Okay ! okay! it HAS TAKEN me this long to respond to what has transpired , and the HISTORY made during our national elections. It’s MAINLY because I REALLY wanted the regular readers of my blog to “FEEL ME” on this one !  Come with me, and let’s recount the experience!   [[  there will be PLENTY of PICTURES !!  ]]

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH BE TOLD:

It’s  REALLY an UNBELIEVEABLE feeling to see a President of the United States –   LOOK like……ME!    —    

History, and ‘HISTORICAL’ occurances have been plentiful during my 51 years on earth!

The CIVIL RIGHTS movement  –  , Mankind taking the FIRST STEPS on the MOON  –    ….An African-American (we were called Negroes back then ) winning the coveted NOBEL    PRIZE   –  in 1964

……          I LOVE YOU MAN-N-N-N-N-N!!        << >>

     ….. Miles  –   because it’s COOL to have him in this mix baby!   Oh!, and him too    –    Coltrane, Avant- Garde Jazz Legends–BOTH. 

Never saw HIM play?    but, MAN-N-N-N-N-N…did he EVER CHANGE the face of America?    

The Kennedys   –  JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY    the first (and ONLY) Roman Catholic ever elected as U.S. Chief Executive, and a beloved president. His brother, Robert Francis Kennedy    a U.S. Senator, social advocate and who MANY felt would have been President, had he not been gunned down as his brother was, five years prior, 1963 – those were DARK DAYS for our country during the 60’s ….along with the assasination of Martin Luther King in 1968, nearly two months, to the day BEFORE Robert Kennedy!!

These guys …  …..THE BEATLES, because they helped bridge gaps, and CHANGE the music world….  much as our very OWN  –      did. They both had plenty of SO-O-O-OU-U-U-L-L-L !!  But , the Beatles NEVER appeared on SOUL TRAIN!!   But, EVERYBODY…. ALL …danced like US on this show… Thank you Don Cornelius!

I experienced the world of  THIS man…  ..In case you don’t recall? Stevie OWNED the GRAMMY AWARDS throughout the 70’s!! Yeah, he set all kinds of records, unheard of before him. I worked for him at his Los Angeles radio station –KJLH (1989-93).  I was TRULY inspired to hone my ‘creativity’ while in his prescence. He led the crusade to create legislation for a NATIONAL HOLIDAY for this African-American icon   –   

I got the opportunity to experience an Olympics (the 1984 Summer Games) while living in Los Angeles .. [ not WORLD HISTORY, but significant for me? ] ……….

 They (Denzel Washington and Halle Berry), are the only people of color to be named “Best Leading” Male & Female actors during the 74th Annual Academy Awards in 2002…. speaking of actors?       He >>  RONALD REAGAN.. our 40th President. The FIRST ACTOR?? to become President. In 1980, he registered a mandate for change in our country at a time when our country and the world screamed for it. The “Great Communicator”.

The birth of my son [ 1995 ] …  I LOVE YOU for infinity – JUSTIN RICHARD GEORGE MOORE…..

I “FELT”  ——->>> ALL these things while standing in the newsroom of our sister station, Newsradio 950, WWJ on election night. I began to get emotional while watching on the monitors, that AMERICA had elected an African American as its President.  One of my work colleagues, WWJ News anchor, Patty Vitale, asked me…”are you tearing UP George?”. I turned to her and said…..” I NEVER thought I’d SEE this happen!”   I only WISHED ( as, I’m almost CERTAIN, MANY also felt), that my parents; Charles and Margaret, had lived to see it. Also, my grandparents, Richard and Kate, and Elizabeth and Frank had also lived to see this historical event! 

