SNL Review: Season 47 (and something else's) Finale

Let me be honest for a moment. Before tonight's finale, Saturday Night Live Review has been an on-and-off segment. When on, I have the time of my life recapping and critiquing one of my favorite TV shows, looking forward to whatever sketches and performances i loved and those I wish I never seen in my whole life. When off, I have no excitement, no amusement, and no time to waste on it. Its as if my focus is a high-speed roller coaster at Six Flags.

After tonight's finale, I'm largely giving up on SNL Review... and SNL itself. Like the review, after years of dwindling anticipation and increasing consternation, I realize for whatever reason (less amusement for the sketches, more attention to the same few cast members, musical guests I refuse to waste a second of oral or visual consumption on, the stale forced and schmaltzy production feel and much of anything missing more than hitting overall), SNL isn't a much-watch program for me anymore. And thus, im more interested in watching another show or my eyelids from now on. Apparently, I've become one of the old geezers whom decry every year about SNL's yearly decline in quality after season 5 or a decade before the 2010s. Yep, I'm a hypocrite who is now like the people I hate, I can admit it.

So what better time to bid goodnights to the Icon from Studio 8H than when the biggest stars of the shows current era under Kenan Thompson are departing. Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Pete Davidson and the Benevolent Queen who reigns over all else Kate McKinnon are leaving the show after an impressive and (depending on the actor) unforgettable run in the cast. I cant say im not surprised but I also cant say I m not heartbroken. We'll get to more on that later, but first, we got a show to watch.

We begin (no surprise) with one of the most popular and successful recurring sketches possibly ever... Alien Abduction 3. You know what it is. Like the last ones, this one its just hilarious. Even if I know Aidy and especially Kate would take the spotlight, everyone else (Cecily Strong, Mikey Day and host Natasha Lyonne) kept my attention before they speak

 again. I also expected a visual aid to Kate's exit with the spaceship was bittersweet but refreshingly nuanced and simple and beautiful.

And now, the final Monologue by Ms. Lyonne, looking fabu like the dive bar's Catwoman. In it she talks about what makes SNL SNL, her start in acting on an episode of Pee-Wee's Playhouse and her rough but sweet and inspiring childhood in comparison to Fabio getting hit by a baseball. Her crackling, eager voice telling the story made it work and funny. Oh and Maya Rudolph and Fred Arminsen returned real quick to mimic her voice. Okay...

In the Pre-Tape After, a bunch of people talk about what it means to be... stupid. Not mentally-challenged, but plain stupid and their encouragement for other smarter Americans to vote in the midterms. It was so damn funny, seeing the subjects doing and saying random things that cant be described immediately is the best of them all.

In the final Sketch After the Monologue, a new radio announcer joins a New York Yankees radio station WNYX (which has to be a next-level reference to NewsRadio) for a broadcast... and is terrible. This was hilarious. Lyonne (and her rough, yet hot 50s sexpot voice) commanded the skit with the new host random, uncomfortable and inappropriate commentary, and Funtime Mikey's desperate straight man attempts to siphon attention back to the diamond competition were also funny. It seems like whatever attribute and talent the host has, the show will mine it for all eight sketches and the Cut for Time YouTube clip. 

At a special event, the lounge singer guest Treece (Kenan) and his band, keyboardist Brad Dates (Mooney), wandering dancer Helen (CecStrong), and harmonica harper Cassie Marie (Lyonne) are serenading the guests. Other than Treece's begging for allergy medicine (like me as I'm suffering from the bout I've probably ever had), this was alright and chuckleworthy. Kenan and Lyonne had some sprinkles of chemistry but it was too hype for my taste. Plus I don't blame the gay man played by Bowen Yang -- that shit is four dollars too much for me to run out from too.

In the next Pre-Tape, a high schooler (played by Andrew Dismukes -- the better, more successful, happier and even better-looking) narrates the future events of his classmates at their senior proms as it reaches its doldrums. Despite the syrupy nice voice, the events themselves sound like something out of a period piece dramatization and a true crime show together with jokes that make you uncomfortable and crossing the line twice aplenty. This was even better than the "stupid people vote" one. It had me both shivering (not from the allergies I swear) and splitting sides. White Andrew was perfect to narrate and the offsetting visuals mesh well with the events. Gosh this was insane. (I would later end up in a metal hospital for the brutal assaults of four distant cousins at a family reunion at Fairmount Park near a five-year-old's birthday party. I ate a piece of the cake and then shat on the clown.)

It's Time for a Final Update! Michael Che and Colin Jost are back for the last time this season with what always has to be their best jokes of the season (which explains why they've been coasting half the time the last several years). Jokes include Jost's Nostradumbass moment involving COVID's plateau, Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk being Republican evil edgelords, the baby formula shortage, TikTok in the Catholic Chruch, .

The Guy Who Just Bought a Boat (Alex Moffatt) is back to be everyone's favorite high-end punchable douchebag saying anything that could be the grosser White version of the first verse ass-grabbing asshole in verse one of Queen Latifah's U.N.I.T.Y. while making everyone feel like the most used expression in the 2020s -- utter shame and disgust. He was one of my favorite characters of the Che/Jost era and Moffatt portrays him with such perfection and never skips a beat while possibly feeling grossed out while reciting every line.

Two on-trend forecasters (Baby Aidy and Gay-by Bowen) predict the weather while being the most out-of-pocket drama-excreted Queens. of RuPaul's Drag Race. The individual and collective performance was ridiculously hilarious and their voices are perfect. The one line by Yang, hand-holding and embracing for Baby Aidy was just so beautiful, I almost cried.

