BILL HICKS ON LETTERMAN 01/30/09

It's rare for most media folks to admit they've made a mistake, especially an old one, unless they are literally shamed into doing it. Back in 1993, just 5 months before his death a hero of mine, Bill Hicks, did a routine (his 11th and by far his most dangerous)on Late Night with David Letterman that was so edgy that Dave and his producers notoriously yanked the spot from being aired at the last minute. Last night Letterman admitted his mistake, apologized a number of times, even though the decision was 15 years old, and even had Hick's mom on and ran the spot, which though Dave warned it would be dated, is just as edgy as when first performed back in 1993.

Here via YouTube and CBS' Late Night With David Letterman is the set up for that appearance:



After a commercial break Dave brought out Bill Hicks' mom and well...see for yourself:



The "heartache" Dave mentions early on is the fact that yanking that spot from airing changed (again) Bill Hicks' career making him even more edgier and bitter, most times incorporating the performed routine as part of his act and pointing out the hypocracy inherent in the broadcast media. In 1993 Hicks was breaking wide and performing to packed houses in most every place he performed OUTSIDE of the US, doing a kind of ranting performance against corporate society and thinking. A large number of his nightclub performances from this point on were recorded or filmed and Bill became one of the most notorious comics of his time with a huge reputation in the underground circuits. Here, again from last night's Late Night via YouTube, is Bill's routine that he did in 1993 on Letterman:



This routine was refined and ran past the censors before Bill even walked on stage, still watching it, and knowing the fickle state of the media it's not too hard to imagine why Dave pulled the spot.

Bill Hicks is one of my heroes and an example of a true genius pioneer. Looking at his routine now it might be hard to see why. Just know that the number of political satirists like Dennis Miller and Bill Mahr (the intelligent and secure ones anyway) will all attribute their career on Bill Hick's trailblazing, while other "comedians" like Dennis Leary might not admit it so quickly but made careers by ripping off entire segments of Bill Hick's act and claimed it as their own (Bill was talking about how great it was to smoke years before Leary's "No Cure For Cancer" performance that made him famous- in fact much (if not all) of Leary's static, manic, hyper performance is straight from Hick's nightclub act). Here, on Letterman he is obviously stiff and almost sedated compared to his uncensored expletive ridden riffs, especially the ones after this debacle.

It is a great statement to Letterman's character to have has last night's program and to humbly admit his fault and mistake on the matter. I hope it gives him the kudos he deserves for doing it, as well as some sort of closure to a decision that has obviously haunted him sine he did it. Surprisingly there was no mention of Bill's recordings and the memorials and biopix that are in the planning stages to commemorate his life, and it's also a testament to Dave and his producers for allowing this footage out, playing it in it's crisp and original form, and to have the balls to have his mother out to apologize to her on air for the emotional stress and anxiety that pulling Bill's appearance caused him in his last days of his life. In his routine, where Bill admits that he started smoking again, he was already diagnosed as past the point of treatment on his cancer, and in true Bill Hicks style he decided that he was going to enjoy as much of his life in his last days that he could, and that included his nicotine addiction.

I was introduced to Bill Hicks a few years ago by a friend of mine who said that Spank reminded him of Bill, I can certainly see why. For more information on Bill and his career I recommend the biography AMERICAN SCREAM by Cynthia True. It is available on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/American-Scream-Bill-Hicks-Story/dp/0330438069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233411566&sr=1-1 and is well worth the price. Though Amazon is only offering the book as used at present I'm sure that a new printing will be done shortly.

For more video on Bill Hicks, including a number of rants about being pulled from Late Night check out YouTube under Bill Hicks and see some of his genius for yourself.

