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starr-fall-knight-rise · 4 years

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HASO “The Best Outcome.”

Just wrapping up a few loose ends from the past few months stories. I hope you all like it. And feel free to give me some ideas on what you want to see, or who you want to see more of. I will try to do my best :)

Breaking News tonight from the Apollo 11 memorial landing site as Admiral Adam Vr and Captains Warren Richarards and Mary Chavez were rescued from the Pacific Ocean following a journey that was supposed to be historical, turned harrowing. Amy Grey comes to us this morning with the story.

Thank you Julie, it was only a week ago here on the historic Cape Canaveral launch site, that the reconstructed Saturn V rocket was launched by the UNSC International Space and Aeronautics Division on the two thousand and fifty first anniversary of the original Apollo 11 mission. On board The reconstructed rocket were astronauts Fleet Admiral Adam Vir head of the UNSC deep space exploration division, Captain Warren Richards five year veteran and historical aeronautics expert, and Mary Chavez six year shuttle pilot veteran, and communications specialist.

The reconstructed Saturn V rocket took off thirty minutes behind schedule at 10:03 GMTJuly 16 after delays attributed to engineering standbys. However, reports by UNSC investigation early this morning indicate that the delays were called for by engineering head Jade Clein who noticed something strange during her final checks of the Saturn V recreated rocket. In an interview early today, flight director, Aaliyah Seif of the Apollo re-creation mission informed outlets that there was evidence of attempted tampering on the hull of the Saturn V rocket. The tampering case in the shape of these small silver tape strips covering loosened bolts along one of the Saturn V side panels. Engineers stated that the tape was not heat resistant and would have burned off in time to rattle the bolts loose and, likely, cause a devastating spin that would destroy the rocket.

While this attempted tampering was thwarted, the mission would only become more dire. A sudden and shocking report by Mericanda News 5 showed an uncut image of an unknown alien hybrid woman claiming that the UN President had ordered th attempted assassination of Admiral Vir, in conjuncton with an audio recording by Admiral Colter Massie, Head of the Galactic intelligence division an known isolationist, that admitted to the attempted assasination of Admiral Vir, and the acquisition of twenty thunderhawks which were used to harry the Satern V on it’s way to the moon. Admiral Kelly, long time friend of Admiral Vir, corroborated the story, saying she caught General Massie just after he ordered the deployment of the twenty thunderhawks. During their conversion he attempted to kill her before being detained by two members of Admiral Vir’s crew, and was later seen being escorted into custody by Military Police.

Indeed footage has been captured from the hull of the Saturn V showing approximately twenty thunderhawks attempting to destroy the rocket while Rundi remote piloted drones and an unknown group of what appear to be racing jets, fought back to delay the attack while word was sent to the UNSC to deploy F-90 darkfire pilots to assist. This all after communications between Houston and the rocket were sabotaged shortly after leaving orbit. The F-90 darkfire pilots were able to arrive on time to rescue the rocket, though a hole was reportedly torn in the hull sucking Admiral Vir out into space, though he was later recovered and returned to his ship without any injuries. Patch teams were then able to repair the torn hull and the astronauts completed their mission landing to crowds on the moon and returning to earth on time on time landing in the Pacific ocean only nine miles away from the waiting ship.

All three astronauts were recovered and are reported to be in good health.

The investigation into the UN president’s involvement is still ongoing at this time, however preliminary reports from the Global Bureau of Investigation suggest evidence is both staggering and damning to the current UN president, who earlier today, attempted to cut all ties to the sabotage efforts saying she was framed. Political experts report that, even assuming her innocence, she will likely not last to the end of her term.

International News Network was able to interview Admiral Vir shortly after his landing while still on board the rescuing ship UNSS Victory.

Here is what the Admiral had to say.

“I find it…. Really very disheartening that someone we all trusted, and someone that we all should have looked up to could do something like this. It really is a heinous demonstration of what political corruption can lead people to do.”

“And how do you feel, personally about all of this.”

“Personally, I…. well to be honest I am hurt and appalled. Not to mention that I fear for the safety of my family and my friends. Every day I wonder if my involvement with them is going to get someone I love killed…. The thought haunts me, but I hope after all of this is over I… and all of us can breathe a little easier.”

“Were you scared?”

“I don’t think that even needs to be a question. Of course I was scared, getting sucked out of your spaceship isn’t ideal.”

“What do you hope will happen now?”

“I hope that justice can be upheld to those who deserve it.”

“What do you have to say to the UN president.”

…

“I have nothing to say. Wouldn’t want to waste the air.

****

What followed would be one of the largest scandals in recent political history. At some point an unknown number of classified government documents was leaked onto the internet, and after that it was all over for the Presidency. Thousands of enterprising humans, and aliens alike, viewed the documents to discover all the underhanded and dirty things which had been going on in the UN governmental body over the past few years. Forensic accounting experts (mostly Tesrtaki) uncovered plenty of fiscal tampering which shed light on plenty of isolationist related projects and bank accounts. There was even evidence that they had something to do with the original assassination attempt against Admiral Vir so many months ago. The drama had even managed to capture the attention of Rundi political experts and Vrul computer science geniuses, and together they unearthed a world of unfathomable, but not unexpected corruption. The process to remove the UN president from office was probably one of the fastest movements of human government ever seen by UN congressional leaders, who were likely trying their very best tro distance themselves from association with the president, who despite not being the only one involved, had become the political scapegoat for everyone else that had a supposed link with isolationism.

Even the VP fell under suspicion and was watched closely for the rest of his term.

Admiral Massie and the UN President were placed under arrest and set up for court dates in the nearing future, though everyone saw a long and arduous litigation process ahead. Even Ramirez’s family had filed for damages against the government after the news came to light confirming that their son had been shot as collateral in one of the UN presidents plans to assassinate Admiral Vir. They settled out of court to the tune of an unknown, but impressive sum of money.

No one really knew how much, but a couple months later Ramirez’s younger sister was seen training at one of the most prestigious olympic academies on earth.

Ramirez himself was suddenly able to afford housing on the moon in a condo just next door to his best friend, though no one else inquired further.

The Rundi chairwoman came forward with her own investigation admitting to being suspicious for a long time though she feared accusations without proper proof. Admiral Vir was seen having lunch with her not so many months after the events took place, suggesting that the trust between the two of them had not been completely dissolved. With much of the isolationist element gone from government, public policy began to lean heavily towards integration with the alliance. The occasional isolationist demonstration or protest was held, but none of them managed to gain traction.

Admiral Vir was finding himself more important than ever, though it was to his chagrin that his ship was grounded for the intervening months while the investigation continued.

No one was entirely sure what the future held.

***

Admiral Vir stepped into Admiral Kelly’s office. The last time he had actually visited her here had been over a few years ago before his promotion to captain of the Harbinger. It seemed so distant now, and he never expected to walk into her office with a star on his shoulder. She stood as he entered, and the two of them shook hands, ignoring all the stuffy formalities that usually come with the meeting of two military officers.

The wall behind her was decorated with a myriad of metals and awards she had received over her career, and he couldn't help but note the slight tinge of grey he could see forming in her hair. He knew that feeling, he was going prematurely white much to his chagrin. She stood and the two of them shook hands.

“Vir.”

“Kelly.”

She motioned him to sit and he sat sighing lightly as he had been on his feet all day consulting with political figures and other members of the UNSC.

“A strange couple months wouldn’t you say.”

“Tell me about it.”{

Kelly reached under her desk and withdrew an amber bottle which she placed between them, “I always forget; Do you drink?”

“On occasion.”

“Well consider this an occasion.” She said popping off the top and pouring two glasses for them. She handed his across the desk and he leaned back in his seat cupping the cool glass in both hands.

She swirled the amber liquid around in her glass, “So what are your plans after all this.”

He took a sip of water warmed by the burning liquid, “Hoping things will go back to normal and I can go back to traveling the galaxy.”

Kelly grunted, “A simple man with simple motivations.”

He laughed , “Sometimes I think a stupid man with simple motivations.”

She chuckled then grew serious, “A lot of people make the mistake of assuming simple people don’[t have the intelligence to match. Some people assume that trusting means gullible means dumb. Just because we are trusting and expect others to do the right thing is not necessarily a fault. I believe there is a kind of beauty in assuming the fundamental goodness of humanity.”

\Admiral Vir shook his head, “How can you after seeing what we have seen.”

“How can you not?” She shrugged, “We always knew that politicians were corrupt, but think about everything else we have seen.”

Admiral Vir nodded slowly, “The enthusiasm for the Apollo 11 recreation mission, the people who flew up to help us. All of those people who went digging through years of information just to uncover the truth.”

SHe raised her glass, “Precisely. Goodness in humanity is all around us, but we tend to overlook the good in favor of the bad.” She placed her hat on the desk and sighed, “It is up to good people to keep their goodness going even when it might seem easier to give into the bad. I I have and will always believe in the fundamental good of humanity. Some may call it naeve, or even stupid. Others have said I have a romanticized view of a species that is fundamentally broken.” She turned her head to look out the window a contemplative expression on her face before turning back to look at Adam.

“You understand me, I think.”

He nodded slowly.

“People need to be believed in. You tell someone for long enough that they are fundamentally bad at their core and they will begin to believe you. For thousands of years pessimists have gotten it into our heads that we are no better than animals, worse even since animals don’t fight in wars. But I believe that is wrong, I have seen people, I have met people, and I have interacted with people who prove to me that humanity cannot just be fundamentally bad or else these people wouldn’t exist.” She tapped her nails against the glass, “I think it is easier to corrupt purity than wash away a stain,”

He listened quietly as she continued.

“Humans are born good, Adam, and life stains us. We aren’t born stained while some of us are wiped clean. “ She shook her head, “Doesn't make sense to me.” She caught him with a look pinning him to the spot with her intense stare, “People like you convince me of this every day.”

“Me….”

She held up a hand. “Adam Vir, I am convinced that the best outcome this universe ever had, was when a happy go lucky science fiction freak was lucky enough to be the first man to meet aliens. Any other way things would have gone horribly wrong.” She leaned across her desk, “The universe needs men and women like you, and not only that but the universe needs people who are going to support men and women like you.” She sat back, “Which is why I have made a decision.”

He raised an eyebrow in curiosity not entirely sure where this could be going.

She smiled, “I have decided to run for President.”

He nearly spit his mouthful of expensive scotch onto the table but managed to choke it mostly down.

Eyes wide he set his glass down, “Are you serious.”

She smiled, “Seriously serious.”

“Well shit, you have my vote for sure.” He raised his glass to her, “I couldn’t think of a better outcome.”

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absolutebisaster · 4 years

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Star Trek fanfic, I have no excuses. I'm hyperfixated

Laughter bubbled up from your throat as you watched the cadets running through the third deck halls. The USS Enterprise was always bustling with activity. With life. After beaming aboard you were on your way to the bridge. It was the first day of your transfer from the USS Arcadia and you needed to check in with the captain.

The bridge was just as busy as the rest of the ship. You could barely hide your excitement when you finally came face to face with the captain. James T. Kirk. "Its an honor to finally meet you, sir." You introduced yourself and informed the captain that you would be the replacement mechanical engineer while your predecessor was on family leave.

"Welcome aboard, ensign. We look forward to having you on board." Kirk waved you off and as you were boarding the elevator, you made eye contact with the Vulcan science officer. The quirk of his brow made your heart skip a beat and the doors slid shut, taking you down to the main engine room.

Your first day was suddenly your 79th and before you knew it, you had friends. No one on the ship was a stranger except the bridge crew. There was never time to meet them, they were always far too busy with 'Bridge Stuff' as some of the others called it.

There was no one else awake as you walked the hallways of the Enterprise. It was late, you couldn't sleep and you certainly hadn't expected to see anyone, so walking into the cafeteria and seeing a figure sitting in the dimmed lights startled you.

Pushing the feeling down, you went to the replicator for a cup of tea. You glanced over at the man and quickly looked away again when you made eye contact. Unmistakably Vulcan. Mr. Spock.

"May I join you, sir?" You asked as you sat down with your tea, not waiting for an answer. "We met on my first day." But you reintroduced yourself because technically you were strangers.

He didn't talk much, but you enjoyed the conversation you were having. He was a scientist first and a starfleet officer second, that much was obvious. It made you smile when he talked about his work.

"Oh man, I wish I could be part of a landing party some day. I can only imagine how amazing it is to make First Contact. That's why I agreed to take this assignment. The Enterprise is famous for First Contact." Vulcans didn't experience emotions the way your people did so you tried to hide your minor disappointment. "But grease monkeys aren't on the list of people required for First Contact."

He quirked a brow, that same look from before. "Grease monkey?"

"I'm a mechanical engineer, sir. I build and repair Starfleet engines. Not nearly as interesting as being a scientist."

Then Spock said something that surprised you. "You are an invaluable member of this team, without you and your department, the Enterprise would not fly." Your bottom lip quivered and you looked down into your empty cup.

"Thank you, Mr. Spock. I… that really means a lot to hear." Especially coming from a bridge officer. "I just wish I could be… I don't know… more involved? I'm only stationed here for the year, so I know there's no point in getting too attached to the Enterprise, but this is the most famous ship in the fleet, to be sitting here tonight is what so many crewmen only dream of."

"You talk a lot." He said simply as he got up and headed for the door.. "Sleep well, ensign."

-----

Time was different in space. There were no days or nights to help show the passage of time. If it weren’t for the computer, you wouldn’t know if today was six days ago. Working down in the engine room especially made it complicated. All you knew was work. Since your late night tea with Spock, you had been thinking about him a lot. He was the only Vulcan you had ever actually met. The few in the academy with you were more concerned with their own lives to make friends and while you understood it, you found yourself researching Vulcan in your free time.

After a rough mission on Melia left the Enterprise in desperate need of repairs, you put your personal life on hold. 38 hours into repairs, you couldn’t do it anymore. You couldn’t see straight and your head was spinning. When was the last time you had anything to eat? Drink? You were just about to climb down off the ladder when your foot slipped.

