In Case You Missed It

Here are the Top Ten money making films of 2010.

(courtesy Boxofficemojo.com)

1 Toy Story 3 $415,004,880

2 Alice in Wonderland $334,191,110

3 Iron Man 2 $312,128,345

4 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse $300,531,751

5 Inception $292,525,041

6 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 $278,837,000

7 Despicable Me $251,032,000

8 Shrek Forever After $238,395,990

9 How to Train Your Dragon $217,581,231

10 The Karate Kid $176,591,618

Top of The Pops

Today our Top of the Pops survey is from December 30th 1967.
We have 2 things to mention about this day in music history.
First, the Beatles again topped the charts and 2 of the Monkees celebrate birthdays today. Michael Nesmith turns 68 and Davy Jones is 65.

Here are the Top 5 songs


5 - Woman, Woman - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
on its way to a peak of #4


4 - I Second That Emotion - The Miracles
Peaking at #4 but soon to top the Billboard R&B chart


3 - Daydream Believer - The Monkees
Dropping down after 4 straight weeks at #1


2 - I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Gladys Knight and The Pips
Still holding at #2 and also topping the Billboard R&B chart for 6 weeks


1 - Hello, Goodbye - The Beatles
Once again the Beatles reach the top spot and hold it for the next 3 weeks.
The 15th of their 20 #1 singles.

Starrcade 1991

Now for something different here, today in 1991 WCW (World Championship Wrestling) held its annual Starrcade PPV in Norfolk, Virginia.
This year was the first Lethal Lottery where wrestlers were chosen "at random" to form tag teams and the winners would meet in a tag team "Battle Bowl" to crown the winner. This was also the first Starrcade event to not involve Ric Flair.

- Marcus Bagwell and Jimmy Garvin defeated Michael Hayes and Tracy Smothers, when Bagwell pinned Smothers.
- Steve Austin and Rick Rude defeated Big Josh and Van Hammer, when Rude pinned Hammer.
- Richard Morton and Dustin Rhodes defeated El Gigante and Larry Zbyszko, when Rhodes pinned Zbyszko.
- Bill Kazmaier and Jushin Liger defeated Mike Graham and Diamond Dallas Page, when Liger pinned Page.
- Todd Champion and Ricky Steamboat defeats Cactus Jack and Buddy Lee Parker, when Steamboat pinned Parker. Abdullah the Butcher attacked Parker in the locker room before the match.
- Arn Anderson and Lex Luger defeated Terrance Taylor and Tom Zenk, when Luger pinned Taylor.
- Abdullah the Butcher and Sting defeated Bobby Eaton and Brian Pillman, when Sting pinned Eaton.
- Mr. Hughes and Big Van Vader defeated The Nightstalker (subbing for the injured Diamond Studd) and Rick Steiner, when Vader pinned Nightstalker.
- Thomas Rich and Ron Simmons defeated Steve Armstrong and P.N. News, when Simmons pinned Armstrong.
- Sting won the "BattleBowl" battle royale, last eliminating Lex Luger.

Jack Benny Christmas Again

Here is the second installment of the Jack Benny Christmas clips/shows.

The entire Christmas episode from the first season on TV in 1950.

Top of the New York Times Bestseller List

The #1 non fiction bestseller for the 4th consecutive week -
Decision Points - President George W Bush



The #1 fiction bestseller, debuting this week at #1 -
Port Mortuary (A Scarpetta Novel) - Patricia Cornwell

Jack Benny Christmas

I am not a fan of christmas music but I love tv sitcom christmas episodes.

Today I start a week of clips from the wonderful Jack Benny christmas episodes that were made famous on his radio show.

Here Dennis Day tries to buy Jack a gift

Happy Birthday

Birthday wishes today for a legend in entertainment, Dick Van Dyke is 85 today.

Here he is with "wife" Mary Tyler Moore on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1979.

Boll Weevil Day

Today in 1919 The kind citizens of Enterprise, Alabama dedicated the first known monument to an insect!
The town turned out to honor the boll weevil; the evil weevil that destroyed cotton plants. However, by forcing folks to diversify their crops, the farmers wound up tripling their income.
Thus, the tribute to those bugs.

30 Years Ago Today

Sadly that Beatles refrain can be used today to mark 30 years since the horrible murder of John Lennon.
He was gunned down outside his apartment house by Mark David Chapman.

Most of the United States learned of the murder from of all people Howard Cosell on Monday Night football.
I remember watching the game and hearing the news but I was 12 and really didnt realize the impact of what I was hearing.

R.I.P. "Dandy" Don Meredith

Today we learned of the death of football and television legend Don Meredith at the age of 72.
He was in his prime on ABC's Monday Night Football when I was just beginning to watch MNF on a regular basis. My dad really enjoyed him calling the games and really got a laugh when Don would start singing the Willie Nelson song "The Party's Over" when a game was locked up by one team.
I remember being amazed when my dad told me how good a QB Don Meredith was and how he had played in 2 NFL championship games against the Green Bay Packers before retiring. That just didnt seem possible that a guy that good on TV had been an NFL QB and was good at that too.

