High Street Headache

June 26, 2010

Funny Sitcoms For All Ages

Filed under: Entertainment — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Hank Evans @ 7:21 am

Barney Miller (1975-1982): A precursor to NYC workplace shows like ‘The Job’ and ‘Rescue Me,’ ‘Barney’ starred Hal Linden as a police captain who shepherded a lineup of quirky suspects through the precinct and mentored his detectives, from grumpy Fish (Abe Vigoda — still alive!) to aspiring novelist Harris (Ron Glass).

Good Times (1974-1979): ‘Maude’ spin-off ‘Good Times’ was another seminal series, tackling issues of race, sex and class with pointed wisecracks. Jimmie Walker’s became a star as J.J. ‘Dyn-o-mite!’ Walker, but it was the Walker parents (Esther Rolle and John Amos) who infused heart into the show’s sillier antics.

The Odd Couple (1970-1975): The show that asked if “two divorced men (could) share an apartment without driving each other crazy” answered the question with as much hilarity as the preceding play and movie, earning Emmys for stars Tony Randall as neat freak Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as proud slob Oscar Madison.

Get Smart (1965-1970): Forget the cell phone: Maxwell Smart, aka Agent 86, had a sole phone, his shoe-set rotary dial; it was just one of the gadgets that helped the bumbling spy save the day after nearly ruining it every time. He also relied on help from comely Agent 99 and the patience of The Chief in battling KAOS.

The Office (2005-present): Some argue the original series is better, but for our Schrute Bucks, it’s the Dunder Mifflin gang that most hilariously captures the monotony of ‘Office’ life. Michael Scott over David Brent? Yep. Dwight over Gareth? Indeed. And not since Sam & Diane have we been treated to a sitcom couple as hot as Jim & Pam.

I Love Lucy (1951-1957): A comedy so classic it still goes down as smoothly as a bottle of Vitameatavegamin, the first major TV ratings hit owed its success to Lucille Ball’s gift for physical comedy, whether re-enacting the Marx Brothers’ mirror scene with Harpo, wrapping candy with Ethel or selling that “health” tonic.

M*A*S*H (1972-1983): From Hawkeye’s womanizing to Klinger’s obsession with getting a Section Eight, a constant barrage of wisecracks and juvenile pranks was just what the doctor ordered for these Korean War army surgeons, whose gallows humor was the only way they, and viewers, could deal with the traumas of war.

Cheers (1982-1993): The Boston gang gave us not only a seminal workplace sitcom, but also one of the best TV romances ever with baseball pro-turned-bar owner Sam and snooty “student of life” Diane, and one of the all-time greatest ensemble casts in know-it-all Cliff, beer-lovin’ Norm, gold-digging Rebecca and naive Woody.

Hank Evans appreciates you taking the time to read this written article. If you enjoyed what you have read, please support the writer by visiting his site where you can Watch Royal Pains Online.

December 29, 2009

The True Story Of The Ali/Inoki Fight

Filed under: Entertainment — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Ross Everett @ 8:47 am

Decades before mixed martial arts became popular in the United States, events matching fighters of different fighting disciplines were very common in Japan. They weren’t called “mixed martial arts” at the time, but that’s essentially what they were.There’s an entire history of pro wrestlers fighting specialists from other martial arts (particularly judo) that were leaving out, but during the’70′s Antonio Inoki began to put the concept of “mixed martial arts” on the map with his matches against fighters from other disciplines.

Before and after his matchup against Muhammad Ali, Inoki would frequently compete against other martial artists in what are widely accepted to be “worked” (ie: having a predetermined outcome) matches. Inoki fought boxer Chuck Wepner, judo Gold Medalist Wilhelm Ruska and world karate champion Willie Williams among others. His most famous match internationally, however, was against Ali.

There’s a great deal of uncertainty about many of the stories surrounding how the event came together and transpired, but a few facts are now known. Ali took the fight as it was a large and presumptively easy paycheck. The big money he was earning is what kept him from walking out when his camp started to disagree with Inoki’s handlers over the rules and ‘finish’ fo the fight. Some suggest that it was supposed to be a fair fight going in, but Ali at the last minute insisted on rules more favorable to him. The more likely version of events is that Ali’s handlers agreed to a predetermined finish, only to have Ali balk at the last moment.

The rules that were in place on fight night were so ridiculously one sided in favor of Ali that it almost defies belief. Inoki wasn’t allowed to hit Ali with a closed fist, nor strike him in the head at all. He was also prohibited from using any sort of choke or submission maneuver. Most problematically, he was prohibited from trying to take Ali to the ground. In other words, Inoki was basically not permitted to do anything that would threaten Ali with any sort of physical harm.

