What is it with me and CANADA?!? One week I welcome them back, the next week, they dump me again! If you remember the fantasy sequences on "Ally McBeal," when Ally dumped a guy, they always showed the unlikely fella running for his life before ultimately landing in the dump truck, and it seems that I'm back in the dump truck with the Maple Leaf painted on the side.
What's up with you,Canada? (Oh, by the way, that title refers to an in-joke from ESPN's PTI: PARDON THE INTERRUPTION when their Canadian affiliate, TSN, cut away from the last five minutes of the show and the hosts, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, started saying nasty, but justifiably nasty, things about Canada. TSN subsequently changed its mind and started broadcasting PTI in all its glory. Now every show ends with Tony waving the Maple Leaf and saying, "Good night, Canada!" Now, back to the rant.) Did you hear me, even ONCE, taking a page from 96.3 WDVD morning jock Blaine Fowler's book and calling you
"America,Jr." or "Britain,Jr.?" I DO and DO and DO for you guys, and THIS is the thanks I get?!?
OK, Canada, if THIS doesn't get you back, nothing else will:
STEVE'S PEERLESS PIGSKIN PREDICTIONS
CFL Grey Cup 2013
EDMONTON 17
TORONTO 52
And you can take that to the bank!
Thank you for listening, now PLEASE start reading this blog again!
As for you, my fellow Americans, and the fine folks of Germany,Russia,Poland,Serbia,Indonesia and Holland, keep up the great work and I'll see you back here soon!
Steve
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Detroit Begins A New Chapter: Chapter 9*
Ladies and gentlemen, the Motor City is bankrupt.
I hope things don't get to the point they were when a certain William Howard Cohen (who the late, great New York sportswriter Jimmy Cannon said, changed his name to Howard Cosell and bought a toupee so he could "tell it like it is," but, hey, he made money for ABC!) looked over the third base wall of Yankee Stadium and intoned in stentorian tones, "Ladies and gentlemen, THE BRONX IS BURNING," but while New York's Big Bust and what Detroit is going through, are, in a way, very similar, they are also very different.
Both New York and Detroit are major centers of activity, we are famous for our theatre,our long history in film and television, and our continuing argument with London as to who is truly the world's financial capital,
and Detroit is the home of the Big Three automakers, and the performers who sang the songs that went down in musical history, but that's where we part company.
Love them or hate them, you've gotta admit, New York mayors GET. THINGS. DONE. Kwame Kilpatrick, the esteemed mayor of Detroit? Not so much.
Through good times and bad, New York theater has consistently entertained locals and tourists alike,and New York has benefited from motion picture and television production, and despite a well-publicized headline in the Daily News, (FORD TO CITY...DROP DEAD) and the tragic attacks of September 11th, this city has never been one to back away from a fight and has always managed to land on its feet. But Detroit lives and dies with the automotive industry, which has been faced more than ever by challenges from Britain, Germany, even from Detroit's sister city in Japan, Toyota City!
While the Detroit Historical Society, the Detroit Institute of Art, the Henry Ford Museum, and the Motown Museum may be worth the trip, our museums pull in more visitors per capita, and it goes without saying that they are more accessible and secure.
I almost followed my fellow Ranger fans to Detroit for the 1990 NHL Booster Club Convention, even to this day, I don't remember why I didn't go, even though the hotel was located right near the town's glittering Renaissance Center, which was named for the Motor City's recovery from the downward spiral that resulted from the 1967 race riots. You know what? Maybe it's just as well.
I'm not saying, go to Travelocity, Hotwire, Expedia, or your local travel pro and book your trip to Detroit today because Heaven knows they need the money, neither am I saying, don't EVER go to Detroit, just wait until their latest models come to an auto show near you or see MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL on Broadway,
(Full Disclosure; This reviewer HAS NOT seen MOTOWN yet, but once he knows what it's like in person, so will you.) Patience, as they say, is a virtue, and, in time, Detroit will be the tourist magnet New York is. Now is not that time.
*Chapter 9 is the highest level of municipal bankruptcy. Chapter 11 is the highest level of corporate bankruptcy.
(OBTW, selamat datang kembali, Indonesia! It's so nice to have you back where you belong!)
Get well soon, Detroit! How did you Detroiters like this New Yorker's side of things?Visit the comment box, leave a message on Facebook, or send me a tweet @SEisenpreis
Steve
.
