April 10, 2022
Random Introductory Topic
I could not begin to tell you how excited 2004-me would have been for for September 1, 2022. In fact, 2004 me did see both Spoon and Interpol live at the once venerable Newport, KY venue the Southgate House. Alas, what was once the Southgate House is now the Thompson House, and despite claims to the contrary, they no longer seem all that interested in putting on live music event. The spiritual successor, the Southgate House Revival, tries its darndest, but does not draw the acts the Southgate House could in its heyday. It seems to be good for at least one E6 show a year though, so that's something.
Two things srike 2022-me about the situation. First, I could never be as excited as 2004-me would have been about this. I guess that's part of growing older. Two generations of hipsters have made of Boomers still shoveling out cash to go see Rolling Stones gigs, although I don't think you could classify Arena shows as gigs. Is it some sense subconscious hypocrisy that prevents me from anticipating this with unadulterated joy? Can 40 year olds still play the roll of indie-cool and brooding hipster? Don't get me wrong, Spoon has been my favorite band since I bought Kill the Moonlight on a whim. But it felt it a little more exciting and exclusive back in the day when Pitchfork was Pitchfork Media and still considered somewhat niche - more of an internet zine than a taste-making monolith. Maybe ever couple of years I'll still go back and read
The CBS SUNDAY MORNING POWER RANKINGS
Spending my Sunday morning watching Sunday Morning is how I like to relax and recover. I can gently ease my way into the week thanks to this delightfully gentle yet entertaining slice of infotainment nirvana. That being said, some weeks are better than others. March 27 was truly a standout week and I look forward to revisiting it when I eventually(?) work my way back to recapping it. Not every week is a March 27 though.
1) Faith Salie
I'm not a big Sherlock Holmes guy. As much as I love a good mystery novel, I should probably have read some of them, but I haven't. I think my brother is a fan. Of the numerous modern incarnations, by default Benedict Cumberbatch was the best. Johnny Lee Miller, overlooked and underappreciated, is a closer than expected second. But really comparing seven seasons of a network TV show to 13 episodes spread across seven years is a fools errand. The less said about the films (Robert Downy Jr. and Will Ferrell) the better. I've seen neither so maybe I'm being a little unfair to Mr. Jr. and Guy Ritchie.
This was the most Sunday Morning-y of the Sunday Morning segments this weeks. Guy is obsessed with Sherlock Holmes and turns his personal collection into a museum exhibit. Also, super fun to know the line is actually, "Interesting, though elementary."
When in doubt, the top spot goes to the presenter who both appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and interviewed Andrew W.K.
2) Jane Pauley
Jane hosted and presented a short three minute segment on Woody Guthrie. A tribute to possibly America's most important songwriter of the 20th century. There is an exhibit about him at some New York museum opening, is the reason for the segment I guess.
Last week, Marin Morris said country music was three chords and the truth. I'm not sure Woody Guthrie had three chords, but he did have the truth. While overtly political, his "This Machine Kills Fascists" sticker prominently displayed on his guitar, he also contained whimsy. Maybe it's an invented memory, but I want to say I would have listened to the "Car Song" as a little kid, but probably I heard someone cover it.
I wonder what Woody Guthrie would have thought of little school kids singing "This Land Is Your Land," like I did as a child. It was certainly taught to us as a patriotic song and not the criticism of uncritical patriotism that he wrote it is as. Would he find humor in the irony, or would it just upset him?
3) Mo Rocca
So I was doing the math, the delightfully named Beanie Feldstein was 17 in 2010, which means she's getting dangerously close to 30 after playing teenagers for the last decade. Let's see... that makes me... old.
The archival clips of Mo interviewing a pre-fame Beanie in 2010 was a delight, as were photos of a precocious three year old Beanie's Funny Girl themed birthday party.
Two requests: Can we stop making a point that Beanie Feldstein is Jonah Hill's sister every time she gets profiled? I'm more inclined to think of Jonah as being Beanie's brother at this point. The other request is to bring back her character to What We Do in the Shadows. I know she's busy with other stuff - just a quick guest spot will do.
4) Lesley Stahl
Leslie Stahl is a good interviewer. She can crack a joke or roll her eyes while maintaining gravitas. I hearby upgrade her from 60 Minutes interloper to appreciated part time contributor.
