* Mulchgate? The Tampa Bay Times has uncovered a possible conflict-of-interest over playground parts and accessories purchased by the city from a company that employs the wife of Tampa’s parks and recreation director. The material, worth more than $60,000, ranges from mulch to a rockslide. It was a page-one, above-the-fold piece.
* Speaking of the Times, it recently did a piece on the “perfect (movie) ending” and how we, as viewers, are pining away for them. It reminded me of my two, decidedly different, favorite endings: the Rosebud sled from “Citizen Kane” and the protruding remnant of the Statue of Liberty from “Planet of the Apes.” Those were conclusions, not mere literal endings.
I was also reminded that there is a lot of sentiment for the final scene of “Dr. Strangelove,” the one where cowboy-bomber pilot Slim Pickens rides a nuclear bomb on its apocalyptic descent. In a black comedy dominated by satire and irony, it was slapstick dumb. Still is.
* Two take-aways after watching Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” debut:
First, he has a big challenge ahead if he’s going to transcend his parody character. He’s been a caricature performer, rather than having classic stand-up or comedy writing in his background. It showed in a lot of ways, most notably interviewing. The George Clooney exchange was winceable.
Second, you have nine months of network hype and post-Letterman preparation, and this is what happens?