20 Years Of "D’oh!" Is it time to g’oh?

This week marks the 20th anniversary of “The Simpsons” (December 17, 1989). As the irreverent show about the dysfunctional family from Springfield reached this iconic milestone, it has garnered many competitors and enemies. But as it reaches the two decade mark of being on the air, one has to wonder if nowadays “The Simpsons’” biggest enemy has become itself.

The actual birth of The Simpsons was in April of 1987 as a series of shorts on The Tracy Ullman Show. For years, Simpsons creator Matt Groening had done a popular comic strip called “Life In Hell” which was carried in numerous alternative newspapers throughout the country in the late 1970s and 1980s. I recall this strip fondly in the Detroit Metro Times with anthropomorphic rabbits and a pair of gay lovers that explored a wide range of topics about love, sex, work, and death. His drawings were full of expressions of angst, alienation, self-loathing, and fear of inevitable doom, which was quite entertaining for me back in the 1980s.

“Life In Hell” caught the eye of Hollywood writer-producer and Gracie Films founder James L. Brooks who contacted Groening with the proposition of working in animation on an undefined future project. This project would be the “bumper” cartoons on the Tracy Ullman Show that became The Simpsons. Although The Tracy Ullman Show was not a big hit, the shorts were, and FOX Television spun them off into a half-hour show in 1989.

The Simpsons were loosly based on Groening’s own parents and siblings, with all of them utilizing their real names (dad Homer, mom Margaret or Marge, sisters Lisa and Maggie) except for Groening being “Bart” (an anagram of “brat” since he did not want to use his real name).

The roots of The Simpsons are varied and come from many sources. Is manic pace (not to mention the inspiration for "Itchy and Scratchy") is borrowed from the 1930s and '40s animation pioneers like Warner Brothers’ Tex Avery and Chuck Jones, who gave that studio's cartoons a breathlessness much emulated by others. And MGM's original famed "Tom and Jerry" (not the current Hanna Barbara version) had that more violent note. Other roots are the likes of cultural and entertainment staples from the past: Mad Magazine, Second City, Firesign Theater, National Lampoon, Broadway musicals, Saturday Night Live, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and even the original Late Night with David Letterman.

In the 1990s, "The Simpsons" was one of the most inventive shows ever broadcast, taking on everything as an equal opportunity offender. It became a unique statement within the culture at large and was revolutionary, helping to make FOX Television a big-league player. However, for many true fans of the show, today’s version is far from the glory days of the past. Complaints of the characters staleness and scripts being flat, the show seeming less cohesive, more about trying to get the jokes in there, instead of make a story and let the jokes come off of the story.

Two years ago The Simpsons made the jump to the big screen with “The Simpsons Movie”, which became a minor hit in theaters and bigger in DVD sales. But even with this it seemed that there was only so much one could do with the characters. But even with these faults, the show is still a Hollywood goldmine, earning over $3 billion over its 20 year run. As a vehicle for merchandising and licensing, the show is worth having. Without the show, the marketing and licensing aspect would be in serious decline.

Yet "The Simpsons" continues to attract new audiences. The show airs in more than 90 countries and still appeals broadly to both young and old alike. Today, with its 442 episodes airing all over the world, it's like the new Disney…iconic and well-known.

The 20th anniversary episode is scheduled to air next month on FOX. Will it offer something fresh? Will it be a rehash of the greatest moments of the show? One will have to tune by and find out…I know I will. Will the show die soon? That is up to audiences who still watch, and Matt Groening getting tired of doing it…which according to what money he continues to make from The Simpsons show and franchise won’t be anytime soon.

Reality Show Syndrome

It was the gleam in his eyes that told me this was something to see.

As I was working on production this past Thursday, Mojo from our sister station Q-106 stopped in the doorway and said, “CNN…Channel 35…right now. You won’t believe it!”

I turned on the TV in the 92-X studios and there it was…a huge Jiffy Pop tin flying in the skies over Colorado. The news heads were saying that a 6-year-old boy was inside this thing as it was cruising out of control. My first thought was this was surreal. Then as it sunk in that this was really happening, I thought that somebody blew it and didn’t wait until next month to have this happen during TV sweeps. But then I thought what if there really IS a little boy in this thing? That would be terrible! Oh, the humanity!!!

Then the background on the boy and his family began to come to light; it turns out the family was on the ABC reality show “Wife Swap”. Then CNN shows a clip of the dad…who turns out was an iReporter for them. Then the thing comes down, and no boy inside. All of a sudden I began to smell a rat.

As it turns out, the boy was hiding in the attic…supposedly, by the boy’s account, under instructions from dad for “a TV show”. The kid was so conflicted that he threw up on live TV Friday morning several times on several interviews. Cops get warrants to search the family home for financial records, phone records, notes and computers. Then earlier today (Sunday), an announcement that it was truly a hoax and felony charges being brought. The family’s motivation? A shot at reality show stardom.

It’s no secret I’m not a fan of “reality” television. However, since the first episode of “Survivor” came on the boob tube over a dozen years ago, we have been mesmerized by it. “Real” people in “real life” situational drama. “Survivor” begat a huge entourage of like-minded shows that had people locked up in a house together, challenged into doing incredible stunts, losing weight, having nannys come into your house, vie for the affections of a member of the opposite sex to marry them, and attempt to succeed in doing corporate tasks so that they won’t hear the fateful words, “You’re fired!”

This type of programming is just what networks began salivating about. Shows where they don’t have to hire a writing staff, hire union actors, have low production costs, and make the networks huge profits. Market them to the masses and you’ve got hits. Problem is, the participants of these shows tend to be star “wanna bees” and somewhat left of center. Richard Hatch…Sanjya…and all the rest. And now these folk.

I firmly believe we have a psychological condition here I like to call “Reality Show Syndrome”. People wanting that 15 minutes or 15 gigabytes of fame and willing to do anything to get it. And, no thanks to the network’s marketing mentality, people wanting to be “voyeurs” into this glimpse of supposed “reality” programming. People who are glued to their sets to see what happens on their reality shows this week, and the next, and the next.

But finally it seems the meltdown has begun. John and Kate, and now Richard and Mayumi Heene (who, by the way, met in acting school in Hollywood before getting married). My hope is that we’ve finally “jumped the shark” when it comes to reality shows. And hopefully, John Q. Public can finally wake up to what is going on here, and not give credence to the networks desire for economically stingy production costing and huge profit making programming to rule the airwaves.

You want Reality TV? Tune into the Evening News. Now THAT is reality.

The Toilet Paper Doppelganger

Being a single dad can be fun, but a lot of times it is exhausting. After time in at work and time with the kids there’s not much me time. What me time I do get I utilize to the fullest to enjoy things that I like…that are my life.

However, with such a hectic itinerary I tend to make shopping a low priority. Besides dealing with my packed schedule, the fact that I dislike large “super center” stores and their U-Scan lanes contribute to this prioritizing of shopping.

So, with this dislike in my psyche, I came home one night earlier this week from a long day. Along the way I was the strategist in taking care of the evening’s proclaimed tasks before settling in for the night; drop off leftovers at work for lunch the next day and pick up a pair of movie tickets for friends so that they can enjoy a movie out on me for their 1st wedding anniversary.

I get home after my extended time on the road, and like any single dad ran to the bathroom to seek relief from road rumble on my bladder. When I enter, I notice it immediately…the item I subconsciously put on the low priority rung of the ladder. I was out of toilet paper. So, with a sigh, I resigned myself to go back out in the car and make the quick drive to the local “super center” to get bathroom tissue on rolls.

Late evening trips to the super center store are always a joy; searching 10 minutes for a parking spot, being held up at the entrance by some fool standing in the middle of the entranceway staring up at the ceiling like they are lost and have never been in a super center ever before in their lives. And don’t get me started on trying to get past people waddling in the middle of the aisle, pushing their shopping cart at a negative 2 MPH.

I get to the aisle with the toilet paper, grab a Charmin™ 12 pack of double roll size because it’s on sale, and spin to head towards the registers up front. It was on the way to check out that I had an unnerving experience.

Halfway up to the check out, a man turns into the aisle in front of me. At first I don’t pay attention and continue my stride. But as I continue to head up front a cascade of thoughts hit me as he’s walking in front of me. He has a green shirt on…just like mine. He’s wearing tan dress slacks…just like mine. And under his arm he is carrying a 12 pack double roll size package of bathroom tissue that is on sale…just like mine! And in that moment, I came to the realization that walking in front of me was MY TOILET PAPER SHOPPING DOPPELGANGER!!!

