Crazy Eddie's Motie News

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Watch 'Saturday Night Live' have fun with impeachment after winning six Emmy Awards

I told my readers at the end of Celebrate 'Last Week Tonight' winning four Emmy Awards with 'Psychics', "Speaking of SNL, that show will be the subject of my next entry about the Emmy winners. Stay tuned." SNL won six Emmy Awards, four at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and two at the Primetime Emmy Awards. I'll list all of them over the jump. Right now, watch Lorne Michaels Emotionally Accepts The Emmy For Saturday Night Live | EMMYS LIVE! 2019 from Fox.

Lorne Michaels reminisces about SNL's long-running history and emotional moments last season as he accepts the Emmy along with the cast of the show.

Appropriately for October, this clip will turn into a pumpkin later this month when Fox takes it down and the Television Academy uploads its copy onto its YouTube channel. I'll replace it then.

The show itself was not alone in winning a Primetime Emmy. Don Roy King won a statuette for Outsanding Directing for a Variety Series. Watch "SNL" Director Don Roy King Celebrate His Ninth Emmy Win from IMDB.

Longtime #SaturdayNightLive director #DonRoyKing confirms that no matter how many times you win an #Emmy, it never get[s] old.

Congratulations! Here's to yet another great season.

Speaking of which, as impeachment is the big story of the week, it's no surprise that SNL had their own comedic take on it. Watch two clips from last night's show on the topic, beginning with Mike Pence Impeachment Strategy Cold Open.

Vice President Mike Pence (Beck Bennett) consults with William Barr (Aidy Bryant), Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon) and Mike Pompeo (Matthew Broderick) to strategize about his options during Trump's impeachment investigation.

Rudy Giuliani as The Joker made a good punchline. If I call Trump The Penguin, then someone has to be The Joker.

Next, Weekend Update: Trump Brushes Off Impeachment Concerns not only covered impeachment, but also alligators in the moat for the wall.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like mounting evidence of corruption against Trump in his Ukraine impeachment scandal.

I felt better about the week's news after having a good laugh at it, just like I almost always do, although I thought the joke about Bernie Sanders' heart attack was a bit cold. Funny, but cold.

Follow over the jump for all of the Emmy Awards SNL won.

Celebrate 'Last Week Tonight' winning four Emmy Awards with 'Psychics'

I concluded 'RuPaul's Drag Race' wins Outstanding Competition Program while RuPaul tells viewers to register to vote by telling my readers to "Stay tuned, as I plan on covering the awards won by 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' and other talk variety shows and their hosts." The show won four Emmy Awards, Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series and Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Outstanding Talk Variety Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards.*

Since I already used "The Wax and the Furious" from "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" for Presidents Day, which won Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming, I'm going to celebrate by embedding the other Emmy-winning episode, Psychics, which earned the Emmy for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series.

Psychics may seem harmless and fun on TV, but they can make a lot of money by exploiting vulnerable people.

This is not my usual political fare, but I am a scientist and educator, so I'm going to defend reason against superstition, just as John Oliver and his writers do here.

I thought "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" was the favorite to win Outstanding Variety Talk Series for the fourth consecutive time and it did. Watch Emmys 2019 - Jon Oliver wins for the fourth time to see Oliver accept the Emmy.

The Emmys talk show category win for last week tonight with John Oliver...

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards honored the best in U.S. prime time television programming from June 1, 2018 until May 31, 2019, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

First, zoologist me has to point out that Oliver is the voice of a hornbill, not a toucan; there are no toucans in Africa, the setting of "The Lion King." Second, his reference to municipal tax districts reminds me that the Reedy Creek Improvement District was lucky not to be mentioned in the segment and that I should eventually get around to embedding the segment. Finally, as I wrote for RuPaul's acceptance speech, "If and when the Television Academy posts an official clip of this award, I'll replace this one with it."

Speaking of official clips, watch Variety's John Oliver Celebrates 'Last Week Tonight's' Emmys Win Backstage.

John Oliver, host of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," celebrated his Emmy win and weighed in on whether the ceremony should've had a host or not while backstage.

Congratulations to Oliver and his crew for all four awards. Here's to another outstanding season!

