Tag Archives: music

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #90

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#90

Achy Breaky Song

Title: “Achy Breaky Heart”

Written: Don Von Tress/Al Yankovic

Album: Alapalooza

Style: Country/Comedy

Parody: “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

This is a song that is famously about music that bugs some people. There are mentions of Donny and Marie, Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees etc. But above them all was the Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus which inspired the whole song.

Lyrics

You can torture me
With Donnie & Marie
You can play some Barry Manilow
Or you can play some schlock
Like New Kids On The Block
Or any Village People song you know
Or play Vanilla Ice
Hey, you can play him twice
And you can play the Bee Gees any day
But Mr. DJ, please
I’m beggin’ on my knees
I just can’t take no more of Billy Ray

Don’t play that song
That “Achy Breaky” song
The most annoying song I know
And if you play that song
That “Achy Breaky” song
I might blow up my radio, ooo…

You can clear the room
By playind Debbie Boon
Or crank your Abba records until dawn
Oh, I can even hear
Slim Whitman or Zamfir
Don’t mind a Yoko Ono marathon
Or play some Tiffany
On 8-track or CD
Or scrape your fingernails across the board
Or tie me to a chair
And kick me down the stairs
Just please don’t play that stupid song no more

Don’t play that song
That “Achy Breaky” song
You know I hate that song a bunch
And if you play that song
That nauseating song
It might just make me lose my lunch, oh-

Don’t play that song
That “Achy Breaky” song
I think it’s driving me insane
Oh, please don’t play that song
That irritating song
I’d rather have a pitchfork in my brain

Don’t play that song
That “Achy Breaky” song
The most annoying song I know
And if you play that song
That “Achy Breaky” song
I might blow up my radio, ooo-woo

Source: Musixmatch

Paradise S2 E8

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Spoilers

“Exodus”

What a finale.

Paradise season 2 wrapped up with episode 8 in the most explosive way…literally.

The amazing action, reunions, and new twists and redemptions.

Sinatra making the sacrifice play, did not see that coming.

Xavier reuniting with his kids was amazing. Xavier and Sinatra working together to save their daughters who were trapped in the elevator. Link and his men coming across them and jumping in to help was a wonderfully heroic moment.

Jeremy coming back with help to save Nicole Robinson, who was badly injured and who demanded that Jeremy leave her behind. He showed himself as another hero on this show and seeing him and Presley kissing at the end was sweet.

I confirmed that Sinatra’s husband, Tim Redmond, was played by Tuc Watkins, who appeared on some soap operas I watched years ago (OLTL, GH) as well as on Desperate Housewives. I thought it was him, and I Googled him to conform the role.

Discovering the identity of Alex looks to set up the next season of the show as the underground bunker in the mountain is no more. Exodus, or the evacuation of the colony was unbelievable. What will those who were in the bunker for so many years, thinking that the outside world was gone, react to the fact that the outside world is still there and livable?

Oh and, surprise, there is another bunker under the Denver airport. This seems to be where Alex is, and Alex apparently is an AI that can see the future and determine what to do from it. An AI that is thinking on its own and answering questions that haven’t been asked yet. The show always had a sci-fi element to it, but it feels as if the show has taken a bigger step into the genre.

I think I may have liked season two of this show more than I liked season one, and I thought season one was exceptional. Season two had so much going for it and it captured so much suspense and drama with the characters and the difficult situations the show placed them in. Who would have thought that Sinatra would be the redemption arc of this show?

Bring on season three!

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #91

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#91

Isle Thing

Title: “Isle Thing”

Written: Young MC/Matt Dike/Michael Ross/Al Yankovic

Album: UHF

Released: 1989

Genre: rap/comedy

Parody: “Wild Thing” by Tone Loc (Weird Al’s first parody of a rap song)

Weird Al has an affinity for classic TV shows, as he has done songs about the Beverly Hillbillies and The Brady Bunch among others. This song is a spoof on the TV show Gilligan’s Island.

Lyrics

Met this fine young thing
At the local Circle K
She made a date for a half past eight
And I said, “What the hey?”

