Past Prologue

Funny, how things work out.

I had two very close friends when I was growing up, one whom I've known for close to 40 years and another for 26 years.

And I regret that over the years, as sometimes happens, I lost contact with them. It's like those old school mates; you spend at least 8 years with them -from kindergarten through 8th grade - and then if your lucky, another four during High School. Then college -or no college - seperates you, even after you promised you would stay in touch.

Dennis and I had a long time friendship that survived, at times, many ups and downs and a few years when he lived in Colorado after his parents split. He spent four years in the National Guard and, yet, when we got together, it was as if no time had passed. And while Dennis and I had little in common, we still had a bond of friendship that trumped everything else.

After our little adventure in the Bay Area working for the now defunct United Artist Theater chain, I relationship shifted. He was back in the midwest, doing his sports medicine stuff. Even after I returned to Chicago, we spent no time together. As a matter of fact, I think 4 years passed before I saw him again. After that, another 2 years passed before I contatced him again, and we spoke over the phone. It was not helpful.

Now eight years later, I have no idea where he's at, though I suspect he still lives on the south side of Chicago. It pains me that he has never tried to find me, or seemed even concerned that I am alive.

Then there was Michael, a guy I met when I was working for K Mart in 1980. While Mike and I did not become friends until about two or three months later, we none the less hit it off. Like my roommate Bill here, Mike and I shared the same interest; science fiction.

We had a great friendship during the 1980's, and even though we had some rough patches from time to time, it could always be the typical thing real firends go through.

But time and tide seemed to effect us towards the end of the 80's. Mike was dating Kathy and I moved to California for 18 months. After my return, Mike and I saw little of each other, as he was working a great job and was planning (and eventually) married Kathy.

I think the last time I saw Mike was at his fathers funeral. Though I might have faulty memories on that. I remembered spending time at his home in Bartlett, but I can't recall if it was after or before.

Anyway, Mike was a big collector of music and during our mad and wild days of the 1980's, he made me loads of audio tapes of music, well over a hundred by 1992. I still have them and while some have been abused by me, I have almost all of them. Plus, as mentioned above, our love of sci fi such as Dr. Who and Star Trek gives me more sweet, sweet memories. All those Sunday nights watching Monty Python, Dave Allen and then Doctor Who on the PBS station there; standing in line to see Return of the Jedi.

So, last night, after a few weeks of intense wondering where he was, I tried to find him. I knew he no longer lived in Bartlett, but I was unsure where he was, if he even still lived in Illinois.

Thge internet can be a wonderful thing, and it took me a couple of hours going through endless searches, but I think I found him and his wife in West Chicago. I found an email address and on a whim, and wing and a prayer, I sent one off.

Surprise!!

It was him and he sent such a kind and wonderful bundle of memories back in the email. I was so happy and so shocked.

Of course, I sent a new email back to him, giving him the update of my life. Well, sort of, anyway. I can't remember if I told him I was queer. That should be interesting. God knows, I hope he dosen't freak out like Dennis did.

Hopefully, he'll send one back. I also gave him my mobile number, so we'll see if he calls.

Thanks, Fate.

I hope we'll never lose this time again.

Jerry Falwell's attack on Freedom and Madonna

I could give a rats ass about Madonna these days, with her crazy stunts that piss of censors across the globe and her latest CD and her fake British accent.

Lately, she has survived protesters and censors in Russia, Germany and even the Vatican City (some of those countries which are not known for "freedom of speech") so she could perform her crucifixion number, Live to Tell in concert.

NBC, which will air the concert in November, has bowed to pressure from the likes of Jerry Falwell and the American Family Association and will cut that number from the special.
America is the cradle of democracy and the birthplace of something called the First Amendment rights, and I find this step by NBC -who by the way, still aired The Book of Daniel earlier this year after threats from AFA - very disturbing. I mean, despite those protests mentioned above, she still was able to perform that portion of the concert because her artistic freedom needed to be preserved.

So, smug Falwell can claim a victory for NBC dropping the segment, but once again what the real story is our freedoms are under attack not from Islamic fundamentalism, but psychotic Christians and right wing muckrakers who are using fear to keep America in a war that a good percentage (those who get their news from other sources other than FOXNews) of us now realize is un-winnable.

In Jerry Falwell’s world, freedom of speech and artistic freedom are wrong and must be crushed so the glory of Jesus can shine through.

What an ass.

It's official: The Class is dumb, but Heroes shines

Have no idea how CBS convinced these critics to praise this show, but The Class is about as funny as a heart attack. All the characters are pathetic whiners and the plots are as thin as the Olsen Twins.

