Getting lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi

Aasif Mandvi is a comedian and actor – and, as I’ve recently learned much to my delight, a pop culture fanatic at heart. In his new podcast series, “Lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi,” the former “Daily Show” correspondent who now co-stars in the CBS drama “Evil,” gets up close and personal with some of the most iconic artifacts at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Whether exploring vintage clothing (Fonzie’s leather jacket from “Happy Days”), ratty furniture (Archie Bunker’s chair from “All in the Family”) or mismatched shoes (Dorothy’s ruby slippers in “The Wizard of Oz”), there are endless ways to get lost at the Smithsonian. Mandvi and his guests at the Smithsonian share how these and other items – 10 iconic pop culture objects out of 156 million in the Smithsonian collection – each became defining symbols of 20th century American pop culture.

In the opening episode of the series, we learn why Henry Winkler’s portrayal of “The Fonz” became the breakout character in the mid-70s sit-com “Happy Days” and how his leather jacket became a symbol of coolness in an era of Watergate, when Americans yearned for simpler, happy days. Mandvi interviews Winkler to learn how he was able to turn “The Fonz” into an American icon.

“He was everybody who I wanted to be and who I wasn’t, because I was not in control of my life or my psyche,” said Winkler in describing his portrayal of “The Fonz.”

In the second episode, Mandvi explores the acoustic guitar belonging to José Feliciano, who at age 22 was the first artist to perform a “personalized” rendition of the National Anthem. Today, taking liberties with the National Anthem is commonplace before baseball games and many other American sporting events. However, as Feliciano deviated from the norm when he performed “The Star Spangled Banner” before a 1968 World Series game in Detroit, it nearly destroyed his career. But was it an act of protest or patriotism? You might be surprised by the musician’s answer.

“My version was not outlandish,” recalled Feliciano, now 72, during his conversation with Mandvi. “It was a combination of soul, gospel and because I’m Latin, I gave it a little bit of a Latin feel.”

What began as a chat about Feliciano’s legendary guitar ended up morphing into a thoughtful conversation about race, about patriotism, and what it means to be an American. The blind, Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican artist also performs a private concert when he’s reunited with his guitar at the Smithsonian.

The third episode, which debuted last week, focuses on the ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in the 1939 film classic “The Wizard of Oz.” As Mandvi recently tweeted, “Click your heels 3 times and say ‘There’s no place like @amhistorymuseum,’ & you’ll be transported to an exhibit that’s been viewed 100,000,000+ times. ... Well, not really. But you’ll get pretty close.”

Curator Ryan Lintelman said of Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers: “So we estimate that since 1979 we we got them, a hundred million people have seen them probably. You know, it’s pretty incredible. And other than like maybe the Mona Lisa, I don’t know that any other museum can really claim that one thing has been seen by so many people,” he said.

Thus far, three episodes of “Lost at the Smithsonian” have aired and new podcast episodes drop each week via Stitcher. Those in the know have hinted that among the future items Mandvi explores include Muhammad Ali’s boxing robe and Mr. Spock’s ears from the original “Star Trek” TV series.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to get lost at the Smithsonian.

Listen to “Lost at the Smithsonian” via Stitcher:

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/lost-at-the-smithsonian

A postscript: “Lost at the Smithsonian” concluded its run on November 24. Following is a list of themes for each episode:

1. Fonzie’s Jacket
2. Jose Feliciano’s Guitar
3. Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers
4. Phyllis Diller’s Gag File
5. Muhammad Ali’s Robe
6. Carrie Bradshaw’s Laptop
7. Archie Bunker’s Chair
8. Pele’s #10 Jersey
9. Bee Gees’ Silver Suits
10. The Original Muppets

Stuart Scott: Every Day He Fought

"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live." – Stuart Scott

As an anchor and commentator for ESPN's SportsCenter, Stuart Scott became the face of his network. He was the most popular and recognized anchor of his generation, and arguably the hippest sports journalist ever. As lead host of the NBA on ABC and ESPN, and as a host of Monday Night Football on ESPN, Scott brought a unique spirit and style to each telecast.

Scott anchored his first SportsCenter with Craig Kilborn back in September 1996. He had a thick dark mustache, and "I wore my hair in a type of baby high-top fade, which was all the rage among young black men at the time; short on the sides, long on top." And there was Scott's big, boxy suits. "This is back in the day in the day when suits were boxy, with big shoulders. Now everything is Euro, slim-fit. Back in the day, big and baggy was cool," Scott wrote. Looking back at that clip in 2014, what he saw was this: "a young black man rocking the style of the day. But I also saw something else, something harder for the naked eye to make out. I saw a dude who had been given the freedom to let his voice fly."

