Ever Wanted To “Take To The Road?”

It’s the favorite mode of transportation for the young and free – stick your thumb out and see the world!

Well, that doesn’t sound nice! You see, life “on the road” isn’t all Jack Kerouac…it’s a dangerous world as well!

“Thumbs Up! Knives out!”

Time to look at the exploitation movie genre focused on hitchhiking – and just how horrifically dangerous it can be!

“The Scorching, Reckless Joy Rides Of Wild Girls Of The Road!”

As early as 1958, shrewd movie Producers figured out that women out on the road alone were great fodder for exploitation, especially when filmed in “naturama!”

And a few years earlier, Hollywood knew that life on the road was a thriller! Take a look at this film noir classic from 1952, written and directed by famous movie star Ida Lupino!

In the 70’s, the relaxation of indecency and obscenity rules meant that these hitchhiking films could get more and more outrageous!

“There Is No Such Thing As A Free Ride!”

As you can see, there is no such thing as a “safe ride”! In the 70’s, drive-in theaters were filled with wild exploitative films like this:

“It Was The Longest Ride Of Her Life!”

As you can see, the movie posters promised a film full of young women making bad decisions and paying the price – but these movies were more likely to involve lots of nudity AND revenge!

“Hitch Hike!”

European star Franco Nero starred in this cult film, now being re-discovered thanks to DVD and blu-ray! Here is the trailer for this forgotten classic:

“Hitch Hike” is a psychological thriller that is a rough 70’s gem – but perhaps the most iconic film dealing with the horror of hitchhiking is the 80’s classic “The Hitcher” with Rutger Hauer!

Take A Ride With “The Hitcher!”

This cult classic from 1986 tells a straightforward tale: a young man who escapes from a crazed hitch-hiker – then finds himself framed for the “hitchers” crimes!

As you can see, NOTHING good happens when you pick up a hitchhiker, no matter what these posters suggest!

This is just one category of exploitation film that is so much fun to watch – another classic of exploitation is this one:

Naughty Stewardesses!

Talk about having fun while flying! This genre got its start with the release of the bawdy novel “Coffee Tea or Me?” Read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/30/naughty-stewardesses-swinging-cheerleaders-centerfold-girls-classic-70s-exploitation/

I said earlier that many of these films were actually about empowered females turning the tables on stupid guys…perhaps no more so than this genre:

“Tough as nails” biker chicks are always fun to watch, and you can see the best ones by clicking on my story here:

Sexy Chopper Chicks! “Naked” Cycle Sluts! Sex! Violence! “Hog-sploitation”!

And finally, there was one genre that was so good that even David Hasselhoff got into it!

Yes, “The Hoff” starred in a cheerleader movie! Find out which one by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/19/cheerleaders-pom-pom-girls-david-hasselhoff-as-boner-cult-classics-rah-rah-rah/

Let me know what your favorite genre of exploitation is!

How About Waking Up To THIS Review?

Legendary Comic George Burns, after seeing the movie, said:

“For the first time in 65 years, I wanted to get out of show business”.

Time For The Demented Madness Of “The Gong Show Movie!”

If you haven’t heard about this movie, you are missing one of the strangest films ever released by a major studio – receiving some of the worst reviews of all time – but, in its own bizarre way, a wildly entertaining movie! First, let’s remind you about the mastermind behind it:

Meet Chuck Barris!

TV Exec-turned-Producer Chuck Barris created some of the longest-running TV game shows in history, including “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game!”

But of course, his masterpiece of TV insanity was “The Gong Show!”

I don’t think we could ever have gotten to Simon Cowell and “American Idol” if it wasn’t for this series, which gave people a chance at stardom – and ridicule….a wildly entertaining talent show where all of the talent was awful – need proof?

Meet “Gene Gene The Dancing Machine!”

Here is one of the “breakout” stars from the show:

“The Gong Show” also introduced America to “The Unknown Comic”, who always performed with a bag on his head!

The success of this syndicated comedy show led to one of the most surreal films ever released in movie theaters!

Behold the Majesty Of “The Gong Show Movie”!

You saw at the beginning of my post the reaction from comedy legend George Burns…but read some of the movie dialogue:

Father Ed: Today I’d like to pose a Biblical question. Is there reincarnation after death, and if there is, does the individual return in a higher or lower state than he or she held in his or her mortal life?
Chuck Barris: Ooh, that’s an interesting question, Father Ed. What is, uh, what is the answer to that question?
Father Ed: Beats the shit out of me.

The plot is simple: it’s a week in the life of “The Gong Show” host and creator Chuck Barris – who lives through a series of outrageous competitors, stressful situations, a nervous breakdown and other comical characters involved in his life and work on the TV show.

Here is the somewhat amazing preview:

Here’s an amazing fact for you: the film was co-written by Barris and underground film legend Robert Downey Sr. – yes, HIS Dad!

NEW YORK – MAY 08: Actor Robert Downey Jr. and father Robert Downey Sr. arrive at TIME’s 100 Most Influential People Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall on May 08, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Shout! Factory has a new blu-ray release of this obscure film, which you can read about here:

https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-comedy/the-gong-show-movie

And you will see one of the more surreal moments – from the TV show – that was included in the film:

This is footage of Judge Jaye P. Morgan flashing her breasts! This moment was taken from an actual “Gong Show” taping, was censored for TV – and found its way into the film!

And if you want to know more about the wacky creator of “The Gong Show”, here you go!

“An Unauthorized Autobiography!”

Yes, Chuck Barris wrote one of the most unusual autobiographies of all time! In Barris’s autobiography, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”, he claims that he worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as an assassin in the 1960s and the 1970s!

The memoir was turned into a 2002 film, directed by George Clooney!

Here is the trailer:

That’s Sam Rockwell playing Barris…what a surreal life! Oh, the CIA denies Barris ever worked for them in any capacity. After the release of the movie, CIA spokesman Paul Nowack said Barris’ assertions that he worked for the spy agency “[are] ridiculous. It’s absolutely not true.”

Barris wrote a sequel to his bestseller called “Bad Grass Never Dies” in 2004.

If you appreciate what “The Gong Show Movie” delivers, then you must know about this film as well:

“Manos” Indeed!

Widely considered one of the worst films ever made, “Manos: The Hands Of Fate” has some competition….like this:

Yes, there are some wildly entertaining films that may not be critical favorites, but boy are they fun to watch! Read all about them there:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/06/manos-hands-of-fate-is-here-halloween-2015-celebrates-horrors-worst-directors-sex-fleshpots-4d-witches/

And let me know if you are going to take the wild “Gong Show” ride!

Tempura!

Tempura!!

TEMPURA!!!

Prepare To Have Your Pre-conceptions About Tempura Blown Away!

A new restaurant has opened in Beverly Hills, California – and has turned the world of tempura upside down!

Welcome To Tempura Endo Beverly Hills!

Tempura Endo recently opened in Beverly Hills, and reviews have been stellar! And when you see what I had to eat there, I hope you will agree! A beautiful new restaurant exterior only hints at what is in store. Inside, there are only a handful of seats – 8 total – all clustered along the sushi counter…

This is a high-end gourmet Tempura adventure. You have three options to choose from – 9 items, 11 items or the big 13 item menu. As they say on their website:

“Our Kyoto-style tempura feature the freshest seafood such as sea urchin wrapped with laver and prawn, and a variety of Kyoto vegetables.
The dinner course includes a seasonal appetizer, the choicest sashimi,
hashiyasume (palate-refreshment side dish), a special original salad, and a rice-dish.”

They hand you the menu that you choose before you arrive, and the menu has your name on it…with a full description of the menu inside.

We chose the “all-in” $280 option…but before you dig into your meal, you must put on your Tempura bib!

Alex put the bib on – my son Jeff went commando! Once bibbed, a plate is set before you with five different salts – you are given instructions when to use each one, including a rice salt, truffle salt, matcha salt and one with a yuzu flavor.

Here is our tasting menu at Tempera Endo, as laid out on our individual menu:

Cold Tempura Appetizer: Kyoto-Eggplant, minced shrimp and ginger dash glee

This is a light, refreshing way to begin – and then you are dropped right into the deep end of magic!

Amuse Tempura: Corn

So, to understand this dish, you have to know that it’s a deconstructed corn on the cob tempura, without the cob!

The corn was slightly crunchy, but full of creamy corn flavor – then, look at the restaurant’s logo on the next dish!

“Branded Shrimp Bread!”

yes, we were next served Shrimp bread – a crispy bite of toasty bread layered with whole shrimp! More fish follows:

Sashimi: three kinds of today’s fish and wagyu

Yes, next up were thick slices of fresh fish: yellowtail, abalone, fatty tuna – served in big fat chunks!

Bring On The Golden Wagyu!

The last beautiful slice on the plate is actually raw Wagyu beef – speckled with gold leaf!

The flavors on display so far have been phenomenal – a unique mix of dishes, and each time we are instructed by a Chef as to which salt or sauce to use – or none at all!

Time For An Incredible Tempura Display!

What you see if tempura shrimp – but this huge Scampi was living just moments before, and with a touch of salt, the delicate crust and incredible flavor just pops – and then you eat the fried head next!

Endo’s Tempura -style1-

That is how it is listed on the menu, and after Live Scampi comes King Crab – a big meaty chunk that is full of flavor – and all of this is amazingly fresh!