A warning light flashed in my mind. He and I were walking in perfect lockstep…like marching in formation in the infantry. My brain flashed back to Air Force Basic Training in San Antonio and my T.I. with the thick Mexican accent as he called off cadence while we did marching drills. He also used to tell us constantly to “keep yur choos pit chined” (Keep your shoes spit-shined) and to not take forever in the latrine in the morning when we went to “chit and chave” (obvious…do I need to translate?). Add the fact we had similar clothes on and both of us the same 12 pack of toilet paper under our left arm, and you have a weird visual.

This was too freaky of a coincidence for me to want to be affiliated with. People just can’t process seeing such an occurrence as this without jumping to some oddball opinion. I’m mimicking the guy in front of me. I’m lost and following him to lead me back to the parking lot. Or we’re a two-man space alien army from another planet come to deplete Earth of all its bathroom tissue. In less than a second my brain freaked out and put into effect a plan of evasive action…execute a bob, weave and navigate away.

I immediately ducked left through the pallet sale items in the middle of the main aisle, nearly knocking over a methodically and artistically stacked mountain of chicken noodle soup cans – something some employee took hours of his day to create. Unfortunately, the maneuver put me in the path of a large woman in a power chair nearly running me over.

I then took the long way to the checkouts, into the frozen foods, through produce, a quick trot through the cleaning products aisle where I find they actually carry the replacement bulbs for my lava lamp, up through produce and past the bakery. The U-Scan is up ahead and no sign of my doppelganger. Home free!

As I stand in line for the U-Scan, I notice a young woman looking at me and smiling. So I smile back. Then, she smiles even bigger. I begin to wonder if she is really smiling back at me or someone else? My brain tells me to turn around and look behind me. Right behind me in line is my toilet paper doppelganger, smiling back at the young woman.

Automatically, my eyes darted to the ground. Of course, my “choos were pit chined”.

The Intelligence challenged Internet troll

Before texting, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and all the other ways people interconnected electronically, there was IM. Straight forward, unadulterated IM…Windows Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN, and the AIM. They are still around, but with all the social networking, texts, SMS messages and all, good old fashioned IM has faded from the stream of consciousness.

Old-fashioned IM has become more like having a published phone number…lots of solicitations. However, unlike the phone, people on IM aren’t trying to get you to switch your long distance service, sell you a magazine, or preach to you why you should vote for them in the upcoming election. Like the phone, though, there are the scam artists.

The newer chats in Facebook, MySpace and so on are more selective than old fashioned IM. On the newer social networking sites, only approved “friends” and chat you up so you don’t get scam artists. On the old IMs people you don’t even know pop up...trying to entice you into visiting a porn site or sending money to Nigeria because they are trapped there from some mishap in their life. IM scam artists, however, lack intelligence. Mostly they are people with limited smarts and even more diminished English language skills.

I’m a fairly smart guy. I know when I’m being scammed. And sometimes I love having fun with them. Like the old days of telephone solicitors that I used to record, edit, and have fun with as comical radio bits.

So, this morning, I was signed into Yahoo! Messenger and a unknown screen name popped up and me. Screen name “single.maggs”. First off, what type of person uses a period in their screen name? Numbers, yes. But a period? Very suspect. Must be an internet troll, one who is demonstrating limited intelligence in language and spelling skills with the first message to me being “helo dere”. So, like the telemarketer phone scams I used to do, I decided to have some fun. Here is how it went…

[09:39] single.maggs:
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:39] mikeholder01: yes
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:39] single.maggs: hi mike
[09:39] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:39] single.maggs: helo dere
[09:40] mikeholder01: hi. do I know you?
[09:40] single.maggs: how doing you?
[09:40] mikeholder01: how am i doing me? as carefully as possible.
[09:40] single.maggs: ok yes tak to me today?
[09:40] single.maggs:
[09:40] single.maggs: ty
[09:40] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:40] single.maggs: where from you are...name...age?

OK…already the ASL thing (age, sex, location). A red flag…clearly an internet troll of no intelligence and no mastery of English. Time to have some fun…

[09:41] mikeholder01: i'm on the planet earth, have no name and am ageless.
[09:42] single.maggs: what the mean of ageless
[09:42] single.maggs: tell me you nme
[09:42] single.maggs:
[09:42] single.maggs: are you still there
[09:42] single.maggs:
[09:43] mikeholder01: i'm on the planet earth, have no name and am ageless.
[09:43] single.maggs: ok
[09:43] single.maggs: where are u from
[09:43] mikeholder01: planet earth
[09:44] single.maggs: what is mean of planet earth
[09:44] mikeholder01: third planet in our solar system.
[09:44] single.maggs: where country ?
[09:44] mikeholder01: many countries on planet earth.
[09:45] single.maggs: ok
[09:45] single.maggs: what are you looking for a lady?
[09:45] single.maggs:
[09:46] single.maggs:
[09:46] single.maggs: are u there
[09:47] single.maggs:
[09:47] mikeholder01: yes i am here
[09:47] single.maggs: ok
[09:47] single.maggs: what are looking for a lady
[09:48] mikeholder01: something with horns...and maybe can speak venusian.
[09:48] single.maggs: ok
[09:48] single.maggs: tell me about you
[09:49] mikeholder01: they tell me they are female sheep
[09:49] single.maggs: what is the mean of female sheep
[09:50] mikeholder01: a you is a female sheep...oh right...it's spelled ewe they now tell me...
[09:51] single.maggs: ok
[09:51] single.maggs: how far
[09:51] mikeholder01: depends on the sheep
[09:51] single.maggs: ok
[09:51] single.maggs: what do u do right now
[09:52] mikeholder01: talk to you.
[09:52] single.maggs: ok
[09:52] single.maggs: what do u do for a living
[09:52] mikeholder01: and am dissecting a baby pig
[09:53] single.maggs:
[09:53] mikeholder01: yes?
[09:53] single.maggs: do u are cam
[09:53] mikeholder01: you keep saying . are you a doorbell?
[09:54] single.maggs: do u are cam or pix
[09:54] single.maggs:
[09:54] mikeholder01: the cam in my engine is fine. it's the crank that's cracked. is the pix a part on a engine?
[09:54] single.maggs: ok
[09:54] mikeholder01: i need to get it repaired so i can invade Uranus.
[09:54] single.maggs: can i see u on cam
[09:55] mikeholder01: i have to take it out of the motor first.
[09:55] mikeholder01: and that would leave my vehicle useless.
[09:55] single.maggs: ok
[09:55] mikeholder01: i need my vehicle to invade Uranus.
[09:55] single.maggs: ok
[09:56] single.maggs: am maggie my name\
[09:56] mikeholder01: hi maggie my name\
[09:56] single.maggs: ok
[09:56] mikeholder01: i am " ".
[09:56] single.maggs: what
[09:57] mikeholder01: no not "what"..." ".
[09:57] single.maggs: am single looking for a soulmate
[09:58] mikeholder01: i wish you well on your mission.
[09:58] single.maggs: ok
[09:58] mikeholder01: have you cleared you mission with the grand leader?
[09:59] single.maggs: what mission
[09:59] mikeholder01: your quest to search out a matching soul? he needs to authorize first before committing battle ready minions.
[10:01] mikeholder01: have you gone to seek out authorization? you are not communicating as before.
[10:01] single.maggs: ok
[10:01] single.maggs: u talk tommorrow
[10:02] mikeholder01: i speak uranian. what language is "tomorrow"?
[10:02] single.maggs: ok
[10:02] single.maggs: by
[10:03] mikeholder01: it is a dual sex language?
[10:04] mikeholder01: are you still on this channel? what's the frequency, kenneth?
[10:04] single.maggs: ok
[10:04] single.maggs: byb
[10:04] mikeholder01: what does “byb” mean? bring your body?
[10:04] single.maggs: yes
[10:04] mikeholder01: it means yes? "byb" means "yes"? what language is that? i am not familiar.
[10:06] *** "single.maggs" signed off.

Makes you miss the days of plain old IM, doesn't it?

Just when I thought politics couldn’t get weirder

I am not a political aficionado by any stretch of the imagination. I have political views, but I do not debate or pontificate on them ad nauseum. I leave that for the talk shows and my morning partner. But what I have gotten wind of happening to the south of us here in Michigan has me scratching my head saying, “Huh? What?!?” and laughing out loud at the same time.

