Author: Roger

I'm a librarian. I hear music, even when it's not being played. I used to work at a comic book store, and it still informs my life. I won once on JEOPARDY! - ditto.

TV Theme Songs

Greg picked his Top Ten TV Themes recently, and I thought I’d do the same. I figured it’d be an easy post, but the more I thought about it, the more I decided that comparing themes with vocals and themes without just wouldn’t cut it for me. The vocals should give you a sense of the story, while the instrumental should set the mood.

So, two lists, both in alphabetical order:

Instrumentals

The Andy Griffith Show – called “The Fishing Hole”, it features whistling. In harmony. Sets the rural tone of the show.
Captain Kangaroo – a very welcoming theme for kids.
The Dick van Dyke Show – that chime or xylophone just at the point that Rob Petrie either trips on the ottoman or doesn’t is so very clever.

The Fugitive – the sense of a man on the run is palpable.
Hawaii 5-0 – no wonder it was a hit.
Hill Street Blues – great Mike Post tune.
Law and Order – so good that Dick Wolf tries to use variations of it for his other L&O shows.

M*A*S*H – mournful start (though ends more upbeat) to the first dramedy.
The Odd Couple – feels like couple of divorced men trying not to kill each other.
Perry Mason – sets the serious tone. Actually, I prefer the end theme, which is an extended version of the opening is this wonderful orchestral piece that stands up as MUSIC, not just a TV theme.

Rockford Files – yet another great Mike Post tune.
Sanford and Son – rather sounds like a junk yard.
Seinfeld – that popping in the end reminded me that the show was supposed to be about nothing.
That’s 13, isn’t it? Well, I didn’t major in math in college.

Vocalists

Beverly Hillbillies- you certainly knew the story, even if you never watched the show.
Branded – a one-season show on NBC starring Chuck Connors and I STILL remember the theme from 40 years ago, and I bet my sisters do, too. Yeah, it’ll probably seem corny now, but at the time, it was really cool. I think it was the broken sword.

Car 54, Where Are You? – for some reason, reminds me of Fred Hembeck.
Cheers – about a perfect blend of song and show.
Gilligan’s Island – classic.
It’s About Time – also by Sherwood Schwartz, who did Gilligan and The Brady Bunch.
The Jeffersons- a dee-luxe apartment in the sky. Hallelujah!
Mad About You- a song better than the show that invokes the show’s title.
Maverick – the legend of the west -“luck is the lady that he loves the best”.
Moonlighting – whatever Greg said. Though it in fact, it violates my own rule of telling the story. I don’t care.
Mr. Ed – because I still remember verbatim the damn thing 40 years later.
Top Cat – maybe this stands in for all those great H-B cartoons, but I loved it.
WKRP in Cincinnati – what Greg said.
And 13 of these.

There are a couple variations on themes, both instruments, that bear mentioning. The JEOPARDY! theme in the beginning is OK, but the “thinking music” is iconic. ABC News’ intro is functional, but the variation they use for the In Memoriam section of This Week with George Stephanopoulis is haunting to me.

Tom the Dog commented on Greg’s post about shows that have different closing themes than the opening. Except for All in the Family (Those Were the Days and Remembering You) and Frasier, nothing’s coming to mind. Sure there are variations on the theme (Gilligan’s Island with different lyrics, the Jeffersons’ slower version with humming but no vocal), but absolutely different songs? Can you think of any others?

ROG

ROG

Movie Review: The Savages


Carol and I went to see the new movie The Savages, starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman, two of my favorite actors, back on December 29 at The Spectrum Theatre in Albany. Then we got in the car to pick up Lydia from Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Oneonta. When we got home, I flipped on Ebert & Roeper. Roeper and New York Times film critic A.O. (Tony) Scott were giving their Top 10 Picks for 2007. Number 9 on Scott’s list was The Savages, which he described as a “comedy.” A comedy?

The story is about a couple adult children at opposite ends of New York State, Wendy Savage (Linney) in NYC and brother Jon (Hoffman) in Buffalo, forced to deal with their estranged father (Philip Bosco), now in decline, as well as each other. Hilarity does not ensue, but the movie does have quite a few comic moments. The story, on the surface, could be both conventional and depressing; the fact that it is neither is due to the fine screenplay by Tamara Jenkins and the main actors, who were – how do I put it? – specifically Wendy and Jon.

Of course, a viewer also brings himself or herself to the screening, and I could not help but notice that the architecture of Buffalo was noticeably upstate New York; the movie was filmed in the Buffalo area, NYC and Arizona. Also, I couldn’t help but recall disagreements one of my sisters and I had about my father’s end of life issues.

Still, I enjoyed this film immensely. I’ll say again – it’s NOT a downer, but an affirmation of life, which sounds corny, and I don’t care. However, I do think the title is weak; it suggests a much different film from that offered.

