WordWolf

If you want to discuss the JAL letters, they have at least one thread just for them, "John Lynn's letters." https://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/topic/24089-john-lynns-letters/

Someone was looking for JAL's letters. Here they are.

Helena Bonham Carter Sweeney Todd Alan Rickman

"PROUD MARY"?

That's it.

"Benjamin is no one's friend. If Benjamin were an ice cream flavor, he would be Pralines and D!ck."

"Back to the Future." "Frankly, Scarlett, I don't give a d@mn."

A lot of screen-time was eaten up by beautiful, sweeping views of the Enterprise- which is why Kirk had to shuttle over rather than using the spacedock's transporters. The core plot seems taken from The Changeling. It was done because- with the success of Star Wars- it was thought this was THE moment for sci fi blockbusters to make lots of money. It did OK in the theaters, but was NOT a blockbuster and didn't justify the special effects budget. ST 2 was promised to be brought in on a lot less money, which was why it was greenlit. With all the screentime on a tighter story, it was a much better movie and fans and non-fans agreed.

Correct!

Paul Schaefer Dan Ackroyd John Goodman

When this movie came out, it was long-awaited, and some fans had high expectations for it. A few might have complained that the plot for the movie seemed a bit familiar and resembled at least 1 episode with lots of changes and a much, much bigger budget. In fact, with this movie unable to achieve blockbuster status despite the timing and the budget, it would have killed the franchise if someone didn't promise he could bring in the NEXT movie for a LOT less. Not only did he succeed, that movie was popular and became a hit, saving the franchise. Name both movies.

"Robin Hood- Men in Tights."

"Mister Brightside" is the only song by The Killers that I know. If you post the entirety of the lyrics, describe the video, and explain the inspiration for the song, I still won't come any closer than I was yesterday.

Ok, 3 of those say "Julie Andrews" to me, I doubt that's a coincidence.

That's them. The kitchen utensil sale was the "Chef of the Future" episode.

This show took place in Bensonhurst, although one episode mentioned someone traveling to them "all the way from Bensonhurst". To be specific, most of the episodes centered around 328 Chauncey Street. We had occasional get-rich-quick schemes thought up by one of the characters. Among them were selling a mystery appetizer, and selling a kitchen all-in-one utensil. Among the ideas that were mentioned but not shown was glow-in-the-dark wallpaper, and buying an empty lot adjacent to a planned movie theater (but it was a drive-in, so...) One main character worked for the city as "an engineer of subterranean sanitation, and another for a privately-owned company as a driver. What was this show?

Then, is this "MISTER BRIGHTSIDE?"

Going with the slightly less obvious, DUDLEY MOORE???

That eliminates NEARLY all of his movies that I remember. It doesn't eliminate "Misery"- but your other clues do. If the costar who is THE narrator is also the Black guy, that shortens the possible list. James Earl Jones is possible- but AFAIK, he never played God. That was MORGAN FREEMAN. What movie of Stephen King's trapped Morgan Freeman? I think that only leaves "THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION." Or I could be completely off again.

A well-known writer who's practically royalty. That must mean something....Earl or Duke or something.... Oh- STEPHEN KING! (Possibly released under his pseudonym, "Richard Bachman", possibly not.)

Ok, I think I've got it this time. My subconscious finally spoke up (or woke up.) The source book was "THE BODY." The author is that guy up in Bangor who writes about monsters. The movie is "STAND BY ME." The writer is- Richard Bachman!

Going with the more obvious, BO DEREK?

Sounds like something by "the Killers," I think.

Next show. This show took place in Bensonhurst, although one episode mentioned someone traveling to them "all the way from Bensonhurst". To be specific, most of the episodes centered around 328 Chauncey Street. We had occasional get-rich-quick schemes thought up by one of the characters. Among them were selling a mystery appetizer, and selling a kitchen all-in-one utensil. Among the ideas that were mentioned but not shown was glow-in-the-dark wallpaper, and buying an empty lot adjacent to a planned movie theater (but it was a drive-in, so...) One main character worked for the city, and another for a privately-owned company. What was this show?

I'm thinking that the co-star was Will Ferrell, in that movie where someone's writing a book and he's the protagonist. "Stranger Than Fiction." And if that's not it, I can try again.