Pete Davidson makes his one final appearance in the finale to talk about his time on the show, leaving as he got hired -- a brunette (sometimes blonde) rail-thin, pale-skinned comedian who set the world on fire with his borderline acting and weed-soaked demeanor. It was a tumultuous tenure, and i was there for most of it with eyes peeked and mouth puckered with some laughs in-between. So it makes sense for his farewell speech to be bittersweet and humbling. I admit, I wanted him to leave or end up let go for the past few years thanks to his teasing. But now that he is, I'm kinda sad to see him go. But not sad enough because a successful career waiting for him at the other side of the studio doors. You see kids, a lesson is learned. If you do fine enough to convince the creator of a TV show to hire you and then do less and less on said show while dealing with a whole bunch of shit outside and doing more effort into your personal projects, you too can have a very successful career at the end of the rainbow. Pete, congrats on your time on SNL, I hope you'll be happy and healthy as the years progress and I wish you a damn good career in comedy.

Next in this parody of 9 to 5 (called 9:15 to 5:10), three women (CecStrong, Heidi Gardner and Ego Nwodim) deal with their misogynistic boss (Lyonne) - not with their feminism and awesomeness, but by killing him. Then it becomes a Weekend at Bernie's ripoff as they try to keep their supervisors (Armisen and KyMoo) unaware. Honestly, thr only thing that was funny was the physical comedy by the girls and Lyonne  and Natasha's successful attempts at not corpsing. Like the cameo by Armisen too.

Next up, making their SNL debut at the last and luckiest possible moment is alternative pop band Japanese Breakfast. I love listening to new bands on SNL, because I try my best to expand my musical footprint from 2000s pop, 90s and 2000s R&B and the handful of tracks from 1972. And that's all i can think about on the surface. So I think Japanese Breakfast would be a good candidate for my thirst for new music. And... they succeed with their reteaux new-wave sound like it came straight from the works of John Hughes and frontwoman Michelle Zauner's hauntingly velvety voice. Both performances are bright, ethereal, charasmatic and colorful with the set flanked by bright multicolored LED lights and a backing band playing their hearts out like they're about to make their big break (and do). It's amazing and I will definitely be hearing more and more from the Beakfast so Japanese-y very soon.

In the final Sketch for Grey pigtails, three middle-aged women decide to mesh with the years and let go, and two spokeswomen (Baby Aidy and Katey) encourage them to do so. It was okay, but it was still beautiful seeing McKinnon, Mooney and Bryant in a non-flashy final Sketch before saying goodbye.

Which is what happens after a final hang with the 8H Band. I'm gonna miss them a lot, because of their upbeat, professional, saxophone-dominated sound. I grew up on listening to smooth jazz, so I always found listening to Lenny Pickett rock out on the woodwind a constant collection of joy, charm and warmth. Besides listening to WJJZ as a kid, this is the best presentation of recurring live popular music in media. It's gonna be hard to walk away from the 8H Band.

Now to the cast members leaving. Honestly for the last few years, I was sick of seeing them so much more than other cast members every week, no matter how talented they are or how their performances make the show work partially. Every Sketch they're in takes precious time and potential away from the newer members (which they'll finally get next season - even if Cecily Strong, Mikey Day and Kenan will still take refuge in most of them) that make me wonder what the point was of even hiring them in the first place. And Pete sometimes not being there would make me happy if I never noriced his absences to begin with. That seems to be the criticism the show by others as well, but they're still here nonetheless. They even took some episodes off to do other projects -- which isn't bad but could've happened during summer break. But now that they're leaving, I honestly will miss. They're still incredibly talented and brought us some unforgettable characters and memorable sketches,, and their presence was totally felt every time they were on screen. I cannot and never had time to deny it. I wish them the best in their careers from here on out and I hope they are happy and grateful with everything Lorne and the producers have given them this past better part of a decade. It's too bad I can't feel excited for what's to come later on this year and probably beyond.

I'm gonna stop watching SNL for a long while, as I've mentioned earlier, because it's just to much of a chore for me to watch. Just too cumbersome and time-consuming to do. Even if it has a great cast and crew at the moment, and Lorne is still at the top of his game, I feel no interest in watching anymore. That's why the Review segment has diminishing and diminutive returns. I feel nothing about it now. So consider this the very last review I'll ever do for Saturday Night Live. (I'm sure you're very pleased) I hope you enjoyed this show and all the jokes I wrote bring you some good in times of good and bad and I hope you'll enjoy the other posts I'll do here from here on out.

Oh, as for the episode itself, it was really good. Natasha Lyonne was a firebrand as host, the cast were amazing as always and it was a bittersweet, beautiful send-off for the four departing cast members. I knew my eyes would well up from second one and they did. I knew it would be emotional and funny and I have the words go prove it.

And so ends this final review of Saturday Night Live (at least maybe until Season 50 comes around. MAYBE.) This is Andrew Pollard saying, and if you've read this far ... I just wanna say, I hope you had a great day, that life's treating you nicely and that you're doing  whatever is making you happy (or at the very least, that you're doing that makes you money). May God, Allah, Buddha, Jehovah, Hare Crisna, Satan or Visnu (or whoever you worship) bless you and have a great life. Goodnight.

We Don't Talk About Oscar, but it... Slapped?

 Okay... so... how was your night?

Kim "Superstar" Kardashian Tells Other Women to "Get Your Fucking Ass Up and Work"

Kim Kardashian has been known as a reality show star, model, taken-black-man stealer and -- most of all things -- a sex tape goddess. But there's one thing she's never known for (but her family and supporters make you think it) -- working girl.

Kid Power | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! ...Show 72

Welcome back to the show, everyone!

You’ve heard of the song “Ebony & Ivory”? Well, this next series takes the concept of “racial harmony and kindness” to another level. Oh and it’s 100,000x better.

Get ready to experience “Kid Power”!

Based on “Wee Pals”, the comic strip by Morrie Turner, this series centers on the young members of a club called Rainbow Power who face issues most kids face, and work together to solve and fix them in their own individual and collective ways.