Just down the road in Detroit we had a mayoral scandal last year with Kwame Kilpatrick. He was convicted of crimes in office, sentenced and had to resign. Because of this, Detroit held a special election to fill the position of mayor, which was won by former Detroit Piston great and successful businessman Dave Bing. But Detroit has nothing on Memphis, Tennessee and their latest mayoral debacle.

Back in June, Memphis mayor Willie Herenton announced he was resigning from office to run for Congress. A special election was called for at that time to occur in October to fill the vacancy. Four weeks ago, Herenton resigned. The candidates began to form and debate. Problem is the candidate field is filled with incompetence and strangeness…none of them worthy to hold the office of Mayor of Memphis.

One of the candidates is very strange to say the least. He calls himself Prince Mongo, hailing from the planet Zambodia…I’m not making this up! Check out this video of Prince Mongo in action…



Prince Mongo proved to be the only bright spot in a recent mayoral candidate debate done by local TV in Memphis, which you can see in the following video…



And just when you thought this couldn’t get any weirder, two weeks ago Herenton, who has made multiple resignation announcements, retired from the Memphis Mayor's position, announced his candidacy against Steve Cohen for Congress representing the 9th Congressional District, picked up a petition to run for mayor in the upcoming special election. Yes, that's right. Willie Herenton who retired from Mayor of Memphis, has picked up a petition to run in the special election to replace himself. Here is an interview where he tries to explain his rationale to Memphis TV 5 anchor Joe Birch…



This guy needs to be out of politics, and should pay the over $1 million dollars to pay for the special election to replace himself. And the sad part of all of this, odds makers say he will win the special election.

All of a sudden I am having flashbacks of the late former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young riding the People Mover with a bag full of Krugerrands.

Thoughts on zebra stripes and potential wasted

This past week I've been on vacation. It has given me a chance to think, to reflect, to ponder and to appreciate many things...as well as put up a post on the ol' blog, which I have been neglecting to do for awhile.

This summer has been a unique one...one that will stick in the crevices of my memory for the rest of my days. Unseasonably cool temps and above average rainfall have made me wonder if I will ever see a sunny and hot summer in Michigan again. Of course, that logic is ludicrous. My meteorologist and global warming detractor friends will remind me that it's all cyclical. My hope it that it is. But the things that will stick out in my mind the most about this past summer are not the unusual weather we've had here in Michigan, but these two things...zebra stripes and potential wasted.

Yesterday came word of the death of Adam Goldstein, a.k.a. DJ AM in New York of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 36. This is just a continuance of talented people this year who have meet an untimely demise, as a previous blog post spoke of. As part of the brotherhood of club DJs from my days as an industrial beat mix pioneer back in the 1980s in Detroit, DJ AM’s passing has a strong resonance with me. He survived the fiery plane crash last year with Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, narrowly escaping death, only to succumb to the overindulgence of addiction from trying to deal with the crash.

So let's get back to the two things that will stick out the most in my mind from this past summer. You all more than likely have heard the saying, "A zebra can't change its stripes." Maybe you remember it more as "A leopard can't change its spots." I have been reminded of this saying lately in dealings with some talented folks who have crossed my path in recent history. They have incredible talent, but to progress and to realize the potential they have, they need to make some changes to either their work ethic, the way they treat others, their perceptions, and/or their perceived fears and demons. However, they tend to dismiss gentle reminders that these roadblocks stand in their way between their current mediocrity and greatness, which in essence is wasting their true potential.

Over the years my paths have crossed with many talented individuals. Some have gone on to success in much bigger and better things in many fields and genres. I could "name drop" here with a list, but I won't. Others I've known have failed to realize their potential and either languished in the background of anonymity, became frustrated because they never caught the elusive “brass ring”, chased something that was not in line with their true talent, let their fears or habits hold them back from the success they deserve, fail to listen to those wishing to help them realize their true potential, or foolishly touch that “third rail” and prematurely check out off the planet.

I’ve had the privilege to listen to DJ AM’s last rough mixes. I’ve listened to them several times this morning. Being a beat mix DJ myself, I can hear the thought processes that occur in a DJ’s mix as clear as if they were speaking them in conversation to me. In DJ AM’s last mixes I hear an eclectic thought process filled with questioning and fear. It was a haunting listen for me, reminding me that life is fragile for those dealing with fears and demons. It also reminded me that I have passed through this valley myself years ago and have come through it a survivor to realize my potential in life. In the words of a musician friend of mine, “Life is precious, life is sweet.”

Awhile back I bought a book titled “The Essential Laws of Fearless Living” which opened my eyes to what holds people back from realizing their full potential…not wasting it by being held back by fears and behaviors that tend to sabotage success. I utilize what I’ve read in this book not only to help myself, but to help others I know that have true talent and potential that is being held back by subconscious sabotaging behaviors and fears.

I lent the book out a few months back to a very dear friend who I have seen tremendous talent and potential in, yet they seemed to have sabotaged it over the years and still seem to continue to do so. I hope that they read it…and hopefully I get the book back someday. If I don’t get it back though, no worries…if they keep it and use it to conquer their fears and realize success with their true potential, then it was much more than worth the price I paid for it. That is my hope.

Then I can add them to the long list of people who have crossed my path that have succeeded in realizing their true potential, passing through that valley of uncertainty victorious, and successfully “changed their stripes”.

The Summer That Hasn't Been

Today is August 2. It is eight o'clock in the evening. The current temperature outside is 68°.

So this is summer?

Thanks to the advent of modern technology, and my fancy laptop, I can dictate directly into my computer my latest blog post while sitting on the front deck watching a beautiful Michigan summer sunset. The only problem? I'm wearing sweat pants, a sweatshirt, and I'm freezing my tuckus off!

This summer so far has proven to be the chilliest I have ever experienced. Granted, I've been spoiled spending summers in the past in California and Florida. I have even laughed out loud at people wearing sweat suits in 70° weather in Simi Valley. But so far this summer in Michigan we have only reached a high of 90° one time. For the majority of the summer, we have been lucky to hit 80°.

For some, this cool summer has been perfect. Being able to forgo running the air conditioning has been an economic benefit. "At least it's not humid and hot." some of my friends have said.

For me though, I like it warm. 80° warm and warmer. But this summer has been far from warm in my opinion. I've only been able to take the kids one time to the lake this year because it has been too chilly to go there most of the summer. Going to the beach when it's only 72° is like playing ice hockey in the desert.

So I guess I'll wait and see what August brings temperature wise. So much for global warming.

Breaking silence on MJ, celeb deaths and demons

I’ve been quiet for nearly two weeks now as I observed the drama and spectacle that was the death of Michael Jackson. His death came way too young, and his funeral and memorial was the extended fermata at the end of a busy line of celebrity deaths including David Carradine, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays and Steve McNair; each one presenting their own take of despair, irony, and sadness. These are things the media over-extends themselves on to the point of ad nauseum and the general public loves to devour.

Some may argue my including David Carradine in this line of celebrity departures from this mortal coil since his death was nearly a month before the others. Others may debate the inclusion of Billy Mays and Steve McNair in the group as well, disagreeing with my giving them such an iconic celebrity status. My defense in such is that 6 notable deaths of folks in the public eye within 4 weeks are a rarity, and an occurrence that is certainly not the norm.

Deaths of iconic public figures have always been time line events in people’s lives, especially when they are generally unexpected. John F. Kennedy, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Princess Diana; the list can go on and on. Most folk can recant the “Where were you when…” stories that each passing’s milestone invokes in one’s memory banks.

Another part of a death event of a public figure that invokes our emotions is the age at which they die. All but Ed McMahon and David Carradine left us too young than what we are accustomed to as a “death age”. Farrah was only 62, Mays and Jackson just a mere 50 years old, and McNair left us at the young age of 36.

The commonalities that make famous people’s deaths memorable in the public’s minds are life choices and the circumstances surrounding these folk at the time of their death. David Carradine was into erotic asphyxia which reportedly contributed to his death. Ed McMahon was a heavy drinker in life and was near destitution and homelessness when he expired. Farrah was into drug use for a good number of years, which may have played a role in her cancer (something not proven but notable). Steve McNair made the choice to have an extra-marital affair with a 20-year-old, whom we are now finding out was mentally unstable. However, whether you like or dislike him, the biggest of these is Michael Jackson.

