The weekend of GOP stupidity

 Donald Trump won't stop cosplaying as a tough guy.

On Sunday, however, he whined and complained about Pope Leo's bashing of his pointless war with Iran.

"WAAAAHHHHH!!! He should stay out of my business! WAAAAAAAHHHH!"

No, he's not going to, Mango Judas. You had no business starting a conflict with Iran, knowing full well what they are capable of doing to innocent Americans. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops defended the Chicago-born Pope, telling Politico that they're disheartened by your public excoriation of the Pope.

Overnight, the Tangerine Insomniac whined on Truthless Social that Pope Leo is "weak on crime". No, that's not true. He complained that Pope Leo is "terrible for foreign policy". Wrong again, Mango Judas. If you were a true Christian, and we know you're not, and never have been, you would have a better understanding of where the Pope is coming from. But, no, you have to pout like a brat, as usual, because it's all you know.

Worse, Donnie Diapers posted an AI image of himself as a Christ-like figure healing a sick man, mocking not only the Pope, but Jesus as well. Fellow Republicans, including Brilyn Hollyhand, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee's Youth Advisory Council, denounced the image as blasphemy. Pope Leo, for his part, says he doesn't fear the Trump administration. Amen.

Meanwhile, the Department of Injustice, likely on orders from the oldest baby in America, opened an investigation against the National Football League over the allegations of overpricing subscription fees for streamers, which the DOI says is in violation of a 65 year old law, the Sports Broadcasting Act, which is in need of amendment to account for streamers such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Paramount+. That the DOI decided to launch a frivolous investigation speaks more to the fact that the league shut out Trump when he tried to buy three different NFL franchises over the years, including Buffalo & New England. The league's stance is that they didn't want someone like Trump in the league for whatever. Trump's been whining about the NFL ever since he was outbid by the Pegulas for the Bills a few years. Then again, the Bills have become perennial AFC contenders, something they likely wouldn't be under Trump. Same with the Patriots, who have had a resurgence this past year, and thrived under Robert Kraft's ownership.

What they're basically saying is that while Trump is a bloviating jackass, he lacks the dignity, maturity, and professional comportment of a Kraft or a Jerry Jones. While Jones is a self-promoter, he's not a shameless carny like Trump.

Basically, the league can tell Todd "Bleached" Blanche, the current acting head of the DOI, to pound sand, and go away. The timing of the investigation, which began two weeks before the draft, is suspicious on its own.

Finally, it turns out that sending VP Just Dumb Vance to Hungary to meet with then-president Viktor Orban turned out to be Trump giving Orban the kiss of death, as Orban was defeated in Sunday's election. Unlike Trump, Orban conceded defeat, ending a 16 year tenure as president.

It should be a sign that Trump should leave well enough alone about matters that do not concern him directly, but you know he won't. His ego dictates he needs a headline a day at the very least. All he did was make Orban the most famous Hungarian since Victor Borge & the Gabor sisters, Eva & Zsa Zsa, and it cost Orban his seat.

Well, the American Safety Council was right. You can learn a lot from a dummy.

The most unlikely commercial pitchman (1974)

 After Night Gallery had ended its run, Rod Serling took on a rare commercial endorsement for Mazda.

The Japanese automaker had made its first inroads in the US four years earlier, but, for now, this was the earliest known commercial available.

I think it was around this time that Serling had begun narrating the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau specials for ABC.

Insight Sundays: The Man From Inner Space (1975)

 "The Man From Inner Space" comes from the pen of William Peter Blatty, the creator of "The Exorcist". It is a fanciful fable of an African-American (Louis Gossett, Jr.) arriving in a spaceship, and taken to the Pentagon. Co-starring James Franciscus (ex-Longstreet, Mr. Novak) & Frank Aletter (ex-It's About Time, Danger Island).

What Might've Been: The Man Called X (1956)

 Some radio shows had a harder time transitioning to television than others. The Man Called X was one of those cases.

Four years after the radio series had ended, ZIV Television acquired the rights to the series, and cast Barry Sullivan in the title role. 39 episodes, spanning two seasons and a calendar year, and done. For that reason, the series didn't continue in reruns after its cancellation.

From season 1, here's "The Maps", with Henry Corden (misspelled "Cordon" in the credits).

No rating. Just a public service.

One of Wrestlemania's oldest traditions is ruined

 41 years ago, Vince McMahon launched Wrestlemania as a closed circuit event from Madison Square Garden. Knowing he needed more than just the wrestlers on his rosters to sell the event, McMahon banked on some additional star power.

He'd already brought in Mr. T (The A-Team) and singer Cyndi Lauper. For the big party, he added boxing icon Muhammad Ali, who'd had a brief dalliance with the company nearly a decade earlier, Yankee legend Billy Martin, and Liberace, who got into the Rockettes' legendary kick line.

Voila! A tradition was born.