*This is the same number of Emmy Awards it won last year but a slightly different set of categories, as the series won Outstanding Interactive Program then instead of Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series. NASA won Outstanding Interactive Program this year, much to my pleasant surprise. I also thought SNL would win Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series, so, surprise to me again. Speaking of SNL, that show will be the subject of my next entry about the Emmy winners. Stay tuned.

Previous entries in this series.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Ezra Klein of Vox argues for impeachment even if it doesn't result in conviction and removal

With the call for an impeachment inquiry over KievGate, Ezra Klein of Vox decided it was time to update how to impeach a president. Watch Impeachment is broken. Impeach Trump, anyway.

Three reasons to impeach Trump.
...
President Donald Trump faces possible impeachment after repeatedly asking the president of Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, Trump’s chief domestic political rival, a week after Trump froze Ukraine's military aid. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky brought up the aid, Trump responded, “I would like you to do us a favor though,” and turned the conversation to Biden. All of this is confirmed in a call record released by Trump’s own White House. There's now an impeachment inquiry as a result of this revelation.

In 1788's Federalist 65, Alexander Hamilton considers the problem of impeachment. The process, the Constitution framer writes, is meant for offenses “denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.”

Fundamentally, Hamilton believed it was the task of an impartial Senate to decide whether or not to convict a president that has been impeached. Hamilton, however, hadn't envisioned a Senate as partisan as the current one.

Still, even a broken impeachment process has its uses. The Senate may refuse its role, but through a properly designed impeachment process, the House can focus the public’s attention, send a message to the world, and create a record for the future.

Klein reinforced his message at Vox.com in the article Impeach him, anyway, "The case for impeachment, even if it can’t oust Trump." It lists three purposes: "impeachment as public disgrace," "impeachment and the 2020 election," and "impeachment is a message to foreign countries." I like the argument. I just hope it works.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

'RuPaul's Drag Race' wins Outstanding Competition Program while RuPaul tells viewers to register to vote

Now that I've posted Nike's 'Dream Crazy' wins Emmy for Outstanding Commercial and shows the power of diversity, it's time to start reviewing the wins by the competition shows whose nominations I listed alongside "RuPaul's Drag Race," which led competition shows in Emmy nominations. I begin with the headline award which was presented along with all the other major categories.

Outstanding Competition Program

The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
Nailed It! (Netflix)
RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)
I think "RuPaul's Drag Race" displays the most acceptance of diversity, althugh the other competition shows have diverse sets of contestants. It's also the returning winner and has the most nominations of the shows in this category with nine, thirteen if one adds the four from its unstructured companion shows "RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked," "RuPaul's Drag Race's: Out Of The Closet," and "RuPaul's Drag Race's: Portrait Of A Queen," so I consider it the odds-on favorite. Its biggest competition is probably "The Voice" with seven nominations.

As I expected, "RuPaul's Drag Race" won. Watch 71st Emmy Awards: RuPaul's Drag Race Wins For Outstanding Reality-Competition Program - | 2019 in which RuPaul told the audience to register to vote.

Rupaul Wins “Best Reality Competition” | EMMY 2019
RUPAUL’S Drag race

If and when the Television Academy posts an official clip of this award, I'll replace this one with it.

RuPaul repeated his request of the viewers to register to vote in Entertainment Tonight's RuPaul - RuPaul's Drag Race | Emmys 2019 Full Backstage Interview.

I'm glad to see RuPaul using his platform for a greater civic purpose in addition to his show being a showcase for diversity and acceptance.

Follow over the jump for the rest of the awards for "RuPaul's Drag Race" and the other competition shows at this year's Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Since Trump is acting like Dr. Evil, it's time to read The Evil Overlord List

The New York Times reminded me yesterday of Adam Serwer's column last year in The Atlantic that The Cruelty Is the Point with the headline Shoot Them in the Legs, Trump Suggested: Inside His Border War.

Privately, the president had often talked about fortifying a border wall with a water-filled trench, stocked with snakes or alligators, prompting aides to seek a cost estimate.

Why am I reminded of villains in movies, from Indiana Jones...

to Captain Hook and the tick-tock crocodile from "Peter Pan"...

and finally Dr. Evil's wish for sharks with laser beams on their heads from "Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery."

