Need I say more?

Happy MLK Day....one day away from the Inauguration of Barack Obama

Larry Hagman: A Texan for All Seasons

I wrote this for the now-defunct Themestream website right after George W. Bush became President for his first time. 'Always liked it.

With the ascension of George W. Bush to the rank of "leader of the Free World," it would seem that all things Texan are becoming in vogue. Well, I don't know if that is a long-lasting trend, but I want to pay tribute to one of the Lone Star State's premier sons and one of Hollywood's underrated and beloved talents: Larry Hagman, the once and always JR Ewing of "Dallas."

It is hard to believe that over twenty years ago, in 1978, the actor formerly known as Tony Nelson of "I Dream of Jeannie" would transform himself from that bumbling astronaut to the icon of corporate greed, Mr. Ewing. Never before had such a deliciously evil character graced the small screen.

Each week, Hagman's J.R. would delve into his malicious bag of tricks and wreck havoc on all who entered into his circle. He made life hell for his siblings Bobby (Patrick Duffy), Gary (Ted Shackleford), and "black sheep" Ray (Steve Kanaly). He was a thorn in the side of their respective spouses, and forced his own better half, Sue Ellen (marvelously played by Linda Gray) into an asylum for her repeated bouts with alcoholism. Hey, if you were married to such a disreputable shark, you'd be a lush, too.

Even JR's mother, Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) was fodder for his machinations. He didn't care much for her second husband (film and stage star Howard Keel) after the death of his beloved "daddy" Jock (the late Jim Davis). Competing with father-in-law for the affections of mother as well as control of the family, Ewing did as much as he could to foil the relationship.

As a major player in the Texas oil market, JR accumulated many enemies, chief among them Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), brother to Pam (Victoria Principal), Bobby's much beset-upon wife. Their continuing rivalry lasted the entire 13-year-run of the series with Barnes constantly being upstaged by the deliciously crafty JR.

With the exception of his mother, sister-in-law Pam, and nymphomaniac niece Lucy (Charlene Tilton), there seemed to be no woman that JR would not bed. The bedroom became Ewing's company "subsidiary" where deals were "consummated," for want of a better word. It is no wonder that he was loathed by most of Dallas's male population.

I realize that the character's actions and lines were the creation of a fine and gifted group of writers. However, Hagman brought all of this to life with his vivid portrayal. So popular was the character during the show's heyday, the "Who Shot JR?" still remains a Neilson ratings powerhouse.

It is beyond me why he never received an Emmy for his outstanding work. Even a decade after the last first-run episode was shot, Hagman's JR is still etched in the memory of American consciousness.William Forsythe's "Blake Carrington," "Joan Collins's "Alexis Carrington-Colby," or even William Devane's "Greg Summer" could not hold a candle to Hagman in the acting department.

Not bad for a guy whose real mother, Mary Martin, is lovingly remembered donned in tights as Peter Pan!

Texans can, at least, be proud of this native son.

Hyman and Austin - Singers Supreme

Beyonce', Justin, Britney, Usher, Chris, Kelly...just a few of those that have topped, and are topping the respective music industry charts. Their continued sales success indicate their popularity with their key demographic: the young. However, most of them are successful as a result of some gifted marketing and their physical appearance, which is perfect for the video-dependent music business.

Measured solely on their vocal prowess alone, I don't think they, for the most part, can't hold a candle to some older, more experienced, and, I've got to saw, MORE TALENTED individuals, some that, unfortunately have passed, never getting the recognition that they deserved.

To the list of underrated "dearly departed," I want to praise Phyllis Hyman, a singer equipped with one of the sultriest of voices that, sadly committed suicide in 1995. Hyman had some chart success with the disco-esque "You Know How to Love Me" but was more suited for ballads and other torchy-like songs. She won much praise for her role on Broadway in Sophisticated Ladies.
Though her albums were never at the top of the charts, she did develop a devoted fan base, of which I am a member.

Now, of those that are still alive and kicking, there are several that continue to record and release albums, with little fanfare to the public in general, but cause elation with their band of fans.

Patti Austin, who has been singing since the age of four, is another vocalist of note that should be a household name. The goddaughter of music maestro Quincy Jones, Austin sang on several of the composer's familiar recordings ("Razzmatazz," "Ai No Corrida," "Stuff Like That") and has had several albums of her own yield hit tunes ("Baby, Come to Me," a duet with James Ingram from Every Home Should Have One and "The Heat of Heat" from Gettin' Away with Murder).

She has done duets with the likes of Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, and George Benson.

One of her earliest careers was as a singer of commercial jingles, with which she carved out quite a niche for herself.

The singer won critical praise for For Ella, a collection of songs in honor of the late Fitzgerald. She followed that album with the Grammy-winning Avant Gershwin, a tribute to George. On the cover of the latter, she showed off her new body as a result of gastric bypass surgery. The singer has struggled with topsy-turvy weight gain/loss for much of her life.

Regardless of her size, however, Austin is still one of the best and most respected in the business.

