I agree with SC - and I'm glad to read that Mr. O'Connor actually got on really well with Morecambe and Wise. I confess that - maybe because of the way they ribbed him - I saw him as a sort of national joke, and his shows seemed a bit infra dig, but he obviously brought a lot of pleasure to millions.
She was in the army for just over 2 years of WWII, then as a journalist went on the 1953 Everest expedition (military experience of radios coming in handy). Of course, the grounding received as a chorister at CC Oxford was useful... A polymath.
David Dinkins, the first (and so far only) black person to serve as mayor of New York City, has died.
"A schvartze with a fancy moustache."
Jackie Mason's "humourous" description of Dinkins, while warming up the crowd for Rudy Giuliani at an election rally in 1989. That comment is regarded by some as having contributed to Giuliani's loss to Dinkins that year.
(In researching this post, I was surprised to find that not only is Mason still alive, but he is still respectable enough in vaguely liberal circles to have guest-voiced on The Simpsons as recently as last year.)
David Dinkins, the first (and so far only) black person to serve as mayor of New York City, has died.
"A schvartze with a fancy moustache."
Jackie Mason's "humourous" description of Dinkins, while warming up the crowd for Rudy Giuliani at an election rally in 1989. That comment is regarded by some as having contributed to Giuliani's loss to Dinkins that year.
(In researching this post, I was surprised to find that not only is Mason still alive, but he is still respectable enough in vaguely liberal circles to have guest-voiced on The Simpsons as recently as last year.)
Mason plays to his audience, he's said that
A comedian that makes you aware of what side he is on is a schmuck
Is that quote meant to illustrate that Mason doesn't follow his own advice? Because in the 1989 case, he clearly WAS letting everyone know what side he was on: he was appearing with Giuliani at an election rally, and making anti-Dinkins jokes.
I could have given that more context, I suppose. He appears on FOX and evidently gets more partisan there. But during his broader audience shows, he keeps things more restrained, so the general perception will be less political.
I could have given that more context, I suppose. He appears on FOX and evidently gets more partisan there. But during his broader audience shows, he keeps things more restrained, so the general perception will be less political.
Okay. I guess you were thinking about my bemusement as to his being considered respectable enough for The Simpsons, a show with a generally liberal outlook.
And you meant he's usually apolitical enough that his right-wing commentary in niche-venues wouldn't be an issue for the producers.
I could have given that more context, I suppose. He appears on FOX and evidently gets more partisan there. But during his broader audience shows, he keeps things more restrained, so the general perception will be less political.
Okay. I guess you were thinking about my bemusement as to his being considered respectable enough for The Simpsons, a show with a generally liberal outlook.
And you meant he's usually apolitical enough that his right-wing commentary in niche-venues wouldn't be an issue for the producers.
That and the Simpson's is less liberal than often portrayed. To be sure, they are generally more liberal. However, the have at least one libertarian writer and are rich white dudes.
Actor Dave Prowse has gone over to the light side.
The Green Cross Code will always be his greatest achievement, IMO. RIP.
To me, he'll always be Julian the bodyguard from Clockwork Orange, looking more like a piece of furnitute in the writer's futurist-absurdist living room than a real human being. (Probably related to Kubrick's photographic style of filmmaking.)
It seems the 2021 thread will not be going on. It was closed after I started it, not having seen a message about how some overly sensitive types don't want us to play this year.
Good grief, if Monty Python started now, or our old American TV show All in the Family, they'd get shut down.
I’m not an active Admin any more, so can’t comment officially, but my understanding is that it’s just taking a break for a year, that’s all. This happens a lot with recurring threads in the Circus. Mornington Crescent is a case in point. I look forward to seeing it again next year.
@Baker, the Ship's rules state that the only place to contest decisions from the hosts and admins is in the Styx.
If you want to discuss why we felt it would be a good idea to take a break from the death pool in 2021, you are welcome to do so over there, but the Circus is not the place.
And my baseball memories take another hit. Dick Allen has died.
He was not on my list because he was not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But he should have been in the HOF. His fans (myself among them) had hopes that the Golden Era Committee would vote him in this December (he only missed by one vote the last time the committee met in 2014). But, because of COVID, they postponed the vote this year and they will meet next December instead.
And now he has died without knowing if he will gain admission. Really must say damn.
Barbara Windsor has died. I only knew her from Carry-on films I watched as a child, so I am kind of sad about this.
I remember her from Carry On. I know she did far more Eastenders, but I was ever a fan of that. But I know she was very well respected in the business. RIP Babs.
I see that no one has yet mentioned famous British montain climber Hamish MacInnes, who died on 22 November 2020, see also the Guardian.
I had watched on the BBC the long-winded, but meaningful documentary 'Final Ascent' about his mental illness (at old age), and how he managed to overcome it. An impressive man.
And another hit to the baseball community: Phil Niekro has died. A master of the knuckleball (to the extent that such a pitch can be mastered---a catcher once said that the best way to catch a knuckleball was to wait until it stopped rolling on the ground and then pick it up...). Sadly, he is yet another Hall-of-Famer that I did not put on my Kiss-of-Life list.
Former MI6 officer/Soviet double agent George Blake has died in Russia. "Our hearts will always cherish the warm memory of this legendary man", Vladimir Putin said in a condolence message.
Folks, in just under 24 hours the game will be over. Check your lists to see if any of your picks have died since November 8, the last time I posted the rankings. I've checked the names but I could always miss someone.
Comments
RIP.
Crikey - 60 is far too young. RIP.
"A schvartze with a fancy moustache."
Jackie Mason's "humourous" description of Dinkins, while warming up the crowd for Rudy Giuliani at an election rally in 1989. That comment is regarded by some as having contributed to Giuliani's loss to Dinkins that year.
(In researching this post, I was surprised to find that not only is Mason still alive, but he is still respectable enough in vaguely liberal circles to have guest-voiced on The Simpsons as recently as last year.)
Is that quote meant to illustrate that Mason doesn't follow his own advice? Because in the 1989 case, he clearly WAS letting everyone know what side he was on: he was appearing with Giuliani at an election rally, and making anti-Dinkins jokes.
Okay. I guess you were thinking about my bemusement as to his being considered respectable enough for The Simpsons, a show with a generally liberal outlook.
And you meant he's usually apolitical enough that his right-wing commentary in niche-venues wouldn't be an issue for the producers.
edited to fix coding - Piglet, Circus host
The Green Cross Code will always be his greatest achievement, IMO. RIP.
To me, he'll always be Julian the bodyguard from Clockwork Orange, looking more like a piece of furnitute in the writer's futurist-absurdist living room than a real human being. (Probably related to Kubrick's photographic style of filmmaking.)
Oh sad - I have read some of his works (and no I can't immediately name any). ALways sad when a quality SF writer is lost.
Good grief, if Monty Python started now, or our old American TV show All in the Family, they'd get shut down.
@Baker, the Ship's rules state that the only place to contest decisions from the hosts and admins is in the Styx.
If you want to discuss why we felt it would be a good idea to take a break from the death pool in 2021, you are welcome to do so over there, but the Circus is not the place.
Hostly beret off
la vie en rouge, Circus host
He was not on my list because he was not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. But he should have been in the HOF. His fans (myself among them) had hopes that the Golden Era Committee would vote him in this December (he only missed by one vote the last time the committee met in 2014). But, because of COVID, they postponed the vote this year and they will meet next December instead.
And now he has died without knowing if he will gain admission. Really must say damn.
The Font of All Knowledge has a good article on him.
I remember her from Carry On. I know she did far more Eastenders, but I was ever a fan of that. But I know she was very well respected in the business. RIP Babs.
Gone to that great Circus in the sky.
I had watched on the BBC the long-winded, but meaningful documentary 'Final Ascent' about his mental illness (at old age), and how he managed to overcome it. An impressive man.
Isn't there a lag period to account for the fact that media reports of deaths aren't instantaneous?