1996: The Demented Year in Review

  "A Real Man Like Mom", by Howard Latofski. He did a song about Dead
Frogs in Your Underwear a few years back. He's gone country by "Weird" as
his CD title says.

   One of the more remarkable urban street scenes is the so-called
Boardwalk in Venice Beach in L.A. famous for its skateboarders and street
performers of every description. The late Ted Hawkins was discovered
there and became internationally famous for several fine albums. And now,
another boardwalk regular with a very different musical style has come
out with his own CD after some 21 years on the boardwalk.  
   "Heads of Skin", by Harry Perry from his new CD on his Surfdog
label "Greatest Hits Of The Milleminum".  

  "Goober's Got A Girlfriend", by The Ziggins from Orange County, CA.
Their new CD "Chicken Out" will amuse you in all kinds of ways. It's on
the "Skunk Record" label. (Yeah, make up yet another bizarre record label
name), the same label that brought us Sublime.

  "Lorena", by Doo Doo Wah. It will be on the 1996 Demento Society
Basement Tapes and CD for members ONLY. Nobody else can have these. 

  "How's Your Whole...Family?", by Red Peters doing the lost art of the
double entendre, double-meaning words and incomplete sentences. His latest
CD is "I Laughed, I Cried, I Fudged My Undies."

  "Since You've Been Gone", by "Weird Al" Yankovic from an upcoming
he finished up in the studio. Look for the CD March 12!  Ranked #25 for
1996

  "Is It Peace or Is It Prozac?", by Cheryl Wheeler from her new CD
"Mrs. Pinochy's Guitar" on the Filo label.

  "The Amish Country Blues", by The Electric Amish, a trio from
Indianapolis. 

  "Little Rickshaw Boy", by The Upper Crust from the album "Let Them
Eat Rock" on the Upstart label

  "Kill The Dog Next Door", by the Arrogant Worms from their latest
CD "C'Est Cheese (Say Cheese)"

  "Internet Romance", by Bill Bradshaw from his CD "Back To Basics"
from Bakersfield, CA. 

  "Hello, Geraldo", by Rusty Lewis, half of Faust And Lewis of "Bald
Guys" fame; he now has his own CD called "The Trashman Cometh"

  "Money In My Pocket", by Throwing Toasters from San Francisco

  "Shovel, Shovel, Snow 'Til You Burst A Blood Vessel", by Da
Cheezers. Cole Porter would've loved that line. 

  "Love Is...", by Wally Pleasant. It's not on any of his CDs yet.

  "My Doggy", by W.W. Schnipp from San Antonio, Texas

  "Peter Piper (?)", by Junior's Army from Otho, Iowa, a sample from
their forthcoming album 

  "I-W-I-W-A-L" (I Wish I Was A Lesbian), by Loudon Wainright III.
Ranked #12 in 1996.

  "The Ponderer", by Jerry Percio of Seattle. He's been known to
write jokes for Jay Leno among other things.

  "That's A Moron", a parody of the late Dean Martin hit "That's
Amore" that's by Harry Jeremy from Carlsbad, CA. Very clever

  "(Nude Beach)", by Rodney Dangerfield who has a new CD out called
"La Contessa" on the Dove Audio Label along with new stand up comedy; the
title piece is a 25-minute story with sound effects and musical excerpts.
This is the first bit he played. 

  "The Cheepok Dophra Relaxation Tape", by Lester McFwapp and The
Players To Be Named Later (hot much later?) 

  "It's a P.M.S. Kind Of Day", by Cali Rose from her new CD "Cali Rose
Gets Goofy" 

  "The Dead Guy Song", by Phantasmagoria from Kansas City

  "Sty", by Big Blow & The Bush Whackers

  "Dip Doodle", by Adam Sandler; he played that song on Saturday Night
Live on 2-17-96 during the Weekend Update segment. "What The Hell Happened
To Me" is the title of his new CD which also contains his "Hanukkah Song".

  "The Fishin' Song", by Earth Baby from Toronto. Check this URL:
http://star-eagle.on.ca is the web site where they can be reached.

  "Amish Paradise", by "Weird Al" Yankovic, a parody of "Gangsta's
Paradise" by Coolio. It's the first single.  Ranked #2 in 1996.

  "Gump", by "Weird Al" Yankovic, a parody of "Lump". It's a rarity
that Dr. Demento would play a parody of a song that itself was already
demented and making it even weirder, or should I say with a capital "W",
Weirder?  Ranked #5 in 1996.

  "The Alternative Polka", by "Weird Al" Yankovic, and is a medley of
alternative rock songs from 1994-95 done polka style. 

  "Everything You Know Is Wrong", by "Weird Al" Yankovic

  "Zamboni's Wing", by Jad Veer. Jad writes gags for funny cartoons
and also a song or two. This song is about a machine that's made in
Paramount, California, right down the road from Demensia Central. It's a
machine beloved by hockey fans the world over. 

  Recently, a Grammy-winning million-selling song posed a question "what
if God is one of us", a group called My First Band took that question one
step further... 
  "What If God Were Snagglepuss", by My First Band. Heavens to
mergatroid! 

  "Steve Polychronopolous", by Adam Sandler, a version of that
with some different language appears on Adam's new CD "What The Hell
Happened To Me", by different lanuage, I do not mean Polycronopolous, or
even Indianapolis. 

  "Ode To My Car", by Adam Sandler. Warner Brothers Records made that
version especially for radio with the bleeps. The song without the bleeps
is on the album "What The Hell Happened To Me". It was really funny with
the bleeps IMHO. You got bleeped, Adam, that's what the hell happened to
you (and Whimsical Will's news this week had someone say "b**ch" in it). I
do remember when they had to bleep the word "hell" too. (Engineer
Scotttowel, my editor, won't allow the "b" word in this report, but he
said ok to the "h" word above.) 
  Ranked #4 in 1996.

  "Barney, the Lily White Dinosaur", by Tom Lang. Very weird. 

  "Surf The Net", by Dr. Smash from Lubbock, Texas. A little
Cybersurfing Dementia. Let's cyber-surfin now, every body's learning how,
come cyber-surfari with me. 


  "Get Off The Phone And Drive", by Dan Chopin

  "The Trail Tip Song", by Riders In The Sky from the CD "Always
Drink Upstream From The Herd" 

  "In Heaven There Is No Beer", by Brave Combo from their CD "Polkas
For A Gloomy World" 

  "Smoke", by The Bobs from the CD "Plug"

  "Cavity Search", by "Weird Al" Yankovic from his new CD "Bad Hair
Day" complete with real live dentists drill operated by Weird Al's real
life dentist Dr. Roger Shuster of Santa Monica. That song was parodied
from U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me". He should have titled it
something like "Strap Me, Drill Me, Floss Me, Bill Me." That would have
better matched the parody title of the original song. 

