That Thing You Do! was released twenty-five years ago this week. A charming and exuberant tale of the one-hit Wonders, That Thing You Do! is a perfect little gem of a movie and one of my personal faves. That Thing You Do! was Tom Hanks’s directorial debut; he also wrote the screenplay and several ofContinue reading “That Thing Tom Hanks Does!”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Quick Hits: September 28
Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder’s transcendent double album, was released on this day in 1976. Generally regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, Songs in the Key of Life almost didn’t happen. In 1974, Wonder planned to retire from recording and emigrate to Ghana; plans were made for aContinue reading “Quick Hits: September 28”
Quick Hits: September 26
Today is Olivia Newton John’s birthday. My first major musical idol, Newton-John is a singer, songwriter, actor, breast cancer survivor (three times!) and activist. I was young when Grease came out but I absolutely remember seeing it in the theater; I remember what I wore that day, and the movie they previewed before the showContinue reading “Quick Hits: September 26”
Quick Hits: September 25
Yesterday was the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Nevermind, the landmark Nirvana album that ushered in the grunge era. September 24, 1991 is often named as the best new release day ever (this was when we still went to physical stores to purchase music). Besides Nevermind, notable releases from that day include Red HotContinue reading “Quick Hits: September 25”
Quick Hits: September 22
Survivor season 41 premieres tonight, and you better believe I’ll be watching (I’ve never missed an episode). Survivor took last year off due to the pandemic and they’ve made a few pandemic-related changes to the format, such as shortening the filming time from 39 days to 26 to accomodate a 14-day quarantine agreement the showContinue reading “Quick Hits: September 22”
Warning: PMRC Advisory
On September 19, 1985, hearings were held before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee regarding inappropriate content in popular music. The hearing was requested by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), headed by wives of the Washington elite including Tipper Gore (wife of then-Senator and future-VP Al) and Susan Baker (wife of Treasury SecretaryContinue reading “Warning: PMRC Advisory”
The Pop Cultural Impact of 9/11
It was the most beautiful mid-September day you could hope for – no matter where you lived. A high pressure system covered a large swath of the Northeast, meaning warm, sunny weather prevailed. The sky was blue and bright, with just a few puffy clouds. I was in an especially good mood, because my bestContinue reading “The Pop Cultural Impact of 9/11”
Quick Hits: September 4
Happy 40th birthday, Beyoncé: singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist, activist, fashion icon and all-around boss. Beyoncé has won more Grammy Awards (28) than any other singer in history and more MTV Video Music Awards (24) than any other artist. She was named Billboard Top Female Artist of the Decade. She won a Peabody Award forContinue reading “Quick Hits: September 4”
Brother Gibb
Happy 75th birthday to the man responsible for my sexual awakening at age eleven: Barry Gibb. Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb was born on September 1, 1946 in Douglas, Isle of Man. In 1958, the Gibb family – father Hugh (also a musician), mother Barbara, older sister Lesley, Barry, twins Robin and Maurice, and babyContinue reading “Brother Gibb”
Legend: Ed Asner
Eddie Asner was born November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri to Ashkenazi Jewish immigrant parents. He attended the University of Chicago, where he began appearing in campus productions like T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral. He did odd jobs and then served two years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, where he performed inContinue reading “Legend: Ed Asner”
PB & Julie + Julie C. Trivia 