I want to welcome everybody to the West-est Week Ever! You see, this has all been part of an experiment where I was testing myself. I’ve never been much of a goal-setter. I just sort of go where the wind takes me, and adjust accordingly. And that…doesn’t lead to great things. Not ambitious things, at least. I didn’t treat this site well in the past few years. Just sort of writing when I felt like it, which wasn’t often. But when the year started, I made the decision to commit to it, and to establish some sort of consistency. It gave me something to look forward to. And here I am, with my 38th consecutive West Week Ever installment of the year – a run that I’m not sure I’ve ever had in the past. After all, I used to skip holiday weekends, because I felt my audience didn’t exist if there was a long weekend (This is the kind of post you read at work, when you don’t want to do work). But I’m not really doing it for others anymore. Sure, I’ve said that in the past, but I think I finally mean it. So, that meant it was time for a new challenge.
Over the weekend, I started wondering if I could do a five-day streak. Sure, I’ve done “theme weeks” in the past, but I’ve never done one on top of a consecutive weekly streak. When I did a Spring Break series or something, you probably didn’t get another post from me for a month afterward. Plus, since those were themed, I was locked into a certain thing, like TV show jobs or TV theme songs. No, this week, I covered a range of topics. The list of links is down in the Will Around the Web section, but I covered everything from podcasts to the history of syndicated TV to recent goings on in the comic industry. And they weren’t throwaway filler posts, either. Some good “long reads” in there that I was proud of. May not mean much to you, but there are few things I love as much as a streak and/or an accomplishment. And, if I did it once, then I can do it again. Who knows what’s next?!
On the movie front, I finally got around to watching a film I’ve been circling for the better part of a decade: 1957’s A Face in the Crowd, starring Andy Griffith. Yes, that Andy Griffith. It’s sort of insane that he’s primarily known for 2 roles: Sheriff Andy Taylor and lawyer Ben Matlock. These were both kindly guys who charmed the nation. So who knew he could play such an incredible asshole?! He is not a Great Guy here, and this was his Big Screen Debut! Not only do I now see him in a new light, but I also feel like we were robbed of more amazing performances like this, once he was sort of typecast by his The Andy Griffith Show role.
Griffith plays drifter Larry Rhodes who’s discovered by traveling journalist Marcia, who’s doing public interest stories. She hosts a radio series, called “A Face in the Crowd”, where she interviews regular folks, in all walks of life. When the film begins, Marcia’s wandered into a small town jail to interview the men who are locked up. Adhering to the “Hobo’s Code” or whatever, none of the men want to help her with her story, until the sheriff promises one particular inmate – Rhodes – that he’ll release him the next morning if he’ll simply sing a song for the recording. Well, Rhodes sings a song about how he’ll be a free man tomorrow. Not only is the segment a hit for the radio station, but it sets into motion of sequence of events where Rhodes ends up one of the most powerful men in America, as his false “Aww, shucks” persona resonates with The Common Man. After conquering radio, he moves to television, and then politics. I was watching this on TCM, and they mentioned that the film was originally released to mixed reviews, as many felt the content was too exaggerated to be believed. Over time, however, it has become more appreciated for the satire that it was, as it pretty accurately depicted the world in which we currently live.
I was sort of amazed to see a nearly 70 year old movie that looked like it was ripped from today’s headlines. Rhodes’s tactics in the media, and they way he wields his power as an entertainer, will be very familiar to viewers. There were other things, though, that caught me by surprise. For example, one of the biggest sponsors of Rhodes’s TV program sells a hokey product called Vitajex, which was basically a caffeine pill. They, however, were marketing it like late night boner pills. If there had been a Frank Thomas and Boomer Esiason of the era, they’d have been in that ad. Rhodes pitched it as something that would give men the energy to chase the girls around the office. Meanwhile, they filmed a television commercial, with a lingerie-clad woman in bed, saying how much she loves that her man now takes Vitajex, and that he has a year’s supply. The camera, then, pans to a full Vitajex bottle the size of one of those giant plastic novelty Coke bottles that’s actually a savings bank. These aren’t the “idyllic 50s” that everyone claims existed. Where are the picket fences and the pies in the windows? No, this was about city gals who like to fuck, and then men who want them!
It’s a dirty, grimy movie, whether it’s the period set down south, or the stuff set in NYC. Each socioeconomic group has its own problems. If anything, though, it’s something of an indictment of how the powerful take advantage of those who have Less Than, be it education, money, or simply access to opportunities. It’s not like Rhodes was a good man corrupted by power. He was always bad, but he was also tremendously charismatic. He was always a ne’er-do-well, so it was more of a cautionary tale about being careful about whom you trust with power. At his most evil peak, Rhodes delivers the line, “They’re mine! I OWN ’em! They THINK like I do!” Hmm…”He thinks like I do” is a similar sentiment that we hear quite a bit these days…
That’s not to say there’s no Hope, however. One of the most important lines of the film comes near the end, spoken by one of Rhodes’s former writers, Mel: “You were taken in, just like we were all taken in. But we got wise to him. That’s our strength.” God, do I wish more people would take that line to heart! In any case, look at me watching a black & white movie in 2024! I turned on TCM, and thought, “So, it has finally come to this.” But it also felt natural. I mean, I’m an old man now. So, not only did I enjoy this film, but it might be one of my all-time favorite movies now, which is not something that I say lightly. If you’ve never seen it, it’s definitely worth seeking out!
