TODAY IN HISTORY ― JANUARY 31

January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 334 days remaining until the end of the year (335 in leap years). This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday (58 in 400 years each) than on Friday or Saturday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Monday or Wednesday (56).

NATIONAL BACKWARD DAY 

1606 – The Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes is executed for plotting against Parliament and King James.

1801 – John Marshall is appointed the Chief Justice of the United States.

1848 – John C. Frémont is court-martialed for mutiny and disobeying orders.

1862 – Alvan Graham Clark discovers the white dwarf star Sirius B, a companion of Sirius, through an 18.5-inch (47 cm) telescope now located at Northwestern University.

1865 – American Civil War: The United States Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery and submits it to the states for ratification.

1915 – World War I: Germany is the first to make large-scale use of poison gas in warfare in the Battle of Bolimów against Russia.

1929 – The Soviet Union exiles Leon Trotsky. He was ultimately assassinated, dying on August 21, 1940 of his wounds.

1943 – World War II: German Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus surrenders to the Soviets at Stalingrad, followed 2 days later by the remainder of his Sixth Army, ending one of the war's fiercest battles.

1950 – United States President Harry S. Truman announces a program to develop the hydrogen (thermonuclear) bomb.

1953 – A North Sea flood causes over 1,800 deaths in the Netherlands and over 300 in the United Kingdom

1958 – The first successful American satellite detects the Van Allen radiation belt.

1966 – The Soviet Union launches the unmanned Luna 9 spacecraft as part of the Luna program.

1968 – Vietnam War: Viet Cong attack the United States embassy in Saigon, and other attacks, in the early morning hours, later grouped together as the Tet Offensive.

1971 – Apollo program: Apollo 14 ― Astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell, aboard a Saturn V, lift off for a mission to the Fra Mauro Highlands on the Moon.

2000 – Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crash: An MD-83, experiencing horizontal stabilizer problems, crashes in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Point Mugu, California, killing all 88 aboard.

2007 – Suspects are arrested in Birmingham in the UK, accused of plotting the kidnap, holding and eventual beheading of a serving Muslim British soldier in Iraq.

2009 – In Kenya, at least 113 people are killed and over 200 injured following an oil spillage ignition in Molo, days after a massive fire at a Nakumatt supermarket in Nairobi killed at least 25 people.

2011 – A winter storm hits North America for the second time in the same month, causing $1.8 billion in damage across the United States and Canada and killing 24 people.


TODAY'S BIRTHS

1797 – Franz Schubert, Austrian pianist and composer (d. 1828)

1881 – Irving Langmuir, American chemist and physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1957)

1923 – Norman Mailer, American journalist and author (d. 2007)

1925 – Benjamin Hooks, American minister, lawyer, and activist (d. 2010)

From Wikipedia and Google (images), ex as noted.

TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 69

"Julia" (Lennon – November 25, 1968)

The Beatles (a.k.a., The White Album) – Side 2, Track 9 (2:54)
YouTube (First recorded version – Lennon)

From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone and About.com –

‎History –

The death of John Lennon's mother on July 15, 1958 was a shattering event in his young life; though John's Aunt Mimi had petitioned the government to take over his custody, both he and Mimi remained close to Julia Stanley Lennon, with John visiting her in the same neighborhood nearly every day. She was, after all, the one person who had encouraged his desire to be a musician. John was spared the sight of her being struck and killed by the car of an off-duty cop, but he was traumatized for most of his adult life by the event, and he searched for years to find a suitable female muse and source of comfort to take her place. By the time he returned from his spiritual retreat in Rishikesh, India in May 1968, he'd come to believe that female was performance artist Yoko Ono. By the time the band gathered to record the "White Album," she was a constant presence at his side, which inflamed tensions within the band.

While in Rishikesh, John noticed folk-rocker Donovan, also studying at the ashram, playing acoustic guitar with what he called a "claw-hammer" picking technique, and over the next few days, he diligently taught it to Lennon. Inspired by the style, John immediately wrote two songs: "Dear Prudence" and "Julia." He made a demo of the latter song at his "Kenwood" home in Weybridge upon his return to England, at which time he also made a demo of a similar finger-picking song he would later revisit during his solo career, "Look At Me." He made yet another demo of "Julia" at George's home, Kinfauns, in Esher.

Taking several phrases from Sand and Foam, Kahlil Gibran's recent book of philosophical musings, John crafted a dual ode to Julia and Yoko, melding the two together once and for all in his psyche: at one point he calls "Julia, ocean child," referring to the literal English translation of the name "Yoko." He recorded the song in three takes on October 13, 1968, double-tracking his guitar and vocal, with Paul McCartney offering support from the control room.

