3/31/2007

So- is March going out like a lamb? Maybe like a mixed gyros plate (that has lamb, doesn’t it?) Well, tonight, we go from lamb- to the usual ham, and I do mean me. We’ve got the pharaoh-frightening feature “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.” This one features the music video parody I mentioned earlier this week- the parody of “Gold Digger” –re-done as “Tomb Digger”- with Candi from B 96, and our former co-worker Sarah as a cute mummy. Many viewers really enjoyed the video, especially the things that corresponded to things in the actual Kanye West video. If you haven’t seen this one, you definitely want to give it a chance- where else can you see Richard Deacon- Mel Cooley from the classic “Dick Van Dyke Show”- as the leader of an ancient Egyptian cult, and someone you’re supposed to be AFRAID of?! You also get a look at Lou Costello’s daughter- we’ll point out where in the movie- and, some pretty cool mummy stuff-although some people think the mummy costume is kind of like a pair of “footie” pajamas…you can decide for yourself. The film is typical of a lot of movies of the time period, with some strange dance numbers, and even a prolonged musical number with a woman singing ‘You Came A Long Way from Saint Louie”- for no other reason than to get in a song! This was the last Bud and Lou movie for Universal- And, you’ll notice, even though they have character names, they constantly refer to each other by their REAL names! They really weren’t getting along real well during this period, so see if you can spot any of the animosity that led to their finally splitting up. This movie came out in 1955, and Bud and Lou split up within two years. There were several reasons, but money had a lot to do with it. Their salary as a team was originally split in the traditional way- 60-40- with more money going to the straight man, as was the custom. Along the way, Lou got mad, decided he was the important part of the team, and demanded the situation be reversed- that HE get the 60%. Bud actually begrudgingly agreed, but got really mad when Lou wanted the team to be billed as “Costello and Abbott!” Universal sided with Bud, and that never happened, but it certainly cemented the anger between the two men, which, along with other factors, finally brought about the end of the team. Both of them ended up in financial difficulties with the Internal Revenue Service (by the way, have YOU done your taxes yet?!) Gee, I hope Tombstone and I never get to that point… Anyway, watch tonight – it’ll be a good time- and- you’ll find another, different Sven flick on Me-TV at 1 am !!! Don’t forget to send me your feedback on the shows- svengoolie@wciu.com - and that “wraps” up another blog! (get it? Mummy? Wrap?… and you’ll hear me “rap” in the show tonight! Oooh- multi-level blog comedy!)