Monday, April 13, 2009

The Verdict

A friend wrote to say he was looking forward to seeing what I had to say about the Phil Spector verdict. Well, how about that it's nice when the system seems to work like it's supposed to? Spector was not a man who should have been allowed to roam about free and probably hasn't been one for a long time. One audio engineer I know who had worked with him said, just after Lana Clarkson was murdered, "I'm very surprised."

All of us who heard him say that were surprised that he was surprised...until he added, "I'm surprised it took him this long to kill somebody."

I met Lana Clarkson a few times. She occasionally came to comic-type conventions and she'd briefly dated a friend of mine. She seemed like a lovely, lively individual. I didn't know her well but folks who did say that the notion she'd committed suicide was an outrageous fabrication on the part of Spector's lawyers.

It was slimy but probably to be expected. What else could they say? If Spector had been poorer, he probably would have had to settle for a quick plea bargain and — who knows? — he might have wound up with a lighter sentence. But he had the bucks to mount an all-out defense so he got one. His attorneys couldn't very well argue that someone else had slipped into the house and shot her. Not with that limo driver waiting outside. So by the process of elimination, they had to argue that Lana killed Lana...and they worked backwards from there, spinning madly and trashing the victim. I wonder if they ever considered trying to pin it on the limo driver.

Sentencing is set for late May. I can't imagine how the lawyers can argue that the maximum sentence is inappropriate but I'm sure they'll come up with something.

• Posted at 9:56 PM · LINK

Go Read It!

Dick Cavett has posted another remembrance of the great magician Slydini, as well as another video of a show in which the master manipulator demonstrated his skill. You don't know what sleight-of-hand is 'til you see this man at work.

• Posted at 5:53 PM · LINK

Phil Spector Found Guilty

Looks like I'm not going on that killing spree.

Rats. I was kinda looking forward to it.

• Posted at 3:13 PM · LINK

Len Wein News

To all those who've asked: We're preparing our little campaign to help our pal Len Wein, who lost much of what he owns in a fire one week ago. In a day or three, I'll be opening a web page to try and collect copies of Len's work for him...extra copies you may have of comics he wrote. A lot of you have already written with generous offers and they're appreciated. The page will tell you how to follow through on those offers.

By the way: I spoke to Len about an hour ago and he and Chris seem to be doing okay. They're kinda overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things that have to be done but they're moving forward. In a day or three, they'll be moving into a rental home not far from their once and future dwelling. They might be in these temporary quarters for a year. Len says he appreciates the outpouring of sympathy and friendship and I'm sure you'll be hearing that directly from him once things get a little more settled.

• Posted at 11:52 AM · LINK

Today's Video Link

Here's Woody Allen on The Jack Paar Show. I don't think this is from The Tonight Show. I think it's from the show Paar hosted after he left the late night slot. He had a prime-time show on NBC for a while which was basically the same program but shorter, earlier and once a week.

Merv Griffin used to tell people that Allen owed his career to him. The way Merv told it, Paar had Woody on once or twice, didn't like him and told the producers not to book him again. Then one night, Merv guest-hosted for Paar and the producers told him he could have any guests he wanted as long as they weren't folks that Paar considered "his" regulars. One of the people Griffin asked for was Woody Allen...who came on and did so well that his spot drew raves from a couple of TV critics. Those reviews, in turn, prompted Paar to give the comedian another chance and he caught on big after that. Griffin was annoyed that thereafter, Paar took a great deal of credit for Woody Allen's success and no mention was made of the role Merv had played.

I don't know if that's true or not. I think Woody does credit Paar...but he also appeared often with Merv and seemed to have a loyalty to him, as well. Anyway, here's this appearance with Paar, which is said to be from 1964...

• Posted at 1:49 AM · LINK

It's That Time Again...

Let's see if Abe's still with us.

• Posted at 1:13 AM · LINK