] 'Wire in the Blood' - Sharp Compassion;
[5am] 'Red Cap' - Friendly Fire; and
[6am] 'BBC World News'. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has 'West Wing', 'Queer Eye', another 'Queer Eye', still another 'Queer Eye', and 'West Wing'.
Comedy Central has the movie 'Joe Dirt', 'South Park', and 'Straight Plan For The Gay Man'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jon Stewart is Val Kilmer.
History has 'Big Rigs: Jeeps', 'Punishment', and 'We Can Make You Talk'.
SciFi is all 'Stargate SG-1' all night.
TCM spends all day celebrating Cyd Charisse (today is
her 83rd birthday), and pays tribute to various 'Sherlock Holmes' all night (including 4 delightfully cheesy films featuring my favorite pairing,
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce).
[6am] 'Tension' (1949);
[8am] 'The Wild North' (1952);
[10am] 'Sombrero' (1953);
[12pm] 'Brigadoon' (1954);
[2pm] 'It's Always Fair Weather' (1955);
[4pm] 'Silk Stockings' (1957);
[6pm] 'Two Weeks In Another Town' (1962);
[8pm] 'The Hound Of The Baskervilles' (1959);
[9:30pm] 'Murder at the Baskervilles' (1941) [AKA: 'Silver Blaze'];
[10:45pm] 'Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon' (1942);
[12am] 'Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green' (1945);
[1:15am] 'Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill' (1946);
[2:30am] 'Sherlock Holmes in Terror by Night' (1946);
[3:30am] 'The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes' (1970). (ALL TIMES EST)
Singer Barbra Streisand (R) arrives with her husband James Brolin at the Human Rights Campaign Annual Gala to receive the Humanitarian Award, in Los Angeles, March 6, 2004. The event recognizes people who have fought for civil rights in the gay and lesbian community through personal activism, outreach or positive portrayal of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters in entertainment.
Photo by Lucy Nicholson
The Information One-Stop
Moose & Squirrel
Studio Script Notes on "The Passion"
Steve Martin
Dear Mel, We love, LOVE the script! The ending works great. You'll be getting a call from us to start negotiations for the book rights.
Love the Jesus character. So likable. He can't seem to catch a break! We identify with him because of it. One thing, I think we need to
clearly state "the rules." Why doesn't he use his super powers to save himself? The creative people suggest that you could simply cut
away to two spectators: Spectator one Why doesn't he use his super powers to save himself? Spectator two He can only use his powers
to help others, never himself.
Does it matter which garden? Gethsemane is hard to say and Eden is a much more recognizable garden. Just thinking out loud. Our creative people suggest a clock visual fading in and out in certain scenes like the last supper bit: Monday, 12:43pm." or later,
"Good Friday, 5:14pm."
Love the repetition of "is it I?" Could be very funny. On the eighth inquiry, could Jesus just give a little look
into camera? Breaks frame, but could be a riot. Also could he change water into wine in last supper scene? Would be a great moment,
and it's legit. History compression is a movie tradition and could really brighten up the scene.
For the rest, Steve Martin
Thanks, Barb!
Actress and singer Liza Minnelli arrives at the Human Rights Campaign Annual Gala with award recipients Craig Zadan (L) and Neil Meron, in Los Angeles March 6, 2004. The event recognizes people who have fought for civil rights in the gay and lesbian community through personal activism, outreach or positive portrayal of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters in entertainment.
Photo by Lucy Nicholson
Funny Business Irks Comedians
'Last Comic Standing'
Two celebrity judges on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" have raised questions about the veracity of the show's process for selecting the final 10 participants to be featured in the televised competition.
Comedians Drew Carey and Brett Butler said their input as judges was discounted during the semifinal round that took place last month in favor of NBC executives and the show's producers. One of "Last Comic's" executive producers, Barry Katz, also is the manager of two of the performers who made the final 10, the one-name comic Ant and Gary Gulman, and he also manages "Last Comic" host Jay Mohr.