"Julia" was written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon/McCartney) and features Lennon on vocals and acoustic guitar. It was written during the Beatles' 1968 visit to Rishikesh in northern India, where they were studying under the MaharishiMahesh Yogi. It was here where Lennon learned the song's finger-picking guitar style (known as 'Travis-picking') from the Scottish musician Donovan. No other Beatle sings or plays on the song. While Paul McCartney made several "solo" recordings attributed to the group, dating back to his famous song "Yesterday", this is the only time that Lennon played and sang unaccompanied on a Beatles track.

"Julia" was written for John's mother, Julia Lennon (1914–1958), who was knocked down and killed by a car driven by a drunk off-duty police officer when John was 17 years old. It was also written for his future wife Yoko Ono, whose first name, which literally means "child of the sea" in Japanese, is echoed in lyrics such as "Oceanchild, calls me."

In an interview in 1971 John Lennon said, "I wrote "God Save Us" with Yoko, and "Do the Oz", and there's one track on the album that she wrote. She had written other things, even "Julia" back in the Beatles days.", indicating that she may have contributed some lines to it when John returned from India.

"Julia" was originally released as the final song on side two of The Beatles on 22 November 1968. Eight years later it was released as the B-side of the "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" single.

A portion of the song also appeared on the Love album mixed with "Eleanor Rigby".

Recording –

Takes: 3

Personnel

John Lennon – Lead vocals (double-tracked), acoustic guitars (1967 Martin D-28)

Trivia –

"Sand and Foam" was referenced by Lennon in at least two places: Gibran's phrase "Half of what I say is meaningless; but I say it so that the other half may reach you" became the opening lines of the song, "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it just to reach you, Julia." Likewise, the beginning of the last verse, "When I cannot speak my heart, I can only sing my mind," was a nearly direct lift from the text: "When life does not find a singer to sing her heart, she produces a philosopher to speak her mind." Donovan, perhaps not coincidentally, had a few years earlier written a song of his own called "Sand and Foam."

The mysterious character Julia, who has a romantic past with both the hero and villain of the anime series Cowboy Bebop, was named after this song.

The first 18 notes of "Julia" are exactly the same.

Capitol issued "Julia" as the b-side of their 1976 US single release of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da." The two were also released as a special white-vinyl jukebox 45 in the mid-'90s.

This is the only Beatles song featuring John alone. He would go on to deal with the tragedy of his loss on the Plastic Ono Band track "Mother."

Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) January 31 –

1963 – "Please Please Me" number 17, 1st week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart).

1964 – US release of single "Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why".

– Start of Cilla Black British tour.

1965 – "Beatles For Sale" number 1, 7th and last week (UK Record Retailer chart).

1967 – John, Paul and Brian attend a concert by the Who and Jimy Hendrix.

– Studio 3 (control room only). 7.00-8.30pm. Mono mixing: "A Day In The Life" (remix 1, from take 6). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. – Remix of "A Day In The Life" only for demonstration.

– Night shootings for "Strawberry Fields Forever" clip, in Sevenoaks, Kent.
With Brian's permission, the Jimi Hendrix Experience return to the Saville Theater to shoot a promotional film for their new single.
– Production commences on "Work Is A Four-Letter Word", Cilla Black's 1st non-singing film role.

1968 – Abbey Road. George finishes the LP "Wonderwall".

1969 – Apple Studios (Roof). Time unknown. Recording: "Get Back" (2 versions); "Don't Let Me Down"; "I've Got A Feeling"; "The One After 909"; "Dig A Pony"; "God Save The Queen"; "I've Got A Feeling"; "Don't Let Me Down"; "Get Back". Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons. 

– "I've Got A Feeling", "The One After 909", "Dig A Pony", John's and Paul's comments at the end of 3rd version of "Get Back": versions for Let It Be LP. Version of "The One After 909" for Get Back LP."

TODAY'S GIFS

From GIPHY

TODAY IN HISTORY ― JANUARY 30

January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 335 days remaining until the end of the year (336 in leap years). This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Saturday (58 in 400 years each) than on Thursday or Friday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Tuesday or Sunday (56). 

NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY   

1661 ― Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England is ritually executed after having been dead for two years. 

1815 ― The U.S. Library of Congress, destroyed by the British in the War of 1812, is reestablished with Thomas Jefferson's 6500 volumes. 

1820 ― British explorer, Edward Bransfield, aboard Williams sights Trinity Peninsula, Antarctica and claims it for Britain.

1835 ― In the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol, President Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, survives the first attempt against the life of a U.S. president.

