We watched the American remake of The Eleventh Hour last Thursday night, and if you’ve really got nothing better to do, it might be passable entertainment. We skipped Life on Mars because we figure we’ll watch it “On Demand.” I love that particular service – no commercials, nothing popping up on the bottom of the screen, and you can actually enjoy the music at the end of the show, uncluttered by promos for other shows.

But anyway – the first episode of The Eleventh Hour was actually just a rewritten version of the superior episode which ran on the original British series a few years ago, only not as enjoyable. It all seemed rushed, somehow. Not only that, but the show copped out on several key plot points from the original show, which annoyed both Tracy and myself no end.

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The series may be on more solid ground when they do original episodes. But why are they making poor Rufus Sewell do an American accent? Ye gods!

If you really want to have fun, get thee down to your local DVD outlet and check out the original series with Patrick Stewart. The American version may get better, but I doubt it will be as much fun to watch.

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Quote of the Day

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“Impress upon children the truth that the exercise of the elective franchise is a social duty of as solemn a nature as man can be called to perform; that a man may not innocently trifle with his vote; that every elector is a trustee as well for others as himself and that every measure he supports has an important bearing on the interests of others as well as on his own.” – Daniel Webster

*****

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If Lorne Greene could survive this, anybody can survive anything

One of the favorite series is Bonanza – no, really, I love that show. Bonanza is the reason that I like to give why network programmers should let a program find an audience, rather than cancel it within a week or two – or with a few minutes, as they seem to these days.

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I suspect everyone around the world is familiar with the famous Bonanza theme music by Ray Livingston and ray Evans, the guys who also wrote the Doris Day hit, “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be).” What a lot of folks don’t realize is that the pilot episode features the Cartwright clan actually singing the Bonanza theme. Wiser heads prevailed, however, and only two lines were used. Most versions of the pilot don’t even use those lines.

Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright) cut his own version of the Bonanza theme, which is pretty awful in itself, and released it on an album. Those who may wish to torture their friends can find the song at:

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http://bonanzaworld.net/lyrics.php

For the true lovers of bad taste, here are the original lyrics to the song that NBC so wisely cut out of the pilot episode. Somewhere, out there, there exists a copy of this. I’d love to see it.

(Little Joe solo) I’ve got a flair for women everywhere—Bonanza!
(Hoss solo) Bonanza! (Barks and howls)
(All three) I’m not afraid of any pretty maid–Bonanza! Bonanza!
But when I give a kiss to any little miss, She’ll learn a lot from me

 (Ben solo) I’m not afraid of any pretty maid–Bonanza!
(All three) Bonanza!
When I give a kiss to any little miss
She’ll learn a lot from me –
Hair of brown, hair of gold
I’ll take what I see

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We’re not a one to saddle up and run–Bonanza! Bonanza!
Anyone of us who starts a little fuss
Knows he can count on me
One for four, four for all
This we guarantee

We got a right to pick a little fight–Bonanza! Bonanza!
If anyone fights any one of us
He’s gotta fight with me!

rsdrake@nwark.com

 

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