Your head was pounding when you opened your eyes. The lights were too bright and you whined, bringing your hand up to shield the light. “Oh good, you’re awake. That was a nasty fall you had, ensign. Your ankle is almost done being reconstructed so take it easy, okay?” It was a medical officer? You were in sickbay.

“What happened?” you asked as you pulled yourself into a sitting position.

The doctor scanned your head. “Your crewmen said you blacked out and fell off the ladder you were on. Your foot slipped between the bars and broke your ankle but you should make a full recovery in the next hour so when you’re able to walk again, I want you on bed rest until your next scheduled shift, do you understand?”

“Yes sir, I understand.” you gave a weak thumbs-up and a smile. He walked off to deal with his next patient and that left you to look around sickbay. The Enterprise was going to recover. They always did, you had learned.

Since you had your tablet on you when engineering beamed you to sickbay, you were able to log in and check the progress of the repairs. In the two hours you’d been unconscious, the chief engineer had gone down to finish your repairs. All the work you had put into the Enterprise had been finished by him and as far as you knew, he was taking all the credit for the repairs you’d done.

“Good, you’re awake.” When the captain walked into the room, you tried to scramble to make yourself more presentable but he held up a hand to stop you so you stilled. Kirk sat in the chair next to you and patted your hand “Scotty said that your work on the warp core saved our lives, ensign.” Pride was swelling up in your chest. Captain Kirk himself was talking to you! Your work hadn’t gone unnoticed! “So I wanted to come down here and thank you personally.”

“Captain, I love this ship, I was just doing what anyone else would do.” You were blushing and looking down at your hands as you picked at a callous.

“Ensign, I want you to go ahead and take the rest of the week off to recover and relax. You’ve earned it.” pulling your top lip between your teeth, you didn’t respond. “I’m sure you don’t want to feel useless.” Kirk was speaking to you like you were friends and he reached out again to get you to stop picking at the skin on your hands. “So why don’t you take this week to study up on your Vulcan?”

Your head shot up and you finally looked at the famous captain. “Sir?” Kirk just patted your hand and left with a smile.

-----

Your week off was leaving you with a disgusting amount of free time. You had been chased out of engineering just about every day. Apparently the team was under direct orders from the captain to make sure you took the time off. Fucker.

So you spent most of your time tinkering with the toys you collected. Remote control things designed to keep children entertained. The sphere following you now was one of your own design. You had taken the working components from the toys that broke and cobbled them together to make something entirely new.

A few of the other crewmen stopped as they watched you and your toy walk by. You controlled it with your starfleet tablet. Was it appropriate use of the technology? Not by a long shot. But no one was actually going to say anything to you about it because they really didn’t care. As the sphere rolled along, it bumped off the walls and swerved to avoid tripping anyone. A couple people told you it was cool, but no one was really interested in it so you decided to go show your commanding officer. Maybe the lieutenant commander would find it charming.

The trip to the bridge was interrupted by the sphere going off on it’s own. The program you’d used to control your toys was missing some key components and this wasn’t your area of expertise so you decided to just follow along and see where the data took you.

The sphere rolled along until it bumped into a door. “Come.” the voice called from the other side of the door. This was someone’s private quarters and as you stooped to pick up the sphere to get it to leave, the door opened. There stood Mr. Spock with the same quizzical expression on his face he always seemed to have when he looked at you.

“I’m so sorry for the intrusion, sir. My robot came this way on it’s own.” you explained as the sphere tried to roll back out of your arms. “Where are you going? You’re embarrassing me.” you whispered as it slipped out of your grasp. It rolled into his room and you had to stop yourself from following it. “Oh! I get it, now. The cat must be yours! My sphere only reacts like this when the cat is around.” you explained and tried to get it to come back to you but it was already under his bed.

“Yes, I have a feline companion. Tell me what your sphere does.” His tone was always so serious, it sounded like an order and since he did outrank you, you nodded and handed him the tablet with the control mapping pulled up.

“The sphere is just a toy I built from other scrap.” you explained. “It may look polished and nice on the outside, but deep down, it’s just a fu--” his brow rose. “It’s just a mess, sir. Something to keep me preoccupied during my quote-unquote ‘on-station vacation’ the captain gave me after passing out in the engine room when we left Melia.” You explained the controls to him and soon enough, he had it rolling out from under the bed. “It’s programming has it obsessed with cats for some reason I can’t figure out.”

“What programming software did you use?” the sphere rolled around his quarters as the two of you stood in the entryway together.

“I uh… It’s actually something of my own design. I’ve been working on it for like… ten years now. All my RC toys are controlled through that program because even though I can fix a warp engine, I’m not… actually all that computer savvy. I needed something simple that I could control multiple bots with.” You and Mr. Spock hadn’t spoken since that night you had tea together, this was a nice moment they were sharing.

He controlled the sphere so it rolled out of his room and took a step out the door to follow it. “Let us find somewhere else to take this toy, shall we? I do not want it to put unnecessary strain on my cat.”

“I’m not distracting you from anything important, am I? I didn’t interrupt sleep or meditation?” You followed him as the sphere rolled down the hallway. Spock had turned off the automated balancing system and he was having a much easier time controlling it than you did.

“No, I’ve found myself with free time today. You’re not interrupting anything.” Truth be told, he had been trying to meditate but was having trouble keeping himself focused. “What others have you built?”

“Do you want to see them? They’re all in my quarters on the next deck down.” You were already leading him to the lift. “I’ve been working on this little guy because the project I was working on I just… Can’t get it right. There’s some sort of scientific aspect I’m missing? Hey! You’re a science officer, do you think you might want to take a look at it?”

“I will help you if I can.”

#star trek #star trek fanfiction #s'chn t'gai spock #spock #spock/reader #spock/you

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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years

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THE MARRIAGE LICENSE ERROR

January 21, 1949

“Marriage License Error” (aka “Marriage License”) is episode #27 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on January 21, 1949 over the Armed Forces Radio Network (AFN).

Synopsis ~ Liz and George find their marriage license and discover that instead of "George H. Cooper," it says "George C. Hooper." Now Liz is convinced that she and George aren't legally married!

Portions of this radio show served as the basis for “The Marriage License” (ILL S1;E26) filmed on February 28, 1952 and aired on April 7, 1952, on CBS-TV. On television, the Ricardo’s marriage license mistakenly read “Bicardi” instead of “Ricardo”.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benadaret was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

REGULAR CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born as Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Announcer Bob LeMond is not heard in this episode as it is part of the American Forces Network and has a different announcer.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) and Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) had not yet joined the cast as regular characters.

GUEST CAST

Frank Nelson (Joe Ridgley) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” and “Fibber McGee & Molly”. This is one of his 11 performances on “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” he holds the distinction of being the only actor to play two recurring roles: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey, as well as six one-off characters, including the frazzled train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5), a character he repeated on “The Lucy Show.” Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs.

Doris Singleton (Hotel Biltmore Telephone Operator) created the role of Caroline Appleby on “I Love Lucy,” although she was known as Lillian Appleby in the first of her ten appearances. She made two appearances on “The Lucy Show.” Singleton played a secretary in the first episode of “Here’s Lucy” and was meant to be a series regular, but her role was written out to concentrate on Lucy Carter’s family life. She did two more episodes of the series.

Ted de Corsia (Police Officer) was an actor in touring companies and on radio before making a memorable film debut as the killer in The Lady from Shanghai (1947). De Corsia's New York street demeanor and gravelly voice assured him steady work playing street thugs, gang leaders or organized-crime bosses. On radio he starred in the CBS series "Pursuit" (1949-50). Two years after this episode of “My Favorite Husband,” he appeared with Lucille Ball on the radio show “The Golden Touch.”

The actor voicing the role of Paul Buchanan is not credited and has not been identified.

EPISODE

The Coopers are spending the evening in the living room reading the newspapers. Liz is doing the crossword puzzle, while George scans the headlines.

GEORGE: “Well, it looks like the inauguration came off alright.”

George is referring to the second inauguration of incumbent President Harry S. Truman, which happened in Washington DC the previous day. It ushered in Truman’s second term in office. It was the first televised U.S. presidential inauguration and the first with an air parade.

Liz insists that crosswords build her vocabulary. George quizzes her on current events.

GEORGE: “Where did the President take his oath of office?” LIZ: “On a special platform built in front of the capitol building. GEORGE: “How did you happen to know that?” LIZ: “It showed through the hole when I cut out the crossword puzzle.” GEORGE: “Try this: who administered the oath?” LIZ: “What?”

The familiar trope of husbands being engrossed in the morning papers to the dismay of their wives takes a slightly different spin here, but was continued well into “I Love Lucy.” The answer that George is looking for is that Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson administered the presidential oath of office that day in 1949.

Through the hole, Liz recognizes the name of Paul Buchanan, who is in the paper because he was elected president at the jewelers convention. Liz recalls dating him in high school. He played tuba in the school band. Liz says she might have married but for his tuba playing. Liz says that if she had married Paul she might have gotten an engagement ring. Instead, George couldn’t afford a ring and gave her a sweat shirt with his initials on it. George says the initials actually stood for Gym Class!

LIZ: “I was lovely! I was engaged! I was dressed like Maxie Rosenbloom!”

Max Everitt Rosenbloom (1907-76) was a professional boxer, actor, and television personality. In 1948 he played a truck driver in the Paulette Goddard film Hazard. Nicknamed “Slapsie Maxie”, he had appeared in the film Muss ‘Em Up (1936) in which a blonde Lucille Ball was a background performer. She posed with him for the above publicity shot, helping him apply his make-up!

Liz senses that George is still upset about the ring, so she sits on his lap and they cuddle and kiss. Liz opens their scrapbook, looking at their wedding photos. She sees her marriage license.

LIZ: “On this date, Elizabeth Elliott was married to George C. Hooper!”

Liz panics thinking that their license may be invalid - and they might not even be legally married! As soon as the Sheridan Falls City Hall opens, Liz intends to go down there personally and find out for sure!

Unbeknownst to Liz, George calls his friend at the license bureau, Joe Ridgley (Frank Nelson). He tells Joe that he wants him to play a joke on Liz, and tell her that they are not really married! Joe agrees.

Liz arrives at the bureau and explains to Mr. Ridgley about the error. He tells Liz that it does indeed matter. He refers to her as “Miss Elliott” and confirms that she hasn’t been married to George for ten years!

Liz returns home. When George goes to kiss her - she says that she is no longer his to touch!

LIZ: “The man at the license bureau put the padlock on our wedlock.”

Liz insists they go right down to the license bureau and get re-married. George - having some fun at her expense - hesitates. Liz is as upset as she is angry! Just then, Katie the Maid takes Liz aside into the kitchen to tell her that it’s all a joke between George and Joe. Liz decides to get revenge for his prank.

Liz goes back into the living room and George suddenly confesses to his joke - but when he describes Joe Ridgley, Liz says that he is not describing the man she spoke to at all! Which means that they really aren’t married after all! George wants to go right down to City Hall and re-marry, but Liz (teasing him along even further) says not so fast - she wants to be single a little longer! Liz picks up the phone to call Paul Buchanan to ask him out on a date. She reminds him that she was called “Queen of the Rumble Seat”!

A rumble seat was an additional padded passenger seat that popped up from the rear of the vehicle, usually just big enough for two. This led it to becoming synonymous with romantic trysts!

Liz knows that George can’t hear Paul on the other end as he protests that he is married with six kids! He abruptly hangs up, but Liz continues her staged phone conversation with the hotel operator (Doris Singleton). Liz says that she will meet him at the Flamingo Room of the Biltmore.

In the kitchen, Liz tells Katie that while George thinks she is on a date with Paul Buchanan at the Biltmore, she and Katie will actually be watching Humphrey Bogart at the Strand movie theater.

In January 1949, Bogart’s most recent film would have been Key Largo, released in mid-summer 1948. It went on to win an Oscar for Claire Trevor. Humphrey Bogart never appeared on screen with Lucille Ball. However, in “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E5) Desi Arnaz does an impression of Bogart and in “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (HL S2;E6) Lucy blows a kiss to a large poster of Bogart from the movie Casablanca.

Coming out of the Strand later that evening, Liz and Katie notice a crowd in front of the Biltmore Hotel. Katie thinks it might be a wreck!

LIZ: “When you see a crowd in front of a window these days, it isn’t a wreck, it’s television!” KATIE: “Oh, well maybe they’re showing a wrestling match!”

Before television sets became affordable to the general public, it was not uncommon to find people gathered on the sidewalk in front of a store window to view it from the street.

LIZ: “Katie it is wrestling! There’s gorgeous George!”

Liz is referring to her husband, George but wrestling matches were very popular on early television, producing such colorful wrestlers as Gorgeous George. George Raymond Wagner (1915–63), was known as Gorgeous George because of his long blonde hair. He was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25) and “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E6). In 1949, Republic Pictures released a film starring Gorgeous George.

A Policeman (Ted de Corsia) is breaking up a brawl between George Cooper and Paul Buchanan. Paul is nothing like Liz remembered: bald, fat and with a black eye. Paul remembers George from school. Liz is delighted having two men fighting over her. George spots Liz in the crowd. When George insists Liz is his wife, Liz claims she never saw him before. When the cop wants to arrest George, Liz pretends to be from Brooklyn (Myrtle Avenue) to talk him out of it. She insists that George buy her an engagement ring (from Paul) to get out of going to jail. The office gladly agrees - if George will properly propose on one knee first! Liz insists he use her ‘pet’ name.

GEORGE: “Will you marry me... toodly-woodly-ums!” COP: “When you gonna get married?” LIZ: “Ten years ago!” COP: “Why that’s impossible!” LIZ: “Who cares! I’ve got back my favorite husband!”

