Remembering Don Hewitt, Taking Woodstock, Michael Vick and More

An interesting week.

Sorry to see that Don Hewitt died. Hewitt's most notable effort, 60 Minutes, was and is an important part of my life. I essentially stopped watching network television when I headed off to college. There was one exception, 60 Minutes. The other was, years later, The Sopranos. Sunday nights have been sacred television time in my house for years now. That's thanks to David Chase and, especially, to Don Hewitt and the cast, producers and staff of 60 Minutes.

I saw a screening of Ang Lee's new film Taking Woodstock last night. Lee is a great filmmaker and this small, delicate movie is quite good. I have listened to a lot of Woodstock-ology these past few weeks as we mark the 40th anniversary of the event. Some of the commentary has been downright weird. Tom Ashbrook of WBUR did a segment on the event and he seemed to dismiss or reduce its significance with each call he took. I like to think that before there was Facebook and Twitter, Woodstock exemplified what "social networking" was in the late 1960s. Young people got together to, like, y'know... hang out.

My blog about Michael Vick generated a lot of emotional response. Some even sounded like they wanted to take me outside and... well, never mind. It was not my aim to minimize what Vick did. But KLDickson, you gotta chill, man. I wonder what medical experiments can cure you of that tired prejudice you have against people in my business.

Lastly, RJ Cutler has a new film, The September Issue, examining the inner workings of Vogue magazine and its Sphynx-like editor, Anna Wintour. Cutler, who was a producer on The War Room and directed one of my favorite documentaries, A Perfect Candidate (which covered the Chuck Robb-Oliver North Senate race) is a great filmmaker and I think you should get to the theatre to see his latest, The September Issue.

PS...Some wondered why I omitted Martin Scorsese from the list of directors I had worked with in my blog on John Hughes. I suppose it was unconscious. Marty, to me, is not on any list. He occupies a place in filmmaking history entirely on his own.

Comments

[neoprimordial]

I had meant to comment to this blog a while ago, and I had it in mind to say that you're spoiling us, Mr. Baldwin, with this regular blogging of yours, but with all these folks passing away, one after the other, I'm reeling a bit: Chronkite, Dunne, Hewlitt, the icons Jackson and Fawcett and to a lesser extent John Hughes. Now Teddy Kennedy. I guess we'll need to brace ourselves for a lot more of this. I need to call my friend who's 79 and still vital, last we spoke.

Thanks for spoiling us.

[Leeshh]

Mr. Baldwin,
Let me just say I'm a huge fan of yours, yes I'm 15 years old, and yes the only reason I'm on the Huffington post is to follow your blog. Truthfully I don't know why I read your blog because I don't agree with your politics and I don't agree with a lot of what you say, and when I say all of this, I mean it in the nicest way. But anyway I'm a crazy for you and I can't get enough of you. ;) God Bless. Alicia.

[comatoast]

This should be a lesson to you "Mr. Baldwin"- the 15 year old mentality is actually pervasive throughout our society (and incidentally our electorate). That being the case, it should be easy for you to launch a political career- after all, people will vote for the candidate they are "crazy for"- not the one with whose policies they agree.

[kapalabhati]

That has to be the sweetest, most honest thing I have ever read on this blog. There's hope for you yet! ;-)

[neoprimordial]

There's hope for humanity yet.

[StephanieStahl]

Hmmm....
...fifteen-year-old mentality...

No sense in hurling insults based on labels like "progressive, "conservative", "Democrat or "Republican"? Not a bad mentality, IMO. Too many smart people with good hearts want to do the right thing--even if they disagree (sometimes strongly) about how to get it done. LOL, and, if someone's easy on the eyes, it's just an added bonus, yes? :-)

[BostonBackBayNBB]

Alec,

I thoroughly enjoy your commentary. You are a very dynamic individual with many facets and you have a unique intelligence that all can appreciate and relate to.

[Spiriteddona]

Spirited Dona Blogs-- I was so looking forward to blogging about the new American poor, when, my worst fears came true. Regular cheap doctors could not diagnose my serious infection / imbalance. it was effecting even my lungs and i had at age 48, i could not breathe with infection and had a mild stroke. my eye has a blown pupil and after the 3 emergency room docs and three regular m d 's and an optometrist, i can get no help to see a neuro- ophthalmologist. i see white halos. i am nauseous from trying to find a government program plus the eye problem! two docs refused to refer me, one said he should! you have health and a forum, to talk about the new poverty. our country is going to fall that would be a good topic, too! .And my friend' s , was on Vick being let back in society! i love you, but, when people act like they have a piece of toilet paper up their butt towards you on Vick, I have to approve! Blog on the hurting! the vets, dead soldiers families, kids who can 't get college, health dearth, and people who can 't buy pet food--leave it at food banks-- people! Thank You!

[IDIOTA]

Alec -- I think that Joe Lieberman is scared of you. You could make his day a nightmare.

[masola81]

Alec, you're awesome. Run for office already.

[bocat]

Alec, Please stay right where you are at. We need you. Don't run for anything. It will ruin you.

[jozzie]

Alec,
Run for Lieberman's seat. Please.

