Monday - May 26, 2008

Dick Martin Wisecracking co-star of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In …..OBIT ….

From this morning’s Telegraph.  Nothin’ to add except, He was one funny fellow.

Dick Martin
Last Updated: 2:26AM BST 26/05/2008

Wisecracking co-star of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In whose humour caught the zeitgeist of the late 1960s.

Dick Martin, who died on Saturday aged 86, was the zany half of the American comedy duo Rowan and Martin and co-star of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, which became a cult comedy fixture on both sides of the Atlantic in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Screened in Britain on BBC2, the show made stars of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and created such catchphrases as “Sock it to me!”, “Here come de judge”
and (Martin’s own gnomic rejoinder) “You bet your sweet bippy”.

After splitting with his partner Dan Rowan in the late 1970s, Martin went on to become one of American television’s busiest directors.

Laugh-In, which was launched in January 1968, was unlike any comedy-variety show before it: rather than relying on tightly scripted song-and-dance segments, it offered a kaleidoscopic, almost stream-of-consciousness series of non sequitur jokes, political satire and wacky antics from a cast of talented young actors and comedians that included Ruth Buzzi, Arte Johnson, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley, the British-born Judy Carne and the ear-cupping announcer Gary Owens.

Presiding over it all were Rowan and Martin, two veteran nightclub comics who put their own distinctive spin on the show. Their stand-up banter satirising the contemporary scene seemed to catch the liberated mood of the times.

Martin played the clown to Dan Rowan who, like all straight men, provided the voice of reason, striving to correct his partner’s absurdities. Martin, meanwhile, was full of bogus, often risqué theories about life, to which he appeared to cling with unwavering certainty.

Around the sober-suited Rowan and Martin whirled a madhouse of stock characters, whose pop-up appearances and much-quoted catchphrases were redolent of the ITMA radio routines of wartime Britain.

The weekly galère included Lily Tomlin’s nasal-toned switchboard girl; Arte Johnson’s German soldier peering over a pot plant to observe: “Verrry interrrestink”; Goldie Hawn’s giggling blonde; and Ruth Buzzi’s umbrella-wielding old woman.

“We designed it so that we are two relatively normal guys wandering through a sea of madness,” Martin explained. Each week Rowan and Martin would award their Flying Fickle Finger of Fate, host a gag-laden cocktail party and close each show with the programme’s joke wall.

Richard Martin was born into a middle-class family on January 30 1922 at Battle Creek, Michigan. After leaving high school he elected to work at a Ford car assembly plant before making his way to Hollywood in 1943. While attempting to break into showbusiness, he earned his living as a bartender.

He was working in a cocktail lounge at Studio City, California, in 1952 when a mutual friend introduced him to Dan Rowan, a 30-year-old car salesman who was also trying to break into comedy. Within a fortnight they were appearing without pay at a supper club in Los Angeles with Rowan as straight man and Martin as his flippant partner.

In their first routine – which they kept in their act for years – Martin (the drunk) heckled Rowan (the Shakespearean actor) as he declaimed from Hamlet.

Once established on the American nightclub circuit, the pair signed a seven-year contract with NBC Television in 1957, only to cancel it by mutual agreement three years later after appearing regularly as hosts on the Colgate Comedy Hour.

In 1958 they starred in a feature film, Once Upon A Horse, but it flopped; and in 1962 Martin worked solo, appearing as Lucille Ball’s boyfriend in her comeback situation comedy series The Lucy Show.

After Martin had rejoined Rowan on the nightclub circuit, in late 1967 NBC cautiously allowed the pair to film a “total comedy” pilot for Laugh-In, contracting them for a weekly series the following January. By the eighth show it was top of the ratings.

Much of the programme’s success was down to the team of scriptwriters, whose jokes about gays, drugs and death were considered daring for 1968, especially by strait-laced Americans.

Martin remained unabashed at the show’s frequent references to sex, explaining that his on-air persona – that of “a kind of inept lech” – made it possible for audiences to laugh at him rather than at what he said.

When Laugh-In was cancelled in 1973, Dick Martin pursued a new career as a director of television comedy, starting with The Bob Newhart Show in 1976. Later he was chief director of the 1980s sitcom Newhart.

At the height of his fame Martin (who was by then divorced from his first wife, Peggy Connelly) pursued a sybaritic lifestyle, throwing wild parties at his apartment in the hills above Sunset Strip. This existence was quite unlike that of Rowan, a quiet family man who died in 1987.

After his failed first marriage, Dick Martin married, in 1971, Dolly Read, a former bunny girl at the Playboy Club in London. They divorced in 1975 but remarried in 1978. She survives him with two sons of his first marriage.

http://tinyurl.com/59bqx5

Posted by Drew458     on 05/26/2008 at 08:28 AM   
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   Sunday - April 06, 2008

Charlton Heston, R.I.P.

LOS ANGELES — Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing “Ben-Hur” and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the ‘50s and ‘60s, has died. He was 84.

The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1994 at a party with Hollywood and political friends. They had been married 64 years when he died.

In June 1998, Heston was elected president of the National Rifle Association, for which he had posed for ads holding a rifle. He delivered a jab at then-President Clinton, saying, “America doesn’t trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don’t trust you with our guns.”

Heston stepped down as NRA president in April 2003, telling members his five years in office were “quite a ride. ... I loved every minute of it.”

Later that year, Heston was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. “The largeness of character that comes across the screen has also been seen throughout his life,” President Bush said at the time.

He engaged in a lengthy feud with liberal Ed Asner during the latter’s tenure as president of the Screen Actors Guild. His latter-day activism almost overshadowed his achievements as an actor, which were considerable.

In late years, Heston drew as much publicity for his crusades as for his performances. In addition to his NRA work, he campaigned for Republican presidential and congressional candidates and against affirmative action.

He resigned from Actors Equity, claiming the union’s refusal to allow a white actor to play a Eurasian role in “Miss Saigon” was “obscenely racist.” He attacked CNN’s telecasts from Baghdad as “sowing doubts” about the allied effort in the 1990-91 Gulf War.

At a Time Warner stockholders meeting, he castigated the company for releasing an Ice-T album that purportedly encouraged cop killing.

Thanks for everything you’ve done Chuck. On camera and off. We’ll miss you. Go in peace.




Statement released by the Heston family:

“To his loving friends, colleagues and fans, we appreciate your heartfelt prayers and support. Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life. He was known for his chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and resonating voice, and, of course, for the roles he played. Indeed, he committed himself to every role with passion, and pursued every cause with unmatched enthusiasm and integrity.

We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved.

No one could ask for a fuller life than his. No man could have given more to his family, to his profession, and to his country. In his own words, “I have lived such a wonderful life! I’ve lived enough for two people.”

Posted by Drew458     on 04/06/2008 at 09:48 AM   
Filed Under: • Heroes • Hollywood •  
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   Thursday - August 02, 2007

Chavez Tool

Via Yahoo News

Sean Penn praised by Venezuela’s Chavez

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has praised Sean Penn for his critical stance against the war in Iraq, saying the two chatted by phone and soon plan to meet in person.

Chavez said Penn traveled to Venezuela this week wanting to learn more about the situation in the country and walked around some of Caracas’ poor barrios on his own.

“Welcome to Venezuela, Mr. Penn. What drives him is consciousness, the search for new paths,” Chavez said Wednesday in a televised speech. “He’s one of the greatest opponents of the Iraq invasion.”

Chavez read aloud from a recent open letter by Penn to President Bush in which the actor condemned the Iraq war and called for Bush to be impeached, saying the president along with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are “villainously and criminally obscene people.”

The socialist president, who shares those views, said he and Penn talked by phone — “with my bad English but we understood each other more or less.”

Chavez said the two plan to meet Thursday. He called the actor “well-informed about what is happening in the United States and the world, in spite of being in Hollywood.”

What’s more, Chavez said, “he’s made great films.” The Venezuelan leader said he recently watched Penn’s Oscar-winning performance in the film “Mystic River.”

For his part, Penn on Wednesday toured Venezuela’s new film studios on the outskirts of Caracas. Penn, whose visit was unannounced, did not speak publicly.

Oy.  What a putz.

Posted by Drew458     on 08/02/2007 at 10:26 AM   
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   Monday - June 25, 2007

Lacking Class

So Cameron Diaz took a trip to Machu Pichu recently to view the ruins.  She had all of the right accessories:  Good camera, people to show her around and to top off the day, what American Leftist would not be without her Mao Messenger Bag?

The inscription on the bag reads: “Serve the People”

Had Ms. Diaz actually paid attention in school, she would realize what an absolute insult this would be to the fine Peruvians.  But no, she is being chic.

Rachel Lucas said it best:

Brilliant.

Posted by Drew458     on 06/25/2007 at 09:34 AM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Hollywood •  
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   Monday - February 12, 2007

Grammy Goofiness

First, a confession - I subscribe to Rolling Stone ... in spite of the Leftist, political slant the mag has taken in recent years. I just like music and there are are at least two or three pages of actual music news in each issue. Why am I telling you this? Because, to the best of my recollection, the Dixie Chicks new album only stayed on the charts for a couple of weeks last year before disappearing and never made it higher than #8.

In addition, they managed to keep pissing off enough people with their Leftist politics that concerts were canceled all across the country. So why did they walk off with all the major Grammy Awards last night? If any of you have any inside information about this, please clue me in. Is this just more of the entertainment industry’s out-of-touch, mutual back-scratching? Don’t these people ever step outside of their insulated little world and actually communicate with us little people ... ?

Dixie Chicks Earn Grammys Triumph
_{(BBC) - Monday, 12 February 2007, 05:13 GMT}

Country trio The Dixie Chicks have made a triumphant comeback by dominating the major honours at the Grammy Awards. The group’s five prizes come four years after they caused uproar among many US country music fans for saying they were “ashamed” of President George Bush.

Their awards included best song, record and album. The Red Hot Chili Peppers won four, while Mary J Blige won three. The ceremony was opened by reformed pop group The Police - but it was a bad night for other Brits like James Blunt.

The UK singer was up for five awards but went home empty-handed. Other British nominees like Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall and the Arctic Moneys also lost out.

The Dixie Chicks’ victory in the top three categories represents vindication for a group who were banned from many US radio stations and received death threats after making their controversial comments.

At a concert in London on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003, singer Natalie Maines told the crowd she was “ashamed” that Mr Bush came from her home state, Texas.

At the Grammy ceremony on Sunday, their single Not Ready to Make Nice - including lyrics like “I’m not ready to back down, I’m still mad as hell” - was named song of the year and record of the year. It also picked up best country performance by a duo or group.

Their haul was completed by best album as well as best country album for Taking The Long Way. “That’s interesting,” Maines said on accepting one award. “Well, to quote the great Simpsons: ‘Heh-heh.’” Bandmate Emily Robison added: “We wouldn’t have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets.”

Posted by The Skipper     on 02/12/2007 at 01:01 AM   
Filed Under: • Celebrities • Hollywood •  
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   Thursday - January 25, 2007

Obamarama Does Hollywood

Leave it up to Hollywood to keep the Obamarama Grand Tour going strong. This is all pure horse feathers, smoke and mirrors. I expect the Donk’s ‘08 ticket to be Hillary/Obama in all its “glory”. They’re just jockeying for position now and Hollywood is hedging its bets on who comes out on top. It will come down to the summer of ‘08 when Obamarama receives an invite to meet Hillary for a secret conversation at Fort Marcy Park in Virginia. If he’s smart, he’ll decline and accept second-banana position on the ticket. If not, well Hillary will just make him an offer he can’t refuse ...

Hillary’s Hollywood Friends Switch Sides
_{(ABC NEWS) - Jan. 24, 2007}

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of Hollywood’s movers and shakers received an invitation that they may find hard to refuse. They’ve been invited to come meet Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party’s new superstar. He already has the buzz, but can he bring home the prize?

Movie moguls Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg want their Hollywood peers to join them at a Feb. 20 fundraiser the three are throwing for Obama.

For $2,300 a person and $4600 a couple, they can meet the candidate at a reception at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those who commit to raising $46,000 (10 couples/20 tickets) for the evening will be invited to a private dinner at Geffen’s Malibu, Calif., home.

