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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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 Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:47 pm Post subject: Peter Falk is dead |
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Actor Peter Falk, known to millions as the rumpled star of television crime drama "Columbo," has died, KTLA.com reports. The actor was 83.
He reportedly was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Falk first played Lieutenant Columbo (his first name was never clearly announced, though one badge image lists it as "Frank") in a 1968 TV movie. Its popularity led to a second film and then to the series, which ran from 1971 to 1978. Even after the show was canceled, Falk would play the laid-back detective in "Columbo" TV movies.
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He was great in his most famous role. I thought he fit the part perfectly. I never saw him in much else, but Tune In Tomorrow, a romantic comedy with strong overtones of magic realism, is well worth a look.
I do hold one thing against him. He had a master's degree in public administration from the New School. I once saw an interview with him on some Entertainment Tonight kinda show, and he said something like "I have a master's degree in public administration. And ya know what? I didn't learn a damn thing". The implication of course being that you learn everything you need to know in "the real world".
I hate that kind of self-deprecating populism. If your degree was so useless, either you or your parents sure wasted a lot of money on it. And I only have a Bachelor's, so I guess I was the target audience for Falk's anti-intellectualism.
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 12:46 am Post subject: Re: Peter Falk is dead |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
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Actor Peter Falk, known to millions as the rumpled star of television crime drama "Columbo," has died, KTLA.com reports. The actor was 83.
He reportedly was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Falk first played Lieutenant Columbo (his first name was never clearly announced, though one badge image lists it as "Frank") in a 1968 TV movie. Its popularity led to a second film and then to the series, which ran from 1971 to 1978. Even after the show was canceled, Falk would play the laid-back detective in "Columbo" TV movies.
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He was great in his most famous role. I thought he fit the part perfectly. I never saw him in much else, but Tune In Tomorrow, a romantic comedy with strong overtones of magic realism, is well worth a look.
I do hold one thing against him. He had a master's degree in public administration from the New School. I once saw an interview with him on some Entertainment Tonight kinda show, and he said something like "I have a master's degree in public administration. And ya know what? I didn't learn a damn thing". The implication of course being that you learn everything you need to know in "the real world".
I hate that kind of self-deprecating populism. If your degree was so useless, either you or your parents sure wasted a lot of money on it. And I only have a Bachelor's, so I guess I was the target audience for Falk's anti-intellectualism.
MSNBC |
When I was a lad, I really liked a farcical film called, "Murder by Death" that included him in its all-star cast. He was pretty likable in general, I thought. Don't forget, he also did the narrating in "Princess Bride."
BTW, are you saying that anti-formal eduction = anti-intellectualism? I'm not sure I see it that way. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:53 am Post subject: |
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| BTW, are you saying that anti-formal eduction = anti-intellectualism? I'm not sure I see it that way. |
Well, I would say that the word "intellectual", if not synonymous with "academic", is at least meant to imply an interest in the kinds of topics that would be covered in academia. And I think it's generally understood, if only implicitly, as not including things like "street smarts".
A guy who makes fun of someone for having a Ph.D in philosophy would probably also make fun of someone whose main topic of conversation was philosophy, even if the latter person never attended university. |
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Sergio Stefanuto
Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Peter Falk is dead |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| "I have a master's degree in public administration. And ya know what? I didn't learn a damn thing". The implication of course being that you learn everything you need to know in "the real world". |
To some, namely Roman Abramovich, Paul Allen, Michael Dell, Michele Ferrero, Li Ka Shing, Ingvar Kamprad, Karl Albrecht, Amancio Ortega, Larry Ellison, Alan Sugar and Bill Gates, university education was but a nugatory distraction on the road to riches. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Peter Falk is dead |
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| Sergio Stefanuto wrote: |
| On the other hand wrote: |
| "I have a master's degree in public administration. And ya know what? I didn't learn a damn thing". The implication of course being that you learn everything you need to know in "the real world". |
To some, namely Roman Abramovich, Paul Allen, Michael Dell, Michele Ferrero, Li Ka Shing, Ingvar Kamprad, Karl Albrecht, Amancio Ortega, Larry Ellison, Alan Sugar and Bill Gates, university education was but a nugatory distraction on the road to riches. |
It's one thing to say that you went to university for a few years, found that it wasn't for you, and went on to something else. It's quite another to say that you "didn't learn a damn thing". Especially when you spent enough time in univeristy to acquire a Master's degree. |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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Columbo was clever. I do not believe there was ever a violent scene in the show. You were never shown the actual murder, it was talked about. It featured dialogue and was a throwback to an earlier style. Columbo never pulled a gun or fought anyone he outsmarted them. Falk was proud that he show featured brain over brawn.
The movie I remember was I think called "The Brinks Job" based on a true event it had a nice humorous touch. |
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Udo
Joined: 22 May 2011
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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R.I.P. Det. Columbo. I saw one of his movies recently on MGM channel 112
called "It's a mad,mad,mad,mad world." (1963)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057193/
It was one of those "All Star Cast" movies from the 60's (Starring Spencer Tracy, Ethel Merman, Milton Berle, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers, Jonathan Winters, Dorothy Provine, Jim Bachus) He had a small part as a taxi driver for Sid Ceasar and Edie Adams. Fairly funny period movie w/ cameos from Jack Benny and Jerry Lewis. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (Jack Benny's old sidekick) also appears in this flick as a taxi driver. I only saw "Columbo" in re-runs but he was very good in that character. If you check the Nielsen's for that early 70's period, he was golden.
Last edited by Udo on Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:54 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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HijackedTw1light
Joined: 24 May 2010
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Peter Falk is dead |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| I hate that kind of self-deprecating populism. If your degree was so useless, either you or your parents sure wasted a lot of money on it. |
Okay, so he or his parents wasted money. Can we not accept that?
It's possible you're reading too much into this. It's not clear he was attacking higher learning. He may have been attacking his own field of study, or his school/teachers. He may also have been a distracted or poor student. Before we blast the man for anti-intellectualism following his passing, it would help to have some context.
Anyway, I never caught an episode of Columbo, but he was perfect in the "Princess Bride." He also made a surprisingly effective bad guy in "Made."
Bon voyage, Mr. Falk. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:48 am Post subject: |
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It's possible you're reading too much into this. It's not clear he was attacking higher learning. He may have been attacking his own field of study, or his school/teachers. He may also have been a distracted or poor student. Before we blast the man for anti-intellectualism following his passing, it would help to have some context.
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No, he wasn't criticizing public-administration, or his particular teachers. I remember it well enough to recall that it was intended as one of those "Ya don't learn anything in books" kinda speeches.
I once saw a motivational speaker/management guru do that same schtick. Before going on, he had the presenter read out his bio, and when she got to his academic credentials, he made a big show of rolling his eyes and sneering. Then he got on stage and told us all about how you learn the really important stuff in the real world, etc.
The hilarious thing was was that the most impressive credential this guy had was a BA in something. Like, no kidding you should be humble about that. |
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