Ross Shafer Goes Inside the First Family Record review for The Stranger, 8/6/98 Ross Shafer Goes Inside the First Family (Jerden/SoundWorks): Shafer's becoming one of those sadly "inspirational" figures who never gives up in the face of repeated failures. The original host of KING's Almost Live (which became a local institution after he left) continues to attempt different areas of comic entertainment, hoping for that big break. Here, he attempts to clone Vaughn Meader's classic JFK-themed comedy LP The First Family, only with the Clintons as characters--and with the meanness and luridity required for airplay on Clinton-bashing talk-radio shows. The cast (including local voice-over vet Ken Boynton as Bill C.) tries its darnedest to bring Shafer's mediocre scripts to life (the final big gag is Teresa Ganzel's faux-fellatio sound FX). Even sadder: It's produced and released by Seattle recording legend Jerry Dennon, who masterminded the Sonics and Wailers and Kingsmen back in what they call "the day."

2001 COLUMNS 2000 COLUMNS 1999 COLUMNS 1999 COLUMNS 1998 COLUMNS 1997 COLUMNS 1996 COLUMNS 1995 COLUMNS 1986-94 COLUMNS ESSAYS FICTION X-WORDS 'THE BIG BOOK OF MISC.' THE BOOK 'LOSER' MISCmedia, THE MAGAZINE FUTURE PROJECTS CYBER STUFF THINGS I LIKE 'MISC. TALK' DISCUSSION FORUM CLARK'S CULTURE CORRAL: BOOKS, MUSIC, MOVIES REVIEWED AND SOLD Books Popular Music Classical Music Video (Support MISC. Media; make your Amazon.com purchases thru this link.)