Friday, May 18, 2007

Friday-Sunday, May 18-20, 2007

Can the lawyers get Imus back on the air???

The New York Post is reporting that the I-man's lawyers will try to take advantage of a clause in Imus' contract stipulating that he must be warned before being fired for making offensive remarks, in order to get him back on the air. A legal source says "CBS is in violation of its contract with Imus." The legal team, headed by Martin Garbus is taking the view, according to a Post source that "CBS is risking losing $40 million or more in a lawsuit or they can bring him back." But don't get the idea that this is a slam-dunk. It's not. This idea is being floated not from a position of strength but rather one of desperation. Meanwhile CBS does not appear to be shaking in their boots...

So has shock-talk radio mellowed since I-mus was fired on April 12, 2007? The 30-day suspension of Opie & Anthony plus a multitude of Imus type remarks, many worse than his, would indicate that is not the case. The climate is more incendiary than ever and not about to change, with or without Imus...

Numerous radio networks have contacted Imus according to reports and it's just a matter of time before he resurfaces. In the meantime no law suits have yet been filed. CBS is waiting for Imus to sue first, they will then counter-sue. The fun is just beginning...

10 Timeline Memories...
  1. 1631] A Kennedy-free election: John Winthrop is elected 1st governor of Massachusetts...
  2. 1897] A baby called Dracula: Count Dracula is born out of the pen of Bram Stoker...
  3. 1917] Do you feel a draft?: Congress passes the Selective Service Act, calling up soldiers for WWI...
  4. 1927] Puttin' on The Ritz: The Ritz Hotel opens in Boston (now the Ritz-Carlton)...
  5. 1934] We kid you not: Congress approves the 'Lindbergh Act' making kidnapping a capital offense...
  6. 1934] What's your name?: The Academy Award is called Oscar for the 1st time in print by Sidney Skolsky...
  7. "Happy Trails": 1963] Running back Ernie Davis of Syracuse, winner of the 1961 Heisman Trophy dies of leukemia at 23...1995] Ballet dancer Alexander Godunov is found dead at 45, a victim of alcoholism and complications of hepatitis...1995] Elzabeth Montgomery, star of 'Bewitched' passes away from colorectal cancer at 62...
  8. Premiered on this date: 1978] "The Buddy Holly Story" starring Gary Busey, in Dallas...
  9. 1998] The Curtain comes down: "Murphy Brown" starring Candice Bergen ends its run after 10 years...
  10. 2004] Perfecto: 27 batters face Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson and 27 batters fail to get on base. At 40, Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher in history to pitch a perfect game (against Atlanta)...

Music Memories:

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...

Commentary...

After doing further research on singer Zola Taylor of The Platters, I can find no further evidence that she was a sister of Cornell Gunter as mentioned in an AP release, so I'm setting the record straight. Apparently she was not. Thanks to Paul Power who doubted it all along. Consider this a correction...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Tina Fey (37), George Strait (55), Reggie Jackson (61), Albert Hammond (65), Dwayne ("Dobie Gillis") Hickman (73), Pernell Roberts (79), Jack Whitaker (83) and Bill ("Maude") Macy (85)...

Timeline Countdown: 1 day until the Preakness Stakes, 10 days until Memorial Day...

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Saturday, May 19, 2007...

Today is Armed Forces Day. Let's remember our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. For those who don't have a member of their family serving, call someone who does just to let them know you're thinking of them and their loved ones and hope they will soon return home safely...

10 Timeline Memories...

  1. 1536] Heads, you lose: Anne Boleyn, second wife of England's King Henry VIII is beheaded after being convicted of adultery. Peter Noone left that out of his hit...
  2. 1847] Rolling, rolling, rolling: The 1st English style railroad coach rolls out on the Fall River Line (MA)...
  3. 1921] The more things change: Congress passes the Emergency Quota Act, which establishes national quotas for immigrants...
  4. 1960] The King is dethroned: Alan Freed is arrested along with 7 others on suspicion of commercial bribery. Freed had refused to sign an affidavit in 1959 denying he had accepted payola. Although payola was not yet a crime, Freed was charged with 26 counts of commercial bribery but got off with a fine. However his career was ruined...
  5. 1962] Now this is a birthday party: Marilyn Monroe performs a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" for President John F. Kennedy, with Jackie by his side, during a fund raiser at Madison Square Garden and here is a great video clip of the whole affair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_4QeDS212c&mode=related&search= ...
  6. Debuted on this date: 1969] 6-year old Jodie Foster makes her show business debut on "Mayberry R.F.D."...1999] "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" premieres setting a new record for opening day sales at 28.5 million...2005] "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" almost doubles the original movie with 50 million on opening day...
  7. 1973] Big Red: The great Secretariat, winner of the Kentucky Derby, wins the Preakness by 2 1/2 lengths. In 3 weeks, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of all-time will run away with the Belmont Stakes...
  8. 1992] Veep Speak: Dan Quayle criticizes "Murphy Brown" because the title character had a baby out of wedlock...
  9. 1992] Taking a bullet for Joey: Mary Joe Buttafuoco is shot in the head and seriously wounded by her husband's teenage lover, Amy Fisher. Reportedly the love-birds (Joey & Amy) may be getting together...
  10. 1994] The curtain comes down: 1994] "Happy Trails" to former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who passes away from cancer at 64...1994] We say goodbye to "L.A. Law" which ends with their final episode after an 8-year run...2006] "Happy Trails" to Freddie Garrity, lead singer of Freddie and the Dreamers who dies at 69 from pulmonary hypertension...