Now comes Sea Urchin wrapped in seaweed – probably the most luxurious taste of Urchin I have ever had!

Next, our Chef told us they created this dish just for the Beverly Hills restaurant, since Americans like something unique – and so it is:

A Truffle Stuffed Scallop With Caviar!

Yes, a huge meaty scallop is split in half and then a slice of black truffle is slid in!

Silage and Pea Croquette were next, and each was light, delicate and full of flavor….

Then Comes The Rare Abalone!

One of the more dangerous shellfish to harvest, a couple of wedges of Abalone are served: crunchy and refreshing…

Then, time for a “Refreshment Tempura: Flambee’d Sweet Potato with Zuzu Granite”

What makes this so much fun is the presentation – take a look:

By the way, the tempura batter is flour that is low in gluten – called “weak” flour on the menu – and only hard water is used, except when Chardonnay is added if frying seafood — and the oil is a blend of cotton seed, taebek sesame and safflower oil.

More of this delicate Tempura follows, including this unique Sesame tofu that comes in a paper cone that you mash up like a punching bag – a punching bag also filled with sliced black truffle:

Then, time for some “Wagyu Tempura” – that light batter surrounding a delicious chunk of prime Wagyu beef:

Finally, you are served a Tempura Bowl that is topped by a tempura’d egg, which you poke and unleash hot egg yolk into a bowl of miso soup:

After a refreshing dessert, you are treated to one last incredible show:

Matcha by Tea – Ceremony Style!

The specialty of the house is the special “tea” ceremony…it is actually made for you in an elaborate process they encourage you to film! Here it is:

This intense green tea is creamy, like hot chocolate, and as intensely flavored as any green tea I have ever had…a hot and satisfying end to an incredible meal!

Bravo to Tempura Endo – a memorable feast full of surprises and classic touches…and if you want to enjoy the world’s greatest food, then you must try this as well:

This incredible squid and chickpea dish was served to us in Barcelona…read about the world’s best food by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/03/bite-down-on-the-worlds-best-food-paris-napa-barcelona-provence-chicago-five-incredible-bites/

Let me know what you think of this amazing tempura!

Behold The Majesty Of Ramen – In A Burger!

Time to share my amazing “Ramen Burger” adventure in Los Angeles – a culinary journey that began in Japan!

Meet The Ramen Burger Master!

First, meet Chef Keizo Shimamoto – who runs “Ramen Burger” – a great restaurant with locations all over the world!

Chef Shimamoto loves to make – and serve – THIS:

Here is the way the Ramen Burger website describes the inspiration for Ramen Burger: “As a Japanese kid growing up in California, Keizo Shimamoto developed a love for both parts of his culture: L.A. and Tokyo, ramen and burgers.

While studying ramen in Japan, he encountered pork sandwiches with ramen buns, and a light bulb went off. Inspired by the burgers back home, he merged the best of both and reinvented two iconic dishes.

The Original Ramen Burger™ was born, as was an unpredictable, unprecedented, unrestrained demand from the public.

The result is iconoclastic and exciting, and he’s just getting started.”

Well Then, Start On Me!

I was invited by my friend Cary Greene to join him at the Ramen Burger restaurant in Los Angeles…how could I refuse?

The adventure begins in Koreatown – located west of downtown LA and east of Hollywood…and as you can see, you can actually order your food through a window and eat outside!

As you can see, it’s a diverse menu, and we dove in head first! You have four different burgers, with three different topping options…plus specials as well – and yes, those are “Seaweed Fries” you see listed! I will show you those, but first we had to try these:

Takoyaki! Octopus Balls!

Yes, these deep fried Octopus balls came in a delicious mayo with green onions – they were moist, full of great chunks of Octopus, and very filling for an appetizer!

Bring On The Ramen!

Now, time for the main course: time to dive into a Ramen Burger! First, you are served a burger wrapped in a very unique manner:

Then its time to dig in – first, the beef patty is large, the meat is succulent, the arugula a nice spicy taste that pushes back against the tangy sweet secret shoe glaze…and of course, some bacon!

The “bun” itself is slightly crunchy on the top, but soft and spongy – in a very good way! It has the flavor of a great ramen noodle, the firmness needed to handle the burger, and is a unique flavor contrast to a regular bun!

Pass Me The Seaweed Fries!

This was the greatest surprise of all: you can order fries, with cheese – or you can order them with seaweed!

If you eat sushi you know what seaweed tastes like: now imagine that flavor sprinkled over some fries – with a nice touch of salt – and you know what is in store – and they are delicious!

Ramen Burger was terrific – very reasonable, delicious food, and unique! If you ant to know more about Ramen Burger, you can see more here:

http://www.ramenburger.com

And you can see more ramen magic as well:

The “Taishoken Ganso Tsukemen Ramen Burger”!

Yes, the Lotteria restaurant chain in Japan has a special ramen burger as well!

Yes, the “ramen burger” craze began in Japan! And that’s not all! Remember this burger masterpiece?

Yes, Japan has led the way in making the world’s most unique burgers!

See some of the wackiest burgers Japan has ever come up with here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/16/wacky-ramen-burgers-crazy-japanese-burger-menu-east-meets-west-with-video/

And if you are still thinking about ramen, how about his:

Yes, it’s a ramen noodle pizza! And of course, it came from Japan! See where – and what else they are topping their pizzas with, by clicking here:

Wild “Bacon Ramen” Okonomiyaki Pizzas! Hot And “Wet” Burgers! Japanese Fast Food Madness!

And finally, you may want to try ONE more ramen noodle dish – in a museum!

Yes, Japan has a “Cup O’ Noodles” museum! See it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/08/19/cup-of-noodles-ice-cream-cup-noodles-museum-japans-wackiest-museums/

Let me know if you’ve had a ramen burger and what you thought of it!

Say Hello To The Face Of Exploitation Cinema!

Someone asked me to explain the phenomenon of exploitation cinema – an era from the late 60’s to the mid-80’s when movies pushed boundaries and broke taboos…and resulted in some of the most deranged and entertaining films of all time!

Welcome To Times Square!

It all began in New York’s Times Square, at a time when it was more dangerous to be IN THE THEATER than it was to be on the streets!

Time To Talk About All Forms Of Movie ‘Sploitation!

These movie theaters in Times Square were open 24 hours a day, showing some of the weirdest films ever made!

“Exploitation” films were also known as “Grindhouse” films, because they played New York’s 42nd street theaters all day and night…look at what a seedy scene it was at the time:

You can take a trip down memory lane with a story I posted about this unique time in cinema…just click here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/23/sex-violence-grindhouse-have-a-purient-holiday-an-exploitation-gift-guide/

Hard to imagine that this is what Times Square used to look like – but it’s a part of movie history that has disappeared…except on home video and on demand, where these films are having a re-birth!

A “David Hasselhoff” Moment!

Here’s a look at the kind of films that were shown in Times Square in the 70’s and early 80’s…from the subtle to the ridiculous – and with David Hasselhoff too!

“Hello, Boner”! Time For Classic “Exploitation”!

Yes, there were recognizable stars in some of the more “mainstream” exploitation films of the era, including David Hasselhoff who starred as “Boner” is one of the more hilarious examples – movies with lots of topless girls, subtle sexual situations, mostly “R”-rated, or soft “X” – nothing too controversial, just good clean naughty fun like this:

The “Cheerleader” genre was silly, good-natured fun, with just enough skin shown to keep teenage boys flocking to the movies…here’s a good primer of the genre:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/02/19/cheerleaders-pom-pom-girls-david-hasselhoff-as-boner-cult-classics-rah-rah-rah/

These films could play drive-in theaters all around the country…not too extreme for rural audiences…

In the 70’s, it was up to the Europeans to give us a “harder” look at the genre, “art” films that featured lots of sex and violence – films that proudly celebrated being called:

HOT HOT HOT “SEX-Sploitation!”

Grindhouse theaters were inundated in the early 70’s with films from Europe that blew the doors off the buildings they were shown in: sex kittens like Lina Romay showed off EVERYTHING in every movie!

Romay made a series of films with her husband, Director Jess Franco, that were provocative, explicitly sexual and eye-popping!

One of their most notorious is “The Hot Nights Of Linda”, with the censored “banana” scene….which you can now see on a newly released blu-ray edition of the film…read all about it here:

Linda’s Shocking “Hot” Nights! Lina Romay’s Classic Sexploitation!

Not all films of that era from Europe were this “shocking”…which leads to the next “s-ploitation” genre known as:

“ART-Sploitation”!

What exactly is this? “Sinner” is a perfect example – “artsploitation” films came from Europe, beginning with the shocking film that started it all:

“I Am Curious (Yellow)” was brought up on obscenity charges, but when they won their case, the floodgates were open to a lot of wild films from Europe – these
movies were chock full of sexual situations and full nudity – but with social issues of the day thrown in as well…making it supposedly a more “artistic” endeavor….like this:

Meet Christina Lindberg, The “Queen Of Artsploitation!”

I have written about all of Lindberg’s films – this Swedish Star made some of the best “Artsploitation” films of the 70’s, like these:

Christina Lindberg was a huge star in the 70’s – Her most provocative movie, which Quentin Tarantino used as an inspiration for “Kill Bill”, was the classic “Thriller: A Cruel Picture” AKA “They Call Her One-Eye!”

Read about all of her amazing films by clicking on my story here:

Christina Lindberg Speaks! The “Queen Of Artsploitation” Bares All!

While Christina was nude throughout all of her films, the movies themselves tried to tell compelling, intelligent stories…THIS “S-ploitation” genre, however, didn’t bother!

Welcome To The Wacky World Of “Dwarf-Sploitation”!

Well, you knew it had to lead to this: one of the most exploitive movies ever released, thanks of course to the Europeans! Time to meet The Sinful Dwarf!

This movie has NO redeeming social values, and isn’t that why we are watching?

And now, the terrific home video company Severin Films is bringing this “Dwarf” back on blu-ray!

The new blu-ray includes a ton of special features, including a look at the cast and crew!

Of course, one of my favortie stories of all is the disappearing starlet of “Sinful Dwarf”, Anne Sparrow. It was her only film, and then she disappeared from movie screens forever!

This beautiful Actress bares all in the film, but also gives a brave, professional performance – and then she disappeared forever!

Read all about the mystery of Anne Sparrow by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/16/sinful-sex-kitten-anne-sparrow-the-mystery-of-a-disappearing-starlet/

These films in the 70’s made it to the US and helped open the door to a more explicit era in film…some wacky 70’s exploitation films, however, never left their country of origin – like these!

Time For Some “J-Sploitation!”

Welcome to wild and wacky Japan! The genre known as “J-Sploitation” dealt with Japanese sexploitation films – also called:

“Pink Films”!

These movies were about girls who got into trouble and had to fight their way out!

These films evoke a style like “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and are definitely worth checking out!

Read all about them here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/18/wild-japan-cinema-pinky-violence-amazing-cult-exploitation-madness/

If you think only countries like Japan can release disturbing films that call their own culture into question, you are wrong!

Hick-sploitation!

Yes, right here in the heartland of the US of A, your “Country Cuzzins” are ready to party!

These movies are called “hick-Sploitation”, and they usually deal with country girls down on the farm who are ready to “get down”!

It’s a genre full of haystacks, “aw shucks” dialogue, and lots and lots of nudity! See what these “Country Cuzzins” are up to by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/12/12/gator-bait-country-lovin-hillbilly-brides-sex-action-missing-teeth-hicksploitation-lives/

These films evolved into more mainstream fare like “Gator Bait” and “White Lightning” with Burt Reynolds…just good old boys having some fun…back in Europe however, things just got darker and darker…

Shoot Up Some “Drug-Sploitation!”

This genre of “S-ploitation” had a short run in the US, with serious films like “The Panic In Needle Park” with Al Pacino:

Junkies on the streets of New York have movie stars attached, while in Europe, heroin addiction was just another plot point in films full of sex and violence like this:

See more about these rough and tumble descents into heroin madness by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/07/11/virgins-from-hell-plus-dead-virgins-too-oh-and-hannas-hooked-on-smack-exploitation-lives-on/

As you can see, Europeans dealt with social issues in one way, in the US it was a bit more humorous…like this genre:

Rev Up Some Classic “Hog-Sploitation”!

Yes, biker chicks was the rage in the 70’s – tough girls who could kick ass and take names!

Here is a list of some of the best:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/04/sexy-chopper-chicks-naked-cycle-sluts-sex-violence-hog-sploitation/

And there is one genre I could never support:

“Nun-Sploitation!”

This genre was touched upon a bit when Raquel Welch played the sexiest “cleave-flaunting” nun of all time:

Yes, Raquel dipped her breasts into the “euro-sleaze” genre in a big way!

“Euro-sleaze” is a type of movie made in Europe that didn’t even pretend to have any socially redeeming qualities – but big stars would make them because there was money to be made!

Raquel Welch was a sexy nun in the “euro-sleaze” classic “Bluebeard”.

Read more about this cult Ricahrd Burton classic – by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/08/richard-burton-freezes-raquel-welch-bluebeards-classic-euro-sleaze/

So there’s a look at some of the wildest film genres ever produced – let me know your favorite!

Don Henley Scores His First Solo #1 Album!

Legendary Eagles lead singer – and drummer – Don Henley has released a great new country CD – a cause for musical celebration!

Welcome to “Cass County” – where Henley grew up in Texas. He returns to his country roots with this terrific 16-song CD.

Don Invites Some Country Legends To Join Him!

has a ton of great singers involved, including Merle Haggard, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack – and Mick Jagger!

Here’s how Billboard magazine describes the way that Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger ended up on the first song on the album “Bramble Rose”:

“Of Jagger’s appearance, Henley said he thought to himself, “What’s the wackiest thing I could do?” on the country ballad, never expecting Jagger to say yes. Jagger recorded his verse in Los Angeles with Blue Note president/record producer Don Was, who was also in attendance.”

Miranda Lambert is also on the first track – a gorgeous country ballad.

More from the great Billboard article, in which Henley explains the idea behind the country CD:

“Henley, who reminisced about recording backing vocals for Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” in Studio A in the ‘70s, called Cass County an album “about home” and “the circular nature of life.” Henley grew up in Linden, Texas, the county seat of Cass County, population 30,000.”

Duet-ing With The Iconic Dolly Parton!

Dolly Parton does an amazing duet with Henley on “When I Stop Dreaming,” originally a hit for The Louvin Bros. that she also performed with former singing partner, Porter Wagoner.

According to Billboard: “As she got ready to record, Parton mentioned to Henley that the key was too high for her, but instead of requesting a change, she declared, “I guess I’m going to rare back and get it done,” and proceeded to do just that.”

Don Henley And “The Eagles”!

In the Billboard article, Henley talk about the song “No, Thank You,” – which is easily the most raucous song on the CD – and Henley explained how the Eagles fit into his life currently.

“There’s a verse in the song that takes a little dig … You know, Rick Nelson put out a song called ‘Garden Party’ a long time ago about an experience he had at Madison Square Garden where he was trying to do some new material, and the audience started booing him because all they wanted to hear was what he had done in the past. And I love my career in the Eagles, and I really appreciate our fans, and God knows it’s a miracle we’ve been around this long. … I’ve got the best of both worlds, really. It’s wonderful to have the Eagles as the mother ship, and it’s wonderful to be able to go and do this other stuff.”

For me, the most beautiful song on the album is “Take A Picture Of This”, which is the story of a love affair gone bad…but I see some lyrics that could be speaking to a former member of the Eagles as well…

“A long long time ago
when we were young and pretty,
we ruled the world, we stopped the time, we knew it all, we owned this city
Running with the crowd, carefree and proud I heard somebody say

Take a picture of this – Take a picture of this”

While the song goes onto discuss a marriage that breaks up, these lyrics can also be directed at former Eagles band member Don Felder…

“Yeah that’s a suitcase; yeah that’s a ticket for a plane
There’s no one here to talk to, no reason to remain
When you spend all your time living in the past
With all those pictures that you took,
here’s one more for the book”

Here is the music video for the song:

I was struck by the song’s focus on a great relationship gone bad, “with all those picture that you took, here’s one more for the book…”

You see, former Guitarist Don Felder wrote a scathing book about how he was fired from the band:

Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder, with contributions by Wendy Holden – published in 2008

“Heaven and Hell” is a terrific insider’s look at life inside The Eagles – how they became superstars, broke up, re-formed for their “Hell Freezes Over” tour – and how Felder was ultimately forced out of the band…

March 1972 — The rock band The Eagles rest upon a rock. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

In “Heaven and Hell”, Felder talks about his tempestuous years with the Eagles, revealing the greed, jealousy, and creative differences that ultimately tore them apart.

It’s ultimately a sad book, because Felder clearly LOVED being in the band…he was interviewed for the “History Of The Eagles” project as well…where he struggles to stay composed when discussing how he was fired from the band…

If you want to see more, check out the incredible documentary here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/21/history-of-the-eagles-amazing-concert-old-friends-return/

Eagles Tribute To Glenn Frey!

The band re-formed and paid tribute to the late Glenn Frey at the Grammy Awards with the classic song “Take It Easy”, and Don Felder posted on social media that he would have liked to have been part of that tribute, but wasn’t asked…

The lead vocal was performed by songwriter and good friend Jackson Browne…

This terrific singer/songwriter also released a new album recently, which includes a sequel to “Take It Easy”:

The album includes a song “Leaving Winslow”, which continues the “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona” lyrics from “Take It Easy”…you can read more about the album and see a live performance of “Leaving Winslow” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/11/21/never-running-on-empty-brilliant-new-jackson-browne-music/

Lots of terrific new music from classic singer/songwriters – let me know if you’ve heard the new Don Henley!

Time To Take A Ride Into The World Of Hippies!

Hippies. Flower Power. Free Love. GROOVY. It was a unique time in our country’s history, with some wildly entertaining music to get groovy to!

Welcome To San Francisco – Circa 1968 – The Height Of Flower Power!

It was the intersection of free love and flower power: San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury district was THE place to express yourself in the 60’s – check out this classic video from 1968!

It was the “Summer Of Love” – 1967, when America’s youth was rebelling against authority, and heading to San Francisco, where all the girls had flowers in their hair….

Time To Celebrate “Flower Power!”

I was too young to experience this time, but there are many ways to enjoy this era – including some great music that captures this psychedelic era!

Meet The Groovy Synoptic Sounds Of “Fever Tree!”

My brother had this album, and it turned me on to psychedelic rock, thanks to “Fever Tree!”

