Somebody Up There Likes Me

Many boxing movies have surpassed what Robert Wise and Paul Newman brought to the screen in Somebody Up There Likes Me, but their biopic DID win 2 technical Oscars. Newman is not at his best playing Rocky Graziano, an angry young delinquent who turned a life spent in various forms of trouble into a championship boxing career. He was still new to movies though and wasn't to be laconic and cool as he get to be in other roles. This was clearly a huge influence on the most-famous fictional boxer, Sly Stallone's Rocky Balboa. Ryan had fun with that comparison in this solo show, which is the 653rd edition of Have You Ever Seen. So step into the ring and take advantage of your hate as we ring in the spring this Oscar Month with a monologue about Somebody Up There Likes Me.

Well, Actually: the content in the 3rd trivia question is inaccurate: Newman had 10 Oscar nominations in total, 9 for acting and 1 for producing (plus, Denzel Washington has 10 in total too because he was nominated for producing Fences). Also, to be crystal clear, the next solo show won't be on April 4th. It will be on Monday, March 24th. Bev will miss that day as she continues to recover from her surgery.

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