So I journeyed to her crib
And I let myself inside
That chick was slouched down on the couch
I think her brain was fried

Couldn’t figure it out
She wouldn’t even look at me
Then I saw her eyes, she was hypnotized
Cold glued to her TV

“Hey, what’s your problem baby doll
Let’s have a little fling”
She said, “Hey you fool, now just be cool
I’m watchin’ that Gilligan’s Isle thing”

Isle thing
Isle thing

Watchin’ all night
Musta been a marathon
I was bummin’, those shows kept comin’
Here’s what was goin’ on

These Castaways were stranded
On this island out at the sea
One of them called Gilligan
So let’s name him after me

He’d mess up every rescue
Man, that first mate was illin’
If I was one of those Castaways
I think I’d probably kill him

Just about that time
Telephone began to ring
She said, “Just let it, my machine’ll get
We’re watchin’ the Gilligan’s Isle thing

Isle thing
She loves that Gilligan’s Isle thing
Isle thing
Please, baby, baby, please

I like the professor
He always saves their butts
He could build a nuclear reactor
From a clouple’ of coconuts

She said, “That guy’s a genius”
I shook my head and laughed
I said, “If he’s so fly, they tell me why
He couldn’t build a lousy raft”

And while we’re on the subject
I’ll tell you one thing for sure
Those homeboys brought an awful lot
For just a three hour tour

Then her mom came in the room
It was kind of embarrasing
She said, “Hey you two, I was once like you
And I loved that Gilligan’s Isle thing”

Isle thing
She’d watch that Gilligan’s Isle thing
Please, baby, baby, please

Skipper’s in a hammock
He’s looking kinda fat
He’d throw a fit and then he’d hit
Old Gilligan with his hat

Mrs. Hal had it goin’ on
But Mr. Hal was meaner
Ginger and Mary Anne could’ve used
Some funky cold medina

I was really diggin’ this show
I didn’t know what to do
It kinda looked like I was hooked
Now I’m an addict too

I know each episode by heart
Now I’m the rerun king
And on every date, we both stay up late
And we watch the Gilligan’s Isle thing

Isle thing
Hasta la vista, little buddy
Gilligan’s Isle thing (isle thing)

Source: Musixmatch

Sha Na Na S4 E14, E15, E16, E17, E18

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The series of Sha Na Na is coming close to an end as I am in the middle of season 4. Season 4 has not been my most favorite season of this show. I think a big part of that is that they have been doing a bunch of songs that I have never heard before. Part of the fun of Sha Na Na is that they were singing songs that I recognized form the 1950s and 1960s. While I appreciate that they do not repeat songs very often, a lot of these songs did not appeal to that nostalgia. They did them fine, but I just was not engaged as I should have been.

Some of these guests were scrapping the bottom of the barrel too. See if you can figure out which one of these is not like the others: Lacy J. Dalton, Joey Travolta, The Currie Sisters, Jackie DeShannon and James Brown. Yep, I said James Brown. It was a strange performance though. He did not seem to get much reaction from the Sha Na Na crowd and it seemed to bother him. I think he probably fed off the energy of the crowd a lot, and there was not much energy in the crowd.

One of the comedy bits was with the song Istanbul (Not Constantinople) and I remember learning about that country name change from this song.

They played the song “Rock ‘N Roll Music” but it was sung by Chico. While I enjoy Chico’s songs usually, it just felt like the wrong Sha Na Na singer for this song. It was originally recorded by Chuck Barry and I think it would have been better with Donny singing it. Or maybe Screamin’ Scott. Chico’s version was fine, but it just did not feel right.

There were actually several songs that felt a little off during these episodes. I wonder if they were realizing that the end was near and that the overall energy was starting to lack a bit.

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #93

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#93

Generic Blues

Title: Generic Blues

Album: UHF

Release: 1989

Written: Al Yankovic

Style: Blues; typical 12-bar, slow-tempo structure, and harmonica solos.

Another one of those original songs that sneaks under the radar. I do love this song. It is such a funny song with a parody of the style of Blues.

Lyrics

I woke up this morning
Then I went back to bed
Said I woke up this morning
Then I went right back to bed
Got a funny kind of feelin’ like I got broken glass in my underwear
And a herd of wild pigs is trying to chew off my head
You know what I’m sayin’

Well I ain’t got not money
I’m just walkin’ down the road
Said I ain’t got no money, honey
So I’m just walking down this lonely old road
Well, I wish I could get me some money
But I forgot my automated teller code

I was born in a paper sack in the bottom of a sewer
I had to eat dirt clods for breakfast, my family was so poor
My daddy was a waitress, my mama sold bathroom tiles
My brothers and sisters all hated me ’cause I was an only child

