Childhood - TV Memories

Hopefully all of us had that sweet-spot time in our lives when we retained the joy of the insular and innocent phase of early childhood, yet were old enough to begin to view and appreciate the larger, mature world around us with an inquisitive sense of wonder. I place this time in my life at approximately ages 7 to 12, which dates approximately 1974-1979. 


For most at the time, the singular most accessible vehicle for entertainment (beyond ourselves) was television. VCRs were only an amazing bit of expensive technology on the horizon for the general public and cable TV was just a fantasy for those of us who lived outside the largest 30 American television markets. I look back at this being a fairly fortunate time to be watching TV, because it seems the looming 'threat' of cable programming to over-the-air TV made for some interesting gambles by the big three networks.


One particular show comes to mind and evidence of its popularity and influence on TV shows remains to this day. I refer to the pseudo-talent contest know as The Gong Show. Short of listing a synopsis and history of the show, which can be found numerous other places on the internet, I merely note the sheer fun and frivolity that occurred on the show as a standard but in particular a recurring bit known as Gene Gene the Dancing Machine.
  
Often thrown into the show at 'spontaneous' moments, the crowd would go wild and other cast members joyfully played along with the popular and special bit that had almost nothing to do with the contest format of the show. Gene was a stagehand whose wonderfully simple dancing, positive demeanor, and 'everyman' appearance eventually became popular enough to become a requested and regular feature on the show. 


The pure fun that this segment brought (at a time when economic and post-Vietnam War woes had the USA in a bit of a funk) was a welcome respite and elevated Gene to celebrity status.  I wish to thank Chuck Barris and Gene for brightening those darker days of the late-70s. Only recently did I find that, sadly, Gene lost both legs in 2001 to complications from diabetes. I am all the more thankful that we can relive that fun space in time via YouTube.


Without further ado, I present Gene Gene the Dancing Machine...

Greens, Yellows, and Reds for Indy Quals - Days 1 and 2

'Greens' (thumbs up), 'Yellows' - (thumbs sideways), and 'Reds' - (thumbs down) for the following events of note from Indy 500 qualifying - Days 1 and 2...

Firstly I must give a big, huge, Green Flag to Alex "Pink" Lloyd for not only his unabashed embracing of his sponsor's glowing pinkness (cue: 'Money' by Pink Floyd), but also his cannonball-cojones-run on Pole day that got him into the first 11. Nice job. I am even more impressed by his professionalism during his interviews, specifically with Jack Arute's odd (homophobic?) need to have him strike a manly pose in an effort to offset the femininity of the pinkness. I would certainly would like to see Alex in more races this season. Nothing but best of luck to you, Mr. Lloyd.

Speaking of TV coverage, another big Green flag to Versus and the crew working the qualifying weekend. Salient insight during the runs, terrific background on technical aspects, and awesome pit and garage coverage. I've been watching Indycar on TV for decades and this was the best I've seen. I learned more this weekend (thanks to the great work by Messrs Buhl and Beekhuis) about the technical parts through features and analysis than I have in a looong time. FINALLY the production and booth people appear to understand that we appreciate the finer and more technical details we've never seen before. We, the longtime fans (for whom I imagine Versus is attempting to cater to), all easily understand 'understeer' and 'downforce' and 'drafting' and 'rev limiters'. We finally get the more elaborate info we've craved for years and also the great insight by Mears, Mario, and Parnelli was delightful to this Indy fan. An example was Mario stating the worst winds for qualifying and why they effect the cars so adversely. I'd never heard that Turn 2 was notoriously a 'push' corner ever before. Love this stuff Versus, keep it coming!

A Green flag for Indycar's tech inspection crews. Keeping the letter of the law makes for a most even playing field, but also the manner with which it was done. As was noted on Versus, the great Tom Binford held as policy years ago the desire to help crews to comply rather than just be a penalization force. To me this is the proper way to enforce the rules. Good jobs also to; the Safety Crews who ably aid the drivers after a crash and clean up the track after messes, the Indycar Competition Director (Barnhart) for his efficient and fair play manner he uses in running the show, especially in the matter of Scott Sharp's run at the gun on Sunday and HVM as well for their fair play attitude. Big waving Greens all around.

Big Green Flag to Graham Rahal for his terrific miss of the wrecked and spinning John Andretti. I believe you couldn't pick a better line given the circumstances and the relative minimal damage to his #06 car is testament to his amazing vision and reaction. Ah, to be 20 years old again.

Yellows for John Andretti, Robert Doornbos, Alex Tagliani, and Mike Conway, for having the misfortune of not making the field on the first weekend mainly due to crashing the equipment. Pushing it to the limits is what has to happen during Indy quals and invariably some don't survive unscathed. I hope these respective programs will be able to mount up again next weekend as I consider all these drivers and teams Indy 500 quality.

Yellows to D&R Racing. I am rooting for these guys. They have four entries, one in the show, two wrecked machines, two drivers whose driving status is currently unknown due to injuries, and one car that is lacking speed to make the final cutoff at 33. Odds might state that one of the four wouldn't make the show. Now it's looking like only one will. I hope this won't be the case.

Green Flag to the qualifying format. Tension throughout all camps seemed more pronounced both days thus far and, with Versus' great coverage, I found it hard to turn away from the dramatic stories unfolding.

No Red Flags to date and I hope there won't be. Good stuff thus far...

Best Beer Ads now and forever.

This is a companion post to one I've made other places that celebrates the terrific TV ad series by documentarian Errol Morris for Miller Beer circa 1998-2005. Simply enjoyable and very effective ads that combine artistic cinematography with excellent copy and voice-over. Below is a fairly representative sample of the 80-odd ads done. If you weren't a Miller beer fan before, you may find it hard to not find yourself wanting one just little bit...



Cheers, DZ

A Compendium of DZ's All-Time Favorites, Part 1

There has been too, too much going on since my last post to even know where to begin, so I'll simplify the process by not posting any of it and getting on with other things.

I've dabbled with the 'favorites' themed post a few ago but now I thought it prudent to just give my list of all things favorite with no particular order or category. These are items that without question are indellibly etched into me as of this day, 2008.

Favorite Year of my life - 1987. I'm 19, turning 20 - ending sophomore, starting junior year of college. I've got college figured out. I've got the essentials of friendships, fun, cars, food, and females all figured out (what more could there be?). To this point, I've never had such a mature (read muscular) physique and I feel like any task physical, mental, or emotional is totally covered. IU wins the NCAA Basketball Championship. My favorite Indycar driver, Al Unser, wins his fourth Indy 500 in spectacular and legendary style. I meet my sports hero, Dr. J, in person and get a pic and an autograph. Oh, I could go on, but I won't... At that time, those sorts of events were paramount in my psyche.

Favorite TV Show - Hmmm tough one, but I'll go with Seinfeld edging Friends in a photo finish. I could watch those shows anytime, anywhere, over and over, and still enjoy them immensely. As a kid, I rarely missed ZOOM, Mr. Rogers, and The Electric Company. Also, I think I may have every single punch line to Bugs Bunny cartoons memorized.

Favorite Food - Pizza. No questions asked.

Favorite Beverage - Again a tie, Milk and Fresca. Not together of course.

Favorite Movie - Caddyshack comes to the top of this sort of list quite often, but The Big Lebowski is often right there of the modern flicks.

Favorite Car - Hmmm, several come to mind... Porsche 911 - Mid 1980s with the 'whale tail'. Nothing else seemed to wrap performance, luxury, esteem, and function in a tighter package.

Favorite car I've ever driven - 2004 Panoz Indycar
(at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway no less).

Favorite Sports Event - Indianapolis 500. Another 'no questions asked' item.

Favorite Season - Spring. So much I like about what happens during Spring just edges out Summer.

Favorite Color - Blue.

Favorite Jelly Bean - Black.

I'll stop there for now. More to come later on this subject but for those who need extremely-last-minute Christmas gifts for me, here's your help. If Indy 500 tickets or an Indycar driving session is out of your budget, I'd gladly settle for a 1/2 pound of all black jelly beans. I'm not sharing either.

Itchy at Sam's Club...

I call 'No Fair'.

OK, so there they are. Right in front.

All the bighugegorgeousbrightshinynew flat screen TVs right there in the front of Sam's Club just calling to you, singing to you, pleading with you to pull the trigger with that stimulus check and call that buddy with a pickup truck to come help you bring home your new purchase. The once proud and famous 'free-food-sampler' ladies in the back have never been so lonely.

I've been picturing the day when my Dish HD-DVR and new TV will be sitting in my living room but when, OH WHEN, may that day come? Problem is, I'm quite sure there are more important things to do with that money than buy a new bighugegorgeousbrightshinynew flat screen TV, which makes my standing there staring at those behemoths of entertainment output strictly a guilty pleasure... for now.

I've done some research (as I'm quite prone to), and am inclined to limit myself to a slightly smaller than recommended, but higher-quality set of parameters. Instead of the intentionally-way-too-easy-to-remember rule of 1:4 for sizing your new purchase (and briskly shoving budgetary talk aside) I've reduced that formula to more easily accomodate my budget.

For those who may not have heard this masterpiece of sales science, the 1:4 ratio is simply a way to approximately size your new TV for the room it's to be viewed in. For every 1' of distance from the screen that the viewers will be seated, 4" of TV (diagonal screen size). In the example of a room that people will be seated 10' away from the screen, a 40" TV would be the minimal size 'necessary'.

In the case of my living room, I would normally be about 12' away from the screen, meaning that I 'need' to buy a 48" TV at a minimum. HAH! I consider it budget-wise to buy, say something in the 37" range and spend a pittance of the difference on bean-bag chairs and situate myself 4' closer on the floor. Then it will look enormous.

Still, time marches on and I have to be content with knowing that every day is a day closer to HD and flat screen entertainment nirvana. Until then, I'll just have to itch some more. Right now, I'm off to pay the bills. Calamine to that itch perhaps.

Here's a place for good basic LCD TV info:
http://reviews.cnet.com/tv-buying-guide/?tag=dir