Hopefully The Hills Are Still Alive...When I Sing.

In the Green Room of "One Day"

Post NKOTB, pre "One Day"

The Entertainment Factor

Yesterday John Hughes died, making it officially the summer of my favorite people passing away. Yes, on the surface, MJ and John Hughes may not seem to have had much in common but think about it- these guys exemplified GREAT entertainment.

Being born in the 80s, I was a little young to savor the Brat Pack but growing up on Home Alone and re-runs of Planes, Trains and Automobiles on British television made me realize today..."wow, that's another legend gone."

If anything, the recent iconic deaths have solidified my own sense of taste. I like ENTERTAINMENT. I like fun plots and story and exaggeration and fantasy and rhythm. John Hughes, to me, directed the most rhythmical of arts- comedy! His movies had plots. They had build-ups. They had obsessive, comedic characters with apparent simple desires that always snowballed into chaos. Like great music, Hughes' movies crescendoed.

I don't want to sound too down on Mr. Apatow but it's hard to find those levels of cleverness and skill in today's BroMances where Seth Rogan mumbles something stream-of-conscious with "dick, pussy and tits" to an unassuming Katherine Heigl. I know some people LOVE those movies but I confess I only LIKE them...and find some even annoying. But there we go, it's a taste difference. Trends come and go in waves and now we're at the peak end of the uber-natural, awkward-moment comedies, the world is waiting for an comeback of the 80s-style laughter!! (Or maybe that's just me being hopeful Lol.) In movies AND music.

When Ebony Magazine asked Michael Jackson what he thought about the future of music in the age of new media and downloads he responded: "I think the answer is just phenomenal great music. Just reaching the masses. I think people are still searching. There's not a real musical revolution going on right now, either. But when it's there, people will break down a wall to get to it. I mean, before Thriller it was the same kind of thing. People were NOT buying music. It helped to bring everybody back into the stores. So when it happens, it happens."

I would gage to say the same is true for all entertainment. TV ratings are down and it's not all LonelyGirl's fault. Audiences can and will gather around their box again when there is great stuff to see. Summer blockbusters do well but they'd do even better if they had great, hysterical plots. I'll admit to not seeing "Funny People" yet, so perhaps I'll eat my words after I have. Until then, you guys be my judge...am I being ridiculously nostalgic? Was I born at the wrong time? Or do you think there's an entertainment renaissance about to bust the world's balls? Cause I HOPE so!

Until then, I'll be jiving to Ferris Bueller's soundtrack....