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Limbaugh Incites HATE

Talk show fear monger and neo-con elitist Rush Limbaugh explains how HIS radio works. This old film clip, probably just as Limbaugh was just honing his act, was installed on YouTube a few months ago and is just now making the rounds virally because of Limbaugh's recent accusations againt the Obama White House for starting the current economic slide (thus throwing a bad thing- the current economic state- against a "good thing"- the Obama White House- in order to incite anger and fuel a knee jerk reaction from callers, who in true radio talk show host guile, he them berates and makes to look stupid because his opinion (however flawed in logic) has been totally thought through when the caller is merely calling off the cuff and unable to combat a more fully informed (again, however hopelessly flawed the logic) opinion. Here's the interview, pre diets, pre oxy-cotton addiction, pre fame, but with full ego attached:



The kind of fear mongering radio that Rush has been in the midst of is not new, but has seemed more and more mean spirited and polarizing the older I get. I stopped listening to Rush a good year or so ago (at least remotely seriously) when he was talking up Sarah Palin and anyone with any curiosity at all who did ANY research on Palin and the enture McCain campaign saw it for the wack-job that it was- it also swore me off the Republican Party and made me rethink most of their sad dogma (that and the blatant religious angle- but that's a whole other argument).

I'm NOT saying that Keith Olbermann's performance is better (Keith being listed as a "hero" in an earlier post), or more entertaining (when you understand the spin), it's just that, as with Rush during the Clinton administration) his opinions seem to be backed by more logic and facts, as least as i am able to find them.

So, beware and take ALL these pundits on TV and Radio with a BIG grain of salt. They're just spinning for ratings just like that guy who spun plates on the Ed Sullivan Show- think of every plate, bowl, and egg as a fact and a trail of logic...



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ANOTHER NAIL IN COMICS' COFFIN!!

Today's posting might be a long one, and it'll be filled with a little bit of "inside baseball" stuff when it comes to the comic market. I will work hard to keep it simple and to voice my anger and frustration as directly as possible.

I HOPE.

First off I LOVE COMICS. Loved them all my life. When growing up I "knew" I HAD to be involved in this glorious combined form of art and communication. I've written them (My writing notation in Overstreets for my War Of The Worlds work has remained there for well over a decade now), I've drawn them (As my notation for Spank The Monkey in Fogel's Underground Guide will attest), I've published them (as a small press publisher of Arrow, Massive, and yes, even WeeBee Comics banners) off and on over two decades worth of time, and I've taught them. I grew up breathing comics, the art form, it's publishing and distribution ins and outs, for most of my life. I started the first comic book specialty shop in my area, I have studied and written about their history to the point that my miniseries about comics(Spank The Monkey On The Comic Market)was very well received and has been mandatory curriculum material for more than one Sequential Art college course. I continue to unofficially teach Middle School and Elementary kids about cartooning after school via The United Way because I KNOW there are kids out there with the same sparks as I had as a child who. like myself, may even use this art form as a way of staying sane (or a reasonable facsimile there of).

Simply put I am passionate about Comics and they are a VERY important part of my life. I have ranted about comics numerous times here on this blog, making suggestions, recommendations, and showing you but a small sampling of Heroes I Miss. Though lately my attentions have been focused elsewhere most of the time I still pay attention to some of what is happening with Comics' "Direct Market", the chain of small outlets that offer comics' mainstream material (though the use of the word "mainstream" in that last sentence has just hit me as an oxymoron. perhaps "mainstream" comics have shifted from the comic shops to the movie screen, but that's off topic).

So yesterday, in my spare time surfing news on the web I came across this item in Rich Johnston's Lying In The Gutters column on the Comic Book resource board. I have high respect for Rich's column and do read it every week, when I have time, and recommend it to any of you readers who may also be interested in the "Inside Baseball" of Comics and the Direct Market. You can read the quote in full context at the address below and you should bookmark this column, and perhaps read over as much of the Comic Book Resource site that interests you, if you're not doing so already. Here's that addy:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19605

The spot is in regards to Comics' primary distributor (the paragraph above this quote called them "monopoly", which I agree with but unfortunately the Federal Courts do not) Diamond Distributors and how they were dictating which books they would distribute by establishing "minimums" unto the market. This on top of any new comic company having to p[rove their measure by passing three completed issues of their product in front of a "retailer review board" to see if you are worthy of being listed in their (Diamond's) sales catalog in the first place.

These "thresholds" were placed so that it would be worth Diamond's while financially to distribute a creator's work. It seems that Diamond was interested in their sales/cost returns as was afraid of being over run by smaller pressed books taking up too much time and space to fill orders going from publisher to retailer. Like a strainer they were keeping the "lower forms" farther away from a viewing audience of potential buyers and fans.

