Dunce Cap Award: Jesse Watters

 Republicans and right wing media are still so terrified that Vice President Kamala Harris is running against Donald Trump, such that they are grasping at straws to find reasons for their viewers, particularly males, not to vote for Harris.

Jesse Dollemore explains.

Fox No News' Jesse "Dirty" Watters and his lame excuses aren't even laughable. 

I will remind that last November, my hometown elected its first female mayor, and there were women on both sides of the ballot, so Watters' pathetic argument that men voting for women somehow makes them transition to women is just that. Pathetic.

You know what Watters is getting:

And you thought Greg Gutfeld was the only horrible excuse for a comedian on Fox No News........!

YouTube Theatre: Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You (1971)

 Ellery Queen returned to television after nearly 2 decades away in 1971's "Don't Look Behind You". Peter Lawford (ex-The Thin Man) was not a fit as Queen, especially considering this film is set in more contemporary times.

Legendary writer-producers Richard Levinson & William Link, under the collaborative pseudonym Ted Leighton, wrote the script, and opted to use the Leighton handle after a producer had caused some issues. Harry Morgan, a year removed from Dragnet, is Inspector Richard Queen, but in this story, the elder Queen is Ellery's uncle instead of his father, due to a narrow age gap between Lawford & Morgan. E. G. Marshall (The Bold Ones) and Stefanie Powers are among the guests.

Producer Edward Montagne, Jr. brought in McHale's Navy vets Billy Sands and Bob Hastings in small roles. Hastings plays a TV news anchor.

Levinson & Link, as we know, would give Queen another try four years later, with Jim Hutton & David Wayne in a period piece that lasted one season.

No rating. Just a public service.

Classic TV: CBS Reports (1959)

 We did a piece on this next item before, but had to take it down because the subject matter was removed by YouTube. Maybe not so this time.

CBS Reports was a series of news specials that began in 1959, and continued into the 80's before being cancelled and brought back a few years later.

Most of the time, the subject matter reflected the issues of the day, be it Vietnam, politics, etc.. In this 1982 offering, Morley Safer (60 Minutes) visits the set of NBC frosh Family Ties, and interviews series creator Gary David Goldberg. Safer notes early on that ABC wasn't interested in participating. Envy, maybe?

Rating: A.

Videos of Summer: Under The Bridge (1991)

 The Red Hot Chili Peppers gained max airplay on MTV in 1991 with "Under The Bridge", the 2nd single off "Blood Sugar Sex Magik". Up until "Dani California" 15 years later, this was ye scribe's favorite RHCP track.

This week in GOP stupidity

 Ohio junior senator JD Vance, who was also a best selling author for his tome, Hillbilly Elegy, a few years back, is finding out the hard way that some of his past remarks about his running mate, Donald Trump, are being brought forward to remind voters that neither GOP candidate can really be trusted.

Vance drank the stale Trump-ade to become a loyal sycophant, but his past remarks about Trump came to light in recent days. Vance didn't help his cause with some pathetic remarks about VP Kamala Harris, calling her a "childless cat lady". Harris actually has two step-children from husband Doug Emhoff's previous marriage.

But, of course, GOPers can't be bothered to research facts. They'd rather roll in and sling mud.

Colorado crybaby Lauren Gropert introduced an amendment intent on reducing the salary of a Department of the Interior employee to $1 a year, just because this employee "disrespected" Ms. Clouds For Brains.

Gropert is claiming that Melissa Schwartz is a "liberal troll" who should be "living under a bridge", according to an article in Newsweek. Ok, so Gropert was butt-hurt because she got called out for doing what she does best. Nothing. Ms. Schwartz has nothing to worry about. Her salary won't be reduced, but I doubt Gropert will be around too much longer.

Gropert, of course, is projecting. She's the real troll in this case.

Finally, Donald Trump could be facing more legal problems.

After meeting with President Biden and VP Harris in Washington, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lame-O, and a number of folks on social media, including some Trump supporters, are pointing out that this shouldn't be happening because Trump presently is a private citizen running for office and meeting Netanyahu under these conditions constitutes a violation of the Logan Act.

Farron Cousins explains:

Trump thinks that as a former president, he's entitled to host heads of state at Mar-a-Lame-O. No one has been able to explain to him that there are rules for that.......!

