"Sean's Space" has "The Right Stuff"

So I was lamenting the end of the New Kids On The Block's summer tour the other day when I stumbled across this gem:
That's right! I got a personal mention on the official Web site of Joey McIntyre, the youngest member of the New Kids, my favorite group of all-time!!! They do know I exist ... who knew?!

There I was, checking some of the New Kids' individual sites when I came across both my name and "Sean's Space." That, coupled with my once-in-a-lifetime meeting with the New Kids, makes my two decades of fan-dom all worth it!

Latest purchase: bought on a Lark

Feeding both my collection of celebrity autographs and my love for a certain TV show, "Saved By The Bell," I just had to make this recent eBay purchase.

Yes, that is a "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" trading card signed by ... wait for it ... wait ... former "Saved By The Bell" star Lark Voorhies!!! Apparently in 1995, the former "Lisa Turtle" of "SBTB" fame guest-starred on exactly one episode of the "Star Trek" spin-off, and more than a decade later, she was subsequently immortalized with this autographed card inserted into packs of the "DS9" cards. A huge "Star Wars" geek fan, I've never been into "Star Trek" — let alone any of its later incarnations — but I've got no problem adding this card of Lark, the only certified autograph of hers on the market, if it means adding to my collection of all things "Saved By The Bell."

Ironically, "Lisa" here will find company in my collection alongside someone she couldn't stand on the show.

Yup, frequent visitors here to the "Space" are well aware that I met "Screech" himself, the one-and-only Dustin Diamond, a few years back when he brought his stand-up comedy to Poughkeepsie. While he might seem like a jerk to some now, given his recent reality TV gigs, Dustin was very nice to fans following that stand-up gig, posing for pictures and signing one of my "SBTB" Season 1 DVDs.

For now, "Lisa" and "Screech" are the only "SBTB" autographs in my possession ... and it's only taken 20 years to get those! (That's — what? — an average of one autograph per decade?!) But it's alright, 'cause I've got patience and until then, I'm saved by the bell!

Beat Valley! (Again)

Moments ago, the good folks at Saved By The Bell: Now! post this on their Twitter page:

It's the cover of the August 10th issue of "People" magazine, featuring an amazing picture (and apparently story inside) about the show that remains a classic today, two decades after its NBC premiere: "Saved By The Bell." Two things struck me just now when I saw this pic: I can't wait to read the accompanying story; and where's "Screech" Powers himself, Dustin Diamond? For months now, I've been monitoring the efforts of "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" to get the ol' Bayside gang back together, most notably (and recently) when Mark-Paul Gosselaar reprised the role that
made him famous.

Adding to today's "SBTB" hoopla, that cutie Tiffani Thiessen (yes, Kelly Kapowski herself) tweeted about this video earlier in the morning, explaining why she's yet to take up Jimmy's cause.

Sir Paul was un-Beat(le)-able

Just got back from history: We saw a Beatle!!!

How often do you get a chance to see Sir Paul McCartney play the second concert ever at the New York Mets' new stadium, Citi Field, right?! Sure, he christened the new ballpark Friday night as part of his three-show "First Play at Citi Field" stint, but we figured if we went to Saturday night's show, we could make a day of it in Flushing. It was soooo worth it! An avid fan of the Fab Four, my GF made sure we got tix as when they went on sale to Sir Paul's fans first, and I was happy to go. (If for no reason than — ironically, as a sports reporter — I'd yet to go the Mets' new ballpark.) Considering the Mets' 2009 season, it was the best night anyone will spend in Citi Field's inaugural year.

Admittedly not as big a fan as my GF, I was still aware of the Beatles' greatness and all their hits, hence my excitement about the show. Even for a novice like myself, Sir Paul didn't disappoint.

While playing almost two-and-a-half hour nonstop — not bad for a 67-year-old guy! — Sir Paul mixed Beatles hits along with songs from his Wings tenure and his solo stuff. He also added a tribute to former Beatles John Lennon ("Here Today") and George Harrison ("Something") as well as to his first wife, Linda ("My Love"). From the time he hit the stage and kicked off the show with "Drive My Car" til his second encore finished with "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," it was like stepping into a time machine and watching music history.

For the uninitiated, the Beatles' played Shea Stadium in August of 1965, which was pretty much their biggest American show to that point. Some 44 years later, Sir Paul often reminisced about that show during tonight's dig, calling Citi Field "the new Shea."Even when Sir Paul played songs I'd never heard of (like "Here Today" which someone posted on YouTube), it was still cool 'cause A.) I got to see my GF have the time of her life bobbing around to the music; and B.) I was just sittin' there thinking, That's a frickin' Beatle up there!!!

Then when he did sing songs like "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday" and "Let It Be," I pretty much lost my (stuff)!

Again, we were seeing a member of the most amazing band ever (and only two who are still with us) playing some of the most iconic, not to mention influential, songs ever performed . When do you get a chance to see/hear that?! Not to mention that for all intents and purposes, we were watching him do that on the same spot when he, Paul, John and Ringo first played those songs almost a half-century earlier. Wow!