  "Boomers On The Phone", by Some Are Angels, Some Are Not from
Portland, Oregon. 

  "The Sly Cigarette", by Tiny Tim with Brave Combo rerecording a 1898
hit song. 

  "Girl", by Tiny Tim with Brave Combo. Not demented, but notable

  "The Moonlight, A Tuba, And You", by Victoria Jackson with the Palm
Springs Yacht Club from a new CD "Elmo Aardvark Classic Cartoon
Soundtrack". Will Ryan is the one behind that one, who done a lot of work
for Disney and of the duo Willio and Phillio. 

  "Tabloid Writer", by John Mammoser

  "Right Wing Round Up", by The Reverend Billy C. Wirtz from
his latest CD "Songs Of Faith And Inflammation", his 5th CD.  It was
recorded live in Ashville, North Carolina.

  "But, I'm Not Bitter", by K.C. Jones, no, not the deceased train
engineer, but the live former lead singer of Ethel and the Shameless
Hussies who made some records. 

  "The Explorer" by Napoleon XIV, from the new CD "Napoleon XIV, The
Second Coming".

  "It's A Gas", by the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz from his latest
CD "Songs Of Faith And Inflammation." It's a cover of the Alfred E.
Newman's song. 

  "Mad Cow Disease", by Bill Frenzer and Ogden Edsl with Graham
Moses. 

  "The Night Santa Went Crazy", by "Weird Al" Yankovic. BTW: The
"Amish Paradise" CD single has a version of that with slightly different
lyrics.  Ranked #16 in 1996

  "Stick Out Your Can", by the Reverend Billy C. Wirtz off his new CD
"Songs Of Faith And Inflammation" (do they go together or is D.T.'s radio
receiver antenna on the fritz again?)

  "What If Bob Were One Of Us", by Lester McFwap And The Players To
Be Named Later. How much later, Lester? Let's name those players! 

  "Phony Calls", by "Weird Al" Yankovic

  "Grooming Mr. Grimley", by Joe Keefe, who sent Dr. D a ton of fine
songs. He's from Kenawick, WA. 

  "Cross Town", by Bob Dinotzi and the Blunders from Massachusetts.

  "Glory Glory Paranoia", by The Capitol Steps from their new album
"Return To Center" with Bill Clinton on the cover as a pair of siamese
twins. Hey! What's with this Siam twin thing? Are all joined people from
Siam? Let's get a different name for that. 

  "In My Country" by The Lemon Sisters from The Groundlings.  Ranked
#14 in 1996

  "Toad In My Taco", by Joe Keefe

  "Kiss: Live In Concert " (KISS Back In Concert Ad Parody as Senior
Citizens), by John Cougar Mammoser 

  "Drunk Enough", by John Mammoser featuring a female singer, Sharon
Cohen.

  "Bed Spins", by Taste Like Chicken from Toledo, Ohio from their CD
"Potty Mouth". But enough about Howard Stern. 
  "What's So Bad About A Nipple?", by The Toyes

  "Somebody To Love", by Jim Carrey from the original motion picture
soundtrack of "The Cable Guy".  Isn't there a big enough glut of movie
soundtracks already? 

  "[Theme From] Spy Hard", by "Weird Al" Yankovic, which started out as
the "B" side of the "Gump" single, but now the record label is promoting
that as an "A" side. 

  "Pull My Finger", by the Happy Schnapps Combo. Their fourth CD is
just out "Polka Power"

  "Mr. Twister", by Whimsical Will, his 11th (10th if his 1986 Howard
The Duck flop summer tribute is not counted, O.K., so nobody's perfect.)
Ranked #9 in 1996.

  "Granpa Played Six String", by Lorne Elliott

  "Blind Date", by Green Jelly recording this in a studio that once
belonged to Frank Zappa.

  "10 Coronas", by John Cougar Mammoser, a song that mentions Cindy
Crawford in the lyrics.

  "The Shot Heard 'Round The World", by Ween, from the new CD
"Schoolhouse Rock Rocks" also featuring Moby, Lemon Heads, Blind Melon, etc.

  "The Man Song", by Mr. Sean Maury

  "[Bell Makes A Call]", by Stan Freberg with Peter Leeds &
Naomi Lewis; an excerpt from his new album "Stan Freberg Presents The U.S.A.
Volume 2" carrying on the story of the U.S.A. from the revolution up to
World War I available now.  It is released as a single CD and Volumes 1 and
2 will also be available together as a double CD with special notes by
Dr. Demento.

  "You Are What You Eat", by the Zucchini Brothers of Saratoga Springs,
New York with a new CD "In Your Garden".

  "San Diego", by The Foremen from their new CD "What's Left?" This is
their second major label CD. It's out just in time for this summer's
political convention. The Republicans will be meeting in San Diego in
August.

  "A Schott In The Dark", by The Capitol Steps, an unreleased tape.

  "Coconut", by Fred Schneider, a remake of the Harry Chapin hit "Put
The Lime In The Coconut"; it's on his new CD "Just Fred"

  "Thomas Edison's Invents The Light Bulb! The Phonograph!", by Stan
Freberg playing Thomas Edison, David Ogden Steirs played General P Lectric,
and Stan's son Donovan played Edison's assisstant, and our own Musical Mike
supplied the antique wax cylinder machine for that recording.

  "Gremmie Out Of Control", by Pearl Jam

  "Momma Rap", by The Dead Alewives, a fine comedy sketch group from
Milwaukee.

  "Killer Bees", by The Tunnel Visionaries

  "Answering Machine", by The Dead Alewives from their CD "Take Down
The Grand Master" which is basically a comedy CD. Thanks to the Great Luke
Ski of Kansas City who sent the CD along.

  "As Long As You're Up/A Sober Life's A Hard Life", by Stan Freberg
featuring David Ogden Stiers as Ulysses S. Grant.

  "Television Ruined My Life", by Pat McCurdy from his latest CD called,
"Showtunes".

  "Hey Elvis, Your Pizza Is Here", by Professor Backwoods and His Backwards
Band

  "In-Bred Locals", by The Poxy Boggards, some DNA dementia from their
album "Bawdy Parts", original and traditional music of drinking and revelry.
The song above is a hidden track on the CD, not mentioned on the cover. You
do HAVE to keep those things hidden.