In order to totally understand the step here you have to know what a Previews Catalog (Diamond's primary selling tool, that they charge retailers and fans to posses in the first place- despite the onslaught of advertising these catalogs hold) actually looks like. There are multi levels of preference here with Diamonds top sellers, that they call "exclusives" which are the top dogs in the market, are listed in front and given preferential treatment. Following each "exclusives" current listing is each companies bound book library of what they have in stock to offer, as well as all of their merchandising: limited edition hard bounds, statues, posters, trading cards, apparel, bottle caps, and whatever current hot button merchandising they can dream up to drain the retailer (the strainer/primary buyer for the consumer)of their money in hopes of cashing in on their icons- THEN comes the rest of the publishers in what everyone calls the "green section" (green being subliminal to "not yet ripe enough for you to bother picking"). It's that "green section" that were originally hit by their imposed "minimums", again these 'green section" books already had to pass retailer panel inspection- the "exclusives" do not and were not included in the "minimum" rule.

It is at this point that I quote Rich Johnston's column:

At the time there were concerns that small press books would falter, not reach the expected figures, and smaller companies would disappear. And those that depended on listing the same item again and again, as "Order Again" would lose a big chunk of their income, as repeated listings of the same item would never have the same amount of orders as the initial listing. To some extent, this did indeed happen. Some companies disappeared, especially the one-man-bands. And the amount of O/As dropped. Some companies chose to cut exclusive deals with Diamond, so that they could list O/A titles without worrying about benchmarks.

In September 2005, the benchmark was set at $1500 wholesale and the threshold at $600 wholesale. That worked out at about a retail benchmark of $3750 and a retail threshold of $1500.

One other factor is that three years ago, most independent books cost around $2 to $3. These days, it's $3 to $4. Which means, the benchmarks and thresholds are being reached with smaller sales.

So boys and girls, it's time for it all to happen again. I understand the new expected minimum order, the benchmark, is $2500 wholesale or $6250 retail. Miss that figure too often and your book is dropped.

End of quote.

I have yet to hear of anyone getting OFFICIAL notice of the new minimums, but I suspect that IF Diamond does do this it will be screamed about (or at least SHOULD BE screamed about) by all small publishers who have again had the figurative noose tightened about their necks as Diamond further attempts to lynch the "green section" from their catalog entirely.

So much for "Fair Trade", or even remotely like the "Fair Play" our president just got done addressing in his inauguration speech.

Under these new "minimums" the old Arrow regime would have only been able to produce (and have Diamond distribute) two of our over fifty issues, that being Spank The Monkey #1 (which was boosted by a listing in Wizard Magazine as being "One The Edge" when the contents of the book were yet to even be written) and Butterfly Gunn #1 (which has a rich marketing history all it's own and I refer you over to the history section of the Arrow Comics site for that). That's it. No Oz, No War Of The Worlds, No Wonderland, let alone the other great books we published. I was already our companies "cut off man", not printing titles that were going to kill us financially (two of which I actually printed out of guilt and it did cost us severely- one of which I did not print and it cost me a good chunk of my self respect and drive to print and be in the market at all).

Again, so much for "Fair Trade" as you HAVE to wonder how many current icons of the direct Market (like Turtles, Bone, Love and Rockets) would have had their face slammed in the door and never seen a retailer's pull bag. let alone a retailer's shelf, if these minimums were in place back in the 80's and 90's.

Plus, now you know why the price per issue of comics likes to jump like it does. IF you want to survive you almost have to out price yourself out of the market (and in these economic times eventually WILL), just to hit Diamond's minimums for them to bother to take you out of box "A" from you and put you in box "B" for the retailer that ordered you three months in advance.

This has not been "Fair Trade" or "fair Play" now for many, many years and now it looks like it's all going to get a little harder.

Finally now you also see that the "exclusives" will now be under Diamond's "minimums" noose. and you wonder why you get those "Special Events" every year that fucks your continuity and wallet into buying titles you don't normally buy. It's gonna get worse now. You wonder why the hell Marvel and DC jacked their cover price way up on their comics, when the cost of printing has gone down, especially if they print overseas. Now, it's only going to get worse.