Though I never considered myself a fan, Michael Jackson was a talented individual. The Jackson 5’s first single “I Want You Back” was a #1 hit in 1970 for Motown Records and was getting tons of airplay on Detroit radio stations (which is ironic since it was recorded in 1969 at Hitsville West in Los Angeles as Motown was preparing their move from Detroit to L.A. in 1970). The Jackson 5 became a phenomenon. Their first four singles on Motown went to #1 (“I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” & “I’ll Be There”), the first time in recording history a musical act had ever done this. Tons of appearances, a cartoon show on TV, and marketing galore propelled the Jackson 5 to mega-star status. But the true talented star of the group was Michael, and everyone knew it: his dad Joe, Berry Gordy, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, and even the brothers themselves. Unfortunately, so did all the unscrupulous people that handled Michael's affairs throughout his career.

In my observations through life meeting many celebrities over the years I’ve noticed that many people who reach celebrity status, whether on a global, national or a local scale, seem to have demons that plague them. Broken homes, rough childhoods, psychological stigmas, unhealthy habits and addictions; all tend to have this denominator. And it seems that these demons feed the same things in each of them; ego, insecurity, paranoia, and making a litany of bad choices in life.

The iconic “King Of Pop” status of Michael Jackson shares quite a number of parallels with the other “King” Elvis Presley – even down to the link of Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter and Michael’s ex-wife. Both were mismanaged, had major demons, faced accusations of alleged bad behavior, engaged in unhealthy addictions, had major insecurities, made numerous bad choices, and died untimely deaths. And it seems that the abuse of prescription meds will also be a commonality as both officials in California and the DEA are investigating the circumstances surrounding Michael’s death with reports of his abuse of lethal pain medications.

But the saddest part of Michael’s passing in my eyes is the whoring out of the deceased for either financial gain, political cause, or greedy grabs of face time in the media. The observation by me of so many hitching themselves to a dead “star” disgusted me.

The “heading to Mecca” of every major TV news anchor to Los Angeles for the funeral/memorial in my opinion was a sorry display of our over-indulgence – right down to the multi-hour coverage of the memorial. I’m sure others in the world (especially our enemies) were watching the wall-to-wall coverage in amazement and considering us laughing stocks. He was given the same coverage as the death of a head of state or a princess. In my opinion, he was not anywhere near warranting that level of coverage at all.

What did it for me in reaching my disgust threshold were two quotes from the Jackson memorial service: one from the Rev. Al Sharpton, “Michael Jackson paved the way for us to have a black president.” and from Lansing’s very own Earvin “Magic” Johnson, “Watching Michael made me a better point-guard.” Huh? What?!? That was when I turned it off before I had to reach for a barf bag.

Michael Jackson was an individual blessed with extraordinary talent and sadly, like others so equally blessed, failed to realize that the talent was a gift; whether divine, genetic, or by exposure…causing the rewards and benefits of such a gift to be used and abused by others bent on their own selfish desires, allowing the rewards of the talent to cloud their perception of reality and feed their demons. Should Michael Jackson be honored as an iconic figure in the world of music and show business? Certainly. Should he be revered as a god? No.

The next thing I'm now expecting is a report on Entertainment Tonight of Michael Jackson and Elvis being sighted together at a Burger King in Kalamazoo.

Paying Tribute To A Real American Hero

Alright, I’ve been quiet on this blog for a bit. I spent last weekend out at the NASCAR races at MIS and was preoccupied. And it seems that all I’ve written about lately has been movie reviews and how well these flicks do at the box office. I feel that it has become stale and does not do the title justice – “Morning Musings”.

So if you are looking for a review of this weekend’s and upcoming movies, here’s the short of it. The Proposal: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy – OK date movie. Year One: sophomoric comedy attempt with Jack Black and the guy that looks like he could be Dana Carvey’s little brother – hideous. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Shia LaBeouf – women go gaga for Shia, lots of action and CGI FX, should kick but at the box office. Now that’s out of the way, on with what my musings are.

Today is Fathers Day; the day of the year set aside to honor our dads. For ages it has been fodder for the jokes, misconception, and ignoring by the general populous. Hideous ties, Old Spice and the dumb singing fish on the plaque. And dads just looking for a day to sleep in and not having to mow the grass, paint the gutters, or deal with home improvement issues.

President Obama recently wrote an essay on Fathers Day that is published in today’s Parade Magazine. The son of father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, Obama writes that he observes Father's Day not just as a dad grateful for his two daughters, but also as a son who grew up without a father in his life.

I know what Obama speaks of from family experience. My dad basically grew up without a father; his real dad leaving when he was only 5 and my grandmother remarrying a total jerk and alcoholic we used to refer to as “Whitey the Bullshitter” (pardon my language – it’s what he was called by all in the family). Quite the text book example of a dysfunctional family.

My first marriage ended with my finding my first ex-wife being unfaithful, then her filing for divorce and going into hiding with a new husband, causing me not to see my oldest son and daughter for 12 years. Found out years later that their “step dad” put them through hell: physical and mental abuse, and suspected sexual abuse of my daughter. So when my second marriage ended three years ago with her being unfaithful and her filing for divorce, I was bound and determined not to let the past repeat itself with my youngest daughter and twin boys.

I am not the perfect father by any means. I have made mistakes and allowed the demands of pursuing a career in media, music and entertainment to interfere with my paternal duties as well as my spousal ones. There are moments of all my kids’ lives that I’ve missed out because of this. Moments that I’ll never get back. It’s a loss that is difficult to accept at times.

I continually come across individuals from broken homes, some still kids and others full grown adults, who are and have been affected by it. My own dad is one who finds it hard to show true affection for my sister and me because of the absence of a real father in his life. And it affects the kids in ways that manifest themselves later on in life. Dads who are absent from their kids’ lives, and at times the mothers check out emotionally because of it as well, all have a lasting imprint on the psyche of a child when they grow up to be an adult.

This is why with my kids from marriage #2, I have made the choice to be in their lives as much as I can be. I spend time with them 4 days every week, as well as the usual every other weekend thing. It’s a sacrifice that sometimes puts a crimp in life for me, especially socially. Some women that have been romantically interested in me don’t seem to understand why I have taken on such an exhaustive commitment. They even have shown resentment and jealousy. But my job as dad did not terminate at my kids’ conception. What makes me a real man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one. I guess you can say that it’s not about me here, it’s about the kids and doing what is right.

The other day I had a discussion with a close friend about just where one finds beauty in this world. In a time where North Korea’s Kim Jong Il wants to send nuclear warheads hurtling through space to wipe out countries for his domination of the world, other evil world players are trying to take over by force, and people in general intent on greed and being uncaring as they can, it seems hard to find where true beauty lies. My point was that love is true beauty.

Love for what is all around you and the appreciation for all the people, friends and the simple things in life. Being out at my family’s property in Brooklyn, MI late on a cloudless night and looking up to see billions of stars. Seeing the smile of a good friend and the laughter that ensues between the two of you as you share time together. Taking in the glories of nature all around us. Hearing your children say, “I love you, Daddy.” This is where I find true beauty in life and the world around me. It’s not “He who dies with the most toys wins.”

As kids we tend to forget the sacrifices our dads make to ensure we grow up right. Many of us have been resentful of them as adolescents. Some kids going as far as contemplating emancipation by “divorcing” their parents. But the truth of the matter is that none of us are perfect, even dads. It’s the dads that are able to take the resentment and rebellion and still show love through it all that make the difference. Even if they have difficulty actually telling us those three words, “I love you” (like with my own dad), remember that sometimes actions speak louder than words.

Happy Fathers Day, Dad, and to all the sacrificing, dedicated and true fathers out there. You are real heroes to children in a world so desperately needing them.

This weeks new movie releases pit family comedy against action thriller

This Friday brings two contrasting films to the screen, both with appeals in different genres that have proven successful in recent past. Both bring well-known stars with them, which should prove interesting results in this weekend’s box office winner. Hopefully it will not be as ‘interesting’ as last weekend’s (see my previous post).

Imagine That (Paramount/Nickelodeon – PG) Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi, Nicole Ari Parker, Ronny Cox, Martin Sheen. The words "Eddie Murphy family comedy" are enough to make me be suspect of this release. Between "Meet Dave," ''The Haunted Mansion" and "Daddy Day Care" Eddie doesn't exactly have a good history in this genre, at least in terms of quality. However, "Imagine That" is quite a pleasant surprise. Based on a clever premise the movie makes good use of Murphy's comedic talents - singing, dancing, voices and personalities - without letting him get too obnoxious. Its feel-good story is a bit predictable; however it offers an irresistible young co-star in newcomer Yara Shahidi, who very much holds her own as Murphy's daughter without being too over the top ‘Rudy Huckstable-ish’. Murphy stars as a successful financial executive who has more time for his blackberry than his seven-year-old daughter. When he has a crisis of confidence and his career starts going down the drain, however, he finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter's imaginary world. A feel good family flick that has a bit of a sappy ending, this offering should prove an entertaining outing for kids and adults alike. My rating – 4 stars.

