Today is Kelsi Ballerini’s birthday. She was born in 1993 and this song, Peter Pan, is one of my all-time favorite songs.  When I first heard it, I thought it epitomized my son—never settling down, never getting serious about a girl and a future.  And then he met my future daughter-in-law…and all that changed.

The smile, the charm, the words, the spark
Everything, you had it
I guess I had a naive heart, ’cause boy, I let you have it
You said I was your only
Never thought you’d leave me lonely

[Pre-Chorus]
You’re just a lost boy, with your head up in the clouds
You’re just a lost boy, never keep your feet on the ground

[Chorus]
Always gonna fly away
Just because you know you can
Never gonna learn there’s no such place
As Neverland, you don’t understand
You’ll never grow up
You’re never gonna be a man
Peter Pan

[Verse 2]
Deep down, I knew that you were too good to be true
But every piece and part of me wanted to believe in you
Now it’s happily ever never
I guess now I know better

[Pre-Chorus]
You’re just a lost boy, with your head up in the clouds
You’re just a lost boy, never keep your feet on the ground

[Chorus]
Always gonna fly away
Just because you know you can
Never gonna learn there’s no such place
As Neverland, you don’t understand
You’ll never grow up
You’re never gonna be a man
Peter Pan
Oh, whoa, mm

[Bridge]
You’re just a lost boy, yeah, I know who you are
And you don’t know what you lost, boy
Too busy chasin’ stars

[Chorus]
And you’re always gonna fly away
Just because you know you can
Never gonna learn there’s no such place
As Neverland, you don’t understand
You’ll never grow up (Oh, you’ll never grow up)
You’re never gonna be a man
You’re never grow up (Grow up)
Yeah, you’re never gonna be a man
Peter Pan
Never gonna be a man

Sudoku puzzles are one of my all time favorite puzzles!! Despite consisting of numbers, there is no math involved. As the illustration above indicates, the numbers 1-9 must appear in each row and column and 9-block square without repeating any number in those rows, columns and squares.

Beginner

Medium

Hard

ENJOY!

Today would have been Yvonne De Carlo’s birthday (born in 1922 and passed away January 8, 2007.  Although she was famous for playing Lily Munster, I would definitely have trouble picking her out without all that make-up.  She was quite lovely!

I found this article on Mental Floss detailing things we might not know about The Munsters:

From Mental Floss:

The Munsters premiered on September 24, 1964,and was an immediate ratings success. The wacky antics of childlike patriarch Herman and his unusual (but not really scary) family originally ran for two seasons (70 episodes), but has remained on the air in some form ever since in syndication. Here are some behind-the-scenes facts about the goings-on at 1313 Mockingbird Lane.

1. THE SHOW WAS CREATED BY THE SAME TEAM BEHIND LEAVE IT TO BEAVER.

Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher’s credo while producing and writing for the classic family sitcom Leave it to Beaver was “write what you know.” Between them they had six children and they based a lot of their plots on their own home lives. They used this same philosophy when they created a sitcom about a suburban blue-collar family that just happened to be comprised of monsters. They didn’t want children to be frightened of the characters (as they might be when watching Frankenstein or Dracula during the Saturday afternoon “Creature Feature”), so they made Herman a typical working dad who carried a lunch box to work every day and who imparted homespun wisdom to his young son. The mother was caring and nurturing, even if she did serve rolled hyena foot roast for dinner, and an aging grandparent (who had a laboratory in the dungeon) lived with the family. All in all, a nice slice of down-home Americana.

2. THE CHOICE OF MONSTER CHARACTERS WAS STRICTLY INTENTIONAL (AND ROYALTY-FREE).

Universal Studios owned Universal Television, which owned The Munsters. Universal Studios also owned the copyrights to most of the classic monsters, including Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein’s monster. The studio had been running their old classic horror films on television since the 1950s and found that there was still an impressive audience for these decades-old monster movies. When Connelly and Mosher pitched their series idea, CBS executives knew that they had one advantage that ABC lacked with The Addams Family: the ability to use the Universal monster characters. The Munsters regularly topped The Addams Family in the ratings, mainly because of the instant identifiability of (and built-in fan base for) Dracula, Frankenstein’s bride, et al.

3. HERMAN AND GRANDPA HAD THEIR COMEDY TIMING DOWN PAT BEFORE THE SHOW BEGAN.

Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis played so well off one another because they’d had a couple years of practice. They’d co-starred as Officers Francis Muldoon and Leo Schnauser on the hit sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? from 1961 until 1963. The two remained close friends long after The Munsters was cancelled.

4. “LILY” WAS ORIGINALLY “PHOEBE.”