In the bedtime tag, Liz asks George to get up and get her a glass of warm milk. After bickering about it for a moment, George reluctantly agrees, stubbing his toe on the chair. By the time he finds his slippers, Liz is snoring, fast asleep.

GEORGE: “How do you like that? Goodnight, Liz.”

#Marriage License #My Favorite Husband #I Love Lucy #Lucille Ball #Richard Denning #Frank Nelson #Ruth Perrott #CBS Radio #Doris Singleton #Tony Di Corsia #keychain #Humphrey Bogart #Gorgeous George #Maxie Rosenbloom #TV #Harry S. Truman #Rumble Seat #1949

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blackkudos · 4 years

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Biz Markie

Marcel Theo Hall (born April 8, 1964), better known by his stage name Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, actor, comedian, television personality and spokesperson. He is best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a Top 40 hit in several countries. In 2008, "Just a Friend" made #100 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip hop songs of all time.

Markie has been called the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop."

Early life

Markie's career began on Long Island and he graduated from Patchogue Medford High School in 1982."Biz Markie Shows, Concerts, & Tickets 2020". EventBrite.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.

Career

1980s

Biz Markie was interviewed in the 1986 cult documentary Big Fun In The Big Town. Markie released his debut album, Goin' Off, in 1988, which attracted a fair amount of attention, largely due to the lead single, "Make the Music With Your Mouth, Biz". The album also featured the underground hit singles "Nobody Beats The Biz", "Vapors", and "Pickin' Boogers".

On October 10, 1989, Biz Markie's second studio album, The Biz Never Sleeps, was released on Cold Chillin'/Warner Bros. Records, produced by Biz, his cousin Cool V and Paul C. The single "Just a Friend", in which he alternates between rap and singing, became Markie's most successful single, reaching #9 on the Billboard charts.

The song interpolates the 1968 song "You Got What I Need" by singer/songwriter Freddie Scott, whose basic chord and melody provided the base for the song's chorus. "Just A Friend" was ranked 81st on VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders in 2000, and later as number 100 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop in 2008.

The music video, directed by Lionel C. Martin, chronicles the rapper's woman problems.

1990s

Markie's third studio album I Need a Haircut was released on August 27, 1991, on Cold Chillin'/Warner Bros. Records and was produced by Biz Markie and his cousin Cool V. Sales of the album were already low when Markie was served a lawsuit by Gilbert O'Sullivan, who claimed that the album's "Alone Again" featured an unauthorized sample from his hit "Alone Again (Naturally)". O'Sullivan's claim was upheld in a landmark ruling, Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc., that altered the landscape of hip-hop, finding that all samples must be cleared with the original artist before being used. In accordance with the ruling, Warner Bros., the parent company of Cold Chillin', had to pull I Need a Haircut from circulation, and all companies had to clear samples with the samples' creators before releasing the records. This development reflected the increasing popularity of hip-hop and the financial stakes over which releases were set. Biz responded in 1993 with the mischievously titled All Samples Cleared!, but his career had been hurt by the publicity emanating from the lawsuit, and the record suffered accordingly. Additional bad news came when the video for the track 'Toilet Stool Rap' was labeled Worst Video of the Year on the Fromage show from Canada's MuchMusic.

For the remainder of the decade, Markie occasionally made television appearances, including guest appearances on In Living Color (including as contestant Damian "Foosball" Franklin in the recurring game show sketch "The Dirty Dozens" and as Marlon Cain in "Ed Bacon: Guidance Counselor") and in a 1996 freestyle rap commercial on MTV2. He also made numerous guest appearances with the Beastie Boys on Check Your Head (1992), Ill Communication (1994), Hello Nasty (1998), and their anthology The Sounds of Science (1999). He also rapped on the song "Schizo Jam", on Don Byron's 1998 release, Nu Blaxploitation (Blue Note/Capitol) and worked with Canibus on the first track on the Office Space soundtrack (1999). He also rapped on the track "So Fresh" alongside Slick Rick on Will Smith's 1999 album Willennium.

In 1996, Markie appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly, alongside Wu-Tang Clan, Coolio, and Fat Joe, among others. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as a masterpiece by The Source magazine.

In 1997, a sample of a Markie recording appeared in the Rolling Stones' song "Anybody Seen My Baby?" from their album Bridges to Babylon. His part was shortened on some radio versions. Biz also teamed up with Frankie Cutlass on his third single and music video titled "The Cypher Part 3" with some of Marley Marl's Juice Crew veterans.

In 1999, Markie appeared on Len's song "Beautiful Day" on their album You Can't Stop the Bum Rush, as well as on Alliance Ethnik's album Fat Comeback.

2000s

In 2002, Markie appeared in Men in Black II, with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, essentially playing an alien parody of himself, whose native language sounded exactly like beatboxing. Between 2002 and 2003 he appeared in episode 5 of the TV series Fastlane playing himself as a nightclub DJ. In 2003 he appeared in the international television series titled Kung Faux performing a series of voice over characters featured in a variety of episodes. In 2004, his song Vapors appeared on the soundtrack of Rockstar's popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas which featured an old school hip hop radio station, Playback FM. In 2005, Biz detoured from his recording duties to appear on the first season of the television show Celebrity Fit Club which challenged celebrities to lose weight by a combination of diet and exercise. Biz Markie lost more weight than anybody else in the competition. That year, he was also in an episode of The Andy Milonakis Show.

Biz Markie was a cast member on Nick Cannon's Wild 'n Out, seasons 1 and 3. Biz also does the beatboxing segment, Biz's Beat of the Day on the Nick Jr. show Yo Gabba Gabba!.

Biz Markie began 2008 opening for Chris Rock's "No Apologies" tour. Biz Markie's act includes spinning records ranging from old school hip hop to Lynyrd Skynyrd and then performing "Just a Friend". Biz Markie's playlist includes the following: "Children's Story" by Slick Rick, "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Holiday" by Madonna, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!, "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow and "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk.

In December 2009, Biz Markie appeared in a RadioShack commercial, repeating the line: "Oh Snap! Guess what I saw!" from his song "Just A Friend". That same year saw his debut with Andy Milonakis in television commercials for the commercial Internet service Tune Up.

2010s

In 2010, Biz Markie appeared on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, providing commentary throughout the series. Biz Markie himself was not included on the list. On November 9, 2010, Biz appeared on The Aquabats! new EP, Radio Down! in the title track. On November 11, 2010, Biz sat in with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and performed "Just a Friend" with actor Jeff Goldblum.

In 2017, Markie appeared several times on the MTV2 game show Hip Hop Squares, a spin-off of the popular game show Hollywood Squares. That same year he made an appearance in the track "2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)" by The Flaming Lips, alongside Ke$ha.

In 2013 Markie toured with the Yo Gabba Gabba! live show. That year, his song, "Just a Friend" was featured in Saints Row IV, which included a Pop station 107.77 The Mix FM.

He appeared on the CN show Mad, as the Hip Hop Hobbit.

He voiced rapper Rhymez and his DJ, Tiny Timmy Scratch It, in the Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja episode "Hip Hopocalypse Now".

He guest starred in the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Kenny the Cat", in the episode's title role. His voice acting work also includes the voice of Snorlock the Beatboxing Slug in an episode of Adventure Time.

In 2014, he appeared in the Syfy network movie Sharknado 2: The Second One. That same year, he threw a ceremonial first pitch for an Oakland Athletics baseball game.

In 2016, his song, "Just a Friend" was featured in the Netflix Series Love as an ending theme for episode 4. He also makes an appearance in a song titled "The Noisy Eater" off the album Wildflower by The Avalanches.

In 2016, he appeared on the Fox TV series Empire as himself, where he performed the song, "Just A Friend."

In 2017, he appeared in the season 3 finale of the ABC series Black-ish. He performed a personal version of the song, "Just a Friend", in which he added the names of the characters.

Discography

Studio albums

1988: Goin' Off

1989: The Biz Never Sleeps

1991: I Need a Haircut

1993: All Samples Cleared!

2003: Weekend Warrior

Compilations

1994: Biz's Baddest Beats

1996: Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks

1998: On the Turntable

2000: On the Turntable 2

2002: Greatest Hits

2006: Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz

2009: Ultimate Diabolical

2009: "Yo Gabba Gabba"

2010: The Aquabats Radio Down!

#04/08

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yourfanvivitran · 4 years

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It should come as no surprise that John Carpenter and Dan O’Bannon were students in the same film class, that they created Dark Star together, and that they both had a great affinity for 1951’s The Thing From Another World. If you put Ridley Scott’s Alien, which O’Bannon wrote, next to Carpenter’s The Thing, the parallels cannot be contended. A group of people, bound together almost exclusively by their careers, are isolated and trapped in their own environment with a murderous monster. One by one, they are picked off by this alien beast and are forced to pull out all the stops just to survive. The tension in both movies is suffocating. The suspense stays well after the credits roll.

So, why did Alien excel and why did The Thing fail?

Alien was heralded as a science fiction-horror masterpiece, raking in over $200 million at the box office. The Thing, although now recognized as one of Carpenter’s best films to rival even the likes of Halloween, barely exceeded its $15 million budget by $4 million. What’s more is that critics panned The Thing almost unanimously after its 1982 release. And to what point?

When you compare the 2 movies, it objectively doesn’t make much sense. When you sit down and watch The Thing, without even thinking of its much more popular predecessor, it still doesn’t quite add up. There is not much I can say about The Thing that hasn’t already been said before. It’s well-known, now - the writing, the acting, the practical effects, the cinematography? Masterfully done. No arguments. So what went wrong?

The most popularly accepted explanation was that it just wasn’t the right year for it. In 1982, The Thing had to contend with the Summer of Spielberg, being critiqued alongside horror giant Poltergeist and science fiction treasure E.T. How could a stark and grim story of distrust and gore stand alongside such beloved classics?

But in tandem with these films and also calling back to the success of Alien, Carpenter cites reception from various focus groups: they hated the ending.

It should be assumed at this point that if you have not yet seen The Thing, you are sorely missing out. All the same, however, be wary of spoilers.

The end of The Thing is bitter, to put it lightly. Childs (Keith David) trudges through Antarctic snow, lit by the burning wreckage of Outpost 31, towards R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russel) who sits alone, already half buried. They observe their inevitable deaths, and drink to the supposed demise of their shapeshifting predator.

A lot is left out to die in the snow.

According to Carpenter, this ending was seen by test audiences as too dismal. And rightfully so, when you take into consideration the other popular releases of 1982. Carol Anne is ultimately saved, along with the rest of her family, at the end of Poltergeist. Elliot embraces E.T. before he finally returns home. And going further back, even Ripley is able to escape the xenomorph by the skin of her teeth and secure herself the title as one of the greatest “Final Girls” ever put to the silver screen.

And what of MacReady and Childs?

Well, that’s up to your imagination, Carpenter told a test audience member who asked who the final host was at the end of the movie.

“Oh, god. I hate that,” they responded.

As a writer, this loose ends style of concluding a story is almost expected from a lot of modern works. It’s written this way in order to haunt the reader, to linger and adhere itself to the real world in the most sardonic of ways. Think Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” or Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” This almost anticlimactic close of the curtain arrived in the literary world long before it found its place in film, but it’s a big point of contention in mainstream criticism.

Dark or incomplete conclusions have been met with the most scathing of responses. Beware the black cutaway of Sopranos fame. Or the near-universal outcry against the third Mass Effect game that grew so much, the developers created a morsel of DLC content that maybe kind of confirmed a more optimistic fate for our dear Shepard.

But even for the horror genre, The Thing seemed unprecedented. The only fate darker to fall upon a mainstream protagonist was Ben’s untimely death in Night of the Living Dead. The tragedy of both movies is palpable - all this trouble to survive against inhuman killers, all this trouble to outlive something gruesome and maybe even make the world a better place, and what was left to show for it?

In short, Carpenter’s science fiction terror was too much of a bummer.

I personally did not take much of a liking to horror until much later in life. My parents didn’t filter the media I consumed as much as they probably should have, and I was scarred early on by movies as cheesy and entertaining as The Lost Boys and Blade. It wasn’t until late adolescence and into college that I set out to catch up.

My roommate at the time of this resolution had been a fan of horror her whole life, her favorites being Halloween, Candyman, and The Thing. Having already known a good deal about the former two, I decided to strap in for The Thing for the first time ever.

These days, I always have several soap boxes on retainer, just waiting for the next unwitting recipient of my usually-beer-induced rants. Brian Jones was killed, Jaws single handedly endangered sharks, banning books is a stupid practice, representation in media is important, etc. Predictably, one of these soap boxes is the general lack of appreciation of The Thing, both at the time of its release and today (it does not even make the top 100 on Rotten Tomatoes’s highest rated horror movies).

And yet, at the same time, if The Thing had achieved the credit it deserved upon release, I may not like it as much as I do today.

I make a point to not read too much about movies I am feverishly anticipating, and revel in the feeling of going into a well-known movie knowing as little as possible. Most of the time, it makes for the best viewing experience, but I’m sure I don’t even have to point this out.

This was my experience seeing The Thing for the first time. I was on winter break, staying at my parents’ house for the holidays. Everyone else had gone to bed, and I stayed up late in the living room, curled up under layers of blankets, content in perfect darkness save for the television.

I had no idea what to expect, as I had not been spoiled by any TV show making any blatant references and had not done any prior reading into the film itself. And I was absolutely delighted from beginning to end.

What stays with me the most is the special effects. It’s true what they say - that practical effects hold up better than CGI alone. And the production team didn’t cut any corners in this department. Stan Winston and his team, who were later responsible for the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, helped construct one of the best animatronics in the movie. Rob Bottin, who brought this constantly-morphing creature to life from conception to every last slimy detail, went on to be hailed as a genius in his special effects career. And there is definitely something to be said for the work of cinematographer Dean Cundey whose masterful control of lighting and framing is best seen in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

The extent of my knowledge of the titular creature was that it was an alien. That it was an alien who could consume multiple life forms and take on their shapes was both exciting and terrifying. There’s creative genius in this premise that thrills the science fiction lover in me, and also fascinates the bookworm in me. I had been a fan of Agatha Christie novels as a teenager, and to see a new and outrageous take on the And Then There Were None structure was incredibly novel to me.