Before we talk about the series itself, here’s a brief background about “Wee Pals”. Morrie Turner is a budding cartoonist, with a mentor in the one-and-only Charles Schultz (you know his main work). One day, after realizing that the comics industry is populated to the brim of characters that are white, Turner asked around why there aren’t any franchises that feature characters of color . After asking this question to Schultz, he suggested Turner create one of his own. Morrie took the suggestion to heart and get set on creating the first ever comic strip featuring non-white characters. And thus, his first attempt Dinky Fellas was born. But unfortunately, while it got published, it was for only one newspaper - the Chicago Defender. Turner was not deterred and refined his creation by adding more characters of other races and ethnicities leading up to the February 15, 1965 debut of Wee Gang. It’s start was rough and , as it was rejected by many newspapers for having black characters; only five agreed to distribute it. It was only after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. three years later that Wee Pals would grow as a comic strip with many more newspapers (dalies and weeklys) signing on to distribute, becoming a big hit and beloved read for kids everywhere, leading Rankin-Bass and ABC stepping in to produce and air (respectively) an animated television adaptation titled Kid Power.

Plots:

Now onto the series itself.

This series centers on the young members of Rainbow Club, a club that meets up each week to discuss whatever problem or issue one, some or all are facing. Along the way, they come across some issues; those issues . During that time, said member(s) then play out the(se) idea(s) with little to no success ideas thrown in to become the solution. But then they begin to realize that whatever weakness they had within themselves wasn’t a weakness after all, but a part of them that shows the best of them that shouldn’t be overlooked. 

The point of the series is to teach its young viewers that we are all the same, and - no matter what race you are - that being friends or at least people that care about and appreciate each other through our strengths and flaws makes for a much better world than one spun on hate, pain and destruction. Honestly, not only is it a great message to speak and live by in 1972, it's also still important and timely in 2022, before and beyond. 

Characters:

Nipper (Black) ()voiced by Charles Kennedy): He’s a sweet, precocious boy known for wearing an American Civil War kepi and his dog named General Lee (for some reason). He's based on Turner as a child.

Rocky (Native) (voiced by Jay Silverwheels Jr.): He’s a kind and respectful boy with strong pride in his heritage.

Ralph (white) (voiced by Jeff Thomas): He’s the bully and reckless. Honestly, there’s no reason why he’s a member of the Rainbow Club. Hell, the Wikipedia page of Wee Gang even says he's a bigot! But he does change a bit with each episode.

Jerry (Jewish) (voiced by Gary Shapiro): He’s the upbeat, loyal and most friendly member of the club with a very big heart

Connie (white) (voiced by April Winchell [daughter of Paul]): She’s a sweet and kind girl who’s bright and athletic.

Sybil (Black) (voiced by Michelle Johnson): Also sweet and kind, she’s also respectful and is close friends with Connie.

Oliver (white) (voiced by Greg Thomas): The Rainbow Club’s chubby and bookish leader

Diz (Black) (voiced by Donald Fullilove [whom also voiced Michael in The Jackson 5ive]): a chill, smooth-talking, shades-and-beret-wearing trumpet player (he’s based on trumpeter and jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie)

Randy (Black) (also voiced by Donald Fulilove): Oliver’s second-in-command with a (very) one-sided friendship with Ralph.

Wellington (also voiced by Gary Shapiro): a hip young boy who usually pals around with Diz

George (Asian of Chinese descent) (voiced by Carey Wong): A quiet boy with a vivid imagination who often speaks in Chinese parables (he’s also great friends with Nipper, Oliver and Jerry.

(There are more characters from the comic strip like Charlotte, Mikki, Trinh and Sally)

Voice Acting:

Despite their young age, I think the producers hired some very talented and charismatic kids to voice the members of the Rainbow Gang. And I’m very happy that the kids are of the same race and ethnicity as the characters they voiced and that are in the comic strip (or else it wouldn’t have been following Morrie Turner’s creation of and vision for his comic strip. And that it’d be racist and lazy of them to get white people to voice non-white characters).

Animation:

The series totally looks like the comic strip as it features that style of ink-and-paint. (Notice most of the characters’ eyes) The characters look very adorable (although the boys wouldn't like hearing that; and Ralph would clobber a young me if we ever crossed paths. Although he would get these fists too). The backgrounds also look clean, bright and amazing as well. 

Songs:
Each episode also features an original song tied to the plot and message composed and performed by The Curbstones. Each song features a -- that teaches young viewers on how `. While I like all the ones I’ve heard featured in the episodes I’ve seen, I can’t help but feel that these songs wouldn’t feel out of place in recording made specifically and exclusively for Sunday school or any of those religious tv shows for kids from back in the day like Joy Junction, Kids’ Club, Colby's Clubhouse and Circle Square (remember those? If you don’t… I really don’t blame you.) 

Laugh Track:

Yes, there is one, but it’s much more tolerable than one made for Hanna-Barbera. As mentioned in my reviews of The Osmonds and The New Jackson 5ive Show, the laugh track for Rankin Bass’s weekly animated series is much more nuanced and quieter and even features an applause track featured at the end of song segments. It’s just me but I love this; I despise laugh tracks because I know when to laugh at a joke if it’s funny, and they insult my intelligence every time I hear one; but if I want to watch an older cartoon with a laugh track (if my tolerance for one is high), I’d also want an applause track in one. Because if they’re trying to make an animated sitcom (some of them were actually written by sitcom writers [and I’ll reveal a couple examples later this season]), they have to take it all the way and feature one or else I’d tune out.

