Category: Television

Dwight Yoakam on Acting and Music

Dwight Yoakam interview
In this new video from the Weekly Feed, country singer-songwriter Dwight Yoakam discusses acting, country music, and his next CD. Yoakam explains to interviewer Kyle Meredith how he came to sing a Creedance Clearwater Revival song recently as a character on CBS’s Under The Dome.

In the video, Yoakam also explains why when he does cover songs, he usually tries to avoid iconic recordings. Other topics include Yoakam’s thoughts on David Bowie, Buck Owens, T-Rex, and the state of the music industry.

Yoakam is one of the more intelligent artists around and he has a great understanding of history.  So it is always enlightening to hear him talk about various subjects. Check out this interview from the WFPK studios in Louisville, Kentucky.

Below is the clip from Under the Dome that he discusses, where his character sits in jail and sings “Who’ll Stop the Rain.”

If all that leaves you wanting more Yoakam, below is the song he mentions at the end of the interview, “A Heart Like Mine,” from his 3 Pears (2012) CD. The song was co-produced by Beck.

What is your favorite Dwight Yoakam song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    The Short Life of Froggy from “Our Gang”

    Froggy Little Rascals
    On August 31, 1948, the 16-year-old William Robert “Billy” Laughlin was delivering newspapers riding on the back of his scooter, operated by a friend. Suddenly, a truck collided into the scooter when the boys were making a U-turn, sending Laughlin to the hospital where he passed away six hours later. Although his friend survived and no charges were filed against the truck driver, it was the end of the short life of one of the most memorable “Our Gang” characters.

    Laughlin had played Froggy in Our Gang shorts from 1940-1944. The character was known for his deep frog-like voice, which was actually done by Laughlin.

    This video below of Waldo’s Last Stand, a short comedy film directed by Edward Cahn, features Laughlin in one of his early appearances on the show in 1940. Although Laughlin appears early in the episode, he does not say anything until he delivers a punch line in his great voice at around the nine-minute mark.

    Reportedly, Laughlin’s mother first got him into acting as a way to boost the confidence of the little boy who had been teased for his crossed eyes and thick glasses. Through that work, Laughlin came up with various voices, including his “Froggy” voice.

    After MGM discontinued Our Gang in April 1944 and after Laughlin’s appearance in the movie Johnny Doesn’t Live Here Any More (1944), the boy moved away from the acting life to enjoy a normal teenage life. Unfortunately, his normal life did not last as long as it should have.

    Some other “Our Gang” actors suffered tragic deaths. For example, Carl Dean Switzer (“Alfalfa”) died at age 31 from a gunshot wound during an argument over $50. Robert Hutchins (“Wheezer”) died at the age of 20 during military training. But according to Snopes, it is not true that when you look across the lives of the cast members that you can find any kind of curse. Froggy’s Laughlin, though, died at the youngest age of any of the “Our Gang” actors. Even if there is no “curse,” sometimes life is just unfair.

    What is your favorite Our Gang or Little Rascals memory? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Chelsea Lately’s “Goodbye to E!” Song

    Chelsea Lately Last Show
    This week, Chelsea Handler had her final episode of her late-night E! talk show, Chelsea Lately. A number of her famous friends stopped by to say goodbye, and many of them took the stage with her to sing “Goodbye to E!”

    The lineup for the parody of 1980s social awareness songs included Gwen Stefani, Dave Grohl, Trace Adkins, Sammy Hagar, Jennifer Aniston, Fergie, Avril Lavigne, Gerard Butler, Kate Beckinsale,Selena Gomez, Kelly Osbourne, LeAnn Rimes, Kathy Griffin, Marlee Matlin, and Melissa McCarthy. Check it out. [September 2014 Update: Unfortunately, the video of the song is no longer available on YouTube, so instead below is an Entertainment Tonight video of “The 6 Best Moments From the ‘Chelsea Lately’ Series Finale.”]

    What will you miss most about Chelsea Lately? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Blue Journey Has a “Wonderful Life” on America’s Got Talent

    Blue Journey AGT
    One of the highlights of Season 9 of America’s Got Talent is the dance duo Blue Journey. The two dancers, Nick Mishoe and Rachel Kivlighan incorporate images into their dance that make the routine, choreographed by David Middendorp, tell a mesmerizing story.

    Last week, Mishoe and Kivlighan advanced to the semi-finals on a night where the show had a lot of talent. In case you missed their routine, check it out (and you may want to watch it on full screen).

    If you are wondering about the song that accompanies their dance, it is the song “Wonderful Life,” which was written by Britsh singer Black (aka Colin Vearncombe) and appeared on his 1987 album, Wonderful Life. The song was quite successful in many countries round the world, although U.S. listeners may not remember it.

    The version that Blue Journey uses, though, is a cover by Smith & Burrows. Below, you may check out Smith & Burrows doing an acoustic version of “Wonderful Life.”

    In the meantime, watch for Blue Journey to return to one of the semi-final episodes of America’s Got Talent.

    September 2, 2014 Update: During the semi-final round, Blue Journey performed to a Radiohead song, “Exit Music (For a Film),” from the band’s 1997 album OK Computer. Check it out.



    What is your favorite act on “America’s Got Talent” this season? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Mork and Happier Days

    The world is saddened today by the news that Robin Williams has passed away. He was such a part of our lives that everyone has their own favorite movie scenes or performances, and I cannot add much that you already do not know or that you cannot find elsewhere.

    But Williams is one of the few performers where I remember the first moment I saw him. And I was blown away. As a kid turning on Happy Days, a show that was in its fifth season and showing signs of old age, I suddenly saw something completely new. This strange alien character called Mork and the actor playing him was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. The next day at school, everyone was talking about him and his appearance on the Happy Days episode called “My Favorite Orkan.” Here is a scene with Henry Winkler as Fonzie and Robin Williams as Mork.

    Robin Williams and Mork, of course, got their own spinoff series which I followed until that one went into its own old age. In many ways, I feel Williams and I grew up together, as I enjoyed his juvenile antics but then got to appreciate his more serious adult work in movies I’ve written about in different contexts like Dead Poets Society (1989), Insomnia (2003), and the underrated World’s Greatest Dad (2009).

    It is very sad to hear how he passed, but I am very thankful he lived and gave us so much. Rest in Peace. Na-nu Na-nu.

    What is your first memory of Robin Williams? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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