Monday’s ‘The Colbert Report’ had a special moment between Stephen and his guest Tom Hanks, who was 2/3 of the show. It starts at 2:15 into this video.
Mr. D.F. Rogers, B.A. History and WWII buff, watched this segment, and had these comments to make:
Hanks mentioned that much of the new show ['The Pacific' on HBO] is based on the [Eugene] Sledge book. I’ve had it for years and I brought it with me to read on the train to NYC, but instead I read a book by a B-17 pilot. I guess I’ll have to read the Sledge book next! Plus, the companion book for the series is by Ambrose’s son, so I assume that is what the father was working on when he died.
Hanks also brought up a point that I have found interesting and feel is very much forgotten and not written about. The events that happened AFTER the war finished. As mentioned, like Colbert’s Uncle Eddie, THOUSANDS of guys died in the months after the war in strange accidents and non-war related incidents.
It was very chaotic, and the U.S. troops were also saddled with going from fighting in fierce battles to being administrators and security guards almost overnight. There were millions of displaced persons from all over Europe, hundreds of thousands of surrendering troops, POW’s, starving civilians, retribution from freed slaves and workers, etc. Plus, hundreds of thousands of young American males suddenly let loose once the fighting stopped, doing what young men always do, participate in various untold “risky” behaviors of all kinds — driving cars too fast, getting blind drunk, riding horses, climbing mountains and hunting, etc.! Things had to be reined in after a few weeks of that, and the officers had to gain control again. There was some semblance of military order and duty, of course.
Last week, Stephen Colbert was shamelessly (when isn’t he shameless?) begging/pleading/demanding to be given an Apple iPad — or, as he called it, the Tampad. Last night he whipped one out at the Grammys.
Rather than blogging I’ve been working on my facet joint problem, which I’m told is what’s been wrong with my back. Can’t believe how weak my right leg is from just one month of favoring it. I’ll keep working out and going to PT.
Anyway, ignoring for the moment the catastrophe in Haiti, something that’s bugging me is how there’s so much babbling about Jay Leno crawling back to the 11:30 PM ET slot, and what it means for Conan O’Brien, but almost nobody — Mark Evanier is an exception — has pointed out the significance of Stephen Colbert being on at 11:30. I refuse to believe that cable TV is not yet counted in the ratings equation, and I for one won’t even flip channels during commercials on “The Colbert Report.”
Coming up (I think), will be Milli. No, not Vanilli!
My friend tastewar’s favorite band is The Decemberists. Their site is very intelligently organized and presented, except it could use a favicon. Give it a try.
Stephen Colbert is also a Decemberists fan, although for him it’s perhaps more of a mutual admiration society. The connection started three years ago…
In an era where playlists and homemade compilations rule, I applaud The Decemberists for doing what Green Day did five years ago with “American Idiot” — they’ve put together an album that needs to be heard in its entirety, as a complete work.
At this moment it says the last video is no longer available. Don’t know if this is one of Comedy Central’s usual glitches, or if it’s really been pulled. So let’s go with a substitute…
I love the solo bit that sounds like Grace Slick in The Jefferson Airplane. I’ll use that as a springboard for this delightfully trippy live take of Donovan’s “Fat Angel” by the Airplane.
Here is Donovan’s original recording of “The Fat Angel.”
As Donovan says on his “Sunshine Superman” DVD, that I excerpted here, he was interested in the development of what he called Celtic Rock. Another musical group that comes to mind when listening to The Decemberists, that can be categorized as Celtic Rock, was The Incredible String Band. They did a sort of mini-Rock Opera, like the Who’s “A Quick One,” with their evocative “Darling Belle.” Listening to this, I’m reminded of how much I enjoyed Jethro Tull’s “Thick As A Brick” when I was in high school.
Great acting job...
