Odds and Ends

​When you can’t think of anything meaningful to write, it must be time for ODDS and ENDS. For those new to this blog, this is the particular time when I go all Larry King on your ass. Not infomercial Larry King, or even CNN Larry King. This is Larry King at his best. This is U.S.A. Today Larry King. For those of you not familiar with his unique style, it goes a little something like this…
 
For my money, Doritos is the best corn chip on the market. And speaking of my money, my ex-wife will never get any of it. Okay, you get the picture.

​If you have just binged Dan Harmon’s Community and happen to be looking for another comedy that will quench your thirst for quirky comedy, may I humbly suggest Superstore created by Justin Spitzer. The characters are both hilarious and endearing and if you’ve spent any time in retail, you will realize how dead-on it really is. From the before store opening “huzzah” meetings to the interpersonal relationship stores, it is a comedy that has never really gotten it’s due.
 
Girls5eva is a bit more of a mixed bag created by Tina Fey and Meredith Scardino. While there are quite a few moments of brilliance, the Paul Simon-like anthem, New York Lonely Boy immediately coming to mind, it is still ironing out some of the kinks as it were. However, I am quite confident that like the once popular 90s girl band attempting to rise from the ashes of obscurity, I see only good episodes ahead.
 
(Are you getting how this whole Larry King-style reporting works? Good.)

​Nicholas and Alexandra is a sweeping historical epic directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, written by James Goldman and based on the book by Robert K. Massie.
 
(This is known as a Larry King abrupt U-Turn. Hold on.)
 
If you are a fan of the Russian Czars, hemophilia, and the ending of empires, this may be the movie for you. Produced in 1971, this historical epic never really caught on with audiences, but it happens to be one of my favorites. There is a tracking shot with the two title characters retreating to their quarters after a palace ball which is dazzling in its construction and while the whole move is a bit dry, I think stands right up there with some of Lean’s best films. Check out the Blu-Ray if you get a chance. Worth it! 
 
Okay, hopefully next week’s entry will have a bit more structure. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.