  "Rumplemeyer's Horseshoes: The Francis Scott Key Story/Rumplemeyer's
Horseshoes", by Stan Freberg

  "Henry Ford Invents Detroit/Perseverance" with a vocal
duet by Stan Freberg and Harry Shearer 

  "The Wright Brothers At Kitty Hawk", by Stan Freberg

  "Unsupervised, I Hit My Head", title track by Mono Puff was played

  "Monster Hash", by The Toyes.  Ranked #3 in 1996.

  "California Couldn't Pay Our Education", by The Foremen. Nowadays,
you can't take school for granted.

   Weezer's "Buddy Holly", by the Moog Cookbook from their new CD of
grunge rock hits covered on vintage synthesizers.

  "You Are What You Eat", by The Zucchini Brothers. Dr. D should have
followed that song with The Vestibule song "You're A Hamburger". Think
about it. Was Elvis a huge jelly doughnut? Was Ewell Gibbons a tree? He
used to eat anything.

  "Dungeons and Dragons", by The Dead Alewives, the CD is called "Take
Down The Grand Master". An Alewife is a small fish.  Ranked #11 in 1996.

  "The Doggie-Doo Blues", by Cali Rose from "Cali Rose Gets Goofy."

  "Hairy Sherry", by Barry and the Bookbinders.

  "Yes, It's Nice To Own A Gun", by Couple Of Fat Guys Band off their
new CD "The Wide Album"

  "I'm White, I'm Straight, I'm Sorry" or "White's Guilt Blues", by
Local Anxiety from Vancouver, B.C. from their new CD "Forgive Us, We're
Canadian."

  "The Brady Bunch Movie Promo", by John Cougar Mammoser doing a
sex-crazed spoof.  Listen to what Cindy says.

  This song might do for Canada what "Amish Paradise" did for the
Pennsylvania Dutch country.
  "Heads, Nova Scotia, Tails, Up The North Pole", by Loose Bruce Kerr.
Tom Torrealia formerly of Those Darn Accordions and now of the rollerblade
accordion duo Bellows and Blaze.

  "Job Interview", by a comedy group from Brigham Young University in
Utah called the Garons.  Former helper Eccentric Eric is now a member of
that group.  Their new CD is called "The Garons Live"

  "Nixon in '96", by Doo Doo Wah

   Dr. D FINALLY plays: "The Vomit Song", by Barnes and Barnes

  "Orange County", by The Ziggins considered by many to be
Orange County's finest alternative band, whatever alternative means these
days.  Their new album "Ignore Amus" is very fine and we'll hear more of
it in the weeks to come.

  What was that dance craze nowadays? The Macaroni? The Ravioli? The
Big Macarena? The Kareema Abdul Jabbara? 
  "Yabba-Dabba-Doo-a", by John Cougar Mammoser

  "Ross Perot Sings The Hits", by John Cougar Mammoser

  "It's My Party (Ross Perot)" (bit), by The Capitol Steps

  "My Paycheck Bounced", some blues by The Ziggens from the new CD
called "Ignore Amis" on the Skunk lable.  Sheesh, these names they give
the labels.

  "I'd Love My Baby If She Had Two Heads", by Twang and Bang from their
CD "Nothing Quite As Wholesome as a Fish"

  This was written in a 1940s style calypso by a band from North Carolina.
  "Hell", by The Squirrel Nut Zippers from their "Hot" CD. Most of
their music was based on c. 1940 jazz.  The CD is also a CD ROM with stuff
for your computer.

  "Save The Beer", by Faust and Lewis from their new "Live" CD.

  "Help Me Scrape The Mucus Off My Brain", by Ween.  They made several
previous albums that sound quite different from that one, because Ween went
to Nashville to record that one with a real all-star cast of veteran
Nashville musicians, people who backed up Elvis Presley, and so on and so
forth.  Yee-Haw!  The CD is called "12 Golden Country Greats", nevermind
that it has only ten songs, and they're all originals by Ween.  Some of them
are very demented.

  DISCOVERED! "The Purple People Eater", by Judy Garland.  It's from her
recent CD release called "Judy Garland 25th Anniversary Retrospective."

  "The Ballad Of Eddie Klepp", by Chuck Brodsky. You may
remember the song "Blow 'Em Away".  His new CD with serious and
funny songs called "Letters In The Dirt" with a great song about lawyers
that you'll hear soon.

  "Talk To My Lawyer", by Chuck Brodsky

  "S'ram Izan", by The Tigers Of Instantaneous Death from their
CD "Nazi Mars."

  "The One That Doesn't Suck So Bad", by Barry Mitchell on a CD single.

  "Perfect Woman", by Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan whose new album of
acoustic blues and jazz called "Double Vision" on the Flying Fish label.

  "The Lotto", by The Four Postmen

  "Four Years of High School Spanish", by the Four Postmen at the
e-mail address forpostmen@aol.com

  "Mabel's Bait Shop and Sushi Bar", by the Trailer Park Troubadors from
Nashville.  Thanks to Doug Corbin for sending in that cassette.

  "Girls Don't (CENSORED)", by Boca Brian who is from Florida with a
new CD on the Kosher label, the same label as 2 Live Jews are on. See
Jeff Morris's playlist for the word I cannot put on my web site.

  "The True and Terrible Trials of Waldo The Dog", by Cosy Sheridan
on her latest CD "One Sure Thing" on the Waterbug label.

  "Constantinople", by Primus, written and originally recorded by the
Residents, and that version is from a Residents tribute compilation called
"Eye Sore, A Stab At The Residents" on the Vaccination label. Has anyone
heard of what ever happened to that stolen eyeball a few years back?

  "On The Shoulders Of Freaks" by Henry Phillips

  The following song is totally gross.  UGGGH!
  "Six Foot Boogers" (Elephant Snot), by Harry Jeremy of Carlsbad,
California. Talk about a real live booger king. (RIMSHOT)

  "Disco Bob", by Boca Brian, a parody of "Disco Duck" having Bob Dole
getting down wit' the kids.

  "Talkin' About Bob Dole", by Bobdole, who lives in West L.A., the
group, that is. Artie Barnes sent Dr. D the tape.

  "Whitewater", by Joe McCaig of Balston Spaun, N.Y., a parody of a
Doobie Brothers song for Bill Clinton.

