The Corruptor (1999)

This is one of my favorite films

Summary

-An Asian NYPD detective is trying to stop drug trafficking and corruption by immigrant Chinese Triads with the help of his partner, but things get difficult when the Triads attempt to bribe the policemen off the case

Cast

-Chow Yun-fat: Nick Chen

-Mark Wahlberg: Danny Wallace

-Ric Young: Henry Lee

-Paul Ben-Victor: Schabaker

-Jon Kit Lee: Jack

-Andrew Pang: Willy Ung

-Elizabeth Lindsey: Louise Deng

-Brian Cox: Sean Wallace

-Byron Mann: Bobby Vu

-Kim Chan: Benny Wong

-Marie Matiko: May

Did You Know?

-Kim Chan plays a character named "Uncle" Benny Wong in two films: this film and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

-Originally, in the scene where Det. Nick Chen (Chow Yun-fat) walked in on Henry Lee being fed grapes by May, the scene called for May to be performing oral sex on him. Chow Yun-fat stated he would not continue his relationship with May after seeing this. The scene was changed to a more friendly scene of grape feeding instead

-Originally Ethan Hawke was supposed to play the role of Danny Wallace, played by Mark Wahlberg. Unfortunately, production had ended to accommodate Chow Yun-fat's production schedule

-Initially, in the scene where Det. Nick Chen finds out Danny Wallace is working with Internal Affairs investigating him, the scene called for Chen to go into the bathroom and knock a hand dryer off the wall and smash a mirror. It was changed to Chen doing a sort of deep breathing instead because the previous idea was deemed an American response and, since Chinese culture is so heavily present in the film, deep breathing was more appropriate

Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001)

This detective show involves a doctor working as a consultant for the police, including his detective son

Summary

-Dr. Mark Sloane (Dick Van Dyke) is a doctor at Community General Hospital who helps his detective son solve crimes

Cast

-Dick Van Dyke: Dr. Mark Slone

-Barry Van Dyke: Steve Sloane

-Victoria Rowell: Amanda Bentley-Livingston

-Charlie Schlatter: Dr. Jesse Travis

-Michael Tucci: Norman Briggs

-Scott Baio: Dr. Jack Stewart

-Delores Hall: Delores Mitchell

-Shane Van Dyke: Alex Smith

-Kim Little: Nurse Susan Hilliard

Did You Know?

-The series was only renewed a few episodes at a time, according to Dick Van Dyke

-There was one episode that required a motorcycle stunt. Since the production team didn't have enough money in the budget to perform it, Dick Van Dyke used LightWave 3-D software on his home computer to create the visual effects, since he is a computer animation enthusiast. They were used on the show and he was paid $200 for creating this sequence

-Some were concerned that Dick Van Dyke was considered too old to play a still-working doctor when the series began

-When the series started, Dick Van Dyke was already 67 years old

-Dick Van Dyke decided to retire from the role, so the series only lasted 8 seasons

-When Victoria Rowell was pregnant, between seasons 2 and 3, her pregnancy was written into the role. It was said Amanda was married to a serviceman never seen on the program

-When Scott Baio left the show, it was explained that his character, Dr. Jack Stewart, had left Community General Hospital to start his own practice in Colorado

-To prepare for their roles, Dick Van Duke, Victoria Powell, Scott Baio and Charlie Schlatter all had to use medical dictionaries to pronounce the medical terminology

-In the episode "Gangland", it was said that Amanda was a foster child. In real life, Victoria Rowell, who played Amanda, was a foster child

-Victoria Rowell is a second cousin of singer / actress Beyonce Knowles-Carter

-Prior to becoming Chief of Internal Medicine and doing consulting work with the police, Dr. Mark Sloan was a doctor who worked with the MASH Unit

-This show helped launch the careers of Barry Van Dyke, Dick's son and Charlie Schlatter

-Dr. Mark Sloan served in the US Army, in a medical unit during the Korean War. Dick Van Dyke spent his time in the US Army Air Force during WWII in real life

Hey Arnold! (1996-2022)

