Best of 2017 (Unabridged)

I'm posting this here for my own archives.  If you want to help me out - make sure to go click and read it over at Cinema Sentries broken into three parts.  If you need it all in one sitting - this is what I wrote.

BEST OF 2017

From 2005 through 2012 I pretty consistently wrote my Sunday Morning Tuneage blog. It continued inconsistently through 2013 before being abandoned.  Each year was punctuated with a series of Best Of . . .  lists.  While the blog still remains retired, I'm reviving the year end summary.  So here's your 2017 in convenient list form.

BY THE NUMBERS

4,216,588 steps (that is less the 4 weeks in June that I went without a FitBit)
246 beers logged - 130 that were new to me this year.
0 times with the hiccups
25 books read (2nd year in a row of meeting 25 book goal)
0 concerts attended
55 films directed by Alfred Hitchcock.  All the films from Silents to 1976.
24 movies seen in theaters (best year in a decade but one short of goal)
14 States visited
60 unique Bloody Marys and a Bloody Mary Convention.
9 games played before abandoning the project because it was hard to find the time.
100 unique bags of potato chips
45 Peanuts TV Specials watched.  All the specials and four of the movies.
1 - 1st place Crafthouse Trivia (of less than 5 attempts)

BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2017
1.  Weir - The Martian
2.  King - The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
3.  Willingham - Fables: Camelot (V.20)

With 100 options to choose from, many of them get blended together.  My overall observations aren't too different than cereals.  The best are the basics.  Those are the ones that will invariably be your favorites over time.  There are interesting one off flavors that are good for a bag but won't ever replace a classic.  Here's the best I had during this project.

BEST POTATO CHIPS OF 2017
1.  KETTLE BRAND BACKYARD BARBEQUE.  This is the most consistent brand out there and they do barbeque really well.  This could easily be my every day chip.
2.  ZAPP'S NEW ORLEANS KETTLE VOODOO CHIPS.  Like bbq and vinegar had some kind of love baby.  I really like this brand.  It's probably at your local store, just hidden.
3.  RUFFLE'S ALL DRESSED.  I wouldn't make them my only chip but they are by far one of the best additions of the recent years.  Maybe I should be moving to Canada.
4.  LAY'S FLAMIN' HOT.  I love my spicy.
5.  RUFFLES JALAPENO RANCH.  This is the best sandwich friend out there.
6.  KETTLE BRAND TROPICAL SALSA.  Tastes like a flavor that should have been around for years.
7.  BOULDER CANYON RED CHILI.  I want more of this right now.  
8.  RUFFLES ORIGINAL. Easily my favorite chip for over 40 years.
9.  LAY'S LIMON.  
10. ZAPP'S HOTTER 'N HOT JALAPENO.  Another spicy entry that goes great with beer.


MOST PLAYED JUKEBOX TUNES IN 2017 
It's hard for me to not become jukebox DJ at a bar.  Thanks to modern technology I can pull up the history of what I've played in 2017.
1.  SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS - 100 DAYS / 100 NIGHTS.  This will improve the night of every drinker at the bar.
2.  THE BROTHERS JOHNSON - STRAWBERRY LETTER #23
3.  TOM PETTY - BREAKDOWN.  For obvious reasons this has been on extra play the past few months.
4.  GEORGE MICHAEL - CARELESS WHISPER.  One of the best bar sing-a-long songs out there.
5.  AL GREEN - LOVE & HAPPINESS.  I play Al at almost every stop, this one just happened to make the top five.

BEST PEANUTS SPECIALS
1.  IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (1966)
2.  A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965)
3.  IT'S A MYSTERY CHARLIE BROWN (1974)
4.  A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING (1973)
5.  YOU'RE IN LOVE, CHARLIE BROWN (1967)

BEST MOVIES OF 2017 (Seen in theaters)

1.  LADY BIRD.  Maybe because it was just different than I usually see or that it was seriously well written but it was funny and touching in a way that I just don't take time to go see enough.
2.  GET OUT.  I went in with very few preconceptions.  Symbolic and surprising.  I was transfixed.
3.  IT.  I've been waiting for an adaptation like this for years.  Different than the mini-series in just enough ways to stand on its own.  Looking forward to the sequel most of all.
4.  WONDER WOMAN.  The Year of the Woman really found a voice with this fresh take on the character.  It is easily DC's best movie since the Nolan Batman films.
5.  STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI.  Not the best and not the worst.  I like my Star Wars franchise but just not the level of obsession I had in my youth.
6.  THOR: RAGNORAK.  I actually was surprised that I liked this more humorous take on the Thor character.  Well played.
7.  SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING.  I wish this had come out before the last Captain America but I get the timing.  A fun but meaningless addition to the Marvel Universe - perfect July release.
8.  GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2.  See THOR, humorous but not as consequential as I might have wanted.
9.  LEGO: BATMAN.  
10. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.  This film was beautiful to look at.  It also proves that we need more mysteries. 

