Notes from around town

 Downtown Troy is starting to experience a rebirth.

In recent weeks, we've seen the Denim Library open in the former First Class Laundromat space. Troy Rewind gives the city its first video arcade since the 80's. Another cannabis dispensary has opened on Hoosick Street, next to the St. Mary's Massry Center. Really cheeky move there.

But, at the same time, citizens are increasingly angry over the Flock cameras installed in the city, with allegations that the information gathered is being shared with the federal government, which seems to be the point of the exercise in the first place.

However, overnight, someone decided that a little graffiti was in order at the Hedley building, current home of City Hall.

Photo courtesy Albany Times-Union.

Now, a number of other businesses, and some vacant storefronts, have been tagged in recent months, but when the graffiti reaches City Hall, well, it's only then that the police, at the request of Mayor Carmella Mantello, are looking into the tagging, because part of it, as you can see, can be interpreted as a personal attack on the Mayor.

Some will argue that the graffiti undermines citizen groups looking for peaceful solutions. The frustration is setting in, it's clear. We know the Mantello administration is emulating the idiot squad in Washington, and it's not a good idea. The Mayor is fishing for brownie points from the White House. Not only that, but recent photos suggest that the Mayor is growing old before her time, as she seems to have aged 10 years in the last 16+ months.

Schools throughout the 518 will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday starting tomorrow, with classes resuming Wednesday instead of Tuesday. It's a recent trend, similar to starting Easter break on Good Friday, for example. Things my generation didn't have back in the day.

After exhausting their supply of last year's baseball cards, Hatchet Ace Hardware on 3rd Street is trumpeting the fact they're carrying Pokemon cards, which can be found behind the counter to dissuade shoplifters. If they do get any of this year's baseball cards, they'll also go behind the counter, mostly to keep the greedy scalpers away.

And that would be a welcome idea.

On The Air: Pop Culture Jeopardy! (2024)

 This was inevitable.

As Sony continues to expand the Jeopardy! franchise, the newest spinoff is available for online streaming.

Pop Culture Jeopardy! launched at the end of 2024 on Amazon Prime, but shifted to Netflix for season 2, which ends June 6. Colin Jost (Saturday Night Live) is the series host. Unlike the regular Jeopardy! and other spinoffs, the Pop Culture iteration has three two-person teams instead of three single contestants. The more, the merrier.

Let's take a look at a sample category. Full episodes, of course, are unavailable, other than on Netflix & Hulu.

Jost's profile has been raised in recent years, what with an endorsement deal with Blue Moon beer and his marriage to actress Scarlett Johanssen. If the core Jeopardy! needs a fill-in should something happen to current moderator Ken Jennings, Jost would be a good bet to cover.

Rating: A.

Videos of Summer: The River of Dreams (1993)

 "The River of Dreams" is the title track from Billy Joel's 1993 CD.

Look quick, and you'll see Billy's then-wife, Christie Brinkley, doing some painting. Brinkley did the cover for the CD.

Now, comes word that a bio pic, "Billy & Me", is being prepped for a release, but without any cooperation from the "Piano Man", whose former bandmate, Jon Small, & former manager, Irwin Mazur, are behind the bio, which covers Joel's early career, before he signed with Columbia. Joel is blocking the release of the film, claiming Mazur & Small don't have the rights to use his music.

Stay tuned.

An era soon to end: CBS Radio News (1927-2026)

 CBS owners Paramount-Skydance claim that they needed to terminate the radio news department because of how today's society receives their news via live streams and social media.

When CBS Radio News signs off on Friday, an era will end, and not entirely for the reasons that they claim. One commenter online suggested that some of the current radio staff, including veteran journalists Steve Kathan, Vicki Barker, Debra Rodriguez, Wendy Gillette, and others, could move to streaming. CBS gave former WCW announcer Christopher Cruise a new lease on life, and he likely could move into retirement.

Locally, WROW, a CBS affiliate forever, will simply go directly to local news updates from WRGB between 5-8 am, starting May 26. Currently, the station will run a short news brief from CBS for about a minute or so before going to local news. That they get the local news from WRGB reminds that WROW no longer has a news department of their own, and hasn't in years.

On Mother's Day, CBS Sunday Morning ran a feature piece on their radio cousins. Intro by Jane Pauley. Mo Rocca is the reporter.

You know who to blame, really. Even though CBS Radio News is non-partisan in its coverage, the decision is not entirely on Bari Weiss, or new owner Larry Ellison. It comes because president Trump, who doesn't comprehend the distinction between constructive & destructive criticism, doesn't want to hear any dissenting voices on the air.

