Author: Shira Gregory

The Goldbergs Make Television History

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  • January 17, 2008

Today in 1949, a show about a small Jewish family aired on television (after nearly 20 years on radio), beginning a tradition of one of the most lucrative and watched programs ever: the situation comedy, nick-named, the "sitcom." The charms of a Jewish family in the Bronx has led to stories about friends in Manhattan, um, another group of friends in Manhattan, a couple in Manhattan — are we sensing a pattern here? Oh wait, there’s also Two and a Half Men. Can’t forget that gem of an exception.

Thanks to the creators of The Goldbergs, we can now come home after our hard days at work, laugh at predictable humor and numb our minds so that we don’t have to hit the bottle. Cheers!

Remembing Bleeding Gums Murphy

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  • January 16, 2008

Actor Ron Taylor, most favorably remembered as the voice of "Bleeding Gums" Murphy on The Simpsons died this day in 2002. Murphy’s character was Lisa Simpson’s inspiring, saxophone-playing mentor. Taylor also played a Klingon chief on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and this reader’s favorite credit, Taylor originated the role of Audrey II in the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. Taylor tragically passed from a heart attack. His delightful performances will be missed.

The Black Dahlia’s Anniversary

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  • January 15, 2008

Today in 1947, the the body of Elizabeth Short was found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Perhaps unpleasant to admit, the savagely disfigured corpse of the girl, better known as the "Black Dahlia," did indeed provide inspiration for the latest Hollywood storytellers, video game artists and even credible contemporary writers.  Joyce Carole Oates used Short as a character in her novel, Blonde and the late John Gregory Dunne and his wife Joan Didion used the murder in their screenplay for the film, True Confessions.

Spoiler alert: Let’s not ignore the more obvious and well known inspired tale (can we really call it "inspired," though?), the recent flop, The Black Dahlia (starring Hillary Swank, Josh Hartnett and a hilariously creepy Fiona Shaw).  Always bring in the trusty Brits to nail the quirky bad-guy role, right? But seriously, Hillary Swank as a noir vixen? That’s stretching any audience’s suspension of disbelief–yet I digress. Lastly, Black Dahlia was also the name of a video game in which the player had to solve the mysery of Short’s death, and then beat the Nazis. OK, sure. Hey at least Dennis Hopper was a featured voice.

Happy 144th birthday, Richard F. Outcault!

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  • January 14, 2008

Today in 1863, the very first Sunday comic artist was born.

Yes, we should all take pause today to acknowledge Richard Felton Outcault, who drew the world’s first color comic strip, "Origin of a New Species," in The New York World‘s Sunday edition.

His first regular strip was "Hogan’s Alley," but he later became known for Buster Brown and The Yellow Kid.  Where would we be without your first brave steps, Mr. Outcault? I’m not sure I would want to live in a Peanuts-less world, even if I were (perish the thought) ignorant to their very existence. We must all thank Outcault for paving the way. He died in 1928 having made his mark. In color.

Happy 51st birthday to the Frisbee!

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  • January 14, 2008

ultimate-frisbee-9821186Watch out, onlookers, what those naked athletes are throwing around was produced exactly 51 years ago today!

After all, Ultimate Frisbee wouldn’t be ultimate, heck, it just plain wouldn’t be without the plate-shaped plaything. The Frisbee was produced today way back when by Wham-O, inspired by the shape of a popcorn tin lid and using the name of a pie manufacturer (I wonder what Frisbee pie tasted like…)

Today, the Frisbee is best known for being chewed and slobbered on by hyperactive dogs, being thrown around on vacation, or competitively used in the game, Ultimate Frisbee (traditionally played by serious teams in the nude).

Thanks for all the good times, Wham-O.

Happy 78th birthday, Tintin!

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  • January 10, 2008

Today is the anniversary of a great comic debut: the funny pages revealed in 1929 the adventures of the worldly Tintin. That weird little mohawk, that smart, itsy dog, who knew the French could come up with something so, that is, tres, charming? Tintin was so popular in fact that it has been translated into over 50 different languages. But trulee, you ‘ahven’t experee-unst ze real Teenteen unteel you ahv red eet een zee oreejenal wan.

On this day in history: Sting gets animated

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  • January 9, 2008

Sixteen years ago, a musical icon made his cartoon-self debut on "The Simpsons" when sexy yogi and former "police"man Sting appeared on an episode called "Radio Bart."

In it, Bart’s practical joke turns ugly when all believe a little boy is trapped in a well. Sting helps fund raise for the cause by releasing a song called, "We’re Sending Our Love Down the Well."

Aw, Sting, waddaguy.

Here’s the song. We couldn’t actually get the clip from The Simpsons, because Fox has been exceptionally snarky with YouTube of late– so you’ll have to make do with this version, recast with Inayashu characters.

 

Happy 72nd birthday, Elvis!

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  • January 8, 2008

Today in 1935, a king was born. In East Tupelo.

Apparently, so great was/is his majesty that Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia have made today, "Elvis Presley Day." The king had a twin, Jesse, who was stillborn– no room in this world for two kings of music.

Incidentally, he also sued for divorce from Priscilla on his birthday, too. That’s one big birthday.

So everybody– sing! Because Elvis is everywhere!

Hail and Farewell, Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes

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  • January 1, 2008

Ah, the new year. A time to freshen up, begin anew and reflect upon the past. For some of us, this means looking back to a fateful new year’s day in 1995, when after exactly 15 years of service to the absurd and hilarious, Gary Larson finally put The Far Side to rest.

Who can forget those restless chickens, philosophical cows and people whose brains were full? They were the iconic markers of an era with a drier, if odder sense of humor.

We still miss those odd phone calls from God. However, Far Side products still exist, from the giant omnibus edition to a new DVD release of their really strange Halloween special from a few years back. Here’s a look:

 

 

Yesterday was also the anniversary of another sad day in comics, as a year after The Far Side went off the rails for the last time, a boy and his tiger sledded off into the sunset as Calvin and Hobbes came to a close.

Happy 53rd birthday, Tamora Pierce!

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  • December 13, 2007

Today is young adult fantasy writer Tamora Pierce’s 53rd birthday. Pierce is most famous for creating young heroines, most memorably, the medieval transvestite, Alanna of Trebond from the series, The Song of the Lioness. The noble-born girl wants to become a knight and goes the way of Hilary Swank a la Boys Don’t Cry (minus the rape, but being up against a dragon is no fun either). Either way, those young female readers need their empowerment stories any way they can get them. Cross-dressing knight heroines is as good a way as any.

Tamora is probably best known to comics fans as the co-author of the recent White Tiger miniseries for Marvel starring former FBI agent Angela Del Toro, taking off from Brian Bendis’s run on Daredevil.

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