Scott became known for infusing his reports with a blend of pop culture references, hip-hop slang, and exuberant phrases – Boo-yah! – that made him something of a pop culture icon in his own right.

Shortly before Scott died of cancer on January 4, 2015, he completed work on his memoir, Every Day I Fight, that is both a labor of love and love letter to life itself. Looking for something inspiring to read, I checked out Every Day I Fight from my local public library – and it has been my reading companion the past few weeks, and I've fought hard to put it down. I highly recommend it.

Stuart Scott's story is a very personal one, and page after page of Every Day I Fight  he bares his soul, sharing his intimate struggles to beat cancer and stay alive. As I read, I can hear Scott's familiar voice that I remember from his SportsCenter days.

In Every Day I Fight, written with journalist Larry Platt, Scott writes about illness and loss with relentless energy. His words are raw, honest and powerful. At times over the top, other times irresistibly sincere – just like his television personality – Scott had this to say for those who praised his fortitude once his cancer became public. "Trust me, I ain't courageous. I just don't want to die." The two simple reasons he didn't want to die: his daughters, Taelor and Sydni.

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"I'd work out three or four times a week, but the most important workout was the one right after chemo. It was like I was proving a point: While you kick my butt, cancer, I'm gonna kick yours."

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Scott was struck by appendiceal cancer in 2007, a rare disease. He fought cancer the same way that elite athletes train in pursuit of a championship – his desire to remain in control of his health, to fight for others who couldn't fight, and to inspire his daughters, who meant the world to him. Scott wanted to be there for Taelor and Sydni, now teenagers, "not simply as their dad, but as an immutable example of determination of courage."

Scott writes: "I needed to do that, not just to show my girls I was fighting for them, but also to show myself I had some control over the situation. 'Cause cancer wants to take control from you. You've got to very purposefully stand your ground. That's what going to the gym is to me. I decide, cancer. That's what going to work is I decide, cancer. That's what traveling all over the country and abroad is. I decide, cancer."

But let's keep this real, Scott wrote. "I'm forty-nine. There's a good chance I'm going to die a helluva lot earlier than I ever wanted to. There's a good chance I'm going to die soon. And I know it. I know it every moment of every day. And that reality is never not with me.

"So this book is a chronicle of my fight against cancer, but it's even more than that. It's really a memoir of a life well fought; in sports, the media, or the cancer ward, the one true thing I've learned is that life is hard but that there is redemption in the struggle."

Scott embraced life and changed lives. His friend and colleague Robin Roberts, herself once an ESPN SportsCenter anchor before ascending to host ABC's Good Morning America, wrote: "Stu's unshakable courage was inspirational. Cancer never defined him; it's not his life's story but rather a chapter in his life's story. You'll see in these beautifully written pages that he set a stellar example for all of us in so many aspects of life. Stu said when you're too tired to fight, rest and let someone else fight for you. My dear friend, you can rest now, and we will continue to fight for you."

Comedians in cars getting coffee, who knew?

Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld / Two comedians, a classic Porsche,
getting coffee, looking happy, being funny.

Jerry Seinfeld has been a comedian his whole adult life. He's one of the best when it comes to the art of observational humor, whether talking about personal relationships or the nuances of uncomfortable social obligations.

We loved Jerry in Seinfeld. Still do. Just about anywhere in the country on any given night, thanks to cable and syndication, we can still watch Seinfeld reruns on TV.

Now, the 59-year-old Seinfeld, who is best known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the hit NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which spanned 180 episodes over nine seasons from 1989-98, has taken on a new adventure: The Internet. By showing the other side of the comedy world, something he feels talk shows and interviews can't or don't let you see, Seinfeld has created an internet-based comedy show, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. The series is broadcast on the Internet and it premiered on July 19, 2012. The show is supported by digital network Crackle, Sony's online-video site. The show's Facebook page has generated over 196,000 likes.

The third season of this American web series debuted earlier this month and it can be seen by anyone, anywhere with access to the internet, and on any web-enabled device. And, don't worry, the language is family friendly.

