Tuesday, January 5, 2010

It's Not That Easy...

Okay, so today I got my car back from the body shop. They took out dents all over and gave the thing a full paint job...and it looks great but I have this bizarre problem...

I don't know what color my car is.

When I bought it, the official color at the dealership was "jade." It was a very, very dark green...the kind in that in some lighting you'd take for black. But most of the time when you looked at it, you'd see green, which is what it says on the registration. The body shop said they could and would match that color but it's now a shade or two darker...so dark that it looks black in most lighting and green now seems to be the occasional exception.

I'm going to look at it for a few weeks and poll friends before I decide what I'm going to say when, for example, a parking attendant asks me what color my car is. There is green in there but if he goes looking for a green car, he might never find mine. Now, it kind of looks like a black car that ate a batch of bad clams.

• Posted at 11:30 PM · LINK

Finger Follow-Up

I have to run out and pick up my car at the body shop but I wanted to thank everyone who's sending in suggestions regarding the Bill Finger Award. And I'd like to politely suggest that some of you re-read what I posted. An awful lot of people are sending me suggestions for artists who are deserving of greater recognition. I don't doubt that some/most/all of those folks are underappreciated but this is an award for writers...not for artists and not even for an artist who you think deserves an award and since he once wrote a story or two, we can give him what's supposed to be a Lifetime Achievement Award for writing.

Also, consider these words: Lifetime Achievement Award. I've had several nominations of writers who've been in the business less than ten years but are somebody's favorite...or in one case, close personal friend. Actually, quite apart from the Finger Award, I have a little annoyance at what constitutes "lifetime achievement" these days. I don't think any award should be taken that seriously but, you know, at least give the thing to someone who qualifies under its own criteria. I once accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award for whatever it is I've done and I'm less proud of the trophy than I am of the fact that I had the common decency not to think I'd really had a lifetime of achievement.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming...especially of writers who are still with us. I have a long list of nominees who are deceased and likely to remain that way. In fact, we'll never come close to honoring everyone on that list. But we could use some help with the list of writers who are alive.

• Posted at 12:59 PM · LINK

The Midnight Idol

I didn't watch TV on New Year's Eve so I missed this year's Dick Clark appearance. I did hear about it on the 'net...a lot of people saying it was just so sad. His speech is still thickened by the stroke he had in 2004 and much of America cringed when he messed up the countdown. If you surf any distance on the web, you'll come across a post from someone saying, in effect, "Dick, we love you and we admire your courage...but it's time to give it up."

I wouldn't blame him if he did but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. I haven't spoken to Dick since we worked together on a batch of shows back in the eighties. He was one of the cheapest, grab-every-buck producers I ever worked for and yet I liked him tremendously. Part of that was because he was Dick Clark, part of that was because he had a terrific sense of humor about himself and part of it was because he just plain worked his ass off. He was an absolute pro, giving 110% in everything he did.

Actually, I worked for him on a couple of shows and then there was one where he kinda worked for me. I was the producer and he was a hired hand...and he was on time and utterly cooperative. He either did exactly what was requested of him or...well, a couple of times, he had ideas on how something could be improved. (Well, why the heck wouldn't he? He'd done more television than everyone else in the studio put together.) And whereas other stars will pull rank and make it clear that you'd better do it their way, Dick presented his suggestions in a manner that said — and he may have used these words — "Hey, it's just a thought. If you prefer, I'd be glad to do it your way." If you've ever produced a TV show, you know how much you appreciate guys like that.

Anyway, the point I want to make here is that, and this is an educated guess from afar, I don't think Dick's doing those New Year's Eve shows for our benefit. I think he's doing them for his own benefit. I think it's something he needs, maybe as a goal — to inspire his therapy — and/or maybe because total retirement for a guy like that could easily segue into giving up on everything. When you work hard all your life, work becomes your life and to not work is to not live. I don't want to see him the way he is either, folks...but if doing 30 minutes of TV once a year is going to keep the guy going, then I hope he keeps right on doing it as long as he can.

• Posted at 4:20 AM · LINK

Today's Video Link

Hey, let's drive around L.A. with Jay Leno. You'll probably enjoy the ride more if you take this one full-screen...

• Posted at 2:03 AM · LINK

January 6, 2010 • Current • January 4, 2010