Pop Goes the Culture

Thankful and blessed

Toby Eddings — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:36:57 GMT

I go into the gym every day to do my physical therapy, look around and the title of the old 1970s hit by William DeVaughn comes to mind. "Be Thankful For What You've Got" was more about material things, but these days, I'm thankful for things you can't put a price on.

I go to the gym every day to do exercises and things designed to build back my strength and endurance. I can walk relatively quicker by the day with a walker. The Kickers class builds strength in the legs. On Your Feet is standing for a half-hour while playing a game (like Uno) or putting things together. As I look around, I see people in much worse shape than I, people wearing helmets, people with one leg, people confined to wheelchairs.

The Lord has been good to me in my life and has blessed me in wonderous ways. He has gotten me through this little episode and will be with me until my final day on earth. Dialysis is a picnic compared to what some of these people are going through. If you say a prayer for me, please say a prayer for these other people going through rehabilitation, and for the doctors and nurses over here, too, the people who help us each day.

I'll be staying a while longer

Toby Eddings — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:56:48 GMT

The original plan was for Dr. Stupid to leave the rehabilitation unit at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte Friday. There has been a change in the weather and they want to keep me around now until Wednesday the 8th.

The only reason I can figure they want to keep me here is my stunning combination of wit, handsomeness and cheerful attitude.

Yeah, right.

I got moved to room 209 last Friday and Robert is my new roommate. He has a penchant for watching old movies. Being in confinement for the last month or so has given me the unique opportunity to make some cogent observations on the state of television. It's been a while since we did this, but the sad thing is that some things don't change.

The Congressional Club changed the way political advertising was done. The Club may be no more, but we now have the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Democratic Senatorial Committee to take up the slack. I can say with all surety that I hope Elizabeth Dole goes down to a crushing defeat. There's just an arrogance there I can't deal with, despite her genteel Southern demeanor. Name-calling doesn't cut it eather, Libby. Have a good day.

And now the news ... WCNC-TV 36 has been using the phrase "We Are" in an image campaign for the last month or two (like "We are your neighbors ... we are commited ... we are in third place.") . Seems to be a popular phrase; just this morning, I heard a top-of-the-hour voicer by Charlie Van Dyke saying "We are ... WBTV." You are ... copycats.

The hang of it is that WCNC's newscasts aren't bad. Some of their anchors and anchorettes (and the weather girl) leave a lot to be desired, but it's neat to see news at 4 p.m. (BTW, anyone seen Jeff Sonier lately?) WSOC-TV continutes on its ratings march with its usual good job. WCCB-TV 18 has a nice new HD set. I expected more from the new theme; it wouldn't hurt some of you stations to go back a couple of decades and pull out some old music theme packages that had more authority, like those from Al Ham or Stephen Arnold or even the one Loonis McGlohon did for WBTV in the early 1980s. Your theme says a lot about your newscast, and Charlotte newscasts have some wimpy themes.

I like WBTV weather. I like most of the newscasts except when Camman Ron Lee COMES SCREAMING ACROSS YOUR TV WITH A STORY. It's even LOUDER WHEN HE DOES HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS!!!!!!! Yeah, how about that sports department? Welcome to the concept of "If it's broken, leave it as it is." Delano is Delano as ever. Then there's the blonde, just as annoying and bad as ever. And some new girl on "Football Friday Night," who sadly is unwatchable. You know, if I wanted ESPN attitude and style, I'd watch ESPN. But I don't. I want people who speak English and don't yell and scream in hip-hop style. Someone get the caffeine away from Danielle. How did she get that job, anyway?

Other TV observations ... I've started watching "Morning Joe" again on MSNBC, particularly this week, since I don't have a radio here. I miss the Morning Sports Page at WFNZ. Haven't heard it in nearly a month. ... I have developed a new respect for "Jeopardy!" and watch it at least once a day. ... "Judge Alex" is a character. ... "Merv Griffin's Crosswords," now forever in reruns, is full of play-along value, but was flawed because of its host (Ty Treadway) and the possible unfairness of having a "spoiler" answer just one question, take over someone's podium and win the game. Just my thought. ... And doesn't John O'Hurley do a great job hosting "Family Feud"?

I like the new changes this season on "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire." The time limits make the game more intense. ... I was totally prepared to hate "Opportunity Knocks," but I am enjoying, despite the moron "wooo-hooo"ing family members and the presence of host J.D. Roth. Just how does he get his jobs?