  "Folk Singers Are Boring", by Anderw Calhoun from the CD "Phoenix
and Me"

  "Panties", by Jim Infantino featuring his band Jim's Big Ego from his
album "Titantic"

  "Acid", by Jim Infantino

  "I Dig You", by John Bartles

  "Happy Together", by The Garrens Comedy Troupe, who are students at
BYU in Utah.

  "Meanies", by Jim Infantino

  "The Harley-Davidson Motor Company", by M.D. Hill

  "Bob Dole: Sex Machine", by Mr. Zipp.

  "Ex-Lax", by John Cougar Mammoser, a parody of Relax by the act
Frankie Goes To Hollywood

  "Backwards X-Y-Zs", by Snot Roquemore

  "Late Night Bozos", by The Toyes

  "Janet Reno", by Tim Cavanaugh with Gretchen Bonaduce in the music
of Scott May. Isn't that Danny's wife? I'm not sure of her name.

  "Grim Grinning Ghosts", by The Barenaked Ladies from a new CD "Music
From The Park" with various pop stars and songs from various Disneyland and
Disneyworld attractions.

  "What's Up, Spock?", by Luke Ski Psycho Potpourri from their album
"Fan Boys 'N The Hood", not yet released, but will keep you posted. Luke is
a longtime member of the Demento Society.

  "If Shania Was Mine", by Cletus T. Judd, singing about the country
music goddess Shania Twain. R-R-R-A-A-A-O-O-O-W!  No relation to the Judds.

  "Ballerina Out Of Control", by James Cochaca from his new
"Superstar" album on the Dot-Dot-Dash record label.

  "All My Friends Are Drug Fiends", by Bobby Joe Ebola and the
Children MacNuggits.  Wonder if McD's is listening.  It's on the "Two Cats"
EP CD.

  "Beer", a parody of the Beastie Boys' record "Girls" (not a parody of
"Squirrels" by the Beastly Boys) by some crazy guys from Wisconsin known
as Shad-Rapp from their CD "Double Barrel."  They have a hunting song on it,
but he'll play that one next week.

  "I Wanna Drive The Zamboni", by The Zambonis

  "The Date", by the Dead Alewives

  "Big O' Moon", by Jeff Foxworthy from "Crank It Up: The Music Album"

  "The Dog Ate The Baby", by Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children
MacNuggits from their "Two Cats" EP.

  "I Can Hear You", by They Might Be Giants from their latest CD
"Factory Showroom" This is one track that was recorded on a wax cylinder
recorded made in 1898 at the Thomas Edison National Historic Site And Museum
in New Jersey. It even has an announcement at the beginning the way many
records had back then in 1898.

  "Funny Man", by Luke Ski's Psycho Potpourri from their forthcoming
album "Fan Boyz 'N The Hood."

  Chris Gott of Phoenix sent a new version of a very old song in commeration
of an infamous event that dampened the baseball season of 1996...
  "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", by Chris Goth

  "Big Bucks", by Shad-Rapp, from their album "North Woods Rap" album

  "To Have Sex", by Gershwin's Roommate

  "Mime", by S.W.S., parody lyrics written by Frank Quinn

  "Exsqusite Dead Guy", by They Might Be Giants from their latest
CD "Factory Showroom"

  "Nine Inch Claws", by Tony Mason and None Of The Above, who did
"Barney's On Fire" from the early 90s.

  "Da Turdy Point Buck II-The Sequel", by Bananas At Large

  "Football Man", by Bananas At Large from their new CD above.

  "If I Die, Will You Have Sex With Me?", by Mr. Zipp

  "Sweet Little Blossom of Mine", by Henry Phillips

  NEW!-SORT OF "What's The New Mary Jane?", by The Beatles, recorded for
the White Album, but dropped at the last moment, also briefly considered
for a single, and finally released on "Beatles Anthology III", and debut
at the #1 slot just one week after Van Halen's Greatest Hits did just that
same feat on the chart.

  "Who Stole The Kishka", by Frank Yankovic and "Weird Al"
Yankovic (NO RELATION); that is on a polka sampler called "Besta Polka"

  "Til My Head Falls Off", by They Might Be Giants from their latest
CD "Factory Showroom"

  "Coperhagen", by Jeff Foxworthy from his latest CD "Crank It Up"

  "Flying Saucer", by Brave Combo, another track from the CD "Besta
Polka" and on their own CD "Polkas For a Gloomy World"

  "Your Tax Dollars At Work", by Henry Phillips. He'll be a guest on a
very near future Demento show. It's from his CD "On The Shoulders Of Freaks"

  "Yule-Sat", by The Reduced Shakespeare Company who has become well known
on NPR and elsewhere for their hilariously condensed versions of great
works of literature.  Their current stage show is based on the Bible.
They recently put together a Christmas CD, "Reduced Shakespeare Company
Christmas"

  Joe Martin draws two popular comic strips, "Mr. Boffo" and "Willy and
Ethel", and he also finds time to sing a song now and then. This is his
new song...
  "My Dream Of Christmas", by Joe Martin

  "Chainsaw Carollers", by Johnny Whitecloud, creator of "Santa's Holed
Up in a Crack House"

  "Little Drum Machine Boy (first minute of it)", by Beck. This goes on
a while longer, but, it gets into the seven nasty words, but it's on the
CD "Just Say Noel"

  "I Met Santa On The Internet", by Li'l Hank

  "That Swingin' Manger", by Mr. Bob Francis, as it says in the booklet
with the CD, "Don't ask why great records like this exist, just enjoy
them for what they are."  It's from the CD "Blame It On Christmas, Vol
1" on the Schoolkids record label, the same label as Cub Koda.

  "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer", by Tiny Tim, from his recently
released Christmas album was his last before he died Nov 30.  "Tiny Tim's
Christmas Album" was recorded in Australia in 1993 and released in the
States for the first time.

  KSCA: "Mrs. Santa Claus", by The Reduced Shakespeare Company from
their Christmas CD listed below.

  "The 12 Tips Of Christmas", by The Reduced Shakespeare Company from their
CD "A Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas"

  SYND: "Real Cool Yule", by Gary Worden, from one of the more obscure CDs
you'll hear on the air, "A Christmas Web", a compilation of original songs
by local artists from Travers City, Michigan.

  KSCA: When Bob Dylan recorded the album "Another Side of Bob Dylan" in
1964, his last totally acoustic album for a while, he also recorded a
Christmas protest song, which the record company rejected.  Dylan was so
incensed, that he gave up folk music for rock and roll.  It didn't really
happen quite that way, but if it had, that song might have sounded
something like this...
  "Christmas Is Pain" by The Foremen

  "A Boy Named Santa", by Teen Angels

  "Santa Claus For President (excerpt)", by anonymous sent in by the
Public Radio personality known as KBC, who specialized in Christmas songs
for a number of years.

