MarcWorld

Hey there...yes, I'm back and I plan to "be here" more often, until my brand-new blog kicks in. (More on that soon.)

Some items of note:

-Snapple Pie is back. You truly can taste the crust in this amazing limited-edition drink. Duane Reade's got it, and Gristedes has four-packs. (That store also has Shirley Temples in the bottle...I recall that someone I know likes 'em.)

-I'm still writing songs, getting them out instead of letting the "Is it original?" obstacle stop by, and hoping to get two (not one, like I've said for years) published by a major musician someday. Latest is "The Hardness." Really have to finish "Roadblind."

-There's a new campaign, mostly print ads, for some electronic product with the slogan "Try not to die." I'm not kidding. What monstrous ad agency thought this one up? Let's hope a) it doesn't succeed or b) the product tanks.

More soon...really!

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People who know me, especially those who read this blog, know I'm a devout fan of commercials.

I don't have time to read Advertising Age and AdWeek (tremendous mags for those who work in or love the industry), but I do find fascination in the way-behind the scenes ad-creation world. Imagine the agency execs who came up with the mid-'80s "Where's the beef?" idea for Wendy's or the creative forces behind the recent "Can you hear me now?" Yes, that last phrase is a simple and increasingly annoying one, but Verizon's campaign has overtly taken product placement into our own conversations. Each agency's hard-working staff has to create a presentation, and if theirs--as high-tech, hilarious or heartwarming as it might be--doesn't win the pitchfight, hundreds of hours of work drop right into the drain. And as much as I can't stand the Macy's spot where a woman can't rouse her husband from a bed and tells the salesman, "We'll take this one" (That just doesn't happen!), just imagine how many times the actress had to say that to please the picky producers. I'm guessing 85.

You haven't seen commercial creativity until you've seen the new Bar None spots...which feature a certain puppet telling people the car-financing company can help them buy a car, whatever their credit background may be. The puppet in question? Pets.com's dog! ("His" site found the drain years ago.) And the tag line? "Everyone deserves a second chance...Bar None." Amazing.

I recently realized the excellent double entendre of Holiday Inn Express' "Stay smart." You're making an intelligent decision to use their hotels, and a good night's sleep (oh, that's one of my favorite phrases...) keeps you smart. Brilliant.

And don't get me started on the jingles. That's a whole other entry. (But I'm thrilled that a new generation--whoops, that's Pepsi--is hearing Coke's "I'd like to teach the world to sing.")

If you have some commercial favorites (and are on AOL), please let me know by writing a comment below. Now back to our show!

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I've seen four recent sports comedies in the theatre, and would like to rank them in descending order of "worth-watchingness":

1. Herbie Rides Again: This NASCAR tale is fun, well-acted (yes, Lindsay Lohan is engaging) and actually features a story.

2. Rebound: A middle school basketball team gains a stubborn coach; somehow it works well (even with Martin Laurence...who knew?). 

3. Bad News Bears: Has potential, and Billy Bob Thornton has a good moment or two, but drops like a pop fly halfway through...a real Little League game would be more entertaining.

4. Kicking and Screaming: Don't even rent this soccer mess.

And I wanted to quote Beatle Ringo Starr, as this, which I heard today, was a chuckler: "The '60s...yeah, that was a great year."

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Just a couple of quick notes. I recently discovered that mahi-mahi is dolphin. I've eaten mahi-mahi, thinking it was akin to halibut. Not pleased with this new knowledge, but glad to be aware. (Yes, I have chicken often...but dolphins are cuter and smarter!)

To additionally prove I'm somewhat sappy, I cannot wait for Jennifer Love Hewitt's new prime-time drama, Ghost Whisperer, mainly because of the promo CBS has been airing where she tells a ghost he should "see something" when he's ready and he willingly walks toward the light. This fall-premiering series continues the entertaining, enlightening path of Touched by an Angel (watched it now and then, and sobbed when Wynonna Judd's character finally finished her song and performed it for her child...those who have seen that episode will understand) and Joan of Arcadia (a brilliant, moving show that deserved to live on).

In even lighter news, The Island is amazing! Please go see this well-written, much-more-than-just-sci-fi movie. Yes, Ewan McGregor is my favorite movie actor, and he does a tremendous job in this future-set, dramatic, comedic and thought-provoking story, but that's one of many reasons I loved this one. See it and let me know what you think!

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It's a first in my life, and not necessarily the finest one. As my latest haircut wrapped up yesterday, I looked at the back of my more-"normal"-looking head in a mirror and noticed...a small bald spot! Yes, it was tiny, but it's there. Here comes a minor pre-midlife crisis. It's not depressing as much as it's a sign I'm definitely aging. Ah, well...I had a solid amount of hair for years, and can deal with this.

A recent change I was more able to handle was the heavily talented Christian Bale becoming the fourth actor to don the Batsuit in Batman Begins, the most amazing DC superhero film ever. Everything about this film is phenomenal, from the writing (every moment counts in this tight, powerful story) to the acting (along with Bale cutting to the heart of Bruce Wayne and making the Dark Knight thrillingly fearsome, Michael Caine's a perfect Alfred, Gary Oldman is a very believable Gordon and yes, Katie Holmes does an excellent job) to Christopher Nolan's tremendous directing. Fly to your theatre to see this one! And you know, Bale's better than bald any day.