Music Memories:

  • Recorded on this date: 1960] "Save The Last Dance For Me" - The Drifters and here's Ben E. King with a live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llVdP-xi_s$4 ...
  • Released on this date: 1958] "Splish Splash" - Bobby Darin (released as the 1st 8-track master recording pressed on a plastic 45-RPM disc)...1973] "Kodachrome" - Paul Simon...
  • #1 on this date: 1965] The Beatles are #1 with "Ticket To Ride" their 1st single to feature Paul McCartney on lead guitar...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Grace Jones (59), Pete Townshend (61), Nora Ephron (66), Nancy Kwan (68), David Hartman (72) and Jim Lehrer (73)...

Timeline Countdown: Today is the Preakness Stakes and 9 days remain until Memorial Day...

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Sunday, May 20, 2007...

10 Timeline Memories:

  1. 1830] Penned in: The fountain pen is patented by H.D. Hyde...
  2. 1874] Rivet-ing: Levi Strauss begins marketing blue jeans with copper rivets...
  3. 1899] Leadfoot: Jacob Erman of New York City becomes the 1st driver to be arrested for speeding. He went faster than the 12 MPH speed limit...
  4. 1916] An original Rockwell: Norman Rockwell's artwork ("Boy with Baby Carriage") appears on the 1st cover of 'The Saturday Evening Post"...
  5. Up, Up and Away: 1927] Charles Lindbergh takes off from Long Island's Roosevelt Field to cross the Atlantic en route to Paris aboard "The Spirit of St. Louis"...1932] Amelia Earhart takes off to fly solo across the Atlantic becoming the 1st woman to achieve the feat...1939] Pan Am begins regular service when a 'Yankee Clipper' takes off from the harbor in Port Washington (LI)...
  6. 1961] Mob scene: Federal marshals are sent into Montgomery (AL) when a white mob attacks a busload of 'Freedom Riders'...
  7. The curtain comes down: 1989] "Happy Trails": SNL comedian Gilda Radner dies of cancer at 42. This video clip shows a 'Weekend Update' appearance by Gilda (with Jane Curtin): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxULYcZlEuM&mode=related&search= 1993] "Cheers" closes its doors for the final time with 40% of the population or nearly 150 million watching at home...
  8. 1970] Pro-War: Some 100,000 demonstrators in New York's Wall Street district come together in support of the war in Vietnam and Cambodia...
  9. 1976] Yazamatazz: Carl Yastrzemski hits 2 home runs (giving him 5 in 2 games, an ML record) in an 8-2 Red Sox win over the Yankees as a melee breaks out resulting in Bill Lee injuring his pitching arm. The fight starts when Lou Piniella barrels into catcher Carlton Fisk. Lee a.k.a. 'The Spaceman' will never fully recover...
  10. 1989] Silent treatment: Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence wins the Preakness Stakes but will fall short of winning the Triple Crown by losing The Belmont Stakes in June...

Music Memories:

  • 1967] Signed, sealed, delivered: Jimi Hendrix signs his 1st contract with Reprise Records...
  • 1971] Released on this date: "What's Going On" LP - Marvin Gaye. Here's the great Motown artist with a live version of the single: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UR1QCsGFbY&mode=related&search=
  • 1977] "Beatlemania" arrives: "Beatlemania" opens at the Winter Garden Theater...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

David Wells (44), comedian Dave Thomas (58), Cher (61) and Joe Cocker (63)...

Timeline Countdown: 8 days until Memorial Day and 20 days until the Belmont Stakes...

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