HOW HOWARD STERN HELPED JULIAN LENNON

Many Beatles fans might not know about this story, but both Julian and Cynthia Lennon considered legendary radio personality Howard Stern as the instrumental figure in helping Julian to finally receive his long overdue inheritance from Yoko Ono.

 
When John Lennon was tragically killed he left a will leaving everything to Yoko Ono’s discretion which meant she could dictate the terms of what to leave Julian, Sean, and even her daughter Kyoko with no interference from anyone else. Up until 1993 Julian was now 30 years old and the only things that Yoko had given John Lennon’s firstborn son was two guitars that really didn’t mean anything to John (Julian had requested another one that he knew was one of his father’s favorites, but was told no and given these two instead while Sean would get to use all of John’s musical equipment,) and a weekly allowance for a short time of $100 a week.

 
Once Julian got his record deal Yoko stopped the $100 a week payments and had given him nothing else up to that point in the early 1990s. What was truly shocking even before that was that when John was alive both Cynthia and Julian were living pretty much a middle class lifestyle. Cynthia had made the mistake of just asking for a small settlement plus a trust fund for Julian that in the end didn’t reach the potential it should’ve because John didn’t pay the proper attention to it.

 
Plus the fact that once Sean was born the trust money balance was broken in half for both sons. Cynthia had trusted John to do right by Julian, and had he lived he most likely would’ve. That being said it was still irresponsible of John not to set something up for both Julian and much of his family in Liverpool including his Aunt Mimi who learned after John’s death that the house he bought her was now owned by Yoko.

 

Unfortunately while Yoko was out preaching about “peace and love” she was doing nothing for Julian. Not even entertaining the idea of giving him a part of his father’s legacy, estate, or any type of inheritance settlement. Julian was basically living off the money he made off his solo career, but it was nowhere near the money Yoko now had with John’s net worth then estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. Yoko would basically have to be shamed into doing the right thing.

 
Listed below in the comments section is a 1993 interview Julian Lennon gave to Howard Stern. It’s a “must listen” as Howard goes nuclear on Yoko and calls out her hypocrisy, asking over and over why Julian hasn’t received his rightful inheritance as John’s son.

 
It shouldn’t be surprising that soon after this interview which was heard by millions of people and the beating Yoko took in the press that she finally (almost 15 years after John’s death) gave Julian some money. Julian was vocal at the time that the amount wasn’t anything fair to what John’s net worth was, but it was at least a start. Even to this day Julian has absolutely no say in his father’s estate .
The fact of the matter is that it should’ve never come to this. Howard Stern should not have had to shame Yoko into giving Julian his “rightful” inheritance, but instead for reasons only known to her she selfishly handled the matter...

THE LAST DAYS OF GRACE KELLY

On September 13, 1982, Grace Kelly and her daughter, Princess Stephanie, were in a car crash. Due largely to a series of misleading communiques from the Monaco palace—the hospital's chief surgeon would call them "garbage" in the New York Times—the public was mislead about both the nature of the crash and the severity of Princess Grace's injuries.

According to an excerpt from Jeffrey Robinson's Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait, published in the Chicago Tribune, the pair had train tickets to Paris, where 17-year-old Stephanie was slated to start school. Grace's chauffeur brought out the princess's 11-year-old Rover, and offered to drive, but Grace insisted that she could do so, as they couldn't fit three people in the car with the luggage. About two miles outside of La Turbie, Grace missed a particularly sharp turn, sending the car over a 120-foot slope.

Stephanie's sister Caroline relayed to Robinson what Stephanie told her had happened in the car.''Stephanie told me, 'Mommy kept saying, I can't stop. The brakes don't work. I can't stop.' She said that Mommy was in a complete panic. Stephanie grabbed the hand brake. She told me right after the accident, 'I pulled on the hand brake but it wouldn't stop. I tried but I just couldn't stop the car.'"

Stephanie was released from the hospital the next day with only minor injuries. Grace suffered a second hemorrhage, likely caused by the accident, and never regained consciousness, according to Robinson. She died at the age of 52. It's thought that the crash was caused by Princess Grace having a hemorrhage.

