Comic strips from all eras; film noir; early television; baseball; boxing; the films of Kevin Smith, British television, music documentaries, and satisfying answers to the questions that try men's souls.
Someone to be Proctor to my Bergman
Jerry Lee Lewis and cats who pump the piano in his style. Rockabilly. Blues. R&B. Country. Novelty. Garage Rock and '60's punk. Girl Groups. Doo Wop. The people I write about are usually the people I am interested in. My advice to all who believe that the major artists, big labels, and corporate radio has let them down? Support independent music.
Among the many movies I like, the following are ones I wholeheartedly recommend to friends. A Thousand Clowns. What's Up, Tiger Lily? The Producers (1968). Take the Money and Run. To Have and To Have Not. Evil Roy Slade. Cool Hand Luke. City Lights. The Champion. Almost Famous - the Director's Cut. A Face in the Crowd. Office Space. My Man Godfrey. Eating Raoul.
Usually I watch a lot of Sportscenter, baseball and movies. However, I am devoted to such classic shows as The Prisoner. The Twilght Zone. News Radio. Get Smart. The Dick Van Dyke Show. Ever since I read an article about the old Mike Connors series Mannix, I've been wondering if that was as good as I remembered. Of current programming, I dig things like My Name is Earl, Pushing Daisies, and Adult Swim - particularly Boondocks, Squidbillies, Robot Chicken, Family Guy and Moral Orel.
(In no particular order.) An Edge in My Voice by Harlan Ellison. Lost Highway by Peter Guralnick. Country - America's Biggest Music by Nick Tosches. On the Road by Jack Kerouack. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. Thurber Carnival by James Thurber. Anything by Ring Lardner. Jim Thompson's early pulp novels. Mystery Train by Greil Marcus. Ladies and Gentlemen: Lenny Bruce by Albert Goldman. Heartland by Mort Sahl. Never Eat my Carp by Steglio Cortez.
Jerry Lee Lewis. Elvis Presley. Lenny Bruce. Mort Sahl. Firesign Theatre. Jimmy Reed. Buster Keaton. Bo Diddley. Chuck Berry. Gene Vincent. Dr. Demento. Bob & Ray. WDET disc jockey the Famous Coachman. Gary Hatch (who tells me that he is the pivotal person in my life). Roy Harper, (who probably is the pivotal person in my life). Gary Pig Gold, who got me started in this business whether I liked it or not. Steve Knopper, who helped me more than any other editor. Johnny Vallis, who insists that being a smart-ass is his way of proving his friendship. The late Tommie Wix, who introduced me to many of the great obscure rockabillies who make my life more joyous. And, all those crazy cow-bell ringing AM-radio disc jockeys of the '50's/'60's and fright wig wearing late-night movie hosts from years gone by. (I wish I could have been one.)