When you see fewer than 25 new releases in a year at the theaters and even fewer at home, the list of movie you didn't see is usually more impressive than the ones you did.  This list becomes my new to-do list for the next year although I'm lucky to knock 2-3 off the list.

BEST MOVIES I DIDN'T SEE IN 2017

1.  DUNKIRK.  Two simple reasons here.  One it's Christopher Nolan.  Two is that war films rarely translate well to the small screen.  Hoping it gets nominated for awards so it plays again.
2.  BABY DRIVER.  How did I not go see this Edgar Wright film?  I'm a loser.
3.  BLADE RUNNER 2049.  Another shameful development that most people who know me can't believe I missed this one.  I was the biggest advocate of the original for decades.
4.  WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES.  Maybe not the best movie I missed this year but I have seen the past 50 years of them so this seemed like a natural.
5.  THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.  Been an advocate of this movie since the trailer dropped at the beginning of the year.
6.  ALIEN: COVENANT.  In a year of sequels, what happened that I missed this.
7.  ATOMIC BLONDE.
8.  OKJA.  I know I can watch it on Netflix now but this looks like a big screen view.
9.  LADY MACBETH
10.  WORMWOOD.  Errol Morris is always going to challenge me as a viewer - this looks like he's on top of that game.

I ask your forgiveness for being temporarily fooled that I wanted to see THE MUMMY, KONG: SKULL ISLAND and THE DARK TOWER.  But I'm a sucker for trailers. (See below)

I read reviews (on this site for example) but the ultimate selling point of a movie for me is the trailer.  The art of the trailer is generally dead.  There are still a few that play out like mini-movies.  Here are a few of the best this year.

BEST TRAILERS OF 2017

1.  DEADPOOL 2.  This is how you make me want to see your movie and not feel like I've seen the best scenes from your film.  Original content in a trailer rules.  Brilliant.

2.  BABY DRIVER.  I'm pretty sure this ruin the movie but it plays like a shorter version of the film.  I kinda like revisiting these trailers after seeing the movie as a reminder of the highlights.

3.  ATOMIC BLONDE.  Once again, probably gives away some important scenes from the film but bonus points for a great soundtrack.  Tunes are a key function in a trailer.

4.  BLADE RUNNER 2049.  Trailers for sequels are tricky.  This one does a great job of selling this as its own separate film that doesn't require the viewer to remember important details from the 80s.

5.  BLACK PANTHER.  Even more than the AVENGERS trailer, this trailer raises my expectations beyond what this movie can possibly meet.  Marvel has perfected the art of the superhero trailer but over the years that's all they are doing is following a formula.  This is guilty of some of the same beats as every other trailer but unlike the THOR trailer it doesn't feel like it gives away the best comedic moments.

This is my most uninformed list of the year.  I don't read many magazines or watch TV shows about upcoming films anymore.  I tend to find out through osmosis and YouTube telling me I might like a trailer.  I lean on the comfort of favorite directors, favorite actors, franchises and sequels.  Here's what is on my radar for next year.

BEST MOVIES OF 2018

1.  READY PLAYER ONE (March).  I have a few pages left to finish the book.  On the surface this book is a natural for a mini-series instead of a film adaptation.  But leaving it to Spielberg makes sense and the trailer fits the words I read.
2.  THE NEW MUTANTS (April)  After exploring every other genre from within the superhero genre, I've been waiting for a journey into horror.  From what I've seen, this plays much more from the horror than superhero genre and that's fine with me.
3.  JURASSIC PARK:  FALLEN KINGDOM (June)  I was surprised by the previous film.  This has the warnings of just repeating the previous film but I'm still down.
4.  SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (May)  The one thing that makes me happy here is the move to May.  STAR WARS have always felt misplaced in December.  They belong right here before Memorial Day.
5.  ISLE OF DOGS (March)  A Wes Anderson trailer is always unique too.  I thought of including this above but I'm not sure it explains much.  I just see lots of dogs.
6.  FANTASTIC BEASTS:  THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (Nov)  Some franchises have me for life.  
7.  ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL (JULY)  I loved the manga but never really had much hope for an adaptation.  For years we heard it would be Cameron but Rodriguez is a decent fit to direct.  I still don't hold out much hope because I heard they ruined GHOST IN THE SHELL.
8.  THE PREDATOR (AUG)  Shane Black helms what could be very fun but as you saw, I missed an ALIEN film this past year.
9.  VENOM (Oct)  Other than a few pictures, I have no idea what they are doing with this character.  If they stay close to the original comics there could be something here.
10.  RAMPAGE (April)  Monster movie, yo.
11-13.  AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, BLACK PANTHER, DEADPOOL 2.  One of these may break the MU success streak.  Not likely but they are way past due for a real stinker.