In an interview last week at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., where he headlined two events, Carey cited the discrepancy between the show's final picks and the judges' reactions to the 20 contenders in the semifinals, which took place Feb. 26 at Le Theater des Arts in Las Vegas.
"I thought it was crooked and dishonest," Carey said. "It was like somebody at NBC cast the show ahead of the event in Vegas. And they had 1,100 in the audience (for the semifinals competition) who saw how blatantly it was cast. If this happened on 'Survivor' or any other reality TV show, it would be a major scandal."
Butler echoed Carey's sentiment in a posting last week on her Web site.
'Last Comic Standing'
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
Needle Candidates
Political Humorists
Some left-leaning political humorists may be secretly hoping resident Bush — whom they love to make fun of — is re-elected in December, but they say plenty of Democrats are good for a laugh, too.
Bush, whose tough-guy swagger and linguistic miscues have provided plenty of fodder for comedians, columnists and cartoonists, is the "gold standard" for the business, "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau said.
It's not surprising that politicians are reaching out more and more to humorists, said GOP consultant Mike Murphy, because it's easier to face a comedian than to "sit in the hot seat with Tim Russert."
For the rest, Political Humorists
People painted with bright colors dance during the festival of Holi in Fancy Bazar, the main commercial center in Gauhati, the capital city of India's North Eastern state of Assam on Sunday, March 7, 2004. This exuberant festival originally held to celebrate the fertility of the land, is also associated with the immortal love of Hindu God Krishna and Radha. Today holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions for a day of spring fever and big fun.
Photo by Anupam Nath
NBC Cuts Scene
'Charlie's Angels' Pic
NBC cut the final scene in its upcoming movie about the making of the popular television series "Charlie's Angels" after Farrah Fawcett's former manager complained.
Jay Bernstein threatened legal action if the scene was not removed, claiming it impugned his character and harmed his ability to make deals.
NBC spokesman Bob Meyer said the network was aware of Bernstein's complaint, but the ending was altered for artistic reasons.
Bernstein served as a paid consultant on "Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of `Charlie's Angels,'" which airs Monday night.
'Charlie's Angels' Pic
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Saint-Briac-Sur-Mer, France
John Kerry
This small seaside resort in northwest France has had its eyes turned toward America ever since John Kerry, who spent part of his childhood here, became a serious candidate for the US presidency.
The mayor's automobile has a Kerry bumper sticker, which is hardly surprising in view of the fact that the mayor, Brice Lalonde, is Kerry's cousin.
Kerry and Lalonde, France's former environment minister are the sons of sisters from the wealthy American Forbes family. A large property here called "Les Essarts" has belonged to the family since the beginning of the last century.
Kerry's mother was one of 11 siblings who spent much of her youth at this estate and Kerry, who was sent for a time to boarding school in Switzerland, often came to pass summer vacations in Saint-Briac, where Lalonde also came with his branch of the family.
For more, John Kerry
Elizabeth Book, (C) of Ormond Beach, Florida, is arrested by Daytona Beach police for exposing her breasts during a topless protest to decriminalize woman's bare breasts on the Main Street bridge in Daytona Beach, Florida on, March 7, 2004.
Photo by Craig Litten
Too Tall To Be A Modern Spy
James Bond
James Bond, Britain's most famous fictional secret agent, would be feeling rather shaken and stirred to learn he would be too tall to be a real modern day spy in the country's domestic spy agency.
New guidelines for MI5 -- the domestic intelligence service -- stipulate that people applying to be field agents should be no taller than 5ft 11ins (1.8 m) so they don't stand out, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
That would rule out all the actors to have starred as the suave, unflappable Bond who worked for MI5's sister foreign spy agency MI6 in the 007 movies. Bond stars Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan are all 6ft (1.83m) or taller, the paper said.
