Before eluding to my title this week, “Mourning Has Broken…” I will recap a few of my recent stops, “Canon in hand,” since we last “met” here.
Earlier this year, I posted about the legendary Pontiac GTO. I had mentioned in my last post, that there was a gathering of Pontiacs in Pontiac (a lot of GTO's) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the GTO. The 1964 models hit the showrooms in the Fall of 1963. Gas was cheap and horsepower was thriving, the rest is indeed history. The Pontiac-Oakland Museum in Pontiac, Illinois now has the 1964 GTO display open to the public, with a few fine examples of the car and some classic video footage shown on a large flat panel TV. Those were indeed the days.
I saw a few more “Rat Rods” during various cruises down Historic Illinois Route 66, (some of which I had seen at the Jalopy Fest and Cruise Nights, both in Morris, Illinois.) I did however, see something I hadn't seen in a very long time, that being an immaculate 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II. An amazing, timeless piece of “rolling stock.” I caught a few reelections in a 1956 Chevy's Chrome reverse wheels and baby moon hubcaps, as well as a great Godzilla gear shift knob. I also spotted an incredible pinstripe artist at work, and captured his wagon of the 'tools of the trade.'
I also revisited a few of my abandoned “haunts” over the past few weeks, and marveled at a few of the (ahem) “treasures” found within. These included a few in the vinyl category. The Belinda Carlisle single “I Never Wanted A Rich Man” (the B-Side of “Mad About You,” on I.R.S. Records, none the less), some decaying albums and jackets, those being more of the country variety. I spotted an old VHS tape on a small chest, and had to look closer, sadly to say, it was “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” part of me was hoping if it was a lost tape from some ill-fated paranormal exploration into the unknown.
This brings us to the title today, “Mourning Has Broken.” When I last blogged there were a few remaining episodes left of Breaking Bad. Those of you who know me, know how “addicted” I was/am to this series. Breaking Bad, in my opinion is the best thing I have ever seen on TV and may very well be the best thing I will ever have seen on TV. Creator Vince Gilligan was a genius, not only in creating the storyline, but the detail in shots, the camera work, the colors and in the musical score. Earlier this season, “Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James and the Shondells, was featured in what could have stood alone as a music video for that song.
On the final episode, Badfinger's “Baby Blue,” will now forever be etched in my mind as those final scenes faded to black and the credits rolled. By now, those of you who watched or picked up a newspaper, saw anything on Facebook or Twitter, inevitably know the outcome. Mr. Gilligan wrapped up everything in an amazing Breaking Bad kind of way.
Perfection.
I saw a great review of it in the Chicago Tribune, (via the LA Times) written by Mary McNamara that sums it up far better than I could have here.
Breaking Bad was, to me, as addicting as Meth, and the withdrawals during the “off seasons” were just as bad. I became jealous of those who started watching it later, as they had the luxury of watching episodes and seasons, back to back, until they caught up to the show in “real time.” Marty and I discussed episodes, scenarios that sometimes played out, and other times, led us down an entirely different path.
I saw this online, as well as on the news, this past week. Breaking Bad fans (hell, maybe it was Vince Gilligan) took out an actual Walter White Obituary in an Albuquerque, NM newspaper.
Brilliant.
I am very selective in my TV viewing, and after that final episode ended, it was, once again, like losing an old friend. Fortunately, for me, my "grieving" has been eased a bit, by the ongoing mayhem of Sons Of Anarchy. Ironically, two of the best shows on TV, have proved what depth actors Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad's Walter White, who was the Dad on Malcolm In The Middle), and Sons Of Anarchy's Katy Sagal, (who was Peg Bundy on Married With Children, and married to Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, who also plays Otto on the show) can bring to the screen.
If for some reason you have never seen either, do so, I doubt you will regret it. I know I haven't. I will end this blog today with the great quote Walter White told his wife Skyler, in that final episode: "I did it for me," Walt confesses. "I liked it. I was good at it. And, I was really...I was alive." Indeed he was, and for me. TV was very alive during the duration of Breaking Bad.
Thank you Vince Gilligan. Well played.
Related Posts: The f-Stops Here, The Monkey Is In The Banana Patch and A Father’s Hands.
The "Secret Weapon”
Don’t forget to check out, the "Secret Weapon,” “Boris’” radio show on Woody Radio where “Boris” plays some great tunes that you’ve probably never heard. Listen to it right here: Woody Radio.
P.S.
Jaws the Cabbie has a new Halloween section at his Printfection Store. Check out the items here. Boo to yoo!