To be honest, I‘ve never heard of both the series and its source material until a few years ago. But if I lived in the 60s, I would’ve religiously read and loved Wee Gang - and by extension, I would’ve loved Kid Power if I lived back then, because it features characters that look like and represent me and my people; and (even with the with-it slang that was dated months after airing), they aren’t stereotyped . Because of Morrie Turner (who passed away in 2015; may he rest in power) and the vision he created for kids and adults to finally have a strong, solid, unforgettable representation of their and all races in America at a time where such was slim if not nonexistent (and this was after radio shows like Amos n’ Andy and Beulah -- of which the titular characters were voiced by white actors, and their tv counterparts -- which did have black actors portray the title characters but were still seen by many as playing black stereotypes). And thanks to Turner’s creation, more and more representation for African Americans and other races would grow -- although it would take until the 80s and 90s for it to become more and more and more desirable. I don’t see a series like this being made today -- probably because people won’t see the message as genuine or heartfelt to the cause or certain people wouldn’t 

As mentioned earlier, only four episodes (out of seventeen) are available to view on YouTube. So if you’d like to watch as much of the series as we’re lucky to have been given, please do so. Kid Power is a fantastic series with wonderful, loveable characters (and Ralph) and important, powerful lessons and messages teaching its young viewers about needed subjects including love, kindness, acceptance and friendships. Of course, it can’t hurt to have great jokes and kind original music to add to it all. Please check it out if you have a chance.

And that is my review of Kid Power.

I’ll be back next week when I travel back to 1914 and join a kickass group of furry spies traveling the country to stop villains foisting their fiendish plans on and swiping on the unsuspecting locals in their own goofy, wacky, crazy way known as The Houndcats.

I'm Andrew. See you next week.

Around the World in Eighty Days (1972 cartoon based loosely on the novel by Jules Verne) | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! ...Show 72

"I MUST FIX THAT FOGG!"

"FIX TRICKS! FIX TRICKS!"

The Osmonds (1972 cartoon starring the band) [along with The New Jackson 5ive Show] | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! ...Show '72

 

"One Bad Apple don't spoil 

The whole bunch, girl/

Ohh, give it one more try;

Don't you give up on love"

Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! ...Show 72

"Josie in Outer Space;

Pussycats are all in place..."

Remembering Betty White: TV Icon & Living Legend Passes Away at 99

Hello, everyone. As you all know (to the bitter heartbreak of us all), Betty White has passed away earlier today at the age of 99 - just 18 days shy of her 100th birthday. Personally, I'm shocked, stunned and saddened. She will one of my all-time favorites in the world of acting and entertainment and her works are some of my all-time favorites in television history. 

Here is my history of watching the works of Betty White. 

Of course, like many kids of the time, I first watched her shine in her iconic Emmy-winning role of sweet-but-scatterbrained Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls during reruns of the equally-Emmy-winning series on Lifetime throughout the late 90s and early aughts. Since then, it changed networks (Hallmark Channel and TV Land among them), but I always watched because it was a damn near perfect sitcom, in part because of her charismatic, vivacious, magnetic and multilayered performance and her 1000-watt smile and disposition supported by an equally-talented cast (Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty).

Throughout the years since, I would see her pop up on other sitcoms, talk shows,, news programs and game shows - whether new or old. She was just as sweet, charming, funny and electric as she was on The Golden Girls. Password (the original hosted by her late husband Allen Ludden), Match Game, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret and Just Men! (of which she hosted and received a Daytime Emmy) are just some of the shows she's appeared on and excelled with her contestant partners and on her on own wits and skills.

Speaking of TV Land, her next sitcom -- Hot in Cleveland (on which she stars as offbeat, snarky but up-with-the-times caretaker Elka Ovstrosky) also became a fan favorite of mine, also in part because of her. Her performance as a half-bitter, half-caring, always drunken smart-ass was both hilarious and memorable and is unforgettable. Her hosting gig on Saturday Night Live is also iconic and unforgettable (and I bet the cast and former cast members who guessed will also never forget it) and led to another well-deserved Emmy. And all it took was a successful campaign on Facebook after her surprisingly awesome appearance in a Snickers commercial.

She is also remembered for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Sue Ann Nivens - a local cooking TV show host who is sweet and kind when the cameras are on, and salty, snarky and man-hungry when they're off; and Life with Elizabeth as Elizabeth - a housewife whose zany antics turn her marriage and home life upside down. On the latter, White co-created and produced on the series - the first woman actor in television history to do so, and receiving an Emmy nomination for her work. That is something that should be recognized as a major section of television history. 

Betty is also an avid animal rights activist, giving as much of her time to her fights to give our four-footed, furry friends as she does entertaining us on-screen. Her work with multiple organizations to give animals a better, sheltered and loving life has been documented throughout her life and career, and her efforts in such have been successful throughout the country, with many animal shelters opening up, animals being adopted and praise from magazines and millions for the love and care she's never stopped giving to the friends who needed it the most -- including several cats and dogs she's adopted over the years.

Over the years, I've had the privilege of watching the work of Betty White more and more with each series she starred in, and is always transfixed and amazed by her immense talents and endless charm.

She is one of the biggest, best, brightest, beautiful, brilliant and bombastic talents the world has ever seen. She will be missed, and her life and career will definitely live on for the rest of time and will stand the test of time. Thank you, Ms. White for all of your God-given talents, abilities and love. We are all forever grateful to have you as a vessel for the greatest pieces of American (and even worldwide) entertainment.

Andrew Adores It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

"I got a rock."

New Superman Comes Out as Bisexual; Conservatives Come Out as Crybabies

Lies, Injustice and the Aristocratic Way. Of course that's the motto of the conservative base, but you will never hear them say that. Of course, I'm making a mocking variation of the classic motto of Superman, whom became the target of the GOP's humorous and humiliating histrionics this week after the latest issue #5 of Superman: Son of Kal-El - featuring the newest variation of the Man of Steel - dropped this week with the announcement that Jonathan Kent, the new owner of the iconic supersuit with the S on his chest, is a bisexual and in a relationship with another man.

That's right. I wrote Jonathan Kent, and not Clark. But that didn't stop conservatives from crying about it on right-wing media and social media - thinking that the Superman in the now viral image of the hero kissing another dude is the one with the beloved secret identity we know and love.