Two NY teams in opposite directions

 As of now, the Mets & Yankees are both in position for Wild Card berths.

Yankee supporters will tell you the Subway Series was supposed to be a referendum on the Bombers being the better of the two teams.

Last month, the Mets never got the memo, and the Yankees have paid for it.

Wednesday was the final game of the 2024 Subway Series, airing on ESPN. For some reason, Mets fans aren't fond of ESPN's broadcasts. The Sunday Night Baseball team worked this game, including David Cone, who mostly is a Yankee announcer, and has been in the playoffs with both the Mets & Yankees. The Mets had already clinched the Series for the season with a 3-2 nailbiter on Tuesday, and sent Sean Manaea to the mound against Gerrit Cole, whom the Mets abused last month at Citi Field.

Gleyber Torres got it started for the Yanks with a lead-off homer in the 1st off Manaea, but, with Harrison Bader, another ex-Yank, out with an ankle injury, Tyrone Taylor, who came over with Adrian Houser from Milwaukee before the season, got to play hero.

Check the video, with Mets & Yankees radio coverage, plus the ESPN call.

For the first time in 11 years, the Mets sweep the series, which next year expands to 6 games with a pair of weekend series. The reeling Yankees have the day off, while the Mets head back to Flushing to open a 4-set with the similarly struggling Atlanta Braves. The Yankees head to Fenway for round 3 vs. Boston tomorrow, after the Red Sox were curb stomped by Colorado, 20-7, on Wednesday.

What Might've Been: The Martin Short Show (1994)

 Martin Short returned to NBC with a self-titled sitcom in 1994 that was a show within a show. Unfortunately, viewers weren't interested, despite Short's success in movies and a previous stint on Saturday Night Live, and this series, like Short's other primetime entries (i.e. The Associates, I'm a Big Girl Now), was cancelled after 1 season.

Just like his Saturday morning entry for NBC, The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, 5 years earlier, Short called on his pals from SCTV to help him out. Andrea Martin co-stars, and, in this installment, Eugene Levy not only directs, but helps Martin & Short resurrect an old SCTV skit, Half Wits, with special guest Steve Martin.

Edit, 11/10/24: Had to change the video. Here's Half Wits.

Yes, it comes with commercials. The closing credits said that Casey Kasem & then-wife Jean made appearances, but it looks like that might've been cut from this video. Short would try again at NBC a few years later with another series, and, that, too, was cancelled.

No rating.

Dunce Cap Award: Joey Mannarino

 Ever since President Biden announced he was ending his bid for re-election on Sunday, and, in effect, passed the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris, right wing jabronies have been coming out of the woodwork with smears and assorted falsehoods to blunt the momentum, which, in turn, had been taken from former president Donald Trump after he was shot in the ear on July 13.

And, then, there is Joey Mannarino, who's trying to come up with an excuse to explain away a gaffe he made that has gone viral. Farron Cousins explains.

Let's lay it out. Joey, you done screwed up, and there's no getting around it.

The GOP and their supporters are wetting their collective pants because, suddenly, the age issue goes back the other way, with the focus on Trump, 78, who, like, Biden, has shown signs of mental deterioration, except that his is worse than the President's. Biden listened to the advice of his family and other members of the Democratic party, then stepped aside. Trump, you know, wouldn't do that.

Trump is trying to move a scheduled September debate from ABC to Fox, thinking it'll favor him. Not happening.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, putting the cart before the horse, if you will, is claiming prematurely that the Democrats somehow did something wrong with the change. News flash, Mikey. The Democratic convention doesn't convene until August 19.

Tennessee Misrepresentative Andy Ogles, like other idiots in his party, introduced articles of impeachment against Harris that won't go anywhere because they don't rise to the level of high crimes & misdemeanors.

Mannarino, at the end of the day, gets the Dunce Cap because of his shameless stupidity. You got your 15 minutes of fame, kid, and you already wasted them.

Seems like old times: Peter Marshall returns to Hollywood Squares (2002)

 After Henry Winkler's production company took over Hollywood Squares, the first order of business was retaining Tom Bergeron as host, though co-executive producer/center square Whoopi Goldberg had left. 