I got the blues so bad, woo
Kinda wish I was dead
Maybe I’ll blow my brains out mama
Or maybe I’ll, yeah maybe I’ll just go bowlin’ instead

I’m just a no good, scum sucking, nose picking, boot licking,
Sniveling, groveling, worthless hunk of slime

Nothing but a low-down beer bellied, bone headed, pigeon toed,
Turkey necked, weasel faced, worthless hunk of slime

Guess I pretty low self image
Maybe it’s a chemical imbalance or something, I
I should probably go and see a doctor about it when I’ve got the time
Make it talk
Aw, make it talk, son, make it talk
OK, now make it shut up

Plagues and famine and pestilence always seem to get me down
I always feel so miserable whenever I’m around
I wish somebody would come along, stick a pitchfork through my brain
I’d flush myself right down the toilet, but I’d just clog up the drain

I got the blues so bad
Kinda wish I was dead
Maybe I’ll blow my brains out mama
Or maybe I’ll go bowling
Or I just might go bowling
Maybe I’ll just rent some shoes and go bowling
Maybe I’ll join a league, enter a tournament, put on a stupid looking
Shirt and go bowling instead
Yeah

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #94

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#94

Truck Drivin’ Song

Title: “Truck Drivin’ Song”

Written: Al Yankovic

Album: Running With Scissors

Released: 1999

Parody style: Country Music/truck songs

This is one of those secretively funny original songs at the end of the album that don’t get as much attention as some of the bigger parodies or style pastiches. Yet, it is really funny, setting up the image of a big, old truck driver in his dresses and with his makeup.

Lyrics

Lyrics

I’m drivin’ a truck
Drivin’ a big ol’ truck
Pedal to the metal, hope I don’t run out of luck
Rollin’ down the highway until the break of dawn
Drivin’ a truck with my high heels on

My diesel rig is northward bound
It’s time to put that hammer down
Just watchin’ as the miles go flyin’ by
I’m ridin’ twenty tons of steel
But it’s sure hard to hold the wheel
While I’m still waiting for my nails to dry

Oh, I always gotta check my lipstick in that rear view mirror
And my pink angora sweater fits so tight
I’m jammin’ gears and haulin’ freight
Well, I sure hope my seams are straight
Lord, don’t let my mascara run tonight

Because I’m drivin’ a truck
Drivin’ a big ol’ truck
Smokey’s on my tail and my accelerator’s stuck
Got these eighteen wheels a-rollin until the break of dawn
Drivin’ a truck with my high heels on

Oh, I don’t mind when my crotchless panties creep right up on me
And my nipple rings don’t bother me too much
But when I hit those big speed bumps
My darling little rhinestone pumps
Keep slippin’ off the mother-lovin’ clutch

But still I’m drivin’ a truck
Drivin’ a big ol’ truck
Headin’ down the interstate, just tryin’ to make buck
Wearin’ feather boas with sequins and chiffon
While I’m drivin’ a truck with my high heels on

I’m drivin’ a truck
Drivin’ a truck
Got a load to carry and some eyebrows left to pluck
And I’m late for my appointment down at the hair salon
So I’ll be drivin’ a truck with my high heels on

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #96

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#96

Craigslist

Title: Craigslist

Written: Al Yankovic

Released: 2009

Style parody: The Doors

Fact: Doors keyboardist played keyboards on the studio recording of the song.

Album: Alpocalypse

This song was released before the album among a group of songs called Internet Leaks, which included four new videos.

The song is an amazing style parody of The Doors. So much so that you might think it is a stright up parody of a specific song.

Lyrics

Whoa, yeah!

You’ve got a ’65 Chevy Malibu
With automatic drive
A custom paint job, too

I’ll trade you for my old wheelbarrow
And a slightly used sombrero
And I’ll even throw in a stapler, if you insist

Craigslist!
I’m on Craiglist, baby, come on!
Yeah

Well, we shared a quick glance
Saturday at the mall
I never took a chance
Never approached you at all

You were a blonde half-Asian with a bad case of gas
I was wearin’ red Speedos and a hockey mask
Come on, let’s find that love connection that we missed

On Craigslist!
Yeah, Craigslist, come on!
I’m on Craigslist
Oh, baby, maybe you are too!
Be bom ba chomb cadonk bin bam boo!