I'm not going to watch The First Lady, but how obvious was it that Viola Davis had to play Michelle Obama at some point. I know it probably hasn't been this way, but why does it feel that the Obamas have been portrayed in film and television far more often than other former presidents? Maybe it's just odd because presidential dramas are usually historical fiction, which I guess this is, but it's weird to think of six years ago as being history. Also, it's not like they've stepped away from public life. At least Barack is still somewhat ubiquitous, shooting Viagra ads with Bruce Springsteen or whatever is they're doing.
The casting of Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt does seem odd and she admits as much, short person that she is. But I'm a fan of pretty much anything she does, which, of course, includes The X-Files, but so much more. Born in the US and raised in London for a good portion of her childhood, I know she uses her American accent to do American interviews and her London accent for the British. Still, I thought for moment that she had gone all the way British at the start.
Also, Michelle Pfiffer as Betty Ford. Shout Out!
5) Frogs
I don't know what to say about Subaru's nature segment this week except frog sex! I realize it's completely immature, but Frog Sex! No birds, just Frog reproducing! Let's see, Ella Fitzgerald covered birds, bees, oysters, clams, jellyfish, eels, goldfish, and sponges. She did not mention frogs, but Sunday Morning has got the video.
6) David Pogue
When I saw crypto show up in the opening scroll, my first reaction was, "Ugh." So, in a way, the fact the committee bestowed the coveted post-nature 6 spot upon Pogue just goes to show how much he maximizes his utility. Pogue does economics, technology (sometimes at the same time!), science, art, theater, and music. He's the Ben Zobrist of Sunday Morning!
Anyway, I briefly considered trying to do some bitcoin mining back in 2010 or so when a single coin was a few hundred dollars and amateurs could still take a crack at it. I was going to the PC in the physics lab I worked in to do it. You could download and install and program to do it that ran in the background like Seti@Home or Einstein@Home would to search for extraterrestrial life or gravitational waves. Less altruistic to be sure, but the thing is that donating your unused CPU or GPU cycles for the sake of science or (money) is not free. Adding the extra load costs energy and in the case of crypto, it's a disaster for the environment. Until they invent a blockchain that isn't going to murder polar bears and arctic seals due to the enormous energy costs or other humans as it can be used as a way to fund criminal enterprises, terrorism, and wars (no money laundering necessary!) I'm out.
Also, Pogue's done crypto before right? I mean I can't say for sure, but it feels like it has to be true.
7) David Martin
It's hard to recap a David Martin segment. There's no mirth to be had in reviewing the the latest week of horror from Ukraine. No offense to David, but my sincere hope is that, as soon as possible, the weekly check-ins from David are no longer necessary.
Steve's always here to remind us that there is always kindness and uplifting stories to tell. No matter how bad things get in Ukraine, Steve's here to give us a win. And that's fine. Everyone needs a win. Thanks for introducing us to your nephew, Steve.
9) Rita Braver
The best thing about this segment is that Randy Rainbow's name is actually Randy Rainbow. It's not even Randall Rainbow. On his birth certificate it says Randy. Randy Stewart Rainbow.
I think he's being a little disingenuous to say, "It's never my intention or primary objective to make a political statement." I guess there's a counterargument to be made that simply existing as a gay man is (unfortunately) something of an act of political defiance for some people. And while being yourself should not be political, I don't buy what he's selling with that statement.
His shtick isn't really my thing. I prefer my Broadway musical parodies performed by "littles".
10) Seth Doane
Seth talks to Bill Browder, an investor who's made it his life's work and put himself in harms way to expose fraud, graft, and corruption of the Putin regime after his friend and partner was tortured and murdered by said regime.
Sometimes a segment ends up at 10 because I don't like the subject matter (medical stories) or because there were just a bunch of other great segments that week. This was neither. Something has to end up at the bottom. This was still an interesting, important story. But also one that we've heard over and over the last two months. Give not into Ukraine War fatigue.
Instead lets just say that Seth may have been gifted one or two #1 rankings thanks to glorious Mediterranean vistas, delicious food, and picturesque city squares. The committee wants it to be known that they appreciate the important journalism Seth contributes, but this is a Sunday Morning recap blog, not 60 Minutes. Perhaps also overshadowed, by the David Martin segment.
Comments
Post a Comment