The band had a minor hit with the song “San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)”, which hit No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.

Here is a hippie-infused psychedelic music video!

Fever Tree’s debut album was released in 1968, landing at No. 156 on the Billboard 200 Chart. They offer a classic psychedelic sound, and I found some terrific psychedelic mashups on Youtube as well – fans who are keeping this special music alive….for example:

“60’s Garage, Surf, Freakbeat & Psychedelic Music – Vol. 1!” – by
GrimlyFormingPW

Groovy! Here’s a great primer on this style of music – presented as a great music video mashup by “GrimlyFormingPW” on Youtube!

Check it out!

There are a number of great documentaries that capture this time as well…including what many consider to be the greatest music documentary of all time:

The Music! The Nudity! The Brown Acid! Woodstock!

A half million hippies descend on Yasgur’s farm and hear some of the greatest hippie rock of the 60’s! See some incredible videos and behind-the-scenes pics here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/11/01/celebrating-woodstock-3-days-of-pop-culture-magic-the-music-the-nudity-the-brown-acid/

If you want to see more of the classic 60’s sound, you have to begin here, with the greatest 60’s singer of them all:

Janis Joplin at Woodstock
no publication after December 31, 2009

Janis Joplin was one of the greatest singers of all time, and she died tragically, far too young….read about a new documentary that captures her wild wild life by clicking here:

Janis Joplin! “Little Girl Blue” Documentary! Rock’s Greatest Voice!

Finally, one of rock’s greatest Guitarists also performed at Woodstock:

Jim Hendrix electrified the audience at Woodstock, and there is a GREAT new documentary that also captured this virtuoso at the Atlanta Pop Festival:

Key Art for the SHOWTIME documentary Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church. PHOTO: Courtesy of SHOWTIME

You can see some clips from this documentary, and some great BTS pics, by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/12/10/the-brilliance-of-jimi-hendrix-naked-hippies-racist-locals-the-amazing-documentary-of-electric-church/

And what happens to old hippies?

Here is a great story about older hippies who are still living the lifestyle:

https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/the-naked-ecstatic-world-of-americas-neo-hippies

Let me know if you are a fan of free love, hippies, and 60’s psychedelia!

Hollywood is such a funny place…critical and commercial acclaim one day can lead to direct-to-video films the next…the key is to keep working, no matter what the role is…there have been so many great movie stars – and virtually all have unique – and sometimes offbeat films – on their resumes…here’s a look at one such “True Hollywood Story: the talented Actress Olivia Hussey!

Olivia Rocks The Yellow Jumpsuit!

As I mentioned, everyone has a “strange choice, huh?” moment on their resume, and it’s no different for Actress Olivia Hussey. First, some background: she was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and first appeared on the London stage as Jenny in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, opposite Vanessa Redgrave. That’s where Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli first spotted her.

Cue Instant Stardom!

Hussey was chosen out of 500 actresses to star as Juliet in Zeffirelli’s smash hit 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet”.

Hollywood’s New Star Of The Year!

The film’s success led to her winning the Golden Globe Award for “New Star of the Year!”

This was the end of the 60’s, when Sinatra, Dean Martin and his gang still ruled. After the acclaim for her Shakespeare role, Hussey then married one of The Rat Pack’s sons, and was entering Hollywood royalty when tragedy struck.

In 1971, Hussey married actor Dean Paul Martin, son of the singer Dean Martin. They had a son before divorcing in 1978. Dean Paul Martin died in 1987 when his National Guard F-4 Phantom jet fighter crashed in California’s San Bernardino Mountains.

From Shakespeare To Shock!

Known for her classic Shakespeare role, it was one of Hollywood’s darkest horror films that exposed Hussey to a whole new generation of fans…

1974’s “Black Christmas”

This low-budget shocker, directed by Bob Clark, is now one of the most beloved horror films of the 70’s – in fact, “Black Christmas” set the stage for a new wave of horror film like “Halloween”.

The plot was simple: It’s time for Christmas break, and a group of sorority sisters make plans for the holiday – but then the horrifying anonymous phone calls begin.

Here is the extremely creepy trailer for this classic horror film:

Margot Kidder also stars as one of Olivia’s sorority sisters, and she’s got a wicked sense of humor and an acid tongue…

Even though the film is a dark thriller, Hussey says the movie set was a very light and happy between takes. She did admit that Margot Kidder was distant from cast/crew during the filming.

What A Cast!

In addition to Hussey and Kidder, Kier Dullea also stars in the movie – Dullea of course was in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Keir Dullea worked only for a week on this film, never meeting Margot Kidder and barely meeting John Saxon, but the film is edited in such a way that he appears to be present throughout the film…

During an interview with Bob Clark, the Director said Hussey’s decision to star in the film was based upon advice given to her by a psychic. According to Clark, Hussey said her psychic believed that the film would be successful and a wise career choice for her. She took the role.

Meeting Steve Martin!

Hussey continued to act in film and TV for the next decade. Around 1986, she met Steve Martin to discuss a role in his hit film “Roxanne”, and Martin said this to Olivia:

“Oh my God Olivia, you were in one of my all time favorite films”!

Hussey assumed it was for “Romeo and Juliet” – and was surprised to find out that Martin loved “Black Christmas”, claiming to have seen it over 20 times!

Talking Turkey!

Finally, here is that “why would she do this film?” role – one of Hussey’s most unique movies was this sci-fi cult classic:

1981’s “Turkey Shoot!”

This futuristic thriller involved prisoners who were set free so they could be hunted down by rich people! A very unique choice for Hussey:

As I said, when you are a working Actor in Hollywood, the key is to work. And this movie has become a cult classic. One of the most interesting aspects of the film was Hussey’s choice to do a nude shower scene in the film!

“Blu” Turkey!

The film is full of crazy action sequences – and Hussey does a great job in the film, along with Steve Railsback – “Turkey Shoot” has built up a great cult reputation – and now it’s been remastered on blu-ray! Read all about this thriller by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/23/shocking-turkey-shoot-sex-and-gore-down-under-wake-in-fright-new-exploitation-blu-rays/

As for Hussey, she is now a very successful voice over talent in “Batman Beyond”, and also voiced the character of Kasan Moor in the PC game, “Star Wars: Rogue Squadron”. She was also in “Star Wars: The Old Republic”.

So there’s a look at a “True Hollywood Star” who did Shakespeare, horror and sci-fi equally well!

As you can see from her credits, Hussey has had a very successful career in entertainment.

I am fascinated by Artists who have long and varied careers…and I am equally interested in Artists who appear once then disappear forever:

“One And Done!”

Anne Sparrow did just that! This Actress starred in the cult euro-sleaze film “The Sinful Dwarf”, then disappeared forever!

That’s right, Anne Sparrow has never been seen in a film again! Read all about this Actress and her notorious motion picture debut by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/16/sinful-sex-kitten-anne-sparrow-the-mystery-of-a-disappearing-starlet/

And let me know if you’ve seen Olivia Hussey in this classic horror film!

“Then my ankle twisted and I started to fall in slow motion.”

With these words, Author Deborah Wolff takes you on a hilariously intense year of reality TV!

“One Year Of Reality And How It Nearly Killed Me”

Have you ever wondered just how they make reality TV? Do you want to experience the behind-the-scenes thrills, anxiety and near-death experience of working on shows like “The Amazing Race?”

Then this is the book for you! I worked with Deborah Wolff at G4 for several years, and she is a terrific Production Manager/Line Producer/Exec in Charge of Production…if you want to know what that means, then you must read this book!

Deborah Wolff has a degree in cinema and television from the University of Southern California. She has written a terrific memoir about her life in television.

In one crazy year, she worked on “The Amazing Race”, “The Mole”, AND “Fear Factor!” Her stories about life on the road making these shows is fascinating – like getting the “Amazing Race” contestants out of one country and into another!

“The visa office was only open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So the earliest we could get them would be Wednesday. NO WAY! Not acceptable. I was screaming that in my head while trying to have a pleasantly firm conversation with the visa person.”

The book is full of great stories about the difficulties of mounting a reality show when the entire WORLD is your set!

There are so many great stories in the book, and I asked Deborah about the best part of writing it…

“If I had to pick one thing I learned”, she told me, “even though my experiences are unique to me, I am not alone. There are so many other crazier, more dangerous stories than even I went through from other crew across many shows!”

And that is what makes reality TV so fascinating – the book gives you the intense detail about what it takes to make a TV show…it’s a great ride!

Bravo Deborah on the book…another friend of mine also wrote a book about his life in TV:

AJ Benza was my host on E!’s “Mysteries & Scandals”, and he also wrote a great book about life in newspapers and TV…and last year he wrote a poignant memoir about growing up:

Read all about this terrific memoir here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/07/05/aj-benza-terrific-new-memoir-74-and-sunny-vintage-la-history-aint-it-a-bitch/

And make sure you go to Amazon and get “74 & Sunny” AND the “One Year Of Reality” book now!

Meet The Eagles!

The story of The Eagles is a fascinating one for so many reasons. They wrote some of the biggest hits of all time, like “Best Of My Love”, “Hotel California” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling”…

I recently found a great article that explains how one of the biggest-selling groups of all time began as Linda Ronstadt’s backup band!