[Kalie]

In regard to social networking, concerts still seem to be a great place to see, talk to, be with humanity when it is at its happiest. My teenage son went to see the Warped Tour and Mayhem tour and was so overcome with how nice and likeminded people were there. Think about why.

Our society is getting so uptight and mean. Things are too fast and we dont slow down until we are forced to. We are not nice to each other. We have to have our own way, because we always know whats best.....we dont listen to wisdom anymore....older people are useless and ugly, arent they????? I hear about little girls in kindergarten being mentally abused by their peers and it makes me sick. The apple doesnt fall far from the tree.

I think that when people lose a loved one or experience ill health they then realize that life is not forever, and we need not to take time to know each other and not be so mean to each other because life is short. Beauty fades. We should enjoy ourselves and our families and friends and seek to do good for others. Its really not about getting all you can and screwing the other guy. But we have to take the time.

[OCwriter]

Alec
First of all, I have no gripe against you-we certainly share similar viewpoints about politics and our President who I admire more than I can say.
But here's the thing about Vick and why readers got p.o.ed at you. Vick's conscience seemed to sprout after he was caught, perhaps like yours. If you are gearing up to run, here's a simple rule about haves/have nots: the have nots get steamed whenever a 'have' gets caught and hand slapped. We both know this system leans toward those with money, in law, in medicine, in getting the seat in a crowded restaurant. i have no problem with the basic tenents of captialism except when its money makers don't have to pay like we do. Or if they pay, they can turn that penance into money. I thought after your tirade a few years ago, your career would tank---not even close. Spin meisters are at your disposal because you have the tools we don't.
So that's why people get p.o.ed at you and Vick. It's not about being a celebrity per se, it's more about the perks afforded because you are.
I hope all is well with your family which I'm guessing is similar to mine. What I live by is this: dysfunction has to stop somewhere-why not with me?
i hope Vick truly does work on behalf of the animal cruelty/humane society as he promised to do.

[den1953]

Mr Baldwin please make Joe Leibermans day run against this man he can't make up his mind what he wants to be when he grows up!

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

You should watch Mad Men.

It's better than the Sopranos and elucidates more about where we are now, and how we got there, than anything else on television.

[TotallyAmazed]

No. You can't get much better than Tony and the guys and Carm and the gals. They were great and they leave a void that probably can't be filled.

I do believe that Sunday night is still a fantastic night. I usually catch 60 minutes, regardless of who is on it, and I love HBO's Sunday night line up. I feel down right scanky about my Sunday night viewing habit, but I simply cannot pass up TRUE BLOOD or HUNG, or ENTOURAGE.

I thought HUNG would just be one big, long joke, but it's turned out pretty good. ENTOURAGE is a must see at my house, and then there's TRUE BLOOD, for sheer fun.

Mr. Baldwin - give my HBO Sunday night viewing pleasure a look/see. I don't know, but you might find some silly, over-the-top fun there. And, hey - with all the stupidity going on with 'town-halls' and 'gun-totin'' blow hards, you might find a belly laugh or two. Although, none will be particularly of the social redeeming nature - it's a fun couple hours. /TotallyAmazed

[moeg]

Allegorically speaking, there's much to be learned from True Blood about prejudice, using power and religion for evil, friendship, real family values, the grays between black-and-white issues, controlling one's urges, etc. Remove the physical fangs and literal blood sucking and you've got life as we know it. Maryann, with her hold over the mob is a good substitute for the likes of Rush Limbaugh; when she goes into her power mode, she vibrates, sending out mind-bending commands over the airwaves. Then when "the folks" (Bill O'Reilly's phrase) do her dirty work (last episode at Merlotte's) it's like watching a town-hall meeting! I think this series should be the subject of a college course (maybe high school). Hopefully, the younger people who are the show's primary targets absorb some of the important life messages beneath the entertaining and brilliantly acted surface. Perhaps a spoonful of blood helps the medicine go down.

[reelcobra]

Mr. Baldwin gives us a much needed "booster shot" of celebrity wisdom.

This wisdom grows from being paid millions to read words written by people who can write, and from attending parties put on by people who can pay. It's a wisdom of entitlement. Wisdom replete with agents and managers and PR firms, who take a percentage of the gross.

I think Mr. Baldwin will teach Joe Lieberman a lesson over in Connecticut and look forward to more Franken/Baldwin type representation in government.

Until then, I have the Huffington Post to give me my celebrity wisdom fix. And our President.
.

[ATrumanDemocrat]

I am always amazed by people who think that actors aren't intelligent, thoughtful people capable of providing an opinion that is at least as valid as some car dealer or home builder or lawyer who managed to get elected to Congress. Same goes for the talking heads who ramble on every day: their word taken as gospel. Rush Limbaugh has credence not by virtue of his intellect but because of his ratings. Sarah Palin utters banal nonsense and is extolled for it. Bad atctors (Ronald Reagen, Sonny Bono. Charlton Heston, Chuck Noris) are lauded but fine actors are ridculed when they express their opinion.

Will Al Franken be a great Senator? Time will tell. Does his past career render him less capable than the other 99? Hardly.