They have never been able to replace him on MNF as they bumble through one announce team after another on different networks. They caught lightning in a bottle with Don, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.

The Trailer Park (Remake Edition)

Today the trailer park is giving you preview of the 2010 remake of the 1969 John Wayne film "True Grit". Directed by the Ethan and Joel Cohen and starring Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn (the role that Wayne won an Oscar for) and Matt Damon as La Boeuf the Texas Ranger that was originally portrayed by Glen Campbell.

The new True Grit opens December 22nd and is expected to be among the contenders for the Academy Awards in 2011.

Here is the trailer for the 1969 classic and followed by the new Cohen Brothers updated and less humor filled version.

Album Spotlight

Today in 1965 Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts with the classic Whipped Cream and Other Delights.
The album would stay at #1 for 6 consecutive weeks to end 1965, but would come back for 2 more weeks in February of 1966.
The biggest hit from the LP was "A Taste of Honey", it reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Best Engineered Recording-Non Classical and Record of the Year for 1965 at the 8th annual Grammy Awards in 1966.

The Trailer Park (Bestseller Edition)

Arriving in theaters in March 2011 is the film adaptation of the Michael Connelly #1 best seller "The Lincoln Lawyer".

The novel spent a week in the top spot of the New York Times Best Seller list in 2005.
The movie stars Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei

This Week in Music History (UK Edition)

Here are the songs that topped the the UK singles charts this week over the last 45 Years.


45 Years ago:


40 Years ago:


35 Years ago:


30 Years ago:


25 Years ago:


20 Years ago: After the success of the movie "Ghost" this was a hit again in 1990

15 Years ago:


10 Years ago:


5 Years ago:

New #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List - Fiction for November 21st 2010

The New York Times Bestseller list for Saturday November 21st is released today and here is the Top 10

10 - Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris (6th week)
The humorist looks at human nature through stories with animals as characters.

9 - In The Company of Others - Jan Karon (3rd week)
In Ireland, the Episcopal priest Tim Kavanagh finds an old journal that could solve a crime.

8 - Fall of Giants - Ken Follett (6 weeks)
Five interrelated families from five countries are caught in the upheavals of World War I and the Russian Revolution

7 - Worth Dying For - Lee Child (3 weeks)
Jack Reacher can’t let go of a decades-old case of a missing child.

6 - Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane (Debut)
The private detective Patrick Kenzie searches for a runaway teenager who has never forgiven him for returning her to her neglectful mother years earlier

5 - American Assassin - Vince Flynn (4 weeks)
In the wake of the Lockerbie bombing, Mitch Rapp takes on his first antiterrorist assignment.

4 - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson (24 weeks)
The third volume of a trilogy about a Swedish hacker and a journalist.

3 - Indulgence in Death - J.D. Robb (Debut)
Lt. Eve Dallas tangles with what she fears is a thrill killer; by Nora Roberts, writing pseudonymously.

2 - The Confession - John Grisham (2 weeks)
A man who committed a despicable crime but allowed another to be sent to death row in his place now wants to admit his guilt, but must convince the authorities he’s telling the truth

1 - Towers of Midnight (Debut)
Book 13 of the Wheel of Time fantasy series.

Bob Gibson Wins NL MVP Award

Today in 1968 Bob Gibson, Hall of Fame pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals, was named the National League MVP of the 1968 season. He just beat out Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds.

Here is a clip of Game 1 of the 1968 World Series between the Cardinals and the American League Champion Detroit Tigers. Bob Gibson set a new record for strikeouts in a World Series game with 17 in this game.

A couple of thoughts on this video, first its the announcers Curt Gowdy and Harry Caray, 2 legendary voices together and Harry was the regular announcer for Cardinals games along with Jack Buck and its just great to hear how excited Harry was for Gibson to set the record.

Second, as the camera scans the crowd during ovations for Gibson I noticed almost all of the men had on dress shirts and ties and the women present were in dresses and it was all so very classy looking and truly a bygone era in sports.

Lastly, during the ovations for Gibson setting the record you could almost see the annoyance in Gibsons face as he wanted the crowd to settle so he could finish the game, not one for pomp and adulation he had a job to do and wanted to get it done.

New #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List - Fiction and Non Fiction

The new #1 books on the NY Times Book Review Best seller list this week:

Fiction:
The Confession - John Grisham
A man who committed a despicable crime but allowed another to be sent to death row in his place now wants to admit his guilt, but must convince the authorities he’s telling the truth.


