Author Archives: Jedadiah Leland

Great Moments In Comic Book History #23: J. Jonah Jameson Is Elected Mayor of New York City

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

In 2009, the crusading newspaper publisher, J. Jonah Jameson, was elected Mayor of New York City. At least, that’s what happened in Amazing Spider-Man #591.

It didn’t turn out well, of course.  Mayor Jameson spent too much time obsession on Spider-Man and not enough time fixing the subways. He was bombastic, stubborn, and refused to admit when he was wrong.  That shouldn’t have taken anyone by surprise.  New Yorkers knew what they were getting when they voted for him but they elected him anyway. Of course, in 2009, the idea of a buffoon like J. Jonah Jameson ever holding a major political office seemed like a fantasy. Today, Jonah would fit right in with the majority of the people in Washington.

As mayor, Jameson ended up getting manipulated by both Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin.  It’s no wonder that Mayor Jameson failed to even finish his first term before having to resign.

He was still better than De Blasio, though.

Previous Great Moments In Comic Book History:

  1. Winchester Before Winchester: Swamp Thing Vol. 2 #45 “Ghost Dance” 
  2. The Avengers Appear on David Letterman
  3. Crisis on Campus
  4. “Even in Death”
  5. The Debut of Man-Wolf in Amazing Spider-Man
  6. Spider-Man Meets The Monster Maker
  7. Conan The Barbarian Visits Times Square
  8. Dracula Joins The Marvel Universe
  9. The Death of Dr. Druid
  10. To All A Good Night
  11. Zombie!
  12. The First Appearance of Ghost Rider
  13. The First Appearance of Werewolf By Night
  14. Captain America Punches Hitler
  15. Spider-Man No More!
  16. Alex Ross Captures Galactus
  17. Spider-Man And The Dallas Cowboys Battle The Circus of Crime
  18. Goliath Towers Over New York
  19. NFL SuperPro is Here!
  20. Kickers Inc. Comes To The World Outside Your Window
  21. Captain America For President
  22. Alex Ross Captures Spider-Man

Great Moments In Television History #19: CHiPs Skates With The Stars

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

On September 22nd, 1979, NBC aired the premiere of the third season CHiPs.  The show, which revolved around the hijinks of the members of the California Highway Patrol, was never a favorite of the critics but it was a hit with young audiences who didn’t know any better.  For the start of the third season, the show paid those fans back with Roller Disco.

On this special, two-hour episode, Ponch (Erik Estrada) and Jon (Larry Wilcox) pursued thieves on roller skates while setting up the patrol’s annual charity benefit, which also involved roller skates.  The plot was not as important as the epic finale, in which Baker and Captain Getear (Andrew Pine) greeted all of the local celebrities who showed up for the the charity roller disco.  The scene is remembered for both the quality of the stars (Melissa Sue Anderson and Nancy Kulp!) and the excited announcer who spent the entire benefit shouting out names.

Behold, the 70s:

Previous Moments In Television History:

  1. Planet of the Apes The TV Series
  2. Lonely Water
  3. Ghostwatch Traumatizes The UK
  4. Frasier Meets The Candidate
  5. The Autons Terrify The UK
  6. Freedom’s Last Stand
  7. Bing Crosby and David Bowie Share A Duet
  8. Apaches Traumatizes the UK
  9. Doctor Who Begins Its 100th Serial
  10. First Night 2013 With Jamie Kennedy
  11. Elvis Sings With Sinatra
  12. NBC Airs Their First Football Game
  13. The A-Team Premieres
  14. The Birth of Dr. Johnny Fever
  15. The Second NFL Pro Bowl Is Broadcast
  16. Maude Flanders Gets Hit By A T-Shirt Cannon
  17. Charles Rocket Nearly Ends SNL
  18. Frank Sinatra Wins An Oscar

Neal Adams, Rest In Peace

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

I was sorry to hear that Neal Adams, the great comic book artist who revitalized Batman and who was a tireless advocate for creator’s rights, passed away yesterday at the age of 80.

This is my favorite Neal Adams cover and I know I’m not alone. From 1978, here is Superman vs. Muhammad Ali.

Though Superman vs Ali is the main attraction, the cover features everyone from Batman to Telly Savalas to Sonny Bono to Jackie Onassis to just about everyone else was somebody in the 1970s.

Neal Adams, RIP.

Music Video of the Day: Can’t Help Falling In Love by UB40 (1993, directed by Neil Abramson)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

For much of 1993, this song and music video was inescapable on MTV.  Director Neil Abramson also directed videos for Belinda Carlisle, Enigma, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Dwight Yoakam.  Soiuxsie and the Banshees and Dwight Yoakam?  The music business makes for some interesting connections.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Patience by Guns N’ Roses (1989, directed by Nigel Dick)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Maybe it’s the whistling at the start but I’ve always thought of this as being a Guns N’ Roses country song.

The video was directed by Nigel Dick, who has directed music videos for anybody who is anyone in music.  The scenes of the band performing were filmed at The Record Plant, a legendary Los Angeles recording studio,  The scenes in the hotel were filmed at the Ambassador, which is the same hotel where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 shortly after winning California’s Democratic presidential primary.  At the time the video was shot, the Ambassador had been closed down and was scheduled to be demolished.  (It would be another 17 years before the hotel actually was torn down.)

This was the final Guns N’ Roses video to feature drummer Steve Adler, who was fired from the band after the video was shot.  Most people who have seen this video will probably agree that the snake is the true star of the production.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Bad Day by Carmel (1983, directed by Dee Trattmann)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Today will not be that bad if I can introduce just one person to Carmel, one of the best bands that has never really gotten its due.  Carmel was formed in 1981 and they’re still performing, touring, and recording new music.  Their latest album came out in February of this year.

This video was directed by Dee Trattmann, who also directed several videos for Cliff Richard.  I think every British music video director of a certain age did a video or two for Cliff.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Spirit of 76 by The Alarm (1985, directed by Nick Morris)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Today, we give a shoutout to Wales with the music video for Spirit of 76, which was written and performed by the Welsh band, The Alarm.  In the 80s, The Alarm earned an international fanbase by opening for U2 and, later, Bob Dylan.  Just as U2 will always be associated with Ireland, The Alarm will always be associated with Wales.  The band is still together and still proudly Wlesh.

This video was directed by Nick Morris, who was one of the busiest music directors of the 80s and the 90s.  He also did music videos for Cinderalla, Toto, The Rainmakers, Jennifer Rush, Europe, Eddie Money, Cliff Richard, Warren, and Radiohead among others.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Perry Mason by Ozzy Osbourne (1995, directed by Ralph Ziman)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

How did Ozzy Osbourne come to sing a song about television’s most famous lawyer?

Apparently, it came from a session of guitarist Zakk Wylde and keyboardist John Sinclair just improvising.  Wylde liked what they came up with and when he shared the music with Osbourne, Osbourne made up the lyrics on the spot.  No one seems to know why Ozzy Osbourne had Perry Mason on his mind that particular day.  Maybe he had been watching TV.

The music video features a young girl walking through what appears to be death row and spotting Osbourne performing the song in a cell.  It was directed by Ralph Ziman, a South African director who, along with doing anti-Apartheid feature films, had also directed the video for the Ozzy Osbourne’s previous hit, No More Tears.  It only made sense to bring him back for Perry Mason.

Enjoy!