  "What If Santa Was One Of Us", by John Mammoser with Whitney Allen

  "Croakin' Bells", by Frog Marley, the singing Christmas Frogs on their
new CD "A Froggy Christmas".  If Xmas fell on Feb 29, you could say you'll
hear the frogs album only on LEAP years.

  "Neigh In The Manger (excerpt)", by Lee Blaske (correct spelling) from
"Barnyard Christmas", with "mewsic arranged, purrformed, conduckted and
oinkestrated by Lee Blaske". Thanks to the KBC collection for that one.
(D.T. has that album.)
  In the TV show Mr. Ed, I guess you could say that Wilbur's horse was
his... NEIGH-bor.

  "The Story Of Santa Claus", by Sam Ulano telling the story with
percussion from the KBC collection. He's at KBC Radio, PO BOX 1117,
Denville, NJ 07834. This is the English version.

  KSCA: "Christmas In Jail", by The Bobs with their new Xmas CD
called "Too Many Santas"

  "A Donner Party Christmas", by Lester McFwap's Carnival of Vomit on
their upcoming second CD.

  KSCA: "The 50 Kilowatt Christmas Tree", by The Bobs from "Too Many
Santas"

  "Pooey, Pooey, Pooey, It's Christmas", by Cali Rose on her CD
"Cali Rose Gets Goofy" on the Soup-To-Nuts label.

  "Christmas In Bed", by Pat Godwin from his CD "Reindeer Games" on the
Ikeon label.

  KSCA: "A Politically Correct Christmas", by The Royal Canadian Air
Farce. I don't have the album name mentioned on KSCA.


The Obituary Parade of 1996

  Bill Buchanan (Buchanan and Goodman) died at the age of 66. 
  Les Carter, the program director at the station where the Dr. Demento Show
was born in 1970, KPPC in Pasadena and a great inspiration to all of the
radio rebels, produced several fine jazz LPs, a writer and producer for
television, writing episodes for "Cagney and Lacey", "L.A. Law" and many
other shows.  Les Carter died of a heart attack on August 26, 1996,
he was 53.
  Paul Weston (Jonathan of Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, who was his
wife Jo Stafford, died at 84, long remembered for his orchestral
backgrounds and hundreds of hit records in the 1940s and 50s and also many
albums in instrumental music.

  I don't have any of the exact dates for the above people except for Les,
but the following people who left us left a mark in this world that
spans many interests.  Not all are in the funny business, but the others
helped shape the interests that were the subjects of funny songs as well
as otherwise notable for the other fields I have an interest in.


JANUARY:
  Gerry Mulligan, a versatile jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader who
worked with Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. Jan. 20. Age 68.
Complications of an infection. 
  Jerry Siegel, who created Superman with artist Joe Shuster but ultimately
lost out on millions of dollars the Man of Steel earned in comic books,
television and the movies. Jan. 28. Age 81. Heart failure. 

FEBRUARY:
  Gene Kelly, whose charm and exuberant, athletic dance style graced such
Hollywood classics as "Singin' in the Rain" and "On the Town." Feb. 2. Age
83. Complications of strokes. 
  Audrey Meadows, who played Alice, the long-suffering wife on "The
Honeymooners" who stood up to Jackie Gleason's "To the moon!" threats with
a sarcastic calm. Feb. 3. Age 71. Lung cancer. 
  Guy Madison, who found his niche in Westerns in the 1940s and starred in
the television series "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok." Feb. 6. Age 74.
Emphysema. 
  Mercer Ellington, who led the Duke Ellington Orchestra as arranger,
composer and conductor after his father's death. Feb. 8. Age 76. 
  McLean Stevenson, who played the womanizing, goof-off Lt. Col. Henry Blake
on TV's "M-A-S-H." Feb. 15. Age 66. Heart attack. 

MARCH:
  Minnie Pearl, whose homespun, self-deprecating humor, toothy grin and
shrill "Howdyyyyy!" made her the first country comedian known worldwide.
March 4. Age 83. Complications of a stroke. 
  George Burns, the wry, cigar-smoking comic who played straight man to
Gracie Allen for 35 years, then found new popularity when he won an Academy
Award at age 80. March 9. Age 100. 
  Vince Edwards, who as "Ben Casey" in the 1960s launched a tradition of
handsome, brooding TV doctors. March 11. Age 67. Pancreatic cancer. 

APRIL:
  Christopher Robin Milne, the model for Winnie the Pooh's young friend in
the stories of his father, A.A. Milne. April 20. Age 75. 
  Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, who made football betting respectable in his
weekly appearances on national television before racial remarks led to his
downfall. April 21. Age 76. Heart failure. 
  Erma Bombeck, the housewife turned humorist who poked fun at life in the
suburbs in columns and books such as "I Lost Everything in the Postnatal
Depression." April 22. Age 69. Complications of kidney transplant. 

MAY:
  Johnny "Guitar" Watson, rhythm-and-blues guitarist who influenced many
famous rockers, including Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. May
17. Age 61. Heart attack. 
  Chet Forte, a producer and director who helped launch ABC's "Monday Night
Football" but was forced out of his job 25 years later by a gambling
addiction. May 18. Age 60. Heart attack. 
  John Beradino, professional baseball player turned actor who appeared for
33 years as chief of staff Dr. Steve Hardy on TV's "General Hospital."
May 19. Age 79. Cancer. 
  Lash LaRue, a bullwhip-cracking star of low-budget 1940s Westerns such as
"Law of the Lash." May 21. Age 78. 
  Timothy Leary, the Harvard professor turned guru of LSD who encouraged
the '60s generation to "turn on, tune in, drop out." May 31. Age 75.
Prostate cancer. 

JUNE:
  Ray Combs, comedian who was host of "The New Family Feud" television game
show. June 2. Age 40. Suicide by hanging. 
  Ella Fitzgerald, the world's "first lady of song" whose vocals ranged
from deepest blues to be-bop fancies. June 15. Age 78. Cause undisclosed;
she had battled diabetes. 
  Mel Allen, the "voice of the Yankees" whose lilting Alabama drawl became
one of the great voices of baseball broadcasting. June 16. Age 83. 
  Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, producer whose 17 James Bond movies matched
suave 007 with beautiful women, diabolical villains and gee-whiz gadgets
for three thrilling decades. June 27. Age 87. 