OK, I'll shut up now. I've offended enough people today, but tough. It's a free country. Broke, but free. And it CAN be fixed. Beacuse we are ... well, just because.

Live from the hospital

Toby Eddings — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:41:40 GMT

Just a short note to you from me ... I'm in my second hospital this week. An explanation, aI guess ... A few weeks ago, I somehow got through work, although I don't know how. Food wouldn't stay down, nor would even ginger ale or water. After working September 10 until about 9 or so, I went home and didn't sleep all night. I waited until 6:30 the next morning to call my sister, who was fairly calm. I started trying to call my doctors, but they were on answering services until 8:30. I got hold of Metrolina Nephrology first (that has to do with the kidneys) and left a mesage. I hoped against hope that this wasn't the trigger that would lead me to dialysis, but it was. I got a call back in a few minutes that Dr. Yates advised me to get to the hospital. Pronto.

Dr. Stupid (that would be me) debated whether to call an ambulance or drive the five minutes to Gaston Memorial Hospital. I almost lost my cookies on the drive, but I got there in one piece. And on September 11, 2008, my life changed for good.

As it turns out, dialysis isn't so bad; you can watch TV, sleep, eat or just do nothing. And there's no pain.

I was a patient at GMH until Monday the 22nd. If you need a hospital, this is the place to go. Especially on the dislysis wing, the nurses and doctors I encountered were top notch, friendly, memorable in their own way. And apparently all married, doggone it.:) I'm gonna miss the food, especailly the hamburgers. And that flat screen TV.

I got an ambulance ride to Charlotte Monday the 22nd to Carolinas Healthcare System's rehab facility. I believe many still call it Mercy South. I'll be here learning to walk again. I have already become semi-dangerous in a wheelchair and today walked a bit with a walker and negotiated some steps. The people here are wonderful and so is the facility. Gaston Memorial wins the food battle, though; I compare hamburgers Thursday night.

I'm in Room 213, Bed 2.

I today took my first trip to the computer room and was able to read my list of Web sites. I'm about to check my e-mail for the first time in two weeks. I did bills this morning, because life goes on.

I need to break this off; I need to be back at my room by 8:30 for nightly medicine.

It's good to be alive. It truly is. Thank you to those who have prayed for me. God is so good.

Moron signs, 1.0

Toby Eddings — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:30:25 GMT

On my drives to and from the beach, I saw a couple of gems . they just struck me as humorous is a bent sort of way..

On S.C. 9 between Bennettsville and Dillon, there is a little spot in the road called Clio (pronounced CLY-o). Before Marlboro County's five high schools consolidated into one large county school, there were the Clio High School Cavaliers. Before WBTW-TV turned into a mediocre station, it was a horrible station with a horrible news operation. Anchors came from regional radio stations. One of the frequent sports deliverers had a penchant for wearing huge bowties. His mastery of the language was not particularly masterful. Said brain surgeon was delivering high school scores one night and reported that "See Elle Ten" had played. Which is the way that the word "Clio" looks. Guess that's about as bad as the Charlotte anchorette who claimed that Lefty Drizzle once coached at Davidson.

So anyway, there's a sign for the Clio Country Club. A secondary sign underneath boasted, "Golfers Welcome." Of course they are. As Mr. Engvall would say, herrrr'es your sign.

On the way back, I took N.C. 130, which is a very pretty drive through the pines. Somewhere near Whiteville, in the literal middle of nowhere, there was a sign in front of a garage: "We Buy Catalytic Converters." Oh, so they're the ones.

All the things I missed while on vacation

Toby Eddings — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:02:27 GMT

I go away for a week of vacation with no way of blogging and Skip Carey dies, Brett Favre goes to the J-E-T-S and now the only performer I would have paid money to watch, Isaac Hayes, is no longer with us.

I want to write at length about Carey and Hayes, but I need some time to do it. All I know is that we're losing too many good talents too early. And that's too bad.

Birthday thoughts

Toby Eddings — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:02:46 GMT

Some people go nuts over birthdays. For others, it's just another day. This year, it's just another day, for me.

I'm writing this Sunday afternoon at the office because I'll barely get a minute to breathe Monday, and I'm still computerless at home. It's scary how attached we're (I've) become ro computers, but I haven't been able to surf at home and I'm still living. I've rediscovered books.