)
I hope things don't get to the point they were when a certain William Howard Cohen (who the late, great New York sportswriter Jimmy Cannon said, changed his name to Howard Cosell and bought a toupee so he could "tell it like it is," but, hey, he made money for ABC!) looked over the third base wall of Yankee Stadium and intoned in stentorian tones, "Ladies and gentlemen, THE BRONX IS BURNING," but while New York's Big Bust and what Detroit is going through, are, in a way, very similar, they are also very different.
Both New York and Detroit are major centers of activity, we are famous for our theatre,our long history in film and television, and our continuing argument with London as to who is truly the world's financial capital,
and Detroit is the home of the Big Three automakers, and the performers who sang the songs that went down in musical history, but that's where we part company.
Love them or hate them, you've gotta admit, New York mayors GET. THINGS. DONE. Kwame Kilpatrick, the esteemed mayor of Detroit? Not so much.
Through good times and bad, New York theater has consistently entertained locals and tourists alike,and New York has benefited from motion picture and television production, and despite a well-publicized headline in the Daily News, (FORD TO CITY...DROP DEAD) and the tragic attacks of September 11th, this city has never been one to back away from a fight and has always managed to land on its feet. But Detroit lives and dies with the automotive industry, which has been faced more than ever by challenges from Britain, Germany, even from Detroit's sister city in Japan, Toyota City!
While the Detroit Historical Society, the Detroit Institute of Art, the Henry Ford Museum, and the Motown Museum may be worth the trip, our museums pull in more visitors per capita, and it goes without saying that they are more accessible and secure.
I almost followed my fellow Ranger fans to Detroit for the 1990 NHL Booster Club Convention, even to this day, I don't remember why I didn't go, even though the hotel was located right near the town's glittering Renaissance Center, which was named for the Motor City's recovery from the downward spiral that resulted from the 1967 race riots. You know what? Maybe it's just as well.
I'm not saying, go to Travelocity, Hotwire, Expedia, or your local travel pro and book your trip to Detroit today because Heaven knows they need the money, neither am I saying, don't EVER go to Detroit, just wait until their latest models come to an auto show near you or see MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL on Broadway,
(Full Disclosure; This reviewer HAS NOT seen MOTOWN yet, but once he knows what it's like in person, so will you.) Patience, as they say, is a virtue, and, in time, Detroit will be the tourist magnet New York is. Now is not that time.
*Chapter 9 is the highest level of municipal bankruptcy. Chapter 11 is the highest level of corporate bankruptcy.
(OBTW, selamat datang kembali, Indonesia! It's so nice to have you back where you belong!)
Get well soon, Detroit! How did you Detroiters like this New Yorker's side of things?Visit the comment box, leave a message on Facebook, or send me a tweet @SEisenpreis
Steve
.
)
Friday, July 19, 2013
Mousekaddedum
In my last blog I reviewed Disney's new Mickey Mouse shorts, but it turns out I didn't review ALL of them. The one that slipped through the cracks was "YODELBERG," a very cute and, of course, very funny flick set in Switzerland wherin our hero, a certain Micky Maus, must surmount every obstacle that otherwise beautiful country throws at him to get to his beloved Minnie. This particular film was obviously inspired by the chase scenes in 1928's "Plane Crazy" and the beautiful graphics of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair (who worked on Disney's Latin American projects, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, and "It's a small world."), but the many comic scenes, too many to mention without spoiling it all, give it its own personality, making it a 'toon truly worth yodeling about.
That's all, folks! (Oops! Wrong studio!)
Steve
That's all, folks! (Oops! Wrong studio!)
Steve
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Steve's Third Movie Review Blog: Extreme Makeover: Mickey Mouse Edition
Fourscore and five years ago this November, Walter Elias Disney of Marcelline,MO brought upon this world a new character conceived in laughter and dedicated to the proposition that even the smallest of little guys can make a big impression. That character was the one, the only M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E,
and he made his debut at the Roxy Theatre, now the Broadway Theatre, in the VERY FIRST SOUND CARTOON, "Steamboat Willie." Since then, he has been a sorcerer's apprentice, a conductor, a ghost buster,the star of five TV shows, and the official greeter at some of the world's best known theme parks,
but lately, he has been accused of being so image-conscious that he forgot how to be funny.
Fortunately,Mickey is funny again, thanks to a new series of shorts, which can be seen on Disney Channel and on disney.com/mickey . These new shorts return Mickey to his roots, while introducing him to a new generation of fans.