JULY:
  John Chancellor, a pioneer of television journalism who brought Midwestern
forthrightness and a reassuring manner to reporting, anchoring and
wide-ranging commentary. July 12. Age 68. Cancer. 
  John Panozzo, co-founder and drummer of the rock group Styx. July 16. Age
47. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage. 

AUGUST:
  Mary Thompson, believed to be the oldest American, who said the secret of
long life was to "tend to your own business." Aug. 3. Age 120. 
  Greg Morris, who played quiet, efficient electronics expert Barney
Collier in the "Mission: Impossible" television series, one of the first
top TV roles for blacks in the '60s. Aug. 27. Age 61. Brain cancer. 

SEPTEMBER:
  Leonard Katzman, executive producer of the oil family saga "Dallas" and
director of other shows that spanned the Golden Age of Television to the
present. Sept. 5. Age 69. Heart attack. 
  Bill Monroe, father of the high, lonesome style of music known as
bluegrass. Sept. 9. Age 84. Stroke. 
  Tupac Shakur, the rapper whose raw lyrics drew on the rage of a coarse
urban existence and seemed a blueprint of his own violent life. Sept. 13.
Age 25. Gunshot wounds. 
  Spiro T. Agnew, who as Richard Nixon's vice president relished lashing
out at the media, anti-war protesters and liberals before he was forced to
resign in a tax-evasion scandal. Sept. 17. Age 77. Leukemia. 

OCTOBER:
  Ted Bessell, who played "That Girl" Marlo Thomas' dutiful boyfriend,
Donald, in the independent-gal comedy that started a trend on TV. Oct. 6.
Age 61. 
  Morey Amsterdam, whose one-liners carried him from vaudeville to the role
of a wisecracking television writer on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Oct. 28.
Age 87. Heart attack. 

NOVEMBER:
  Tiny Tim, falsetto-voiced singer famed for "Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips
with Me," whose strange looks and childlike manner mesmerized 1960s TV
audiences. Nov. 30. Age anywhere from 64-74. Heart failure.

DECEMBER:
  Pete Rozelle, longtime head of the National Football League put the NFL
on TV just about everywhere, transforming the way Americans spend Sunday
afternoons and making Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday. Dec. 6. Age 70.
Brain cancer. 

Events in 1996

01/03, "Tales From The Crypt" TV Anthology last aired on HBO.

01/03, "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded "Gump", "Phony Calls" and "The Alternative Polka" for his "Bad Hair Day" CD.

01/06, on the cover of TV Guide: "Seinfeld, Cybill, Ross, Oprah". Other Articles: Best and Worst of '95

01/09, "3rd Rock From The Sun" TV Comedy debut on NBC.

01/09, Gilligan was marooned on an island again as Bob Denver was stranded in Manhattan by a blizzard en route to West Virginia to celebrate his 61st birthday.

01/09, Mr. Blackwell named Howard Stern at the top of his annual list of the worst-dressed women, saying his Miss America looked more liked Godzilla impersonating Gypsy Rose Lee.

01/15, "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded "Syndicated Inc." and "Amish Paradise" for his "Bad Hair Day" CD.

01/16, singer Jimmy Buffett's seaplane, "The Flying Boat," was shot at by Jamaican police who mistook it for a drug smuggling craft; U2's Bono was aboard the plane with Buffett at the time. Buffett later wrote a song about the incident, "Jamaica Mistaica," that appeared on the album "Banana Wind."

01/28, Chris Isaak made a guest appearance on the NBC-TV show "Friends." I guess they couldn't get "The Doobie Brothers" or "Dr. Dre" to appear.

01/28, the original Bert and Ernie Muppets were stolen from an exhibit in Germany. They were later returned.

02/03, actress Audrey Meadows died of cancer in Los Angeles. She was 71.

02/13, Howard Stern announced he will be making the film "Private Parts".

02/13, "What The Hell Happened To Me?" album by Adam Sandler (of Saturday Night Live fame) was released, which included the song "Ode to My Car" or as people call it "Piece of --it Car"

02/14, Wessonality Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson got a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on her 62nd birthday.

02/14, O|+), or the man formerly known as Prince, married Mayte Garcia in a Valentine's Day ceremony in Minneapolis. What is her new last name?

02/17, on the cover of TV Guide: "De Lancie and Mulgrew of Voyager". Other Articles: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sigfried and Roy

02/24, HBO aired The Late Shift, an account of the ugly battle between Jay Leno and David Letterman for the king of late night throne vacated by Johnny Carson.

02/27, "That Was The Year That Was" album by Tom Lehrer was certified Gold by the RIAA

02/29, Tricia McWhorter, 24, a leap year baby, became a leap year mom with the birth of Alexis Sierra

03/01, the first book of "Fuzzy Memories" by "Saturday Night Live" writer Jack Handey is published. "Fuzzy Memories" are exactly like "Deep Thoughts" except they're longer and not as deep.

03/02, R.C., "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men stayed at #1 (since WE 12-2) for the 14th week in a row, tieing the streak set by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love To You" as singles that spent the most weeks at the #1 slot on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart.

03/06, Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" was named best movie song at the second annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. Just a few days later, "Weird Al" Yankovic released his parody, "Amish Paradise."

03/07, 20th Century Fox sued an Australian brewery for distributing Duff Beer, the brand favored by cartoon character Homer Simpson.

03/08, the TV comedy-variety puppet show "Muppets Tonight!" premiered on ABC.

03/09, "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men stayed at #1 (since WE 12-2) for the 15th week in a row, and has broken the tie by beating the tied 14-week streaks set by Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love To You" as singles that spent the most weeks at the #1 slot on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart.

03/09, Comedian George Burns died in Beverly Hills, Calif., just weeks after turning 100.

03/12, sketch comedy "The Taco Bell Dana Carvey Show" premieres on ABC, with a truly macabre impression of an eager-to-please Bill Clinton which ends with an open-shirted President breast-feeding a pair of puppies. As Carvey later relates to Conan O'Brien, by the time the opening sketch ended, 14 million viewers were lost, as yet another "Saturday Night Live" cast member proves himself "Not Ready For Prime Time."

03/12, "Amish Paradise" is released off Weird Al Yankovic's Ninth LP "Bad Hair Day". It parodied Coolio's "Gangsta Paradise."

03/12, "Weird Al" Yankovic released his latest album "Bad Hair Day".

