Love can be many things. It can make you see life through rose colored glasses or make you want to cry your eyes out. There’s puppy love, true love, forbidden love, and unrequited love. Love can be an emotion, a virtue, or just the thing that makes a great song.

Here are 5 Songs about a Thing Called Love:

Jerry Reed was a country music singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor. You might remember him from Smokey and the Bandit, he was in the movie and he sang the theme song “East Bound and Down”.

Here he is with “A Thing Called Love”:

Queen is a British rock band that formed in 1971. Before his death in 1991, Freddie Mercury rocked the stage with his lead vocals, piano and theatrics. I think everyone with a TV, radio, or internet connection knows of, listened to, or rocked out with Queen. Many of their songs have been used and re-used in tributes, parodies, television and film.

Here’s Queen with “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, the single was number two in the UK and became the first U.S. number-one hit for the band.

Before they signed a record deal this British rock band, The Darkness, made a name for themselves with their live shows.
Here they are with “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”:

Leo Reisman was a violinist and bandleader in the 1920s and 1930s. Every once and awhile I’m in a big band music mood. Time to break out the Ginger Rogers moves to “What Is This Thing Called Love” by
Leo Reisman and His Orchestra.

While on my quest for other “Thing Called Love” inspired songs I found the British trance music group Above & Beyond.

Check out this club video of Above & Beyond’s, “Thing Called Love” featuring Richard Bedford:

Queen still rocks on, visit their official site: http://www.queenonline.com/home

The Darkness split up but a few band members are reforming as The Stone Gods, check their MySpace for details: http://www.myspace.com/thedarkness

Visit the official Above & Beyond site for tour dates & more info: http://aboveandbeyond.nu/home

It’s the YouTube Search Stories feature, a visual display of your searches using Google. I decided to search for action words that describe Housewife in Hollywood.com the best.
Check it out:

Create your own at http://youtube.com/searchstories

Click the link for interview. http://www.housewifeinhollywood.com/propr-attire/

David Arquette shared a video on Facebook he directed called “You Got Me” by Crash Kings.

Watch the video and tell us what you think?

This was my comment:  “Crisp clear imagery of dirty rockstar action. I dig the Schroeder style piano.”—Housewife in Hollywood

Click here for Crash Kings official site.

On our drive to the “Happiest Place on Earth” I explained to the kiddo and her park guest that Disneyland stands on what was once orange groves. Being the “green” kids that they are, this was a bit upsetting. When we were in line at the Haunted Mansion the conversation about the mansion’s history began.

The kiddo: “I wonder if this is the home of the family that owned the orange groves? Wouldn’t that be weird. Maybe this home was always here but Disney didn’t want to tear it down. He knew it was haunted.”

Me: “Hmm that is a good story.”

For Myths & Legends of Disney’s Haunted Mansion visit http://www.doombuggies.com

What Disneyland attractions are in your first and second place spots?

Have you seen the Black Cab Sessions?

Click here for a fave of mine from Sunset Rubdown.

Love this one from Grizzly Bear, click here.

Click right here for another fave this time from Peter, Bjorn and John. Looks like Peter and John got in the cab, Bjorn was missing.

For more musical cab rides, visit http://blackcabsessions.com

Visit http://www.themotels.com/ for current info and tour dates.

For less trivial nonsense and more shark action visit http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/shark-week/

WordSpy.com defines “appointment television” as “television programming for which one sets aside time to watch, either live or on videotape.”

I blame HBO.

One day, our nation’s elites (they say: “cinemaphiles”) had their own Must See TV. NBC’s Thursday Night lineup became simply pedestrian compared to Sunday Nights on HBO where shows like The Sopranos and Six Feet Under looked, sounded, and watched like film.

Weekly appointments were made by the affluent and hundred-aires alike to gather around the ole’ idiot box. I was one of them. Then came the blow-up of TiVo, DVR, Hulu, and even (gasp!) Torrents. Appointment television became less of… well, an appointment.