WROW dropped CBS' World News Roundup a couple of years ago in order to streamline their morning news. What will happen when there's a breaking story after May 22, and CBS can't cover it on radio? I guess we'll have to wait & find out.

But, trust me on this. After Trump leaves office, Ellison may be forced to reconsider this ill-advised decision, and he should.

Forgotten TV: Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n' Rollers (1978)

 The Bobby Vinton Show had ended its 3 year run. "The Polish Prince", whose half hour variety show had been packaged by Chuck Barris & Chris Bearde, and produced in Canada, returned to the US for a hour long primetime special for CBS right before Thanksgiving of 1978.

"Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n' Rollers", though, was packaged by Sid & Marty Krofft, their first sale to CBS since Far Out Space Nuts three years earlier. Having ceded control of ABC's Donny & Marie to the Osmond family, which moved the series to Utah, the Kroffts decided to create a similar show, but with Vinton at the front, with guests Fabian, Penny Marshall (Laverne & Shirley), Erik Estrada (CHiPs), and a reunion of Our Miss Brooks stars Eve Arden & Gale Gordon. The Kroffts were bent on making Estrada into a song & dance man, as he covered Dion's "The Wanderer", two months after he went ham on the premiere of the Krofft Superstar Hour.

Unfortunately, all we have is a network promo, queued by Valerie Bertinelli (One Day at a Time), and narrated by Dick Tufeld (ex-Lost in Space, Hollywood Palace).

If Barris, fresh from The Gong Show, had packaged this, he'd have been tempted to bring along Gene Gene The Dancing Machine.

No rating, of course.

Classic TV: Alcoa Premiere, aka Fred Astaire's Premiere Theatre (1961)

 Alcoa Premiere was an anthology series in the truest sense of the word.

The series gave birth to a trio of series, McHale's Navy, Channing, & Wild Country, the latter of which ended up on NBC. Host Fred Astaire, like Boris Karloff on NBC's Thriller, also acted in some episodes, and we'll look at those down the line. Comedian George Gobel even guest hosted one episode, and one more was moved over from Alfred Hitchcock Presents, complete with Hitchcock getting an executive producer's credit for his Shamley Productions.

We've already seen the McHale pilot, "Seven Against The Sea". This time, we're in season 2, with "Million Dollar Hospital", with an all-star cast of then-current & future stars, including Charles Bickford, William Shatner, Ken Berry, John Banner, Arte Johnson, Reta Shaw, and Burt Mustin.

Rating: A.

When life makes art a reality. Yes, Virginia, there really is a WKRP

 Eight years after his passing, Hugh Wilson's vision, if you will, of a rock station in Cincinnati has come to life.

Wilson created WKRP in Cincinnati, which spent a total of 6 seasons on the air (CBS 1978-82, syndicated 1991-3), in which the station's format had shifted from staid muzak to classic rock.

Recently, a Cincinnati radio station, a part of the iHeart network, acquired the famous call letters from a North Carolina non-profit for a classic oldies channel that covers Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana in its broadcast district. The playlist now consists of oldies from the 60's, 70's, & 80's, just like iHeart affiliate WTRY here in the 518.

Of course, it got some play on the local news in Cincy....

Of the TV WKRP's cast, only Gary Sandy, Richard Sanders, Tim Reid, & Jan Smithers are still with us, and I shan't be surprised if they've been contacted about doing guest appearances for the new, real-life WKRP. As of now, WKRP, nicknamed, "The Oasis", has just 3 on-air personalities. I wonder if a certain 518 doll's syndicated show will show up there soon........

Sports this 'n' that

 Open Channel D. 

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

The connections of Preakness winner Napoleon Solo had to be fans of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., even if it was the box office bomb, and not the 1964-8 series that aired on-----wait for it----NBC, which carried Saturday's Preakness......

No truth to the rumor that there was anyone named Waverly among the owners. 

I'll move on.

When part 1 of the 2026 Subway Series began Friday, fans figured that the Yankees, despite a slump of their own, would lord it over the Mets, what with the injuries that have plagued the Amazin's. Friday's Yankee win came at a price for the Mets, who lost starter Clay Holmes, the ex-Yank, to a broken leg.

But, if there is a word that describes the Mets now, after a horrid start to the season, it's resilience.