Turning 50 last year was special, and my two kids drove up from South Carolina and visited me for the weekend. That was about as special as things could be. This year, it's just No. 51. No visitors, no special activities, other than buying some new socks and spending both weekend afternoons blogging. I thought I was going to have someone to share the occasion with, but things changed.

I've got a lot to be thankful for in these 51 years. I still have my mom, my sister and her family (with a nephew that's so much like me it's scary), my wonderful son and daughter. I don't desire expensive and exciting gifts. That train pulled out of the station a few years ago. God has blessed me in more ways than I may ever deserve. I still have a job in newspapers, the field He led me into 30 years ago. I love my church, First Baptist, and the people who go there.

I wish my health would improve. It's been a fun year for this body, which most of you have been unaware of. I got rid of 50-plus pounds of fluid I was carrying around and went from Michelin Man to svelte and sexy (hah!), but my kidneys could be better and I pray for healing there.

I also pray that I will meet the woman I am to spend the rest of my life with. She's out there, somewhere. I have no desire to meet or date a string of women. That's classless and tacky. I just want one very special person.

So happy birthday to me,/Happy birthday to me/I'm turning 51/Oh say can you see.

"Catch 21" looks like a winning gambit

Toby Eddings — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:46:31 GMT

I have fond memories of the old 1970s game show "Gambit" and if you're as old as I am, you remember it. Thirty years later, it's back with a new coat of paint.

GSN has just debuted "Catch 21." Merrill Heatter, who created "Gambit," "Hollywood Squares," "Baffle," "PDQ" other hits but a few clinkers, too ("The Magnificent Marble Machine," anyone?) is the brain behind "Catch 21." It started life as a game you could play online, and a fun and addictive one. Online, you see how many times you can get blackjack from a single deck. There are four columns to put the cards in, but you can't go over 21 in a column, so strategy comes in handy.

Click here and try it out at the GSN Web site.

"Gambit" pitted two married couples against each other answering questions for control of the next card. Wink Martindale was the host and it was a nice little half-hour. The Gambit Board featured trips, cash and the ingenious $100 of groceries a week for a year. $5,200 is a nice prize anytime, but in 1973, that was brilliant.

Watch this couple clean up in the bonus round from the original "Gambit.". This is really fun to watch. The price these days of their total would probably be about five or six times what it was then.

For an added treat, click here to the Television Production Music Museum and listen to Mort Garson's Moog stylings in the "Gambit" theme music. Warning: There's a lot of great music at this Web site. You'll be here a while.

"Catch 21" is played by three individual players answering questions for control of the next card, which is shown. The day's champ plays to try to get 21 in three columns for $25,000, which is tough. Alphonso Ribeiro is host; he was Carlton Banks on "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Methinks he's trying a little too hard; he would be better if he was little more natural sounding, like Wink was. So far, Alfonso is in the category of hosts like Patrick Wayne on the 1990 "Tic Tac Dough" and Jim Caldwelll on anything he ever did. But it's early in his career and I'll give him a chance.

"Catch 21" airs nightly at 7:30 and 10 p.m.

WDYT. Have you ever listened to it? No? No kidding

Toby Eddings — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:06:45 GMT

Note from me, after the fact ... This post is about radio. I worked in radio twice in my life. It never gets out of your system. I am passionate about broadcasting. I listen to my radio in the car while driving. It's not satellite radio but regular radio. It drives me nuts and hurts a little to hear broadcasters abuse the airwaves, to put people on the air who have no business going on the air (I am thinking of one local station in particular). So you'll excuse me for a minute as I get all wound up here ...

There's a radio station in town (sorta) that is doing about as badly in the ratings as a station can do, and a good guy who has hit a streak of bad luck is out of a job, thanks to what is likely a bonehead decision.

Sometime last year, WKMT-AM 1220 in Kings Mountain was sold, blown up (as they say in radio when a format changes) and turned into WDYT-AM 1220 in Kings Mountain/Charlotte. WKMT was a local radio station serving Kings Mountain and Cleveland and Gaston counties, with local sports and gospel music. WDYT is now a talk station trying to serve the greater Charlotte area (Metrolina) and does a pretty sad job. It brands itself as Think Radio. Looking at the ratings, "Stink Radio" might be more appropriate.