Then came the second season of Party Down.

Party Down was a show whose first season had been chicken soup in DVD-form on an overcast Los Angeles day where I was under the weather. Sunset Boulevard billboards suggested the second season’s premier was shortly after. I knew I wasn’t waiting a year for DVD set and I certainly wasn’t in the 0.003% of Americans with Starz (even if I do have it, it’s probably impossibly buried somewhere between 584 and 1,483b.)

I downloaded that second season premier on the very night of its release, thanks to a Starz partnership with Netflix, whose instant watch option did the trick and quick.

(While Netflix Watch technically streams content, “appointment stream” sounds a little too pervy, even for me.)

My appointment book featured a thirty-minute block on Friday nights spent with a group of showbiz up-and-comers and near-misses who paid rent via civilian employment as event caterers. Ten Fridays were spent appointment downloading.

I loved those five total hours with Henry Pollard (Adam Scott, Step Brothers’ wonderfully douchetastic Derek) Ron Donald (The State’s Ken Marino,) Kyle (Ryan Hansen,) Roman (Freak and Geek Martin Starr,) Henry’s love interest Casey (Lizzy Caplan, recently topless on True Blood,) and newcomer Lydia (Megan Mullally.)

As a writer in Hollywood, I typically loathe the dramaticization of youngsters trying to make it in Tinseltown. (I also hate people who say “Tinseltown.”) It’s a lazy premise that bores me and exposes a lack of creative imagination. Party Down was nothing like that — it was smart, had heart, great writing, great characters, and a strong assault of weekly guests.

Unfortunately, Starz recently announced that weren’t picking up (read: canceling.)

the low-rated yet critically acclaimed Party Down for a third season.

Looks like I have to cancel an appointment.

Caleb Bacon is a staff writer for LAist, and eventual screenwriter who co-hosts the weekly men’s interest comedy podcast, The Gentlemen’s Club. He lives in Los Angeles and writes his bios in the third person (but not Tweets.)

http://calebbacon.com

http://www.gentlemensclubpodcast.com/

http://twitter.com/thecalebbacon

Eating fresh cut watermelon, the smell of charcoal burning, drinking out of a big glass bottle of Coca Cola, sliding on a  Slip-n-Slide and bringing out the brightly colored box of Otter Pops to all my friends. That was summertime in the 70’s.

It was great fun deciding which Otter Pop to choose. There was Alexander the Grape, Little Orphan Orange, Sir Isaac Lime, Louie-Bloo Raspberry, Strawberry Short Kook, and Poncho Punch. Those fun frozen treats are still sold today and they have a fun cool website for the kiddos. Click here to check it out.

Looks like Otter Pops aren’t just refreshing and fun to eat, they’re also a source of creative inspiration.

Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad shares Otter Pops and a head freeze with Jimmy Kimmel:

Ode to an Otter Pop

Otter Pops LIVE

Otter Pop Song

What was/is your favorite Otter Pop flavor?

I caught up with Holt at the young stage play, “Love like a Hun” in Hollywood. The ‘test run’ was a great concept and reminiscent of theatre in Los Angeles before “politically correct” became the norm. (See review below) The Hun is looking for independent support and investors, interested parties can contact Holt on facebook. Get to know one of Hollywood’s emerging stars Mr. Holt Boggs. You can see Holt right now in The Prodigy currently playing on Starz and Encore.

