Those Who Have Taken Their Final Taxi In 2009

A decade comes to an end and in 2009 that end came to several celebrities as well. We lost several entertainers during 2009’s infamous ‘summer of death’ as names like Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, David Carradine, Ed McMahon all died within days of each other. Of that lot one name shocked the public the most: Michael Jackson. In his short life of 50 years Jackson helped shape popular music and culture. From his early years with the Jackson 5 to his solo career he maintained the title ‘King of Pop.’ Other deaths without warnings for the year included actress Natasha Richardson, David Carradine, and of course Brittany Murphy.

Departing From The Breakfast Club – John Hughes

Hughes also wrote “Vacation ’58″ which would become the movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation” starring Chevy Chase. Hughes wrote the screenplay. The film became a big success and helps land him his first directorial role in “Sixteen Candles.”

More blockbusters came in the forms of The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Weird Science and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. These launched a new movie term called “ The Brat Pack.” These were young actors and actresses who often appeared together in teen coming of age movies done by Hughes.

You Can’t Do That on Television Actor – Les Lye

enjoyed watching the show not for the slime but for the sense of humor that was in all the skits. “You Can’t Do That on Television” reminded me of a kid’s version of Monty Python at times.

It was not just the comedy writing but he actors who were in the cast of regulars on the show. One of the adult cast members was Les Lye who played everything from a tyrannical schoolteacher to a bumbling football coach. It is Les Lye who has taken his Final Taxi.

Miss Brahms, Are You Free? – Wendy Richard Dies

Miss Brahms was played by Wendy Richard who has taken her Final Taxi. Richard played that role through the entire run of the series and also appeared in the Are You Being Served? sequel Grace & Favour in 1992 and 1993. (This was repacked in the US as Are You Being Served Again?)

PODCAST: Thanksgiving At Alice’s Restaurant

Every Thanksgiving for years my brothers and I would listen to Arlo Guthrie’s comically exaggerated Thanksgiving Day adventure of Alice’s Restaurant. One year I took a trek to go find this legendary piece of my childhood. Listen to Thanksgiving podcast-

PODCAST: Marx Brothers writer – Irving Brecher

Irving Brecher, who who took his Final Taxi at 94, was a Hollywood scriptwriter who wrote screenplays for two Marx Brothers films and the Judy Garland musical Meet Me in St Louis . Listen: http://memberdata.wildvoice.com/RonNasty/media/Final_Taxi_Day23_Irving_Brecher.mp3

PODCAST: Memories for National Lampoon Writer – Michael O’Donoghue

Michael O’Donoghue took his Final Taxi on November 8, 1994. He was a writer and performer and known for his dark and destructive style of comedy and humor, was a major contributor to National Lampoon magazine, and was the first head writer of the highly influential television program Saturday Night Live. Listen: http://memberdata.wildvoice.com/RonNasty/media/Final_Taxi_Day8_ODonoghue.mp3

PODCAST: Estelle Reiner, Orderer of Orgasms

Actress and singer Estelle Reiner took her Final Taxi at age 94. Reiner was the wife of Carl Reiner and the mother of directors Rob and Lucas Reiner and writer Annie. Estelle Reiner was a renowned jazz singer and also acted in several films. Most people remember her for delivering a single line in her [...]

PODCAST: Harvey Korman- Comic of Burnett Show & Blazing Saddles

Download MP3 of Podcast- Click Here Harvey Korman, the comic actor who won four Emmys for his work on “The Carol Burnett Show” and appeared in the movie “Blazing Saddles,” took his Final Taxi at age 81. Korman won the Emmy awards for his television comedy roles on “The Carol Burnett Show,” where he performed [...]

Say Goodnight Dick – Laugh-in’s Dick Martin

One show my mother would never let me watch in the late 60′s was “Rowen & Martin’s Laugh In.” She told me it had too much hippy stuff in it. The show was what all the kids at school were talking about so I really wanted to see it. When I did get to was [...]