[eileenflemingWAWA]

Dear Alec,

60 Minutes has also been an important part of my life.

So much so, that it inspired me-as have the Daily Show correspondents- and i became a citizen journalist in 2005 after my first of 7 trips to Israel Palestine.

My "big get" has been following Mordechai Vanunu's Freedom of Speech trial in Israel. The Whistler Blower of Israel's WMD Program, who was released from 18 years in jail on April 21, 2004, told me:

“Many journalists come here to the American Colony, from CNN and NY Times. They all want to cover my story, but their EDITORS say no...CNN wants to interview me; but they say they can't do it because they don't want problems with the Israeli censor. BBC is doing the same thing.

"Sixty Minutes from the United States from the beginning they wanted to do a program, but because of the censor situation they decide not to do it. Also big media from Germany, France, Italy, Japan. None of them wants problems with the Israelis."

Vanunu and I spoke just weeks after his Freedom of Speech Trial began and much of it became:

"30 minutes with Vanunu" @

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8079102468952529881&q

I mailed a DVD copy to 60 Minutes, and also ABC, NBC and CNN, but nobody responded.

In 2008, i followed up with "13 Minutes with Vanunu" @

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2059606750949786468&hl=en

[robin50]

Call me old, but Sunday night TV for me was Bonanza, Walt Disney World, pop corn and a shared Pepsi from a returnable glass bottle. Even as a teenager and old enough to drive, I knew to be home before Bonaza came on.

[StephanieStahl]

"...Sunday night TV for me was...Walt Disney World, pop corn..."

Omigosh! Does that bring back memories! Sometimes, I would visit friends from our church on Sunday nights and this was a BIG part of it, LOL! (Usually, we had Bible Study on Sunday nights with some of my dad's colleague from the university where he taught.) My friend's dad was on a diet, so he always had popcorn for his snacks--or, at least that was the excuse. I think they made popcorn primarily because they knew the kids liked it. You know, it's funny how old TV shows and media in general do give people, even diverse people, a common/shared ground.

And, LOL, the returnable bottles! We almost never had soda in the house, but I do remember the returnable bottles! And my dad got into those Bonanza-type shows!

Thanks for the "blast from the past". :-)

[robin50]

And this was pop corn cooked on a stove in oil. Nothing microwaved at the time. Didn't it smell great? We only had one six pack of Royal Crown Soda bottles for return on the back porch.

[sidthekid27]

Glad you mentioned true social networking in your blog. It really saddens me (as I write this comment on an online message board the irony doesn't escape me) that actual one-on-one contact seems no longer to be good enough. I've signed up for social networking sites in the past but it seems like such a waste. As far as Twitter's concerned, there's no one that I'm interested enough in to want to follow them 24/7.

I think what we're missing is a defining moment like Woodstock, but times have changed, of course. I doubt that the social climate could ever be now what it was then. It seems we're regressing back to our petty roots of prejudice and hatred that eventually led to the radical change that events like Woodstock seem to highlight (in my mind, anyway). We're long overdue for something other than "Dancing with the Stars" or "American Idol" to bring us together. God forbid we should be brought together by something that could actually have a lasting effect on society and the creative pulse in this country.

As far as Michael Vick, you've got an opinion and that's a wonderful thing. Aren't we all lucky that we can either agree or disagree with your opinion- that we have that privelege? It's too bad there are those out there who can't fully grasp what freedom means. Keep blogging on your views, Alec. You're a good guy with a lot of sound points to make.

[jentilpet]

Mr.Baldwin­...First,u­se Roget's Thesaurus,perhaps you'll find another word for "predjudice' because it doesn't fit ! and if it doesn't fit,you must..quit! "People in "your" business" aren't dog killers..I know what Alec means..people who are IN the business of making millions,right.I could understand the wrath you took,as you too have anger issues! This little mind who wrote.."Aren't we lucky that we can either agree or disagree with your opinion -that we have that privege?It's too bad there are people "out there"[I added quotes!] who can't fully grasp what freedom means. Keep blogging on your views,Alec,you're a good guy with a lot os sound points to make...& make he did indeed...perhaps his daughter should know,her daddy is passive re: torturing dogs..Alec seems to think himself funny,he has a head start w/ his insipid sitcome! Boy,did he hear it when he gave his "PASS" to VICK..& you..Sidthekid27,is he your "idol?" are you "idle?" There's always a "butt" being being kissed...always,"I love animals..."I'm an owner of 3 dogs,a cat,& 3 horses..BUT,they're only "dogs??" this was said on another bloggospere! Yes,we indeed have "freedoms" too many! These freedoms allow torture,pu­ppy-Mills,­farm animals[breaking legs on chickens!Undercover cops have stood right there,watc­hing!!Thes­e malignant so called men no doubt have sexual issues,they're not getting any sex/testos­terone?Vic­,saddistic stories/Fe­dClub/2yr.­cannot cure evil..
Europe/gov/afraid of people/HERE:WE are in fear og gov"t...Michael Moore's "SICKO" doc!

[sidthekid27]

And I appreciate your opinion as well. See, that's our freedom at work! Wonderful, no? In the future, you might want to write it all out before you post it, though. I'm searching for anything in that mess that makes sense.