The Steve Reynolds Program - Issue #17
Hey, hey! Lots of things have happened since last issue. Personally, I turned fifty! It's a strange number to process. I'm still wrapping my head around it.
I put out my book, Way I See It. I have learned feedback from a book is a lot slower than feedback from a comedy set. That's because people don't read quickly and some people put tsundoku into action (I am so guilty of that). A few reviews have come back and all are good but dang, that silence can produce anxiety.
Another reason for the delay is I haven't been consuming too much. I'm watching all of Community on Netflix and it's good, but I don't feel like giving it a coveted spot on my list. It really seems of its time (some of its supposedly meta commentary on social issues seems blockheaded now) and it'd be like recommending Tiger King. Everyone knows it and it's about terrible people. I also can't recommend crosswords and acrostics (ooh, the September 7, 2014 NYT acrostic is a David Sacks quote!) and that's pretty much all I do.
The last reason for no newsletters recommending entertainments is we're in a terrible pandemic and terrible people are doing terrible things during and because of it. It's tough (and nigh impossible) to think of anything else. Right now, the question is "Do I send my child to a school where we all know it is not prudent for all to go because the needs for community and education rank so high in spite of a virus that eludes definition, detection and containment?"
Four Things Anyway
Decoy - In a search for Stark Fear (a weird psychological horror film filmed by OU's Ned Hockman), I found out its star, Beverly Garland, had a Dragnet-style policewoman show in the 50's. This article really breaks down what's fascinating and good about it. The only thing I'll add is the exterior shots of NYC are great and gritty. My usual July nightcap.
Just The Funny Parts...And A Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into The Hollywood Boys' Club- I'm still reading books from this list of top comedy books and have to say a lot of books have the same kind of feel. They're semi-autobiographical with digressions like listicles or sketches thrown in. (One I just abandoned had a "top ten funniest movie/tv moments" chapter and the oldest example was from 2004 and the most obscure was the British Office.) So this was a relief and pleasure to read. A definite theme and voice with no punches pulled. Scovell has written for some of my favorite shows (Mary Tyler Moore, Letterman etc.) and the stories of the writing rooms are insightful and captivating. The Jim Stafford story is one for the ages.
Hence The Humor - I mentioned another special of Andy Kindler last issue but he just put this album out. It's from 2014 and is insanity. But his in-the-moment commentary on himself, the nature of comedy and any thought that goes through his mind can be a thrill.
Happy Little Accidents Party Game- I got this silly game for my birthday. Basically, you scribble on a piece of paper and then try to draw an announced word incorporating that scribble. Then vote on your fave. A big plus for it is you can play with three people, a good thing for this household.
Pluh-pluh-plugs!
My book is on sale at Full Circle and Stash in Oklahoma. Literati Press in a day or two. Or order online here https://www.stashok.com/made-in-ok/way-i-see-it-book/
I've done two podcasts recently. The Unidentified Flying Podcast and Wheel of Randy where I gamely try to talk about Randy Newman a little, but the host and I talk about the book too!