Friday-Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2007-Jan. 1, 2008...

'Happy Trails' 2007...

(Remembering those we lost in Radio, TV & Records)

January: Del Reeves (74), Yvonne DeCarlo (84), Ron Carey (71), Art Buchwald (82), Denny Doherty (66), Thornton James "Pookie" Hudson (72)... February: Barbara McNair (72), Frankie Laine (93), Anna Nicole Smith (39)...
March: Brad Delp (Boston) (55), Richard Jeni (49), Calvert De Forest a.k.a. Larry 'Bud' Melman (85), Luther Ingram (69)...
April: Barry Nelson (86), Don Ho (76), Kitty Carlisle Hart (96), Bobby 'Boris Pickett (69), Tommy Newsom (78), Tom Poston (85)...
May: Bill Todd a.k.a. Johnny Williams (WRKO) (62), Gus Saunders (Boston Kitchen) (85), Hank Medress (Tokens) (68), Charles Nelson Reilly (76)...
June: Don "Mr. Wizard" Herbert (89), Joel Siegel (63)...
July: Beverly Sills (78), Boots Randolph (80), Bill Pinkney (Drifters) (81), Tammy Faye Messner (65), Tom Snyder (71)...
August: Lee Hazlewood (78), Merv Griffin (82), Max Roach (83), Phil Rizzuto (89), Hilly Kristal (CBGB) (75)...
September: Luciano Pavarotti (70), Jane Wyman (90), Brett Somers (83), Bob Altshuler (CBS Records) (84), Alice Ghostley (83), Marcel Marceau (84), Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny)(80)...
October: George Grizzard (89), Deborah Kerr (86), Joey Bishop (89), Teresa Brewer (76), Paul (Chef Tell) Erhardt (63), Porter Wagoner (80), Robert Goulet (73)...
November: Don Dumont (79), Laraine Day (90), Hi Lit (73), Dick "Mr. Whipple" Wilson (91), Bill Hartack (74), Evel Knievel (69)...
December: Ike Turner (76), Fred B. Cole (92), Dan Fogelberg (56)...

Happy Trails and thanks for all the memories you left us with: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PGvCMruyjVg ...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 0404] Curtains: The last gladiator competition is held in Rome and taped for later use as a NBC-TV special (1/1)...1956] After 5 years on TV, the final "Ding Dong School" airs on NBC-TV hosted by Miss Francis Horwich (12/28)...1966] The final episode of "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" is filmed (1/1)...1984] "Edge of Night" fades to black after 28 years (12/28)...1989] Jane Pauley leaves the "Today Show" (12/29)...1995] The last "Far Side" cartoon runs. Started in 1980 by Gary Larson, 'Far Side' books and calendars continue to be best sellers (1/1)...
2. 1851] Why oh why?: The first YMCA is organized in Boston (12/29) which eventually leads to the Village People: http://youtube.com/watch?v=X9DC26UUZhQ ...
3. 1863] Mine eyes have seen the glory: Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that slaves in rebel states are free (1/1)...
4. 1892] Debuted on this date: The Ellis Island Immigrant Station opens in New York Harbor (1/1)...1902] The first 'Tournament of Roses', later renamed the 'Rose Bowl' collegiate football game is played in Pasadena (CA) (1/1)...1935] Charles Darrow patents the game of Monopoly (12/31)...1953] The first color TV sets go on sale for $1,175 (12/30). How many would you like??? 1954] The 24-second clock is used for the first time in the NBA in the Celtics-Rochester game (12/30)...
5. 1898] I'll take Manhattan: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island are consolidated into New York City (1/1)...
6. 1943] Old Blue Eyes takes Manhattan: Times Square greets Frank Sinatra at the Paramount Theater. His career explodes after this appearance (12/31). Here's the 'Chief Cheech' in a movie from 1943: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qsdzGzLzA2Q ...
7. 1953] 'Happy Trails': Legendary Country singer Hank Williams is found dead in his car, a victim of a drug and alcohol overdose at 29 (1/1)...1972] Future Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente is killed on a mercy mission when the cargo plane he had chartered goes down in the Caribbean. Clemente, 38, was en route to helping victims of a Nicaraguan earthquake (12/31)...1980] Folksinger/songwriter Tim Hardin O.D.'s on heroin at 40 (12/29)...1983] Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys drowns while swimming near his boat at Marina del Rey (CA) (12/28). Ironically, Dennis was the only real surfer in the group. Wilson was 39...1985] Teen Idol Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash on his way to a New Year's Eve concert in Dallas (12/31). Rick was one of the nicest people I had the pleasure of knowing...1997] Michael Kennedy, 39-year old son of the late Robert Kennedy is killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain (12/31)...1999] Sarah Knauss, the world's oldest person (119) dies of natural causes (12/31). Sarah was born in 1880...
8. 1958] Frozen in sports history: The Baltimore Colts beat the Giants 23-17 at 8:15 into overtime on a frozen Yankee Stadium field to win the NFL Championship in a thriller (12/28)...
9. 1959] Castro takes control: Fidel Castro overthrows the government of Fulgencio Batista and seizes power in Cuba (1/1)...
10. 1967] Equal but separate: The FCC starts requiring AM/FM combo stations to be at least 50 percent separate in programming (1/1). Lots of great stations will be born, including WRKO (in March)...

Music Memories:

• 1945] Music City is on the map: Sheb Wooley records the first commercial record cut in Nashville. It was on the Bullet label (so it could get bullets in Billboard?) (12/29)...
• 1956] Recorded on this date: "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley (1/1)...1964] "Fun, Fun, Fun" - Beach Boys (1/1)...
• 1965] Released on this date: "My World Is Empty Without You" - Supremes (12/29)...1968] "Touch Me" - Doors (12/28)..
• 1966] Number One on this date: "I'm A Believer" - Monkees (12/31)...1967] "Hello Goodbye" - Beatles (12/30)... 1968] The Beatles 'White Album' (12/28)...1974] "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" - Elton John (12/29). Herrrrrreeee's Elton: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q7AgIEfBq_Q ...

Commentary:

If you think, like me, the year went by too fast, you're ready for the next one. It will be here sooner than you think - Monday night at midnight. However you intend to celebrate, do it safely. Happy New Year!!!! See you next year...

'Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(12/28) Sienna Miller (26), John Legend (29), Seth Meyers (34), Ray Bourque (47), Denzel Washington (53), Alex (Boxtops) Chilton (57), Edgar Winter (61), Dame Maggie Smith (73), Johnny Otis (86) and Lou Jacobi (94)...

(12/29) Mikhi Phifer (33), Jude Law (35), Paula Poundstone (48), Evonne Elliman (56), Ted Danson (60), Marianne Faithful (61), Jon Voight (69),Tyl Mary Tyler Moore (70), Tom Jarriel (73) and Inga ('Benson') Swenson (75)...

(12/30) Allyson Mireya Phillips (2), LeBron James (23), Tiger Woods (32), Sean Hannity (46), Tracey Ullman (48), Matt Lauer (50), Sheryl Lee Ralph (52), Meredith Vieira (54), Patti Smith (61), Davy Jones (62), Michael Nesmith (65), Paul Stookey (70), Sandy Koufax (72) and Bo Diddley (79)...

(12/31) Joey McIntyre (35), Val Kilmer (48), Bebe Neuwirth (49), Donna Summer (59), Burton Cummings (60), Diane Von Furstenburg (61), Ben Kingsley (64), Sarah Miles (66), Anthony Hopkins (70) and Odetta (77)...

(1/1) Verne Troyer (39), Don (Father Guido Sarducci) Novello (65), Country Joe McDonald (66), Frank Langella (68) and J.D. Sallinger (89)...

Timeline Countdown for January 1, 2008: Happy New Year, 4 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs and 11 days for the NFL Divisional Playoffs (the Patriots will be in one of those games)...