Last year was a harsh year for celebrity deaths (Bowie, Prince, etc), so this year was going to have a hard time living up to the taking out of icons.  Well, 2017 took a good run at it.  Here's the deaths of the most influential to my life this year.

MOST MISSED OF 2017

1. TOM PETTY.  Musically if we are going to pull from the Rock n Roll genre, this is one of the biggest for me.  He's been a fixture in my music life since the early 80s.  It hurts that I never got a chance to see him in concert.
2.  HUGH HEFNER.  Good or bad or as uncomfortable as his legacy might be in today's standards, the man defined a certain lifestyle, published some great authors and got the conversation about sexuality going.
3.  DICK ENBERG.  "Oh my" this voice is one of the top three voices of MLB and NFL for me.
4.  WALTER BECKER.  Always a Steely Dan fan, this is a guy that did fame his own way and I respect that.
5.  ROSE MARIE.  Sally from the "Dick Van Dyke Show" is still one of the cleverest and sassy characters of all-time.
6.  JERRY LEWIS.  I always feel for actors that outlast their fandom.  By the time he passed, his brilliant comedic routines with Dean Martin were largely forgotten.  There was more to Lewis than the "Nutty" guy we saw in the 60s.
7.  HEATHER NORTH.  Maybe a surprise to the list but not is you know me.  She was the original voice of "Daphne" on Scooby-Doo for the first twenty years.
8.  GLEN CAMPBELL.  If for no other reason than the brilliant "Gentle On My Mind".
9.  SUE GRAFTON.  This author is a late addition the realm of the dead this year.  I'm always supportive of people with lifelong projects.  Her Alphabet series will end with Y because of her death.  I'm on Q now.  Her mysteries are fun at best but I respect her commitment to the characters.
10.  GEORGE ROMERO.  The man who created a genre.  People had heard of zombies before "Night of the Living Dead" but c'mon, they had never visualized it like this.  My obsession with shows like "The Walking Dead" are because this man and "Dawn of the Dead".

I spent the year on an Alfred Hitchcock project of watching all his films - almost all for at least the second time.  I was interested in how my perception of them might have changed over the years.  In a year of viewing all of them here they are in order of how much I enjoyed them.

BEST HITCHCOCK FILMS OF THE 2017 PROJECT
1.  THE BIRDS (1963)   For at least the 10th time I started seeing shots and symbols I had not noticed before.
2.  FRENZY (1972)  I think I had dismissed this after one viewing years ago but it is a classic worthy of his best.
3.  FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940)  Much more here than I originally gave it credit for.  Realize it's in the very middle of World War II.  
4.  NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)  It really only gets better.
5.  PSYCHO (1960)  
6.  THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS (1935)  plays very well in the theater.
7.  STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)
8.  MR & MRS SMITH (1941)  I don't think I knew this was Hitchcock the first time I saw it.
9.  NOTORIOUS (1946)  This film might actually be the one that has moved up the most in my mind since before this project started.  This should be where you start if you know very little about his films.
10. VERTIGO (1958)  It's here only because I've seen and analyzed it so many times.


We live in a very high quality TV show era now.  Maybe the top end isn't as strong as a decade ago but the number of very good shows is amazing.  It's hard to even keep up with shows that aren't on your sourcing radar - HBO, Showtime, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, etc. This list is as fluid as any here - ask me tomorrow and it might be different - but here it is at this time and place.

