Box Office – The Little Things $2.1 Million

New This Week - Land (Robin Wright)

Barb And Star Go To Vista Del Mar (Kristin Wiig)

Ten Years Ago - The Roommate -  was #1

Wizard Of Oz - A Remake? (Story)

Hallmark – Romantic Movie Marathon This Weekend   (Story)

Two Weeks - February 26 -  Tom And Jerry in theaters and HBO Max    

50% - Of streaming cheaters, do it on a weekly basis  (Story) 

A Fourth Movie - In the Austin Powers franchise is reportedly in early development. No word if Mike Meyers will be back   (Story) 

A Rumor Says - Indiana Jones 5 is in the works and that Harrison Ford will be de-aged using computers.  (Story) 

Renee Zellweger - Will star in a new NBC drama called ‘The Thing About Pam'.  (Story)

HBO - Is going to produce a new series based on the GameStop trading frenzy. The show will chronicle the day traders, who made millions from the stock  (Story) 

A Live-Action - “Powerpuff Girls” series is coming to The CW   (Story)

Sandra Bullock - Is going to star with Brad Pitt in a new movie called "Bullet Train'' (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane  (link)

Other Articles From This Week -   Song Of The Week /  Karen Made My Day  / Settling The GOAT  /  Browns There's A Gleam, Men 

Monica asked about Ricky Van Shelton, and it really stirred up memories I hadn't thought of in quite a while. There was a time when he was a very big star.  He was absolutely essential in the switch to traditional from pop-country in the mid 1980's.  He was a big player at the time, and listeners loved him from the first moment they heard his first song and I played all of them for many years!

His First Big Hit!

When Urban Cowboy was slowly phasing itself out in the mid 80's, we were really struggling to find a new foothold and direction. The music being recorded late in the UC  run was certainly good music, it just didn't have a real focus, it was a bit rudderless. It was too pop for hungry country fans, and many new UC joins were moving on to something else.  The wave created in the early 80's was fading all too slowly, and we were kind of recording the same songs over and over, and we needed a new direction. We had Alabama still, and a vision of what was to come with a young George Strait, Reba McEntire and Ricky Skaggs.  But overall we had a problem, as we had not cultivated many new and young stars in our format.

Great Traditional Country Song  #1

In all the years most of us have been sports fans, even very casual ones have seen on Social Media, or heard in a bar who is better, LeBron James or Michael Jordan.  Great arguments on both sides, but in the end most people say, "Well it's a different era, and the game is different, and you can't compare."  And that's accurate, so it can't really be fairly done.  But it just was -  and we all saw it.

You just saw it on TV Sunday night, when Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes laced 'em up and squared off on the worlds biggest stage.  Two completely different kind of players, two completely different kinds of guy, from two very different eras trying to settle who is the greatest.  What happened Sunday will never happen again. Never again will a 43 year old GOAT QB, face off with another young phenom QB who was about 5 when Brady won his first professional championship.  The only way it will, is if Brady goes back again at 44 and Mahomes at about 25.  It was sports history, and that's not hype. 

What Brady is doing is no longer subjective.  He is the GREATEST QB ever.  His records and accomplishments are simply staggering. If you honestly think he's not, that's a decision being made with the wrong part of the body.  With all due respect to Manning(s) Montana, Favre, Brees, Bradshaw, Rodgers, Aikman, I mean take your pick, Brady is so far out in front, he's Secretariat.  A man, playing QB at this level, at this age in the NFL.  He's not a kicker, he's playing the sports most demanding position.  The aforementioned, all really great, all done for the most part by their late 30's. Brady has 4 titles after 37.  We will never see this again.  He even passed the Browns immortal QB Otto Graham from a way different era in statistical greatness that many dismiss out of had citing, "that was a long time ago....blah, blah."

