Month: February 2021

One of the stories in pop culture right now is the airing of the New York Times documentary “Framing Britney Spears.”  I have not yet seen this film but apparently Justin Timberlake has caught serious grief as they show his handling of his break-up with Britney some twenty plus years ago.

Timberlake felt such heat that he’s now offered a public apology not just for the way he mistreated Britney Spears but also to singer Janet Jackson after the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” stunt pulled during the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime show.  At the time Janet was the recipient of more scorn than Justin, despite it being he who pulled at her top and exposed the infamous bare nipple.

Here’s part of Justin Timberlake’s public mea culpa.

“I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism,” he wrote on Instagram. “I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”

He went on to say more but the bottom line is all these years later, the former N’Sync star owned up to his poor behavior and actions. 

There’s plenty of apologies to be found in social media among celebrities, politicians and other folks in the public eye.  Most ‘I’m sorrys’ happen within a day after the sin is committed.  Now we’ve got retroactive situations like Timberlake’s that are being talked about. 

Another name to take criticism recently is David Letterman. Dave’s being slammed for a 2013 interview done with Lindsay Lohan as he pressed her about substance abuse issues.  Letterman made Lohan feel uncomfortable as he kept asking about her stints in rehab.  This interview happened eight years ago but now people are coming out and dissecting this tense show segment which at the time was not a buzzed about story.

PERMANENT RECORDS– Remember in grade school when we were told that everything we did would end up on our “permanent record”?  Thanks to video recordings and the 24 hour a day grapevine called social media, past incidents can come back to haunt anyone at any time.

 The “Me Too” movement certainly got many men to re-examine their past actions with women, some of which required retroactive apologies.  Three years ago, I carefully looked at my past. I was and still am confident that I committed no ‘Me Too’ sins.  As women who’ve known me personally and professionally would attest, I’ve been an alright guy.

HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE MISTREATMENT THAT I NEED TO OWN UP TO.  It was in the romance department when I was a senior in high school. The girl was Patty, a year older than me, very cute & sweet and we worked together at White Castle.  We spent the summer of ’78 being flirty with each other and kept in touch through mailed letters when she went away to college late that summer. 

That fall, Patty came home from school a couple of times for the weekend and we went out.  However, my side of letter writing back to her slowed up so she sent me a ‘What’s going on here?’ note.  I was cold and uncaring in my response to her and this boy-girl thing quickly died.  I knew Patty was way into me, more than I was into her, and I was a jerk.  Plain and simple. I’ve always been sorry for that.

 A couple of co-workers who stayed in touch with Patty chided me for leading her on.  They were right.  I last saw Patty in the Spring of ’79 when she stopped by the Castle to visit friends still working there.  She was polite in saying hi to me and I returned that with a sheepish greeting before slinking off to hide in the restroom until she left.

A few days after this meeting, I missed out on dating a girl at my high school who I really, really liked. She knew I wanted to ask her out and was receptive to that. But I waited too long to make my play and another guy moved in and shut me out.  I was disappointed and hurt. I then realized how Patty felt.  Too late Mick, you deserve what you get, paybacks are hell.

Fast forward nine years.  I was producing morning radio at WCKG FM and one of Chicago’s many P.R. reps brought in an on-air guest.  I knew this rep casually and while she and I talked and shared about our backgrounds I learned we both knew Patty from White Castle.  This P.R. rep was pals with Patty in high school and still stayed in touch with her!

I mentioned I wasn’t nice to her longtime friend and felt bad for my actions.  Then this exchange happened.

Me– “So how’s Patty doing these days?”

P.R. Rep– “She’s happily married and has a little boy.”

Me- ”That’s great to hear. (laughing) Apparently she got over me!”

P.R. Rep– “Maybe. Patty named her son ‘Mickey.’

Whoa!  O.K. then.

I have no idea where Patty is today. There’s no need to search her out.  Still, if I ever saw her again, I would state my most sincere apology.  

And if it’s any consolation to her, when it comes to relationships with women, I’ve had more misses than hits.  Sometimes I wonder if I’m still paying penance for being a careless clod to a nice young lady all those years ago.

Permanent record folks.  Always keep that in mind and act accordingly.

Readers, I’ve got about 20 blogs written that aren’t time sensitive, but I’m going to take some time off from editing and posting them.  There’s other writing I want to focus on.   See you on down the line.