The Mets came back and won Saturday. Today, after Freddy Peralta fell into a hole with 6 walks in 5 innings, the Mets fought back. Tyrone Taylor smacked a 3-run homer off Yankee closer David Bednar to tie it in the 9th. In the 10th, Yankee manager Aaron Boone gave his detractors some fuel by moving one of his outfielders into the infield to cut off the winning run. Rookie Carson Benge hits a chopper that causes a collision between two infielders, and the Mets win the game, 7-6. Devin Williams, last year's Yankee closer, picked up the win.

The teams will meet again in September.

Weasel of The Week: Elon Musk & Matt Walsh

 Christopher Nolan's latest, an adaptation of Homer's legendary poem, The Odyssey, doesn't hit theatres until July. Conservative scum are forwarding false rumors about some of the casting, and the world's richest man, South African emigre Elon Musk, has gotten headlines for reposting and sharing such false opinions.

Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire, a shameless piece of human trash, slammed Nolan's pick of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy. Transgender actor Elliot Page has been cast in an undisclosed role after rumors surfaced that Page would play Achilles. Rapper and pariah to WWE fans Travis Scott has a small, undisclosed role. Musk posted his agreement with Walsh's sentiments.

Well, here's a reality check for you guys. In 21st century Hollywood, filmmakers make casting choices based on, and this is the important part for you conservative peabrains, the best actor or actress available for the part!!

Of course, part of the problem is the right wing obsession with eradicating DEI in everything, undoing decades of societal progress. To conservatives, diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) are dirty words. Yo, jobronies! It's 2026, not 1946. Get a clue! A whole box of them.

"The Odyssey", as a summer blockbuster, will overcome the haterizing, and likely make a ton of money when it opens in 2 months' time. Walsh & Musk get the Weasel ears for formenting unnecessary hatred because of their closed mind mentality on today's Hollywood. They'll be sending you plates of crow come July.

That time Muhammad Ali fought a jobber (1976)

 Ahead of his boxer vs. wrestler match in Japan vs. Antonio Inoki, Muhammad Ali fought a 3 round exhibition against a lesser known wrestler, Buddy Wolfe. Fred Blassie was in Ali's corner, and Dick The Bruiser was in Wolfe's, with AWA legend, and future Hall of Famer, Verne Gagne, wearing his warmup suit as the ref.

Hearing Blassie shouting instructions to Ali, it made me think of what might've been had Blassie auditioned for a supporting role in "Rocky". Of course, we all know that "Rocky" was a mammoth hit, with film legend Burgess Meredith as Mickey opposite Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.

I think this might've been the first time Gagne was in the same building with Vince McMahon, who conducted a post-fight interview with Ali & Blassie.

Musical Interlude: 19 (1985)

 In 1982, ABC News produced the documentary, Vietnam Requiem, more than a decade after US troops had left Vietnam. Three years later, Paul Hardcastle scored a UK #1 hit, and reached the top 40 here in the US, with "19". Veteran commercial voiceover artist Peter Thomas narrated Requiem, and some of the dialogue was sampled on "19".

Thomas, after a bazillion commercials in the 70's & 80's, would narrate Forensic Files years later.

Many thanks to Chuck Miller for the tip.

Hmmmm, this came out around the same time as Max Headroom with the digital stuttering. 

What Might've Been: The Spike Jones Show (1954)

 Bandleader Spike Jones and his City Slickers landed their first television series as a mid-season replacement in the winter of 1954 on NBC. Small problem. Jackie Gleason was already an established draw over on CBS, and Spike was sent packing after 5 months. Jones would return with three more short-lived series between 1957-61, this time on CBS.

In addition to the City Slickers, Jones also had his wife, Helen Grayko, as a featured vocalist, and recurring regulars including Bill Dana, Len Weinrib, and, in this next clip, Billy Barty.

For those of you who may only know Billy from his work for the Kroffts in the 70's, as well as his later TV & film work (i.e. "Under The Rainbow"), this is a treat in and of itself. And now you know why Billy was so at home in primetime when he made appearances on Donny & Marie (like the Osmonds, Barty was a Mormon).

Spike made a number of Soundies in the 40's, including a hysterical number, "Clink! Clink! Another Drink!", with Mel Blanc. We'll bring that out another time.

No rating. Just a public service.

Wild West Wednesdays: Gold Raiders (1951)

 The Three Stooges (Moe & Shemp Howard and Larry Fine) join forces with veteran action star George O'Brien in 1951's Western farce, "Gold Raiders". The Stooges are traveling salesmen out west, and O'Brien, a former lawman, has transitioned to being an insurance agent.