The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (Columbia/Sony – R) Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli, James Gandolfini. Loosely based on the Joseph Sargent 1975 classic of the same name, the film is just as much a remake as an observation into how radically the way movies are made and have changed over the decades. While the story, characters, history and intensity once ruled on screen, now it's all about how flashy the production values can be. And The Taking Of Pelham 123 would simply be all that and nothing more, were it not for the powerhouse cast struggling for some dramatic elbow room in between, including Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzman and John Turturro. Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape? If going to the movies to get stuck in a subway for two hours doesn’t sound like a great evening out, The Taking Of Pelham 123 probably won’t change your mind here. My rating – 3 ½ stars.

Actual box office figures show "Hangover" actually beating "Up"

Yes, even I can make mistakes. Significantly underestimated by my posting on Monday, The Hangover actually pulled ahead of Up to lead the weekend with a smashing $45 million. While Hangover was upgraded with actual grosses reporting, Land Of The Lost dropped to $18.8 million, showing an even more miserable opening weekend than estimates spoke of on Monday. I had hoped to post this earlier today, but my Tuesday was more hectic than anticipated.

So, here we go...the actual box office figures for this past weekend:

1.) The Hangover - $44.9 million
2.) Up - $44.1 million
3.) Land Of The Lost - $18.8 million
4.) Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian - $14.6 million
5.) Star Trek - $8.3 million
6.) Terminator Salvation - $8.2 million
7.) Drag Me To Hell - $7 million
8.) Angels & Demons - $6.5 million
9.) My Life In Ruins - $3.2 million
10.) Dance Flick - $1,9 million

Guess you can't win them all...

"Up" remains aloft atop this weekends box office

The Hangover and Up battled it out over the weekend to see which movie would finish on top this past weekend. The Hangover was the clear winner on Friday, hitting the jackpot with a $16.5 million opening day, but the Pixar adventure rose up past the new comedy on Saturday and Sunday to lead the weekend. Both films did well for their respective genres, finishing less than $1 million apart for the weekend.

Up claimed the #1 spot for a second straight weekend, with an estimated $44.2 million this past weekend, bringing it’s 10-day total to $137.3 million. Its drop was quite small for a movie performing at blockbuster levels, holding nearly as well as Finding Nemo at the 10-day mark and much better than WALL-E and Cars among past Pixar summer releases.

The Hangover performed better than original expectations, taking in an estimated $43.3 million its opening weekend. It was a much stronger opening than the genre-similar Wedding Crashers, Old School, Harold and Kumar and Dude, Where's My Car?

While The Hangover smashed, Land of the Lost crashed. The adventure comedy starring Will Ferrell, based on the 1970s television series of the same name, struggled with $19.5 million to finish #3. The start was lower than the similar Journey to the Center of the Earth from last summer as well as Ferrell's last TV adaptation, Bewitched.

The other new release this past weekend, My Life In Ruins, finished near the bottom of the top 10 at #9 with a modest $3.2 million. Featuring Nia Vardalos, creator of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the debut was slightly less attended than the start of her last picture, Connie and Carla.

Among the holdovers this past weekend, Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian hung in to claim the #4 spot this past weekend with $14.7 million bringing its 3-week total to $127.3 million. Star Trek saw the smallest slide downward, garnering $8.4 million this past weekend to take the #5 spot. It flew past predecessor Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn to become the second-biggest movie of the Star Trek franchise with $222.8 million in 31 days, and has its sights set to overtake the top spot currently held by the first movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

This past weekend’s Top 10:
1.) Up
2.) The Hangover
3.) Land Of The Lost
4.) Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
5.) Star Trek
6.) Terminator Salvation
7.) Drag Me To Hell
8.) Angels & Demons
9.) My Life In Ruins
10.) Dance Flick

"Lost", "Ruins" and "Hangover" the first matchup at theaters this weekend

Three movies begin this weekend to kick off June at theaters. Quite the variety between them, these films will prove to make this weekend an interesting one at theaters nationwide.

Land Of The Lost (Universal - PG-13) Will Ferrell, Danny R. McBride, Anna Friel, Jorma Taccone. I wish there were a time machine that could restore the little over an hour and a half I lost previewing this one. Somehow director Brad Siberling has managed to mangle this creative and genius 1974 Syd & Marty Croft kids TV show, much like he did with Casper The Friendly Ghost in 1995. Will Ferrell stars as has-been scientist Dr. Rick Marshall, sucked into a time warp and spat back through time. Way back. Now, Marshall has no weapons, few skills and questionable smarts to survive in an alternate universe full of dinosaurs and other malcreatened creatures. Ferrell and McBride do manage to pull out some genuinely funny moments from the sub-par script by Chris Henchy. Lost is almost worth watching, as the set designers have thrown together a Dali-esque world where random artifacts like Amelia Earhart's plane, a crashed flying saucer, and a Bob's Big Boy restaurant rise from the dunes. Matt Laurer (from NBC Today Show fame) makes a cameo, but even Matt deserves a better fate than to watch his career die in this flick. My rating: 2 1/2 stars.

The Hangover (Warner Brothers - R) Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor. From the director of Old School comes a new comedy about a bachelor party gone horribly wrong. Two days before his nuptuals, Doug and his three compadres head to Vegas for a night they'll never forget. But when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning with major hangovers, they can't remember a thing. Their ritzy hotel suite is trashed and the groom is nowhere to be found. With no clue of what happened and little time to spare, these guys must attempt to retrace their bad decisions from the night before in order to figure out where things went wrong and hopefully get Doug back to L.A. in time for his wedding. However, the more they begin to uncover, the more they realize just how much trouble they're really in. My rating: 3 1/2 stars.

My Life In Ruins (Fox Searchlight - PG-13) Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Maria Adanez, Sheila Bernette, Maria Botto, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Ralph Nossek, Bernice Stegers, Harland Williams. Writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding Nia Vardalos returns with this uplifting comedy. Nia plays Georgia, who has lost her kefi (Greek for "mojo"). Discouraged by lack of direction in her life, she works as a travel guide, leading a grab-bag group of tourists as she tries to show them the beauty of her native Greece while waiting to land her dream job. Opening their eyes to an exotic foreign land, she too begins to see things in new ways—finding her kefi and possibly love in the process. My rating: 4 stars.

The truth about the “Performance Tax”

Lately there has been a lot of buzz in the radio business regarding the “Performance Tax” legislation being tossed around Washington and on Capitol Hill. This “Performance Tax”, known as The Performance Rights Act, would change law so that AM and FM radio stations would pay performers to play their songs, as is true of satellite, cable and Internet music services. All four music platforms pay songwriters for use of their work.

The Honorable Rep. John Conyers, (D- Michigan) who represents a portion of Detroit, Dearborn, as well as Highland Park and Hamtramck, authored this piece of legislation.
Cries have been heard that this legislation would kill “free radio”, and that it would adversely affect minority-owned radio stations. The other side of the issue cries that they have been cheated for years out of performance rights for their songs being aired on.

In Rep. Conyers district there are a lot of retired performers from the heyday of Motown Records and he is showing a reactive stance toward these folks in his district. But there are many truths that seem to be glossed over here in this issue.

First off, these performers will not receive 100% of this “Performance Tax” collected from radio stations, but only 25%. 50% of the monies collected from this “Performance Tax” will go to the record companies. And this is where I think this whole issue stinks to high heaven.

For many years, record companies have been pushing their product on radio stations to play for free, helping to generate billions of dollars for the record labels on the backs of these performers, as with the case of those retired Motown artists that basically were shafted out of money for years. And radio has played them for FREE…not charging the record companies for air time like they do advertisers and specialty programs.

In this proposed legislation I see no guarantee that any of this “Performance Tax” to be collected would ever find its way into the hands of the actual performers. How I see it, this bill will send money to the record companies, with the biggest ones being foreign owned, thus sending this money overseas for the record companies to decide how much to give the performers.

The record industry has been operating under a failing business model for many years, just like the government says General Motors has been, forcing bankruptcy filings. Record labels regularly send multiple copies of the same song on CD to one radio station, which costs money to replicate these CDs, package and mail them out. They hire people to continually call radio station program directors and pester them to play their song. And they do this for over 4,000 stations in the US. And now they have the gall to charge radio stations for playing artists that they beg us to play.

