(USGA photo)

See that picture above? That's not the way you saw Rocky and Creed after their first fight, or the Bears and Yankees at the end of the first "Bad News Bears." …

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(LA Times photo)

When we think of great fantasy images from movies, we're bound to come across the works of Stan Winston. Los Angeles Times obit here.

Today the bride and I saw a trio of dolphins, a horseshoe crab the size of a Buick, more gnats than should be allowed in one place, a young rabbit, sundry seagulls and tiny sand crabs. We worried about a smoke warning and soaked up sun, ate fine hush puppies (with chicken and crabcakes) and made a mental list of all the miniature-golf courses in the vicinity. …

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This from the New York Times Friday afternoon:

Tim Russert, the host of “Meet the Press,” and NBC’s Washington bureau chief, has died. He was 58.
Mr. Russert was a towering figure in American journalism and moderated several debates during the recent presidential primary season.
Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC Nightly News, came on the air at 3:39 p.m. that Mr. Russert had collapsed and died early this afternoon while at work. He had just returned from Italy with his family.
Mr. Russert hailed from Buffalo and worked for two prominent New York Democrats, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Gov. Mario Cuomo, before being hired in 1984 by NBC in its Washington bureau. He became bureau chief four years later.

After getting the news, I went to the office and wrote my own column about Russert. You can find it here.

This is a shock. I knew Russert slightly, had talked to him here and there over the years, and he always seemed so vital. I think the massive coverage today — the sort you would expect for a Cronkite or Murrow — demonstrates even more how stunning it was that he had passed. He wasn't someone whose career was long over, but someone who seemed as if he should burst back on the air at any moment. He was well known by and to the commentators and newscasters, and respected for his love of newsgathering, and you know that almost everyone had a personal story about him.

Scrambling some this morning. Spent last evening at a screening of "Get Smart" (which, among big-screen adaptations of TV shows, I would put well ahead of the new "Incredible Hulk"). Had some music on my mind, including "I Had a Talk With My Man Last Night" by Mitty Collier.

I love the song (which was adapted from a gospel number). The video is a pretty interesting example of lip-synching for TV, too; it's quite clear that the band has no relation to the music on the record.

By the way, June 21 is Collier's 67th birthday. So happy day, a bit early.

The Yancy Butler series arrives on July 29 in a complete-series set for $69.98.

Full announcement after the jump.

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A new Christmas movie for Nickelodeon will be their first project since
"Drake & Josh: Really Big Shrimp" in August 2007. Details after the jump.

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Another hot day due, and I've been thinking about this tune this morning. …

By the way, Will Smith turns 40 in September. So let's dip a little bit more into his musical past.

Still like the dance with the alien. And if you've forgotten where the "MIB" riff came from, here's a little Patrice Rushen.

(I know, that's audio only. There are some video performances at YouTube, but the embeds are disabled. And all it takes is the audio to get this stuck in your head.)

From "Nobody's Fool"

You may have seen various reports that the actor is ill, with the latest including confirmation from a Newman friend that he has cancer. (UPDATE: The friend is now saying he was misquoted. I suspect he realized he had said more than Newman wanted.

While I certainly hope that Newman keeps any illness at bay for many years to come, news like this inevitably encourages new thinking about an actor's career and accomplishments. So I've been thinking about Newman movies that I've found meaningful, moving, memorable, worth seeing again.

The list so far:
"The Hustler" (1961)
"Hud" (1963)
"Cool Hand Luke" (1967)
"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)
"The Sting" (1973)
"Buffalo Bill and the Indians" (1976)
"Slap Shot" (1977)
"The Verdict" (1982)
"The Color of Money" (1986)
"Nobody's Fool" (1994)
"The Hudsucker Proxy" (1994)
"Twilight" (1998)
"The Road to Perdition" (2002)

I suppose I should elaborate on why each movie made the list, and about why some others didn't. And I may do so in another post. Still, when I look at those, I am reminded of how very long he was so very good — from the '50s showcases to "Slap Shot" to "The Verdict" to "Nobody's Fool," which may well be my favorite Newman movie, to "Perdition."

So, what am I overlooking? Sepinwall has already called to argue for "Blaze" and "Empire Falls." I had actually written "Blaze" into the list, but took it off. In any case, we're both in agreemet about the greatness of "Nobody's Fool."

And, when talking about Newman movies, there are different approaches. Great Newman performance, even if the movie isn't so good (I'd put "Twlight" in that category, or "Buffalo Bill," but I drew the line at "Where the Money Is"). Or great movies with Newman in them ("Nobody's Fool," "Slap Shot," say). Important movies even if Newman isn't central. ("The Sting" has always felt more like Redford's movie.) Movies that we just have to deal with because they're important spots in the career ("Butch Cassidy," say).

Lots to talk about.

Really feels like summer. I think the only real TV I watched last night was some of the Indians game. I've been staring at new episodes of "Bill Engvall" and "My Boys," which return tomorrow night, and so far haven't had the urge to watch either.

Yesterday, the bride and I had a convoluted conversation built around "Sunshine of Your Love," the Cream classic. Thought I would post a version of that today for grins, but after listening to that opening riff on half a dozen different YouTube postings featuring Cream and other Eric Clapton configurations, I wasn't keen on making you all hear it again. But I did find this strange brew: Ella Fitzgerald performing "Sunshine." A curiosity, to say the least. You've been warned.

Checked out the season premiere of "Nashville Star" last night. Some good, some bad, some I'll have to wait and see, and one gone. Not gone, and definitely worth attention, is Melissa Lawson, below.

She did "Something To Talk About." Good voice, charisma, terrific stage presence. I know that every singer of any experience should have one fabulous performance in him/her/them to get the show going, but Lawson stood out last night.

And why, you may ask, was I watching "Nashville Star"? Well, I've been known to listen to some country here and there. Also because Laura Fedor and Sophie Zalokar, who went decently old-school with "Stand By Your Man" and got considerable praise from the judges, are from Willoughby, OH. Here's a photo of them last night:
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"I'm telling you Jason, we've got to be ready for the battle over new media compensation!"

Who knew that the classic "A Thousand Clowns" had two future Screen Actors Guild presidents in the cast? TCM, apparently, which is doing a two-night salute to SAG including "Clowns." That's future prez Barry Gordon on the right, with Jason Robards. Love that movie.

Festival details after the jump. Now, could someone get "Clowns" on an authorized DVD?

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Pictured top row from left: David Best with Elvis, Laurie Williams with Andrew, Brandy Yant with Beacon, Michael Piper Younie with Esmeralda, Beth Joy Knutsen with Bella Starlet, and Laura Nativo with Preston; Bottom ro from left: Ron Davis with Tillman, JD Platt with Galaxy, Elan Hagen with Kenji, Travis Brorsen with Presley, Bill McFarlin with Star, and Teresa Hanula with Leroy Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS

Details after the jump. …

CBS today announced the 12 teams of dogs and their owners who will compete for the title of GREATEST AMERICAN DOG, premiering Thursday, July 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Presley’s breed: Boxer (1 ½ years old)

His given name was James K. McManus, and I don't think he never put that aside. His 1973 book, "My Wide World," is copyrighted under the McManus name, and the dustjacket bio begins "James K. McManus, professionally known as Jim McKay. …"

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When new episodes of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" begin on USA Network on Sunday, they soon enough show that this series has completely lost its way — and not just because Vincent D'Onofrio's Goren is looking more like Orson Welles by the day …

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