Co-author Ellwood Ullman & director Edward Bernds were no strangers to the Stooges, having worked on several shorts. The film clocks in at a speedy 56 minutes, which would be good enough to fit into a syndicated package of Westerns in the 70's & 80's if it was needed.

The Stooges, with Joe DeRita succeeding Shemp, would cowboy up again 14 years later in "The Outlaws is Coming", with Adam West. We'll try to locate that one for another day. 

An amazing resemblance. Steven Cheung actually looks like a supervillain

 White House communications flack Steven Cheung is one of the most miserable men on earth, just like his boss.

Welp, on Tuesday, Cheung lashed out at Brett Bruen, a former National Security Council official under President Obama after president Trump had left for China. According to Bruen, however, Trump, as usual, didn't bother bringing anyone with any experience in foreign affairs, thinking that his pitbull mentality as a negotiator would carry the day for him (as if).

Bruen called out Trump, stating that the immature president should've had an expert on China and/or an experienced NSC or State Dept. official on hand for briefings. Cheung, covering for his dimwitted boss, complained that Bruen was, in his eyes, a moron.

The more I read about Cheung, the more I get the feeling I've seen someone like him before somewhere. Then, it hit me. Cheung, a California native, bears some resemblance to a comic book villain.

Presenting Elihas Starr, aka Egghead, a Marvel Comics villain dating back to 1962. Not to be confused with the made-for-TV Egghead, memorably played by Vincent Price on Batman between 1966-8.

Unlike Starr, Cheung has not been held accountable for his lying and false accusations. It kinda fits, doesn't it?

Another case based on lies. Pete Hegseth wants to investigate Senator Mark Kelly again. He will fail again

 Secretary without Defense Pete Hegseth is putting both feet in his mouth again.

Just days after an appellate court ruled an earlier attempt to "punish" Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona for advising current soldiers not to obey illegal orders, the former Fox No News personality is going after Kelly again after Kelly appeared Sunday on  Face The Nation, and told moderator Margaret Brennan that Hegseth had told him that it would actually take years to replenish certain stockpiles in a conversation a few days prior.

This moron may be on his way out.

Hegseth, of course, is pandering to president Trump and his base of marks, but, as was the case before, this will fail. Kelly, on Nation, recalled telling Hegseth that the conflict with Iran is proving costly to the American people, and Trump & Hegseth haven't shared with the country what their goal is. 

This latest attempt follows the report that the US Court of Appeals, per MSN, seems likely to confirm that Hegseth's attempt at disciplinary action against Kelly will fail. Hegseth has intentionally misinterpreted Kelly's remarks to suit the administration's misguided agenda.

There's a better chance that the egg brained Hegseth will wind up falling on his virtual sword, the next cabinet member dumped by Trump.

Stay tuned.

YouTube Theatre: Johnny Shiloh (1963)

 Welcome back to Wartime Mondays. This time, we're going all the way to the Civil War, and a 2-part installment of Disney's Wonderful World of Color, presented in its feature film form. Kevin Corcoran has the lead in "Johnny Shiloh", about a 10 year old drummer working with the Union Army in the Civil War. Our cast is loaded with familiar names, including Skip Homeier, Regis Toomey (Burke's Law), Darryl Hickman, Edward Platt (2 years before Get Smart), Brian Keith, Buck Taylor (later of Gunsmoke), and Hayden Rorke (2 years before I Dream of Jeannie). Enjoy the show.

In two weeks: We celebrate Memorial Day with Combat!.

On The Shelf: More Free Comic Book Day stuff

 Continuing with the Free Comic Book Day reviews:

Mad Cave decided to release black & white specials of Terrorbytes & Flash Gordon. Why did they even bother?

In Flash's case, writer Jeremy Adams just had to remind us of how Dale Arden was brainwashed into becoming the new, evil empress of Mongo at the start of the series. No sale. Seems Adams is in no hurry to repair that mistake. And that's a mistake in and of itself.

Mark Russell has been entrusted with Terrorbytes, but I'd rather see this in full color glory.

Ratings for both: C.

Over at Marvel, the House of Missing Ideas decided three features are better than two in two of their offerings.

For example, you get Amazing Spider-Man, plus Venom, and a preview of Queen in Black, which, we already know, is Hela, from Thor. More than 35 years after the debut of Venom, the symbiote concept has jumped the shark. Venom itself is now bonded to Mary Jane Watson, who's more than likely destined to return to Spider-Man's side, after her most recent beau was killed. This after some genius decided to give the Black Widow a symbiote. Right about now, Stan Lee is turning over in his grave.

