British Band Before Beatles

Paul McCartney’s new CD, Kisses from the Bottom, features old songs that he knew from his father, who had been a musician in a Jazz band. From listening to Clare Teal, Sundays on BBC Radio 2, I know the names of two big name British band leaders that I assume must have been familiar to Paul’s father — Ray Noble, who I’ve mentioned before, and Benjamin “Bert” Ambrose, who did a really catchy instrumental version of Caravan.

I love that arrangement. It reminds me a bit of Raymond Scott’s sound.

http://youtu.be/tZACT4UgBog

Colbert Report suspended!

Last night, I was surprised to see that The Colbert Report was a repeat, even though The Daily Show was a new installment. They always come as a matched set, so something must be wrong. The Huffington Post says, “Production has halted on “The Colbert Report” for Wednesday and Thursday, according to fans who had tickets for the rest of the week’s tapings.”

Does Colbert have a personal emergency? Has Viacom pulled the plug on the show because of the SuperPAC?

Follow-up: The Wall Street Journal says it’s “because of an emergency in Mr. Colbert’s family, according to people familiar with the show.”

Further follow-up: Colbert’s mother is over 90 years old. Just saying.

While we’re waiting for Stephen’s return, let’s watch the latest battle in the Colbert-Fallon Ice Cream Wars. I just eat this stuff up.

Stephen sends a valentine to Jimmy…

… and delivery is made.

TV at its best

After getting all serious from watching Z, on the Roku I’m enjoying a totally weird episode of Thriller — Boris Karloff, not Michael Jackson — from 1960. Mort Sahl has kidnapped Sue “Miss Landers” Randall (from Leave it to Beaver), to protect her from Werner “Colonel Klink” Klemperer, who wants to kidnap her!