In December 2002, the series presented its first Game Show Week, with fellow MC's Jim Lange, Wink Martindale, Bob Eubanks, Chuck Woolery, and Peter Marshall, the series' original host, on the panel. For this particular installment, Bergeron & Marshall switched places, with Bergeron occupying the center square for the main game, then returning to his regular role for the bonus game.

Rod Roddy (The Price is Right, Disney's House of Mouse) served as announcer for the week. Carol Merrill (ex-Let's Make a Deal) flew in from Australia to lend a hand.

2 more similarly themed weeks would follow. Of course, Marshall had stayed in practice with some Squares-themed skits on In Living Color a few years earlier.

That time the Muppets played Family Feud (2001)

 Talk about your sweeps stunts!!

Two months removed from 9/11/01, the producers of Family Feud came up with a dandy of a matchup for 5 days, pitting the (Dixie) Chicks, with Keith Urban & Buck Owens, against the Muppets for charity.

We're picking up the action on the 4th day. Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines flirts with Kermit, and.......

Louie Anderson lasted three seasons as host before leaving. John O'Hurley (ex-Seinfeld, To Tell The Truth) and Richard Karn (ex-Home Improvement) followed before current host Steve Harvey began his tenure.

If Donald Trump loses in November, he can't blame "fraud". He knows who to blame

 According to rumors, former president Donald Trump was leaning toward North Dakota governor Doug Burgam as his running mate, but, as Farron Cousins explains, the reason Ohio junior senator JD Vance got the nod was because of the advice of Trump's two oldest sons, Dumb Donald II & Stupid-E..........

The Trump brothers wouldn't know common sense if it walked up to them and said, hello. As Farron points out, Burgam could've shored up some of the areas where the elder Trump needed help (i.e. moderate voters). Unfortunately, Trump listened to Dumb & Dumber, and if he fails again in November, he can't fall back on the false claims of fraud. The blame lies, if you will, within his own house, as it did in 2020 (COVID).

To that end, dare we think that Dumb Donald II & Stupid-E could actually gift wrap the election for Joe Biden, and not realize it? Given that their combined IQ is kinda low, yeah.

Update, 2:22 (ET): Biden has dropped out of his bid for re-election:

YouTube Theatre: Bob & Ray, Jane, Laraine, & Gilda (1979)

 This was not your average episode of Saturday Night Live, because, technically, it wasn't.

Bob & Ray, Jane, Laraine, & Gilda was formatted similarly to SNL, with the venerable team of Bob Elliott & Ray Goulding dominating most of the show, including an amusing cover of Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy", with SNL's Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, & Gilda Radner rotating on lead vocals. Otherwise, the musical guests are Leon Russell & Willie Nelson.

Yep, Don Pardo and the rest of the Not Ready For Prime Time Players were given the night off, with NBC announcer Mel Brandt filling in.

Rating: A-.

The World's Oldest Grifter would rather grift than offer condolences

 That, of course, is Donald Trump.

Five days after he was shot in the ear by a 20 year old registered Republican, Trump is now hawking a new set of sneakers with a photo of himself, bloodied and defiant, raising a fist in the air, attached to the shoes. 

Asking price? $300.

A 50 year old Republican family man, Corey Comperatore, died protecting his family at the rally in Butler, PA on Saturday, but while his widow declined to speak with President Biden, Comperatore is probably seething in his grave if he knew that Trump, as of press time, hadn't taken the time to call long distance from Milwaukee to the Comperatores' home in Pennsylvania.

No, the only thing on Trump's mind, other than the convention, which wraps tonight, is how much more he can grift off his supporters.

Farron Cousins explains.

While Trump's detractors are clutching their pearls over the selection of Ohio junior senator JD Vance as Trump's running mate this year, the former president proves yet again that a man's sacrifice, a civilian's in this case, mind you, means nothing to him. He'd rather profit off the incident than offer condolences to a man he probably never really got to know.

Notes from around town

 For the 2nd straight week, the Office of General Services had to move the Wednesday night concert at the Empire State Plaza indoors due to rain.

This week's headliner, 80's star Sheila E, was supposed to headline last year's Fabulous 4th, but that was rained out, too. The event went on a few days later without Sheila.

That's no way to live "The Glamorous Life".....!

===============================================

In the wake of Saturday's attempted "assassination" of former president Donald Trump, WROW went back to airing CBS radio news briefs, but it lasted only a couple of days.