Thursday, December 27, 2007

The Good...The Bad...The Ugly of 2007...

The Good
If this award was based on performance, the "Male Athlete of the Year", Tom Brady would win it easily for his record breaking season as the so far undefeated Patriots quarterback. Since the award is given out for off the field achievement, I was torn between two candidates but in the end I felt that this individual did more for the betterment of sports than the other candidate. For that reason, former Maine Senator and current New York lawyer, George Mitchell is this year's recipient. Mitchell rocked the sports world with the publishing of his report on steroid usage in baseball. While some might question it, his naming of names was well justified. Sorry ACLU. It took guts to name some of the biggest names in the sport, such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. It's a wake up call for baseball to get its house in order and I hope similar reports on other sports will follow. Runner-up: Anucha Browne Sanders for blowing the whistle on MSG for harassment to the tune of $11.5 million. Just this morning, the New York Daily News is reporting on another sexual harassment case settled yesterday by MSG and Courtney Prince, the fired captain of the Ranger City Skaters. Prince charged that the Garden was "a virtual frathouse where male executives treated cheerleaders like sex objects." When will this nonsense end at the 'House of Dolan?"
Here's a clip of our 'Good' Award winner, George Mitchell in action: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xtbtibvSIV8&feature=related ...

The Bad
There are many candidates for the 'Bad' Award but the athlete who did the most damage to the sport she represents and herself is Marion Jones who paid the steepest price for continually lying about using enhancement drugs and then finally admitting it - the loss of 5 Olympic medals in track. Judgement day is still coming for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, the biggest baseball names associated with illegal steroid and HGH use. There's enough evidence in the Mitchell Report and elsewhere (Balco, etc.) to warrant both men tying for Runner-Up in this award. Bob Costas recently vented on the subject: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZbHQue2q7p8 . I found this 'doctored' Roger Clemens clip on YouTube that is hilarious: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LBWLQjmdXTE ..

The Ugly
This came down to two candidates but in the end the winner was a clear choice. I've consistently used the taking of a life as the criteria for the awarding of this dubious distinction. Since this candidate admittedly took several canine lives in his hideous dog-fighting avocation, the winner of the 'Ugly' award and therefore 'loser' of the year is: Michael Vick, the former Atlanta quarterback who is now serving a 23-month jail sentence. Here is Vick admitting his quilt: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XzytivQsPGI . Runner-up: Garrett Reid and Bret Reid, Andy Reid's two sons, both serving time for separate crimes involving guns and drugs...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1900] "RAID": Carrie Nation stages her first raid on a saloon in Kansas, breaking every liquor bottle she can find...
2. 1903] "But oh how they could harmonize": "Sweet Adeline" is sung for the first time by a barbershop quartet in New York City but no one sings it better than Ted Kennedy: http://youtube.com/watch?v=uZBbBMVoamY ...
3. 1904] Premiered on this date: "Peter Pan" opens in London...1932] Radio City Music Hall opens...1947] "Howdy Doody" debuts on NBC-TV hosted by Buffalo Bob Smith...1964] The Supremes make their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"...
4. 1967] Knicked: Red Holtzman replaces Dick McGuire as New York Knicks coach. Holtzman turns the Knicks around and wins 2 NBA titles before retiring in 1982...
5. 1968] Curtains: "The Breakfast Club" with Don McNeill signs off for the last time on ABC Radio after 35 years...1970] "Hello Dolly" closes on Broadway after an initial run of 4 1/2 years. The musical keeps resurfacing from time to time...
6. 1971] "They say we're young and we don't know": "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" begins airing as a regular series on CBS-TV after starting as a summer replacement on August 1, 1971 and here they are, America's favorite couple of the 70s: http://youtube.com/watch?v=v07J56wuoH8 ...
7. 1971] On the cover of: Newsweek features 'Snoopy', Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy and Woodstock of Charles Schulz' 'Peanuts' on its cover...
8. 1985] "Happy Trails": Dian Fossey, 53, American naturalist who studied gorillas in the wild, is found murdered at a research station in Rwanda by a inhumane human...
9. 2001] Talibanned: U.S. officials announce that Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners will be held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay...
10. 2005] Putting down their arms: Indonesia's Aceh rebels formally abolish their 30-year armed struggle for independence under a peace deal born out of the 2004 tsunami...

Music Memories:

• 1975] Released on this date: "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" - Four Seasons (without Frankie Valli singing lead: http://youtube.com/watch?v=liyiT_DGREA ...

Commentary:

I'm glad that the NFL finally came to their senses about making the Patriots attempt at the first 16-0 season in NFL history more readily available. For the first time since the first Super Bowl, which was not called the SB yet, a game will be simulcast on 3 TV networks. In addition to the NFL Network, NBC and CBS will carry the action live. Roger Goodell said, "We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans." It's also in the best interest of the NFL which will expand its coverage from their networks' 40% of the country to close to 100%. We can thank the fans and pressure from lawmakers for this gift. The Patriots vs. Giants game coverage will start at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 29 and now you'll be able to be there...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Arthur ('Scud Stud') Kent (54), Tovah Feldshuh (55), Mick Jones of Foreigner (63), Cokie Roberts (64), John Amos (68) and legendary Sun Records musician Scotty Moore (76)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 nights until New Year's Eve, 9 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs, 15 down and 1 to go for the Patriots and 16 days until the NFL Divisional Playoffs...

Christmas 2007, Monday, December 24-Wednesday, December 26, 2007...

Oh the power of YouTube...

Seeking a public forum? Go to YouTube, running for president? Go to YouTube, Broadcasting Christmas Greetings to your royal subjects?, Go to YouTube, denying steroid use? Go to YouTube. Within the last 24 hours, both a Queen and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer have used YouTube to broadcast their messages to the world. There's a lot more at stake in Roger Clemens' message than in her royal majesty's. The Hall of Fame is at stake for the tarnished 'Rocket' and he's hoping that his subjects believe him. The Queen is just delivering her benign greetings to all and to all a good night...

In watching Clemens video he gets his message across calmly and thanks you for all your support. Then comes the denial. I would almost believe him had it not been for the testimony which stated pretty clearly that Roger Clemens was injected with steroids - maybe human growth hormones too. It wasn't a flu shot, I'm pretty sure of that. I believe the testimony more than I believe Clemens. They say that it's hard to lie without blinking your eyes so I'm thinking that maybe he blinks a lot because he has dry eyes - yeah, right! ...

You be the judge. Watch the video and make your own decision: http://www.youtube.com/wrclemens ...