This popular cartoon was on in the mid to late 1990s

Summary

-Arnold is a typical 9 year old kid growing up in the city of Hillwood, Washington, who lives in a multi-ethnic boarding house and has a unique assortment of friends and neighbors

"Stoop Kid"

"Four Eyed Jack"

"Eugene's Bike"

"Arnold Betrays Iggy"

"Heat / Snow"

"Arnold's Christmas". This is a sad, but good episode, where you find out Mr. Hyunh had to give his daughter to a soldier during the fall of Saigon

"Downtown Fruits"

Cast

-Francesca Marie Smith: Helga Pataki / Sheena

-Jamil Walker Smith: Gerald Johanssen

-Dan Castellaneta: Arnold's Grandpa

-Justin Shenkarow: Harold Berman

-Christopher Walberg: Stinky Petersen

-Sam Gifaldi: Sid

-Anndi McAfee: Phoebe Heyerdahl

-Craig Bartlett: Brainy / Radio DJ

-Olivia Hack: Rhonda Wellington

-Tress MacNeille: Arnold's Grandma / Miss Slovak

-Kath Soucie: Miriam Pataki / Marilyn Berman

-Spencer Klein: Arnold (voice)

-Maurice LaMarche: Bob Pataki

-Steve Viksten: Oskar Kokoschka

-Dom Irrera: Ernie Potts

-David Wohl: Principal Wartz / Jerry Berman

-Ben Diskin: Eugene Horowitz

-James Keane: Marty Green

-Adam Wylie: Thaddeus "Curly" Gammelthorpe

-Ashley Buccille: Lila Sawyer

-Nika Futterman: Olga Pataki

-Dan Butler: Mr. Simmons

-Baoan Coleman: Mr. Hyunh

Did You Know?

-The show never really said where Arnold lives. You strongly suspect it might be in New York because of the shots of what looks like the Brooklyn Bridge. But actually the city in which Arnold calls home is a blend of Seattle, Brooklyn and Portland. There also hints that the city is called Hillwood because of the Hillwood Medical Center or Hillwood Zoo. That it's referencing the city of Hillwood, in Washington State

-The girls on the show were based on girls that creator Craig Bartlett knew and liked when he was a kid

-This was said to be the first animated show for children using actual children to provide the voices

-Initially, the show started out as claymation-type animation, one of which appeared on Sesame Street. And, also for a short time, it started out as a Simpsons-style series

-The only person who provided a voice who was not a child between the ages of nine to fifteen was creator Craig Bartlett, who voiced the character Brainy

-This show and The Simpsons have quite a lot in common. Craig Bartlett, who created Hey Arnold! is a brother in law to The Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Also, Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, also provided the voice of Arnold's grandpa. And even Gerald's tall hair resembles Marge Simpson

-It was a running gag throughout the show that Arnold's last name was never revealed. His grandpa always called him "short man". It was eventually revealed in the made for TV movie The Jungle Movie that Arnold's last name was Shortman

-The 2017 made for TV movie The Jungle Movie revealed what happened to Arnold's parents

-Mr. Green is the local neighborhood butcher. His character was based on the Ernest Borgnine character in the 1955 film Marty

-In the episode "Arnold's Halloween", he and his friends make a fake broadcast about a potential alien invasion. The "UFO" ends up being a nearby water tower decorated with lights. The name of the place where the UFO will land being Well's Ridge. This is a reference to Orson Wells, who did an actual broadcast, which was mistaken for an authentic alien invasion, for the H.G. Wells novel War of the Worlds, where aliens came to Earth

-Former Nickelodeon executive Geraldine Laybourne was the inspiration for Helga Pataki's middle name. It was a running joke throughout the series about Helga's name being Helga G. Pataki. This was confirmed by Craig Bartlett, who verified that he wanted to pay tribute to Laybourne by giving Helga the name Geraldine as her middle name

-On the outside of the Sunset Arms Boarding House, there is a sign that reads "No Children, Pets OK." This sign is also seen at other places, especially at the public pool Arnold and Gerald try to get into in the "Heat / Snow" episode

-The radio DJ in this program is a guy known as Nocturnal Ned who works at the local radio station MJZZ. This is actually a caricature of Craig Bartlett, who also lent his voice to various episodes