A special report feed ran during Brother Lou Roberts' Saturday night soiree, and, on Monday, the familiar CBS Radio cues were heard between 5 & 8 am, prior to and during Magic in The Morning. Morning host Ben Patten was caught off guard on Monday, and, as a result, his usual chat with WRGB meteorologist Alyssa Caroprese was postponed, and listeners only heard a pre-recorded forecast from Caroprese throughout the day.

On Tuesday, however, the cues remained, but Patten was back reading the national headlines himself between 5 & 8:30 am. Apparently, Albany/Pamal Broadcasting owner James Morrell felt the national news feeds needed to return in the short term because of how important the Trump case was.

Oh, well, it was good while it lasted.

===============================================

More blight along Congress Street between 3rd & 4th streets.

Vivian's Lounge, a neighborhood bar, lost its liquor license a few weeks back, and has to petition the State Liquor Authority to get back in business.

Across the street, La Victoria, a Mexican restaurant, is now open Thursday-Tuesday, with Wednesday as an off day. Probably the slowest business day of the week. We'll see how long that lasts.

In an effort to ward off panhandlers and allegedly homeless types, the owners of Flippers Barber Shop at the corner of Congress & 4th, now have a sign stating the police will be contacted if anyone trespasses. The sign's been there a few weeks, and, so far, everyone's complied.

The city does need to address the issues of homelessness, real or imagined. Yesterday.

Scenes from a revolution a'borning (The Ed Sullivan Show, 1970)

 "1776" had opened on Broadway in the winter of 1969. In October 1970, members of the cast, including William Daniels (ex-Captain Nice), who'd reprise as John Adams in the 1972 feature film, and John Cullum, appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show to present key scenes from the play. Sullivan sets the scene.

Cullum returned to Broadway during the 70's in productions such as "Shenandoah". Today's audience will know Daniels more for his much later work (Knight Rider, St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World, etc.). Today's politicians may need to take notes on how things were done in the 18th century...........

Donald Trump's classified documents case is dismissed-for now. Don't think that's the end, because it isn't

 Judge Aileen "Shot From a" Cannon has dismissed the classified documents case against former president Donald Trump, claiming, based on a weak defense from Trump's lawyers, that special prosecutor Jack Smith was improperly appointed.

She is wrong, and so are the ambulance chasers who brought the argument. They lied to her, and she took the bait, feeling obligated to do a solid for Trump, who appointed her to her position in the first place. Patronage? We don't know. What we do know is that this decision will be appealed, preferably sooner rather than later, and Cannon could find herself out of a job if it's found that she violated a few rules to favor Trump.

MSNBC's take:

Once this decision is reversed, and it will be, trust me, Cannon will be replaced by a more competent, experienced, bi-partisan judge. The lawyers could be sanctioned (and should), and face charges themselves. 

Cannon is the Weasel of The Week for making this biased decision for no other reason than to curry favor with Trump.

And we were hoping Trump had experienced an epiphany after being shot on Saturday.........!

What Might've Been: ABC Stage 67 (1966)

 ABC tried an anthology series in 1966, treating it like it was prestige theatre on the order of their movie nights.

ABC Stage 67 got 26 weeks, and no more.

I was but a toddler when this came along, and it was past my bedtime, so no rating.

Anyway, it was an eclectic collection of original plays and adaptations, among the latter being a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost, starring Michael Redgrave, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Natalie Schaefer (Gilligan's Island), and, in his acting debut, Herman's Hermits frontman Peter Noone.

What ABC was striving for was their answer to Hallmark Hall of Fame, which, at the time, was a series of less frequent specials airing on NBC. Hubbell Robinson had one other series on the ABC schedule that year, having moved his tack from Revue/Universal to Screen Gems, but Hawk, with Burt Reynolds, was also cancelled.

Someone took a shot at Donald Trump.............

 Two days before the Republican National Convention, or, the 4 day genuflection festival, in Milwaukee, former president Donald Trump was speaking in Pennsylvania when a lone gunman took a shot at Trump from a nearby rooftop.

Trump was shot behind an ear. He felt around the area, found blood, then took a knee down to the ground as he was covered by the Secret Service, which then shot and killed the suspected shooter, 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel, PA.

