Articles by shira-gregory
Thu Jan 17, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
The Goldbergs Make Television History
TV's First Sitcom Debuts
Today in 1949, a show about a small Jewish family aired on television (after nearly 20 years on radio), beginning a tradition of one of the most lucrative and watched programs ever: the situation comedy, nick-named, the "sitcom." The charms of a Jewish family in the Bronx has led to stories about friends in Manhattan, um, another group of friends in Manhattan, a couple in Manhattan -- are we sensing a pattern here? Oh wait, there's also Two and a Half Men. Can't forget that gem of an exception.
Thanks to the creators of The Goldbergs, we can now come home after our hard days at work, laugh at predictable humor and numb our minds so that we don't have to hit the bottle. Cheers!
Wed Jan 16, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
Remembing Bleeding Gums Murphy
The Passing of Ron Taylor
Actor Ron Taylor, most favorably remembered as the voice of "Bleeding Gums" Murphy on The Simpsons died this day in 2002. Murphy's character was Lisa Simpson's inspiring, saxophone-playing mentor. Taylor also played a Klingon chief on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and this reader's favorite credit, Taylor originated the role of Audrey II in the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. Taylor tragically passed from a heart attack. His delightful performances will be missed.
Tue Jan 15, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
The Black Dahlia's Anniversary
A Mangled Corpse is Fodder for Creativity
Today in 1947, the the body of Elizabeth Short was found in Leimert Park, Los Angeles. Perhaps unpleasant to admit, the savagely disfigured corpse of the girl, better known as the "Black Dahlia," did indeed provide inspiration for the latest Hollywood storytellers, video game artists and even credible contemporary writers. Joyce Carole Oates used Short as a character in her novel, Blonde and the late John Gregory Dunne and his wife Joan Didion used the murder in their screenplay for the film, True Confessions.
Spoiler alert: Let's not ignore the more obvious and well known inspired tale (can we really call it "inspired," though?), the recent flop, The Black Dahlia (starring Hillary Swank, Josh Hartnett and a hilariously creepy Fiona Shaw). Always bring in the trusty Brits to nail the quirky bad-guy role, right? But seriously, Hillary Swank as a noir vixen? That's stretching any audience's suspension of disbelief--yet I digress. Lastly, Black Dahlia was also the name of a video game in which the player had to solve the mysery of Short's death, and then beat the Nazis. OK, sure. Hey at least Dennis Hopper was a featured voice.
Mon Jan 14, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 144th birthday, Richard F. Outcault!
The great comics pioneer who created yellow journalism
Today in 1863, the very first Sunday comic artist was born.
Yes, we should all take pause today to acknowledge Richard Felton Outcault, who drew the world's first color comic strip, "Origin of a New Species," in The New York World's Sunday edition.
His first regular strip was "Hogan's Alley," but he later became known for Buster Brown and The Yellow Kid. Where would we be without your first brave steps, Mr. Outcault? I'm not sure I would want to live in a Peanuts-less world, even if I were (perish the thought) ignorant to their very existence. We must all thank Outcault for paving the way. He died in 1928 having made his mark. In color.
Sun Jan 13, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 51st birthday to the Frisbee!
May you long stay off of the roof
Watch out, onlookers, what those naked athletes are throwing around was produced exactly 51 years ago today!
After all, Ultimate Frisbee wouldn't be ultimate, heck, it just plain wouldn't be without the plate-shaped plaything. The Frisbee was produced today way back when by Wham-O, inspired by the shape of a popcorn tin lid and using the name of a pie manufacturer (I wonder what Frisbee pie tasted like...)
Today, the Frisbee is best known for being chewed and slobbered on by hyperactive dogs, being thrown around on vacation, or competitively used in the game, Ultimate Frisbee (traditionally played by serious teams in the nude).
Thanks for all the good times, Wham-O.
Thu Jan 10, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 78th birthday, Tintin!
Nice hair, bro...
Today is the anniversary of a great comic debut: the funny pages revealed in 1929 the adventures of the worldly Tintin. That weird little mohawk, that smart, itsy dog, who knew the French could come up with something so, that is, tres, charming? Tintin was so popular in fact that it has been translated into over 50 different languages. But trulee, you 'ahven't experee-unst ze real Teenteen unteel you ahv red eet een zee oreejenal wan.
Wed Jan 9, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
On this day in history: Sting gets animated
Sixteen years ago, a musical icon made his cartoon-self debut on "The Simpsons" when sexy yogi and former "police"man Sting appeared on an episode called "Radio Bart."
In it, Bart's practical joke turns ugly when all believe a little boy is trapped in a well. Sting helps fund raise for the cause by releasing a song called, "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well."
Aw, Sting, waddaguy.
Here's the song. We couldn't actually get the clip from The Simpsons, because Fox has been exceptionally snarky with YouTube of late-- so you'll have to make do with this version, recast with Inayashu characters.
Tue Jan 8, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 72nd birthday, Elvis!
Today in 1935, a king was born. In East Tupelo.