An open letter to the snotty barista
At the Coffee Bean on San Vacente Boulevard:
I know there were twenty people behind me in line
But I was on a cell phone call with my mother
Didn’t you see me hold up my index finger?
That means, “I’ll order my soy decaf hazelnut latte in just a couple minutes”
So, what’s with the attitude, lady?
No tip for you!

Got a trash can of Styrofoam peanuts
You can have ’em for free
You can drop by on the weekend
And pick ’em up from me
But the trash can ain’t part of the deal
Only givin’ you the peanuts
Get real!
Don’t have no Hefty bag, so bring your own
Don’t bug me with questions on the phone
Don’t ask for help, don’t waste my time
And don’t complain, ’cause they won’t cost you a dime
Just ask yourself:
Do you want my Styrofoam peanuts?
You can have my Styrofoam peanuts
Do you want my Styrofoam peanuts?
You can have them all

They’re on Craigslist, yeah!
Craigslist!
Ow, baby, come on!
I’m on Craigslist, Craigslist, Craigslist!
I’m on Craigslist, Craigslist, Craigslist, now

Craigslist!

Source: Musixmatch

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #97

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#97

(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long

Title: “(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long”

Written: Rudy Clark/Al Yankovic

Genre: Pop

Parody: “Got My Mind Set On You” by George Harrison (Originally recorded by James Ray in 1962)

Album: Even Worse

Released: 1988

The first parody in the Top 100 is a parody of George Harrison’s big hit in 1987, Got My Mind Set on You. I am a big Beatles fan so the song by Harrison was a personal favorite and Al’s version was very funny.

Lyrics

This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long

Couldn’t think of any lyrics
No I never wrote the lyrics
So I’ll just sing any old lyrics
That come to mind, child

You really need words
Whole lotta rhyming words
You gotta rhyme so many words, mm-mm
To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it
To do it, to do it right, child

This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long

I know that you’re probably sore
‘Cause I didn’t write any more
I just didn’t get to complete it
So that’s why I gotta repeat it

This song is just six words long (six words long)
This song is just six words long (six words long)

Oh I make a lotta money
They pay me a ton of money
They’re payin’ me plenty of money
To sing this song, child

I gotta fill time
Three minutes worth of time
Oh, how will I fill so much time, mm-mm
I’ll throw in a solo, a solo, a solo
A solo, a solo here

This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long
This song is just six words long

This song’s got nothin’ to say
But I’m recording it anyway
I know if I put my mind to it
I know I could find a good rhyme here

Oh, you gotta have-a music
You need really catchy music
This song has got plenty of music
But just six words, child

And so I’ll sing’ em over
And over and over and over
And over and over and over, mm-mm
And over and over and over
And over and over and over again

Six words long, six words long
Six words long, six words long
Six words long, six words long

This song is just six words long
It’s just six words long

Source: LyricFind

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #99

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#99

The Hot Rocks Polka

Title: The Hot Rocks Polka

Album: UHF

Written: Mick Jagger/Keith Richards/Al Yankovic

Release: 1989

Genre: Polka medley

Featured songs: It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It),” “Brown Sugar,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Under My Thumb,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Miss You,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Get off of My Cloud,” “Shattered,” “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”.

The first of multiple polka medleys to appear in the Top 100, this song included songs only from the catalogue of the Rolling Stones. Usually Weird Al polkas include songs from a variety of artists, but this one breaks that trait.

Lyrics

If I could stick my hand in my heart
Spill it all over the stage
Would it satisfy you, would it slide on by you
Would you think the boy is strange?
Ain’t it stra-a-ange?

If I could win, if I could sing
A love song so divine
Would it be enough for your cheating heart
If I broke down and cried?
If I cri-i-ied?

I said, ah, no, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but I like it
Ah, no, it’s only rock ‘n’ roll, but I like it, like it, yes, I do
I really, really, really, really do-do-do-do-do, hey

Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields
Sold in a market down in New Orleans
Scarred old slaver knows he’s doing all right
Heard him with the women just around midnight
(Brown sugar)
How come you taste so good?
(Brown sugar)
Just like a young girl should

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was a footloose man
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, you might find
You get what you need

You need honky tonk women
Give me, give me, give me the honky tonk blues

Under my thumb, the girl who once had me down
Under my thumb, the girl who once pushed me around
It’s down to me, yes, it is
The way she talks when she’s spoken to
Down to me, the change has come, she’s under my thumb

So goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I’m gonna miss you

Hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo, hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo, hoo-oo hoo-oo
Hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo, hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo, hoo-oo hoo-oo

Please allow me to introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
I’ve been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man’s soul and faith
Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
‘Cause what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game

I said hey (hey), you (you), get off of my cloud
Hey (hey), you (you), get off of my cloud
Hey (hey), you (you), get off of my cloud
Don’t hang around, ’cause two’s a crowd

Laughter, joy and loneliness and sex and sex and sex and sex
Look at me
I’m in tatters
(Shadoobie, shattered)
I’m shattered
(Shadoobie, shattered)

This doesn’t happen to me every day, whoa, my
(Let’s spend the night together)
No excuses offered anyway, oh, my
(Let’s spend the night together)
I’ll satisfy your every need
(Every need)
And now I know you’ll satisfy me
My-my-my-my, my-my-my
Let’s spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let’s spend the night together
Now
(My-my-my-my, my-my-my)

I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no girly action
‘Cause I’ve tried (and I’ve tried) and I’ve tried (and I’ve tried)
And I’ve tried (and I’ve tried) and I’ve tried (and I’ve tried)
I can’t get no
I can’t get no
I can’t get no
Satisfaction, satisfaction, satisfaction
Hey

Source: Musixmatch

Daily Countdown: Weird Al Songs #100

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#100

“That Boy Could Dance”

Title: “That Boy Could Dance”

Album: Weird Al Yankovic In 3D

Written: Al Yankovic

Release Date: 1984

Genre: Pop Rock or Power Pop

Style Parody: This is debated by the fans. Some believed that this was a pastiche of the Doobie Brothers while others do not agree.

A fun and energetic song that was an early original for Weird Al. It was not listed on some versions of the In 3D album because of space.

Lyrics

We all used to call him Jimmy the geek
He was a dumb looking, scrawny little four-eyed freak
He never used to hang around with the guys
He’d just sit in the corner
Attracting the flies

He wasn’t much to look at
He never was very bright
But at least there was one thing that he could do alright

That boy could dance
That boy could dance, yeah

He was kind of a jerk
He was kind of a bore
But the women would scream when he walked in the door
There’s one thing I can tell you for sure
That boy could dance

Pickin’ teams, he would always be last
He couldn’t run very far
He couldn’t think very fast
If he was on your side, you’d always lose
That guy had a problem
Even tying his shoes

He never passed his drivers test
He was always afraid of cars
And he had a complexion
That resembled the surface of Mars

But that boy could dance
That boy could dance, yeah

Well, his hair was a mess
And his clothes didn’t fit
He smelled pretty bad
And he drooled just a bit
But you gotta admit
Boy, that boy could dance

Now that boy is much older
He got his own dance studio
He got a teeny bopper fan club
Yeah, he got his own TV show

Now he owns half of Montanna
They all call him “Diamond Jim”
And you know I’d do anything if I could be just like him

‘Cause that boy could dance
That boy could dance
That boy could dance
(Now that boy could dance)
That boy could dance, dance
(Now that boy could dance)

That boy could dance
(Now that boy could dance)
That boy could dance, yeah
(Now that boy could dance)
I said that boy could dance
(Now that boy could dance)

That boy could dance, yeah
(Now that boy could dance)
That boy could dance

Source: Musixmatch

Paradise S2 E5

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Spoilers

“The Mailman”

Episode five is a very strong episode that kind of reminded me of the season one episode from The Last of Us where we met Bill, A Long, Long Time. It felt outside of the story that was being told around them for much of the episode.

This is the background of the story of where Teri has been and how she survived the three years outside of the bunker.

Turned out there was a mailman named Gary and a friend of his named Enos he met playing games online. The two of them were bouncing around conspiracy theories and how they would survive a zombie apocalypse, when things seemingly became real for them.

Gary discovered that there was a fallout shelter in the basement of the post office that he worked in that was hidden and was not used. No one even knew it was there.

Gary and Enos were collecting a small group of people to join them in the shelter and Teri wound up among that by happenstance.

There was also a young boy named Bean, who had an abusive homelife, that Gary would see on his mail route. Gary brought the boy with him into the shelter. It was Bean that helped bring Teri into the group as they bonded very quickly.

Gary was the man Xavier had at gunpoint at the end of the last episode. He had told Xander that he had known his wife and that she was taken.

