Category Archives: To Be Filed

One year ago today, I had the sad task of posting an obit for one of my best friends ever, a terrific fellow named Earl Kress. That's Earl in the photo above, sitting next to yesterday's Birthday Girl. In fact, the last time I saw Earl — just a few days before he died — I attended June Foray's 94th birthday party and then drove over to spend what I kinda sensed would be my last moments with my pal.

It was an evening of contrast. Earl would have loved that party because he loved June and the kind of folks who turned out for June…actors, writers, artists. Ordinarily, when he and I got together, we talked for hours about our many mutual interests. That last evening with him was painful because for the first time since Daws Butler introduced us several decades before, Earl and I had nothing to talk about. We couldn't talk about what he was doing because he was dying. And we couldn't talk about what I was doing because he was dying. And we couldn't talk about things outside that room because he was dying.

I am very good at getting over death on an individual basis. Lots of deaths in rapid succession can make for a very depressing atmosphere but when they're spaced out at decent intervals, they're quite manageable. I totally understand the concept that people go away and there's not a damn thing you can do to stop it. My father's death was not very traumatic for me, perhaps because we had a great relationship and there was nothing dangling or unresolved. When a former lady friend of mine lost her mother, I heard for months sentences that began with "Oh, if only I'd told her…" or "Oh, I wish she and I had…"

I had zero of those with my father. I was sad for the loss and sad for my mother but the closest I've come to thinking in Alternate Timelines is that things will happen to me — good things, generally — and I think, "Oh, he would have enjoyed seeing this." That's been my main reminder the last year that Earl is gone. I read an article or see some event announced that I know he'd love…and I can't call and tell him about it. Apart from that, you get over it…because you have to. And that's very possible if you remember that "getting over it" is not the same thing as forgetting.

I've thought all along that the Obama-Biden ticket was going to win another four years but that there would be times before November 6 when that seemed in doubt. My Republican friends have long thought that given the economy, anybody should be able to beat Obama. I think that would be so if most Americans blamed him wholly or even largely for the unemployment rate and other indicators…but they don't. More blame George W. Bush — and therefore a lot of policies that don't sound all that different from what Romney-Ryan seem to have in mind. A lot also think that due to Republican obstructionism, Obama hasn't been able to fix the economy the way he should have/could have.

Regardless of the way the electorate is actually skewing, there are too many factions around that don't want to let it be over until it's over…and in some cases, not even then. The news media, just for the sheer love of ratings and attention, needs to not let it be over. The Republican party, if only to turn out the G.O.P. base so it will vote for other Repubs in other contests that day, needs to make that base think there's a good chance of ousting Obama.

And then there's still a lot of election to go. I don't know what the overall impact will be of this new Romney "47%" tape but it's changed the election somehow. Tomorrow, something else could come out of nowhere the same way — something about Obama, something about Romney, whatever — that could change it again. Heck, either of those guys could say something really, really stupid in the debates and the election would suddenly become all or mostly about that stupid thing that guy said.

And lastly, I don't think Mitt Romney is going to go down to defeat without trying Plan B or maybe Plan C or Plan D. Just as if he was ahead, the Obama folks would try to make it a brand-new ball game somehow.

I still think Obama's going to win but we have a lot of mud to get through before that can happen. And a lot of moments when it will look like maybe it won't.

The one and only Jonathan Winters is the guest today on Stu's Show, which you can hear at 4 PM Pacific Time (7 PM Eastern, other times in other climes). The show runs at least two hours and you can hear it by going to the Stu's Show website at the proper time. That's if you want to listen to it for free. If you'd rather give Stu a buck, you can download it as a podcast, starting shortly after it airs. Same address. I don't think you want to miss this one.

Do not forget about the Kickstarter campaign for Big Daddy. One of my fave musical groups is trying to drum up the funds to make their first album in many years. You will want a copy of this and becoming a backer at the $25 level is the best way to get one…and to help make sure there are any. (For those of you unfamiliar with how Kickstarter works: Your credit card is not charged when you pledge. If they fail to reach their funding goal in the specified time, your card is never charged. You only pay if they actually produce the CD.) Kick in on this one. It's a worthy cause.

