The following is a short clip from this morning's C-SPAN coverage of the senate confirmation hearing for Interior Secretary Nominee David Bernhardt. Please pay attention to the background.
The protester, obviously a surrealist, was apparently also a member of Greenpeace. She was eventually led away. Some environmentalists think Bernhardt is an oil company shill or some such. Well, I don't know about that but I thought the harmless stunt was odd and funny. May Adrienne Lowry swim in peace. By the way, Patrick Moore, who would go on to become a scourge of the leftist drift of Greenpeace and the rest of the environmentalist movement, has as much claim to be one of the co-founders of Greenpeace as anyone. And he was widely acknowledged as such even though the left tried to memory hole him. But after Moore recently called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a "pompous little twit" and claimed her Green New Deal would "bring about mass death" even Google got into the action and scrubbed the co-founder reference from its search results:
Perhaps it was something he said. But I digress. The Creature from the Black Lagoon was my favorite movie monster when I was a kid. My friend subscribed to "Monsters of Filmland", whose title I slightly misread. I always wondered why Finland had all the cool monsters. Please enjoy this clip from the film:
While the haters here spew venom about military coups and impeachment, and the haters there launch silly balloons and hold slow-motion dance-in protests, one little boy has different ideas. He just wants to meet Donald Trump.
From a fourth or fifth story window, a woman captures 50 seconds of video of the Liege terrorist calmly walking down the street, brandishing two stolen handguns. At the same time, she shouts a series of taunts at the man, who presumably could have shot towards the window at any time. Oddly, he doesn't seem to hear her or care.
The attacker, a Muslim convert, killed two police officers and one 22-year old civilian, yesterday, in the Belgian city of Liege. A number of other police were injured before the man was shot dead.
This video was put up on Twitter by Loopsider, and it was then picked up by the French patriotic website Fdesouche. It appears that Loopsider has not yet made it available on YouTube.
For now, you can watch the video at Fdesouche here: EDIT (5:30 PM CST, 5/30/18): For whatever reason, the video now only seems available on the Loopsider Twitter account, though other video clips and photographs of the attack appear to contain some of its footage. Click either of the Loopsider links to go directly to the video.
The attacker walks back and forth along a crosswalk.
Holding a gun in each hand, the attacker turns and begins walking down the sidewalk, directly under the woman taunting him from the window.
Woman:Tu as de la chance: je ne suis pas armee! Tu aurais déjà un pied dans la tombe, connard!You're lucky I'm unarmed! You already have one foot in the grave, you bastard!
The attacker raises his gun and starts walking across street.
Unidentified Man: Attention! Watch out!
The attacker shoots at something across the street. The camera wobbles and the woman presumably ducks.
Attacker: Allah Akbar!
Woman: Allah Akbar de merde, va! Fuck your Allah Akbar,* get out!
The attacker walks back under the window and then continues down the street.
Woman:Fous-moi le camp, connard! Get out you bastard! Allez, foutez le camp! Come on, get the hell out! Foutez le camp! Get out! *Yes, according to two French speakers, this is the most accurate translation.
Surveillance video caught the moment when a man entered the Adoration Chapel of the Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn, Michigan, took a bible from a shelf next to the door and set off on it what has been described as a "commercial-grade" firecracker, causing an explosion which must have seemed like bomb; two female parishioners run out in fear. An as yet identified suspect in the incident has been arrested on other charges and is currently being interviewed by police. The man in the video has been described as "white," which seems true, as far as it goes - he doesn't appear to be black. But (to me, at least), he does look Arab-American. Or maybe he's simply a balding atheist who likes wearing dark glasses and sandals. Dearborn has a Muslim and/or Arab population of close to 50%. The police chief, Ronald Haddad, is a Christian Arab-American. Here are two videos. The first is from surveillance cameras. The second is a report including a short interview with Church of the Divine Child Pastor James Bilot.
