While catchy theme songs haven’t disappeared completely, they are less common than they once were. TV theme songs began to decline in popularity during the mid-1990s for various reasons. Networks became concerned about viewers changing channels during opening credits, so they decided to jump into the show’s content faster to retain the audience. Removing theme songs obviously creates more time for commercials. And these days, with streaming, the “skip intro” feature caters to a population with less patience & shorter attention spans. I won’t dive down the rabbit hole of modern culture vs. “the good ol’ days”, but if you’re of a certain age like me you probably have some opinions. At any rate, please take a moment to peruse Part 1 & Part 2 if you haven’t already done so.
80 Mission: Impossible (Mission: Impossible)
I’ve never watched a single episode of the 1960’s television show nor any of the dozens of Tom Cruise films, but come on…everyone has heard that theme song.
79 CHiPs (CHiPs)
I vaguely recall being a fan of CHiPs in the early 80’s. Cop shows aren’t usually my thing, but maybe Grade School Me had a motorcycle fetish. Since the program premiered in 1977 its theme obviously had a cool disco vibe. I’m sure it was in the rotation at every dance club back then.
78 Miami Vice (Miami Vice)
I am sensing a trend. Two actually. Not only is it another instrumental theme, but also from a show I never watched. As mentioned, cop shows just don’t frost my cupcake. That being said, the cool people were all watching Miami Vice in the 1980’s, and even those of us who weren’t viewers got caught up in the fashion trends it inspired. Composer Jan Hammer won two Grammys for his synthesizer heavy theme song.
77 Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?)
Well she sneaks around the world from Kiev to Carolina
She’s a sticky-fingered filcher from Berlin down to Belize
She’ll take you for a ride on a slow boat to China
Tell me where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
I don’t know where Carmen Sandiego is or was back in the day. Heck, I never even watched the PBS show because its purpose was to teach geography to kids, and by then I was a college student. However, that song is straight fire and introduced the world to the vocal group Rockapella. It is my understanding that they are still around & performing.
76 What’s Happening!! (What’s Happening!!)
It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you hear the bouncy instrumental theme for What’s Happening!!. You might be surprised to know that it was written by Oscar, Grammy, & Golden Globe winning composer Henry Mancini. You’ve heard his other work if you’ve watched Peter Gunn, The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or Charlie’s Angels.
75 Hawaii Five-O (Hawaii Five-O)
I have a vague recollection of watching the original Hawaii Five-O when I was a kid, and I tried (unsuccessfully) to get into the reboot that aired about a decade ago. While the show itself was popular, this might be the prime example of a theme song’s legacy eclipsing the source material.
74 The Monkees (The Monkees)
Hey, hey, we’re the Monkees and people say we monkey around
But we’re too busy singing to put anybody down
Well okay, Hawaii 5-O…hold our beer. Were The Monkees a fictional band?? Or were they a real band that starred in a television show?? The answer is both. They were created for the TV show, but did produce albums and go out on tour. The show only lasted two seasons in the late 1960’s (before I was a gleam in my father’s eye), but lots of us rediscovered it when MTV aired reruns in the mid-80’s. The band’s music…Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a Believer…is a far greater legacy than the television program. I had an opportunity to see Mickey Dolenz in concert about seven years ago, which was fun.
73 Closer to Free (Party of Five)
Everybody wants to live how they wanna live
Everybody wants to love how they wanna love
Everybody wants to be closer to free
When Party of Five aired in the mid-90’s I had graduated from college and certainly grown beyond teen drama. However, there was much more to the show than that, and let’s be honest…Jennifer Love Hewitt was easy on the eyes. Closer to Free became a Top 20 hit for The BoDeans.
72 Saved by the Bell (Saved by the Bell)
When I wake up in the morning And the alarm gives out a warning And I don’t think I’ll ever make it on time By the time I grab my books And I give myself a look I’m at the corner just in time to see the bus fly by
It’s alright ’cause I’m saved by the bell
Yes it was corny. Sure, I was in college and not really the target demographic. However, Saved by the Bell fit into a unique niche. It was lighthearted, easily digestible entertainment for people who had outgrown cartoons but enjoyed a harmless distraction on a lazy Saturday morning.
71 Without Us (Family Ties)
What would we do, baby without us?
There ain’t no nothing we can’t love each other through
What would we do, baby without us?
Shalalala
Everyone knows & loves Michael J. Fox, especially if you’re a fan of Back to the Future, Teen Wolf, or any of his lesser known movies. However, let’s not forget that 80’s sitcom Family Ties was not only his big break, but a damn fine television program. The laid back, soulful theme song is a duet by the legendary Johnny Mathis & 80’s icon Deniece Williams.
Please take some time to check out Part 1, otherwise you’ll be totally confused.
I ran across a video on a Generation X page I follow on social media that was taking a trip down Memory Lane involving television “outros”, which is the closing segment, often featuring end credits, that appears at the conclusion of an episode. While not as important as theme songs, the outros featured in the video made me feel nostalgic and reinforced the key role music plays in our entertainment.
90 Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? (Sesame Street)
Sunny day
Sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street
The Muppet Show (The Muppet Show)
It’s time to play the music
It’s time to light the lights
It’s time to meet the Muppets
On The Muppet Show tonight
Both shows were an integral part of so many childhoods. The Muppets have been a pervasive presence on the entertainment landscape since the 1960’s, including multiple incarnations of a television variety show. Sesame Street has aired on PBS since 1970.
89 Benson (Benson)
The show was a spinoff of critically acclaimed Soap, although I remember it much more fondly than its parent program, which went away when I was nine years old (but did gift us the legendary Billy Crystal). The spinoff lasted well into the 1980’s. Its theme is an upbeat, jazzy instrumental.
88 There’s No Place Like Home (227)
With your family around you you’re never alone
When you know that your loved
You don’t need to roam
Cause there’s no place like home
227 was adapted from Two Twenty Seven, a stage play about the lives of women in a predominantly black apartment building. Marla Gibbs had found fame as smartass housekeeper Florence on TheJeffersons and was chosen as the lead. However, co-star Jackee Harry became the breakout star and was eventually given an eponymous spinoff (which only aired the pilot episode). Gibbs sang 227’s theme song.
87 Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now (Perfect Strangers)
Standing tall on the wings of my dream
Rise and fall on the wings of my dream
Nothing’s going to stop me now
ABC kept moving the show around to different nights thru much of its eight seasons, and it was never a big hit, but there is an audience of people who are happy the wacky adventures of tightly wound Chicago photographer Larry and his cousin Balki, a well-meaning immigrant sheepherder from a small Mediterranean island, were available for our entertainment in the late 80s/early 90s. The theme song is the kind of upbeat, quasi-inspiring pop tune that seemed to be a thing for TV shows of the era.
86 In Living Color (In Living Color)
How would you feel knowin’ prejudice was obsolete
And all mankind danced to the exact beat
And at night it was safe to walk down the street
In Living Color
In Living Color is a show that I was aware existed, but can’t say I ever watched with any regularity. I was in college at the time and probably watched television less than at any other time in my life. Perhaps, due to my limited worldview at the time, I didn’t think the show was for me, if you know what I mean. Or maybe, like so many others, I was destined to look at it in retrospect and recognize its considerable contribution to pop culture while fans that did watch can assert a level of superiority for appreciating what others didn’t. At any rate, while In Living Color can lay claim to launching the careers of Jim Carrey, J-Lo, Jamie Foxx, and the Wayans Brothers while also giving us gems like Fire Marshal Bill, Homey D. Clown, and Men on Football, the theme was a hip-hop song with a message, and it’s still a fun lil earworm.
85 Here I Come to Save the Day (Mighty Mouse)
Here I come to save the day!
That means that Mighty Mouse is on the way!
Comedian Andy Kaufman famously utilized the theme song as part of his act. As a matter of fact, more people may be familiar with the character & the tune thru the association with Kaufman than by actually watching the various television shows & theatrical shorts produced since 1942.
84 Green Acres (Green Acres)
Green Acres is the place to be
Farm livin’ is the life for me
Land spreadin’ out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside
Having its original CBS run from 1965-71 means I wasn’t born yet when Green Acres was a Top 10 show. However, growing up in the 1980s means reruns of such programs were ubiquitous. I can’t say it really frosted my cupcake like other old shows I enjoyed such as The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’sIsland, or Sanford & Son, but the theme song, performed by series stars Eddie Albert & Eva Gabor, is quite memorable.
83 Fame (Fame)
Fame!
I’m gonna live forever
I’m gonna learn how to fly high
Fame!
I’m gonna live forever
Baby, remember my name
Irene Cara’s life was far too brief, but she did leave a legacy that includes two absolute bangers. She wrote & performed the theme song for the 1983 film Flashdance (winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song in the process), and also starred in & performed the theme song for the 1980 film Fame, which was adapted into a television show that aired for six seasons.
82 Moonlighting (Moonlighting)
Some walk by night
Some fly by day
Some think it’s sweeter
When you meet along the way
Moonlighting was one of those shows that I was aware of but not that interested in. I may have watched a few episodes when I was really bored, but otherwise it really didn’t register on my radar. Having said that, the Grammy nominated title tune written & performed by R&B legend Al Jarreau once topped the Adult Contemporary charts and was a sophisticated departure from typical TV themes of the era.
81 I Don’t Want to Wait (Dawson’s Creek)
I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over
I want to know right now what will it be
I don’t want to wait for our lives to be over
Will it be yes or will it be sorry?
I am comfortable enough with my smoldering machismo to admit that I went thru a Dawson’sCreek phase around the turn of the century. I don’t remember how it started, but I believe I began watching sometime during the 2nd or 3rd season. Perhaps it was earlier. I was in my late 20’s at the time, which was certainly outside the target demographic. Anyway, I make no apologies for my affection toward Lil Joey Potter, Pacey, and the rest of the gang from Capeside (which was actually set in Massachusetts despite clearly being filmed in North Carolina). The song is synonymous with the show, which I suppose is the point. Singer Paula Cole never became as big of a star as contemporaries Alanis Morrissette & Jewel, but Dawson’s Creek cemented her musical legacy.
And now we enter dark days. Hot. Sunny. Yet a barren wasteland of sports. Basketball is over. Baseball isn’t interesting yet. Football is several weeks away. Thankfully I have a renewed albeit tepid regard for NASCAR, will watch an occasional open wheel auto race, and find golf sporadically entertaining. Of course, I suppose the whole point of summertime is to go outdoors and DO things rather than sit inside to watch things. If only I was that exciting 🤔.
Let’s be honest…the Oklahoma City Thunder were clearly the better team from the beginning. They were the best team in the NBA all season, while no one expected much in the playoffs from the Indiana Pacers. The Cavs, Celtics, and Knicks were all thought to pose more of a threat to the Thunder. Nevertheless, Indiana took the NBA Finals to a decisive seventh game and must be given kudos. What might’ve happened if Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton didn’t get injured early in Game 7?? Who knows?? But the instant he went down the battle was over. Congrats to OKC. If you predicted now that these two teams would have an opportunity to run it back next year, I’d be just fine with that, although Haliburton might not be available until 2026-27.
Since we last met in this space enigmatic quarterback Aaron Rodgers signed a one year contract with my Pittsburgh Steelers, and I am okay with that. I couldn’t possibly care less about any off-the-field perceptions of Rodgers, as long as he shows up, plays hard, and executes the offense to the best of his ability. All indications seem to point to that happening, although obviously we haven’t even made it to training camp yet. Rodgers is 41 years old and clearly past his prime, but he’s still probably better than any other option the Steelers have had at their disposal the past few seasons. I know Jets fans are excited about Justin Fields, and many Steelers fans weren’t happy the team made no effort to retain him, but I remain dismissive of Fields’ potential as an NFL QB. The Steelers also brought back Mason Rudolph, who can be a decent backup. One of three things will happen: a) Rodgers will be a total bust & Pittsburgh will draft a highly rated QB next spring, b) Rodgers will shock the world and lead Pittsburgh deep into the playoffs, or c) the Steelers will be 9-8 again and need to do some wheelin’ & dealin’ to get their quarterback in the draft. I don’t know which scenario is more likely, but I am at peace with whatever happens.
Things that don’t interest me at all:
The WNBA
The College World Series
Spring football leagues of any kind
Soccer (obviously)
UFC
I suppose congratulations are also in order for the Florida Panthers, winners of back-to-back Stanley Cups. Do you realize that, in the past three decades, The Cup has resided in hot spots like Tampa, Vegas, Anaheim, Carolina, and Dallas, while a team from Canada hasn’t won the championship since 1993??
A month ago ESPN ended Around the Horn after more than two decades, but I have yet to run across a satisfactory reason for its cancellation. Full disclosure: I stepped back from watching any of the ESPN debate shows on a regular basis a few years ago. The Worldwide Leader’s penchant for allowing (perhaps even encouraging) their on-air talent to go on sanctimonious sociopolitical tirades became tedious, and the entire premise of ATH was gathering “journalists” from across the country to opine on various topics. I was taught a long time ago that typical sportswriters tend to have the same worldview as most other “journalists”, but we usually don’t notice as long as they remain focused on sports. Having said that, at its best, when the panelists stayed in their lane, Around the Horn seemed to exemplify the entire reason (outside of actual games) that outlets like ESPN even exist. Therefore, I don’t really understand its demise. From what I’ve been able to gather production costs were inexpensive and ratings were solid. Was ATH too low key & prosaic for the powers-that-be in Bristol?? Are they under the mistaken impression that the audience desires more…high-spirited…voices be added to a roster that already includes Stephen A. Smith & Pat McAfee?? Eight years ago ESPN cancelled its most erudite program The Sports Reporters, which I’ve always assumed was an indication of the low opinion the network has of its viewers’ intelligence, attention span, and critical thinking skills. Cancelling Around the Horn seems to reinforce that belief.
It is rare that I peek into the ol’ vault and decide to delete something. I stand behind the things I’ve written, good or bad, even when my thoughts on the subject may have matured or evolved. Having said that, when one has been offering up little pieces of their own soul, no matter how trivial it may be, I suppose it is inevitable that the universe shifts in unexpected ways and the prism used to view topics a decade ago sheds new light. Such is the case today. Ten years ago I ranked my 25 Favorite TV Theme Songs, and while revisiting that whole thing I decided that I could do better and dive deeper. So the old entry is gone, to be replaced by this expanded series. Enjoy.
100 Dear John (Dear John)
Dear John
By the time you read these lines, I’ll be gone
Life goes on, right or wrong
Now it’s all been said and done, dear John
I love Judd Hirsch. Taxi. NUMB3RS. IndependenceDay. Guest starring on The Big Bang Theory. The man is an under appreciated treasure. In the late 80’s/early 90’s he starred in a quiet little sitcom about a middle-aged man & the support group for divorcees that he attends in Queens, NY. The theme song is a vaguely melancholy tune that explains the premise of the show.
99 Bad Boys (Cops)
Bad boys, bad boys
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Be honest…more than once, in the past three decades, you have quoted the song when you see a police car or hear stories about a crime being committed. I don’t think I’ve ever watched a full episode of the show, but its theme is seared into my brain.
98 Dragnet (Dragnet)
Dum…de DUM DUM…..
The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
It’s a show that came & went long before I was even born, but the terse, instrumental theme music with accompanying narration became ubiquitous. There is a 1987 big screen comedic adaptation starring Dan Aykroyd & Tom Hanks that is such a bad movie it is weirdly entertaining.
97 Stand (Get A Life)
Stand in the place where you live
Now face north
Think about direction, wonder why you haven’t before
Now stand in the place where you work
Now face west, think about the place where you live
Very few people likely remember the unremarkable Fox sitcom starring Chris Elliott as a clueless paperboy still living with his parents in his 30s. It only lasted two seasons in the early 90’s. However, the theme song had been a Top 10 hit for alt rockers REM.
96 Superhero (Entourage)
My mind had been enabled
In a memory you overflowed
Want to be your superhero
Even if I tumble fall
I’m ok
You have that effect on me
But I need you desperately
I loved Entourage. It is undoubtedly one of HBO’s coolest original programs. Jane’s Addiction, best known for their Grammy nominated hit BeenCaughtStealing, offered an edgy, rock theme song that fit the tone of the show nicely.
95 I Don’t Want to Be (One Tree Hill)
I don’t wanna be anything other
Than what I’ve been tryna be lately
All I have to do is think of me
I was not the target demographic for One Tree Hill. In the longstanding tradition of teen dramas like Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek, it explored the friendships, romances, family drama, and rivalries amongst a group of high school kids. Conversely, I was in my 30’s at the time. That being said, the show held my interest for perhaps the first 2 or 3 of its nine seasons, and the theme song by Gavin DeGraw was a banger that became a Top 10 hit.
94 Life Goes On (Empty Nest)
Rain or shine, I’ll be the one
To share it all as life goes on
We share it all, as life goes on
You might remember Billy Vera for his mid-80’s ballad At This Moment, which went to #1 on the charts. However, Vera also dabbled in acting and wrote a couple of television theme songs. EmptyNest was a GoldenGirls spinoff about a widowed Miami doctor whose adult daughters move back in with him, and the song alludes to the importance of having people with whom to share life’s ups & downs.
93 Gimme A Break (Gimme a Break!)
Gimme a break
I sure deserve it
It’s time I made it to the top
Joey Lawrence achieved teen heartthrob success on 90’s sitcom Blossom, but he started several years earlier as a precocious child, the son of a widowed cop whose wife’s best friend moves in to care for the family. Series star Nell Carter, a Tony Award winning Broadway singer, belted out the upbeat theme song.
92 Princes of the Universe (Highlander)
Here we are, born to be kings
We’re the princes of the universe
Here we belong, fighting to survive
In a world with the darkest powers
Did you know that rock n’ roll royalty…British icons Queen…contributed to a television show?? Full disclosure…I never watched a single episode of Highlander, although I do have a vague recollection of seeing the movie on which it is based. It’s just not my cup o’ tea. However, who doesn’t love Queen?? I am surprised the song wasn’t a bigger hit, although I suspect that has something to do with the film & television show appealing to an eclectic yet narrow audience.
91 According to Our New Arrival (Mr. Belvedere)
All hands look out below
There’s a change in the status quo
Gonna need all the help that we can get
According to our new arrival
Life is more than mere survival
We just might live the good life yet
The show itself has a surprising pedigree. It is based on a 1947 novel, which was adapted into an Oscar nominated film starring Maureen O’Hara. It is likely that most people remember the television show because it co-starred baseball legend & beer pitchman Bob Uecker. The theme song was performed by Leon Redbone, who, in addition to having one of the coolest names in music, also had an unmistakable voice that was ubiquitous in the 80’s & 90’s.
Spring has sprung…sort of. We’re still dealing with some intermittently chilly weather here in Appalachia, but that just makes me appreciate the occasional sunshine even more. We’ve got a little bit of everything today, so let’s roll.
Congratulations to the Florida Gators, who emerged from March Madness as your 2024-25 national champions. For probably the first time in my life I didn’t watch a single second of the title game because I totally forgot it was even on. I was pissed off out of the gate on Selection Sunday when my WV Mountaineers were inexplicably left out of the tournament, and just never got that mojo back. There was alot of chalk and very little drama throughout the tournament, with all the #1 seeds making it to the Final Four, only the second time that has occurred (the first being in 2008). Apparently the championship contest was quite exciting, so I guess I missed out. Ah well…c’est la vie.
Staying with basketball, I suppose it is time to pay attention to the NBA now that the playoffs have begun. I have a vague recollection of watching almost every second of postseason action back in 2006 when I was convalescing at a “skilled” nursing facility. That was WAY before streaming, and the cable options weren’t that extensive either. However, I have always been thankful to be a sports fan because sometimes a game of any sort is a nice distraction from the darkness of real life. As far as this particular tournament goes, I have a soft spot for the Boston Celtics because their head coach, Joe Mazzulla, is a former Mountaineer, but it’s all good as long as the L.A. Lakers or Golden St. Warriors don’t get their hands on another trophy.
