Bill said... Me commenting on my own post! All in the family was how I knew what was going on on the other side of the fence. Dating was hard and I heard a lot -- a lot of racial epitaphs. Some days it seemed like everyone in Joliet was racist in one way or another. It was not true but there were some scary times. Archie Bunker made the people I was afraid of as a kid seem more approachable, less scary. It gave logic to the racist behavior that came from seemingly reasonable people.

In reality, some were racist, some were truly full of fear and suspicion. That show, "All In the Family" helped me see that there was a distinction worth making.
When I was in the Men's Group, Chicago New Warriors, they used to say when you go into battle put your fear on the end of your sword-- out in front where you can see it. Hence the name "ShooBooty".

Shoe Booty by David Steven Cohen

...is an episode of All in the Family in which Archie and Mike wind up locked in the basement with nothing but their mutual suspicions and a case of liquor. Liberated by libation, Archie reveals that Shoe-Booty was a nickname he endured as a child because of his mismatched footwear. Layers of character are delicately revealed as Archie spirals into the tangle of his psyche. Situation comedy evolves into character comedy.
Yes, sitcomic contrivances visited the Bunker household on occasion. Sammy Davis, Jr. made an improbable appearance at 704 Hauser Street. Archie and Edith entertained a couple whoseraison de visite was to swap mates with the unsuspecting Bunkers. These things happen to real people about as often as I get my Funny Body Part "A " stuck in Comic Object "B " when I'm due to appear at Important Event "C. "
But Archie evoked laughter through character, not situation. Writing for such richly textured and well played characters raises a writer's standards. No longer can you, in good conscience, move jokes around the page, from one character to another. You might even stop writing jokes and start writing dialogue.
This became clear to me while working on the Fox showMr. President starring George C. Scott. (Yes, it was a sitcom. Conrad Bain was also in the cast.)Mr. President served a term of scarcely more than a season; the characters in the series did not have the chance to explore themselves over years as Archie did. Nonetheless, the actors' skills, their depth of performance, provided the writers with incredible opportunities.
George C. Scott was magnificent as the Commander-in-Chief. He brought scripts to life with his amazing range, moving easily from fate-of-the-world weight to Gleason-like burlesque. Conrad was damn good, too.
And Madeline...
Midway through the series' short run, Madeline Kahn joined the cast as the President's sister-in-law, taking over First Lady duties for her sister, the President's wife, who had left him. (This mind-numbing contrivance was best addressed by one producer: "Don't think about it. ")
Crafting stories, words and moments for Madeline was like folding a paper glider and launching it from a rooftop. An exquisite wind takes your page and carries it through slow climbs and roller coaster descents, whipping turns and loop-de-loops. And, finally, a graceful landing in the most unlikely-and perfect-spot.
Writing a television series has the potential of sucking the oxygen out of your immediate environment. But, if the wind is right, it can instead bring you the writer's ecstasy of sharing a character's heart and soul with an actor.
I wish I had the chance to write for Archie. I cherish the stories, words and moments I shared with Madeline. Paper in flight is a beautiful thing.

Focus and Connections

I have to keep reminding myself that the strange postings are where my songs come from. More importantly to remind my self to look at them that way.

Open up the comments section on my main Blog. -- done.

Someone close to me is dying. I am not listing their name out of respect. The person is older and their passing requires more than a little pause. He is a war veteran from 1st world war and a man of god. Knowing him fired up a lot of my thoughts.

I am with my kids tonite. The schedule is really wacky but that's the way this has been going.

It is funny how a blog lives in this wierd space between public, private, vanity and sharing, depending on who and when you are.

It really and truly is the little things in life that count. But little in day to day life supports that and there is much to dispute it. You have to be strong enough to know it, that the little things are the most important and wise enough to teach it too your children, clever enough to know the difference between preparing for this reality and fear, and spiritual enough to trust that it is true.

There is a lot to life that is luck and a lot that is not. When you are walking down the street wondering "how can anyone be so stupid?", remember to stop and think. And when you are walking down the street saying " some people are just so lucky" stop and think.

Think about the work that goes into being in the right place at the right time to get the lucky break and have an enriching life. Think about the people who made the right difference in your life early enough for it to stick.

This week I watched Jimmy T and his son Cozmo play a song together on stage. I have a friend in Battle Creek who taught his son to play guitar. When I think about the two of them I can see how people might see their situations as "lucky". Lucky to have the knowledg, lucky to have a son that understands the value of sharing that, lucky etc. I just see lots of hard work and dedication, a day after dat week after week effort, perserverance, endless hope, forgiveness, belief and finally a letting go.

You have to be focused and stay connected. If you drop the ball, pick it back up and get focused, stay connected.

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