Is the Masked Singer the kiss of death?

 

   I've talked about this show which is about a dancing show where celebrities are hidden in masks until they are voted off...or win the show. But with the recent death of George Wendt aka Norm from Cheers...I soon wondered, is being on the show considered a kiss of death to certain celebrities?

   We can't all control death. It's inevitable, but it's ironic that certain celebrity deaths happened after they performed on Masked Singer. Lesile Jordan always was considered a guest panel and even performed in an ice cream suit. After his death in a car accident, the episode dedicated Leslie Jordan for being a great guy and making the world laugh

 Another death of a celebrity is Jerry Springer. Yes, even Jerry performed on Masked Singer. Although, he was one of the first to leave so just one song. I knew who it was right away when the ladybug explained him being popular in the 90s and then going into being a tv Judge. We all chanted Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! when he was revealed. He passed away in 2023 from pancreatic cancer. 

   I grew up watching Bob Saget as Danny Tanner on Full House. He didn't have a bad singing voice either. I kind of knew who it was when I heard him sing. He was a squiggly monster, and he sang some memorable songs. What also was memorable was his sudden death. He died while performing stand up in Florida after a hit on the back of the head. He never woke up. We'll miss you, Saget

   Kirstie Alley passed away from cancer that she had for a few weeks when it became aggressive. She also sang on Masked Singer as a pink mammoth. She did pretty well but was eliminated early. She was known for being on Cheers as well as few movies I've seen, one involving the Olsen Twins in a Prince and Pauper story

   A famous boxer was also on the masked singer. George Foreman, who was known for not just boxing but Entrepeneur, sang one song and was eliminated. I kind of knew who it was with the voice being distinctive. He will be remembered not just for the Boxing but his grills that sold like hot cakes. I forgot the song he sang, but he was amazing to be in the show

    I recently talked about George Wendt and his passing. Who did he portray? A moose. When I saw him, he was sitting on a rock and I thought it had to be someone who couldn't stand for a long period of time. What we didn't know was...he was known for being a bar and sitting at his favorite booth drinking his beer. Ok, maybe we did know that, but we had no idea he had a good singing voice. Cheers, Norm.

   It's amazing this show has been on for almost fourteen years, and we already had six celebrity deaths from that show. Time goes by fast and feel there will be more surprises in the new seasons and sadly...a few singers that go to the other side. Till then, I will enjoy the show and the surprises it gives me. 

Happy B-Day, Johnny Depp

 

   Happy birthday to a Captain Jack Sparrow, Mad Hatter, Sweeny Todd and many more Characters one man made. Today is his 62nd birthday and he doesn't look a day older. But what was his past like? Well...let's see how Johnny Depp became who we know today.

  Born in a small town in Kentucky, Johnny didn't really get into acting until his teenage years. When he was living with a family that had Jonny move from one state to another eventually divorcing a few years later. He is also the youngest of four of his siblings and the one that is the most recognized. He wanted to start a band, so his mother gave him a guitar when he was a teenager.

  He would soon star in a tv show that made him a household name in the 80's, around the same time he would end up killed in Nightmare on Elm Street, one of his first film appearances. He played alongside Peter DeLuise. They made a movie starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum and Johnny Depp and Peter guest starred in it as well...only to be shot

   I remember him playing an emotional brother to Leonardo DiCaprio in a movie called what's eating Gilbert Grape. He played Gilbert and has to watch over his mentally challenged brother played by Leo. I loved this move, and it only showed not only how talented Leo was, but Johnny as well. He started in other movies afterwards

   Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Charlie Chaplin and Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and loathing in Las Vegas. Johnny plays Hunter as he travels through Vegas while stoned off his mind and seeing visions of things that aren't there.

    Sadly Hunter S. Thompson did commit suicide a few years after that movie. As the years went by, Johnny's talent started to shine. But sometimes.... he would take roles in movies that bombed.

   Johnny played a pirate named Jack Sparrow in a few Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I was not a fan of them, and Johnny actually is pretty good at playing a delusion pirate with Orlando Bloom and Kyra Sedgewick in the movie as well.

   In real life, even after the Pirates movies ended, Johnny would dress up as Jack Sparrow and make kids that were in the hospital and cheer them up. 

    Even if Johnny had struggles with alcohol and drugs when he was young, he would have no idea the star he would become. One thing I think he would never portray again...is a clown. The Mad Hatter in the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland movies were not my cup of tea.

   Plus, Johnny has a clown phobia, and I bet this movie was helping him conquer that phobia.

