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On the Ricochet Podcast, we go to great lengths to provide breadth and depth in covering the news of the day. Where else can you hear incisive legal analysis from John Yoo and great social commentary and levity from Pat Sajak? Nowhere else, that’s for sure. We give some free legal advice to those in need, talk about walls (those that were torn down and those yet to be built), and school Peter Robinson on 20th Century culture he somehow missed. Also, a preview of next week’s Reagan Library event featuring Pat and Peter. Don’t miss it.
Music from this week’s podcast: Don’t Bring Me Down by Electric Light Orchestra
The all new opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks.
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Mr. @EJHIll, photoshop this wall.
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Boll & Branch
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This was a good one, maybe because the crazies have pushed Rob and James back from the brink. If that was it, here’s to more crazy every week. Very enjoyable show.
Where’s the link to @peterrobinson ‘s Mel Blanc’s racist routine?
Thanks!
Someone please play “Mr. Blue Sky” for Peter.
Well done, Rob and James, remaining sober. I’d love to hear some talk about “What is to be done” (pardon that phrasing) regarding the actual issues of regulation and taxes (Obamacare being integral to both) and the Republican Congress inertia, but Pat Sajak certainly makes one forget that for a bit.
Pat, I’m stalking you on the western shore. Don’t be frightened.
Speaking of which, was it Martin Short who screamed?
Agree. It’s always great when Pat is on.
After the show, I did. And “Telephone” too.
How did he react?
Regarding voiceovers, I took son #1 and his then roommate to a party, where they had a lengthy conversation with John Ratzenberger. Cheers was long before their time and they had no clue who he was, but they had an inkling from the conversation that he was “somebody”.
On the way home, from the backseat I heard one of them yell, “Good Lord. We were talking to Mr Piggy from Toy Story!!!”
I laughed out loud when Peter did not know who ELO was. And @blueyeti, of all the great ELO songs, why not Strange Magic or Can’t Get It Out of My Head? Don’t bring me down as a song does just that.
I was hoping for “Calling America,” myself.
I love that little guitar solo; it’s Lynne’s talent that he can make you think of “Telstar” without actually quoting it.
Has any voice artist surpassed the genius and ability of Mel Blanc? From here inside my silo, that answer is a resounding NO!
Don’t Bring Me Down seemed more on point for this show than those two (or the one @jameslileks suggested). But I do love those songs.
There were a few dialect guys who could do lots of voices, and do the job for a half-hour show. What made Blanc great was his ability to delineate a set of voices that were unique and distinctive, and inhabit them completely. There’s often a tell in a voice actor’s work that pins the timbre or pitch to a particular performer – William Conrad could do a good Nazi, but it was Conrad first and Nazi second. Blanc constructed entirely different characteristics, and stayed within their parameters. There’s no overlap between Tweety and Daffy.
I figured that’s why you chose that song. I think ELO’s earlier work was much better than anything they did after 1978. I did see them live around that time in MSG and truth be told was very disappointed, though the violinist was outstanding.
Uh, in defense of Peter, I had never heard of them either.
“Who is ELO?”?? Way to Republican everything up, Peter.
On the other hand, I can’t hear “Boll & Branch” without thinking of some great old songs and can’t believe James has passed on the opportunity to share stuff like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJjdHpFwS9I
Amos, Andy and George Stevens weren’t servants.
Believe it or not I just found Vadimir Putin singing Blueberry Hill on Youtube. I don’t know how to copy the video.
I looked it up and I don’t know any of the Billboard top 20 singles songs. I only recognized one of the music acts, Miley Cyrus, and I only know of her from the non-music press.
You’re right, but A&A was minstrelry; I was referring to actual black actors. At least that’s what came to mind when I was blathering away, even though the subject was “ethnic” characters, not actual “ethnic” actors.
Oh, man. I was mulling over nominating Stan Freberg until I read this, mostly because “A Bear for Punishment” is my favorite Warner Brothers cartoon and Junyer Bear my favorite character in it. Your comment and the easily verified fact that 999 out a thousand people think Mel Blanc did that voice puts the kibosh on that. Your analysis is too good. It just makes me want to shut up. Well done.
[edited to get the damn bear’s name right]
For @peterrobinson, a joyful modern performance of ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky.
@peterrobinson and @jameslileks In talking about common culture with our youth, you discussed older things that you shared with your kids. What are some new things (music, film, TV, books) that your kids have shared with you?
I’m more inclined to identify with Pappa Bear. ;) WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS FAMILY, as he lamented in other installments.
You want to talk about evanescent cultural references? Juyner’s speech patterns are parodies of Lennie from “Of Mice and Men,” which is something the audience might have known only from previous WB parodies. But it’s lost today. “I will pet him and hold him and pet him and hold him!” Try that on a Millennial. Or don’t.
I admire the hell out of Freberg – the Thinking Man’s Allan Sherman – but I’ve never loved his stuff, and I can’t quite figure out why. Maybe because he wanted you to think he was coloring outside the lines, when he really wasn’t.
Better be careful James, Peter is gonna check your house for signs you’ve signed up to a weird seafood cult the next time he’s over.
One of my faves:
Tell them that John Ratzenberger was in Empire Strikes Back and let it really blow there minds.
My oldest son just loves anything by Louis Armstrong. There’s hope.