In testimony on the hill, John Conyers has said “Your will pay us.” Who does Mr. Conyers mean by us? Is this a veiled front for his becoming a lobbyist for the record companies? Mr. Conyers’ ethics as a legislator has been called into question before. In letters sent separately to the House Ethics Committee, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office by two former aides of Conyers in 2006, allegations were made that Conyers used his staff to work on several local and state campaigns and forced them to baby-sit and chauffeur his children. Conyers "accepted responsibility" for possibly violating House rules in this matter.

Conyers wife Monica, Detroit City Council president pro-tem, also has had some ethics problems as well. In January 2009, Detroit's General Retirement System notified Monica Conyers that she owed $5,600 to the City, which included travel advances not spent on business class airfare to London. The pension board also claimed she hadn't submitted receipts for trips to Grand Cayman and Philadelphia. In April 2009, one day after denying the relation, Monica Conyers admitted she helped her brother, Reggie Esters, a convicted felon, obtain a city job that was originally to last four months, but was extended to two years, ending only when Esters' absenteeism became an issue. Esters is reported to have submitted a false resume.

It’s easy in these hard economic times to get riled up when someone has been wronged economically. But radio is not the enemy here. Radio has faithfully promoted performance artists for free on stations over the years, their performances sent to stations on “promotional copy” records and CDs. Last time I checked, the cost of promoting recording artists is the responsibility of the entity wishing to promote them, i.e.: the record companies, not the recipient of the promotional items.

Record companies have had their hands in the pockets of performance artists more and more…record and CD sales, merchandising, and even a percentage of the take at live concerts. I think it’s time that the record industry give back to the performers instead of collecting even more money from radio to line their pockets even more, giving a mere pittance of what they obtain to the artists.

John Conyers and his ignorance to the actual “bad guy” in this whole situation is just another thing from my home town of Detroit that I am embarrassed of. Thank goodness for the Red Wings!

This weekend's box office looking "Up"

Disney/Pixar's latest CGI offering Up floated to the top spot of the movies at the box office, taking in an estimated $68.2 million this weekend. It attained the second-highest opening day for a Disney/Pixar film bringing in $21.4 million Friday, bested only by Wall-E's $23.2 million opening day take last year, although the first days of The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Cars and Monsters, Inc. rated higher in terms of actual attendance.

Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian had a strong second weekend, taking #2 with $25.5 million, earning it $105.2 million over its 10-day run. This weekend's other new release, Drag Me To Hell, fared well, though below indutry expectations. Drag Me To Hell barely beat Terminator: Salvation to grab the #3 spot with an extimated weekend take of $16.6 million, supported by a $6.4 million opening day. On this same weekend last year another horror flick, The Strangers, fared a bit better on opening day with $7.7 million.

Terminator: Salvation grabbed the #4 position with $16.1 million, with its 10-day total reaching $90.6 million. Star Trek continues to remain strong at #5 with $12.8 million, taking it past the $200 million mark in just 4 weeks at the box office.

This weekend's Top Ten (Sunday estimates):
1. Up
2. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
3. Drag Me to Hell
4. Terminator Salvation
5. Star Trek
6. Angels & Demons
7. Dance Flick
8. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
9. Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past
10. Obsessed

"Museum: Smithsonian"; "Terminator Salvation" duke it out for #1 at box office

Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian and Terminator Salvation have locked horns to see who will claim the #1 prize at the box office for the coveted 4-day Memorial Day Weekend. Museum: Smithsonian so far is leading by a slim margin for the 4-day weekend with Friday estimates pegging it at a $15.3 million take. This would put it on track to pull in around $66 million for the 4-day weekend, a figure that the first Museum movie took six days to pass.

Terminator Salvation claimed an estimated $14.8 million on Friday putting it slightly behind Museum at #2 but giving it a higher first Friday gross than the previous Terminator movies. However, with it's Thursday release it has taken in more total than Museum with an estimated $28.2 million over 2 days.

The other new release this weekend, spoof vehicle Dance Flick, fell flat grossing a Friday estimated $3.9 million putting it at #5. Its opening was not much higher than the genre related Superhero Movie, and should put Dance Flick on track for a roughly $14 million weekend.

Looking at the holdovers, Angels & Demons comes in at #3 with Friday estimates putting it at around $6 million giving it a $66 million gross over its 8-day run. Clearly not as hot at its predecessor The Da Vinci Code which made $113 million over its initial 8-day run, Angels & Demons is on track to bring in around $25 million over the 4-day weekend.

Star Trek falls to #4 with it losing IMAX screens to Museum taking an estimated $5.7 million on Friday. However, its 8-day total of $167.4 million is very impressive, making it the highest grossing movie of May.

My top ten predictions for this 4-day weekend:

1. Terminator Salvation
2. Night at the Museum 2: Battle Of The Smithsonian
3. Star Trek
4. Angels & Demons
5. Dance Flick
6. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
7. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
8. Obsessed
9. 17 Again
10. Monsters Vs. Aliens

Do we really know everything?

It seems that we always have the right answers. However, it also seems we don’t use them to make the right decisions.

The previous stream of semi-conscious thought came on me this weekend like the first pain you feel when you realize you have a bad sunburn. And it gave me revelation, an epiphany of sorts.

It spawned from a conversation I had with my kids in the car on the way home from school Friday. The elder twin Jason needs to pass a test in Central and South America geography in order to “graduate” to 7th grade. So I started quizzing capitals of countries.

“What’s the capital of Argentina?” I fired.

“Buenos Aries.” He replied.

“Panama?”

“Panama City.”

“Nicaragua?”

A slight pause, “Ummm….Manyana?”

I smirked, “Close, but no cigar. Managua. The capital of Peru?”

Now Jason was stumped. You could see the cogs of his mind grinding away like someone trying to shift a manual 5-speed transmission into 1st gear without depressing the clutch.

“Lima.” I revealed, after seeing enough facial contortion from Jason racking his brain before I lost self-control and began to laugh out loud.

“I knew that!” Jason retorted, as if to imply I hadn’t given him enough time to answer. Hey, you only get 10 seconds to answer on Jeopardy. I gave him nearly 20.

From my view, the state of everything lately has become a big realization that we all knew the answers but failed to apply them. There’s the credit crisis of extending more than what people could pay off, then Washington bailing them out with a little “nod, nod, wink, wink”. Then the automotive sector gloom and doom. We keep saying we knew the answers, yet we still are in this mess.

Banks were overextending credit back in the mid to late 1920s that people couldn’t pay back. And anyone who paid attention in American History class knows what happened back then. Not to say things are as bad as during the Great Depression…yet. But things are pretty screwed up economically right now.

As a kid in school I remember several teachers over the years say the same quote, “As GM goes, so goes the nation.” Growing up in the Detroit area you were aware of GM’s standing in the economic stream; the number one corporation in the world. Yet the same cats in Washington that swooped in to save the financial sector are balking at the same swooping in to save the auto industry.

The reality is that we as a planet have progressed beyond any stretch of the imagination in just the past 150 years. Photography, telephony, motion pictures, recorded audio, video, satellites, computers, the Internet, breakthroughs in health and science and space exploration have been the meteoric rise of progress we have all seemed to grow accustomed to. Hell, we even have radio-controlled cars and battery powered toothbrushes! The rub it seems is that we can’t come up with a solution to keep things moving forward without backsliding every so often.

Part of backsliding is obsolescence that progress brings. The cotton gin did away with the hundreds of man-hours to separate cottonseed from raw cotton fibers. Slide rules met their maker with the advent of the hand-held electronic scientific calculator. And of course, digital audio recording, delivery and storage made boom boxes so passé. Everybody has their iPods now…even me. Too bad that hasn’t affected those “thump rides” that vibrate the entire house at 3 AM when they drive by…sometimes so much the windows rattle.

However, this is not the case across the board. Television didn’t cripple the movie industry like they said it would in the 1950s. Wendy’s hasn’t put Burger King out of business. And when I cook on the grill, I still prefer charcoal over LP gas.

I lived an adventurous life. One far from perfect, I had to climb and scrap for a lot of footing I’ve gained over the years…learning a lot of things by trial and error. Not listening to parental advice, making bad choices, relationships, fatherhood and divorce. But since I’ve been through all that life experience knowledge from the School of Hard Knocks, I have no excuse to not know the answers to the tough questions I have right now. Do I pursue a relationship with a woman again? Do I take on new creative projects that are a bit outside my current platforms? Do I switch to boxers from briefs?

