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Post by Mister Spaceman on Jan 26, 2020 14:52:52 GMT -5
Just hearing that Kobe Bryant has been killed in a helicopter crash. Shocking and terribly tragic news.
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Post by beccabear67 on Jan 26, 2020 16:03:25 GMT -5
Was watching on KTLA for the last hour and they're saying his daughter was with him. I'm thinking they would've been watching the game together where LeBron James passed him for all-time scoring last night. EDIT: confirmed now his 13 year old daughter Gianna was with him.
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Post by Mister Spaceman on Jan 26, 2020 16:42:29 GMT -5
Was watching on KTLA for the last hour and they're saying his daughter was with him. I'm thinking they would've been watching the game together where LeBron James passed him for all-time scoring last night. EDIT: confirmed now his 13 year old daughter Gianna was with him. Oh my goodness. How awful.
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Post by The Captain on Jan 26, 2020 16:46:07 GMT -5
Never been an NBA fan, so Kobe's passing doesn't hit me on that emotional level, but having two daughters on either side of age of his daughter Gianna, I cannot imagine passing in an accident with one of them at my side.
So tragic. Far too young, far too much life left unlived. He was a voice and advocate for the players silenced too soon. Rest in Peace, Kobe.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 29, 2020 15:10:58 GMT -5
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 29, 2020 16:40:50 GMT -5
R. I. P. Bob Shane. Sad to hear that Bob Shane, the last surviving original member of the Kingston Trio passed away earlier this week. You can argue that they were light-weight when it came to folk acts, but you can't ever argue that their harmonies were amazing and that they were a great gateway for moving on to more authentic acts. If nothing else, their list of influences looms huge over American music including Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, Steve Goodman, Peter Albin, David Crosby and Steven Stills. I spent a lot of time listening to the Trio with my boys and it was time well spent.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 30, 2020 16:35:09 GMT -5
RIP to legendary TV network executive Fred Silverman. Silverman was born in NYC and attended Syracuse university. he worked for WGN Chicago and WPIX in New York, overseeing programming and developing children's programming. A master's thesis analyzing 10 years of ABC programming led to him being hired by CBS as the youngest executive ever, at 25. He took over their daytime programming, then soon all entertainment programming. he instigated the infamous "rural purge" which dumped successful programs, like the Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres and revamped the CBS line-up, which led to it becoming a powerhouse, with such shows as The Carol burnett Show, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Shoe, MASH, All In the Family and more. He also boosted their Saturday morning programming when he greenlit Hanna-Barbera's production of Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, with the producers naming the character Fred Jones after Silverman. In 1975, Silverman switched over to ABC and proceeded to turn it into the number one network, with Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Barney Miller, Three's Company, Mork & Mindy, The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman. he also ushered the mini-series on screen, with Rich man, Poor Man and Roots. However, he also was responsible for less outstanding programs, such as the Brady Variety Hour and pushing what became known as "jiggle shows" with lots of T&A. He revamped the Saturday morning line-up, using a similar programming philosophy to start with a strong show and build with each successive half hour or hour to keep kids tuned to the same network. After disastrous ratings, he cancelled Filmation's Uncle Croc's Block in mid-run and refused to purchase any further Filmation programming, effectively kicking them off the network, in favor of Hanna-Barbera and Sid & Marty Krofft. he also commissioned the producers of Schoolhouse Rock (who were big hits with Multiplication Rock and Grammar Rock) to create America Rock, fr the Bicentennial. Silverman switched to NBC, which was in dire straits and produced many flops, including McLean Stevenson's Hello Larry, the infamous Pink Lady and Jeff (comedian Jeff Altman in a variety show with two Japanese pop singers, Pink Lady, who spoke no English and had to learn lines phonetically) and the changeover of Saturday Night Live, from lorne Michaels and the original cast to Jane Doumanian and a brand new cast, including Gilbert Gottfried and Denny Dillon (as well as Joe Piscopo). He struggled with NBC and was lampooned by Al Franken (which is why Franken & Tom Davis, who were Lorne Michaels' desired successors, were passed over for Doumanian). However, he did launch such successful shows as Hill Street Blues, the mini-series Shogun and gave David Letterman his daytime show (which was cancelled, but did set the stage for Late Night, With David Letterman). Silverman continued to battle back and launched stronger show lineups, including Cheers, Different Strokes, The Facts of Life and St Elsewhere. Silverman left and was succeeded by Brandon Tartikoff. He formed his own entertainment company, selling shows to the networks, including the Perry Mason tv movies, Matlock, Diagnosis Murder, Jake and the Fatman and In The Heat of the Night. Silverman was 82.