While this has got to be series 47 for Adrian Pasdar (but, damn he's a whiny egosentric), Heroes startes off great, with everyone of their characters beginning to sense the change overcoming them. The spooky powered one is the artist. I would be freaked out if pictures I paint started becoming real.

Only one problem (though, I don't know why, so much) with it, since it was shot as a 2 hour opener, it takes a bit to meet all the hereos. But I was not expecting the cliffhanger, though.

Surprise.

Hidden Frontier shoot: 09/24.

Today, filming continued on Hidden Frontier's final season. We're still in the midst of epsiode 705 -The Widening Gyre - and 706, Things Fall Apart. This shoot was easy by far, no drama and we wrapped on time. The next shoot is October 21 and next was suppose to be the 28th, but now we'll film on 22nd as well. Saturday and Sunday shoots are a challenge, plus we'll have so many people coming and going that we'll never wrap on time on either of those days..

Of course, its about the talents availability. Everyone of the actors schedules are causing this bottlenecking.

There was a cute 18 year-old boy who knows JT via through his myspace, and as it turns out, just a stones throw from Rob's. So he was there watching us film, flirting with Rob. He's adorable and can't say I did not feel something for him, but he's way too young.

Still...

Anyway, all is coming together. However, the fans will have to have mor patience, as The Widening Gyre will not be released until the end of October or the first Monday in November.

grr.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip best new show of the season?

I never watched The West Wing, if only because it was usually opposite something I usually watched. Plus, I've never been a big fan of Martin Sheen.

The there was Aaron Sorkin, an admitted drug addict. I felt I should not support him. Brilliant of writer that he is, I just felt I would be enabling him. So, I passed on it.

This past week, his newest show debuted on NBC. I watched it just a few moments ago, and found it well written, with a great cast. So far, if I was to say what was the best new show so far this TV season, this would win.

Because Studio 60 refuses to pander to its audience. And Sorkin makes it very clear, he'll not do this with this show, as the teaser was a brilliant rant at network TV ands its inability to be original because certain groups of a conservative nature will force a blockade. It's a risky too, as shows-within-a-show filled with inside jokes and self-mocking humor may turn off a large group of people who think Two and Half Men is the funny.

For me, this is what I want from my TV show. I don't want it dumb down, and I don't care if teens are not watching it. The networks failure to understand this means we'll be stuck with lame comedy shows like Two and Half Men, and endless reality shows.

FOX, once thought as nothing but fluff, has several shows on their schedule that have proven successful with out lowering brain cells (which Las Vegas does in spades), even though we are stuck with Law & Order franchise and that cheap game show, Deal or No Deal. NBC, stuck in 4th place, is fianlly doing something about that. Studio 60, My Name is Earl and The Office will be on my NBC watch list.

Over at CBS, The Class has potential, its just that I would not want to spend any time with these guys. They are boring and the premise, at best, is silly. Still, I'll give it another try, as there is nothing else worthy to watch on Monday's at 8 (besides I kind of like How I Met Your Mother and The New Adventure of Old Christine). Same goes for Jericho on Wednesday. I'll give it one more try before either recording it so I can watch Bones over at FOX, or abandon it althougher to record 30 Rock when it debuts, 'cause I love Bones.

I'm looking forward to Ugly Betty, The Nine and Heroes. And, of course, Lost and Desperate Housewives.

Gay Witch Hunt -The Office's funny season opener

While The Office has diverged from the British verison it is based on, it none the less, has become a funny show that pokes more fun at corporate America than Dilbert ever could. Its season opener this past Thursday, The Gay Witch Hunt, show cased to the straight viewer how inappropriate the word "fag"is, and hopefully educated them as well.

For Michael, the boss of this team who has suffered from a chronic case of foot-in-mouth disease in the past, accidently outs office accountant Oscar after trying to make amends to him for referring to Oscar as "faggy."

Like so many straight Americans, the word "fag" or "so gay" is supposed to mean lame, and Michael goes on the defensive by saying he would never call a retarded person a "retard", let alone a gay person "faggy."

And while the episode -and Oscar - try to point out how that comparison isn’t any better, The Office’s attempt to explain why the phrase is so wrong and is one reason why this show is a suitable replacement for the now cancelled (and much more brilliant) Arrested Development as one the funniest shows on TV.

