THURSDAY
The genius of Gene
Gene Hackman was probably my favourite movie actor. He is unquestionably in the pantheon of greats, up there with Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and many others, not forgetting the best of the stars of earlier eras such as James Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, etc.
Others, like Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, were great personal favourites of mine, but I can honestly say that Hackman was probably the actor who most captivated me. There was a period in the 1990s when he seemed to dominate our screens, producing consistently brilliant performances, often across varying genres.
Amongst his greatest roles were those in The French Connection, Unforgiven, and the chilling Mississippi Burning. I only discovered recently that he had a terrific cameo appearance (well worth checking out on YouTube) in the Mel Brooks comedy, Young Frankenstein.
A wonderful actor with an electrifying screen presence, Gene Hackman was undoubtedly one of the greatest figures in movie history.
Hackman (95) and his wife, Betsy Arakawa (65) were found dead at their home today. An investigation is underway. May they rest in peace.
FRIDAY
Oval and out
An otherwise normal Friday evening has just been hijacked by events ‘stateside’. Everyone’s talking about the row in the White House. President Trump and Vice-President Vance have humiliated Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during extremely tense exchanges in the Oval Office. It made for very unpleasant viewing. Within minutes, Zelensky had departed.
I can recall seeing American presidents, going back to the era of the late Jimmy Carter, welcoming world leaders to the White House, and such events were always conducted with dignity and diplomacy, regardless of how strained relations might actually be.
What just happened in the Oval Office is unprecedented, not that I can agree with glum political commentator Larry Donnelly (reacting on Today FM’s The Last Word as I write), who seems to think it’s the end of civilisation (well, almost).
The meeting between Zelensky and Trump/Vance in front of the media was actually going fine for about half an hour. Then Zelensky to some degree ‘poked the bear’ in its own cave.
When the Ukrainian president started presenting his historical perspective of Russia’s treatment of Ukraine, and then challenged the vice-president on what he meant by diplomatic measures, it sparked a disproportionately fierce response from Vance. Trump took his cue from Vance’s outburst. The reservations – indeed personal enmity – both Trump and Vance have when it comes to Zelensky unleased a tirade of abuse.
It’s clear that Trump has lost patience with what he depicts as freeloading by Zelensky, while Vance unconvincingly implied that the Ukrainian president is not sufficiently grateful for US support (the evidence suggests otherwise).
These differences of opinion should have been articulated behind closed doors. Did they deliberately trap their guest in public? Perhaps. Zelensky was combative, but he was treated as no Head of State should be. This public dressing down was an example of low standards in high places.
SATURDAY
Pat Ingoldsby (RIP)
I was sorry to hear of the passing today of the unique poet/children’s TV presenter, Pat Ingoldsby. He was 82.
Known for his quirky writing style, he was a free spirit who often seemed to view the world through the eyes of a child. His poems and books were usually humorous, but many were poignant and moving too.
Growing up in Rooskey in the 1970s and ‘80s, I was always drawn to Pat Ingoldsby’s columns in the Evening Press, knowing that I would be reading some ‘off-centre’ view of the world. He lifted hearts and put smiles on faces.
At his peak, there was a heart-warming zaniness to his observations that was reminiscent of Spike Milligan. Here, in full, is an Ingoldsby three-liner on death:
DYING
‘If it was good enough
for Johnny Cash
it’ll do me’
SATURDAY
The ego has landed
Former champion boxer Chris Eubank was a guest on The Tommy Tiernan Show tonight. It was a pretty extraordinary appearance.
Courteously told by the show host that he was coming across as egotistical, Eubank seemed startled, and huffed that he had been invited on to the show (“Your team asked me to come and see you”).
Always a bit on the eccentric side, Eubank appeared to be in full attention-seeking mode in this outing, regularly referring to himself in the third person as he spoke (at length) about spirituality (and what most viewers would consider his strange interpretation of it). Tiernan displayed commendable patience. Mind you, I still find Eubank likeable; people like him add variety to life.
While it felt like the most awkward chat show interview I’ve seen in years, somehow it managed to be only the second weirdest ‘TV moment’ of the week…
SUNDAY
The Oscar goes to…
The Oscars are a hard watch, so I can’t watch… all of the annual ceremony. No chance. But credit where it’s due, first-time host Conan O’Brien was excellent.
MONDAY
Rudest ratings
Reflecting further on Oval Officegate, it strikes me that an unquestionably rude Donald Trump was actually only the third rudest person in the room!
I’d give the runner-up spot to smug reporter Brian Glenn, who saw the way the wind was blowing and decided to have his own populist pop at President Zelensky.
Sneering Glenn had the cheek to pitch in with: “Why don’t you wear a suit? You’re at the highest level in this country’s office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?”
Rudest person in the room on the day? That ‘accolade’ undoubtedly goes to the insufferably arrogant JD Vance. The vice-president was more annoying than President Trump, and much of the blame for the unseemly episode can be laid at his feet.
TUESDAY
Morning, Jim!
When I tuned into Morning Ireland (RTE Radio 1) midway through a discussion between Darren Frehill and Jim Gavin on the new Gaelic football rules, the atmosphere between them seemed ever so slightly strained.
At one point a polite but firm Jim said: “You’re the journalist”, following up with “You obviously haven’t read the data…”
Happily, they seemed to get back on track. Then Darren wrapped up the interview: “Our thanks to Jim… McGuinness.”
