Doctor Who: Class Is Coming

Hi there! It's Sunday which means it's Doctor Who day here at the blog thing. And today's topic is... well, it's right there in the title.

Class is coming!

The Doctor Who spin off set at Coal Hill School will be debuting in October. Info on the show is still a bit sparse but here’s what we know about the premise.

Because of all the space-time wibbly-wobbly going on in and around the school, Coal Hill has become a bit of a weirdness magnet for alien stuff. If that sounds a bit familiar, it was the premise for Torchwood which found itself dealing with all the alien things happening around the Rift running through Cardiff. And if THAT sounds familiar, it’s like the Hellmouth underneath Sunnydale CA drawing in all sorts of supernatural trouble to be fought by Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.

We do have a first look photo released by the BBC of actress Katherine Kelly backing off terrified from what we may presume is some kind of alien menace. Or maybe she just saw the school cafeteria menu.  In front of her is Sophie Hopkins’ character who’s holding a gun; the Doctor would not approve.  Unless the menace is in fact the school cafeteria menu then, all bets are off.  

Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed and Vivian Oparah are other actors portraying the central group of school kids fighting dangerous aliens and the evil threat of beans on toast.

Regarding the cast, we do know that one of the main cast will be gay which is different from Torchwood where I believe one of the main cast was straight.

Like Torchwood, Class is described as having a darker tone from the main Doctor Who series.  

Other than that, the lid is on tight top of the whole Class production which has finished shooting its episodes. The same lid is also holding secure on the Doctor Who 2016 Christmas special. I’m stilling holding out hope Capt. Jack Harkness will make an appearance. 

I would expect more info will be forthcoming when the cast for Doctor Who and Class make appearances at New York Comic Con which is coming October 6 – 9.

Still not sure what I feel about Class; the lack of info on the show isn't helping but hey, it's something new in the Whoniverse so I'm willing to give it a shot.

That's all I've got for today. Another new post on something or another, it depends on whatever pops in my head. If it depends on whatever pops in someone else's head, well, that would be weird.

Next Sunday is 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks so next week's Sunday post may reflect that. If so, we'll be back in full on Doctor Who mode the following Sunday.

Until next time, remember to be good to one another.

Dave-El

I'm So Glad My Suffering Amuses You 

Gene Wilder

Earlier this week, actor Gene Wilder passed away at the age of 83 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. Now I don’t want to make the tragic death of another person all about me but this is another brick in the wall that’s sealing off the shriveled remains of my long ago youth.

I remember seeing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in a movie theater; no, not when it first came out but in one of those re-release showings theaters do for kids to keep ‘em out of trouble for a few hours in the summer. To tell the truth, the first 1/3 of the movie is a bit of a chore to get through. I empathize with Charlie and his outsider status among the other kids but it’s not so much a good time hanging out with poor Charlie and his overworked mother and those 4 old people who I am never convinced are as invalid as they appear. I mean, Grandpa Joe gets up and does a song and dance number! Those old fogies are faking it! Meanwhile we have to watch those insufferable brat children finding their golden tickets and we know Charlie’s gonna get his hands on one or we wouldn’t be following him around this dang movie and can we just get to the chocolate factory already?!?

Ahem. Sorry.

But we do get to the chocolate factory where we meet Willy Wonka and the movie takes a turn for the strange. Now we can point to the fanciful sets and the Oompa Loompas but really, the true strangeness at the heart of this factory is Willy Wonka.

Gene Wilder imbues Wonka with a manic charm, an offbeat guy who is liable to say or do anything and quite frankly shouldn’t be leading children around. Gene Wilder channels a childlike innocence that pierces you with a sinister gaze. You can’t quite trust this madman but you dare not let him go.

Many years after I first saw Willy Wonka and became a fan of Doctor Who, I made the connection between the two. Except for the unfortunate circumstances of being born in America, Gene Wilder would’ve made a most excellent Doctor if Wilder’s turn as Willy Wonka was any indication.

I don’t remember when I first saw Blazing Saddles but Gene Wilder’s Waco Kid was quite an invention. Wilder looked more like an accountant than a gunslinger but that just made the character actually seem even cooler. 

Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder

Wilder actually plays an accountant in The Producers when he gets caught up in a scheme to bilk investors in a guaranteed flop of a Broadway play. This movie has one of my favorite comedic scenes ever and Gene plays it perfectly. His character Leo gets hysterical over this scheme he’s involved in. If you’re not sure, Leo tells us: “I’m hysterical! I’m hysterical!” His partner Max, played by Zero Mostel, splashes Leo in the face with a glass of water. Leo pauses for a beat and then says: “I’m wet! I’m wet! AND I’m hysterical!” 

Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder 

Wilder’s talents for making the most of a pause while trying to tamp down inner emotional turmoil really comes in handy for his tour de force performance in Young Frankenstein. Early in the movie, a student in his class questions him about his legacy as the grandson of Dr. Frankenstein. Wilder takes a moment as a flicker of rage dances across his face. Then, he replies, “It’s pronounced... Fronkensteen.”  The whole movie finds Wilder’s Frankenstein…er, Fronkensteen… surrounded by weird characters who constantly challenge his slowly eroding veneer of sanity even as he gives in to the impulse to continue his grandfather’s work.

