Ladies and Gentlemen..."The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years"

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week-The Touring Years (2016)

Not Rated

Starring John, Paul, George & Ringo

Directed by Ron Howard

The Story:

It's 1963 and some British band called The Beatles is about to take off on the greatest meteoric rise in music history.

This is their story.

Ron Howard's engaging documentary compiles footage of the band from 1963-1966.

At that point, the band stopped the breakneck pace of touring and simply released albums after that.

The movie concludes with footage of their final rooftop concert in 1969.

There is archival footage from the Beatles discussing these crazy years on the road, as well as current takes from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

Along with that, there are some celebrity fans who discuss what life was like growing up during the height of Beatlemania.

Definitely worth a viewing if you're a fan.

And possibly if you're not a fan (tsk tsk) you might see what all the fuss was about.

 Final Grade: A-

Live From New York, It's "Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversay Special"

Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary (2015)

TV-14

Starring The Not Ready For Primetime Players

Created by Lorne Michaels

The Story:

The year was 1975, and Lorne Michaels unleashed a weekly 90 minute program of satirical humor and musical guests every Saturday Night, live for the viewing public. The face of comedy was changed forever.

It may not have truly recognized for the brilliance at first, but how about by using a 40 year retrospective that is basically a greatest hits/worlds' biggest inside joke for the cast and the fans of the show to help you appreciate the comedy geniuses that have passed through Studio 8H over the decades.

Some went on to bigger and better things after their stint on the show. Some went on...and we are surprised that they are still around.

Saturday Night Live has been around for 40 years.

Reports (or demands) of its cancellation have been circulating for about...

39 years.

:)

Pretty much if they were ever on the show, they were on the show last night.

Even Eddie Murphy, who returned to a standing ovation.

There were a few new sketches with cast members from across the spectrum, and with a few special guest stars.

I would say the Jeopardy sketch with Ferrell back as Trebek and the always underrated Darryl Hammond as Sean Connery did not disappoint.

There was a Weekend Update retrospective with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Jane Curtin as hosts.

Then a salute to the musicians and comedy skits that have been a staple of the show since the beginning.

They also looked at the crossover between sports and comedy as well.

A solid show from top to bottom, and filled with more than enough laughs.

Worst segment?

The Kanye West musical segment.

That's okay, SNL is notorious for  airing stuff that probably should have been cut.

I don't stay up much anymore and am not that familiar with the cast, but I'm glad they're still around and doing this every weekend.

Looking forward to the next decade of laughs, and that should be SNL's next retrospective, the 50th.

Final Grade: A

Springtime In New York... "The Last Play At Shea"

The Last Play at Shea (2010)

Not Rated

Starring Billy Joel

Directed by  Paul Crowder

The Story:

This documentary chronicles the life and career of Billy Joel.
This documentary chronicles the history of Shea stadium from creation to destruction.
This documentary chronicles the fall, rise, fall, rise, fall, rise... of the New York Mets.

It does all of this in 90 minutes, and it does it spectacularly.

It is a concert film...without a lot of the concert.
It's a baseball film...with rock and roll.
It's a rock and roll film...with baseball.

It's unique, and very enjoyable.

Not a lot of the 2 night finale actually makes the 90 minute performance.

However, over the 90 minute running time, you'll learn a lot about Joel, New York, Shea Stadium, The Beatles and much more.

Example:  Sting realized that performing at Shea was the pinnacle of their career, so while on stage, he decided he would leave The Police when their tour was over.

Crazy, right?

A musical history lesson, perfectly encapsulated in film.

I just wish that the 2 night concert performance was available as extras or released on its own as well.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I don't see a need to own it, and a viewing is good.  But it could be a nice historical piece to pull out every so often to remember what life was like back in the days of Shea.

You Say You Want A (Musical) Revolution Weekend... "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles"

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles

Feb 9th, 1964.

Ed Sullivan introduced the Fab Four to North America.

The world was never the same.

While the Beatles didn't create Rock & Roll, they did redefine it.

50 Years later, the Grammys pulls out an all-star tribute to the Beatles.

Here's some thoughts I had as the extravaganza unfolded...

First, I don't think I will poke too many holes in the performers that got up on stage and offered their renditions.  Some more faithful than others.  Some that were cleverly repackaged.

Why?

Well, it's two-fold.

First, it takes some nerves to get up on stage that is pandering to an audience filled with other singers and celebrities and saying "I'm going to do a Beatles song!"

Then, multiply that by infinity, because you're also doing this performance in front of Paul and Ringo!

As the cameraman caught all throughout the night, Paul McCartney loves to singalong to the Beatles songs.  I would imagine it's reflex.

Next, I think they really, really, really missed out by not having Dhani Harrison and Julian Lennon get up on stage and perform at least one number with Paul and Ringo.  It would have been surreal and awesome.  Surreally awesome, even!



Loved the backstage interviews with the crew that was there on that night, as well as Letterman's interviews with Paul and Ringo back on the actual Ed Sullivan stage where it all began.

It could have used some editing, and it sounds like a DVD could come out with the trimmed for time footage.

I wish they would have aired the Beatles entire performance on the Ed Sullivan show, but again, perhaps they will add that to the DVD.

I think they could also do without so much showing the audience during these shows.  I'm not watching to see what other people think of musicians singing.  I want to see them singing.

Otherwise you end up panning to Tom Hanks awkwardly caught not singing to Hey Jude at the end.

Tsk tsk Mr. Hanks.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I don't think I'll buy it on DVD, but I've got it recorded and there were a few numbers worth revisiting in the future.

Sit Down and Hear Some "Beatles Stories"

It's a story about some famous people who met some even more famous people...

The Beatles!


The Story:

The Beatles.  Perhaps you've heard of them.  Greatest Rock & Roll Band of all time, both opinion and fact. ;)
Well this is their story.  As told by people who met the Beatles and want to recount those stories.  The man behind the project is Seth Swirsky, himself a huge Beatles fan. Of course, he's also a songwriter, so it helps to be an "insider" to talk to famous people.  If you or I were to walk up to these people with a camera, we'd most likely be punched or have the police called.  The stories range from Pre-Beatlemania to post Beatle break-up.  And really, almost all of the stories are very quick, maybe a minute, sometimes 2 minutes.  So it's really...bam bam bam... and the next thing you know, 90 minutes has gone by, and it's time to roll the credits.

So is it worth it?

The bigger the Beatle-maniac, the more you'll enjoy it.

You don't hear from the lads themselves, but you get to hear people reminisce about their interactions with them.  From casual, quick meetings to in-depth recording sessions or meals, this one has it all.

My favorite of all the stories?  I would give the nod to Henry Winkler for his tale of meeting Sir Paul.  Pretty funny, and pretty cool.

It was bittersweet to see an interview with Davey Jones also.  But you'll see how influenced he was by the group, and how he was there when it all began.


It's light, breezy, and a lot of fun.  It's really cool to hear some of the behind the scenes from Rock History.

Naturally, the only thing missing was a chance to have Seth chat with Paul or Ringo, but alas...


Final Grade: B-
Would I Add It To the DVD Library: Probably Not.  I'm the only Beatle fan in the house.  Sacrilege, know...

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.