Blogs | Daily Crasher
A City Under Television Skies
By Josh Board | Posted December 14, 2009, 3:56 p.m.
I remember reading a book about Led Zeppelin as a teenager. There was an interesting meeting between the band and Elvis Presley. He asked for their autographs for his daughter. She was a fan.
Drummer John Bonham complimented his diamond encrusted watch, and the king promptly took it off and gave it to him. Bonham took of his Mickey Mouse watch and handed that to Elvis.
The other interesting story regarding this meeting was how in awe Zeppelin was over the remote control Elvis had for the TV set. They had never seen one before. And sure, it was huge; but the idea of not having to get up and change the channel, when you’re snacking on a peanut butter and nana sandwich…
Of course, the TV story everyone knows about Elvis, is him shooting up the screen. If you watched Kurt Russell play Elvis, you were probably under the impression that he always shot TVs out. I think I read in an interview, that he only shot one -- when Englebert Humperdink was on the screen (how cool would that be for Hump, knowing you’re the guy that caused Elvis to lose it and shoot at ya?)
Jerry Lee Lewis wanted to shoot Elvis, and once appeared at the Graceland gates. I don’t know enough about those details, though.
And back to TVs being shot.
Since yesterday was football, and I’m getting ready to watch the 49ers tonight, I thought about the guy in Louisiana a few weeks ago, who bet against the New Orleans Saints. Not sure what he was thinking, betting on the lousy Redskins.
He told people they could shoot his 60-inch high-definition, flat-screen in a sort of backyard firing squad deal.
About a dozen gun-toting football fans showed up at his home, just north of New Orleans, and they shot up his TV.
I’m guessing they didn’t get permits or anything. But, his YouTube hits for this video was at 150,000 over the first week.
Now, much like Elvis, when I first saw that guy sing Chocolate Rain on YouTube, I wanted to shoot my TV set. But I’ve never been tempted during a football game (well, a few times I would’ve pointed the Glock at Marty on the screen, had I actually owned one).
I’ve made some crazy football bets (although the Saints covering the line against the Eagles this year, won me $25)…but these stories were so insane.
It makes it even stranger that no arrests were made when this TV set was shot up in a backyard, yet when two film crews in Detroit were filming, with fake guns, they were cited for not having the proper permits. This happened twice in a week in the Motor City. And, it would be understandable if you’re out on the streets; but one filming took place at a private home.
Well, Josh, it is Louisiana....I mean, its not Texas where anything is pretty much legal with a gun, but since its not too far away, maybe the laws extend a little bit. Also, maybe some of the shooters were his neighbors and that's why no one called the cops...Maybe that guy should have specified the spread on the Saints/Skins game....I think it was 14 and the Saints won by 3....would have saved his TV...
By redsoxfan 12:35 a.m., Dec 15, 2009 > Report it
"Guns don't kill TVs, people do."
i hate guns and i hate television. And you know i don't hate anything!! Love the story though.
Find it very hard to believe you'd point a Glock at an onscreen Marty. Marty? As in Sid & Marty Krofft? H.R. Pufnstuf's "Daddy"? Or Marty Feldman with his big, bulging eyes? Or Marty Marischino from "GREASE"? Yeah, i know, football... You can't mean Schottenheimer, can you?
By KarenBP 10:19 a.m., Dec 15, 2009 > Report it
Having lived in New Orleans for two years before moving back here this year, I can tell you anything goes there! Especially with guns. Everyone carries guns in their car and its legal. No permits needed. Anyone can carry a gun on them if you take a 2 hour class. I saw that YouTube and thought the same thing til I realized it was Louisiana. Odds are if a police man came by he would have gotten out, cracked a beer with them, shot a few rounds himself at the TV, and went back to work! It is a unique place for sure.
By Gekko4321 1:21 p.m., Dec 15, 2009 > Report it
Reminds me of one of the greatest Simpsons moments, when Bart and Lisa are bored over the declining quality of Itchy & Scratchy episodes, so they decide to write their own:
Scratchy sits down for a haircut at Itchy's barber shop. Itchy pours a bottle of barbecue sauce on Scratchy's head, followed by a box of flesh-eating ants. The ants quickly reduce Scratchy's head to a skull.
Itchy then raises the barber chair through the ceiling. Scratchy's skull crashes through floor of the room above, and into a television set, which Elvis is watching.
Seeing Scratchy's skull in the set, Elvis says "This show ain't no good," pulls out a gun, and fires a round into the TV.
By shizzyfinn 3:29 p.m., Dec 15, 2009 > Report it
Funny stuff, Karen. You rule!
Thanks for the New Awlins info, Gekko.
And shizzy, that was a good episode. But in regards to guns, I like the episode where Homer wants to buy a gun. So many funny things happen in it.
Homer has to wait to buy a gun (to shoot his Christian neighbor Flanders). When he finds out he has to wait for 7 days he declaires "But I'm angry now!"
When Marge objects to the gun in the first place, she wakes up from a nap on the couch, to see the barrell of a gun right in her face.
By JoshBoard 3:34 p.m., Dec 15, 2009 > Report it