Non Fiction:
Life - Keith Richards
The Rolling Stones guitarist’s revealing autobiography is also a portrait of the era when rock ’n’ roll came of age, with the music itself as the book’s core.

The Jack Benny Show

Here is an episode of The Jack Benny Show and its an episode that was taken from one of his radio episodes.
I cannot tell you how much I love watching Jack and the Gang.

USA Today Bestsellers

Here are the Top 5 Bestselling books according to the USA Today (fiction and nonfiction combined) for the week of November 3rd 2010:


5 - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson


4 - The Last Hero - Rick Riordan


3 - Life - Keith Richards


2 - Broke - Glenn Beck


1 - The Confession - John Grisham

Crazy Guggenheim

Just finished listening to a Jack Benny radio show and Jack gave a bum named John Silvoney played by Frank Fontaine a fifty cent piece for coffee. Well needless to say this was the character of Crazy Guggenheim before we new about him on Jackie Gleason's show. He could crack Jack up to the point he could hardly read his lines. He was such a hit with everyone that he made several more appearances on Jack's radio show. I wish I could find a way to embed the episode so you all could hear it.
Here is a clip (blooper) of Crazy Guggenheim and Jackie Gleason. Great comedy, great performers.

Today in Baseball History

October 25th 1986, Game 6 of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.

I can remember sitting in the floor and sometimes on my knees begging the Mets to start getting some hits and I couldn't believe what I was watching, I was not and still not a Red Sox fan.

New #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List - Fiction for October 23rd 2010

This week on the NYTimes Bestseller Fiction list there are 2 debuts in the top 10.

Here is the Top Ten novels for the week ending October 22nd 2010

10 - The Help - Kathyrn Stockett (81 weeks on the chart)
9 - Don't Blink - James Patterson (3 weeks)
8 - Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris (3 weeks)
7 - Our Kind of Traitor - John Le Carre (Debut)
An upwardly mobile British couple are caught up in Russian intrigue.

6 - Freedom - Jonathan Franzen (7 weeks)
5 - Safe Haven- Nicholas Sparks (5 weeks)
4 - The Reversal - Michael Connelly (2 weeks)
3 - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson (21 weeks)
2 - Fall of Giants - Ken Follett (3 weeks)
1 - American Assassin - Vince Flynn (Debut)
In the wake of the Lockerbie bombing, Mitch Rapp takes on his first antiterrorist assignment.

In Case You Missed It

Here are some stories that caught my eye that you may have missed.

Canadian Military Officer found to be a serial killer

Mark Twain back on the bestseller list with a memoir

Homer Simpson a Catholic???

Thirty Two Great Calls in Sports

This is one of those times when you let the tremendous professionals take over and give you something to share.
Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated give us his 32 great calls in sports.

Take a listen and look at those calls and get ready for goose bumps, smiles and aggravation if its against your team. Click on the link below.

32 Great Calls.

David Pearson, Bobby Allison headline NASCAR's 2nd HOF Class

David Pearson, Bobby Allison headline NASCAR's second HOF class - Racing - SI.com

Top of The Pops

Thought I would change things up a little and post a Top of the Pops segment over here for you all to enjoy.

This Top of the Pops goes back to this week in 1968 for an eclectic top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.


5 - I'm A Girl Watcher - The O'Kaysions
Peaking at #5 this week


4 - Little Green Apples - O.C. Smith
On his way to peaking at #2 is the former vocalist for Count Basie's band


3 - Fire - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Also headed to a peak position of #2 with this psychedelic classic.


2 - Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C Riley
After one week at #1 this country/pop crossover classic written by Tom T. Hall, gives way to one of most successful songs in Billboard chart history


1 - Hey Jude - The Beatles
In the second of 9 consecutive weeks at #1, this is the most successful of all Beatles Top 40 charting songs. After debuting at #10 it was at that time the highest debut in the history of the Top 40 singles chart.

New #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List - Non Fiction October 9th 2010

We have 6 debut books on the NY Times Bestseller List for Hardback Non Fiction.

Here are the Top 10 NonFiction Bestsellers

10 - Crimes Against Liberty - David Limbaugh (6 weeks on list)
9 - Even Silence Has an End - Ingrid Betancourt (2 weeks)
Betancourt, a Colombian presidential candidate at the time, was kidnapped by leftist guerrillas in 2002 and held for six years.

8 - S**t My Dad Says - Justin Halpern (22 weeks)
7 - Operation Dark Heart - Anthony Shaffer (debut)
An intelligence officer discusses the role of spycraft and special operations in Afghanistan.

6 - Pinhead and Patriots - Bill O'Reilly (3 weeks)
5 - The Grand Design - Stephen Hawking (4 weeks)
4 - The Roots of Obama's Rage - Dinesh D'Souza (debut)
D’Souza argues that Obama’s policies are defined by the anti-colonialist sentiments of his father.

