Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
We're all over the map today as we go from the Simpson's paycheck controversy to Chris Christie's final bow out of the race and a frank assessment of the remaining candidates (with our guest The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol) to the Star Trek/Andy Griffith connection to Rob's pilot, Peter's TV watching and James' novels. Whew!
Listen in here:
It's pouring rain in Los Angeles today, so these links may be a bit soggy:
- Read the first hand account of James' dead battery and subsequent encounter with playwright Lee Blessing's brother on The Bleat. We do. Every day.
- A Barton Fink feeling? Why that's a reference to the 1991 Coen Brothers film about a playwright who goes to Hollywood to write and suffers from extreme writer's block.
- Calvin Coolidge is indeed Ricochet's favorite President. So much so, that our parent company Silent Cal Productions is named after him.
- There is some speculation that The Simpson's may be cancelled over a contract dispute with the actors that voice the show. We agree with Rob that they should and will work it out. Too much money at stake for all parties for them not to.
- Lionel Barrymore played the now iconic role of Mr. Potter in It's A Wonderful Life. He's an old man and everybody hates him.
- Harry Shearer was a guest on Ricochet Podcast #55. We're way overdue in having him back.
- Harry was indeed cast on the radio version of The Jack Benny Show at age 7. It was there that he befriended legendary voice actor Mel Blanc who was responsible for the personas of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck among others. The fact that Harry wound up voicing a number of characters for another generation of legendary cartoon characters is a wonderful twist of fate.
- Harry provides voices for Principal Skinner, Kent Brockman, Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Dr. Hibbert, Lenny Leonard, Otto Mann, Rainier Wolfcastle, Dr. Marvin Monroe and many others. Shearer modeled Mr. Burns's voice on the two actors Lionel Barrymore and Ronald Reagan, thus bring this podcast full circle.
- When in Fargo, visit Lileks Oil Company. Well, maybe don't visit them, but buy something from them. They have a really cool TV commercial, although we know a much better voice over guy than the one they used.
- Apologies for the jarring edit into the Bill Kristol segment. The rain wreaked havoc on our internet connection and we lost about 10 seconds of the show right there. Use your imagination.
- Chris Christie announced again that he's not running for President.
- Tom Cotton is from the city of Dardanelle, Arkansas. He served five years in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. Cotton is a Republican candidate for Congress in the Fourth Congressional District of Arkansas.
- Bob Turner is the former TV advertising exec who unexpectedly won Anthony Weiner's NY 9th Congressional seat serving Queens and Brooklyn.
- Here's the clip of Mitt Romney declaring that "abortion should be safe in legal" from a debate with Ted Kennedy from 1994. If you live in a primary state, expect to see this clip a lot.
- Rob Long is producing a pilot about a bunch of characters who hang out in a bar. Why does that sound familiar....
- Predictably, the Star Trek-Mayberry connection has a website with pictures devoted to it. They did re-dress the set pretty decently.
- Want to catch up with Terra Nova? You can watch complete episodes online. Humans with dinosaurs....cool.
Music from this week's episode:
- This Is Why We Fight by The Decemberists
- Da Doo Ron Ron by The Crystals
The direct link to this week's episode (great for mobile devices!). But don't be a dinosaur and subscribe! Not an iTunes devotee? Visit our Feedburner page for a number of other subscription options.
The Ricochet Podcast is proudly sponsored by Encounter Books and their Broadside series. This week's featured title is A Century of Palestinian Rejectionism and Jew Hatred by Sol Stern. Available for all platforms at EncounterBooks.com and Amazon.com.
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Comments :
Sep '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
Great podcast! One of my favorites. Christie leaves me cold, especially now.
But Peter, in answer to your question: the reason we get colds in autumn is because the kids go back to school. And what they shrug off with a sniff and a cough puts their parents through the rack.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
Kudos to Peter Robinson for getting Mitt Romney, FINALLY--that he will defer to Congress (as well as the people he will appoint). Romney is lo ego. In other words, your fears are unfounded. IF he wins.
Jan '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
Romney = FDR, now there is an endorsement.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
No, Romney is closest to REAGAN. He will appoint the best, work with (a conservative) Congress. If you don't get this, you get nothing.
May '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
I guess I don't get it.
Are you trying to say that Romney has gone through the same rigorous thought processes that clarified Reagan's thinking about what this country is and what he needed to do to bring it back? Reagan distilled and refined his political beliefs starting when he was first elected to the Screen Actor's Guild in 1941.
Do you really think Mitt Romney has the rock solid political beliefs that Reagan had? It is his beliefs that will guide the president through the fights ahead.
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
A working class bar in Pittsburgh... Finally! something on a Podcast I can understand!
Now what you oughtta be doing on that show....
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
Ah, but of course! Why didn't the father of five think of that?
Aug '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
Peter,
If you think there were dinosaurs 5 million years ago you've been spending too much time with David Berlinski.
Jan '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #88: Run From Dinosaurs
Casual nod to the wire from Rob Long - "re-up" the salaries. :)