Showbits

Jack Valenti, MPAA president from 1966 to 1998, has passed away.

Mr. Valenti always seemed like a good guy, though I confess I didn't follow the politics of the Motion Picture Association of America or its industry very closely. He left a legacy by establishing such institutions as the movie rating system; OTOH, he was certainly off-base when he issued this 1982 warning:

"I say to you that the VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone."

A former White House assistant, Mr. Valenti left his MPAA presidency to Dan Glickman in 2004. Nonetheless, Mr. Valenti will be missed.

Tonight, 119 parties in 32 countries will celebrate "Yuri's Night" — the 46th anniversary of mankind's first escape from Earth's atmosphere.

It seems a timely opportunity to ensure that those of you in or around New Mexico know of the upcoming opportunity to attend James Doohan's send-off. On April 27th, a memorial will be held for the actor who played Scotty on Star Trek: The Original Series, followed the next day by the liftoff of the Legacy Flight module and its payload of Mr. Doohan's ashes into outer space. Mr. Doohan's widow, Wende, has extended an invitation to any and all Star Trek fans to attend these special events.

This launch has been delayed many times since Doohan's passing on July 20th, 2005 — the anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon. Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek's creator, died in 1991 and entered space in 1997. Finally, with Scotty beaming up to where he belongs, they will be in good company.

From CNN.com:

Endlessly versatile, [John Belushi] inhabited the samurai deli guy, Joe Cocker, Captain Kirk and more on "Saturday Night Live." He gave us Bluto ("Food fight!") and Jake Blues, on a mission from God to save music. Always, there was a hint of intelligent mischief, if only in a masterfully lifted eyebrow.

In 1978, on the eve of his 30th birthday, Belushi had the No. 1 movie with "Animal House," the No. 1 record (with partner Dan Aykroyd), "Briefcase Full of Blues" and was the heart of television's hottest show.

The world was Belushi's, for better and worse, as his contracts rose from $35,000 for "Animal House" to $2 million and more. As it had for others, success fueled destructive excess.

The comedian was found dead on March 5, 1982, in a hotel bungalow at the Chateau Marmont hotel on the fabled Sunset Strip.

Not having been a follower of SNL, I know Belushi's work from only Blues Brothers and Animal House. What are your favorite memories of Belushi that I'm missing out on?

I recently confused someone when I used the word "clothesline" as a verb. I had to explain its wrestling etymology and how my knowledge of such came from a youth spent watching Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Junkyard Dog, and more.

I was surprised today to come across another name I hadn't thought of in a long time: Bam Bam Bigelow, who died yesterday at the age of 45. [Read his obituary]

His cause of death is yet undetermined, but I imagine the stress athletes' bodies endure — both from the nature of their profession, and from less scrupulous means of achieving an advantage — causes many such performers to be old before their time.

I've only ever attended one live wrestling event, and I found the commentary and close-ups provided by at-home television viewing to offer a superior experience. In that medium, wrestling can be very entertaining and dramatic, more so than daily soap operas, though still less refined and more predictable than some dramas.  I enjoyed the alliances, rivalries, and betrayals that wrestling portrayed in a physical, non-metaphorical fashion even my developing mind could grasp (even if some of them now constitute the annals of wrestling shame). Thanks, Bam Bam, for being a part of it.

Mike Evans died from cancer on 14-Dec-06 at the age of 57. He played one of two Lionel Jeffersons on The Jeffersons. [Story continues]

Joseph Barbera, half of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon team, creators of Yogi Bear, Tom & Jerry, Huckleberry Hound, the Flintstones, and others, died today. He was 95. [Story continues]

Not only a creator, Mr. Barbera was also producer of several shows, such as The Smurfs, Richie Rich, and Pac-Man. See his IMDb filmography for the complete list.

It's an odd mix of feelings when someone with such a legendary portfolio passes away. On one hand, the world has lost an irreplaceable genius. OTOH, it is not an untapped talent that is gone; Joseph Barbera and the world got the most out of each other, and his passing doesn't change that. It was a veritable smorgasboard of entertainment.

I appreciate the impact he's had on my and countless others' childhoods. If not for Mr. Barbera, who knows how many little siblings would not have been whacked with rubber mallets in emulation of our animated idols?