The appeal wasn’t just that there was something out there, lying in wait to torturously pick off it’s victims one-by-one. It was that it could have been anyone.

At its core, horror as we know it has deep roots in whodunnit style murder mystery. With the rise of the giallo and the sensation of the slasher, horror movies of this nature are far from uncommon and can be seen as late as 1996 with the Scream franchise. Carpenter himself spurned a new kind of fear with his breakout success with Halloween by refusing to give a bodily face to its main antagonist. Here, with The Thing, he takes the eponymous killer character to the next level by giving it the genetically inherent function of deceiving its prey. Not knowing the true face of your murderer has proven to be inherently bone-chilling.

Even now, hundreds of horror movies under my belt later and still constantly learning, I keep coming back to The Thing. I really cannot think of another movie in my wide array of favorites that I love more than The Thing, and I truly believe it has everything to do with me not knowing anything about it upon my first viewing. Every other movie I can name on my (similar to the subject) constantly changing top 10 list of most beloved horror flicks was, at some point, spoiled for me in some capacity.

Think of how often the twins in The Shining are referenced in cartoons, of all the head spinning jokes made in reference to The Exorcist. Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal of Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs has become so infamous, that I knew his dialogue (and Buffalo Bill’s) long before I ever saw the movie in full.

I don’t blame these references for ruining these movies. As a super fan, I understand that compulsion to pay tribute. It’s no one’s fault and to their credit that these films take lives of their own. But the repercussions don’t age well in terms of initial viewing experiences.

All that being said, I truly cherish how much I was not exposed to this movie. The unpredictability of the creature and the quiet, looming despair that comes with it create a horror unlike any other.

Although it was a box office flop, The Thing is now a welcome and praised name in both science fiction and horror. Even Quentin Tarantino made it known that The Hateful Eight was primarily inspired on several fronts by Carpenter’s underrated work. However, it has not pervaded pop culture like so many other horror classics have left their indelible mark on film vernacular. And to that end, I hope it remains in that slight shadow of anonymity for all future enthusiasts.

#john carpenter #the thing #alien #horror #horror movie #horror film #horror genre

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phantom-le6 · 4 years

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Episode Reviews - Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 (1 of 6)

Well, it’s taken a little while longer than I’d originally planned, but at last I’ve started working my way through the episodes of my Blu-ray collection of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the first of a number of series I will be hoping to tackle in my TV show backlog. For those who haven’t ready any of my TV show reviews from when I used to post them on Facebook notes, the lay out is very similar to what I do for film reviews. I usually do one disc’s worth of episode per article (every show I review is one I own on DVD or Blu-ray), and within that, I post a synopsis of the episode’s plot, followed by my review of that episode. So, if you’ve never watched a certain series and want to skip the plots, or you know the episode from its title alone, just skip the sections headed as ‘plot’ and go straight to the review.

So, now that you know how this is all going to go, let’s warp our way into those first few episodes of TNG’s first season. Reviews, engage…

Episodes 1 & 2: Encounter at Farpoint

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

In 2364, the new flagship of the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet's USS Enterprise, travels to the planet Deneb IV for its maiden voyage. Enterprise is to open relations with the simple Bandi people who have somehow been able to tap immense energy reserves and construct Farpoint Station, much to the surprise of the Federation. En route, the Enterprise is met by an omnipotent being who identifies himself as Q, a member of the Q Continuum. Q, appearing a grand inquisitor from Earth’s post-nuclear age, declares that humanity is being put on trial. A suggestion from Captain Picard results in Q deciding that their actions in their upcoming mission will be used to judge their worthiness and determine their fate as a race. Before letting the ship resume its course, Q warns Captain Picard that he is destined to fail.

As the Enterprise arrives, the crew members explore the offerings of Farpoint Station and establish relations with their Bandi host, Groppler Zorn. The crew becomes suspicious when items they desire seem to appear out of nowhere moments later, and are unable to identify the power source that feeds the station. Deanna Troi, an empath, senses a being with powerful yet despairing emotions nearby, and the crew discover a strange labyrinth beneath the station, but Zorn does not offer an explanation. As the Enterprise crew continues its explorations, a large unknown alien craft enters orbit and begins to fire upon the old Bandi settlement near Farpoint Station, and abducts Zorn. Before Picard orders the ship's phasers to be fired at the craft, Q appears to remind him of humanity's trial and prompts Picard to send an away team to the alien craft. The away team discovers the craft has passages similar to those under Farpoint and they are able to free Zorn. Their actions cause the alien craft to transform into a jellyfish-like space creature, and Picard is able to deduce the mystery of Farpoint Station. He confirms with the apologetic Zorn that the Bandi found a similar lifeform injured on their planet and, while attempting to care for it, they also exploited its ability to synthesize matter to create Farpoint Station. The creature now in orbit is trying to help free its mate by attacking those who hold it captive.

Though Q goads Picard into using violence, Picard refuses, instead ordering the Enterprise to fire a vivifying energy beam onto Farpoint after the station is evacuated. The beam allows the land-bound creature to transform back into its jellyfish-like form, and it flies into orbit to join its fellow being. As the crew watches the reunion of the alien creatures, Q reluctantly tells Picard that they have succeeded in their test, but hints that they will meet again.

Review:

As someone born a couple of years before this show first aired, I missed this pilot and much of the earlier seasons in their original appearance, only getting to see anything of the show in the early-to-mid-1990’s when my family first got Sky TV and I watched some of the later episodes and re-runs of some earlier episodes on Sky 1. Thank goodness for those being my introduction to the show, because as pilot episodes go, this one isn’t great. Granted, very few pilots are ever completely brilliant because the show is starting out anew and will take a while to establish what it is, and there’s no guarantee how long that will take. For some shows, it could be a matter of only a few episodes, such as The West Wing or Friends, whereas others might be more like the Simpsons and M*A*S*H, taking more than just their first season to really find themselves.

The biggest problem this pilot has is a lack of exposition to explain what the show is really about. Ok, we’re on a starship crewed mainly by humans, travelling the galaxy to explore what’s out there, but that’s all you get. That might be sufficient for people who were versed in the franchise of Star Trek from the three-season long original series and the various films it spawned, but what about new audience members? Other shows have made similar assumptions that everyone will know what their show is about based on existing media, and for me it always spoils the pilot. In my view, the only good pilot assumes at least its audience will know nothing about what the show will be about and will tailor at least half its content to educating them in that era, with the rest of the content being about placating the existing fanbase if the show is continuing a franchise or adapting it from another medium.

The episode is also plagued by some poor character interactions, especially Picard’s over-the-top anger at Wesley for no good reason, Troi’s over-the-top whining when she’s in empath-mode, and the less said about Tasha Yar’s histrionics in front of Q during the fake trial set-up the better. Really, it’s down to the performances of Riker, Data, Wesley’s mother Dr Beverly Crusher, Geordi and Worf to elevate the episode to decent, and for Q to be the better guest character than Zorn. This episode is also where Colm Meaney makes his debut as Miles O’Brien, who would spend several seasons as a secondary recurring character in TNG before making the switch to spin-off series Deep Space Nine (which I reviewed some years ago on Facebook) as a series regular.

There’s not much depth or real issue exploration in this episode, we don’t really learn what Star Fleet is or what it represents (the words Yar uses during her court-room meltdown before being thankfully frozen), and really all we do get is some basic character introduction and a Trek show that starts off more on impulse, or at least low warp. Overall score for this combined episode is about 6 out of 10, and I’m probably being a bit charitable at that.

Episode 3: The Naked Now

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

The crew of the Enterprise travels to rendezvous with the SS Tsiolkovsky, a science vessel monitoring the collapse of a supergiant star. During a long-range comm exchange, the Enterprise crew are shocked to hear what sounds like a sudden hull breach about the Tsiolkovsky. After the Enterprise secures the Tsiolkovsky via tractor beam, an away team consisting of Commander Riker, Lt. Yar, Lt. Commander Data and Lt. La Forge beams over. They find the crew frozen to death in various stages of dress and undress, including one who was taking a shower fully clad, and whose frozen body falls into La Forge's hands.

Captain Picard orders Dr Crusher to perform full medical examinations of the away team on their return, and the doctor finds La Forge sweating profusely and complaining about the temperature. She orders him to stay in sickbay but he wanders out while she is studying his test results, and makes his way to the quarters of Crusher's son, Wesley. Unaware of La Forge's condition, Wesley shows him a portable tractor beam device and La Forge places an encouraging hand on his shoulder. Meanwhile, acting on a hunch by Riker, who had read a book on past starships named "Enterprise" that included an event involving illness and showering fully dressed, Data locates a historical record identifying the ailment as similar to one encountered by Captain Kirk's USS Enterprise. La Forge returns to sickbay, where D. Crusher quickly becomes concerned when she realizes that the infection is spread by physical contact. Much of the ship's crew comes under the influence of the ailment, including Data, who engages in a sexual encounter with Yar. Dr Crusher, struggling against the effects of the ailment, finds the original antidote documented by Kirk's Enterprise to be ineffective, and begins devising a new version of it.

Now infected, Wesley uses a digital sample of Captain Picard's voice to lure key engineering crew-members away from the engineering deck. He erects a force field around the area with his tractor beam device and assumes control of the ship. He allows Mr Shimoda, one of the engineers who is acting in a childlike manner, into the force field. Shimoda manages to remove all of the isolinear chips from the engine control station and plays with them like toys. As the supergiant star collapses, a fragment is blown into a direct impact course with the two Federation ships, and without the chips in place, they cannot move out of its way. Chief Engineer MacDougal manages to disable Wesley's force field, and Data is sent to replace the chips. He reports that he will not have enough time. Wesley reverses the ship's tractor beam, repelling the Enterprise off the Tsiolkovsky, giving themselves the necessary additional seconds for Data to replace the chips enabling the ship to move out of the way. The crew is cured of the ailment, and Picard partially credits Wesley for helping to prevent a disaster.

Review:

Not only is this Trek at its worst, but it’s actually based on an original series episode with pretty much the exact same core plot; some random configuration of water molecules making an Enterprise crew act like the Trek equivalent of chavvy idiots getting plastered on a night out. It’s an appallingly bad concept, especially when Picard’s closing dialogue suggests the whole thing was meant to be about some kind of exploration of temptation. News flash, folks, but the episode is an abysmal failure in the exploration of that issue. To be successful, you’d have to give the crew the option about whether or not to give in to temptation sober. The crew of the Enterprise doesn’t have a choice here because it’s some weird combination of water molecules acting like an infection that causes drunken-like behaviour. As such, their judgement is impaired against their will, so the point is lost.

The episode is also stupidly sexist in how the infection presents; while more of the men just have a harder time thinking, get morose or go child-like and silly, all three female main cast members throw themselves on the blokes like randy strippers. Tasha Yar sleeps her way through various minor male crew members before seducing Data, Troi seeks out Riker to try for a mind-grope, and Dr Crusher tries it on with Picard. How Roddenbury (who was still alive and producing Trek at this point) allowed such antiquated sexist tripe into the supposedly equality-minded Trek utopia, I have no idea. Given that the show improved in this and related areas when he stepped away from the show, however, I’m wondering if maybe he was somehow part of the problem.

All in all, this episode is something you only watch so you can get what few references there may be to it in later episodes of the series as a whole. I give it a very low 2 out of 10.

Episode 4: Code of Honor

Plot (as adapted from Wikipedia):

The Enterprise arrives at the planet Ligon II to acquire a vaccine needed to combat an outbreak of Anchilles fever on Styris IV. The crew, possessing little information on the Ligonian culture, finds it follows strict customs of status similar to ancient China. Specifically, while the men in their culture rule society, the land itself is controlled by the women. Lutan, the Ligonian leader, transports up to the Enterprise to provide a sample of the vaccine, and is impressed by Lt. Tasha Yar's status as head of security. Yar further demonstrates her aikido skills against a holographic opponent for Lutan on the holodeck. After a tour of the ship, Lutan and the Ligonians abduct Yar as they transport back to the surface. Captain Jean-Luc Picard demands that Lutan return Yar, considering the kidnapping an act of war, but receives no response from the planet. After consultation with his officers, Picard is informed that Lutan took Yar in a "counting coup" as a show of heroism. Picard contacts Lutan in a more peaceful manner, who grants permission for the Enterprise crew to beam down to the planet and promises to return Yar after a banquet in his honor.

Lutan announces at the banquet that he wishes to make Yar his "First one", surprising not only the Enterprise crew but also Yareena who was already Lutan's "First one." Yareena challenges Yar to a fight to the death to claim back the position. When Picard objects to the fight, Lutan refuses to give the Enterprise the rest of the vaccine unless Yar participates. The crew investigates the combat ritual and find that the weapons used are coated with a lethal poison, and also that it is Yareena's wealth to which Lutan owes his position. Picard prepares to have Yar beamed to the Enterprise should she be harmed in the battle. As the match progresses, both Yareena and Yar are equally skilled, but Yar eventually lands a strike on Yareena. Yar quickly covers Yareena and orders the transport of both of them to the Enterprise against the demands of Lutan. Aboard the ship, Dr. Beverly Crusher reaches Yareena moments after death, but is able to counteract the poison and revive the woman's body. When Lutan demands to know the fate of Yareena, Crusher reveals that Yareena died, thus ceding the match to Yar and breaking the "first one" bond. Yareena is now free to select a new mate; she chooses Hagon, one of Lutan's bodyguards, and effectively strips Lutan of his position of power and makes him her "Second One". Hagon lets Yar go and gives the Enterprise their full supply of vaccine.