In one week's time, however, when Wrestlemania returns to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the celebrity involvement will be lacking the star power of the original.

Country singer Jelly Roll has had previous appearances with WWE. Rapper L'il Yachty? Not so much. Yachty is being positioned as a "hype man" for former NXT champ Trick Williams as he seeks the US title. Before becoming a champion in his own right, Williams was a hype man himself for former US champ Carmelo Hayes when both were in NXT.

Jelly Roll, meanwhile, is thrust into a main event feud involving current champ Cody Rhodes and former champ Randy Orton, who were stablemates 17 years ago. Instead of referencing the past, which has only been done in passing to this point, with a week to go, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel decided the Saturday main event needed some unnecessary extra juice.

Enter Pat McAfee.

Claiming mental exhaustion after a 4 1/2 month college football season kept him from returning to WWE as a commentator, McAfee made a surprise return on April 3, turning heel on Rhodes, and aligning himself with Orton.

On last night's Smackdown, Orton & McAfee stole Rhodes' title belt, adding further fuel to the fire, especially after it got out before Friday that Emanuel is also McAfee's agent.

Conflict of interest, anyone?

If I were a betting man, and I'm not, I'd say Orton's chances of leaving Vegas with his 15th world title were flushed down the drain. He & McAfee are reportedly set for a tag match vs. Rhodes & Jelly Roll at Backlash next month.

The fans would like to ask Emanuel to pass the Pepto-Bismol, this is so bad.

Last year, Emanuel brought in Travis Scott as an emissary for former champ turned TKO board member Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to screw over Rhodes. Neither Johnson nor Scott has been heard from since, and you'd think Emanuel would've learned a lesson after that debacle, but no.

Without addressing Emanuel directly, both Rhodes & CM Punk have taken shots at the TKO frontman this week, leading some to speculate that Johnson would return after all, but why bother, if he's going to skip out again after next week?

If they need a corporate stooge for Rhodes, Punk, or any other babyface to cut promos on this coming week, they already have someone available in Bruce Prichard, long McMahon's right hand man. The artist formerly known as faux evangelist Brother Love would make a good sounding board/victim.

But is Emanuel willing to take that step, as safe as it is?

Stay tuned.

Musical Interlude: A Whale of a Tale (1954)

 I have seen Disney's adaptation of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea in a more condensed form when it aired on The Wonderful World of Disney. I don't, however, remember seeing it all, as some parts may have been edited for time.

The only song in the movie was "A Whale of a Tale", co-written by future TV icon Norman Gimbel, and sung by the film's star, Kirk Douglas.

How Douglas never made a musical is beyond me.

Anyway, Douglas appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in December 1954. The world's most famous dimpled chin could've been Popeye if the comic strip hero had been adapted for a feature film back then.....

As Popeye himself would say, well, blow me down!

A little of this & a little of that

 If you were planning on seeing Barry Manilow on his farewell tour, I've got some bad news.

Manilow has postponed a series of dates, including a stop in Albany at the MVP Arena on April 20, due to health concerns. Hold on to your tickets, as they'll be honored when the concerts are rescheduled.

The farewell tour is on hold.

ESPN is taking a ton of heat for its Masters coverage on Thursday.

There were already issues with Jason Kelce (Monday Night Countdown) as an on course reporter. Then, the network doubled down by having WWE superstar Michael "The Miz" Mizanin in a broadcast booth with Laura Rutledge. Give Miz credit, though, for dressing for the occasion, as dapper as usual, in a white & green ensemble. Mizanin was there to promote not only Wrestlemania next weekend, portions of which will air on ESPN, but also his new side gig as host of the Amazon Prime revival of American Gladiators.

 And this was after ESPN was turned down when it requested that Pat McAfee and his crew could set up shop at Augusta, after McAfee had gotten in hot water with WWE fans a week ago for being inserted in a main event storyline at the Show of Shows between Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes, at the request of TKO CEO Ari Emanuel.

Like, if it ain't broken, ya don't fix it, but ESPN & WWE are both guilty of that. Then again, it could've been worse at the Masters.

Stephen A. Smith could've been in Miz's seat.

It's been a happy homecoming so far this week for former Mets utility ace Jeff McNeil.

Back in New York with the A's for series vs. the Yankees & Mets this week, McNeil went 4-8 with an RBI and a run scored as the A's took two of three from the Yanks. Tonight, McNeil returns to Citi Field for a series vs. his former team, for whom he played the first seven seasons of his career. Former Mets prospect JT Ginn gets the start for the A's.

Later this month, Liberty Mutual insurance is retiring the Safeco brand of personal insurance (i.e. homeowners, auto), as all of their insurance products will be under the Liberty Mutual umbrella. You might remember when Liberty Mutual sponsored outdoors programming in the 70's. I caution, however, when you visit the website, you might find mascots Limu Emu & Doug pictured on the site. The commercials are in heavy rotation, but do ya really need a reminder when online? Judge for yourself.