However, this all seems like BS. The end of the episode threw a real twist as we see a scene where Gary and Enos went to see the people in the train and discovered that they were people looking to help others and were on the way to Colorado. Gary shot Enos to keep the story away from Teri (though it looked like Bean saw that happen) and Gary has been lying to Xavier this whole time.

I was feeling something was off with Gary for awhile during the episode. I thought maybe Gary was the one to destroy the radio, but Enos did admit to doing that.

There are some real questions about what Gary did and why he did it. I am sure that it will make more sense once we hear the full story, but, for now, Xavier is planning on attacking this group of people on the train to find Teri. It could be that she is not even there.

Sha Na Na S4 E1, E2, E3

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We kicked off the final season of Sha Na Na with the first three episodes and a surprise. Dirty Dan was gone. He was no longer on the show, off the theme at the beginning and out of the “Goodnight Sweetheart” line at the end. I took a deep dive trying to discover the reason why he left the group and I did not find much of anything outside of wanting to pursue other opportunities. It did leave a gap in these episodes because the lack of guitar limited the type of songs they were singing.

Fourth season guests included Stephanie Mills from The Wiz, impressionist Fred Travalena, and, my personal favorite, The Unknown Comic (aka Murray Langston) who I saw regularly on the Gong Show, which was another show of the time that I enjoyed. Just a few years ago, I dressed up as the Unknown Comic for Halloween which was a ton of fun.

The group redid a song called “Remember Then” on stage as an opener. They had done this on the rooftop set a few seasons before (may have even been season one). It is a great song and was well worth the redo.

In episode two, they did a whole comedy bit called Mastergrease Theater, without the musical song between the jokes. They had three of the boys dressed up like detectives (Jocko was Columbia- a parody of Columbo, Bowzer was dressed like Sherlock Holmes and Santini was dressed like Sam Spade/noir detective). They were there to investigate the murder of Lennie, who was supposed to be a rich, high class businessman. It was a weird bit, but I liked that it was different than what they had ever done before.

Chico and Donny continued the trend of blending voices extremely well as Chico sang “Teenage Idol” with Donny providing the backing vocals. Chico and Donny had a couple of songs in these episodes and both seemed a touch soft. I thought they were living singing these and both were quite tender. Screamin’ Scott had a song like that too called “Things We Used to Do.”

The group was using more props in the opening songs during these episodes too, including long white beards for “Rip Van Winkel” and a giant broken heart for “Remember Then”

Sha Na Na S3 E17, E18, E19, E20, E21, E22, E23, E24

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I finished watching season three of Sha Na Na over the last couple of days from episode 17 to episode 24. There were some interesting things that went through these episodes.

After the first three or four episodes, I noticed that Dirty Dan and Screamin’ Scott had been doing a bunch of the songs, more than they usually would do. Then, I wondered why we were not getting the amount of Denny songs. As soon as I thought that, Denny did a bunch of songs over the next several episodes. I have to admire how well the group did of giving everybody the spotlight without shorting anybody. Chico was probably the least used singer in the group of episodes I saw, but he was there with Rubber Ball, where he was back on roller skates.

The final two episodes were very different than any other ones prior. They both carried a storyline throughout the entire show. In episode 23, Jocko fell for an uppity British woman named April (played by Lorrie Gia, who was announced with the opening credits). April wanted Jocko to change for her and he went on an episode-long journey to try and de-grease himself. Troy Donohue guest starred and tried to help in a My Fair Lady type story.

Meanwhile, in episode 24, Bowzer was hired away from Sha Na Na by Charo to play the piano for her Charo’s Cuchi Cuchi Club. The whole episode focused on Bowzer’s work for Charo and his eventual return to Sha Na Na.

I am curious to see if these storyline-based episodes will continue into Sha Na Na’s final season.

It was also interesting that Jay Johnson from Soap appeared on the show with his ventriloquist dummy, Squeaky… whose name was Bob on the show. Did that mean that Squeaky was the real name and Bob was the character he played? That seems weird.

Other guests in this run included The Kingston Trio, James Darren, Steve Allen, The Crystals and the 5th Dimension.

These episodes featured some of the comedy bits that stood out in my memory, such as 16 Tons, Romeo & Juliet, Book of Love and one that I did not remember, but it had the cast dressed up as bunnies doing At the Hop.

Screamin’ Scott was always my favorite Sha Na Na member and I remembered clearly him doing “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” So to see it again in episode 18 was a treat.