1933 ― President Paul von Hindenburg names Adolf Hitler, leader or fÜhrer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (or Nazi Party), as chancellor of Germany.

1939 ― Hitler threatens the Jews during his speech to the German Reichstag (parliament).

1943 ― The British Royal Air Force begins a bombing campaign on the German capital that coincides with the 10th anniversary of Hitler’s accession to power.

1956 ― Martin Luther King Jr.'s home is bombed in Montgomery, AL. ―  http://reasonabledoubt.org

1961 ― President John F. Kennedy asks for an Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps. The program was established by Executive Order 10924.

1964 ― Lunar probe, Ranger 6, is launched; makes perfect flight to Moon, but its cameras fail.

1965 ― The state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill is held at St. Paul's Cathedral, London-- largest ever state funeral.

1968 ― During the Tet holiday cease-fire in South Vietnam, communist forces launch their largest offensive of the Vietnam War against South Vietnamese and U.S. troops.

1972 ― 'Bloody Sunday': 27 unarmed civilians are shot (of whom 14 were killed) by the British Army during a civil rights march in Derry; this is the highest death toll from a single shooting incident during 'the Troubles'.

1989 ― Five Pharaoh sculptures from 1470 BC found at temple of Luxor.

2014 ― 24 hostages are killed after 6 suicide bombers temporarily take over the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation in Baghdad.

TODAY'S BIRTHS

1844 – Richard Theodore Greener, American lawyer, academic, and diplomat (d. 1922)

1882 – Franklin D. Roosevelt, American lawyer and politician, 32nd President of the United States (d. 1945)

1925 – Douglas Engelbart, American computer scientist, invented the computer mouse (d. 2013)

1937 – Boris Spassky, Russian chess player and theoretician

From Wikipedia and Google (images), ex as noted.

TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 70

"You Can't Do That" (Lennon – March 16, 1964)

B-Side of "Can't Buy Me Love" and A Hard Day's Night CD Version – Track 12 (2:31)  
 YouTube

From Wikipedia, Rolling Stone, About.com, and Google ― 

One of Lennon's semi-autobiographical songs. "You Can't Do That” ‘contradicted the genial tone with its tense threats, sexual paranoia and nagging, dragging groove’ ...” so wrote Robert Sandall. The song's jealousy theme was re-visited in other Lennon compositions, such as "Run for Your Life" and "Jealous Guy". Lennon played the guitar solo, which he also conceived. Influenced by the then relatively unknown Wilson Pickett the song is rooted in twelve-bar, with Lennon introducing a discordant flattened 3rd (F) on the D7th chord, pointedly emphasizing "…I told you before…" and then pushing this note for the exasperated "Oh!" before resolving to the song's key of G.

With filming due to begin on A Hard Day's Night film director Dick Lester needed the Beatles to provide him with original material ahead of production and "You Can't Do That" was selected as part of the Scala Theatre "live performance" scene in the film, but was dropped for the final cut along with "I'll Cry Instead". The recording took nine takes to complete, and was considered for the A-side of their next single until McCartney wrote Can't Buy Me Love.

"You Can't Do That" was recorded on Tuesday, 25 February 1964, in Abbey Road Studios in London. An early take with a guide vocal is included on Anthology 1. It was the first song completed in the week before the Beatles began filming A Hard Day's Night, though "I Should Have Known Better" and "And I Love Her" were also started on the same day.

While in New York for The Ed Sullivan Show guitarist George Harrison was presented with a Rickenbacker 360 Deluxe electric 12-string guitar worth (in 1964) $900. Only the second one produced, it was heard for the first time on "You Can't Do That" (although actually used for the first time on "Can't Buy Me Love" but lost in the mix) and gave the song its distinctive chiming sound. It would be played extensively on the A Hard Day's Night LP, greatly influencing Roger McGuinn, who later went on to form The Byrds.

The song was first released as the B-side of the "Can't Buy Me Love" single on 16 March 1964 in the US by Capitol Records and on 20 March 1964 in the UK by Parlophone. it was the seventh US single and sixth US single. It was later included in the A Hard Day's Night album in the UK, and The Beatles' Second Album in the US.

The Beatles were filmed miming to "You Can't Do That" as part of the final concert sequence in the A Hard Day's Night film. The filming took place on 31 March 1964 at the Scala Theatre, London, but was not used. It was, however, broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show on 24 May. The performance is included in the documentary The Making of "A Hard Day's Night".

The Beatles recorded "You Can't Do That" four times for BBC radio in 1964. It also became a part of the group's live repertoire that year, and was the second song in their set—after "Twist and Shout"—during their Australian and North American tours.

