I Need Help! (Al interview question suggestions)

Post by **M_Robertcop** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:49 am

There's really no ridicule of religion itself in either AP or PFFAR.

Amish Paradise is ALL about ridiculing people who take religion too far.

Post by **FredHuggins** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:57 am

a. He is actually a Christian... like *a lot* of his fans
b. Makes great business sense to not turn down invitations to work... especially if it could bring in a whole new raft of fans you might not have otherwise reached.

OK so it's cheesy, but as he says himself, he's not Bob Dylan.. he's not all that bothered about looking cool, and there are always bills to be paid. Work is work
Fair play for the work ethic.. its a bit of cheesy fun thats all.

It's not that it's cheesy that gets me down, I can handle cheesy...it's that it's NOT FUN. This special, aside from TWAS (which was a different story altogether, as we all know) is the only time Al's been involved with something that DID unironically shove a *MESSAGE* down the audience's throat. And not a common sense-based message, but a religious-based one. If you don't believe me, check out The Winans' SONG "The Meaning Of Christmas," which this special was based on - it's all about how Christmas is NOT about exchanging gifts with our loved ones, but about the birth of a miracle-workin' dude in a barn. This is at best incongruous with Al's other work - he may be Christian, but he's NEVER walked around acting like people who believe otherwise are lesser beings. (Same with his vegetarianism, drug-free life, and...well, everything else that works for him personally - it's PERSONAL).

Al has turned down A LOT of work because he felt it just wasn't that good. And this Winans special was Christmas 1992, after "Smells Like Nirvana" made him bigger than sliced bread again. 1991, I could understand him picking up any phone that rings...but wait a minute, come to think of it, the ONLY source I have on "Winans" being from '92 is aloholicsanonymous.com, and they've been wrong before (they said Al's "Family Double Dare" was from '87, even though they promoted Even Worse). And TV networks tend to rerun holiday specials at holidaytime each year, so an intrepid fan easily COULD have seen a '92 rerun and assumed it was new...and throughout that whole special there was NO reference to "Smells Like Nirvana" or "Off The Deep End"...

I'm convinced. "The Winan's Real Meaning Of Christmas" originally aired December 1991, when Al was desperate for work. Question answered.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:48 pm

Well, IMHO, it isn't likely that somebody would tune in to a show called "The Real Meaning of Christmas" without being interested in hearing about "the miracle-workin' dude in a barn." So really I don't think there was any shoving down throats involved in this one.

For whatever reason Al decided to do the show, or whenever he did it, none of us is obliged as a fan to like EVERYTHING Al has done. We can let this one go now I think.

Post by **Elvis** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:00 pm

For what it's worth, according to Wikipedia, The Winans have a single called "The Real Meaning of Christmas" released in 1986. It's also on their 1987 album Decisions. There was no album release in 1991 or 1992. Seems like to me, you're more likely to do, and get, a Christmas special if you've got something to promote. Especially if your Christmas special is named after your newest single.

I did a Google search on some of the lyrics that the tree planting choir was singing, and best I could tell it's from a song called "Holiday Love." I couldn't find any record of it being on a Winans album.

Dave

louietheweaselfaceddogboy · Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:27 pm

Something else I've always wondered was is, does Al drink alchohol?

I mean Al mentions beer in some songs ("...put down the pizza & beer..."; "...now it's time for crying in your beer...").

This page has me especially worried! The Smoking Gun reports Al drinks LOTS of beer.

Is Al a booze-hound?

Post by **Mashed Potato** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:42 pm

I don't think he's a "booze-hound" I mean he does have a daughter after all and has to be somewhere different performing almost every night during a tour.. a hangover would NOT be the best idea. Those are probably for the crew. i mean 2/ 24s of Beer is quite a bit. but not if shared among his Crew and stuff
But that would be a good question: Do you drink. but knowing Al he'd say yes I drink about 8 glasses of water a day.

Post by **Elvis** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:59 pm

The "LOTS of beer" is for the crew and their guests to share. Under #12 you'll see it says if hotel rooms are to be provided, they need 21 rooms. Assuming it's one person per room, the alcohol is shared among 21 people (excluding guests). So it works out to about 2 beers each, which is reasonable. And I'm gonna guess they probably put some aside for days off when their beer supply isn't getting replenished.

I know Al drinks alcohol, but I've never heard or seen anything that would make me think it's more than occasional/casual.

Dave

louietheweaselfaceddogboy · Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:32 am

Okay. Thanks for explaining!

Although I still don't get why doesn't drink Dasani water.

Post by **FredHuggins** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:44 am

Behind the Music said Al "doesn't smoke and rarely drinks."

Maybe he has the occasional glass of wine or champagne when he goes out to a nice dinner, or something.

Post by **ludovica64** » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:29 am

louietheweaselfaceddogboy @ Jun 14 2008, 11:32 PM wrote: Okay. Thanks for explaining!

Although I still don't get why doesn't drink Dasani water.

I know this one I think . There was a big scandal that its actually just tap water and not even particularly hygienic. I guess he thinks its a rip-off and not too nice.
It was withdrawn from sale in the UK on the grounds of the scandal about it