It’s rated R, largely for language, a couple tame sex scenes and an early scene which I won’t describe, except to say it’s not violent. An R rating covers a lot of ground, I’m reminded. My wife went to see The Kite Runner the day before, and she found that PG-13 movie far more disturbing than The Savages.

ROG

ROG

Johnny Otis


Dear Near Twin:

I was listening to your 2007 in review podcast. Enjoyable as usual. But I was surprised to find that I cast the the deciding vote in the the naming of Cast THIS, Pal! Cool.

You played a Christmas cut by Johnny Otis, who you said you weren’t familiar with. Since you are THE #1 music guru of the inestimable Lefty Brown, I thought I’d share this with you.

Johnny Otis is a guy born in 1921 of Greek heritage (given last name: Veliotes) who immersed himself in rhythm and blues. He rather reminds me a little of Ahmet Ertegun, another person of eastern Mediterranean heritage, in his case Turkish, who co-founded Atlantic Records.

Johnny Otis was a band leader, producer and A&R man who “discovered” Etta James, Jackie Wilson and Hank Ballard (who wrote “The Twist”). He produced Etta’s first hit, Roll With Me, Henry (The Wallflower), oft-covered since, as well as Big Mama Thornton’s original recording of Hound Dog three years before Elvis Presley’s version.

Otis had his own recording success doing Willie and the Hand Jive, which went to #9 on the pop charts in 1958. Eric Clapton covered it in 1974, and it went to #26. You might remember the song from the movie Grease.
Here’s Johnny performing it with Marti Adams and the Three Tons of Joy:

Though Hand Jive was his only pop hit, the Johnny Otis Orchestra had several R&B hits, usually with other vocalists such as Little Esther and Mel Walker.

He was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer in 1994. Here’s something from the Wikipedia post on him:
Frank Zappa has cited Otis as the inspiration for his distinctive trademark facial hair, stating in an interview conducted by Simpsons creator Matt Groening and Guitar Player magazine editor Don Menn that “it looked good on Johnny Otis, so I grew it.”

Otis maintains a popular radio show on KPFA, called The Johnny Otis Show.

There’s a singer named Shuggie Otis, who was/is a psychedelic soul/funk guy – I have one of his albums – who wrote and performed Strawberry Letter #23, later a hit for the Brothers Johnson. I did not know that Shuggie is Johnny Otis’ son.

Anyway, Gordon, thanks for the inspiration for the post.

All the best,
ROG

ROG

FAME Question

Since David Bowie’s birthday is coming up Tuesday, I had fame or Fame on my mind.

Someone’s Twitter page recently read that he could not believe that someone didn’t know Vincent Price. I do. There’s a real generational chasm about fame.

A recent cover of Us Weekly indicated that Heidi Montag called off her wedding to Spencer because of behavior MTV failed to show. Trouble is, I had no idea who Heidi Montag was, or whether she looks better after undergoing “a lip enhancement procedure.” Or who Spencer was.

I understand that Fergie, who was/is in the group Black Eyed Peas 1) is engaged to some hunky TV star and 2) peed in her pants this year, but I don’t know the details of either.

When I heard that Britney Spears’ sister got pregnant, I didn’t appreciate why a big deal was being made until I discovered that Jamie Lynn Spears is the star of a Nickelodeon show Zoey 101 where she plays a role model for young girls.

And who the heck is Tila Tequila that Tom the Dog hates so much?

Conversely, people who used to be generally famous aren’t anymore. The average 13-year-old doesn’t know who Walter Cronkite, once “the most trusted man on television” is.

I remember that about 30 years ago, Andy Rooney had a series of specials. On one of them, or maybe on his regular 60 Minutes gig, he posited who he thought was famous, his definition being that people in a wide range of ages would know. Paul McCartney, yes. Michael Jackson, pre-Thriller, pre-nose job, pre-sex trials, was not. So, Johnny Knoxville of Jackass doesn’t quite make it now.

1) Who used to be famous but isn’t anymore because a new generation has come up that doesn’t remember him/her?

2) What are the criteria for what makes someone famous? I think it’s a long career that transcends their initial niche: Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods in sports, e.g. or Oprah Winfrey in talk. Showing up in a lot of popular TV shows and/or blockbuster movies: Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Will Smith.

3) Who might become famous? One can never tell, of course, but Miley Cyrus a/k/a Hannah Montana, seems to have the possibility. Heck, even I know her.

ROG

ROG

What was 2007

There is this guy in Buffalo whose blog I read regularly. He does this quiz he got from somewhere every year. I’m trying it on, seeing if it fits.

Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

If I made any for 2007, I don’t remember. Usually, I try to avoid meetings and I failed at that, which made me verklempt at times.
For 2008, I’ll try to be more “in the moment” rather than “in my head”. Whatever that means.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

I think my friend and former co-worker Mary Beth had her daughter this year. Time sometimes is fuzzy.