Teri Garr, Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman 

Sadly, those four movies represent to me the pinnacle of Gene Wilder’s career. He did well teaming up with Richard Pryor on Silver Streak and Stir Crazy but for the most part, it seemed neither Hollywood or for that matter Gene Wilder himself could really figure out what to do with Gene Wilder. Too many box office bombs put Wilder’s film career in a steep decline. He kept working as an actor on television. His last appearance as an actor on screen was an episode of Will & Grace where Wilder seemed to connect with the old magic one last time, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor on a Comedy Series 

Gene Wilder preserved his privacy so effectively that the revelation that he had Alzheimer’s caught many people off guard. Wilder had retreated from the spotlight; he focused on writing stories and novels. Once in a while, he would give an interview here or there.  It was disconcerting to see Wilder looking so much older.  But if you looked closely, one might see Willy Wonka or the Waco Kid sparkle mischievously in his eye.

It was the look of a man you may not be sure you can trust. 

But you dare not let him go.

Hey, tomorrow’s Sunday and it’s Doctor Who day here on the blog thing.

Until then, remember to be good to one another.  

Donald Trump In Mexico (?!)

I was hoping after Monday’s post I could get away with not talking about Donald Trump for the rest of the week. But no, the Cheeto-hued ball sack went down to Mexico and well, I just can’t help myself.

Donald Trump went to Mexico? Isn’t that like having a Klan meeting in Harlem? Isn’t that more akin to a neo-Nazi starring in a production of Fiddler on the Roof? Up is down? Dogs are marrying cats? I just don’t understand the world anymore. Donald Trump went to Mexico?

Since day one of the Donald Trump candidacy for President (which I really can’t fucking believe is still a thing), Mexico has been front and center of the carrot colored bunghole’s message of fear and hate. Mexico is sending the worst of the worst over our borders. We’re overrun with Mexicans who are just everywhere raping everything, women, children, goats, the all you can eat buffet at Golden Corral, garden gnomes.

So to solve this epidemic of Mexican rapiosity, Donald Trump proposed building a wall, a really big, huge, awesome wall, epic in its wallness, the bestest wall ever in the history of walls. And we would make Mexico pay for it.

Meanwhile, we would send out a force of, I don’t know, Imperial Stormtroopers, maybe, to round up all the illegals, throw ‘em over the wall and tell them to not come back no more. 

This is not some random point that Donald mentioned once and never said anything about again. No, it’s something that has come up at every Trump rally since he began his campaign. His supporters at his rallies chant, “Build that wall! Build that wall! Build that wall!” And Donald roars back, “We’re gonna build that wall, believe you me!” Trump’s approach to immigration has been consistent with broad, untenable solutions shouted at the top of his lungs.  Immigration from Mexico was essentially the core of Trump’s whole appeal.

Then it appeared there was a wobble in the Trump campaign on this signature subject, what was euphemistically referred to as a “softening”. Instead of ALL the illegals from Mexico, Donald Trump would focus on just the ones committing crimes. The reason that this came about is that somebody in Trump’s circle does not have their head fully up their ass and came to realize there are only so many Non College Educated White People (aka Stupid People) available to vote for Trump. And despite what you might think, there are not quite that many stupid people in America to turn that into a win for Mr. Trump.  

The reaction to this moderation on immigration was mixed and hardly positive. Non-Trump people were not impressed with this so-called “softening” while the pro-Trump supporters took this as a repudiation of everything they had been promised. At a town hall hosted by Sean Hannity, Donald Trump actually spoke to the concerns of how a massive deportation effort might have on breaking up families. The voices from the hall made it very clear: throw them all out.

So what’s a bellicose demagogue with a head like a saggy basketball supposed to do?

Go to Mexico, that’s what. 

Believe it or not, Donald Trump was answering an invitation from Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to come visit Mexico sometime. Of course, President Nieto didn’t really expect the guy take him up on it.

“Mr. Mexican President, Donald Trump is here to see you.”

“What the fuck? Really?”

Except I’m sure that was said in Spanish or Mexicanese or something. Also, I know the secretary wouldn’t address the Mexican President as “Mr. Mexican President”. She would address him as “Dr. Mexican President”. 

But damned if Donald Trump didn’t show up in all his burnt umber glory, the alien creature atop his head that serves as his hairpiece and foreign policy advisor gently wafting in the Mexican breeze. Donald tried to make nice and look all grown up, you know, the way you dress a six year old boy in a suit and gush over how grown up he looks as he absently mindedly picks his nose. That kind of grown up.

Donald Trump said the visit went well. No, the subject of the wall didn’t come up but would be discussed later.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said that was a lie, the wall did come up and Nieto made it perfectly clear that Mexico wasn’t paying for any damn wall.