With Mahomes, he's certainly a dynamic player that does things no one has ever done on the field, and he is absolutely positioned to go on a huge run and make history.  But will he?  He does things no one can right now, and things so different, he could change the position. But so could RG3, and Michael Vick, and many others like them that had incredible skills back in the recent day, and we all know those didn't work out.  For those who say he's the greatest ever, I say pump the brakes and let's talk about this in 10 years or so, and I think that's fair. We can talk about that then, after about 7 more title game appearances and 5 championships or so.  Time takes its toll and tells all.  Mahomes is gonna get his chance at immortality as there is no doubt with his skill set.  But immortality is reserved for the chosen ones.  In sports, you're not born immortal, you make yourself immortal.

It was fun to see this. Both players on even footing, and both on top of their games.  On this day, it was Brady, and he continues to climb a mountain so high no one may ever reach his rare air.  And Mahomes will have to wait for another day ascend another rung on that same ladder. And it may come, in fact it propably will come. But there is much more to do for Mahomes.  What we forget is the journey there. What you have to do to even GET to Brady again.  We have a tendancy to forget that part of Brady. It's not just the titles, it's getting the chance.  Simply stunning.

Does this settle the LeBron / Jordan thing?  Officially, of course not because Jordan retired at 40 when Lebron was about 17 or so. And the two could never really face off as in Brady / Mahomes. And being fair, Jordan was not Brady-like at 40, so it would not have been close to fair. But if I had to pick, I would say this. To have on my team and win as many games as possible?  Lebron.  To win titles and win the game that matter?  Jordan.  So I'm not sure we can get a defintive answer there.  But in football?  To win any game -  any time -  anywhere?  Brady by a mile.

And when you think about that, it makes Sunday even more incredible. I'm glad it happened, and no matter who would have won it, I'm glad we got to see it.

Late last week Sarah, Ryan and I were talking on the show about the whole "Karen" slang thing. How the name has become synonymous in pop culture with a negative connotation of a bothersome, less than likable woman.  I think most of us appreciate a good joke, but when the punchline is delivered over and over again, it can get old quick. We three pretty much agreed it's a silly, overused and not appreciated trend. I personally am not a fan at all of the whole "Karen" thing.  It's lazy. 

SO this message came into me this week after our on-air conversation, and it's one of the best notes I have ever gotten in 4 decades of hosting morning shows.  I asked her if I could use it here, and she resoundingly said yes!   Her name is Karen -

"I wanted to personally thank you and your morning crew. As you can see my name is Karen. Admittedly I would switch stations between yours and the Cleveland country station during my weekday morning work commute.

I live in a Cleveland suburb and had listened to your competitor for decades. Well that other station would repeatedly call people “Karen” in the derogatory way that has become popular. At first I overlooked it but it became a daily multiple times a day occurrence and I had enough.

I felt personally insulted and hurt. I am anything but a derogatory Karen. I stopped listening to that morning show and started listening solely to yours. On your show today Karen was once again a discussion and my heart sank. Then, everyone changed the tone and uplifted Karen in a way that I needed to hear.

I know this sounds foolish but I actually had tears in my eyes. It’s the first time in months that I felt respected so I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my Karen heart. Thank you to all of your morning crew. You made a HUGE difference to me and have most definitely gained a loyal listener." 

This was a real day-maker for her, but her note made this a real day-maker for us.  Thank you Karen and welcome to our morning show family.  Sometimes you never know how you are touching people.

It's always fun to see a newer artist take hold and finally get themselves a nice hit record on the radio. We have had many new artists on the show over the years and it's always great to see them hearing their song on the radio.  And now, Tenille Arts has a hit song.

Somebody Like That  - is about everything that's good about a hit song. Catchy beat, memorable refrain, and a light, positive vibe that makes you happy.  And we need happy songs these days.  Plus, this song is very relatable as most of us have been in, or seen much of what she sings about here. 

And I think she speaks a truth that most of us hold dear deep within and may not verbalize.  She gives a voice to many inner thoughts we may have.  This is a very nice song, and there is always room for a "nice" song.  I want to hear more from her.

Take a real listen here with a coffee.

Wynn's Weekend Watch -   News Of The World With Tom Hanks (Review)

Box Office – The Little Things  -   4.2 Million   (Review)

If You Watched - Justin Timberlake's movie Palmer, you weren't alone, it was Apple TV+ most-watched weekend ever.  