Merry Christmas everyone...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1799] "Happy Trails": George Washington is eulogized by Colonel Henry Lee as "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." (12/26)...1946] W.C. Fields dies at 66 from a stomach hemorrhage (12/25)...Despite all the rumors about the Philadelphia joke on his headstone, it just has his name and dates of birth and death...1954] R&B singer Johnny Ace shoots himself fatally while playing 'Russian roulette' backstage at a concert in Houston. The "Pledging My Love" singer was just 25 (12/24)...1972] Harry S. Truman our 33rd president dies in Kansas City from lung congestion caused by pneumonia at 88 (12/26)...1974] Jack Benny passes away from pancreatic cancer at 80 (12/26)...1977] Charlie Chaplin dies in his sleep at 88 (12/25)...1989] Former Yankees manager Billy Martin dies in a pickup truck crash in Fenton (NY) at 61 (12/25)...1995] Dean Martin dies from respiratory failure at 78 (12/25)...1999] Curtis Mayfield dies at 57 from diabetes after being paralyzed when a light stand fell on him some years earlier (12/26)...2000] Jason Robards dies from lung cancer at 78 (12/26)...2006] Former President Gerald R. Ford dies from arteriosclerosis at 93 (12/26)...
2. 1947] Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow: A major snowstorm blankets New York City under 25.8" in 16 hours. 80 die in the northeast as a result of the storm (12/26)...
3. 1948] Debuted on this date: A midnight mass is broadcast on TV for the first time from St. Patrick's Cathedral (12/25)...1948] "The Perry Como Show" debuts (12/25)...1953] NBC-TV's "Dragnet" becomes the first network show to be sponsored in full (by Fatima cigarettes) (12/24)...1955] The Lennon Sisters debut on "The Lawrence Welk Show" (12/24) America's sweethearts reminisce: http://youtube.com/watch?v=z5zOXwBFMRQ&feature=related ...1964] The James Bond movie, "Goldfinger" premieres (12/25)...1968] Led Zeppelin begin their first U.S. tour in Boston opening for Vanilla Fudge (12/26)...1973] "The Exorcist" starring Linda Blair opens (12/26)...1990] "Godfather III" premieres (12/25)...
4. 1968] T'was the night before Christmas: The Apollo 8 astronauts orbiting the moon read passages from the old testament Book of Genesis during a Christmas Eve TV broadcast (12/24)...
5. 1981] Wedding Bells: Guardian Angel Curtis Sliwa and Lisa Evers walk down the aisle in their red berets and jackets. They break up in 1993 (12/24)...1990] Nicole Kidman succumbs to the many charms of Tom Cruise as they tie the knot. The marriage dissolves in 2001 (12/24)...1993] Rodney Dangerfield finally gets respect. At 72, he marries Joan Child, 41. (12/26) The marriage lasts until Rodney's death in 2004...
6. 1982] Time Man of the Year: A computer. It's the first time a non-human receives the honors (12/26)... Mi-Sex, a CBS International act from Australia and New Zealand serenade the computer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ufBYaYJAERc ...
7. 1986] Curtains: "Search for Tomorrow" bows out after 35 years (12/26)...1992] Legendary sports play-by-play man, Marty Glickman retires at 75 (12/26)...
8. 1996] Still unsolved: 6-year old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey is found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder (CO) (12/26). The murder remains unsolved. Here's some video on the case: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z_0ViJh5KH0 ...
9. 2002] The kick is up: Katie Hnida becomes the first woman with or without a missing vowel to play in a Division I football game when she attempts an extra point for New Mexico against UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl. Unfortunately she craps out (12/25)...
10. 2004] Deadly Tsunami: A tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean leaves more than 216,000 dead or missing in southern Asia (12/26)...

Music Memories:

• 1818] Composed and debuted on this date: "Silent Night", written by Josef Mohr with music by Franz Gruber of Germany (12/24) and it debuts on Christmas (12/25)...
• 1896] Named that tune on this date: John Philip Souza puts a title to the new music he composed, calling it "Stars and Stripes Forever" forever (12/25)...
• 1958] The Big Beat live on this date: Alan Freed's "Christmas Rock 'n Roll Spectacular" at the Loew's State Theater in Manhattan stars Frankie Avalon, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, the Everly Brothers, the Moonglows, Johnnie Ray & Jackie Wilson (12/25)...
• 1961] Recorded on this date: "She Cried" - Jay & The Americans (with Jay Traynor singing lead (12/26) : http://youtube.com/watch?v=LcrUO9-bqI8 ...1966] "I Think We're Alone Now" - Tommy James (12/24)...
• 1963] Released on this date: "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - Beatles (12/26)...
• 2006] Musical 'Happy Trails': James Brown dies from congestive heart failure resulting from complications of pneumonia. 'The Godfather of Soul' was 73 (12/25). Here's the news report: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NbtTId2Qcuw ...

Commentary:

Today (December 24) is the 101st anniversary of the first broadcast of a music program which I had as a Timeline in my weekend blog. In 1906 Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden became the first disc jockey by broadcasting a program over the radio from Brant Rock (MA). An historian event at Christmas time and a perfect way to say to one and all, Merry Christmas. I'll be back with 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of the Year' on Thursday, December 27th. Be safe. Be happy...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(12/24) Ryan Seacrest (33), Ricky Martin (36), Mike Curb (63) and Dave Bartholomew (86)...

(12/25) Dido (36), Rickey Henderson (49), Annie Lennox (53) who recently performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony: http://youtube.com/watch?v=S_oHzWvwp8Y , Karl Rove (57), Sissy Spacek (57), Barbara Mandrell (59), Jimmy Buffet (61) and Tony Martin (95)...

(12/26) Chris Daughtry (28), Carlton Fisk (60), John Walsh (62), Paul Power (63), Phil Spector (67), Abdul "Duke" Fakir (72) seen here with the Four Tops singing one of my faves, "When She Was My Girl": http://youtube.com/watch?v=HMhHcrDySO8 and Richard Widmark (93)...

Timeline Countdown for Wednesday, December 26, 2007: One day from 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of the Year", 5 nights until New Year's Eve, 10 days until the NFL Wildcard Playoffs, 15 down and 1 to go for the Patriots and 17 days until the NFL Divisional Playoffs...

Friday-Sunday, December 21-23, 2007...

Time Warner Cable refuses to budge...

Should the New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins (wink-wink) this Sunday, they would face the Giants, the last obstacle facing the Pats from completing the first undefeated season in the NFL in 35 years. Big stuff, right? Well it's not big enough for Time Warner to call time-out in their feud with the NFL over completing a deal to carry the league's network, not even for this one game. John Kerry tried and failed to convince the NFL to do so and now we have Senators Patrick Leahy (Vermont) and Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania) threatening to reconsider the league's antitrust exemption if Time Warner doesn't relent. Now along comes NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell who sent a letter to Time Warner CEO Glenn Britt proposing that the cable giant could air the channel for free if it agrees to binding arbitration to set the price and method for carrying the NFL Network. Britt declined the offer...

Time Warner wants to charge its customers tier pricing for the NFL Network or on a pay-per-game basis and they want a deal negotiated between themselves and the NFL without any help from a third party. Time Warner is not alone, Comcast hasn't come to an agreement with the NFL either...

If neither side relents, everyone loses. The NFL Network, which averages 5.3 million viewers a game, covers less than 40 percent of the country would add another 10 million should the December 29th game be shown on Time Warner and guess who else would have several million more viewers? Times up. If you guessed Time Warner you're a cinch to fog up a mirror. As it stands now, viewers in Boston and New York will see the game but unless you're among the 60 percent of the country without access to the NFL Network you won't see it outside those markets. Ya think the fans in Miami might want to see that game to see if their 1972 Dolphins undefeated record of 14-0 (17-0 overall) is broken???

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1620] The Pilgrims are coming, the Pilgrims are coming: The Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower go ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth (MA) (12/21)...
2. 1823] 'Twas the night before Christmas': Clement C. Moore's poem, "A visit from St. Nicholas" is published in the Troy (NY) Sentinel (12/23). Here it is in a clip from a 1946 movie: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wktd_jFP6xc ...
3. 1882] The first Christmas lights: The first string of Christmas tree lights is created by Thomas Edison. If T.A.E. were around to see this he would definitely kvell: http://youtube.com/watch?v=szLmAPW39uE&feature=related (12/22)...
4. 1906] The first music show: On the night of December 24th, 1906, Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden becomes the first person to broadcast a music program over the radio from Brant Rock (MA). Last year on the 100th anniversary of the event, WATD owner Ed Perry held events to commemorate it. The legendary Fred B. Cole, who recently passed away, emceed the ceremony. Fred hosted big band music on radio stations in New York and Boston and was so chosen for the historic event (12/24). I found this school project on Fessenden on YouTube. I hope the young man got an "A": http://youtube.com/watch?v=2NmRTafYxxE ...
5. 1942] Where there's war, there's Hope: Bob Hope does his first Christmas show to entertain U.S. airmen stationed in Alaska, starting an annual tradition (12/23)...
6. 1945] "Happy Trails": General George S. Patton dies in Germany from injuries suffered in a car accident. Patton was 60 (12/21)...1995] Lawrence Berk, founder of Berklee College of Music, dies from natural causes at 87 in Boston (12/22)...2002] Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash, dies suddenly of a congenital heart defect at 50 (12/22)...
7. 1970] Elvis the drug czar: Richard M. Nixon has a meeting about fighting drugs in the Oval Office with Elvis Presley who would die from a drug overdose (12/21)...
8. 1978] Guilty as charged: Police in Des Plaines (IL) arrest John Wayne Gacy Jr. and begin unearthing the remains of 33 men and boys that Gacy would be convicted of murdering (12/21). Gacy is executed by lethal injection in May, 1994...1996] After two years of denials, House Speaker Newt Gingrich admits violating House ethic rules. He is soon replaced as House Speaker (12/21)...
9. 1984] Subway justice: New York City resident Bernhard Goetz shoots 4 youths on a Manhattan subway, claiming they were about to rob him. The youths were armed with screw drivers (12/22). Here's the 'Subway Vigilante' in happier times, playing with his pet squirrel: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FjF5ccIrP8Q ...
10. 1988] Terrorism in the sky: 270 are killed when a Pan Am Boeing 747 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland. A terrorist attack is responsible for one of the worst air tragedies ever (12/21)...

Music Memories:

• 1942] Number One on this date: "White Christmas" - Bing Crosby (12/23). Here's der Bingle and Marjorie Lord from the movie, "Holiday Inn": http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y1GPxcxrBkI&feature=related ...1952] "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - Jimmy Boyd (12/21): http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q2WSf94a5fY ...
• 1955] Recorded on this date: "Jim Dandy" - LaVern Baker (12/21)...1959] "This Magic Moment" - Drifters (12/23)...
• 1978] Released on this date: "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" - Rod Stewart (12/23). Here's Rod singing it at Jazzfest 2007: http://youtube.com/watch?v=54z-MlFTc4M&feature=related ...

Commentary:

If you're home for the Holidays or have access to a laptop, I will post an MPR on Monday (24th) covering 3 days and then back with 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of The Year' on Thursday, December 27th. If you're leaving for the holidays: Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(12/21) Keifer Sutherland (41), Andy Dick (42), Ray Romano (50), Jane Kaczmarek (52), Chris Evert (53), Samuel L. Jackson (59), Carla Thomas (65), Jane Fonda (70), Phil Donahue (72) and Joe Paterno (81)...

(12/22) Ralph Fiennes (45), Robin Gibb (58), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick) (61), Diane Sawyer (62) and Hector Elizondo (71)...

(12/23) Eddie Vedder (43), Susan Lucci (61), Harry Shearer (64), Jerry Koosman (65) and Paul Hornung (72)...

Timeline Countdown for Sunday, December 23, 2007: Winter started yesterday, we celebrate Festivus today (Here's Frank Costanza addressing Congress about celebrating the holiday: (http://youtube.com/watch?v=F9yZjh7JRuE&feature=related ), 2 days until Christmas, 4 days until 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of 2007', 8 nights until New Year's Eve and 13 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Two wrongs that can now be made right...

George Mitchell went as far as he could in compiling his report on steroid usage in baseball and he should be applauded for it, not criticized. But it's wrong to confine an investigation into performance enhancing drug usage just to baseball. It should be done for all sports and under one umbrella. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill), the chairman of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection has the right idea, "We won't confine it to Major League Baseball. We will also look at football and the NBA. We all know what's going on at the professional level, so we should look at the NCAA too." Rush's staff will finalize a witness list and consider "everybody associated with the Mitchell Report and all these individuals can possibly be called as witnesses." Now back to the big picture. This past Sunday, Rush announced that he would introduce legislation requiring frequent testing of players by an independent body. Rush said the organization could be the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency which coordinates drug policy for the Olympics. Rush added, "they are the gold standard for drug testing. We want to work closely with USADA." This is no 'Rush to judgement', this is a very sound idea that deserves to move forward and succeed...

Here's another wrong that needs to be made right. On Tuesday, U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation to undo a half-century old exemption that lets big radio companies like Clear Channel Inc. and CBS Corp. to air songs without paying record labels or performers any royalties. These two major corporations pay publisher royalties along with everyone else, what we're talking about now are royalties to labels and performers. The argument that radio airplay was invaluable promotion for the labels and radio should not pay for it just doesn't wash anymore. The playing field has been leveled by new types of broadcasters including those on satellite and the Web and music sales that continue to spiral downward. Earlier this month, U.S. copyright authorities set new royalty rates for Sirius and XM, requiring them to pay 8 percent of gross revenues by 2012. The free ride is over for Clear Channel and CBS. Terrestrial radio should not get a free pass...

Both of these 'wrongs' now have an opportunity to be made right. Let's hope the legislator's do the right thing...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1879] Blinded by the light: Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrates his incandescent light at Menlo Park (NJ)...
2. 1880] Premiered on this date: Broadway officially becomes 'The Great White Way' when the lights go on for the first time. This is what Times Square looks like these days: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tmKTwsdM2q0&feature=related ...1946] Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" starring James Stewart and Donna Reed is previewed for charity at the Globe Theatre in Times Square. The next day is the official world premiere. The movie won't become a hit until it's shown on TV. Here's the last 9 minutes of the classic: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ErrzjGCi3gY ..1950] Jimmy Stewart stars in another big movie, "Harvey" which opens in Times Square...1967] "The Graduate" starring Anne Bancroft and introducing Dustin Hoffman premieres...1981] "Dream Girls" opens at the Imperial Theater on Broadway and 25 years later (2006) the movie opens...
3. 1957] Merry Christmas Elvis: Elvis Presley gets an early Christmas present - a draft notice from the U.S. Army. 'The King' reports to the Memphis draft board for a physical, seen here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UiU5Rxrcx20&feature=related ...
4. 1963] A crack in the wall: The Berlin Wall opens for the first time, allowing West Berliners to visit relatives on the east side for the holidays. It re-closes January 6th...
5. 1968] "Happy Trails": Author John Steinbeck dies of a heart attack at 66...1973] Bobby Darin passes away following surgery to repair a faulty heart valve at 37. Here's a tribute to Bobby and Sandra Dee, both gone before their time: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7gtXvk0eGfs ...1976] Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley is the victim of a heart attack at 74...1996] Astronomer Carl Sagan goes to a galaxy, billions and billions of light years away at 62. Sagan suffered from a rare bone marrow disease...1999] Legendary Country star Hank Snow dies of natural causes at 85...
6. 1980] Announcers banned: No announcers are allowed in a Don Ohlmeyer experiment during the Jets-Dolphins game on NBC-TV, won by the Jets 24-17. I remember how refreshing this was and they kept the parabolic crowd mics open so you felt like you were at the game. To me, hearing the non-stop blabber is the equivalent of sitting next to an annoying fan at a game...
7. 1985] Record breaking: New York Islander Denis Potvin breaks the NHL record for a defenseman with his 916th point. The previous record was held by the greatest defenseman I ever saw - #4, the immortal Bobby Orr...
8. 1993] Wedding Bells: Donald Trump makes Marla Maples his apprentice for 6 years before the marriage ends in divorce...
9. 2002] Lott trots: Trent Lott resigns as Senate Republican leader two weeks after making racially charged remarks...
10. 2005] Walking the walk: New York City transit workers walk out on strike, shutting down subways and buses for 3 days. And it was freezing then too...

Music Memories:

• 1969] Number One on this date: "Leaving on a Jet Plane" - Peter, Paul & Mary. This is a great clip featuring the trio and the writer of the song - John Denver: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4LvtDb0ZPwQ ...
• 1975] Musical Eagles: Joe Walsh replaces Bernie Leadon in the Eagles...

