I don't get it. In It's A Wonderful Life, how come no one ever discovers that mean old Mr. Potter had Uncle Billy's $8,000 the whole time? Why does he get away with it? It's a huge cinematic plot flaw. 
Finally, someone out there who happens to be African American is paying homage to their roots instead of putting out a hip-hop record. Boyz II Men has released a CD called Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA and covers such classics as Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), The Tracks Of My Tears, War, and Mercy Mercy Me. The Boyz performed a choreographed medley on The View last week and said something to the effect that they wanted to bring back the old music before it was forgotten, which was greeted with cheers from the audience. Of course, to quote one of their redone songs, ain't nothing like the real thing, baby, but I'll give these boyz kudos for trying.
Gadzooks! I nearly forgot! Who else could I pick for December? Danny Kaye from White Christmas? (Sorry, Mr. Kaye.) Yes, this guy is a bit herky jerky but he can't help it - he's a bumble. And bumbles bounce!
In my opinion, a collection of Christmas songs is not complete unless it contains the 1958 hit The Chipmunk Song - you know, the one that makes some people want to smash their CD player up. Well, you cynics get ready because those cute little critters Simon, Theodore, and Alvin...um, Alvin? ALVIN!!!! are back starting this Friday when the feature film Alvin and The Chipmunks, starring Jason Lee from My Name is Earl, hits theaters. This time around, the rodents have been brought into the 21st century and 3D-ized thanks to the wonders of computer special effects. And they've been sexisized, too, as one of them sings the Pussycat Dolls' "Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?" while taking a shower in the dishwasher. 
The Chipmunks were originally the brainchild of Ross Bagdasarian, a struggling songwriter whose early claim to fame was cowriting the Rosemary Clooney hit "Come on-a My House." He also had bit parts in Hollywood films, including Rear Window. When he was down to $200 in his savings account with a mortgage and family, he used $190 of it to purchase a tape recording machine which he then used to speed up and slow down vocals. The result was the novelty hit "Witch Doctor" which topped the charts in 1958 and inspired the creation of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. Bagdasarian's Chipmunks franchise blossomed throughout the 60s with a cartoon TV show and numerous records, including one where the Chipmunks covered Beatles hits. Bagdasarian died young - at the age of 52 - in 1972, but his son has carried on the legacy to this day. 
If you recognize yourself as one of the girls in this photo or pelted Tom Jones with the contents of your lingerie drawer, then Oprah Winfrey is looking for you! I'm subscribed to the Oprah Winfrey Show mailing list, and I couldn't help but notice this on the bottom of one of the recent emails: 
If you like the idea of rappers and untalented divas publicly incinerating some of the most beloved film songs from the 20th century, then tonight's CBS special Movies Rock airing at 9 PM EST is for you. Performers include Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Sir Elton John, Eve, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, John Williams, LL Cool J, LeAnn Rimes, Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Queen Latifah, Tony Bennett and Usher and will.i.am. Sam I Am who? 
Pay phones, I'm afraid, are about to go the way of the telegraph. AT&T has announced that it is getting out of the phone booth and pay phone business by the end of 2008, since so many people own cell phones now. 
Oh, untimely death! Along comes a book that is either fascinatingly morbid, or morbidly fascinating, depending on which way you look at it: Rock & Roll Heaven: A Fascinating Guide to Musical Icons Who Have Joined the Great Gig in the Sky, by Robert Dimery and Bruno MacDonald. Here's the description from the inside flap:
