What are you watching right now?

[Cavaliere (moderator emeritus)]

Criminal Minds: "Amplification"

[ClarkKent_DC]

Jeff of Earth-J said:

"...there was some chatter at work about it being 'offensive'..."

Sometimes I just want to slap people.

Well, back in the day, and even now, Jimi Hendrix's version of The Star-Spangled Banner is less a patriotic song and more an antiwar statement.

[Richard Willis]

Last week we watched (spread over two days) the four-hour Woodstock Director's Cut, recorded from TCM. Obviously, all songs from all singers weren't in it. Some time in the 70s I saw the shorter theatrical release.

Two of Jimi Hendricks' songs were in the Director's Cut, one of which was the Star Spangled Banner. Anyone offended by his version probably has a number of problems.

[JD DeLuzio]

Hendrix briefly addresses the controversy here:

[Jeff of Earth-J]

"Well, back in the day, and even now, Jimi Hendrix's version of The Star-Spangled Banner is less a patriotic song and more an antiwar statement."

I don't necessarily equate "antiwar" with a lack of patriotism. 

Thanks for posting that clip, JD. the first few minutes answers the question AFAIAC. 

[Jeff of Earth-J]

LONE RANGER: In the wake of the Mexican-American War, new U.S. citizens are being exploited. Damn! I'm watching shows to take a little break from the news of the day. 

BONANZA - S1 E5: Samuel Clemons spends some time in Virginia City. Now this is more like it! As a Missouri boy born and bred, I'm always willing to see or read some historical fiction about one of the state's most famous native sons. In this episode, Clemons teams up with the Cartrights to thwart a crooked politician in league with the railroad to orchestrate an illegal land-grab of Ponderosa land. Damn!

Will things ever change?

[ClarkKent_DC]

Jeff of Earth-J said:

"Well, back in the day, and even now, Jimi Hendrix's version of The Star-Spangled Banner is less a patriotic song and more an antiwar statement."

I don't necessarily equate "antiwar" with a lack of patriotism. 

True dat.

For what it's worth, Jimi Hendrix was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, briefly.

[ClarkKent_DC]

Richard Willis said:

Last week we watched (spread over two days) the four-hour Woodstock Director's Cut, recorded from TCM. Obviously, all songs from all singers weren't in it. Some time in the 70s I saw the shorter theatrical release.

Two of Jimi Hendricks' songs were in the Director's Cut, one of which was the Star Spangled Banner. Anyone offended by his version probably has a number of problems.

Well, some people think the ONLY way to do "The Star-Spangled Banner" is in stentorian operatic style. Something like, say the way Marvin Gaye did it at the NBA All-Star Game in 1983, makes people's heads explode.

[Richard Willis]

I've been to the real Virginia City (Nevada) twice, and made a point of visiting Samuel Clemens' old office at the Territorial Enterprise newspaper. Have never made it to Missouri. If I ever do, Hannibal would be a primary destination.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

"Something like, say the way Marvin Gaye did it at the NBA All-Star Game in 1983, makes people's heads explode."

Mine, too, but in a good way.

For many years, my favorite version of the The National Anthem has been this version by Huey Lewis

My new favorite is this one by The Chicks (I love a cappella versions.)

THE LONE RANGER: S3 E21: This episode features Hugh Beaumont as a "two-fisted fightin' preacher." (I once told Chris Fluit he reminded me of this character.) Clayton Moore is "my" Lone Ranger, but John Hart's portrayal is really growing on me. And season three has forty four episodes. Forty four! Is it any wonder I'm not impressed by today's shows which have maybe a dozen?

BONANZA: S1 E5: An epidemic hits Virginia City. Really? I can't get a break! NBC paid for the rights to use "Love Me Tender" this episode...and they used the $#!t out of it! On Piano, guitar, oboe, strings... just about every scene with Little Joe and his "woman of ill repute." 

[The Baron]

Ward was an ordained Methodist minister in real life.

I was watching the MST3K episode featuring Lost Continent , where Ward, Cesar Romero, Whit Bissell, Sid Melton and John Hoyt are searching Dinosaur Island for a missing rocket motor.  In one of the interminable mountain-climbing scenes, Ward starts cracking up in the background. You can see him start to lose his s**t. He covers his face and ducks down, but he's obviously corpsing big time. However, it's a Lippert film, so it got left in.

Oddly, Joel and the Bots made no mention of it.

Jeff of Earth-J said:

THE LONE RANGER: S3 E21: This episode features Hugh Beaumont as a "two-fisted fightin' preacher."

[Jeff of Earth-J]

WILL & GRACE: We recently finished watching the eighth and final season of the original run of Will & Grace. This was one of Tracy's shows (although I don't see how, because it was on the air after we were married and I remember her watching it...?), but we started watching the revival series together from the beginning. When it went off the air (after three seasons, I think), we went back to the beginning and began watching the seasons in order. Last night we re-watched the first episode of the revival for the first time since it originally aired. I get a lot more of the jokes now than I did the first time through.

LAND OF THE GIANTS: We watched the last episdoe of season one last night.

BONANZA: S1 E7: Alan Hale, Jr. plays Swede. One of my closest friends is Swedish, and I spent some time with him and his wife last week for the first time in many years. He speaks with an accent, but not one I would recognize. I always meant to ask him about it, but never did. Last week he just happened to mention the variety of accents and dialects in Sweden (he's thinking of moving back depending on the outcome of the election), and I took that as my opportunity. I pointed out the kind of "sing-song" Swedish accent as depicted on American TV. (You probably know what I'm talking about.) His doesn't sound anything like that. I didn't want to imitate it, but his wife knew exactly what i was talking about and demonstrated. He said that what passes for a "Swedish" accent on American TV is actually more Scandinavian. 

LONE RANGER: S3 E22: "The Devil's Bug" - The Lone Ranger and the town's doctor try to convince the townsfolk that the annual epidemic is caused by mosquitoes bred in the bog created each year by melting winter snow. A local merchant (who has been illegally selling rifles to the Indians) is against filling it in,  ostensibly because of the expense, but really because he's buried a body there and fears its discovery. He tries to discredit the science with the townsfolk and damn near succeeds. He deliberately lets a mosquito bite him to disprove its effects, but later falls ill. If only real life could be like that!

The next episode is titled: "Right to Vote"

TONIGHT: The shows I've been watching lately haven't given me the break from the news I hoped they would, so tonight we'll be watching the first Presidential Debate.

[The Baron]

I will be watching an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.  Debates do not interest me in and of themselves, and I already know who I'm voting for and cannot conceive of either of them saying anything that will change my mind. In the unlikely event that either of them does, I have no doubt that it will be reported in the ,media tomorrow. 

Jeff of Earth-J said:

TONIGHT: The shows I've been watching lately haven't given me the break from the news I hoped they would, so tonight we'll be watching the first Presidential Debate.