Super Bowl Sunday And Commercials

I'm not watching.

Bah humbug! (Says this 80 year old curmudgeon). 

Oh sure, I may tune in for a few minutes to try and catch some of those expensive, inventive, original commercials.

Maybe I'll even tune in to catch some of the half-time show but I hear it's all rap and I'm not a rap fan. 

There used to be a time when I was an avid sports fan. The two sports I followed closely was baseball and football. But like so much else in todays entertainment world, the overabundance of commercials have sucked all the life out of watching The Game. Even regular shows which are my favorites like "Judge Judy." I DVR "Judge Judy" because of the half hour at least eighteen to twenty minutes are local commercials. Which, by the way, are the WORST. Local car company pitchmen screaming at you and half of them have their kids in the commercials (their Five Minutes of Fame), who I can't understand a word they say or why they are even in the commercial. But I digress.

One of my little luxuries here at Casa Tipton-Kelly is a private loo. That's a little separate room from the main bathroom where I can sit on The Throne and contemplate today's great challenges and mysteries and how I'm going to get through the next day. I've often thought as I am in my own little private room, how is somebody going to figure out how to get a commercial going on in my private loo? I have absolutely no doubt folks in advertising have given that Last Refuge From Commercials a way to intrude on your private Meditation Room. Believe it.

A little off the subject of this blog, we're back to what passes for normal around here. I've gotten over my snit about Bill taking all my camera equipment out and spreading it all over our basement wall to wall carpeted floor. Just where I want that stuff. It is the way it is, I just have to accept that. 

Tonight we had another cognitive issue. I make Bill pudding in Tupperware pudding cups. Four at a time. I noticed earlier in the week I was missing one pudding cup. Every time I go into the refrigerator to give Bill his evening snack of pudding, (which I alternate with a yogurt cup), I look for that pudding cup. "Did I push it back in the refrigerator?" "Am I going crazy and only did three pudding cups." 

This evening I got the answer. After Bill finished his pudding cup this evening he asked "You don't keep these do you?" Viola! There's my answer. I check out recycle bin and there at the bottom of the newspapers, empty cracker boxes (I eat a lot of Town House crackers with my soup), Progresso soup can (Tuscan Bean), and plastic yogurt (Activia) cups, was my lone gray plastic antique Tupperware pudding cup.  Cleaned and trashed. 

Oh Bill.

Of course he felt bad about it. 

I told him, "Please don't try to 'help me'. Just put the finished container on the sink and I will dispose of it." I've told him this numerous times before but to little avail. He just wants "to help." 

It is what it is. 

I'm dealing with a 93 year old child. He means well, which means a lot but still. I have to watch everything he does.

Could be a lot worse. 

I could watch the whole Super Bowl game from start to finish.

I think not. I have to make more of Bill's favorite cookies tonight. 

Enjoy the game!

P.S.

I know the photo I posted on this blog has nothing to do with what I talked about on this posting but I happen to like the weird humor of Gary Larson and "The Far Side."

New Favorite Commercials

As a marketing major in college, I take particular interest in commercials. 

There are many types of commercials (rather obvious comment but I had to make it). Most commercials annoy me. Of course most of those annoying commercials are meant to annoy. They want you to remember them.  I do and I make sure I don't buy their product.  That's my little way of getting back.

I hear a lot of commercials because I have the TV on as background "wallpaper" while I'm pounding away at my computer keyboard as I am doing now. I tuned out most of those annoying commercials either in my mind of the really annoying commercials I hit the mute button on my TV remote control.

This morning I heard a new commercial that is immediately one of my favorites.  It's a GEICO commercial.  Some of the GEICO commercials are just plain stupid but I find this one rather clever. Made me laugh out loud. This is a commercial we can all identify with, driving and traffic and frustration. "Hey! We're all got places to go!"  Yes, indeed we are. (smile)

What do you think? Am I off or what?

"Big man with the horn."

Yes, I know, I have a weird sense of humor. That's what makes me SO interesting.

The Price is Right Redux

Pat and me in The Price is Right line February 14, 2017 on Beverly Boulevard, Hollywood, California - check out  Pat's cool white trimmed sneakers - he left his sandals at home and survived!

Finally, I'm almost feeling normal. Back to the good stuff. Now where did I leave off with our Annual California Adventure? Ah yes, our return to "The Price is Right" TV show audience.

My erstwhile Canadian Travel Buddy Pat just goes along with me on this one. In fact, he never saw "The Price is Right" TV show until he was in the audience for the first time last year during our visit to Hollywood, California. Me, I started watching TPIR before Bob Barker's hair turned white.