Commentary:

On the subject of deregulation of Newspaper-TV-Radio ownership, Ed Pyle remembers the separate operations of the Tampa Tribune, Channel 8 and WFLA AM & FM: "I never encountered any involvement in what I was doing in the news department from the newspaper or TV station. I never had anyone in radio, TV or the Tribune even suggest a guest for my 'Ask the Expert' radio show." ... From Frank Kingston Smith: "As you know I worked at WFIL, Triangle Publications, which owned the full complement at the time -7, 7 and 7. Of course Triangle owned two Philadelphia newspapers - The Inquirer and the Daily News, in addition to TV Guide and The Daily Racing Form. I made history of sorts one Sunday morning as the Daily News spot ended with the jingle, 'Read the Daily News'. I followed that with, "It's also great for wrapping fish." Word is that moments before GM Roger Clipp had a heart attack, he shouted to his wife, "I"LL KILL HIM". Oddly enough I never heard anything about it but Jim Hilliard, the PD, still chuckles about it today." On the subject of the first super station, WTBS, Gordon Brown comments: "WTBS originally belonged to MIT (Tech. Broadcasting System or School, I believe it stood for). One day someone from Turner's org. called the school and asked if the call letters could be purchased and for how much. The person who took the call, taken by complete surprise, threw out a number, more than a million I believe. That's how TBS became Turner Broadcasting." Thanks for all that interesting info guys...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jo Jo (Levesque) (17), The Mets' David Wright (25), Dick Wolf (61), Uri Geller (61), Blood, Sweat & Tears drummer & record exec. Bobby Colomby (63), John Hillerman (75) and Charlie Callas (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 3 days until winter, 4 days until Festivus, 5 shopping daze until Christmas, 6 days until 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of 2007', 11 nights until New Year's Eve, 14 down with 2 to go for the Patriots and 16 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Looking for 'good'...

It's the holiday season as Andy Williams reminds us at least a dozen times a day. Time to look for the 'good'. In scanning this morning's headlines, there's not a whole lot of good: 'Train derails in Pakistan, killing 58', 'Britney's sister is pregnant at 16', 'Bail is denied in 5th Ave. killing', 'Green tea may have prostate cancer risk'. Eeenough, let's look at the sports headlines: 'Clemens denies using banned substances', 'Academic scandal snags Florida State'. Let's see, what about Health? 'Addicted doctors allowed to practice', 'Bacteria-tainted syringes sicken dozens'. Get the picture? Nothing good. But there's got to be something at least amusing. Ah, here it is. 'Bride to tie knot in toilet paper dress'. The second line of that story made me give up. She's getting married in a restroom. Who's performing the ceremony, Senator Craig???

Whether you're writing or reading a column, you're looking for something good during this holiday season but it's a tough task. There is one story that's highly controversial - the FCC vote allowing newspaper companies to own broadcast television and radio stations in the top 20 markets. Those on the left, hate it while the righties love it. I'll offer my first-hand account of working for one of those conglomerates later on in my Commentary...

Here's one non-story headline, 'Parcells is offered VP job with Falcons'. I call it a non-story because it's one we encounter after every retirement by the 'Big Tuna'. I won't even get into politics because that changes every day prior to the primaries. I like this one, 'Giant rat discovered in Indonesia jungle'. That doesn't seem like an imminent threat as long as the rat stays in Indonesia. All I can say is that if you're looking for a 'good' story to write or read today, good luck...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1903] The Willie B: The Willamsburg Bridge, connecting lower Manhattan to Brooklyn becomes the first major suspension bridge in America...
2. 1917] Dropping the puck: The first games of the new NHL are played. The original 5 teams played in Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec and 2 in Montreal. This is the way the Canadian Gods decreed it should be, eh?...
3. 1918] Premiered on this date: Robert Ripley begins his "Believe It Or Not" column in the New York Globe...1957] Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" opens at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway for an initial run of 1,375 performances...1961] "Judgement At Nuremberg" premieres in Manhattan...1971] Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" opens in New York City...1980] "9 To 5" starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin debuts and here's the movie opening: http://youtube.com/watch?v=jiHYzPuq0KI ...
4. 1984] Chief Cheech: Buffalo beats Chicago 6-1 and Sabres' coach Scotty Bowman becomes the NHL leader in wins with 691...
5. 1987] All Paul Simon all the time: Presidential candidate Paul Simon introduces singer Paul Simon on 'Saturday Night Live'. Will the real Paul Simon please stand up...
6. 1989] Charge!: The U.S. invades Panama to overthrow the regime of General Noriega who lands in a Miami prison...
7. 1990] Bo knows: Bo Jackson becomes the first athlete to be chosen for All-Star games in two sports (baseball and football) when he's selected to the NFL Pro Bowl. Had he not gotten hurt he would of been one of the all-time greats. This video tribute shows how dynamic he was: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EjO_QfFYV78 ...
8. 1996] Ebonics 101: The school board of Oakland votes to recognize black English. Ebonics be born. English dies...
9. 2000] 'Happy Trails': Former New York City Mayor John Lindsay dies from Parkinson's disease and pneumonia at 79...2005] Mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante dies in a Springfield (MO) federal prison at 77...
10. 2002] This is justice?: Citing new DNA evidence, a judge throws out the convictions of 5 young men for the 1989 attack on the 'Central Park Jogger' who was raped and left for dead. Miraculously she survives...

Music Memories:

• 1958] Number One on this date: "The Chipmunk Song" - David Seville a.k.a. Ross Bagdasarian, one of the first records I played (along with "Tom Dooley" in Radio): http://youtube.com/watch?v=2dnrosVyamY&feature=related ...1979] "Escape (Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes (the last #1 hit of the 70s)...
• 1960] Released on this date: "Calendar Girl" - Neil Sedaka. Great timing on the release. It was played for months. Here's a recent live version by Neil: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rb-9PNgIeo0&feature=related ...
• 1975] Gathering new moss: Ron Wood joins the Rolling Stones...

Commentary:

My experience with Triple-Media (newspaper, TV and Radio) ownership was pretty benign. The station was WFLA Tampa, owned by the Tampa Tribune when I was a jock there in the mid-60s. As I think my friends Dick Eller, a fellow jock who would enjoy a successful career in San Diego and Ed Pyle, a newsman at the time who would eventually become news director at 2 prestigious stations in LA, would attest, we had no contact with people at the Tribune, a totally separate operation. The AM radio station was top 40, FM was automated MOR instrumental music (all the AM jocks had to do was rewind the tapes and panic if you were on the air when the alarm indicating dead air, went off), the television station was an NBC affiliate and there was some cross-promotion between the two. We got the two TV weather guys (Gordon Barnes and Al Duckworth) to do radio weather and the jocks got a Saturday dance show called 'Hi-Time' of all things. The jocks were called the WFLA Pussycats (as in 'What's New') and we wore our sweat shirts promoting the station on each show. Each jock took turns in co-hosting the show with the two regular hosts, a pretty blonde and a young guy who would wind up becoming an actor in Hollywood. The co-hosting jock would have the lead lip-synch on whatever hit was played and the rest of the Pussycats played air instruments. That was fun and a great cross-promotion for the station. The triple ownership presented no problem at all. It was uneventful at worst. With a struggling economy I understand the opposition to it today as radio fears still another intrusion by a big bullying media but maybe it won't be so bad after all...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jake Gyllenhall (27), Jennifer Beals (44), Kevin McHale (50), Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire) (66), Baseball HOFer Al Kaline (73), Cicely Tyson (74) and Little Jimmy Dickens (87)...

Timeline Countdown: 4 days until winter, 5 days until Festivus, 6 shopping days until Christmas, 7 days until 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of 2007', 12 nights until New Year's Eve, 14 down and 2 to go for the Patriots and 17 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Internet measurement needs a better standard...