Then there's my current favorite commercial, which is about one of my least favorite things, gum! (As Oprah says, it makes you look like you're chewing steak...forever.) It features the new Doublemint Twins talking--make that singing--about the wild changes that have happened since they left, including "plastic surgery oooooon TV." How hilariously on-target is that? Hope everyone gets to see this commercial, and that all the folks I care about have a fine Fourth!

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As the jackets stay home and the sun stays out late, life's settling down a little for me, so I can back into MarcWorld. I can even watch shows I don't usually try, such as the enjoyable, well-written, real-feeling Judging Amy (actually, I see that now and then...I love Vincent).

Yes, TV might have generally become "homework" for me, but it's still good for taking my mind off the almost-always-present Everything Else. Had a cold for a while, but it's down to coughin'. The Parkinson's walk happened last Saturday and went very well...we just keep getting more efficient, and my superiors for the day gave me more work than ever, including three people working under me! And they were pleased with my efforts behind, on and in front of the stage; plus, I had a quick conversation with Michael J. Fox before he inspired the audience from the podium.

I had time to read...and finish!--Thornton Wilder's tremendous play, Our Town. I didn't expect to be moved so much by this now-I-see-why-it's-a-classic work. Those who haven't read it: All I can say is it makes you think about how precious life...life meaning today, this moment, right now...truly is. Pick it up sometime, and read every page.

Well, just wanted to "stop by"...I'll be back soon!

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I recently read something non-fictional that referred to mid-30s as middle-aged. It was a brief blurb in a magazine; can't remember which one (no memory-loss jokes, please), but I wasn't pleased. Not taking it to heart, though (Hey! None of those jokes, either.), especially since I choose not to believe that crapola. But I have been thinking about life in general lately, and trying to make the most of each day. Especially after events like yesterday's (No, not the football playoffs, although I'm thrilled the Patriots are in the Super Bowl again).

k.d. lang is performing, beautifully, on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno now. Had Letterman on because Cate Blanchett was plugging The Aviator, in a December installment, and a Late Show rerun's usually better than Leno. But I should've realized Jay'd be talking about Johnny Carson, who was stunned by lang when she debuted on The Tonight Show in 1987, and who passed away this weekend; the sad news was released yesterday. I truly grew up watching and loving Johnny. Brilliant as he was witty, innovative as he was welcoming, he was always worth staying up for and made the talk show world what it is today. He showed every guest respect, from Joan Embry and the potato chip lady to Robin Williams and Bette Midler, who were his final two guests on May 21, the night of my graduation from Rutgers. That kindness made me respect him every time I was lucky enough to watch him work (while he had fun every minute).

On CBS now, Craig Ferguson is solemnly but charmingly talking about Johnny and telling of the wakes people have for those who die in his home of Scotland. The new Late Late Show host, who's had the job for three weeks, said, "It's kind of like you get to play in the majors and you hear Babe Ruth has passed on." Noting he was refraining from getting sentimental, Ferguson simply said he's grateful to Johnny for--as he watched him while growing up in Scotland--making America seem like a small town, "and a less intimidating place for me. He redefined television and was a master at it. Thank you, Mr. Carson, good night to you, sir, and we'll see you in the by-and-by."

Okay, onto lighter matters. I find the OnStar commercials hilarious. I know they're trying to show (well, present the voices of) real people using the high-tech system to save their lives (or start their cars), but as soon as they speak with an OnStar staffer, everyone always careens from frantic ("Help! I'm stuck on the side of the road and it's really dark!!") to calm ("Okay, thanks."). It's a realism problem. The "so easy a child can use it" spot is especially convincing: This wildly Southern kid cries out about his mom not moving, then blurts out for some reason, "I'm five!" When he's told someone's on their way to help, he says, "Okay." Whew, situation solved.

Well, Craig's back to his comedic self, and I'm off to bed. After I pop a couple Geritol and remove my glasses and teeth.

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Hey again. Just a quick entry to note that somehow amid the cold and stress of this steadily nutty January, I've been able to improve my life in little but important ways. Trying to be more efficient and plan better, keeping in touch with and meeting up with folks more regularly, and (gasp) getting more sleep (okay, that's just started and I'll see if it works). Yep, I'm in resolution-keeping mode...and staying optimistic (not overoptimistic--I'm never that way, despite what some folks might think). Only 346 days till the next round of "resoluting."

For some reason--The solid writing? The breath-of-fresh-air humor? My relating to the down-to-earth, irreverent Vincent?--I've been watching Judging Amy. Right when I have to watch about a dozen other shows--24's back and better than it's been in years, Lost's mysteries pull you in, and I've got three hours a week of American Idol to watch! (By the way, although Green Day's "Dreams" ballad is amazing, I doubt I'll pick up American Idiot, as theme albums don't do much for me...maybe after they win a few Grammys).

Well, Amy's wrapping up (She's pregnant!) and I have 90 more pre-sleep minutes (yep, trying to enter sack-hitting mode at 12:30 on weeknights, no later). So much to do. Is it 2006 yet?  

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