The attempted assassination of a former president was denounced across the board, by both Republicans and Democrats alike, as well as world leaders. The Secret Service subsequently released the following statement.

The FBI & Secret Service are working with local law enforcement in Pennsylvania to determine a motive for Crooks' attack. 

Granted, Trump is not the most popular guy in the world, despite what his supporters will tell you to the contrary, and one can assume for now that Crooks might've been a college student, disgruntled with all the rhetoric coming from Trump in particular, and decided to do something. This will be a topic of discussion over the next few days, if not also weeks. I've a suspicion that someone even more unhinged will come along and take a shot at President Biden in retaliation. Let's hope not.

Videos of Summer: Just Another Day (1992)

Jon Secada, who was mentored by Emilio Estefan, burst on the pop charts in 1992 with "Just Another Day":

Musical Interlude: OMG (2024)

 Jose Iglesias has been in the major leagues since 2011, when he debuted with Boston. Today, he's playing----and singing----for the Mets.

Yes, I said, singing.

Iglesias' other career is as a Latin pop star under the name, Candelita. Two weeks ago, after the Mets defeated Houston, Iglesias came back out on the field to perform "OMG":

"OMG" is as hot as the Mets are, cracking the top of the Latin digital charts on iTunes & Billboard.

2 years ago, Timmy Trumpet became a sensation thanks to Edwin Diaz. "Candelita" & Trumpet in a concert at Citi Field. Book it, Steve Cohen!

Classic TV: Scrabble (1983)

 An independent company, Exposure Unlimited, obtained a license to develop the board game, Scrabble, into a weekday game show for NBC. The series' 1st run ran for 7 years (1983-90) before returning in 1993 for a brief run. Chuck Woolery (Love Connection, ex-Wheel of Fortune) returned to NBC to serve as series host. Jay Stewart, Monty Hall's long time sidekick on Let's Make a Deal, and otherwise associated with Jack Barry & Dan Enright's family of syndicated games (i.e. Tic Tac Dough), served as announcer for the first year, but then left, replaced by Charlie Tuna (America's Top 10, ex-The Mike Douglas Show) for the rest of the run due to other commitments.

I've played Scrabble. The TV show is a little easier, trust me.

Check this college tournament episode from July 1984.

Reg Grundy later revived Sale of The Century, also for NBC. Executive producer Robert Noah had worked for Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley during the 70's (i.e. Gambit).

Rating: A.

Remember Continental Airlines? (1979)

 Ah, Continental Airlines. Long forgotten as a secondary airline behind the likes of TWA, Pam Am, Eastern, and American, among others back in the day.

In 1979, Continental tried a promotion, and apparently obtained a license from the estate of Earl Derr Biggers to use Charlie Chan (Marvin Miller, ex-The Millionaire) to help with the promotion. Casey Kasem (American Top 40, Scooby-Doo, etc.) is the voice over announcer at the end.

At least the ad agency figured out Chan could not be used as a stereotype anymore. Marvin Miller had been doing mostly voice work for Sid & Marty Krofft during the 70's after stints at Filmation & DePatie-Freleng. Face work in front of the camera at this point in his career was rare.

Musical Interlude: American Made (1983)

 When the Oak Ridge Boys transitioned from the gospel to the country charts in the 70's, it turned out to be the best thing that happened to their careers.

1983's "American Made", for example, landed them on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

In memory of tenor Joe Bonsall, 76, who passed away Tuesday from complications due to ALS. Rest in peace.

More proof that Empty-G needs to back to school

 "Dumb Dora is really dumb!"--Gene Rayburn, many times, on Match Game, 1973-84.

Struck by a need to post anything at all on X on Friday, Georgia misrepresentative Marjorie Taylor Greene opened herself up to more humiliation by claiming that six men, including three future presidents, had signed the Declaration of Independence when they clearly had not. Those six men included future presidents George Washington, James Madison, & James Monroe, plus Paul Revere & Aaron Burr.

I'd venture to guess that Empty-G's staff was on vacation, so she had to try to gather the information herself. Epic fail!

Farron Cousins breaks it down.....

Other users on X had a field day roasting Empty-G. Of course, at the end of the day, this was just a case of Empty-G needing attention when it wasn't necessary. 

Can someone enroll her in a remedial summer school course, like, yesterday?