The painfully boring event that ensued was, despite many suggestions to the contrary, an actual fight. Inoki spent most of the match on the ground, unsuccessfully imploring Ali to join him and throwing kicks at his opponent’s legs. Ali did even less throughout the match, throwing a few jabs and trying to protect his knees and legs. The fight was scored on a 5 point system, and ended up in a 74-74 draw. It’s worth noting that Inoki had three points deducted for very dubious infractions: the first for throwing (and missing) with a drop kick, the second for throwing an elbow to Ali’s head and the third for a swift kick to Ali’s ribs. Had these deductions not occurred, Inoki would have won by decision. From a strict standpoint of scoring boxing, he probably deserved to win since he at least tried to execute a fight plan despite the restrictions he faced. For all practical purposes, however, a draw was the proper outcome. Both guys got paid and no one won, least of all the fans.

The fight was officiated by former pro wrestler “Judo” Gene Labell, a legendary tough guy considered at the time to be the ‘baddest man on the planet’. He could have easily beaten up both men, possibly at the same time. That might have provided some much needed entertainment to liven up the tedious charade masquerading as a fight.

After the fight, Inoki’s popularity in Japan was greater than ever. He became something of a hero for trying to fight despite having the rules so decidedly in his opponent’s favor. He’d continue his fights against other martial artists and remain one of the country’s most popular sports figures for years to come. His ‘worked’ martial arts matches can be credited with sparking later hybrid promotions showcasing pro wrestling and martial arts that evolved into PRIDE, RINGS and the major Japanese fight promotions of today.

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and World Cup betting sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

categories: MMA,UFC,boxing,mixed martial arts,sports,recreation,entertainment,travel,leisure,hobbies,entertainment,celebrities,history

Boston Bruins’ Scoring Legend Phil Esposito

Filed under: Hobbies — Tags: , , , , , , , — Ross Everett @ 8:43 am

Although many of his offensive records have now been left in the dust by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, former Boston Bruins/New York Rangers center Phil Esposito is still regarded by hockey experts as one of the greatest players in NHL history.

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Esposito was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a teenager. After some time in junior hockey, he was called up to the NHL in’64 quickly earning a spot on the teams top line between Bobby Hull and Marcel Dionne. In’67, Esposito was traded to the Boston Bruins along with Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield.

Esposito began to shred the NHL record book in Boston, prompting Bruins fans to display car bumper stickers that read Jesus Saves; Esposito scores on the rebound. In’69, he became the first NHL player to top the 100 point mark (combined goals and assists) for the season”he obliterated the record with 126 points, which would be the first of six times that hed top the century mark. He topped 100 points in five straight seasons between’71 and’75, missing a sixth straight season by a single point with 99 in’70.

In the’70-71 season, Esposito smashed the NHL record for most goals in a season with 76. That record stood for over a decade until Wayne Gretzky scored 79 for the Edmonton Oilers in’81-82. Gretzky also broke Espositos single season points record of 154. Even now, only four other players including Gretzky have scored more than 150 points in a season and only five others have scored more than 76 goals in a season. Perhaps the most amazing element of Espositos game was the frequency with which he put the puck on net”Espo had 550 shots on goal in’70-71. No one has since come close”in fact, just last Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals became the first player to come within 100 shots of Espositos mark.

In’75, Esposito was traded to the New York Rangers where his experience, intelligence for the game and nose for the puck made him a valuable component of the Broadway Blueshirts offense and he was named team captain. Until the very end of his career, he remained a dangerous scoring threat that all opposing teams were forced to reckon with.

After his retirement in’75, he remained active in hockey. He served as the GM of the Rangers before helping secure an expansion team for Tampa, Florida in’92. Esposito served as the President and GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning until’98. Esposito now hosts a daily hockey radio show on XM Radio, and has even done some acting appearing in a recurring role as a fire chief on the TV series Rescue Me.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on World Cup betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

categories: NHL hockey,pro hockey,hockey,sports,recreation,hobbies,entertainment,celebrities

December 1, 2009

6 Wonderful Twilight Party Games

Filed under: Entertainment — Tags: , , , , , — Andrea McClure @ 8:33 am

This November Twi-Hards everywhere are looking forward to the day when New Moon is in movie theaters worldwide. This movie has become particularly popular because of the success of the first film. With the addition of veteran actors like Dakota Fanning and Michael Sheen, the expectations for the sequel to Twilight are very high. One way that fans will be showing their enthusiasm is by hosting their own Twilight parties. If you are a fan planning a party of your own, you know that it is something that many of your friends have already planned to do. So it becomes important to set your party apart from all the rest with something special. Something that you can do is to have entertaining Twilight party games. Here are some interesting ones you can play at your party.