Video Fixin’
Since I’m sharing videos, but they’re not trailers, I felt this section needed a different name. It’s a play on words, but I’m not married to it, so we’ll see what happens there…
I’m late to the Sabrina Carpenter game, as far as her music is concerned. I mean, I was watching Girl Meets World back in the day, but I was surprised to learn she’d made the jump to music. And, even then, I just assumed it was Disney tripe. When Olivia Rodrigo blew up, and the rumor was that “Driver’s License” was about Carpenter stealing Rodrigo’s boyfriend, I was Team Rodrigo. Well, now that I’m more familiar with Carpenter, my response is pretty much:
Seriously, Rodrigo seems boring as Hell next to this chick! I listened to Carpenter’s album Short n’ Sweet over the weekend, and loved pretty much every song. So, I was equally amazed by this duet with Christina Aguilera, to celebrate the 25th anniversary (I’m SO old) of the release of Christina’s debut album.
Can you believe SNL debuted a NEW digital short from The Lonely Island, and buried that shit around 12:50 AM?! THE LONELY ISLAND! They’re forcing Please Don’t Destroy down our throats week after week, and then they squander the Genuine Article? Anyway, the video is just as crazy as you’d expect. Welcome back, guys!
So happy that America Dad – the crown jewel of Seth MacFarlane’s empire – has a return date for the new season. Don’t ask me which season it is, as that answer varies depending on who you ask, and what you read.
Will Around The Web
- Adam and I released the latest episode of Remember That Show?, where we talked about Baywatch Nights. I also include a little anecdote about the origins of our podcast.
- Then, I gave a history lesson on syndicated television, in the context of how that model could save series like That ’90s Show.
- As promised in last week’s West Week Ever, I provide a 6,000-word (!) treatise on the current state of DC Comics, through the lens of the recently completed Absolute Power event.
- I finally circle back to my Baltimore Comic Con recap, which turned into a look at how new costs are posing challenges for con goers.
Things You Might Have Missed This Week
- I guess the answer was “Mona”, as it was reported that the Amazon Freevee revival of Who’s The Boss? will no longer be moving forward.
- Best Buy informed us they’d be removing their physical media section, but Target chose to move in silence, as it’s being reportedly that stores across the country have removed their movie sections. (I checked 4 stores last week, and can confirm)
- I guess Jeff Goldblum will have to find a new show on which to be weird, as Netflix has canceled his series KAOS after one season.
- Mere days after the release of its Halloween special on Max, it was reported that Mindy Kaling’s maligned Velma has been canceled after two seasons.
- Henry Cavill was reported to be starring in a live action Voltron, so I guess whatever letter writing campaign his fans seem to be engaged in is finally paying off somewhere. But, I’m warning you, Cavill – This is your LAST chance!
- There are rumors that Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb – the creative team on the smash Batman storyline “Hush” – will reteam on a new Batman comic in 2025.
- Prayers Up for Pam, as The Office cast member Jenna Fischer announced her breast cancer diagnosis.
- HBO’s Lanterns series has found its John Stewart in Rebel Ridge star Aaron Pierre. Clearly, the main prerequisite was “Black dude with weird eyes”. I’m certain that’s what was on the casting sheet.
What a difference a week makes! Last Friday, in this very section, I was telling you how DC’s Absolute Power was so disappointing that the only redeeming aspect of it was that the cover featured the return of the classic “DC Bullet” logo. Not only had I been colossally disappointed by that “event”, but it also left me with no anticipation for the fallout, which included this week’s debut issue of Absolute Batman. Still, I consulted my spiritual advisors (They know who they are), and I was convinced to give the book a chance. Well, I mean, who are we kidding? It’s a Batman comic, and it’s the first issue. If my inner Batman fan didn’t make me buy it, my inner comic speculator would have. So, I bought it. Annnnnnd I didn’t hate it. No, let me give credit where it’s due. I not only enjoyed it, but I’m intrigued to see where the series goes.
I’m not gonna spoil anything here, as the book sold out in a lot of places, so some of y’all may not have been able to read it yet. All I’ll say is that it’s an Elseworldsian approach, where it’s “different, but still familiar”. You’ll recognize names, but they may not look how you remember them. This is especially true for Alfred Pennyworth, who brings an interesting perspective to the series.
Speaking of which, I think that might be my favorite part of the issue: It’s not told from Batman’s point of view. Most Batman comics are first-person, sharing his inner monologue and motivations. This, however, is an outsider’s interpretation of Batman, which is one of my favorite perspectives. It’s one thing to be a rich guy, dressed up as a bat. It’s a completely different thing to be a regular Joe, who encounters something that may be a person dressed as a bat. The way folks exaggerate these sort of almost unexplainable events affects their storytelling. They’re no longer reliable narrators. So, when I see a wild, almost Barbarian looking Batman in the book, I think that’s less about how he really looks, but more about how he appears to those encountering him. I’ve always been fascinated by the stories where Batman is basically an urban legend, spoken of mostly in whispers. In those situations, the general populace doesn’t even believe he’s real until they have their own, personal encounter with him. This feels like it’s leaning into that, so I am definitely picking up what it’s putting down.
I still have next to no interest in the upcoming Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman, but I’m sticking around for the ride that is Absolute Batman. Nobody likes being wrong, but this is a situation where I’m just fine with it. Hell, I’m glad to say I was wrong! So, that’s why Absolute Batman had the West Week Ever.