NEW YORK WEENIE Our story opens in beautiful Central Park when Mickey tries to play the gentleman and buy Minnie a hot dog, but the rebellious frankfurter has other ideas as he leads Our Hero on a wild dog chase throughout the Big Apple!
CROISSANT DE TRIOMPHE: When your croissant absolutely, positively, has to be there today, count on
Cafe Minnie's number one delivery mouse, but can Mickey and his motor scooter survive the tres tough Paris traffic (and the rude Parisians!) and get the croissants delivered in one fresh piece?
NO SERVICE: Mickey and Donald are ready to treat their sweethearts to a double date at their favorite Boardwalk hangout, but Goofy isn't goofin' around when he looks at our heroes and says, "No shirt (Mickey), no shoes (Donald), NO SERVICE!" How do the boys get out of THIS one? (SPOILER ALERT:
Brace yourself for FULL FRONTAL NUDITY in a DISNEY CARTOON!Fortunately,it's NOTHING like the controversial Rupert parodies in the UK underground comic "Oz.")
TOKYO GO: FINALLY, the closest thing to a Mickey anime as Mouse-san takes on the VERY congested Tokyo subway.
How best to rank these new 'toons? All of them recall the spirit of the Mickey shorts of the late 20's and early 30's when he had a bit of a wacky streak years before Bugs and Woody made their first respective appearances, and as NYC, Paris and Tokyo are key Disney bases of operation, the local scenery is impressively authentic,(TOKYO GO boasts a funny video game-like sequence, recalling the studio's recent well-written,well-animated, well-EVERYTHING hit, "Wreck-It Ralph.") If I had to say one short was THE absolute best of the best, it would have to be NO SERVICE because it pokes gentle fun at what has made Mick and Don the icons they are today.
To borrow a phrase from the late, great Don LaFontaine, IN A WORLD where movies have all but run out of originality, these shorts make the perfect antidote to a bummer summer. (Have you seen the temps these days! They're just...GOOFY!)
See ya real soon!
Steve
CROISSANT DE TRIOMPHE: When your croissant absolutely, positively, has to be there today, count on
Cafe Minnie's number one delivery mouse, but can Mickey and his motor scooter survive the tres tough Paris traffic (and the rude Parisians!) and get the croissants delivered in one fresh piece?
NO SERVICE: Mickey and Donald are ready to treat their sweethearts to a double date at their favorite Boardwalk hangout, but Goofy isn't goofin' around when he looks at our heroes and says, "No shirt (Mickey), no shoes (Donald), NO SERVICE!" How do the boys get out of THIS one? (SPOILER ALERT:
Brace yourself for FULL FRONTAL NUDITY in a DISNEY CARTOON!Fortunately,it's NOTHING like the controversial Rupert parodies in the UK underground comic "Oz.")
TOKYO GO: FINALLY, the closest thing to a Mickey anime as Mouse-san takes on the VERY congested Tokyo subway.
How best to rank these new 'toons? All of them recall the spirit of the Mickey shorts of the late 20's and early 30's when he had a bit of a wacky streak years before Bugs and Woody made their first respective appearances, and as NYC, Paris and Tokyo are key Disney bases of operation, the local scenery is impressively authentic,(TOKYO GO boasts a funny video game-like sequence, recalling the studio's recent well-written,well-animated, well-EVERYTHING hit, "Wreck-It Ralph.") If I had to say one short was THE absolute best of the best, it would have to be NO SERVICE because it pokes gentle fun at what has made Mick and Don the icons they are today.
To borrow a phrase from the late, great Don LaFontaine, IN A WORLD where movies have all but run out of originality, these shorts make the perfect antidote to a bummer summer. (Have you seen the temps these days! They're just...GOOFY!)
See ya real soon!
Steve
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
I Love Summer, But This Is Ridiculous!
Once upon a time, long long ago, OK, December 1992 I asked my old friend Scott Shannon (heard in the New York area on 95-5 'PLJ and nationally on the True Oldies Channel, one of the original VH-1 VJ's, a music analyst for CNN and Entertainment Tonight, and one of the original anchors on the syndicated DISH NATION) if he got my Christmas card, and he replied, in a VERY surprised tone, "Steve, why are you sending Christmas cards? (I was VERY taken aback that he would reply in that fashion to my token of my esteem, but before I got to defend myself he continued.) YOU'RE JEWISH!" I patiently explained that Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn, and Johnny Marks, none of whom could be mistaken for WASPs,wrote some of the greatest Christmas songs of all time.
