As some of you know, I had written an article on the cowboys and western movies and their impact on me. Well, I have also grown huge interest in sci-fi as well since I was a kid! So needless to say, if Clint Eastwood is the badass of the western genre, then Patrick Stewart is the badass of the sci-fi genre. Who the heck is he, you ask? Well, to the sci-fi nerds, he’s better known to us as Jean-Luc Picard. That’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard to you, by the way.
Capt. Picard was the captain in the The Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sure I liked the original, Capt. James T. Kirk. Capt. Kirk had his … interesting … pauses… in … his … speech, and a way with the ladies, but Capt. Picard was the leader. He made the whole concept of being a leader so amazing. Stern when needed, yet quite approacheable, Capt. Picard made me want to be a good leader.
Sure, you can laugh at my admiring a fictional character, but Picard always had a class and a way about his actions. I sure do miss the TV episodes… shucks. And of course, Patrick Steward did an awesome job creating the character. I still imitate some of his famous lines… “Engage” “Make it so, #1″.
With the sensation of Paul Potts hitting the opera scene via “Got Talent” in Britain, it made me think about my all-time favorite tenor, Andrea Bocelli. Most already know that he’s an Italian and blind. My favorite song, as many probably claim, is “Con te partiro”.
His voice somehow touches the soul and is able to give breath of peace and life into me. This whole reminder came about because of this British ex-cell phone seller (who evidently did study a bit of opera) gave it a shot.
My wife also was very moved by Paul’s story. You can just search his name on Youtube and will see a whole bunch. Here’s one for you to sample … his “debut” on the show and how everyone of even the slightest heart was sold on him.
So I got thinking about shows that I have enjoyed in the past… especially from the childhood years… so here they are… in the order I can best recall.
- Diff’rent Strokes (This was one of the first shows I watched as a kid here in US and was just a bit beyond “norm” but was awesome to watch)
- Family Ties (Ah yes, a show that showed me what a “typical” American family looked like!)
- Perfect Strangers (Balky and the Dance of Joy!! Need I say more?!!)
- Charles in Charge (Mischievous but good show that put lots of ideas in my head! )
- The Cosby Show (It was an instant classic for me… Mr. Cosby is a legend in himself)
- Doogie Howser M.D. (a show where a kid became the grown-up hero… kinda sorta…)
- The Wonder Years (perfect timing for kids like myself)
- Night Court (It was just funny. Is all.)
- Home Improvement (What does it need?!! More powah!! Uh-er-grr!!!)
- Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Wassup?!! This was da bomb, ya know?! Carlton and his dances)
- Who’s the Boss? (The never-ending love between the two…)
- Mad About You (Where I fell in love with Helen Hunt for the first time!)
With the sensation of Paul Potts hitting the opera scene via “Got Talent” in Britain, it made me think about my all-time favorite tenor, 