For Michael, and for millions of slightly unenlightened Americans who bandy the word "gay" around like candy during Halloween, he never meant it in a cruel way. For him, gays are found in large cities, or as noted on the episode: the Bravo show, "Project Runway." Its hard for him to wrap his brain around the concept, as he sees his co-workers as being just like him. He never thought that words could harm someone he cares and knows about.

Then, after all is explained to him, Michael goes out of his way to make amends, by calling everyone into the conference room. The episode goes from great to outstanding as Michael lets Oscar know that he’s accepted and embraces him and plants one of the most awkward kisses seen on TV since Michael Jackson planted one Lisa Marie Presley.

And for Oscar, who never wanted to out at work and who has kept his private life just that, becomes nobody’s fool, either. He is portrayed not as a gay stereotype, but as real character and who, at the end of the day, is just like everyone else: he’s mediocre at best and seems to give the impression he would rather be somewhere else than at work.

One the other aspects of this episode is that Oscar wants to quit, but we found out that he stays only because, as most people would do, he can be bought. The company gives him three months paid vacation and a company car. Which just goes to prove that the character is fully human, with many foibles and not the butt of any ones joke. There are few TV shows who make this valiant attempt to show that gay people are just one of the gang.

Birthday wishes to Jinx Titanic and Marc

Happy Birthday to these wonderful guys.

XXOO

Sarah Jane Smith returns in 2nd spin-off of Doctor Who

With the third season of the revamped Doctor Who series set to air next spring and the first spin-off show Tourchwood expected this fall, the BBC and series show runner Russell T Davis are gearing up another series featuring, perhaps, the best known companion the Time Lord known only as the Doctor ever had.

Elizabeth Sladen, who portrayed the intrepid reporter Sarah Jane Smith on the classic series from 1973 to 1976, is set to come back in the Sarah Jane Adventures, a BBC production for Children’s British Broadcasting Company (CBBC).

Set in present day, the series will focus on Sarah and a 13 year-old neighbor girl named Maria (Yasmin Paige), who team up to fight evil alien forces at work in Britain and the scheming Ms Wormwood -to be played by Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny in recent James Bond films of Pierce Bronsan). A 60 minute special -written by Davies -will go before the cameras next month, with a series set to lens next spring.

Sladen has become a fan favorite over the years and is cited by many both here in the US and in Britain to be the best companion the franchise ever had and was Davies favorite when he watched the show as a kid. When he was hired to helm the revamp, it was her character he wanted to bring back especially. And while it took a season, Sladen none the less came back in season two’s School Reunion.

K9, who also returned in with Sarah Jane in Reunion, will not be part of the show (as there is rumored an animated series in the works featuring the robotic dog), but will appear in the "pilot."

Birthday

Strange, that as I turn 44 today, how I feel so much older.

On the outside, most people look at me and usually are surprised to find out that I am in my 40's. Which is fine, as I don't act my age anyway. My gray hair betrays me when I don't color it, but I'm getting tired of doing it. So, I guess, now I'll look like I'm in those 40's.

Oh, well, I'm also very low-key about my birthday. I actually like going to other peoples birthdays than mine. They are - at some point -just another day.

And mom sent me $25, which was cool, and I'll use it, but had she just sdent the card, I would've been happy.

But at 11:30, only Donna and Mom have called. I'll be surprised if I hear from Dawn -even though Steven's birthday is tomorrow. She forgets. Brian, well, if he was not married to Karen, I would not hear from him on my birthday. It's his thing.

Books of 2006, part 12: Gil's All Fright Diner

Gil's All Fright Diner

by

A. Lee Martinez

In what could be the start of a potential series of novels, A. Lee Martinez Gil’s All Fright Diner jumps into the world mined by the late Douglas Adams. But instead of poking fun of science fiction, the author takes on the horror genre. Here’s a universe where a vampire named Earl and a werewolf named Duke travel together and where, after stopping off in a one stop sign town of Rockwood, encounter it being overtaken by zombies.

At first reluctant to help, they become involved with Loretta -who is running Gil’s All Night Diner after the mysterious disappearance of Gil - and Sherif Kopp to find out why the zombies find Gil’s so interesting.

Along the way, they encounter Tammy (AKA Lilith, Queen of Night) and her dopy boyfriend, Chad. Tammy needs to get into Gil’s, but now that Loretta has Earl and Duke, her plans to take over the world become more complicated. But when Earl becomes distracted by an amorous ghost, Tammy sets in motion her dreaded plan. Only if her dad and school work doesn’t interfere.