True, I AM Jewish, and the Driedel Song and Adam Sandler's many Hanukah hymns may be more logical choices for my holiday playlist, but I've always had a soft spot for New York traditions such as the Christmas tree in Rock Center,the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Lincoln Center's Winter's Eve street fair,and the Knicks' Christmas game, be it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without all that great music. Take it away and you're left with blistering cold temperatures, blizzards,long nights,putting on everything you own, especially your GLOVES, and (How fun is this?!?) the occasional bout with depression.(At least you've got the Knicks and the Rangers,but lately, they haven't been playing like the world champions I know they can be.) That's why I can't wait for summer, a chance to put all that cumbersome clothing away and enjoy the sunshine. BUT summer is not without ITS occasional drawbacks, and they are those days when the temp hits the 90's, but the Real Feel index hits the 100's, and no matter how much you hate winter, (I spent a few winters in Australia, but that's a topic for another time.)
you keep feeling nostalgic for those visits to Macy*s when you sat on the Big Guy's lap and gave him your wish list. That's why ever since 1977 (Worst. Summer. Ever. "The Bronx Is Burning,"the ConEd blackout, Bella Abzug trying to be New York's first woman mayor and falling right on her hat, New York trying to rebound from the worst fiscal crisis in its history, and about the only entertainment could be found from the red hot Yankees.) and one TV station showed images of frustrated New Yorkers scraping snow off their cars as Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" played merrily away I have relied on Christmas music to keep cool.
I know, people may call the men in the white suits to take you away to the funny farm, but here is my ideal playlist to help those of you in hot climates deal with excessive heat:
ANYTHING BY TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA (does not apply to "Beethoven's Last Night" album or any track on "Night Castle" that ISN'T "Nutrocker," a fresh, jazz-influenced take on the oft-covered rock version of Tschaikovskt\y's march from the Nutcracker Suite, although "The Silent Nutcracker," an acoustic medley of the aforementioned march, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and "Silent Night" is still their best take on the classic)
MARIAH CAREY Medley of "Brahms' Lullaby" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
JACKSON 5 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
BUCK OWENS or BRAD PAISLEY "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy"
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN or THE RONETTES "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
PERCY FAITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA "Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly"
BRENDA LEE "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
JESSICA SIMPSON AND NICK LACHEY "Baby It's Cold Outside"
NAT KING COLE "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire"
BOB RIVERS "Who Put the Stump" (Sung to the tune of "Who Put The Bomp In The Bomp-Bomp-Bomp-Bomp-Bomp-Bomp" and not for kids or the faint of heart!)
THE "I LOVE LUCY" CAST "Jingle Bells"
BING CROSBY "White Christmas"
WILLIE NELSON "Pretty Paper"
JIM CROCE "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way"
BILLY JOEL "She's Right On Time"
ADAM SANDLER the aforementioned Chanukah Song trilogy, and NEIL DIAMOND's cover ain't too shabby either!
GARTH BROOKS has a beautiful "Silent Night" during which he talks about the famous Christmas Truce soccer (football/futbol) match.
Oh,by the way, here's an early present for you Twitterers: Follow me @SEisenpreis. The account is new and up and ready for your questions and comments. (If you would like to talk about the blog, use #StevesBlog, and if you want to make a suggestion about said blog, use #ItsMyBlogToo.) You can also find me on Facebook and, of course, you can add me to your circle on good old Google+, but keep it PG or PG-13 if you must, or The Big Guy (or Hannukah Harry for that matter) will put you on the naughty list!
Merry Early Christmas!
Santa Steve
True, I AM Jewish, and the Driedel Song and Adam Sandler's many Hanukah hymns may be more logical choices for my holiday playlist, but I've always had a soft spot for New York traditions such as the Christmas tree in Rock Center,the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Lincoln Center's Winter's Eve street fair,and the Knicks' Christmas game, be it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without all that great music. Take it away and you're left with blistering cold temperatures, blizzards,long nights,putting on everything you own, especially your GLOVES, and (How fun is this?!?) the occasional bout with depression.(At least you've got the Knicks and the Rangers,but lately, they haven't been playing like the world champions I know they can be.) That's why I can't wait for summer, a chance to put all that cumbersome clothing away and enjoy the sunshine. BUT summer is not without ITS occasional drawbacks, and they are those days when the temp hits the 90's, but the Real Feel index hits the 100's, and no matter how much you hate winter, (I spent a few winters in Australia, but that's a topic for another time.)
