My parents tell a story of being on Bourbon street in '78 or '79 and seeing a girl do a strip tease to the Cantina Band song from Star Wars.

My parents tell a story of being on Bourbon street in '78 or '79 and seeing a girl do a strip tease to the Cantina Band song from Star Wars.

I would disagree somewhat. While "high-minded discourse" isn't necessarily what I look for, I don't care for the more distinctly "uninformed" episodes. You get too much of what you get on this episode, for example, which is a pattern of the gang pausing to let the guest talk "seriously" about the subject for twenty…

I would disagree somewhat. While "high-minded discourse" isn't necessarily what I look for, I don't care for the more distinctly "uninformed" episodes. You get too much of what you get on this episode, for example, which is a pattern of the gang pausing to let the guest talk "seriously" about the subject for twenty…

On a similar topic, John Williams' theme for the Langella Dracula is so memorable and has been reused so many times, for a long time I thought it was some piece of public domain classical music, like the Swan Lake bit or Night on Bald Mountain. Though listening to it now, it's also so very obviously a Williams score…

On a similar topic, John Williams' theme for the Langella Dracula is so memorable and has been reused so many times, for a long time I thought it was some piece of public domain classical music, like the Swan Lake bit or Night on Bald Mountain. Though listening to it now, it's also so very obviously a Williams score…

Actually, I suspect your scenario is probably pretty close to the truth. That's kind of how I picture these big studio productions. Morning of filming, they go over to the studio's animal pens on the backlot and ask "What have you got in stock today?" and just grab whatever seems usable. I'd elaborate on the scene…

Actually, I suspect your scenario is probably pretty close to the truth. That's kind of how I picture these big studio productions. Morning of filming, they go over to the studio's animal pens on the backlot and ask "What have you got in stock today?" and just grab whatever seems usable. I'd elaborate on the scene…

I forgot about the possum, but you're right that it makes an acceptable enough giant rat.

I forgot about the possum, but you're right that it makes an acceptable enough giant rat.

I kind of amazed how much I knew about all the Universal monsters as a kid — with a pre-internet childhood — especially since I only saw Frankenstein, Bride, and Dracula in their entirety (on VHS). But since I consumed virtually every documentary or picture book on monsters, special effects, and make-up, I'd seen all…

I kind of amazed how much I knew about all the Universal monsters as a kid — with a pre-internet childhood — especially since I only saw Frankenstein, Bride, and Dracula in their entirety (on VHS). But since I consumed virtually every documentary or picture book on monsters, special effects, and make-up, I'd seen all…

"Plus, there’s just so much about Dracula that’s memorable: the oddly ominous strains of Swan Lake over the opening credits; the shots of real creepy-crawly creatures…"

"Plus, there’s just so much about Dracula that’s memorable: the oddly ominous strains of Swan Lake over the opening credits; the shots of real creepy-crawly creatures…"

Well, Tom does have the beautiful "All the World Is Green" from Blood Money, which has some thematic similarities (though it's almost a reverse version — it's backward-looking rather than forward-looking, and gender-reversed).

Well, Tom does have the beautiful "All the World Is Green" from Blood Money, which has some thematic similarities (though it's almost a reverse version — it's backward-looking rather than forward-looking, and gender-reversed).

Did someone just call the Zelda scenes "kitschy"? Some writer's going to find a very angry ghost creeping up on him to twist his spine.

Did someone just call the Zelda scenes "kitschy"? Some writer's going to find a very angry ghost creeping up on him to twist his spine.

His daughter, Quincy Coleman, has an album called "Come Closer" that I think is really great. There's a nice live performance (with some great trumpet work) of many of its tracks from KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, watchable here:

His daughter, Quincy Coleman, has an album called "Come Closer" that I think is really great. There's a nice live performance (with some great trumpet work) of many of its tracks from KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, watchable here: