This Week's Separated At Birth (1/14 - 1/20)

* I don't usually use the same people in back-to-back weeks for this portion of my blog, but I saw the press coverage of former MLB pitcher Goose Gossage's nomination into the Hall of Fame moments after last week's "separated" was posted and carved in stone. Therefore, I must admit that this pairing, in my esteem, is greater than the Cowardly Lion's pairing with Mel Brooks. Eureka! Yes, it's true that a goose can in fact look like a lion! The similarity of their eyes is uncanny; surprisingly, the makeup applied to actor Bert Lahr's mouth area that gives him the appearance of a feline, is duplicated with Gossage's handlebar moustache.

Giants Coach Demands Apology From FOX Five

Moments after the New York Giants defeated the rival Dallas Cowboys in a 21-17 nailbiter, coach Tom Coughlin, who rarely wears his heart on his sleeve, became irate before reporters at the postgame press conference, demanding an apology from five FOX broadcasters for counting his team out the past two weeks.

* An angry Coughlin wears a look of disappointment as he lambastes the boys at the NFL on FOX.

Coughlin declared, "You can't count my players out! Yeah, we're a little banged up and Eli's not Peyton, but this team doesn't go down without a fight. Those broadcasting buffoons ought to know better," added Coughlin, referring to NFL on FOX host Curt Menefee, his colleagues Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long, and the show's comic sketch man, Frank Caliendo. "Opinions like theirs are heartless, and if they're real men, they'd apologize publically."

* FOX's crew (l to r) Menefee, Bradshaw, Long, and Johnson, all of whom have counted the Giants out against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys.

Apparently, the brood of broadcasters' words were hard felt by Coughlin and his blue crew. "We pay attention to stuff like that, and it's not right. Making picks like that for all to see plays games with my players. If the NFL could put a stop to uprights being placed on the goal line and the wearing of leather helmets, they can do something about this too!"

The only comment from FOX thus far came from former Cowboy coach Jimmy Johnson, who spoke to reporters as he exited the FOX studios in California. "Picking winners and losers is part of the game. We give our opinions; it's not gospel. When does he want us to make our calls, after the game?" Continuing in his jocular tone, Johnson added, "The guys and I will make it up to Tom [Coughlin] and pick them to lose next weekend. It's worked for them so far."

BACK LOG: What Irritates Mr. Erzblock This Week (12/31 - 1/6)

Even though I own every one of Rod Serling's blessed TWILIGHT ZONE episodes on DVD, I look forward to the Sci Fi channel's annual 48-hour TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON. Unfortunately, some folks at this channel thought it a good idea to interrupt this event on the first day of the new year by televising wrestling programming for one hour. I just wanted to catch a few more episodes before hitting the hay, but I was asked to endure the squared circle shenanigans of the ECW from 10-11 pm. This program doesn't even fit into Sci Fi's programming. I understand that this variety of wrestling IS fiction, but how does science enter the picture?

This Week's Separated At Birth (1/7 - 1/13)

* There's no denying that Hollywood funnyman Mel Brooks, the brainchild behind such hits as Blazing Saddles, History of the World Part I, The Producers and Young Frankenstein, looks a lot like actor Bert Lahr, a burlesque and vaudeville performer who went on to play the role of the Cowardly Lion in MGM's The Wizard of Oz.

Larry the Comic Friend

Darryl and Darlene Forster felt like they had won the lottery this past summer when they were on vacation in Daytona, Forida. As if scoring two free tickets to a comedy show that featured Blue Collar comic Larry the Cable Guy wasn't enough, the vacationers from Laredo, Texas were awestruck when the comedian himself plopped down a few stools away from them at the bar at Laffy's Laugh Lounge after his set ended.* Daniel Lawrence Whitney (aka Larry the Cable Guy) has made a career out of redneck humor with catchprases like "Git-R-Done" and stories about his obese and elderly (fictional) relatives.

Darlene Forster was sipping her Sex on the Beach when her husband spotted the famous comic, recalled Mrs. Forster. "Darryl almos' knock the drink outta my han' when he seen Larry. He was hoppin' up and down on his stool, makin' like he was a dog he was pantin' so much. He couldn' even get a word out. Just kep' starin' at 'im."

Eventually, Larry the Cable Guy, feasting on an order of delivered eel and tuna rolls accompanied by a glass of chardonnay, got up from his stool and walked over to the starstruck Darryl. "He asked me if I enjoyed the show," said Mr. Forster. "I couldn' believe it. It was awesome. He even shook my han' and gave me a 'Larry in '08' t-shirt. I guess he knew I was a fan. He spoke to me like I was a real person."

The popular comedian only spent a few minutes with the Forsters, but according to Mrs. Forster, he invited them to one of his upcoming shows in Texas. "I was shocked that we even got an invite from 'im. Larry said the tickets would on'y be 25 dollar each and well worth it. He winked at me before he went back to his stool when he said, 'Some other special people will be at the show, but don't tell anyone.'"

* Larry the Cable Guy (left) with the rest of his blue collar brethren, including Jeff Foxworthy, "The King of Redneck Comedy." Larry and Foxwothy entertained the Forsters and others at a December 29th show at the Dallas Theater Center.

Unfortunately, the Forsters were unable to meet up with their celebrity friend in Dallas. "Man, it was crazy!" recalled Mr. Forster. "Darlene and I made a big poster that said, 'Darryl and Darlene = Larry's Friends' but he couldn' see it. There was too many people."

Luckily, however, the couple will be able to communicate with Larry the Cable Guy, their Florida friend, whenever they want thanks to the "PO Box" address he gave to the couple before parting company with them this past summer. * The Forsters with their 5-year-old daughter Janie. The couple sent this picture out to their family and friends this Christmas, a list which included Larry the Cable Guy.

This Week's Separated At Birth (12/31 - 1/6)

* Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds, known to many for his roles in Deliverance and the Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run films, is looking more and more like your run-of-the-mill store bought beef jerky. Sadly, the scores of Reynolds' cosmetic surgeries cannot bring moisture back to this former sex symbol's tawny, rawhide countenance.

BACK LOG: What Irritates Mr. Erzblock This Week (12/10 - 12/16)

Why do I have to be subjected to commercials on my television set of places that I can't even geographcally patronize? I'm particularly referring to fast food establishments that aren't even in my radius. Forget about a stone's throw away! I could barely reach these locales with a nuclear weapon. Chains like Sonic and Jack in the Box aren't even in my home state! Scratch that. There's one Sonic burger joint in the good ol' Garden State, but it's about an hour and a half away in Waretown, N.J. Hey you advertising folks, unless you're willing to deliver to my doorstep, quit tempting me with these chains' menu items.