Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Today's Political Comment

From an editorial in tomorrow morning's New York Times...

Americans are long overdue for an answer to why they were told there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Well, maybe one reason was that they read The New York Times.

• Posted at 9:44 PM · LINK

Brits and Bilko

It won't be there much longer but the BBC Radio website is currently offering a half-hour audio documentary on the Sgt. Bilko TV show. To find it, go to this link and look down to where it says You'll Never Get Rich: The Bilko Story. That's where you want to click.

The broadcast makes the not-infrequent error of identifying Larry Gelbart (who is among the interviewed) as having written for Your Show of Shows. It has a quote from a daughter of Phil Silvers who claims her father made up all his dialogue, which I don't believe for a second. I also don't believe the claim that anyone affiliated with the show ever thought of recasting the lead role when Mr. Silvers asked for more money. Otherwise, if one can get past the host's theatrics, it's pretty good. Thanks to Miles Curtis for telling me about it.

It's interesting that You'll Never Get Rich (aka Sgt. Bilko, aka The Phil Silvers Show) was even more popular in England than it was here. It was popular here but not the way it was over there. I am of the opinion that one of the reasons for this is that often when it's been aired on American TV the last few decades, it's been with bad prints that are full of splices and awkward edits. When an old black-and-white show fails to get ratings, execs have a tendency to blame the lack of color and say, "Audiences today won't watch black-and-white." But they do. I Love Lucy has never been off and the early seasons of The Andy Griffith Show are on several times a day in some cities. Those shows have been well-preserved and when it's been necessary to lop a few minutes out to accommodate more commercials, it's generally been done without being obvious or destructive. I think Bilko would play just fine over here if whoever owns the show would treat the episodes like they're worth watching.

• Posted at 9:04 AM · LINK

Sweet and Sour

As I mentioned eons ago in this post, I used to enjoy a substance called Adams Sour Orange Gum. It was pretty much the only gum I ever liked and when they stopped making it, I stopped chewing gum forever.

I note that while it is still not possible to buy a fresh piece of Adams Sour Orange Gum, the Adams people — or what passes for them these days — have briefly begun making Adams Sour Apple Gum and Adams Sour Cherry Gum again. This is apparently a limited-release thing. They'll make just so much of it and then stop, presumably after everyone who wants some has stocked up via websites like this one. We are waiting and watching to see if they'll do the same thing with the orange variety...not because we're going to buy out the run but just because we want to taste it again. Just once or twice. I have a hunch that it'll be another one of those things that can make me six years old for a little while...like reading old Fox and Crow comic books or watching Huckleberry Hound cartoons or talking to women.

In the meantime, can we get the Russell Stover people to make more of those cashew patties they haven't made since they had to clear shelf space for their "low carb" candy line? The whole idea of "low carb" candy is pretty silly, anyway. I mean, it's like caffeine-free Coke...why the heck bother? It certainly shouldn't be cause to not make a great candy. I largely gave up candy years ago but I always felt better when I spotted a Russell Stover Cashew Pattie at the store and knew that someone was enjoying a wonderful treat.

• Posted at 8:16 AM · LINK