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Post by chadwilliam on Jan 30, 2020 22:05:06 GMT -5
R. I. P. Bob Shane. Sad to hear that Bob Shane, the last surviving original member of the Kingston Trio passed away earlier this week. You can argue that they were light-weight when it came to folk acts, but you can't ever argue that their harmonies were amazing and that they were a great gateway for moving on to more authentic acts. If nothing else, their list of influences looms huge over American music including Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, Steve Goodman, Peter Albin, David Crosby and Steven Stills. I spent a lot of time listening to the Trio with my boys and it was time well spent. I actually just checked online last week to see which of the Trio were still with us and was happy to know that Bob Shane was out there. I've been listening to them a lot in the car recently and can't get enough. Beautiful musicians. Really saddened by this.
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Post by brianf on Feb 1, 2020 18:25:03 GMT -5
a bad week for loud music -
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 2, 2020 11:44:06 GMT -5
RIP to suspense novelist Marry Higgins Clark
Clark wrote over 60 novels, in a career spanning about 40 years and was known as the Queen of Suspense. Her books came out like clockwork and we always knew we'd be putting them up in our bestseller display, within a week or two of their debut. Her work wasn't my cup of tea; but, her fanbase was devoted to her and came out for each book.
She was an unpretentious author. She was in the position of a superstar; a perennial bestseller who could demand anything she wanted. However, a fellow store manager once told me they had a book signing with her. Most of these affairs had a minder, from the publisher, to see to the author's every need, make life hell for the booksellers, and protect their golden goose. Clark would tell that person just to drop her off at the curb, while they went to park the car and she would walk in on her own and introduce herself to someone on the staff and explain she was there to sign books, looking exactly like her photo on her book covers (which, believe me, was a rare thing). The, invariably, responded they knew who exactly who she was and would begin gushing. There was no diva behavior, just a genuine interest in her fans and she made each interaction special. Total class act.
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Post by beccabear67 on Feb 2, 2020 14:17:57 GMT -5
Sad to learn of Andy Gill ("Damaged Goods, send them back") and Mary Higgins-Clark. My Mom is a huge reader of mystery books and I sometimes will read the odd one.
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Post by adamwarlock2099 on Feb 5, 2020 19:00:08 GMT -5
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Post by codystarbuck on Feb 6, 2020 8:19:37 GMT -5
Kirk Douglas was one of the last of Old Hollywood, when they made great pictures and tried to do something original. He stuck his neck out for a good story and a good picture, breaking the Blacklist, by putting Dalton Trumbo's name on Spartacus. But, given the current climate and lack of moral courage in our leaders, I like to think of one of his lesser seen films: Seven Days in May.
Douglas plays a Marine colonel, working at the Pentagon, for a dominate general who seems to think that the process of democracy isn't something left to the people. He uncovers a plot to stage a military coup, to defy efforts to bring peace and stability and an end to the nuclear stalemate. He remembers his oath is not to his commanding officer or even his president, though he acts to save him. His oath was to protect and defend the Constitution, against all enemies, foreign and domestic. He stands to protect that Constitution from a domestic enemy, one who would subvert the democratic process for his own gain, even though the general thinks his gain is what's best for the country. Douglas' colonel stays true to that oath and takes no pleasure in the outcome; he just performs his duty. It's an inspiring model that should be shown to those who shirk their duty to the Constitution and the nation.
Issur Danielovitch was born in poverty, the son of a ragman. He fought long and hard to escape those circumstances and had enough self knowledge, in later years, not to necessarily be proud of the man he became to escape those circumstances. he was proud of his achievements; but they came at the cost of relationships and with a selfishness that he acknowledged. He wasn't easy to get along with, but he made great art. He was the toughest SOB around, surviving 25 years after a stroke that nearly took his voice. He spent millions helping to refurbish and build parks for children and rediscovered his Jewish faith and traditions. He wrote honest memoirs and stories for children. He didn't like little Izzy Danielovitch; but, he loved acting and the audience loved him back, despite his faults and because of his talent and guts.
Farewell Spartacus.
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Post by brutalis on Feb 6, 2020 8:43:50 GMT -5
Like the characters he portrayed Ulysses and Spartacus, Kirk Douglas is legendary. A true talent and outstanding and outspoken actor of the like we may not see ever again. He shall always be remembered and enjoyed through all the spectacular movies he has given to us over the years. Time to pull out my copy of the Ragman's Son and read it again.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2020 11:10:16 GMT -5
RIP Gene Reynolds, best known as one of the creators/architects of M*A*S*H. He was 96.
-M
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