Ah yes, the Plaid Suite Days. I used to have a plaid suite just like this!

In fact, just to tell on myself how old I am I remember when Bob Barker first came on TV. Ralph Edwards, the host of the old black and white Fifties show "This is Your Life" introduced a very young Bob Barker as the host of Edward's new TV show "Truth or Consequences" in (wait for it) - 1956!  Sixty years ago folks! Wow, am I past my sell by day or what?

Ralph Edwards and Bob Barker - 1956

In fact folks, actually the first "The Price is Right" shows I used to watch were with Bill Cullen.  You all remember Bill Cullen?  The "I've Got a Secret" panel member. The crew cut and black rimmed Buddy Holly glasses who walked with a limp.  I never did know why he limped by the way.  I do remember thought that the first TPIR show was a lot different from the current version of TPIR.  One might even say it was boring but back in the Fifties we were thankful for anything on TV.  We didn't know Boring back in the Eisenhower Years.  But you know folks, I would take those years back now in place of the nightmare we're going through now.  But I digress.

Bill Cullen, original host of The Price is Right

What a difference in TPIR from those day until today!  Back then the audience wasn't allowed to help by shouting out the prices for the contestants.  I remember Bill Cullen often warning the audience not to shout out the prices.  SOOOO serious. But this was the Fifties folks.  Today, the audience IS the show. We are clapping seals encouraged to shout out the prices even though some of us can't even see the game being played because of the TV cameras and staff blocking our view.

By the way folks, I can see where this post is going to be longer than my usual post so if you have to go to the bathroom now, better do so. If you have anything on your stove, turn off the burners. Settle in for a LONG narrative of our second experience at "The Price Is Right!" TV show.

TPIR has two tapings a day.  They are done at the CBS TV studio on Beverly Boulevard in Hollywood, California.  Two years ago, during  our first visit to The Grove with our friend Nadege, who lives in California and works sometimes at the CBS TV studio, she told us TPIR is taped there.  I could see the large black building with the white CBS logo on the building from where we were standing in the elevated parking lot at The Grove.  That planted a seed in my head "Why not write for tickets and be on the show for our visit next year?"  

Pat wasn't too keen on the idea but he went along with me on this one. After all, we're in Hollywood!  Let's do something HOLLYWOOD!

Well, we had a good time last year.  Didn't get on the show but as I said before, TPIR audience IS the show. A fact that the staff frequently tells us while we're waiting four hours in line outside waiting for the first daily taping.  They tell us "You're all going to be on TV and you're all going to have a good time!"  And you know what folks, they were/are right.  We had a fabulous time. Last year and this year.

I wrote for my priority tickets, which guarantees that we would be in the audience, several months ahead.  

We're told to be in line outside the CBS Television studio by 8:30 for the 12:00 taping.  Now that sounds like we're standing in line a long time and, of course it is, but you know what folks?  They keep us so entertained that you're not bored at all.

The long TPIR line outside the CBS Television studio on Beverly Blouvelard

One of the requirements is that there be no sandals which posed a problem for my Canadian Travel Buddy Pad.  Pat wears sandals.  Last year we purchased a $30 pair of cheap sneakers for his size 10 1/2 tootsies. Those sneakers were only worn once and we left them next to a sleeping homeless man under a paper tent on Hollywood Boulevard. This year we purchased another pair of sneakers, only $20 this time. Pat didn't get to "Come on down!" with those feet smoothers either.  We left them in the closet of our Airbnb when we checked out. Maybe the cleaning woman can use them.

There are two types of audience members in line. Those who just get in line and folks like me and Pat who have the Priority Tickets. 

While you're standing in line in the chilly Los Angeles morning (temps around 55 degrees) you get to meet all kinds of interesting people.  Last year one of the people we met was a couple from Kansas. Pat told me that the guy would be chosen to be a contestant and darn if he wasn't!  

TPIR has a well honed procedure to keep you occupied while you're standing in line becoming acquainted with your fellow potential contestants called to "Come on down!" and win a car (or two). 

Staff member walk down the line and collect the priority tickets and tell us special folks to follow them, right past all those other woebegone still standing in line. That always feels good to walk ahead of the line, but I'm not one to cut the line.  I followed the proper procedure. I didn't cheat.

TPIR audience has three hundred members. If there aren't enough priority ticket holders the rest of the audience is chosen from those still standing in line.

The next step in the procedure is staff members ask your name and write it on a sticker and place it on your person. 

Then there is a whole procedure of filling our a multi paper release form.  Also, photo ID's are taken.  Folks, there is more security to getting on TPIR than going through TSA at the airport. The only difference is that I didn't get a pat down.

