News of the Week: Jeopardy! Questions, L.A. Landmarks, and How Much Is Norman Rockwell’s Chair Worth?

Random Thoughts

Can someone tell me what’s been going on with Jeopardy! lately? Contestants are missing some rather easy questions. On recent episodes, no one knew that the Steve McQueen horror movie from the ’50s was called The Blob (one contestant said The Ooze); no one could name Jimmy Stewart as the star of a couple of Alfred Hitchcock movies; no one knew what a “lob” is in tennis; one person thought Cher had a #1 song in the ’50s (which I’m sure would be news to Cher); and nobody knew that David Lee Roth was the lead singer of Van Halen.

One contestant thought it was Eddie Vedder (the singer in Pearl Jam), one contestant said Eddie Van Halen, and one contestant said … Sam Kinison.

This is one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen in any sport.

There’s a new airline for dogs called Bark Air. I hope they’re allowed to bring their emotional support humans with them.

Authorities in Florida are advising people to not wrestle armadillos because of a leprosy risk. Then how am I supposed to defend my 2023 Armadillo Wrestling title?

This article asks the question, “Do you remember what it was like to wake up before you had a smartphone?” I do! (It was this morning.)

The Race to Save L.A. Landmarks

Pink’s Hot Dogs isn’t going anywhere, but it looks like one very famous Hollywood home is the subject of a court battle because the current owner wants to tear it down. Here’s CBS Sunday Morning with the details.

Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning

The Post on PBS

Back in 2012, a woman went on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow with some paintings, a chair, and a signed letter. They were all from Norman Rockwell, who the woman had posed for when she was a child.

The pictures and the letter and the chair – which looks like the famous chair that Rockwell often sat in when he worked – were worth $140,000 in 2012. Did they increase in value since then?

Uploaded to YouTube by Antiques Roadshow PBS

Headline of the Week

“Mom Fined $88,000 After Kids Take 72 Clams from California Beach”

RIP Bill Walton, Morgan Spurlock, Richard Sherman, Darryl Hickman, Caleb Carr, Grayson Murray, Doug Ingle, Johnny Wactor, Elizabeth MacRae, and Bette Nash

Bill Walton was an NBA Hall of Famer and MVP who helped the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers win championships. He was later a broadcaster. He died Monday at the age of 71.

Morgan Spurlock was the director and star of the Oscar-nominated documentary Super Size Me. He died last week at the age of 53.

Along with his brother Robert, Richard Sherman wrote several songs for Disney films, including Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Sword in the Stone, and The Jungle Book. Those songs include “It’s a Small World (After All),” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” He died Saturday at the age of 95.

Darryl Hickman was a child actor who appeared in Leave Her to Heaven, The Grapes of Wrath, Men of Boys Town, The Prisoner of Zenda, Rhapsody in Blue, and The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. He later appeared on many TV shows and was head of daytime programming at CBS. He died last week at the age of 92.

Caleb Carr was the author of the acclaimed novel The Alienist. He died last week at the age of 68.

Grayson Murray was a professional golfer. He died Saturday at the age of 30.

Doug Ingle was the lead singer and organist for Iron Butterfly, known for the song “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” He died last week at the age of 78.

Johnny Wactor appeared on General Hospital, Siberia, NCIS, Army Wives, and many other shows. He died Saturday at the age of 37.

Elizabeth MacRae played Gomer’s girlfriend Lou Ann on Gomer Pyle, USMC and appeared on dozens of other shows. She died Monday at the age of 88.

Bette Nash holds the Guinness World Record for longest serving flight attendant. She started at Eastern Airlines in 1957 and never really retired. She died earlier this month at the age of 88.

This Week in History

Jay Leno Takes Over for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show (May 25, 1992)

And on the first show he didn’t thank Carson! He later said he regretted that decision.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Published (May 26, 1897)

You can sign up for the Dracula Daily newsletter and get each chapter sent to you free via email.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Canada Dry (May 29, 1937)

I don’t think “It’s Gingervating” ever caught on.

June is National Iced Tea Month

Wait … if June is National Iced Tea Month, why did I show you an ad for ginger-ale? Because you need to make your iced tea with ginger-ale!

Here’s a quick recipe for Ginger Iced Tea from Taste of Home, a recipe for Strawberry Ginger Iced Tea from Smucker’s (made with Smucker’s Strawberry Syrup), and if you want something with a little more kick to it, try this Spiked Ginger Iced Tea, made with vodka. But if you really just want a glass of regular iced tea, Natasha’s Kitchen has this Iced Tea Recipe (Extra Easy).

I’m lazy so I usually just grab bottles of iced tea or Lipton Iced Tea mix at the store. I need lots of sugar and lemon.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Flip a Coin Day (June 1)

I flipped a coin to decide whether to mention this or not.

NBA Finals (June 6)

Game 1 airs on ABC at 8 p.m.