How badly in the ratings is WDYT doing? Hash marks. That's a derisive term used in broadcasting when in the column of ratings numbers, "---" appears. Not 0.0, but dashes. It means there wasn't enough of a sample for the station to register. I would be interested in knowing exactly how many listeners the station has, and not just at any given time, but all day and all night long. Total.

There were allegedly grandiose plans for this season at its inception, like airing Neil Boortz, I was told by someone in the know.. About the only thing it has accomplished is putting Jon Robinson out of work.

There are two large billboards on I-85 heading toward Charlotte. One, behind the theater at Franklin Square, shows Jon Robinson and Danny Fontana (more on him later). The other, between the McAdenville and Belmont exits, pictures Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. It would be fitting if flames came shooting out of the edges of that paarticular billboard ... just because. There, boys and girls, are the four men this station was built around. Now, there are three.

Note: As I write this, I was just told by a colleague that the picture of Fontana is now defaced with stickers of some sort. I later rode out by that billboard and saw it for myself. They are large stickers of thinks like a light bulb, an indistinguishable face of some sort and other objects.

I listen to WDYT while going to sleep and all night long, partially because he transmitter is around the corner from my apartment and I get a killer signal. Good thing I can't get WBT at night because trying to go to sleep listening to Terror Shurvishus does and would make me retch. WDYT has the outstanding Fox Sports Radio from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. and most of the weekend. (Much better sports radio than the 4-letter place in Bristol, with Sporting News radio in the middle.) I especially enjoy The Third Shift show at 2 a.m. And yes, i find myself waking up that late and listening.

WDYT has Dennis Miller from 10 a.m. to noon. It's that Dennis Miller; it's a good radio program, and Miller and I have the same propensity to recall arcane trivia. I actually understand and remember his cross-references.. O'Reilly ... eeeeek! Thankfully, I miss him because I'm at work (like I would listen to him if I didn't). Same for Hannity ("Sir, you might be an ax murderer, but you're a great American." Gee whizzzzzzz.) Mark Levin now airs at 6 p.m., live. I used to sometimes enjoy listening to him when the show was aired at 10 p.m. His voice, though, is like hearing fingernails on a chalkboard. (The former occupant of the 7-10 show was Fox Noise's mean-spirited John Gibson, nice hair and all, who easily has one of the blackest hearts I've ever encountered on TV or radio. Good riddance.)

I used to listen to WBT Morning News ages ago until it started sounding like a radio version of Fox Noise Channel. No offense, but my ears can only take so much of Stacey Simms screeching away. Thank goodness for the Morning Sports Page on WFNZ. Glad you guys will be back on Monday morning.

The "Think" branding on WDYT is different, but I get so tired of hearing the studio called the "Pfeiffer University Think Tank." Please. It's too many syllables. Additionally, it doesn't work. Maybe try, "The following brain waves are brought to you by the Palm Restaurant" or something like that. Welcome to real life.

I have mentioned Jon Robinson several times. Jon is one of our guys. He and Mrs. Jon live in Gastonia. I've never met him, but surely to goodness he deserves better than what's happened in recent months. Jon has been undergoing treatment for what Garry Moore once called a "no-no" in his throat. He was off the air, got everything all but taken care of, and now he was dropped like a hot potato. The morning show was tossed out and people lost their jobs. I heard WBT's Keith Larsen mention the situation the other day. The reason given for the boot was lousy ad sales and stuff like that. We're going to have syndicated shows, it was said. They're cheaper.

Your syndicated show will consist of a grand total of one hour. Oh, wow. "Morning in America" with the overly pompous William Bennett, former Secretary of Education, courtesy of your friends at Salem Radio. Yawn. I listened to a little bit of an hour the other morning. The other three hours will be .. local. Syndicated, eh?

Danny Fontana, who currently wastes two hours on the station each afternoon, will now waste two in the morning. No offense, Danno, but if you want listenable financial advice, Dave Ramsey is the one and only choice on radio here, there and everywhere. Ramsey can be heard afternoons from 3-5 p.m. on WZRH-AM 960. Listen to him and not to Fontana. I think I'd rather listen to Wayne Fontana (of the Mindbenders).