Videos of Summer: This Guy's in Love With You (1968)

 Herb Alpert has made most of his success as a trumpet player. In 1968, however, he stepped to the microphone to sing "This Guy's in Love With You", written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, which became a #1 hit for Alpert, his label, A & M Records, and for Bacharach & David.

Wife Lani Hall, who was singing with A & M labelmate Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 at the time, appears in the video.

The Alperts are currently touring, and their tour brings them to the 518 next week at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center (The Egg).

On The Shelf: A Thundercat spins off, and some old friends reunite

 Dynamite Entertainment has been rolling of late. Their adaptations of beloved cartoons like Gargoyles, Space Ghost, & Thundercats have won critical praise, and now, the latter series has birthed its first spin-off.

Cheetara tells the story behind the team's fastest & sexiest member, well before the team we all know & love was formed. In the context of the series, from its inception in 1985, Lion-O was aged up due to an accident while in suspended animation en route from Thundera to Third Earth, as he is but a child in Cheetara's story, and he looks upon her as a mother figure. The current series posits the possibility of the two becoming a couple now that Lion-O is an adult. 

That said, Dynamite has gone further with the 'Cats than Marvel or Wildstorm ever did, and that's saying something. I'm enjoying the ride, and the various covers all make for good posters.

Rating: A.

Retro reads: Speaking of Marvel, the company's ill-fated Star Comics line added Thundercats in 1985 as a book aimed at pre-teens and up. While the creative teams were more of a revolving door, with artists like Ernie Colon and Jim Mooney among the pencillers, the book remained faithful to the 1985-8 series, and lasted almost as long, 24 issues. I think Dynamite is waiting for the sales figures on the current book to determine whether or not they can gain the rights to do a trade paperback of the Marvel version.

Rating: A-.

Mad Cave acquired the rights to Marvel-Star's 1986 Defenders of The Earth book, based on the cartoon of the same name. You might remember it.

It was supposed to be an ongoing series, but it was cancelled after 4 issues as the Star line began imploding. Another Marvel-produced cartoon, Visionaries, was also part of the line, and was quickly cancelled.

Anyway, the four issues collected adapted the initial story arc from the TV series, but left some plotlines dangling due to cancellation. The cover to Mad Cave's trade paperback volume emulates the style of 90's icon Bruce Timm, as if they're wishing he could bring the Defenders back.

The trade comes out weeks ahead of Mad Cave's own adaptation, set for 8 issues, to debut next month, written by former DC editor Dan DiDio, whose writing has been grossly underappreciated because of his failings in the editorial office.

Marvel's version gets a B.

Other news: If Gocollect.com is to be believed, Titan is scaling down its revival of Savage Sword of Conan to 6 issues, despite a crossover set to start in September following the preview of Battle of The Black Stone back in May. If the info is accurate, Savage Sword will end in January. The first 3 issues wll be collected in a trade paperback out in September.

Does the Bible fit in with American or world history? Oklahoma thinks it does

 I spent two seasons attending a Christian school, long since closed, which was sitting on the Troy-Lansingburgh border, from 1977-9. Could've stayed longer, but my late parents couldn't afford the rising cost of tuition, so I transferred to Troy High, and the rest, of course, is history.

But, enough about my history. Let's talk about a decision by a school superintendent in Oklahoma that mandates that the Bible be taught in public schools.

What Oklahoma superintendent Ryan Walters wants is to link the Bible with different points in world or American history. In an interview on The PBS News Hour, shown below, Walters cites the Pilgrims arriving in 1620, and the civil rights movement of the 60's, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as examples of his rationale.

Ah, yes, the dreaded Christian Nationalism, once again being shoved down the throats of average citizens by a Republican with an agenda. Some colleges offer courses in theology. What Walters is aiming for is to teach children about the Bible and its rich history well before college, much less high school. Notice how Walters dodged the question about Christian Nationalism, as it made him feel uncomfortable.

Here's my take. I would not start in elementary schools with Bible lessons. Save that for Sunday School. I would consider the prospect of making a course on the Bible and its relation to American or World history an elective, not a mandatory course, which is what Walters seems to be pushing. How can children between the ages of 5 to, say, about 8 or 9, grasp the story of, for example, Daniel in the lion's den without being scared? This is the part that Walters doesn't get.

