RIP Casey Kasem

It was impossible not to see the passing of American Top 40 legend Casey Kasem coming, with his transition to comfort based measures on June 6. Kasem passed two Sundays ago at a convalescent home in Washington state. This clip from a (probably) 1987 Jerry Lewis telethon shows Casey's basic humanity shining through, as he asks Jerry if he can address a special message to kids as Shaggy, his Scooby-Doo alter-ego. Rest in peace sir. I spent many an enjoyable  Sunday afternoon listening to AT40 in the mid-80s on Edmonton's then 96 K-Lite FM. You seemed to really care both about the hits you counted down and the Long-Distance Dedications you were able to fufill. Now free of earthly concerns and secure in the knowledge that the positive energy that you sent out over five decades will continue to be with us for some time, may you revel in your ability to now literally be able to reach for the stars. Zoinks, that must be cool, man!

MTMG

Casey and Tracy: Two Geniuses

As we send Casey Kasem all our love and positive thoughts as he is in critical condition, here is a portion of American Top 40 from the summer of 1982.






As we do the same for comedian and 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan, critically injured early yesterday morning in a six-car pileup on the New Jersey Turnpike, here he is at his profane, controversial, and genius best.

1979 Muppet Movie Camera Test - Part Two

Kermit and Fozzie debate what (and who) is real, and Kermit and Miss Piggy go house/window shopping, from a camera test on the deluxe anniversary edition Muppet Movie DVD. I don't know about you, but I would absolutely love to see HBO or Showtime go through all this footage and put together a special called Muppets After Dark. As a bonus, the always simmeringly-angry Piggy finally deals with her issues and apologizes to Kermit for years of abusive drama. Way to go girl! Don't let it happen again!




And the general pop culture has changed to the point where the ironic, sardonic nature of these scenes would resonate. I can't help thinking that when Muppet Movie director James Frawley turned off the camera in 1979, both Jim Henson and Frank Oz turned to him and said, "Holy shit, Jim! What did we just do? Are you sure you have to develop that? If you do, PLEASE make sure that no one EVER sees it! Okay?".






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Philip Seymour Hoffman on Happiness | Blank on Blank | PBS Digital Studios

Finally, an antidote to all the reams of incessant psychobabble spewed forth after Hoffman's death in February, in his own recorded words. I know there are some who will see this video as some sort of window into his soul because he was famous, and also because his work will live on.




And taken from that perspective, there is no doubt that it is fascinating.




But you know what?




We have all felt what Hoffman speaks of in this video. Whether we want to admit it or not.




We have all been moved by great art. I'll even pony up and say that my "great art" experience was reading Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman play in my senior year of high school.




We have all felt happy. And we have all felt sad. Sometimes the same day, sometimes the same time.




The trick is to acknowledge both feelings, and hopefully deal with them in a non-harmful way. The middle ground is okay if that's what gets you through the day.




Have a good one!




MTMG