Showbits

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.

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?

Peter Boyle, an Emmy award-winning actor who played the tap-dancing monster in the 1974 hit Young Frankenstein, has died at the age of 71. His publicists said that he died on Tuesday after battling with heart disease and multiple myeloma. [Story continues]

I'm one of the few people I know who did not enjoy the above film (though perhaps is was the comedy-impaired company I kept that night), though his influence on the story was undeniable (as I witnessed backstage in my recent live production of the play Frankenstein). The passing of such a legendary and versatile actor is always a cause for mourning; may he enjoy countless encores on that great big stage in the sky.

Anyone have a favorite Peter Boyle performance or scene?