*************************************************************************************

During the heyday of the 1980's when I read many humorous fantasy novels, not much came close to the brilliance of Douglas Adams. Piers Anthony came near enough, but after the sixth Xanth novel, the series became dull and lifeless, with way too many puns. And I never like how he jumped ahead in the Xanth universe, regulating most of my favorite characters to cameos. Robert Asprin’s Myth series I liked, but found the series running quickly out of ideas, which included a brief bout of writers block by the author that effected the series in general - beyond his later battles with tax’s and his ex-wife.

This novel works like the Buffy and Angel universe, with jokes and one-liners between some good ideas. But I must becoming cynical in my older age, as I found the book funny, but nothing as brilliant as the all the Adams work. But then, what could?

I guess while the book is entertaining and worth the price, its just not as original. Which is what is wrong on TV, the movies and books. But I watch and, occasionally, read. That maybe why I’m drawn more and more these days to non-fiction and why I still have a desire to re-read such books as the entire Lord of the Rings series for the umpteenth time.

Of the fantasy genre I used to love so much 20 years ago, I’m finding no one interesting to read. There is Tad Williams, maybe. The Robert Jordan endless Wheel of Time series lost me around the end of book 3 and the so horrible I never finished it book 4. Harry Potter is still good, and have been tempted to go back an re-read the entire first 6 books.

I have a box or more of books I’ve yet to read. Sometimes, I feel I wouldn’t mind being the Bergess Meredith character Henry Bennis in that Twilight Zone episode Time Enough at Last. Of course, I don’t want a nuclear war to come, but it would be great to be able to put a year or two away of no worries of money food and housing and just read all the books I’ve yet to get to sitting in storage and the ones on the book shelves I’ve yet to buy.

After all, I still have that Confederacy of Dunces to read. I’m just glad I don’t need glasses to read.

Five Years Later: 9/11

September 11, 2001

Heroes

Books of 2006: Part 11: Mayflower By Nathaniel Philbrick

 

I began reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower with the same curiosity he did: learning how Thanksgiving began. Of course, as a holiday, Thanksgiving did not begin until 1863 as a "cathartic celebration of nationhood". True, the Pilgrims would’ve been probably horrified by it, seeing that most of their puritanical ideas would not allow for such a baffling notion; heck, they did not even celebrate Christmas.

When the Pilgrims reached the shores of America in 1620, they knew not what to expect, but they were trying to escape religious persecution in England. They felt that church had become corrupted by "centuries of laity and abuse". They believed that if something was not in the scriptures, it was man-made, and thus a distortion of what God intended (even though the Church of England was already super conservative). These Puritans had no use for the Book of Common Prayer, since they felt it tampered with the meaning of the Bible and prevented "spontaneity", which they felt was "essential to attaining" the "divine".

But if I could time travel back to those early years, when nearly half of the original travelers on the Mayflower lost their lives, I would tell them that they needed to tell their kids and grandchildren the basic need to understand each other. Even the leaders of the Pilgrims realized early on that if they were going to survive beyond the first year, they needed the "Strangers" to help them, and that meant loosening some of Puritanical ideals.

So while the first years were hard, with many misunderstandings between them, the Native Indians and the folks from England, they were able to balance out a life.

History, sadly repeats itself, and it would be the next generation of Strangers, more Pilgrims, that would cause a war between them. After 50 years, a conflict would grow as additional people arriving to the New World felt it was God’s divine right to strip the natives of their land and kill them. Of course, the Indians were no so innocent themselves, but it seems to me that they were wiped out for no other reason than they were a nuisance to America’s westward movement.

Even today, with our current conflict in Iraq, we are still fighting a war based on race. For today we see people like Samuel Moseley who coined the phrase "the only good Indian was a dead Indian" and felt that once you got mad at them, you got even with them.

Then there was Benjamin Church, who felt that instead of hating your enemy, you learn as much as possible from him; that instead of killing them, you tried to bring them around to your way of thinking.

And "first and foremost, you treat them like human beings".

Because the one lesson that can be learned by King Philip’s War of 1674-75 is that "unbridled arrogance and fear only feed the flames of violence.”

Arrested Deveploment: Season 3 on DVD

The final season of the best comedy in decades came out yesterday.

I struggle to find words as to why this show failed. Perhaps it was just too clever and too sly, and too bold for Joe American. And I've said for years that satire is lost on mainstream American's, so that could be it also.

