My nightclub act, Mo Rocca 'Cross America, got off to a decent start with my big Rhode Island number. Then it was time to invite my first special guest, the legendary Charlie Osgood, on stage. Charlie not only sang, but also took over the piano!
We started by singing the Rodgers and Hart classic "Manhattan." Unfortunately the sound didn't record properly. So we pick up the action with our train medley.
Here is the first excerpt from my nightclub act at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. Mo Rocca 'Cross America is a celebration of states and their specialness. And this chestnut about "Little Rhody" is a favorite of mine. I hope you appreciate the new third verse. (And cut me some slack for my shortness of breath. This was right after my big opening number, and I was winded.)
Since 1964 Benihana has defined "Eatertainment." There are 80 restaurants world-wide. (Strangely there are more Benihanas in Venezuela than in Canada! And only one in Japan. Romania also has one.)
Clay Aiken is a longtime devotee of Benihana's. We spoke a lot about the Claymate phenomenon, which extends to Japan, where fans naturally are called Claysians. (Fans in Kuala Lumpur are Maclaysians, which sounds a little fast food-y.)
Much of our chat, which included a discussion of Pan-Claysian cuisine, didn't make it into the video below. Still I hope you enjoy...
Iron Man vs. Made of Honor: Seems more lopsided than Obama vs. Clinton. What would it take for you (all of you, not just superdelegates) to choose Made of Honor at the multiplex?
This is Producer Will Hines again, filling in for Mo while he continues his week-long sabbatical.
Today is April 22 or "Earth Day," a well-intentioned holiday that helps raise awareness of important environmental issues. But ironically, Earth Day itself feels inorganic to me -- forced and even rote. Better that then nothing when it comes to protecting the world, I know.
Still, much more interesting to me is "4/20" -- the unofficial celebration of marijuana which occurs two days before. I don't partake of marijuana -- we here at Mo Rocca 180 are notoriously unadventurous when it comes to drugs. But I am fascinated with successful civil disobedience. On Sunday at the University of Colorado, thousands of students gathered and smoked marijuana in public with no reports of other recklessness or lawbreaking. There were police on hand, but seeing that they were outnumbered, simply allowed the kids to smoke marijuana while making sure the gathering was otherwise safe. That's a smart, pragmatic decision which I respect. It gives me hope that there's a chance to have non-violent protest without having police or other authorities feeling threatened.
That, and stoners are hilarious. We didn't go so far as to administer a blood test, but the seemingly affected young men that Mo interviewed in this piece on Mitt Romney were two of my most favorite interviewees (they first appear at 26 seconds in). And they certainly seemed to be keeping their world "green."
Greetings folks! Mo Rocca is away from the office this week. We're not 100% sure why. He mentioned something about an unfinished dissertation about the effect of man-on-the-street pieces on post-modern literature and then grabbed his fishing poles and hustled out the door.
Regardless, we here at Mo Rocca 180 are not ones to question our tasks but simply to dive in blindly. So prepare for a week of choice re-runs of past videos. On some days our choices will be a thoughtful reflection on the day's news, bringing fresh insight with yesterday's comedic angle.
On other days, like today, I'm just gonna run stuff that I think is funny. Please enjoy my favorite piece from the vaults, "If You Could Have One Bionic Part..." which we first ran in honor of the short-lived Bionic Woman remake.
I know it's a difficult question to answer. But too bad, life is full of tough choices. Now suck it up and choose: Grandmothers or Grandfathers? (But first, watch the video.)
I remember with great fondness the 1983 Martha Coolidge film Valley Girl starring the perfectly cast Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman.
Since that time the San Fernando Valley has come out of the shadows. With its real estate more valuable more than ever, it's clear that people want to live there. The Valley is commanding respect -- certainly from internet users. (It's where most of our porn is grown.)
Design Mastermind Simon Doonan is not only the Creative Director of Barney's, but also a great wit. (While I love the 70s, 80s and 90s, Simon is a trenchantly funny observer of all our decades.)
His new book Eccentric Glamour posits three design prototypes for women: The Gypsy. The Existentialist. The Socialite. At her core, a woman is one of the three or a combination of two, he asserts. Unfortunately Hollywood and the tabloids have campaigned all too successfully to sluttify America's women with bleach and botox. Simon is hoping to reverse the trend.
Jeff Bridges ... Dennis Quaid ... Jeff Bridges ... Dennis Quaid ... Jeff Bridges ... Dennis Quaid. ENOUGH ALREADY!!! They both have brothers. It's time to put them in the spotlight!