BEST TV SHOWS OF 2017

1.  TWIN PEAKS (SHOW)  I don't know that I was completely in love with this show as it aired.  It's one that really ages well though.  The more I watch other shows, the more I'm impressed that Showtime gave David Lynch so much room to tell his story at his pace.
2.  HALT & CATCH FIRE (AMC)  "I have an idea".  This show had the most consistently great run of any show of recent times.  It's a love story to the 80s and 90s that used computer culture as a background to tell some really powerful stories.
3.  PREACHER (AMC)  It's been a fun ride so far.  This season in New Orleans was a bit uneven but in the end I can't compare it to any other show out there.
4.  BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)  Easily just the most fun, you don't have to think too hard about it, show on my list.  A fun ride that plays well to non-"Breaking Bad" fans too.
5.  RIVERDALE (CW)  Comfort food alert - this show is just fun.  Beautiful cast and a level of mystery that is original "Twin Peaks" meets "90210" with interesting results.  
6.  LEGION (FX)  There are almost too many traditional superhero shows around these days.  It's hard to follow the normal rules and make it interesting.  This show throws out most of the traditions of the genre.  It's frustrating at times but so unique that it still sticks with me.
7.  SILICON VALLEY / VEEP (HBO)  If you had the app you'd know it's "not hot dog" but these two are Sunday night linked in my mind and both the best comedies running. 1A/1B
8.  TABOO (FX)  It was a show that took me a long time to figure out and I'm still not sure of most of the details but dark and wrong is always good in my book.  Also Tom Hardy!
9.  FARGO (FX)  Not as strong as the first couple seasons but Carrie Coon and Ewan MacGregor  are hard to take your eyes off of.  Compelling characters made this fun.
10. LEFTOVERS (HBO)  This final season wasn't what I thought they would do to end the show.  It was better.  You don't always get all the answers in life - sometimes the questions you get are better.

Because of all the choices, some get pushed off to be binge watched at a future date.  Some will just fall off my radar until one of you reminds me to start them up again.  

BEST TV THAT I DON'T WATCH (yet) (or have just started)

1.  MINDHUNTER (Netflix)  Everything about this show looks like a Shawn show.
2.  STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)  I'm two episodes in and it's brilliant and I have to have it done by Comic Con in July.
3.  THE HANDMAID'S TALE (Hulu)
4.  BIG LITTLE LIES (HBO)  I should read the book first?
5.  UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT (Netflix)  Just never started it - I know it's good.
6.  THE DEUCE (HBO)  From "The Wire" creators - how did I miss this?
7.  SANTA CLARITA DIET (Netflix)  Always been a Drew Barrymore fan.
8.  MASTER OF NONE (Netflix)  Another Netflix addition that needs my attention.
9.  BASKETS (FX)  
10. AMERICAN VANDAL (Netflix)  Have you seen the previews???  Holy crap.

You remember the way I like trailers almost as much as movies?   Ads are even more intriguing.  One, there are fewer actual old time commercials anymore and for fewer and fewer products.  Two, where do you even sit still for them anymore?  For me it's mostly during sporting events but even then I usually have to see them in another setting to know to watch them.  No Dilly Dilly here . . . 

BEST TV ADS OF 2017

1.  FEARLESS GIRL.  It kind of says about 2017 what I can't find the proper words.

2.  MCDONALDS.  Mindy Kaling does the unheard of - she doesn't mention the product in the ad.  But gets people to Google it.  I like clever.

3.  NESPRESSO.  "I'm coming home" takes some of my favorite movies and seamlessly puts Clooney in the middle with hilarious results.

4.  SQUARESOFT.  The best Super Bowl ad.  John Malkovich is hilarious "There is a film about me being me."

5.  INSTAGRAM.  Stories are everywhere is inspired and makes you feel like dang it you can make something interesting.  I take pictures of Bloody Marys.  So I'm out.

6. BURGER KING.  Powerful shit.  A way to call out the people who don't do anything.

7.  ANOMALY.  Girl accidentally addresses her letter to Santa as Satan.  It's a real 6 minute movie actually more than an ad.  Patrick Stewart narrates. 

8.  SHEBA.  I love me some cats.  This "Hungry Eyes" parody had me from the start.

9.  MICROSOFT.  A sweet holiday ad about inclusion.

10.  HALO TOP.  Everyone you love is gone. There is only ice cream.  

I chose to explore the world of Bloody Marys this year.  The project got me to to some bars and restaurants that I would not have made it to otherwise this year.  It's a drink that I only kinda liked before this year.  Now it's something that I seek out.  The secret is in the mix and in the garnish.  I prefer at the very least three olives and bacon is a nice touch.

BEST BLOODY MARYS OF 2017
1.  POTATO SHACK.  This was a total surprise.  A potato restaurant in Huntsville served up a perfectly spicy Bloody Mary.  So good that I went back later in the year for another.
2.  GUY FIERI'S VEGAS KITCHEN & BAR.  A little crazy with the garnish.  Essentially it's a meal on your drink.  But it's a crazy good drink.
3.  ROCKIN BAJA LOBSTER.  Maybe I'm biased because I love this San Diego taco joint.  But this went very well with brunch.
4.  BUFFALO WILD WINGS.  As far as chains go, they didn't always live up to the hype.  This one comes through in spades.  A wonderful addition.
5.  TEQUILA BAR & GRILLE.  Another San Diego entry shows that atmosphere also goes a long way.
6.  WITHERSPOON DISTILLERY.  The vodka is important too.  This craft liquor bar made me a little work of art that was really good.
7.  BANG BANG BAR.  Cute dive bar in San Antonio wins for out of the way trip for a Bloody Mary and excellent juke box.
8.  PLUCKERS.  
9.  3 STACKS
10.  CHILI'S.  Including this since I never have anything nice to say about the place.  I was surprised to find that they have a really decent mix.