This utterly cringe inducing "interview" was apparently the last one Jerry Lewis ever gave. In it, he completely destroys Andy Lewis (no relation), a "journalist" from the Hollywood Reporter, who keeps obsessively asking annoying questions about Jerry Lewis' age (in fairness, Hollywood Reporter was doing a series on 90-year-old performers). Jerry Lewis gives one-word answers while pointedly glaring at the interviewer in contempt. Yet Andy Lewis forges on, digging himself ever deeper. Who is Andy Lewis? His Twitter feed shows him to be an SJW cliche. Though he is associated with the Hollywood Reporter, there's almost nothing about Hollywood or film on the feed. Instead, 95% of his tweets are comprised of political hate - attack after attack on Donald Trump, his family, Christians, "Nazis" (anyone who disagrees with Andy Lewis's cliches), and so on and so forth. Many of his tweets and retweets feature obscenities. Then there's that ubiquitous "punch a Nazi" meme, which has of course been used to legitimize violence and censorship. Based on the sound of his voice, I'm sure Andy Lewis couldn't punch himself out of a wet paper bag. The video quickly went viral. And now, after Jerry Lewis' death, it appears to be going viral again. True to form, Andy Lewis seems to think it's all about him, and even appears to be proud of his effort, especially as it was the Hollywood Reporter's most watched video up to that time. So, yesterday, he exploited Jerry Lewis's death to reveal the "inside story" of the embarrassing segment. "I did Jerry Lewis' last interview," he bragged. It is impossible to know whether anything he says about it is true. Jerry Lewis was tired, etc. And he's such a "tough interview," anyway, etc, etc. That's odd, Jerry Lewis wasn't a tough interview here. On the contrary, I think Jerry Lewis sensed that Andy Lewis was (apologies) a snotty little wuss, and reacted accordingly. After someone else from the interview team finally gets Andy Lewis to stop - whispering, "okay we're finished" - Jerry Lewis stands up from his chair and says: "Alright, clean it outta here." I transcribed the interview, which picks up some of the tone. But I also recommend watching the video. It's probably the most awkward interview you will ever see. But for those of us, middle-aged or older, who have always wanted to metaphorically punch a smirky millennial, it's damn righteous.
Andy Lewis: Have you ever thought about retiring? Jerry Lewis: Why? AL: Was there never a moment that you thought it might be time to retire, or that you would want... JL: Why? AL: You come from, um, you come from a generation a little older, and I think of Bob Hope, George Burns, Sinatra, people you knew, many of whom didn't want to, uh, or never retired either, um, do you see similarities with them? JL: None. AL: None? What do you think drives people like you and them to want to keep working? JL: Because we do it well. AL: And how about, um, what, um, what's different about performing now for you than say 20 years ago how is it, how is it different for you? JL: It isn't. AL: Not not at all? JL: Not at all. AL: Have you made any, do you have to make any concessions to being, you know, older in your performing, or does it...how do you keep the material fresh for yourself? JL: By working at it. AL: You've had a number of health issues over the last few years as people of your age do... JL: Anyone that's 90 does. AL: Anyone that's 90. Does continuing to work, does that, does that actually help you get healthier, you know, does being sort of busy and engaged, do you think that's actually, helps you get, get healthier? JL: No. AL: Do you think it hurts, like do you think... JL: No. [Long pause] AL: You've been been coming to Vegas for, uh, you lived here for a while, you've been coming here for a long time, how is Vegas different for you than when you first came here, what was the first time you, you performed in Vegas? JL: 1947. AL: What, can you tell me what, what Vegas was like when you first showed up? JL: It's not, it's the same. AL: It's, it's the same? JL: Exactly the same. AL: Like what, what is it about Vegas that you like, or what is it about, like how would you describe the place, like when you show up in 1947 what was it, it wasn't it a little bit of a dusty cow town, it was, what was it, what was it like? JL: A dusty cow town. AL: And you still think of it as a sort of dusty cow town? JL: No. AL: And how about, uh, is performing in Vegas now for you different than it was then, like, just either the mechanics or the size of it... JL: Nope. AL: Not at all? And how about, um, what's your audience like, you know, now, you're still performing, you're 90, what, what's your, what's your audience like, who are your, who are your fans, are they different than they, than they used to be? JL: No. They're still the same. AL: Even, but you must have younger fans, who... JL: Some are younger. AL: What do you think it is, you have in, that, that attracts you to younger fans, like, like how have you sort of maintained your, your audience over the years? JL: You tell them you're playing there and they show up. AL: And you, nothing different than that? JL: No. AL: How about you have a, you've had a long and distinguished career, do you have a favorite period of your career a, a part of your career you look back on as, as a moment when you were, um, a favorite, happiest or your most creative? JL: What do you mean? AL: Like is there a period in your career you look back on where you, that was