Actors

“This is my favorite kind of surprise: mild!”
-Ned Flanders

I’d like to compile a list of memorable guest appearances and cameos from movies, TV, concerts, etc., whether it was a surprise addition that made or broke the entire performance, or just something that you weren’t expecting. I know there are a lot of examples of this kind of thing, and when I come across them I recognize that and appreciate it, but now, after the fact, it generally takes something to jog my memory. So I’d like to start a list here so I don’t have to put extra stress on my brain trying to remember. Plus it’s a good way to share in case some of us didn’t realize someone-or-other was in that one thing, with the guy and the explosions and the goat.

Nothing beats watching a show or a movie and perking up when an actor we love and aren’t expecting steps into frame. But sometimes we completely skip over a movie or whatever, not realizing that someone we like made a guest appearance. So if we happen to be a fan of that particular actor or artist, it might completely change our intentions of whether to watch or listen. And the same could be true for people we dislike. I know there are definitely certain actors I detest enough to boycott great movies, even if they’re only on screen for a minute or two. And then there are also some performances that completely carried bad movies — you’ll even sit through it again just to get to that one scene with that one character and the goat.

So help me out if you would. Post memorable cameos as you think of them.

I’m consistently confused by what the public latches on to. I don’t understand why some things become so popular, whether it’s a show, movie, celebrity, saying, food, etc. Of course I’m sure that to the untrained eye I obsess over some bizarre things, but that’s not the point. This site is for throwing stones at others for doing what I do but in different ways.

So what I’d like to do is compile a list of things we can’t believe caught on, or that we’re annoyed caught on, and maybe also things we’re glad didn’t become popular, or even things that we wish had.

Of course it is your right to stick up for trends that you support, but you will likely be made fun of, and likely for good reason.

Celebrities are usually shoved in our faces because of some particular “talent” they have, be it acting, music, comedy, growing up rich, etc. But lines have always been muddy in Hollywood (Bollywood too, I suppose — let’s include our Hindu friends), with “entertainers” flexing their “skills” and performing in different arenas instead of sticking to just one (sorry, a lot of sarcasm quotes so far). Many if not most old-timey actors also sang and danced, singers acted, and some even moved to politics (Arnold Schwarzenegger the actor??).

A popular item these days is the comic-turned-actor, for better or worse. Sitcoms in particular drive this plague… But that’s just one thing wrong with entertainment today. There are plenty of bad crossovers on our airwaves too.

Of course not all crossover cases are failures, but it seems that more often than not they make me a little nauseous and just generally uncomfortable in my bowels.

But the point of the thread is to name off, discuss, boo or applaud crossover entertainers. Do so… now.

I hate the way people feel like they have to be so careful, so politically correct, so ambiguous and universal when talking about anything that anybody else might have a different opinion on. This is regardless of the actual content of your words. If it’s related to race, religion, or sexual orientation, you can’t be remotely specific about your feelings, even if what you have to say is positive. (“If I like their race, how can that be racist?“)

So take this example: someone at work is going through a crisis, serious illness in the family or something… The emails fly around with encouraging words… People who I know are Christians or to some extent pray or are comfortable with the concept will still send out their email saying something ambiguous like “you and your family are in my thoughts.” Okay, I understand that not everyone believes in God. But if you don’t and I do, why would me saying “I’ll be praying for you and your family” offend you? Even if you think it’s a crock, I’m showing that I’m concerned and doing something for you that I believe is helpful.

If my dad was very sick and you said, “I’m going to take some play dough and make a bunch of little gods and then dance and pray to them all night in hopes that your dad makes a full recovery,” I wouldn’t be offended. Yes, I would think it very stupid, and I don’t practise your play dough religion, but in your misguided way you are putting forth actual effort for me in my time of need, my situation is on your mind. Do I believe that your efforts will heal my father? It’s irrelevant. Do your methods comfort me? No, but knowing I have concerned people sharing my hardships does.

(more…)

For some reason I’m in the throes of a serious Spinal Tap obsession. It consumes me. This Is Spinal Tap an old favourite, I’ve loved it and the group’s work for years (not to mention Chris Guest’s other stuff), so I’m not entirely sure what’s triggered this now, but I just can’t get enough. Those of you who know me know that I get something in my head and just beat it into the ground, whether it’s a movie, album, tasty snack treat (cups and cakes?) or whatever. It’s a cycle. It would appear it’s Spinal Tap’s turn.

Real quick though I gotta point out the talent of this group. These three guys are great writers, actors and ad libbers. They’re hilarious, intelligent and quick-witted. And what’s more, they’re all amazing musicians. (They not only play and sing but they also wrote the music.) Such a combination is so uncommon, and then for them to come together and parody the hair band/metal genre in the height of its popularity is just awesome.

Michael McKean, who you may know as Lenny from Laverne & Shirley, is David St. Hubbins (the patron saint of quality footwear), the lead vocalist and backing guitarist. Christopher Guest is lead guitarist and secondary vocalist, Nigel Tufnel. Guest is a genius, and best known for starting and perfecting the whole mockumentary genre. And whether you realize it or not, you’re probably very familiar with bassist Derek Smalls, who is portrayed by Harry Shearer. Shearer provides many, many of the voices on The Simpsons.

I don’t normally create separate threads for my current obsession, but I think I’ll be posting some of my favourite clips, and just generally ranting for a while, so I may as well go all out for it. Besides, who doesn’t like the Tap? Actually, if you don’t, I’d like to hear why, I guess. And for you fans, feel free to share which songs and bits of film you like the best. There’s way too many for me to mention them all, although I may end up trying…

I should start off by saying I really don’t care for professional movie reviews. They do not affect my opinion, they are rarely indicative of the actual quality of the film, and only correspond to my own preferences randomly. I don’t read reviews, but I can write them.

So by popular demand, here’s a catch-all thread for film feedback — a place to give your reviews of what you last saw in the theater or in your living room (so DVD reviews welcome). Maybe I’ll eventually work in a four-star rating system with pretty little graphics, but for the meantime you all have asterisk keys (meaning number 8 keys). So give us your thoughts and slap the appropriate number of stars on your review too.

I think we can keep talk of upcoming movies over in the Pretty Good Year thread and just discuss movies we’ve seen here.

I think for a while now we’ve needed a placeholder for all our random TV show comments. We have designated threads for Lost, The Office, SNL, The Simpsons, and American Idol, but all other comments about all other shows kinda have to get thrown wherever. So that’s what this thread is for — comments about random shows that don’t already have their own threads.

Of course if you want to start a thread about a particular show that you think is popular enough for its own discussion, feel free to do that. Or If there seems to be enough interest in something here I’ll break it out of this thread & start a new one for it.

I’ve gone back & moved a handful of comments from other threads that now probably fit better here, so you’ll see some comments listed that precede this new thread. So do not panic about that. My powers transcend time, so I can do such things.