THINGS FROM 2017 THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY OTHER LISTS
1.  THE ECLIPSE.   A very memorable few minutes of the year when people stopped being upset about everything else. Also the picture of Trump staring directly into the eclipse.
2.  PEGGY WHITSON.  She commanded the International Space Station and last year set the record for the most days in space by an U.S. astronaut.
3.  HOUSTON ASTROS.  Considering the hurricane circumstances, this was more rewarding than a Cubs victory again.
4.  FIONA THE HIPPO.  Baby hippos rule.
5.  COLLEGE GRADUATION.  So proud of Christian for getting it done early and without debt.
6.  LITTLE ELM CRAFTHOUSE.  Friday's book/beer/patio is the best way to end a week and even though it's not every week, it's often enough to give me peace.
7.  TACOS.  Just need to remind you that they are still awesome.
8.  CAJUN NAVY.  Hurricane Harvey brought out country folk in their own boats who had themselves been rescued in Katrina.
9.   BASKETBALL.  My son plays basketball 12 months out of the year and I haven't grown tired of watching him play yet.
10. CRAFT LIQUOR.  I hope this trend of local small batch whiskey and vodka continues into the new year.

Speaking of 2018 - THE WINTER OLYMPICS may provide extra interest this year in the Ice Dance competition as my niece looks to qualify next week.


I used to have lists on here about DVD's I purchased and music I bought.  Those days seem quaint now.  I still listen to music but in ways that are less easy to quantify.  I listen to XM and CDs in the car and working out, walking and at work I listen to Amazon and Spotify.  Thank you Spotify for keep stats for me.

MOST PLAYED SONGS FROM SPOTIFY IN 2017
1. A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation

2.  Jurrasic 5 - Juarass Finish First
3.  William Bell - I Forgot To Be Your Lover
4.  The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By
5.  Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
6.  Nappy Roots - Po' Folks
7.  Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
8.  Jurrasic 5 - Quality Control
9.  Heavy D & The Boyz - Now That We Found Love

10. Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize

Thanks for all the time you've given me.  I appreciate your patience with me through the year with my silly little projects.  I hope to meet up with even more of you this year to accompany me with these shenanigans.

"What are we gonna do
Roses are red and violets are blue
Love is good and plenty if you get plenty good lovin'
Kiss you where you're hot to what I got to keep you bubblin'"  - Heavy D

 What are we going to do with it in 2018.  Stay hard.

sb

2017 Forceys

THE FORCEYS (Downtown Condo - 14th Floor)  This year the 12th Annual Forceys moved to what I unofficially count as the 7th different location for the awards and maybe the most scenic.  This downtown location brought together our largest audience in years with eight attendees to celebrate the best of the past year.  Discussions and shots ensued as we honored the following. 

BEST MOVIE - LOGAN.  With last year's winner "Star Wars: Force Awakens" having another entry this year and Marvel having a sequel to previous winner "Guardians of the Galaxy", I thought the winner was predetermined.  Although "Arrival" made a strong showing, it was moody X-Men property, "Logan" that captured our attention the most last year.  We love our moody heroes.

BEST COMIC - SAGA.  This category gets lots of variety from mainstream to independent to adult themed titles nominated.  Previous winner "Paper Dolls" seemed set to have a repeat victory.  But "Saga", a title that had finished in 2nd place a number of years was able to garner enough votes to finally bring home the win.  It is as much a tribute to the staying power of the title than necessarily the number of issues that came out this year.  I started reading it because of the yearly love from this group and I love it.

BEST MUSIC - A TRIBE CALLED QUEST - WE GOT IT FROM HERE.  An inconclusive favorite during the nomination stage led to one of the most lopsided winners for this year's awards.  Maybe it was the loss of Phife or just the opportunity for a lifetime achievement type of award or maybe that it was just a damn good album.  I'm happy honor them in a category that has had such notables as the Beastie Boys, White Stripes, David Bowie and Radiohead as winners.