Linda Ronstadt was one of the best singers of the 70’s, which big hits like “You’re No Good”, “Blue Bayou” and “Hurts So Bad”…and she was close friends with the musicians who would become The Eagles!

Meet The Eagles!

There is a great documentary that was made about The Eagles…a history of the band that includes incredible rare early footage of the band, along with candid interviews from all members…

The original members of the band were Bernie Leadon, Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Randy Meisner…four musicians who played on a number of albums of the early 70’s – and they became good friends with one of the hottest singers of that era…

Linda Ronstadt epitomized the LA music scene at the time, along with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jackson Browne and James Taylor…

In 2014, Ronstadt released her autobiography “Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir” – and she told Billboard magazine about being part of the “birth of The Eagles”, who were her backup band!

Here are some great of Ronstadt’s memories about the birth of the band, beginning with the first time she saw Don Henley play drums:

“[Producer] John Boylan was very active in helping me put a band together in those days. He knew all the musicians, and apparently Don Henley had already sent him some songs he had written. He’d heard me sing, he’d heard my records, he wanted to meet me and he came to L.A. hoping he could, and he had written some songs he hoped maybe I’d record. He sent them to John and they didn’t turn out to be good songs for me at the time, but I heard him play the drums when I was walking through the room at the Troubadour and I thought he was such a good drummer. He had country mixed with rock in a way that didn’t compromise either genre. So I said, ‘Let’s see if we can get him to play drums,’ and John went to talk to him and he said, ‘All right.’

“So we hired [Henley] to play drums. And then I needed a guitar player. I couldn’t take Bernie Leadon ’cause he was working with the Flying Burrito Brothers, so I said ‘All right, I’ll get Glenn Frey. He can play really good guitar.’ I was living with J.D. Souther then, and [Frey] was J.D.’s music partner. They had a group called Longbranch Pennywhistle. They were kind of breaking up; they decided to go their separate ways, but they were still really good friends. So I asked Glenn if he would come on that tour with us.

Here is Ronstadt sharing Glenn Frey’s thoughts on Don Henley:

“In those days we didn’t have enough money to put people in separate rooms, so Glenn and Don were rooming together and they each discovered the other could sing and was a great songwriter. Glenn used to call Don his secret weapon. He said, ‘I’m gonna do a band with Don. We’re gonna do a band together.’ I said, ‘That’s a great idea.’

“So we all talked about it. John said, ‘I can help you do this. I can help you put this band together, and while you’re waiting to get a record deal, you can play with Linda and you can have a gig.’ It was one of those kinds of situations where it was in everybody’s advantage. So I suggested they get Bernie Leadon to play guitar ’cause I liked Bernie and John suggested that they get Randy Meisner, and that’s how the Eagles were formed!

This great picture of a very young Eagles band was found on this terrific blog:

http://thisdayineagleshistory.blogspot.com/2011/07/1971-eagles-perform-together-for-first.html

Back to Ronstadt, who describes seeing the Eagles come together as a band:

“They used to rehearse in my house, where I was living with J.D., ’cause we had a bigger living room than they did. And I remember coming home one day and they had rehearsed ‘Witchy Woman’ and they had all the harmonies worked out, four-part harmonies. It was fantastic. I knew it was gonna be a hit. You could just tell. They had really strong voices, really strong playing, really strong songwriting ideas and they had an extended pool of songwriters like Jack Tempchin and J.D. Souther and Jackson Browne. It was just an amazing time. There was no way they could miss with all that going for them.”

Lots of great anecdotes from Ronstadt about her backing band and the birth of The Eagles – and they also performed together!

Hanging With The Governor!

Yes, Ronstadt dated California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, and they went onstage at an Eagles show for this iconic photo…

Here is Linda Ronstadt performing “Desperado” live in 1974, backed by The Eagles!

This was an amazing time for music – and what a mashup of music and politics as well!

Ronstadt was one of the great female singers in rock…for proof, look at this live versions of her smash hit “You’re No Good” from The Midnight Special – with her raucous backup band!

Ronstadt no longer performs, but she left us with a great library of music.

Glenn Frey was a good friend of Ronstadt’s…and here is my story about how he wrote “Lyin’ Eyes” with Don Henley:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/19/glenn-freys-greatest-song-lyin-eyes-the-true-story/

And finally, I was lucky enough to see The History Of The Eagles tour in 2013:

You can see a couple of clips from the show by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/21/history-of-the-eagles-amazing-concert-old-friends-return/

Leave a message and let me know what you think of the “birth of the Eagles!”

Grab Your Six Shooters! Time To Saddle Up For Some Western Action!

I love the western genre. As a kid, these classic movies were all over TV at all hours of the day and night…starring some of America’s heroes, like John Wayne!

John Wayne starred in some of the greatest westerns ever made, like “The Searchers” – and also some of the most entertaining, like “The Sons Of Katie Elder”….in fact, one of his best westerns was so good he made it twice!

El Dorado!

In 1966 James Caan was a rising young Actor – and got the chance to saddle up alongside The Duke – as a cocky young gambler who had a way with a knife – which was a good thing since he couldn’t shoot straight AND he wore a funny hat!

239157-017.psd

Add Robert Mitchum to the cast and you have a great cult western. Along with some great action, Caan got to provide a lot of comic relief next to The Duke. Caan’s character was memorably named “Mississippi.”

John Wayne: Don’t you know better than to follow a man that way?
Mississippi: Sorry… I didn’t know there was another way.

This movie is actually a remake of a film made a few years earlier, starring John Wayne in the same role, but switching out Mitchum for Dean Martin and Caan for Ricky Nelson!

Both are very entertaining – and if you want to see more of James Caan, here is my list of his ten best movie roles:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/02/05/the-wrath-of-caan-james-caans-greatest-hits/

Of course, it was in 1969 that Oscar thanked John Wayne for a career of great work by giving him an Oscar for the western “True Grit!”

This classic western was remade by an unlikely duo – Joel and Ethan Coen, best known for “The Big Lebowski” and “Fargo”…

True Grit Times Two!

This remake is a classic western, with Jeff Bridges stepping easily into John Wayne’s boots…

John Wayne is just one of the many classic Actors who have starred in great western movies…

Burt Lancaster starred in a number of great western movies like “Lawman” and “Valdez Is Coming”…you can read all about these films here:

Valdez Is Coming! Lawman! Gun-Blazing Burt Lancaster Western Revenge Double Bill!

These legendary Hollywood Actors were replaced in the saddle by one of America’s most popular stars…

Clint Eastwood Rides Tall!

The face says it all…Clint Eastwood starred in a series of great westerns that highlighted the dangerous, chaotic world of the wild wild west…

“Unforgiven” was Eastwood’s revisionist western that won the Best Picture Oscar in 1992.

It was the supporting acting of Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman that provided Clint with so much texture and depth to go along with his own lead acting performance. Hackman plays Sheriff Little Bill Daggett, a bad bad guy who runs his town the way he fits, until Eastwood shows up…Alex doesn’t like westerns, but she loved this movie!

This is one of Gene Hackman’s best roles…to see more of his great performances, click on my list here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/03/16/a-celebration-of-gene-hackman-an-amazing-actors-ten-greatest-roles/

And guess what? Hackman starred in a number of westerns, like “Bite The Bullet” and this obscurity from 1971:

The Hunting Party!

In 1971, Gene Hackman, Oliver Reed and Candace Bergen starred in this gritty western. Reed is the outlaw who wants to learn to read, and Candace Bergen is the school teacher he kidnaps to teach him…

But Bergen is not just a school teacher, she’s also the wife of cattle baron Gene Hackman – who wants his wife back…

Hackman rustles up a “Hunting Party” and begins to pick off the bad guys one by one. And what starts as a rescue mission turns into a grueling battle of survival…

This film was shocking for the amount of violence it showed…this was a time shortly after “The Wild Bunch” raised the stakes for violence in a film…

Lots of grindhouse violence here, but kind of interesting to watch a clear B-movie being acted out by some A-list Actors!

And speaking of “The Wild Bunch”, this is one of the greatest films ever made – a classic ode to a lost time in the American west…

Director Sam Peckinpah delivers his greatest film, the story of aging outlaws who want to pull off one last heist…the film stars William Holden, Ernest Bornine, Warren Oates and Robert Ryan…

If you want to find out more about this iconic western, as well as Peckinpah’s Bob Dylan western – yes, Bob Dylan! – read my post here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/08/05/the-wild-bunch-billy-the-kid-sam-packinpahs-soup-tossing/

“Pat Garret & Billy The Kid” is a misunderstood classic, and Bob Dylan co-starred and wrote the beautiful song “Knocking’ On Heaven’s Door” for the movie…

So there’s a look at some of the greatest westerns ever made…let me know your favorite!

The White Rabbit: She’s embarassed – I think she’s still a virgin.
Mad Hatter: Well if that’s the case, she should be embarassed. I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Alice: Well I’m trying to learn, honestly, but I can’t have everything shoved down my throat all at once.
Mad Hatter: Well I don’t see why not.

This Ain’t Your Childhood “Alice In Wonderland!”

As the dialogue above clearly warns, this is a VERY different approach to a childhood classic – and a fascinating look at a cult Hollywood classic!

The characters may be the same – but their motivation is completely different! Meet Kristine DeBell – who debuted as the star of an X-rated MUSICAL version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the age of 22!

Yes, it was a musical! Check out the trailer!

Hooray For Hollywood!