-According to the show's creators, Arnold's teacher Mr. Simmons was said to be homosexual

-The character Sid was voiced by two brothers named Sam and Taylor Gifaldi. Taylor for one time and Sam for the rest of the time

-In the episode where Stinky Peterson (Christopher Walberg)  makes a commercial, he walks into a studio called Snee-Oosh Studios. This is the actual name of the studio that made the show

-One of the boarding house residents is an always out of work man named Oskar Kokoschka. The name was taken from a 19th century Viennese painter, whose personality was completely different than this character

-Initially, Ruth P. McDougal was a sixth grader and the object of Arnold's love. Gerald tells him constantly that she is in the sixth grade and that it's hopeless. When Lila was introduced in the episode "Ms. Perfect", Ruth was phased out and reduced to being seen as a background character

-Dino Spumoni was an aging crooner based on Dean Martin

-This program is considered unique in that the music is comprised mostly of instrumental jazz. The show's composer Jim Lang said that the music was inspired by jazz legends such as Kenny Burrell and Thelonious Monk

-Seasons 1-3 were created with traditional cels. Around Season 4, the animators had switched to digital ink and paint, resulting in a slightly different look

-Jamil Walker Smith, who voiced Gerald, was allowed to continue voicing his character, even as he hit puberty. In post-production, his voice was pitched up several levels to sound like a younger voice

-"Eugene the Jinx", a severely unlucky kid whose name was Eugene Horowitz, got his name from actor Michael Landon's actual birth name Eugene Orowitz

-In the episode "Curly Snaps / Pre-Teen Scream", PS 118's resident psychopath Curly locks himself in the principal's office with a bag of kickballs and says "I'm mad as heck, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" This is a tribute to the line "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" from the 1976 film Network

-Arnold's weird cousin Arnie came as a result from a joke people had made about the bad animation they had gotten from another studio

-Many of the stores in the city take their names from writers or directors of the show. Such as Viksten's Pharmacy

-During the first season, the boarding house is home to a mysterious character known only as "Mr. Smith." The creator said he moved out, which is why he was never referenced in later episodes

-Originally Ruth McDougal was meant to have dark blonde hair. But, because it too closely resembled Arnold's hair, it was modified to be more dark red, almost brown

-Arnold's school is PS 118. There is a real life PS 118. It's located in New York City. The one in the cartoon, however, is not a depiction of the actual school

-People think that Arnold is wearing a skirt under his shirt. It's actually a long sleeved plaid shirt with the tails hanging loose under a sweater

-Eugene Horowitz was inspired by Martin Short's character in the 1991 film Pure Luck. He's hopelessly optimistic, but always finding himself on the receiving end of bad luck

-In the beginning of Season 2, Arnold's teacher Miss Slovak was replaced by Mr. Simmons because the principal, known only as Principal Wartz, mentions that Miss Slovak has decided to play golf for a living

-One of Harold's frequent phrases, that he often directs at Helga, is "Madame fortress mommy!" He usually says it under his breath. Justin Shenkarow, who voices Harold, said it one day during a recording session. The show's creator Craig Bartlett asked what it meant and Justin didn't know. Everyone loved it so they kept writing it into the scripts

-Early in the show, the character Lila Sawyer appeared with red hair. Eventually, it was changed to brown hair

-While Lila appears to be sweet and kind, she does develop a slightly darker side. She starts dating Arnold's cousin Arnie in front of Arnold. Fans of the show have considered her to be the most unlikeable character, along with Iggy

Rainbow Albums Ranked

When Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple, he took his guitar and passion for guitar-driven music with him. He founded a band named after the iconic bar in Los Angeles, the Rainbow. He decided to name the band Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow initially, but after one album, changed it to simply Rainbow. They were a successful hard rock band in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. But, with all the changes in lineup, many couldn't keep up with who was in the band. The people at Ultimate Classic Rock came up with a list, ranking worst to best, the albums of Rainbow

You might see me put my opinion on each one, as it would probably differ from the opinions of the people at Ultimate Classic Rock. I firmly believe that while some feel certain albums are good, others might think otherwise. It's all down to personal preference or opinion