BEST OF TV -  STRANGER THINGS.  We still haven't had a repeat winner in this category.  It's by far the strongest list of nominees and we have discussed having a separate category for single TV movies and short, limited series.  A strong group this year with "Better Call Saul", "Halt and Catch Fire" and "Samurai Jack" all receiving votes.  But for the second year in a row, a Netflix show wins.  Last year it was "Daredevil" and this year the retro-themed and "X-Files" fan friendly show "Stranger Things" pulled off the win.  I was sufficiently shamed for not watching this show even though I watch all the other nominees.  I quickly plan to change that.

BEST OF THE WEB - NETFLIX and WTF PODCAST (tie).  Netflix sets a record with four wins, including four years in a row.  The previous winner before them was the tie for this year, the WTF Podcast.  I keep thinking that Amazon or Hulu will make some inroads but as seen in the TV category, Netflix is putting out quality programming.  And the WTF Podcast chugs along year after year with funny, interesting content.  Marc Maron is like the funny but crazy neighbor that you talk to in their garage on a Saturday night.   Hard to argue with the results this year but interesting to see who will disrupt this run.

COOLEST ITEM OF THE YEAR - MELISSA MCCARTHY AS SEAN SPICER and THE WOMEN'S MARCH (tie).  In years where we've had toys and gay marriage and personal accomplishments of our members - we chose to go a little political this year over such nominees at "Art Of Atari", the Chicago Cubs and "Sgt Pepper" remastered.  Melissa McCarthy had a good run as Sean Spicer and probably benefits from his departure only because they won't run the character into the ground.  The Women's March speaks for itself and we're proud of our female members of Strikeforce and support all equal rights as a group.

STRIKEFORCE HALL OF DOOM - the highest honor is also known as "The Kirby".  Last year we inducted five honorees.  This year was also a solid crop of 6 inductees.  Each very deserving of the honor.

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST.  One of the most influential hip hop groups ever joins The Beastie Boys and KRS-One as previous genre entries into the Hall.

BERNIE WRIGHTSON.  If you like horror, then you probably are already a fan of Bernie or the authors and directors that you love owe him a debt of gratitude.  Upon his death last year, even "The Walking Dead" gave him a nod for him importance to their genre.

DAVID LYNCH.  The revamp of "Twin Peaks" put David Lynch back into our lives in a big way this year.  The accomplishments from "Eraserhead" through "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Dr." up to "Twin Peaks" makes his mark on our lives pretty important.  There are very few directors you would call "unique" like him.

ELVIRA.  In the year of the Women's March, we finally inducted our first female into the Hall.  With our relatively closeness in ages, her importance as a Horror Movie host had an influence on us all.  Her character is funny and yet knowledgeable about films and everything young people want in a horror movie host.

LOONEY TUNES.  After years of just missing the cut, I made a plea for Looney Tunes to make the Hall.  When you said "cartoons" in my youth - this is what I thought of.  After school and Saturday mornings were meant for Bugs and Daffy and Foghorn and Tweety.  The body of work speaks for itself and holds up better today than almost anything else from that era.

MADELINE KAHN.  Our second female entrant has a flawless resume including "Blazing Saddles", "Young Frankenstein" and "The Muppet Movie".  She was beautiful and had the singing voice of an angel.  Her humor fit like a glove with the Mel Brooks troupe of the 70s.  

Just missing the vote this year and hoping for further consideration - Henry Silva, Hanna Barbera, Coen Bros and Richard Pryor.

THE KINNEY -  TRUMP.  On the heels of last year's victory of the Trump/Clinton election, this category might be renamed The Trump in the future years.  We'll see how history treats the legacy.  For now, the vote came down more convincing than his actual Presidential election victory.  He clearly won the popular vote.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - BEST REISSUE -  THE ART OF ATARI.  The Hall of Doom entry from last year returned to the podium with a very well thought of book among the group.   Edging out "Twin Peaks" and "Purple Rain (Remastered)", this poster book is a purely enjoyable book of memories.  

The Forceys continue to be some of my favorite social moments of our annual gathering of the Tribe.  Next year you are cordially invited to attend our festivities.  There are plenty of beers and shots to go around.  I'm inspired to put the pageantry back into the awards.  Put in your RSVP for San Diego, July 2018 today.  

"Everybody runnin' when the see the storm's comin' / But whatever's gonna be will be / Some will dash to the mountain, some will crawl / And the weakest amongst them, they will fall / But the strongest in faith, they will stand tall."    

Stay hard.

sb

2016 Forceys

THE FORCEYS (Manchester Grand Hyatt)  This year's 11th Annual Forcey Awards took place on the Friday night of the 2016 Comic Con in San Diego.  The awards still generate much discussion about the previous year.  This hotel is the closest we've ever stayed to the venue and was a nice change of pace from shuttle riding.  The group of five representatives gathered with beer, whiskey and wine to celebrate the best of 2015/2106.  After over a decade we're still going strong . . . 