Rating: None. Not worth it.

Meanwhile, the 20th Century Studios imprint offers a trifecta featuring Aliens, Predator, & Planet of The Apes, with a small tease of what we talked about last time involving the latter pair.

Rating: A-.

Dark Horse reportedly plans on a Masters of The Universe ongoing, timed to precede the remake of the 1987 live-action film. The backup feature is Dungeons & Dragons, because that franchise is still around, more than 45 years later. Take yer pick, effendi.

Rating: B.

DC's Next Level sampler offers teases of the first wave of titles, some of which are already out, including Fury of Firestorm (previously reviewed). The Jeff Lemire-penned series has been expanded from 6 to 9 issues, meaning it'll wrap in time for Christmas.

Batwoman returns, but we are not thrilled with Dani's artistic rendering of Kate Kane. At least enough time passed after the CW series ended in a debacle a few years ago. You have to be reading Batman to have an understanding why Barbara Gordon has gone to prison in Matt Fraction's current storyline. Her spinoff series won't mean anything otherwise, and we're closing in on the 60th anniversary of her debut as Batgirl. No sale.

Lobo is back as well, just in time for his big screen debut this summer in "Supergirl". The "Last Czarnian" is as rowdy & nasty as ever.

Ratings:

Batwoman: C.

Lobo: B.

Barbara Gordon: No rating.

Meanwhile, Mad Cave has launched a new Gatchaman spinoff series, Red Impulse, whose titular hero has ties to the team. That's all I can say about Steve Orlando's plot. We've seen variations on this plot before, as it's an oft-used trope.

Rating: Incomplete.

As Dynamite's ThunderCats-Silverhawks event continues, Mumm-Ra, the 'Cats' arch-nemesis, gets his own miniseries. We dig the Golden Age style aesthetic, as the villain's origins are revealed. We're less enthused about ThunderHawks, in which some characters from ThunderCats Lost don Silverhawk armor. Without being bonded. Hmmmmmm. Curious. And Silverhawks marks its 40th anniversary this year. Oy!

Ratings for both: B.

Videos of Summer: Let Your Love Flow (1976)

 50 years ago this month, the Bellamy Brothers hit #1 on the Hot 100, #21 on the country chart (WHAT?), and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Let Your Love Flow". Since Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, is two weeks away, let's start our Videos of Summer....

A message from some famous moms

 Remember when the dairy association had those milk mustache ads?

Well, for Mother's Day, here's a vintage print ad with Shirley Jones (The Partridge Family), Marion Ross (Happy Days), & Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch).

Speaks for itself, doesn't it?

Sports this 'n' that

 In the run-up to tonight's Backlash PLE on the ESPN app (the 1st hour will be simulcast on ESPN2), various WWE personalities have appeared on ESPN programming.

Perhaps the biggest impact on sports outside WWE came from Long Island native Paul Heyman. Heyman, beloved in Philadelphia as the mastermind behind Extreme Championship Wrestling, threw his support behind his hometown Knicks in the NBA Eastern Conference semi-finals, and warned the 76ers that "their season was already over". It might've seemed like typical bluster from Heyman, with the Knicks already up, 2-0, when he made this statement, but, as of today, he might actually be right, after the Knicks won again on Friday to go up, 3-0.

Your move, Philadelphia.

It has not been a good week off the field for the Atlanta Braves.

First, former announcer John Sterling, who later became an icon as the radio voice of the Yankees, had passed away, followed by former owner Ted Turner on Wednesday. Now comes word that Bobby Cox, who served two stints as manager (1977-81, 1985-2010), with a run in Toronto in between, winning 5 National League titles, 14 division titles, and the 1995 World Series, has passed at 84.

MLB has produced this video obituary, narrated by Matt Vasgersian:

There is also mourning in Pittsburgh, as former player & coach Bob Skinner passed away mid-week at 95. I never saw him play, but he served as a coach for managers Bill Virdon & Jim Leyland for several seasons.

Rest in peace, gentlemen.

Family Fridays: The prodigal daughter comes home (The Donna Reed Show, 1963)

 How fitting is it for Mother's Day weekend? Sure, college season is winding down, and when this episode of The Donna Reed Show aired in 1963 (the open carries a 1965 copyright because that was the copy the then-Decades channel had on hand), Mary (Shelley Fabares) returns home from college to visit her parents on what could be parents' weekend. The episode first aired in October 1963.