1. Rising (1976)

-Their second album, it still featured vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Now there was drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Jimmy Bain. This album was recorded seemingly as quickly as possible, the band did not overthink the songs. They just went in and recorded them as is. This album is almost as close to Deep Purple as you can. It's a mix of hard rock, with softer songs. The lineup on this album didn't last long, as would be a trademark of the band Rainbow-constantly shifting lineups

-I personally like this album. "Starstruck" is my favorite. Sadly, I know all of the words. Every time it comes on in my car, I turn it up and sing it word for word. Overall, the album is very good

2. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)

-Their third album and last one with vocalist Ronnie James Dio, there is not much difference between this and Rising. Bassist Bob Daisley came in along with keyboardist David Stone midway through recording. The things that make this album successful are the truly impressive yet symphonic guitar solos from Ritchie combined with Ronnie's powerful vocals

-This is another one of my favorites. "Kill the King" has a ridiculously good guitar solo. It shows just how good Ritchie is on his guitar. The whole album is good, every song good. This is one of my most favorite albums of the band. Not only that, but I love the artwork. I laugh a little when looking at it because, as usual, Ritchie has this annoyed look on his face, almost like he does not know how to smile

3. Down to Earth (1979) 

-This album reunited Ritchie with his former Deep Purple band mate Roger Glover on bass. On vocals is vocalist Graham Bonnet. This album was the fourth album for Rainbow and a move towards more streamlined rock, geared towards getting on the radio. This is considered to the only all British lineup for the band

-I like this one too. "All Night Long" has that really good hard rock sound to it. It starts off with an aggressive guitar sound that sure gets your attention. The video for it is a bit goofy, but then again, it's the 1970s. It's still a good video for a good song. The video is worth a look and you'll get a chuckle if you notice Ritchie's eyes are almost constantly diverting to where the blonde dancer is. Overall, I like this album too

4. Stranger in Us All (1995)

-This was the last album for the band. Instead of being a band record, it, more or less, turned into a Blackmore solo record. The lineup on this album were all new. This album failed to chart, and because of one song on the album, that had a slightly medieval sound to it, it planted the seed for the next major project for Blackmore. A medieval band called Blackmore's Night, with his wife Candace Isralow-Blackmore

-This album is okay. It's not really one of my favorites. There are a few good songs here, but not enough to warrant buying on a CD

5. Straight Between the Eyes (1982)

-This became the highest charting album for the band in the US. The single "Stone Cold" was the only US Top 40 hit for the band. David Rosenthal came in to play keyboards to replace Don Airey. This album provided the type of rock music that audiences wanted in the 1980s

-This is one of my favorites. "Death Alley Driver" is a good song. So is "Stone Cold." I like this album a lot

6. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)

-This was done while Ritchie was still part of Deep Purple. This debut album was initially created as a collaboration with Ronnie James Dio and the members of his band, a New York-based outfit called Elf. The lineup on this album didn't last long, as would be a consistent pattern with Blackmore. By the time this album was released nine months later, almost everyone was gone, except for Ronnie and Ritchie. The songs are good, but they sound as if they are unfocused, as if they are just trying things to see if they can or will stick. "Man on the Silver Mountain" is a good one

-I like this album. It has that iconic 1970s sound, kind of distorted sound, goofy lyrics and melodies, but overall good. It just sounds like something that was written in the 1970s. "Man on the Silver Mountain" is a good song. For laughs, there's "Black Sheep of the Family." "Catch the Rainbow" is absolutely gorgeous. It's such a beautiful song and allows Ronnie to show what he can truly do with those powerful vocals

7. Bent Out of Shape (1983)

-This is the seventh album released by Rainbow. It was also their final album with vocalist Joe Lynn Turner and bassist Roger Glover. It was said to be "unremarkable" and "another attempt to crack the elusive US market." Many feel more or less it's okay, but nothing to write home about

-I like this one. Not only are the songs good, but it's the album that introduced me to Rainbow. So it has that additional sentimentality to it for me. "Fire Dance" is a great song. I like "Street of Dreams." This song is really good. The video is almost stereotypically 80s, but still good. The album has a lot of good songs.