Review:

This episode wasn’t very well received by the cast and crew that had to make it, and I can certainly see why. The Ligonian race is based on African tribal stereotypes that become obvious as a result of the race being played by Black actors, giving the episode an air of racism that is completely inappropriate to the Trek franchise as a whole. According to Wikipedia, some reviewers have claimed that this issue would not have been seen if the actors had all be white and used the same dialogue. Frankly if the Ligonians had been played by white actors, you’d have had a very early example of cultural appropriation, which is also a form of racism and again inappropriate to Trek.

The episode is also plagued by efforts to try and emulate the original series instead of being its own entity, with the final fight scene near the end really looking too much like a 1960’s throwback rather than fitting into any kind of 1980’s-made Trek. Only the hints of the budding Data-La Forge friendship really make the episode worth a watch, especially since Picard stops himself in the middle of an explanation about the Prime Directive. With that in, we might have had delayed compensation for the lack of exposition in the pilot, but instead…nothing.

Frankly, without fan support and the show being syndicated rather than controlled by a network, I’m pretty sure this episode or the previous one would have killed TNG in its infancy. I’m just lucky that I know the show would later make itself into something worth watching, so I’m ok holding out hope for better episodes as I work my way along. I just the rest of season 1 doesn’t have too many more of these stinker episodes in store. For me, Code of Honour again only warrants 2 out of 10.

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furederiko · 7 years

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A School of Stars!!! Time to go back to class... or in Kyuranger's case, HALF of its members actually attends one! NOTE: This recap-view could have been released much sooner. In fact, I had planned to publish it several days earlier, since the show didn't air last Sunday. But as always, my health got in the way that I simply couldn't finish this piece until... just now. My body and bad weathers are definitely at odds with each other... T_T

- "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: High School Wars" is a spin-off from the recently released "Episode of Stinger" V-Cinema bluray. This web-series is made available on TOEI Tokusatsu Fan Club app on September 9th, 2017, and will be concluded by a special 5th episode to be released on DVD. Technically, both "High School Wars" and "Episode of Stinger" CAN be regarded as unofficial 49th and 50th episode (though the latter alone has the duration of more). - If we put all currently available "High School Wars" episodes into one, it serves as a full 22.42 minutes feature, which is the average length of a weekly broadcast. Episode 1 (including opening, excluding credits and preview) is 5.12 minutes, Episode 2 is 05.40, Episode 3 is 6.20, and Episode 4 is 5.30 minutes. - Each episodes for "High School Wars" is called 'Period'. In chronological order, they can be generally translated as "Morning Assembly" (Chourei) , "Art Class" (Bijutsu), "Science Class" (Rika), "Physical Education" (Taiiku), and "Suplementary Exam" (Suishi). - For the record, this recap-view does not cover the last one, because as far as I know, it's not released yet (nor has an official release date). It might however, plays out in parallel to the "Episode of Stinger" storyline. FYI, the plot of its first 4 episodes bleeds directly to that V-Cinema story. A direct prologue, if you will. Anyway, I'll be recap-viewing these 4 available episodes separately below (in the style of my take on "Kamen Rider Build"). Read on...

01 - "Commander's Mischief"

- Rebellions sans Tsurugi, receive an undercover mission by Commander Xiao. Their destination is Planet 3B (TV-Nihon, to which this review is based, fansubbed it as such, eventhough other outlets called it as 'Sleeby' or 'Sleevy') of the Norma System. Jark Matter has installed their largest education facility, obviously using one to brainwash people to be their minions. Our Away Team is sent to inflitrate and defeat its Malistrate. - The name of this planet is clearly a shoutout to actor Tetsuya Takeda's popular drama series "3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei". Raptor even mimics the gesture of Takeda's character when she utters its name. This is a well-known and popularly used gag in Japanese entertainment. Pretty much most if not all parody shows have included nods to this long-running show. - Best part of this episode, is when an unusually giddy Xiao practically spills the bean about one important thing: that the Kyulette system is rigged. As it turns out, he's been hiding the Kyu Globes of several members to ensure the outcome for the rest! And Raptor says, that it's NOT the first time. LOL. Even better, he claims that it's due to "conditions to production", a statement that sounds 'odd' to the others, but works so darn well as a brilliant joke to us audience. I've said before, how Xiao is parroting like a TOEI executive or producer. This is yet another very meta-joke that reinforces that notion! Also, do you notice that the first selected Away Team consists of all suit-characters and not the human ones? There's this unconfirmed fact that it's considerably cheaper to use voice + suit actors instead of the young talents. Hence... productional conditions. LOL. - As much as I would love to see the entire cast wearing school uniforms (Raptor has prepared for ALL of them, Garu's in particular looks Yankee-cool), Kyulette actually ends up choosing all the human cast. Human-looking one of course, if we factor the case of Stinger. All dressed up to portray different kind of student stereotypes, the Away Team heads to Planet 3B. While at the same time, Xiao needs to do some explaining to Champ, Garu, and Balance. - By the way, Raptor's comment that it would be nice to wear uniform, could be a neat callback to when her voice actress dressed up as a maid in one of Go-kaiger's episode. Notice that she's wearing Spada's chef-hat while saying this? So sweet. And Balance's concern about Naga and brainwashing is certainly a jab to his Dark-Naga arc. Lucky's outfit and the high school angle in general, in a way serves as a homage to "Denji Sentai Megaranger" as well. Don't forget, it was the first season/series that aired on 07.30 JST, while Kyuranger is the last to air on the schedule.

Comment: This was undeniably my favorite episode of these web-series. Not just because every members are onboard, but the jokes were simply spot-on, and I just love all those the minor details included here. Especially that brilliant nod to "Kinpachi-sensei" that I didn't catch on my first viewing.

02 - "How Great Thou Art"

- Our Away Team arrives on the facility, and the web-series' face-slapping running gag starts here. Each time the school bell rings, the boys instantly get brainwashed. Lucky becomes lazy, Stinger is all smiley and giggly, Naga is twitching, Spada mopes like a fish, and Kotarou looks... high. Yikes! That's disturbing to see. Hammy is luckily wearing a headset (appropriately in green), most likely listening to Hoshi Minato's song. Thus she gets the privilege to... ugh, slap the others back to their senses. - Their first 'enemy' is Student Council President Indaver, voiced by... *drumrolls* Yousuke Itou, who is none other than Deka Green Sen-chan himself! This is his second participation in Kyuranger, following that minor guest appearance in the "Space Squad" crossover episode. The Indaver points out Naga's silver hair and Hammy as violation to the all-boys school. He challenges the team for a three-rounds duel. - Subject is... ART. Lucky wins the first, eventhough his painting doesn't resemble like the model. Spada loses the second, but he most definitely wins the joke of the day by drawing a delectable fruit parfait as his rendition of a basket of fruits. His chef jokes, smooth catchy foreign phrases, and dandy mannerism never ceases to amaze me. "Originality is vital in cooking!", he says. LOL. Naga is up to do the last task, and it has the most challenging model: the idol Hoshi Minato! Turning this episode into a small "Magiranger vs Dekaranger" flick. - Of course, the final duel's result plays for laughs, as Minato chooses Naga's more gorgeous shoujo-manga rendition as the result, compared to Council President's more realistic one. Angry about this, Council President tries to attack Naga, but Minato hands him the #59 Pictor Kyu Globe to... paint the Indaver's defeat. Ouch! Minato then leaves the room by repeatedly saying "THANK YOU"... or "SAN-KYU" in Japanese. Get it? 3-9? :D - Minato's appearance is nice and all, considering he's underused in the TV series. Unfortunately, it also serves as the most problematic aspect of this web-series. Particularly, in 'WHEN' this series take place. As I said on the extra note for episode 35, Hoshi still has the creepy puppet on his shoulder here. The general assumption is that he's still under the influence of Don Armage. Am I right? But why does he hand out a Kyu Globe then? It does NOT make sense. This action implies that Minato's already a supporter for the Kyuranger, because he's been rallying against Jark Matter since episode 36. Then again, it contradicts the fact that he can even walk freely into this school! Why would Jark Matter let him in if he's supporting the Rebellion, right? - The easiest way to address this, is by ignoring two things: First, the puppet's significance. Hoshi clearly has ditched it ever since he was freed from control, so let's just assume he put it back in as... I don't know, random accessory? Second, Hammy's odd reaction, as if she hasn't met Hoshi before inspite of the aftermath of Pavo's Got Talent. Let's just assume she's fangirling or something. These two measures will allow this spin-off to take place AFTER episode 35, so it makes more sense. Probably not BEFORE episode 36 though... because well, let's just say, the ending of "Episode of Stinger" will contradict this even further. Does that sound confusing? Oh well, let's just proceed to the next period for now...

Comment: In general, it's a fun episode with both Spada and Naga being the episode's MVP. Not to mention, that brief yaoi slur between Magi Yellow and Ophiucus Silver would make their respective fans glee in fangasmic joy. Unfortunately, as I've pointed out above, it's also a major flaw in design. Placing this web-series in the continuity have become... conflicting, all thanks to this one episode. Such a big shame, because the show has been VERY good at keeping things in check prior to this.

03 - "The 88 Quiz"

- Spada and Kotarou discover that they are all trapped inside the classroom. The only way to get out, is by defeating the next 'enemy' that comes walking in. Oh, yes... there's that face-slapping bit again. Yeesh, this gag gets tired REALLY FAST. - Next subject that our Away Team needs to overcome... is Science. In charge of this subject, is the female Vice Principal Indaver, who apparently is the mother of the Student Council President. This one isn't voiced by a Super Sentai alumn, but by Sakura Miyajima from Project R. who... is also a Super Sentai Super-Fan. Duh? - And the new task involves... massive information dump! This is the infamous episode that basically confirms ALL entries of the 88 Kyu Globes. Yes, the listing has been kept wrapped as a tight mystery ever since the show started, yet this one decides to blatantly ignore that restriction and unveils all of them in one strike. Thus, we get a detail Constellation Systems shoutout from #01 Leo until #88 Puppis (Argo Navis and the special ones are not included). LOL. By the way, did you know that the naming is deliberately done in Japanese and not Latin, to avoid similarity to "Saint Seiya"? Tom Constantine of The Tokusatsu Network recently shared this enlightening fact. - What strikes me as peculiar here... is that Tsurugi hasn't been around or even mentioned thus far. Even during this Constellation quiz, Phoenix isn't referenced to him, eventhough Hammy clearly points out the Argo components. It gives off another conflicting impression, that this web-series takes place before Tsurugi's debut in episode 21. I might be reading too much on this, but what if... the web-series was filmed before Tsurugi's actor join the team? On the other hand, Naga's emotion clearly indicates that it at least takes place after episode 31. See? Contradictory indeed! - Anyway, Kotarou gets to be the focus of this episode, because the final 4 missing Constellations relies heavily on his educational background. As in, only those who goes to school SHOULD know them. Hmmmm... really? I'd argue that's not entirely accurate (you'll see why... on the next part), but... let's just play along. - Vice Principal is defeated, hence the big baddie shows up to confront our team. Not only Principal Indaver is the wife of Vice Principal and naturally father of Student Council, and the Malistrate of Planet 3B, but he's also voiced by Yousuke Itou. "There are logistical reasons for why our faces are the same", he says, practically screaming "budgetary limitations" to our ears. His spotlight is saved for the next episode, as a seventh Kyuranger member joins in... simply because his inclusion will be necessary. How so? Read on...

Comment: Biggest highlight from this episode, is undeniably the complete listing to EVERY Kyu Globes. Whether the ones that have been used, or haven't in any form of the series (TV, V-Cinemas, Summer Movie, and/or random sweepstakes). Sadly, it came bringing another continuity issue, though not as massive as the previous one. It's enough to bother me to the bones though...

04 - "Useless Kyu Globes"

- We have arrived in the final part... considering the 5th episode is called 'Suplementary'. And things get... physical this time around. A Super Sentai episode needs to contain a fully-suited action sequence, as well as giant mecha battle. This is where we get both for "High School Wars". Well, one half of it, to be precise. - That 7th Kyuranger I mentioned above? Who else but Champ. But why is his inclusion (and not any other members) necessary? Because... he's the lead supporting character in "Episode of Stinger", being its lead protagonist's partner and all. For your information, this episode directly cuts to the V-Cinema, so Champ's presence is urgently required. So nope, he's not just there because Chamaeleon Green's slap-fest no longer in effect to cure the pesky brainwashing gag. - By the way, Champ arrives wearing a delinquent-style costume. Similar to the one worn by Gentarou of "Kamen Rider Fourze", or Jousuke in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable". If only we can see the others in their cosplays too. - Those 4 supposedly school-related Constellations? The Kyurangers actually utilize their Kyu Globes in the battle against a kendo-based Principal Indaver, so it's time to talk about... why I have issues with them. I can give #49 Circinus and #46 Norma a pass, because compass (the mathematical tool, NOT one used for navigation... that's assigned to Pyxis) and ruler are used at school, eventhough Norma is specifically a Carpenter's Level. But #79 Sextans and #80 Octans? Both Sextant and Octant are navigational tools generally used for NAVAL exploration. How on Earth would Kotarou knew or even used them both at school?! He must have gone to a VERY advanced school if that's the case. Because even a guys as old as me have NEVER seen neither one directly with my own pair of eyes. - Apart from Norma, these Kyu Globes are practically... useless. The Away Team can't even use most of them. Norma somehow works because Leo Red is miraculously able to use it as a finishing move. I'd argue that being in the Norma System is the sole reason, hence it gets a spontaneous power up. But let's not be bothered by such useless details... - Our final special cameo appears, this time in person. Kouta!!! I mean... Kouhei Yamamoto a.k.a. Hurricane Yellow himself appears as the school's Chairman. Like most if not all cast members of "Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger" (and also "Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger", hence Sen-chan's participation), Yamamoto is well-known for his loyalty to Super Sentai franchise. He's one of the reason why we even had that "Hurricaneger 10 Years After" V-Cinema. So seeing him here doesn't feel remotely like a surprise. - This episode still has one final scene before it ends. Principal Indaver escapes the 'Ruler Attack', and jumps aboard his Consumarz to attack the Away Team. Kyuren-Oh is summoned, and... "TO BE CONTINUED". Wait, for real? Yep. The conclusion to this mecha battle *spoiler alert*, will be available as the opening scene for "Episode of Stinger". We even get an extended preview (featuring that amazing new song by Stinger's actor) for the V-Cinema as a quick reminder...

Comment: This final episode ended VERY annoyingly. That's the general complaints resonating throughout Kyuranger's fanbase. Along with one more thing: useless Kyu Globes. How could I counter that, when those arguments were mostly accurate? Strangely, this was an OKAY episode for me, and not as problematic as the 2nd and 3rd. That's why I'm giving it a mediocre score...

Overall: Overall, "High School Wars" has been a light, mostly clausthrophobic and/or secluded academic-themed gag, that gave the human actors the chance to cosplay as students. Of course, being a highly comedic distraction was not all that bad. Unfortunately, it also served the weakest link among Kyuranger's canon. That slapping-face gag was rather violent, especially when a minor such as Kotarou had to endure the same treatment. That's downright child abuse, right? And then there's that overlaying continuity problem, that made the writing felt... weak and sloppy in general. I'm not sure who wrote this, but if it's the same writer who worked on "Episode of Stinger"... then it sort of make sense (Kento Shimoyama's portofolio includes... "Shuriken Sentai Ninninger"! No wonder...). Sadly, as you would find out soon, this issue also affected that V-Cinema. It will make anyone to question whether both features actually connects to the TV series or not at all. An alternate universe take? As of writing, I'm STILL waiting anxiously for the official answer to this. There's a speculation that we'll be getting some actual closure and proper timeline explanation in that exclusive 5th episode. Tell you the truth though, I'm NOT so sure about that... Next: "Episode of Stinger"... what else? *grins* PS: Assuming I can get it done without any external (unexpected situations) nor internal (my health is still not in full prime) interferences, expect recap-view for Stinger's V-Cinema to arrive tomorrow. Or the day after. Also, this recap-view will not include the Overall Score for "High School Wars". That will be posted alongside review for Episode 5... IF and only IF I can see one, of course.

Episode 01 Score: 8 out of 10 Episode 02 Score: 6 out of 10 Episode 03 Score: 6,5 out of 10 Episode 04 Score: 7 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: October 31st, 2017 - Version 3.04. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

Trailer used above is officially available through MaiDigiTV Youtube Channel. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

#tokusatsu #SuperSentai #kyuranger #uchu sentai kyuranger #uchuu sentai kyuranger #review #Just for Fun

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frankiefellinlove · 7 years

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Bruce Springsteen, Life Giver to the Middle-Aged. I get it; it's easy to make fun of the crowd at a Bruce Springsteen concert: the middle-aged fist-pumping and out-of-practice high-fives, the lack of rhythm, the torn look on the ardent fans' faces as they simultaneously wish for a return to the mythic Springsteen four-hour shows of yore — while also secretly hoping that Bruce cuts it short because they've got that meeting with the sales team at 8 a.m. When I saw him for the first time at age 30 during the 1999 E Street Band reunion tour, I was there largely ironically, mostly to snicker at aging rock fans with minivans. I had never been a huge fan of Springsteen, considering him just part of the unavoidable ambient classic-rock, radio-scored soundtrack of my adolescence and little more. I never bought any albums, never saw a show. I had tagged along to this concert with friends with the goal of writing a snickering little article. I recently uncovered my notes from that evening and can trace a conversion that night through the tenor of

They start out with snarky little shorthand jabs at the guys proudly wearing their authentic now-way-too-small shirts bought during the Born in the U.S.A. tour (“practically translucent stretched over torsos gone portlier since the shirts were first purchased”), and the fact that the white crowd made Limp Bizkit’s fans look like a rainbow coalition. And yet, over the course of my three hours of notes, my scrawls quickly turned from self-satisfied digs at those around me into a take on Springsteen’s performance that vaults directly from begrudging respect to adulation. Now I am 42, and eagerly attend his shows with nary a whiff of smugness or sarcasm; I leave my air quotes at the door. I saw his ongoing tour twice this month and blended right into the sea of bobbing gray hair: These are my people, with their mortgages and procrastinated taxes and bad backs and irregular and yet so reliable sneak-attack whiffs of free-floating panic (Is my job really safe? Are my kids okay? Are my parents okay?). We are there to see a man who is 62 years old, who we know will not rest until he is sure that as we scream along with the lyrics of “Thunder Road” that are so embedded in our synapses that we will momentarily slough off our weary reality and feel like we are 17 and singing this same song while packed into a car with high-school friends, and dear God our backs have never felt better. Springsteen is the howling hope that we never have to feel old, and as he indefatigably dashes across the stage, contradicting everything science has taught us about the human aging process, one can’t help but pray he’s immortal, because when he’s gone, what hope have the rest of us?

It would be facile to say that Springsteen spits in the face of mortality, as in his current Wrecking Ball tour he shines a spotlight on it and gives it its due. It is his first major run since the passing of his beloved sideman Clarence Clemons, a man whose importance to the E Street legend is illustrated by the fact that Springsteen literally leans on him on the cover of his most iconic album, Born to Run. Clemons is the second member of his longtime band to pass away, after organist Danny Federici died in 2008 of melanoma. Springsteen overtly pays tribute to them during the current tour, ending the band-intro roll call in the middle of a spiritual take on “My City of Ruins” by asking, “Are we missing anybody?” as two lights shine on the definitively absent musicians’ traditional spots onstage, now empty. He then adds, “The only thing I can guarantee tonight is if you’re here, and we’re here, then they’re here,” and pauses for the crowd to give a lengthy ovation.

But the concert is not a farewell to the mortal coil. It is a pounding, defiant statement that just because death is inevitable doesn’t mean you have to sit around waiting for it. Springsteen is soaked in sweat by the twenty-minute mark, just as he has been since his twenties: There may be more preshow groin stretches, but any allowance for age is not visible to the audience. Instead, he circumnavigates the stage in the most joyful of way, his voice at full growl and bray the entire time, urging the audience to get their asses out of their seats, shaming us with his energy. Midway through the encore I looked across Madison Square Garden and saw some empty seats, to which I thought for shame. You’re tired? You’re tired?

Bruce is in constant contact with the audience, at one point wading into the middle of the general-admission pit, crowd-surfing his way back to the stage — a move that crosses from shtick into merriment: Again, irony fades. We are in this together, let us do young things. Let us pass the sweaty rocker forward. David Lee Roth, currently touring with Van Halen, revives his flamboyant leer, but to me it felt discordant coming from a 57-year-old; he’s acting in a way I thought was cool as a teenager. Springsteen acts the way that I want to believe that with the proper (but unlikely) dedication to fitness, I could still pull off. On a couple of occasions during his concerts, he lays down on the lip of the stage and continues singing with a sly smile, and he was quickly covered by hands reaching out of the front rows. There was something near religious about the gesture: Fans have been grabbing at rock stars’ garments since Elvis. (Well, since Jesus, technically.) But these hands were not yanking at his shirt, they simply gently laid them upon him, as if to draw his life force, like he was the pool in Cocoon. Watching from afar, I was surprised that not a single person ducked forward to suck some sweat from his sopped shirt, hoping it contained some sort of immortality serum.

One night during his 2009 tour, while ramping up to begin the song “Growin’ Up,” Springsteen told a shaggy dog story about a bad dream he recently had, the punch line being that someone emerged with a cake with “60 fucking candles” on it. In September, that cake will have 63 fucking candles on it: Sadly, this type of candle only goes in one direction. One wonders, how much longer can he keep doing these epic shows? His new albums and tours have been coming at a quicker pace, as if he realizes there is a finite amount of time he will be able to enjoy this, and he will relinquish none of it. He has buttressed himself with an even bigger band, hitting the road with a five-man horn section and a percussionist, bringing the head count to seventeen; he spites the fates that take his band members away by only building a bigger army. And everyone onstage knows it is their duty to deny the aging process: During “Because the Night,” the 60-year-old Nils Lofgren tore off a frantic solo while dervishly spinning in a pirouette, courtesy of two artificial hips.

When the concerts end, we unquestioning fans chatter exhaustedly to our companions about the high points and the higher points: It is graded on a harsh scale of A to A+. We go home and collapse, still too hyped to dwell on the alarm clock that awaits us after too few hours of sleep. To a 20- or 30-year-old this may feel maudlin and melodramatic, the endlessly uploaded YouTube clips of paunchy fist-pumping suburbanites at the concert worth a giggle, an eye roll, and jokes about how the “Promised Land” from Darkness on the Edge of Town is now Boca Raton. New York magazine culture editor Lane Brown told me that when he went to see Springsteen at Madison Square Garden last week, a man who looked to be in his sixties seated next to him went berserk when the concert kicked off with “Badlands”: this concertgoer sang along at the top of his lungs, waving his arms and showing the energy of a much younger man. Then, the song over, he collapsed in his seat and soon fell asleep for the remainder of the show, the sounds of his snores drowned out by the band. This anecdote made me snicker, as I acknowledge that no matter how old you are, seeing those twenty years older at a rock concert is always funny. But one day I too may wake up with a start in the middle of a concert, and I hope that Springsteen is still going when I open my eyes. Because the thought of him not there shaking his head in displeasure to see my ass not just sitting down, but sleeping, is a sign of mortality too real to bear.

By Josh Wolk

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eggnogdoubt38-blog · 5 years

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How Sweetgreen Got to $1 Billion

The rumors started a few weeks back: Sweetgreen, the chain that dishes out kale caesar salads and quinoa-filled bowls to sad desk lunch crowds, was worth $1 billion. With the average Sweetgreen salad bowl clocking in between $9 and $14, that’s a lot of, er, green. “I mean, it’s insane,” says restaurant investor Elaine Chon-Baker of Mokja Ventures of the brand’s “unicorn” status — a distinction given to privately held start-up companies that reach a $1 billion market value. “These unicorn valuations are happening so often, everyone just shakes their head at it. It reminds me of what happened with the dot com bust in 2001.”

With investors chasing the next Shake Shack, companies like Sweetgreen (which has 90 locations) and Joe & the Juice (with nearly 300 locations and plans for a $1.5 billion IPO in 2019) seem to be rushing into high valuations just to drum up buzz. But how did Sweetgreen, a relatively small chain known for serving vegetables in oddly shaped bowls, become the first real restaurant unicorn?

“They’ve built almost more of a social, political, cultural brand versus a fast-food occasion.”

Sweetgreen started life 11 years ago as a small restaurant in D.C. founded by three recent Georgetown University graduates, Nicolas Jammet, Nathaniel Ru, and Jonathan Neman. To date, Sweetgreen has collected $325 million from investors including Revolution Growth and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer. The salad chain doesn’t talk about its financial health publicly, but confirmed that it is turning a profit. “The business is very healthy economically,” Jammet told Eater in early October, before the most recent raise. Sweetgreen’s $1 billion valuation comes after Fidelity Investments, one of the world’s largest asset management companies, poured another $200 million into the chain’s bank account.

Sweetgreen wasn’t the first concept to offer a customizable salad menu, but it was the first to understand how to cultivate loyalty — by reaching its target audience outside of the restaurant. Four years into its run, with only a handful of locations open on the East Coast, the brand launched a music festival: Sweetlife kicked off in 2011 with the Strokes, Girl Talk, and Lupe Fiasco headlining. Phoenix, Lana Del Rey, and the Weeknd hit the fest in subsequent years, generating an enormous amount of attention — on social media and in real life — for what was otherwise just another farm-to-table concept in an ocean of farm-to-table concepts. (Sweetlife ended its marquee run in 2016, but continues to host smaller shows.)

In between its annual festivals, the group collected over $100 million in venture capitalist funding, expanded to the West Coast and Chicago, partnered with high-profile chefs for seasonal menu items, solidified its partnerships with independent farmers, and launched an order-ahead app. A sign of its influence? Sweetgreen has over 170,000 followers on Instagram. By contrast, the internationally reaching Shake Shack has over 500,000 fans on Instagram while competitors like Chopt (44k) and Just Salad (21k) don’t have nearly the same level of engagement.

“Sweetgreen understands the power of great storytelling: the story of how they started, the story of each menu item,” Chon-Baker says. “A lot of great concepts have really great stories behind them. Apple. McDonald’s. Shake Shack. These companies have amazing branding and marketing.” The key element is consistency, and Chon-Baker notes that Sweetgreen’s social media presence has been “a huge driver… People are always looking for visual cues. [Social media] really created this pattern of looking at food as art or food as an image versus just food as nourishment.”

A large part of Sweetgreen’s image is about selling the idea of nourishment. The company has long projected an image of health, wellness, and sustainable farm and labor practices. Its marketing language uses phrases like “real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone,” “food from scratch, using fresh ingredients and produce delivered that morning.” Its stated mission is to “build healthier communities by connecting people to real food.” Lofty, but not flimsy, it’s real enough to appeal to Sweetgreen’s core audience: young professionals with disposable income who are likely to ask a lot of questions about where their food comes from, and why. Perhaps no other fast-casual brand on the market is so well-aligned with its consumers.

This alignment coincided recently with a cult-like gathering at chef Dan Barber’s four-star Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Over 100 Sweetgreen fans and partners were invited to what one guest called “a wedding, but celebrating a very special squash.” There was a photographer, there was a Spotify playlist, there were several toasts, there was a live band. The four-course meal honored Sweetgreen’s triumphs in promoting sustainable farming practices, and its new collaboration with Barber’s Row 7 seed company, which develops seeds for produce with an emphasis on flavor. Last year, Sweetgreen bought Row 7 seeds for a squash called Koginut, which looks a little like if a butternut and acorn squash had a baby. Sweetgreen then gifted the seeds to its farming partners across the country — including SoCal chef-favorite Weiser Family Farms — asked them to grow it, and promised to buy the resulting produce. As of this month, Koginut squash is on Sweetgreen’s menu nationwide, served roasted with fennel, pears, basil, goat cheese, walnuts, wild rice, and a lemon-balsamic dressing for $11.

