 | Jennifer Petlinski Daily Arts Editor |
What's new in the crazy world of arts this week? Translation: Oh, where, oh where shall this column take me? Well ... Oscar nominations are out, and despite some surprises (Billy Bob Thorton of "Slingblade"), I have nothing substantial to complain about. After all, Madonna or "Evita" just didn't make out too well. On the baby front, Michael Jackson is a daddy. Yet, if I start on that one, I'll never be able to stop.
Therefore, I leave arts news to rest this week. I interrupt my normal, bitchy commentary for some good, almost mindless, pre-midterm, innocent fun.
Instead, how about some bacon, for your reading pleasure?
Kevin Bacon, that is.
A couple of weeks ago, my housemates and I stumbled upon a new craze. Faced with hours and hours of homework, we did what any college students would do - ignored it. Instead, we convened in the "family room" for some good, innocent fun in the form of a game called "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon."
Well, if you haven't heard of it, then you very well may be living under a rock. But who am I to judge?
Not that I'm some psycho who is obsessed with Kevin Bacon. Nope, I do not admit to being a Kevin Bacon fan, although I am a damn big fan of the game.
What's it all about, you under-the-rock people ask? Basically, it's really simple: The game, which is outlined in a book by the same title, assumes that everyone in Hollywood can be somehow linked back to Kevin Bacon through movies, television shows and other performances in six steps or less. In short, Bacon has been around. He's done it (read: acted) with so many people in ensemble cast films like "Flatliners," "Apollo 13" and "A Few Good Men" that it's nearly impossible not to be able to make connections.
OK, so let's try one together: TINA TURNER.
Answer: Turner was in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" with Mel Gibson, who was in "Lethal Weapon 2" with Joe Pesci, who was in "Diner" with our main man, Kevin Bacon. And that's in less than six steps. Aww yeah.
Now do you see the personal reward involved in the game?
"Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," the book, was written by the game's creators, Craig Fass, Brian Turtle and Mike Ginelli, college students who concocted it out of the thin air one lonely night, while watching a commercial for Bacon's "The Air Up There." Convinced that Kevin Bacon was "the center of the entertainment universe," the three students wrote a letter to the "Jon Stewart Show" about their little invention, and they were later asked to appear on the show. The rest, of course, is history.
The book contains various chapters aquainting the readers with Bacon's many films, showing how to link him to other genres and giving chapters of practice exercises.
Best of all, though, "Six Degrees" comes complete with an introduction by Bacon himself who said that "I'm not very good at (the game), and my playing is by definition cheating." Well, no one ever said he was a smart guy. But who cares? Even though he's no genius, he is still the center of a great game.
So why's "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" so exceptional anyway? First of all, the game is quite challenging. Think of it this way: If Bacon, after whom the game is named, can't even get it right, then imagine the obstacles and mental blocks that would stump the rest of us common folk. Of course, we just may be smarter than him, but that's a whole different column. Second, think of all the skills tested by a game that demands a vast knowledge of film, pop culture and so much more.
For example, we can link Bacon to Mikhail Baryshnikov. Here's how: Baryshnikov was in "White Nights" with Isabella Rossellini, who was in "Death Becomes Her" with Bruce Willis, who was in "Striking Distance" with Sarah Jessica Parker, who was in "Footloose" with Kevin Bacon. Oh, the possibilities are endless.
Every college student needs a little Bacon now and then - especially now that midterms are approaching. "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" is the best procrastination method I know (and I sure know a lot of them). Forget Monopoly, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit; put that "Party of Five" episode on hold; most important, put down those books for a few minutes (although a few minutes will probably turn into more).
Too much good clean fun? Increase your pleasure and make "Six Degrees" a drinking game, if you so desire. Hey, the books will still be there in the morning.
Guaranteed ... once you start playing, you just won't be able to stop.
Here's a quick quiz to get you hooked: Can you link Beethoven, the dog, back to Bacon?
If so, e-mail me your answer. Remember, try to make connections in as few steps as possible (under six). The winner of my little contest will be the proud owner of the "Six Degrees" book.
Bacon here, Bacon there, Bacon, Bacon everywhere.
Procrastination made easy. Take advantage of the opportunity.
- Reach Jennifer via e-mail at petlinsk@umich.edu, and enter your submission linking Beethoven to Bacon