Call Him Rusty or Gary or Brian or Farmer Ted
Sunday, October 9th, 2011
He’s still out there acting, showing up in modern day TV shows like Community and CSI: Miami, and every now and then making his way into a blockbuster film like The Dark Knight – but to me, Anthony Michael Hall will always be an icon of the 1980’s. In fact he had major roles in three of my top ten favorite 1980’s comedies: National Lampoon’s Vacation, Weird Science, and Sixteen Candles. Add to that a few other starring roles in classics like The Breakfast Club and Edward Scissorhands, and we’ve got someone whom I was thoroughly ecstatic to meet. Read the rest of this entry »
The encounter that Jamie and I had with Eddie Mekka was rather amusing. Eddie had portrayed Carmine Ragusa, the ex-boyfriend and on-again/off-again romance partner of Shirley in the TV sitcom Laverne & Shirley – affectionately referred to as ‘The Big Ragoo’. He had been a regular in the series during its entire run from 1976-83 and appeared in 147 of its 178 episodes. Our encounter came during the Hollywood Celebrities Show in Chicago on Saturday, October 1, 2011. Eddie was there as part of a Laverne & Shirley reunion. 
Jim Kelly the martial artist (not to be confused with the Buffalo Bills quarterback, the soccer player from the 1920’s, the Federalist House of Representatives member from the early 1800’s, the Jack the Ripper suspect, the managing editor of Time magazine, the federal judge, the saloon keeper, or the pirate), has a unique spot in martial arts film history. His first film (or at least the film that he received his “Introducing” billing) Enter the Dragon, in which he played Mr. Williams, also happened to be the very last film that the iconic Bruce Lee made before he passed away. So the film has a lore of its own.