There's more, but it's not funny.

He wanted the wall electrified, with spikes on top that could pierce human flesh. After publicly suggesting that soldiers shoot migrants if they threw rocks, the president backed off when his staff told him that was illegal. But later in a meeting, aides recalled, he suggested that they shoot migrants in the legs to slow them down. That’s not allowed either, they told him.

The article described the closest Trump came to getting his wish several paragraphs down.

The happiest he had been with Ms. Nielsen was a few months earlier, when American border agents had fired tear gas into Mexico to try to stop migrants from crossing into the United States. Human rights organizations condemned the move, but Mr. Trump loved it.

It gets more disturbing from there.

That level of cruelty and depravity reminds me of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen from "Dune." It turns out I found just the image for the resemblance.

Nike's 'Dream Crazy' wins Emmy for Outstanding Commercial and shows the power of diversity

I closed out 'Point of View: Sandy Hook Promise' among Emmy nominees for Outstanding Commercial by handicapping the nominees.

Now that I've shared the nominees, it's time to make my prediction. If I used just YouTube views as a measure of popularity, then the leader is "Shot on iPhone XS — Don’t mess with Mother" with 37,786,876 views, followed by "Dream Crazy" with 29,983,349 views, "A Great Day in Hollywood" with 561,033 views, "Behind the Mac — Make Something Wonderful" with 466,516 views, and "Point of View" in last place with 242,452 views. It looks like the gun violence control PSA should just be happy to be nominated.

Now, if this were the People's Choice Awards, I think it would be between "Don't Mess with Mother" and "Dream Crazy" with the latter favored on emotional appeal. However, this is an awards voted on by entertainment professionals, who like flattering or at least interesting portrayals of show business, so I think "A Great Day in Hollywood" has nearly as good a chance of winning as the Nike commercial. My readers and I will find out on the 14th or 15th of September, when the winners of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards are announced. Stay tuned.

I was right to think Nike's "Dream Crazy" was the favorite, as it won. Here is "the most inspirational of all the nominees, Dream Crazy by Nike. It features Colin Kaepernick, so it has a political dimension from that alone."

Don’t ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they’re crazy enough.

"Watching that made me tear up."

While it featured overcoming hardship to achieve greatness, the winning commercial also featured the power of diversity of all kinds in sports without being explicit about it. It was also a great example of advertising as art. Congratulations!

I plan on returning with more Emmy winners tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Previous entries in this series.

Monday, September 30, 2019

Forever 21 files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

I wrote that Forever 21 was facing bankruptcy just three weeks ago. Today, Forever 21 declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. WXYZ reported on this tale of the Retail Apocalypse on location from the Oakland Mall in Troy, Michigan.

The chain said it will file a motion to close up to 178 of its more than 800 stores, though it said in a letter to customers that "the decisions as to which domestic stores will be closing are ongoing, pending the outcome of continued conversations with landlords."

WXYZ excels at person on the street interviews, which in this case show that the regular shoppers had little to no idea that one of their favorite stores was in trouble. At least they seem as concerned about the employees as they do about losing their place to go for "fast fashion."

As WXYZ mentioned, Forever 21 is closing down operations in 40 countries including Canada and Japan. CBC News examined this angle in Forever 21 files for bankruptcy in U.S., to cease operations in Canada.

Fashion retailer Forever 21 has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. to restructure. The company said it plans to discontinue operations at most of its international locations, including Canada.

The customers outside of the Oakland Mall location may worry about their local store closing. Forever 21's customers in Canada know their store will close.

Of course, if there are losers, like Forever 21, there will be winners, which CNBC examined in Here are the winners and losers of the retail apocalypse.

CNBC's Courtney Reagan and Lauren Thomas, CNBC.com retail reporter, join the "Power Lunch" team to discuss brick-and-mortar stores and where millennials and gen-Z are shopping.

The panel did a good job of at least touching on all the issues and major players in less than three minutes, although I noticed that the host quickly diverted the discussion away from sustainability when it was brought up. Instead, she was more interested in the possible winning companies to invest in than a major cause of Forever 21 failing. Things that make me say "hmm."

I promise to keep following this story as it develops. In the meantime, stay tuned for the first entry of October, which begins in a few hours.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Celebrate National Coffee Day 2019 by donating to Coffee Party USA

Happy National Coffee Day!

Whether getting one to go or lingering over a second cup, on September 29 be sure to observe National Coffee Day!

As I did last year, I am asking my readers to celebrate National Coffee Day by contributing to Coffee Party USA. Time to be a good environmentalist and recycle what I wrote on National Coffee Ice Cream Day.

I am celebrating National Coffee...Day by asking my readers to donate to my favorite nonprofit, Coffee Party USA. I am a director and officer of the organization and I just donated $88.00 in addition to my regular $10.00 monthly dues.* That's far more than I expect my readers to donate, so instead I am asking my readers to please make a donation to match what I donated on National Nonprofit Day or my regular monthly contribution.

I described where your money and mine will go in Coffee Party USA announces the winners of the 2017-2018 Golden Coffee Cups for television
Coffee Party USA ia a 501c(4) nonprofit social welfare organization dedicated to empowering and connecting communities to reclaim our government for the people. To support its efforts, which include educating the public on our website and on our Facebook page, registering people to vote with our partners TurboVote and National Voter Registration Day, and reminding them to vote through our Voter Buddy program, please consider donating. A donation of $10.00 for ten years of Coffee Party USA is recommended. For those who wish to give at a higher level of support and be more involved in the organization, please consider becoming a member. To do the valuable work of the Coffee Party, as well as vote for future Golden Coffee Cup nominees and winners, volunteer. Not only will Coffee Party USA thank you for it, so will the country!
The Board of Directors is also holding its annual retreat at the end of this month, and your donations will help support our meeting while we plan the direction of the organization through next year.

Thanks for reading my appeal and even more thanks if you matched my dues through your donation or became a member.
...
*I decided this year that I would make a matching donation to Coffee Party USA for any donation I made to any other nonprofit this year. Since I just renewed my my dual membership to the Detroit Zoo for $88.00, that means I matched it for the Coffe Party. I also donated $40.00 last month to match the $40.00 I paid to vote in the 2019 Saturn Awards. I'm not asking my readers to match those donations, but if any of you did, the Coffee Party and I would appreciate you and your donation!

Now treat yourself to a cup of coffee. There are lots of deals out there today. Go find one!

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The rise and fall of Dillards, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

It's time for another installment of tales of the Retail Apocalypse. Today's episode comes from Brick Immortar, The Destiny of Dillard's: An Immortalization by Brick Immortar.

Now that we know the inspiring destiny of William T Dillard... in the modern retail climate, what IS the destiny of Dillard's stores?

Thanks for watching!

Sam of Brick Immortar did this with the help of Erik P. of Retail Archaeology and it shows. Good work. Also, when he asked if he should do this project, I not only said yes, I told him I would post this to my blog. I'm following through on my promise.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Music for a scandal, the Great Gate of Kiev

"I have one more humorous post about the scandal planned for tomorrow. Stay tuned." That's how I ended Colbert and Noah explain Pelosi's announcement of the impeachment inquiry opening yesterday and that's how I begin today's post.

Ever since Watergate, Americans and others designated nearly every scanda by affixing -gate to its name. The situation leading to the just announced impeachment inquiry could be called Ukrainegate, but there is a shorter and funnier name for it, KievGate. A Google search for the term shows that the Italians are all over it already. Why let them have all the fun?

Furthermore, the name has a ready-made piece of music for it, Modest Mussorgsky's "Great Gate of Kiev."

Douglas Gamley conducts his own orchestration of the finale from "Pictures at an Exhibition," with the New Symphony Orchestra, the Men's Chorus of the Ambrosian Singers, and the organ of Kingsway Hall, London. From the Readers Digest 10-LP set "Music for You," produced by Charles Gerhardt (published 1968).

Of course, my tastes in music dictate that I find a marching ensemble playing it. I have just the version, 1987 Santa Clara Vanguard - Great Gate of Kiev.

Nice magic trick. I hope Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives can pull off one just as stunning.