Kudos to Rory McIlroy for winning his first Green Jacket at The Masters. I didn’t watch as much of the tournament this year as I usually do because I simply had other things going on.
The NFL Draft is coming up, and Steeler Nation has our eyes on what the Black & Gold will do. Lord knows the powers-that-be have their work cut out for them after completely screwing up the quarterback situation. They decided to put all their chips in the middle of the table for enigmatic Aaron Rodgers, who may or may not join the team…eventually. IF Rodgers does come to Pittsburgh there are legit questions about what he has left in the proverbial tank, and whether or not he’s worth the hassle. I do NOT believe that there is any QB in this draft worthy of a first round pick, and absolutely do NOT want the Shedeur Sanders Circus coming to town. The kid is all hype, with an overinflated ego that exceeds his skill level by a country mile. I would much rather the Steelers upgrade the trenches on both sides of the ball and kick the can down the road on a quarterback until next year’s draft. Let the returning Mason Rudolph be the starter in 2025, even if it leads to a horrible season. They don’t consult me on these decisions though, so we’ll see.
Circling back to basketball, I’d be remiss not to mention West Virginia’s coaching situation. Head coach Darian DeVries bolted after one season for allegedly greener pastures with the Indiana Hoosiers. I have alot of questions about how things went down and who knew what & when did they know it, but what’s done is done. WVU has hired Ross Hodge, who compiled a 46-24 record in two seasons with the North Texas Mean Green. Mountaineer fans have had a rough time wrapping their heads around the new norms of collegiate athletics and do not want to believe that their beloved Old Gold & Blue has become a stepping stone program, but that is the reality. The ultimate goal of any good college basketball coach is to be hired by a blue blood school, or atleast a Big Ten/SEC team. That is where the money and the glory is to be found. If Hodge has some success he’ll also be gone in a year or two or three. With NIL & transfer portal insanity rosters are being rebuilt every year. It isn’t ideal, but that’s the way things are right now.
A semi-regular attempt to address some of life’s minutiae that might otherwise be overlooked…..
I will not poke fun or criticize government employees fearful of losing their jobs. Anyone who has ever been fired or “downsized” understands their concern. Having said that, the insane overreaction to Elon Musk & DOGE is baffling. First of all, the amount of waste and absolute corruption that has been found is quite alarming, yet way too many people seem to be completely ignoring it. Secondly, the whole point of Musk asking government workers to reply to an email stating five things they do on the job is simply to prove they actually exist. Why?? Apparently there have been federal employees & social security recipients receiving checks who a) are 150 years old 🤔 or b) never existed in the first place, which obviously raises alot of questions. Also, if a government agency had 15k employees five years ago but has 25k now, I think asking why that number ballooned so exponentially in just the past few years is fair. If 10k people lose their jobs it is unfortunate for them and no one is denying that, but it is also clear that those 10k jobs were superfluous. If the agency ran smoothly with less employees then the additional staff is, in the big picture, wasteful. Elon Musk was hired to trim the fat, and he is doing exactly that. It happens in the private sector on a daily basis. It is understandable that people would be upset about losing a gig that, in most instances, pays well and offers good benefits. It makes even more sense that people who, in some cases, lose a rather comfortable gig that pays them well while not demanding much, would be angry. Having said all of that, may I suggest that, instead of acting like a petulant child after losing a job that, in the grand scheme of life, was apparently unnecessary, you instead channel that energy into moving on to something bigger, better, and more worthy of your skills & talent.
Rewatching the same movie or television show again & again isn’t a sign of laziness, it is actually a form of emotional regulation. When life feels overwhelming or unpredictable, your brain craves familiarity. Watching a show or movie you already know gives you a sense of control, comfort, and stability. There are no surprises & no tension. You know exactly what happens next, and that predictability helps calm your nervous system. A study from the University of Chicago found that people are more likely to return to familiar movies & TV shows when they feel depleted or emotionally drained. Rewatching provides a way to restore energy and regain a sense of peace. In moments when the world feels uncertain your brain reaches for what it knows.
Pop star Katy Perry is NOT an astronaut. Neither is Jeff Bezos’ wife Laura Sanchez or Oprah Winfrey’s gal pal Gayle King. I don’t want to engage in wacky conspiracy theories, so we will proceed on the assumption that Blue Origin’s space dildo did actually take flight. Contrary to King’s whining, what those ladies’ participated in was indeed a joy ride, not a mission. They barely penetrated space for ten minutes. I am sure it was a very cool moment, but instead of simply expressing gratitude for an opportunity they most certainly didn’t earn, an experience that was handed to them based on fame, fortune, and connections, they could not stop themselves from pompously bloviating in an effort to convince the masses that they’d accomplished something meaningful. I’ve had bowel movements that lasted longer than their little jaunt into “space”, and the fact that it received more media coverage than the March rescue of actual astronauts that had been stranded on the International Space Station for nine months is nauseating. Society’s culture of celebrity worship is misguided at best, and a sad symptom of much bigger issues.
It’s time to put a bow on the football season and perhaps address one or two other issues.
It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks have passed since Ohio St. won the CFP Championship. It feels like a lifetime ago. At any rate, kudos to the Buckeyes, who blew past Tennessee, Oregon, and Texas with relative ease before mostly dominating Notre Dame in the title game, despite not even playing in the Big Ten Championship and being seeded 8th in the CFP. It was the inaugural season for the 12 team playoff, and despite my initial misgivings about that expansion I cannot deny that it was successful and solidly entertaining. I do believe the formula will eventually be tweaked a bit, but before the inevitable expansion to 16 teams I hope the powers-that-be iron out the seeding process, and really, I would love to see conference title games incorporated into the first round of the playoff. I also believe that the FBS needs to split, with the Group of Five conferences playing for their own title while the Power 4 teams do their thing. Anyway, those are rabbit holes we can dive into some other time.
Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles, who gave the Kansas City Chiefs a surprising Super Bowl beatdown to claim their second Lombardi Trophy in seven years and deny KC an unprecedented three-peat. My sports fandom is fueled by disdain more than I’d prefer to admit, but I don’t hold any particular ill will toward either team and therefore didn’t have a dog in the fight. I don’t even suffer from Chiefs fatigue yet, and am not all that bothered by the whole Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift situation. My only wish was for a fun, competitive contest, and in that regard the game fell woefully short.