Even hours before Sir Paul took the stage, we heard hints that we were in for an amazing evening.
Just minutes after we arrived at Citi Field in the afternoon — some four or five hours before Sir Paul started his set — we could hear part of the headliner's soundcheck from inside the ballpark. That's when it hit me: There's a Beatle in there!

The day only got better from there.

In short, Sir Paul's show was history in the making: the first time (OK, technically, the second time) he returned to the place (OK, technically, right next to the place) where he and his bandmates played an iconic concert more than four decades ago. He was nothing short of brilliant, especially for a first-timer like me who never thought he'd get such an amazing shot to see him. Not every day does an opportunity like that come along, especially at such a reasonable price! (It would have cost us more to watch a Mets game from the same seats we had for the former Beatle's concert. Weird, huh?!) It was an amazing night I and likely the thousands of others inside Citi Field won't forget.

This event might Bowl you over

Long-time "Sean's Space" reader Lisa asked me to pass along an announcement about a fund-raiser this weekend that will help a local lil' guy and might nab you some sweet swag!
Want to win one of "American Idol" champ Taylor Hicks' harmonicas, like the one he's using in this video from his Poughkeepsie show in 2007? What about some more autographed prizes, all to benefit a 6-year-old boy in need?

Then stop bythe Holiday Bowl on Route 9 in Wappingers Falls this Saturday for a bowl-a-thon and raffle to help Frankie Flora, who sustained severe facial injuries in a recent pitbull attack. (Check out more about Frankie and his progress at the "Frankie's Fund" Web site.) The fund-raiser will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Two hours of bowling, pizza and soda will be just $13, with proceeds going to Frankie's fund.

More than just bowling, the event will also host a raffle to win a slew of prizes, including a drum skin signed by 3 Doors Down lead singer Brad Arnold (seen here) and the rest of the band. Also up for grabs will be an original photograph by "America's Next Top Model" judge/photog Nigel Barker; an autographed poster from Alice Cooper; and an signed CD from Stephanie Powers of the '80s TV show "Hart to Hart."

And because I know that Taylor Hicks' fans frequent "Sean's Space," I saved the best for last: There will be two of Taylor's harmonicas and photos signed by the "Idol" Season 5 champ raffled off to benefit Frankie!

Lisa says more prizes, including local gift cards, are coming in daily. Raffle tickets will cost just 50¢, and you can buy as many as you want.

For even more information, you can e-mail Lisa and as always, tell her Sean sent ya!

Death of a salesman

It's hard to believe we'll never hear these words again: "HI! BILLY MAYS HERE FOR (insert product here)," as the world's most recognizable salesman has died at age 50.

I'll be honest: The first time I watched Billy hawk OxiClean years ago, I thought he was just a black-bearded, blue shirt-wearing loud mouth yelling about some more overpriced garbage. A few months ago, though, I started watching "Pitchmen," the Discovery Channel's weekly show which showcases Mays and Anthony Sullivan take products from inventors' sketchboards to market on TV across the country. With this seek behind the scenes, you can really see the Billy Mays behind "BILLY MAYS!" Not only did he care about making money from the products, but he also cared about the people who put their time, effort and — in many times — life's fortune into developing. In a recent episode of "Pitchmen," we even saw Billy as a family man, nurturing his young daughter. The show is a great glimpse into both Billy and the industry he dominated.

Check out more about "Pitchmen" and Billy by going here, and don't forget the man behind the beard.

The "Thriller" is gone

Wow! The news is just breaking that Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50 from cardiac arrest.

Like everyone in 1982, I owned Michael's ground-breaking "Thriller" album here (I actually had the cassette tape, remember those?), the one that transformed him into a superstar. From "Billie Jean" to "Beat It," and "The Girl Is Mine" to the title track, this album was the biggest one of its time, making Michael a household name ... at least in my household, when I was in third grade. I still occasionally listen to songs like "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" and "The Girl Is Mine" today on my iPod.

Soon after watching Michael introduce the world to the moonwalk in spring 1983 while performing "Billie Jean" at the "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" televised special, I remember quickly learning how to do it, starting me on the way to break dancing. (Did I share too much there?!)

The one sequinned glove, getting his hair burned taping a Pepsi commercial, taking Brooke Shields and Emmanuel Lewis to the 1984 Grammys — everything the guy did was major entertainment news. Seriously, watch his "Thriller" music video and tell me that wasn't a landmark piece of pop culture by 1980s standards. I remember being too young to attend his 1984 "Victory" tour with the Jackson Five, but that was that was supposedly the biggest concert of its time.

After that, I admittedly never had the same interest — never bought "Bad" or any of his subsequent releases — and the later court proceedings, as scintillating as they were, never piqued my interest.

Still, Michael was an musical icon — one who influenced many and will, no doubt, be sorely missed.