Click here for more info:

Review of “Love Like a Hun”:

What happens when you believe in modern progress? The thought presents itself besides the question, what happens when you get what you thought you wanted? This is the situation that Joe finds himself in during the stage play of “Love like A Hun.” The script addresses the preconceived notions of marriage and social standing prejudices in today’s society. Joe, portrayed by Holt Boggs, thinks he is control over every part of his life at work and at home. When he loses control over his own desire for “progress”, a circle of life’s clichés follow. Holt pulls along the dialog like the tourbillion in a clock with his passion and honesty to the character and story. A hint of humor, Holt doesn’t skip a beat as he is asked, “Where is your wife from again?” “Hell, she’s from Hell.” The counter to Joe is Atilla, Frank Gangarossa, who brings about a bit of dark drive to the stage with his direct approach to the character itself. Mixed in with the comedic timing of Holgar Moncada as Daniel, there were plenty of laughs and enjoyable action scenes that brought about an afternoon well spent. True to the stereotypes and surface views in today’s world, the writer and director of this piece has successfully approached topics that still seems to be taboo in most circles.

Holt Boggs official site: www.HoltBoggs.com

Click here for Holt Boggs Facebook Page.

Click here for Holt Boggs at IMDb.com.

To learn more about writer and HIH Houseguest, Lizzy Cline visit her Facebook page,  Click here

Visit joedator.com  to find out more about the cartoonist/writer that brought us BORIS.

He’s also a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine. Click here  to see his work.

These contacts are supposed to be unsafe, unsanitary and from what I’ve read you can only get them via the internet. Women of all ages are purchasing these things but its teens that are said to be hooked, changing them daily like earrings or handbags.

The fact that people are trying to alter their irises and pupils to look like cartoon characters is new to me. If it’s also new to you, the question you might be asking is… who came up with this idea?

Much of the media is pointing the finger at singer/entertainer Lady Gaga and the following video for “Bad Romance”. According to reports Lady Gaga’s Anime inspired look was digitally enhanced. We know better than to point fingers at any one person. So it goes in pop culture, life imitates art.

I’m a 40 year old housewife so its probably no surprise that I’m not wearing Anime Eyes while I type this up. I’ve never been one for eye enhancement beyond makeup. Even the trend towards longer, thicker, caterpillar-like lashes seems a bit wacky to me.

Remember the late 80’s, early 90’s when colored contacts were the big rage? I had friends that turned their deep brown eyes teal blue, and some went from light blue to saturated purple. The idea gave new meaning to the Crystal Gale song, “Don’t It Make my Brown Eyes Blue”.

Then there were the 8-ball, smiley face, planet earth contacts that thankfully went out of style quickly. Who knows what eye accessory will be in fashion in the next decade? Any ideas?

Instead of having Anime/Manga eyes, I’d rather draw them. Check out this video by Mark Crilley, creator of Miki Falls, teaching us How to Draw a Manga Eye via YouTube:

So what’s your take on Anime Eyes? Would you give them a look-see?

Being the Half Ass House Wife that I am (putting the ME in Mediocre) I decided a year ago to venture out and expand my repertoire. I have been doing some extra work on TV shows, movies and even a video game promo. It’s been a lot of fun but the best of all happened a month or so ago. I was on set for a TV show and they announced who the guest star of the episode was: John Schneider. Did I hear that right? The John Schneider? As in Bo Duke  from the Dukes of Hazzard? Looking around at the other extras in the holding room I soon realized only about half knew who he was. Granted, most of the extras were at least ten years younger than me but come on people. It’s Bo Duke!

Let me explain something right here, right now. Bo Duke was my very first crush. I can recall fantasizing about him pulling up in the General Lee and running out of gas in front of our house and having to stay the night. He would come in and eat dinner with us, totally ignore my A-hole big brother, marvel at my beauty and help me convince my dad to let us sleep in my tree house. That’s about as far as I got with the fantasy. I was five. I even wrote him a fan letter and at the bottom drew a picture of the General Lee. My brother got a hold of it and asked why I drew a picture of a block of cheese on it, see, like I said he was an A-hole. So I never sent the letter.

These memories came flooding back as I was led on set and positioned to look like a patron at a country western bar. Then HE walked in, not only did he walk in, he walked right by me. The fake beer I was holding shook and threatened to spill. He has aged beautifully. Tall, fit, handsome and still has a full head of blonde bouncy curls (curls I fantasized about cutting a piece from and eating in front of him and saying “Now we are one!” but thought better of).