According to Mark Lewisohn's The Beatles Recording Sessions book, George Martin overdubbed a piano track to Take 9 on 22 May 1964 ostensibly for the album version of this song, but it was never used. 

Recording –

Takes: 9

Personnel

John Lennon ― Lead vocal, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
Paul McCartney ― Backing vocal, bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison ― Backing vocal, lead guitar (1963 Rickenbacker "Fire-glo" 360-12)
Ringo Starr―Drums (1963 Black Oyster Pearl Ludwig kit), cowbell, bongos


Trivia –

George Martin overdubbed a piano track to Take 9 on May 22, 1964, ostensibly for the album version of this song, but it was never used.
Although John Lennon later characterized this track as being like a Wilson Pickett song, he seems to have been speaking in retrospect, as Pickett had not begun creating singles like this at the time.

Harry Nilsson covered this song (with John's blessing) on his solo debut Pandemonium Shadow Show, but took the opportunity to introduce lines from twenty other Beatles songs into the lyrics.

Covered by: Booker T. and the MGs, Ian Gomm, Harry Nilsson, The Standells, The Supremes, Vanilla Fudge, Bob Welch.

This Day in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) January 30 –

1963 – "Please Please Me" number 17, 1st week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart)

1964 – U.S. single release: "Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why".

– Start of Cilla Black British tour. 1965 

– "Beatles For Sale" number 1, 7th and last week (UK Record Retailer chart). 

1967 – John, Paul and Brian attend a concert by the Who and Jimy Hendrix.
– Studio 3 (control room only). 7.00-8.30pm. Mono mixing: "A Day In The Life" (remix 1, from take 6). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush. Remix of 'A Day In The Life' only for demostration.

 

– Night shootings for "Strawberry Fields Forever" clip, in Sevenoaks, Kent.
– With Brian's permission, the Jimi Hendrix Experience return to the Saville Theatre to shoot a promotional film for their new single.
– Production commences on "Work Is A Four-Letter Word", Cilla Black's first non-singing film role.

1968 – Abbey Road. George finishes the LP "Wonderwall".

1969 – Apple Studios (Roof). Time unknown. Recording: "Get Back" (2 versions); "Don't Let Me Down"; "I've Got A Feeling"; "The One After 909"; "Dig A Pony"; "God Save The Queen"; "I've Got A Feeling"; "Don't Let Me Down"; "Get Back". Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.
– "I've Got A Feeling", "The One After 909", "Dig A Pony", John's and Paul's comments at the end of 3rd version of "Get Back": versions for "Let It Be" LP. Version of "The One After 909" for "Get Back" LP.

MOVIE DIALOG OF THE DAY ― TED (1012)

Connection with the previous post (THE BLACK SWAN): Mila Kunis co-starred in both films.

RATINGS: IMDB ― 7.0/10, Rotten Tomatoes ― 73%, ME ― 70% 

Lori: [Enters apartment and sees Ted and four hookers on the couch watching TV] Oh...

Ted: Lori, hey, you're home early.

Lori: What the hell is this?

Ted: The ladies and I were just watching Jack and Jill, where Adam Sandler plays a guy and his sister, and it's, it's just awful. It's unwatchable, but y'know, they're hookers. So it's fine.

Lori: This place is a wreck! Who are these girls?

Ted: Oh, where are my manners? Lori, this is Angelique, Heavenly, Charene, and Sauvignon Blanc. I love you girls. Y'know, somewhere out there are four terrible fathers I wish I could thank for this great night!

Lori: [Looks down on floor] What is that?

Ted: Wha- what is what?

Lori: There's a... a shit on my floor! In the corner, there is a shit!

Ted: Oh, yeah, Yeah, we were playing Truth or Dare, and, uh, Charene was pretty ballsy.

Lori: There is a shit on my floor!

Ted: Well, or, or, is the floor on the shit? Is what Kierkegaard would say.

John: [John pokes a lobster head from out the door] Rawr!

Ted: Hahaha!

John: Who lives here? I'm comin' to get who lives here! You owe me lobster money!

Ted: Ahahaha! That's my buddy Johnny. Not the lobster, the guy runnin' it.

John: [Enters the apartment] I found my phone. What's going on.

[John suddenly looks down on the floor]

John: Is that a shit?

[Lori looks at John]

Mia Kunis as Lori, Seth McFarlane as Ted (voice), and Mark Wahlberg as John

Trivia (From IMDB):

Ted mentions 9/11. Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane narrowly missed being on American Airlines Flight 11, one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Wahlberg was booked on the flight, but decided to drive to New York and fly to California later. MacFarlane arrived at the gate ten minutes late and was not allowed to board. He was sitting in the airport when he saw that his plane had hit the World Trade Center's North Tower.