By George, this could be the breakthrough I’ve been looking for all these years!...

…or maybe not.

"Obsessed" dominates this weekend at the box office

Beyonce Knowles and Idris Elba's on-screen pairing in "Obsessed" took #1 this weekend by a big margin, showing one of the strongest opening weekends for a "Fatal Attraction" type erotic thriller. Weekend estimated place this weekends's take for "Obsessed" at around $28.5 million. "17 Again" had a strong second weekend, taking the #2 slot with an estimated $11.7 million, bringing its 10-day total to roughly $40 million. The action drama "Fighting" fared respectably well for its opening weekend to finish this weekend at #3 with an estimated $11.4 million.

While "Obsessed" did exceptionally well and "Fighting" made the top 3, the other two nationwide releases were passable. "The Soloist" came in at #4 taking in an estimated $9.7 million, and the nature documentary "Earth" rounded out the top 5 with an estimated take of $8.6 million at the box office.

"Obsessed", "Soloist" & "Fighting" set to square off at the box office

With Zak Efron stealing the show at the box office last weekend in "17 Again", this week's new releases "Obsessed" and "The Soloist" have a more serious tone, with some fine actor pairings and good performances. Mix that in with a so-so fight movie, and you have the makings for an interesting weekend in theaters.

"Obsessed" (PG-13; Screen Gems/Sony) Idris Elba, Beyonce Knowles, Ali Larter, Bruce McGill, Jerry O'Connell, Christine Lahti. Beyonce Knowles returns to the screen, just several months after her appearance as Etta James in "Cadillac Records", pairing with Idris Elba as Derek and Sharon Charles, a husband wife duo who have everything going on for them. That is until temp worker Lisa (Ali Larter) comes on the scene at Derek's place of employ and begins stalking him, when it seems everything that Derek has worked so hard to obtain in life is placed in jeopardy. My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

"Fighting" (PG-13; Rogue Pictures) Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Brian White, Luis Guzman, Zulay Henao. This one seems like another tired remake of the old "Big Fight Movie" formula, only with less than "Big Fight Movie" talent and script. The hunky but dull Channing Tatum portrays an ex-high school wrestler from Alabama who comes to New York for reasons that never are addressed and becomes an underground mixed-martial arts star in ways one would find on the brink of unbelievable. He's seen as a draw for the bare-knuckle fight circuit after a fluke win, then wins and loses, then gets a no decision until finally winning the "Big Fight". The advice here...wait for it to come out on DVD...which shouldn't take too long. My rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

"The Soloist" (PG-13; DreamWorks/Paramount) Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander, Lisa Gay Hamilton. Jamie Foxx plays Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a homeless man who seems typical on the surface. But when journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey, Jr.) hears him play flawless Beethoven on a cello and talk about his former classmates at Juilliard, Lopez sees a stroy needing to be told. The pairing of Foxx and Downey is marvelous, bringing the story to life on the screen of a reporter who realizes he needs to help this man to help himself. Their duet creates the perfect concert on screen, making The Soloist sing. My rating: 4 3/4 out of 5 stars.

"17 Again"; "State Of Play" prepared to square off at this weekend's box office

Well, the Friday box office estimates aren't in yet, but judging from theater goer buzz, this weekend should see a little slowdown with nicer weather arriving. Still, this should make for an interesting showdown between a rising Giant Mouse House star and a star-studded thriller at theaters this weekend.

So far, "17 Again" shows the most promise for taking the #1 slot. This story about 'do-overs' is a familiar formula, and I expect Zak Efron fans will be filling up the seats for this movie that seems a cross between "Back To The Future" and "The Kid". Matthew Perry is also in the film, though you wouldn't realize it unless you saw a trailer since he's not on the movie poster. It makes sense though, since his role in the film is small and the star power at the top. Besides, I can't stop thinking Chandler every time I've seen him - big or small screen - after "Friends". Kind of sad how his star has faded.

My pick for #2 is the thriller "State Of Play". The star power is in full force here with Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck heading up this politically-themed murder thriller. The inter-character tensions as well as the plot seem to be a familiar theme, but the acting performances help to keep it interesting.

The other new release this weekend, "Crank: High Voltage", doesn't seem to have what it takes to make it big this weekend. With "Fast & Furious" expanding to more screens this weekend, "Crank" will have a tough time with it's ametuerish hard sex and violence tone. Plus, some of the action scenes are way too ridiculous for me to swallow. I mean, falling out of a heliocopter from about a mile up, battling an Asian dude in mid air, then landing on a car...and the dude lives? Plus the whole using jumper cables to keep the heart going. Seriously?

My Top Ten Predictions for this weekend:

1. 17 Again
2. State of Play
3. Hannah Montana The Movie
4. Fast and Furious
5. Monsters Vs. Aliens
6. Crank: High Voltage
7. Observe and Report
8. I Love You, Man
9. Knowing
10. The Haunting in Connecticut

With this weeks new releases continue the great April box office numbers?

“Hannah Montana” ruled the roost this past weekend, helping to bring the second best April weekend ever at the box office. Hollywood is hoping for continued success this coming weekend with another Giant Mouse alum, a fast action sequel, and the likes of Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck.

“17 Again” (PG – New Line Cinema/Warner Bros.) – Zak Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Michelle Trachtenberg. Matthew Perry plays Mike O’Donnell – who back in the day was a star on his high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. Instead, he chooses his girlfriend Scarlett and the baby he just learned they are expecting. Fast-forward to today – almost 20 years later. Mike's life sucks. His marriage to Scarlett has fallen apart, he didn’t get that big promotion at work, and his kids think he is a loser. He winds up crashing with his high school nerd-turned-techno-geek-billionaire best friend. And then the weirdness begins as Mike is given another chance and transformed back to the age of 17 – and into Zac Efron, where the age vs. experience thing makes for some fun. My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

“Crank: High Voltage” (R – Lionsgate) – Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Dwight Yoakam, Efren Ramirez, Clifton Collins Jr., Bai Ling. The sequel has arrived! Hitman Chev Chelios launches himself on an electrifying chase through Los Angeles in pursuit of the Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart. "Crank: High Voltage" is written and directed by Neveldine/Taylor, the duo behind the original "Crank," and the upcoming "Game" starring Gerard Butler. My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

“State Of Play” (PG-13 – Universal) – Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Helen Mirren. Acclaimed director Kevin Macdonald ("The Last King of Scotland") takes the helm as Oscar winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast (including Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman and Michigan's own Jeff Daniels) in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion among some of the nation's most promising political and corporate figures. My rating: 4 ½ out of 5 stars.

I have a feeling that “State Of Play” will be neck and neck with “17 Again” and “Crank: High Voltage”, with all of them bringing the potential for another great weekend at the box office. As to who I think will be #1? Stop by Friday.

Time flies when you're...

The past week my ever-reflecting brain has reacquainted me with time. Not as a scholar would expound on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, but more in a time line of events way.

We have coined phrases describing this mental reflection. “Would you look at the time...”, “I had a good time...”, “Was it that long ago?” and the ever-popular “Time flies when you’re having fun, making love, etc.” The list is growing as fast as the populous. Whenever there is passage of time, whether a microsecond or a century, we let the stream of our ongoing conscious lives place the time period we are gauging in a type of “sleep-mode”.

The Easter holiday season has always been a family holiday…Sunrise service, egg hunt, brunch, kick back on the sofa to nap off brunch, be awakened to the aroma of baked ham glazed in honey, and, of course, Easter break…before we became P.C. and called it “Spring Break”.

The memories of past play well during the Easter holidays. Having to dress up as the Easter bunny. Afternoons at my paternal grandparent’s house on the southwest side of Detroit (complete with Whitey the B-S-er and “Drunkle” Dwight), having to take my cat Ozone to the vet emergency because it ate an Easter Lilly (they are poisonous when ingested).

The most memories of Easter holidays were of my mom. She was always making it special for us kids, continuing to make it special as we grew up. Ironically, this past Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, was the 15th anniversary of her passing. Caught myself saying, “Was it that long ago?” Mom was a bona fide chocoholic. She introduced me to Dove chocolate eggs, especially the truffle chocolate eggs, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Easter Sunday I went and bought a bag and ate the whole thing in her memory.

Her funeral was on April 15, rather appropriate for someone who worked in the financial sector. My dad, sister and I were almost killed in the procession to the cemetery when a Buick ran a light and came within inches of crashing into the side of our limo. It definitely broke the tension for the rest of the ride. All of us laughed about it, thinking what if he hit us? Would we have to cancel the interment at the cemetery if we wound up in the hospital? Would we make Channel 7 Action News at 6? Was this some sick joke that mom was playing on us from the “other side”?