On the same day that Philly won the Super Bowl, legendary basketball broadcaster Hubie Brown ended his career that lasted a half century, first as a coach then as an analyst on TV. It has been well-established that I don’t pay much attention to the NBA regular season, but to the extent that I have watched games thru the years Brown has been a constant presence…a soothing, knowledgeable voice who provided insightful analysis and focused on teaching fans about the game he so clearly loves instead of trying to be the kind of personality who draws attention to themselves that has become pervasive as television grew into the dominant force in sports. ABC did a nice job of honoring 91 year old Brown during his final broadcast without disrespecting the game itself (a fairly prosaic victory for the Milwaukee Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers).
I will not dump all over the Super Bowl halftime featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar. I don’t want to become one of those hypercritical old goats who begin every commentary with “back in my day”, so suffice to say that the show wasn’t my cup o’ tea. However, I knew that going in. I am fully aware that middle aged white guys, despite all accusations of “privilege”, are not the target demographic for much of anything. I’ll spare all of us a breakdown of why that is, and just say that I am fine with it. However, from a business perspective I would suggest to the NFL that such a prominent position should probably be occupied by a performer with much broader appeal. I am sure that there are people who enjoyed Kendrick Lamar immensely, but I don’t believe it was an impactful chunk of the viewing audience.
After a full season of watching the NFL’s new dynamic kickoff I have to say that I don’t despise it, except for one significant issue. I hate that onside kicks have essentially been eliminated from the game, and teams can’t even declare their intention to try an onside until the 4th quarter. I don’t believe that trick plays (including a surprise onside kick) should be used recklessly, but to preclude such a possibility at all negates an intriguing layer of strategery.
Both Zach & myself limped to the finish in our weekly picks, going 3-5 in the final week. That means I finished 56-61, while he was 55-62. It’s a rather pyrrhic victory that enforces the fact that we aren’t very good at prognosticating football games and would probably both be homeless bums if we chose to gamble with real money.
On January 8, 2018, QB Jalen Hurts was benched at halftime of college football’s national title game. Freshman Tua Tagovailoa came in and led Alabama to a comeback victory in overtime. Hurts spent the following season as Tagovailoa’s backup before transferring to Oklahoma. Seven years later Tagovailoa has spent most of his five year NFL career struggling to convince “experts” he should remain the Miami Dolphins’ starter while compiling a 38-24 record with only one postseason game. Conversely, Hurts has led the Philadelphia Eagles to two Super Bowls, winning one while being named the game’s MVP. There are alot of valuable lessons to be learned from that story.
A semi-regular attempt to address some of life’s minutiae that might otherwise be overlooked…..
When the Frasier reboot on Paramount+ was announced a few years ago I was SO excited. OG Frasier is one of the best sitcoms of all time, and I just knew the reboot would be fantastic. Then the first season premiered in October 2023, and though I was pleased to see my pal Dr. Crane onscreen once again, it just didn’t have the same je ne sais quoi. It was a pleasant enough show, but unremarkable. What made the original great was a) the ensemble & b) superb writing. Neither element worked in the follow-up. Season 2 premiered last September, and four months later I have not watched a single episode. I’ll get around to it eventually, but my lack of enthusiasm is obvious. Now it has been announced that Paramount+ canceled the series. I suppose another streaming platform may extend a lifeline, and if that happens I hope the powers-that-be will make necessary changes and inject the show with moxie & palpable wit. However, if this is the end of the road for Frasier Crane that’s okay too. His formidable legacy remains largely unscathed.
I have considered becoming a “content creator” for various reasons, but the truth is that I’m not that creative, and despite being an infrequent blogger my assumption is that no one would have much interest in my spin on things. Since I have never created a video & likely never will, the comically brief TikTok ban here in the United States had virtually no impact on my life. Having said that, I am generally not in favor of banning things, especially when no one can properly articulate the harm. First of all, why are we trying to ban an app because it is owned by a Chinese company, yet we have allowed China to buy a whole lot of American land?? Which is more detrimental or potentially outright dangerous?? Secondly, if one is concerned about social media manipulation, then let’s ban Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and Google as well, since we all understand the social engineering & political machinations those entities have engaged in. I’ll cop to ignorance of the details in this situation, but isn’t TikTok a mostly innocuous platform for kids & very lonely adults to post silly and largely inconsequential videos that provide brief snippets of entertainment?? Am I being naive?? Biden, Trump, or someone stepped in to negotiate a compromise, and I assume the long term hope is for TikTok to be purchased by an American company, which would assuage most concerns. Or perhaps the entrepreneurial spirit will eventually prevail and a new & improved app that provides all the same bells & whistles will emerge. Y’all keep me posted…I’ll be here reading a book.
A few thoughts on the recent Presidential Inauguration:
Whether the event was moved indoors due to cold weather (the official explanation) or there were safety concerns (likely valid) in the wake of previous attempts on President Trump’s life, it’s a shame because it truly diminished the ceremony’s usual majesty.
I don’t share others’ concerns about a perceived oligarchy, but it was odd to see Big Tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg & Jeff Bezos sitting in such prominent positions. I suppose Trump might be playing chess by employing a Corleone inspired “keep your enemies closer” strategy, but it was a slightly disturbing visual given the manipulation those folks have participated in the past few years. Leftists scoff at conservative allegations about the Soros Family, but part of that is because they are smart enough to remain mostly in the shadows and the politicians they…influence…retain plausible deniability.
Speaking of the tech guys…no, Elon Musk was not giving a freakin’ Nazi salute. If you believe that you’re exactly the kind of simpleton the media has been playing like a fiddle for decades. Trust me when I tell you…the Trump Administration, just like anyone else in power, will make their fair share of mistakes & miscalculations that’ll be justly criticized. Y’all don’t need to fabricate BS.
Kudos to Carrie Underwood, who reacted with grace under fire when there was an equipment malfunction. I don’t know enough about such things to opine, but I realize it wasn’t an ideal setup or the arrangement she was expecting at all. It turned out to be a happy accident though, as I think most would agree that Ms. Underwood’s acappella performance of America the Beautiful was powerful & inspiring.
I am not a Presidential scholar, but the concepts of “preemptive” pardons & executive orders make me a bit squeamish no matter which political party is wielding the pen. They seem like rather dictatorial ideas for a constitutional republic.
It was a lovely spring weekend, a week or two before Mother’s Day as I recall. My original plan was to vegg out and be a total waste of space, but, as we’re told in the 19th chapter of Proverbs, “there are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”, so when my neighbor texted me I was persuaded to pivot. There is an indoor flea market just down the road that’s open only on weekends, and we’d been there once before. I wasn’t particularly enamored, but he wanted to see if they still had a certain item. Before long, off we went to The Swap Meet, and as I was driving I realized that there was indeed a purpose for the task other than being a benevolent neighbor.