Battle - Tom Hardy and Idris Elba are battling over who is going to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond   (Story)

Jennifer Lopez - Will star in a new Netflix action movie called "The Mother." She will play a deadly assassin, who comes out of hiding   (Story)

Disney - May rehire Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the next Pirates of the Caribbean film.  (Story)

A Kate and Allie - Reboot is in the works at NBC   (Story)

A Game of Thrones - Animated drama is in the works at HBO Max?   (Story)

This Weekend – Check out my Country Music Memory Lane  (link)

Other Wynn Articles This Week -   EAT!  -  Song Of The Week

Emma asked me about her mom's favorite  - that has become her favorite, after her mom passed away, Juice Newton. I played all of Juice Newton's songs for many years on the radio, as she was a very popular figure in music of all kinds.  She was remarkably talented with a gigantic voice and large mass appeal.  One of her many gifts to us was introducing country to many new fans!

Her First Number One - Huge Hit!  This Video Has 61 Million Views!

One of the ongoing arguments in today's country music conversation is, "Hey, that ain't country."  And many think that's a new revelation.  It's not.  It's been around for decades, and Juice Newton was in that conversation many years ago, as say Maren Morris is today.  I understand it, as there are artists that come around every now and again that defy traditional thinking of many fans and have big success like Newton and Morris.  Juice Newton had big success. Her shockingly powerful voice and her huge musical arrangements made her stand out from the crowd in a big way. You knew it was a Juice Newton song.  And she charted on many charts.

Second Big Hit!

Judy Kay Newton broke through in 1981 after a few failed albums with a band of another name, with her solo album called, Juice.  I love that album, as it had a ton of great songs on it, including three huge hits and some of the best album cuts you will ever hear.  It's so worth a download.  Angel Of The Morning was a huge song both pop and country, Queen Of Hearts and The Sweetest Thing  - same.  I think it's one of the best pop country albums ever. And for the next seven years, Juice Newton was here to stay.  She racked up 6 number one songs.  She also had a big following outside of the U.S.

 This Song #1 And A Real Favorite For Years! 

Juice Newton was blessed with one of those voices that was incredibly mass appeal.  She would sound good singing anything. She knew where the notes were, and found them perfectly. Her music was a blend of pop, country, folk, and about 5 other genres, and she sounds at home singing any or all of them.  As far as country was concerned she was puzzling to us.  She debuted as Urban Cowboy was flying high, with a poppy country sound dominating us, so she was right on time. As time went by and the mid 80's hit, the shift was starting traditional, and Juice was not.  In short, it was hard to see exactly where she fit in the best.

 This Was A Big Pop And Country Hit

But she had real chart success till about 1987, and fortunate for her she had forged a following in and out of country.   She had a bunch of #1 country songs, and won a Grammy or two.  I always liked Juice Newton, as I felt she was immensely talented as a singer, and I loved her dedication to record just "good music" without any real borders.  And even if you knew nothing about country, you knew her, and if you were all country, you knew her. 

 Maybe A Bit Too Pop, But A Fun Song...

Juice Newton had a great run, but many more like her found that the compass of Country was set in a new direction by the late 80's, as it was navigating traditional and was not coming back.  The country-pop sound was being phased out and replaced with a new direction and new artists.  In today's country music, there is room for some crossover music, as it is back in some fashion for some. We as a music listening society are a bit more forgiving and tolerant of the wide array of country music styles that is out there.  Florida Georgia Line, Taylor Swift, Morris, and others are not 100% country and have all had, or are having great success.  Back in the late 80's the shift was swift, and absolute. If you were not Country - there was little room left.

 Her Last Top 10 Song

Well, this is the biggest weekend to eat of the year of course. So Let's talk food, and good deals, good recipes, and some good tips.

How Many Wings Will We Eat This Weekend?

Bonus Wings?

Love Pizza?

How About A Good Breakfast?

Taco Bell Run?

Why Not? Fries?

Prime Rib Recipe?

We Will Eat Healthy NEXT WEEK!

Bon Appetit!

There are a couple new more recent movies out that we should take a look at today. Both with A-List stars.