Jonathan is the son of Clark Kent (known to diehard fans as Kal-El on Krypton) and Lois Lane, and in issue #5, he comes out as bisexual and engages in a passionate kiss with Jay Nakamura, a writer for a social media platform. 

I already love Superman as a fictional superhero since I was little, but I never thought I would relate to him (or at least a version of him). Now that I can, I can take stock in feeling well represented in comic books (at least as far as I know). So when I heard this news, I was surprised but very happy. 

But whom isn't happy are conservative TV hosts, pundits and politicians.

It's a fictional character in a comic book. He's not real. None of them are. Yet these people think and act like they are. To be fair, I thought Superman was real too years ago, and was disappointed when my grandmother told me he wasn't. I was eight. (I just wish she told me any day but my birthday though. Thanks for ruining my childhood piece by piece, grandma!) Uhhh - meanwhile, these are grown people getting overemotional over print cartoon characters coming out as sexual orientations that are not straight.

And here's the thing: this isn't the Superman we've known, loved and cherished as kids on up for decades. That Superman is still straight and married to Lois Lane (or as -- referred to her as Louis. FREUDIAN SLIP ALEEEEERT! Maybe she's more accepting of LGBT people than we thought). This new Superman is their son. Certainly failed a spot check, didn't you? Maybe it's the fact that you saw grown, older Superman kissing a young man old enough to be his son (and not... well, his son). That is gross. 

Since Supes kissed a dude in a random comic book, conservatives clutched their pearls and whined like there's no tomorrow. Otherwise, if he were straight like his parents, they wouldn't have noticed or cared if he farted deep somewhere in Yellowstone Park.

Then there's , whom cried like Ricky Schroeder in The Champ (in that scene where his screen-boxer dad Billy Flynn dies [it really is sad]) during his appearance on Fox News during his stark raving rant about the history of superheros he was conditioned in changing to his disgust as this one Superman (not THE Superman) came out.

Yeah, umm, about that.

First off, fuck you. Saying that only members of the LGBTQ+ community are sex-crazed creatures that carry and spread STDs is a stupid fucking stereotype. It's proven that Straight people are just as oversexed - if not more - than non-straight people. (Every other rap song these days and the past few decades prove it. And so do the many members of your party.)

There have been comic-book superheroes across the decades that have come out as non-straight and non-traditional but no one noticed until now. And the few you mentioned - Batman, Superman, Spider-Man - were never seen with romantic partners of the opposite sex in the comics (TV shows and movies, yes, but not the point). They always talk to women, and sometimes, the tension is there, but nothing much builds from it. Plus, superheroes have been sexualised pretty much forever. Those top-heavy body-hugging supersuits and rock-hard abs should've been a red flag.

And then there's Dean Cain, whom at least would have some right to an opinion, as he previously portrayed both Kent and Supes in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. But his opinion is still trash to me.

"They said it's a bold new direction. I say they're bandwagoning. I don't think it's bold or brave or some crazy new direction. If they had done this 20 years ago, perhaps that would be bold or brave. But brave would be having him fight for the rights of gay people in Iran."

How, Sway?? How is it bandwagoning if it would be bold and brave in the 90s? Answer: it wouldn't have been in the 90s. If Superman came out as gay, the media would've caused a frenzy. And right-wing would've been just as histrionic; but in the 90s, the places they would've said as much is just CNN, C-SPAN and any public-affairs show that they would demand an appearance. Society and people's acceptance of the LGBTQ community has largely changed and improved during and since that decade and there is a right to create and publish stories about gay people that hasn't happened before. But what hasn't changed is some people's backwards thinking; it just got a bullhorn and worldwide platform. It's not bandwagoning, but you're willing to call it that because gay media is everywhere and people love it but you can't handle it. Just because you played Superman once before, that doesn't make you a gatekeeper to other people who want to portray Superman in any way they want.  Go make yet another straight-to-digital movie and fuck off. I haven't liked him or his opinions for years, and I'll continue to after this example. 

If you don’t like it, that's fine; just ignore it and move on with your day. But that's the problem with the GOP; anything that challenges and disrupts their centuries-old mindset of Manly macho men, women with no say in anything except what goes where in the kitchen and how many children their bodies can handle making, straight/white-only lifestyle, they clutch their pearls and bitch about it to anyone within earshot as if that will make what they think is controversial go away (but it won't) - previously it was in the newspaper, radio and public events with a microphone ; now, it's television, social media and YouTube. This is just one of many "issues" the conservative base in the United States wants to make an issue but isn't an issue. All the Archie Bunkers and -- in America really show their whole ass when it comes to their knowledge of the issues and problems surrounding most everything. They see something that they don't like, cry a river of crocodile tears in front of others, and demand their justice when there's nothing  wrong going on and nothing they can and will do to change it. (And yet, this accuse and mock other people whom want actual change where it is actually deserved.)

I'd be happy to give Son of Kal-El a read and enjoy it whenever I get the chance. I enjoy Superman media and this will be an awesome comic.

I wish this was a non-issue, but I also wish I could enter a cheap bathhouse and end up having swc with Oscar Issac, Rami Malek, Idris Elba, Weird Al and Lupin III, so we can't always get what we want. As soon as progress and positive change comes in this country, there will be people (specifically in the GOP) who will cry and whine about it and demand it all stop and go back to the good old days (see the dorks who scream "cancel culture" and YT commentators who say TV sucks now), while actually ignoring the actual issues that needs to be addressed and improved (see every other thing mentioned in Congress today on C-SPAN like infrastructure and climate change - which is real) or else we're all going to a version of hell we'll see and live through before some go to the well-known one. If only there is a great, honorable, extraordinary, true-blue superhero that'll save us from all the evils and suppression of society. Oh wait... he's not real. Or straight. 

The Gangs Still Here... (But The Beck Ain't Back) (Or: The King Has Left the Studio) || Saturday Night Live 47 Review: one - Owen Wilson & Kacey Musgraves

 

Hello.