03/15, "They're All Gonna Laugh At You!" album by Adam Sandler was certified Platinum by the RIAA

03/16, on the cover of TV Guide: "Billy Crystal, Kermit, Gonzo". Other Articles: Tony Danza, bonkers for belly buttons

03/16, "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men stayed at #1 (since WE 12-2) for the 16th week in a row, setting a new record for the longest a single has been at the #1 position.

03/26, the CD "The Second Coming" by Napoleon XIV went on sale.

03/27, "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded "Spy Hard (The Main Title)"

03/29, "Nash Bridges" TV Crime Drama starring Don Johnson and Cheech Marin debut on CBS.

04/01, Doubleday publishes "Dennis Miller: The Rants," the first collection of monologues from HBO's "Dennis Miller Live." Of course, that's just my research ... I could be wrong.

04/01, in a widely published April Fools joke, Taco Bell purchased the Liberty Bell from the federal government in Philadelphia in order to reduce the federal budget. Actually, the Liberty Bell is owned by the city of Philadelphia.

04/01, Howard Stern's morning radio show began airing on WZLX in Boston, Massachusetts.

04/02, St. Francis of Illinois pummeled Robert Morris 71-1 in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference game that was surrendered after four innings by Robert Morris coach Gerald McNamara. St. Francis, a dual member of the NAIA and NCAA Division II, sent 30 batters to the plate in the first inning as they scored 26 runs, an NCAA record. The Fighting Saints followed that with 22 runs in the second, four in the third and 19 in the final inning. In all, St. Francis broke 12 NCAA Division II records and tied four others.

04/07, the pilot for "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch" aired as a TV movie on Showtime. The concept had also been sold to ABC as a sitcom that premiered on September 27 that fall. Melissa Joan Hart starred as the title role in the movie and the series. Based on characters from Archie Comics and the forerunner to the popular ABC series. On her 16th birthday, a down-to-earth high schooler (Melissa Joan Hart) discovers that she's been given the gift of magic.

04/19, after nearly a decade of midnight movie commentary on the small screen, Crow and Tom Servo invade theatres with "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie."

04/20, R.C., "Weird Al" Yankovic's single "Amish Paradise" peaked at #53 on the Billboard pop singles chart

04/23, actress Margot Kidder was found dazed and disheveled, hiding in bushes in a stranger's yard in Los Angeles after disappearing for three days.

04/27, R.C., "Bad Hair Day" by "Weird Al" Yankovic peaked at #14 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. It was his most successful album to date.

05/00, Howard Stern's movie "Private Parts" began shooting in New York City by Paramount Pictures.

05/01, "What The Hell Happened To Me?" album by Adam Sandler was certified Gold by the RIAA

05/15, "Bad Hair Day" album by "Weird Al" Yankovic was certified Gold

05/24, the movie "Spy Hard" starring Leslie Nielsen, with the theme sung by "Weird Al" Yankovic, was released in the movie theaters in USA.

05/24, "Macarena" single by Los Del Rio was certified Gold by the RIAA

05/24, "Weird Al" Yankovic kicked off his Bad Hair Day tour.

05/30, John Tesh anchored his last Entertainment Tonight duties after a ten year stint with co-host Mary Hart in order to concentrate on his wife Connie Selleca and his new age composing career; the next day, the lead story on "E.T.": "John Tesh: Where Is He Now?" He also composed the theme for "Bobby's World" and the NBA on NBC theme whatever it's called among others.

05/31, Timothy Leary, the counterculture guru of the 1960s who urged a generation of Americans to use the drug LSD so they could "turn on, tune in and drop out," died of cancer.

06/04, "Bad Hair Day" video by "Weird Al" Yankovic was released

06/04, "Hot" album by Squirrel Nut Zippers was released

06/08, R.C., "Weird Al" Yankovic's single "Gump" peaked at #102 on the Billboard pop singles chart

06/10, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" TV Talk Show debut in syndication to the highest ratings in a decade. First guests: Susan Lucci and George Clooney.

06/11, "Bad Hair Day" album by "Weird Al" Yankovic was certified Platinum

06/14, the movie "The Cable Guy" starring Jim Carrey was released in the movie theaters in USA.

06/18, Beck's fourth full-length album, "Odelay," is released.

06/21, "C'mon N' Ride It (the Train)" single by Quad City Dj's was certified Gold by the RIAA. In 2000, parodist David Tanny used the melody to rewrite as "C'mon Drink The Beer"

06/27, actor Eddie Murphy got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fans started lining up a full day ahead to get a good look at the unveiling.

06/28, the movie "The Nutty Professor" starring Eddie Murphy opened in theaters in the U.S.A.

06/29, Superman's Action Comic #1 (1938) auctioned at Sotheby at $61,900.

07/02, the movie "Independence Day" starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, James Rebhorn and Harvey Fierstein was released in the movie theaters in USA; it grossed a record $96.4 million in its first weekend (six days) and $83.5 million since July 3, and hit $100 million in only seven days, a record; it also hit $50.2 million Fri-Sun, shy of Batman Forever's $52.8 million.

07/04, the movie "Sgt. Bilko" was released in the movie theaters in Germany.

07/11, "Macarena" single by Los Del Rio was certified Platinum by the RIAA

07/13, on the cover of TV Guide: "Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley". Other Articles: whither family TV?, Drew Carey

07/26, "The Story Of Pinocchio" starring Martin Landau and Jonathan Taylor Thomas was released in movie theatres in the U.S.

07/26, David Tanny was heard on Groove Radio 103.1 talking to former San Diego radio jock Holly Adams in Newport Beach/Santa Monica.

07/26, singer Donnie Osmond apologized to TV host Rosie O'Donnell for making a comment about her weight during an earlier appearance on her show. She made him sing "Puppy Love" to her in a dog suit.

08/03, R.C., "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rio peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart. It took a record 33 weeks to peak.

08/05, "The Nutty Professor" album (soundtrack) was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA

08/05, police and "Phishheads" -- fans of the rock group Phish -- clashed after ticketless fans were turned away from a Phish concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver. Phishheads, Phishheads, eat them up, yum. Yea!

08/07, NASA-backed team formally presents what it considered to be evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars.

08/10, "Redneck Games" by Jeff Foxworthy and Alan Jackson peaked at #66 on the pop singles chart.

08/20, "The Jerky Boys 3" album by The Jerky Boys was released

08/23, Today in Late Show w/ Letterman History: Annoyed by LATE SHOW writer Gerry Mulligan's constant obsession with dancing the Macarena, Letteman banishes him from the theater, drives him off to the Hudson River piers to a boat and throws him overboard. Undeterred, Mulligan recovers, and prances back to the theater doing the dreaded Macarena covered in seaweed.

