Should I
break this baby up into "The good" and "The Bad" categories like I do my SNL Classic posts or does this rambling, essayish form work for you? What do you guys think?

Sorry bout the enormously thing. If this were still in the blogs I could go back and fix it. I can't so you'll just have to accept my apology. I am—very—sorry that I reused and overused that word so wantonly.

The book was not as bad as I had been led to believe but it is pretty sordid and creepy in its relentless focus on drugs. Seasons 3 and 4 of SNL barely figure but every coke bender is relayed in loving detail. It made me feel dirty but nearly as dirty as seeing the film.

It would be a profound honor to share a commentary track with the estimable ZMF. Are you listening, Criterion?

Done! Consider it retired.

I really
wanted to include some clips from the film (words cannot do justice to its mind-boggling miscalculation and surreal bad taste) but all I had was a shitty VHS tape (the Criterion DVD is undoubtedly forthcoming) so that, alas, was not possible.

I concur. Hey Steinski fans: I just did a long, pretty extensive interview with him a few weeks back that will hopefully be running soon. He talks a lot about selling drugs and working in advertising. And also making music.

I pushed for "Jug Town" (which is kinda genius, as is his whole country album) but Josh overruled me with "7/11s". Fun fact: I just learned today that Hamburger has more than one "Zipper Lips" song. That seems strangely appropriate.

Seeing "Brand Upon the Brain" with Crispin Glover's narration was almost inconceivably awesome. Definitely one of my top-ten all-time moviegoing experiences. Can't think of much that compares to that.

Good point.

I thought Duvall was terrific in the sketch (it's very easy to buy her as the weak-willed pawn of a charismatic cult leader) but that it got old very quickly.

I would
like to point out that it is a complete coincidence that I posted this blog entry at exactly 4:20. A weird coincidence but a complete coincidence all the same.

You're all right, then wrong, then right again. Or possibly the reverse.

Mr. O'Neal
In your honor I will take it upon myself to spread the phrase "Johnny Racistseed" throughout this great land.

So the message I'm getting is
blow jobs and orgies yes. Dry and abstract no. Obst is out and Bowie is in. Duly noted.

I don't
"know the context of the first picture (beyond it being a still from the movie) but it makes me happy. I could watch Robert De Niro, John Turturro and Stanley Tucci do just about anything, especially fall into an open grave.

In case anyone cares
the next three books in this series are probably going to be Angela Bowie's "Backstage Passes", Carlotta Monti's "W.C Fields & Me" and Sammy Davis Jr's "Yes I Can".

Has
anyone read this book or seen the film it inspired? For that matter has anyone read Linson's other book? Should I check it out?

Yeah, I hear good things about "Telling Lies In America". I'll have to check it out. I don't think Eszterhas is wholly untalented-his work typically has a certain pulpy panache-but I can't say I'm a fan either.

Black is actually pretty famous for helping his buddies out. He lent a crucial hand-up to a lot of the guys he went to college with, like Fred Dekker and Ed Solomon.