Walters' proposal has gotten pushback from representatives of other religious groups (i.e. Muslims), which is not surprising. If I'm Walters, I would set an example for the children by inviting them and their families to a special service at his church, assuming he actually attends one, given how some high profile Republicans pretend to be full-on Christians, but don't practice what they, ah, preach. If it happens that he's not a regular at church, well, it'll seem like he's another GOPer talking through his hat.

What Might've Been: Jerks of All Trades (1949)

 The Three Stooges took time from their shooting schedule at Columbia to try a pilot for a possible TV series, bringing along repertory player Emil Sitka for Jerks of All Trades.

First produced in 1949, this was reissued nearly 30 years later.

Performed live, Jerks was a test to see if the Stooges could adapt to the new medium, using the same slapstick comedy we'd come to know & love for more than 15 years. However, the live format took away some of the charm of the classic shorts.

Rating: B--.

YouTube Theatre: For Those Who Think Young (1964)

 Here's a beach movie that didn't have Frankie Avalon or Annette Funicello. 

United Artists released "For Those Who Think Young" in 1964. Our ensemble includes James Darren, Nancy Sinatra (papa Frank had gotten the rights to an earlier treatment for the movie), Paul Lynde, Sammee Tong (ex-Bachelor Father), Tina Louise, Bob Denver, Roger Smith (ex-77 Sunset Strip), George Raft, Robert Middleton, and, appearing as himself, Woody Woodbury, who had the enviable task of succeeding Johnny Carson on Who Do You Trust? after Carson left 2 years earlier for The Tonight Show.

We've previously showcased Denver performing "Ho Daddy (Surf's Up)". Now, you've got the whole film.

Edit, 10/8/24: Had to change the video. We'll serve up a trailer:

George O'Hanlon (The Jetsons) co-wrote the script. Just a few months later, Denver & Louise would team again on Gilligan's Island. Paul Lynde began recurring as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched a year later. James Darren contributed to another movie soundtrack in 1964----"Hey There, It's Yogi Bear"!

No rating. Just a public service as we begin what could be a long July 4 weekend for most folks.

Musical Interlude: Barracuda (1977)

 Heart just missed the top 10 in 1977 with "Barracuda", which has become an FM radio staple, more than 45 years later.

Vocalist Ann Wilson explained that she wrote the song after she'd been disrespected by a promoter who was under the mistaken notion that she was in some sort of incestuous relationship with her sister, Nancy.

Heart were scheduled to play in Albany next month, but Ann Wilson recently underwent surgery to remove some cancerous cells, and has to undergo chemotherapy, forcing the band to cancel the remaining dates on their 2024 tour, which will be made up next year.

Names making news

 The New York State Office of General Services, which organizes the annual July 4 festivities at the Empire State Plaza, will need a new headliner for this year's edition on Thursday.

Grammy winner Bruce Hornsby and his current band, the Noisemakers, have cancelled due to Hornsby coming down with a case of laryngitis, leaving him unable to perform at this year's event.

File photo courtesy Albany Times-Union.

The program will still go on from 5-10 pm on Thursday, with a headliner to be announced.

===============================================

Embattled former NY Mayor and US Attorney Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York due to his persistent and false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump.

In all probability, Giuliani will likely be disbarred elsewhere as well. Should've stayed retired, Rudy.

===================================================

Speaking of Trump, the US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the former president has limited immunity from prosecution for official acts undertaken while in office.

Trump's ambulance chasers are now trying to argue that his 34 felony convictions in the Stormy Daniels hush money case should be overturned, claiming that some of the payments were made while he was in office.

I doubt that very, very seriously. Trump may not have had the entire ruling read to him, or his limited intellect tells him that he got what he wanted. Well, not all of it. In other words, the horse already left the barn on the Daniels case, so, with sentencing due on July 11, Trump is trying to avoid whatever punishment awaits him. Given his advanced age, probation seems likely, although any confinement needed would be in someplace like a psychiatric hospital. Just sayin'.

A classic theme reborn: Theme from Mission: Impossible (1996)

 Lalo Schifrin's iconic theme from Mission: Impossible gets a 90's makeover from U2's Larry Mullen & Adam Clayton from the soundtrack to the first film in the Tom Cruise movie series version of the franchise.