She was also played by a different actress. In the unaired pilot, Mrs. Munster was played by Joan Marshall. But when the show was picked up as a series, CBS brass worried that Marshall’s look and onscreen demeanor were too similar to Carolyn Jones’ portrayal of Morticia Addams on rival network ABC. The producers were asked to recast the role, and along with a new actress came a new name for the character.

5. THE NEW “LILY” WASN’T EXACTLY WELCOMED BY HER CO-STARS AT FIRST.

Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis were not pleased when they heard that Yvonne De Carlo had been hired to replace Joan Marshall. They’d never met the film actress, but they were intimidated by her reputation as a Hollywood glamour queen. “She was a bona fide movie star,” Al Lewis recounted in a 2003 interview for A&E’s Biography, “and we didn’t think she would fit in with our brand of comedy. We were wrong.”

6. THEIR ONSCREEN CHEMISTRY WAS GREAT, BUT ALL WAS NOT ROSY BEHIND THE SCENES.

De Carlo’s comedic timing was great and she fit in fine while the cameras were rolling, but in between scenes she kept mainly to herself in her trailer. She often held up production while having minute adjustments done to her hair (she went through five different hairdressers during the show’s two-year run), makeup, and nails, which aggravated the cast and crew.

7. EDDIE WAS ALSO RECAST AFTER THE PILOT.

Nate “Happy” Derman played wolf-boy Eddie Munster in the pilot, but his growling, clawing characterization was a little too lycanthropic for the network’s taste. He was replaced by Butch Patrick, who played Eddie more like a pointy-eared version of Beaver Cleaver.

8. MARILYN WAS PLAYED BY TWO DIFFERENT ACTRESSES.

But in this case it was the actress’s decision, not the producers’: New York-based Beverley Owen played Marilyn for the first 13 episodes, but she was desperately unhappy working in California and missed her fiance, who was back on the east coast. Gwynne and Lewis intervened on her behalf and talked to the producers to get her released from her contract. She went home, got married, and eventually got a role on the soap opera Another World, which was filmed in New York.

9. PAT PRIEST GOT THE ROLE IN PART BECAUSE OF HER SIZE.

Pat Priest, the daughter of Treasurer of the United States Ivy Baker Priest, was not only blonde (brunette Owen had worn a wig as Marilyn), she was also the same height and had almost the exact same measurements as Owen. Which meant that all of the existing “Marilyn” costumes and accessories fit her perfectly, so there would be no need to spend money on a replacement wardrobe once she was hired.

10. HERMAN’S COSTUME WAS A PERSONAL TORTURE CHAMBER FOR FRED GWYNNE.

Even though Gwynne would eventually reminisce that Herman was one of his favorite characters, the time he spent on The Munsters set was often fairly miserable, thanks to the various devices necessary to transform him into the lovable Frankenstein monster. On his feet he wore asphalt paver’s boots with four-inch soles, and his thighs, arms, and torso were covered in 40 pounds of foam rubber padding. He contended with back pain daily caused by the weight of the suit and inflexibility of the shoes. His head was fitted with a foam latex piece to flatten the top of his head and then he had to endure two hours in the makeup chair. He perspired freely under the heavy costume and hot studio lights and lost 10 pounds in one month despite consuming gallons of lemonade between takes. The producers eventually rented a compressed air tank and would poke the nozzle inside Gwynne’s collar to blow cool air on him.

11. THE COSTUME HAD ONE BENEFIT: IT EXCUSED GWYNNE FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCES.

As The Munsters gained popularity, its stars received more and more requests to appear at various functions. The producers, of course, sent the actors out as often as possible since such appearances not only promoted the show, they also propelled the sales of the various Munsters merchandise that saturated the market at the time. Only Fred Gwynne was able to relax on his days off (for the most part), since the time and expense required to get him into character outweighed the publicity value of cutting ribbons at supermarket openings. One of the rare times he played Herman in public was alongside Al Lewis in the 1964 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Gwynne confessed to TV Guide that he’d been taking slugs from a bottle of whiskey the entire time, because he “had to get bombed so I could say ‘hello’ to the little kiddies for 40 blocks.”

12. THE MUNSTER KOACH WAS BUILT BY THE SAME COMPANY THAT CREATED THE BATMOBILE.

Hollywood custom car builder George Barris used three Model T Ford bodies to construct the 18-foot-long Munster-mobile. The brass radiator and fenders were hand formed and the velvet upholstery was “blood red.” It took 21 days to complete at a total cost of $18,000.

SOURCE: MENTAL FLOSS

Today would have been Michael Jackson’s birthday (born in 1958 and passed away June 25, 2009). I liked a lot of his music but Thriller is a unique and memorable song for me.

[Verse 1]
It’s close to midnight
And something evil’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight
You see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream
But terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze
As horror looks you right between the eyes
You’re paralyzed

[Chorus]
‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one’s gonna save you
From the beast about to strike
You know it’s thriller, thriller night
You’re fighting for your life inside a killer
Thriller tonight, yeah
Ooh

[Verse 2]
You hear the door slam
And realize there’s nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand
And wonder if you’ll ever see the sun
You close your eyes
And hope that this is just imagination (Girl)
But all the while
You hear a creature creepin’ up behind
You’re out of time

[Chorus]
‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
There ain’t no second chance
Against the thing with forty eyes, girl
Thriller (Ooh), thriller night
You’re fighting for your life
Inside a killer, thriller tonight

[Bridge]
Night creatures call
And the dead start to walk in their masquerade
There’s no escaping the jaws of the alien this time
(They’re open wide)
This is the end of your life, ooh

[Verse 3]
They’re out to get you
There’s demons closing in on every side (Ooh)
They will possess you
Unless you change that number on your dial
Now is the time
For you and I to cuddle close together, yeah
All through the night
I’ll save you from the terror on the screen
I’ll make you see

[Chorus]
That this is thriller, thriller night
‘Cause I can thrill you more
Than any ghoul would ever dare try
Thriller (Ooh), thriller night
So let me hold you tight
And share a killer, thriller, chiller
Thriller, here tonight
‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more
Than any ghoul would ever dare try
Thriller (Ooh), thriller night
So let me hold you tight
And share a killer, thriller (Ow)

[Outro: Vincent Price & Michael Jackson]
I’m gonna thrill you tonight
Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y’all’s neighborhood (I’m gonna thrill you tonight)
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse’s shell
I’m gonna thrill you tonight
Thriller, ooh, babe (Thriller)
I’m gonna thrill you tonight (Thriller night)
Thriller, oh, darling (Oh, baby)
I’m gonna thrill you tonight (Thriller)
Ooh, babe (Thriller night)
I’m gonna thrill you tonight (Thriller)
Oh, darling (Oh, baby)
Thriller night, babe (Thriller night, babe)
Ooh
The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years (Thriller night, thriller)
And grisly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver (I’m gonna thrill you tonight)
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the thriller

Happy Birthday Michael!

Today is Shelley Long’s birthday (born in 1949) and this is one of my favorite movies: Troop Beverly Hills.  I found this article on the Mental Floss website.

From: mentalfloss.com:

1. THE FILM WAS PARTLY BASED ON THE LIFE OF ITS PRODUCER.

Ava Ostern Fries, wife of veteran producer Charles W. Fries, became the Brownie leader of her seven-year-old daughter’s Beverly Hills troop. When it rained on their first camping trip, they really went to the Beverly Hills Hotel, where they roasted marshmallows in front of the fireplaces. After her stories became a hit at dinner parties, Ava was implored to write her stories down.

2. DISNEY WANTED BETTE MIDLER TO PLAY PHYLLIS.

Ava Ostern Fries turned down Disney’s offer to make her movie because they wanted Bette Midler for the lead, and Fries didn’t think she was right for it.

3. CARLA GUGINO LIED ABOUT HER AGE IN ORDER TO PLAY CHICA.

Carla Gugino was 16 years old when she auditioned for Troop Beverly Hills. She lied and said she was 14. She finally admitted the truth to director Jeff Kanew three weeks into production, knowing it was too late for her role to be recast. “I thought for sure he was gonna be like, ‘No big deal,'” Gugino recounted. “But he was like, ‘Gasp! I would’ve never hired you if I knew you were 16.'”

The film was a turning point for Gugino: “I got emancipated that year, so I was a legal adult,” Gugino told The A.V. Club. “So I didn’t have to have a chaperone on set, and it was the first time that I made enough money that I could say, ‘I’m going to fully support myself as an actor.’ So that was the moment I really felt like a real actor.”

4. IT WAS TORI SPELLING’S FIRST FILM ROLE.

Tori Spelling, who played Jamie in the film, had appeared in a handful of television series, including Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. One year after Troop Beverly Hills was released, she was cast as Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210.

5. IT WAS THE FIRST FILM IN 30 YEARS TO SHOOT INSIDE BEVERLY HILLS CITY HALL.

Filming inside of Beverly Hills City Hall had been forbidden for 30 years. Until this movie.

6. “COOKIE TIME” ISN’T WHERE IT USED TO BE.

The Giorgio boutique at 295 North Rodeo Drive is now a Louis Vuitton storefront.

7. THE WRITER OF “COOKIE TIME” MADE A CAMEO.

Actress/songwriter Hilary Shepard was the sales associate who sold Phyllis a dress missing a bead.

8. THE TITLE SEQUENCE WAS MADE BY THE CREATOR OF REN & STIMPY.

Creator John Kricfalusi said working on Troop Beverly Hills was a big opportunity. “It’s the first time I ever got a chance to animate and design a sexy girl,” he said. “It was completely taboo to draw women who were good looking because it would set a bad example for young girls.”

