A look at four stories from this week, after-the-jump ….
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While most of the coverage of the NYC Democratic primaries was focused on the mayoral race — and the surge of (presumptive) November general election winner Zohran Mamdani — Andrew Cuomo was not the only candidate with sexual misdeeds who was on the ballot. (My colleague Tara took a hard look last evening at the pass he was given ... by way-too-many people).
In the Democratic primary race for NYC's 2nd City Council district, the (again, presumptive) winner is a NY State Assemblyman named Harvey Epstein. Coming in fourth place (out of five) was former Rep. (and registered sex offender) Anthony Weiner, who served 18 months in prison for sending obscene material to a minor.
The takeaway? Someone with the disadvantage of having a first and last name of two infamous sex criminals (Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein) decidedly defeated someone … who actually is a sex offender.
I have three younger sisters, and so I recall their going through the teen-idol stages (today, they are ages 66, 64 and 58). Copies of 16 Magazine and Tiger Beat were a common sight in our house. I do not recall who was my oldest sister’s dreamboat, but for my middle sister it was Shaun Cassidy, and for the youngest one it was Rick Springfield (my mother was always suspicious when she wanted to stay home sick, believing she actually just wanted to watch General Hospital).
There was a Sunday newspaper story about fanzines, that my two older sisters (having outgrown that phase) could laugh about. The author asked a fanzine editor, “How many exclamation points do you use per issue?”. “Zillions — we don’t believe in using periods!” And there were the ubiquitous poll questions: “Is So-and-So the cutest? You vote!”
All of which leads up to the news this week of the passing of former teen-idol, turned singer, turned EMT/trainer with the LAPD, Bobby Sherman at the age of eighty-one. Before his singing career, he became famous on the television show Here Come the Brides (along with future Starsky & Hutch star David Soul) and when ABC was set to cancel the show: the fanzines organized a massive letter-writing campaign, to no avail (Bobby had been the last surviving main character).
Writing in a different place, a DK poster of old wrote about his obituary:
I was a little too old to fall under his spell. But I know there are lots of women who are going to be taken back to adolescence when they read this.
Next …. HAIL and FAREWELL to the Argentine-born composer and arranger Lalo Schifrin— the subject of a profile of mine back in 2018 — who died today at the age of ninety-three. He was unhappy at life under the Juan Peron regime (seeing soldiers goose-step, and as a college student having to pay to smuggle-in jazz recordings, forbidden by the regime) and so he fled to attend the Paris Conservatoire, which launched his prolific career.
Finally, this week saw the 100th birthday of the TV/stage/film star June Lockhart. In retirement, she became enough of a home astronomy buff that NASA frequently used her as a volunteer spokesperson. “Since the ‘70s, she has made many public appearances and service announcements for the organization, been a part of countless mission liftoffs and befriended scores of astronauts”.
I recall reading years ago that she would often attend NASA press conferences, (often the only non-scientist, reporter or space program professional who would be called upon to ask questions). In part, this was because the agency saw her as a barometer to what space enthusiasts in the general public were thinking, and what NASA needed to focus on in its public pronouncements.
Yet a major reason … was her TV role as the mother of the 1960’s television show Lost in Space.
"I have so many friends among the astronaut group saying that watching ‘Lost in Space' when they were little boys made them know what they wanted to do," she said. "It's astonishing that it inspired so many people, but it's lovely to know that."
Let’s close with a short tune that Lalo Schifrin did not compose … yet it was he who arranged the second season theme from The Man from U.N.C.L.E. — and just a year later, his use of flutes and congas were also utilized for the theme song he composed (and is best remembered for), the Mission: Impossible theme song.
Now, on to Top Comments (and a Top Photo):
Highlighted by Roslin:
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the diary by angryea about parents enabling their white children to feel oppressed— CPT Doom tells a story of watching a mother’s lesson about equal treatment in the face of prejudice circa fifty years ago … that I hope others also witnessed as young people.
And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
1) Other than ICE's own, of course. by Seraph4377 +16011) Zelensky: Ukraine needs missiles. … by PissedGrunty +8916) [image] by Conflation Nation +7821) Dump by Denise Oliver Velez +7221) Iron Tortoise too!! by lineatus +7224) "NYC is about to see 9/11 2.0" … by Leeb29 +7124) More Dump by Denise Oliver Velez +7127) Sandoval, … by ArrrghIsle +6627) McConnell … by Denise Oliver Velez +6630) Miller by Denise Oliver Velez +64