Woe be onto the retailer, who has to make an educated guess three months in advance of the market as to how they'll be selling any comics into their shop- with hard times here and more coming (what, you think gas is gonna stay at 2 bucks a gallon all summer- I'd be SHOCKED if that ever happens), they will be PRAYING that folks WANT to see Batman dead (again), Spidey fall in love with MJ (again!), and Wolverines TRUE origin explained (again!). Best of luck to all you guys.

Me, I ain't playin' and when I can tell you exactly what I'm doing and if it'll work or not I'll let you know. I gave up submitting to the "mainstream" guys a lloonngg time ago (though I STILL have a killer Red Wolf story I'd give my left nut to tell, you ain't gonna read it as Red Wolf most likely). Hope you comic readers like your repetition, stale continuity, big "crisis" events that go nowhere big, and all the sparkle and glitz sleight-of-hand these color companies will be force feeding you in the future as yet another nail in comics' creativity coffin seems to be about to be pounded in by your friendly Diamond Distributors' need for greed.

SPECIAL INSIDE NOTE HERE: There have been many attempts to change Diamond's hold on the market, mostly to no avail because retailers and publishers alike quake in fear of reprisal from said company in one form or another. This "fear" is justified with every new restriction Diamond beings to the market as sharing a bit of the profit margin Diamond has cut for itself could go towards enacting the minimum "noose" and cancel titles for publishers. On the same end not meeting levels of discounts for retailers could in turn inflict severe pain on any already struggling retailer. Frankly Diamond OWNS the market be strangling creativity and any opportunity to make the market better without Diamond's finger in the pie. Despite perhaps higher sales the readership for comics continually keeps shrinking due to lack of creativity on every level of production, and Diamond is a (if not THE) major cause of that. In fact, one of the primary reason I had to stop publishing (outside of flat out loosing the will to do so) was because I realized that Diamond was making more money off of my labor that me- again all for moving product from box "A" to "B".

I rest assured in the knowledge (as I stated in my Comic Market mini-series I mentioned above) that every advance to the art of comics comes after the screwing (or nailing, or lynching) of the previous market, I will be working hard to do my best to be a part of THAT, and not the dismal treadmill running the money machine that is Diamond Comics Dictatorship.

WAKE UP!!

Ow, Ow, Ow, OW!!!!

Will all you stupid "Jackass" people PLEASE try this at home!



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Circuit City Blows A Slow Burning Fuse

From the AP wire, via WTOP.com via Fark.com comes the news that Circuit City's are all closing. You can read the WTOP article by clicking the above headline, or you can go here:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=111&sid=1514456

Seriously, does this news comes as a surprise to anyone who has followed the news over the last few years, and can you REALLY blame "The Economy" for this happening? I'm sure you'll see over the course of the current news cycle about how Circuit City going under thrusts an estimated 30,000 new unemployed folks out into the streets, but honestly whose fault is it really? This article mentions the fact that their execs didn't take the "threat of Best Buy seriously", but their problems started way before this year when they decided it was a great cost saving move to layoff 3400 of the mid-range waged employees, employees who had worked for the chain for a number of years and who, being rewarded for their hard work and service to their stores, had earned themselves systematic raises, or promotional raises (again based upon their loyal service to the company). When they had announced that boneheaded move at the end of March 2007 I knew they were slitting their own throats and encouraging their customer base to be as loyal to them as they were to their employees. Employees who, by the way, were deep within their primary marketing demographic.

This is much more an example of horrible corporate strategy than bad economic times. Once all those initial layoffs started word of mouth began to spread. Disgruntled employees started disclosing the many flaws in their stores marketing and retailing money grubbing scams. Negativity ran through their sales demographic as those who did their research began to realize the many flaws and schemes that are prevalent in the retailing system. A second round of layoffs a few months after the first was really the icing on the cake, leaving CC with little if any mid range employees (those employees that would be experienced and in the trenches sort of speak) to watch out over their business, let alone give a rip about it.

