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Pop Rock Nation

Author: Jenny

  • More Star Search memories…

    More Star Search memories…

    Now that America’s Got Talent is over for 2013, it’s time for more Star Search memories…

    Like a lot of other people, I was tuned in to NBC on Wednesday night, waiting to find out who won America’s Got Talent. I was kind of rooting for Cami Bradley and Taylor Williamson, though I have to admit that everyone who was a finalist deserved to win. Season 8 of AGT was remarkably good, though there weren’t as many hilarious auditions as there have been in prior years. I will admit to not being as into America’s Got Talent or other talent shows as I once was into Star Search, a show that was famously hosted by Ed McMahon and ran for years. I wrote about that show several months ago and that post gets a lot of hits. That tells me that readers are as interested in Star Search and the stars it spawned as I am.

    Like America’s Got Talent, Star Search offered a platform for a variety of talents. Unlike America’s Got Talent, which pretty much allows anyone who can make a show of their talent come on the stage, Star Search had categories. In the early days, there were singers, comedians, actors, spokesmodels, dancers, and bands. As time went on, the acting category went away, and the singers and dancers were divided by age. If memory serves, the spokesmodels were all pretty much women, though they might have tried a male spokesmodel category at some point. I think the spokesmodels were supposed to be “presenters”, not so much actual models. I do remember them having cheesy photo shoots, though, as they introduced the commercial breaks and interacted with Ed McMahon.

    Here’s a pretty funny video of spokesmodels Laura Ballad and Theresa Ring. Theresa Ring was one of the more successful contestants. I wonder what Tyra Banks would think of this photo shoot set to “Walk Like An Egyptian” by The Bangles… I apologize for the out of sync video.

    Here’s 4 Boys and a Babe from Mesa, Arizona dancing to Buster Pointdexter’s “Hot Hot Hot”. I remember they were very successful on this show and even twenty years later, I remember where they were from. I wonder what they’re doing today…

    Here, 4 Boys and a Babe are back on Star Search doing an exhibition.

    Jarrod Spector was six years old when he became a big winner on Star Search. I remember getting a little tired of his big show tune schtick because he won for weeks on end. Then he came up against Countess Vaughn, who later starred on the show 227 with Marla Gibbs.

    Gotta say, vocally speaking, Countess Vaughn pretty much kicks Jarrod Spector’s ass in this video…

    Of course, one of the earliest future stars on Star Search was Sinbad, who later got a recurring gig on NBC’s A Different World, a spin off of The Cosby Show, as well as a successful stand up career. I couldn’t find any Sinbad Star Search clips, but I did find one of him guesting on a talk show.

    Right after he got his knees replaced, no less…

    Even Dave Chapelle was on Star Search. I found this out today, because by 1993, when he made his first appearance, I had quit watching the show as often.

    He was just 19 years old and was the youngest comedian in Star Search’s history at the time! I believe this is the first time I’ve heard Dave Chappelle do such a clean routine.

    Drew Carey made his first appearance in 1988. Who would have thought back then that Drew would one day be hosting The Price Is Right?

    Drew Carey is the ultimate party guest… leading to his cameo appearance in the first incarnation of The Sims.

    Man, I miss this game… even though my Sims’ parties were never good enough to rate a Drew Carey appearance.

    Star Search was such a cultural phenomenon in the 80s and 90s that it was even written into an episode of the hit ABC sitcom Full House!

    Looks like it was a tie between real life comedian Steve Oedekirk and “Joey Gladstone” as portrayed by Dave Coulier, the same guy to whom former Star Search competitor Alanis Morrisette allegedly dedicated her hit song, “You Oughta Know”… or was that just a nasty rumor?

    Yikes! Alanis was just 14 years old in this clip from her Star Search days. And this clip was from Rosie O’Donnell’s talk show… Guess what? Rosie was also a Star Search contestant back in the day!

    Here’s Rosie O’Donnell appearing on Star Search after she was cast on Gimme A Break as the late Nell Carter’s neighbor in New York City. I’ll be damned. She’s pretty funny in this clip.

    People love America’s Got Talent and the $1 million prize is bigger than the $100,000 prize Star Search was offering. But in all honesty, aside from Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent, have there been as many stars spawned from the Got Talent franchise? Time will tell. For now, it’s fun to watch these old clips of a classic talent show.

  • Missing The Muppets…

    Sometimes, when I get into a funk, I starting missing the Muppets…

    You know, The Muppet Show? It originally aired from 1976 until 1981. When I was growing up, I was a big fan of Jim Henson’s Muppets and their corresponding guest stars. I saw most of the movies and even watched Muppets Tonight when it was on in the mid 1990s. Granted, Muppets Tonight wasn’t nearly as funny and entertaining as the original show was, even though it featured guest stars like Prince (then going by The Artist Formerly Known As Prince), Coolio, and Paula Abdul.

    Paula Abdul guests on Muppets Tonight…

    Coolio performs on Muppets Tonight…

    Of course, in my day, the original Muppet Show was on and it exposed me to some great 70s era stars like Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, John Denver, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, and even Raquel Welch!

    Elton John guests on The Muppet Show…

    I should probably break down and buy the DVDs of this show. There’s nothing really like it on TV anymore. Of course, the 1970s was the era for variety shows. That was the decade that brought us Donny & Marie, Sonny & Cher, and even The Brady Bunch Hour, which I am convinced was invented under the heavy influence of some kind of hallucinogenic drug. Donny & Marie had ice skaters and The Bradys had synchronized swimmers. Sonny and Cher had each other and it seems the Osmonds were making the rounds on all the shows, though I don’t remember seeing them on The Muppet Show.

    More than just entertaining family style fun, The Muppet Show and Sesame Street also brought us some timeless, beautiful songs. Consider the lovely ballad, “Bein’ Green”, which was sung by Kermit the Frog and then covered by some very notable musical worthies like Van Morrison, Sophie Milman, and Ray Charles. Yesterday, I was feeling a little depressed over the prospect of the crown I have to get tomorrow and went to YouTube to listen to Ray Charles sing…

    Here Ray Charles knocks “Bein’ Green” out of the park with his perfectly glorious rendition of this Muppets classic on Sesame Street…

    There’s something about the way Ray Charles sings this song that just radiates empathy. I feel better every time I hear it. It gives me goosebumps. It simultaneously gives me a lump in my throat while it makes me smile.

    The lovely Russian jazz singer Sophie Milman found comfort in “Bein’ Green”, too…

    Van Morrison performs “Bein’ Green” live in 1973. Listening to this reminds me it’s time to see if I can hunt down the album this came from. It rocks! Don Henley also took a crack at “Bein’ Green” on the Muppets Unpigged album.

    The Rainbow Connection covered three ways…

    Another special Muppets song that comes to mind is “Rainbow Connection”, again sung by Kermit the Frog and covered by a diverse host of talented singers ranging from Willie Nelson to Debbie Harry to Kenny Loggins to Karen Carpenter.

    There’s something very touching about the way Willie Nelson sings this song. I was so moved by Willie’s rendition that I used it in a memorial video I made for my much loved dog, MacGregor, who died last December after we found an inoperable tumor near his spine. There’s something about this song and the way Willie sings it that suited MacGregor. Even today, when I listen to it, it makes me emotional.

    The Carpenters’ version of “The Rainbow Connection” is very different, of course. It’s very clear and pristine, a little schmaltzy, and yet somehow touching.

    And here, Debbie Harry and Kermit the Frog team up to sing “The Rainbow Connection” on The Muppet Show. I never knew her voice went that high! This is a charming side of the lead singer of Blondie I’ve never seen.

    I often find that when I’m in a crummy mood, I get a lot of joy out of singing. And sometimes I sing songs from The Muppet Show. I recorded my own version of “Bein’ Green” yesterday…

    and I felt better afterwards, even though I still dread getting a crown. On the other hand, I suppose I dread the alternative even more. Tomorrow might be a good day to pull out my favorite Muppets CD.

    I can’t stay sad when I hear this song. Incidentally, I happen to own a copy of the CD linked below. It’s well worth the money if you are a Muppets fan!

  • Friday the 13th songs…

    It’s that day again… Time for a few Friday the 13th songs!

    Whenever the 13th day of the month happens to fall on a Friday, a lot of people become superstitious. This week, we not only had Friday the 13th, we also had the twelfth anniversary of September 11th. I happened to schedule a last minute dentist appointment that day because one of my molars was doing odd things. I found out the molar is cracked and now, at the very least, needs a crown. Darn the luck!

    Having grown up in the 1970s and 80s, I always thought Friday the 13th superstitions started with the string of horror movies bearing the same name and featuring a chainsaw toting masked man named Jason. As it turns out, superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th have been around at least since the 19th century. In fact, there are even people out there who have a phobia of Friday the 13th; paraskevidekatriaphobics have an irrational fear of the unluckiest date. In fact, in 2013, there are two incidences of Friday the 13th exactly 13 weeks apart. How’s that for creepy?

    I thought it would be fun to have a look at a few songs that fit in with Friday the 13th. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find a few good ones.

    Stevie Wonder and “Superstition”

    Here’s Stevie Wonder singing his classic hit on Sesame Street. I couldn’t resist this clip because it’s so old school. What a great song to hear first thing in the morning.

    Here’s Stevie Wonder and Stevie Ray Vaughan (RIP) playing a super funkified version of “Superstition”. Note Jody Watley jamming along with the two Stevies!

    And here is Stevie in Paris, playing his iconic song with Prince!

    And here, Stevie Wonder plays with guitar wizard, Jeff Beck. I think “Superstition” is the ultimate Friday the 13th song, which is why I added four versions to this post. Stevie Wonder is the kind of guy who can collaborate with everyone.

    Ray Charles and Jimmy Lewis “If It Wasn’t For Bad Luck”

    Blues songs really lend themselves to songs that are perfect for Friday the 13th. Here’s a song about two guys one upping each other with stories about how if they didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. I suspect these two would do well to stay home on Friday the 13th.

    Albert King and “Born Under a Bad Sign”

    Albert King sings a classic song about being born under a “bad sign”. I couldn’t resist posting another clip with Stevie Ray Vaughan playing. Maybe Albert King is unlucky, but we’re lucky to have videos with him jamming. It makes Friday the 13th a little less daunting.

    Paul Thorn and “It’s a Great Day to Whup Somebody’s Ass

    This may not be the ultimate Friday the 13th song, but it’s definitely a song about bad luck. If you have a day like this on Friday the 13th, you might develop a phobia.

    Magic Slim & The Teardrops “Hard Luck Blues”

    Here’s a cover of “Hard Luck Blues” by Magic Slim & The Teardrops. If you’re feeling unlucky today, this is a song that you can relate to.

    Weird Wilbur and “Fucked Up, Fucked Over, and Hungry”

    This is a song about a man’s bad luck trying to get into the music business. It’s obviously not work or kid safe, but it’s definitely a hard luck song.

    I’ve never felt particularly unlucky on Friday the 13th, though as I sit here worrying about my tooth and what will be done to it next week, I’m not feeling particularly fortunate today. On the other hand, things could be worse. I could be sitting out in the middle of the desert with no way to get to a dentist and no money to pay for one even if I could. I don’t enjoy dental treatment, but it’s better than not having it, right?

    I hope you have a good Friday the 13th and an even better weekend!