Never Say Never Again (2018)

Note to the reader:

Over the last few years, I have chronicled my regular life musings mixed with my love for movies and television shows. These tales began with the post “One Broke A$$ Summer” in the summer of 2017 and had continued as frequently as possible, and sometimes there had been an occasional segue and some ranting.

I do not have delusions of being a professional writer, is more of a desire and at this point I am more of an apprentice, or an understudy, or a writer in training. However, I consider myself a “Jack of all trades and a master of none” and over the years I had many different career paths (jobs) and collected many stories from everyday folk.

This post is a very personal and significant as my life was about to change and would like to thank all the regular followers and occasional readers of this blog.

Gainesville, Fla

November 2019

Life is full of segues, pauses, shortcuts, retreats, and redo’s.

At my age, marriage was just a term, just a word, a social status foreign to me and a social achievement for other people. Over the years, I have struggled and failed repeatedly at this social custom that it is beaten down to us since birth, as parents, family, and peers alike rave about finding that “perfect someone” or “the one” that magically is going to transform life into this fantasy where everything will be great and awesome along with the pretty house with the picket fence and in bold letters on top, the caption will read “and they lived happily ever after” as the visual fades into oblivion.

Having failed at this social expectation and suffering (more like enduring) through the years at not being “normal”, my life was in chaos because I tried to fit in, I tried to be what my parents, what society expected me to be. In the end, it was not meant to be, and it took a plunge into dark times to realize that it was not worth it and realizing that it was ok to be different, and quirky, and shy, and odd. From that moment on, I gave up on relationships that to be honest, were non-existent in my life, as most of my life has been a plethora of meaningless, occasional and usually short-lasting “flings”, many disappointing tries that ended up in the “can we just be friends” euphemism to mean that you are ok but not that ok. There were only two long-term relationships in my life and many years passed in between them, so technically I spent most of my adult life single and on my own. As I reached my middle years, the idea of being a parent became moot as well because being an old man with a baby was an aberration in my mind for many reasons. Some of these reasons are selfish, as the notion of looking like the kid’s grandfather made me queasy; however, the responsibility of a child is shared and not being able to have the energy and commitment to raise him or her was my biggest reason for staying out of the fatherhood bandwagon. My position about fatherhood cut my chances of being in a relationship with someone who wanted to have a family, and for years I was upfront about it with mixed results.

Most women in my age group already had children and had been in several relationships and some are still hopeful for finding “the one” always hopeful to have children or more children. The younger women I met were expecting to settle and have a family, so it was unfair to them to expect to stick around with me for a long time, so this also cut my odd in the “dating game scene”.

Another problem being in relationships was my disposition towards social events that were becoming burdensome, empty, and meaningless. The result was that over time, I  became a hermit of sorts, as I developed an aversion for these commercial holidays like Valentines and Halloween; moreover, the entire holiday season and the other holidays deemed to remember like Veterans and Memorial day used to sell trinkets made me more and more displeased with the status quo.

Since I was not about to change the world, I became more reclusive and kept to myself.

It was easy, it was comforting, and it made me happy.

This self-imposed banishment from society gave me strength and time to fulfill goals that seem elusive before, for not having to pretend to be like others gave me ample time to pursue these goals. The main one finishing my elusive college degree in record time.

After some time it became a comfort zone …but The Universe has other plans…

I became aware of her by accident, as a new coworker at a time when office relationships are frowned upon. Moreover, as in her conversations she referred to as “we this …we that” and a clear hint that she (the story of my life) was in a relationship. I later discover that “we” was her and her son, but I also pondered about our age difference and quickly dismissed the idea as silly simply because what can she possibly see in a crusty old man like myself. I was blind, in my world, and incredulous; she was persistent, patient, and caring.

This perfect storm resulted in a simpatico that grew into something more but still the notion of marriage was not even a remote possibility.

Over time she had become part of my life and me of hers.

So the impossible became possible, for a decision to legalize our relationship became the subject of conversation and the challenge of how to let our families know about it. We both did not used the word “never”, but the notion of marriage was not in either of our “bucket list” for different reasons except for the most important—relationships eluded both of us. She had an easier time letting her family know and the excitement of the event change the dynamics of her immediate family, for the planning and pre-production of the social event of the summer was underway. On the other hand, I had a difficult time finding out how to find the perfect time, or the words to let my family without the odd moments that usually follows news of the magnitude; furthermore, I have never been one to be in the spotlight getting all the attention for anything; more so a social event that was foreign to me. I struggled for days until letting my mother and one by one to the rest of the family know. The reactions were not surprising, as there was some disbelief, some surprise; however, for me there was a big sigh of relief, for “the big news” was finally announced and now a date to be chosen and plans over plans will begin for “Our Big Almost Impossible Wedding”.