Lennie and Bowzer did a version of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and their voices mixed so well together. I think Lennie could sing with anyone.

It was sad that episode 17, specifically, was such poor video quality. I know that the person who put these episodes up on YouTube did the best they could to make it as watchable as possible, but it was an old VCR recording from 40 plus years ago. Clearly, the rights to the songs make it nearly impossible to put these out on anything more up to date, despite the fact that I do believe that there would be an audience for them.

I have just one more season of Sha Na Na to go.

The Pitt S2 E6

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Spoilers

“12:00 PM”

I have been dreading this episode since the beginning of the season. All the hints and foreshadowing was there, but I tried my best to ignore them.

Then, last week, the show ended with Louie nonresponsive and Robby and Langdon trying to revive him.

Of course, that is where the show picked up this week and we watched as this secondary character died of a pulmonary hemorrhage due t liver failure. Louie had been a drinker, we knew. We just never knew what had led to the drinking.

During the debrief and the chance to say goodbye, Robby told the whole group assembled that Louie had been married and that his wife and unborn child had died in a car wreck and that Louie had never been the same after.

Ernest Harden Jr. played the role of Louie and you can tell how great of an actor he was when he was a side character that only had a bit of screen time and yet his character’s death impacted me dramatically.

This episode featured the nurses of the Pitt more than we had gotten prior, which was a long overdue look. There were other arcs to the episode, my absolutely most hated one was the hot dog competitor. I hate vomit scenes and this had two of them. I really hated that and I am glad he seemed to be a one and done arc.

However, the episode belonged to Louie and the grief that the staff showed. It was poignant when we discovered that the ER was Louie’s emergency contact.

Then, there was Ogilvie, whom I have not liked much this new season, but now I hate him for his callousness tied to Louie’s death. The way he broke the news to Whitaker so carelessly and his comment about “an alcohol abuser” was heartless. I am cheering for this guy to flame out in the program.

Emotional episode and we are still only six episodes in.

Sha Na Na S3 E9, E10, E11, E12, E13

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I watched another block of episodes from the variety show featuring the group Sha Na Na. I remember as a young kid watching Sha Na Na, I was always mad when the guest stars or other actors made fun of Sha Na Na and/or treated them like they were no talented. It is funny because I can remember liking Sha Na Na was something that I did not like people to know about me. I wonder if the constant jokes against them affected how I saw them.

Fact is that Sha Na Na is filled with amazing musicians and some of the best voices you’ll hear. It has been fun catching up on this show, even with the limits of YouTube involved.

These shows continues the trend of Sha Na Na having country musicians on as they had Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Freddy Fender and Barbara Mandrel as guests. They also had Henny Youngman, who actually performed like a stand up comic would. That was definitely the right choice instead of trying to have him make smart remarks like they did with Milton Berle.

It was weird because once again they had a repeat song on one of the episodes. In episode 10, they ended the show with the Unchained Melody version that Sha Na Na performed. I know I had seen that one in a previous episode. However, it is one of the best performances the group did on this show, so it was good to see it again.

This block of episodes also seemed to feature Lennie singing quite a bit. Lennie had one of the best voices on the show, right up there with Johnny and Donny. Of course, Lennie was the sax master, but he could hit some solid high notes vocally too.

Lennie dressed up as Paul McCartney in episode 10 as well, along with Jocko as Ringo, Santini as George and Chico as John. It was an attempt to attract the Gatlin Brothers to their show, which begs the question, are the Gatlin Brothers huge Beatles fans and wouldn’t a Beatles reunion attract even bigger celebrities?

Episode 11 featured one of my favorite performances, “Hit the Road, Jack” performed by Jocko. I love this version of the song and the background dancers are great. I have to say, I always enjoy watching poor Donny try to keep up with the others.

When I saw Screamin’ Scott playing the stand up bass, I went to Google to see what instruments he could actually play. I have wondered whether when covering for Jocko, Scott or one of the guitarists, could they actually play that instrument or are they just pretending. Google told me that Scott could play the piano, the guitar, the banjo and the harmonica. My guess is that he could do the bass as well. He is clearly very skilled in the musical aspects.

Jerry Fox showed up a couple of times again (which is a character played by Donny sometimes during the comedy skits). He’s announced as from Cleveland, and I wonder what the origin is behind this alter ego. I have seen Donny play him probably around 6-8 times so far (including twice in this block of episodes).