For Christmas my father had gotten each of us a leather keychain with our name engraved. Nothing fancy or extravagant, but practical with a personal touch. Both my sister & I had grown beyond focusing on Christmas gifts as a big deal, and my nephews are fully grown adults. I’m a gift card guy, because I just don’t enjoy the hustle & bustle of the whole retail scene as much as I used to, and, like my Dad, I tend to lean toward pragmatism. Truth be told, Christmas hadn’t been the same for DaLynn, Dad, or myself since Mom passed more than two decades ago. In recent years we’d actually gone out to eat for Christmas a few times, but it’s tough to find a place open on the actual day unless you really like Chinese food. At any rate, my nephews were insistent that we not go out this time. They wanted to gather at their mother’s place and volunteered to cook. It would be the last time all of us were together, atleast under positive circumstances.
My sister had been in poor health for several years. She was immunocompromised, and when the world was brought to its knees by The Pandemic, she had to exercise caution. Once upon a time DaLynn had been a person always on the go, but that changed. To say she rarely felt good would be an understatement. We talked & texted almost daily, but didn’t have the opportunity to be together as often the past several years. Having said that, though I valued those infrequent gatherings, I always presumed there’d be many more. If the thought of my “golden years” shuffled fleetingly thru my mind she was there. Of course she’d be there. We’d be texting, talking, and celebrating Christmas in one way or another when we were grey & wrinkly. There are many plans in a man’s heart, right??
Events unfolded rapidly in the new year. DaLynn never felt great, but this was different and she knew it. She went to a doctor and did all the things. She fought it…hard. Eventually though she had to call EMS and be transported to the hospital. Her oxygen was dangerously low. Covid/Pneumonia. The medical team threw everything at the situation they possibly could. My nephews stayed at the hospital night & day. My Dad & I were there as much as possible. She did NOT want to be put on a ventilator, but there simply was no choice. Sadly, all efforts were in vain, and two weeks before her 54th birthday, the five of us were once again together, but it was a much different situation. For the first time in my life I witnessed a person take their final breath. And not just any person. She was the person who knew me best. The person with whom I could share my darkest thoughts, or laugh with about things that only we understood. The person who I could talk to about everything & nothing. The person who knew when I needed understanding & encouragement, or a slap upside the head. The only person other than my parents who knew me my entire life. And now, just a few weeks after that lovely Christmas Day, she was gone.
As the events that typically follow a person’s departure from this realm came & went and the world began to move forward, Dad & the nephews went to DaLynn’s humble abode to gather her belongings. I knew I’d only be in the way and left them to complete the task. They asked me about a few items that I might want, and I did end up taking some stuff, but the only thing I specifically requested was the keychain that had been my father’s Christmas gift. Why?? I don’t really know. Perhaps I thought that seeing her name every day would make me feel close to her. I suppose it is a sort of talisman, although I fully realize it has no magic powers and had no expectations that it’d bring me good fortune. Sometimes an explanation isn’t necessary. Sadly, whether it happened at her apartment or occurred between transporting it from her place to my nephew’s house then eventually into my hands, the keychain suffered water damage. If you’ve observed such misfortune with leather you understand. If you haven’t, I’ll just say that it isn’t pretty.
I am tempted to say that I was devastated, but let’s be honest…the devastation had occurred much earlier in that hospital room. The ruination of the keychain was a spinoff that stirred emotions, like shaking a can of soda. I immediately began researching methods of repair, and probably spent more money on a jar of restorative salve than the keychain originally cost. It helped a little bit, but the engraved name remained barely legible. Not long after that, I found myself driving to The Swap Meet instead of staying in as I had intended. There are many plans in a man’s heart.
That’s when the realization happened. I remembered that there was a Leather Guy at The Swap Meet that sold & engraved such items. Maybe he could help…if he was there. This is the kind of place that might have different vendors each week, and it had been awhile. Thankfully he was there, and I showed him the key chain. As it turns out, one method of repairing water damaged leather is…more water. Who knew?? He also told me that he could fix the lettering…kind of. He didn’t have the exact tool needed, but he could get close. Or…or…he could fix it almost perfectly, depending on how much time I had. Now I would have been willing to stay there all day. Maybe even hang out at this man’s house if that’s what it took. As it turns out, he wanted to know if I could stick around for 45 minutes while he meticulously traced the lettering. Those terms were more than acceptable.
While he was doing the work I wandered around and landed at a table selling peanut butter fudge, engaging in a delightful conversation with the two ladies there. They asked me what Leather Guy was doing for me and I told them the story. It is likely that I overshared (sort of like I am right now), but we had quite the little chat about death and losing loved ones. I certainly didn’t see that coming. I absolutely don’t need to be consuming fudge, but bought some anyway. There are many plans in a man’s heart.
The gentleman sought me out when he was finished, and it was…overwhelming. There are three rooms at The Swap Meet, the last one being the smallest. After paying him far less than he deserved for what he’d just done, I found myself in that third room alone. It wasn’t the first time I had cried. For awhile, gentle weeping or even outright sobbing was a nightly occurrence for me, but I was usually home alone. I don’t fully understand why my sister’s death feels like it hit me harder than Mom’s 20+ years earlier, but I have formed an opinion or two. I had alot more going on back then. I was busier. I was involved in things. There were more distractions. Now, I have too much time to think. Perhaps it isn’t uncommon to be more emotional as we grow older. Or maybe I just understand loss on a deeper level than I did in those days. Sometimes things defy explanation. I didn’t want to be sitting there at an indoor flea market with tears running down my face, but…there are many plans in a man’s heart.
Time does indeed fly, and I can’t quite wrap my head around DaLynn being gone for a full year. Like most people, I have photos. I have old texts that I’ll never erase. Much to my dismay, because we texted so much and I always made myself available to talk when she could, I do not have any voicemails. Believe me, I have searched my phone in futility on multiple occasions, desperate to hear her voice again. And I have the keychain. A meaningless trinket?? For most people, sure. When I look at it though, I am reminded of her. I am able to recall a lifetime of memories. Family gatherings. Silly disagreements & epic fights. Birthday parties, graduations, and church youth events. Sitting around the dinner table, watching the big ol’ TV in our living room, and playing Atari in her room. Washing dishes after supper. Holding my newborn nephews after their arrivals and watching her be a good Mom by being a rather impressive facsimile of the mother that we grieved together. Sharing secrets and talking about things that no one else ever knew. Laughter, tears, and everything in between.
She is gone…physically, and we continue to deal with that daily. A piece of my soul will be missing forever. However, what she left behind remains. Her sons. Those memories. And the keychain. I didn’t think I’d be going out that day, yet…there are many plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Not even imaginery awards shows are immune to weather delays, but we’re back!! Thanks for joining us here at the scaled down Sammy Awards. If you have not perused Part 1 please do so now. We’ll be right here anxiously awaiting your return.