By that point, Patty Peterson (Paul's sister) had joined the show as Tricia, an orphan adopted by the Stone family.

It was 10 years ago today

 On a hot August night in San Diego, the Mets were in the midst of a weekend series vs. the Padres.

Top of the 2nd. Mets already up, 2-0, with a runner on for pitcher Bartolo Colon.......

Padres starter James Shields was already on the back nine of his career after this. MLB decided to take the bats out of the hands of pitchers for good, unless you're Shohei Ohtani, a few years later.

Two titans of television news have left the studio for Heaven

 Many of us living in the 518 grew up with investigative reporter John McLaughlin, first on WTEN, then, at the end of his career, at WNYT. McLaughlin, a graduate of LaSalle Institute in Troy and Siena, began his career in print journalism at the Troy Record, back when it was a respectable newspaper, in the mid-60's, before moving permanently to television around 1972.

During his 40+ years at WTEN, McLaughlin served as a co-host for the annual Cerebral Palsy telethon, and hosted a pair of public affairs programs that usually aired on Sunday mornings.

WTEN morning co-anchor Christina Arangio looks back at McLaughlin's career, queued up by afternoon co-anchors Lydia Kulbida & John Gray.

McLaughlin passed away at 83. His last gig was doing radio ads for a local business a few years ago.

CNN founding father Robert E. "Ted" Turner has also passed away.

Turner launched CNN in the summer of 1980, and watched it evolve, or, maybe as of today, devolve. Turner also owned the Atlanta Braves & Hawks during the 80's and part of the 90's, and even took a chance on being the 1st owner since Connie Mack to double as manager, but that didn't last. Ultimately, Turner sold CNN, Cartoon Network, and the rest of his television empire, to Time-Warner (now Warner Bros. Discovery, and soon to be Paramount-Warner, barring any last minute miracles), in the mid-90's. Turner's biggest contribution to children's television was the launch of Captain Planet on TBS and in syndication in the 90's.

Wrestling fans will recall that Turner enabled Eric Bischoff to open World Championship Wrestling's bankroll to better compete with the now-WWE. This lasted for 3 years before WWE took over and defeated WCW, buying out the rival in 2001.

Turner was 87.

Rest in peace, gentlemen.

On The Shelf: An unlikeable anti-hero, and two TV favorites return

 Free Comic Book Day has come & gone, and we're taking a look at some of the goodies that arrived last weekend.

Amp Comics has the license to adapt Stephen J. Cannell's early 80's adventure series, The Greatest American Hero, getting cooperation from series star William Katt. That's the good news.

Image courtesy Amp Comics.

The bad news? While the story is set in modern times, after Ralph Hinkley (Katt) has retired, and reconnects with his son, in the process meeting his granddaughter, artist Alper Geicel, a relative newcomer, doesn't connect with the reader, which makes one long for cover artist David Mack to do the interiors as well. Oof. Anyone expecting something along the lines of the original series will be disappointed.

Rating: B--.

The former WB/CW series, Supernatural, has landed at Dynamite, and the company decided to reissue the 1st issue for Free Comic Book Day. Fans of the Winchester brothers will be happy to see them back in action. Given that there was a crossover with Scooby-Doo late in the run, it won't surprise anyone if eventually, Dynamite picks up the license for Scooby, too, hoping for a sequel. We'll see, but, given how Dynamite has solicited titles as ongoing, only to see those books cut down to miniseries (i.e. Thundarr), I wouldn't get my hopes up.

The opener proves that the guys are gullible enough to fall for a con. Not what I wanted to read.

Rating: B.

Archie Comics collected a quintet of 5 pagers for World of Archie, their Free Comic Book Day entry. Always on the pop culture tip, this collection includes Betty & Veronica spinning off from the Archies to form Rock Candi, and, later, setting up shop selling merch based on a send-up of singer Sabrina Carpenter, unaware that the other Sabrina, our favorite witch, has a similar kiosk running. A time travel spoof with our Sabrina closes out the volume. September, and Oni Press taking over the franchise, can't come soon enough.

Rating: B-.

Another of the new Vertigo titles from DC is End of Life, which pretty much guarantees that its lead, hitman Eddie Stallion, is destined to meet his end once writer Kyle Starks decides to finish his story. Stallion's tale is not one of redemption, but, rather, being on the run after a job goes sideways. Oh, does it ever.

After reading the first three issues, I got the sense that had this been written in the 90's, you could've made a movie out of this with Vanilla Ice as Eddie, and Edward Asner as his pop. Wishful thinking, I know, but there is no way you can cheer for Eddie, not when the title implies the end of the story.

