Time to Say Good-Bye, Pt. I

Leave it to Leslie Nielsen to get me back to writing. His unexpected death a few weeks ago left me deflated, knowing the world had lost one of the truly funny ones, someone who got 'it.' Comedy is of course subjective, but I don't think I want to be friends with anyone who doesn't find Nielsen funny. We just won't get along (more on Lt. Frank Drebin forthcoming)

It's been a remarkably busy year, as increasing work hours and responsiblities have often left me too tired to do much beyond flopping on the couch upon returning home. Meanwhile, T and I have been busy planning what promises to be the wedding bash of the century this coming May. It better be. As Father of the Bride's Steve Martin once said in his uniquely sarcastic voice, "I'm told that one day I'll look back on all this with great affection and nostalgia. I hope so." Anyone whoever said planning a wedding is easy is insane, though I must admit we are doing really well all things considered, in no small part due to T's diligence and strong sense of planning. As long as neither of us goes completely bankrupt or has a stress-induced seizure, I think we'll come out on top. After a successful New Orleans trip to check out accomodations, meet the Rabbi, and take 600 engagement pictures, it's time to slow down again, at least briefly. I apologize to my half-dozen readers for not posting a new blog since mid-July, but what better way to bring back the good cheer then to recollect all those who died in 2010? :) Actually looking back, I neglected my annual "good-bye" blog in 2009, not a great track record considering I have maybe 3 topics I cover annually. But after getting engaged last December, I hope you'll cut me some slack. I'll begin with some 2009 exits that meant something to me (excluding Michael Jackson, who received his own blog when he died), transition through several others of note from both years, and conclude with the most impactful deaths of 2010 in a follow-up blog this week.

2009

Conan O'Brien: Reason #1 why I need to be more time efficient. By the time I got to writing this, the Brookline, MA native was already back on cable. One of the huge entertainment related stories this decade involved Conan leaving his longtime run at Late Night for The Tonight Show, only to have it handed back to Jay Leno after ratings plummeted. The whole situation stunk, but Conan handled it with class offering a touching goodbye to his audience and winning the battle of public opinion. If there's some good to result from this fiasco, at least I no longer have to choose between Conan and Dave at 11:35. That would've been brutal.

E.R. (1994-2009): Somehow has slipped under the radar whenever the best television dramas are debated. Much of that had to do with cast changes, the limitations of network shows (as opposed to cable), and the fact that it stayed on the air at least five years too long. That last point is the primary reason it left tv quietly without the fanfare of equally popular contemporaries like Seinfeld and Friends. But during it's prime, E.R. was the most respected show on t.v., cleverly written and convincingly acted by a cast of future stars. It's documentary style presentation, revelatory in in the mid-90s, has influenced dozens of shows since. I only caught it sporadically in the beginning, but the show proves both compelling and addicting years later on dvd.

John Hughes (59): For a generation who grew up in the 80s, not even Spielberg could match Hughes as the most culturally relevant filmmaker in the business. He created more stars (at least for a while) than anyone. He didn't win prestigious awards, but his name was attached (as writer and/or director) to several of the most rewatchable films of all-time; The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, Planes Trains & Automobiles, & Sixteen Candles to name a few. Despite the inclusion of several lesser titles on his resume, anyone responsible for the creation of both Clark W. Griswold and Ferris Bueller has my admiration forever.

Papa Ginos (Needham St.): Reason #2 why I need to write faster. I remember getting the text from Mom, "Papa Ginos closed!" Living in Ohio, one wouldn't think I'd care about something so insignificant. But I texted her back within seconds. The funniest part is that my response was the slowest of the three Pava boys, who all received the same message simultaneously. The local pizza favorite has since been reopened across the street, but I can't imagine it'll ever be quite the same. Other than Charlie's, I'm not sure I've ever had more meals from a single restaurant in my life. It's a place from my childhood, a place of birthday parties, a favorite destination during high school free blocks, and owner of the best $7 chicken parmesan plate in history.

Patrick Swayze (57): Among the few actors who was able to find a successful balance between chick flicks and testosterone-fueled nonsense, Swayze was well liked by both genders. For every Dirty Dancing, there was a Road House. For every Ghost, there was a Point Break. He flourished in an era most commonly observed now through nostalgia, but he didn't disgrace himself like so many. Rather, he always conducted himself with decency and class. Cancer claimed him not long after his comeback into television.

Ted Kennedy (77): You know when someone matters? When a person feels compelled to say something about them without knowing almost anything. I found out about Kennedy's death at Foxwoods of all places in the summer of '09 and remember feeling shocked. I didn't really know his politics other than particular phrases and nicknames, nor his background, aside from his connections to Massachusetts and his famous siblings. I also remember when my babysitter once told me I reminded her of Jack Kennedy and I scoffed, thinking she meant the old, chubby one. But years later, I realize that either would've been a huge compliment.


The past two years were marked by an uncommon number of celebrity departures. Some were pioneers, others icons, and several were identified by a single work. A recap of many lost (bare with me, we're gonna get through this):

American Idol's Paula Abdul & Simon Cowell: Not sure where the show goes from here, but it's hard to ignore the impact of these two going head-to-head on the most popular television show of the last decade. Cowell's shoes in particular may be the hardest to fill in entertainment.

Alaina Reed-Hall (63): Olivia on Sesame Street

Al Martino (82): Singer, Johnny Fontane in The Godfather

Andrew Koenig (41): 'Boner' on Growing Pains

Arthur Penn (88): Director of Bonnie & Clyde, The Miracle Worker

Bea Arthur (86) & Rue McClanahan (76): acclaimed pair worked together on Maude in the 70s, then played Dorothy/Blanche respecitvely on the hugely popular, multi-Emmy winning sitcom The Golden Girls. The former was a Tony award winner, both won Emmys for acting.