My point is made by this story earlier in the week where two guys walked right into a CC in Salisbury North Carolina and walked straight out with a 67 inch flat screen (retail value around $3200), only to have an employee chase them out of the store to ask them if they needed something to help tie the set to the roof of their small car. The thieves told the sales rep that they did need some rope and the boneheaded under-payed (I assume he was probably not caught in the rounds of layoffs at least if her was still working there)clerk went back into the store to get them some. By the time he returned he thought it was odd they didn't wait for him as he watched them leave the parking lot securing the set to the roof of their car just by hanging onto it. That article is here (and I recommend reading it because it IS rather funny!):

http://www.salisburypost.com/Area/011309-Circuit-City-television-theft

The CC execs idea of cost cutting was indeed short sighted when in the long term salesmanship comes mainly from loyalty and word of mouth.

Certainly the economic downturn did factor into their bankruptcy, but in truth once this Corporate decided to cut out its middle, its HEART, they were destined to eventually bleed to death anyway. Another example of sad corporate greed eroding the middle class. Now you wonder why I don't care for Wal-Mart?

WAKE UP!!

Atlas Shrugged As Relevant as Ever

A recent Wall Street Journal article covers the relevancy of Ayn Rand's novel ATLAS SHRUGGED, as well as an over view of the book and a note on its influence to many in today's society. I attached a link to the above headline, or you can go here to read the WSJ article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123146363567166677.html

Atlas Shrugged is one of my favorite books, not only for the viewpoint it serves, as much as the sociological discussion it encourages. Though this article is almost a Cliff Notes version of why the book is more relevant today that ever, and why it would be so important to get a message like this out into modern media. there has been talk of a movie (Angelina Jolie attached at that), as well as a miniseries for HBO at one time or another, but given the powerful message and points raised I would say it would be a small miracle for such a project to actually be done, let alone left faithful to the book.

If you have not read Atlas Shrugged, believe me when I tell you that it is well worth your time and money to do so, even in "Books On Tape" form.

I close out today with a small clip from another important Rand work that did make it to the silver screen (with Gary Cooper no less) The Fountainhead, which emphasises the important of the individual over the collective, again well worth the read, as well as Rand's other fiction work Anthem (In which a man i9n future society rediscovers the word "I"). Here, via You Tube is Gary Cooper from The Fountainhead. Enjoy and WAKE UP!

Last Year, We Lost Wisconsin!

How bad was the nation's job loss in the year 2008? One of my favorite sites The Consumerist points out that loosing 2.8 Million jobs is the equivalent to loosing all the jobs of the employed in Wisconsin. Check on the above headline or you can see that here:

http://consumerist.com/5127672/how-many-jobs-did-we-lose-in-2008-as-many-as-if-wed-fired-the-entire-state-of-wisconsin

If you haven't bookmarked The Consumerist and check it often, then I recommend you do so. I don't get anything for that recommendation, it's just a great site for consumer information and news. To paraphrase Animal House "Stupid is no way to go through life, son."

Wake Up!

What I Did Over My Holiday Vacation

Sorry I've neglectied this blog for way too long, but here are a few random notes to catch you all up on what's been Spankin' as of late, each one of these should have probably been a seperate blog entry, so I appologize up front if this post gets a little long. Here goes...

YEAR END TOP TEN LISTS

I was going to do a couple of Top Ten lists, but decided that all Top Ten lists just solidly suck, so why bother? first off who really gives a shit if you thought Wall-E was worth a shit unless you can really back up your opinions with more than one paragraph? So, nix on those assholes who had to write these sad "Top Ten" lists- unless you're David Letterman that is, then you've elevated it to an entertaining artform:



WALL-E AND MY TV WATCHING HABITS

By the way- I got to see wall-E the other day and thought it was awesome. I KNOW what you're thinking "everything from Pixar is "awesome"!", but this particular work really is. Much deeper than most other Pixar films, and yet still very entrtaining on a number of levels. I'll be rewatching it soon most likely, as the mosre I think about it the more I enjoy it.

I feel the same about Dark Knight except that Dark Knight was really about 3 television episodes all sewn together into a great movie with a deeper point than most films (especially superhero films) usually ever get to. I got the Dark Knight DVD as an Xmas gift and I've recently rewatched it. I cannot say the same for Hulk and Iron Man- let alone the set of Reeve's Superman movies that I also recieved for Xmas (I still have yet to watch Supes 3 and 4 EVER- but now I will...)But I have a feeling that if television keeps going to shit I'll probably make the time to rewatch all of it.

