If you're a fan of wit, originality, intelligence, incomparable story-telling, cutting-edge commentary, new ideas, and look forward to being entertained, informed, and even inspired or shocked by every aspect of the endless variety of the magnificent Human Comedy, you will thank us and participate in the must see material in this deliciously smart upstart website!!
As you know, TV is now awash with a Katrina of crap that passes as 'Reality TV!' Nearly all of it is demeaning, titillating, cruel or exploitive; scores of shabby shows with a variation on the theme of stressed lives and families falling apart, peopled by those who have no talent or shame, except the ability to show off their emotional wounds and warts to imperfect strangers.. turning us not into an audience but a nation of Peeping Toms!
But it wasn't always that way.. and as you'll see right now this website brings it back and moves it forward!
Once upon a time in America there was a great reality show, one of the best in the history of TV, the one that started it all, a show that entertained, informed, inspired, and even changed laws, a show that often garnered a 50% audience share!!
Right now, for even a measly 20% share, network programmers would turn themselves into suicide bombers!!
I am so outraged at Sen. Reid for his flipflop opposition to an audit of the Fed, that for the first time in my life, I wrote to a US Senator: this is what I wrote:
'Are you blind! Or bought! How in the name of common dollars and cents could anyone be opposed to an audit of The Fed, a private banking consortium? As a Democrap, (this is not a misspelling,) do you not recall that six months before he was murdered in Dallas, Pres. John Kennedy signed an Executive Order, #11111, I believe, calling for the printing of money by the US Treasury, as mandated by The Contsitution! You do remember The Constitution don't you, that document that Bush said was 'just a god damn piece of paper!' Or maybe you recall that Thomas Jefferson warned that a private central bank was more dangerous to a Democracy than a standing army!! What is really more dangerous to our Democracy is do-nothing, know- nothing Politicians like yourself on both sides of the aisle. Take a look next time your out..the middle of the road is where the yellow line is! Get on the right side and do your job.
Hopefully,
John Barbour.'
That show was called simply, 'Real People. 'And it was created by Canadian -born John Barbour, an ex multiple Emmy-winning critic, ex talk-show Host, ex comic, ex actor, orange-picker, shoe salesman, railroad worker and 15 year old high school dropout who was kicked out of America twice...but who, in true American Dream fashion, came back and told Morrie Gelman at 'Daily Variety, that he was going to change the face of American TV with what he called: 'the Entertainment of Reality!' And he did!! (See bio page.)
And now he's back again. Here. And here's a brief look at and list some of the wonderful stuff you can experience right now:
'Walk Away' John said that the recession turned his 401 k into a 201 k, and out of frustration as to what happened to him, he penned and performed this song-satire, in the style of Tom Lehrer, for his own amusement. Now it's for everybody!
'The Human Lottery' For the five years John was the Emmy-winning critic-at-large at KNBC, Los Angeles, he refused to sign a contract because he didn't want the network to own his material. And three times he was kicked out of the building for his reviews and commentaries. Once when he panned The Jerry Lewis Telethon, saying it used to be called 'The Muscular Dystrophy' telethon but now it's called 'The Jerry Lewis Telethon' because they can find a cure for MD, but not for Jerry Lewis; and they could make twice that amount of money if every man, woman, and child who never wanted to see him again sent in a quarter! (Read later about the other two over Johnny Carson and the Martin Luther KIng assassination!) This is the kind of commentary that he could never make on network TV, or the kind that a lot of people could fathom!!
'The Wine Challenge' As a wine drinker John often wondered if winos could tell the difference between an expensive one and a cheap one; and the same for the wealthy! So, he took a very expensive wine and a very cheap one to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills where he sets up shop in a chi chi boutique, and then to skid row. (Later you'll see and hear residents of skid row review the movie' 'Arthur' with Dudley Moore!)
'Ernie Kovacs: TV's Original Genius' This Peabody nominated 90 minute documentary aired on Showtime two decades ago, and in spite of the fact it was heralded by the reviews as the best documentary ever made about a performer, it has, unbelievably, not been available for viewing on any network or cable station.
'That Awful Quiz Show' A You-Won't Believe-What-You're Watching-And-Hearing comedy-quiz show based on celebrity gossip and news, hosted by Identical Twin Midgets, John and Greg Rice! It aired for only 13 weeks on five stations.
'The Obama Blues' Even though John voted for him..(John said it was either a choice between the white guy who wanted to throw nukes, or the black guy with maybe a Molotov cocktail)..his disappointment in seeing the same bankers in the Administration and the same soldiers in the same wars led him to the piano and typewriter again!!
'The Tonight Show' Hosted by Frank Sinatra. For years John wrote special material for Francis, that's what he wanted to be called by his friends, and to show his appreciation for John and his work, and also to pique Johnny whom Francis knew didn't care for our critic, he had him do a spot. (Juicy story to come.)
'The Dean Martin Roast of Redd Foxx' John was only the second person in TV, next to Hugh Downs, who put an unknown Redd Foxx on TV. And when John was beginning as a stand-up, Redd became his mentor. Dean also had John on his regular Variety show 3 times.( See stories)
Standby: More amazing material to come!! This includes a Real News half hour comedy pilot for Fox in which John predicts Greg Kinnear will become a star!!
And more on former New Orleans DA Jim Garrison who tried to bring New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw to trial for conspiracy in the killing of John Kennedy. John did the only 3hour in-depth interview with Mr. Garrison in l980 at the height of 'Real People's' success, and shortly after the House Select Committee concluded four shots had been fired in Dealy Plaza, thus making it a conspiracy!!
But it wasn't till '92 that John got to make his award-winning documentary 'The Garrison Tapes.' Not only will that be available here, but the totally new and unseen balance of the interview!!
In this site you'll see why John has been the only one in TV to ever win Emmy's for both Entertainment shows and News!!