Stephanie revealed in an interview that Grace had been having a headache, and seemed to black out for a moment. Then the car started to swerve, before going full speed ahead over the cliff. Days later, doctors would confirm that they had found evidence of Grace having a "cerebral vascular incident." Dr. Jean Chatelain, chief surgeon at the hospital where she was treated, described the condition to the Times. "It was an incident which, if it occurred at home—well, she might have sat down and perhaps felt better soon," he said. "It could have been relatively benign, but you can't say for sure. It's conjecture. In other circumstances, of course, things could have evolved in a different manner."

It's thought that Grace either confused the brake with the accelerator, or didn't have the use of her legs.
Despite Grace's severe condition, spokesmen for the palace continued to communicate that Grace was stable, although suffering from a broken thigh, collarbone, and ribs. It wasn't just the public that was misinformed. "I was led to believe she was out of danger," Grace's brother John Kelly told reporters in Philadelphia, per the Times.

"The communiques were administrative ones, not medical bulletins," a doctor at the hospital told the Times. He and Dr. Chatelain insisted that the palace's incorrect messaging lead to suspicions that Stephanie was at the wheel, and that Grace didn't receive proper medical care. Sadly, the world lost a great princess, and Hollywood lost a great actress when Grace Kelly died...

SOURCE

MUSIC BREAK: THE MERRY MACS - DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

FORGOTTEN ONES: THE MERRY MACS

One of the most charming singing groups of the 1940s were The Merry Macs.The Merry Macs were an American close-harmony pop music quartet who were active from the 1920s until the 1960s. They were best known for the hits "Mairzy Doats", "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" and "Sentimental Journey". The group also sang on recordings with Bing Crosby.

Formed to play proms in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the group originally consisted of the three McMichael brothers: tenors Judd (1906–1989) and Joe (1916–1944), and baritone Ted (1908–2001). They were discovered by organist-bandleader Eddie Dunstedter of station WCCO, who suggested they perform in masks and dubbed them The Mystery Trio.

In 1931–32, the McMichaels toured with the orchestra of arranger-composer Joe Haymes, who renamed them The Personality Boys. By 1933 they added a female lead singer, Cheri McKay, and changed their name to The Merry Macs. At Haymes' recommendation, Victor Records engaged the group for one single that year, their first recording.

In 1936, they appeared on several national radio programs, and Cheri McKay was replaced by Helen Carroll. (McKay trained her successor in the group's singing style.) Another record session followed with Ray Noble's orchestra. The Merry Macs started appearing with Fred Allen on Town Hall Tonight starting on November 17, 1937. In September 1938, they signed a contract with Allen for the 1938–1939 season, and they remained until the end of the 1940 season.

Vocal quartets had customarily harmonized like barbershop quartets. The Merry Macs revolutionized vocal harmony with closer harmonic chords. This style inspired other groups, like The Modernaires and Six Hits and a Miss. In 1938 The Merry Macs signed with Decca Records and recorded "Pop Goes the Weasel". The Merry Macs (with Carroll) sang a swing version of "Down by the Old Mill Stream" in the 1939 Vitaphone musical Seeing Red, Red Skelton's first film.

In 1939, Mary Lou Cook (1908–2008) replaced Helen Carroll. This is the foursome that most listeners know from film appearances. The McMichael brothers and Cook appeared as a specialty act in Hollywood movies, including 1940's Love Thy Neighbor, and Universal Pictures gave The Merry Macs their own feature-film series in 1941. Their most famous film is Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942), an Abbott and Costello comedy in which The Merry Macs offer musical interludes. At the time, Cook was married to actor Elisha Cook, Jr.; she ended both her marriage and her affiliation with The Merry Macs at about the same time.

Marjory Garland (1923–1991) replaced Mary Lou Cook after Ride 'Em Cowboy was filmed. The Merry Macs continued to score on the hit parade; their version of "Mairzy Doats" was a best-seller. Garland, who later married Judd McMichael, remained with the group for two decades. Imogene Lynn was the group's female lead singer in 1946–1947.

Youngest brother Joe McMichael served in the armed forces and died in 1944 following an accidental overdose of Sulfa tablets while ill. He was replaced by Clive Erard, then Dick Baldwin, and finally Vern Rowe. The foursome of Judd, Ted, Marjory, and Vern continued performing until Judd retired from show business in 1964.

