Adam Scott's Latest "Greatest Event in Television History": Bosom Buddies

In the past, Adam Scott--of NBC's Parks and Recreation--has created masterpieces that hit right in my pop culture sweet spot. He masterminded remakes of the opening credit sequences of classic TV series, Simon & Simon, Hart to Hart and Too Close for Comfort, complete with phony (and funny) behind-the-scenes "making of" documentary footage. And somehow, though this stuff is right up my alley, I keep being a bit behind the eight-ball on finding them. This time, I got it just a couple of days late though. So if you haven't already, enjoy!
 

Angels and Demons and Ambigrams

I read Angels & Demons, the prequel to The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown a couple of years ago. And while the plot is fuzzy in my mind, the plot device of ambigrams still fascinates me. Seeing all of the press for the new movie version (treated as a sequel instead of a prequel) reminded me, hey, I made my own ambigram!

It isn't nearly as fancy as the ones used in the novel (and presumably the movie), but I took up the challenge to write my name in a way that would read the same when flipped upside down. In fact, I turned it into an animated gif file that spins, but for some reason, it isn't working here. Oh well.

Still, I find the whole concept of ambigrams fascinating, and think it really might strike the public fancy if the new movie is a hit. Check out the link below for some that are quite inventive.

Source: JohnLangdon.com

Tom Hanks Called "Basher" for Talking About Mormons

Photo from source, PopEater

I found the excerpted article below to be profoundly unfair in its headline--which was blaring as a top story on AOL's front page. Tom Hanks does talk frankly about Mormons, and about the proponents of California's Proposition 8. But nowhere does he "bash Mormons" or anyone else.

C'mon, this is Mr. Nice, Mr. Warmth, Mr. America. It would be profoundly out of character for him to trash somebody publicly. And he didn't here, unless something was left out of the story.

But you know what? I'm not afraid to trash religion or the religious. I wouldn't generally do it to specific individuals for no reason, of course. But I don't understand why "religious beliefs" are somehow immune to criticism. Sometimes, religious beliefs can be wrong, destructive, or downright criminal. And why should I--a gay, agnostic--pay respect to a group that affords me none? I have heard and read many, many nasty things written about gays, agnostics, atheists. In fact anyone in the alphabet soup (LGBTQ) or in any category deemed "unbeliever" can be criticized and insulted with almost impunity in almost any forum.

One more thing. Hanks is talking below about a group that worked mightily to step on the rights of another group. Intolerance or antipathy toward the former is entirely justifiable. It is intolerance of intolerance, and once more the oppressor is being classified as a victim. THAT is un-American! Ahem. . .end of rant.

[Excerpt]

Hanks Bashes Mormons, Prop-8 Advocates

At Wednesday night's 'Big Love' premiere party, Tom Hanks made his feelings about the Mormon Church's involvement in the passage of California's Prop 8 very clear, calling those against gay marriage "un-American."

Ironically, Hanks serves as the executive producer of HBO's controversial show, which focuses on a modern-day polygamist living in Utah with his three wives. . .

Read more at: PopEater

Tom Hanks Endorses Barack Obama

Cool.

The Other Half: The Crying Game

Photo of "Wilson" from Cast Away (2000), from Wikipedia

Posted by NevadaJoe

Hey, I feel I need to clarify a few things after reading Jamie's post on television watching (Boys Don't Cry: A Heartless Man's Confession). Yeah, I do get into the dramas and enjoy the emotions they engender. I do not reach the point of Kleenex very often, and do not want to be thought of as a weepy basket-case. You won't catch me crying after seeing a Hallmark commercial, quite the opposite actually. A well-crafted drama can pull me in, and if it is sorrow they're peddling, well, I'm in. Here is a list of some of the moments that "reached me" so to speak:

Love Actually (2003) - Quite a few moments here, but the scenes of people reuniting at the arrivals area at Heathrow while Hugh Grant narrates is well done.

Castaway (2000) - The reunion of Helen Hunt and Tom Hanks is so nicely executed by two amazing actors that you truly feel their pain. And when "Wilson" is being lost. . .again, amazing. Tying into that is the sheeer beauty of the musical score. Simple and lovely, and perfect for the movie.

Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Yeah I know, very few guys will willingly watch a Jane Austen movie, but you gotta admit that emotions behind a lost/denied love can be gut-wrenching. And the joy of a positive resolution to that situation is so elating.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) - This movie gave us all a chance to see war up close; to feel the impact of artillery, to see death come at us fast and horrible, and to somehow get it knocked into our heads how damn awful it is. And from that opening of the movie we see the secretary in Washington D.C. start to realize that Mrs. Ryan has lost 3 sons. And the scene where Mrs. Ryan is at her kitchen sink in her farm house and she sees the dust of a car on the gravel road, then starts to realize what it might be, and it is. She walks to the porch and collapses when the preached gets out of the army staff car. That is gut-wrenching.

Now, it would seem that Jamie's mom explained reality versus acting almost too well. Well, it is what it is and I enjoy my sad scenes along with the others. Jamie loves the gory death and or dismemberment scenes, along with scary stuff. So he has his movies and I have mine. But just between you and me, I think I got the better end of the deal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hey, I didn't say you were the Kleenex-grabber! That's the roommate. But, I've seen that strangled, clenched-jaw look on your face more than once or twice. . . And usually during a movie! I don't think I got a raw deal though. I've got the "suspension of disbelief" thing when it comes to scary, funny and sexy. . .I just missed out on sad and ooey-gooey romantic. I'll take that bargain!

Boys Don't Cry: A Heartless Man's Confession

We have a roommate in our household for a while, and the experience has been something of a new one. It's the first time I've lived with someone who wasn't family or The Other Half. It is fortunate that he is interested in pop culture, and especially horror movies, which helps make a bit of a bond. Interestingly, he also shares some of The Other Half's interests, namely those that I lack.

Some of those things would be musical theater and sentimental period-piece movies. Those are times that I usually just leave the room, and surrender the TV. And it has come to my attention that another area where I don't quite match up to the other men in my household, is the ability to get choked up during sad, emotional scenes in movies and TV shows.

Whether it's an episode of Brothers & Sisters, or the Tom Hanks movie, Castaway, the roommate gets misty, and reaches for the Kleenex. I'm just not the crying kind. I can't get past the fact that it's Tom Hanks, or Sally Field. I can appreciate the story, even be genuinely engaged by the performances, but I don't get worked up about it.

Years ago, my Mom and Dad took my brother and me to see Jaws at the biggest theater screen in Columbus. I was nine, and my brother was eight. We didn't have enough money for a babysitter and the movie, so there we were, little kids at a scary movie. But Mom explained to us that we would get scared, but to remember that these were just actors and special effects. A character might die on the screen, but then he just got up, and went home to dinner. I never confused reality and make-believe again. And that may just be the problem!

But I remembered that there is one scene that has choked me up, each time I've seen it (including a few minutes ago, when I watched it again). As I've shown in this space, I'm a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. I even enjoyed Once More, With Feeling! the musical episode. One episode in particular was heart-rending, even to me. In it, Buffy's long-suffering mother, Joyce, dies suddenly of an aneurysm. Anya (a character who is a former vengeance-demon turned human), who isn't known for her tact, simply does not understand the mechanics of human death. She offends everybody, and in her frustration, expresses her loss. Kudos to the actress, Emma Caulfield, for yanking tears from a stone (again and again).

Something about this scene always gets to me, and I confess has even brought tears. How strange is that? This heartless bastard weeping over a TV show. Yes, it's true. Watch and see.



03/01/08 UPDATE: I found a replacement video (for now--it could go any moment), that unfortunately superimposes a music track that does not belong in the scene. Hopefully, you can still get the gist.

12/26/07 UPDATE: Sorry folks, but is wont to happen with these clips, FOX has apparently pulled the video. I fail to see why, as all these YouTube clips do is keep interest going in their projects, and raise the profile of their properties. My site has made a whopping 81 cents since it debuted, and I can't even cash that out. I am not putting a dent in Rupert Murdoch's profits.