I make a lot of commercials. I write a lot of them, I voice a lot of them, and sometimes old ones are brought back. And sometimes I forget that I did them, and they make me laugh. That’s not a sign of their quality, it’s just an indicator that the same silly things make … Continue reading “Hey Rocky, Watch Me Pull A Running Gag Out Of My Hat!”
Carl Reiner has died at age 98. 98 years old seems like a nice, long life…but no amount of years would have been enough for the man who gave us “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Now, Carl Reiner has done a million funny things–early sketch comedy with Sid Caesar; movie writing, performing and directing; being … Continue reading Alan Brady, We Hardly Knew Ye
On the July 4th weekend of 1970, a radio institution was born. Casey Kasem, a Southern California disc jockey joined with two other notable figures to create “American Top 40.” The concept, brilliant in its simplicity, was this: Every week you’ll hear the 40 most popular songs in the USA, played from 40 all the … Continue reading “And the countdown continues…”
We plan early in the radio business. But not this early. This is just me having an idea itch around my head for a few months and deciding it was time to put it to paper (or screen I guess). Every Halloween on KCOW we do a two-hour special featuring classic radio thrillers “War Of … Continue reading Is It October Yet?
June 11, 2045 Hello, and welcome to Turner Classic Blogposts. I’m the regenerated DNA of Robert Osborne, because that’s a thing now. Tonight we present an essay from Wentyworld.com, a blog that at its peak received over 5 views a month. As with every blogpost we present, and every movie we air on TCM, and … Continue reading Frankly, Scarlet, I Think Our Story Needs Some Historical Context
So, in 2014 KCOW celebrated its 65th anniversary. We did a weeklong programming event, four hours live each afternoon for five days with Kalin Krohe, Sir Ian Nelson and me. We did two different contests that week: One was our “time machine” which was played during the morning show…I will probably do a blog about … Continue reading Alliance Retromercials
I have created another “header” for ye olde blogge…I have several of these in rotation and the new one features prominently “that Oscar-winning wabbit” Bugs Bunny. I saw Bugs and Daffy and Tweety and the gang 3 or 4 hours a week between weekday afternoons and the epic 90-minute “Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show” on Saturday … Continue reading Born 112 Years Ago This Weekend: Mel Blanc!
Yesterday on this blog I expressed gobsmacked disbelief that Necco Wafers, which had been discontinued following the bankruptcy of the New England Confectionery Company, would soon be returning to stores. My article, heavy on the wisenheimer, suggested that there is in fact nobody left on planet Earth who likes or consumes these chalky, bland, foul-tasting … Continue reading Not Without My Wafer: The Necco Aficionados Respond
Poor, poor Wentyworld dot com. This blog of mine has been quieter than a church mouse these days. And why not? I can’t write movie reviews because the theater has been closed. I can’t write about travel adventures because there are none. (Although! My friend Tami is whisking me away to Rapid City for a … Continue reading Necco Wafers Are Back! Finally, Something Stupid To Write About
I have asked for (and received) Friday May 22nd as a vacation day. This will be my first vacation day of 2020. (I went to Denver for a medical appointment in January but did not do anything resembling entertainment or recreation. In fact, by going to that appointment I missed the final chance for months … Continue reading Vacation! (Of Sorts)
