I guess I’m not surprised to hear “John From Cincinnati” isn’t being renewed. The show really was a disappointment. (Did I watch all 10 episodes? Of course. That’s how I know.) I preserved high hopes to the end, thinking perhaps the promo guys were telling the truth when they said “all will be explained” in the final episode.
It wasn’t. As far as I can tell, God sent JFC to earth to save a surf-gear business, but I could be wrong. The show sort of went off the rails for me after John made his speech at the barbecue a few episodes back, a sermon that sounded like it was written, but not delivered, by potheads on the fifth day of a smoke-a-pound binge. A commenter at Television Without Pity said it best: Dear Mr. Milch, Please, put the drugs away. When the series was debuting, he (David Milch) went on Craig Ferguson’s show and said, “The wave — which I’m told is what surfers ride — is the only visible embodiment of what physicists tell us all matter is composed of, which is particles held together by some kind of magnetic or molecular force, and that’s what makes the waves move. And if God were trying to reach out to us, and teach us something about the deepest nature of man, he might use some drugged-out surfers.”
My gut reaction to this was: What b.s. But I wanted to believe. And I didn’t learn much about the deepest nature of man, except that Milch really needs to lay off the pottymouth dialogue and if I never hear the phrase “whippin’ his skippy” or “dump out” again, I can die happy.
Ah, well. “The Wire” will be with us eventually. Some compensation. And “Big Love” is really hitting its stride this season. I’ll keep HBO another year, I think.
You know what day we got digital cable with HBO? September 11, 2001. I could hardly bear it when the cable guy had to disconnect service briefly to get us hooked up to the ones-and-zeros feed. I told him as much when he got it reconnected, and said to just leave it on CNN, I’d show myself around the premium-channel landscape later. He said, rolling his eyes, “Yeah, man, this stuff” — gesturing to the carnage in New York — “it’s crazy.” Not the word I would have used, but OK.
A little pre-weekend bloggage, then?
Is she really going out with him? Not only that, they’re engaged. Jenna “the drunk one” Bush snags a pasty-faced fiancee. Let’s hope they don’t wind up on that John Waters show.
Make cruel fun — you know you want to. Back later.
Mindy said on August 17, 2007 at 6:02 am
Maybe Not Jenna will be maid of honor.
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brian stouder said on August 17, 2007 at 7:37 am
well, I confess that the linked WaPo article about Jenna’s beau was striking me as oddly written (inauguration? confirmation hearings for Condi Rice?) until I got to the Oscars for Hotel Rwanda…it wasTHEN that I scrolled to the bottom and saw the 2005 date on it.
More Diet Coke….
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Cathy D. said on August 17, 2007 at 8:10 am
Thank you for clearing up which twin Jenna is. We could not remember if she was the party girl or not.
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Dorothy said on August 17, 2007 at 8:24 am
Jenna’s got the party-ing kinda name, doncha know.
Hey speaking of “Big Love” I caught a few minutes of Harry Dean Stanton’s death scene in “Alien” yesterday or the day before on one of the HBO channels. I hit the “info” button to find out what year “Alien” was made – the year I got married, 1979. No wonder HDS looked so young.
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nancy said on August 17, 2007 at 8:32 am
HDS was hardly young in 1979. He’s 81, a fact that never fails to astound, especially when he turns up in some artifact like “Cool Hand Luke” (when he was already 46). I remember reading a brief somewhere about his having his car stolen, and it gave his age at 65 — and this was just after he’d been in the hipster movie of the ’80s, “Repo Man.”
A national treasure, that one.
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4dbirds said on August 17, 2007 at 8:35 am
Oh great the future son-in-law is from Virginia. I get to see and read about them (and their families) in the regional news for years to come. Yuck. I was hoping that after 1-20-09, I’d never hear another word about GWB. (It isn’t like anyone is going to tap him to become their ambassador of goodwill or to broker any peace deals.)
Every Sunday, hubby and I would watch JFC hoping it would go somewhere. It was so disappointing but I liked the people in the skanky motel best.
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John said on August 17, 2007 at 9:02 am
I watched “Missouri Breaks” a couple weeks ago. Harry Dean Stanton and Randy Quaid were both superb in it. Nicholson was great and plenty has been written about Brando’s performance.