Joining Kricfalusi were Jon McClenahan (later an animator on Animaniacs), Jim Smith (who later worked with Kricfalusi on Ren & Stimpy), Mike Kazaleh (Camp Candy, The Simpsons), Kent Butterworth (The Smurfs, He-Man), and Eric Stefani (character layout artist for The Simpsons, co-founder of No Doubt, and brother of Gwen Stefani).

9. THERE ARE CONTINUITY ERRORS IN THE TITLE SEQUENCE.

At around the 2:15 mark, a troop member simply disappears with no explanation. Some of the actors’ names also didn’t fully appear on movie screens, because Kricfalusi placed them too close to the edges. “If [the studio] noticed, they didn’t care,” opening title supervisor Bill Kroyer said. “That’s a job that I hardly remember getting notes on. That’s the strangest thing. That whole production, it was rushed to get it done, and they really liked the look of the art. It’s all hand-inked and everything—it looks great. I think they were just so excited about that so the little things about the staging or composition, they just didn’t mention it.”

10. THERE WAS A 77 SUNSET STRIP EASTER EGG.

Edd Byrnes (who played Ross Coleman) appeared on the Swiss army knife’s comb on purpose. Byrnes portrayed Kookie in the detective drama 77 Sunset Strip (1958-1964), a character who combed his hair so often a novelty song called “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” was written.

11. THE GIRL SCOUTS REFUSED TO ENDORSE THE PICTURE.

They withheld approval because they didn’t like the way some Scouts were portrayed in the script.

12. IT WAS VELDA’S LAST FILM ROLE.

Betty Thomas retired from acting following Troop Beverly Hills to focus on directing for film and television. Among her more than two dozen credits are Private Parts, Doctor Dolittle, I Spy, and The Brady Bunch Movie (featuring Shelley Long).

13. JENNY LEWIS BECAME A ROCK STAR.

Jenny Lewis, who played Hannah, co-founded the band Rilo Kiley along with fellow child actor Blake Sennett (Salute Your Shorts, Boy Meets World) and later became a solo musician. In 2015, she acknowledged Troop Beverly Hills in her music video for “She’s Not Me.”

14. LEWIS KEPT ONE ITEM FROM THE SET.

“I have the hat that Kellie Martin’s character [Emily Coleman] wore,” Lewis claimed. “It’s a little white hat with a pink flower, but I don’t know why I still have it.”

15. PEOPLE KEEP MIXING HANNAH UP WITH TIFFANY.

Lewis said that people still confuse her with Emily Schulman, who played Tiffany Honigman in the movie (and Harriet Brindle on Small Wonder). “My entire life growing up, everyone thought I was this girl who was on Small Wonder, Emily Schulman,” Lewis told Rolling Stone Australia. “Not the case. And then I put out this video (“She’s Not Me”) and someone on Twitter was like, ‘Oh, were you on Small Wonder?’ Oh, drat! Still happening!”

SOURCE: MENTALFLOSS.COM

Today is Belinda Carlisle’s birthday (born in 1958) and this is my favorite song of hers: Mad About You.

Happy Birthday Belinda!

Today would have been David Crosby’s birthday. He was born in 1941 and died January 18, 2023. This is one of my favorite songs: The Southern Cross.

Verse 1

Got out of town on a boat, going to Southern islands
Sailing a reach before a following sea
She was making for the trades on the outside
And the downhill run to Papeete
Off the wind on this heading lie, the Marquesas
We got eighty feet of the waterline
Nicely making way
In a noisy bar in Avalon, I tried to call you
But on a midnight watch I realized
Why twice you ran away

Pre-Chorus

(I think about)
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices calling
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten (I’ve been around the world)

Chorus

I have been around the world (Looking)
Looking for that woman-girl
(And I know she knows)
Who knows love can endure
And you know it will

Verse 2

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
‘Cause the truth you might be running from is so small
But it’s as big as the promise
The promise of a coming day
So I’m sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a-dying
And my love is an anchor tied to you
Tied with a silver chain
I have my ship
And all her flags are a-flying
She is all that I have left
And music is her name

Pre-Chorus

(I think about)
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices calling
What heaven brought you and me
Cannot be forgotten (I’ve been around the world)

Chorus

I have been around the world (Looking)
Looking for that woman-girl
Who knows love can endure
And you know it will
And you know it will
(Yes)

Verse 3

So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail
It was the easiest thing to do
You will survive being bested
Somebody fine
Will come along, make me forget about loving you
In the Southern Cross

Today is Steve Martin’s birthday (born in 1945) and he is one of my favorite comedians.  Discoverwalks.com had this article about 15 facts about Steve.