I did my best to play it cool whenever he was around. There came a time when I was in a booth behind him in a scene and he walks right by, brushing my thigh with his leg (I like to think he did it on purpose) and I wanted to declare “Um, Mr. Schneider, you just brushed my thigh with your powerful, masculine body…pretty sure I’m pregnant now. I just know our baby will be beautiful.”

Once again I was able to keep my cool, but I was beginning to waver.

It was a twelve hour work day and I was booked to work the next two. I found myself newly energized just knowing I’d get a chance to be in the presence of Bo Duke…oops I mean John Schneider. The last day on set only ten extras were requested and I was one. I got to get up close and personal with Mr. Schneider and every time I breathed as deep as possible as if trying to steal his soul, when asked by another extra what I was doing I lied and said, “I have asthma and have to do breathing exercises to strengthen my lungs.” The glint in John’s eyes told me he knew what was up. I bet he gets sniffed like that all the time. He smells like soap, a hint of cigarettes and kind of a woodsy… my heart races just thinking of it right now.

I wish I could tell you after a brief conversation he declared his undying love for me and we drove off in the General Lee into the sunset but that would be a HUGE lie and also would piss my husband off. What I can say is Bo Duke (just going to call him this FOREVER) did talk to me, and I quote, “You having fun darling?”

OK, Ok, I don’t know for sure he used the word “darling” but he could have. My response was, “Uh, yeah, (deep breath)” and that was it.

Relaying my star struck experience to my eleven year old daughter I was disappointed with her response. Maybe it’s because my friends who I had told were at one time or another either in love with Bo or Luke and a couple even Daisy and were impressed. My eleven year old looked at me and said, “Gross, Mom. Isn’t he like old?”

I said “No, No, not at all and for your information he looks better now than ever. Me having a crush on him as a girl and getting to meet him now is the same as if you get to meet Robert Pattinson in twenty five years.”

The look on her face was one of shock and confusion. After reassuring me that I was wrong she quietly secured herself in her room, her Robert Pattinson clad room, to do some deep thinking I hoped. The next morning she and I went to a local garage sale where she found me a “John Schneider Greatest Hits” record. It was her way of a peace offering and also I think the universe saying Bo will forever be linked in my heart, only the fantasies are WAY better now.

Find out what John Schneider is up to these days, visit his official site: http://www.johnschneideronline.com

Click here for info about Dukes of Hazzard on DVD.

I just couldn’t resist the title, but the list this week is all about:
America’s Fourth of July Favorites

And here they are:

1. Hot dogs on the grill.

America loves hot dogs and of course they would because they’re the perfect mass market product and they smell so darn tasty when they’re grillin!
I went on a search for America’s Biggest Weinie, you know something like the largest hot dog ever created, but all I could find was the Wienermobile. This is probably one of the best advertising schemes by Oscar Meyer, excluding their other healthful product BOLOGNA.

My bolgona has a first name it’s O S C A R, my bologna has

a second name its M E Y E R.

2. Going to the local 4th of July parade.

Nothing is more American than waving your mini flag while the police department, Girl Scout troop, and fire trucks proudly march the biggest street in town.

Check out one American that decided to be part of the parade right after leaving the local bar. Thanks to mrwizard33 for sharing this clip on Youtube, here’s the info he provides:

Indian Jeff riding his 1912 HD single in the Burien, WA 1991 Fourth of July parade. He was “busted” for “parading without a permit” near the end of the parade route. For many years he would ride the single through a local tavern and come out the front door to join the other “old junk” in the parade. Permit? I don’t need no freakin permit!

3. Lighting fireworks, firecrackers, and other fire hazard materials.

This is illegal in many of the 50 states, but in some you can throw down as many firecrackers, and fireworks that you can load in the back of your Ford pickup.