Apparently, so great was/is his majesty that Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia have made today, "Elvis Presley Day." The king had a twin, Jesse, who was stillborn-- no room in this world for two kings of music.
Incidentally, he also sued for divorce from Priscilla on his birthday, too. That's one big birthday.
So everybody-- sing! Because Elvis is everywhere!
Tue Jan 1, 2008 — by Shira Gregory
Hail and Farewell, Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes
Twelve years since the Midvale School for the Gifted closed
Ah, the new year. A time to freshen up, begin anew and reflect upon the past. For some of us, this means looking back to a fateful new year's day in 1995, when after exactly 15 years of service to the absurd and hilarious, Gary Larson finally put The Far Side to rest.
Who can forget those restless chickens, philosophical cows and people whose brains were full? They were the iconic markers of an era with a drier, if odder sense of humor.
We still miss those odd phone calls from God. However, Far Side
Yesterday was also the anniversary of another sad day in comics, as a year after The Far Side went off the rails for the last time, a boy and his tiger sledded off into the sunset as Calvin and Hobbes came to a close.
Thu Dec 13, 2007 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 53rd birthday, Tamora Pierce!
Lioness, tigers, and birthdays, oh my
Today is young adult fantasy writer Tamora Pierce's 53rd birthday. Pierce is most famous for creating young heroines, most memorably, the medieval transvestite, Alanna of Trebond from the series, The Song of the Lioness
Tamora is probably best known to comics fans as the co-author of the recent White Tiger miniseries for Marvel starring former FBI agent Angela Del Toro, taking off from Brian Bendis's run on Daredevil.
Wed Dec 12, 2007 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 58th birthday, Bill Nighy!
How can we let it go by without acknowledging the great squid pirate, the undead stepdad, the aged rockstar, the bad ass vampire lord, and Slartibartfast?
In case you missed those references, please get a Netflix account (that way you don't have to leave your man-cave, you hermit) and rent Pirates of the Caribbean, Shaun of the Dead, Love, Actually, Underworld (both 1 and 2) and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He's one crafty shape-shifter. We won't really examine his dramatic works on Broadway, the West End, or Oscar nominated pieces because we all know those are just boring.
Way to have that career surge at mid-life, sir, and a happy birthday to you.
Sat Dec 8, 2007 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 57th birthday, Rick Baker!
The real man of a thousand faces
Today is the birthday of one of Hollywood's most employed make-up artists, Rick Baker. Baker made an impressive career start on The Exorcist, helping make the otherwise innocent Linda Blair into a believable demon. He went on to films like Star Wars, The Rocketeer, Men in Black, The Nutty Professor, Planet of the Apes, Hellboy and many, many others.
He was also the first person to ever win an Academy Award for Best Makeup for An American Werewolf in London (pictured here) and he's won five more since.
Thu Dec 6, 2007 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 78th Birthday, Frank Springer!
Bring Nick and Phoebe to the party, okay?
Today is Frank Springer's 78th birthday.
The Maine based American comics artist is apparently still at it, but Frank is most famous for drawing DC's The Secret Six and Marvel Comics' Dazzler and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. In addition, he was also responsible (along with National Lampoon / Saturday Night Live writer Michael O'Donoghue) for one of the first risque, adults-only graphic novels, The Adventures of Phoebe Zeit-Geist. What with Ms. Phoebe finding herself in brutal, not light nor playful bondage situations, Springer may have been one of the first to bring the whole cartoon fetish/borderline porn trend to the intelligencia in the pages of The Evergreen Review.
With one thing leading to the next, we might even want to blame him for Hentai.
Sun Dec 2, 2007 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 65th anniversary, Manhattan Project!
Perhaps it is not geekdom to celebrate, but it is geekdom nonetheless and it is to be remarked upon for the path it has set the world on since. Today in 1942, the Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi, and his team initiated the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction as part of the Manhattan Project.
Why is this important to comic books? Well, without this tremendous advance in science, we'd never have gamma bombs, radioactive spiders, Fallout Boy, post WWIII apocalyptic horrors, teenage mutants, teenage mutant ninjas, and obviously, no Dr. Manhattan.
So let's break open some old watches for the radium and go glow in the dark while we see if anybody's actually found nuclear weapons in Iraq or Iran.
Wed Nov 28, 2007 — by Shira Gregory
Happy 45th birthday, Jon Stewart!
Jon Stewart, American comedian, iconic host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and hero to geeks all over turns 45 today. In an era of corruption and cynicism, Stewart leads the pack in irreverent humor. His open criticism of the Bush administration and personality punditry shows gives its viewers hope in the face of governmental disappointment. Granted, the president and his cronies have provided Stewart with ample material, but faced with the alternative, I think we would all prefer that Stewart have to work harder to make fun of the times at hand than have them so tragically, if easily, at his disposal.
Happy Birthday, Jon-- and hell, if we can't cry about it, thanks for helping us laugh.
Obligatory comics related video. Damn, he's young.