Today is the 95th birthday of the First Lady of Cartoon Voices, June Foray. It's still a little fuzzy as to when she started doing that. She used to tell all who asked that her first job in animation was speaking for Lucifer, the cat in Cinderella, which came out in 1950, which would probably mean she recorded her part in 1949 or 1948. Historians have since found what seems to be June in a few earlier cartoons but that wouldn't (couldn't) make her body of work any more impressive.

And she is still working. She's playing Granny on The Looney Tunes Show. She occasionally guests in her Emmy-winning role as Mrs. Cauldron on The Garfield Show. She recently recorded the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel for an upcoming Rocky & Bullwinkle short. She's really amazing and is, of course, much loved by all who know who she is and what she's done.

I was trying to think of a great June Foray video I could put up here today…and I had many from which to choose: All her work for Jay Ward, all her work for Warner Brothers, all her work for Walter Lantz, etc. I settled on maybe the least impressive film to which she ever contributed…and I don't expect you to watch all or even most of this. I certainly never have. But at least watch the opening titles…

Rod Dreher writes one of the smartest pieces about the current Mitt Romney flap and the reaction to it among Conservatives. They never seem to learn from those moments when things collapse around them. And those moments are easy to spot. They all seem to involve Rush Limbaugh screaming at them to "Double Down!"

I also wanted to steal/quote a paragraph from my pal Kevin Drum…

The last 30 years in the United States have been better for the rich than any time or place in human history. High-end incomes are up spectacularly. Tax rates are down. Welfare reform has been the law of the land for 15 years. Private sector unions are all but extinct. The wages that business owners pay to their employees have been virtually flat for more than a decade. For the rich, it's been a golden age. And yet, America's wealthy class nonetheless seem to be in an absolute fury. The looters want their money, the government is resorting to socialism, the president who rescued the banking industry hates them, and their tax dollars are all going to support a bunch of freeloaders and shirkers.

I don't have an explanation but I'd been thinking the same thing. For some, Too Much is never enough.

There are an awful lot of articles out today about Mitt Romney's silly dismissal of 47% of the electorate as "takers" who don't pay taxes…or whatever he said. Ezra Klein has the simplest explanation of why Romney is wrong.

A friend of mine told me this story. He went into a restaurant in Santa Barbara and noticed John Cleese sitting at a table. He mentioned to the manager, "It must be great to have the funniest man in the world eating in your restaurant." The manager corrected him. "The two funniest men," he said and he pointed to another table on the other side of the place.

Dining there was Jonathan Winters.

What's interesting to me about this story is that I don't think there are too many people who would have a problem with it. They might think the list of the two funniest men in the world should include one or two other names but I don't think anyone would consider Mssrs. Cleese and Winters as unlikely contenders. The times I've been around Jonathan, conversations were often interrupted by people stopping by to tell him he was the funniest man who ever lived.

The amazing thing about him — and the thing that has so many of his peers in drop-dead awe — is that his humor is so organic. With most comedians, you can hear their sources and inspirations and maybe even, if you listen real hard, hear their staff of writers deliver the material. But what Jonathan does and has been doing for years comes out of nowhere and no one but Jonathan.

All of this is by way of telling you that when Stu Shostak launches his new season of Stu's Show Wednesday afternoon, his guest for 2+ hours will be Jonathan Winters. Way to go, Stuart.

I'll try and remind you tomorrow but for now you should know that you can experience Stu's Show two ways. The show starts at 4 PM Pacific (7 PM Eastern) and if you listen then at the Stu's Show website, it's free. If you can't listen then, all is not lost. Beginning shortly after, you'll be able to download the 2+ hours (betcha it runs close to three) from that site. It'll only cost you 99 cents but if you have a brain in that module you call your head, you'll select some other webcasts from the voluminous Stu's Show Archives and download four episodes for three bucks. It's a great bargain and it'll be a great interview.

Last evening, Carolyn and I attended a very nice birthday party for the wonderful Ms. June Foray, who turns 95 tomorrow. The event was arranged by Stu Shostak of Stu's Show but mainly by the lady in his life, the wonderful Jeanine Kasun. (And before I forget: This Wednesday, Stu starts a new season of his popular internet radio show and boy, has he snagged himself a great guest. Details later today.)