Former Mexican President Vincente Fox said the same thing about the wall except he managed to throw the word “fucking” in there before the word “wall”. 

Winging his way back from Mexico towards a rally in Arizona, the world wondered what kind of Donald Trump would be touching down on American soil? Would his visit to Mexico change him? Would he have a more pragmatic view of immigration reform? Would Trump promise compassion in the use of his power if elected President?

Oh, come on! This is Donald Trump we’re talking about here. In front of his fear fraught followers, assembled under an Arizona sunset that matched the tone of Donald’s face, the Republican nominee once more invoked the wall, that big, beautiful wall. Trump once more summoned up the specter of a mass deportation force to be deployed across the land. Those gathered there found comfort in the warm darkness of their fear and hatred.

Donald Trump was still Donald Trump.

 ___________________________

OK, that’s that for today. Another post coming up tomorrow as I share a few thoughts about Gene Wilder.

Until next time, remember to be good to one another.  

Weiner Weiner

 Hi there, world! Whazzup?

Anthony Weiner is back in the news. In 2011, Weiner was a Congressman who was forced to resign after it was discovered he was sexting and sending dick pics to people who were not his wife. 

He promised to do better. 

In 2013, Anthony Weiner ran for mayor of New York City but that campaign went nowhere because he was still in the habit of sexting and sending dick pics to people who were not his wife. 

He promised to do better. 

In 2016, Anthony Weiner shockingly continues to pursue sexting and sending dick pics to people who were not his wife. 

He promised to do better. 

His wife said fuck this and is dumping his ass. 

His wife, by the way, is Huma Abedin who is a high ranking advisor to Hillary Clinton. Man, do they have a LOT to talk about. Can you imagine if Bill Clinton had access to current smart phone tech back in the 1980s and 90s? Well, I can. He would be sexting and sending dick pics to people who were not his wife. And when he was caught...

He would promise to do better. 

Of course, Bill had to get his jollies the old fashion way. With whores. 

OK, maybe I shouldn't speak ill of the women who succumbed to Bill Clinton's charms. As they say in Arkansas where Clinton used to be governor, he could charm the stink off a razorback pig. 

Still, Bill Clinton paid for those indiscretions and I'm sure I know how it went down behind the scenes.

Hillary: Listen to me, Bill, you son of a bitch...

Bill: Squeezing...nuts...

Hillary: You are NOT going to fuck this up for me, you hear?

Bill: Squeezing...them...hard...

Hillary: I'm going to be the first goddam female President one day! 

Bill: Really... hurts....

Hillary: And you and your whoring dick are not going to shit on that, you understand me? 

Bill: My balls.... hurt...

Hillary: YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!?!

Bill: Yes...Hillary...OUCH! 

Hillary: Good! 

Bill: Can I have... my balls back now? 

Hillary: NO! These are MINE now! 

And so it came to pass that Bill Clinton dutifully follows Hillary everywhere, serving her faithfuly in her quest to become President. The man recently turned 70 years old but he hasn't given up hope on getting his balls back and maybe taking them out for a spin. 

You see, if he had a camera phone back in the day, Bill would at least have some photos to remember them by. 

Meanwhile, Anthony Weiner can't stop taking photos of his penis. Does he get them printed up and paste them in leather bound photo albums which he carefully labels and catalogues? I can see Anthony donning a lush red robe with an ascot, puffing on a pipe as he grandly shows off his library of dick pics. 

"Ah, I see you are perusing Volume VII. Yes, a particularly good volume if I do say on myself. That was my Ansel Adams period."

So why oh why does Anthony Weiner keep going back to this same old routine of sexting and sending dick pics to people who were not his wife. Because some men just have fucked up wiring and can't help themselves.  It's like they have a selections of options.

"Behind door #1 are power and prestige. Behind door #2 is lavish wealth. Behind door #3 are women who are not your wife that you can have sex with indiscrimately. What will it be?" 

And some guys just stand there confused. And you have to ask the question again, "What will it be?" 

And the answer is, "I'm thinking it over!" 

Granted that only some guys who would have to think over between choosing power, money or sex. There are other men who would just go to door #3. 

By the way, what kind of screwy game show is this? It's not on my cable system. 

But not all guys are like that, are they? Either wavering on the precipice or completely falling in to the pit of impropriety? No, there are good guys out there who do not think with their penises. No, they think with their stomachs. They do a lot of thinking, so much thinking that they can no longer see their penises which makes it easier to resist the trouble they can lure us into. 

And there are men who do not seek out sex with women they shouldn't have sex with. These men are secretly gay and are having sex with men. 

But to be serious for a moment, there are some good men out there. Men like, well, if I may be so bold, myself. I possess the strength and the fortitude to resist the women out there who are fighting their own carnal cravings and want to make me their personal sexual plaything. I'm not that kind of a man and I choose not to engage in that kind of-

Do I hear giggling? 

Fine, I'm one of those guys who thinks with their stomachs. 

And I'm so glad my suffering amuses you. 

Weiner Weiner