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday.  Here’s part 2 of my favorite loved up movie couples.

ALBERT BROOKS & MERYL STREEP IN “DEFENDING YOUR LIFE.”  Brooks meets his potential paramour Streep at a post death weigh station called Judgment City.  They bond, share their pasts and wonder where their eternal lives may be headed.

WILL FERRELL & MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL- “STRANGER THAN FICTION.” Easily my favorite Will Ferrell movie as he plays a straightlaced IRS auditor who has to investigate Gyllenhaal’s past income tax issues.  She hates him until he shows there’s more to him than just a money counting government official.  This is one of those great moments I can’t get enough of.

JIMMY FALLON & DREW BARRYMORE- “FEVER PITCH.”  Fallon’s movie career hasn’t been much to note but his portrayal of Ben the school teacher & Red Sox fanatic who boldly falls for Barrymore’s ‘Lindsey’ a corporate climber is funny and poignant.  This clip is when they take a second stab at a date after a not so good first outing when Lindsey suffered from food poisoning.

TOM HANKS & ROBIN WRIGHT- “FORREST GUMP.”  Forrest always said he and Jenny (Wright) went together “like peas and carrots.”   It just took years for her to understand that.  My favorite scene is when Jenny tells Forrest she wished she could’ve been with him during his many travels and he says she was.  Forrest always thought about his girl.  (Sniff)  Here’s the clip when Forrest makes a first proposal to his girl. 

ROBERT DUVALL & TESS HARPER- “TENDER MERCIES”- If this movie isn’t my favorite of all time, it’s definitely in the top 3.  Duvall is Mac Sledge, a rundown and out alcoholic country singer who finds redemption from the patience and kindness of a widowed single mother, Rosa Lee. (Harper) Unlike many male-female romance movies, Mac’s marriage proposal isn’t the climax of this great film.

Next Sunday is Valentine’s Day. While not paying much attention to that Hallmark holiday I have pondered about couples’ relationships in movies.  Everyone has their favorites; ranging from Bogart and Bacall in “Key Largo” to Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in “Sleepless in Seattle” to Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in “Brokeback Mountain” or any other loved up pairs.  

Some of my favorite onscreen romances are a little offbeat, some may be right in your wheelhouse.  No matter, here’s Round One of my picks.

BILL MURRAY & OLIVIA WILLIAMS IN “RUSHMORE.”  Murray plays a soon to be divorced restless millionaire who isn’t the most surefooted Romeo.  Olivia Williams plays a widowed prep school teacher who’s also a little slow on the love uptake.  It’s a shy and awkward pairing as seen in this clip.

KEVIN COSTNER & SUSAN SARANDON IN “BULL DURHAM.”  Well traveled minor league ballplayer goes to bat with baseball fanatic/groupie.  The classic scene is when Costner’s ‘Crash Davis’ states his beliefs to Sarandon’s Annie Wilkes, including appreciation for “Long slow, deep, soft wet kisses that last 3 days.” However, I prefer the cat and mouse play these two characters have a couple of days after that scene.

JON FAVREAU & HEATHER GRAHAM IN “SWINGERS.”  Another awkward relationship picks up a bit after Mike, an aspiring comedian, swing dances in a club with Lorraine then makes a play with self-deprecating style. 

DEMETRI MARTIN & GILLIAN JACOBS IN “DEAN.” Dean is a cartoonist on a trip to L.A.  He’s coping with the passing of his mother, a broken engagement and a strained relationship with his father and Nicky is cute enough to peak Dean’s interest.  The only clip I could land was the movie’s trailer.  Nicky is the blonde who calls Dean out on his awkward fall at a party.  There’s also a slow growing love thing happening between Dean’s widower father played by Kevin Kline and his realtor. (Mary Steenburgen) 

If you haven’t seen this low-key film, check it out on demand, it’s worth your 4 dollars.

SALLY FIELD & JAMES GARNER IN “MURPHY’S ROMANCE.”  James Garner earned an Oscar nomination as the quietly wise widower Murphy who guides Field’s ‘Emma’ through the changes she’s made in her life but doesn’t press harder than he needs to.  Here’s the trailer to the 80’s romantic comedy.

NEXT BLOG– One more round of on screen romances.