Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Billboard Hot 100 (Top Ten Singles) 06/01/2013


Billboard Hot 100
Top Ten Singles
Week Ending June 1st 2013


10 - Get Lucky - Daft Punk w/Pharrell Williams
9  -  I Love It - Icona Pop w/Charli XCX
8  -  Radioactive - Imagine Dragons
7  -  Come and Get It - Selena Gomez
6  -  Cruise - Florida Georgia Line w/Nelly
5  -  Stay - Rihanna w/Mikky Ekko
4  -  When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars
3  -  Mirrors - Justin Timberlake
2  -  Just Give Me a Reason - Pink w/Nate Ruess
1  -  Can't Hold Us - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis w/Ray Dalton
(3rd consecutive week at #10

Saturday, May 25, 2013

NY Times Bestseller List - Fiction (05/26/2013)

New York Times Bestseller List
Fiction
Week Ending May 26th 2013

10 - Robert B. Parker's Wonderland - Ace Atkins
(Debut)
Spenser uncovers plans to build a huge casino north of Boston; a continuation of the series by Parker, who died in 2010.

9  -  Daddy's Gone A Hunting - Mary Higgins Clark
(5 weeks on list)

8  -  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
(49 weeks on list)

7  -  Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts
(4 weeks on list)

6  -  A Delicate Truth - John Le Carre
(Debut)
A young man investigates a private-public antiterrorist operation, supposedly a great success but actually a disaster.

5  -  A Step of Faith - Richard Paul Evans
(Debut)
In the fourth book of the "Walk" series, Alan faces new challenges on his walk to Key West.

4  -  The Hit - David Baldacci
(3 weeks on list)

3  -  12th of Never - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(2 weeks on list)  (Last week's #1)

2  -  Silken Prey - John Sandford
(Debut)
Lucas Davenport is drawn into the investigation of a Minnesota political scandal and the disappearance of an operative.

1  -  Dead Ever After - Charlaine Harrris
(DEBUT)
The telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse searches for the truth about the death of the former barmaid Arlene.



Memorial Day Flashback - 1983

Memorial Day Weekend 1983
(30 years ago)

May 29th
Tom Sneva wins his first Indianapolis 500 by getting past Al Unser Jr and Al Unser Sr in the last 10 laps.





May 29th
Neil Bonnett wins his second consecutive NASCAR World 600 
(now called the Coca Cola 600)




May 29th
The Philadelphia 76ers win game 3 of the NBA finals, beating the LA Lakers 111-94 to take a 3-0 series lead.  They would sweep the Lakers by winning Game 4 on Tuesday May 31st to win the 1983 NBA World Championship




Topping the Billboard Hot 100 was the title song to the movie Flashdance,
 Irene Cara was spending her first of 6 consecutive weeks at #1 with 
"Flashdance...What a Feeling"



On prime time television "60 Minutes" was the #1 show for the 1982-83 season


Topping the NY Times bestseller list for fiction was John Le Carre's 
"Little Drummer Girl"


New York Times Bestseller List - NonFiction 05/26/2013

New York Times Bestseller List
Non Fiction
Week Ending May 26th 2013

10 - Keep It Pithy - Bill O'Reilly
(Debut)
A "highlight reel" of previous writings, updated, from the host of the "The O'Reilly Factor" on The Fox News Channel.

9  -  Bunker Hill - Nathaniel Philbrick
(2 weeks on list)
Eighteen months in pre-Revolutionary Boston, and the events leading up to the Battle of Bunker Hill.

8  -  Obsessed - Mika Brzezinski 
(Debut)
The "Morning Joe" co-hose discusses the obesity epidemic and her own struggles around food.

7  -  The Duck Commander Family - Willie and Korie Robertson with Mark Schlabach
(6 weeks on list)

6  -  Waiting To Be Heard - Amanda Knox
(2 weeks on list)
Knox, who was convicted of the murder of her roommate in 2009 when she was an American student in Italy, a conviction that was overturned in 2011, tells her story.

5  -  Dad is Fat - Jim Gaffigan
(Debut)
Life with 5 kids in a two bedroom New York City apartment.

4  -  Cooked - Michael Pollan
(3 weeks on list)

3  -  Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls - David Sedaris
(3 weeks on list)

2  -  Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell
(9 weeks on list)  (Last week's #1)

1  -  Happy, Happy, Happy - Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach
(DEBUT)
The Duck Commander pays tribute to "faith, family and ducks."