08/23, the movie "A Very Brady Sequel" was released in the movie theaters in the USA.

08/24, on the cover of TV Guide: "William Shatner OR Patrick Stewart OR Kate Mulgrew OR Avery Brooks". Other Articles: Star Trek Turns 30

08/27, "Homeboys in Outer Space" makes its debut on UPN. According to a press release, "Two affable twenty something free-lancers are under pressure to make something of themselves - and in the 23rd century there is plenty to do. Ty and Morris spend their days hopping from one galaxy to another in their Space Hoopty, an intergalactic vehicle. It's guided by a sassy onboard computer named Loquatia and maintained by their trusty yet clueless mechanic, Carl. Along the way, Ty and Morris pick up odd jobs, encounter hot space babes and struggle for cold hard cash. The two set up 'office' in the corner of Jupiter Too, a futuristic tavern run by Ty's brother-in-law, Vashti. When Vashti, a human-eating, cigar loving humanoid from the Vognarian planet, isn't running the bar, he's sending Ty and Morris out on messenger trips via Space Hoopty." Can somebody explain to me why there's a better episode guide for this dreck than there is for "M*A*S*H"?

08/27, "Crank It Up - The Music Album" album by Jeff Foxworthy was released

09/07, on the cover of TV Guide: "Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser". Other Articles: Christine Baranski, David Hyde-Pierce, I.Rossellini

09/12, the publisher of the classic '60s song "Soul Man" asked the Bob Dole campaign to stop using the tune. The GOP had been changing the lyrics to "Dole man."

09/24, Frank Zappa's album "Lather" was released.

09/24, The Detroit Tigers established a club record with their 105th loss of the season, which broke the old mark set in 1952.

09/28, Tiny Tim collapsed on-stage having suffered a heart attack during a ukulele concert in Montague, Massachusetts.

09/30, "What The Hell Happened To Me?" album by Adam Sandler was certified Platinum by the RIAA

10/01, Published on this day: "SCTV: Behind the Scenes" by Dave Thomas and "Leading With My Chin" by Jay Leno with Bill Zehme

10/05, on the cover of TV Guide: "Jay Leno". Other Articles: Lily Tomlin, Christine Taylor

10/11, Dennis Miller hosted the four-week series "Not Necessairily the Elections" on HBO.

10/17, "Chipmunks In Low Places" album by Chipmunks was certified Platinum by the RIAA

10/22, Ahmet and Moon Zappa, Frank Zappa's kids, made guest appearances on the ABC sitcom "Roseanne."

10/28, actor-comedian Morey Amsterdam died of a heart attack in Los Angeles. He's best known for playing Buddy Sorrell on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

10/29, the Rutles' "Archaeology", a send-up of the Fab Four's current series of the Beatles' "Anthology" offerings, was released.

10/31, after 13 weeks atop the Billboard singles chart, "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" by Los Del Rios dropped to number four. It tied with Boyz II (to) Men's "End of the Road" as the second-longest single atop the Hot-100.

11/15, the movie "SpaceJam" cartoon/live movie starring Michael Jordan and many Warner Brothers cartoon characters was released in theaters in the USA.

11/17, Aaron Barnhart e-mails Tom Heald, tells him why don't you turn this stuff you've been sending me into a weekly column? Unfortunately, Heald can't think of a good reason not to. A half hour later, the very first "This Night In History" column is finished.

11/18, Radio Disney is born! They're all ears!

11/18, "Crank It Up - The Music Album" album by Jeff Foxworthy was certified Gold by the RIAA

11/22, the movie "Star Trek: First Contact" reuniting the cast members of the TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" opened in theaters in the USA.

11/23, after skipping the 1995-96 season, making it the first season in nearly 50 years without a new Bob Hope special, he returned one last time for this special. After 60 years of making memories and specials for NBC in both TV and radio, Bob Hope aired the special "Laughing With the Presidents", his 285th primetime extravaganza, and his final special for the peacock web after 46 years. His final NBC special, co-hosted with Tony Danza, was a retrospective of his relationships with American presidents over the years. Hope entered the Guinness Book of Records as the entertainer with the longest-running contract with a single network. He holds another Guinness record as the "most honored entertainer."

11/23, Chris Rock wed Malaak Compton

11/29, astronomers announced that an asteroid would pass within 3.3 million miles of Earth -- a "near miss" in galactic terms. George Carlin wonders why these things are called "near misses"...."it's a NEAR HIT, GANG!"

11/30, novelty singer Tiny Tim, best remembered for his '60s rendition of "Tiptoe Thru' the Tulips," died in Minneapolis.

12/03, "One Fierce Beer Coaster" album by Bloodhound Gang was released

12/03, Chris Rock releases his HBO concert "Bring The Pain" on home video.

12/04, Tiny Tim, a.k.a. Herbert Khaury, 64 or 66, was buried in Minneapolis Wednesday with 400 fans in attendance. The AP reports that the falsetto-voiced crooner rested in his open coffin "with a ukulele on his chest and six mauve tulips beside him."

12/07, on the cover of TV Guide: "Drew Carey and Kathy Kinney OR Selena". Other Articles: Selena, Sliders, Friends

12/11, the special "Weird Al Yankovic: There's No Going Home" aired on the Disney Channel.

12/13, since David Letterman is an un-credited voice in the new film, "Beavis and Butt-head Do America," he lets the characters promote it on "The Late Show," with the morons' first ever late night talk show appearance. The stunt requires animators and technicians from both shows, including the boy's creator Mike Judge, to work around the clock putting the segment together.

12/16, Patrick Stewart got his in Hollywood, that is, his star on the Hollywood Blvd. Walk for Fame.

12/19, "Bad Hair Day" video by "Weird Al" Yankovic was certified Gold

12/19, the school board of Oakland, Calif., voted to recognize Black English, also known as "ebonics," in a decision that set off a firestorm of controversy. (The board later reversed its stance.)

12/20, the movie "Beavis and Butthead Do America" opened in theaters in the USA and set an all-time December weekend opening gross ever with over $20.5 million. That movie ruled!

12/25, "Tickle Me Elmo" was the hottest Christmas gift of the year.

12/31, "Wannabe" single by Spice Girls was released. the great Luke Ski parodied it into "Wanna Be a Slayer" in 2002.

12/31, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and a group he parodied "Lump" into "Gump", The Presidents of the United States of America, appeared on "Dick Clark's 25th Rockin' New Years Eve" special on ABC-TV.