"The Beaver". Spring 2010.

Mel's next film is How I Spent My Summer Vacation and co-star Scott Cohen had this to say about working with Gibson (BlogTalkRadio.com):

He's quieted down... I found Mel to be really giving and really generous. When I first met him his energy was so intense. What comes out of his eyes is so magnetic and so fierce, you're like, 'Oh my God!

But he was nice, just joking around. He gave the director (Adrian Grunberg) an opportunity to direct his first movie, and Mel was there all the time kind of helping him with shots. I found him to be incredibly educating.

Don't be too hard on Mel...I mean, the Beaver. Info and trailer here.

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Mel's on the Edge of Darkness. Wasn't he always?

Mel Gibson's my favorite actor. You wouldn't know it if you searched my blog (it's not like you'll find 300+ posts like you do with Brett Favre). MG's public relations miscues in recent years...he's sort of a sacred cow to me and I just let him be. I think that's what MG would want.

However, MG's got a new flick out, "Edge of Darkness", that I saw last week and thoroughly enjoyed. And he's got this interview in the February issue of Men's Journal.

You know, you can rip on Mel for divorcing his wife after almost 30 years of marriage, fathering a child with his new Russian girlfriend, yelling racial epithets to Malibu cops and his otherwise questionable bad-boy behavior throughout his career, but you can't question his charity work. Now I know for a fact Mel helps out numerous charities (some anonymously), including Mending Kids International, a charity he and his ex-wife founded that helps pay medical expenses for underprivledged children.

And I'd be hardpressed for anyone to question his talents as a director. He's a helluv an actor (I truly think he's one of the most underrated actors around). But the four movies he's directed - "The Man Without A Face", "Braveheart", "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto" - prove he's passionate about the stories he tells and it comes through on the movie screen.

He ain't perfect. Neither are we.

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A Tiger's Tale.

Whatdaya know. Tiger Woods is NOT a god. 3 things we learned from Tiger's "indiscretions":

1. He's human. And perhaps athletes shouldn't be referred to as "role models".

2. How sincere were these women regarding their affections for Woods? I mean, if it were Joe Blow, would these women be airing their dirty laundry on national television?

3. Tiger may be a smart golfer. But he's a dumb guy. Given his persona and public image, to even flirt with the idea of having an affair proves he's as dumb as the rest of us.

4. The media sucks. I've stated this numerous times on my blog. It's become a mantra, of sorts. As if there were no other news to report - sports or otherwise. This'll be pummeled into our heads until Woods' popularity ratings drop to zero. Personally, a person's private life is his/her private life, regardless if you're a public figure (elected government officials are my one exception). Those who think otherwise are losers.

5. People are pathetic. If you watch TV or spend any time on the Internet, I'll admit it's hard to escape, but this entire affair reinforces how strong celebrity obsession is. Personally, I haven't paid any attention to it. 'Cause I DON'T suck. I'm too busy obsessing over Brett Favre and Mel Gibson to care.

6. Corporate America sucks. The reliance on celebrity testimonials should serve to teach Madison Avenue a lesson: pay millions to have Tiger Woods hawk Nike and Gatorade products and you pay for his baggage as well.

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Mel Gibson & Ted Thompson. Two July 4th revelations that made me smile.

1. A friend's friend's friend (still with me?) was a former assistant to Mel Gibson. This former assistant couldn't say enough good things about Mel, commenting that he was an extremely wonderful man who has gone to great lengths to help family's pay their children's medical bills through one of his charities.

2. I met a guy who's got a connection to an NFL scout. According to this NFL scout, within NFL scout circles, Green Bay Packer General Manager Ted Thompson has a reputation of being an odd ball. Might explain the struggles between Brett Favre and TT, which eventually led to Favre being traded from Green Bay to the New York Jets.

So, aside from having a chest cold that ruined my 4th of July partying, two things I already felt to be true were verified by reliable sources - Mel Gibson, my favorite actor, is a magnanimous person, and Packer GM Ted Thompson is a douche bag.

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Separated at Birth? Mel Gibson and Jason Ircink.

It's the eyes. My brother's eyes definitely look like Mel Gibson's. Not all the time, but at certain moments. Jas has got that Braveheart look here, that's for sure.