While we can’t move at super human speeds like vampires one thing you can do is play a game of flashlight tag. The blur of light will make players look like they are moving really fast. This is a great game to play at night. Make sure that area where you play is clear and safe so that there will no danger of anyone hurting themselves in the dark. Also make sure that everyone playing has a flashlight. Make them great party favors by having them have Twilight decals or stickers.

Another game that will test the reflexes of guests is musical chairs. It might seem like a childish game to play at a party, but just having a good time and getting everyone competitive with the right amount of style, will allow you to pull it off. For the music play songs from the Twilight playlist.

You can play a New Moon Concentration game. Draw up a list of every character in New Moon and whether they are vampire, human, or werewolf. Then have a memory contest where guests have to recite the list of characters exactly as you say it adding a new character with each round. The person that lasts until the final round will be the winner.

You can also have bobbing for apples. Rather than just having everyone try to get the apples with their own teeth, have them wear fake vampire fangs while they are doing it. This is a great idea because wearing the fangs will make the game more challenging and fun.

You can play a Twilight version of Blind Man’s Bluff. Vampires in New Moon are excellent trackers. Pick someone to be a tracker and blind fold them. Then the “tracker” has to find as many guests in the party as possible using all of their remaining senses to do so. This will be a fun game for everyone as they try to avoid getting caught.

A true Twi-Hard knows their trivia. Have guests play a game of Twilight Jeopardy. Have question based on the Series. Try to make it interesting by including little known facts and trivia that only devoted fans of the series would be able to know.

These are just some of the many games you can play at your party make sure to take advantage of these in order to provide some great entertainment for your guests. This will help to make your event a unique and unforgettable experience.

If you are hosting a Twilight party and looking for Twilight party favors and Twilight party supplies, E-WeddingFavors.com has the biggest selection of unique Twilight party favors, supplies and much more. These products are one of a kind and are all at a very affordable prices at or around $1 or $2.

November 14, 2009

5 Lunariffic Ideas for New Moon Party Favors

Filed under: Entertainment — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Aaron Hu @ 8:05 am

This fall every Twilight fan will be anticipating the second installment of the Twilight movie series, New Moon. In the sequel not all is well between Bella Swan and her vampire lover Edward Cullen. Despite their victory over a group of vampires who wanted to kill Bella an incident at Edward’s home on her birthday convinces him that his world is too dangerous for her, so Edward abruptly leaves without a proper explanation. Deep in depression, Bella turns to her friend Jacob for comfort as she tries to move on. However, Edward’s intentions ironically backfire as Bella becomes aware of a special secret that Jacob and his tribe are hiding. If you are holding a New Moon party for Halloween or to celebrate the movie coming to theaters you will need some great New Moon party favors. Here are some great suggestions that you can use in your own event.

A great idea is to use promotional posters and other merchandise from the movie as gifts for your guests. This is great because of availability. You should be able to find some promotional items at your local party store or grocery store. This will be a great first place to look. You can also find some great items online. Many of the new party favors that online stores are offering will use images that are on promotional poster and other items for New Moon. This gives the opportunity to find new and unique gift ideas for your guests.

A great source of inspiration for your party favors is the werewolf and vampire themes of New Moon. Try to find conventional Halloween favors that closely resemble these themes. You can give dog tags with images of characters from the movie or red colored favors. Using this as inspiration you should find yourself with a lot of different unique and original favors that will be sure to impress your guests.

You can also get inspiration from the two different cultures that are in the book and movie. In New Moon we learn about the traditions of Jacob’s tribe. To reflect this you can choose party favors that have Native American influences. You can try to find items that include images of wolves and popular myths. Another idea is to take advantage of the Renaissance themes that are present when Bella and Alice go to Italy to save Edwards. You can give masks similar to those used at the Volturi festival.

Another great idea is edible favors. You can offer candy, chocolate, and even savory treats as favors to your guests. A great suggestion is lollipops in the shapes of moons or cookies in the shape of doggie treats. Use your imagination to come with unique and one of a kind items that will be sure to be popular with guests. This way you will be able to come up with something that will be original and just specially for your party.

Finally try to go for gifts with some useful or amusing feature. You can give New Moon puzzles or games, or items like lip balm and key chains. These items can be found online with New Moon and Twilight themed looks that will match your event perfectly. The idea is to give items that your guests will want to keep them. This way you will be assured of your favors being a sure hit.

If you are hosting a Twilight party and looking for Twilight Party Favors, E-WeddingFavors.com has the biggest selection of unique Twilight party favors, supplies and much more. These products are one of a kind and are all at a very affordable prices under dollar or two.

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