Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Day The Laughter Died

Friend, colleague, and fellow broadcaster Neal West seemed to sum it up in one short sentence. Yesterday was  "The Day The Laughter Died."




Just a little less than 24 hours ago American icon and comic genius Robin Williams passed away, apparently at his own hand as he lost his battle with severe depression.  Williams was an incrediblely talented performer who handed out smiles and laughter better and more often than anyone I can think of. His death comes as a shock to friends, family, and fans alike.

I learned of Williams passing after an early departure from work, as I sat on the side of the road in a broken down bus and in the same manner as many of you.....through social media.  At first I thought it was a mistake. Then the texts and Twitter messages started pouring in. It soon became all too obvious that this was no mistake.

Within what seemed like only a few short minutes, word of Williams passing was spreading like wildfire. Even within the confines of a broken down transit bus on the side of the highway, it was all anyone wanted to talk about. Then from the back of the bus and in a not so loud manner, I heard  a voice utter one of Robin Williams most recognizable movie lines........"Good Morning Vietnam!!!!"  I turned to see that the person who belonged to that voice was a older man who was very disheveled, appearing to have little more than the clothes on his back....and memories of one of Williams funniest pieces of work.  From the rich and famous on Twitter and Facebook to average everyday run of the mill people and even that homeless guy sitting in the back of a broken down bus, the effect the passing of Robin Williams was having was very clear.




That line from the homeless guy also reminded me of one of my favorite Williams movies.

For those of you who know a little bit about me, you may know that during my career in the U.S. Navy, I did the same thing periodically that Robin Williams did in "Good Morning Vietnam."  Even though Hollywood, in their typical fashion, took some liberties with the story......Robin still did it better on the big screen than I could ever hope to do in real life.  Yes, that was one of my favorite movies, but  it was by no means his defining movie or performance.  His resume was one that most Hollywood superstars could only dream of.

According to IMDB (Internet Movie Database) Williams list of official credits dates back to 1977 and stands at 102, including three new projects slated for release in late 2014 and early 2015. He was rarely absent from either the big screen or television and when he was it was only for a few shorts months at a time. You can see that complete list here.  It's a very impressive list indeed.

I suppose if there is anything positive to come from this sad tragic affair, it would be that a spotlight will once again shine on depression and those who struggle to deal with it in their daily lives.  No one should have to deal with the types of issues Robin Williams dealt with alone.  If you feel like you may be suffering from depression or know someone who is, help is available.  Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or check out the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Website.

So in the days ahead as we honor and remember Robin Williams, keep those others still suffering in your thoughts and prayers and help where you can.  Spend some time watching a 'RW'  flick with a friend and lets see if we can prevent this day from becoming known as "The Day the Laughter Died."


Til Next Time..........

Friday, February 21, 2014

Ah.......The Weekend is Here!

Well, it has been a busy week indeed. Some changes at work plus a co-worker on vacation and lots of things going on at home too.  So yes, the weekend shall be welcome relief! And since tonight kicks off the weekend, I believe it's time for some cold adult beverage and some good music!  Joe Cocker is "Feelin' Alright" with "A Little Help From His Friend!"   Help yourself to a cold one too and enjoy!!!!!!





Til Next Time...............................Cheers

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Where Are They Now?

                                                         
Photo Credit: Starcasm.net   
Growing up, we all had our favorite television show that we couldn't go a week without seeing. I was no different. Two of my favorite shows were Emergency and CHIPS. Even in my younger years, my fascination with California came through in the music I listened to and the television I watched. From the 70's and early 80's, these two shows just screamed California and I could never get enough. Even as an adult all these years later, I still find myself going back to my dvds, Netflix, and MeTV to chill out and reminisce.   
Photo Credit: imgur.com 


But then there are those times your mind starts to drift and you wonder what some of these guys are up to today. Well, now I've been on a mission and found a couple of very interesting pages for Larry Wilcox (Jon Baker from CHIPS) and Randolph Mantooth (Johnny Gage from Emergency). These are links to blogs maintained by the actors themselves or an official rep. Either way, I found them really interesting and a nice insight into the men and what they've been up to since we spent hours being entertained by them in years gone by. I even discovered that Randolph Mantooth lives right here (at least part of the time) in Northern California. If you have time, check them out. I bet you find yourself taking a trip down memory lane and learning something you didn't know too!


Photo Credit: LarryWilcox.net
 Larry Wilcox on the Web:
      On Facebook: Larry Wilcox 7M3
      On IMDB :  Larry Wilcox
      Website:  LarryWilcox.Net







Photo Credit : Route51.com



Ranndolph Mantooth on the web:
     On Facebook: Randolph Mantooth
     On IMDB: Randolph Mantooth
     On Twitter: Randolph Mantooth
     Website:   Route 51
                                         
                                                               
 Til Next Time.....................Cheers!!!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Scaring People To The Movies!

I've never been a big fan of horror flicks, but this Friday, there is a new one called "Devil's Due" scheduled for release that looks like it might be worth at least a glimpse. The story line is what you might expect. Newlywed couple. Unplanned pregnancy. Devil baby. All hell breaks loose. What could possibly make this one stand out from the crowd is the production and special effects. While I haven't seen the movie itself, I have seen some of the marketing for it. If they put as much effort into the movie itself, as they appear to have put into the pre-release marketing, it should be worth 90 minutes of your time. Here is one small example of that pre-release marketing. See what you think. It has a lot of people freaking out, but would it make you want to see the movie? It certainly got my attention. Would you go see it? Til Next Time......Cheers!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

I Can Dance!




Well,  the NFL Playoffs are on and the Chargers are in and made it to the second round! It's turning out to be a tough game so far today, but it's still early.  Even if things don't go well today, #NASCAR and the #SanDiegoPadres are knocking at the door! So right now, it would not be an exageration to say that I am so happy that I Can Dance........kinda feeling like I am channeling Leo Sayer!



Til Next Time........Cheers!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Heeee's Back......Maybe.

Well it seems that Lane Kiffin's path of destruction through college football isn't quite finished yet and about to possibly make another stop in the Southeastern Conference.
 
CBS Sports reports today the former Oakland Raider, Tennessee Volunteer, and USC Trojan head coach Lane Kiffin is about to interview for the offensive coordinator job at Alabama.  During Kiffin's various tenures in the NFL and NCAA as a head coach, he has developed a not so pleasant reputation as man with a lot of baggage. Fans of every program he has been at the helm of would be more than happy to tell you how much dislike and distrust they have for him. That said, he also has the reputation of being a decent offensive minded coach and a great recruiter.  But does that make him a good fit for Alabama? They certainly need some offensive help after the 2013 season, but I'm just not sure that Alabama needs his kind of help. Especially when you consider the baggage he brings with him and his history in the Southeastern Conference.  Time will tell though.  Personally, I would love to see him get the job. It would add another interesting angle to future Tennessee - Alabama matchups. Plus, it would give those Tennessee fans who still have a chip on their shoulders plenty of opportunity to vent some of the pent up venom they have carrying around for the last four years. Spring practice isn't that far off and it will certainly be interesting to see if Kiffin's path of NCAA destruction continues through Tuscaloosa or if he actually makes a real contribution to the Crimson Tide program. Interesting indeed.

Til Next Time........Cheers!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Long Live the King!!!

Once the King always the "King", Elvis would have been 79 today. RIP King! Til Next Time..........Cheers!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Celebrities and Media Dish on the Cold Weather!

A few funnies from the Twittersphere on the cold weather engulfing the eastern and southern portions of the United States. Enjoy! Til Next Time.......Cheers