8. Difficult to Cure (1981)

-The fifth album for the band, this is Joe Lynn Turner's debut on vocals. They also gained a new drummer named Bobby Rondinelli after Cozy Powell left the band. Blackmore had one goal in mind-make the group accessible to charts, make music that will go on charts and get the attention of potential new fans. This inspired the single "I Surrender." This pop song was written by Russ Ballard. Many of the songs had that shiny 80s production sound and as a result, this album became their highest charting album in all of the UK

-This album is good. My favorite song is "Can't Happen Here." I love that song when it comes on in my car. The album has all good songs, but "Can't Happen Here" is my top favorite from this album

My Favorite Cover Songs Pt. II

A cover song is when an artist takes a song by another artist and does it in their way. Does their version of it. Some cover versions are better than the original, some not so much. It's all up to the listener to decide

Eminence Front

-Original artist: The Who

-Covered by: John Wetton (Asia), K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), Derek Sherinian (Alice Cooper, Joe Bonamassa, etc.)

-This is a metal-sounding version of the song by The Who. K.K. Downing gives it a metal-like edge with his guitar and John Wetton comes in with his clean, smooth vocals

Free for All

-Original artist: Ted Nugent

-Covered by: Jani Lane (Warrant), Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osborne)

-I like this version of the song better than the original by Ted Nugent

All Day and All of the Night

-Original artist: The Kinks

-Covered by: Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)

-Former Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner does an impressive cover of the classic Kinks hit along with Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis

All Day and All of the Night

-Original artist: The Kinks

-Covered by: Scorpions

-Featured on their Comeblack album, this band takes the Kinks classic and adds their signature sound to it. It's great

Tie Your Mother Down

-Original artist: Queen

-Covered by: Jani Lane (Warrant), Erik Turner (Warrant), Jerry Dixon (Warrant)

-This version of the song sounds like it was given a Warrant makeover

Won't Get Fooled Again

-Original artist: The Who

-Covered by: Sweet

-Glam band Sweet covers this song and it's actually easier to understand what the lyrics are. It's a good cover

Nights in White Satin

-Original artist: The Moody Blues

-Covered by: Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple)

-It's great. On the original, there is a flute solo. On this version, the flute solo is replaced by a guitar solo

Shoot to Thrill

-Original artist: AC/DC

-Covered by: Halestorm

-Lzzy Hale sings it perfectly. She has that right amount of aggression in her voice to give it a similar sound to Brian Johnson

Gimme Shelter

-Original artist: The Rolling Stones 

-Covered by: Stone Sour feat. Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)

-It's great!! Corey Taylor is amazing!

Rainbow in the Dark

-Original artist: Dio

-Covered by: Corey Taylor (Stone Sour, Slipknot)

-A more modern metal version of the song by Dio

Man on the Silver Mountain

-Original artist: Rainbow

-Covered by: Rob Halford (Judas Priest)

-A slightly more aggressive sounding metal version of the classic Rainbow song

Catch the Rainbow

-Original artist: Rainbow

-Covered by: Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple)

-Glenn Hughes, known as the Voice of Rock, sings this song perfectly. His voice is perfect on this song. I can only imagine how hard it must have been to sing this song, considering Ronnie James Dio was a very close friend of his. He was probably very emotional

Sunday Bloody Sunday

-Original artist: U2

-Covered by: Black Veil Brides

-This is a modern metal makeover for the highly successful U2 hit

Rebel Yell

-Original artist: Billy Idol

-Covered by: Adrenaline Mob

-This is a great metal cover of the Billy Idol classic

Rebel Yell

-Original artist: Billy Idol

-Covered by: Black Veil Brides

-This is the classic Billy Idol song covered by newer metal band Black Veil Brides

Tainted Love

-Original artist: Soft Cell

-Covered by: Scorpions

-A hard rock version of the 80s hit. Instead of the electronic beeping sound of the original, hard hit drums are replacing it in this song. Background choruses from the band members add an additional rhythm to the song. It's great!

