Product Placement Before It Was Cool

A lot of people ask me about the Coke scene in the movie David Isaacs and I wrote, VOLUNTEERS. We took a lot of heat for it because the studio that produced it also owned the Coca Cola company. It was viewed as a shameless plug. The truth is it was a complete coincidence.

Here’s the notorious scene but first an earlier scene setting up the animosity between Lawrence (Tom Hanks) and Beth (

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Here's the product you HAVE TO have!!!

But don't just take my word for it. Here are some actual reviews:


Wendy Sherer ("Cosmetic Guru") from Pittsburgh, PA, writes: "Not only a wonderful teaching model, but while trying to find the tumors, I discovered, it acts as a makeshift stress ball! When I am in line at the grocery store I just whip out this handy little bugger and squeeze away [and] the line around me just [disappears]."

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The CBS Eye

I love TV history. You probably know that just from my NBC "N" post earlier this month. Each network has its own distinctive brand. CBS was known as the "Tiffany" network because its shows tended to be classy. Those were the days when one man owned the network -- William S. Paley -- and the network reflected his tastes.

CBS also had a distinctive and elegant logo -- the Eye. That's been

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Friday Questions

Direct from Dallas, here they are, y'all. 

rockfish has a couple. The first involves Col. Flagg from MASH.

I'm wondering if there was a discussion about turning a smaller part into a more major, recurring role from someone who was essentially a guest star – i.e Col. Flagg, who seemed to be a bolt of energy whenever plugged on the show. Sidney the psychiatrist was used almost twice as much

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Response to Thor fans

Now I know how to generate comments.  Yeow!    A couple of things:

I do like action movies.

I appreciate that many of you did like THOR.  Great.  I'm sure you'll love THOR 2-11.   I didn't.  I don't apologize for my review.  But I do apologize for not putting an S at the end of Dennings. 

See you tomorrow.

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Thor the Love of God -- Stop Making These Movies!

I missed most of the blockbuster super hero epics this summer. I’m holding out for Mighty Mouse. But recently my daughter Netflixed THOR and it was just sitting around so I figured, what the hell? I do like a good action movie, I seem to recall it got good reviews, and it has Natalie Portman (obviously vying for a second Oscar). Also, it was directed by Kenneth Branaugh, the

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My Open Letter to Seattle

Reunited with Dave Niehaus
Hello from Minnesota. I’m calling play-by-play for the Mariners until Sunday. That’ll be it for me for this season (of course the season ends three days later). But it’s been a joy and an honor to once again be part of the Mariners’ broadcast crew. And so, on this last week, I wanted to take a day to thank Seattle. It’s impossible to step in for the great Dave

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