The party for June was filled with friends and family and actors and animators and voice actors and me and all sorts of interesting folks. I got to meet Fred Frees, who is now following in the voice tracks of his late father, the amazing Paul Frees. Marvin Kaplan was there…and Rose Marie. Have I mentioned that Rose Marie recently recorded a role for The Garfield Show? The episode won't be completed for some time but I had her playing a witch who's the sister of the witch June plays on the series, the role she officially got the Emmy for. If you know of my love for The Dick Van Dyke Show, you can kind of imagine what it means to me to work with and get to know one of that show's stars.

I'd better not start listing who was there because I'll leave too many out and hurt too many feelings. Let's just say June has a lot of fascinating friends and they enjoyed celebrating her upcoming birthday. (Someone asked her how it felt to be 95 and she said, "I'll tell you on Tuesday.")

I was asked to make a speech and I had in mind to tell the best June Foray anecdote I know, which is a terrific story. But the party ran long and when it came time, I decided to skip the talk. I think I'm going to save that anecdote for a party in about five years. Because the way June's going, I'm gonna need it.

And Kliph Nesteroff strikes again with Part One of an interview with Stanley Dean, who was briefly part of Norman and Dean, another in the long list of comedy teams of whom someone said wrongly, "They're the next Martin and Lewis." There were hundreds of such pairings and it's worth noting that while Rowan and Martin got farther than all the others and Allen and Rossi were hot for about a week, there still has not been a next Martin and Lewis.

Anyway, read what Mr. Dean has to say about Rodney Dangerfield.

Kliph Nesteroff is this fellow I met over the 'net and once in person. He's running around interviewing every older comedian he can find and every one of his conversations is interesting. There's a new one up with Shecky Greene and another with Ed Asner, who's not really a comedian but he's close enough. If you go read either, you'll find links to many others you'll enjoy.

You might also enjoy hearing Kliph interviewed. He sat down recently with Marc Maron and told many stories from his interviewees and about landing those interviews. We recommend a click.

Y'know, Rita Hayworth was a pretty good dancer…

Earlier today, extolling the virtues of the mash-up masters, Big Daddy, I suggested you go listen to some of their records on their website. It might have been a good idea if I'd remembered to include a link to their website.

And on this page, you can listen to most of what they recorded when they were active.

See how good they are, then go support their new Kickstarter campaign. Many of you already have but more would help.

Joshua Green reviews a book that attempts to answer the question of why there aren't any good right-wing comedians? There are, of course, good comedians who are right-wing but that's not the same thing.

Me, I think it flows from something basic: Comedy is about taking on the rich and powerful, not siding with them. The first great American comedy movie star was a tramp, not a banker. To the extent it's funny watching a person slip on a banana peel, it's funny to have it be a fat, pompous tycoon as opposed to, say, a homeless person. A lot of comedy is about bringing the powerful and inflated down to "our" level so it's done from a lower POV. You couldn't make a Marx Brothers movie and have Margaret Dumont be the funny one.

If you were ever a fan of The Larry Sanders Show (i.e., if you ever saw The Larry Sanders Show), you'll want to clear a week and read Edward Copeland's three-part essay/history of the series. Copeland gets a bit too gushy at times, even for a guy like me who thought it was one of the best sitcoms ever done on television, but he has lots of interesting insights and behind-the-scenes material, plus there are tons of links to great clips. Here's Part One, here's Part Two and here's Part Three. And don't bother clicking on any of them until you have a lot of time to spend on it.

I generally like Bill Clinton though I must admit two of my reasons aren't very good ones. One is that he's a great, charismatic speaker and we don't have a lot of those these days. The other is that I tend to side with people who are unjustly attacked and I think we had 8+ years in this country of Bill Clinton's political enemies just making up lies about him and ginning up phony scandals they could be outraged about.

That said, whatever favorable feelings I have about the man have to be weighed against certain realities. I'm not at all comfy with a lot of the deregulation he left us with or with some of the ways he's earned bucks since leaving the Oval Office. Matt Stoller runs them down for us.