As I discovered when I started my blog almost three years ago, the language of Web measurement has changed. You rarely hear the word "hits" used anymore. When you "visit" my blog you are measured by "page views" and "average visit length". That data is broken down into averages of visits, page views and visit length per day, hour, previous week, month and year. The data is also broken down geographically. While online advertising jumped 25 percent this year for a take of $20 billion, no chump change to be sure, Internet executives say that figure could have been higher if advertisers had reliable and consistent ways to measure online audiences...

Radio has Arbitron, TV has Nielsen but there's no main measurement source for online usage. There are many, too many. Steve Wadsworth, president of The Walt Disney Co.'s Internet group says, "We need measurement of the audience and their use of the system that's clear, simple and actionable for a marketer. You need comparability with other media." Well stated as is this from Jeff Marshall of Starcom USA, a major ad-buying agency, "There aren't well established, tried-and-true standards in the industry, which need to be worked through. The concerns are escalating as more and more of our clients are shifting significant amounts of money into the space."...

The biggest problem seems to be this - advertisers seem fed up with the adage that half their ad spending seems to work but what they want to know is - which half??? What needs to happen is for one online measurement company to become the standard among the many being used. Then one measurement standard needs to be applied to compare online usage to radio, TV and every other form of media entertainment. The funny thing is that by going online you can get all of these forms of media entertainment. How valuable is that???

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1865] Set me free why don't you babe: Slavery is abolished in the United States when the 13th Amendment is declared in effect...
2. 1892] Premiered on this date: Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" publicly premieres in St. Petersburg, Russia. Here's a clip from a 2006 performance of the 'March from The Nutcracker' by the North Atlanta Dance Theatre: http://youtube.com/watch?v=j2PQ8LWXZD8&feature=related ...
3. 1956] Debuted on this date: "To Tell The Truth" on CBS-TV. The first edition of the classic game show runs until 1968 when it goes into syndication from '69 to '78 and then off and on through 2002. In this 1965 show, The Supremes open the show and the panel has to guess who the 'real' Berry Gordy Jr. is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kb9TKdsPQnI ...1966] Dr. Seuss' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", a special on CBS-TV...
4. 1969] 'Nay' on capital punishment: Britain's Parliament abolishes the death penalty, something New Jersey did this week...
5. 1975] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Rod Stewart and Faces divorce when Rod goes solo. They have since reunited from time-to-time...
6. 1980] "Happy Trails": Former Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin dies from a heart attack at 76...1997] SNL comedian Chris Farley becomes the shows' latest tragedy when he overdoses on morphine and cocaine in Chicago at 33. Here's a tribute to Chris: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9jAsZhGU6qY&feature=related ...
7. 1983] Wedding Bells: Keith Richards, on his 40th birthday, and model Patti Hansen rock down the aisle. 1984] Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest tie the knot (both couples are still married)...
8. 1987] Guilty as charged: Ivan F. Boesky is sentenced to 3 years in prison for insider trading...2003] Michael Jackson is charged with 7 counts of molesting a child under 14 and two counts of supplying the child with "an intoxicating agent" a.k.a. 'Jesus Juice'...2003] A judge in Seattle sentences confessed 'Green River' killer, Gary Ridgeway, to 48 consecutive life terms, one each for every murder he allegedly committed and confessed to...
9. 1999] Out of her tree: Environmental activist Julia "Butterfly" Hill comes down after spending two years living atop an ancient redwood in Humboldt County (CA) to protest logging. Joan Baez is there with a song prior to the climb: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fdnK2ZYg_rc&feature=related ...
10. 2006] Rumsfeld 'resigns': Donald Rumsfeld spends his last day in office as Secretary of Defense. Robert Gates is nominated by George W. Bush as his replacement...

Music Memories:

• 1965] Recorded on this date: "The Ballad of The Green Berets" - S/SGT Barry Stadler...
• 1984] Number One on this date: "Like a Virgin" - Madonna: http://youtube.com/watch?v=n8HQ3dJ-6ts ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Christina Aguilera (27), Katie Holmes (29), Rachel Griffiths (39), Brad Pitt (44), Ray Liotta (52), Leonard Maltin (57), Steven Spielberg (61), Keith Richards (64), Roger Smith (75), Allen Klein (76) and Ramsey Clark (80)...

Timeline Countdown: 5 days until winter, 6 days until Festivus, 7 shopping days until Christmas, 8 days until 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of 2007', 13 nights until New Year's Eve, 14 down and 2 to go for the Patriots and 18 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs begin...

Monday, December 17, 2007

Will Google make Wiki wacky???

There's no better source for information than Wikipedia. I do a Wiki search dozens of times a day in keeping my pledge to be as accurate as possible with my Timeline, Music and Video Memories. Of course, Wikipedia is not my only source for accurate information but it's the best. They even give you a warning that there might be some inaccurate information in the particular search you're doing. Until now, Wikipedia has had no valid competition. That will change in the future with something the media is already calling 'Googlepedia'...

The actual name of Google's attempt to contribute to the billions of people who they feel will benefit by their new search facility is called "knol" - small 'k' and short for a unit of knowledge. And what will make 'knol' different than Wikipedia? For one thing, Google is encouraging those who know a particular subject to write an authoritative article about it. This is being done by invitation only and it will make up part of the first phase of testing knol. The name of the author of each article will be posted and if the author chooses to include Google ads, the author will receive "a substantial revenue share from the ads proceeds." Wikipedia has a panel of experts who supply their information but they also use regular subscribers for additional information. I recently became a subscriber and will be providing information where I have knowledge about a particular event or person, voluntarily. Wiki doesn't pay for their information. Knol will not require exclusivity on any of this content which will make that knowledge available to any other search engine. Knol will be offered free of charge, just like Wikipedia...

All of the information you've read was contained in an official Google Blog press release posted by Udi Manber, VP Engineering last week . Manber does not mention a target date for knol and with billions of pieces of information needing to be written about, don't look for it any time soon. One thing you know for certain is that anything undertaken by Google means business. Wikipedia should take this challenge seriously...

I was saddened by the death of one of the truly underrated singers of the 70s and 80s, Dan Fogelberg, who passed away at 56. More on Dan Fogelberg in my Commentary...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1903] The Wright Stuff: Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history at 10:35 a.m. at Kitty Hawk (NC). The biplane stays airborne for 12 seconds and covers 120 feet on its maiden flight. Frame by frame, here's the flight: http://youtube.com/watch?v=eepErl4TSCw&feature=related ...
2. 1959] Blasted beach: "On The Beach" which shows life after a nuclear holocaust, premieres in New York City and becomes the first movie to debut simultaneously in major cities worldwide, 18 cities in all, including Moscow...
3. 1964] How about that?: Just six weeks after CBS buys controlling interest in the New York Yankees, the 'Voice of the Yankees', Mel Allen is fired. Allen was play-by-play man since 1940. Here's Mel Allen in 1964 for the March of Dimes: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YL7iZpt2z-w ...
4. 1969] UF what? The U.S. Air Force closes its 'Project: Blue Book' by concluding there's no evidence of UFOs, as a mysterious flying disc hovers overhead. Here's the lowdown on the project: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bsf0-vKol-k ...
5. 1969] TV History: Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki (Budinger) are married on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson". An estimated 50 million viewers see the couple tip toe through the tulips...
6. 1975] Beware of people named 'Squeaky': Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme is sentenced to life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Gerald R. Ford...
7. 1976] Super!: WTCG-TV in Atlanta becomes WTBS, uplinking with a satellite to become the first TV Super Station, blanketing the United States...
8. 1989] "D'oh!" Debut: "The Simpsons" debuts in its own time slot on Sunday nights (Fox). The animated classic was first introduced on "The Tracey Ullman Show" on April 19, 1987...
9. 1994] Wedding Bells: Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear rock down the aisle (to Bon Jovi music, of course). Heather files for divorce in February of 2006...
10. 2006] 'Happy Trails': Former major league pitcher (Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers) Larry Sherry, dies after a long battle with cancer, at 71...