Rating: B--.

Quick hits: I've come to the conclusion that Archie Comics artist Dan Parent has taken to drawing covers of Sabrina in fishnet stockings & knee boots in response to DC's sexy sorceress, Zatanna, who, thanks to Jamal Campbell, has ditched the boots for heels at long last. Now, if Campbell can find Zee a boyfriend not named John Constantine, we'd be all set...............IDW is going with a modern day retelling of Zorro with Zorro's Legacy, out in July. The Howard Chaykin penned Zorro series appears to be off the calendar for the moment........Over at DC, writer Jeremy Adams has split up the Wonder Twins, with Jayna going it alone alongside Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), who otherwise is ready to pop the question to on-again, off-again lover Carol Ferris (Star Sapphire), while Zan appears in Emperor Aquaman, with the bigger story being that the twins don't need to touch to activate their powers anymore. The stories will merge later this year, but if this doesn't lead to Jayna dating Beast Boy of the Titans (which would require him to split with Raven), I don't know what does........With Planet of The Apes vs. Fantastic Four wrapping up later this month, Marvel plans to send a Predator to the ape world in July. What next? Aliens?....After Muppets Noir wraps next month, Dynamite will try a Red Sonja Noir miniseries in July. Stop the pain!

Donald Trump wants Hakeem Jeffries impeached. Guess what, Dumb Donald? That ain't happening

 With mid-term elections six months away, president Trump wants House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) impeached for calling the Supreme Court "illegitimate". All Jeffries was doing was pointing out the hypocrisy of the GOP-dominant Court after a controversial vote on voting rights favored the GOP.

"WAAAAHHHH! He's gotta go! WAAAAHHH!!"

Let's say the Democrats flip the House of Representatives in November. Jeffries conceivably could be the 1st African-American Speaker, replacing Mike Johnson. Trump, of course, is scared that this could in fact happen.

Small problem. Sitting Congressmen cannot be impeached. Expelled, yes, like George Santos, but not impeached. Of course, Dumb Donald, twice impeached himself, doesn't comprehend how governmental rules work. He just exploits his office for personal gain (and to enrich his family). As far as calling for Jeffries to be impeached just for speaking his mind, Trump has to remember that a 3rd impeachment may be headed his way if the Democrats do take over in November. Not just the House, but also the Senate. And, again, there's this little caveat to his whining......

Be careful what you wish for, Donald. Karma may be coming for you this time next year.

A tale of two New Yorkers

 One became a cherished sports icon upon returning home, and finished his career at the end of 2024. The other should've stayed retired when he had the chance, and now is fighting for his life.

John Sterling, the radio voice of the Yankees from 1989-2024, and host for several Old Timers Day events at Yankee Stadium, as well as the host-narrator of Yankeeography on the YES Network, has passed away at 87. Sterling had previously called games on TBS for the Atlanta Braves & Hawks, the latter when WTBS carried their games. In the course of his career, Sterling also called some NHL games, as well as college football, and if memory serves, his last college football broadcast was also on YES a few years ago.

MLB Network offers this retrospective.

And, then, there is America's Disgrace, Rudy Giuliani.

The former mayor, attorney, and chief sycophant to Donald Trump was admitted to a hospital Sunday, but spokesman Ted Goodman would only divulge that Giuliani was in stable, but critical, condition, leaving everyone in the dark about Giuliani's actual condition.

Update, 4:08 pm (ET): Goodman announced today that Giuliani is in the hospital to be treated for pneumonia.

Trump didn't exactly help the cause by blaming left wingers for Giuliani's condition in a post on Truthless Social in the last 24 hours. Giuliani gave up what dignity he had left by casting his lot with Trump during the 2020 election, amplifying false claims of election fraud, which Trump is still whining about 5 1/2 years later. When Giuliani began appearing on TV again about a decade ago, you could already see that his best years were behind him. But if he thought Trump would help him with his legal bills, well, he should've known that Trump is the biggest cheapskate this side of Jack Benny's radio-TV persona.

I've a feeling Giuliani may soon join Sterling in the afterlife. The Yankees, to be sure, will memorialize Sterling themselves, just as they have for other broadcasters in their employ.

Rest in peace, John.

Musical Interlude: All You Fascists Bound to Lose (2026)

 In 1944, during World War II, Woody Guthrie wrote "All You Fascists Bound to Lose", which may have been a rallying cry for the US during the war.