However, more than just family memories reminded me of the space and time continuum. Life events that took place had me hitting my mental “Way Back Machine” in reflection lately (Yeah, I used to watch “Peabody & Sherman” cartoons as a kid…). Phil Spector’s legal drama finally ended earlier today with a guilty verdict earlier today for second-degree murder. The whole thing started 6 years ago. How time flies…

Then, at about the same time as the Spector verdict, the sad news of Mark “The Bird” Fidrych being found dead at his Massachusetts farm pinned under his truck hit the wire. In 1975 the Detroit Tigers sucked. But the beginnings to a much better team lay in the young Alan Trammel and Lou Whittaker. And then, in 1976, there was “The Bird”. He would talk to the ball. He would “groom” the mound with his hand to get rid of cleat marks. He would become the 1976 MLB Rookie of the Year and the #1 attraction at ballparks league-wide. I still have the baseball with his actual autograph on it… signed it right in front of me at Tiger Stadium. I talked to it tonight in his memory.

As we get older, more of these moments of time reflectivity occur, and not necessarily during holiday times. April 4th… June 22nd… July 17th… August 13th, 16th and 20th. Plus many others. It’s how we handle the residue of emotion from these reflections. Do we look at the good memories associated with them? Or do we spiral into a funk, go ballistic, or get so drunk we actually go to a Karaoke bar and heckle the singers? Whoops…just had a reflective moment…

When I hit 40, I first thought that my life as I knew it would be over. Arthritis would start creeping in, I would get slower in physical and mental ability, and would have to embarrassingly ask my doctor for a prescription for some E.D. drug. But then I realized it was how I was looking at this benchmark of time. I was looking at it as an old ending instead of a new beginning. And guess what? At the half-century mark I have no arthritis, I still am sharp mentally, and need no artificial stimulants in the bedroom. The slower body? Well, a little. But what I lack in “RPM” I make up in “driving skill”.

There are two ways to view a life event…either negatively or positively. We have tow ways of viewing these; as an ending or a beginning. Unfortunately, society views many life events as endings. The two “Ds” come to mind here…divorce and death. Divorce is draining to begin with emotionally, losing trust, joy and love in your marital partner. Death? Well, there’s not much you can do with that one. After all, it is quite the major ending, and unfortunately we human beings have a mortality rate of 100%.

Sometimes life events seem like a downward spiral in of themselves. Events that can put you over the edge, drive you crazy, hurt like hell, make you worry to the point of panic and make you want to sleep your life away. Going through a rough divorce. Dealing with financial loss. Dealing with a major injury accident. I have been through all three twice. The first time with each, I dealt with them as endings, and they effected my life negatively.

But I learned well. Dealing with each of these three major changes in my life the second time, I went in wiser from the previous times. Instead of looking at them as “endings”, I viewed them as “new beginnings”… new beginnings of good things to come. And so far, it has proved to be effective in maintaining a healthy and happy life. Not so much focused on the “quantity”, but the “quality” of life I live.

So I guess that the thought process does take the scholarly path with Einstein. It’s all about relativity. You tend to find in the grand scheme of things that time and age are both relative…it’s all mental attitude. Time moves as fast or as slow as our lives allow it to, and age is all in how you view yourself.

Now that I’ve figured this out, time moves so much slower now, allowing me to thoroughly enjoy it... family, friends, children, true love. And that’s what truly keeps you young… emotionally, intellectually, spiritually... and physically.

"Hannah Montana" takes #1 this past weekend....oops...

OK. This weekend's movie report is a weak one. It is the Good Friday into Easter weekend, and I have my kids most of this weekend (Mom has them on Easter Sunday this year). Most everybody else's kids had Spring Break this past week. What do you think the majority of the masses are going to see this weekend? I may be just a single dad, but I'm not dumb!

I predict Miley Cyrus' big screen vehicle "Hannah Montana: The Movie" will bring in $30 to $35 million this weekend for the Giant Mouse, "Fast & Furious" will be close behind and bring in just around $30 million, and "Observe And Report" will duke it out with "Monsters Vs. Aliens" for #3 and #4 both garnering around $20 million (though I think "Monsters" will edge out "Observe" for the #3 slot). I am so confident of this I will put money on it...and win. It's a no-brainer. $100 million for the top four movies in a given weekend isn't all that bad. Of course, by the end of the weekend "Fast & Furious" will have made $100 million all on its own in a 10 day run...also not too shabby.

In case you were wondering, I do go to the movies quite a bit...a perk I am blessed to have. And when I have the kids, I take them. Our last outing together was two weekends ago when we went to see "Monsters Vs. Aliens". I've become very knowledgeable of all the aspects of CGI film creation because of the kids (Who says you can't learn things from them, eh?). Some women find this odd and scary, others think it's neat I take my kids to the movies a lot. Six of one, half dozen of another. However, this weekend I feel like an outsider looking in.

My 7-year-old daughter is a big fan of the Disney Chanel. Zack & Cody, Phinius & Pherb, but mostly the Hannah Montana. However, when I asked her if she wanted me to take her to go to see the new Hannah Montana movie, she said no. Now, my 11-year-old twin boys have experssed they DO want me to take them to see the Miley Cyrus. But normally they're into Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon...especially anything Square Bob Spongepants. And now they want to go to the Hannah Montana. Hmmmm...must be that pre-pubecence boy thing kicking up a notch...

After a little digging, it has been determined that the daughter DOES want to see Hannah Montana...but not with me. Her mom asked if she wanted to go with her, and she said yes. "What about your daddy, don't you want HIM to take you to the movies like he always does?" "No." In a way I am crushed that she doesn't want to go to the Hannah Montana with me, yet relieved that she doesn't want me to be the one to go with her to the movie. Does that make sense?

The daughter is a big fan of the American Girl doll and book series. And when "Kit Kittridge" came out last year, she went with mom instead of me, although in all fairness I did take her as well. She liked the movie so much that she wanted me to take her to see it a second time. Go figure?

So, I will end my consecutive streak of seeing the #1 movie this weekend. I've held the streak since January of 2008 with "The Bucket List" (ah...memories...). Since I love my daughter and want her to grow up as normally as I possibly can, I will forego putting her through any trauma and angst by her dad taking her to the Hannah Montana. She need this Mom/Daughter movie experience, and I need to break my streak. I'll go check out Seth Rogan in "Observe And Report" instead.

It's the SpongeBob Squarepants-ish, single dad, guy thing to do.

Thank you Spartans

(DETROIT - April 6, 2009) - The state of Michigan was in need of a pick-me-up. We have been suffering with recession longer than the rest of the country...almost two years longer. The industrial pride of the Great Lake State has been hemorrhaging. GM, Chrysler, Ford...we have taken our share of hits...some may even say more than our share. We have been needing a feel good story for quite awhile.

Then, came the spring of 2009 and the NCCA Basketball Tournament. MSU made it in, as well as U of M (their first time in several years languishing after the Fab 5 scandal). But there was something there that we didn't notice at the start of the tournament...a determination of the Spartans to get it done.

This being the 30th anniversary of MSU's first NCAA Basketball Championship, there seemed a special feel going in. Celebrating Magic and Bird in 1979. And MSU made it into the Sweet 16. Then the fever began to rise. Could the Spartans do it this year? Taking a championship on the 30th anniversary of their first championship? Doing it in virtually in their own back yard at Ford Field in Detroit?

The Spartans seemed on a mission...playing and defeating 2 #1 seeds to get to the championship game tonight. The third #1 to get past was UNC. And many Spartan faithful were rooting for an upset that seemed monumental. And it was.

I have been reminded several times this evening why UNC was selected #1 in the pre-season polls. To be honest, I had them in my bracket wining the whole thing. But the MSU Spartans gave it a good fight.

The State of Michigan should be proud for the accomplishment that MSU made to get to the finals tonight. They clearly weren't favored. Much like our state isn't favored much to survive the current economic funk. But, I have well been aware for a long time that Michiganians are hearty, strong and resiliant. We face adversity, and we triumph over it...time and time again.

The MSU Spartans were resiliant. They proved hearty and strong against #1 seeds Louisville and UConn, and beat both of them to get to tonight's game. They faced adversity, and triumphed.

My hats off to UNC. They clearly deserved to win the championship. But MSU has my hat off to them as well.

Thank you, MSU, for a great season. You have made us Michiganians proud.