Sherlock Holmes: 2009

How do you market a classic Sherlock Holmes novel to a modern audience?

You change the author's name to A.C. Doyle, and design the book cover like it's prurient beach trash.

David Peel

David Peel is a local New York musician who managed to network himself with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the '70s. Despite objections from within the company, Lennon signed Peel to a contract with Apple Records, and his first release The Pope Smokes Dope was banned in most countries worldwide (except the U.S., Canada, and Japan).

Watch in awe as John and Yoko give Peel major exposure during their appearance on The David Frost Show in 1972. Here, he performs "New York City Hippie".

Whenever I think of David Peel, I am reminded of two things - Mugsy's impression of him (David Banana Peel) on The Uncle Floyd Show, and the time he performed at a rally for Howard Stern, and Howard remarked, "David Peel is going to get up and do one of those songs of his that all sound alike..."

Roger Ebert on Twitter

Roger Ebert is still the only critic to whom I pay attention, and he's also a world-class Twitter-er.

His Twitter page, which he appears to update constantly, is chock-full of interesting observations and links.

I give it "two thumbs up".

The Prisoner

The granddaddy of all TV shows that leave you scratching your head (ala Twin Peaks and Lost) was The Prisoner.

Patrick McGoohan (above, who also co-created the series) played Number 6 - a former government agent (possibly the agent he played in Danger Man) who, soon after resigning, wakes up in "the village" - a quaint little resort in the middle of nowhere.

It's called The Prisoner, because Number 6 is not allowed to leave. And "the village" seemed to be one big conspiracy just to mess with his head. Confidantes turned enemy, enemies disappeared.

The original Prisoner ran in America on CBS for seventeen episodes in the late '60s. The series finale ("Fall Out") - in which Number 6 finally discovers the identity of Number 1 - has divided fans of the series for decades.

It was pretty wild stuff at the time. Check out this clip - and try to imagine it co-existing on the same network as Gomer Pyle and Mayberry RFD.

AMC has a new Prisoner series starting next week (11-15) starring Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellan. I believe IFC is currently showing the original classic episodes - however, Blu-Ray aficionados might want to get the newly re-mastered complete series in High Definition.

Benny Hill

Sad news - Royal Mail has rejected a stamp design based on one of Britain's greatest comedic performers. And all because he used to slap that little bald guy around on the head.

Daniel Johnston

"Outsider Music" strikes back today with a song from Daniel Johnston called "Casper the Friendly Ghost". It's nice to see someone who plays the guitar in a style similar to my own.

Johnston was the subject of a big-screen documentary a few years back, and is the artist behind this famous Austin, TX graffiti.

Oprah Winfrey

Rumor has it her show will leave broadcast television - beginning in 2011. She's also reportedly leaving Chicago.

Sounds like a terrible idea to me.