That’s Entertainment
By Pete Thompson
There’s truly no other way to begin this column by writing about a very lucky circumstance that happened to me recently. Regular readers of this column probably know that I love going to concerts. Just this past summer alone, I was fortunate enough to see Coldplay, Elton John, Rod Stewart and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all in concert.
However, a true “pinch me” moment just happened to me at Hard Rock AC when a friend of mine extended a late invite to see “Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band”. The seats were supposed to be in Section 202 of the Etess Arena, but when I got there, a few lucky events took place. First, as we got our tickets scanned, a nice ACPD officer recognized me and helped us get through the security checkpoint faster. That impressed my friend to begin with. But the best was yet to come.
I then saw a good friend of mine with his wife, and he asked if it was just the two of us. I said yes, and he said “I’m about to blow your mind, just come with me and don’t say anything.” So, we followed him and I immediately recognized his seats were on the floor. Well, that was much better than 202, so already we were in better shape. However, what I wasn’t prepared for is that his seats were in the front row! Quickly we were given yellow wrist bands that signified we were front row “residents”, and not only were we in the front row, we were dead CENTER. When Ringo Starr skipped out onto the stage in black & red Puma sweatpants, a stylish t-shirt and a red blazer, I almost fainted. Here was an actual living Beatle, about 12 feet away from me!
Needless to say, this will go down as one of the best & most memorable concert experiences of my life. I’ve seen Paul McCartney in concert twice (and he was incredible), but I always was kind of ambivalent on seeing Ringo. He didn’t have that many songs with the Beatles, and he’s known for his drumming more than his voice, right? Boy, was I wrong! I now understand that he has one of the best surrounding lineups with him ever. Steve Lukather & Warren Ham were both in Toto, so we got “Rosanna”, “Hold The Line” and “Africa”. Colin Hay the front man for Men At Work, so we got “Down Under”, “Overkill” and “Who Can It Be Now?”. Edgar Winter blew me away with “Free Ride” and “Frankenstein”. Even Hamish Stuart, with songs I didn’t realize I knew, like “Pick Up the Pieces” and “Cut the Cake” both from his days with Average White Band was outstanding. Add into the mix Warren Ham playing just about every instrument on the stage (including flute), and drummer Greg Bissonette constantly providing the backbeat, and you had an unbelievable lineup. Yes, Ringo did play drums as well. In fact, you might argue that Ringo is happiest sitting behind his kit and not up front as the lead guy.
As for the Ringo songs & Beatles songs, we got “It Don’t Come Easy”, “What Goes On”, “I’m the Greatest”, “Yellow Submarine”, “Octopus’s Garden”, “Back Off Boogaloo”, “I Wanna Be Your Man”, “Photograph” and “With a Little Help From My Friends”. According to the setlist they played 24 songs in about an hour and 45 minutes. Incredible.
Once again a deep thank you to my friend who “upgraded” our seats. I am grateful that the other couple he originally invited weren’t able to make it. He did make me promise not to mention his name, but I will never forget the night that I was 12 feet away from “Billy Shears”. Ringo Starr is an 82-year-old living legend!
Well, now that I’ve gotten THAT out, let’s take a look at some of the things that are floating around the streaming services, regular TV and the movies right now.
I’ll begin with the streaming services as I know a lot of people are asking me about “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” on Netflix. If you’re into that kind of thing, I’m sure it’s very compelling. I remember the story when it actually happened between 1978 and 1991. For me, I’m in the category where I don’t like to see anyone glorify murders. That said, it does have an amazing cast, led by Evan Peters. I also see Richard Jenkins, Molly Ringwald and Penelope Ann Miller are involved, plus it’s been created by Ryan Murphy, who did Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story and 9-1-1, so the guy knows good dramatic television! Again, if it’s your deal, enjoy. And I’m not saying that I won’t watch it. Just that I’m not putting it first in the queue.
Elsewhere, you can count me OUT on The Kardashians Season 2 on Hulu. However, I would definitely watch Sidney on Apple TV+, if I actually had Apple TV+. According to Decider, Sidney, “is all about the life of actor and civil rights icon Sidney Poitier, who died this past January. Fortunately for us all, Poitier was still alive when the film was being made and he appears in it, along with Oprah Winfrey, and other Hollywood icons like Barbra Streisand, Morgan Freeman, and Halle Berry, to discuss his work and his legacy. The film depicts how Poitier rose to fame in Hollywood against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, becoming inextricably linked with the image of a powerful, self-respecting Black man, both on-screen and off, and saddled with the duty of representing an entire race in popular culture.” Yes, I think I have time for that.
Really quick, let me skip to “regular” TV as the reality shows Survivor and The Amazing Race are back on Wednesday nights on CBS. These are two of my favorite and longest running shows that I continue to DVR and watch. Both compelling for their own reasons. If you’re not watching them, check them out! Conversely, I have DVR’d two episodes of the reboot of Quantum Leap and they better start getting….better! It’s not just missing Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell. To me, the hallmark of any good series is the writing, and so far the plot lines & writing on this reboot aren’t drawing me in.
Finally, from the box office, I doubt that I will get out and see Don’t Worry Darling on the big screen, but many others did. Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller managed to shrug off some big-time behind-the-scenes drama to post a decent $19.2 million debut according to Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have hated on this movie for weeks prior to its release, and Wilde is apparently going through an acrimonious divorce from actor Jason Sudekis. However, with Wilde and Harry Styles leading the cast, it appears that no press is bad press as Don’t Worry Darling made good money in its debut weekend.
As always, if there’s something out there I’m not covering or discussing in this column, please feel free to email me at PBrooksT@aol.com
I’m very thankful for your readership and hope you will patronize the businesses you see in the pages here. The LOCAL in Shore Local comes from the support of those businesses, so please support them!
Pete has been the local “sports guy” at the Jersey Shore since 2004. After a decade with TV 40, he joined 97.3 ESPN radio to talk Eagles, Phillies, Sixers & Flyers with Mike Gill on “The SportsBash” from 2-6 p.m.
Pete is proud to be a “voice” for the annual ShopRite LPGA Classic each June, and does emcee work for groups like the National Football Foundation, The Old Grad Awards, and The 200 Club of Atlantic County. You can hear Pete each Tuesday and Friday on 97.3 ESPN at 5:00pm, and if you see him out & about in the community, he requests that you please say “Hi”. Send comments to PBrooksT@aol.com