Over the Holidays I got the chance to catch up on my recorded television. Yes, there's a lot of stuff that I recorded, a LOT of stuff that I'm sorry I did too. Here's some quick feedback notes on those. Maybe you can let me know how far off base I am here;

Is it me or does Heroes just continually suck? Sorry, and I've probably said this before here, but this is a prime example of what you get when you have comic writers trying to write dramatic television and not taking the time to properly learn the craft. All substance, no real character, with plots that meander and really don't go anywhere and don't actually change a whole lot.

Chuck- seriously- braincheck muddled mashed potatoes- right? Still a guilty pleasure over some of the other shit I've watched over the last few weeks.

Not missing Pushing Daisies or Eli when they are gone. Daisies was quaint, and could have really been great, but I got bored with it pretty quickly- same for Eli only minus the "quaint" part.

Is it me of is both Smallville and ER (both rumored to be on their last seasons, though I've heard rumblings that Smallville will go on) are both of these series ramping up in quality and watch-able-ness as they get ready to end production?

Supernatural has become watchable. The Heaven/Hell stuff has been enjoyable.

Can't wait to watch Damages, Battlestar, Reaper, and TNT's Trust Me, plus Lie To Me from Fox looks promising.

Fringe has picked up a bit in quality. After watching the last three episodes in a row it was nice to see a couple of small plot pieces fall together. I'm starting to reconsider my thoughts that Abrams has very little talent. If Lost ends well and Fringe actually goes someplace I might HAVE to call him talented, but it still doesn't make up for the last 2-3 seasons of Alias.

Life (the series that is) is actually deeper than about 80% of other television. maybe I'm reading more into this than what's there, but I'm liking this show the farther along it gets, and for me and most series that os RARE!

Leverage is a braincheck happy surprise, just don't think too much about it and you'll be fine! besides, I like Hutton and the British actress chick (she's awesome in Coupling on the BBC btw- well worth your hunting down and watching- and I HATE sitcoms normally).

Other than that 11th Hour and Mentalist are good, Life On Mars has me wondering how they'll maintain their quality level once they actually have to write a new episode as opposed to similating the british ones.

NEW DR. WHO

Speaking of "British", I was leary when they announced the newest Doctor for Dr. Who until I watched the interview he did on the Dr. Who Confidential show...



Yeah, he can be The Doctor, especially with Steven Moffatt as showrunner and head writer- could be the next season or two (as long as Moffatt stays on) could be the highpoints of the current run, and that's saying a LOT considering most of the last 2 seasons. Can't wait to see the rest of the Tennant specials though- he makes for a great Doctor as well.

CURRENT WATCHING

As the new programming returns I've been reading a bit as well as rewatching Firefly in my spare time. I plan on finishing that up with a re-viewing of Serenity. I'm already deep into the "Fuck Fox for stopping this genius show" phase. I'd watch Journeyman over again as well if they'd just release the damned DVD set.

ECONOMY AND POLITICS

Don't get me started here. Last Sunday's CBC morning news programe had an awesome primer on the sub-prime mortage swindle here in the U.S.. If I can find it I'll post it here becuase I thought it was pretty informational.

Well, I couldn't find it, but if you're curious (which frankly you SHOULD be, I wholeheartedly recommend INFORMEDTRADES.COM- here is the first part of their primer on the sub-prime fiasco:



Remember; It's ALWAYS worth your time to become informed.

Not sure if spending more money is going to make up for the money we've already spent, and I'm sure that the words "Bail-Out" is actually Orwellian DoubleSpeak for "Pay-off" as sinking 700 Billion into the banks have only made the rich, richer and not done shit for the actual economy.

On the Obama side, I'm not totally thrilled with most of the secretary appointments he's made, but I'm still hopeful that he'll do SOMETHING constructive for the Middle Class- only time will tell.

That's it for now- sorry for being so long between posts- I'll TRY to do better.

WAKE UP!