Bigger, Balderdash-er, Bullshit-ier ||| BET Awards 2021 Nominations: My Thoughts

As we're a week away from the biggest night Black entertainment (now known ridiculously as "the culture"), The 2021 BET Awards Nominations are in, and no surprise, the producers and the committee are not even trying.

EDREWtorial: 19 Charges &Counting Part 2 -- Josh Duggar Jailed and Not Guilty on Federal Child Porm Charges

Just as I was happy to live my life without one of TLC's family size disgraces of humanity taking space in my subconscious, but they keep on squatting.

Andrew Addresses "Undergrads"

 

Hey, guy!

That's right, folks.

Welcome to my quick brief review of Undergrads.

This animated series on MTV focuses on four young men - Nitz, Rock, Cal and Gimpy - navigating through the ups and downs, highs and lows, climaxes and tribulations of their first year in college. Created by Pete Williams (whom also voices all of the fearsome foursome. No seriously, I mean hot damn), it aired for one season from April 22 to July 13, 2001.

I haven't gone to college (at least yet), but from watching the whole thing, I can take this series at it's word spinning the college experience (at least all of it aside from the academic facet [cause we don't see them in class]). Each episode features at least one facet or -- of college life as seen through the POV of the main characters. Frat life, alcohol, wild and crazy traditions, sex, roommates, money, work, making friends, finding yourself, piecing together your future - you name it, they've made a hilarious, borderline case-study on it.

The main four characters are life-long best friends and men you definitely would find someone in college:

- Parker Walsh aka Nitz is the shy and dull yet sane, normal, focused, sensible and all-together everyman who goes to generic and totally in-the-middle-of-nowhere State University

- Rocko is the loud, muscle-bound, overly-crazy wannabe frat boy (whom doesn't even go to the the college that features the frat. He goes to community college) with an excruciatingly personal relationship with sex and alcohol and equally-so hatred of...

- Calvin Evans aka Cal, Nitz's State U roommate and the sweet and friendly but painfully-dimwitted pretty boy who succeeds more in getting in the pants of every sexy chick who sees him than on the books (and avoiding Rocko).  And finally...

Justin Taylor aka Gimpy, a super-duper-nerdy tech genius able to talk to and help our his friends from the comfort of his own dorm (which he almost never attempts to leave) at Tekerson Tech.

All four features the well-known cliches of college students but otherwise represnt them nicely. Also major credit to Williams for voicing all four perfectly and giving them their own voices to match their personalities. 

Other characters include:

- Jessie, a smart, level-headed and frankly badass friend (and later crush) of Nitz. She has a spunky and lightly fierce personality that I love and many of the moments from the series I love involved her. It's no wonder the producers based much of her on her VA, Jene Yeo. Plus, Nitz doesn't deserve her, but I want her to be with him to see her be happy. I wish I were friends with someone like her. 

- Kimmy Burton, Nitz's since-high-school crush who leaves him speaking gibberish whenever they cross paths. Not only is she completely unaware of Nitz's infatuation of her, she's also a bit ditzy, self-centered and so involved in every other student activity at State U - probably for no other reason than to advance her own standings at the college and in life. As much as I originally wanted Nitz and Kimmy to get together, there's nothing about her that gravitated to me or even like. Except her crushing on a guy she doesn't know is gay.

- Mump, Gimpy's minion and a fellow student at Tekerson Tech. He does things for Gimpy from fetching items from the web to emptying his bedpan (gak). He adores Gimpy (platonically) and sees his "relationship" with the latter as if it's a friendship (which Gimpy to give credit does genuinely appreciate). I like Mump; he is one of the most noble and unselfish characters in the show (except that one time when he couldn't handle Gimpy spending time with Cal and Rocko to make money from other slightly-irreputable services) and his sweet, gung-ho attitude lifts my spirits. Every time he appears makes me happy and anticipate the jokes and gags that come with him. 

- The Dougler, the Rooming Assistant of Chilton Hall (Nitz and Cal's dormitory) who acts like he's in the 1960s - a decade he obviously wasn't born in. Despite bis tries, his avoidence from social activities make the other students only barely acknowledge his existence. His mellow and quirky personality are like a pot hit - short, sweet, mind-altering and nonsensical to explain afterwards. Also his frustration after being told to go to hell is funny as hell.

- Rita, the RA of Gimpy's dorm at Tekerson Tech. She runs the place with an iron fist and takes no crap from anyone - especially Gimpy. Her actions make me laugh (and intimate me a bit) and thanks to Gimpy's childish and one-upy antics, make me sympathize with her. There was no love when Gimpy tricked her into Cal's arms (and junk) to run the dorm to a wasteland - making him realize rules are rules for a reason.

- Jessie's boys

 -- Rob Brodie, an overhyped loudmouth who makes something out of nothing.

-- Kruger, a foul-mouthed pessimist with no (****) to give about anyone, and

-- Dan... He laughs. He's like... the non-talking pet in a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Seriously, he just laughs and he doesn't talk ever. It's like he's a human hyena nothing else.

Honesly, I really like these three more than the main four. They just seem more pleasant to be around during their short appearances on-screen. I must mention, as funny as they are, Nitz, Rocko, Cal and Gimpy seem like people I really wouldn't want to be around. Ever. Their actions (while funny) are the catalyst to me avoid all of them at all costs. Well, maybe Nitz I'd like to hang with... as long as he doesn't flake on me to try and fail to get under Kimmy.

- Mark, a drama major at State U. Kimmy crushes on him hars, but she doesn't know he's gay. He even has a boyfriend named Lance.

-

These characters complement the main four incredibly well and well-represent more cliches of college life.

