SCOOTER
Best wishes to Dick Cheney's boy Scooter Libby, who is facing up to 25 years in prison for his role in outing C.I.A. agent Valerie Plame. I'm sure Mrs. Libby and the kids will be taken care of why Scooter enjoys prison life. FYI: revealing the name of a covert agent during a time of war is a treasonable offense, punishable by death. Scooter may be willing to spend a few years behind bars for his boss but is he willing to die for him?
SMOOTH CRIMINAL
I've spent a lot of money on things, foolish and otherwise. However none of my follies can compare to the multitude of Michael Jackson fans who paid $3500 to spend time with Jackson in Japan. For their money each fan was allotted up to one minute of personal time with Mr. Jackson, meaning Jacko made roughly $210,000 an hour. No word on if he served any of the younger fans "Jesus saké"
PASSING ON
As I finished up this week's installment I learned from Matt that Brad Delp, former lead singer of Boston, had passed away at age 55. As the Rant was already delayed, I'll comment more on his passing next week.
Ray Evans, Oscar-winning songwriter, passed away from a heart attack at the age of 92. Evans and his partner, Jay Livingston, were nominated seven times for the Best Original Song Academy Award, winning three times for "Buttons and Bows," "Mona Lisa" and "Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)." Evans also wrote the themes for many popular television shows including "Bonanza," "Mr. ED" and Bugs Bunny's theme song, "This Is It."
Robert Adler who, with fellow Zenith engineer Eugene Polley, invented the television remote control, died last week at the age of 93.
Steve Rogers, former patriotic adversary for the Nazi's in World War II, was killed this week when a sniper shot him as he was leaving a New York City court house. R.I.P. Captain America.
Ernest Gallo, wine-maker extraordinaire, died Tuesday at the age of 97. With his late brother, Julio, he borrowed $5,900 and, with a wine recipe he found at the Modesto Public Library and founded the largest wine-making empire in the world.
SOUNDS LIKE?
This week the Library of Congress added twenty five historic pieces of audio to the National Recording Registry, recognizing them as historical or aesthetical recordings to be preserved for future generations. Among the recordings: "You're the Top" by Cole Porter, "The Osage Bank Robbery" radio episode of "The Lone Ranger," originally broadcast in December 1937, FDR's address to congress on December 8, 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor, "Blue Suede Shoes" by Carl Perkins, "Burnin" by Bob Marley and the Wailers and the Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." Nice to know that kids hundreds of years from now will be dancing to Mick and the boys.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...? CHAPTER 10: SCATMAN CROTHERS
WHERE YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM: "Chico and the Man," "The Shining."
Awards: None.
Born Benjamin Sherman Crothers in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1910, Scatman Crothers was truly a multi talented entertainer. After appearing in a short film featuring Billie Holiday at the age of 25, Crothers worked as a musician in hotels and clubs across the country. In 1951 he decided to give Hollywood a try and appeared in many features, usually as a porter, waiter or gardener. In 1959 he provided the voice of the Wildman of Wildsville on the "Matty's Funday Funnies" cartoon show. This led to other voice work on such shows as "Mr. Magoo," "The Harlem Globetrotters" and "Scooby Doo." He also provided the voice for "Hong Kong Fooey." He also appeared in episodic programs like "Dragnet," "Bewitched," "Love, American Style" and "Adam 12." In 1972 he appeared in the film "The King of Marvin Gardens," beginning a long time friendship with star Jack Nicholson. More television work followed, including a long stint as Louie on "Chico and the Man." In 1975 he again appeared with Nicholson in the Oscar winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." As head orderly Turkle, Crothers delivers some of the funniest lines in the film. My favorite Scatman scene takes place in the dark where the patients are all hiding in the dark while the head nurse calls for Turkle. When he doesn't answer Taber, one of the patients, opines that he's probably jerking off somewhere. Suddenly, out of the darkness, Scatman hisses "Ain't no one jerking off nowhere, motherfucker!" In 1980, again with Nicholson, he gave his most noted performance as Dick Hallorann, the head chef of the Overlook Hotel, in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining." Other notable film work includes "Silver Streak," "Bronco Billy" and "Twilight Zone: The Movie." Mr. Crothers passed away in November 1986 from lung cancer.
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2007 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 ©2007 by Nolan B. Canova.