So, the final insult that FOX could give this show was only ordering thirteen new episodes for the fall 2005-06 season, airing only 3 episodes in September before yanking it for a month of baseball in October. Then they aired only 2 episodes (back-to-back) in November followed by 3 in December -when people are out shopping for Christmas and when, generally, most of the networks run repeats. FOX then aired only one show in January before taking it off for 6 weeks and finally aired the final 4 episodes on one night, a Friday; against the always highly rated opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.

While TV comedies are at an all time low, and such lame series as Two and Half Men are nominated for Emmy's as best comedy show (which went, this past Sunday, to My Name is Earl -which while a funny and clever show, pales to Arrested Development and even the highly underrated Scrubs), the loss makes me wonder where next great comedy series will come from.

I sense that in a few years -maybe even 10 - Arrested Development will become a classic - and people will wonder why such a brilliant show died so soon.

I know why, at least I think I do.

But I want to thanks series creator Mitch Hurwitz and the entire cast of AD for giving me some the best laughs in years. The show will long live in DVD for me and I will giggle at all the shows, even when I've watched them over and over again.

Long live Arrested Development.

California: One year later...

One year ago today, I arrived in California.

A whole year has gone by. The thing is, my life has really not changed too much. Still working for Borders, still trying to live paycheck-to-paycheck, still single -with no boyfriend prospects on the horizon.

I'm happy, in some ways. There are only a few minutes of a day that I miss Chicago and the family. I certainly don't miss the weather -especially last Thanksgiving when it was 70 here and 2 below in Antioch.

True it gets hot here -and it is a dry heat (lol) - but its so much better than the wickedly humid days and bitter cold I grew up with there.

And since February, I've been working with the Hidden Frontier crew, which is such a huge bonus, I can't even say. Rob and his crew have been so supportive and so kind and have honored me by allowing this boy to play in their toy box.

But I would be lying if I said I'm more happier here than in Chicago. I guess, I even hoped, that by now I would have a new job making -realistically - the same amount I was when USG fired me in January '05.

But as the song goes, God just laughs at my plans. I seemed doomed to live a dull, prosaic life filled with fears of not being able to buy food or pay the rent. What did I do in a past life that I'm paying for now?

I know this woe is me bullshit is not pretty, and I know there are many, many people worst off than me -like most of the Katrina victims from one year ago, and the handicapped and the real poor - but why can't I just find a fairly decent job that can take away these worries?

Sure, I sleep fine, but my stress level continues to go up, as my hair continues to fall out, and get grayer. I want to have a life such as Rob and my friend Marc back in Chicago. Where everything they touch turns to gold -and with no effort what so ever.

Why can't I?

Warner Bros. announces release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

With Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix still 11 months from hitting theaters, Warner Bros. is wasting no time in scheduling the penultimate entry, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for November 21, 2008.

This means the final film of book series should hit theaters in July 2010. That is if Rowling can get that last book out. Already she's making hints during some British chat shows that at least three main charaters will die in that final tome. This has sent a flurry of authors like Stephen King to send public letters to Rowling requesting she not kill off Harry.

While no release date has been announced for that last book -or even a title - I suspect that we'll have it in our hands in June or July of next year.

Doctor Who returns to Sci Fi on September 29

Outpost Gallifrey is reporting that Doctor Who’s second season -starring David Tennant and Billie Piper - will return on September 29 to the Sci Fi Channel. While it has not been “offically” announced, according to an NBC/Universal release (which is was published as a PDF form on the web site) for Sci Fi shows that Doctor Who returns to the schedule on that evening starting at 9pm EDT. It appears that Sci Fi will air two episodes that night -and then repeat them two hours later, which is their usual pattern.

The question is, will The Christmas Invasion be included? That special holiday episode runs 59 minutes, some 15 minutes longer than a standard Who episode. So either is could be skipped and shown at a later date, or with it heavily edited to fit the time. Sci Fi could extend it to 90 minutes, by adding an extended trailer for season 2, but there remains nearly 13 minutes unaccounted for. Still, Sci Fi has altered its schedule in the past, but it’s a good bet that the 2 episodes that premiere on September 29 will be New Earth and Tooth and Claw.

Kyle XY picked up for a second season

One of the few scripted shows in a summer glutted with reality crap, Kyle XY on ABC Family (along with Sci Fi's Eureka) has earned a place on my must watch list. This charming (and sometimes hokey) funny hybrid of family drama tinged with sci fi is far from original, though. But that's not a bad thing, either.

Its a series about a teenage boy (played with great gusto and believeability by Matt Dallas) who wakes up naked in the forest, with no memory of who he is and where he comes from. After wandering into a nearby town, the boy is taken into custody, but the police find they have a conundrum on their hands, as the boy seems not to able to talk.