Did anyone close to you die?
My wife’s Aunt Vera, who I liked. A couple people from church, John Scott and Elizabeth Naismith, the latter from the choir. But there were two people who died this year that I was once very close to, back in high school, but I hadn’t seen in over 15 years, John Kinsley and George Hasbrouck.

What countries did you visit?

Barely visited this one (USA).

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

More rest. An office with walls.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Don’t know. Posted every day in 2007. Can’t tell if that’s a good thing or not; I do know that it is fueled in no small part by the thought that if I were to stop for any appreciable time, I might not come back to it, and THAT would disappoint me greatly. Sometimes, I feel that just putting one foot in front of the other was a major achievement.

What was your biggest failure?

Not following through on a couple tasks.

What was the best thing you bought?

The thing that brought me most joy is a Billboard book of top pop albums.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Bill Moyers, Dennis Kucinich, Keith Olbermann, David Kacyzinski, the New Jersey legislature for banning the death penalty, the New Hampshire legislature for allowing civil unions, the city of Charlotte, NC for starting light rail in the past couple months.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

W and Cheney; the wuss Democratic Congress, especially Nancy Pelosi, who took impeachment off the table, and Harry Reid, who decided that he wasn’t even going to call a vote unless he had 60 votes – hey, let the Republicans actually filibuster rather than yielding to the threat of one; the AMPTP a/k/a the TV moguls; anyone who, in believing that there’s no global warming, or that it’s naturally occurring, has decided that we can be as wasteful as ever – and a few cold days in a row is not proof that global warming is a myth; the Republican candidates for President, but especially Mitt Romney, who seems to be able to say just about anything to get elected – but lost in Iowa – ha!; the New York State legislature, inefficient as ever, and Governor Spitzer, who wasted precious political capital to no good end.

Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage, increased taxes, day care, gas and food. I’m convinced that food won’t be relatively cheap again for some time, if ever.

What did you get really excited about?

Other than my daughter’s development, not that much.

What song will always remind you of 2007?

“Old Dan Tucker” by Springsteen.

Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

Not happier.

Thinner or fatter?

Well, I lost some weight but gained most of it back. So thinner, but not much.

Richer or poorer?

I feel poorer. My wife does the budget, and things were definitely tighter. In addition to the other stuff that went up, the co-pays on my health insurance were bumped up. That extra $5 on each Rx or doctor’s visit added up.

What do you wish you’d done more of?

Reading, seeing movies, getting massages, sleeping.

What do you wish you’d done less of?

Well, I should have taken more days off from work for ME, not just family vacations, but Roger days.

How will you be spending Christmas?

Well, Christmas is past, but it was at our house for the first time since before we were married.

Did you fall in love in 2007?

There’s a Supremes song, “Keep falling in and out of love.” More with my wife and daughter and some people, less with some others.

How many one-night stands?

I KNEW there was something I forgot to do.

What was your favorite TV program?

Returning: The Office. New: Pushing Daisies.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

As I’ve said, quoting Lyle Lovett, “I love everybody. Especially you.”

What was the best book you read?

Undoubtedly, it was The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders’ Cure for Royalism by John Nichols.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Greg Burgas threw some obscure Supremes song on a mixed CD; that hmay have been a couple years ago, but I’m still digging it. Tosy had a song done by Audra McDonald that I like. I’m loving my Lennon anthology.

What did you want and get?

A Hess truck – big wheels! World Almanac. Lennon, Starr, Springsteen, other music.

What did you want and not get?

A thriving federal and/or state government that responds to the people.

What were your favorite films of this year?

Requires a separate post, so I have time to figure out the paucity of films I actually saw in 2007.

What did you do on your birthday?

Took off from work, per usual.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Laissez-faire.

What kept you sane?

That assumes facts not in evidence. Assuming this is true: racquetball. Perhaps, the blog, and the people I know through it.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Jenna Fischer (born March 7), Judd Apatow.

What political issue stirred you the most?

Oh, it varied. Probably the death penalty, though global warming was up there.

Who did you miss?

Mr. Rogers.

Who was the best new person you met?

There’s a couple folks in my work building who make a dreadful place slightly less so.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007

There is no privacy. Sometimes bugging city hall DOES work. Collectively, the national Democrats are not as evil as the national Republicans, but they’re far more lame. Prayer works sometimes, so be careful what you ask for. A diet without ice cream is pointless. I am a tactile person (actually, I knew that last one already).

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year

In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade,
And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down,
Or cut him ’til he cried out in his anger and his shame,
“I am leaving, I am leaving.”
But the fighter still remains, still remains.

So there’s always next year. Wait, this IS “next year”.
***
Mark Evanier was looking for this article in the New York Times which I couldn’t find. Because it was in the Wall Street Journal. Any librarian will tell you that happens a lot: a request for info with just one piece of the puzzle off.

ROG

ROG
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