Next: The Americans

21 Jump Street

It is hard to believe that this show debuted on the FOX network.

Once upon a time the idea of a forth network was laughable mostly by the executives of ABC, NBC, and CBS, and did not thought FOX would make it.

This was a time when other ventures seeking more alternatives failed like the USFL, so FOX’s chances were slim.

Cable TV was now a staple in every household, as deregulation of television and radio were beginning to impact media outlets evolving into today’s fragmented demographics.

However, FOX pitch was simple and very effective aimed to the younger generation of the time by developing “edgy” content (still do) that pushed the line of what was “acceptable” or “decent” for network television.

FOX continued to struggle until their biggest gamble paid off, for they outbid and outspent CBS to get NFL football and a few years later did the same to get MLB baseball.

The gamble changed their fortunes as they became one of the premier networks in the US, and no longer the renegade 4^th network.

The sweet irony is that the same renegade network that brought us “The Simpsons” (1989- ), “Married with Children” (1987-1997), and “In Living Color” (1990-1994) are the same folks that brought us FOX News in another gamble that gave a voice and a home to conservative pundits that changed the format of cable and news forever for good or bad—time will tell as the others had followed their format to appeal to the fragmented tribal demographics of today.

21 Jump Street (1987-1991) was one of many shows produced in Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada.

Many shows produced there became very popular and some became iconic like one about some files that seems to be still looking for the “truth that is out there”(hint is you must). This show also was filmed in British Columbia before moving to Los Angeles to appease one of the stars’ threats to leave the show.

The show inspired a short-lived spinoff called “Booker” (1989-1990), named after a popular character in the show’s 2nd and 3rd seasons, and staring Richard Greco.

Unfortunately the show also was remade recently in not one, but two horrendous movies that completely changed the theme of the show for the sake of a few (more like yawns!) laughs. (I refused to add links to these celuloid waste).

The show’s cast was young and unknown at the time, and included Johnny Deep, Steven Williams (The Leftovers, 2014-2017; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; The X-Files, 1993-2018) , Holly Robinson-Peete (wife of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete) (Howard the Duck, 1986) and the only cast member to appear in the entire show.

Rounding up the cast were Peter (Stargate Universe, 2009-2011; Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; Solarbabies, 1986 ) and Michael DeLuise (Stargate SG-1, 1997-2007; NYPD Blue, 1993-2005) and sons of comedy legends Dom DeLuise and Carol Arthur. Peter later became a television director for other shows like Stargate Universe (7 episodes), Stargate: Atlantis (6 episodes), Stargate: SG-1 (56 episodes), and Silk Stalkings (2 episodes)

The show was about a special unit of the metropolitan police (Canada) who recruits young-looking police officers to work undercover in high schools.

It was the 80’s, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the death of Communism (sort of) and the birth of Perestroika, Cable TV’s ascendance as the dominant media platform, as MTV, CNN, and ESPN (to mention a few) became iconic brands and the standards of broadcasting. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) and other interests groups against drugs, or teen smoking, or teen pregnancy were becoming political players by campaigning on media and influencing policy in Washington.

Suburbia was becoming influential in politics because they had wealth and numbers to influence politicians. They wanted results fast, and in some cases creative and extreme policies were approved with mixed results. Although these are still existing issues in the school system, positions had evolved and policies had shifted towards decriminalizing drug use. However the show takes place during the middle years of “The War on Drugs”, so every government resource was available to rid society of the “evils” drugs and alcohol addiction among teens. Law enforcement mandate was to investigate, prosecute and incarcerate youths and adults alike to curtail the social epidemic that was “destroying” America.

The show lasted 5 seasons, and the departure of Deep and most of the original cast probably contributed to the end of the show, a trend that affects other good shows when they outlive their relevance and popularity.

Still, watching the show after so many years (about 30 years) brought some memories of a place and a time long gone with usual good memories and bad memories but that is life…

Next: It was Time for a Big Decision.