BEST MOVIE - Star Wars: The Force Awakens.   Strikeforce has often rewarded comic book adaptations with this award.  Despite a strong run in the voting from "Civil War", Star Wars nostalgia won the day for this strong return of the franchise.  With a new release coming at us yearly and Marvel not slowing down their schedule, this should be a strong rivalry going forward.

BEST COMIC - Paper Girls.  This category has had a variety of winners over the years.  We've had mainstream superhero comics, Vertigo titles, TV show adventures and independent comics.  "Saga" is a title that gets runner up votes each year but has never held the crown.  This year's winner harkens back to our first winner "Y: The Last Man".  This Brian K. Vaughn science fiction mystery title captured our imaginations in 2015/2016.

BEST MUSIC - David Bowie - Black Star.  Radiohead, Wilco and Leon Bridges all made good runs at this award this year.  But an appreciate for Bowie's legacy vaulted this album to the top.  It is certainly a worthy album for consideration but there's a feeling that in a different year he wouldn't have made it.  I don't disagree but will defend the quality of this release held up against other recent releases.

 

BEST OF TV -  Daredevil.  This is the odd category that hasn't had a repeat winner.  We've chosen superhero shows more often than not but there have been comedies and drama's too.  Last year's "The Flash" looked to be making a good effort for repeat winner but the Netflix power of their Marvel Universe passed them up and "Daredevil" was the big winner.  Netflix has built a huge stable of shows but our love of superheroes drove this one.  Will they have staying power into the future?  Our fickle tastes and number of choices would tell me we'll find something new to love.

BEST OF THE WEB - Netflix.  This 3rd time consecutive winner might mean the retirement of this category.  YouTube was a three time winner in it's day, so we almost need to have a run off this year to see who rules.  Amazon has yet to make a solid run at this crown.  Is anyone willing to make a case for them or Hulu against these content provider giants?

COOLEST ITEM OF THE YEAR - Sphero BB-8.   Because of the timing of this, I thought that Pokemon Go! was going to pull out a last second win.  But the rebirth of Star Wars mania won the day.  This little guy picked up the cute droid flag and ran with it (rolled with it, technically).  Hard to deny the cool aspects of this guy.  Brings back memories of our first winner - The Phantasm Ball.

STRIKEFORCE HALL OF DOOM - the highest honor is also known as "The Kirby".  Last year we inducted five honorees.  This year was also a solid crop of 5 inductees.  Each very deserving of the honor.

Atari 2600.  The classic game console joins the Hall.

David Bowie.  Sadly it took his death to get him in here.

John Carpenter.  One of the most unanimous picks we've ever had.

Steve Ditko.  For years and years he has just barely missed the cut and got through this time.

Weed.  It's been another nominee for years that finally is getting a little love.  Legalization across the nation is probably only a decade away.

Just missing the vote this year and hoping for further consideration - Blondie, Coen Brothers, Looney Tunes and Public Enemy

THE KINNEY -  Trump/Clinton Election -  Inaction On Gun Control.  I thought it would be hard to top previous winners like Bush/Libby and last year's Cosby.  This year was a little over the top with crazy crap.  I think we'll continue this theme of the category for a few years.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - BEST REISSUE - Complete Peanuts V.25.  The project took over a decade to finish.  I spent the 2016 year reading every strip from 1950 to 2000.  This collection is one of my most valued possessions for what it has meant to me over the course of my lifetime.  Few things have put such a smile on my face.

The Forceys took place late in the drinking evening but there was still plenty of post-awards fun to be had.  This gathering of the tribe is always the highlight of the weekend.  The awards for 2016/2017 promise to be just as much fun with another unique location.  Please make your plans right now to join us in a couple weeks.

"I'm a blackstar, way up, oh hone, I've got game / I see right so white, so open-heart it's pain / I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes."   Stay hard.

sb

2015 Forceys

THE FORCEYS (Kona Kai Resort San Diego)  This year's 10th Annual Forcey Awards took place on the Friday night of the 2015 Comic Con.  This was one of our most beautiful venues in the decade of Forceys.  The group of five representatives gathered with beer, whiskey and wine to celebrate the best of 2014/2105.  After a decade we're still going strong . . . 

BEST MOVIE - Guardians of the Galaxy.  Beating out "Birdman" and "Mad Max Fury Road", this wasn't a huge surprise.  In the past ten years, The Forceys have rewarded superhero films like "Iron Man", "The Dark Knight" and "The Avengers".  This was a solid Marvel entry and won by a landslide.