you keep feeling nostalgic for those visits to Macy*s when you sat on the Big Guy's lap and gave him your wish list. That's why ever since 1977 (Worst. Summer. Ever. "The Bronx Is Burning,"the ConEd blackout, Bella Abzug trying to be New York's first woman mayor and falling right on her hat, New York trying to rebound from the worst fiscal crisis in its history, and about the only entertainment could be found from the red hot Yankees.) and one TV station showed images of frustrated New Yorkers scraping snow off their cars as Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" played merrily away I have relied on Christmas music to keep cool.
I know, people may call the men in the white suits to take you away to the funny farm, but here is my ideal playlist to help those of you in hot climates deal with excessive heat:
ANYTHING BY TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA (does not apply to "Beethoven's Last Night" album or any track on "Night Castle" that ISN'T "Nutrocker," a fresh, jazz-influenced take on the oft-covered rock version of Tschaikovskt\y's march from the Nutcracker Suite, although "The Silent Nutcracker," an acoustic medley of the aforementioned march, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and "Silent Night" is still their best take on the classic)
MARIAH CAREY Medley of "Brahms' Lullaby" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
JACKSON 5 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
BUCK OWENS or BRAD PAISLEY "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy"
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN or THE RONETTES "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
PERCY FAITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA "Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly"
BRENDA LEE "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
JESSICA SIMPSON AND NICK LACHEY "Baby It's Cold Outside"
NAT KING COLE "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire"
BOB RIVERS "Who Put the Stump" (Sung to the tune of "Who Put The Bomp In The Bomp-Bomp-Bomp-Bomp-Bomp-Bomp" and not for kids or the faint of heart!)
THE "I LOVE LUCY" CAST "Jingle Bells"
BING CROSBY "White Christmas"
WILLIE NELSON "Pretty Paper"
JIM CROCE "It Doesn't Have To Be That Way"
BILLY JOEL "She's Right On Time"
ADAM SANDLER the aforementioned Chanukah Song trilogy, and NEIL DIAMOND's cover ain't too shabby either!
GARTH BROOKS has a beautiful "Silent Night" during which he talks about the famous Christmas Truce soccer (football/futbol) match.
Oh,by the way, here's an early present for you Twitterers: Follow me @SEisenpreis. The account is new and up and ready for your questions and comments. (If you would like to talk about the blog, use #StevesBlog, and if you want to make a suggestion about said blog, use #ItsMyBlogToo.) You can also find me on Facebook and, of course, you can add me to your circle on good old Google+, but keep it PG or PG-13 if you must, or The Big Guy (or Hannukah Harry for that matter) will put you on the naughty list!
Merry Early Christmas!
Santa Steve
Sunday, July 14, 2013
O, Yeah, Canada!
Welcome back, Canada!
I was worried you hosers would never come back, eh?
Keep enjoying this fine blog, and if you ever swing by the Big Apple, look me up and we'll split a box of Timbits at Horton's!
Bye, Buckaroos!
Steve
I was worried you hosers would never come back, eh?
Keep enjoying this fine blog, and if you ever swing by the Big Apple, look me up and we'll split a box of Timbits at Horton's!
Bye, Buckaroos!
Steve
The New Kids On The Block (or should I say, the New Kids FROM the Bloc)
Witamy, Polska! (Welcome, Poland!)
Dobrodosli, Srbija! (Welcome, Serbia!)
Welcome to Steve's Blog! I know there are other blogs on the net, but I just thank you for stopping by!
Also, thank you to The Great Gretchen Muller from the Rangers front office for that nice letter.Without you, there's no Blog! (Actually, technically, by "you" I mean "all of you" and there's no Steve's Blog without Steve, but you get the idea!)
Bye Buckaroos!
Steve
Dobrodosli, Srbija! (Welcome, Serbia!)
Welcome to Steve's Blog! I know there are other blogs on the net, but I just thank you for stopping by!
Also, thank you to The Great Gretchen Muller from the Rangers front office for that nice letter.Without you, there's no Blog! (Actually, technically, by "you" I mean "all of you" and there's no Steve's Blog without Steve, but you get the idea!)
Bye Buckaroos!
Steve
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