McQ

You know, it was a bit startling to see John Wayne not in a Western. So much so I let out a shriek of horror at the very idea of that and the fact that I was actually watching McQ again.

In 1974's McQ, John Wayne played a no-nonsense cop named Lon McQ with a recently slain partner O'Boyle who had exalted to deity until reality reared its ugly head. Sadly this, the drug trade storyline and chases all pale in comparison as what's lying on top of Duke Wayne's noggin becomes an unwitting co-star, That Toupee. Throughout the movie, Duke and his rug vie for screen time, two old pros. As seen below with graphics...



One of the co-stars was a gun, a 9 mm Ingram with a silencer. That gun was a bad mamma jamma, so much so Duke Wayne took the prototype and a little carrying bag and he hit the streets. Singer James Ingram invented and designed the firearm. Also cool was the car McQ used, a 1973 Brewster Green Trans Am. It sadly got smashed into an accordion near the movie's end. Doggone it.



As for love interests, well, there's a few here, I guess, two women safely characterized as broads, Diana Muldaur and Colleen Dewhurst. Dewhurst had the "fun" role, she was a coke-head, waitress floozy with mental issues. The love scene thankfully didn't exist and after their night of frolic, Wayne was up and atom with his McQ jacket back on before the roosters crowed. McQ had better things to do that "hang out" with his ex-partner's good time gal. He had to get a bead on that junk that was hitting the streets, you know crack, crank, Crystal Meth, Execedrin PM. McQ also had to work with and without the law to get things done, while walking like John Wayne.


Part 2: This is a better than average movie that was a period piece by 1979. I don't think Wayne was too portly, stolid or old for the role, I'm saddened we weren't treated to a McQ 2.

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Black Caesar/Hell Up In Harlem

"You know, if there was one movie that I wish I did, it would have to be Black Caesar...

Steven Spielberg








Black Caesar: Good news I got the chance to two Fred Williamson classics, Black Caesar and Hell Up In Harlem. The first one had Williamson as young Tommy Gibbs. Gibbs got his start shining shoes and of course that dovetailed into him being a mobster. It was Tommy's dream to be a hit-man/mob boss like the rest of cool guys. Keep reaching for the stars!









While the peripheral characters do show Tommy to be more than a human landmine, his nemesis, cop McKinney is where the story becomes even more engrossing. Evil McKinney beat up a young Tommy Gibbs with a billy club back in olden days. Years later Gibbs helped his arch-enemy McKinney meet his maker via a shoeshine kit. Classic stuff.


A Big Big Question: What was a shoeshine kit doing in someone's office, really.




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Hell Up In Harlem- You would have thought Tommy Gibbs was Gonzo Gates after Black Caesar's last reel which featured him bullet-ridden and being beaten by a bunch of childrens. Think again. The former was so popular they did it all, again! Gibbs had to tie up some loose ends in this entry. For this movie Tommy had assembled an even more deadly troop of buds. Guess who else joined? Dad, played by Julius Harris The father/son angle was heart-warming and never more so when the formerly squeamish "Pops" was letting off rounds and killing people like crazy. The big deal here is that Fred Williamson has another enemy here, Di Angelo played by Gerald Gordon. Gordon was also Dr. Nick Bellini on NBC's The Doctors. Also in the mix was turncoat Zack who Tommy had to shoot in his face. Life's tough...






Funny Ending Ever: The last scenes of this classic gave Williamson another occasion to look crazy about the eyes and send his arch-nemesis to Deadtown. This time it was Nick Di Angelo underscored by Fred's corny acting. They are just chatting here. While this isn't politically correct (like Black Caesar and everything else Fred did) this is scene that makes me cry with laughter after repeated viewing.



A clip from my blog's 3rd Anniversary Party...

TV Junk and Horror

It's all getting worse. My TV viewing habits are closing in around me. This is a plea for help...



Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels- Just when you think it couldn't get worse, they put this tragedy on wheels. I've tried to be tolerant at the idea of Bret Michaels leaping out of the '80s to take up TV space where Natalie Merchant videos should be. No more. I'm sick of women carrying on like he's Dick Powell or something. From here he's a washed-up singer with hair courtesy of My Little Pony. It would have almost better if they took a chance on a broken down man like me. Nah, that's just too sad.



Confessions of a Teen Idol- Make that former teen idol. Quite a few of these gennamen haven't been on a young girl's wall since Reagan was in his right mind. Scott Baio (what?) plays the old sage here and will set them on the right path to be annoying in both the past and present tense. And you know what? This show is actually interesting. Unlike the other show above, it's a certain depth to it. I'm just saddened I wasn't asked to join. I didn't tour the country as Li' Jason Elias back in the '20s for nothing!



Trivial Pursuit- I was innocently sending off a care package of hand grenades when I heard a strange voice. It was a familiar whine, like a siren, it went right through my nervous. No cause for alarm, it wasn't no one but Peter Brady and or Christopher Knight. I wish you could have seen my initial horror seeing that face, again. Really? He's actually very good as a TV host.

Added Bonus: A few weeks back Trivial Pursuit hosted Brady Week. Your eyes aren't deceiving you, Tramp isn't there and neither is Maureen McCormick. Around the same time she was promoting her smoking, drinking, cocaining book. I don't know about you, but I can't bear to hear Marcia acting like that.

Post-It Note: Pick up Maureen McCormick's book.


Keyshia Cole-The Way It Is... This is the best worst show ever. It's on what seems like its 15th season. Cole is odd all on her own, her family? Ridiculous. My looking in on Young Keyshia is strictly avuncular in nature, I want to see/hear what the kids are finger popping to. They all tell me Keyshia is where it's at.

The episodes I've seen so far have already emblazoned themselves in my REM sleep. I remember Keyshia giving her jeans away to underprivileged children. I also remember seeing a CD listening party with people pretending that she can actually sing in tune. Enablers.

Part 2: I wrote about her in my journal. Let's take a look.

"I like like Keyshia Cole and I hate her too, hate to like her, like to hate her, I...."

Happy New Year A Few Days Late

<----Pop Culture editors looking on, sharing a laugh, taking the world by storm, keeping it real....



Happy New Year! It's already been a busy year here at the offices. So much so, I've had to step back from my editorial and writing duties. I've found I'm needed on the streets, resuming my career as a pimp and ne'er do well. In my absences, I've elevated two fine folks from "spiritual advisors" to the writing staff. Changes will be seen on the masthead posthaste.







For those who are concerned about the change in direction, there will be none. It's not like I ever did any of this alone, and it's not like these two are inanimate hunks of plastic, rubber, fuzz and string either. I'm pleased with the idea of these two. They're killing machines and their combined IQ is 493.