Friday, May 24, 2013

2012-13 Prime Time TV Ratings


The Final season ratings for the 2012-13 prime time television season

The Top 20

Total Viewership

1 - NCIS  (CBS)
2 - Sunday Night Football  (NBC)
3 - The Big Bang Theory  (CBS)
4 - NCIS : LA  (CBS)
5 - Person of Interest  (CBS)
6 - American Idol - Wednesday  (FOX)
7 - Dancing with the Stars  (ABC)
8 - American Idol - Thursday  (FOX)
9 - The Voice  (NBC)
10 - Two and a Half Men  (CBS)
11 - Dancing with the Stars - Results (ABC)
12 - The Voice - Tuesday  (NBC)
13 - Blue Bloods  (CBS)
14 - Elementary  (ABC)
15 - 60 Minutes  (CBS)
16 - Modern Family  (ABC)
17 - Castle   (ABC)
18 - Criminal Minds   (NBC)
19 - Vegas   (NBC)
20 - The Following   (FOX)

Thursday, May 23, 2013

NY Times Bestseller List - Fiction 05/19/2013

A little late but its here

New York Times Bestseller List
Fiction
Week Ending May 19th 2013

10 - Paris - Edward Rutherford
(2 weeks on list)

9  -  Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
(5 weeks on list)

8  -  Fly Away - Kristin Hannah
(2 weeks on list)

7  -  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
(48 weeks on list)

6  -  Daddy's Gone A Hunting - Mary Higgins Clark
(4 weeks on list)

5  -  NOS4A2 - Joe Hill
(Debut)
In a creepy battle between real and imaginary worlds, a brave biker chick is pitted against a ghoulish villian who lures children to a place where its always Christmas.

4  -  Best Kept Secret - Jeffrey Archer
(Debut)
In Volume 3 of the Clifton Chronicles, the focus shifts to a new generation - Sebastian, the son of Harry and Emma Clifton.

3  -  Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts
(3 weeks on list)

2  -  The Hit - David Baldacci
(2 weeks on list) (Last week's #1)

1  -  12th Of Never - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(DEBUT)
One Week after the birth of her baby, Detective Lindsay Boxer must return to Work to investigate a string of grisly murders; a Women's Murder Club novel.


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season


This week as part of Buck Benny's podcast he talks about the survey done by Those Were The Days, asking for listeners favorite Radio Show.   He includes results from 1986, 1999 and 2012.

This week Jack is still in San Diego and welcomes then California Lt Gov Goodwin Knight.  Mr. Knight would then become Governor later in the year when Earl Warren resigns as Governor to become Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny
From San Francisco
Air date - 05/10/1953


Saturday, May 18, 2013

2013 Preakness Stakes (05/18/2013)


The 138th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Park in Baltimore MD saw the heavy favorite get a bad starting gate and then get squeezed and knocked off his game.  This left the door open for wire to wire winner Oxbow to runaway from the pack.



Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season



Tonight is the first appearance of  Jack Benny favorite/regular on the tv show, Gisele Mackenzie

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny
Live from San Francisco  with guest Gisele Mackenzie
aired 05/03/1953

NY Times Bestseller List - Fiction 05/12/2013

New York Times Bestseller List
Fiction
Week Ending May 12th 2013


10 - The Mystery Woman - Amanda Quick
(Debut)
The second book of a new Victorian paranormal series, Ladies of Lantern Street, by Jane Ann Krenta writing pseudonymously.

9  -  The Burgess Boys - Elizabeth Strout
(5 weeks on list)

8  -  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
(47 weeks on list)

7  -  Daddy's Gone A Hunting - Mary Higgins Clark
(3 weeks on list)

6  -  Wedding Night - Sophie Kinsella
(Debut)
A woman tries to break up her sister's impulsive marriage.

5  -  Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
(4 weeks on list)

4  -  Paris - Edward Rutherford
(Debut)
Characters real and imaginary in the City of Lights.

3  -  Fly Away - Kristin Hannah
(Debut)
A woman must deal with her personal issues before she can keep her promise to help the family of her deceased friend.

2  -  Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts
(2nd week on list)  (Last week's #1)

1  -  The Hit - David Baldacci
(DEBUT)
The government hitman Will Robie uncovers a serious threat as he attempts to take out a fellow assassin who has gone rogue.


Saturday, May 11, 2013

NY Times Bestseller List - NonFiction (05/12/2013)

New York Times Bestseller List
Non Fiction
Week Ending May 12th 2013
(click on titles to go to Amazon to purchase)

10 - Gulp - Mary Roach
(4 weeks on list)

9  -  The Way Of The Knife - Mark Mazzetti
(3 weeks on list)

8  -  The New Digital Age - Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen
(Debut)
The promise and peril of the continuing information and technology revolution.

7  -  My Nest Step - Dave Liniger with Laura Morton
(Debut)
A businessman fights back from a staph infection that paralyzed him.

6  -  Carrie and Me - Carol Burnett
(Debut)
The comedian recalls her oldest daughter, who died in 2002.

5  -  Dirty Wars - Jeremy Scahill
(Debut)
America's new covert wars, fought by secret commandos.

4  -  Trident K9 Warriors - Mike Ritland with Gary Brozek
(Debut)
The dogs that serve elite combat units.

3  -  Cooked - Michael Pollan
(Debut)
The writer masters recipes and argues that regaining control of  cooking will make Americans healthier.

2  -  Lean In - Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell
(7 weeks on list) (6 consecutive weeks at #1)

1  -  Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls - David Sedaris
(DEBUT)
Essays from the humorist on subjects like French dentistry and a North Carolina Costco.