Music Memories:

• 1955] Written on this date: Carl Perkins wakes up in the middle of the night, writes the lyrics to a song on a brown paper "tow sack" and less than 48 hours later, out comes "Blue Suede Shoes". The late Sun Records singer tells the story: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9pCnpq4jJ44 ...
• 1965] Performing live on this date: Judy Garland and The Supremes (not together) at the opening of the Houston Astrodome...

Commentary:

In 1971 Irv Azoff signed his first act, a student at the University of Illinois by the name of Dan Fogelberg. In 1974, Azoff introduced the singer to the staff of Epic Records in New York. Dan had earlier released his debut album, "Home Free" but it didn't do much. 1974 was the year Fogelberg's career took off with the Joe Walsh-produced album "Souvenirs". Fogelberg's first hit single, "Part of Plan", from the LP made Dan a star. Hit albums like "Nether Lands", "Phoenix", "The Innocent Age" and singles like "Longer", "Leader of the Band", "Same Old Lang Syne" followed and his live concerts were always great, always memorable. Dan Fogelberg died at his home in Maine on Sunday morning at 56. Dan was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2004 and hormonal therapy put the cancer in a partial remission, stopping its spread. The cancer didn't go away. Dan Fogelberg was a special person and a special artist. His voice will be missed. Here's a video of a live performance of Dan singing "Same Old Lang Syne": http://youtube.com/watch?v=IhjYbfK9vrk&feature=related ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Michele Tafoya (43), Barry ("Ernie" of 'My Three Sons') Livingston (54), Eugene Levy (61), Ernie Hudson (62), Chris Matthews (62), Bob Guccione (77) and William Safire (78)...

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until winter, 7 days until Festivus, 8 shopping days until Christmas, 9 days until 'The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of 2007', 14 nights until New Year's Eve and 19 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...

Friday-Sunday, December 14-16, 2007...

These strange bedfellows fill the void...

Someone always gains when there's a strike. Something has to fill the void caused by, in this case, the drying up of new episodes of your favorite TV sitcoms, dramas and late night shows. Those viewers not inclined to watch a reality or game show, are starved for something new or different, anything that they haven't seen before. You have your 'Oldies' fans who live and breathe TV Land or old tapes from dawn to dusk and then you have the majority of viewers who watch their favorite current shows. Two strange bedfellows have come to the rescue in this time of need for new and you won't believe who they are...

The undefeated New England Patriots and politics have made the biggest gains in TV ratings during the writers strike, now in its sixth week. Last Sunday's Pats win over Pittsburgh pushed "60 Minutes" into third place in the national ratings last week. Their last-minute 27-24 win over Baltimore on ESPN's 'Monday Night Football' drew 17.5 million viewers for the biggest audience in cable TV history. There are a couple of reasons for this. At 13-0 the Patriots are heading for the first undefeated NFL season in 35 years and they "are unabashed in their desire to beat up on people" according to TV analyst Marc Berman of Mediaweek. Berman adds, "I think the Pats may be some kind of special phenomenon and women love Tom Brady." ...

The other, less viewed phenomenon - politics, is the second biggest ratings gainer. You would think at this point, 20 debates and counting, that viewers would be bored by all the yacking but they're not. Each new debate gains more viewers. Last October the Republicans pulled about 1 million for a debate. The audience jumped to 2.3 million two weeks later and 4.3 million for the YouTube debate on CNN in late November. The Democrats have gone from 1.4 million in September to just under 4 million in mid-November...

The longer the TV writers strike lasts, the more gains will be made by something new and compelling. Can you imagine what the Mitchell Report on Steroids would've done in prime time???

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1773] Not my cup of tea: The Boston Tea Party takes place as American colonists board a British ship and dump more than 300 chests of tea in Boston Harbor to protest tea taxes. This might explain why the water in Boston Harbor has been described as "orange pekoe with specks of green tea in a sea of chamomile" in color (12/16). This video clip depicts the 'Tea Party': http://youtube.com/watch?v=U0Xj-ydLwSY ...
2. 1799] "Happy Trails": George Washington dies of a throat infection at his home in Mount Vernon (VA) at 67 (12/14)...1890] Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members are killed by Indian police in Grand River (SD) at 59 (12/15)...1944] Bandleader Glenn Miller, 40, disappears over the English Channel in a U.S. Army plane. A thick fog had enveloped the plane (12/15)...1963] Dinah Washington dies from a drug overdose at 39 (12/14)...1966] Walt Disney dies from cardiac arrest at 65 and no, his body wasn't frozen (12/15)...1985] Organized crime chief Paul Castellano is gunned down outside Sparks Steakhouse on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. This reportedly was set up by John Gotti (12/16)...1997] Singer Nicolette Larson passes away from swelling of the brain at 45 (12/16)...2001] Legendary R&B singer/DJ Rufus Thomas dies from a heart attack at 84 (12/15)...2006] Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, injured after a fall at a Rolling Stones performance at the Beacon Theater in October, slips into a coma and dies at the age of 83 (12/14)...
3. 1905] Debuted on this date: Variety Magazine hits the newsstands and gets boffo reviews (12/16)...1939] "Gone With The Wind", starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh has its world premiere, where else? At the Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta (12/15) and here's the classic Carol Burnett spoof of the movie: http://youtube.com/watch?v=TjhtxfSMIWk ...1955] The Tappan Zee Bridge opens to traffic (12/14)...1977] One of the biggest box office hits of all-time, "Saturday Night Fever" has its world premiere. The musical starring John Travolta has such classic lines as "would you just watch my hair", "I work on my hair a long time and you hit it?" and "he hits my hair" (12/14)...
4. 1960] Tragedy in the air: A United Air Lines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, killing 134 (12/16)...
5. 1961] Guilty as charged: Former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death by an Israeli court. Eichmann is hanged in 1962 (12/15)...1988] James Brown is sentenced to a 6-year term for leading police on a late-night chase. He's released on February 27, 1991 (12/15)...
6. 1972] Untouched: The Miami Dolphins become the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game season. They go to 17-0 after their Super Bowl win (12/16). The (13-0) Patriots are getting closer with each game now...
7. 1982] Curtains: Paul 'Bear' Bryant announces his retirement at the University of Alabama. He was the winningest college football coach in history at the time. The Bear will suffer a fatal heart attack at 69 one month later (12/15)...1993] John Williams conducts the Boston Pops for the final time (12/15)...
8. 1982] Reborn: Tom Seaver becomes a Met again after a trade with Cincinnati (12/16)...1983] Yogi Berra is named Yankee manager for the second time (12/16)...
9. 1985] Wedding Bells: Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nelson enter the ring. The marriage will end in a KO in the 18th month (12/15)...1990] Rod Stewart asks Rachel Hunter, do ya think I'm sexy? Apparently she does and they marry. Their divorce becomes official in November of 2006...2004] Sprint and Nextel tie the $35 billion knot (12/15)...
10. 2003] Who's your daddy?: The family of the late Senator Strom Thurmond acknowledges that Essie Mae Washington-Williams' claim of being the Senators' illegitimate mixed-race daughter is true (12/15)...

Music Memories:

• 1961] Gold Standard: "Big Bad John" - Jimmy Dean (12/14)...
• 1962] Number One on this date: "The First Family" LP - Vaughn Meader (12/16) - right off the record: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wsbArxPjddQ ...1964] "Come See About Me" - Supremes (12/16)...1970] "The Tears of A Clown" - Smokey Robinson & Miracles (12/14)...1986] "Walk Like An Egyptian" - Bangles (12/16) doin' it live: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yAFYFkcirpY&feature=related ...1987] "Faith" - George Michael (12/16)...
• 1968] Released on this date: "Crimson & Clover" - Tommy James (12/14)...1974] "Lady" - Styx (12/14)...1979] "London Calling" - The Clash (12/14) Here's the band doing an early TV appearance, check out the ties: http://youtube.com/watch?v=SLd8jwQuclo&feature=related ...
• 1999] Number One in this century: "You've Lost This Lovin' Feeling" -
  Righteous Brothers (12/14). BMI announces in 1999 that the song is the number one composition on the performing rights group's list of "Top 100 Songs of The Century"...

Commentary:

There's been a lot of doubters among the sports reporters summing up the George Mitchell investigation of steroid use in baseball but I thought Mitchell did a good job in presenting the evidence he was able to gather with no subpoena power. He went as far as he could legally with the strongest player's union in sports ready to pounce all over him. As far as the Boston bias with few Red Sox players names on the list because of Mitchell's position as a director of the Red Sox, I don't buy it. Remember most of the evidence came from a personal trainer and former batboy, both based in New York. Mitchell will get much consideration when the list of 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly' is posted here in 10 days...Congratulations to Madonna, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen (who I had the pleasure of working with), The Dave Clark Five and the Ventures. All were voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In special categories, Chicago bluesman Little Walter and Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff (who were long overdue for their achievements) were also inducted. They will all be honored at a ceremony on March 10, 2008 at the Waldorf Astoria. It will air live on VH1...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

(12/14) Bill ("oops") Buckner (58), Dee Wallace (59), Dawn's Joyce Vincent Wilson (61), Patty Duke (61), Abbe Lane (75) and Don Hewitt (85)...

(12/15) Benjamin Bratt (44), Benny (ABBA) Andersson (61), Steven Bochco (64), Lesley Stahl (66) and Liv Ullmann (68)...

(12/16) Rodney Harrison (35), Don Johnson (58), Dave Clark (65), Nick Buoniconti (67), Cindy Birdsong (68), Tim Conway (74) and Jerry Wallace (79)...

Timeline Countdown for Sunday, December 16, 2007: 8 days until winter, 9 days until Festivus, 10 shopping days until Christmas, 11 days until 'TGTBTU' of 2007, 16 nights until New Year's Eve and 21 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...

Thursday, December 13, 2007

'Spam in the morning, Spam in the evening, Spam at Suppertime'...

Take a guess. Go ahead, take a guess. What percentage of all e-mail received is the dreaded "S" word? According to a report by Barracuda Networks, folks that actually do this for a living, 90 to 95% of all e-mail sent this year, up from just 5% in 2001 is spam. Last year it was 85 to 90%. Stephen Pao from Barracuda says, "Today only one in 20 e-mails you receive is a welcome one." The biggest issue discussed in the presidential campaign shouldn't be the economy, it should be ridding the nation of spam. We get rid of spam, the economy grows. C'mon Rudy, Mitt, Hillary, Barrack/Oprah, get on the anti-spam bandwagon...

Here's why spam has become the cockroach of computers - junk e-mail senders use Web tools which actually help online consumers fill up mailboxes with the stuff. Free Web-based e-mail services, blogs and cheap Internet domain registration services allow spammers to set up shop and cripple Internet sites and e-mail addresses way too easily. But there is a way you can reduce at least a portion of your spam...

The biggest multiplier of spam is opening spam messages, that and linking to other spam-filled sites. The first part of that sentence is easy, don't open anything that you don't believe is worth reading. There's a reason you have a delete button. Use it. The Pew Internet & American Life Project (who came up with that name?) reported earlier this year that 55% of users now say they have lost trust in e-mail because of spam. One thing I've purposely not suggested using is a spam blocker, they just don't work. When I opened my e-mail box this morning, 60% was spam, a third of which were fortunes being offered to me for winning a lottery somewhere. Whoever comes up with a way to actually block spam will be a hero in my book. I might even vote for him/her for president...

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1843] Scrooge sighting: Charles Dickens publishes the classic "A Christmas Carol". In this clip from the 1951 movie, Alistair Sims is brilliant as Scrooge: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5DAib6LwKAQ ...
2. 1956] The shameless trade: The Brooklyn Dodgers do the unthinkable, they trade Jackie Robinson to the cross-town rival Giants for journeyman Dick Littlefield, $30,000 and a bag of scuffed up baseballs. Number 42 retires rather than play for the hated Giants...
3. 1975] Hit the delay button: Saturday Night Live uses a time delay for the first time for host Richard Pryor...
4. 1978] Pocket change: The Philadelphia Mint begins stamping Susan B. Anthony coins and they go into circulation in July, 1979 ensuring that anyone using a stamp machine will use correct change...
5. 1996] The coming and going of Kofi: Ghana's Kofi Annan becomes the 7th secretary-general of the U.N. Ten years later, almost to the day, Annan resigns in 2006 after questionable practices are disclosed...
6. 1998] Record boot: The Vikings Gary Anderson kicks 6 field goals against Baltimore and sets an NFL record for 34 straight field goals...
7. 2000] Dubya: George W. Bush claims the presidency 36 days after Election Day as Al Gore concedes defeat. Al, look at it this way, had you won the presidency you wouldn't have become the global warming guru and no one would've liked you...
8. 2002] "Happy Trails": Former Lovin' Spoonful guitarist Zal Yanovsky dies from a heart attack at 57...
9. 2003] Gotcha: Saddam Hussein is found hiding in a hole. Here's a clip of his capture in Iraq: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4ZYF3w_8Tgk&feature=related ...
10. 2004] Guilty as charged: A jury in Redwood (CA) recommends the death penalty for Scott Peterson for the murders of his wife and unborn child. Peterson remains on death row at San Quentin...

Music Memories:

• 1961] Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Brian Epstein signs the Beatles to a management contract...
• 1961] Number One on this date: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - Tokens...1973] "The Most Beautiful Girl" - Charlie Rich, a much underrated talent who I met while working at Epic Records. Here's a clip of Charlie singing the song live: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PnUovwA1smM&feature=related ...
• 1966] Recorded on this date: "Foxey Lady" - Jimi Hendrix...
• 1975] Released on this date: "Golden Years" - David Bowie, seen singing live, on stage, in this clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FcKrr0s2yuY ...

Commentary:

I think Tina Turner's statement on the death of ex-husband Ike, made through an associate, speaks volumes: "Tina is aware that Ike passed away. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made." Years of drug abuse and physical abuse of his ex-wife is unfortunately the legacy Ike leaves behind. He was a good guitarist and had he not decided to use Tina in his act, the world may have never known one of the most dynamic performers of our life time. However, no one would have known the name Ike Turner, if not for Tina. Ike was 76 when he died from unknown causes...

Ex-Black Eyed Pea, Fergie gets my vote for best female artist of the year. Fergie is fresh off an American Music award, an MTV award, has been nominated for 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" at the Grammy's for "Big Girls Don't Cry". Her album "THE DUTCHESS" has sold 5-million copies world-wide and she's the only artist to have 4 songs from one album sell over 1 million ringtones. "Big Girls Don't Cry" has just been named iTunes biggest-selling single of 2007. No one has had a bigger year than Fergie...In case you haven't heard or seen "Big Girls" - here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YnbBVWDtYm0 ...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":

Jamie Foxx (40), Steve Buscemi (50), Wendie Malick (57), Ted Nugent (59), when I met Ted and told him I saw him and the Amboy Dukes open for Tiny Tim in Framingham, he literally fell on the floor. Ted played lead guitar for the group, seen here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1HRpbvuU1D8&feature=related , Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers) (59), John Davidson (66), Lou Adler (74), Robert Proskey (77), Christopher Plummer (80) and Dick Van Dyke (82)...

Timeline Dateline: 10 days until winter, 11 days until Festivus, 12 shopping days until Christmas, 13 days until 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly' of 2007, 18 nights until New Year's Eve and 23 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...