It’s a story as old as Hollywood itself – find a classic story and exploit it! This 1975 movie is notorious for a number of reasons – but first, meet Kristine DeBell…a young Actress who got the break of a lifetime in 1975 when she was cast to star in an “adult” version of a classic children’s story!

In this X-rated musical version of “Alice In Wonderland”, Alice is a cheerful, outgoing and virginal librarian. After rejecting the offensive advances of a man named William, a white rabbit magically appears to take her to Wonderland. And in THIS wonderland, it’s all about X-rated pleasure!

Or Was It An “R”-Rated Musical Comedy?

While the first poster clearly says this is an X-rated movie, one other fascinating aspect of this story is that there were THREE separate versions of the film! Yes, it was an “R”-rated musical comedy as well…look at this version of the poster!

You see, this film was cut into many different versions to satisfy a wide variety of audiences! This wasn’t that unusual in the 70’s: movies were made in multiple versions to maximize their distribution, as many drive-ins around the country wouldn’t show X-rated films…

“Dirty Dorothy?”

According to David J. Hogan’s book “The Wizard of OZ FAQ,” Bill Osco, the producer of “Alice in Wonderland” had originally intended to star Kristine DeBell in an X-rated parody of the Wizard of OZ to be entitled “Dirty Dorothy.” He eventually decided to do a take-off on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books instead, because their rights were in the public domain and there would be less risk of a copyright infringement lawsuit!

So What EXACTLY Did Kristine DeBell Do In The Film?

And what about THIS XXX-Rated version of the movie? Yes, there was an even more extreme version of the film, which was shown in grindhouse theaters that catered to a more extreme audience. It raises the question: just what did Kristine DeBell do in this movie?

As I told you, there were three versions of the film released: the original X-rated version, plus a cleaner “R” version…and a notorious XXX-rating as well!

Thanks to the terrific SHOCK magazine issue #49, DeBell addressed the multiple cuts:

Once I was hired, at some point I said, ‘eww yuck! I mean, I’ll do that maybe, but I’m not doing that!” She adds, “They actually cut out three minutes to get an R-rating. It’s funny that after they released it as an R, one year later, the producers came out and said (husky voice) ‘oh yeah, yeah, here’s all the XXX that we filmed but didn’t put it in then.’ It’s like, ‘REALLY?’ (laughs)”

Several years ago, DeBell posted this great response on her Facebook page, where she describes exactly what she did and didn’t do in the movie:

“I have had the opportunity of late to set the record straight about my appearance in “Alice In Wonderland.” I think my comment on the film that sums it up best is “who’s in the triple X version? I did three naughty things in that movie…”

Here is a great writeup from DeBell’s Facebook page that explains it all:

https://www.facebook.com/kristinedebellfans/posts/487318431324689

In addition to appearing in “Alice In Wonderland”, DeBell also appeared in Playboy…she was on the April 1976 cover of the magazine…

Hello, Bill Murray!

After her notoriety playing Alice, Kristine moved into mainstream film and television. Her most prominent film role was camp counselor A.L., alongside Bill Murray in the comedy “Meatballs!”

After appearing as Jackie Chan’s girlfriend in “The Big Brawl”, she appeared in a number of television series, including “The Young and the Restless”, “B. J. and the Bear” and “Night Court”.

DeBell achieved fame through a unique role – and she’s not the only sex kitten to do so…

The “Queen Of Artsploitation!”

Swedish Actress Christina Lindberg was the “Queen of Artsploitation”, with a string of provocative european art films full of “adult situations”…

She achieved the same sort of X-rated notoriety for her role in “Thriller: A Cruel Picture”, which was also released in multiple versions…you can read all about Quentin Tarantino’s favorite exploitation film by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/21/swedish-sex-kitten-christina-lindberg-the-original-queen-of-artsploitation/

Another way to become famous was to be a “Bond girl”, starring in one of the many 007 films…

Claudine Auger achieved fame as the “Bond girl” in “Thunderbolt” – you can read all about her career by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/12/18/sexiest-bond-girl-ever-sex-kitten-claudine-auger-james-bond-and-giallo-horror/

Starring in an exploitation film isn’t always the key to stardom…here is one cautionary tale:

Anne Sparrow starred in the cult classic “The Sinful Dwarf” – yes, if you follow my blog, you know all about this film:

“The Sinful Dwarf” was also released in many different versions, and the young actress who stars in the film, Anne Sparrow, made this film and then disappeared forever!

Read all about this cinematic mystery by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/16/sinful-sex-kitten-anne-sparrow-the-mystery-of-a-disappearing-starlet/

There you have it: a look at how movies are made once but released in many different ways…let me know if you’ve experienced any of them!

Time To “Own Some Joan”!

The estate of Joan Rivers is putting up some of her personal items for auction, and it’s your chance to be part of her legacy!

The legendary Comedian/Host/Actress/Author died on September 4, 2014, and everyone who knew her, or just loved her work, were devastated by this loss…

Bravo, Melissa!

Joan’s daughter Melissa has done an incredibly classy job of keeping her Mom’s legacy alive, including this terrifically poignant and funny memoir released last year…

Christie’s Auction!

Now, news that Christie’s in New York is holding an auction on June 16-23 – your chance to own a piece of Joan’s life! The Auction will be conducted both online and in New York City.

It’s an incredible chance to be part of her legacy…

The Auction will include 200 lots, which are described as Joan’s “exceptional and eclectic taste, including decorative arts, paintings, fine French furniture and Fabergé.”

I found a terrific article in The Daily Beast by Tim Teeman – who gives details on the auction, as well as some great stories about Joan.

Here is what Teeman wrote:

“The live sale of Rivers’ possessions will coincide with an online auction of 80 lots selling “extravagant costumes made by Bob Mackie, couture and personal jewelry spanning esteemed design houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston.”

In the last major interview Rivers gave, conducted with me for The Daily Beast just over a month before she died, she said, “I’ve left money so the dogs can be taken care of. I’ve said to [her daughter] Melissa, ‘Sell anything and everything you don’t want. Don’t feel beholden to my possessions.’ I feel almost hysterical on that. I don’t want them to have a sense of guilt.”

Christie’s also released a statement about the auction, which says:

“Among the personal objects, which reflect Joan’s connoisseurship of fine and decorative arts and her sense of wit and humour, include a beautiful Edouard Vuillard painting, Dans L’Atelier, painted circa 1915, (and) a jewelled nephrite study of a Lily of the Valley leaf by Faberge.”

And since Joan was always generous and giving to those less fortunate, a portion of the proceeds will benefit two of her favorite causes: “God’s Love We Deliver” and “Guide Dogs for the Blind.”

This must be a difficult transition for Melissa, but this charity will provide a lot of help to groups that can use it – just another example of how Joan and Melissa have given so much back to the world.

My wife Alex saw them last when they appeared on Steve Harvey’s talk show, and it was a great reunion, as we remembered some great times we had together…

I posted a story about filming with Joan and Melissa at the Cannes Film Festival – making TV on the dock of the Carlton Hotel, the “Queen Of The Croisette”!

You can read that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/05/12/melissa-rivers-new-memoir-joan-rivers-storms-cannes-joan-and-melissas-hilarious-cannes-fashion-review/

Joan and Melissa were the perfect team: Joan was hilariously funny and unapologetic, while Melissa grounded her and offered up her own deadpan acerbic barbs…it was the most fun I’ve ever had filming television…

I applaud all that Melissa has done to keep Joan’s memory alive in a positive, uplifting way…here is the entire story from The Daily Beast regarding the Christie Auction:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/09/you-can-own-a-piece-of-joan-rivers-the-story-of-her-possessions-up-for-auction.html

And if you want to get more details on the auction itself, you can click on the Christie’s website here:

http://www.christies.com/multidaysales/the-private-collection-of-joan-rivers-june-2016/

Finally, I was lucky enough to work with Joan and Melissa for a decade, both at E! and TVGuide – some of the best times I’ve had…

I posted a few of those memories as a tribute to Joan when she passed away…you can see that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/04/rip-joan-rivers-a-world-class-person-is-gone/

Take a look at the incredible auction and remember the life of Joan Rivers!

You Don’t Have To Go To Texas For A Chainsaw Massacre!

Well, that’s helpful to know. It also helps to know this:

“While we out fiddling with that music, the lousy bastard was in there killing her! BASTARD! BAAAAASTAAARD! BASTAAARD!”

And with that classic dialogue, it is time to discover the incredible over-the-top bad taste and great grind house entertainment that is:

“Pieces!” It’s Exactly What You Think It Is!

How can you go wrong with a poster like that! And look at this one, which includes a special line underneath the title on the left:

“AN IMPORTANT FILM”

Indeed!

“Pieces” is a notorious shocker from 1981 that was banned in several counties, and included some of the bloodiest scenes in motion picture history! In fact, look how they chose to promote the film:

It always begins with a young boy who is traumatized…flash forward to college, when young co-eds are being cut up by a chainsaw killer! The madman is attempting to put together a human jigsaw puzzle made from body parts – “PIECES!”

In the 80’s, horror films turned very violent, with slasher movies turning screens blood red:

This era may not have produced great films, but they were shocking and fun to watch, perhaps no more so that this classic:

Linnea Quigley was a big star of 80’s horror, and you can read more about her here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/10/28/scream-queen-linnea-quigley-naked-graveyard-dancing-horror-demons-too/

If you love this era of film, then the newly remastered Blu-Ray version of “Pieces” is for you!