There, of course, is so much MORE that I could recount, and attach to my emotions of that night!   Like, being about 6, or 7 years old, and at a grocery store with my mom in 1960’s Lincoln Park, and turning around in disbelief, shock, anger,  and …yes some pain,  after being called the “N” word……be a young Caucasian girl….YOUNGER than ME!!  By being HIT in the LEG with a FULL and unopened bottle of beer,  from a moving car  filled with young caucasian men, while waiting…for the bus… NEAR my home !! shortly AFTER one of the ….’RACE RIOTS’ at Cody High School in 1974!  Then, going into work at the ‘old WDRQ (yep! back when it was ACTUALLY a GREAT radio station), and telling ANYONE who would listen …how ANGRY I was, while SHOWING them my SWOLLEN left shin where the beer bottle hit me, and exclaiming that …”I’m GONNA get EVEN”. And a work colleague —[ now a popular morning radio co-hostess on a Detroit Classic Rock station], telling me…”No you’re NOT George, just calm down!”. Experiencing NOT ONLY the 1967 Detroit riots, but the 1992 Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict. Watching the anger and violence unfold, and the BURNING BUSINESSES all around me??, but NO ONE touching the building where Stevie’s radio station was !!  Yep! I shed a tear, because I have lived and experienced all those things.  I SHED A TEAR!

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Presidential Pressures:

It is no secret the job of President of the United States makes people….really….AGE? The pressures of the position, the HOURS one has to keep, the IMPACT of SO MANY resting squarely on your shoulders. Our President elect is about my age, he’s 47 years old, I’m 51. I just HOPE the rigors of the gig doesn’t turn our president from ….THIS >> 

 to….THIS  >>>     GASP!!!    Okay! okay! I’m NOT talkin’ about the skin tone, or the ‘charming-good-looks’  [ clearing throat ] we BOTH share…[ GAG! ] I’m talking about the GRAY stash!!  His tough work is cut out for him, and it has taken its toll on MANY of his predecessors!   We’ll see.  

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Fun, PRESIDENTIAL Facts:

This ONE is personal??  Barack Obama is the FIRST elected U.S. President YOUNGER than me!?  GASP!   I’m gettin’ OLD!!  

He is the FIRST elected U.S. President born outside of the contiguous 48 states (Hawaii), and the FIRST born in the TURBULENT 1960’s.

His daughters, 9 year old  Malia [ MAH-lee-ah ], and  7 year old Natasha (Sasha) will be the YOUNGEST to live in the White House since (9 year old) Amy Carter in 1976.

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CHANGE:  you guys remember the 1970’s song from the “Places and Spaces” album by [Detroiter) , Donald Byrd?   “CHANGE”..makes you wanna….   THAT could have been Obama’s campaign song??

CHANGE: 

For the PISTONS:   Goodbye  >>   CHAUNCEY RAY BILLUPS! 

You were a key component in getting the “D” another NBA Championship in ‘O4, to go with the TWO the BAD BOYS won in the 1980’s. You came here, pretty MUCH, a journeyman, and you left here, beloved, a hero, a CHAMPION. Enjoy the remainder of your career in your hometown of Denver, and … Chaunce?? Thanks man!

CHANGE !!

THE  ( eeeeee-eeeee YUCK!) LIONS:

This dude  >>     ..is the LIONS’ new starting QB!!  Daunte Culpepper. He hasn’t played in the NFL for a couple years, while recovering from SHREDDING-UP his knee a few years ago. He’s only …like 31 years old?? and dude is HUGE for ANY NFL’er, let alone a quarterback… 6-feet -4, about 260? I mean…he would SQUASH the LIONS’ midget linebackers corp…( ‘cept Ernie Sims..that is a tough Mo-Fo! )  But? is HE the answer to even REMOTELY making the mess of a team any good?? Naww-w-ww! They are going to be the FIRST NFL team to EVER go OH-for-16!! They won’t win a game! Speaking of the LIONS??   It’s time for another  >>>>>>>>>> “FROM the SIDELINES”

Alright! I’m NOT TRYIN’ to PILE-ON our SAD SACK pro football team? [ The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English.   SAD SACK; • n. inf. an inept, blundering person. ]

But, I JUST HAD to get these on the blog. This contribution comes from Mr. Gary Lundy, one of the fine News Producers/Writers for our sister station, NewsRadio 950 WWJ ! You will LOVE these…..hee-e-e-e-er-r-r-r-r-r-r-e we go!

