Our latest episode is out now. You can listen to it here.
A musical about a murdering rabbi, a tribute to PJ O’Rourke, a great Beatles story by someone who knew them, Jenkins at the art museum, a four-day work-week, and memories of Chris Farley are discussed by Rick and Dave. [Ep260]
The latest Free Kicks episode is available now. Listen to it here.
West Ham defender Kurt Zouma is in trouble for kicking his cat, and Manchester United is currently a dysfunctional mess. Adam and Rick discuss. [Ep145]
Born OTD in 1886, Pat Pieper. He was known for his trademark opener…”Tention! Attention Please! Get your pencils and scorecards ready...” He got the PA job in 1916 when the Cubs first started playing in Wrigley Field, and kept the job until his death in 1974. #EveryCubEver pic.twitter.com/hF4Lh5lppf
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) February 17, 2022
For my rock and roll friends, this week's interview is a fun one. We talked to Loverboy's Doug Johnson. They are currently on tour with Styx and REO Speedwagon. He tells us great stories about their first gig ever (opening for Kiss), what is was like on the road back in the day (apologies to Quiet Riot), and we also talked about the Beatles documentary "Get Back" which every musician in the world has been mesmerized by.
He passed away yesterday at the age of 74. I idolized him in my youth when he was the editor of National Lampoon. It was such a subversive magazine. It looked totally normal so that parents didn't have a problem with it (unless of course, they had covers like the ones below), and it was filled with unbelievably hilarious articles. Some were filthy (John Hughes' "My Vagina" comes to mind), and some were political (a lot of P.J.'s fit in that category), but all were different than the kinds of things you'd find in other magazines.
And yet, P.J. believed that he was responsible for the magazine's demise. He wrote about it a few years ago for the Hollywood Reporter. You can read it here.
RIP, P.J. O'Rourke. I didn't agree with your politics, but I always admired your wit and wisdom.
On the southside...
I’m coming home! This Saturday I will be signing my book, Behind the Glass Stories From a Sports Radio Producer, at the great Lassen’s Tap in Homewood from 1-3. I hope to see you there! https://t.co/UQ5FiRNYAR
— randymerkin (@randymerkin) February 15, 2022
And on the northside...
On Saturday, February 19th, local author Bob Boone will be in residence at The Book Stall from 12 noon to 2 PM, signing and discussing his new book of short fiction City U.
Note this is an open house, not a sit-down reading or program. Feel free to stop by anytime during those hours to say hello and get a book signed.
Can't make it that day? Call The Book Stall at 847-446-8880 and they will get you a signed copy!
The stories in City U, Bob Boone’s third work of fiction, feature the inhabitants of a large city school – teachers, students, old folks, volunteers, administrators and a whole lot more.
From Robert Feder's column this morning...
Jon Sciambi and Jim Deshaies will continue in the Chicago Cubs broadcast booth as play-by-play announcer and color commentator, respectively, for years to come. Marquee Sports Network announced multiyear extensions for both on Tuesday. Mike McCarthy, general manager of Marquee, called the pairing “a tremendous partnership that was apparent from their first broadcast together last season and will only continue growing stronger in the years to come,” adding: “The duo share not only a genuine love for baseball, but also a distinct sense of humor and quick wit, making for an entertaining broadcast all summer long.” Sciambi also continues as radio voice of ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.”
That is, of course, if baseball returns at all. Pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report this week, but they are being locked out by owners.
Every week I send my Minutia Men Co-Host Dave Stern a list from our audio archives for this week's Studio Walls feature. These are the possibilities for this week. Which one will he choose?
*February 13, 1967, the Buckinghams hit #1 with Kind of a Drag". We spoke to the guitarist of the band Carl Giammarese about that song, and the incredible success the band achieved in 1967. (You can listenn to the entire interview here)
*February 14, 1991, the movie "Silence of the Lambs" was released. We talked to one of the actors from that film, Dan Butler, about his memorable scene involving bugs. (The entire interview is here.)
*February 15 is Joseph Gannascoli's birthday. The man who played Vito on the Sopranos was a guest on our podcast. (You can listen to his entire interview here)
*February 16, 2014, Dave released the video to his promotional song "Cueball Wizard". (We have the video here)
*February 16 is John McEnroe's birthday. Randy Merkin told us a story about encountering the tennis great on our podcast earlier this year. (Listen to the podcast here.)
*Feburay 16, 1968, the Beatles arrive in India to study with the Maharishi. Paul Salzman was there when it happened, and told us all about it. (Listen to the entire interview here)
*February 17, 1984, the film Footloose came out. Mike Reno of Loverboy had a song on that soundtrack and told us the story behind the song. (Listen to the entire interview here)
*Feburary 17, 1989, the movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure came out. Tubes lead singer Fee Waybill was in that movie and explained how it all came to be. (Listen to the entire interview here)
*February 18, 1998, Harry Caray died. We have audio of Harry talking about how he'd like to be remembered. We also have a song that I wrote about Harry's passing for the John Landecker show (Audio is on Landecker & The Legends, Volume 5)
*February 19, 2016, Rich King visited the White House along with the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Rich told us that story when we interviewed him last year (Listen to the entire interview here.)
A horrible snow storm for adults, a great time for kids. 11 years ago this week. This kid is now running the instagram page for Minutia Men. He's 19.
“What did you have for breakfast today?”
This is the first question I asked people who came to be interviewed at WNIJ, the NPR station where I had an author interview program. This always-unexpected query immediately prompted a Proustian reverie starring a bagel, cup of coffee, or bacon and eggs. No madeleines appeared, but even the most nervous guest looked and sounded relaxed after declaiming the morning menu. The result was a recording that was more conversation than Q & A, something that engaged listeners and boosted the confidence of my guest. I hope you have a similar experience when you go on the radio, TV or a podcast to promote your book.
They called him The Penguin.
Naturally, he is featured in the pages of EveryCubEver. Today, on his 73rd birthday, he's featured on this blog.
Today, on Valentine's Day, I thought I'd pull out this one for the married-for-many-years celebrants. It's called "Ten Ways to Make Your Wife Laugh"
The following is the natural comedic arc of a relationship between a man and a woman.
1. She falls in love with you because you make her laugh.
2. She marries you.
3. She begins to roll her eyes.
4. She begs you not to tell a joke again.
5. She intentionally ruins your punch lines at cocktail parties.
6. She says "When will you grow up?"
Ah, love. Don’t feel bad if the above seven step process describes you perfectly. It happens to every man after a few years of marriage. When a wife gets to know her husband a little better, he becomes less and less funny. If you talked to Jerry Seinfeld’s wife she would say the same thing.
It's really not her fault. You tell the same jokes. By the third year of your marriage she's heard every single one of them. Plus, now she's hearing those jokes from the guy who leaves his dirty socks on the floor even though he's constantly being asked to "pick up those disgusting socks." It's inevitable. No one is to blame. It's the way God planned it.
So what can a man (who was chosen as a husband primarily because of his ability to amuse) do to keep his wife laughing? Between the two of us we have sixty years of marital experience.
Unfortunately, here is the comprehensive list of things a husband (of more than a few years) can say to his wife to make her laugh.
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So is that it? Your wife is never going to laugh again? Sure she will. She just won't laugh at anything you say. But you know what will make her laugh? The one guaranteed thing that makes all women laugh every single time they see it?
Show her a picture of a guy getting in the knutchkies.
Show her a video.
It's one of those things--all women think a man's groin pain is funny.
That's free of charge.
You're welcome.