Please welcome back our boyishly handsome & funny host…Matt Rife!!
Before we resume handing out awards, we have a real treat for all the honey sauce lovers in The Manoverse. They’ve been entertaining the masses since the 1970’s, but became a viral sensation a few years ago when a movie about their 2010 Reunion Tour was suddenly rediscovered by fans. Here to perform their hit song TastetheBiscuit, please welcome Toasters n’ Moose!!
Wow…what a riveting performance!! That’s a hard act to follow, but our next presenter is willing to try. He’s an actor best remembered for his role as the radio station’s handyman on 90s sitcom NewsRadio, a stand up comedian, and currently hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Give it up for Joe Rogan!!
TheAgonyofDefeatAward ConferenceRealignment
As a lifelong sports fan who LOVES autumn Saturdays filled with hours of glorious college football action, it saddens me to see what the business of bigtime collegiate athletics has done to collegiate sports. There are now four “power” conferences instead of five, and we are consistently told that only two of those really matter. Oklahoma & Texas now play in the Southeastern Conference, while USC & UCLA compete in the Big Ten against midwestern teams like Illinois & Indiana. My West Virginia Mountaineers are in the Big 12 and have to travel to face opponents in Arizona & Utah, because the ACC, where longtime rivals like Pitt & Virginia Tech compete, isn’t interested in the far too small television market the Mountain State offers. The Stanford Cardinal & Cal Golden Bears both landed in the ACC though, where most of their opponents are literally 3000 miles away. And let’s not forget the “lesser” Group of Five conferences, where some really solid programs will never have a realistic opportunity to play for a championship. These moves (along with NIL deals & the transfer portal, which I don’t have the strength to go into) are reminiscent of a narcissistic lover who believes that no matter how abusive they are their partner won’t leave…and sadly, in this case, they aren’t wrong.
Weirdest WaterCoolerTopic Hawk Tuah!!
While out enjoying a night of drunken revelry in Nashville last summer, 21 year old Hailey Welch did a “man on the street” interview that went viral. In response to the question “What’s one move in bed that makes a man go crazy every time?”, Welch replied “You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang”. The video blew up online, and Welch became an Internet sensation. She was able to quit her menial job and ostensibly became quite wealthy selling “Hawk Tuah” merchandise. She appeared on podcasts, got invited onstage at concerts, and threw out the first pitch at a NY Mets game. By September Miss Welch was hosting her own podcast and had cashed in on her bizarre notoriety in a variety of ways, none of them (surprisingly) involving nudity or pornography. We tend to hate such people…folks that gain fame & fortune for no good reason other than being in the right place at the right time while so many others work their asses off to barely make ends meet, but I have to be honest…I’m not even mad at Hailey Welch. She got lucky by saying something funny that caught on, then made bank while she had the chance. She seems like a genuinely decent person (if not particularly intelligent), and the fact is that her 15 minutes of fame will be over soon, if it isn’t already. Hopefully she’s received wise counsel on how to remain financially solvent and goes on to lead a productive life.
FavoriteMovie Twisters
I did not visit my local cineplex hardly at all in 2024, and didn’t get too excited about anything on Netflix or other streaming services. However, I did see Twisters on the big screen and enjoyed it. Billed as a “legacy sequel” to the 1996 disaster classic Twister that starred Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Ferris Bueller’s best buddy Cameron Frye, the follow up once again features storm chasers & some pretty bitchin’ tornadoes. The cast is charming enough, although I’m not sure there are any future Oscar winners among the group. The plot is entertaining though somewhat predictable, and I feel like there was a lost opportunity to connect the sequel to the original. Early rumors had indicated that the main character would be the daughter of the characters portrayed by Paxton & Hunt, but the writers went in a different direction. They had their reasons, but I think it was a mistake. That connection would have allowed fans of the original film to be more invested in this one, which didn’t quite happen for me. In two decades I have a feeling I will still be watching the 1996 movie instead of Twisters. Having said that, in a weak field it stood out.
BiggestNewsStory Presidential Election
Were there other big stories in 2024?? Of course. However, I feel like the contest to elect the 47th President of the United States dominated the news cycle. Every other big story was affected by the Race for the White House, or the election hovered over those other stories. Former President Donald Trump easily won the Republican nomination, despite multiple frivolous attempts to imprison him. When the lawfare didn’t work he survived two assassination attempts that only increased his popularity. Meanwhile, current President Joe Biden was thrown under the bus when his leftist friends realized that they weren’t pulling the wool over as many eyes as they thought by pretending that Biden has actually been in charge of anything the past few years. The man clearly suffers diminished mental capacity and has been the figurehead of a puppet regime. When faced with the reality that Biden wasn’t up to the task of continuing the ruse, Democrats decided that Plan B was…Vice President Kamala Harris 😂. On the surface one can understand the logic…an opportunity to elect the first female U.S. President, and a “woman of color” to boot!! Exactly the kind of identity politics that leftists embrace. The problem?? Kamala Harris is a moron. She is a terrible political candidate that allegedly did some rather nasty things to climb the ladder. She is not likeable in any way, and her inane rambling is almost worse than Biden. Harris is the most lethal kind of idiot…one who somehow believes they aren’t dumb as a box of rocks. The Democrats compounded their error by choosing soy boy Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as Harris’ running mate. He & his wife have got to be mental patients that escaped from an institution. Conversely, Trump chose Senator JD Vance from Ohio, a former Marine whose story was chronicled in the best selling 2016 memoir HillbillyElegy, which was adapted into a 2020 film. Vance is eloquent & thoughtful, but not a pushover like former Vice President Mike Pence. The legacy media did their damndest to run cover for the Harris-Walz ticket, but at the end of the day America simply wasn’t buying what they were selling. Most Americans are tired of elitists preaching about climate change, pronouns, racial equity, and safe spaces while laundering billions of dollars thru Ukraine and allowing our country to be flooded with unvetted illegals that pose a grave danger to way too many. People actually trust Donald Trump, as flawed as he may be, to put the economic well being of the United States first and focus on real issues instead of wasting time, money, & effort on meaningless poppycock. If they were smart Democrats would do some self-reflection, asking themselves why the majority of the country has now chosen Trump, who even Republicans will admit is nuttier than a damn fruitcake (and I mean that in the kindest possible way), three times (let’s be honest…we all know what really happened in 2020) instead of their flawed policies. That won’t happen though. Let us look forward with hope, encouragement, and faith that our nation will be stronger in the coming months, resulting in a safer, more affordable standard of living for all of us.
