Sunday, November 21, 2010

Thrice Is Nice, But This Ain't No Disco

Yes indeedie doodie....scratch that.

Damn, I gotta start coming up with a fresher opening salutation. Saying, "indeedie doodie" or "yowza" or "howdy" or even "boy howdy" is simply starting to get as stale as a pot of coffee left out all day at a convenience store because you're only allowed to write off up to the total amount of fast food sales for the day and your sales total 5 dollars.

that last sentence is a true statement. I worked in a store like that. Imagine drinking coffee that was 12 hours old.

Anyways, unlike last Sunday in which I trotted out an old e-mail because originality had forsaken me, this week is not the case. This week, I gots original stuff to write about. Problem is I got two topics to touch upon and have no idea which one to concentrate on. Since I don't want pick one over the other, I'll touch on both.

But first, we must make our weekly plug for SHOOTING SUBURBIA, because as you know, I always have a fresh post up every Saturday over there, so I simply gots to lets you know.

Now, onto other things.

Topic #1: New addition to my wardrobe.

Yesterday {11/20}, I decided to add another piece to my permanent outerwear attire, in the form of a very small Winnie-the-Pooh schtuffed aminal. He has taken up permanent residence in my worn out upper right pocket. You would think that people would've said something about my latest friend, just like they did in May, but no. Apparently, my strangeness is now considered ordinary. What is a F(fat)B(ald)I(gnorant) guy supposed to do get noticed nowadays?

Topic #2: People in other parts of the entertainment industry who had made a successful transition to the silver screen.

This past Friday {11/19}, I was having a strange conversation with a co-worker about that topic in question, and just like normal for me, we got to that conversation through word picture association. To whit: my co-worker put his hands up and I made like an outlaw and pointed my finger while we walking past each other. I then made a comment about the famous picture of Elvis jokingly pointing a rifle at Col. Tom Parker, which in turn got him to comment about his movies.

So for about several minutes we talked about other entertainers who made good in the movies. Naturally we mentioned Elvis, but agreed on the caveat that he was severely pigeonholed due to the type of formulaic drivel he was forced to do and we agreed that Flaming Star was the best of a bad lot, and in fact, was the only Elvis movie I ever watched from beginning to end.

Then I mentioned how Frank Sinatra in my humble opinion, was the only singer that had the most successful career in movies. I thought (and still think) he was incredibly versatile with his acting and the roles he chose to play. I especially like his Tony Rome movie Lady In Cement and his movie, Suddenly, in which he played a gangster who wanted to kill the president.

As for other parts of the entertainment industry, I am of the opinion that out of all the well known comedians that crossed over to the movies (Jim Carey, Steve Martin, and Billy Crystal to name a few) Robin Williams has made the most successful and consistent transition to the movies. An incredibly gifted and talented performer, he has successfully played against type better than anyone I've seen. Two of my favorite movies are Bicentennial Man and Being Human.

No topical question should be derived from today's op-ed post, as I needed to write the mandatory Sunday post and I was feeling mighty original and relaxed yesterday afternoon while I was writing this. But if you want to throw in your five cents (adjusted for inflation), feel free to do so.

10 comments:

  1. I thought Loving You, Jailhouse Rock and King Creole were good Elvis films. Of course Flaming Star was the only Elvis film not to feature songs, and because of that didn't do too well. So Col Tom Parker quickly changed direction with Blue Hawaii, and that was the most popular film of his career, and the die was cast for a set of dreadful 60's movies.

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  2. 1) I love Pooh and 2) you are not fat!

    That is the perfect way to describe me too...my strangeness is considered ordinary :)

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  3. Joe: It's funny that we would have such differing opinions on Elvis films, but life would be somewhat bland if we had the same.

    I always thought that Elvis was a good actor but because each of his movies featured three or more songs written into them, it really blunted what he could do as an actor.

    And honestly, I thought Flaming Star had a song in it, but because it had just that one song, it forced everyone to bring their game to another level.

    R: I love the classic Pooh, although this one is the Disney version, but absolutely no one took notice or made comments about him. I'll probably have to wait until I get to work tomorrow to get snide comments.

    And yes, I am fat. I enjoy poking fun of myself, no matter what physical problem I may possess. :D

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  4. Sinatra was very good in THE DETECTIVE as well. Fine actor.

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  5. David: Absolutely. Like I said, he was one of the few who made that successful transition to the silver screen.

    There aren't too many from that time period that I can say that about.

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  6. I definitely would have to remark on a Pooh bear in a pocket :)

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  7. I saw Robin Williams in a film yesterday - one I got via Netflix, August Rush. He played a rather alarming character in it.

    And I loved Frank Sinatra in films - I watched the original Ocean's 11 last weekend.

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  8. Talon: Only one person remarked on my Pooh bear, and she is someone who I got to be a good acquaintence with at the dept store where I do my weekly grocery shopping at.

    I'll probably have to start telling people that he is my only friend in order to get comments. :D

    Lynn: Not sure if I remember seeing that one, but I thought Good Morning, Vietnam was pretty decent.

    As for that particular Sinatra film, I think I may have seen only a part of it. I wasn't overly fond of the movies he made with the Rat Pack, but that's just me.

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  9. Of a newer generation can I add Will Smith as making a very successful transition to movies from recording star(Fresh Prince which was also his tv sitcom) and comedians Jamie Foxx started out doing stand-up comedy and has moved to not only acting successfully but singing as well. LOL at your new pocket friend.

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  10. Jeanne: Thanks. Haven't got much in the way of comments, derisve or otherwise with my Pooh bear, but I do manage to give people a lighthearted chuckle as he is now my official spokesman.

    I agree that Will Smith and Jamie Foxx have made a successful transition from the small screen to the silver screen and beyond.

    I'll stick with the previous two, in anything for the sheer longevity of their secondary careers (Robin Williams is about 25+ years and counting).

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