Category: Entertainment

We Will Miss You, Alex

            RIP Alex Trebek. Below is a repost of my blog from 2018, before we knew of Mr. Trebek’s illness.   There have only been two hosts of Jeopardy! that mattered. Art Fleming gave the answers on most of the original run, and Alex Trebek has been the man behind the podium... Read more »
By lesraff,
November 8, 2020 at 4:55 pm • 

Did Hugh Downs Make Me What I Am Today?

My boyhood TV hero died this week. You probably think I am talking about Carl Reiner, who passed away June 29th. After all, Reiner created The Dick Van Dyke Show, one of my favorite TV shows of all time. But as a pre-school kid, I just knew the faces in front of the camera, and Mr. Reiner’s... Read more »
By lesraff,
July 2, 2020 at 7:01 pm • 

A Puzzling Broadway Puzzle--Help Us Please!

Friends, Readers, and Countrymen, I need your help! Like many of you, Barb and I have been looking for indoor entertainment during this long semi-lockdown. Early on, I reported on our jigsaw puzzle near-success (no, we still haven’t received the replacement for the missing piece). We were itching for the opportunity to do another puzzle... Read more »
By lesraff,
May 20, 2020 at 2:44 pm • 
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Every Dysfunctional Family Is Dysfunctional In Its Own Way. Ozark's Byrdes vs Offspring's Proudmans

Like most of you, our Netflix account has been getting a workout. After our home-cooked dinner is enjoyed, after our dishes are put away and the kitchen is gleaming, and after our Sudoku-Crossword hour has come and gone, it is binge time. Our usual pattern is to watch a pair of shows, something dramatic followed... Read more »
By lesraff,
May 7, 2020 at 6:54 am • 

The Good or the Bad--Beatles or Broadway. A Choose Your Own Adventure. Part 2

Best Songs by the Solo Beatles, or Worst Theater Experiences. You Make the Choice. I wrote about my favorite theater experiences long ago. But sometimes writing “Best Of” lists get boring. Sometimes I’ve got to let the other flag fly. Can I remember my 10 worst theater experiences? Here’s a shot at it. ((Confession: although... Read more »
By lesraff,
April 11, 2020 at 9:54 am • 

My TV Top Ten. What is Yours?

Barb and I were almost home the other night when a familiar tune came on the car radio. “In my opinion, that’s the BEST TV SHOW EVER,” I said. And that got me thinking. What were my favorite TV shows of all time? So here, from #10 to #1 is my list. The only rule... Read more »
By lesraff,
December 18, 2019 at 9:47 am • 
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Neil Diamond on Broadway. Will We See You There?

Yes, there will be Neil in New York City. But he won’t be there himself. He won’t follow Bruce’s footsteps and perform a long run of concerts in a Broadway theater. And he won’t be doing a regular gig at Madison Square Garden ala Billy Joel. But just as Jersey Boys celebrates the Four Seasons and Beautiful illuminates the wonderous... Read more »
By lesraff,
July 3, 2019 at 8:03 am • 

Hey, James Holzhauer. I Lost On Jeopardy Too!

James Holzhauer, a Chicago area native has lost on Jeopardy! Emma Boettcher, a University of Chicago librarian has defeated him. And when I was on the show (1988) I name-checked Eugene Finerman, a previous Tournament of Champions player, who had lived down the street from me in Rogers Park in our school years. No surprise,... Read more »
By lesraff,
June 4, 2019 at 8:33 am • 

The Rolling Stones are Coming. Am I Going? Would You?

Sure you have seen the video by now. We all have. Mick is dancing around, doing his moves like Jagger, just weeks after heart surgery to replace a cardiac valve. According to the New York Times, it wasn’t open-heart surgery, but it was still plenty serious for a 75-year-old codger, especially one who has been... Read more »
By lesraff,
May 21, 2019 at 6:57 am • 
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It's Up To You! Be Scared by "Us," or at the Edge of Your Seat for "Free Solo".

Barb and I saw two movies this weekend, one in the recliners at the local Cineplex, and the other in the comfort of home, pooch at our feet. One scared me to death. It is not the one you would expect. The critics love “Us.” Director Jordan Peele’s 2nd horror film is a sensation. The New York... Read more »
By lesraff,
March 25, 2019 at 5:51 am •