Grindhouse Releasing has a great special edition of “Pieces” on Blu-Ray, including the U.S. theatrical and Spanish versions of the film, and a bonus video of American horror director Eli Roth presenting a theatrical screening of Pieces to a Los Angeles cult audience!

Roth most recently directed his homage to the 80’s cannibal films, “The Green Inferno.” You can read about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/09/05/enter-the-green-inferno-eli-roths-homage-to-shocking-cannibal-holocaust/

Perhaps the greatest extra bonus on the new “Pieces” release is this:

42ND STREET MEMORIES: All-new feature-length documentary about the legendary “Grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street, including interviews with Bill Lustig, Larry Cohen, Frank Henenlotter, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeff Lieberman, John Skipp, Lynn Lowry, Terry Levine and other exploitation icons!

This was a fascinating era in movie history: Time Square lit up with theaters playing the wildest sexploitation movies of the time, suavely 24 hours a day!

I can’t wait to see this new documentary, and if you want to see some of the greatest “grind house” films of the era, you can check out my story here:

Sexy “Honey”! Dirty “Brine!” Grindhouse Classics, “Prurient” Style!

Folks, these were some wild wild films!

42nd Street was a seedy, dangerous place in the 70’s and 80’s, and the movies had to deliver!

Here are some more of the classic movies of that era:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/06/12/dirty-keyholes-immoral-wives-the-naked-truth-about-cult-grindhouse-cinema/

You see, the films were full of sex and violence, and legend has it that the movie theaters of Times Square were as well! That meant you need films like this to keep the customers satisfied:

Lurid, pandering, and usually hilariously bad, these films are worth checking out just to see how gullible the public was at the time! Here are a few more great examples:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/07/02/70s-sin-ema-massage-parlor-murders-ursula-gets-naked-gritty-grindhouse-classics/

Let me know if you are falling to “Pieces!”

“He who hesitates is lunch”

These “secret” words are found on one of the Eagles great albums – recorded in 1974 – a year that began with the four members of the band….and ended with five:

August 1974 — The rock band, The Eagles, stand together outside a building. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

Time to look at the turmoil that surrounded the release of the Eagles third album – a collection of music that showed the band showcasing a new, harder edge – AND containing their first #1 song as well!

The Eagles “On The Border!”

After the success of their first album – and the commercial failure of their second – the Eagles knew they had to re-think their music. The result was “On the Border” – and album that saw their Record Producer Glyn Johns leave the project after only two songs were recorded.

The album was initially produced by Glyn Johns and recorded at Olympic Studios, London, but during the making of the album, it was clear there was a problem. The band’s second album is a beautiful record, with two of their best songs – “Tequila Sunrise” and “Desperado”…

The album didn’t sell well, however, and the band decided it was time for a harder, more rock-focused approach – but Glyn Johns didn’t agree!

As Glenn Frey said about the recording sessions:

“We just didn’t want to make another limp-wristed L.A. country-rock record. They were all too smooth and glassy. We wanted a tougher sound.”

After six weeks in the studio, the band decided it was time for a change, so they said goodbye to Johns, with only two usable tracks, “Best of My Love” and “You Never Cry Like a Lover”.

February 1974 — The members of The Eagles stand against a wall. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

The band headed back home to California, and hired Bill Szymczyk to produce the rest of the album. It was exactly the right choice for the band.

That’s Szymczyk in the Broncos jersey. These photos are by Henry Diltz, who captured the band throughout their incredible career. The Producer loved the harder edge that the band wanted, and he suggested they bring in a harder-edged guitarist to add slide guitar to the song “Good Day in Hell”.

March 1972 — The rock band The Eagles rest upon a rock. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

Bernie Leadon suggested his buddy Don Felder, and after he began playing with them, the band invited Felder to become the fifth Eagle. The only other track he played on was the first song, “Already Gone”. They credited him as a late arrival on the album’s liner notes!

That’s why the album’s inner sleeve photo only has the original four members of the band! I love the iconic cover of the album, and I also loved the stylized graphics that list the songs on the back of the album.

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Here is an amazing live performance of the album’s first song, the classic rocker “Already Gone” from the 1974 California Jam concert – full of great energy:

Thanks to the OntarioMotorSpeedway youtube channel for this classic, which is from the CaliforniaJamFanClub.com.

The band was clearly having a great time, and that first song is a classic. Here are the Eagles performing “Already Gone” live on their 2013 “History Of The Eagles” tour as well:

The Eagles Soar To The Top Of The Charts!

The album includes the classic Eagles song, “Best of My Love”, which became the band’s first #1 single. Here is a beautiful live version from 1977:

Of course, the single was noticeably shorter than the song that’s on the album, because the record label edited the song before releasing it – without telling the band!

The Eagles Have A Hidden Groove!

Hers a fun fact I came across on wikipedia: this is the first album by the Eagles to be released in Quadraphonic surround sound. There is a hidden message carved into the run out groove on some of the original vinyl LPs that reads:

“He who hesitates is lunch”.

Here is a look at each song on the album, along with the songwriters. As you can see, a lot of the band’s friends contributed to the songwriting effort:

“Already Gone” (Jack Tempchin, Robb Strandlund)

“You Never Cry Like a Lover” (J.D. Souther, Don Henley)

“Midnight Flyer” (Paul Craft)

“My Man” (Bernie Leadon)

“On the Border” (Henley, Leadon, Glenn Frey)

“James Dean” (Jackson Browne, Frey, Souther, Henley)

Here is a great live performance of “James Dean” from that California Jam concert in 1974!

“Ol’ ’55” (Tom Waits)

“Is It True?” (Randy Meisner)

“Good Day in Hell” (Henley, Frey)

“Best of My Love” (Henley, Frey, Souther)

After the success of this album, the band never looked back…”On The Border” shows the band maturing in their sound, with a harder edge helped by the addition of Don Felder, and the music holds up more than 40 years later!

I posted a story about the beginning of the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt’s memories of them as her friends – and backing band!

You can see that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/03/01/the-birth-of-the-eagles-linda-ronstadts-back-up-band-had-a-peaceful-easy-feeling/

It was a memorable time in music history, and the band would go on to write some of the best songs in rock…

Fans were stunned by the death of Glenn Frey, and here is a story of how he and Don Henley wrote “Lyin’ Eyes”:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/19/glenn-freys-greatest-song-lyin-eyes-the-true-story/

I was so happy to have had the chance to see the band’s “History Of The Eagles” tour in 2013:

It was great to see Bernie Leadon performing the early songs with the band – here is my review of that concert:

Eagles Singer Glenn Frey RIP! Shocking News! History Of The Eagles! Old Friends Return!

And finally, Don Henley recently stated that the band won’t perform together again…but Henley continues to release great music:

Henley’s most recently album went to #1 on the country chart…see his great music video from the album here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/02/24/don-henleys-1-cass-county-music-masterpiece-from-eagles-maestro-with-dolly-parton-and-mick-jagger-too/

Leave a comment to let me know your favorite “On The Border” song!

“Sausage Party” Has Arrived!

Well, the hilarious, slightly profane movie trail that is! This hilariousness animated comedy from Seth Rogan isn’t your Father’s animation!

Here is the hilarious trailer:

Here is how “Deadline.com” describes it: “What if food could feel? No, that’s not quite it. It’s more like What if food could feel, and swear, and be racist and have sex? It stars Seth Rogen as Frank, a hot dog, and Kristen Wiig as Bun, his girlfriend. The pair live in their respective packages along with every other item in a fictional grocery store (“Shopwell”) where all items of food belong to a religion that worships the human shoppers as gods who they pray will select them and take them into “the great beyond,” the food version of heaven.”

It’s from the same groups that brought you “This Is The End”, and so I can only imagine how much fun this is going to be!

Read about the hilarious screening at SXSW at Deadline.com:

http://deadline.com/2016/03/sausage-party-sxsw-sony-pictures-seth-rogen-evan-goldberg-trailer-1201720512/

I can’t wait for this “Sausage Party!”

“An Angel In A Snake Pit”

These words were spoken by one of Hollywood’s most promising stars, describing her own personal hell…

A Shocking True Hollywood Story!

This is the story of Hollywood sex kitten June Fairchild. June was an aspiring Actress building a career along with other hot young stars in the 60’s like Jack Nicholson, but her story took a tragic turn…

June Fairchild got her start as a go-go dancer, and quickly found herself part of Hollywood’s new generation of stars: she co-starred in The Monkees’ cult classic musical film called “Head”…

Here’s a fascinating piece of trivia: “HEAD” was written by Jack Nicholson! Read all about this cult classic here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/04/07/jack-nicholsons-musical-head-the-monkees-sing-a-jack-nicholson-cult-classic/

Fairchild appeared in a dozen films in the 70’s, including her memorable role as a druggie who snorts Ajax soap powder in Cheech and Chong’s cult comedy “Up in Smoke”!

She was also in Jack Nicholson’s directorial debut called “Drive, He Said,” and “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” (1974), with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges.

In the 70’s, Fairchild lived for several years with her boyfriend Danny Hutton, who was a lead singer for the group Three Dog Night.

Fairchild Names The Band!