3 - A**H*** Finish First - Tucker Mas (debut)
Stories of bad decisions, debauchery and sexual recklessness.

2 - Earth (The Book) - John Stewart & others (2 weeks)

1 - Obama's Wars - Bob Woodward (debut)
How decisions were made on the war in Afghanistan, the campaign in Pakistan and the fight against terrorism.

New #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List - Fiction for October 9th 2010

This weeks Top 10 has 5 books making there debut on the List.

Here are the Top 10 Bestselling Fiction Hardbacks on the NYTimes Bestseller list.

10 - The Help - Kathryn Sockett (79 weeks on the List)
9 - Bad Blood - John Sanford (2nd week)
Virgil Flowers is summoned to investigate a monstrous multigenerational conspiracy.
8 - Legacy - Danielle Steel (debut)
A writer’s stunning family discovery leads to Paris, the French aristocracy and a mysterious Sioux ancestor.
7 - Naked Heat - Richard Castle (debut)
Nikki Heat’s latest murder investigation is complicated by a reunion with the journalist Jameson Rook.
6 - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest - Steig Larsson (19 weeks)
5 - Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris (debut)
The humorist looks at human nature through stories with animals as characters.

4 - Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks (3 weeks)
3 - Freedom - Jonathan Franzen (5 Weeks)

2 - Don't Blink - James Patterson (debut)
After a gruesome murder in a New York steak house, a reporter finds himself involved in a war between the Italian mob and the Russian mafia.

1 - Fall of Giants - Ken Follett (debut)
Five interrelated families from five countries are caught in the upheavals of World War I and the Russian Revolution. Book 1 of the Century trilogy.

Zenyatta

This past week the thoroughbred filly Zenyatta set a new record for most consecutive wins with her 19th straight victory, The Lady's Secret Stakes.

Watch what is now the greatest filly racehorse ever

CBS Season Preview for 1961

I stumbled on these over the weekend. Its the preview of the 1961 television season for CBS, with host Andy Griffith, Garry Moore, Sebastian Cabot, Bob Cummings,Rod Serling,Raymond Burr and Ed Sullivan.
One of the highlights for me was the preview of a new comedy on CBS, "The Dick Van Dyke Show".
Amazing how far television has come that none of the networks program anything remotely new for Saturday nights now.

New #1 on the NYTimes Bestseller List - Fiction for September 24th 2010

Here are the Top 5 novels on the New York Times Fiction Bestseller List for September 24th 2010

5 - The Help - Kathryn Stockett (77 weeks on list)

4 - The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - Steig Larsson (17 weeks)

3 - Wicked Appetite - Janet Evanovich (Debut)
A dangerous man needs Elizabeth Tucker’s help to find an ancient power source.


2 - Freedom - Jonathan Franzen (3 weeks)

1 - Safe Haven - Nicholas Sparks (Debuts at the top) The arrival of a mysterious young woman in a small North Carolina town raises questions about her past.

In Case You Missed It (Monty Python Edition)

This sounds like a bit from Monty Python or Benny Hill but its a real story out of Michigan
I have included videos that are just as funny as this story.

Man and Parrot Scuffle on Ann Arbor Street

Celebrity Bowling

Here is my new guilty pleasure if I were guilty about it.

Its ESPN Classic showing "Celebrity Bowling" hosted by Jed Allen.

The show is on monday nights at 10pm and 1030. The format is 4 celebrities on 2 teams playing best ball style.
In this episode I found on Youtube features great game show host Tom Kennedy teaming with the wonderful Richard Deacon of The Dick Van Dyke Show fame. You dont get to see them bowl but the team they are against is McLean Stevenson and Ed Ames, who is probably remembered for both Mingo on Daniel Boone and of course as a member of the Ames Brothers singing group and his great solo singing career.
Last night had the teams of Roy Rogers and Gavin McLeod against Robert Culp and Richard Dawson. Roy was a fairly good bowler but nothing like Tom Kennedy who looks to have bowled quite a bit in his day.

In Case You Missed It

The remains of Alexander the Great's father or dim witted half brother? A story of Royal intrigue, murder and death.

The Beach Boys - California Girls

Here is your Jack Benny clip of the day. Jack with Bob Hope and the Beach Boys.
Jack is the master of the ad-lib.

NYTimes Bestseller List - NonFiction for September 9th 2010

This week on the NY Times Non Fiction Top 5 we have 2 debuts and last weeks debut at #1 holds steady.

5 - Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell (93 weeks on list)

4- The Perfection Point - John Brenkus (debut)

Subtitled: Sports Science Predicts the fastest man, the Highest Jump, and the Limits of Athletic Performance

3 - A Journey - Tony Blair (debut)


2 - SH** My Dad Says - Justin Halpern (18 weeks on list)

1 - Crimes Against Liberty - David Limbaugh
(2nd week on list and 2nd week at #1)