The Temple of the King

-Original artist: Rainbow

-Covered by: Scorpions

-Klaus Meine's vocals on this song are absolutely beautiful. He sings it perfectly

Ruby Tuesday

-Original artist: The Rolling Stones

-Covered by: Scorpions

-Klaus Meine's vocals on this song are impressive. He doesn't strain to hit those high notes, he just sings it beautifully

My Favorite Cover Songs Pt. I

A cover song is when an artist takes a song by another artist and does it in their way. Does their version of it. Some cover versions are better than the original, some not so much. It's all up to the listener to decide

Sweet Emotion

-Original artist: Aerosmith

-Covered by: Tommy Shaw (Styx)

-With his slightly gruff singing voice, it sounds like Tommy Shaw is channeling his inner Steven Tyler and he manages to do it better than ever. I honestly didn't know Tommy Shaw could sing

Shot in the Dark

-Original artist: Ozzy Osbourne

-Covered by: Jeff Scott Soto

-I love Jeff Scott Soto's singing on this song. It's perfect. His singing on this song has that perfect 80s metal sound. Also, it's easier to understand the lyrics

Heroes

-Original artist: David Bowie

-Covered by: Motorhead

-I love this version of the song. It's a little hard to understand the lyrics only because of Lemmy Kilmister's raspy voice, but Motorhead's cover of the classic David Bowie hit is amazing!

Doctor, Doctor

-Original artist: UFO

-Covered by: Jeff Scott Soto

-Jeff Scott Soto's singing on this song is impressive to say the least. He sounds perfect on this song

Black Widow

-Original artist: Alice Cooper

-Covered by: Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)

-Bruce narrates a small story towards the beginning and it leads into the song

Louie, Louie

-Original artist: The Kingsmen

-Covered by: Motorhead

-This version of the song is a far cry from the original. Motorhead took this song and gave it a heavy metal overhaul

Under My Wheels

-Original artist: Alice Cooper

-Covered by: Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Phil Collen (Def Leppard)

-This version sounds more like a Def Leppard cover of the Alice Cooper song than just Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. But isn't that the point of a cover song? To do a song in your own version of it?

Let It Be

-Original artist: The Beatles

-Covered by: Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple)

-This version of the song is beautiful. Glenn not only sings on it, but he also plays keyboard on it (According to his book Glenn Hughes: From Deep Purple to Black Country Communion, he learned to play keyboard while high on cocaine. Not the recommended way to learn). Glenn's singing is absolutely gorgeous

Ticket to Ride

-Original artist: The Beatles

-Covered by: Sweet

-I love Sweet's version of the song. It's a sort of glam rock version of the song

Yesterday

-Original artist: The Beatles

-Covered by: Molly Hatchet

-Just like the original, Molly Hatchet plays this on acoustic guitars. It's great

Here Comes the Sun

-Original artist: The Beatles

-Covered by: Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Steve Morse (Deep Purple)

-I love this version of the song. It's beautiful and upbeat, just like the original

Lunatic Fringe

-Original artist: Red Ryder

-Covered by: Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow)

-Honestly, I always thought "Lunatic Fringe" was done by Pink Floyd, because it that slightly space-y sound Pink Floyd is often known for. But when I found out it was a singer named Red Ryder, I was surprised. Joe Lynn Turner's version sounds similar to the original, only he adds a dash of his own unique vocals, meaning he hits a few high notes

Young Lust

-Original artist: Pink Floyd

-Covered by: Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple)

-It's a more modern, hard rock sound to the classic Pink Floyd hit. Of course, Glenn will hit those high notes occasionally, something he is often known for doing. It's good

Cat Scratch Fever

-Original artist: Ted Nugent

-Covered by: DJ Ashba (Guns N Roses, Sixx A.M.)

-This sounds more like an 80s metal or 80s rock version of the song. It's sung by former Guns N Roses member DJ Ashba, who's now part of the band Sixx A.M. He's a very good vocalist and gives it the slightly raspy, aggressive edge that Ted Nugent usually sings with

Cat Scratch Fever

-Original artist: Ted Nugent

-Covered by: Pantera

-If you're familiar with the aggressive sound of Pantera and their vocalist Phil Anselmo, be prepared for a thrash metal version of the classic Ted Nugent song. This version of the song is great!