your, your happiest time or your favorite time? JL: When my partner was alive. AL: When your partner was alive. So working with, with Dean Martin was that your favorite... JL: Yup. AL: Uh, part of your your career? JL: Yup. AL: What, what made that partnership work for you, like what was... JL: I'll show you some material - you'll know. AL: But if I'm not looking at the material, can you give me, like, a sense of, like, what, how it worked for you? JL: It was terrific. AL: And how about, you have any advice for young, young 80-year-olds about staying active at 90, just sort of... JL: Get a day job. AL: Get a day job. But you've never had a, you've never actually had a, quote, day job, you've been a performer your, your whole life, isn't that right? JL: Mm-hmm. AL: And you just, you just, um, did a movie a couple years ago, just is coming out, Max Rose, what was it like to step behind... JL: What movie? AL: Ah, Max Rose, right? JL: Yeah, I'm glad you remembered it. AL: Uh, what was it like performing again after not having done it for for more than a decade? JL: It's great. AL: But was it, is it like riding a horse, you never forget, what was it... JL: You never forget. AL: Was it, was it at all scary or intimidating to come to... JL: Not at all. AL: Not at all. And you enjoyed it. Would you do another movie? JL: Absolutely. We're planning one now. AL: For you to star in? JL: Mm-hmm. AL: And, are you also, I think I read that you're, you're also still writing some screenplays or doing work... JL: Right. AL: Is that right? JL: Yup AL: Is it, is it easier now to write a screenplay... JL: No, just as hard. AL: Just as hard. And how about, do you take some time you say to write, or how do you, you do it, in a dictaphone, how do you do... JL: if I tell you, you'll be doing it. AL: Heh heh heh. JL: Heh heh heh [Imitates his laugh]. AL: Well I meant the sort of mechanics of it, do you actually, like, you write by hand or do you, you type it, how do you do it, you type it on the computer... JL: Mm-hmm.. AL: And so what are your, you're on tour now, what else do you have, um, planned for, for this year, 90th year? JL: Mm-hmm. AL: You have anything else like... JL: Yeah, but nothing we want to talk about. AL: And so you've worked with a lot of, a lot of people over the years, what, you have a favorite story about, like, Dean or, or Frank Sinatra or somebody that you, that you worked with but you know, over the years that you like to share? JL: No. AL: Not at all? JL: None. AL: How would you, do you have an unfavorite story you'd like... JL: Nope. Not, for this. Voice off Camera: So I guess we're finished. AL: Sure. Anything else you want to... JL: No. Voice off Camera: So we're finished. AL: Sure. Voice off Camera: Thank you. JL: [Getting up from chair] Alright, clean it outta here.
Raymond Arroyo, the host of EWTN's The World Over, interviewed Jerry Lewis, a few days before Christmas, 2015. I suspect it was one of the most popular interviews Arroyo ever gave. I assume many of you remember it. I missed it.
Lewis died, yesterday, at the age of 91.
I've transcribed a few minutes of the interview, below (I had a bit of help on the last third of it from EWTN and Lifezette). The transcription is from the most "politically incorrect" section, where Lewis says, "the refugees should stay where the hell they are," praises Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan, makes a joke about how the Chinese name their children by seeing where thrown utensils land on a platter - "ting, tong," and (worst heresy of all) calls Stephen Colbert, "an elitist snob."
But calling it "politically incorrect" is unfair to Lewis and the interview. I don't think Lewis was trying to be anything. That's bull__t, he might have agreed. He was simply answering the questions as truthfully as he could (and trying to be a bit funny). He dissed Colbert but praised Tina Fey as "brilliant."
Lewis was not really part of my generation, and I am somewhat unschooled in vintage comedies, so I can't say I was ever a great fan. I always associated him with silly movies and the Muscular Dystrophy telethons. Though I did think his portrayal of "Jerry Langford" in The King of Comedy was nifty.
But the interview made me want to review his work (the EWTN segment contained some clips).
At the end of the interview (not transcribed here). Lewis tells Arroyo that he was the "best interviewer he ever had." I can believe it. And I think Lewis meant it. Among other things, there's such an obvious sense of good will between the two men.
If you missed it in 2015, and if you have time, watch the full interview, below. It reveals much about Lewis, the comedian and the person, as well as giving a glimpse into the history of mid-20th century comedy and show business.
Tomorrow, I'll post a video of the worst interviewer Jerry Lewis ever had...
The EWTN segment lasted 57 minutes, with the interview taking up most of it. The transcribed section is from approximately 43:55 to 50:00:
Raymond Arroyo:You told a story about going to China recently... Jerry Lewis: Well they took me to the Great Wall, and I was with probably 200 press. (They) followed me all over Shanghai and all over China. But at the Great Wall I'm standing there with a reporter from United Press and he said, "well what do you think of the Great Wall?" I said "I think it's nice but it ain't great." It made the front pages of every paper in Asia: "Jerry Lewis calls the Great Wall, 'nice.'" And I said, "how do you say nice in China?" "Tongue-Yao." Nice.