According to astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Seth MacFarlane called him in advance to make sure he would get the stars in the night sky scenes right.

The integrated archive footage of Ted on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Episode #23.31 (1984) was culled from the broadcast of February 29, 1984. Johnny Carson's actual guest that night was Emmanuel Lewis. This can easily be determined by when Johnny, upon Ted's arrival, says, "I thought you'd be taller." Although Ted responded, "I thought you were gonna be funnier," Emmanuel's actual response was, "Me too."

"007" producer Barbara Broccoli traditionally never allows any James Bond theme to be used in other films, but Seth MacFarlane wrote her a letter asking for permission to use "All Time High" from Octopussy (1983) as it was his mother's favorite song. Broccoli made a rare exception to her rule, hence John gets to slaughter the tune in a performance in front of a dismayed crowd.

Various teddy bears were used as stand-ins for post-production editing. Ted's movements were done by Seth MacFarlane through motion capture.

Shipped to theaters under the title "Thunder Buddies."

Mark Wahlberg agreed to appear in a Seth MacFarlane film after seeing a caricature of himself on Family Guy, produced by MacFarlane.

This is the first live-action project directed by Seth MacFarlane.

Ted was usually "played" on set by a stem with eyeballs atop it.

The shots from Flash Gordon (1980) had to be digitally enhanced into high definition.
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DIRECTOR_TRADEMARK(Seth MacFarlane): [Star Trek]: Sir Patrick Stewart, lead actor of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), narrates.

Seth MacFarlane originally planned for this to be an animated television series in line with his hits Family Guy (1998) and American Dad! (2005).

The AL East standings on the Green Monster at Fenway Park indicate the scene was shot the night of May 23, 2011.

DIRECTOR TRADEMARK (Seth MacFarlane): (Family Guy (1998)): Several of the main voice cast had parts in this movie. McFarlane voices Peter, Stewie, and Brian. Alex Borstein, who plays John's mom, provides the voice for Lois. Mila Kunis, who plays Lori, is the voice of Meg. The only main Griffin family member not to appear in the film is Seth Green, who voices Chris. Other regulars that appear in this fil. include Patrick Warburton, Sir Patrick Stewart, and Ralph Garman. Jessica Stroup provided the voice of Denise in three episodes.

An actual teddy bear doll was used for filming, with Seth MacFarlane voicing Ted's dialogue live. The rationale for this, as opposed to a much easier green screen approach, was that he wanted to get the cast's genuine reaction to what Ted was doing, as opposed to them having to imagine it.

Co-writer Wellesley Wild claimed that he listened to a lot of Queen whilst writing his draft, hence the inclusion of Sam J. Jones from Flash Gordon (1980).

In a flashback to 2008, John says, "Chris Brown can do no wrong." In 2009, Brown was arrested after physically assaulting his girlfriend, Rihanna.

According to Seth MacFarlane, this is the first comedy film to use motion capture technology. However, the comedy film Paul (2011) used motion capture technology as well, and it was released a year earlier than Ted (2012).

A portrait of Chinese dictator Chairman Zedong Mao hangs on the wall of Ming's apartment.

Universal's highest grossing film of 2012, ahead of the bigger budgeted Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) and Battleship (2012).

The "fan" that John knocks out with the microphone stand is actually former Boston Bruin Shawn Thornton.

Ted was given as a Christmas gift in 1985, the first year "Teddy Ruxpin" was sold.

The twelfth highest grossing film of 2012.

When Lori gets back home and finds Ted watching television with some hookers, one of the films seen on the television menu is Dead Silence (2007), which stars Mark Wahlberg's older brother, Donnie Wahlberg.

When John wishes for Ted to come to life, the tune of the song "I Wish" from the musical "Into the Woods" can be heard in the background.

The episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants (1999) that Ted and John watch in the beginning is "Procrastination" from SpongeBob SquarePants: Procrastination/I'm with Stupid (2001). This is fitting as the two are lazily chilling on the couch, making John late for work.

The house at the beginning of the movie, that is zoomed into from space, is at 129 Albemarle Road, Norwood, Massachusetts 02062.

Pays homage to three films from 1980: Airplane! (1980) with the dancing scene, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with the ringtone (and pervasive Star Wars paraphernalia) and Flash Gordon (1980) with clips shown, and Sam J. Jones' role.

Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis had previously starred together in Max Payne (2008) and Date Night (2010).

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Ted and John's friendship is similar to Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin. Winnie the Pooh (or Pooh for short.) was based on an old plush teddy bear, originally named Edwin, that A.A. Milne gave his son, Christopher Robin Milne, in August 1921,as a present for his first birthday.

The film was originally scheduled for release on July 13, 2012, but was moved up to June 29, the original intended release date of G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), which had been pushed back to March 29, 2013 for re-shoots.

During the party scene with Flash Gordon, Johnny does an impression of Ted and Ted says "Oh, come on, I do not sound that much like Peter Griffin!" Peter Griffin is a character on the TV show Family Guy. Both Family Guy and Ted were created by Seth MacFarlane, and more importantly, MacFarlane plays the voices of both Peter and Ted. Thus, Ted's voice actually IS the voice of Peter Griffin.

The start of the film, which is set in 1985, is also the year Back to the Future (1985), one of Seth MacFarlane's favorite films, took place.

During the climax Ted blindfolds Donny while the latter is driving his car causing him to lose control. A similar scene also occurred in the original Child's Play movie where Charles Lee Ray also known as Chucky attacks Mike Norris in his famous 'Good Guy' doll form as part of his revenge for being shot at the start of the film and like Donny Mike loses control of his car and both end up crashing their respective vehicles.

This is the second time Giovanni Ribisi appears alongside a That '70s Show (1998) star. He appears with Mila Kunis in this film, and he played Debra Jo Rupp's husband on Friends (1994).

While watching Flash Gordon (1980), Ted and John mention Tom Brady, who ironically makes a cameo in Ted 2 (2015).

Ted having hookers in his apartment also occurred in 'Petarded' of Family Guy where Peter Griffin has hookers in Cleveland Brown's house in an attempt to win his children back.

At the beginning of the movie, Ted has a child voice. Later in the movie, he has a voice similar to Peter Griffin's in Family Guy (1999). Both Ted and Peter Griffin are voiced by Seth MacFarlane.

Alex Borstein best known for voicing Lois Griffin of Family Guy makes a cameo in the film as John's mother.

Jessica Stroup appears in about three scenes as Tracy, one of Lori's office co-workers.

Just before John leaves Ted's party, Sam Jones calls him 'Ponyboy'. This is the nickname of Michael Curtis in the book and film The Outsiders (1983).

When we see Ted and John in John's younger room, there is an Indiana Jones poster on the wall

The Region 1 DVD and Region A Blu-ray include an Audio Descriptive Track. Only the Theatrical version has the Audio Descriptive Track.

There is no mention of how Donny has a son named Robert, whether Donny is divorced or widowed from his wife. It is believed that Robert has a "deadbeat" mom.

Before his ringtone was changed to the Knight Rider (1982) theme, the music heard on John Bennett's cellphone (when it fell between the car door panel and the seat) is the Imperial March from Star Wars.

At Rex's house party, Rex mistakenly calls John "Jim." Mark Wahlberg, who portrays John Bennett in the movie, would go on to portray Jim Bennett in The Gambler (2014).

Tom Skerrit is the first celebrity to make a cameo in the Ted films. Liam Neeson makes a cameo in the sequel.

During the party at Ted's new home Ted sings during the karaoke in a very similar way to the singer seen at the start of It's a Trap! of Family Guy.

Cameo ― 

Ted Danson: Appears on a fictional Cheers (1982) DVD interview mentioning the penis size of Woody Harrelson.

Director Trademark ― 
Seth MacFarlane: [Star Wars] John and his friends collect Star Wars merchandise.

Spoilers ― 

The idea of Donny dancing was Giovanni Ribisi's.

Near the end of the movie, when Lori looks outside the window and up to the stars, the constellation Ursa Minor, which means Little Bear, is in the upper left corner.

In the final scene, the narrator, voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart, trashes Superman Returns (2006). This may be an in-joke to Bryan Singer, who directed Superman Returns (2006), and directed Stewart in several X-Men movies.

At the end of the movie, the narrator states that Sam J. Jones moved in with Brandon Routh. Both actors starred in a movie as the title characters based on a comic book, with Jones in Flash Gordon (1980) and Routh in Superman Returns (2006). There were plans for a follow-up to both films, but they were scrapped when their studio was disappointed with their box office gross despite having a warm reception from fans and critics.

After getting his ear ripped off, Ted escapes through a door only to reach back and grab his ear. The theme for Indiana Jones can be heard as he does it, as this is a trademark of Jones: losing his hat and reaching to grab it at the last minute.

The production wanted to use The Bangles' "Manic Monday" for Donny's solo dance party, but the rights were too expensive.

Mark Wahlberg's character was originally supposed to be crying while screaming for Ted when he died at the climax. Seth MacFarlane cut the scene because he felt it was too depressing.

