Hello all and welcome to the end of 2023, otherwise known as 123123. Yeah think about that one for a second, it’s pretty crazy right?! Anyway, as with the end of every year I would like to take a moment to look back on the year past, and a little look toward the one ahead.
World Events:
The biggest and most divisive event to come out of 2023 would have to be the attack on Israel.
It’s extremely controversial, and while I do have many things to say, I’m not about to start fights on this blog. So, I hope everyone can agree with my wish for peace amongst all Israelis and Palestinians everywhere.
If you have a problem with that, unsubscribe!
Entertainment Section:
Hollywood had enough of AI, so writers put down their pens, and actors walked off set to go on strike.
Barbie & Oppenheimer (aka Barbenheimer) dominated the summer.
Disney celebrated 100 years as a studio, and as a gift, gave us the short film Once Upon a Studio, which allowed us to hear Robin Williams as the Genie one last time.
The classic Chicken Run got a sequel: JUSTICE FOR EDWINA!
Michael Keaton stepped back into Batman. From Batman, to Snowman, to Birdman, to Spotlight, to Dopesick, and back to Batman again! If that’s not a legend, I don’t know what is.
Brendan Fraser won his well-deserved Oscar for The Whale.
My picks for best Movies & TV of the year...
Oppenheimer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Leave the World Behind
A Small Light
The Last of Us
Poker Face
Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie
My annual Only Murders Review – Season 3 started a little slow, but got great towards the end.
Celebrity News:
Carrie Fisher got her long overdue Walk of Fame Star.
Some milestone birthdays: Finding Nemo turning 20. Christopher Walken & Joe Pesci reached 80. The Legend Currently Known As Michael Caine hit the big 90.
While it was a rough start for Jeremy Renner & Damar Hamlin, it was not so bad for Robert De Niro (who also turned 80) & Al Pacino, both of whom became fathers once again. Pacino was 83, and his girlfriend was 29. Odd sure, but he couldn’t help it...
... that was from the movie Heat, by the way, which is great if you haven’t seen it.
In Memoriam:
We lost some greats this year, especially in the music business: Harry Belafonte, Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Sinead O’ Conner, Jimmy Buffett, Steve Harwell, DJ Casper, Shane MacGowan, just to name a few.
We also lost TV legend Norman Lear, Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman), Michael Gambon (aka Dumbledore), the OG Shaft Richard Roundtree (sorry Sam), Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, Alan Arkin, Tom Wilkinson, Lance Reddick, Keith Jefferson, and last but most certainly not least, TV icons Andre Braugher & Matthew Perry.
Rest in peace to all of you, and thank you for your great respective works.
As For Me:
I’m now a Certified TA in the state of NY (don’t mean to brag).
Took an acting & writing class.
I started watching The Mandalorian (I finally get all the Grogu love), What We Do in the Shadows, & The Bear.
Congrats to my mom, on her well deserved retirement.
I started putting out my short stories on my new Substack account Manor Stories...
Read my story Writer’s Block: A young writer, Chris Montgomery, desperate for his big break steals the story of his late neighbor, Walter Albright. While at first it seems like a victimless endeavor, Chris soon learns that he may have entered into something more dangerous than what he expected.
Thank You:
Thank you to Gregory Cioffi for participating in my interview segment. This year Greg also published his debut novel, The Devil in the Diamond, which you all should check out.
Thank you to Aaron Gottlieb, Natima Harry, Julia DeGasperis, and Brian Mulcahy, for helping me remember our friend Jake, and adding to his tribute.
Thank you (as always) to my readers. All of whom take time out of their busy lives to hear what I have to say and support this page. I’m extremely grateful, and I hope I was able to entertain you.
As For 2024:
I only wish the best for everyone. Life will continue, and we will all have our good days and bad ones, but hopefully, you will all have more good fortune than bad.
P.S. God bless you Frankie! Jake... take care of him for us!