Arroyo: Not so nice.
Lewis: I don't even know what that means, "Tongue-Yao." Well you never know that they have a special way of naming Chinese children. It's a special way. They take a huge silver platter. They put it on the ground. They grab a handful of silverware. They throw the silverware up in the air, and as the silverware hits the platter - "ting tong ching chong tong ting" is how they named Chinese children.
Arroyo: Now, you know when some people hear a joke like that, they say, well that's politically incorrect. You shouldn't be telling that joke.
Lewis: Oh, bullshit. [EWTN bleeped this out.]
Arroyo: What do you say?
Lewis: I got six Catholic jokes that'll stop their services.
Arroyo: You can't tell them now.
Lewis: No, of course not.
Arroyo: But you can tell me when we're finished.
Lewis: So these two Jews... no [Lewis makes the sign of the cross].
Arroyo: That's what I like, to see, Jerry.
Lewis: And that's not easy when you're a Jew [winks].
Arroyo: I know, I know, but that's good, it's good practice. Um, tell me who do you consider funny today. I'm going to give you some names...
Lewis: Robin Williams...
Arroyo: Oh, but he's gone.
Lewis: What he did is not gone. Billy Crystal...
Arroyo: Oh hilarious.
Lewis: I mean... Arroyo: Jimmy Fallon... Lewis: He's a beginner. He's got a long way to go. But he's doing well, he's doing well. The fact that he's doing the third show makes it well. Jimmy Fallon could never ever be like the old comics that we remember. He could never do what I do because he had too many years on Saturday Night Live, which was a series of this is what you will do and that's what we're shooting next. No point of view. No contribution. They just did what was on the credit...on the cue card. And I think Jimmy is suffering from that kind of work. And watch him in about a year. You're going to see a development of this kid that's going to be so wonderful.
Arroyo: What about Stephen Colbert?
Lewis: I don't like him.
Arroyo: Why not?
Lewis: I think he's a snob. I think he's elitist and snob.
Arroyo: Hmm Tina Fey...
Lewis: Ah, wonderful.
Arroyo: Really?
Lewis: Brilliant, brilliant, everything comes from her brain. Marvelous.
Arroyo: I want to talk about some quick contemporary events. You are beloved in France.
Lewis: Don't forget it [makes funny look off camera].
Arroyo: The French Legion of Honor.
Lewis: And the Commander of Arts and Letters.
Arroyo: You are adored there. I mean, when you show up at Cannes or... it's, forget Angelina Jolie or anybody else. It's Jerry Lewis everybody wants to see.
Lewis: Pretty much.
Arroyo: And humble, too...[Lewis smiles]. When you watch what’s been happening on CNN and on Fox, ISIS blowing up, shooting people indiscriminately — what went through your mind as you saw this?
Jerry Lewis: You gotta remember something. ISIS has attacked the world, OK? And all of a sudden I’m wondering, where are all of our NATO allies? Why don’t I have Germany, and Italy, and Great Britain? Why don’t I have all of them, including Spain, doing something? Get all of your military together, bring that military to our military, and wipe ’em out. They’re asking to be stopped. And we’re not stopping them, we’re just reporting what they’re doing. That’s ridiculous.
Arroyo: And what do you think about the refugees?
Lewis: The refugees should stay where the hell they are.
Arroyo: They say there’s a humanitarian crisis. They’re fleeing. They have to come to America...
Lewis: Hey, nobody has worked harder for the human condition than I have. But they’re not part of the human condition, if 11 guys in that group of 10,000 are ISIS. How can I take the chance? I don’t want to lose another Frenchman or another Englishman. That bothers me. You can’t really knock the president [Obama] per se because he was never given to understand that’s out there. He was never ready, never prepared for it. And what I’m watching in him is uncertainty. And you don’t have uncertainty in a leader. A leader doesn’t give a s___ what he does, but he gets it done.
Arroyo: Politics: I know you watch it. I see you watching news every minute of the day. What do you think of Donald Trump?
Lewis: I think he’s great.
Arroyo: Why?
Lewis: Because he’s a showman. And we’ve never had a showman in the president’s chair.
Arroyo: Well, you had Ronald Reagan. He was a bit of a showman.
Lewis: Well, that’s different. You can’t make a comparison with Ronald Reagan, because I can do three hours on him with just praise, he was so good.
Arroyo: Alright, final questions: What is the legacy of Jerry Lewis?