DETROIT LIONS

Michigan Law: The Michigan State Police are cracking down on speeders heading into Detroit. For the FIRST offense, they GIVE you TWO Detroit Lions tickets.   IF you get stopped a SECOND TIME??  They MAKE you USE them!     

Q. What do you call 47 millionaires around a TV, watching the SUPER BOWL?

A.  the Detroit Lions

Q. What do the Detroit Lions and Billy Graham have in common?

A. They BOTH can make 70,000 people stand UP and yell “Jesus Christ!’

Q. How do you keep the Detroit Lions out of your yard?

A. Put up a GOAL POST

Q. Where do you go in Detroit in case of a tornado?

A. To Ford Field….they NEVER have a (LIONS) touchdown there.

Q. What do you call a Detroit Lion with a Super Bowl ring?

A.  A THIEF!!

Q. What’s the difference between the Detroit Lions and a  ??

A. You can GET FOUR QUARTERS out of a dollar bill.

Q. How many Detroit Lions does it take to WIN a Super Bowl?

A. NOBODY KNOWS, and we may NEVER find out!

Q. What do the Detroit Lions and…..a….   Possum have in common?

A.  BOTH ‘PLAY-DEAD’ at home and get KILLED on the road.

OH MY GAWD!!   ahh-h-hhh HAH-HAH haa-a-a-a-a-a-ah-h-h-h-hh! 

I nearly pee’d my pants, laughing so hard reading these!!   Thank you Gary!!

EMAIL!!   I GET EMAIL!! 

This one comes from the mom of my ‘play’ grandson from the TV/Print commercial shoot ( the previous blog). Sucre Woodley.

Hi George,

Congratulations on being the #1 rated show in your timeslot!! That’s no easy task bc you’re going up against the gospel segments.  I read your blog (not just Levi’s part either) and laughed out loud! You have a knack with words. I have forwarded to my friends and family.

Keep up the great work. I’ll be checking out your blog from time to time and your radio show.

Best,

Sucre

Thank you Sucre, for the congrats, and your enjoyment of reading my blog!  

Any others who feel compelled to email?   Get at me by dropping off a message, letter, a NOVEL, whatever compels you, to      george.moore@cbsradio.com

ALL comments are encouraged and welcomed.

Here are some pictures that I PROMISED I would post. These are taken from the 2nd Annual Bob-Lo Island Jazz fest during the summer ( that I hosted). These video-captured stills were also featured on “Doin’ the “D”.

 

That’s me, behind the counter at the Bob-Lo Island General Store, serving customers ice cream. Okay…yeah…I DID lick the scoop!!

 

Um-m-mmm..that’s me, after world-renowned jazz-pianist, Keiko Matsui KICKED MY KEISTER playing cards!!

 

This is me….BEFORE knowing Keiko was GUTTING me like a fresh-caught trout, but (me) figuring that this AINT going my way!  ( LOOK AT HER HAND!!??)  daa-a-aaaang Keiko?? you gotta WATCH those international JAZZ stars!  

 

That’s internationally known and RESPECTED jazz great, BOB JAMES, accepting

a ‘parting-gift’  a CAR!!   after he graciously allowed us to interview him before going onstage… (okay! okay! it WAS a Hot Wheels car, but whaddya think we got? a huge budget!??)..  He said he was gonna give it to his granddaughter.

Toronto jazzman, Warren Hill got a ‘parting-gift’ too. Yep! gave HIM a car too!!

[[  ALL of the preceeding video stills were shot by my former “Doin’ the “D” producer… KRISTEN KELLY!  Kristen is moving to Germany, leaving our CBS RADIO family!  I wish you THEEEEEE BEST Kris. You KNOW you are already missed kiddo! ]]

Well….that IS, as they say…ALL!  Hope you enjoyed this blog entry. Don’t forget to remember….you can WRITE through email, and I will post your comments!

george.moore@cbsradio.com

…….      PEEEEEEAAAAAACCCCE !!!

I recently got a call to audition for a part in a commercial for television, and pictures for print ads for a large local hospital, West Bloomfield location.   Read the BLOG below and see the pictures. I’ll talk about some other stuff too.

