IT WASN'T ME!
As you may remember, I wrote a few pieces late last year on the MPAA decision not to send out screener tapes of movies to film critics and award voters. After much discussion, they decided to only send them out to Academy Award voters, feeling that the film critics and others would readily bootleg the tapes, since that is the major cause of film piracy in the world. Luckily, a wise judge stepped in and blocked the ban, enabling people like myself to receive a mini-library of some of the year's best films. So imagine how shocked Jack Valenti and his pals must be to find out that "Something's Gotta Give" is now available online, courtesy of actor Carmine Caridi, better known to television viewers as Det Vince Catelli on "NYPD Blue." Caridi says he is embarrassed and that he has received several "threatening and harassing" calls from the studio and academy reps. Today (1/14) it was reported that a screener of "The Last Samurai" has now made its way online. The identity of that tape owner has not been revealed, leaving me to think it's someone a lot bigger then Carmine Caridi. And now, while I go and watch "Big Fish" for the third time this week, I am haunted by the following question:. How in the HELL did Carmine Caridi become a member of the Academy?!
PASSING ON
Very sad to report the passing of actor Les Tremayne, well known "voice" actor probably best remembered to the Crazed Fanboy community as "Mentor" on the 1974 Saturday morning series, "Shazam!" A veteran of such radio shows as "The Adventures of the Thin Man" and "The Falcon," Tremayne did voice over work in everything from "Goldfinger" to the cartoons "Mr. Magoo" and "Johnny Quest." Mr. Tremayne died of heart failure at the age of 89. Coincidentally, TV Land has begun running "Shazam" as part of a super hero block late night along with "Batman" and "Superman." Hey, was I the only one who wondered why no one put that giant yellow lightning bolt on the front of the RV Mentor and Billy Batson traveled in together with Captain Marvel?
FUNNY STUFF
A friend at work gave me a list of quotes that fans wished were in "The Lord of the Rings" films. Among my favorites, courtesy of the Topfive.com site:
"You sure you ain't never been just a wee bit curious, Mr. Frodo?"
"Ha! Let the dark armies of Saruman come! It would take an entire brigade of giant mutant four-tusked elephants to conquer our....well, son of a bitch!"
MEET THE BEATLES
To Baby Boomers like myself, popular music started with the Beatles. Of course, we went on to discover there was much more, both before and after the Fab Four arrived. 2004 marks the 40th anniversary of when the Beatles first came to America and, basically, exploded all over the world. I thought it would be cool to highlight for the next year a part of the band's experiences each week. Though the years will vary, I will concentrate on the calendar week we are in. Hope you enjoy. Let's begin with...
This week 40 years ago:
January 13, 1964: The lads enjoy a rare day off before heading the next day to Paris, where they will perform two, sometimes three, shows a day for the next 18 days. Showing the French were slow even then, the boys are met at the airport by 60 fans. Less then a month later, they would be greeted by more then 10,000 fans when they land in New York.
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2004 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2004 by Nolan B. Canova.