James Bond
London Opera Boots Soprano Over Weight
Deborah Voigt
The Royal Opera House in London canceled a performance by American star soprano Deborah Voigt because of her weight, a spokesman for the prestigious theater said Sunday.
Voigt had been scheduled to play the lead in a summer production of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne on Naxos," but casting director Peter Katona decided that a slimmer singer would be better for the part, spokesman Christopher Millard told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
Katona had selected a black evening dress for the part and believed Voigt would not look right in it, Millard said.
Millard confirmed by telephone that size was the reason that the 43-year-old Voigt, one of the world's most sought-after sopranos, was no longer scheduled to sing in the Royal Opera House production.
Deborah Voigt
NAACP Image Awards
Winners
A complete list of winners of the 35th annual NAACP Image Awards.
Television Categories:
Outstanding comedy series: "The Bernie Mac Show," Fox.
Outstanding actor in a comedy series: Bernie Mac, "The Bernie Mac Show."
Outstanding actress in a comedy series: Mo'Nique, "The Parkers," UPN.
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series: Dorien Wilson, "The Parkers."
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series: Camille Winbush, "The Bernie Mac Show."
Outstanding drama series: "Soul Food," Showtime.
Outstanding actor in a drama series: Steve Harris, "The Practice," ABC.
Outstanding actress in a drama series: Nia Long, "Third Watch," NBC.
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series: Mekhi Phifer, "ER," NBC.
Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series: Loretta Devine, "Boston Public," Fox.
Outstanding TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: "D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear." USA Network.
Outstanding actor in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: Charles S. Dutton, "D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear."
Outstanding actress in a TV movie, miniseries or dramatic special: Whoopi Goldberg, "Good Fences," Showtime.
Outstanding actor in a daytime drama series: Kristoff St. John, "The Young and the Restless," CBS.
Outstanding actress in a daytime drama series: Victoria Rowell, "The Young and the Restless," CBS.
Outstanding TV news, talk or information, series or special: "Judge Mathis," syndicated.
Outstanding variety series or special: "2003 Essence Awards," Fox.
Outstanding Performance in a Youth Children's Program: Raven, "That's So Raven," Disney Channel.
Motion Picture Categories:
Outstanding motion picture: "The Fighting Temptations," produced by MTV/Paramount.
Outstanding actor in a motion picture: Cuba Gooding Jr., "Radio," produced by Sony/Columbia.
Outstanding actress in a motion picture: Queen Latifah, `Bringing Down the House," Buena Vista Pictures.
Outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture: Morgan Freeman, "Bruce Almighty," Universal.
Outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture: Alfre Woodard, "Radio."
Literature Categories:
Outstanding literary work, fiction: "Love," by Toni Morrison, Knopf.
Outstanding literary work, nonfiction: "Why I Love Black Women," Michael Eric Dyson, Basic Civitas Books.
Outstanding literary work, children's: "My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," by Christine King Farris, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Music Categories:
Outstanding new artist: Ruben Studdard, "Soulful," J Records/BMG.
Outstanding male artist: Luther Vandross, J Records/BMG.
Outstanding female artist: Alicia Keys, J Records/BMG.
Outstanding duo or group: OutKast, Arista.
Outstanding jazz artist: Ramsey Lewis, "Simple Pleasures," Narada Jazz/EMI.
Outstanding gospel artist, traditional or contemporary: Donnie McClurkin, "Donnie McClurkin ... Again," Verity Records.
Outstanding music video: Luther Vandross, "Dance With My Father," directed by Diane Martel.
Outstanding song: Luther Vandross, "Dance With My Father," J Records/BMG.
Outstanding album: Luther Vandross, "Dance With My Father, J Records/BMG.
Winners
A Russian fisherman, covered with plastic bag for protection from the wind and cold, fishes through an ice hole at the Finnish Gulf, to the West of St.Petersburg, as the sun rises Friday, March 5, 2004.
Photo by Dmitry Lovetsky
'The Osbournes'
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