BEST COMIC - Southern Bastards.  Marvel superheroes win the Best Movie category but it's a small story about folks in rural Alabama that takes the Best Comic category.  Previous winners Hawkeye and Sandman stepped aside for this interesting and powerful title.  The Spider-Man fans split their votes among multiple Spider titles and this Bastard snuck in for the victory.

BEST MUSIC - John Carpenter - Lost Themes.  There were some solid releases from Basement Jaxx, Failure and Giorgio Moroder but this first release from director, John Carpenter are moody pieces that could have come from any of the classic 1970s horror films.  Previous winners - St. Vincent, Daft Punk and Broken Bells among others shows the eclectic tastes of this group.  This collection of themes is a fine addition.

BEST OF TV - The Flash.  The comic book genre dominates the TV section again.  The new show on the block beat out a solid run from "Daredevil", "Better Call Saul" and "Veep".  Previous winners including "The Walking Dead" and the original winner "Heroes" also come from the comic/superhero genre.

BEST OF THE WEB - Netflix. The best location on the web came down to three candidates.  There was the upstart of Comixology, the Forcey champion and three time winner, YouTube and the movie streaming game changer, Netflix.  Netflix on the heels of such great work as "Daredevil" tied YouTube as a three time winner this year.  It's hard to imagine a new winner in the years to come.

COOLEST ITEM OF THE YEAR - Gay Marriage.  A year after we were able to celebrate Legal Weed in this category, we awarded the Coolest Item to something that didn't seem possible when the Forceys started in 2005.  The world isn't such a bad place after all.  Just not as cool were the Lego Batman Tumbler and Pop Dolls.

STRIKEFORCE HALL OF DOOM - the highest honor is also known as "The Kirby".  Last year we inducted five honorees.  This year was also a solid crop of 5 inductees.  Each very deserving of the honor.

Christopher Lee.  Actor

Clint Eastwood.  Actor, director.

H.P. Lovecraft.  Author

Late Night / Late Show w/David Letterman

The Cure / Robert Smith.  Music.

Just missing the vote this year and hoping for further consideration - Carl Sagan, Doctor Who, HR Giger, Looney Tunes and Steve Ditko

THE KINNEY -  Cosby.  This category "celebrates" the worst / pathetic items of the year and there was a huge battle between Bill Cosby, Civil Unrest Because of Racism and simply something labelled Trump.  It was a single vote that kept Cosby atop the race.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - BEST REISSUE - 1966 Batman Show / Decline of Western Civilization Series Box Set. (Tie).  These two very different reissues both deserved recognition and voters couldn't decide.  This category recently celebrated Creepy, Roger Corman, Thor and Bone.

The Forceys took place late in the drinking evening but there was still plenty of post-awards fun to be had.  This gathering of the tribe is always the highlight of the weekend.  Guests are welcomed and encouraged for the 2016 version.

"If only I'd have thought of the right words / I could have held onto your heart / If only I'd thought of the right words / I wouldn't be breaking apart all my pictures of you."  Stay hard.

sb

NOVICE - Grilled Cheese Ep. 2

The continuing adventures of Grilled Cheese. . . 

March brought a trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas to see my older son and a visit to my first and favorite grilled cheese specific restaurant -  Hammontree's.  There are 16 sandwiches on the menu - so I really should have invited 13 more of you along.  Instead we were able to sample three of the sandwiches - all of which come highly recommended.

Caleb got the PARMAGEDDON without the mushrooms and on sourdough.  I got the SCARLET CHEDDAR on sourdough.  The 24 month vintage cheddar was incredible.  I can't recommend this highly enough.  The third sandwich is untitled because I just plain forgot to write it down in my excitement over the sandwiches.

In late March and early April we tried a couple other variations at home.

First we tried a very basic grilled cheese with bacon.  That's your basic topping and hard to do wrong.  The next attempt with pulled pork was even better.  The different meats all work quite well in the grilled cheese format.  I don't know that any single meat or combo of meats would be wrong.

Today, April 12th is National Grilled Cheese Day.  We celebrated with a little different take on the traditional sandwich.  The bread is dipped in egg like French Toast and coated with parmesan cheese.  The cheese inside is melted mozzarella.  I added tomato and jalapeno to mine and we dipped them in a vodka tomato sauce.  It's a nice little cheesestick style sandwich.

Still a novice we are just starting to expand horizons.  Nothing really crazy yet.  There are still some more breads and cheeses to judge.  So far the sourdough bread is the clear winner.