    Johnny is still acting today. Some of his movie choices aren't as great as his ones back in the 90s and the 2000s. He's done some voice work on movies and an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants He even has been directing starting with a movie he starred in as well. There's no stopping this guy. Now, let's wish this man a very happy birthday because I know....he's not done acting yet. 

    

Restaurant Declining

 

   And we thought Covid-19 would destroy us. Well....it sort of did. But some apps started coming to the rescue like UberEats, Doordash and even Grubhub started to appear for people who don't want to set foot in a restaurant.

  However, the downside is certain restaurants are starting to decline while other restaurants start coming in and only are delivery and take-outs only. Does that mean restaurants that are dine in are on the decline? Here are some restaurants that are saying goodbye real soon.

  Some Italian restaurants are showing their closing signs. One of them is Buca Di Beppo. An Italian restaurant that has been around since the early90's but now is showing its age. The food isn't as great as it once was, but the decor is not a great either.

   Around the time Covid hit, it was filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy. That means it's pulling the plug on many of its restaurants.

  Another restaurant I've been to and liked...was TGI Fridays. Which had a saying of Thank God it's Friday.

   This restaurant was American themed and served food like burger, chicken, sandwiches and the appetizers like Mozzarella sticks. Now, you'd be lucky to find one anywhere. It has been considered a ghost of a restaurant and whatever was left of the food...went into the frozen section.

   Applebee's is like another American Themed restaurant that I remember more. The food was fine...until 2020 when Covid hit.

   There are still Applebee's there but sadly, the food is not as great as it used to be. Struggling to survive from all the foodapps, they mostly have gone and decided to use take out methods having less people going into their restaurants.

   Red Lobster is near its end. Not only was it a Seafood chain, but they were known for their endless seafood options like endless shrimp and pasta, but their cheddar biscuits which you can find in the frozen food section.

  Red Lobster is one of those restaurants that has filed for bankruptcy more than once. I'm amazed its still standing.

 Remember a restaurant that was mostly known for roasted chicken and dinners that included mashed potatoes and gravy? Well...that was Boston Market. Now....there's barely one Boston Market left in all of America.

    They started declining around 2020 during Covid when people were starting to make their own meals or wanted take out.

   Boston Market was already struggling by then and now.... if you ever find one Boston Market still in business....it won't be for long.

  Like Red Lobster, Olive Garden is suffering as well. And serving never ending breadsticks and pasta is not going to help their business get any better.

   There are still some Olive Garden restaurants left, but they are struggling just like other restaurants. They do the same method as take out and app dining. It's just.... not as strong as it used to be.

     Even diner themed restaurants are in danger of saying goodbye. Denny's being one of them. IHOP too, but it feels any restaurant that is a sit in only restaurant isn't safe from being closed forever. Filing Chapter 11 before, it doesn't mean it's gone, but it is struggling to survive.

   Even their Grand Slam meals aren't as great as they used to be. Having shrinkflation happening is one thing having their portions getting smaller. It's just.... not as great a restaurant as it used to be.

    World of Beer is a restaurant and Pub. It is now.... struggling to stay in business. Is it because of Covid? No.... I guess people are more used to the apps that that deliver them food that they stopped going into restaurants.

    Even pubs. World of Beer is still in business, but it is struggling, but not as a badly as the others are.

   Sad to find out not only are businesses struggling, but now...restaurants. And I don't think it's going to stop any time soon.

   Even when it comes to fast food.... KFC, Burger King and even Taco Bell are struggling. Sadly, with prices getting higher, it's best just to create your own mean and save money. Well...enjoy these restaurants while you can.

Memorial Day-Start of Summer

   Sometimes, it's hard to explain how Summer Vacation works. They say it stars when Memorial Day hits and ends when Labor Day begins. Is that true? When did that start? Because summer doesn't really start until the 20th or 21st of June. So....is it now Summer? Because it doesn't feel like summer. Not with all the cold rain we've been getting.

   School is almost over; Graduation has begun with certain schools. College, high schoolers and kindergarteners having their graduations happening. Kids will soon roam the backyards to the playgrounds or even get summer jobs to save for money for college. Back in my day, we spent most of the summers outside. Times have changed with technology taking over.

   The days will be longer, the nights will be shorter, and even hotter. Once August hits, I will see Halloween candy in grocery stores. I don't know why, but they push the holidays closer and closer with each coming year. Now, it's Summer's turn. 

    Going to the beach and spending our days and nights looking out at the stars having a wonderful summer. I know it won't last

   So... why is a day that we remember who we lost in battles in wars the unofficial start of summer? Who knows. We don't even know why Labor Day ends it. It's just strange that summer is almost here and will slip through our fingers. Our Vacations to the 4th of July which will also...become the start of showing back to school ads.