Blake Edwards (88): Married to Julie Andrews; won Honorary Oscar for directorial body of work including Breakfast at Tiffany's, Days of Wine and Roses, & the popular Pink Panther films.

Brittany Murphy (32): Most famous for her role as Tai in 1995's Clueless. Other credits include Eight Mile & Don't Say a Word.

Corey Haim (38): 80s teen star and best friend of Cory Feldman, Haim fought drug addiction in his adult life. Film roles included the cult hit The Lost Boys, License to Drive, and Lucas, one of the underrated great films about high school relationships.

David Carradine (72): Caine in Kung Fu, title character in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill

Dom DeLuise (75): The first of several classic cameos in 1979's The Muppet Movie; joins Madeline Kahn, Anne Brancroft, & Harvey Korman amongst Mel Brooks collaborators no longer with us. At least we still have Gene Wilder.

Ed McMahon (86): Johnny Carson's longtime sidekick

Farrah Fawcett (62): TV Icon on Charlie's Angels, Emmy nominee, responsible for one of the most famous posters of all-time, battle with cancer was viewed by millions, had the misfortune of dying the same day as Michael Jackson.


STILL WITH ME? Ok, let's pause for a joke to recharge our batteries . . .

It was Christmas and the judge was in a merry mood as he asked the prisoner,"What are you charged with?"
"Doing my Christmas shopping early", replied the defendant."
"That's no offense", said the judge. "How early were you doing this shopping?"
"Before the store opened."


Continued . . .


Gary Coleman (42): child star as Arnold on Diff'rent Strokes, catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" among the most famous in television history, later parodied in the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q

Gloria Stuart (100): Best known for The Invisible Man, elder Rose in Titanic

Harve Presnell (75): roles in Fargo, Face/Off, and Saving Private Ryan among others

Henry Gibson (73): Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Nazi leader in The Blues Brothers

Irvin Kershner (87): Director of the finest Star Wars film, 1980's The Empire Strikes Back

J.D.Salinger (91): Famously reclusive author, his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye remains one of the most famous and praised in the world. One of the few books I've liked enough to read more than once.

James Whitmore (87): Tony winner, academy award nominee, Brooks the librarian in The Shawshank Redemption; his closing message in that film 'Brooks was here," has already become an iconic quote in film history

Joseph Wiseman (91): Dr. No, title character and the 1st James Bond villain

Karl Malden (97): One of his era's most respected actors, he costarred with Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar) & later turned in crucial performances in a pair of Best Picture winners, On the Waterfront (1954) and Patton (1970), before starring opposite a young Michael Douglas in TV's The Streets of San Francisco. Malden received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2003.

Larry Gelbart (81): wrote several notable scripts; Oscar-nominated for Tootsie, co-creator/writer for TV's M*A*S*H

Lena Horne (92): Multiple Grammy winner, actress, and civil rights activist

Les Paul (94): one of the great guitar players and recording innovators; honored with permanent stand-alone exhibit in Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (thank you Wikipedia)

Maurice Jarre (84): among most prolific composers in cinema; score credits include Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Ghost


JOKE BREAK #2 . . .

A guy is sitting at home when he hears a knock at the door. He opens the door and sees a snail on the porch. He picks up the snail and throws it as far as he can.
Three years later, there’s a knock on the door. He opens it and sees the same snail. The snail says "What the hell was that all about?"


Continued . . .


Maury Chaykin (61): one of the classic 'that guy's', My Cousin Vinny's ignorant witness; the volatile Harvey on Entourage

Natasha Richardson (45) & Lynn Redgrave (67): Two members of the famed Redgrave acting family, each excelled in television and film. Lynn was Vanessa Redgrave's sister, Natasha the latter's daughter and husband to Liam Neeson.

Patricia Neal (84): The Day the Earth Stood Still, Oscar winner (Best Actress) for Hud, playing opposite Paul Newman

Patrick McGoohan (80): TV's Danger Man & The Prisoner, played villainous Longshanks in best picture winner Braveheart

Peter Graves (83): star of TV's Mission: Impossible, clueless Captain Oveur in Airplane, responsible for one of the funniest exchanges movie history:
Captain Oveur: "You ever been in a cockpit before?"
Joey: "No sir, I've never been up in a plane before."
Captain Oveur: "You ever seen a grown man naked?"

Ricardo Montalban (88): Mr. Roarke on TV's Fantasy Island; Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and Drebin's nemesis in the original Naked Gun. He received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1993.

Ron Silver (62): looked like Al Pacino's brother, prolific career on tv and film

Roy Disney (79): Executive and lifelong member of the Walt Disney family; son of Roy, nephew of Walt; net worth over 1 billion

Steven Gilborn (72): Honestly can't tell you a single role, but his face was instantly recognizable; a staple of 80s/90s television, google the actor and you're sure to go "Ohhhh, him."

Soupy Sales (83): star of comedy sketch program in the 50s/60s, hit with more pies in the face than Milton Berle (unofficial stat)

Tom Bosley (83): Immortalized as 'Mr. C' on Happy Days, even if Mom says he was her least favorite member of the cast :(

Tony Curtis (85): Major movie star in the 50s/60s, fathered actress Jamie Lee Curtis with 1st wife Janet Leigh. Starring roles included Sweet Smell of Success, The Defiant Ones, & Billy Wilder's classic comedy Some Like it Hot opposite Jack Lemmon.

Walter Cronkite (92): CBS Evening News anchorman for two decades, Bruce Nolan's idol

Zelda Rubinstein (76): psychic in Poltergeist


Congratulations to anyone who reached the end of this post without coffee. Good-Bye, Pt. II will be posted in the next few days, highlighting some untimely sports exits and the big guns of 2010.

Thanks for reading, Happy New Year