The fundraiser represents a major slap for Obama’s main competitor, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has received financial support from all three moguls in the past. Their company, Dreamworks SKG, has contributed $47,000 to Clinton since her 2000 New York Senate campaign.

- More ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 01/25/2007 at 09:33 AM   
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   Tuesday - January 23, 2007

An Inconvenient Oscar

The Oscar nominations are out and the list consists of the usual Hollywood crap (with very few exceptions). One of the most ridiculous nominees this year is the one for Best Documentary. I seem to have been mistaken in thinking that a documentary was supposed to be non-fiction ....

Al Gore ‘Thrilled’ by Oscar Nominations
_{NEW YORK (AP) - Jan 23 11:15 AM US/Eastern}

Who says politics is show business for ugly people? “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore’s film on the perils of global warming, scored two Oscar nominations Tuesday - for best documentary feature and best original song.

While he is not technically a nominee - the film’s director, David Guggenheim, won the nod, as did singer Melissa Etheridge for the song “I Need to Wake Up” _ Gore said he was “thrilled” that his movie was honored.

“The film ... has brought awareness of the climate crisis to people in the United States and all over the world,” Gore said in an e-mail statement. “I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that movies really can make a difference.”

Aides say the former vice president plans to walk the red carpet with Hollywood’s beautiful people at the Academy Awards ceremony next month. “An Inconvenient Truth” has been a critical and box office success, bringing in more than $24 million to make it the third highest- grossing documentary in history. A companion book has been on national best-seller lists for months.

Other films nominated for best documentary feature include “Deliver Us From Evil,” about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church; “Iraq in Fragments,” about the Sunni-Shiite conflict in that country; “Jesus Camp,” about a summer camp for evangelical Christians, and “My Country, My Country,” about the months leading up to the January 2005 elections in Iraq.

Posted by The Skipper     on 01/23/2007 at 11:28 AM   
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   Wednesday - August 23, 2006

Sheer Terror!

What’s worse than Snakes On A Plane? Samuel L. Jackson just found out. OH! MY! GAWD!

_{(-- hat tip to Dave Barry)}

Posted by The Skipper     on 08/23/2006 at 01:47 PM   
Filed Under: • Hollywood • Humor •  
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   Monday - July 17, 2006

Indiana Gore And The Temple of Gloom

Al Gore has decided to re-invent himself all over again (for the fifteenth time). This time he is a cross between Indiana Jones and George Clooney - at least that’s what he wants to believe. Of course, Hollywood has fallen in love with the GoreBot after his environmental movie “An Inconvenient Truth” wowed the Frogs at Cannes. Mais, oui! You can read about the transformation into the Great White Environmentalist at Entertainment Weekly ... or you can have a little fun and try to figure out which famous line from any of the Indiana Jones’ movies fits this ridiculous weenie below ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 07/17/2006 at 01:46 PM   
Filed Under: • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Hollywood •  
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   Friday - May 12, 2006

Barking Moonbat Of The Week

This is the first time we have given this award out for a movie (although we were extremely tempted with “Fahrenheit 911"). Rarely do we come across a motion picture like the one below that is so outrageous that it borders on the sublimely ridiculous (not to mention blasphemous to the tenth degree). Fatwah, anyone?

I have no idea where Hollyweird comes up with these “gems” but I believe it has a lot to do with certain mind-altering substances. Regardless, this movie takes the prize this week. At least ... it holds first honors until the release of “Tag-Team Smackdown: Mohammed/Allah vs. Alien/Predator” - which I’ve heard will be “an operatic deathmatch with soundtrack by Snoop Dogg, starring George Clooney as Allah”. I can hardly wait.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001)

Director: Lee Demarbre

Winner: Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Film - Santa Cruz Film Festival (2002)

Publicity: The first testament says “an eye for an eye.” The second testament says “love thy neighbour.” The third testament KICKS ASS!

The filmmaking team that brought you Harry Knuckles and won the “Spirit of Slamdance” prize with Harry Knuckles and the Treasure of the Aztec Mummy ups the ante with this tale of the ultimate action hero: Jesus Christ.