The stapler that Ted uses to re-attach his ear in Donny's house is a vintage Swingline Cub.

Danny Hoch played an uncredited part of Donny's dad. He also appears in We Own the Night (2007) which starred Mark Wahlberg.

TODAY IN HISTORY ― JANUARY 29

January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 336 days remaining until the end of the year (337 in leap years). This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday (58 in 400 years each) than on Wednesday or Thursday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Monday or Saturday (56).

NATIONAL PUZZLE DAY  

1777 – Facing a surprise British counter-assault in the bitter cold and with a snowstorm approaching, American commander Major General William Heath and his army of 6,000 abandon their siege on Fort Independence, in Bronx County, New York, on this day in 1777.

1802 – John James Beckley of Virginia appointed the first Librarian of Congress.

1820 – Ten years after mental illness forced him to retire from public life, King George III, the British king who lost the American colonies, dies at the age of 82. 

1834 – President Andrew Jackson orders first use of U.S. troops to suppress a labor dispute.  

1861 – On this day in 1861, Kansas is admitted to the Union as free state. It was the 34th state to join the Union. The struggle between pro- and anti-slave forces in Kansas was a major factor in the eruption of the Civil War.

1879 – The Custer Battlefield National Monument is established in Montana. ― Photo mine

1886 – First successful gasoline-driven car patented, Karl Benz, Karlsruhe, Germany.

1915 – On January 29, 1915, in the Argonne region of France, German lieutenant Erwin Rommel leads his company in the daring capture of four French block-houses, the structures used on the front to house artillery positions.

1936 – First MLB players elected to Baseball Hall of Fame: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson

1942 – On this day, Britain and the USSR secure an agreement with Iran that offers the Iran protection while creating a "Persian corridor" for the Allies—a supply route from the West to Russia.

1944 – The USS Missouri, the last battleship commissioned by the US Navy, is launched.

1963 – Jim Thorpe, Red Grange and George Halas elected to NFL Hall of Fame.

1979 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter commuted Patricia Hearst's 7 year sentence to 2 years.

1990 – Exxon Valdez Captain, Joseph Hazelwood, goes on trial due to wreck and subsequent major oil spill in Prince William Sound, AK. The Valdez was a single-hull design that was subsequently banned from service in most of the world.


TODAY'S BIRTHS

1756 – Henry Lee III, American general and politician, 9th Governor of Virginia (d. 1818)

1843 – William McKinley, American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 25th President of the United States (d. 1901)

1860 – Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short story writer (d. 1904)

1874 – John D. Rockefeller, Jr., American businessman and philanthropist (d. 1960)

1929 – Joseph Kruskal, American mathematician and computer scientist (d. 2010)

1947 – Linda B. Buck, American biologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

From Wikipedia and Google (images), ex as noted.

TOP 100 SONGS OF THE BEATLES: 71

"I'm a Loser" (Lennon – December 16, 1964)

Beatles for Sale – Side 1, Track 2 (2:31)
YouTube (Shindig performance)

From  Wikipedia, Rolling Stone and About.com –



History – 

There were several influences contributing to the composition of this song, which John wrote some time in the summer of 1964. On the one hand, it was a reaction to the worship the Beatles were already receiving on the world stage, tied to Lennon's own insecurities; added to this was the influence of Bob Dylan, who Lennon had been listening to since at least the winter of 1963.

The final piece in the puzzle was journalist Kenneth Allsop, who met John on March 23, 1964 and told him that he rather wished Lennon's lyrics were as personal as his recently-published first book, In His Own Write, and not always about young romance. A hurt Lennon, determined to prove Allsop wrong, wrote "I'm A Loser" soon after. (The song does deal with a broken relationship on its surface level, however.)

John specifically used the word "clown" in the song after hearing Dylan use it, which he has said he never otherwise would have done. The inspiration for that, assuming John only heard Dylan's recorded output, would have been 1963's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall."

This song was recorded cleanly, in eight takes, with no rearrangement whatsoever, at the second session for Beatles For Sale, just before work began on their cover of "Mr. Moonlight."

John sings a low G note in this song, the lowest note he could hit (with difficulty). The only other existence in the Beatles canon of John attempting a low G is the last "going down" of "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" (though he does hit it in harmony during the "somebody new" bridge of "Love Me Do").

"I'm A Loser" was considered a candidate for the band's next single, but pulled in favor of "I Feel Fine" after that song was written.