The Writing is really good. Each episode follows a certain aspect of college and college life -- see above. I like they take a piece of college life, expand a bit on it and twist the plot to near absurd levels for laughs amd ties it up with a great conclusion and clever joke to end things (too bad the same can't be said about the finale). One detail I adore is the character development of Jessie in regards to her feelings for Nitz. As she grows more fond of him - and makes it more obvious, he still isn't getting it and still wants Kimmy, whom becomes the bane of Jessie's existence. This causes her to outright spell it out for him, but its too late.

The Amination is great for the time. The smooth designs of the characters and cracked exteriors of the buildings are well endearing. 

In conclusion, this series is a funny and enjoyable watch for anyone who loved college life, are going to college, are in college or would love TV shows or movies that male fun of college life. 

This show deserved more than one season, despite being on MTV and not being named Daria and Beavis & Butthead. Fortunately for the fans (which now includes me) - whom made a very passionate pleasure for its return, there will be more to come. Over 15 years of copyright and ownership issues led up to a silver lining. In 2018, creator Pete Williams announced that he has picked up ownership of Undergrads and, later in September, started a crowdfunding venture towards a film adaptation of his creation. The goal was $115,000. It was met late the following month. here's videos of the progress.

Congrats to the crew and cast (yes, there's more than just Pirate Pete) and especially the fans on the success of reviving the show and here's to a successful project. If you still wanna help out or at least pique your interestin updates on the project, here's the link. Even a dollar can help, and it's definitely worth the contribution. 

As for the show itself, it's on YouTube. It's a quick binge and *slurp* totally worth your time, guy.

Thanks for checking in, and I'll see you again soon. 

Atlanta Spa Shootings

Before I give my opinion on this tragedy, please check out the article about it on Wikipedia. (Yes, it's not the more credible website but it's volunteers did a great job with its information and keeping us informed with its updates. 

The Jackson 5ive | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! …Show 71

Stop! This cartoon show is all our own,

Let’s not take it slow,

Let’s cause some mess and sing our so-ongs

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! …Show 71

Flintstone! Pebbles Flintstone!

She’s the modern, stone-age teen Lucy.

Next door - to Bamm-Bamm Rubble/

They will make their mark in history.

Let’s ride - with their buddies down the streets/

Through the courtesy of Bamm’s two feet.

When you’re with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm,

Have a yabba-dabba-doozy time,

A dabba-doozy time....

But look out foooor Schleeeeprooooock!

Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday… Show! 71

 

The Funky Phantom | Andrew’s Funshine All-Star Superstar Supercade Saturday! ...Show '71

Here’s the story… of a cute young lady…

who is thirsty-trapped by two teen horny dudes.

She is sweet with hair of gold… eyes like water…

her skirt’s too short and wildy shrewd.

It’s the story… of Skip and Augie…

they're too busy charming this girl, but are duds.

They are all talk… little time for friendship ... how are they all good buds?

Then the one bad rainy day, they’re out past midnight…

They’re in a bando, no plans to just go home…

They changed a clock and freed a plasmic soldier...

That’s the way they then met the Funky Phantom

The lilywhite Phantom…

The ghastly Phantom…

Now they’re friends with the campy and dead even Funky Phantom!

(Doo-doo-de-doo Doo-doo-dee-duh-doo!)

Morgan Wallen is Sorry for (Getting Caught) Saying The N-Word

Rolling Stone

There's a saying: "When someone tells you who you are, believe them".

There's another saying: "A drunk tongue speaks a sober mind."

There's a saying in the workplace: "Don't defecate where you eat."

There's a saying on a short-lived newsmagazine TV show:

"If you don't want to be on Page Six, DON'T DO IT!"

If only Morgan Wallen adhered to these sayings.

The country music star made an utter fool of himself this week, when he again got caught on a viral video with his head up his ass. This time, instead of doing something dumb that cost him something important (that being jamming with and kissing attendees at a local bar party, causing his October 10 appearance on Saturday Night Live to be cancelled [he would later perform on the show during its December 5 episode]), he said something dumb that cost him something important (he got caught drunkenly yelling the N-word to someone in reference to someone else outside his home.)

I don't have much more to say, so here's the video for

 your viewing (dis)pleasure and interpretation.

Since the video's recording back on January 31 and its release by TMZ on February 2, a few radio companies ordered their stations to remove his music from airplay, CMT cut visual ties with him, the Academy of Country Music deemed him and his album ineligible for nominations for their award, the streaming sites dropped his discography, and his record label Big Loud suspended his recording contract indefinitely. Basically, those companies "miss-me-with-that-bullshit"-ed him real quick. And I don't blame them. After unsurprising backlash, Wallen admitted to using the word and issued an apology.

This both aggravated and amused me. The aggravation comes from the obvious fact that he said the n-word out loud. But that halfway turned into amusement when I learned he was drunk at the time. Seconds after, I thought "wait a minute, that doesn't excuse him for saying a racial slur". Then I got mad. While the radio station drop was admittedly shocking and a bit wild, I felt absolutely no sympathy for Wallen. You guys already knew my thoughts about him during the college party scandal that postponed his SNL appearance in my review of the episode (Lorne Michaels still was way too forgiving), and my opinions not only still hold up, they're reinforced here. I don't know what it is with Morgan, but to me it seems like he's a self-destructing dude. Every time something big happens to advance his career, he goes and fucks up everything - leading up to a calm before a storm and after that should've destroyed his career for the better. But because people are forgiving to him (read: foolishly willing to part with their money to this fool), he bounces back harder than Big Sean in 2017. So maybe after this he thought he's invincible and decided to do whatever he wants and prey on the open nature of the weak-minded in the hopes that they'll defend and protect him and his career so keep on moving on because they see him as a good ol' country boy working hard and paying his dues to make it in the big time. At least that's how I see it; because there are idiots out there (including many in the comments section of the above video [some of them black people according to their avatars]) scoring Olympic gold in mental gymnastics trying their damndest to justify Wallen (whom if you've forgotten is a white man) saying the most degrading, demeaning and disgusting racial slur of all time. Some of their bullshit excuses include "Oh he was drunk", "It's just a word", "He was calling his friend that", "He said nigga" (the video showed he said the '-er' version because there are five stars spelling out the 'igger' part, and he admitted it in his apology) (and as '-a' that is any better), "The person who recorded it was waiting for a payday" and "He was saying that on his property and the person recording it is stalking him by illegally recording him" (even though he was outside saying it in public walking to his property, and the person recording it every right to do it because it is legal; being fully outside on your property doesn't protect you from being recorded). And to tack on the last point, the video begins seconds before the infamous sentence, showing some type of dispersion happening one night after bar-hopping, with the person recording what they thought was a public disturbance (and/or they probably recognized Wallen's voice and wanted to record him up close) and also caught something they didn't expect. 