82 years later, actress-singer Bette Midler gathered a group of her Hollywood friends, including Barbara Hershey and Saratoga native David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) for an updated version of "Bound", adding contemporary lyrics & images taking aim at-----who else?-----president Trump.

How soon d'ya think Trump'll start whining about this?

Sports this 'n' that

 Maybe the Mets could learn something from what happened in Philadelphia earlier this week.

Rob Thomson was fired, the 2nd manager in 4 days (Alex Cora), replaced by bench coach Don Mattingly, who had come over from Toronto in the offseason. Philadelphia has since opened some distance between themselves and the last place Mets, amid speculation that Mets manager Carlos Mendoza may be the next to go, at least if you follow the drama on reddit.

Mattingly previously managed Miami and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and is the kind of experienced voice the Phillies needed.

The Mets, meanwhile, continue to be plagued by injuries. Luis Robert, Jr., one of their off-season acquisitions (Chicago White Sox) went down earlier in the week, and after Saturday's loss to the Angels, infielder Ronny Mauricio went to the IL with a thumb injury. Redditors are blaming David Stearns for some of the off-season moves, including letting professional leech Scott Boras Badenov con Pete Alonso into chasing the money to Baltimore. Alonso has been struggling, and someone suggested a trade to bring him back to Flushing.

Alonso is back in New York this weekend, but, aside from a home run on Friday, the Yankees have held him in check. The Mets will see Alonso later this season.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani mistakenly assumed Trae Young was still with the Atlanta Hawks ahead of the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. Young was traded earlier this season.

So, the Knicks blew the Hawks out of the playoffs on Thursday, winning game 6 by 57 points. The game was actually over in the 1st quarter. In Atlanta!!!

Bank on this. Braves fans will pick up the gauntlet for the Hawks when Los Bravos play the Mets later this season.

The PGA tour is at the Doral Country Club, owned by president Trump, this weekend, and, how's this for a surprise? When the players reached holes 16-18, there were no fans in sight! Meidas Touch explains:

Welp, if Trump didn't initiate the current conflict with Iran, and actually learned how to comport himself as president instead of being an elderly man on his 4th or 5th childhood, that wouldn't happen. People see the Trump name on the building, and turn away. Why should the world's worst golfer own a course? At least grand-daughter Kai (Don, Jr.'s daughter) learned the game the right way.......!

We're reading that the Saudis are pulling their financial backing from the LIV golf tour, in its 4th season, and 2nd with broadcasts on Fox (moving over from CW) after this season. Hmmmmm. People were speculating that the Saudis might not renew their contract with WWE when that runs out later this year. And speaking of WWE......

NXT fans were jumping for joy upon learning earlier this week that the PLE's for the Tuesday brand will begin airing on CW this summer. Since the network is looking for some weekend programming to complement the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts series, and fill the void created by LIV golf's departure last year, this is great news. Last month's Stand & Deliver streamed on YouTube, but this is even better. Apparently, the new deal starts with the Great American Bash in July, after the former WCW event had been set up as a 2 part episode of the weekly NXT series the last couple of years.

The once prestigious National Wrestling Alliance is back on television, as NWA Powerr began airing on Comet (check listings) this weekend. Broadcasts will mostly air Saturday afternoons at 4 pm (ET), though a special episode aired Friday night. Unfortunately, the quality of wrestling, while it seeks to revive the studio wrestling aesthetic from the territory era, has suffered under Billy Corgan's ownership. The former Smashing Pumpkins frontman should be happy with the new deal, though, as that should bring more eyeballs to the NWA & Comet.

Classic TV: The series premiere of Hee Haw (1969)

 When Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams wrote "Summer of '69" in the mid-80's, I don't think he had Hee Haw in mind.

The series was launched in the summer, June specifically, of 1969, which led directly to season 2 in the fall. Actor-singer Sheb Wooley (ex-Rawhide) wrote the theme song for the show, but was not credited. In the opener, Wooley queues up a number by his alter ego, Ben Colder, among the highlights.

Here is the 1st episode:

Family Fridays: The Defenders, in color (1961)

 Sometimes, the family that works together, stays together.

The original Defenders has its roots in a 1957 episode of Studio One, written by Reginald Rose ("12 Angry Men"). EG Marshall & Robert Reed are father & son lawyers in this series, which ran for 4 seasons (1961-5), all in black & white, although someone began colorizing some of the episodes, such as this one, "The Quality of Mercy":

I've got something in mind for next week to start off Mother's Day weekend. You'll see it then.