 LATE OCTOBER BLOG :
Shooting A Television Commercial With Mr. Woodley 

Well, friends, I recently auditioned through the talent agency I’m signed with (TALENT SHOP) for a role in a photo shoot / Television commercial for HENRY FORD HOSPITAL, West Bloomfield location.  Yeah, I GOT the part!  I wind-up playing a granddad  (yeah, ME!!), taking his grandson out on a lake to fish for the first time. The ‘theme’ for the ad campaign ‘appears’ to be, getting out-being active, relaxing, being as STRESS FREE as possible. Fishing in a quiet, serene setting with your grand kids, or taking a nice brisk hike! With my activity, you’ll see me wearing a wristband that will say “stroke prevented”.  The premise being that you’ll REDUCE the chance for serious health issues by TAKING CARE of your self.  Now, I say ‘appears’ because I don’t really know if that is exactly what the ad campaign entails, it’s just a guess.  The part of my eager and absolute adorable grandson was played by Mr. Levi Woodley, a 7 year old local child, who was accompanied by his proud mom, Sucre ( soo-CREE). Of course, young Levi was THEE STAR of the show!!  We shot the scenes, on location, at the Bald Mountain Recreation area, in Lake Orion, at Lower Trout Lake.  Levi and me really hit it off, and bonded almost instantly.. ( the little fella was just as charming as the most experienced actor ). As I did costume changing in the outhouse/wardrobe room  (lol!),  the crew got the row boat ready at the dock, and the cameraman set up the angles, while we (Levi and me) got geared up (with life jackets, and our warm clothing, because it was ….C-C-c-c-c-c-old   out there at 8-ish in the morning!!    Of course, there were a LOT of director’s …..um-mmm..directions?   ”Stop!” …. “do it THIS way!”….George? hold your arm out that way!”, “Levi? look up at your granddad and smile”  Of course, we do what the directors tell us.  Now, understand THIS…..I KNOW how to row a boat? okay!?  It has just been a…uh-hhh… few years!?  But I managed to get the boat right where they wanted it in the lake. And? after the 1st couple of oar strokes? I was good with what I was doing.   Anyway, we go through all of the director’s orders, different angles, trying to get just the right ‘natural light’…( and? MAN it was beautiful and picturesque out there).  Well,  the pictures will give you a better idea of what I’m talking about!

Levi and me, rowing back to the dock after we finished our scene. 

 

photo by: Sucre Woodley

Young Mr. Woodley and his ‘play’ granddaddy, headin’ out to fish.

 

photo by: Sucre Woodley

My grandson & me…REALLY havin’ a BALL spendin’ time, on the lake…fishin’

 

photo by: Sucre Woodley

 Alright! we’re comin’ back to the dock, to WARM-UP (br-r-rrrrrrr), and get something to eat! 

 

 photo by: Sucre Woodley

The crew (to the left) talking over how they’re going to shoot the next scene? Or? what’s on the breakfast menu ?                      

 

photo by: Sucre Woodley

We had a great breakfast-lunch, catered by Mr. Craig Justice, then finished the shoot, with  ’still’ shots from in the boat, while it was docked at the boat-slip. We did more close-ups of Levi and his gramps..(the focus was on my blue wristband …it was amazing how much detail was given to getting the ‘angle’ of it on my wrist…just right….again, & again, and again, and again……yaw-w-w-w-w-wwn-n-nnnnn!*      . But you know?  the people who DO this know what they’re doing and HOW to do it.  And, I have the utmost respect for how they make it look just right!   We got done with our part  (there was another group of actors coming in for the second part of the shoot ), and it was time to pack-up and say goodbye!  As I was heading back to the Buick, I passed by Levi’s mom’s vehicle. I waved at them, the rear window rolled down, and young Mr. Woodley pleasantly said….”goodbye granddaddy!”   ( I swear, I nearly turned into a blob of melted butter —–      .   Yep! Young Mr. Levi Woodley was THEE STAR of the day!

special, special thanks to: Executive Producers: Liz Schnell, Carey Chesney and Dan Cobb

Producer/Director of Photography: Shawn Hamer. Director/Art Director Monique Prieur

Art Director (print): Kari Shimmel, Producer: John Lewis, A-E: Cerene Kole, Gaffer: Pat O’Day, Video Tech: Don Walker, Make-up: Amy Asmar.  The On-Site Medic: Erin Kelly –(thanks, Erin, for allowing me to SIT in your WARM CAR, between SCENES!!)  My TALENT SHOP agent: Tina.