You don't have to stand in line the whole time you're waiting, benches are provided and coverage in case in rains

There are different stages in the line.  Of course one of the stages is we're standing next to TPIR souvenir shop.  Yes, I did indulge. Really didn't need to but why not?  I can show my grandkids my "The Price is Right" tote bag. More likely, I can show my fellow Food Lion supermarket shoppers that expensive tote back.  

The Price is Right souvenir shop

We're allowed cell phones while in line but we have to turn in our cell phones once we go into the studio.  Both last year and this year I didn't take my iPhone with me because I didn't want to put it into a basket with all those strange (and unclean) phones.  Who knows WHERE they have been?

Some of the photos in this blog of standing in line I took from the Internet that others took. Next year I'm going to take my iPod with me and take my own photos.

One of the souvenirs I always get, and most others do to, is the photo next to The Wheel. It's taken with a green screen behind us.  The photos cost $20 each but what the hey? You only live once.

One of the main parts of standing in the line is being interviewed.  This is how they pick contestants. They are looking for people who are genuinely happy to be there.  The interview is short, only about twenty seconds long but the interviewer can tell who is going to provide good TV and who is perhaps not.  I will say, he is good. 

I think most of us are happy to be there but some are obviously very forced.  The key is to be genuine.  You either are or you aren't.  Not being chosen for two years in a row now has given me some thought but hey, I know I'm happy to be there.  I always have a good time whether I'm chosen or not.  Of course it would be fun to be chosen but still, it is a wonderful experience.

Four hours quickly goes by (really) and the last stage is the line just outside the studio. They have six to eight TV's going with old TPIR episodes with contestants winning cars and trips, screaming and jumping up and down, to get you in the mood. By the time we're ushered into the music thumping, colorful, brightly lit studio, we're primed!!!

The smiling and efficient staff quickly assign us our seats while while everyone is clapping to the infectious music.  The excitement builds to a crescendo  as everyone is hyped by all TPIR crew, including one man whose job it is to raise his hands and arms up and down as to the volume of our cheering and clapping.  We are trained seals.

Then George Gray,  TPIR announcer lovingly mouths into his microphone and says 
"Here it comes, from the Bob Barker Price is Right CBS studio in Hollywood, it is The Price is Right!"  As the camera swoops over the cheering, diverse, colorful, clapping audience George says his first "Come on down . . . . !" (and says the name of the first contestant in contestants' row).  By the way, in the audience see the name of the contestants on a written out on a big billboard held by a staff member out of camera range.  I often wondered how the audience could hear whose name was being called to "Come on down!"  

All for now folks. I'll have to continue with my Price is Right experience in my next posting. I've already exhausted you enough with this posting. By the way, we were there for two tapings this time.  Whoopee!

Price is Right! Here We Come!

Me at "The Price is Right!" last year (the poor photo is a result of taking it from the TV show - I had to freeze frame to capture my two seconds of celebrity glad-handing our friend Lloyd who was called to "Come on down!"

We're going to "The Price is Right!" again this year!

The line outside CBS Television studio waiting to get into "The Price is Right!" - this is the day last year that we stood in line for about three hours. Not to worry, they do keep you entertained and the weather was beautiful that day!

I just finished printing my tickets.  We'll be on the show Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2017.  

Our "Priority Ticket" for Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2017. This guarantees us entrance to the show after waiting in line for hours - it's worth it!

This is the second year we're going. Neither one of us got called up on "The Price is Right!" stage last year by George the announcer (we were sitting near him).  We're hopeful that we'll be lucky this year and get the call to "Come on down!" Even if we don't get called, we love the experience. 

Can you spot me and Pat in the audience? That's us in the second row to the left. Pat is in a gray sweater and I'm in my custom made Dr. Spo "Parrot" shirt.  We're clapping our hands, which is what they tell us to do incessantly.  My hands were sore by the time we got out of there! We were right behind George the Announcer, who is a very nice guy by the way.

This is also the third year we (Pat and I) will be visiting Los Angeles (West Hollywood). This is our annual tradition now.

Our flight from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, five hours in the Tube in the Sky

Both Pat and I love Los Angeles.  Oh I know, THE TRAFFIC.  Thank goodness Pat is an excellent driver.  He's been driving in Toronto  traffic his whole life. Did I get lucky or what to have such an experienced chauffeur? 

LA Freeway traffic

I was warned the first time that I visited Los Angeles . . . . "the traffic!"  Tell me about it.  It IS A BEAR.  But with Pat's terrific driving skills and calm demeanor, the only problem we had was the time it took to traverse just a few miles from LA to Pasadena or Santa Monica.  Where I live now I'm only ten miles from Rehoboth Beach.  I can get to Rehoboth in about ten minutes.  Santa Monica and Pasadena (and Burbank) are CLOSER to where we were staying in West Hollywood but it took us at least an hour to get from point A to point B.  Yes, the freeway in LA is surely a sight to behold and experience.