News Of The World   (Theaters and on some streaming platforms  - $$)

This has been out a few weeks with Tom Hanks. This is Hanks as we have never seen him, in a Western of sorts, but this is not typical of the genre. It is far more than simply a Western.  I always give props to flicks that have an original story and this one does.

Hanks plays a character in post Civil War America about 1870, who goes from town to town in Texas and reads the newspapers from other parts of the young country. People pay him to hear the news who can't get it, and he roams alone doing this. Clearly the Civil War has taken a heavy toll on him and he finds himself alone.  He then meets up with a young girl (Helena Zengel -who is great)  who has been raised by Native Americans, who is NOT Native American. She too is alone in the world as the stagecoach she was riding in was robbed and she was left for dead.  These two head out on an adventure to get her back home, but it's not an easy world, or easy country.  And she speaks no English.

As interesting as this is, NOTW is slow at times and that's too bad. Hanks is great and does not look out of place in a place he has not been before.  Our supporting cast is fine and the idea is very original, but beware, this movie hits some dead zones, all leading to a finish you more than likely will see coming.  But it is good to see Hanks in a role and movie setting you have not before.

NOTW -  Points for Hanks, the idea and Zengel.  It's good, could have been great.

The Little Things  (Theaters and HBO Max) 

Denzel Washington to me is always mandatory movie watching and this one the surface looks really good.  And the shame here is, with three Oscar Winners in this, it should have been great! But it's not.

Washington plays a cop in California that clearly has a checkered past and has moved into rural law enforcement.  He ends up running a police errand back into the big city, and finds himself in the middle of a big time, big city case, as he's sort of asked to tag along with younger cops. In the same department he worked in years ago.  It was hard for me to tag along with that whole premise, and it didn't get a lot better.  The movie is supposed to make you wonder what his deal really is, and you can if you wish. I was just trying to stay awake.  BUT - the opening 10 minutes of this are really terrific!  Fact, very compelling.

The cast is great, but even there, there are problems. Jared Leto is AMAZING as this very strange, but well defined suspect, and his performance really helps to save the day. He is the movies best thing outside of
Washingtons presence and not by a little.  Rami Melik is as a young, tough cop, and the writing is weak and he doesn't really have a strong character to bring to life.  He can't be the powerful presence he can be on screen, because of bad writing and a movie that looks for a direction. This too has some dead zones, and drags along as well.

I love Denzel but I will not be catching this one again, and that's a shame. A good cast, but a movie that disappoints.

I am so glad to see Blake Shelton back recording really great songs again.  Taking nothing away from the rest of his long career, the past couple of years I feel have been among his best.

God's Country is a song that a whole lot of artists would have loved to have, but it's a song that had to be earned and it needed a seasoned artist to give it the real believe-ability it has.  Written by Hardy, and sung by Blake it was the perfect musical union. I loved that song halfway through my first listen to it, and I don't think I was alone in that. His follow ups with Gwen have been fun, happy, and easy listen too, and that has really been needed given our surroundings the past 9 months.

God's Country - What An Anthem!

His new song, Minimum Wage does the same thing for me as God's Country.  I loved it before it was over the first time I heard it.  We all know there are some who have an issue with some of this song, and that's OK. But that's another talk, for another time, in another place.

This is the Blake I really like.  Confident and singing songs that have strong musical vertebrae. I am not adverse to a Blake ballad, but I feel there were too many in too short of a time a ways back. This is what I feel he does best. Singing songs that have a real backbone with a blazing arrangement makes this song jump out of the radio and let you know right away that one of our biggest stars is getting ready to sing a big song. It's almost impossible not to listen to it once it starts.

We have always been an artist driven format, and that's great.  Seems we are in a trend lately where the songs are the star and that's OK, because you gotta start with a good song.  But when we are at our best is when we marry up one of our biggest stars with a song many others would love to have, now we've got a real hit.  When it begins, you know a big star is going to be singing a big song, you can just feel it.

If you have not heard it yet, here you go!

Song Of The Week - Last Week! We Were Rich / Runaway June