From Discoverwalks.com:

Steve Martin was born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas

Steve Martin, born on August 14, 1945, in Waco, Texas, emerged as a comedic force with a career that would redefine the landscape of humor. Raised in a working-class family, Martin’s early years laid the foundation for his journey into entertainment. His birthplace, Waco, Texas, provided the backdrop for the upbringing of a young artist destined for greatness. Little did the world know that this August-born Texan would become a comedy icon, leaving an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.

He started as a writer of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Embarking on his comedic odyssey, Steve Martin found an early niche as a writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” This behind-the-scenes role not only honed his craft but also marked the genesis of his ascent in the entertainment industry. The show, known for its irreverent and boundary-pushing humor, served as a fertile ground for Martin’s comedic genius to blossom. As he crafted jokes and skits for the show, little did audiences anticipate the uproarious laughter that would soon emanate from the man who was laying the groundwork for a revolutionary approach to comedy.

He rose to fame in the 1970s

In the dynamic landscape of 1970s comedy, Steve Martin emerged as a luminary with his wild and crazy stand-up routines. His performances, characterized by absurdity and unpredictability, captivated audiences and set him apart from his contemporaries. Martin’s ability to blend physical comedy with sharp wit created a comedic alchemy that resonated with the cultural zeitgeist. As laughter echoed in venues across the nation, Steve Martin solidified his status as a comedic trailblazer, paving the way for a new era in stand-up.

Steve was part of the Grammy-Winning Masterpiece A Wild and Crazy Guy

A Wild and Crazy Guy, a Grammy Award-winning comedy album, stands as a testament to Steve Martin’s comedic brilliance. Released in 1978, the album showcased Martin’s diverse talents, featuring not only his iconic stand-up routines but also musical performances.

The titular track, A Wild and Crazy Guy, became a catchphrase synonymous with Martin’s comedic persona. The album’s success catapulted him into the mainstream, earning accolades for his innovative and daring approach to comedy.

Steve was showcased at the Saturday Night Live and the Comedy Stage

Steve Martin’s impact on the comedy landscape reached new heights as he hosted “Saturday Night Live” multiple times in the show’s early years. His appearances on the iconic sketch comedy show became legendary, solidifying Martin as a master of live performance. His charismatic presence, coupled with impeccable timing, made each hosting stint a memorable event. Saturday Night Live became a platform where Martin’s comedic genius seamlessly blended with the irreverent spirit of the show, creating moments that are etched into the annals of comedic history. These early years on “SNL” not only showcased Martin’s versatility but also marked a pivotal chapter in the evolution of American comedy.

Steve Martin Stared in The Jerk and Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Steve Martin’s comedic brilliance extended to the silver screen with iconic performances in films like The Jerk and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” “The Jerk,” released in 1979, marked Martin’s debut as a film lead and quickly became a cult classic. His portrayal of the endearing and hapless Navin Johnson showcased his versatility and solidified his status as a film comedy icon. Planes, Trains and Automobiles, a 1987 comedy-drama, further underscored Martin’s ability to seamlessly blend humor with heart, earning acclaim for his memorable chemistry with John Candy.

Steve Martin is an accomplished Banjo Player and Musician

Beyond the realm of comedy, Steve Martin’s artistic talents extend to the realm of music. A skilled banjo player and musician, Martin has showcased his musical prowess in various capacities. His passion for the banjo has led to collaborations with renowned musicians, demonstrating a depth of talent beyond the comedic stage. Martin’s foray into the world of bluegrass music has garnered him respect and admiration, proving that his creative repertoire knows no bounds.

Through the show The Pink Panther, he won an Academy Award

In 2004, Steve Martin achieved an Oscar triumph by winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for “The Pink Panther.” His foray into the realm of animated filmmaking showcased yet another facet of his artistic versatility. The recognition from the Academy underscored Martin’s ability to excel not only in front of the camera but also as a creative force behind the scenes.

Steve Martin hosted the Academy Awards

Steve Martin’s wit and charm made him a natural choice to host the Academy Awards, a role he undertook with aplomb. Hosting the Oscars three times in the 2000s, Martin brought his signature humor to the prestigious event, leaving audiences in stitches while navigating the delicate balance required for such a high-profile occasion. His hosting gigs added a touch of levity to the glamour of Hollywood’s most celebrated night, making him a beloved figure on the Oscars stage.

He received an Honorary Academy Award in 2010

In 2010, Steve Martin received an Honorary Academy Award, a fitting tribute to his exceptional contributions to the film industry. This prestigious honor recognized Martin not only for his comedic prowess but also for his enduring impact as a multifaceted artist. The award acknowledged a career marked by innovation, excellence, and a dedication to the craft that transcends the boundaries of entertainment. Steve Martin’s legacy in film, as both a performer and a creative force, stands as a testament to his enduring influence in the cinematic landscape.