It's both bewildering and laughable that people see this man as being one of their own to quickly defend him instead of getting out of dodge to protect themselves as they witnessed him committing a big no-no in public life. Fuck, another country hitmaker, popular duo Brooks & Dunn, called Wallen's public flagging "censorship". Listen here, boys -- THIS IS NOT CENSORSHIP!!! Morgan never said the word in his music or in a speech; he said the word in public - in front of other people - on public property. It's not like he had a recording studio in his pocket and hit record on everything he spoke as he went and is protected. Everyone has the right to say whatever they want, but they must remember that saying whatever they want carries consequences (and he's getting a major dose of them right now). But they always seem to forget that the moment they open their mouths (and not just when they're hammered). So shut the fuck up and stick to what you know - because throwing around trendy buzzwords in the right context that certainly isn't "political" is not one of them.

If you're a black person saying that it's just a word and that you're okay with white people saying both versions of nigger, you're either a moron lying out of your ass or are better at sarcasm than I will ever be. If you're white and see no problem with one of you're own saying nigger our loud anywhere, you're worse than he is (#sorrynotsorry). And I don't wanna hear shit about how rappers get to say it and not white people; whites shouldn't say it because slave owners used it as a demeaning, degrading term meant to put down slaves. Rappers say it as one of the ways to take the power of the slur back to the black community (and partially because that's the only interesting thing they have left over their shitty bars, weak-as-water flows and ultra-repetitive beat-work). It's not just a word; it's a racial slur - a racial slur that carries on centuries of pain, abuse, suffering, disgust and terror. I think no one should have any excuse of saying that or any other slur, but white people especially -- cause come on. I'm not saying nor thinking all of them do it (obviously), but if you really feel the need to shout racial slurs (as a stress release or something), even though you're not supposed to, at least do it in front of a mirror; at least your audience of one is satisfied. And if/when they actually complain about being told not to use it and being called racist if they do it -- as if the air of superiority still lingers on, it makes me just laugh seeing those types of people cry their crocodile tears about not doing something they still think their race seems good at. Other than drinking.

Remember, being drunk takes every stupid thing you can think of at that moment and turns them into actually saying and doing every stupid thing you can act on. Inhibitions be damned. Being drunk doesn't nor shouldn't excuse anyone for being a self-humiliating dumbass and disruptor of the peace no matter where you are, and people defending other people doing dumb shit they should keep to themselves while wasted in front of others as just being drunk are just as bad for brushing off and enabling this behavior. Which Wallen's fans did almost immediately after the video hit the ether, which I expected like clockwork to my annoyance and amusement. Then I realized Country fans are mostly like Wallen so no surprise there.

And that's when Morgie here told them not to. Wallen then posted an apology video a few days later, telling his fans not to defend his actions in the video or enable them. 

I didn't watch more than once because I felt it just as disingenuous as the last, and it's obvious as to why he made both: to get back on the good graces of his record label and the media, and... oh yeah, MONEY. He needed to make more bank that way to he can make music again and then make more money. But he didn't have to do that because his fans already made Mr. Monopoly rich. Again, Dangerous stayed at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart for a fourth week. I wouldn't be surprised if all this blows over and Wallen - instead of staying with Big Loud - went the independent route to score even more bags without the middleman. And he can say nigger (or any word he knows he shouldn't) as many times sober as he wants without any record company hovering over him. I'm just joking... (Or am I?)

I wanted to say I don't care about this, but since you're this far in this MMost, that's not true. I don't hate him. And I actually don't want this guy to watch the career he worked so hard for collapse right in front of him (he does make admittedly decent country music), but I don't feel sorry for him for continuing to do and say stupid things in the public eye that jeopardizes his career just as it's taking off. It's as if being famous gives him more leeway to be a slow-witted dolt. And it makes sense for all these companies to drop him from their services (at least temporarily) because they see him as a liability in their businesses in a more open, inclusive and sensitive time in history revolving minority races and ethnicities [and that's without saying we're currently in Black History Month]). 

I don't take much offense to Wallen saying nigger; I honestly don't want anyone of any race (yes, even black) saying this epithet (but I've gotten used to hearing it a lot to get used to it since then).  What I do take offense to is people tripping over themselves in their rushing to defend this guy as if he's a family member worth protecting from the hands of the abusive stepfather (read: the people who have the right to criticize him for good reason). It's as if he's still like one of them, despite the nice expensive home, big-ass pickup truck and bank account that makes your bank account look like your kid's piggy bank. He is not like you anymore and is not on your level anymore. And he probably wouldn't care about you unless you attend his concerts or buy his records. You are dollar bills to him from the last apology tour to the next. He will be back when all this blows over. He'll be back on the radio, on TV, on the award circuit and on the streaming sites. They'll realize that he is a hot country star making Taylor Swift money by Taylor Swift fan-like fans and they can and want get a piece of it when no one remembers this scandal anymore. It's bound to happen, and I won't be surprised. I'll just remember to slap myself if/when I get mad about this and move on from this bullshit. At this point in time, if my favorite artist fucks up, I'll just shut up, point and laugh, because they will get back up and make more money from their pathetic simps of stans.

It's all a matter of time...