Friday, January 27, 2023

The Friday Link for 1/27/23

Tonight we go to Broadway! 

We start with what is a stunning dance and music number from Matilda The Musical.  The musical, based on the 1988 kid's book, has been around for little more than a decade, but it finally made it to the screen with Netflix.  It doesn't surprise me, as these streaming services have a need for constantly new content that they put forward. The good news is they didn't just mail this one in, as they put in the time and effort. 

The song 'Revolting Children' from the musical is very enjoyable, but the dancing they got these kids to do makes this a stunning scene. Unbelievable! These are some very hard dance routines for seasoned pros to pull off, but getting a bunch of kids to do it is bonkers.  Enjoy it! 


As long as I am bringing up Broadway dancing, Let's look also look at the beginning of two other Broadway dance-heavy musicals, All that Jazz and A Chorus Line.  Notice the similarities between these two opening scenes! 



Finally a laugh tonight from a few blocks north of Broadway.  The 92nd St. Y in New York hosts some pretty good interviews, but this one between Bill Hader and John Mulaney is great.  Very funny but with a few bad words.


Have a great weekend.  Please get vaccinated against COVID if you haven't already been.






Friday, January 20, 2023

The Friday link for 1/20/23

This week we remember the TV show NewsRadio.

For radio people, this show is liked, but it's well in the rearview mirror behind WKRP. WKRP was brilliant because whoever wrote it worked in radio and managed to create a perfect representation of everyone in the station (the underdog morning host, the eccentric night host, the plucky promotions person, the nebbish newsman, the composed PD, the sleazy salesman). I've said before; I worked with EVERYONE represented at WKRP.  It never ceases to amaze me how well they wrote those characters.

NewsRadio was very different. Instead of a radio station geared to a youth-centric music format, they embraced a more business-like news format. They managed to capture two solid comedic talents in Phil Hartman (fresh off his SNL run), and Dave Foley from Kids in the Hall (the counterculture SNL) for the two leads, found soon-to-be breakout stars (in the hilarious Stephen Root and the insanely versatile Maura Tierney), and...Andy Dick and Joe Rogan were there too.  To be fair to both of them, they were both pretty good on NewsRadio, prior to becoming a train wreck and, well, Joe Rogan. 

The show was very well written and in many episodes created a cast of characters where it was hard to root for any of them.  It captured the 90's dystopian viewpoint perfectly.

The NewsRadio episode I'm posting is the third episode of the series, 'Smoking.' This is also a great bit of historical comedy as TV sitcoms and dramas embraced what was a big part of American culture at the time, the removal of smoking from inside the workplace.  It is a bit of fun to see them grapple with it, realizing nearly 30 years later how foreign smoking in the office feels.

If you want absolute comedy gold, go to 11:28.  Watch Phil Hartman and Dave Foley at their best as Phil's Bill McNeil gives up smoking whole Dave's Dave gives up coffee.  Spectacular all-time scene.


Also tonight I am going to post a little something from Star Wars. I just finished watching Andor and I have to say how impressed I was with that show.  Although most of the newer movies haven't lived up to their hype (minus Rogue One), there have been some TV shows and other elements which have excelled.  

Take this trailer from Star Wars: The Old Republic.  This storyline takes place hundreds of years before the Star Wars movies. Frankly, how the heck didn't this get made into a movie. These six minutes are some of the best Star Wars action, period! 


Have a great weekend.  Please make sure you are vaccinated and rest up if you are feeling sick.  





Friday, January 13, 2023

The Friday Link for 1/13/23

Hi Everyone.

I'm still recovering from my broken back, delivered quite rudely by an alleged drunk driver on December 8th.  I'm still basking in the warmth of everyone who has wished me well.  I will heal, albeit, eventually.

I'm now walking a lot more.  I am able to go to the Edina Dome and walk in there on most weekdays. Outside of that, the name of the game is don't hurt yourself.  I'm pretty good at it but every once in a while I jump into bed the wrong way or lean down a little too deeply. Magic! I've quit the heavy-duty pain meds, so I just get to wallow in my pain. 

This week, enjoy a litany of videos I've used to get me through the slow times. None of these have anything to do with each other but I enjoyed every one.  







Well that's eclectic! 

Have a great weekend everyone.