I couldn’t find any safety videos on how to light fireworks, probably because it’s not safe. I did find an old clip about summer forest safety from Smokey the Bear, with guest star Vaughn Monroe, one of my favorite singers and bandleaders from the big band era. This clip puts the camp in campy.

4. Dressing up in stars and stripes.

Not only do grown up patriots like to show off their red, white, and blue attire with pride but they love to dress up their kids and pets too. It’s almost like wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. You don’t want to be caught out in public without wearing your dress blues, and reds. So grab a sparkler, and put on your red, white and blue Wal-Mart tank top! It probably wasn’t made in the US but they did roll back the price.

5. Watching fireworks.

Of course this would be the grand finale of The 5! After all those tri-colored Jell-O shooters, weinies on the grill, and sitting under the hot sun on the sidewalk block or crowded beach, it’s time to ooh and ahh at the marvels of an ancient American tradition. Wait a minute! China was doing this thousands of years before us. Oh well, that’s what America is folks, a melting pot of ideas, traditions, and people all stirred up together into one fine pot of yummy American stew.

Happy Fourth of July!

Werewolves, vamp royalty, Tara crazies and of course the ongoing stress of poor Sookie. Can’t that girl ever sit down and enjoy some sweet tea in peace?

Something even wackier than Tara’s mama is the Snoop Dogg’s ode to Sookie Stackhouse. If you haven’t yet, check out Snoop Dogg gone Tru Pimp in this video for “Oh Sookie”.

Remember to grab your 4 pack of Tru Blood beverage and watch on Sunday nights 9:00 PM. I’ve been watching any day of the week on my laptop via http://hbogo.com

I’ve been singing along with the classic Mungo Jerry tune. I think you might know it. Check out this video compilation by Mark Viscel. It’s a fun mix of old and new footage:

Learn more about Mungo Jerry, visit http://mungojerry.com

Not only do I have to ponder what to get my dad on Father’s Day but I have to think about what to get for my husband. These are two separate tasks. My dad is fairly simple when it comes to gifts. I could get him a salami-cheese box, a 6 pack of MGD, cigars, a new shirt for summer, a trip to a steakhouse. I could probably even get away with a big hug and a homemade card.
Getting something for Mr. HIH is tricky.

He already has most of the things he loves like video games, movies on Blu-Ray, and upgrades to computer devices. So instead of finding favorite things to gift wrap it’s time to get creative. I’m not talking homemade gift cards I’m talking creative thinking.

The gift I’ll give Mr. HIH is the Silent Treatment. Here’s how to give your husband the Silent Treatment so he’ll really appreciate it.

The night before you should find out what he wants to do on Father’s Day. Maybe he wants to have a nice lunch out with the family or take the kids to the park. If that is the answer then the Silent Treatment option isn’t for you. If he’s like my hubby he probably said something like, “I don’t know. Maybe play video games. Watch a movie, relax.”

Perfect!

First off bring him some coffee, tea or whatever hot beverage he likes in the morning with a subtle yet seductive kiss. Then just leave the room and don’t come back. That’s right don’t come back for the morning conversation. Do not come back to ask about the bills, the trash cans, the sprinklers, the next family event that your mother-in-law emailed you about. Do not come back just wait for him to come out for breakfast.

Keeping yourself busy is key to the Silent Treatment gift. This way he won’t think you’re pissed at him and you won’t break down and start nagging about that closet door that falls off the hinges.

Next, make yourself scarce for most of the day. Take the kiddos and let dad have the house for awhile because peace and quiet in a house is a very special gift indeed.

Alright, so you’re back from the outing and Dad’s still in his underwear dancing around the sofa… oh wait that was the retro movie Risky Business. He might be busy watching a movie, playing a video game, tinkering around the garage, sleeping or eating leftover pizza.

Now’s the time to just let him be, go about your day as if he isn’t even there. This might sound harsh but it’s a great gift.