Singer Jackie DeShannon was on The Beatles' summer 1964 North American tour. She recalled that Lennon was writing this song on the plane during the tour.
In his 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon said the song was "me in my Dylan period" and added, "Part of me suspects I'm a loser and part of me thinks I'm God Almighty. [Laughs.]" Unterberger said the song was "notable for being perhaps the first Beatles' song to directly reflect the influence of Bob Dylan, thus nudging folk and rock a little closer together toward the folk-rock explosion of the following year." Musicologist Alan Pollack said the song contained "a stronger blend of folk elements than almost anything else The Beatles had done to-date."

Lennon hits a low G in the verses, a note usually reserved for bass singers. This is atypical of Lennon, considering he sang the bulk of his Beatles' songs in a higher, tenor register. However, he also sang a low G in "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and the backing vocals of "Love Me Do".

The Beatles recorded this song on 14 August 1964, the same day as "Mr. Moonlight" and "Leave My Kitten Alone". It was recorded in eight takes with no overdubs

It was released four months after it was recorded, but beforehand, it was previewed on BBC Radio on 17 August, along with three other songs from Beatles for Sale and also the "I Feel Fine"/"She's a Woman" single

On the original pressings of Beatles for Sale, the title was misprinted as "I'm a Loser".

Recording – 

Takes: 8

Personnel

John Lennon ― Lead vocal (double-tracked), acoustic rhythm guitar (1964 Gibson J160E), harmonica (Hohner)

Paul McCartney ― Harmony vocal, bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1)

George Harrison ― Lead guitar (1963 Gretsch 6119 "Tennessean")

Ringo Starr ―Drums (1963 Black Oyster Pearl Ludwig kit), tambourine

Released: December 4, 1964 (UK), December 15, 1964 (US)

The first of John Lennon's songs to be directly influenced by Bob Dylan, I'm A Loser was written in the summer of 1964 and recorded for the Beatles For Sale album.

Lennon was inspired further by an encounter with the journalist Kenneth Allsop, whom Lennon met in March 1964.

Allsop told Lennon that his songs lacked the depth and meaning of his book In His Own Write. He suggested that Lennon try to write more autobiographically, basing his songs on personal experiences rather than generic sentiments of love.

The encounter marked a turning point for Lennon, and Allsop's advice played a key part in inspiring him to write In My Life in 1965.

Looking back on it I think songs like "I'm A Loser" and "Nowhere Man" were John's cries for help. We used to listen to quite a lot of country and western songs and they are all about sadness and "I lost my truck" so it was quite acceptable to sing "I'm a loser". You didn't really think about it at the time, it's only later you think, God! I think it was pretty brave of -- -- John.

Trivia – 

Singer Jackie DeShannon is often cited as having heard John write "I'm A Loser" on a plane between tour stops, but that's impossible, as she didn't join the group on tour until August 1964, after the band had already recorded the song. It's possible she merely heard John playing the finished song.

The Beatles debuted this number on an episode of ABC-TV's Shindig!, which often traveled to London to present British bands performing live. Paul can be seen in the footage forgetting the line "I've lost someone who's dear to me," prompting a smirk by John. However, Paul can be seen mouthing the words off-mic, as if to remind John of the words, as well.

This song was mistakenly labeled "I'm A Losser" on initial pressings of Beatles For Sale.


Today in Beatles History (From The Internet Beatles Album) January 29 – 

1964– EMI Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris, France. Late morning/afternoon. Recording: 'Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand' (takes 1-11); "Sie Liebt Dich" (takes 1-14); "Can't Buy Me Love" (takes 1-4). Editing: "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" (of takes 5, 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Norman Smith; 2nd Engineer: Jacques Esmenjaud.

1st session outside Abbey Road.

– "She Loves You", 22nd week in the Top 30 (UK New Musical Express chart).
– "Please Please Me" LP, 45th week in the Top 10 (UK New Musical Express chart).
– "With The Beatles" number 1, 10th week (UK New Musical Express chart).

1966 – "We Can Work It Out" number 1, 3rd week, recovering this position for one week only (Billboard).

– The Vic Lewis Organization and NEMS Enterprises announce their merger.

1967 – On a Sunday "Soundarama" presentation at the Saville Theatre, Brian presents, in two houses, the Who, the Jimi Hendrix Experience (on their theatre debut), the Koobas, and the Thoughts. Epstein and the Beatles attend.

1969 – "Yellow Submarine" LP, 2nd week in the ranking (UK New Musical Express chart).
– Apple Studios. Time unknown. Recording: "I Want You" (later known as "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"); "The One After 909"; "Not Fade Away"; "Mailman Bring Me No More Blues"; "Teddy Boy"; "Besame Mucho". Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Glyn Johns; 2nd Engineer: Alan Parsons.