Joey's Blog

This blog will be more serious than you're probably used to from me.  But I feel like I need to share it.

I lost a good friend this week.  His name was Wendell Stacy.

Wendell was a well-known, popular sports figure across the state of Arkansas (out of Little Rock), when he was hired to come to Memphis' newest ABC affiliate, ABC24.  He was the first primary male anchor hired by the station (and some of the early ads that were placed on bus stops still make me laugh:  It would be a huge shot of Wendell's head, and said "Wendell Likes Jazz".)

He parted ways with ABC24 several years back, but that diminish his talent.  He was an EXCELLENT journalist, a GIFTED storyteller, and had TELEVISION in his dna.

You may not know it, but if you're a long-time Memphian, I promise that you've caught at least one of Wendell's investigative stories.  They were usually great pieces...insightful...dramatic...and accurate.

When Wendell entered a room, you knew it because he owned it.  He was a huge personality, and having him as a friend was like brushing up against an aircraft carrier.

He was an avid outdoorsman in a 3-piece suit.  Wearing cowboy boots.  Covered in white dog hair.

He was a skilled musician who loved to grill.  My kids called him 'uncle Wendell', and he never came to my home without a gift for everyone.

Wendell was a great friend and a great man, and he will be greatly missed.

 

 

Just entered the cool, cavernous WeatherCave (whew!), and am getting ready for a very busy day.

Earlier, I was honored to help host the Elvis Film Fest held at Malco's Studio on the Square!  Huge props to Malco impresario Karen Scott for making it all happen (and if you read this in time, you can still get down there and enjoy it.  it's pretty dang cool).

They have 5 different DVD Elvis movie's playing on 2 screens all day!  Several (if not all?) of these have been digitally remastered or enhanced, and this is their 'world premiere' (and on the BIG SCREEN, no less!).

Malco does it right:  great food and drink (including specialty coffees, wine and beer;  fresh fruit; desserts;  sheesh!), comfortable, intimate screens, and AIR CONDITIONING!

In the audience were some nice ladies from South Africa!  They're here for Elvis week, and decided to catch a show...and wanted to know why it was do durned hot.  (It is August, my friends.)

Later today, I'm off for Graceland and the vigil!  If you're headed that way, dress appropriately (cool!) and drink lotsa water.

See ya!

Man oh man oh man!

The first ever, official, authorized Elvis Tribute Artist contest has happened! This past Sunday night, I was the emcee for the 'Ultimate Elvis' Tribute Artist Contest at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Memphis.

It was, in a word: awesome.

First: historic. Graceland/EPE has stepped into the 'tribute artist' game (we no longer say 'impersonator'), and you could tell the difference. This was a CLASS ACT. First, the venue was incredible. It does not get much better than the Cannon Center, built in 2000.

The performance by the EAS band (an actual Elvis tribute band) was phenomenal. Organic, flowing, responsive, they followed the lead of each performer as if they were the King himself. And what a sound.

Only topped by the voices.

24 winners from around the globe, all travelling to one stage in Memphis. Norway. Australia. England. Canada. And of course, America. Stunning.

The friday night finals are (to my understanding) sold out. And if the talent, excitement, and production is any indication, it will be tough to EVER get a ticket to this show again!

It was an amazing way to kick off Elvis-week 07. The crowd could NOT have been better: responsive, energetic, enthused, and totally into it. Singing. Dancing. Throwing bears. Snapping pictures.

I wouldn't have been anywhere else.

Tomorrow, I'm going to help host the Malco Theatres 'Elvis Fest'! Elvis movies on the big screens, from special DVD-releases, all at the Studio on the Square from 10 am to 5 pm.

Tomorrow night, I'll be doing weather from Graceland, commemorating the Candlelight Vigil (and hanging around to enjoy the event).

Then on Thursday, I've purchased tickets to the Elvis: In Concert show at the FedExForum.

Friday, I host the ETA Finals.

And on Saturday morning, it's out (bright and early) to the front gates of Graceland for the Elvis Presley International 5k Run benefitting United Cerebral Palsy, where I'm acting as Honorary Chairperson and emcee.

This is maybe the busiest week I've ever had. Ever. And still fun.

Joey

...and I'm up late.

It's after midnight, and I'm sitting here at my kitchen table working on tomorrown nights Ultimate Tribute Artist contest.

I'm trying to familiarize myself with the Cannon center (online seating and stuff), history of the Ellis auditorium (Elvis played there!), and all of the contestants (who are from all over the world!).

I can feel the electricity building....someone just told me they were flying home today from London and the plane had a HUGE posse of folks who were decked out in their Elvis gear, all on the way here to celebrate E-week!  We're about to be the center of the musical universe, my friends.  (think not?  one of those who take E for granted?  consider this:  almost every major musical star on the planet - who's honest - gives Elvis credit for revolutionizing music over his multi-decade career.  and still rockin'....who else has that star power?)

SO....I'll be updating you guys all week long on FOX13 about where I'll be, and what events are coming up.  You're all invited, and if you've never taken part, this is a good year to have some fun.   It's the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death, and that means the parties will be bigger and better than ever.

Now, before I hit the bed (got church in the am!), I plan on cracking open my "68 Comeback Special Collectors Edition DVD" and getting my "If I Can Dream" groove on.

Thank ya.  Thank ya very much.

It looks like a big flashlight — but it's really a nonlethal weapon designed to make you sick.

Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc., of Torrance, Calif., has been granted a contract by the Department of Homeland Security to develop what it calls the "LED Incapacitator," according to a DHS online newsletter.

The handheld device using light-emitting diodes to emit super-bright pulses of light at rapidly changing wavelengths, causing disorientation, nausea and even vomiting in whomever it's pointed at.

• Click here to read the newsletter writeup.

"There's one wavelength that gets everybody," says IOS President Bob Lieberman. "Vlad [IOS top scientist Vladimir Rubtsov] calls it 'the evil color.'"

Phase 1 of the contract — creating a working prototype — has already been completed, and Phase 2 will begin this fall as researchers at Penn State's Institute of Nonlethal Defense Technology put the puke-saber through its paces.

"Phase 3 will be our shrink phase," Lieberman said, admitting that the prototype, 15 inches long with a 4-inch lens, is too large and heavy to be comfortably carried on a belt.

DHS hopes to equip police, Border Patrol agents and National Guardsmen with the barf-beamers by 2010.