Hall of Fame basketball player (West Virginia Mountaineers, Los Angeles Lakers), executive (Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden St. Warriors), and NBA Logo Jerry West…Hollywood icon James Earl Jones (StarWars, FieldofDreams, ComingtoAmerica, TheSandlot, TheLionKing, TheBigBangTheory)…humanitarian, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter…fitness guru Richard Simmons…Grammy award winning producer & composer Quincy Jones…MLB Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays (New York Giants), infielders Rickey Henderson (Oakland A’s) & Orlando Cepeda (San Francisco Giants), and All Time Hits Leader Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds)…legendary comedian & actor Bob Newhart (The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, The Big BangTheory)…sex therapist & Holocaust survivor Dr. Ruth Westheimer…Grammy & Golden Globe award winning singer, songwriter, & actor Kris Kristofferson…ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen and personalities Howie Schwab & TJ Simers, and sportscaster Greg Gumbel…legendary talk show host Phil Donahue…actors Carl Weathers (Rocky, HappyGilmore), Richard Lewis (AnythingbutLove, RobinHood: MeninTights), David Soul (Starsky & Hutch), James B. Sikking (HillStreetBlues, DoogieHowserM.D.), Adan Canto (DesignatedSurvivor), Christian Oliver (SavedbytheBell: TheNewClass), Don Murray (KnotsLanding), M. Emmet Walsh (Fletch, ChristmaswiththeKranks), Dabney Coleman (9to5, WarGames, You’veGotMail), Joe Flaherty (SCTV), Johnny Wactor (GeneralHospital), Bernard Hill (Titanic, LordoftheRings), Tony LoBianco (TheFrenchConnection), Benji Gregory (ALF), Martin Mull (Mr. Mom, Mrs. Doubtfire), Doug Sheehan (GeneralHospital, KnotsLanding, DayByDay), John Amos (Roots, GoodTimes, ComingtoAmerica, DieHard2, TheWestWing), Charles Cyphers (Halloween, MajorLeague), John Aprea (TheGodfatherPart2, AnotherWorld, FullHouse), Ron Hale (Ryan’sHope, General Hospital), James Darren (TJHooker), Chad McQueen (TheKarateKid), Nicholas Pryer (RiskyBusiness), Drake Hogestyn (DaysofOurLives), Alan Rachins (L.A. Law, Dharma&Greg), Scott L. Schwartz (The Ocean’s Trilogy), Wayne Northrup (DaysofOurLives), and Thom Christopher (OneLifetoLive)…NBA legend Bill Walton (Boston Celtics)…NASA astronaut Jon McBride…game show hosts Chuck Woolery (WheelofFortune) & Peter Marshall (HollywoodSquares)…Oscar winning producers Albert Ruddy (TheGodfather) & Jon Landau (Titanic), directors Jim Abrahams (Airplane!, TheNakedGun), Charles Shyer (FatheroftheBride), & Norman Jewison (Moonstruck), television producer E. Duke Vincent (Dynasty, MelrosePlace, 7thHeaven, BeverlyHills90210), and casting director Dianne Crittenden (StarWars, HoneysuckleRose, PrettyWoman)…chocolate chip cookie guru Wally “Famous” Amos…pro wrestlers Ole Anderson, Ice Train, Virgil, Paul “Butcher” Vachon, Wild Samoans Afa & Sika Anoa’i, Kevin Sullivan, “Psycho” Sid Vicious, and Jax Dane…singers/musicians Toby Keith, David Sanborn, Steve Lawrence, Eric Carmen, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Dickie Betts (The Allman Brothers), Mandisa Hundley, Mike Pinder (The Moody Blues), Dave Loggins, Joe Bonsall (The Oak Ridge Boys), Sergio Mendes, Scott Simon (Sha Na Na), Tito Jackson (The Jackson Five), Cissy Houston, Liam Payne (One Direction), and Jack Jones…French TV host Bernard Pivot…football players Andy Russell (Pittsburgh Steelers), Mercury Morris (Miami Dolphins), Vontae Davis (Indianapolis Colts), Roman Gabriel, Jim Otto (Oakland Raiders), Larry Allen (Dallas Cowboys), Jacoby Jones (Baltimore Ravens), Khyree Jackson (Minnesota Vikings), Duane Thomas (Dallas Cowboys), Greg Landry (Baltimore Colts), coaches Joe Collier (Denver Broncos), Monte Kiffin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), John Robinson (Los Angeles Rams, USC Trojans), & Gerry Faust (Notre Dame Fighting Irish & Akron Zips), and team executive Bill Tobin (Chicago Bears)…newscasters Charles Osgood, Robert MacNeil, Lou Dobbs, Tom Jarriel, and Aaron Brown…Pop-Tarts inventor William Post…golfer & broadcaster Peter Oosterhuis and PGA golfer Grayson Murray…infamous actor, Ford Bronco enthusiast, and alleged murderer OJ Simpson…Pulitzer Prize winning TV critic Tom Shales…former NFL referee Jim Tunney…actresses Shannen Doherty (BeverlyHills90210), Teri Garr (YoungFrankenstein, Mr. Mom), Shelley Duvall (TheShining, Popeye), Dame Maggie Smith (HarryPotter, Hook, SisterAct), Glynis Johns (MaryPoppins, TheRef), Joyce Randolph (TheHoneymooners), Chita Rivera (WestSideStory), Ann Whitfield (WhiteChristmas), Marla Adams (The Young&TheRestless), Susan Buckner (Grease), Gena Rowlands (HopeFloats, TheNotebook), and Linda Lavin (Alice)…MLB players Fernando Valenzuela (Los Angeles Dodgers), Ed Ott (Pittsburgh Pirates), Jose DeLeon (Pittsburgh Pirates), Luis Tiant(Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox), U.L. Washington (Kansas City Royals), and managers Jimy Williams (Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays) & Whitey Herzog (St. Louis Cardinals)…former U.S. Senator (Connecticut) & Vice Presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman, former Florida Governor Bob Graham, former Arkansas Governor, Congressman, & Senator David Pryor, U.S. Senator Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas)…travel writer Arthur Frommer…basketball players Dikembe Mutombo (Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets), Robert Reid (Houston Rockets), coaches Lefty Driesell (Maryland Terrapins) & Lou Carnesecca (St. John’s Redmen), and NBA executive Pat Williams (Orlando Magic)…notorious Wall St. trader Ivan Boesky…Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders…1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones & three time Daytona 500 winner Bobby Allison…songwriters Mark James (AlwaysonMyMind, HookedonaFeeling, SuspiciousMinds), Will Jennings (Up Where We Belong, HigherLove, TearsinHeaven, My Heart Will Go On), and JD Souther (Best of My Love, HeartacheTonight, New Kid in Town)…Judith Belushi-Pisano (widow of John Belushi)…documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (SuperSizeMe)…famous gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi…Ethel Kennedy (widow of Robert F. Kennedy)