Steve is a Literary Legacy

Steve Martin’s literary prowess shines through his novels, including “Shopgirl” and “An Object of Beauty.” Released in 2000, “Shopgirl” is a poignant exploration of modern relationships, while “An Object of Beauty” (2010) takes readers into the vibrant art scene of New York City. Martin’s foray into writing showcases a nuanced understanding of human experiences and a literary voice that complements his comedic brilliance.

Steve is an Artistic Connoisseur

Beyond the realms of comedy and literature, Steve Martin is a distinguished art collector and enthusiast. His passion for the visual arts extends to a keen eye for collecting, contributing to the cultural conversation surrounding fine art. Martin’s involvement in the art world reflects a multifaceted artistic sensibility, emphasizing the breadth of his creative interests and his engagement with diverse forms of expression.

He played a Pivotal Role in Disneyland’s Magic Shop

Steve Martin’s influence extends even to the enchanting world of Disneyland. Playing a pivotal role in the development of Disneyland‘s “Magic Shop,” Martin brought his comedic and magical touch to the theme park experience. This contribution showcases his ability to infuse entertainment into unexpected places, leaving an enduring mark on the magical and imaginative atmosphere of Disneyland.

Steve Martin won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2005

In 2005, the Kennedy Center bestowed upon Steve Martin the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This accolade recognizes individuals who have had a profound impact on American society in ways similar to the great 19th-century humorist Mark Twain. Martin’s humor, characterized by wit and intelligence, earned him this esteemed honor, solidifying his place among the comedic legends who have left an indelible mark on the fabric of American culture.

He did a Dynamic Duo Comedy Tour titled An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life

Teaming up with fellow comedian Martin Short, Steve Martin embarked on a hilarious collaboration with the comedy tour titled “An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.” This dynamic duo brought their comedic chemistry to stages across the country, delivering an unforgettable experience for audiences. The tour not only showcased their individual comedic brilliance but also demonstrated the magic that unfolds when two comedic maestros come together, creating an evening that lives on in the memories of those fortunate enough to attend.

In the finale of this exploration into the world of Steve Martin, it becomes abundantly clear that his impact on comedy is not merely a collection of punchlines but a rich tapestry woven with versatility and genius. As we bid farewell to these 15 fascinating facts, we find ourselves standing in awe of a comedic legend whose influence extends far beyond the stage and screen.

Steve Martin’s legacy is not just about laughter; it’s about innovation, fearlessness, and an unyielding dedication to his craft. His ability to navigate the delicate balance between humor and intellect has made him a revered figure, inspiring generations of comedians to come. So here’s to Steve Martin, the maestro of mirth, whose comedic brilliance continues to resonate, proving that a good laugh is not just a momentary escape but a timeless treasure in the grand narrative of life.

SOURCE: DISCOVERWALKS.COM

Today s Lucille Ball’s birthday.  She was born August 6^th, 1911 and passed away April 26^th, 1989 and in between those years, she made us laugh!  I found this article on yahoo.com about some surprising facts we might not have known about this wonderful redhead comedienne.

From yahoo.com:

The one, the only Lucille Ball. Groundbreaking, fearless, timeless, supremely talented… and magical. We salute her today in honor of her birthday, Aug. 6 1911, with a bevy of facts you probably didn’t know about the beloved “I Love Lucy” star. From real-life antics on the set of her iconic sitcom (that grape stomping scene turned into a wrestling match) to superstitions (keep away all pictures of birds!) to a long-kept secret (Lucy had no eyebrows — really!), we go through it all. So sit back and celebrate the icon known as Lucille Ball with this deep-dive into her life.

• The grape stomping scene turned into a real wrestling match     

“I got into the vat with one, and she had been told that we would have a fight,” Lucy said on “The Dick Cavett Show.” She continued, “I slipped and, in slipping, I hit her accidentally and she took offense, until she hauled off and let me have it. Now this was supposed to happen — that she got right.” But when she hit Lucy, it took the wind out of her. “She had been told that we were to stay down for a while, give me a chance to get my legs way up, so that they’d show in the camera, then up would come an arm and then both of them– my head was supposed to—but, well, my head never popped up. She’d get me down by the throat! I had grapes up my nose, in my ears, and she was choking me, and I’m really beating her to get her off…she didn’t understand that she had to let me up once in a while. I was drowning in these grapes!” Apparently, the woman spent so much time “beating the hell” out of Lucy that they had to cut half of it.

• Desi Jr. and Little Ricky were delivered only 12 hours apart   

You want to talk publicity stunt to end all publicity stunts? Well, on Jan. 19, 1953, Lucille Ball delivered a doozy of one. Literally. On that day, Lucille Ball delivered Desi Jr. just 12 hours before Lucy Ricardo delivered Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy.” It was all very brilliantly planned that way, with Ball being scheduled for a cesarean delivery of Desi Jr. to coincide with Little Ricky’s birth on TV. And, boy, did it payoff ratings-wise – 44 million “I Love Lucy” fans tuned in for that episode (equivalent to 72% of American households). To put that in additional perspective, the following day, President Dwight D. Eisenhower first took the oath of office, and only 29 million tuned in for that. People like Ike, but they LOVE Lucy.