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Federal gov't. takes "moral road" while AIG screws us all in the ass.

Frank Rich wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Times that my friend Stephen Alan Carver featured on his Facebook site (thanks, Stephen). I'm not a Frank Rich fan - he ripped on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ and I felt that Rich's arguments were hollow and that he was just one more Jewish person with an axe to grind. But I liked this piece in which Rich tackled the AIG fuck-up (cause that's what it is).

There's a video link of CBS's Bob Schieffer interviewing Lawrence Summers, chief economic advisor to President Obama and Director of the White House's National Economic Council. I was struck by a comment Summers made during the interview. What follows is my comment that I made on Stephen's FB site (I edited it somewhat):

"I love how Summers said that AIG CEO Edward Liddy and Treasurer Secr. Tim Geithner met to discuss the most prudent action to get the AIG bonuses back and that Liddy is doing everything within his power - "legally and morally" - to accomplish this.

"Morally"?? As I understand it, the crux of the AIG bonus debacle is that no one wanted to risk breaking any legally-binding contracts that might result in the Federal government facing a lawsuit (Geithner said this). That's why it was agreed that the $170 billion bailout of AIG by the U.S. government (and taxpayers) was OK'ed with the stipulation that the bonuses be paid out as contracted. Problem is this information became public.

Morally? Liddy is doing everything within his "moral power"? What is moral about executives no longer employed by AIG taking bonus money? Or any employee taking bonus money? Can't be for a "job well done". What's moral with AIG borrowing from the government, which is now an 80% owner of AIG (along with taxpayers), then giving away millions of that borrowed money in the form of bonuses? For that matter, what about Bernard "I'll be someone's bitch soon" Madoff or Merrill Lynch or the two guys who ripped off the Iowa Public Employees Pension for millions - you can go on and on. There IS no MORALITY in the world of finance right now, friends. NONE. Greed? Yes. Morality? No.

Why is it that every other American worker is forced to forego vacations, bonuses, raises - or lose their job, but the American government must step on egg shells because of contracts that were entered into by AIG? Why does the American government have to take the "moral road" when these moral-less fuckheads from AIG are handing out bonuses to more moral-less fuckheads from AIG and miscellaneous companies overseas? When any other company goes under or changes ownership, often times all contracts are null and void. I've got a friend whose eye doctor messed up his cataract surgery - blinding him - and my friend's lawsuit has been determined to be "null and void" as the doctor died - the attorney told my friend you can't sue a dead man.

Pussies. Plain and simple. You wanna beat the British in the American Revolutionary War, you hide behind trees and "Indian fight". We lost the Vietnam War because we couldn't adapt to the Vietnamese way of fighting. And we'll lose this battle if we don't toughen up. ADAPT. Our government is turning into a bunch of pussies. And anyone who thinks I'm the only mouthy sonofabitch who thinks that is as dumb as our government is."

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Mel, Mel, Mel, Mel, Mel!

Mel Gibson appeared on The Jimmy Kimmel Show the night of the Oscars and previewed the trailer to his upcoming feature. If you're a fan (as I am...HUGE fan), you'll wanna see this. It's finger-lickin' good!

Mel's been laying low these days. And since he's my favorite actor, I've tried to honor his reclusion by keeping quiet about him myself (on my blog). Found an interesting BBC interview from 2007 you may want to take a gander at. Didn't know about Mel's alter-ego, "Bjorn"...but I figured "he" was inside Mel somewhere. Who's your "Bjorn"? Mine's "Laird".

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The Journey IS the Destination #7: Post-Apocolyptic Australian Wasteland/Pismo Beach

Sunday, June 22. Ahhh...Pismo Beach - without the hockey mask and leather body wear. "The Road Warrior" was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the scene below.

Way off in the distance you can make out a line of vehicles traveling up and down the coast. Dune buggies flying all over the place, a traffic jam sans pavement, broken axles, the smell of gasoline, campers and sand everywhere – meaning in the streets. on sidewalks and blocking the doors to storefronts. Mayhem. I couldn't get out of there faster.

Campers. Picnic'ers. Maybe a carny or two. Troublemakers if you ask me.