Dream On

-Original artist: Aerosmith

-Covered by: Ronnie James Dio, Yngwie Malmsteen

-This song is amazing. Ronnie's vocals are just mind boggling on this song

Too Young to Fall in Love

-Original artist: Motley Crue

-Covered by: Gilby Clarke (Guns N Roses)

-Not surprisingly, this cover version sounds similar to the original. The only difference is the singer. Other than that, this version is good

Love Reign O'er Me

-Original artist: The Who

-Covered by: Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Rick Wakeman (Yes)

-Joe Elliott covers this song by The Who and makes for an impressive cover. It's quite good

20 TV Shows That Are Still Popular

There are tons of TV shows out there to watch. Nothing beats the classic ones from the 1970s-1990s. They still hold up to this day. Thomas West, a writer for the MSN.com page YardBarker, has compiled a list of 20 TV shows that are still popular

Ironically, I actually watch quite a few of these shows. Such as The Golden Girls, I Love Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Murder, She Wrote

1. The West Wing

-This political drama gives a good side to government. It shows that there are people who work in government offices who really do have the best interests of the people as their top consideration. This show is a great reminder of alternative options to handling situations

2. The Nanny

-It's a pretty hilarious sitcom. There was humor all around, from Fran Drescher's character to the kids, and there was romance between Fran Fine and her boss Mr. Sheffield. Then, of course, was the long running rivalry between C.C. and Niles. Overall, the show had a good heart as well

3. Maude

-Bea Arthur is mostly known for playing outspoken, sarcastic Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls. Prior to this, she starred on the 1970s television show Maude, as an outspoken feminist. She played a fiery feminist not afraid to speak her mind about the issues of the day, including abortion. And who doesn't love Bea Arthur?

4. All in the Family

-This 1970s-era television show dealt with all of the issues in the world at that time, such as gay rights, feminism, abortion, etc. There was an almost constant battle of the wits between Archie Bunker and his  daughter and son in law. The issues they debate about are still hot topics to this day and it makes the show feel relevant

5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

-For many who grew up in the 1990s, Will Smith will always be The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. There is a strong sense of culture clash, as Will's character came from the working class area of Philadelphia and suddenly finds himself in the affluent area of Bel-Air, California. His humor is constantly present, making the show funny and also an overall good show to watch. It even spawned a new spin off called Bel-Air

6. Seinfeld

-There is not really much of a premise or plot to the show. It's a show about nothing. Somehow, it's found popularity with people. It's still popular thanks to streaming services. The characters still resonate with people, despite going off of the air nearly thirty years ago

7. Star Trek

-This is one of the most influential sci-fi shows around. It still holds up well to this day. The costumes and special effects seem incredibly outdated, especially in a world that now uses CGI and AI to do special effects. But, it's the outdated costumes and special effects that people love most. The show provided something that was joyful, exciting about the extents that it would go to regarding progressive points of view. It's from a time where things were far simpler. It's still popular to this day and finding new fans almost constantly

8. Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

-There have been few animated characters who have had a long, successful career. One of them is Scooby Doo. He is one of the most successful animated characters, inspiring spin off TV shows, television movies, such as Zombie Island, Alien Invaders, etc. Airing in the late 1960s, the show featured a cowardly Great Dane and five kids solving mysteries the old fashioned way, with clues and investigations. It's a reminder of the days when Saturday morning cartoons were a tradition with kids while others love the simply fun of an old fashioned mystery

9. Gunsmoke

-One of the many Western television programs on TV, they were quite popular in the 1950s. While many of the shows have been long since forgotten, Gunsmoke is not one of them. This show ran twenty seasons, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Today, it might seen as old fashioned, but it still holds up well. Many love the show for the great performances of James Arness, Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake

10. The Jeffersons

-This show was a revolution in TV. Staying on the air from 1975-1985, it showed an upwardly moving black couple and their family. It showed this family in a positive way in an era where black actors and actresses often got stuck in typecast roles. The show appealed to many because of the heartfelt and humorous relationship between Louise "Weezy" Jefferson and her husband George, played by Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley. To this day, this show is still popular and is also gaining new fans

11. The Carol Burnett Show

-This show is still popular thanks to streaming services. When it aired on TV, it was sure to be a night of laughs and music. The lady for whom the show is named, Carol Burnett, starred in sketches along with comedic actors Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Many of the sketches are still remembered to this day, like the spoof of Gone with the Wind. In the case of the show, it was Went with the Wind. And there were so many guest stars, both actors, actresses and musicians, that everyone loved to see who was going to turn up in a sketch, from Julie Andrews to Jim Nabors to Maggie Smith to The Jackson 5 and more. Each episode of the show would end with the current guest star signing their autograph in a book for Carol. This show even inspired a spin off called Mama's Family, starring Vicki Lawrence as the titular Mama. Carol Burnett would appear from time to time playing Eunice

12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

-Despite being something straight out of the 1970s, and a second wave of feminism following, the show is still popular. It was revolutionary at the time because it featured an unmarried, independent w

13. Designing Women

-Similar to The Golden Girls, this program, created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, focused on a group of four women who run a design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. This show dealt with touchy topics, such as HIV / AIDS. It was on TV during the 1980s and 1990s and is still a beloved TV show to this day

14. Cheers

-Everyone knows the iconic theme to this show centered around a Boston bar. This show was the very definition of workplace sitcom. It centered on Sam Malone, a bartender running a Boston bar and the various people who enter and leave the bar. Despite being on in the 1980s, it seems dated by today's standards. It's still popular for those looking for a good laugh. And some can even quote the show, like people quoting Norm by saying "It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear"

15. M*A*S*H

-This TV show was based on a book of the same name. It told the story of a medical unit in Korea during the Korean War. It found the right balance between drama and comedy, creating tear-inducing laughing and heartbreaking grief. It's easy to see why this show still holds up today

16. Murder, She Wrote

-This show takes place in the Maine town of Cabot Cove. It centers on a murder mystery writer named Jessica Fletcher who always manages to find herself at the center of a juicy mystery. Angela Lansbury plays this role perfectly. There's just something about this show that people love. Whether it's the cozy, timeless feel of it or that it's good old fashioned detective work, this show never gets old

17. The Twilight Zone

-Rod Serling and his show The Twilight Zone, have remained one of the most thought-inducing programs out there. Each episode had a moral to learn. So it was as much educational as it was entertaining. Rod Serling had the ability to take anxieties people felt and turn them into stories that were terrifying to watch for the time. When you watch it, it takes you back to 1950s era America and the concerns plaguing the world at that time and their relation to current events

18. Kolchak: The Night Stalker

-This was a short lived television series. It had just 20 episodes. Despite its short run, it did make an impact on some people. It was said to have even inspired The X-Files. Darren McGavin played the title character and the stories were quite scary for the time period. While it doesn't rely on special effects, it relies on an eerie atmosphere, which is the reason it's still entertaining to watch

19. I Love Lucy

-Two of the most remembered episodes of this program were "Lucy Gets a Job" and Lucy Does a Commercial." There's no doubt Lucille Ball was the genius of comedy in the 1950s. She was thrown into superstardom with her program I Love Lucy. Despite airing in the 1950s, something about the show just makes it loveable. Her comedy style was hilarious, joyful and a refreshing change. Lucille Ball is a master of physical comedy as well as sarcastic remarks and facial expressions. It's no wonder the show is still highly popular, thanks to streaming services allowing people to re-discover this show and new fans to discover the show

20. The Golden Girls

-No one can deny the comedic genius of Bea Arthur (Dorothy), Estelle Getty (Sophia), Rue McClanahan (Blanche) and Betty White (Rose). Despite going on the air in 1992, the show was funny, heartfelt, with great actors and actresses, and politically relevant for the time period. They often discussed issues that were just as relevant then as they are now, from same-sex marriage to care and concerns for the elderly and the problems with aging. They tackle these issues with comedy, and cheesecake, of course