• Lucy went by the name Diane Belmont in her early years    

As a model, Lucy wanted to change it up a little so for a short period of time, she went by the name Diane Belmont. “I was driving in Long Island and I saw the Belmont Race Track and I loved the name Diane,” Lucy explained. “People, to this day, think my name was Diane Belmont and I took Lucille Ball.”

• Lucy gave Vivian Vance a contract ordering her not to gain weight    

True – but it was a gag gift. Vance, who played Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” was 22 years younger than her TV husband, William Frawley. And although she agreed to go with the Plain Jane look, she refused to wear padding to make her look plump.  According to Ball, Vance told producer Jess Oppenheimer, “If my husband in this series makes fun of my weight and I’m actually fat, then the audience won’t laugh. They’ll feel sorry for me. But if he calls me a fat old bag and I’m not too heavy, then it’ll seem funny.” In 1975, Vance and Ball appeared on Dinah Shore’s daytime talk show – and Vance brought with her a mock contract Lucy had drawn up some 20 years earlier. 

Vance read it to the studio audience: “Party of the first part must promise to never dye her hair within five shades either way of the party of the second part, also known as ‘the lovable natural redhead.’ Part two: Party of the first part must also agree to put on an additional five pounds every month [within] next year, otherwise this contract shall be terminated at the whim of the party of the second part by 1) a phone call or the more generous option of 30 minutes notice. Lucille Ball.”

• Ginger Rogers’ mother Lela groomed Lucy for stardom  

During the 1930s and early ’40s, Ginger Rogers’ mother, Lela, was known in Hollywood as quite a stage mom, molding her daughter into a star with a controlling, demanding fist on the throat of the studios. While Ginger was a contract player at RKO, Lela ran an acting school on the lot and one of her students was Lucille Ball.

“Lela advised us to work on ourselves and pay no attention to those corporate machinations. Lela wouldn’t tolerate anyone taking advantage of her charges,” Lucy said of Lela’s protective nature. And Lela also saw something in Lucy that the studios didn’t… yet.  “She told me years later, ‘I noticed the twinkle in your eyes and the mobile face, which is a must for comedy. I also sensed depth and a great capacity for love,’” Lucy said. “Lela was the first person to see me as a clown with glamor. She pulled my frizzy hair back off my brow and had a couple of my side teeth straightened. Then she sent me to a voice teacher and told me to lower my high squeaky voice by four tones.”

• After Carole Lombard’s death, she came to Lucy in a dream and encouraged her to do “I Love Lucy”  

If it wasn’t for a “message from beyond the grave” from the Queen of Screwball Comedies, Carole Lombard, “I Love Lucy” might never have happened. Lombard and Lucy struck up a close friendship in her early days struggling in Hollywood, as Lucy studied Lombard’s comedic style. “When I’m weighing a particularly difficult decision. sometimes I ask myself what Carole would’ve said, and it helps. She gave me lots of pointers on what she called studio behavior,” Lucy said of Carole.

In 1942, Lombard, who was married to Clark Gable, died in a plane crash while touring the country selling war bonds. More than a dozen years later, when Lucy was weighing whether or not to give up her highly-paid movie career and Desi’s band commitments to go for broke on TV, Lombard visited Lucy in a dream and encouraged her to take a leap of faith. “Carole Lombard appeared to me in a dream. She was wearing one of those slinky bias-cut gowns of the ’30s, waving a long, black cigarette holder in her hand. ‘Go on. kid,’ she advised me eagerly. ‘Give it a whirl.‘”

• Lucy had no eyebrows  

The studio star system of the Golden Age was all-controlling. The first order of business was always walking potential starlets into the hair and makeup departments for a makeover, usually to glam them up. And Lucy was no different. “One of the worst things the studio people did was shave off my eyebrows,” Lucy remembered. “We were all trying to look like Jean Harlow. Now, God forbid that I should ever find myself on a desert island without an eyebrow pencil. It’s the first thing I reach for every morning. The only girl I know who managed to grow hers back again was Ginger Rogers. And even then it took her years.”

• Lucy’s mother would tie her in their yard so she wouldn’t run wild  

Throughout her life, Lucy would talk lovingly about her mother, DeDe, who lived with her famous daughter and was her biggest cheerleader. Lucy recalled that when she was three and her mother was pregnant with Lucy’s little brother Fred, DeDe would tie up the rambunctious Lucy in the yard with a dog leash so she wouldn’t run around the neighborhood. Ball wrote in her autobiography “Love Lucy,” “Every time somebody would pass by on the sidewalk, I’d beg to be released.” Forty years later, DeDe would attend every taping of “I Love Lucy.” In fact, that “Uh oh” you hear when Lucy Ricardo gets into one of her predicaments, that’s DeDe.

