Well, dear readers, a funny thing happened on the way to September. Last year, the month of August was one of our lowest posting months, with an extremely low amount of hits. This year, the month of August was our third best month ever, posts-wise, and our second best month ever, hits-wise. So, not only did we achieve our new plateau, but we had both our third and second best month ever. I think that calls for a round of applause or, at the very least, a rectangle of applause. I feel that calls for a hip hip hooray. I feel that calls for a hearty hallelujah. I do feel with some confidence that soon we will be the most popular site on all the Internet. Speaking of popular, yesterday I had one of those days where you do quite a few things but it doesn’t seem like you’re doing quite a few things. For example, I got up, and yet it didn’t seem like I got up. I wrote four pages, and yet it didn’t seem like I wrote four pages. I picked up mail, did some banking, and did some errands, and yet it didn’t seem like I picked up mail, did some banking, and did some errands. Perhaps it was just the last day of August having sport with me; maybe that was it. Of course, I did not get to do what I’d planned to do, which was record a little demo, because Mr. Grant Geissman was just too too busy for the likes of me. We have rescheduled for late this afternoon, and hopefully that will come to pass. I hadn’t eaten all day and so I finally just went to McDonald’s because I was so annoyed at the demo thing. I had my usual Filet o’ Fish and a double cheeseburger and yet it didn’t seem like I had my usual Filet o’ Fish and a double cheeseburger. Well, you get the idea.
Last night, I watched two count them two motion pictures on DVD. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled The Fly, which was directed by Mr. David Cronenberg, and written by our very own Pogue and Mr. Cronenberg. I hadn’t seen it in quite some time, and it remains a powerful, fun, and emotional picture all these years later. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis are the heart and soul of the film, and the film works because you really care about them. Even though Mr. Cronenberg basically changed all the dialogue and characters, he gives Pogue full credit for brilliantly solving the problem of the way the fly and the leading character fuse, which is very different than the short story and the first film version. Plus, Cronenberg also says that the Pogue version is the only script he’s ever read that he felt had elements that were very Cronenbergian. All the big set pieces that we know and love are in the Pogue script, albeit with characters that aren’t as lovable as Cronenberg’s. Howard Shore’s score is a major component of the film, as is Mark Irwin’s photography, and Carol Spier’s production design. The transfer is top-notch, as is the DTS and DD 5.1 tracks. I then watched the second motion picture on DVD, which was entitled Scarecrow. No, this is not a sequel to The Wizard of Oz, it’s an early ’70s motion picture starring Mr. Gene Hackman and Mr. Al Pacino. As with most 70s films, it is inconceivable that a film like that could be made today. It’s a character study, with not much plot – a completely quirky road film, where not much happens. It’s well directed by Jerry Schatzberg, and beautifully shot. The music is as strange as the film, but when you’ve got Pacino and Hackman, the whole thing is just watchable and entertaining. It’s not a happy picture, as so many weren’t in the early ’70s, but I liked it very much. The transfer is excellent.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we remember that a funny thing happened on the way to September.
Have I mentioned that we deserve a round or rectangle of applause? Have I mentioned that we deserve a hip hip hooray? Have I mentioned that we deserve a hearty hallelujah?
Today I shall be having a haircut, which I desperately need. For the last two weeks my hair has been unruly and curly and akimbo. I hate when that happens. So after noon my time, I shall be beautifully coiffed once again. I’m then hoping that our CDs will be ready to pick up – I should know this morning. If they are, and if I get them by three, then I shall start packing up the envelopes for shipping before I go to Grant’s to do the demo. If I can, I’ll get the first batch out tomorrow, but if I run out of time, then they’ll all go out on Friday, which was my goal. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Hey, guess what? It’s September. Last year at this very time we were doing What If at the Hudson Theater. I think we all should pool our very potent haineshisway.com vibes and xylophones and sprinkle them like fairy dust on each and every one of us. Let’s do so immediately, and then we can all have a divoonly divoon September, filled with merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must write, I must get a haircut, I must hopefully pick up CDs, I must hopefully pick up a package or three, and I must hopefully record a demo. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite TV variety shows? From the golden age up until they completely disappeared from television in the early-to-mid-80s. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we sprinkle ourselves liberally with haineshisway.com vibes and xylophones for a happy and healthy September.