A Westworld-Futureworld Double Feature

It was another Friday night (end of the week and two days off), at home, sitting on my chair, ready for another double feature.

Westworld (1973)

The movie is about an amusement theme park for ultra-rich people to indulge themselves dressing and playing cowboys. It seems that in the not so distant future everybody is either super-rich or non-existent since the park is packed with customers, thus making the place very profitable or so it seems. Like a future version of the famous rodent theme park and following along the famous lines from the movie “Field of Dreams”–”if you build it, he (or they) will come”.

To make it safe for the customers, robots play the other characters like natives and other town people and only they can be “killed”, as the weapons are programed to protect the guests. However, there is a robot (the gunslinger) who mysteriously becomes aware (or maybe not!) and decides to take out some of the guests for real. In typical 70’s conspiracy theory movies like Coma or Close Encounters of the Third Kind, after these “mysterious” deaths happen, and one guest (of course) manages to stop the plot, uncover the mystery, and save the day; thus making the movie entertaining and sort of a contemporary motif in today’s conspiracy theory pop-culture insanity.

Yul Brynner (The King and I, 1956; The Ten Commandments, 1956) , Richard Benjamin (Quark, 1977-1978), Josh Brolin (Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, 1985; Capricorn One, 1977) , Majel Barrett (Babylon 5 1994-1998). She was married to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and was and still part of the Star Trek Universe as the computer voice, narrator, Lwaxana Troi (The Next Generation), and Nurse Chapel (original series).

Michael Crichton directed and wrote the screenplay for the movie.

Crichton also directed “Coma” (1978), “Looker” (1981), and “Runaway” (1984) among others. Aside directing, he was also a prolific writer that published novels like “Timeline” (1999), “The Lost World” (1995), “Rising Sun” (1992), “Jurassic Park” (1990), “Sphere” (1986), “Congo” (1980), and “The Andromeda Strain” (1969). These novels were developed into movies over the years. He also wrote the screenplays for “Twister”(1996“), “Rising Sun” (1993), ), “Jurassic Park” (1993), “Runaway” (1984 Story), “Looker” (1981 Story), “Coma” (1978), and Westworld” (1973).

However, the novel “Jurassic Park” got the attention of Steven Spielberg who liked the story for his next movie, and he brought Crichton in to write the screenplay for the 1993 movie and Spielberg’s 15th movie. Their collaboration continued over the years through Amblin Entertainment, as the dinosaur-saga has produced several sequels (8) over the last 28 years and still going strong as the next instalment is set for 2021. Crichton and Spielberg relationship continued through Amblin Entertainment also gave Crichton the opportunity to develop television shows, and on September 19, 1994 the Emmy winner, long-running TV show “ER“ (1994-2009) debuted on NBC.

Crichton suddenly died in November 4 of 2008 after complications from cancer before the end of the show; however, his legacy continues as “Westworld” (2016-to present) was remade into an HBO show (produced by J.J. Abrahams) and “Jurassic Park” and the “Lost World” are still successful franchises. Furthermore the novel “The Andromeda Evolution” is being released on November 19 of 2019 (add link).

Futureworld (1976)

I remember watching the commercials for this movie and thought it was going to be a cool movie. Yes, I was a child and did not know better, and went to see it much later at the discount movie theater near my house.

A place where I spent many Sundays watching movies for $1. The movie sort of follow up Westworld but without much details, and concentrates in building the conspiracy about the evil and mysterious park management and the robots.

The movie inspired an awful television series titled “Beyond Westworld” that was done and gone before many people noticed. Created by Michael Crichton in 1980 only lasting five episodes.

Again it seems like during the 70’s it was a belief that in the future everybody was rich (like the Jetsons) because the park was packed with many people along with some VIP’s.

The movie begins with some mysterious deaths that prompted a duo of reporters to go “undercover” yet everybody knew them and were also invited to see that everything was good and fun at Delos (name of the park). Apparently management wanted to replace some of the VIP’s with robots, but their plan failed (or not) when the “undercover” newspaper reporters were in the park

Now it seems that from all the weekends they could devote to public relations, the management apparently missed the weekend when several big wig VIP’s were visiting and booked the reporters “all access” tour as well.

Still an entertaining movie (for the funny and silly antics) from a time gone by.

Peter Fonda, John Fujioka, and Yul Brynner as the Gunslinger

Next: 21 Jump Street