   It doesn't matter what season, it's gonna happen no matter what. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter have their quirks. Summer being very hot as winter makers you freeze to death. It's just a thing that all of us have to deal with. We complain it's too cold, tne too hot. In between...you either are allergic to certain parts of the season, or not. For me....I'm allergic to Spring pollen.

  June is coming, summer is coming, It will soon be here, then it will be gone. Que Sera, Que Sera. What we should enjoy...is every moment of our summer before the Halloween Candy is seen and the school ads are shown.

   Summer is right at the foot at our doorsteps, and I feel.... we should embrace is. I feel the summer is just beginning.

Has Spring Sprung?-POEM

 

May is almost over

and yet

we still

feel colder

has spring left us yet

or has it extended

for a few more days

The days are getting longer

the nights

are becoming shorter

it seems

summer is coming

Flags everywhere

heroes remembered

for their sacrifices 

during hardship

which we call

war

Once Memorial Day ends

starts 

summer vacation

graduation

and even 

school closing

grill cookouts,

long days,

at the beach,

enjoying time with friends,

while others,

work for their fun

Summer is coming,

and it will leave us,

in a blink of an eye,

once the 4th of July is here,

get ready,

for back 

to 

school

But for now,

enjoy what's left,

of Spring,

from the rain,

to the flowers,

to knowing,

summer is almost here

Has this spring,

really sprung,

out of control,

with the rain,

the cold,

and the allergies

It feels as if,

the allergies,

will stay,

once a new season,

sets in,

summer will come,

but for now,

enjoy what's left,

of spring

Happy Birthday, Tina Fey

 

   Today, we celebrate an SNL writer, one of the first female ones, who would soon become a one of the funniest TV women today. Collaborating with Amy Pohler and other skits, today Tina turns 55. Before the fame and the funny skits, she gave us.... who was she?

Well...first off Tina Fey was born in Upper Darbey, Pennsylvania with her actual name being Elizabeth Statmatina Fey. She is 100 percent Philadelphian despite living in Delaware County. It doesn't matter to me. I too was born in Delaware County. She started getting into acting when she was older and went to Temple University.

  In her early days before SNL, she actually had been writing for SNL as well doing skits. She didn't much of a break till later in the late 90's before becoming a feature player. Around that time, she would be in commercials like American Express and other stuff.

  Later on...she would start becoming a writer for SNL around 97 until the 2000's is when she made her big break.

  She would be seen as an audience member watching certain episodes before starring in one of her first SNL episodes.

  She was shy at the time...but amazed everyone as she stayed longer on the show. Eventually becoming a Weekend Update correspondent with both Seth Mayers and Amy Pohler would team up together in future projects.

   She even wrote some funny skits for commercials like mom jeans or Brownie Husband where you bake a brownie in the size of a human and it has fudge and caramel inside. It does look like something Duncan Hines would create but looks gross too.

    The Mom jeans commercials was funnier where women would dress in jeans only fitting for a mother. LOL

   Jimmy Fallon was on Weekend Update when Tina started. After he left....Amy came around and they made the skit even funnier. Tina did some writing with some episodes she was in until Amy left, and Tina was on the verge of leaving SNL.

    Seth Mayers came around after that and he was pretty funny too. But the chemistry both Amy and Tina were hilarious.

   Around the time Tina was still on SNL she had an idea to screenplay a movie based on a book and title it mean girls.

   It came out in 2004, and I don't have to tell you about this one. Lindsey Lohan tries to fit in and ends up with a click of girls called 'The Plastics'. The movie is very memorable and quotable as well.

  Around the time Tina was leaving SNL, she came up with a show called 30 Rock. I don't know the show that well, but it starred her, Tracey Morgan, Alec Baldwin and a few others. It was pretty funny memorable moments, but I never got into the show which is sad since it's no longer on the air.

   Tina did most of the writing and directed a few episodes of the show. It lasted a couple of yeras.

  Not only was she responsible for that show, but there was another show she wrote and sort of starred in called Unbreakable Kimmy Schmit. A story about a young woman that escaped a cult and had to find out more about what happened while she was gone.

   It was funny and good. Tina also did a skit on SNL when the Eagles were against the Patriots in 2018 in the Super Bowl. Wow that skit was hilarious. 

  Tina has not stopped acting or writing. She does some SNL appearances, making a perfect Sarah Palin in skits with Amy Pohler as Hilary Clinton. She even co-created another show called 'Only Murders in the Building.'

   Now, being 55, I don't think she's stopping anytime soon. Only to have a piece of cake and thank everyone, like me, wishing her a happy birthday today.