Don’t ask questions while he’s playing the video game. Don’t add to the Honey-Do list. Don’t complain about your hair, your toe nails, the living room, your recent weight gain. Don’t send the kiddos in for information like what he wants for dinner. Just let the guy relax.

So that’s the Silent Treatment. It’s not for every husband on Father’s Day but if you have one like mine he’ll have one of the happiest days of the year.

Man behind the green curtain here, usually I am behind the scenes keeping the dot com gears moving and keeping my thoughts to myself. But today is your lucky day as I am filling in as a HIH guest host Houseguest.

I have been thinking about different beliefs lately, and the different afterlife options they present. Combine that with my serious problem of not taking anything seriously, and we have ourselves a post about the afterlife

So join me, if you will, as we try on different versions of the afterlife to see what fits, as we ask  “Where do bad folks go when they die?”

Christian Heaven

Stop me if you’ve heard about this one…

Revelations tells us there will be an eternity of worship service, along with all sorts of wacky business going on in heaven to enjoy, check out the deeply educational brick testament for more.

As the Hymm goes “Prostrate before Thy throne to lie, And gaze, and gaze on Thee!” Roughly translated is staring at God forever and not moving around, dressing nicely and probably collecting tons of gold stars.

My Verdict: Hmm, all in all, doesn’t sounds doable for me, It’s hard enough sitting still let alone following all those rules for eternity.

Speaking of which, the Christian alternative is Hell which doesn’t sound so different. Heaven sounds so boring and fixed, hell may not be a bad alternative. David Byrne suggests in the song “You & Eye” that maybe it won’t be so bad with the lyrics “You & I — go straight to hell. Where they have barbeque & beer Better than they do up here … Yeah–we smoke cigarettes We dance with the dead … And Darling, I think you’ll like it here”

Qur’an Paradise

This sounds pretty neat, no indefinite worshiping, more like rivers that go on forever, hairless freaks, and clothes that don’t wear out, which is pretty handy. From the Hadith – Mishkat text “The inhabitants of Paradise are hairless, beardless and have black eyes, their youth does not pass away and their garments do not wear out.”

Doh’ it looks like it will be full of poor dudes and not very many women, sorry ladies. “I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women.” Hadith – Sahih Bukhari 4:464

My Verdict: All in all, nothing too special about Paradise, plus I would have to devote my life to worship and with iPhones who has time for that these days, I think I will hang out with the ladies in hell.

Oh, and the the whole 72 virgins in Paradise for martyrs is pretty much made up and not in the Qur’an. Which always sparked this image in my mind, not much of a reward:

Valhalla

Now we’re talkin’ some good old fashioned slain warrior rewards. This is an afterlife I can believe in, it really is beer heaven: “Odin states that the goat Heiðrún and the hart Eikþyrnir stand on top of Valhalla and graze on the branches of the tree Læraðr. Heiðrún produces vats of mead that liquor cannot be compared to, and from Eikþyrnir’s antlers  drip liquid into the spring Hvergelmir  from which flows forth all waters.”

The TV series True Blood describes it succinctly “Viking 1: The gods wait for you in Valhalla. Vikiing 2: There will be a party with meat…and gold…and beer. Viking 1: And women? Will there be women? Eric: Wherever I am…there will always be women.”

Plus, Valhalla is made out of weaponry and armor “This vast hall has five hundred and forty doors. The rafters are spears, the hall is roofed with shields and breast-plates litter the benches. A wolf guards the western door and an eagle hovers over it.”

My Verdict: step 1. become warrior, 2. get slain, 3. go to Valhalla; I am so there.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation is a pretty sweet deal, if you die, you get to pop back into existence, inhabiting a new lifeforms according to how you lived your life. Is there anything more comforting to think that George W. Bush will come back as a dung beetle?

I am fascinated by the stories of past lives, especially when they come from children with an extreme amount of detail much like this case.

For references, I give you the movie Fluke, which strangely enough, is about the best example of reincarnation in pop culture.