• Desi and Lucy were TV’s first interracial couple   

If Lucy had not been persistent about wanting her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, to be her TV hubby on “I Love Lucy,” it would not have happened. Before “I Love Lucy,” CBS was so impressed by her comedic performance on her radio program “My Favorite Husband” that they wanted to adapt it for television. Lucy agreed under one condition – Desi would play the role of her husband. CBS wasn’t thrilled with the idea, believing that no one would tune in to watch an “all-American red-headed woman with a Cuban,” especially a Cuban with a thick accent. But Lucy wouldn’t budge. To prove her point that America would love them as a husband-wife team, Lucy and Desi toured the country in sort of vaudeville act. Her fans couldn’t get enough, and CBS agreed.

Lucy was superstitious about pictures of birds  

Lucille was only 3 years old when her father died of typhoid fever at age 27. Because she was so young at the time, she later said that she remembered very little of that day — but one thing she did remember was a picture frame falling off the wall and a bird flying into her house. And that memory scarred her for the rest of her life. Although she was able to be in the vicinity of a bird, she couldn’t look at pictures of them and had even refused to stay in a hotel room with artwork of birds on the walls.  

• Lucy became the first woman to run a major TV studio 

Lucille Ball took her Hollywood know-how to an all-new height, crashing right through that glass ceiling to become the first woman to run a major TV studio. In 1962, Desi Arnaz resigned as the studio’s president, and Lucy bought out his holding in the company. Four years later, CBS turned down the original “Star Trek” series pilot, fearing the weekly budget to produce it would be too high. But Lucy stood behind it and gave the crew the finances needed, and it was made. So, Trekkies, you’ve got Lucille Ball to thank for your obsession. (Desilu also went on to produce the TV series “Mission: Impossible.”)

• Lucy and Desi once owned Tara, Scarlett O’Hara’s plantation in “Gone With the Wind”  In 1957, Desilu Productions bought all of RKO Pictures properties for $6.15 million. Quite a steal, actually. According to Ball, “We now owned 33 more sound stages, or 11 more than 20th century Fox and four more than MGM. We had fabulous permanent sets, including the Southern plantation exterior from ‘Gone With the Wind,’ fire-scarred and weather-beaten, but still majestic.”

• When TV Superman George Reeves appeared on “I Love Lucy,” she insisted his real name not be mentioned in the credits 

  Lucy put thought into the wants and needs of her audience of all ages. In an episode of “I Love Lucy” in which she promises Little Ricky that she’ll get Superman to attend his birthday party, TV’s Man of Steel himself, George Reeves, made a guest appearance. But to keep the fantasy alive that it was really Superman (not an actor), Lucy insisted Reeves name not appear in the episode credits.

• A “Simpson” character was made in her honor  

“The Simpsons” has paid homage to Lucille Ball on more than one occasion. In the episode titled “Little Big Mom,” Lisa is visited by Lucy’s ghost, who is named Lucy McGillicuddy Ricardo Carmichael (Ball’s maiden and married names on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”) There was also an episode that had Moe selling clams that look like Lucy, and a parody of “I Love Lucy” called “I Lost Lucy,” in which a character visits Lucille Ball’s grave.

• Lucy taught a class in “Television and Film Aesthetics” at California State University, Northridge  

You can add college professor to Lucy’s resume. In 1979, California State University, Northridge hired her as an assistant professor to teach a three-unit class called “Television and Film Aesthetics,” which included showing and analyzing film and television programs. “I try to teach them the art of taking care of themselves in every way so someone else doesn’t have to,” she told The Los Angeles Times. “All they hear about is rejection. I try not to talk about rejection. I teach how to do the best for you — don’t be a patsy, a pushover — and to take that step ahead every day.”

SOURCE: YAHOO.COM

Today is Don Henley’s birthday (born in 1947) and this song is about getting dirt on people.  It seemed relevant today, giving the state of “journalism” in America.

“Dirty Laundry”

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something
Something I can use
People love it when you lose
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor
But I wound up here
I just have to look good
I don’t have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em all around

We got the bubble headed
Bleached blonde
Comes on at five
She can tell you ’bout the plane crash
With a gleam in her eye
It’s interesting when people die
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation
Is the head dead yet
You know the boys in the newsroom
Got a running bet
Get the widow on the set
We need dirty laundry

You don’t really need to find out
What’s going on
You don’t really want to know
Just how far it’s gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re stiff
Kick ’em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers
In everybody’s pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When it’s said and done
We haven’t told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry