I was a huge Transformers fan and was at the exact age to get hit by it as a phenomenon. I remember exactly where I was when I first saw the scene where Optimus dies. I have to say, of all the things that traumatized my childhood, this wasn't one of them. I can't explain why, and it did hit me, it just didn't hit me hard.
The continuing tradition of doing decidedly non-Super-Bowl things instead of watching the Super Bowl... the historical exception being that I'd watch if the Eagles were playing but even that is inconsistent. For my own records, here's the run-down of the previous 30 years...
Pre-2011 - Puppy Bowl I, Muppet Treasure Island, Follow That Bird.
And I'll repeat, of course, that this recurring tradition jumped the shark in 2021.
So this year, no real idea came to me. No gimmick, no hook, no high concept. Then this week I went a little crazy with work and when the weekend came, I didn't feel like doing anything.
It occurred to me that not watching The Super Bowl gave me a great opportunity to go grocery shopping during the game and have the store to myself. There were still some people around, and I don't usually shop on a Sunday night, but it was basically successful. A "pro tip" if any of you are in the same situation.
Another thing that occurred to me: with today's high being about 18 degrees Fahrenheit, it was a good day to make a fire, which I did.
And now for the main thing...
Some time back, I heard Jean Shepherd recounting a Honeymooners episode and opining that the show was much more sophisticated than it gets credit for - and a show worth remembering. As far as I can tell, the plot he describes was made up by him, for what purpose I don't know, but there's no time for that mystery now. That story, plus the fact that I never saw much of "The Honeymooners," plus the fact that it only lasted one season and "only" had 39 episodes planted the seed that I might, someday, watch the full series.
So tonight's experiment was watching "The Honeymooners." Only 3 episodes, by the way. Here is where I might usually go through the episodes in depth but I don't think I can do it justice. Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton are one of the great duos in comedy history, of course. And at the same time, Ralph Kramden and Alice Kramden are also one of the great duos in comedy history. It's a classic early American sitcom. For a long time I thought it was the earliest sitcom still rerun on TV but here's the trivia on that: "I Love Lucy" premiered in 1951 and "The Honeymooners" didn't go on the air until 1955. It was the cheaper sets and the rougher video quality that fooled me into thinking it must be much older.
Two episodes were filmed per week instead of the usual one per week for weekly shows.
Gleason, a veteran live performer, chose to deliberately stage the show as a play using a live audience, something that was still a very new concept in television in 1955. As such, Gleason eschewed rehearsals as he wanted the performances to capture the feel of a live show, even though all episodes were taped and aired later. Due to under-rehearsing, almost all episodes contain a mixture of dropped lines, missed entrances, actors correcting or covering for another's lines, and moments of general confusion. Gleason did not re-shoot or try to conceal these flaws as he wanted the audience to feel like they were watching a live broadcast.
The show was shot "as live" (filmed before an audience, edited, and shown later). If you ever notice Jackie Gleason patting himself on the stomach, it was a sign that he had forgotten his line.
CBS and Buick, the show's sponsor, wanted a second season. Jackie Gleason refused because he felt that the quality of the scripts wouldn't sustain it for another season.
The bit about eschewing rehearsals is incredible. The scenes are looonnnnggg and filled with tons of dialogue. How they remembered it all and performed first-time, is beyond my understanding. And then two episodes per week?! What? Amazing.
Having watched the first three episodes, I plan to keep watching. In addition to being a timeless classic, the show has a certain nostalgic feel that defies explanation. I never lived in the time of the show and I didn't grow up watching the show on reruns but somehow it feels cozy and comfortable, like it's from my past, somehow. And no, I'm not making allusion here to "The Flintstones."
Another random Mitch Hedberg stand-up appearance on the Late Show.
I assume, eventually, all of these will be released, which is nice, but I wish they said how many their were total and said what number each one is. Just a small thought.
A long time ago the original creator of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" bought back the rights and launched a kickstarter to produce a new season (11). That kickstarter was successful, set a record for Kickstarter and led to more Kickstarters for Seasons 12, 13 and 14.
A Kickstarter was created for Season 15 and reaction was lackluster - it failed to reach its goal and the series was once again on hiatus. Recently, it was revealed that Joel Hodgson sold the rights to the show to Radial Entertainment.
Now, the new owners have apparently struck a deal with Rifftrax to bring back a version of the show with the classic cast - Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy and Mary Joe Pehl - and that is a Kickstarter.
My initial reaction: I'm tired, boss.
We're funding all new sets, props, writing, actors... we already funded all new sets, props, writing, actors. We funded sets, props, writing, actors several times. Where did all the money go to? Can anything be reused?
Well, I have no insight into the behind-the-scenes but it's possible that something is being reused. While past Kickstarters brought in millions of dollars, this one has a goal of only $20,000 and it has already far exceeded that goal. Kudos to the fans who are not as fatigued as I. Eh, I might back it too.
And I'm excited to see the shows, although it's only 4 episodes. Should be fun.
The video title "I Filmed Plants for 12 Years" drew me in and turned out to be a bit misleading, in my opinion. I was hoping to see the "Boyhood" of plant videos.
Nevertheless, the video is beautiful, hypnotic and very much worth watching.