And while a he seems healthy as an ox, the local doctors are at a loss why he can't speak or why he has no bellybutton.

But soon, the young man displays a savant-like intellect, learning things like talking, math and other things in a swift time. Baffled, he is put in the care of a psychologist (Marguerite MacIntyre), given the name Kyle and settles in with her family, including her husband and teenage son and daughter (Bruce Thomas and Jean-Luc Bilodeau and April Matson).

While he is prodigiously intelligent, he is also deeply naive - much like a real teenager.

Anyway, the series has done well on the cable net, averaging 2.1 million views, becoming their most-watched original program. Repurposed on sister network ABC, it has an audience of 4.6 million, which has been a sizeable increase from a year ago. Now, ABC Family have announced that the show will return for a second, most likely airing next summer.

I like this show alot, despite some of the by-the-book teenage angst that grips all three young stars. And while this show resembles Starman in many ways, it has more wit and heart. Dallas, in a truly break-out performance, is able to show incredible emotion in his face and eyes, and its a marvel at the way he can take an every day object and make it look like its the first time he's seeing it.

The mythology of the show is who or what is Kyle. Why does he have no memory, why does he have no bellybutton and is he connected some how to a mysterious murder? Kyle also has a shadow, a man who watches his all his moves. Nicholas Lea, last seen as bad guy FBI agent Alex Krycek on FOX's The X Files, plays an equally mysterious watcher. But all we 've seen him do is a lot of stalking, and reporting to a mystery person on the phone.

Its a wonderful show, despite the 7Th Heaven teen troubles, and Matt Dallas holds all of this together. He's a talent and should be watched.

And since he's pretty on the eyes, that won't be too difficult to do.

John McClane returns for Die Hard 4

Bruce Willis will play Detective John McClane, who seems to keep landing in one wacky situation after another, one more time in Live Free or Die Hard next summer, as 20th Century Fox has announced a June 29th 2007 release date.

The script is by Mark Bomback and Doug Richardson focuses on an evil mastermind who attempts to shut the country down through an attack on the computer infrastructure. Len Wiseman of Underworld fame will direct.

This long planned fourth film in the franchise has been in development for years, and once had a working title of Die Hardest, will come 12 years after Die Hard With a Vengeance.

Now, only if we could get the damn Indy 4 before Harrison Ford turns 70.

James Bond 22 in 2008

In what was reported just as James Bond 21, the reimaged Casino Royale, began production, has now been confirmed, as Sony appears to be returning to the 18 month turn-around in the Bond films. James Bond 22, rumored to have the working title of Risico (a story from Ian Fleming's For Your Eyes Only collection), will be released on May 2, 2008. Roger Michell is rumored to be at the helm.

Meanwhile, Casino Royale will hit theaters on November 21, has signed Audioslave and Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell to sing the title song, You Know My Name.

The Bond films have been known to use popular singers to belt out those opening credit songs, but have failed to generate any big hits since the final Bond films of Roger Moore. None of the four Brosnan films were huge hits, and the two Dalton ones remain unmemorable.

Whether this new song can be as huge as For Your Eyes Only, Nobody Does it Better or even the cement mixer song by Duran Duran for A View to a Kill, only time will tell.

Fletch is coming back to the silver screen

Chevy Chase was never great at picking his film roles. Beyond his first feature, Foul Play, his only other good films was co-starring roll in Caddyshack and the first Vacation film. But there was two other films he did, little seen these days, but I liked them. In 1985, he starred as Fletch, the scrappy invesitgative reporter in the novels of the great Gregory McDonald. Brought to the big screen by the late director Michael Ritchie, Chase was at his best as the wise cracking, disguise loving LA reporter out to expose a drug ring. The 1989 sequel, Fletch Lives, was not that great, but still showcased Chase's best talent: slapstick and nonsequtior humor and many, many mocking wise-cracks.

Since then, the film series has remaind in limbo, but it has been announced that Bill Lawrence, creator of one my favorite shows, the under appreciated Scrubs, has signed on with the Weinstein Co. to write and direct a new film, Fletch Won.

While no casting has been announced, Lawrence seems to want only one person to play the irreverant reporter/slueth: Zach Braff, the star of Scrubs. Lawrence told Reuters that Braff "is perfect for the role. I'm going to use all my pull trying to make him do it." Lawrence aims to give this entry, an origin tale based on 1985's Fletch Won, more edge, likening it to Beverly Hills Cop, where there was a real sense of jeopardy."