The Spirit of Ed Wood

We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future.

Say what you will about Edward D.Wood Jr, the man was a visionary. He was ahead of his time. More than that, I am pretty sure that The Spirit of Ed Wood, is so powerful these days, it's influencing most of the civilized world!

Oh sure, we can all laugh and feel smug when we watch Plan 9 from Outer Space, marveling over the ineptitude of the entire piece; the bad acting, the lousy script, the horrendous special effects. We might even think to ourselves, jeez, what kind of moron would make something like this and think that it would be appreciated?

What kind of moron?

Maybe a moron like Paul Verhoeven. Have you ever actually watched Showgirls? Sure, technically, it's top shelf, but after that, it's pure Ed Wood. Bad acting, a sloppy story, and of course, naked dancing gals (and if you don't know where the naked dancing gals / Ed Wood connection comes in, you have never seen Ed's later works like, Orgy of the Dead).

But that's just the tip of the cinematic iceberg that owes it's very being to the angora loving director. How about Battlefield Earth, Valley of the Dolls, Howard the Duck, Catwoman, and I Know Who Killed Me. All spectacularly dreadful films, all filled with the "can-do" Spirit of Ed Wood.

If mediocrity was Ed's real talent, then his spirit has blessed us all a hundredfold! Consider television these days; reality shows, MTV, Fox News...all infused with Woodian sensibilities. And how about talk radio? Mindless jabber from moronic blowhards that rake in billions of listeners and generate billions in revenue. How Ed Wood! (Just imagine if Criswell were still with us, you just know he'd have his own radio show).

Several years ago, an event occurred that seemed to be something that only Ed Wood might have dreamed of. A million dollar wedding was staged complete with a cast of characters that looked like they might have been extras in Plan 9 ... does anyone remember this event?

No?

Think real hard, it will come to you.

OK, does this ring a bell?From the eight year reign of George W Bush, to the seemingly incomprehensible career of Mr. P. Diddy, The Spirit of Ed Wood is still a force to reckon with. I say embrace it! Slip into your finest angora sweater, try on a nice pair of silk bloomers and raise a glass of the cheapest gin you can find and thank the cosmos that The Spirit of Ed Wood is still shining its ever loving light on all of mankind.

THIS POST IS PART OF THE SPIRIT OF ED WOOD BLOGATHON