WTIT: The Blog

Thanks to The Gal for authoring this meme. Click on the Sat-9 title of song on the next line below to play.

Saturday 9: Secret Agent Man (1966)

1) This is the theme of a TV show that ran on CBS from 1964-1967. The series was produced, and originally aired, in England. The BBC has shared many shows with American audiences over the years. Can you name another? Dr. Who. I first watched the episodes bin the 80s. I loved the new episodes, but after David Tennant, I think it was less. Less what? What do I know?

2) The show is about John Drake, a special agent dedicated to exposing plots that threaten world peace. A quick check of Netflix and Goodreads reveals that spy stories are just as popular today. Is espionage a genre you enjoy? Do you read books, or watch shows and movies, about spies? I am a huge Bond fan. I am not sure, however about “Bond 25”. First it’s really 26. They don’t count “Never Say Never” which at this point is stupid. Yes it wasn’t from the “official studio” but it gave the owner of “Thunderball” a chance to finally make his version. The film stars Sean Connery in his final film as Bond. And the same group who own the “official” films now owns “Never Say Never Again”. But it’s the fact that a African American woman will play 007 by the end of 25. Maybe I’ll love it. I hated Daniel Craig’s blonde hair. I guess I’m a traditional guy on this matter. It’s not the African American part, that’s fine, but as a woman? Does not sound like Bond.

Maria, Evie, Zoey & my son Ben in Greece.

3 ) The lyrics tell us Drake travels from the Riviera to Bombay. Where were you when you last spent the night away from home? Why were you there (vacation, business, international intrigue)? My wife and I spent Father’s Day in Boston at my son’s (and his family: Wife Maria, daughters Zoey & Evie) It turned out to be an incredible weekend.

4) The refrain states, “They’ve given you a number and taken away your name.” In today’s digital world, that could now be said of all of us. Are you good at remembering your computer passwords? The bank ones and important ones I do remember.

5) Patrick McGoohan, who played Agent Drake, went from being a good guy to appearing as a murderer on Columbo four times. Were you a fan of Columbo? No. I hated it. You know who did it in the beginning? Love Peter Fauk. Hate that show.

6) Born John Ramistella, this week’s featured artist, Johnny Rivers, grew up in Louisiana. He took “Rivers” as his stage name because he grew up along the Mighty Mississippi. If you were to change your last name based on the geography of the area where you grew up, how would you be known? Bud Boston might flow. I spent nearly 6 years living there. Four were college, the radio career got me back in the mid 90s.

7) In 1966, when this song was popular, Jacqueline Kennedy was the woman most Americans admired. What famous woman do you admire most? (She doesn’t have to be American.) Elizabeth Warren.

8) 1966 also found another Jacqueline was in the news. Jacqueline Susann’s first novel, Valley of the Dolls, was atop the best seller lists, even though it was savaged by the critics. What’s your guilty pleasure? What book, movie, TV show, or song do you enjoy, even though you know it has little artistic merit? “Love Yourself” by Justin Beiber. I hate him, but really like the song. It makes more sense, lyricaly speaking if you think “Fuck Yourself). That part is clever.

9) Random question: Imagine you’ve been stranded alone in the woods for 10 days. No companionship, no internet or phone or TV. You have been sleeping in the dirt, living on berries and river water. Your rescuers drive you to a hotel. Upon check-in, what’s the first thing you do? Sleep.

July 4th has come and gone. My best friend, Johnnie, died on the 4th last year. I am still feeling raw about it. I think I said that we did change our studio name from “Rocking Rockville” to “The Jumping Johnnie Walker Studio. The next studio will be called that as well. I think I’ve mentioned that last year my daughter’s family (Heather and her husband Alec with daughters Lindsay & Lauren who are teenagers) recorded a play. Well I wrote a short sequel. I think it’s pretty good comedy. I still love retirement. We will move closer to my friends and Kathy’s job. Hope you are great! Peace and love. We will do this again. Same time. Same blog.