Vern and Ted took The Merry Macs to the U.K. where they made it their home until Vern and Ted retired 1967 and return to their homeland USA The Merry Macs continued in Britain making its base on the south coast Salisbury Wiltshire until 2000 when Harold Lambert John Reg Peter and their female vocalist Lettice Mackenzie Campbell retired from the music entertainment industry Cheri McKay was the first female vocalist 1933-36 with Lettice Mackenzie Campbell being the last female vocalist and the longest serving 1977-2000 with The Merry Macs. The singing group is largely forgotten now, but they gave hope and optimism in their songs during a difficult time in America's history...

RECENTLY VIEWED: SUITS

I just finished binge watching the entire 9 season season of the television series Suits, and I am glad I did. I am sorry I missed it the first time around. Suits is an American legal drama television series created and written by Aaron Korsh. Produced by Universal Content Productions, it premiered on USA Network on June 23, 2011.

Set in a fictional New York City corporate law firm, the series follows Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams), a college dropout with a photographic memory, as he works as an associate for the successful and charismatic attorney, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht). Suits focuses on Harvey and Mike winning lawsuits and closing cases, while at the same time hiding Mike's secret of never having attended law school. It also features Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt, a neurotic, manipulative and unscrupulous financial-law partner; Meghan Markle as the ambitious, talented paralegal Rachel Zane; Sarah Rafferty as Harvey's legal secretary and confidante Donna Paulsen; and Gina Torres as the firm's control-obsessed, profit-above-all managing partner, Jessica Pearson.

On January 30, 2018, the series was renewed for an eighth season, but Torres, Adams, and Markle left the show. Katherine Heigl joined the cast as Samantha Wheeler. Recurring characters Alex Williams (Dulé Hill) and Katrina Bennett (Amanda Schull) were promoted to series regulars. The show was renewed for a 10-episode ninth and final season on January 23, 2019, which premiered on July 17, 2019.

Throughout its run, Suits was nominated for numerous awards, including individual attention for Torres and Adams. Besides two nominations recognizing her role as a supporting actress, Torres was awarded Outstanding Performance in a Television Series at the 2013 NHMC Impact Awards. Adams was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show itself was nominated for two People's Choice Awards. Its success spawned a short-lived spin-off, Pearson, centered on Jessica Pearson's entry into Chicago politics, which premiered alongside the final season of Suits on July 17, 2019. Suits concluded on September 25, 2019, after nine seasons and 134 episodes. The show received an immense surge in popularity after it was added to Netflix and Peacock in 2023, prompting NBCUniversal to begin development on a new spin-off series, titled Suits: L.A.

Althought most of the cast I do not know, they worked so great together. The chemistry between Patrick Adams and Gabriel Macht made the show. I can't believe I watched all 134 episodes in a matter of a month and a half, but it was worth it. It is great show, and I recommend it!

MY RATING: 9 out of 10 stars

RIP: BOB NEWHART

Bob Newhart, whose stammering, deadpan unflappability carried him to stardom as a standup comedian and later in television and movies, has died, according to a statement from his longtime publicist Jerry Digney. He was 94.

Digney said Newhart died in Los Angeles on Thursday morning after a series of short illnesses. He called the star’s passing an “end of an era in comedy.”

Over the course of five decades, Newhart’s popularity rarely waned, whether it was as the recording star of the comedy album “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” (the first comedy album to win the Grammy for album of the year), the lead in two top-rated television sitcoms, or a supporting actor in movies including “Catch-22” (in which he played the timid Maj. Major), “Cold Turkey” and “Elf.”

He remains best known for the television shows, “The Bob Newhart Show” (1972-78) and “Newhart” (1982-90), both of which were built around his persona as a reasonable man put-upon by crazies.

Born George Robert Newhart in Oak Park, Illinois on September 5, 1929, Newhart was originally an accountant and advertising copywriter.

In 2022, he mused about his time as an accountant, joking, “in my case, I don’t think it’s amazing that a bad accountant could become a comedian.” He added that “there’s something about numbers and music and comedy, I’m not sure what it is,” going on to mention some comedy contemporaries that has an interest in music like he did.

He first rose to fame with his comedy album, 1960’s “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” The album was a phenomenon of its time and one of the best-selling albums of the year. It was No. 1 for 14 weeks on Billboard’s album chart and a multiple Grammy Award-winner, beating out Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte and Nat “King” Cole for album of the year. He also hit No. 1 with the follow-up, “The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!”

“The Bob Newhart Show” debuted in 1972. (This is not to be confused with his Peabody and Emmy Award-winning variety show of the same name that aired for one season beginning in 1961.) He played a Chicago psychologist, Bob Hartley, who ministered to a host of eccentric patients.

In “Newhart,” he took on the role of Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon, who tried to maintain his sanity while surrounded by comical locals.

In both cases, his characters found refuge with their wives, played by Suzanne Pleshette in “The Bob Newhart Show” and Mary Frann in “Newhart.”

The latter show’s finale remains one of the most famous in television history. In the final “Newhart” episode, Newhart’s town is purchased by a Japanese millionaire. Golfers at a new course regularly batter the inn with their drives, and one day – in the midst of an argument with townspeople – Newhart is hit by a golf ball. After a quick fade to black, he awakens… as Hartley, his character from “The Bob Newhart Show,” in bed with Pleshette.

“Honey, wake up! You won’t believe the dream I just had,” he tells her, to uproarious audience laughter.

The finale of "Newhart," which brought back the characters of Dr. Bob Hartley, Newhart's character on "The Bob Newhart Show," and his wife Emily played by Suzanne Pleshette. 

“That was my wife Ginny’s idea,” Newhart explained to Parade magazine in 2013. “She said, ‘You should end the show by waking up in bed with Emily and explain a dream you had about owning an inn in Vermont.’ We used it!”

The actor was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his “Newhart” series three times in the outstanding lead actor category. He didn’t win an individual acting Emmy until 2013, when he was recognized in the outstanding guest actor category for his portrayal of Professor Proton on “The Big Bang Theory.”

He was nominated for a total of nine Emmys throughout the course of his career.

Newhart was a frequent guest on the era’s variety and talk shows, and a regular fill-in host on the “Tonight Show,” switching out for his friend Johnny Carson 87 times.

Newhart never really retired, continuing to make television appearances in recent years on “Big Bang” and “Young Sheldon,” along with “Hot in Cleveland” and “The Librarians.”

Other film work from the star included turns in “Horrible Bosses” and “In & Out.”

RECENTLY VIEWED: INSIDE OUT 2

Usually I jump at the chance to go to the movies with my daughter, who is a fellow movie buff. However, she wanted to fo see Inside Out 2, and I was not that keen on seeing it. I never saw the first movie so we watched it the week before we went, and it was pretty good. It was sentimental and I teared up, so I was more excited to see the sequel. Inside Out 2 is a 2024 American animated coming-of-age film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The sequel to Inside Out (2015), it was directed by Kelsey Mann (in his feature directorial debut) and produced by Mark Nielsen, from a screenplay written by Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, and a story conceived by Mann and LeFauve. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Diane Lane, and Kyle MacLachlan reprise their roles from the first film, with Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Tony Hale, Liza Lapira, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Paul Walter Hauser joining the cast. The film tells the story of Riley's emotions as they find themselves joined by new emotions that want to take over Riley's head.

Inside Out 2 premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on June 10, 2024, and was released in theaters in the United States on June 14. The film received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $1.359 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2024. It had the third-biggest domestic opening weekend for an animated film and became the fastest animated film to cross the $1 billion mark, alongside being the fourth highest-grossing animated film of all-time and the highest-grossing film in Pixar history.

If you saw the first film and enjoyed it, you will probably like this film. I don't think this sequel was as sentimental and heartwarming as the first film, but as my daughter is entering womanhood she really enjoyed the movie. Amy Poehler makes the movie - just like she makes everything she stars in. I recommend seeing it with someone you love - like a daughter and granddaughter, and enjoy a nice Pixar film. The movie wasn't the best but spending time with my daighter on a Sunday morning was...

MY RATING: 8 out of 10