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PCR #505 (Vol. 10, No. 48). This edition is for the week of November 23--29, 2009.
Mike's RantMike's Bust
Hello gang! Heading to Chicago for some good old fashioned mom made Turkey so I'm a little early this week. Shall we begin?

MOVIE REVIEW
"Old Dogs"  by Mike Smith
RETRORAMA
Show Review: Renninger's Antique Extravaganza 2009  by ED Tucker
THE ASIAN APERTURE
Utada’s Shot at the U.S. Market  by Jason Fetters
LAMPIN' @ THE 6TH BOROUGH
I Visit The Slaughterhouse  by John Miller
MIKE'S RANT
Like Father Like Son .... See You In Hell (you, Not Me) .... Passing On .... .... .... .... .... .... My Favorite Films, Part 2  by Mike Smith
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LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

It's been 10 years since Julian Lennon last released a record. Discouraged by the way his career was going he put down his guitar and began focusing on film. However, in a tribute to the little girl who inspired him to inspire his father, Lennon is back with a new song entitled "Lucy." As reported in the rant last month, 46 year old Lucy Vodden passed away due to complications from lupus. As a four year old Lennon had come home with a drawing he had made of his schoolmate, telling his father it was "Lucy in the sky with diamonds." The childhood friends lost touch with each other but reunited after Julian found out about Vodden's illness. Julian took care of her medical bills and made sure she was comfortably taken care of. "Lucy" will be released on December 15 and online proceeds from downloads of the song will be donated to the St. Thomas Lupus Trust in Great Britain and the Lupus Foundation of America. Next summer Lennon will tour the U.S. in support of a new album, to be titled "Everything Changes."

SEE YOU IN HELL (YOU, NOT ME)

Nice to see that Ft Hood killer Nidal Hasan is thinking of shopping a defense based on mental illness. Nice try, Bullwinkle! You didn't know what you were doing yet you gave away most of your worldly possessions, went to a titty bar (where apparently you spent a lot of your time, you pervert...what would Mohammed say?) and then systematically murdered thirteen of your own countrymen. Sorry to see you were paralyzed...the image of you wheeling your way from a beat down in Leavenworth brings a smile to my face.

PASSING ON

Very sad to report the passing of television writer David Lloyd, who died last week at the age of 75. The thirteen time Emmy nominee (and three time winner) lost a very brave battle with prostate cancer.

After spending several years as a staff writer for Johnny Carson Lloyd moved to episodic television, working for such shows as "The Bob Newhart Show," "Jack Paar" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Lloyd is responsible for what is possibly the funniest television show of all time, entitled "Chuckles Bites the Dust." Chuckles was a television clown who died during a parade when a "rogue elephant" appeared. I ronically the "Chuckles" episode never saw the light of day. Moore hated the script and the director was so appalled that he took the week off. Of course, the episode is not considered a classic, and was the first writing Lloyd did to earn an Emmy Award. And when you're down I hope you all remember Chuckle's favorite saying: "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants!






MY FAVORITE FILMS, PART II. THE YEAR WAS 1987...

La Bamba
Starring: Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales
Directed by: Luis Valdez

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday I wasn't able to complete this week's episode. Next week look for a musical double feature as I take a look at "La Bamba" and Cameron Crowe's Oscar winning "Almost Famous."

Well, that's all for now. Have a safe and happy holiday and I'll see you in December. See ya!



"Mike's Rant" is ©2009 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 ©2009 by Nolan B. Canova.