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nancy said on August 17, 2007 at 9:18 am
For you, Brian, a better photo of Jenna and her frat boy.
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brian stouder said on August 17, 2007 at 9:31 am
Thanks! You know – they look like they look like they could be cousins (biological, and not just ideological!)….
…
Anyway, I agree that Harry Dean Stanton is a national treasure. He pops up in small roles (like the climax of the movie about the guy who drives his riding lawnmower across several states to see his family) and in quiet movies (the quirky old Wambaugh cop movie The Black Marble made a big impression on me).
Sorta like Steve Buscemi
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Danny said on August 17, 2007 at 9:52 am
I remember hearing an interview that Jim Rome did with Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Phelps said that when he was at the WH for some celebration he tried to get Jenna’s number.
She certainly is a little cutie. I hope for every Chelsea story we have to endure we get ten Jenna stories.
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MarkH said on August 17, 2007 at 10:15 am
Heavy on the “sorta” there, Brian. I like Buscemi, too, but he’s got a long way to go to reach HDS stature, and I don’t mean just because Harry’s lots older.
Also, check out “Rancho Deluxe” from 1975, a real gem, especially if you like Tom McGuane. Way younger versions of Jeff Bridges, Sam Waterston, Elizabeth Ashley, and of course, HDS, in a quirky modern (at the time) open range tale. Watch the scene in the Wranger Bar closely; that’s McGuane hisownself, along with then-neighbor Warren Oates backing up Jimmy Buffett on stage. Back when Livingston was Livingston. Great stuff.
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Dorothy said on August 17, 2007 at 10:19 am
I meant HDS looked so much younger THEN than he does now. 53 usually does look much younger than 81.
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kerril said on August 17, 2007 at 10:28 am
I read that this will be the first White House wedding since Nixon. You’d think they’d want to, you know, maybe play down those comparisons. I’d make her wait till 2009.
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Danny said on August 17, 2007 at 12:03 pm
I know this is a “developing story,” but early rumors are that Michael Vick’s plea deal may include a year in prison. You have got to be kidding me. I agree that animal cruelty is a terrible thing, but I mean, sometimes child rapists don’t get that severe of a penalty.
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John said on August 17, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Change of topic….
Grandson born this afternoon. All is well. 7 lbs and change. 20 inches. Grandma is ecstatic. Only have one camera phone picture.
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brian stouder said on August 17, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Congratulations!! It looks like the young fellow is telling them all ‘what for’! If you’re in Columbus, good ol’ NN.c commenter deluxe Marcia might be getting set straight by him
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John said on August 17, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Brian…this one got hatched in Greensboro, NC.
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brian stouder said on August 17, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I’ve been to Greensboro exactly twice (visiting a big customer there), about 10 years apart (I’m an inside guy – they normally never let me out of here!) – and BOTH times the same main highway (40?) was under construction!
But – a lovely downtown – and lots of history
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MaryC said on August 17, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Thank you for clearing up which twin Jenna is. We could not remember if she was the party girl or not.
She’s also the twin who looks like her father. Almost weirdly so – she’s Dubya in drag.
[HDS] pops up in small roles (like the climax of the movie about the guy who drives his riding lawnmower across several states to see his family)
In the last couple of minutes, no less. And one line of dialogue as I recall. It was a lovely scene and a perfect way to end the movie. Loved Richard Farnsworth, too.
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brian stouder said on August 17, 2007 at 4:09 pm
OK, I googled ‘farnsworth stanton lawnmower’ and came up with The Straight Story on the first hit! (all hyperbole aside, Google is amazing)
A great movie – and I forgot it is a David Lynch movie. I have never seen a movie of his that didn’t viscerally affect me; or as Nance says – blow my hair back (and what little hair I have takes a pretty good gust for any notweworthy blowback!!)
His movies always resonate; it is as if he knows how we dream…plus – and not for nothing – he comes through with the babe-a-licious breasts more often than not
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Matt W said on August 18, 2007 at 4:09 am
She’s also the twin who looks like her father. Almost weirdly so – she’s Dubya in drag.
