EAT BEFORE YOU GO

Nora Ephron in an interview with Entertainment Weekly said, “My main goal was to make people walk out of the movie starving to death.” Of course she is talking about her hit film “Julie & Julia.” No need to talk about the film everyone knows its about Julia Child and her biggest fan Julie Powell. Great, great movie and yes you do walk out of it starving.

After an 11:45 am showing my wife Lisa and I ran to lunch at a nearby restaurant. As our luck would have it we picked the wrong place and Lisa even sent her meal back. This after watching a picture about gourmet cooking. I would love to know how much profits are going to rise at the popcorn counter because of “Julie & Julia.”

QUICK TID-BIT.

I was watching the “Best Directors” series on “The Reelz Channel.” Gary Marshall was the subject and he was talking about all of his TV Sitcoms from the 70′s. One was the “Happy Days” spin off “Joannie Loves Chachi.” Marshall told the story of how the show was a huge hit in Korea and they never new why. Come to find out that in Korean, Chachi means penis.

Now thats a funny story, just thought I would share.

-30-

And That’s The Way It Was.

In 1962 the anchor of the CBS Evening News was Douglas Edwards. He went on a two week fishing vacation and was replaced by a young correspondent named Walter Cronkite.
The rest is history. Cronkite was appointed to the anchor spot and Edwards went back to the newsroom. He stayed at the top until stepping down in 1981. Well, we all know that he gave up the seat to Dan Rather. Don’t get me started on that one.

Back in the 70′s Playboy magazine did an interview with my boss Ted Turner. They asked him about his lack of a news department at what was then WTCG. Which had just gone on satellite he said, “I have Bill Tush, he’s my low budget Walter Cronkite.” I took it as a compliment.

Once we did a story about the possibility of head transplants. While I was reading the story the directory crom-a-keyed Cronkite’s face over mine. That’s as close to being a real newsman I ever came.

While working for CNN in New York I had the opportunity to meet the legend himself. It was at some sort of party for something or other. There we were face to face and all I could say to him was “It must of been fun?” He said, “What part?” I stupidly responded, “All of it!” He went on for ten minutes. Now that was a treat because there were no cameras it was just him telling me how much he loved what he did.

Why did he retire in 1981? Most people don’t remember that CBS founder William Paley had a policy of mandatory retirement at age 65. When Paley passed on that policy went with him. Think about it Mike Wallace is 93 and still on “60 Minutes.” Cronkite once said if he knew he was going to live so long he would have stayed on the air. I’m sure I’m not the only one that wished he had,

“And that’s the way it is.”

-30-

“The Freak Is Gone.”

I completely agree with U.S. Rep. Peter King from Long Island, New York. “Michael Jackson was a lowlife, child molester.” Why is everyone calling him such a great man?

The big show at Staple Center on Tuesday was a joke. Only the b-list showed up. Where were Jackson’s close friend Liz, Liza etc. Lionel, Smokey and Jermaine are not at the top of their game. In fact it was probably Jermaine’s first performance in years.

Jackson’s hearse got stuck in traffic after leaving Forest Lawn an hour late. Making Jackson late for his own funeral.

Ironically the funeral took place the day before Ringling Brothers Circus was to open at Staple Center. Jackson’s memorial was the perfect opening act.

What if all these news channels were around when Elvis died. Oh! the coverage he would of had…..

Speaking of Child Molesters, has everyone forgotten that Elvis moved Priscilla into Graceland when she was fourteen. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

As they used to say in the newspaper biz, “That’s 30 for now.” I have no idea what that means.