Episodes of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee vary in length -- "whatever feels right", says Seinfeld -- and some of the cars featured are the comedian's while others are on loan or wherever he can find them. All of them have offbeat appeal. Each episode, which is shot using DSLR and interior-mounted Go-Pro cameras, follows the premise of Seinfeld introducing a vintage car, then picking up his guest comedian in that vintage car and, finally, taking them out to have coffee or dine in a restaurant. 

Seinfeld tries to relate each car he selects to his guest and, thus far, it's made for some interesting shows. The very first episode of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee featured Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, in "Larry Eats a Pancake," and it included this backhanded, post-Seinfeld compliment deadpanned by David: "You have finally done the show about nothing."

http://www.comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/larry-david-larry-eats-a-pancake

Sometimes, episodes diverge from the show's format, such as the time when Michael Richards (Kramer on Seinfeld), implored Seinfeld to venture onto a side street while driving in a 1962 Volkswagen Bus. Or, when Seinfeld was asked by comic legend Carl Reiner to join him for dinner with another comic legend Mel Brooks. (That episode featured both a 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II and a 1970 Porsche 911S.)

"It's a show about trust," says Daily Show host Jon Stewart.

Thus far, the list of comedians in cars getting coffee with Seinfeld is impressive and definitely A-List: Ricky Gervais, Sarah Silverman, David Letterman, Don Rickles and Chris Rock. Some episodes are set in Los Angeles, others in New York City. The first season ran 10 episodes and last season there were six. Each episode lasts between 12 to 20 minutes and all of them can be found on the show's website. So, it definitely invites binge viewing if you love watching Seinfeld or you're new to this comedy treasure trove.

In the first episode of the current six-episode season, comedian Louis C.K., who can be currently seen in both Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine and the Academy Award-nominated comedy American Hustle, rode around New York City with Seinfeld in a small-but-flimsy, two-cylinder Fiat Jolly with wicker seats. According to Seinfeld: "For some reason, Fiat Jollys are really popular for people to go to boats or beaches. And since I knew he was going to take me out on his boat, I thought this was a good choice."

Not only did Louis C.K. take Jerry out for a spin on his boat down the Hudson River, they sipped cappuccinos from an on-board Nespresso machine after surviving the streets of New York in what one critic dubbed the Fiat Jolly as a "coral orange death wagon." It prompted this exchange between the two comedians:

Louis C.K.: "My ass hurts a lot."

Seinfeld: "From the wicker?"

Louis C.K.: "I hope so."

In the next episode, Seinfeld chose a 1981 DeLorean for his ride with stand-up comedian and social media critic Patton Oswalt. "I picked the DeLorean for Patton because he is a devotee of crap pop culture. The DeLorean is a great example of that."

Then, Jerry picked up Tonight Show host Jay Leno -- himself an avid car collector -- in a vintage 1949 Porsche 356/2. "Jay agreed to have his very first cup of coffee with me on the show and so I thought the very first Porsche made sense," said Seinfield.

In last week's episode ("So You're Mellow and Tense?"), Seinfeld and New York stand-up comedian Todd Berry are seen driving through Manhattan in a sporty red 1966 MGB convertible. They wind up cruising to the Coney Island amusement park, where they enjoy a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog, before winding up at Everyman Espresso after detouring to Staten Island.

Soon after its 2012 debut, Mike Hale of The New York Times wrote about the show: "The (series segments)... are presented in a clean, elegant template with a studiously casual pencil-drawn logo. And the filming and editing are, if you break them down, impressively complex and artful for a Web series."

If Seinfeld was indeed a show about nothing, then Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee is a show about something: the art of conversation. It's a gathering of Jerry and his friends, going for a cup of coffee, driving in cool old cars, sharing stories all the way. Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee has an amusing charm and we're along for the laughs.

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A postscript: The new episode of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee debuted on Jan. 30, featuring Jerry Seinfeld in a witty and pleasant conversation with 30 Rock creator and former Saturday Night Live star Tina Fey talking about cronuts, drinking coffee, discussing wheat puff milk shakes and their kids, and riding around Manhattan in a 1967 Volvo 1800S.

Editor's note: A new season (the sixth) will debut on June 4, 2015. Among the season's guests are Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the star of "Veep"; Stephen Colbert, formerly of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report", who will replace David Letterman as host of CBS' "The Late Show" later this year; HBO's "Real Time" host Bill Maher; and actor/comedian Jim Carrey.