Sweetgreen/Official

“This is a major first for us,” Jammet says of the Koginut partnership. “It’s a first for Row 7, and for our farmers, and we’re going to see how it sells, but we have a good feeling about it,” he told Eater just before the launch. Halfway through into its first month on the menu, Sweetgreen’s demographic of upwardly mobile and influential fans are literally eating it up.

“They use this phrase a lot: ‘Democratizing food,’ which is so unique in the food space,” says restaurant consultant Judge Graham. “They’ve built almost more of a social, political, cultural brand versus a fast-food occasion.”

But even that’s not enough to get Sweetgreen to $1 billion, says Jenifer Ekstein, a senior consultant at Vivaldi. “What holds so much potential is turning a fast-casual restaurant into a food platform,” she says. “Sweetgreen looks beyond just the food they serve — it’s about how they can create an entire food ecosystem that reaches their customers in ways personalized to them.”

“They’re doing something that a fast-food company has never really been done before,” Graham says. “How they’re approaching their customers, how they’re selling it, how they’re using technology, how they’re positioning it… It’s almost a tech company.”

Sweetgreen’s app, which 1 million people across the U.S. use, brings in a full 50 percent of the chain’s business today, and that’s only expected to grow. The company also pioneered use of blockchain technology for its supply chain, which means it has systems in place that trace each fruit and vegetable from farm to consumer. With its new influx of cash, it plans on growing its Outpost concept, in which deliveries to office buildings are free. It also plans to expand into new markets, drawing more users to its app.

And that means one thing: data. “With their technology infrastructure they are able to collect mountains of data,” Ekstein says. That data is valuable for the company’s marketing, menu development, and expansion purposes, but it might become even more valuable in the future. (Jammet promises the company is only using the data for good.) “We are big believers in leveraging data to create a better experience for the customer, the team member, everything,” he says. “We like to make a lot of our decisions on the foundation of data... it’s always art and science. The data we collect informs how our menu evolves, it informs the efficiency of our SKUs and eventually what we buy from our farmers. For the past year and a half, we’ve been testing this larger blockchain of food.” This, Jammet says, has become a “massively powerful” tool for food safety, for “traceability.” (See also: Chipotle.)

Ekstein believes that because Sweetgreen started small and “took calculated, purposeful steps to create a strong brand,” they can “ultimately disrupt the long stagnant food industry.” But that $1 billion valuation is just a number.

Graham says when small companies throw around big numbers it’s a sign that “they’re positioning to get sold. 100%. That’s what my gut tells me.” In an interesting twist, he says that “the fact that they’re so technology and delivery focused, and they have this cultural spin, this would be such a perfect brand for somebody like Amazon to purchase.”

Whether or not Jeff Bezos would put down $1 billion of his pocket change to get into the restaurant business remains to be seen. Sale or no sale, Chon-Baker doubts salad alone will be enough to propel the company forward. It’s a good thing Sweetgreen also plans to use some of its new cash to expand its menu — and maybe they’ll tone down the whole farm-to-table schtick. “I mean, of course it’s ‘farm-to-table,’” Chon-Baker says with a laugh. “It’s lettuce.”

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Source: https://www.eater.com/2018/11/15/18096104/sweetgreen-1-billion-unicorn-tech-company-lifestyle-brand

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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swissforextrading · 7 years

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Claude Nicollier, forever known as the first Swiss man in space

30.10.17 - Just 25 years ago, Claude Nicollier – Vaud Canton’s famous astronaut – boarded the Space Shuttle Atlantis for the first of what would be four missions in space. We sat down to talk with Nicollier about this exciting experience ahead of a special commemorative event that will be held this week in his honor. Claude Nicollier, an EPFL professor since 2004, will always be known as Switzerland’s first man in space. He took part in four US space shuttle missions in the 1990s; the first aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on an eight-day mission some 300 km above Earth. To mark the 25th anniversary of that flight, which took place from July 31 to August 8, 1992, SwissApollo is holding a commemorative event at EPFL’s SwissTech Convention Center on 3 November. We met with Nicollier – a modest man with a warm smile – to get a first-hand account of his amazing story. - Can you tell us how your first space mission came about? "An astronaut’s first space mission is like all important firsts in life: unforgettable. My first mission was the culmination of 14 years of training, starting the day when the European Space Agency selected me for the team. The Challenger disaster in 1986 delayed my flight for six years. Delays were also caused by the fact that I was the only non-American taking the full Space Shuttle Mission Specialist training – NASA had told me that I would take part only in missions where the payload contained a substantial amount of ESA equipment. That was true for the Atlantis, which carried an Italian tethered satellite system and the EURECA satellite [European Retrievable Carrier, now on display at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Luzern]. - What were the days leading up to the mission like? We were flown to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida three days before take-off, on one of the T-38 Mission Support Aircraft that NASA used to carry astronauts. Once there, we did a “terminal count-down demonstration” – a kind of trial run where we go through every step of the take-off procedure except starting the engines. NASA simulators had given us a good idea of what take-off would feel like. But when we experienced it for real, and the entire spacecraft started shaking – it was incredible. - What did it feel like? There was a lot of shaking and vibration. The space shuttle weighs 2,000 metric tons, so you need 3,000 metric tons of power just to get it off the ground. It feels like you’re in a machine of a very, very large mass. Out of the seven astronauts on the mission, just two of us were rookies: Franco Malerba, Italy’s first astronaut, and me. We reached orbit in just eight and a half minutes. We felt anxious, of course – because our mission was dangerous, no doubt about it – but also like we were doing something completely crazy, with such a display of force and fuel. We felt as if we were at the very start of a big adventure. And we knew we had our work cut out for us; deploying the EURECA from the payload was a fairly routine operation, but we were a lot less certain about how the tethered satellite system deployment would go. Picture taken by the astronauts to express their concerns about the deployment of the tethered satellite system. - And what did zero gravity feel like? Like we were floating. It was disconcerting at first, especially when we shut off the main engines. When you go from 1 G to 0 G, it feels like there’s a force lifting you up. I was always afraid of banging my head on the ceiling! Plus we were wearing heavy orange space suits that restricted our movement. We also felt nauseous, like we were seasick. But we had to learn to live under those conditions. It was hard to sleep the first night. The next day we felt better, but the zero gravity still bothered us. It took me a full 48 hours to get over it. At the same time, it was all fantastic – the sky was filled with stars at night, and during the day we could see the Earth rapidly passing by. - But you got the job done, despite the physical discomfort. I had an important role to play in the EURECA deployment: operating the robotic arm that sent out the satellite. Once it was deployed, we had to fly in formation with the satellite for a few hours until ground control activated a propulsion system that lifted the satellite to a higher orbit. Then we moved to the next step, deploying the tethered satellite system. And there we ran into all kinds of problems. I would say that out of my four missions, that was the part that went the least well. The satellite was connected to the shuttle by a 20-km long cable. We were afraid the cable would slacken, and that’s exactly what happened. - What was the problem? The system jammed when the satellite was 200 meters out. Since the cable was elastic, the satellite came back towards us. The cable had lost all tension; we had to make sure the satellite didn’t drift upwards. And we had to make sure the satellite was in the right position for when the cable eventually would tighten, so that it wouldn’t start spinning. The cable’s movements were controlled using an alphanumeric keypad, which was like trying to drive a truck by pressing buttons! It was really stressful. In the end we were able to stabilize the satellite and bring it back to the shuttle. In this video, the astronauts describe the mission. - Can you share any other highlights from the mission? There was the televised conversation with Adolf Ogi, then a Swiss Federal Councilor, during which he made his famous comment: Freude herrscht! Which means, maybe, joy? That powerful expression has become a sort of motto for me, and him. A very positive message. - What has changed with these types of missions today? Mainly that procedures aren’t written on paper anymore! And that space missions get much more media coverage these days. We saw that recently with French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who posted frequently on social networks during his mission on the International Space Station. Our missions took place almost in secret. Not that they were easier – sometimes they were even harder because we were doing things nobody had ever done before. Today, a lot of the work astronauts do at the International Space Station has already been mapped out. The spirit of our space shuttle missions was different – we were headed into the great unknown! Our missions were shorter and always involved extremely complicated, and pretty crazy, tasks. Another difference is that we could talk with our families for just 20 minutes a week. But today, thanks to digital phones, astronauts can stay in regular contact with their loved ones. The show Claude Nicollier - Un Suisse dans l’espace will take place at the SwissTech Convention Center at 8pm on Friday, 3 November and will be attended by Nicollier and key people from his life including Derib, a cartoonist and childhood friend, astronauts Charlie Duke and Jean-François Clervoy, and astrophysicist Michel Mayor. Information and tickets at www.swissapollo.ch Express bio Born in Vevey on 2 September 1944. 1966: Became a Swiss Air Force pilot flying Hawker Hunter aircraft. 1970: Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Lausanne. 1970–1973: Worked as a graduate scientist at the University of Lausanne’s Institute of Astronomy and the Geneva Observatory. 1976: Obtained a fellowship at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Science Department. 1978: Selected by the ESA to become a member of the first group of European astronauts. 1980: Joined NASA, while remaining with the ESA, for astronaut training as a Mission Specialist. 1992: Carried out the first of his four space shuttle missions, aboard the Atlantis (from July 31 to August 8). His three other missions took place in 1993, 1996 and 1999. Two of them were to service the Hubble telescope orbiting some 600 km above Earth. 2004: Named an EPFL electrical engineering professor, teaching the Space Mission Design and Operations course. Sarah Perrin http://actu.epfl.ch/news/claude-nicollier-forever-known-as-the-first-swiss- (Source of the original content)

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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years

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TELEVISION aka GEORGE RUINS A NEIGHBOR’S TV aka THE TELEVISION SUIT

June 17, 1949

“Television” aka “George Ruins a Neighbor’s TV” aka “The Television Suit” is episode #49 of the CBS Radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on June 17, 1949. It later served as the basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Courtroom” (ILL S2;E7) first aired November 10, 1952.

Synopsis ~ Liz and George's visit to their next-door neighbors, the Stones, turns into a disaster when George tries to repair the Stones' new television set by himself.

REGULAR CAST

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born as Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father's garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz, a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) and Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) are mentioned, but not in this episode.

GUEST CAST

Hans Conried (The Process Server) first co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). He then appeared on “I Love Lucy” as used furniture man Dan Jenkins in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) and later that same season as Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (ILL S2;E13) – both in 1952. The following year he began an association with Disney by voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. On “The Lucy Show” he played Professor Gitterman in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) and in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (TLS S2;E1). He was probably best known as Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy” starring Danny Thomas, which was filmed on the Desilu lot. He joined Thomas on a season 6 episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1973.

Frank Nelson (Frank Stone) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” and “Fibber McGee & Molly”. This is one of his 11 performances on “My Favorite Husband.” On “I Love Lucy” he holds the distinction of being the only actor to play two recurring roles: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey, as well as six one-off characters, including the frazzled train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5), a character he repeated on “The Lucy Show.” Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs.

Mary Lansing (Mary Stone) was best known for playing Martha Clark and ten other characters in Mayberry on “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Mayberry R.F.D.”, both filmed at Desilu. Lucy lovers might remember her as the voice of weepy Cynthia in “Over The Teacups”, the Broadway play that the Ricardos and Mertzes attend in “Ethel’s Birthday” (ILL S4;E9). She met Frank Nelson performing on radio. They married in 1933 and had two children. Lansing appeared with him frequently on the "Jack Benny Program" during the 1950s.

Alan Reed (Harry, the Judge) is probably best remembered as the voice of Fred Flintstone where he acted opposite Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury), who voiced Betty Rubble on the animated series. His only television appearance with Lucille Ball was on “The Lucy Show” in 1963, an episode which also featured Frank Nelson. In 1967, he did an episode of the Desi Arnaz series “The Mothers-in-Law”.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. When Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George's boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, on air concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown. In addition to being aired on the CBS Radio Network, the episodes were heard on the Armed Forces Radio Network, where the commercials were omitted.

THE EPISODE

“Television throws ‘My Favorite Husband’ for a loss, and the whole neighborhood into night courts.” ~ Mason City Globe-Gazette radio listing

As the episode opens, Liz and George are discussing their upcoming summer vacation. Liz has packed five suitcases - just for herself.

George is concerned that Liz’s swimsuit may be too skimpy, a subject explored again in “LIz Learns To Swim” (June 11, 1950) as well as on a couple of episodes of “I Love Lucy.”

Liz and George realize that they do not know any of their neighbors well enough to ask them to water their lawn while they are away. Liz knows the first names (Frank and Mary) of the Stones next door because she read a postcard that was accidentally delivered to their house. George says that he hopes Liz didn’t read the message, but Liz lets it slip that “Mrs. Stone’s mother had a lumbago attack at Lake Tahoe.” On “I Love Lucy” Fred Mertz also chastised his wife about reading postcards delivered to their tenants. In 1951′s “Drafted” (ILL S1;E11) Fred say about Ethel...

FRED: “Some people build model airplanes. Ethel reads postcards.”

At the Stone home, Frank and Mary welcome the Coopers. Frank Nelson (Mr. Stone) does his trademark “Weeeeeell!” and the audience laughs, recognizing it from “The Jack Benny Program.” Mrs. Stone (Mary Lansing) asks if they would like to watch television. The Coopers do not yet own a television set, but Liz casually remarks that they don’t miss it.

LIZ: “I crawl in the Bendix and sing and George watches me through the little window.”

