More to Come

The search for gold is a continuous one; always on the look-out.  Video gold is one of those things, and thanks to some very friendly collectors, I've received multiple old episodes of the Tonight Show.  Since I've accumulated these discs, I've filed them where they should be filed: under SWANK.

In each instance, the only negative (if it is such a thing) is the topical humor of the monologue.  Johnny makes a quip, everyone laughs, and I run to Wikipedia to find out he is referring to President Ford's budget director.  The rest?  It's a truckload of people simply making it happen.  Even better?  These were recorded by some friendly man in a station control room long ago.  This means, after the national ads, nothing but Doc and the boys groovin' it out.  And thus, the "more to come" bumper slides.

They're a lost art, especially for today's late night talk shows.  Moreover, they're usually difficult for an audience to see.  This certainly was not the case back then.  But Johnny's bumper cards certainly evolved over time.

I may be over-thinking this, but the above bumper card comes from when the show was still shot out in New York.  1971 New York, well...it was swank, but then (as now) doesn't hold a joint to LA.  This rigid "art" was typical of the episodes of the time.

Ah. here we are.  They're more proud to say they're in Dealville than anything else.  What, we're moving to Burbank?  Make that shag carpet, Kenny.  Yeah, and a lot of live ferns.

Once settled, you'd see motifs of the California lifestyle, one the show began to embrace completely.

There were variants on this theme, but it continued throughout the first year or so in California.  After this identity was established, the cards were...OK, I want to put this point across without any accusations at all.  I've used the word "swank."  Is "funk" an appropriate word?  "Imbibed during creation" an appropriate phrase?

Whichever you choose, an artist would be given room to make a whole series of cards, filling an entire episode, on a rotating basis.  Let 'er rip.

"Fred, I had this dream last night..."
"Go for it, pal."

One of the multiple reasons the show moved full-time to CA was greater access to film starts, a lifeline a talk show desperately needs (as do studios).  It's fun to see their spirit caught up in this wave.

So, we're doing an episode on New Year's Eve, and it's the late '70s.  Our guest will be Robert Blake.  Johnny returns from commercial with "10 seconds to the New Year" and says a brief word...followed by "3...2...1..."

Guy on the left: "HAWWWWWW"

Just as the pioneers headed west, so did this show.  It wasn't easy...we had tough conditions, unexpected troubles, and a constant fear for our lives.  But enough about NBC in the late 70s.

Yeah...perhaps there was research showing more people trip while watching Tonight than any other show?

Well, it's getting late...time to go to bed.  Hey, what's on after the show?

Chuck Mangione?  Turn on the coffee pot!  We're going ALL NIGHT!

Govern the Schwarzenegger Way

Most everyone knows of the golden life out west. They also know life is a lot better with a lot of cash. Having a lot of cash and living the golden life is the solution to life's mathematical problem. It may be superficial to say, and some may argue, but having been on both sides of the coin...well, I don't need to tell you the right side. Hell, there's the right way, and then there's all the way. You know what to do.

And just as pacific gold is an ideal it is also a very real lifestyle. But it doesn't come easy, it doesn't jive for everyone, and it takes hard work. But living this lifestyle is becoming harder and harder. You might not sense it right away, but hooo boy you'll be noticing it when you send in your state taxes. And you can thank Gov. Schwarzenegger for one clusterfuck after another. Yes, the man elected Governor with NO EXPERIENCE IN ANY WAY seems to be neck deep in a shit storm he attempts to avoid by leaving the state as often as possible. Just how did we get here? Follow the golden road! How can others govern Arnold's way? Read how:

1. Run for the position using catch-phrases from your movies. Vaguely mention what you'd do, but enforce the fact of how "cool" it would be to have yourself as governor. Don't act surprised when it works. Campaign that you won't take money from special interest groups. No one will check to find out that, over five years in, you will have taken more special interest money than any California governor in the state's history.
2. With the state budget a mess, begin the idea of spending 15 BILLION DOLLARS in bonds. Most people won't understand that a bond is spending money you don't have...and then paying for it later. You do this for only one sensible reason: you're sure that you'll be in the black in the future, so it will all even out. Never mind there is no possible way out if you're not making money by then.
3. Press hard for the approval for the bond measures. Get help from Democrats, who know smart spending is needed. You're a republican spending money, and they love you. So does the public.
4. What? Not everyone loves these spending measures? That will likely make it hard for a state budget. When those struggles begin, continue using catch-phrases from parodies of yourself. Hide your confusion when the trick which worked on voters doesn't seem to hold the attention of those in Sacramento.
5. When your opinion poll numbers are well below 50% favorable, immediately decide to hold a special election for state reform measures. This gives you another chance to be on TV and remind people that a famous movie star is California's governor. Try to compose yourself when voters reject every one of your reform measures.
6. Just in case people were turning around in your favor, go against your previous statements and veto a gay marriage bill. Fairly, you state that this would go against Prop 22, which California voters agreed that same-sex marriages should not be allowed. Five years later, support a "no" vote on Prop 8, which would have banned same sex marriages. React sadly when once again, the vote fails for same sex marriages.
7. As your bond measure problems come up again (with Democrats wanting them only for different things than Republicans) complain of party fighting as the reason for gridlock. Support the Democrats wants anyway, just to piss off your own party.
8. You're up for re-election! Time to do the easy things, like sign into law tougher greenhouse gas & emission standards. Look - you're still Governor!
9. Uh oh - those pesky bonds (the ones people voted for, and voted for AGAIN in 2008) will start to become due in a couple years. And we don't have the money to make it. We could keep getting bonds and have little to no tax income or treasure left. What to do? Solution 1: Blame state employees, and have them work only four days a week. This will make up the money difference and you won't have to raise taxes. Never mind the fact that fewer people working government jobs will delay assistance to citizens and create more red tape.
10. To show the legislature who's boss, you threaten to lay off 10,000 government workers (at a time when most people can't hack it) to continue to make up the balance in money. With gridlock once again, everyone spends the night at the capitol. Make no comment when Republicans suggest raising taxes instead of firing people, despite a national tax cut. Those stimulus checks won't sit in your bank account for long!
11. Use the old insult tactic when there are some who think $14.4 billion of tax increases are in your way.
12. REMEMBER: When all else fails, smile! You've got charisma! You've got Hollywood looks, even in your advanced age. Even if your popularity is hovering near 50%, who the hell could beat you in an election? You're a famous actor!