According to several published reports, June suggested the group’s name – after reading that Australian aborigines gauged the coldness of a night by the number of dogs they had to curl up with to stay warm!

Her Shocking Fall!

At this point, her life takes a downward turn…

“Don’t worry about me, dahling,” Fairchild would tell friends, imitating Mae West, one of her idols. “I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

Here is a shocking photo of her, taken by a UK newspaper when they reported on her troubling story…

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, her film career dissolved “in a haze of drugs and booze”, and the Actress tried going to rehab several times throughout her life…

Shocking photos of June were printed in 2001, revealing her plight. She was shown selling newspapers on the steps of a Los Angeles courthouse, living on LA’s Skid Row in a single-room occupancy hotel.

“An Angel In A Snake Pit!”

Fairchild was well aware of the downward spiral of her life.

She was “an angel in a snake pit,” she told the Times reporter who uncovered her Hollywood past.

In 2002, June had a brief career resurgence when she signed a contract allowing Paramount Studios to use her likeness on bobble-head dolls of the Ajax Lady from “Up in Smoke.”

“I want to work,” she told The Times. “I’m going to be self-sufficient. I’m going to take care of my daughter. I want to get a little house and do it right. I’m not thinking small.”

Unfortunately, her comeback stalled, and she spent her last years living on Social Security disability payments in small rooms in downtown hotels.

Fairchild died of liver cancer in 2015 at the age of 68…

Fairchild’s story isn’t unique: Hollywood is a tough place to survive, and many great stars couldn’t cope:

I also told the sad story of Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith, who had success in the 70’s but also fell from grace..

You can read that story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/20/hollywood-tragedy-70s-starlet-cheryl-rainbeaux-smith-the-runaways-caged-heat/

And one Hollywood star was found dead in her Beverly Hills home, almost a year after she died:

Yvette Vickers’ death shocked Hollywood. This troubling story can be seen here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/01/27/death-in-beverly-hills-the-shocking-story-of-legendary-sex-kitten-yvette-vickers/

RIP June Fairchild…

A Musical Farewell To The Eagles!

Following the tragedy of Glenn Frey’s death, Don Henley has announced that The Eagles are no more.

I saw the band in 2013 as they performed their great “History Of The Eagles” tour, but with Frey’s untimely death, the band is no more. During a recent interview in London, Don Henley said goodbye to the Eagles.

Henley called the band’s mid-February Grammy appearance “the final farewell.”

“I don’t think you’ll see us performing again,” he added. “I think that was probably it. I think it was an appropriate farewell.”

The Grammy’s Farewell To Glenn Frey!

The Eagles performed their first big hit, “Take It Easy”, on the 2016 Grammy Awards show in honor of Frey, with the song’s writer, Jackson Browne, taking the lead. Original Eagle Bernie Leadon performed as well.

Surprisingly, there isn’t an official Grammy release of this performance, all I could find is one recorded off the screen by a fan:

The Eagles Farewell – “Long Road Out Of Eden!”

Henley’s announcement means that “Long Road Out of Eden” will be the seventh and final studio album by The Eagles, released in 2007..

“Long Road Out of Eden” was the first new studio album from the Eagles since 1979’s “The Long Run”.

The only other Eagles songs released between that time were the four original tracks on 1994’s live “Hell Freezes Over” album…the title of course a play on what Frey said would happen before the band ever performed together again!

As you can see from the track listing, the first four songs were new, then the rest were live performances…the band also released two other songs – “Hole in the World” in 2003 and “One Day At A Time” in 2005.

In 2007, Eagles fans were excited to have a double album of new material, which produced two singles on the Hot Country Songs charts as well as five straight hits on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. Let’s look at the highlights of “Long Road Out Of Eden!”

“No More Walks in the Wood” is the first song, a beautiful ode to nature, with perfect Eagles harmonies…then, it’s right into the album’s first hit single, the raucous “How Long”:

“How Long,” was written by the band’s good friend J.D. Souther – who had previously worked with the Eagles co-writing some of their biggest hits including “Best of My Love,” “Victim of Love,” “Heartache Tonight” and “New Kid in Town”. The band performed the song as part of their live sets in the early to mid-1970s, but did not put it on an Eagles album because J.D. Souther wanted it on his first solo album!

Busy Being Fabulous:

The ballad “What Do I Do with My Heart” is next, then Joe Walsh shows up with “Guilty of the Crime”, followed by “I Don’t Want to Hear Any More”…

The Gorgeous “Waiting In The Weeds!”

The next song is one of Don Henley’s best. No music video was made for this song, so a fan did a beautiful job of taking Eagles imagery and putting it to this gorgeous song…which the band wisely let play out over seven minutes….

“No More Cloudy Days” and “Fast Company” are next, then a beautiful and political call to action followed – “Do Something”!

Don Henley told Billboard magazine in 2007 that “‘Do Something’ is an interesting song because it starts out like a love song, a boy/girl song, but then it takes on larger implications. And that line (“How did we get on this road we are traveling?”) could pertain to a relationship between a man and a woman or it could be a statement about the country as a whole.”

Glenn Frey ends side one with his song “You Are Not Alone”…

Side two begins with the band’s scathing indictment of our country’s role in the Middle East with the album’s title track: “Long Road Out of Eden”…

Here are some of the lyrics to this ten minute song:

Back home i was so certain
The path was very clear
But now i have to wonder: “what are we doing here?”
I’m not counting on tomorrow
And i can’t tell wrong from right
But i’d give anything to be there in your arms tonight

Weaving down the american highway
Through the litter and the wreckage and the cultural junk
Bloated with entitlement, loaded on propaganda
And now we’re driving dazed and drunk

Been down the road to damascus,
The road to mandalay
Met the ghost of caesar on the appian way
He said, “it’s hard to stop this bingeing, once you get a taste.”
“but the road to empire is a bloody stupid waste.”

Behold the bitten apple – the power of the tools
But all the knowledge in the world is of no use to fools
And it’s a long road out of eden….

What immediately followed is “I Dreamed There Was No War”, written by Glenn Frey, and the instrumental won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance:

“Somebody” and “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture” were next, followed by one of my favorite Joe Walsh songs, “Last Good Time in Town”…

“I Love to Watch a Woman Dance”, “Business as Usual” and “Center of the Universe” follow before the album ends with the prescient “It’s Your World Now” …

At the time of the album’s release, there was a bit of controversy since the band made an exclusive deal with Wal-Mart to sell it…but the double album was only $10, which was an amazing value for fans!

The album debuted at #1 in the U.S. and won the band two Grammy awards for “How Long” and the instrumental “I Dreamed There Was No War”. The album became the band’s sixth #1 album and was the highest selling album of the year!

February 1974 — The members of The Eagles stand against a wall. The Eagles were the most popular band of the seventies and their reunion tour in the nineties was also very successful. — Image by © Henry Diltz/CORBIS

It was a “long road” indeed for the band, who began in the 70’s and were still going strong…here is a look at how the band got started:

The Birth Of The Eagles! Linda Ronstadt’s Back-Up Band Had A “Peaceful Easy Feeling!”

The band created so much great music – this was one of my favorites:

“On The Border” introduced Don Felder to fans, and had the band’s first #1 song, “Best Of My Love.” See more here:

http://johnrieber.com/2016/03/14/on-the-border-the-eagles-say-hello-to-don-felder-goodbye-to-glyn-johns-don-henleys-brilliant-1-best-of-my-love/

For lucky fans, the “History Of The Eagles” concert tour was the last chance to see them together live:

You can see my review of the concert here – including clips from the show:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/09/21/history-of-the-eagles-amazing-concert-old-friends-return/

Let me know what your favorite song was on “Long Road Out Of Eden!”

Lights! Camera! Hilarity!

I love live TV. I love bloopers. Therefore, when the “perfect storm” of live television mistakes happen, I always know that someone will be there to save them for history to enjoy!

Let’s not waste any time – here is a collection of the best news bloopers of 2016 so far, beginning with what could have been a very tragic blooper!

Bravo to “NewsBeFunny” for this hilarious compilation…check them out on YouTube to see all of their work!

“Nice Size Storm Front You Have There!”

Many live bloopers involve inappropriate graphics, or some sort of on-air “wardrobe malfunction”:

Here is a great compilation of 2015’s best bloopers – everything from live news shots that are interrupted by drunks – or better yet, animals!

http://johnrieber.com/2015/05/01/breaking-news-bloopers-2015s-most-hilarious-live-tv-mistakes/

Of course, nothing gets more coverage on the internet than wardrobe malfunctions…

Here is a great compilation of mistakes from 2014 – some that have gone on to internet infamy:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/12/21/2014s-wildest-sexy-news-bloopers-dirty-game-show-bloopers-sex-violence-live-tv/

It’s not only TV news that contributes to blooper mania…talk shows and game shows do as well, thanks in part to one of the best TV Game Show Hosts of all time, Steve Harvey!

Steve Harvey’s hosting of “Family Feud” has resulted in some of the funniest moments on TV, and you can see a compilation of the best of them here:

http://johnrieber.com/2015/03/22/steve-harvey-family-feud-bloopers-best-news-bloopers-of-2015-so-far/

And there are also classic TV game show moments that live on thanks to YouTube:

“Wheel of Fortune” and “The Newlywed Game” have given us some incredible moments, which you can see here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/28/the-funniest-game-show-bloopers-ever/

Enjoy these bloopers!