The Bendix Corporation (1924-1983) licensed their name to a line of electric clothes washing machines. The 1937 Bendix Home Laundry had a glass porthole door, a rotating drum and an electrically driven mechanical timer. The machine was able to auto-fill, wash, rinse and spin-dry. Bendix Home Appliances was later sold to Avco who sold it to Philco.

In 1952, Lucille Ball actually played a talking washing machine in a full-length Westinghouse industrial film called Ellis in Freedomland.

Six years later, when Desilu partnered with Westinghouse to present “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse,” Ball did another industrial film for them titled Lucy Buys Westinghouse where she actually got inside the machine, fulfilling Liz Cooper’s off-the-cuff comment of 1949.

The idea of Liz pretending to be performing on television by getting inside a household appliance also recalls when Lucy Ricardo hollowed out their television set to help Ricky picture her doing a TV commercial in the now-famous Vitameatavegamin episode of 1952.

On “I Love Lucy”, it was the Mertzes who did not yet own a television set. By the end of 1949, 4.2 million US homes had a television. By 1953, 50% of all American households owned one. The increase was credited to “I Love Lucy” and the 1953 Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

Frank turns on his TV and after it warms up (a common problem with early televisions), the only program on any station seems to be wrestling. One channel is actually airing lady wrestling!

MARY: “Oh, they have more than wrestling, Mrs. Cooper. Sometimes they have boxing and baseball.”

Televised sports, especially wrestling and boxing, were the primary attraction in the early days of television, especially for male viewers. Long-haired blonde wrestler Gorgeous George was even mentioned on “I Love Lucy.”

ETHEL: “Our grandmothers must have had arms like Gorgeous George.” ~ ‘Pioneer Women’

In “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E6) the Grocery Boy asks Lucy what she’s supposed to be in her Marilyn Monroe dress and wig, Fred quips “Gorgeous George.”

Nearly every time Ricky and Fred watch television it is to see a boxing match, such as in “Ricky and Fred are TV Fans” (ILL S2;E30) in 1953. That episode, like this radio broadcast, also featured Frank Nelson.

When the TV reception is fuzzy, Frank and George feel they can fix it themselves, much to the disbelief of their wives. Frank takes the back off the set:

FRANK (reading): “Back of this set should be removed by a qualified television repairman only.”

On “I Love Lucy” the warning is similar:

FRED (reading): “Danger! High Voltage! Do not remove this back under any circumstances!”

Both Frank and George and Ricky and Fred cause their sets to explode by fooling around with some loose wires! The wrecked TV results in name calling by both couples and the Stones / Mertzes threaten to sue the Coopers / Ricardos.

Next morning at breakfast, the Coopers are worried that a lawsuit will prevent them from going on vacation. Katy the Maid reports that there is a strange man at the door, whom they immediately suspect may be a process server. Liz tells Katie to lie and say that they are away for a fortnight in the Catskills. Katie answers the door nervously,

KATIE: “They left for a catnap in the Fortskills. I mean a nightcap in the Footskills.”

The Process Server (Hans Conried) surprises the Coopers when they sneak out the back door. They have been served!

TRIVIA! Ironically, on TV the Process Server (Harry Bartell) at first asks the Ricardos where the Lewis apartment is, to throw them off the track. On “I Love Lucy,” Miss Lewis was an elderly tenant played for one episode (”Lucy Plays Cupid”) by Bea Benadaret, the actress who usually plays Iris Atterbury on “My Favorite Husband,” although she is not in this episode. Hans Conried appeared as Dan Jenkins and Percy Livermore on “I Love Lucy,” episodes that book-ended “The Courtroom” during season two!

George writes out Liz’s testimony, including stage directions telling her when to flirt with the Judge. Ricky Ricardo and Fred Mertz do the same thing on “I Love Lucy.” When Liz rehearses her testimony aloud, she states the date and time of the event as “June 13, 1949 at approximately 7:35pm” which was the real time and date of the broadcast. To keep the television version from becoming ‘dated’ - any reference to dates is purposefully omitted. Lucy instead tells the Judge (Moroni Olsen) the events happened “about three weeks ago.”

In the courtroom, George and Frank act as their own attorneys just as Ricky and Fred will do in “The Courtroom”. For economy sake, the radio script omits the character of the Bailiff who swears in the witnesses, although the character is part of the television script. Both scripts also include the flirtatious ‘stage directions’ for Lucy and Liz to appeal to the Judge’s vanity.

LIZ: “...when Mr. Stone suggested we watch television flutter eyelids at jury.”

On television, Lucy hikes up her skirts instead of fluttering her eyelids. Since TV is a visual medium, during her testimony she just does it, rather than says it.

TRIVIA: When the Ricardos and the Mertzes go to court again in “Lucy Makes Way for Danny” on the “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”, the judge who Lucy and Ethel try to flirt with by hiking up their skirts is played by Gale Gordon, who usually plays Rudolph Atterbury on “My Favorite Husband,” although he is not in this episode.

The final gag of the Judge’s TV also exploding is the same on radio and TV, except Liz intimates that they are headed for the city jail instead of the happy ending on television where the Judge encourages the couples to forgive one another and sends them home friends.

CODA

George and Liz are in bed and George cannot sleep. Liz encourages him to yawn to induce sleep. It works! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

#My Favorite Husband #Lucille Ball #Gale Gordon #Bea Benadaret #I Love Lucy #the courtroom #television #The Television Suit #Frank Nelson #Mary Lansing #Alan Reed #Bob LeMond #Ruth Perrott #The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour #Bendix Company #Harry Bartell #Desi Aranz #William Frawley #Vivian Vance

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papermoonloveslucy · 4 years

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YOUNG MATRONS’ LEAGUE PLAY

October 9, 1948

“Young Matron’s League Play” is episode #12 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on October 9, 1948.

Synopsis ~ George finds out that Liz is in the Young Matrons’ League play and finds a clever way to surprise her!

Note: This episode was aired before the characters names were changed from Cugat to Cooper. It was also before Jell-O came aboard to sponsor the show and before the regular cast featured Bea Benadaret and Gale Gordon as the Atterburys.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benaderet was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cugat) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. “My Favorite Husband” eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cugat) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

GUEST CAST

John Hiestand (Cory Cartwright) served as the announcer for the radio show “Let George Do It” from 1946 to 1950. In 1955 he did an episode of “Our Miss Brooks” opposite Gale Gordon.

Bea Benadaret (Miss Worthingill, Play Director) was considered the front-runner to be cast as Ethel Mertz but when “I Love Lucy” was ready to start production she was already playing a similar role on TV’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” so Vivian Vance was cast instead. On “I Love Lucy” she was cast as Lucy Ricarodo’s spinster neighbor, Miss Lewis, in “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15) in early 1952. Later, she was a success in her own show, “Petticoat Junction” as Shady Rest Hotel proprietress Kate Bradley. She starred in the series until her death in 1968.

In the previous episode, Miss Worthingill was played by Elvia Allman. In 1949, Bea Benadaret will play the regular role of Iris Atterbury, Liz’s best friend.

Hans Conried (Adrian LaHoya, Costume Designer) first co-starred with Lucille Ball in The Big Street (1942). He then appeared on “I Love Lucy” as used furniture man Dan Jenkins in “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8) and later that same season as Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (ILL S2;E13) – both in 1952. The following year he began an association with Disney by voicing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. On “The Lucy Show” he played Professor Gitterman in “Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (TLS S1;E19) and in “Lucy Plays Cleopatra” (TLS S2;E1). He was probably best known as Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy” starring Danny Thomas, which was filmed on the Desilu lot. He joined Thomas on a season 6 episode of “Here’s Lucy” in 1973. He died in 1982 at age 64.

Jay Novello (Cabbie) appeared on “I Love Lucy” as superstitious Mr. Merriweather in “The Seance" (ILL S1;E7), Mario the gondolier in “The Visitor from Italy” (ILL S6;E5), and nervous Mr. Beecher in “The Sublease” (ILL S3;E31). He also appeared on two episodes of “The Lucy Show,” but Novello is probably best remembered for playing Mayor Lugatto on “McHale’s Navy” in 1965.

Beatrice, Miss Worthingill’s assistant, and the Stage Manager are played by uncredited performer.

THE EPISODE

While George is singing in the shower, Liz tells Katie the Maid not to tell him that it is opening night of the play. Liz gets a telephone call from Mrs. Worthingill, director of the play, to remind her that Adrian will be at her home for a costume fitting at 10am sharp! Liz is momentarily taken aback, thinking she is talking about the world famous costume designer Adrian, not Adrian La Hoya.

Adrian Adolph Greenburg (1903-1959), widely known simply as Adrian, was an American costume designer whose most famous work was for The Wizard of Oz and hundreds of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films such as Du Barry Was A Lady (above) starring Lucille Ball. He was usually credited onscreen with the phrase "Gowns by Adrian".

George comes down to breakfast and says that he has the day off because the bank is closed. Liz needs an excuse to get George out of the house for her fitting. She tells George she’s sick.

LIZ: “Look at my tongue. There’s a coat I.J. Fox would be proud of!”

I.J. Fox is one of the nation’s leading furriers. The company is based in Boston, where in 1934 they built a historic art deco store on Washington Street.

George then thinks Liz might be expecting a baby. George decides to go golfing, only if Liz will promise to call the doctor.

Later, Katie answers the doorbell. It is Adrian the costumer (Hans Conried). George comes home unexpectedly and sees Liz wearing a bustle and thinks that she is swollen and assumes Adrian is the doctor.

GEORGE: “What’s wrong with my wife?” ADRIAN: “Nothing. It’s not as bad as it looks. All I have to do is to take few inches off of her hips and tighten the droop in her back. Her peplum is dragging.”

Confusion reigns with the costumer and George talking at cross purposes about Liz’s condition / costume. George leaves the house and learns from Adrian’s waiting cabbie that he’s not a doctor, but a costumer, and that Liz is in the play. George is suspicious of Adrian’s integrity with his wife.

The Cabbie says that his wife was having a weekly Monday night rendezvous with a man at the Laundromat.

GEORGE: “What did you do?” CABBIE: “I bought her a Benidx. Now I don’t know where she goes on Monday nights.”

George decides to have a talk with Miss Worthingill. George arrives just as an actor has dropped out of the play. Miss Worthingill sees George and gets an idea.

MISS WORTHINGILL: “Come in, Mr. Barrymore! That profile! That noble carriage! That resonant voice! That wavy blonde hair! Those white teeth! Those flaring nostrils! You’re gorgeous. What did you say your name was?” GEORGE: “Cugat. George Cugat.” MISS WORTHINGILL: “Gorgeous George!”

Miss Worthingill is referring to John Barrymore (1882-1942), born John Sidney Blyth, a stage, screen and radio actor of distinction. He was known for his dramatic flare and classic profile. She then calls George ‘Gorgeous George’ (to the delight of the audience). George Raymond Wagner (1915–63) was a wrestler known as Gorgeous George because of his blonde hair. He was mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25) and “Ricky’s Movie Offer” (ILL S4;E6).

George agrees to play the part on the proviso that Miss Worthingill not tell Liz that he is subbing for the ailing actor until they meet on stage.

George goes to Adrian’s costume shop with Cory for a fitting and is given a pair of skimpy tights, which he objects to wearing.

CORY: “George is allergic to tights. He was doing a quick change on the stage in college once. When called for his tights, they thought he said lights!”

This same gag was told by Fred Mertz to Barney Kurtz in “Mertz and Kurtz” (ILL S4;E2) in 1954.

George tries on the tights and finds them tight. Adrian disagrees, saying:

ADRIAN: “The costumer is always right!”

This clever wordplay takes a moment to earn its laugh. Adrian is punning on the old business motto that “the customer is always right,” a phrase that dates back to 1909, originally coined by London retailer Harry Selfridge to assure customers that they would get good service at his store.

Adrian offers George a suit of armor, but his son has the legs as mufflers on his car. Adrian gives George the tights and a girdle to take home, just in case. When Liz leaves the room, George ducks out to get to the theatre. Liz finds the girdle and tights in George’s suit pocket and suspects marital infidelity!

Fred Mertz wore a suit of armor in a play starring Lucy in “The Celebrity Next Door” (LDCH S1;E2) starring Tallulah Bankhead. Ricky tried on a suit of armor during pre-production for Don Juan in “Hollywood at Last!” (ILL S4;E16, right).

Adrian arrives with the armor for George. To keep his identity a secret, George wears his visor down. Liz plays Lady Alice and George is Sir Edward in an unnamed costume drama.

Oops! In the previous episode, the Young Matron’s League play Liz auditioned for was a modern play titled John Loves Mary.

LIZ / LADY ALICE: “Hark! Do I hear a footfall?”

This will also be Lucy Ricardo’s first line of dialogue during her big scene in “Ricky’s Screen Test” (ILL S4;E7) for Don Juan.

Onstage in their scene, Lady Alice lifts the visor and sees it is really George! She instantly starts to have an argument in a stage whisper about the girdle she found in his pocket.

Liz throws a lit cigarette into George’s armor and extinguishes it with a seltzer bottle, ruining Miss Worthingill’s play. Later, Liz is trying to extricate George from the suit, now rusted shut and tells him if he doesn’t tell her the truth about the girdle, he will have to go live at the Smithsonian Institute.

Smithsonian Institution (dubbed ‘the Nation’s attic’) are museums located primarily in Washington DC. The Smithsonian was first mentioned in reference to Ethel’s old washing machine in “Never Do Business with Friends” (ILL S2;E31) and will be mentioned again in reference to the antique Cadillac that Fred buys for the trip to Hollywood in “Getting Ready” (ILL S4;E11). A portrait of Lucille Ball is part of the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery.

Liz and George kiss and make-up and the episode ends!

#My Favorite Husband #Lucille Ball #Richard Denning Ruth Perrott #Bea Benadaret #Smithsonian #I Love Lucy #Selfridge #Adrian #Barrymore #gorgeous george #Bendix #IJ Fox #Jay Novello #Hans Conried #John Hiestand #Bob LeMond

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