 It’s my understanding the TELEVISION commercial will run sometime in February of ‘O9.

These photo, and/or video shoots are ALWAYS a lot of fun, and this one was so much fun, I almost forgot about my talent fee!!  Wait a moment…? I AM gettin’ paid for this…aren’t I?? (George reaches for the celly)   

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FLAVA FLAV’s TELEVISION SHOW:        

OH MY GAWD!!  The title of the show is “Under One Roof”, starring rapper Flavor Flav of Public Enemy fame.  I happened to ’stumble’ upon it while zipping through the TV channels recently. And, I don’t know WHAT made me STOP and watch it?  The show is on the very ‘youth-oriented’ MY  Network.  Near as I can figure, the show is about Flav (William Drayton Jr.) who moves in with his rich, and NERDY brother… and his brother’s caucasian girlfriend (so, these two could NOT be any more DIFFERENT?). I’ll cut to the chase. The episode that I stumbled on featured a guest role by character actor ‘Tiny’ Lister…(you know the guy? big muscular dude with ‘crazy’ eyes. He USUALLY plays big, brawny, muscle bound, but not necessarily bright guys..he played a character named ‘Zeus’ in some Hulk Hogan movie…years ago, and is frequently on TV in roles similar to what I just described).

    <<<<<    HIM!!!

Anyway, this particular episode Tiny comes to visit Flav and his brother after getting out of prison, where HE and Flav were…ummm-mm cell mates?   So….yeah! ye-e-eah! there were the requisite prison jokes about prison life, intimate innuendo, and more brainless dialogue. Oh!  and ( so it SEEMS in the last 10 years or so)  every show labeled a comedy has the usual “damn”,  “b*tch”,  “a** ”  word tossed in among the absolute HORRIBLE script and storyline!   People? this show is BAD!!, I mean BA-A-A-A-A-AD! (and I don’t mean BAD-good!) Hear me?   OH! the brother ALSO has a very stereotypical Asian (Chinese, I think) housekeeper, who manages to get in some dumb lines as well.  I swear, I could just feel my ‘intelligence’ just OOZING OUT of my head while I watched this piece of garbage. Just as I felt myself begin to ‘BLANK-OUT’ from this mindless jibberish?  I managed to HIT THE CLICKER and ESCAPE!!  After I regained my FULL senses, and mopped-up some of the BRAIN MATTER that left my head, I just KNEW I had to blog, and WARN  —  ANYONE, with a SPECK of brain, about how HORRIBLE this show is.  And, let’s not get this twisted ..FLAV?… aint any PARTS of an actor!!  He delivers his lines (which, in this episode and I’m sure OTHERS? are just as lame as EVER).  Wanna know the real killer?  I bet you 700 Billion-million dollars that the knuckleheads who write the show weren’t even BORN when Flav and Chuck D. and crew were at their height of fame. And did you all even know (or care) Flavor Flav is damn near 50 years old!!  Yep!  he was born in 1959!!!!  Man! this HAS to be THEE WORST television show ever! Yes, worse then “My Mother the Car”.  Worse than “Supertrain”. Worse  than nearly any FOX Network show from their days of infancy!!  (remember “Herman’s Head”??) I just had to share this with you guys!   I have more…coming. 

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Evander Holyfield Gonna Fight?? –AGAIN??          

Yeah, that’s the word people!!  Don’t get me wrong…. I love Evander Holyfield…he is one of the great boxers of our time. But……? dang Evander!!  aren’t you about 111 years old??

  << Evander

(he’s actually 46?)  Why!? WHY!? in the world would you want to step back in the ring, and risk gettin’ beat-the-hell out of??  hunh??  I know, Evander, that you’re ‘the Warrior’, and all that, but …..DAMN MAN?? You’re gonna fight this dude?? 

  << Nikolai Valuev. ‘member him??  He’s the dude, that I referred to as

‘Sasquatch’ (in an earlier blog). He is the WBA Heavyweight champ..(I think!). This guy is about 7 feet (and change) tall, weighs around 3 bills (300 lbs) -PLUS!!! 

‘Vander??… c’mere.. (whispering in Holyfield’s BITTEN ear)    ARE YOU CRAZY!!??

I know you want to win the title for a 5th time, but you obviously have had an attack of LUNACY!  I hope and PRAY you don’t get…..killed!!    That dude eats an entire FARM…for breakfast!!   Valuev scares the sh*t out of  

and….?      <<KING KONG

I don’t think this is a good idea Evander. Please, don’t do it!

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THE (ugh!*) LIONS      *-means I can DO that!!

What do you want me to say? I have already vented my spleen, railed on and ON about how HORRIBLY BAD this entire organization is.  And, we ALL just really WANT to be able to be proud to say we’re Lions’ FANS, as opposed to ….sufferers –(or SUCKAS!). And Now? the very FIRST local BLACKOUT of a home game at Ford Field since it opened around EIGHT years ago -(October 26 versus the Washington Redskins–a team the LIONS have NOT beaten since Dwight Eisenhower was sinking putts in the oval office of the White House!). So, obviously, the ‘luster’ of Ford Field has worn OFF,  and LIONS’ believers/sufferers/faithful, are just going to find something ELSE to watch on TV on Sundays, or do something elsewhere.  Yes, there will be MORE blackouts, because people are going through very, VERY tough times everywhere, but ESPECIALLY this area, and they are NOT going to dig DEEP and pay BIG money to see such a WRETCHED team as this!  The fan ‘APATHY’ will REALLY hit home in about a month, when the LIONS’ annual Thanksgiving Day game does NOT…..repeat …DOES NOT sell out, and is also BLACKED OUT!!   Yeah people…the UNTHINKABLE could happen, which will also be ANOTHER major embarrassment for this entire organization. We, the residents and long-time supporters of this mess should NOT be embarrassed, HELL, it aint OUR fault this thing is so ‘EFFED-up’. It will take a LOT of fixing to straighten out, but…be ASSURED that [ IF ] they do?  We’ll come back.  I’m tellin’ you, if the LIONS ever get really GOOD, and stay that way??  This city would be UPSIDE DOWN, INSIDE OUT, and Round & Round!!  << (okay! Okay! so, I borrowed from Diana Ross, but you feel me on that …right!?)  Dave Bing? Penske? anybody??  You guys ought to just pool your money together, bring in a couple MORE dudes with a LARGE cache’, and just walk into the old man’s office, and say….”Give us the team”  HERE!!   here is a BILLION…give US the team, and have a nice day!”  –    I KNOW either of them would run this organization better than it HAS been run for the last….oh-hhhh …50-PLUS years! 

I mean, you have to be an absolute CRO-Magnon       …NOT….. to be a successful NFL franchise!!  The league is set-UP for teams (who do it right) to contend EVERY season! You can finish 8 & 8, and make the playoffs!!  I just wonder IF me….( in my 50’s) is EVER gonna see this team at LEAST.. playing in a Super Bowl.  I KNOW my dad Charles (rest his soul) wishes HE had!

PEACE :

I am sometimes asked why I sign-off this blog, and my ‘Doin’ the “D” videos with….

“PEACE”.  It’s just something I’ve done from my days as a ‘Hippie’ Okay! okay! that’s not it.  I just believe in ‘Peace’. It’s always, GENERALLY been how I leave my listeners/viewers. Peace-fully. I actually did that (for the first time while on the radio), back in 1977, on my last show on the ‘old’ WDRQ (when it was a GOOD station, and actually had air personalities!), before I left Detroit. It has just stuck with me. Wha’ can ah say?       

CARE TO comment on any of this BLOG/RAMBLE?, feel free at >>>>  george.moore@cbsradio.com , or… just leave a comment on this page.    YOU KNOW I’LL POST IT UP!

Till next time?     —-