The second coming is upon us, and Jesus has returned to earth. But before he can get down to the serious business of judging the living and the dead, he has to contend with an army of vampires that can walk in the daylight.

Combining kung-fu action with biblical prophecy and a liberal dose of humour, the film teams the Savior with Mexican wrestling hero El Santos against mythological horrors and science gone mad, and also manages to address contemporary sexual politics. And did we mention that it’s a musical? This sure ain’t Sunday School.

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/12/2006 at 02:41 PM   
Filed Under: • Awards • Hollywood • Outrageous •  
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   Monday - May 08, 2006

Jack Bauer Update

You know, if I had my druthers and could get one of you to send me a picture of a television star getting drunk in public and jumping out of their clothes, I’d prefer it be Geena Davis of “Commander In Chief”. But NO! This is what I get ....

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/08/2006 at 09:46 AM   
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   Sunday - May 07, 2006

Religious Kerfuffle

Disclaimer: I have not seen the movie yet but I plan to when it debuts in a couple of weeks. I have however, read the book, which is a highly entertaining work of fiction. The story revolves around a fictional plot by the Catholic church to supress a fictional history of Jesus. Did I mention that the book and the movie are works of fiction? It seems that several groups have somehow missed that point.

I don’t mean to offend anyone but how is getting upset over a book or movie that revolves around a fictional history of Jesus and has no basis in fact supposed to be different from Muslims getting upset over Mohammed cartoons? Will the Christians storm the movie theatres and set fire to the popcorn machines? Will Dan Brown, Ron Howard and Tom Hanks have to go into hiding after a Christian “fatwah” is issued against them? I doubt it. Christians usually have better sense than that, with the exception of Pat Robertson.

I didn’t get around to reading the book until just recently when it came out in paperback (yeah, I’m cheap about some things). I had read all the negative reviews from churches but finally decided to see what the kerfuffle was all about. Now I’m not a Bible-thumping religious fanatic by any means but I am a Christian (Baptist) and I do believe in Jesus and the salvation he promised. Oddly enough, after reading the book I found that my convictions had not changed one iota. I did however, have a rip-snorting good time with a fun story.

To me the book was nothing more than an elaborate game of “Clue” with step after step of cryptic hints leading two people toward an unknown destination while the bad guys were on their tail the whole time. The only fault I had with the story is that Brown’s clues were kinda lame. I was usually about two pages ahead of the heros in the book and found myself snickering at their failure to see the obvious at almost every turn. Then again, my background is in mathematics and computers and I’ve always had an interest in cryptography. In addtion, the Fibonacci sequence, the Masons and the Knights Templar are really old set pieces in almost any conspiracy story. It’s time to get a new set of evil conspiracy characters. Those groups are worn out and have been since “The Maltese Falcon” started it all.

Bottom line: when the movie opens, I’ll be there with my jumbo popcorn and coke ($15 - which is the only outrageous thing about this), watching the plot unfold and silently screaming at Tom Hanks and the screen, “NO! You jerk! Rearrange the numbers! It’s the Fibonacci sequence!” And at the end of the movie, Jesus will still be the Son of God. Amen.

Churches Prepare To Rebut ‘DaVinci’
_{May 7, 2006}

Area churches are preparing to counter unorthodox claims about Jesus Christ in the movie “The Da Vinci Code,” which opens in theaters later this month. “‘The Da Vinci Code’ kind of gave a focus that there’s a lot [of misinformation] about Jesus Christ and Christianity out there, and perhaps it’s time to rebut it,” said Monsignor Francis J. Maniscalco, a spokesman for the District-based U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “If people see [the movie], they should go prepared.”

Dan Brown wrote the best-selling novel, “The Da Vinci Code,” published in 2003. Its film adaptation, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, will premiere in theaters May 19. The fast-paced, fictional novel reads like a giant Christian conspiracy theory, with a plot built on claims that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, that they had a daughter named Sarah and that their bloodline still exists.

The book also states early Christians never claimed Christ was divine and that the Catholic Church has covered up such information. Though the book is a work of fiction, those statements and Mr. Brown’s claim in the prologue that certain details in the book are authentic have alarmed area clergy.

