Saturday 9: Secret Agent Man
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) This is the theme of a TV show that ran on CBS from 1964-1967. The series was produced, and originally aired, in England. The BBC has shared many shows with American audiences over the years. Can you name another?
A. Downton Abby. Dr. Who. Gentleman Jack.
2) The show is about John Drake, a special agent dedicated to exposing plots that threaten world peace. A quick check of Netflix and Goodreads reveals that spy stories are just as popular today. Is espionage a genre you enjoy? Do you read books, or watch shows and movies, about spies?
A. If Kinsey Milhone (the Alphabet Mysteries by Sue Grafton) and Stephanie Plum (the series by Janet Evanovich) count, then I read those books. I also like the King & Maxwell books by David Baldacci. But I don't watch shows about spies, although I was a big fan of the original Charlie's Angels.
3) The lyrics tell us Drake travels from the Riviera to Bombay. Where were you when you last spent the night away from home? Why were you there (vacation, business, international intrigue)?
A. The last time I spent the night away from home, the power was out and I refused to stay here without electricity.
4) The refrain states, "They've given you a number and taken away your name." In today's digital world, that could now be said of all of us. Are you good at remembering your computer passwords?
A. My passwords are terribly complex and I use a different one for every single account. I keep them separate from the computer in a Roladex, if you know what that is.
5) Patrick McGoohan, who played Agent Drake, went from being a good guy to appearing as a murderer on Columbo four times. Were you a fan of Columbo?
A. Not really.
6) Born John Ramistella, this week's featured artist, Johnny Rivers, grew up in Louisiana. He took "Rivers" as his stage name because he grew up along the Mighty Mississippi. If you were to change your last name based on the geography of the area where you grew up, how would you be known?
A. Queen of the Rolling Mountains
7) In 1966, when this song was popular, Jacqueline Kennedy was the woman most Americans admired. What famous woman do you admire most? (She doesn't have to be American.)
A. I admire Queen Elizabeth (the current one), and I also admire Queen Victoria. Additionally, I am a fan of Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
8) 1966 also found another Jacqueline was in the news. Jacqueline Susann's first novel, Valley of the Dolls, was atop the best seller lists, even though it was savaged by the critics. What's your guilty pleasure? What book, movie, TV show, or song do you enjoy, even though you know it has little artistic merit?
A. Actually I don't think there is such a thing as "little artistic merit" except for pornography. Artistic merit is in the eye of the beholder, although some things are truly great and some things are not-so-great. I thought Valley of the Dolls was a decent book though I was very young when I read it and may not think so now; never saw the movie. I am not sure I have an answer for this question, although maybe the aforementioned Janet Evanovich books could be considered as having "little artistic merit."
9) Random question: Imagine you've been stranded alone in the woods for 10 days. No companionship, no internet or phone or TV. You have been sleeping in the dirt, living on berries and river water. Your rescuers drive you to a hotel. Upon check-in, what's the first thing you do?
A. I would call my husband if I hadn't already, and take a shower. Then I'd eat. Then I'd probably need a doctor.
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I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
I don't think Kinsey and Stephanie count because they are private investigators, not spies, and I can't recall a single time when Kinsey was called on to save the world. That's easy. The line I have trouble with is who is "a detective" and who is not. (For example, Lennie Briscoe on Law and Order is a detective with the NYPD, yet Jim Rockford is a PI, also known as a detective.)
ReplyDeleteYes, I think about this too much. But here's why it's top of mind for me just now -- I'm sorting books for the library book sale this weekend and I have to decide which book goes on which table. Sometimes I stand there, looking at the spine of the book, and am paralyzed with indecision. (<<<<Only joking a bit.)
Not knowing much about her before I watched The Crown, now I highly respect her.. I loved that series!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen my parents were alive, the power went out for several days and I put them up in a hotel and had to drain all the water in the house
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started. I lose power two to three times a years. Anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days.
DeleteI even went so far as to get underground utilities. Did not help.
The people across the street never lose power. They think it is one big joke.
To compound the problem, my water pipes run along an exterior wall. So. If it should be bitter cold, I leave the kitchen cabinets open so the pipes do not freeze. Even though I have a gas furnace, electricity is required for the thermostat and blower motor.
If I lose power during the winter I drain the pipes and head for a hotel. I'm not paying for it.
I admire Queen Elizabeth also. We really enjoyed watching The Crown and learning so much about her. She has been through a lot!
ReplyDeleteI never read Valley of the Dolls but saw the movie on TV when I was very young. My passwords are different too and logged away in a book I can never find!
ReplyDeleteI like Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth also. Queen Victoria would have been a good answer for me. Loved your answers. Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeletehttps://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/
I THINK I watched all of Gentleman Jack. I have the feeling that I'm waiting for season 2? I enjoyed it and ended up reading a lot about Anne Lister. I tried reading her diary, but it was entirely too complete!
ReplyDeleteI also admire Hilary Clinton--I'm very sad, after all her years of public service, that she was vilified the way she was by the *%&# who currently occupies the White House.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Plum might not be a spy, but dang she's a lot of fun! I have loved reading those books...though it's kind of gotten to the point where I wish she'd choose Ranger or Morelli and get on with it. Good for you having completely different passwords for every account. I am just not that creative. Nothing strikes fear in my heart more than being notified I need to change my password...500 rejected attempts later and I may have something they will accept or is not already being used.
ReplyDelete