My fondness for them both is, no doubt, represented by the number of respective albums in my collection by both: Hyman - six and Austin - eight.

Remembering three actors

Within the past two weeks, both the television and film arena have lost three notable actors: Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Ricardo Montalban, and Patrick McGoohan.

Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, has her own place in Star Trek lore. She was "Number One" in the original pilot "The Cage," went on to play "Nurse Chapel" in the subsequent series, and found her own place as "Lwaxana Troi," the mother of Deanna, in Star Trek: The Next Generation. She also had an off-screen job as the voice of the computer on all the series, along with the upcoming 2009 feature film.

She shone in each part and will forever be remembered by fans of the series.

Ricardo Montalban, who had a long career on both the small and big screen, has a Trek connection, having played the character of "Khan" in both the original series and the second Trek film, appropriately titled Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Another generation discovered his comic side as he played against type in the first Naked Gun film.

Of course, millions of TV fans will remember him as the enigmatic "Mr. Rourke" on Fantasy Island. Others will also think fondly of him as the spokesperson for the now-defunct Chrysler Cordoba, touting the car's "rich, Corinthian leather" in the 70s ads.

Montalban did not let illness keep him from his chosen profession. While wheelchair bound and into his 80's, the actor played the grandfather in two Spy Kids films.

Patrick had a long and distinguished career, starring in several memorable
Disney productions (The Three Lives of Thomasina and The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh), and other Hollywood films ("Braveheart" and "Ice Station Zebra," to cite just two).

He will probably be most remembered for his role as the unnamed "Number 6" in the classic TV show, The Prisoner, uttering the memorable, "I am not a number. I am a free man!"

McGoohan was good friends with Peter Falk and guest-starred (or directed) five times on the latter's Columbo, winning two Emmys in the process.

Though they are no longer among the living, they will continue to exist on the celluloid that holds their acting "spirit."

Why I like "Supernatural"

For the past 3 1/2 years, I have been a major follower of the exploits of Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers that are involved in a quest to eliminate the country of demons, werewolves, malevolent ghosts, and an assortment of things that "go bump in the night" on the CW television show Supernatural. The pair have been "hunters" since the death of their mother at the hands of the "yellow-eyed" man. Spurned into action by their father, Dean and Sam do battle weekly as they prepare for, what appears to be, Armageddon with the forces of good against the forces of evil.

The show, a combination of Route 66, Friday the 13th - The Series, and The X-Files, stars Jensen Ackles as older brother "Dean" and Jared Padalecki as "Sam."

One might say that the third member of the cast is Dean's black and powerful 1967 Impala that carries the duo from place to place.

Other actors with recurring parts include Jim Beaver as hunter-of-all-trades "Bobby," Katie Cassidy and Genevieve Cortese, each having had turns as good demon "Ruby," Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the boys' father, "John," Misha Collins as the "Castiel" the angel, and Fredric Lehne as "the yellow-eyed demon."

Now in its fourth season, the show has developed a large cult following of which I am a member...but what is it about this show that so enthralls me and so many others?

First off, the premise is most engaging, as the brothers go from one state to the other in their never-ending search to rid the country of hell's minions. They encounter the stuff of legend and lore, both traditional and urban, armed with their wits and an arsenal of weaponry, designed to maximum destruction. The writers deftly craft scripts that occasionally mix the horrific elements with commentary on family dysfunction - the brothers are sometimes at odds with each other - and, at times, they throw in references to pop culture. For example, at the conclusion of a second season episode, featuring guest star Linda Blair, Dean asks his brother if she reminds him of someone. His last statement involves having the desire to eat "pea soup," a not-so-subtle reference to Blair's appearance in the classic The Exorcist.

Another feather in the show's cap is the casting and the fine performances by Padalecki and Ackles. Both young men play well off each, making one believe that they could actually be brothers. The writers have developed each character into a unique individual, with Dean being the hot-headed, sarcastic one and Sam as a little more level-headed and compassionate.

Supernatural is also one of the few network or cable shows that promotes the existence of God. The fact that an angel is a recurring character, Sam's revelation that he prays daily, and the coming battle are just three story elements that distinguish the drama from most television fare.

Because it is filmed in and around Vancouver, there are times when the Canadian location doesn't quite come across as mid-America or New England, destinations that the brothers find themselves headed toward. However, for some reason, the Canadian countryside and cloudy skies sometimes add to the menace and terror of the stories.

The final plus for the show is its score, sometimes combining familiar rock tunes with traditional incidental scoring from the likes of Jay Gruska and Christopher Lennertz. Even on occasion, Ackles gets to sing, with somewhat "spooky" results.

I'm not sure that the show would be a hit on ABC, NBC, or CBS, because of its rather avant-garde, off-the-wall, and scary situations...being not quite as "conservative" as the usual fare on those networks.

The pairing on Thursday night with Smallville, another genre favorite, gives me, and others, two hours of fine viewing, something that I don't have any other night of the week.

Now, if the producers could just find a role for a fifty-something-year-old, 6'6" tall, black man, I'd be in demonic heaven.