Pat standing in line at the Veggie Grill in West Hollywood, our favorite "go to" place for lunch and dinner when we're staying in Hollywood - located at 8000 Sunset Boulevard, directly across from the Chateau Marmont Hotel

But you know what folks?  After we return from one of our forays into the excitement that is LA, we return to the comfort of wherever we are staying.  This year we chose an Air B n B in West Hollywood. 

Pat relaxing by the pool at the Hollywood Bed and Breakfast, where we stayed last year

 We are both looking forward to seeing our friends Nadege and Tony again, and hopefully this year to see Mike Wilson (are you reading this Mike)?  

Pat and Nadege on a palm lined street in West Hollywood, the place to be!

On this our third visit to LA, I hope to do one of those studio tours. Either Paramount, Universal or even go to Disneyland.  Come on Pat!  But whatever we do, and we do play it loosey goosey, we have a great time.  

Nadege treats us to lunch at the Veggie Grill on Sunset Boulevard

Other than our planned visit to "The Price is Right!", we have nothing set in stone in our schedule other than to reunite with our friends Nadege and Tony.  

Tony (isn't he handsome?), me and Pat at a vegan restaurant in Silver Lake (Tony's recommendation)

So here Pat and I are off to another adventure.  Maybe this time we'll be discovered by a Hollywood agent!

Pat and Ron in Lotus Land (aka Los Angeles, California)

I'm On TV! (Finally)

Ron the Ham in all his glory (and Spo Shirt) high fiving our friend Lloyd (hand in orange pullover) who go the cal to "Come on down!" (he didn't win but did get up on stage with Drew Carey)

Hey folks, I was on TV yesterday!  Yep, your old blogger buddy here had his fifteen minutes of fame and was on national TV yesterday.  

Actually I didn't even have fifteen minutes, more like fifteen SECONDS, but there I was.  In my custom made Spo shirt of very colorful parrots.

That is our friend Lloyd (in the orange) who was called to "come on down!" I'm in the back to the left of Lloyd looking like the fool that I am.  Is this any kind of activity for a 74 year old retired bank operations manager? By the way, I thought for sure my Spo shirt would guarantee me being called.  As it turned out all I was good for that day was audience eye candy.

My venue for fame was the longest running TV game show "The Price is Right!"  I had written for tickets at the end of last year and received two Priority Tickets (for me and my Travel Buddy Pat).  We attended the taping at the CBS Television Studio City on January 18th.  

Can you feel the excitement?  That's me and Pat (gray pullover with hands above his head) in the second row behind the Ladies in Yellow cheering the guy in back behind us who was making his way down to the stage after getting the call to "Come on down!" - why didn't they call us?  Damn!

There was some confusion as to when the show would be shown on TV.  When we entered the studio we passed a placard that said the show would be shown January 27th.  However, when I returned home from our California holiday and checked the website it said the show would be aired this coming February 29th.  So that's the date I advised everybody to look for.  So wouldn't you know it they did air the show yesterday.

I found out by my friend Larry, who faithfully watches the show everyday. He saw me high giving our friend Lloyd Mullcom who was the last contestant to get the call to "Come on down!" by George Gray, the announcer (who we were seated near).  

You can see Pat (in gray pullover with hands in air) and me (my hands are covering my face, what was I thinking?) seated near George Gray as he made the calls to "Come on down!" I got to talk to George right before I left.  A very nice man indeed.  Genuine like Drew Carey, who unfortunately I didn't get a chance to talk too. Maybe next year when I do get the call to "Come on down Ronald Tipton!" 

I took these pictures from my TV after freeze framing the scenes that Pat and I were in.  

This is a good picture of how close Pat and I were next to the announcer George Gray - we're in the second row - Pat in the gray pullover and me (with my hands in front of my face again) in my parrot Dr. Spo shirt with the Guy in Red standing next to me

After looking at these pictures and the video, I have decided I will write for tickets again next year and give the show another try.  Even if we don't get the call to "Come on down!" it was great fun to be part of the very happy experience that day, even if we did have to wait in line over four hours.  You know what folks?  With all the bad news in the world today, those five hours I spent that morning of January 19th will be among the happiest I have spent in my lifetime.  And you know, we can never have too many of those moments in our life.  Below, it's quick but you can see me to the left high fiving our friend Lloyd (in the orange pullover) who was called to "Come on down!"