The other hour will feature Molly Carroll and Bo Thompson talking about local things. Carroll was a member of the morning show and she's back, but not Jon Robinson. I was talking to a Charlotte TV personality the other day and we agreed that Jon Robinson should be doing news on one of the stations in the market. He used to, and some of the twits and goobers now seen on Charlotte TV have ZERO presence. With all the talent hilarity at WCNC-TV 36, Carolina's News Connection, or what's left of it, should hire him. Soon.

(Speaking of WCNC, Jeff Sonier is still missed, and it was funny watching Frances Kuo in front of Eastland Mall Sunday morning to report on the indident there Saturday. ("We're doing a live shot here because we can!"). Viewers are not stupid. But WCNC is.)

Charlotte doesn't need another conservative talk radio station. One is quite enough. I wouldn't listen to liberal Air America, either. What's the matter with just a regular radio station, the way things used to be? The old WBT was one of the best, anywhere. It was great hearing Ty Boyd the other week. Something like "Hello" Henry Boggan all day would be too much to ask for. I don't listen for confrontations. Wouldn't it be great to get Ludlow Porch around here, funseekers? Shoot, I'm still hopeful for Rick and Bubba.

My tip on tips

Toby Eddings — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:12:43 GMT

I'm no cheapskate, but I came darned close to not leaving a tip when I ate Saturday afternoon.and no food court in the land would have convicted me of being a skinflint.

It was my first visit to the restaurant and will be my last as well. I'm not going to name the place because that's not important. (I will share with you, however, that the food was greasy -- even the string beans, which is a hard trick to accomplish -- the chicken not so great and the meat loaf just so-so at best.) But it wqsn't the food that rubbed me the wrong way. It was the "service."

I tip well. But only when deserved. A tip is not a constitutional right. It's a Smith Barney type of thing. It must be earnnnnnnnnned. My rule is this: Fill up my tea glass and I will fill your pocket with U.S. currency. Forget where my table is and I'll forget about you.

I first was introduced to this way of thinking around 1981 or so. I was working down in Hartsvlle, S.C., and Sam Copeland and I went to the NAIA District VI Basketball media day down in Greenwood. Sam was sports director at WBTW-TV in Florence and we stopped by a Quincy's on the way back to the Pee Dee. (I miss Quincy's. I miss those yeast rolls.) we weren't having very much success with our waitress and Sam observed that she was losing her tip. She has to keep the glass filled, he said.

I'm now with that. My waitress Saturday was not. The place was hardly filled. OK, it wasn't filled. Neither was my plastic cup, The tea was long gone. That is my one vice in life ... way the heck too much iced tea, sweetened, please, lemon optional. If that's the worst thing I do, I could probably run for office. So I am on my second plate of food and still no tea refill. I'm in no mood to cause a scene; I'm just thirsty. I am chomping on ice. Finally ... finally, the waitress sees me and asks If I'd like more tea. "Yes, please." Ice would be good, too, but I settled for the tea ... after the main meal was eaten.

I have left tables tipless before for zero service. I cane thisclose to stiffing a server at The Melting Pot one time, but I waited until I got home and wrote an epistle to the Web site (and got a free meal out of it). Once while living at the beach, I went to Shoney's on a Friday for the regrettable seafood buffet. No visits by the waitress after my initial glass. No more dinner hour visits to that Shoney's ever again, either. (I discovered on a later visit to Virginia that the Shoney's seafood buffet is regrettable pretty much anywhere.)

The ladies at Golden Corral get good tips from me because they keep the tea coming. So did the person who kept plying me with tea at Showmars the other week. I know I shouldn't drink so much tea, but you gotta wash your food down with something. Water has no caffeine and I don't do coffee. I can't drink brown colas (or grape soda (!) because of the phosphorous). I don't drink alcohol, so hello, tea. (When I used to go to fancy pants restaurants once in a blue moon, it amused me to watch people eat meals and only sip wine or some similar drink. Sorry, but when I eat, I don'r sip tea. I guzzle it. Sue me.)

$o the tip for today is this: Keep the tea coming and you'll get a good tip.

The first woman on the moon:)

Toby Eddings — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:01:18 GMT

As we move in on the Jack Benny anniversary of man setting foot on the moon, let's remember it with a little bit of humor.

One of the people I am closest to in the world sent me this cartoon just now. The note said,: "You have to be old enough to appreciate this. If you don't understand this, you are too young."

Many of you DO remember this (and you'll get the Jack Benny reference, too). Not old enough? Ask your mama.