Is it possible to watch "The Music Man" and not have "Marge vs. the Monorail" constantly on your mind? It seems like Robert Preston does the Lyle Lanley high step throughout most of the movie. The Simpsons really nailed their homage.

Speaking of "The Simpsons;" at one time, I could look up and see tape after countless video tape of recorded Simpsons episodes sitting side by side on my video shelf, but I came to the realization the other day, that due to the Simpsons just finishing their 18th season, I've probably seen less than half of the Simpsons episodes even created. On the bright side, I've probably seen most of the "quality" episodes of the show so I'm not complaining.

One thing I had forgotten about "The Music Man" is how darn long it is. The movie’s almost 2.5 hours. Makes me wonder how I managed to sit through it as a child, even with the sugar coma my siblings and I found ourselves in after gorging on homemade cookie dough.

At times, the movie tends to drag, and truth be told, if not for a few fast-forward moments courtesy of the DVR, Anya and I would still find ourselves behind the television screen, but the wonderful music more than makes up for any slow time. It's quite amazing how many classic songs came from "The Music Man."

There's "Till There Was You," "76 Trombones," "Goodnight My Someone," and that "Shipoopy" song. "Shipoopy?" Oh, man, how things don't age as well as we'd like. I'm referring to myself of course. I may be almost 30, but that doesn't mean the word "poopy" doesn't still make me laugh like a 12 year old boy. And while I'm on the subject of being a 12 year old boy trapped in a 29 year old body, the name Balzac makes me giggle as well. Every time he got name dropped in the movie, I had to struggle to hold it together. I rarely succeeded.

I often wonder if social conservatives have settings like "The Music Man" in mind when they talk of a return to "the good 'ol days." If there's one thing Hollywood musicals are good for, it's putting a Technicolor shine on the good 'ol days.

But if there's another thing Hollywood musicals are good for, it's bringing fabulousness into those very homes. If working at the Gender and Sexuality Center on campus has taught me anything, it's that gays and lesbians (mostly gays) love them some musicals. And if half the chorus members of "The Music Man" weren't gay, then those that weren't were choreographed by someone who was.

One thing I've always loved about Hollywood musicals is that it's one of the only places of mass entertainment where men don't have to be hyper-masculine. I love that the same era that brought us John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart also brought us men spinning around in pink suits.

I'm not quite sure "The Music Man" ranks as one of the top-five musicals of all time, but those songs...they're timeless. And it's because of those songs that "The Music Man" remains a joy to watch 20 years after I had first seen it.

And for your listening pleasure, I present you Mr. Buddy Hackett.



-Matt