Confession

I revisited the 1983 James Bond film "Never Say Never Again" this weekend only because I just learned that its theme song is sung by Lani Hall. She was in Brasil '66, which was of course the greatest thing ever.

Man of the people

Speaking of Dick Cavett, let me tell you about the most awesome thing I ever heard anyone say in Wisconsin. I was waiting in line for Cavett's appearance at Ten Chimneys, and a woman near me wore an annoyed expression as she looked around and said, "I thought this was for Yale alumni only."

The walkover

Questlove and Ben Greenman write about musical cues on the Jimmy Fallon show:

The walkover, or walk-on, for those who don’t speak backstage, is the song that the band plays as a guest comes out from behind the curtain and walks over to the host’s desk. Once upon a time, maybe, it was straightforward, a little musical cue or song associated with the artist. But then came Paul Shaffer’s work on “Letterman,” and the walkover became its own little art form — an obscure musical reference that the audience (and sometimes even the guest) had to decode.

FYI, before Shaffer and Letterman in the 1980s, Bobby Rosengarden was doing this sort of thing as Dick Cavett's bandleader in the 1960s and 1970s:

On the Cavett show, he would accompany a seemingly endless of entertainers and banter with Mr. Cavett, and he became known for signaling “walk on” themes for each guest. When a guest who was a sex therapist was introduced, the band played “I Can’t Get Started”; the artist Salvador Dali was greeted with “Hello, Dolly.”

"The Dick Cavett Show" never gets enough credit.

Safety first

Per the promotional materials: When you're watching Amazon streaming video on your Wii, it's important that the Wiimote be strapped to your wrist at all times. Because the sight of Jeff Bridges in "True Grit" may make you wave your arms.

Southbound

Just signed a lease on a house in South Knoxville! And so we are moving to South Knoxville. From West Knoxville.

Way back when

I finally watched the first episode of "Mad Men," and I'm wondering what all the fuss is about. Other period TV shows, excellent ones (e.g. "M*A*S*H"), don't condescend to their subject matter.

The issues we face

If I were an author or actor, I would spend most of my time worrying about whether I should have my left hand on my face in my head shot, or my right hand, or both hands.