My Verdict: I could definitely hang with reincarnation, I like the concept and in a “Energy cannot be destroyed, only transferred“, Ghosts and paranormal sort of way, it’s definitely believable.

Realists, Atheists (Non) afterlife

Who can argue with the Tom Waits song Dirt in the Ground which says “What does it matter, a dream of love Or a dream of lies. We’re all gonna be in the same place When we die.Your spirit don’t leave knowing Your face or your name. And the wind through your bones Is all that remains. And we’re all gonna be We’re all gonna be Just dirt in the ground.”

My Verdict: Not much to say here, in a way it’s true and it doesn’t really count as an afterlife, but before we can completely throw away the Atheism non afterlife and move on, it is interesting to ponder, and what is non existence, and does it exist.

Check out QualiaSoup on Youtube if you want some convincing, if not completely dry, full coverage of the topic.

Mysticism

This is much more nebulous, vaguely combining Buddhism, Taoism, Solipsism, and any religion where the ground rules are not so defined. This, by design, avoids science and testing, as it’s considered part of the game of life to hide from any testing. Death is not separate from Life, and Death and life exist in equal parts forever.

Time, space, yourself do not exists and only exist as words. Reality has been like this instance forever, and we are playing a game and playing hide and go seek from ourselves, leaving our bodies, going into new bodies. We are not separate from the Reality we experience, and the experience and experiencer are one.

My Verdict: This is closest to what I believe of life and the afterlife, what I feel and think before my mind has time to put it into words. In this case, there is no real afterlife and no real death, just continual movement.

As reality, life and the afterlife, no matter which way you look at it, sure is crazy. I will leave you with a long but worth it video featuring Alan Watts, laying down the awesome:

Golden Philosophy from Sensei Studios on Vimeo.

“When I stepped out into the bright sunlight  from the darkness of the movie house, I had just two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.”—Ponyboy

When the movie came out I was in junior high and like most teen girls I was thrilled with the movie and with the characters. 

My favorite character, okay the character I was crushing on, was Johnny. He wasn’t the coolest, smartest, strongest or most handsome but he was sweet, caring and shy. When Matt Dillon’s character says his famous line, “…let’s do it for Johnny man, we’ll do it for Johnny!” I was right there sobbing and cheering along inside.

“Yeah that’s right! We’ll do it for Johnny!”

Ralph Macchio is the only actor I ever sent a letter to in the mail. I sent it one day in hopes that Johnny, I mean Ralph Macchio, would send one back. He never did even though I checked the fan mail address over and over. Thank goodness the crush faded and I quit watching the movie on HBO reruns but I was thrilled when Karate Kid came out because Ralph Macchio would be on the big screen again. My teen heart raced with anticipation while my friends and I watched the movie at the drive-in. I knew I was sure to love the film because I was taking karate classes at the time. I was a blue belt already so of course I’d be able to understand the concept much better with such expertise.

I liked the movie Karate Kid. I mean Arnold from Happy Days was in it, better known as actor Pat Morita who played Mr. Miyagi. Anyone that could catch a fly with chopsticks was cool. I really liked Elisabeth Shue. I always wished my hair was that wavy. Anyway, overall I liked the movie but I was very sad to find out that my Johnny from The Outsiders was nothing like Ralph Macchio. Now this should be a testament for a great actor. I should have admired him more because of his ability to change so dramatically from one character to the next. Instead I went straight home after watching the movie and tore my Ralph Macchio poster down.

I still cheered along when I watched The Outsiders, “do it for Johnny man…let’s do it for Johnny”  but I learned something about movie magic, storytelling and Hollywood after watching Karate Kid and it was much more than wax on, wax off.

If you’re still with me after that retro rant then check out this hilarious video:

Thanks to filmmaker Connor Clements for sharing this video find via Facebook. Visit his site http://www.connorclements.tv/James/Homepage.html for information about his award winning film James.