I thought I was alone in noticing this creepy characteristic. Thank-you.
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Dorothy said on August 18, 2007 at 6:51 am
Congrats John! He’s a beaut!!
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Marcia said on August 18, 2007 at 9:33 am
good ol’ NN.c commenter deluxe Marcia
Aw, shucks.
Congratulations, John. Please to post more pictures when you get them. I do love me some babies.
If he had been born today, we could have shared a birthday.
Ahem.
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Danny said on August 18, 2007 at 10:49 am
What?!?! Someone has a birthday!
Happy B-day, M!
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Danny said on August 18, 2007 at 10:55 am
Hey, you guys who are ragging on Jenna Bush. You have got to be kidding. You’re killing me here. She’s a very pretty young lady.
You people crack me up.
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Dorothy said on August 18, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Happy Birthday Marcia!! I’m an August girl, too. The 31st. ANd this year it’s a biggie for me. Today is my niece Jordan’s 7th birthday.
And it would have been Roberto Clemente’s birthday, too, but he’s been gone since 12/31/72. SIGH My favorite baseball player of all time.
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John said on August 18, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Marcia…Happy Birthday!
A second picture of the little shaver has been posted at flikr and he has a name now, Cole Emerick Bishop!
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LA Mary said on August 18, 2007 at 6:34 pm
She a pretty young lady drunk, Danny. Awww, adorable. I hear she likes her weed as well.
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Danny said on August 18, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Mary, you are too funny. I guess you never did any of that when you were young? And when you were waxing nostalgic a few months ago about ol’ alchoholic Molly Ivins throwin’ you a “roader” when you were an intern, that was waaaay cool, huhn?
Or do you just tolerate people who have substance abuse issues when they’re old, ugly and liberal? Just wondering.
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LA Mary said on August 18, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I never had a fake ID. I never embarrassed my family. I wasn’t the daughter of the leader of the western world. I did not pretend to be religious. I was not the daughter of someone who promised to bring morality back to the office. The Bush girls behavior has not left a good impression in a few places. Like South America.The Bush girls seem like a lot of rich, spoiled girls I knew in college.
I don’t have a lot of tolerance for people who get away with stuff when they have substance abuse problems. People who don’t suffer consequences.
I didn’t drink the roaders, and Molly died sober, by the way.
In fact, having lost four close relatives to alcohol, I figured maybe I better not go there, so I don’t drink. At all. In college I was the one who drove home those too drunk to drive, the Jennas of the world. I even helped them find their cars the next morning a few times.
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Ricardo said on August 18, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Either Jenna is pregnant or her fiancee waited for her to put on about 40 lbs in one year to ask for her hand. (Thin) Twin Barbara may have to wait for a while to get engaged just because of her name.
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brian stouder said on August 18, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Cole is a beautiful little fellow!! To me the most miraculous moment is when the newborn baby comes into the world and switches from not having to breathe air to breathing, in a wink of an eye.
The mechanics of that trick are simply amazing.
And – happy birthday Marcia! And happy birthday Dorothy! I’m assuming that Dorothy’s biggie ends in a zero, and she’s too wise to be 20, so happy 30!! (and regardless how many years since the day these NN.c commenters came into the world, the refreshing POV’s that folks share around here give me a contact-buzz of youthful exuberance!)
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harry near indy said on August 20, 2007 at 5:49 am
well, the folks at wonkette believe jenna is pregnant, so that explains the engagement.
i remind you all of the old saying — nothin’ says lovin’ like a bun in the oven.
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ashley said on August 20, 2007 at 11:14 am
So does this mean that she’s not enlisting after all?
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LA mary said on August 20, 2007 at 2:14 pm
She’s not, Ashley. Think about it. She’s a possibly pregnant, not too bright, problem drinking daughter of probably the worst president we’ve ever had, and she’s marrying a son of a tobacco company board member, Karl Rove toady.
You can just hear the angels singing, can’t you?
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interocitor4me said on August 20, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Yeah and it will likely be disclosed much later that Karl Rove is the real father of her baby. That would explain a lot. Just had to throw that in for laughs.
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LA mary said on August 20, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Daddy Turdblossom.
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