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Prime Time TV Ratings Week Ending May 5th 2013

The Nielsen Ratings for Prime Time television for the Week ending May 5th 2013

Top 20 in Total Viewership

1 - NCIS  (CBS)
2 - The Big Bang Theory  (CBS)
3 - Dancing With The Stars  (ABC)
4 - NCIS : Los Angeles   (CBS)
5 - Person of Interest    (CBS)
6 - The Voice - Monday  (NBC)
7 - Two and a Half Men  (CBS)
8 - The Voice - Tuesday  (NBC)
9 - American Idol - Thursday (FOX)
10 - American Idol - Wednesday  (FOX)
11 - Dancing With The Stars Results  (ABC)
12 - 60 Minutes  (CBS)
13 - Castle  (ABC)
14 - Criminal Minds  (CBS)
15 - Blue Bloods  (CBS)
16 - Elementary   (CBS)
17 - Modern Family  (ABC)
18 - CSI   (CBS)
19 - Survivor - Caramoan  (CBS)
20 - The Mentalist   (CBS)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

UK Triple Crown 2013



The first leg of the US Triple Crown of throughbred racing began last Saturday with Orb winning the 139th running of the The Kentucky Derby and on the same day, May 4th the first leg of the UK Triple Crown was run in Newmarket, England.
The 2000 Guineas is the first leg of the UK Triple Crown with the other 2 races being, in order, The Epson Derby and St. Leger Stakes.

This year Dawn Approach would win on the straight flat track at Newmarket.  Dawn Approach is also the half brother of legendary UK horse Frankel, who won the 2011 Guineas race.




Monday, May 6, 2013

New York Times Bestseller List - Fiction (May 5th 2013)

NY Times Bestseller List
Fiction
Week Ending May 5th 2013

10 - Starting Now - Debbie Macomber
(3 weeks on list)

9  -  Six Years - Harlan Coben
(5 weeks on list)

8  -  Unintended Consequences - Stuart Woods
(2 weeks on list)

7  -  Don't Go - Lisa Scottoline
(2 weeks on list)

6  -  The Burgess Boys - Elizabeth Strout
(4 weeks on list)

5  -  Taking Eve - Iris Johansen
(Debut)
The forensic sculptor Eve Duncan undertakes a job for a man with dark secrets.  
First of a trilogy.

4  -  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
(46 weeks on list)

3  -  Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
(3 weeks on list)

2  -  Daddy's Gone A Hunting - Mary Higgins Clark
(2 weeks on list)  (Last week's #1)

1  -  Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts
(DEBUT)
A Former criminal attorney who has been acquitted of his wife's murder retreats to his family estate on a rocky New England cliff, where he is comforted by the house's caretaker amid continuing danger.


Sunday, May 5, 2013

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

Here is another great episode from the Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny from the 1952-53 radio season.
This is a bittersweet episode in that we get to here Fred Allen with Jack once again but sadly this would be the last time the two would be together on radio.
Attached to this is also the first time Jack and Fred appeared together on radio on the Fred Allen Show in 1936.

Thanks to Buck Benny and his great podcast for old time radio, please check out his show by clicking this link.

Here is the link to this episode to see Jack and Fred together on Jack's television show.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny
From San Francisco
04/26/1953


Billboard Top Ten Singles 05/04/2013


Billboard Hot 100
Top Ten Singles
Week Ending May 4th 2013



Saturday, May 4, 2013

2013 Kentucky Derby


The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby is history and Orb comes home the winner


Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Jack Benny Show 1952-53 Radio Season

The Lucky Strike Program for the 1952-53 radio season was the #2 show of the season.

thanks to Buck Benny for these episodes and his stellar podcast that also includes, Suspense, Bing Crosby, Fred Allen, Escape and Gunsmoke.  Please click this link and check him out and enjoy the great old time radio from the golden age.

The Lucky Strike Program starring Jack Benny
04/19/1953
Bob Crosby Borrows $500 from Jack


New York Times Bestseller List - Fiction 04/28/2013

NY Times Bestseller List
Fiction
Week Ending April 28th 2013

10 - The Storyteller - Jodi Picoult
(7 weeks on list)

9  -  Starting Now - Debbie Macomber
(2 weeks on list) (Last week at #1)

8  -  Six Years - Harlan Coben
(4 weeks on list)

7  -  Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
(45 weeks on list)

6  -  Manuscript Found In Accra - Paulo Coelho
(2 weeks on list)

5  -  The Burgess Boys - Elizabeth Strout
(3 weeks on list)

4  -  Unintended Consequences - Stuart Woods
(Debut)
The New York lawyer Stone Barrington discovers a shadowy network beneath the world of European wealth.

3  -  Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
(2 weeks on list)

2  -  Don't Go - Lisa Scottoline
(Debut)
An Army doctor returns from Afghanistan when his wife dies in what at first appears to be an accident and finds that his life is falling apart.

1  -  Daddy's Gone a Hunting - Mary Higgins Clark
(DEBUT)
Two sisters are threatened by a dark secret from their family's past.