“It poses certain questions to Orthodox Christian believers that the church needs to address,” said John Yates, rector of Falls Church Episcopal, where sermons on “The Da Vinci Code” will be featured May 21 and 28. “My hope would be that it would cause people to want to go back to the New Testament and read about Jesus more carefully than they ever have before.”

- More on this story at the Washington Times ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/07/2006 at 09:59 AM   
Filed Under: • Hollywood • Religion •  
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   Monday - May 01, 2006

Catfish News Report

As any of you who own an aquarium know, the best way to keep your little pond clean is to throw a catfish in the mix. Catfish are known as “bottom-feeders”, that is they eat the s**t that falls to the bottom of the aquarium. Nobody knows what happens to their s**t. We probably don’t need to know either. Regardless, this is a new feature here at BMEWS called “The Catfish News Report” where we bring you news that fell to the bottom of the tank - usually with good reason.

For our first bottom-feeder report we pick up the tragic tale of Anna Nicole Smith and “Marshall’s Millions”. In our last episode, dear little Anna was crying and begging the justices of SCOTUS to give her “Marshall’s Millions” while that dastardly villain, Marshall’s son, tried to deprive her of her just rewards for having provided nearly a year of “nursing services” to the elder Marshall before he died (reportedly with a huge smile on his face and stretch marks on his lips). We now pick up our story as dear sweet little Anna leaves the SCOTUS building ....

Justices Side With Anna Nicole Smith
Former Playmate can pursue share of late husband’s millions
_{Monday, May 1, 2006 - 11:00 a.m. EDT (15:00 GMT)}

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court ruled Monday that one-time stripper and Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith could pursue part of her late husband’s oil fortune.

Justices gave new legal life to Smith’s bid to collect millions of dollars from the estate of J. Howard Marshall II. Her late husband’s estate has been estimated at as much as $1.6 billion.

Smith has been embroiled in a long running cross-country court fight with Marshall’s youngest son, E. Pierce Marshall. The court’s decision, which was unanimous, means that it will not end anytime soon.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for the court, said Smith should have a fresh chance to pursue claims in federal court.

Smith’s case had brought unusual drama to the normally sedate high court.

Dressed in all black, she wept in the courtroom in late February as justices discussed Marshall and whether he had intended to provide for his young wife in death. When Smith arrived at the court, several photographers were knocked to the ground in a scuffle to photograph her.

- Believe it or not, there is even more of this shit Catfish food at CNN ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 05/01/2006 at 11:10 AM   
Filed Under: • Hollywood • Judges-Courts-Lawyers •  
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   Wednesday - April 19, 2006

The Far Side

Lionel Richie? In Libya? Giving a concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s smackdown of Khadaffi? Cue up Rod Serling and the “Twilight Zone” music. I can’t figure this one out at all ....

Koncert For Khadaffi

U.S. singer Lionel Richie sings in front of the ruined home of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi in Tripoli, Libya April 14, 2006. With Muammar Gaddafi’s home as a backdrop, U.S. singer Lionel Richie jived and rocked for an adoring Libyan audience on Saturday in a concert to mark the 20th anniversary of a U.S. raid on the North African country.

“Libya I love you, I’ll be back,” the Oscar and Grammy award-winning singer songwriter said to roars of approval from more than 1,000 senior Libyan officials and diplomats gathered in front of the shell-cratered building. He was followed by Spanish opera stars Jose Carreras and Ofelia Sala who belted through a selection of classic favorites backed by 60-piece orchestra under a cloudless night sky.

Organizers said the music provided a deliberately upbeat commemoration of the 1986 raid, an event that marked one of the lowest points in the decades Libya spent being seen as an outlaw state that supported terrorism. U.S. forces bombed Tripoli and Benghazi in the early hours of April 15, 1986. Then President Ronald Reagan said it was in retaliation for what he called Libyan complicity in the bombing of a discotheque in Berlin a month earlier in which three people, including a U.S. serviceman, were killed.

Posted by The Skipper     on 04/19/2006 at 09:54 AM   
Filed Under: • Hollywood • Odd-Strange •  
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

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