Drama Days

Like a lot of people around the world, I grew up with some knowledge of the existence of the entertainment genre known as the soap opera.  As a small child, I watched daily soaps with my mother.  Later, when I was in school, there were only sick days and summers to see them, but I kept up somewhat.

Mum and I mostly watched the CBS soaps (The Young & The Restless, The Bold & The Beautiful, As The World Turns, and Guiding Light) but I knew about the soaps on other networks.  I think most everyone in the U.S. has at least heard some reference to Luke and Laura from "General Hospital" or Erica Kane from "All My Children" and a host of other famed characters.

Such Things as Dreams are Made Of...

I have a lot of very wacky recurring dreams.  From the one with Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emmanuel Lewis running what seems to be a curio/magic/everything else store, to the one where my sister is supposed to remove my leg, but she won't because I fall asleep from the anesthesia, I never know just how weird a night's dreams will make me feel.

There's one dream at the moment that I find both amusing and disturbing.  It's silly and simple, but I wonder what it says about me as a person.

Misty Water-Color MADNESS!

Okay, folks, I've got a little recommendation for you.  There's a fairly new blog, Retro-Recaps, and it would behoove all of you to give it a look see.  The premise of looking back at long-gone but still loved television shows has been done, but this blog delivers it with a sharper sort of snark, wit, and criticism wrapped up in an endearingly meandering package.
The creator, Annie, obviously loves the shows she's recapping (as of this writing, she's almost through with season one of "Xena: Warrior Princess") but she also holds nothing sacred.  Every character and convention comes up for a good ribbing.  For those who don't hold with the "subtext" aspects of "X:WP," a word of caution: Annie is heavily on the "They are!" side of "Are they or aren't they?" when it comes to Xena and Gabrielle.  Of course, I myself find that side of the argument endlessly enticing, and her humor in that direction is silly and fun enough for anyone.

Retro-Recaps promises to be a fun time for all.  Go, read, laugh.

Xena wants you to.

Who's Tommy?

Music has always effected me deeply.  Combine great music with a fantastic story and you've got me on your side for years to come.  But combine great music, a fantastic story, and the film making style of Ken Russell and I'm hooked for life.

When I was just a little kid, I saw the classic 1975 film version of The Who's rock opera "Tommy" and I was enchanted.  The film was magical in a way, suffused with color and light and so many strange and wonderful songs.  All the musicals I'd seen and heard before were more of the Rodgers and Hammerstein variety, or even Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.  The idea of rock 'n' roll songs as the pivots of the story was amazing to a little kid.

And then, a few years later, I played pinball (the very game "Tommy" revolves around) for the first time.  Care to guess what the theme of the table was?  I'll give you a hint.

 

They Had Stars Then: Jean Harlow

(Note: This is the first in a new series comparing stars and celebs of yesteryear with the folks who end up famous today.)

Many celebrities today are famous simply for being grossly rich, or for allowing every single second of their "real" life be filmed for television.  Those who are famous for appearing in film or television shows seemto suffer less from talent than from excessive attractiveness (yes, there is a limit), scandals, or an arrest record.  They Had Stars Then is intended to take you back to the days when celebrities were famous for doing something that was worth something and stars at least attempted to display some iota of talent or ability.

I'm REALLY Back Now...

All of my blogs are about to be back and better than ever...I'm gonna put in so many pictures and junk that any regular readers (all two of you) may just vomit.  Or be really happy.  Or nothing might happen at all.

Okay, to start off...A few years ago, I worked at a large discount/retail/Idon'tknowwhatthatcorporatehellholeisanymore chain store...let's call it Mal-Wart.  Anyhow, I worked the overnight shift, stocking shelves and doing a little floor cleaning at one point.  As anyone who has worked overnight/3rd shift can tell you, it throws off the typical time schedule an average body is used to.  I'd get home in the mornings and maybe have time to eat and catch a smattering of news on TV before passing out in bed.