On Feb. 22, 1980, when the United States Olympic hockey team defeated the Soviet Union, Al Michaels famously said, asked, and proclaimed all at once with the words “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” Mr. Michaels summed up the 80s, even before they happened. The 80s lifted America and the world up from a horrendous economy, oil embargos, hostage situations, and bloated, repulsive rock and roll.
2022 is also an Olympic year. The economy is in tatters, cancel culture wants to do away with oil, a virus has been holding the world hostage for years, and bloated, repulsive, Dave Grohl is everywhere.
So maybe, just maybe, John Lurie returning to the screens of people with fine taste everywhere in the form of Painting with John Season 2 will be the equivalent of those words that America’s best sportscaster said at Lake Placid 42 years ago. Maybe.
Consider this: in Douglas Adams’ 1979 novel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, 42 is the answer to the “ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything”. Furthermore, Jackie Robinson wore #42.
Here’s hoping that Lurie can “pull a Michaels” and pull us all out of this cruddy situation.
The new season of Painting with John premieres February 18 AT 11 PM.
Perry's Pen 