There's the broken axle dude. Some vehicles are really unsuited for four-wheeling on the beach. Not really sure I'd want to be a part of this scene - something inside told me that the shit could get outta hand here really quick. My best friend, Tom, has camped here several times when he was living in Long Beach. I certainly trust his judgement and I have no problem with camping on the beach – roaring fire, Beach Boys’ tunes cranking, a little drinkie, chicks – only with the "getting there" part. Jas felt the same way.

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Namedropping

My best friend, Tom Kazar, lived in Long Beach for 8 years or so right after we graduated from college. When I moved to LA in 1998, he told me, “Irc, keep one thing in mind – you have everything you could ever want at your fingertips in Los Angeles. Enjoy it while you’re there”. So, ever since I moved here, people have asked me, “have you met anyone famous?”. Here’s the list – saves me the trouble of sitting there with a dumb look on my face when I’m being grilled. NOTE: These are folk I’ve actually met and had a meaningful discussion with. Don’t ask me about what.

Brian Wilson – The Beach Boys “genius”, Wendy Wilson, Carnie Wilson, Chynna Phillips, Marilyn Wilson – Brian Wilson’s ex, Barbara Wilson – Dennis Wilson’s ex, Justyn Wilson – Carl Wilson’s son, Jonah Wilson – Carl Wilson’s son, Ricci Martin – Dean Martin’s son, Jeanne Martin – Dean Martin’s ex, Carl B. Wilson – Dennis Wilson’s son, Michael Wilson – Dennis Wilson’s son, Billie Hinsche – former musician with the Beach Boys and now touring with Al Jardine of the Beach Boys, Anne Hinsche – Carl Wilson’s ex, Jeff Foskett – singer/musician with Brian Wilson, Jay – owner of Chez Jay’s - Dennis Wilson’s favorite hangout, Ed Figuero – former drummer for the Beach Boys, Desi Arnaz Jr., Karen Lamm – Dennis Wilson’s ex-wife, former model/actress, wonderful woman, Jon Stebbins – author of The Real Beach Boy, bio of Dennis Wilson, Alan Boyd – producer of Endless Harmony, Beach Boys bio on VH1, Ed Roach – photographer for the Beach Boys, Jerry Schilling – Memphis Mafia/Elvis’ former mgr., Carl Wilson’s former mgr., Steve Kalinich – co-writer with Dennis Wilson, The Honey’s – Brian Wilson’s girl surf band in the 60’s, Jan Berry & Dean Torrance – Jan & Dean, 60’s surf band pioneers, Earl Hamner Jr. – creator of The Walton’s, Michael Learned – mother in The Walton’s, Jon Walmsley – Jim-Bob in The Walton’s, Seymour Cassell – starred in a lot of John Cassavettes films, The Life Aquatic, Rob Reiner, Merv Griffin, Eugene Levy – SCTV, Waiting for Guffman, Carlos Alazraqui - the voice of the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Reno 911!, Bruce Boxleitner, Megan Gallagher – China Beach, Jack Klugman, Bruce Dern, Jeff Conaway, Dominic Monaghan, Cory Feldman, Mike Farrell – son of Mike Farrell from MASH, Dan Lauria – father from The Wonder Years, Alley Mills – mother from The Wonder Years, Richard Roxburgh – Van Helsing, Mission Impossible II, Tim Conway, Ernest Borgnine, Michelle Phillips – Mamas & the Papas, Doug McKeon - the boy in On Golden Pond, Dick Martin – from Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Scott Bakula, Ashton Kutcher, Steven Lisberger – Screenwriter of Tron, Martinez, A. – The Cowboys, Port Charles, Santa Barbara, Don Cornelius – creator and host, Soul Train, Corbin Bernsen – LA Law, Major League, Joe Lando – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman .

I think I'm tickled the most by the Beach Boys-related celebs as I've been a Beach Boy groupie since high school. Everyone was extremely laid back - like old friends, and I've met them all (as has my brother, Jason) on several occasions while involved with the Carl Wilson Cancer Foundation. Eugene Levy and I had a succinct conversation while standing at the bathroom urinals at Rob Reiner's production company in Beverly Hills. Earl Hamner is an avid fisherman and has a beautiful, trophy marlin on the wall in his office in Studio City. What a thrill it was meeting him! If you didn't already know, the TV series, The Waltons, was based on Earl's real life in Virginia, and Earl IS John-Boy, who was my inspiration to major in Journalism in college. John-Boy, that is. Well...Earl, too, I guess. Also, that was Earl's voice you heard narrating each episode. Ricci Martin, Dean Martin's son, is a wonderful man and a chip off the old block (I'll get to Deano in another blog). Karen Lamm - well I'm gonna keep most of that story to myself. Embodiment of the 70's Californian girl, she was a model/actress and graced billboards, television and magazine ads, while hanging out with Jack Nicholson and Elliott Gould, and she was married to Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys twice. I first met Karen at her apartment in West LA, and as she eyed me up and down, she said that if she had met me "back in the day" she woulda "went for me in a second"...which has to be one of the most flattering things anyone has ever shared with me. Her heart gave out in 2001 and most certainly was taken from this life much too early - she was 49. I went to her funeral and the reception that followed at her sister's house. Elliott Gould, Judd Nelson and Catherine Bach were in attendance. I'm thankful I got to know her that last year of her life...and I think of her often.

I probably missed a couple. There's a bunch I've seen from afar (Tom Cruise - 20 yards) or seen and just said "hi" to (Jack Lemmon, walking his poodle) - but I didn't bother to get into all that. You might have noticed Mel Gibson and Brett Favre are not on the list. Yet.

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A Bit of Catching Up

As this is my inaugural post, there are a number of issues I'd like to comment on - some old and some new. I'll try and be succinct:

Mel Gibson. I love Mel. If you know me well than you know this already and you're not surprised he's the subject of my first blog. Now, his outburst in Malibu (you know the one) - uncalled for. But he was drinking and I've said things that weren't necessarily true while under the influence ('in vino veritas' is 'bullshitias'). But to hear about it ad nauseum...geezuz. So glad that's all quieted down. Now, this latest "tirade" he had at the university in California? I would've reacted the same way. I guess it's not sufficient to have one Mayan expert/consultant on your movie - YOU have to consult with every Mayan on the planet (didn't know there were that many around). As a playwright, I'm passionate about what I write about and I will defend it to almost any length...if I feel I'm right. I echo Mel and say, quote, "F$!##@$%! off, lady - go make your own movie!".

Illegal aliens. I don't care who you are or where you're from. If you wanna come to the United States, fine. Just do it legally. When I traveled to Ireland last April, I paid for a passport and went through customs. That's the law. My great grandpa Michael Datka (mother's side) came over from Poland via Ellis Island. The legal way. I suggest anyone wishing for "a better life" do the same. Or suffer the consequences. As for putting up a wall along our borders adjacent to Mexico, I'm all for it. It's a sad state of affairs, but what are we supposed to do? The Mexican government clearly isn't doing much to discourage it's citizens from illegally entering our country and we need to get our own "house" in order before we worry about the rest of the world.

The Passion of the Christ. Excellent movie and no, I didn't think it anti-Sematic. That's all I'm gonna say on that subject.

Brett Favre. Someone else you knew I'd write about if you know me. He's comin' back for his 17th year in the NFL - 16th with the Green Bay Packers. He deserves his own separate blog with headline but that'll all come soon enough once the season begins. Brett will probably break all of Dan Marino's records and SHOULD have a couple more Super Bowl rings on his fingers. He's unselfish as a player and plays every game like it's his last. That being said, my wish is that the media would quit HARASSING Brett about his "impending" retirement every damn season. Just shut up. There is no one in the game of football like him, and I'm not sure there'll ever be. So why is everyone so intent on Favre retiring?? Answer - the media are bastards. That's it. I was a journalism major back in college but I specifically didn't want to become a reporter because I knew the press was scum back then. Now look - you side-tracked me. Where was I? Oh, yeh - Favre. Brett represents what the NFL IS and SHOULD BE and people need to appreciate him while he's around. I salute you Huck Finn! And anyone else who says he should retire - including the elderly, disadvantaged children, fans from other NFL teams and really hot girls with no brains can lick my lingum.

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