The College Crowd Digs Me

"...I wanted to be in  on all that goodness going on too." ~ Larry Hankin ~ I like character actors.  I always have.  The ones that make you point your finger at the screen like Spicoli, and say, "I know that dude!"  They are the actors that make TV shows and movies better simply by being in them.  The ones you might not necessarily know by name, but you never forget their face.  Larry Hankin is one of those actors who steal the screen.  And when I see him in a show, I stick around awhile.  Whether playing Old Joe, the junkyard magnet lender in "Breaking Bad" or Mr. Heckles, the downstairs neighbor in "Friends" or a host of other "there he is" appearances.  Larry makes the most with the face time he gets. And I'm aware he's not just a one-trick pony.  He's also a comedian, a writer and a director with an Oscar nomination checked off his bucket-list.  Larry Hankin is like one of those fine spices that ch

7 Favorite  Books  I  Read  In  2017 Every book is a new book if you haven't read it!  And so, let us begin. "The Yard" - Alex Grecian (2012) London, England, circa 1889, one year after Jack the Ripper had most of the city cowering at shadows and unexpected noises.  New murders are popping up and Scotland Yard has decided to hire a young detective to run a new team known as the, “Murder Squad.”  You can hear the clip-clop of horse carriages being pulled through the gas lit streets while reading this one.  Perfect novel for those cold, damp nights. "Carrion Comfort"   --  Dan Simmons (1989) This is a 700 page flibbityfloo.  There are a small number of these creepy people that need to feed on the human mind.  And in the process, they enjoy getting into the heads of others making them do...whatever they feel like making them do.  It's a fresh take on an old idea. An epic horror of flibbityfloo proportions. "Pope Joan"

"There's no one left  that I even want to  imitate." ~ The Jim Carroll Band ~ The Jim Carroll Band made music that was both compelling and relentless and wrapped the noise around poetry that felt so real you could taste it. And Stephen Linsley , the bassist and youngest member of the JCB by plenty...was poppin' the string for the entire ride.  That would be a 7 year, 3 album ride for those taking math.  But it was their eye-opening 1980 debut... "Catholic Boy" ...that expanded the boundaries of truth. "Catholic Boy" reminded us...that street life is extremely messy, time moves quicker than crosswalks, and choices are weighed and made in but moments.  And yet between the seedier shadows and darker reflections...glimmers of chance and strength share a soft breath with beauty. Go get you some. Stephen Linsley Interview -- Oct. 2017 Stephen Linsley Casey Chambers:   I'd like to begin with the lost gem... "City Drops

TOM PETTY Arrived --  October 20, 1950   Took Off - October 2, 2017  R.I.P. The Horse Head chose seven lost gems from everybody's brother... Tom Petty .  I tried not to overthink it...and went with the ones that hit me in the feels...as I remember.  (On a different day, different songs.) "Square One"  -  Tom Petty / "Highway Companion" (2006) "Square one, my slate is clear Rest your head on me, my dear It took a world of trouble, took a world of tears Took a long time... to get back here." "Dogs On The Run"   -  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers / "Southern Accent" (1985) "...some of us are different. It's just something in our blood. There's no need for explanations. We're just dogs on the run." "Change Of Heart"   -  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers / "Long After Dark" (1982) "You never needed me. You only wanted me around." "Swingin'&q

"We were all freaking  out wondering if we were  going to be deported." ~ Brandon Crane ~ Child actors come and child actors go. Some we remember, others...not so much. Still, there are a special few...you just can't forget. As a successful child actor, Brandon Crane appeared in a variety of tv sitcoms from "Full House" to "Step By Step."   But it was his recurring role as Kevin and Paul's chubby goof...Doug Porter in the coming-of-age tv series "The Wonder Years" that garnered him the most attention. However, like many other tv viewers,  I first became a fan of Brandon when he landed the role of Ben Hanscom in the original adaptation of Stephen King's..."It.” Here, he finally got the chance to hold court in a non-comedic role.  Brandon's underrated performance was filled with subtle nuances in both speech and facial expression that appear very much in the moment and wonderfully unforced.  Go back and watch it