Ross Perot has died. In addition to flipping the script on the 1992 presidential election, and giving Dana Carvey another impression, Ross Perot is responsible for my moment of local TV notoriety in 1993. ’93 was the year that David Letterman announced his move to CBS. This was pretty big news at the time, and … Continue reading Can I Finish? Can I Finish? Can-I-Finish?
Sid Ramin, an Oscar-Emmy-Grammy winning composer, died earlier this week at 100. He orchestrated Leonard Bernstein’s music for the Broadway play and motion picture of “West Side Story.” Which is remarkable. But we appreciate him for composing this: Seriously, one of the all-time classic TV themes right there. This fellow also composed commercial jingles including … Continue reading Scattered Thoughts On The Fourth (That Is, I’m Typing Them On The Fourth..They’re Not About The Fourth)
A refresher for anyone just joining us: In January I noticed a recurring facial tremor (hence the name for this series of posts). After a catscan I was diagnosed with a Chiari malformation, which means the stem of my brain is putting pressure on my spinal cord. After a series of MRIs, another catscan, an … Continue reading Tales Of Twitch: Part 13 Etc.
I am a professional songwriter. Okay, stop laughing. But I have written songs! I’m even registered with BMI after I wrote lyrics for “The Board Of Health Blues #87”, a song by hillbilly rapscallions The Riverfront Boys. Most of the songwriting I’ve done has been for commercials. For example, this yuletide offering: Our latest musicale, … Continue reading Anatomy Of A Silly Commercial: The Bean Brothers
Allow me to start this little discussion with some wise words from friend-of-the-blog Tami Swearingen: As of today fireworks are legal until the 4th, i was young once and loved fireworks. I want kids to enjoy them…but please be considerate…if you have alot of dogs around..maybe find another place to shoot them off. Even more, … Continue reading Baby, You’re A (New Yorker Disconcerted By Children Setting Off A) Firework
“Scare On The Air” is one of the handful of “internet radio shows” (there’s too much production involved to call them podcasts) written and produced by Dangerous Dave Kuskie and me. The concept: Doc and Dave host a series which airs “old time radio” thrillers from the 30s, 40s and 50s. Except the thrillers are … Continue reading Scare On The Air: ‘Wallace and Davis Halloween Prank’
Three topics entering my fevered brain on a summer Saturday: Graduation Day. Today I watched on Facebook live video the graduation of the Sherburne-Earlville High School (Go Marauders!) Class of 2019. My niece Kayleigh was among the grads, and although the blustery winds caused the FB video camera to topple, I did get to hear … Continue reading Saturday In The Blog, I Think It Was The 22nd Of June
For a few years there I was winning Nebraska Broadcasters Association awards like they were going out of style. Then I wasn’t anymore. And after 3 or so years of loserdom my fragile ego led me to stop trying to win. 20 years of wondering if I’d have won is less painful than one year … Continue reading Knight Museum PSAs
A brief update today, but a meaningful one. UC Denver Health has returned my call! I am going to see one of their craniumologists on July 1st. Having to go all the way to Denver just to TALK to a doctor is not the most convenient thing in the world, but it’s the first step … Continue reading Tales Of Twitch: Part 12 Etc.
Ah, the 70’s. I lived through most of them, you know. But while 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of my first experience in an indoor theater, seeing “The Muppet Movie” with Mom and Dad, I missed out on a lot of 70’s cinema. For example, the disaster movies. I imagine Mom kept me from seeing … Continue reading Walter Matthau In A Pimp Hat: My Weekend With “Earthquake”
