... They Just Get Better

Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday and the talk around the office coolers today was a) was that the most boring Super Bowl ever? and b) the Stones still rock, huh? Yes and YES! Let’s give it up for the old farts!

Mick Jagger is 62 years old. At least that’s what his press reps are saying. Sixty-freaking-two! And yet he still went out on television in front of a billion people world wide and jiggled his ass for 12 minutes and three songs. Good for him! How is it that he can do that on his skinny little legs when I’m barely over half his age and I get exhausted dancing to one song? How is it that a band of grandfathers can go out and rock the house? Is it that they're simply in better physical shape? I find that hard to believe. Who knows how much drinking, drugs, sex and hard living Mick Jagger has gone through ... how is it that this guy is in better shape than me? How is it that he's still a consumate performer? Granted, Keith didn’t look like he knew where he was, but that’s no surprise. I’m not sure Keith ever knew where he was in 1965. Men in their sixties ... the hottest rock tour in America ... how does this happen?

It’s an inspiration. These performers who are growing older but still giving it their all each and every performance. And some of them are just getting better and better.

Shatnerian!

Let’s look at another inspiration: William Shatner! My old hero Captain Kirk will be 75 later this year. And what’s he been up to? Just winning Emmy awards on Boston Legal and putting out one of the most interesting albums of the decade. Is it that we are just starting to appreciate him or is he not getting better and better? Yeah, this is a guy who has been mocked by more sketch comedians (myself included) than any other performer in modern history, but he’s still got the chops. He’s still an actor and a man brave enough to laugh at himself and challenge us not to laugh along with him. He’s dealt with success, fame, tragedy and humiliation ... and he just keeps going and going. He's boundless energy. He’s recorded albums, appeared on television, directed a feature film, written a number of novels, narrated documentaries, recorded audiobooks and even appears on the cover of the official First Aid handbook issued by the National Safety Council.

They're Not Older, They're Better!

Have you ever seen a Kiss concert? Those guys are in their 50s and I've never seen a performer work harder than lead singer Paul Stanley ... in 8 inch heels, nonetheless. Think what you want about the band, but you can't deny the energy they put into each and every performance. Laurence Olivier cranked out over-the-top performance after over-the-top performance in his 70s. Derek Jacobi is 68 and finally getting recognition in America with performances in films like Underworld II (awesome, I hear!) and Gladiator. Wrestler Ric Flair turns 57 this year and he's still taking bumps and working the mic on television week after week ... without a shirt on, for crying out loud. This guy was the World Champ when I was in grade school! Grade school! And he's getting suplexed and back-body-dropped every week! Go Nature Boy!! Whoo!!!! Groucho Marx reinvented himself at the age of 60 with You Bet Your Life. And let's not forget the greatest actor of the 20th century ... Bugs Bunny! How is it that these great entertainers just keep on going? There are nights when I feel too damn tired to even step out on a stage ... how do they do it?

I think it's just part and parcel of being a great performer. You must have a never-ending supply of energy and a drive to constantly work, create and live. That's it folks ... just live! Life wasn't given to us to squander in front of a television, life was given for us to use. My advice to all of you as-yet-undiscovered performers ... live life, love life, be grateful for life and make the most of it.

Quick Random Responses

Okay, so I thought I would finish off this entry by replying to some of the emails and responses you have sent in. So here goes:

"Hey, love the blog. It's just like you ... entertaining, but you never tell us anything about yourself. When are you going to tell us something about yourself?" -- Miss A., Hoboken

Well, Miss A., I've recently begun to realize that I'm not the most forthcoming person you'll ever meet. I just never volunteered too much information, I always waited for the question(s) to be asked. So, my New Year's resolution was to be more open about myself, my thoughts and my feelings. To just come out and say it instead of waiting for someone to ask. So, here's something you didn't know right here and now: I had Bratwurst for dinner. Two of 'em. I'm such a little oink, oink.

"Is your name really King?" -- Anonymous Actress, Brooklyn

Sure. Why not? Is your name really Anonymous Actress?

"Is there anybody in the world more fun drunk than Ann?" -- Chase Garland, New York

No.

"Are you excited about the Winter Olympics?" -- Gretchen, Aspen, CO

They still do Winter Olympics? Huh.

"When can we expect to see The Talented Talent Brothers re-unite?" -- J.J., Bayonne, NJ

If all goes well, by the end of the summer. Keep checking out babyhippopotamus.com for details.