Two Words, One Answer.
Jack Klugman
 Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast) $9.99 Merman belts the songs out of the ballpark in a way that Midler can't touch and LuPone only nears in 'Rose's Turn.' The additional tracks on this are worth a listen and enhance the perspective, like the included liner notes, of the final production.  Quincy, M.E. - Seasons 1 & 2 $29.98 This deserves 5 stars but I had some disc sticking/freezing issues also-this seems to be a regular problem with double sided discs, no matter where I play it. This is one of the best crime series I have watched and truly stands the test of time. I love the storylines, Quincy's ability to always stir up trouble in search of the truth and his well connected, politically correct boss's annoyed acceptance of the fact that Quincy will always do the right thing no matter how much trouble it causes, and ultimately is always supported in the end. Sadly, the rogue but honest, hard working, stellar employee is not as acceptable in this "go along to get along" everyone should be and look and act exactly as the boss says with no semblance of a personality or conscience in this lovely day and age. It's a shame that honest whistle blowers (not the make it up to get back at my employer types)or the honest person who says "I can't ignore that" or "I can't do that" is usually seen as the "uncooperative", "insubordinate", "bad" employee these days by the company, the media, the government, everyone, rather than the one person with values, morals, and the guts to say "that's just wrong" or against the law. Growing up, in a less PC world, people were people, had personality, dressed differently (but within a professional, unwritten code)and could have courage like Quincy and still have a job...these days, when you stand up for truth or justice, it's less acceptable, more scary, more likely you won't have a job tomorrow just for giving an alternate opinion. okay, the I love Quincy and the ways of yesteryear rant is over......but I love Quincy. Can I just say, as a child of the 70's.....The song is the greatest!!! Gives me that cozy childhood feeling!  Tony And Me: A Story of Friendship $24.95 Written following the death of his friend, Klugman recounts the early lives and careers of both him and Tony Randall and with brief asides to their time on TV as the Odd couple focuses on how they helped each other through personal crisis following that happy time. In glowing terms Klugman describes his friend's energy and devotion to detail even as it frustrated and enraged him. One starts to wonder where Oscar and Felix ended and Jack and Tony began. If you are not familiar with the TV show, based on Neil Simon's play of the same name, it might be hard to relate to theses people but if you saw it and loved it and know that it stands up nearly 40 years later then you will love this book. Klugman's voice echoes from the page as he recounts his evolving understanding of what a true friend is. Along the way he drops gems of knowledge of the theatre and TV production, acting and writing, what works and what can't. Never lecturing Klugman's book seems more like an old friend or distant uncle spending the evening telling you a wonderful story, made even better by the fact it's true. He spins it so well that you're heart broken when it ends, you want more. Ultimately Klugman credits his friend with teaching him to share himself with the world. In Tony and Me he does just that, in lauding his friend, Klugman pays ultimate tribute to him by showing how well he learned the lesson. |
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