Most readers eagerly asserted their maturity after our Spice Girls cover (#441, July 17). “Unless you are competing with Teen, refrain from having those obnoxious women on your cover!” pleads Paul Dexheimer of Lakewood, Ohio. “The only spice I care about is garlic,” insists Judi Westing of Long Beach, Calif. ASunset Beach mention in our summer TV picks went over considerably better. “It’s [exposure] like this that helps keep it on the air”‘ writes Tom Kingsley of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Lastly, our report on movie food prompted a defense of those concession-stand employees who do not receive commissions: “Some are paid only minimum wage,” notes Skyler Miller of Glen Allen, Va. “Don’t blame the people behind the counter.”
Of Spice and Ben
Benjamin Svetkey did your magazine proud. Great Spice Girls article. Fifteen minutes of fame? Now it’s close to two years, and with a third album on the way, it looks like there yet remains hope for Girl Power. JOSEPH GOULD Boston
Finally, someone prints a somewhat objective article on the new Fab Four. I would like to commend Benjamin Svetkey on his thoughtful piece of reporting; he really did a bang-up job of showing how tight the remaining four girls are and how they’re probably better off without Ginger. CHRIS RISHER JedimstrCR@aol.com Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“Life After Ginger” over the death of Roy Rogers? A Hollywood legend was given a half page, while the exit of Ginger Spice got the cover and a six-page article. Maybe you should have put the passing of a beloved cowboy before the exit of a member of a prefab pop group that nobody but 12-year-old girls cares about. Rogers left a bigger legacy than Ginger and the Girls ever will. RYAN POND Morrison, Colo.
COUNTER CULTURE
I really enjoyed your article “Movie Food.” The sidebar about movie manners caught my eye. Is it just me, or have movie crowds become increasingly ill-mannered over the past few years? I do go to a lot of movies, so perhaps I am getting mass exposure to the rude movie-viewing public, but it seems to have gotten completely out of control.Between the noisy contraband food and constant talking I am becoming less tolerant. Let us usher in a new era of audible dialogue for all. LAURA TANK ltank@yahoo.com Tucson, Ariz.
If I wanted to know how many fat grams are in each kernel of movie-theater popcorn, I could have bought any of the hundreds of inane women’s magazines out there. JEANNE SWAFFORD jeanne@dave-world.net Hudson, Ill.
ON THE ‘BEACH’
Thanks for mentioning Sunset Beach as one of summer TV’s best-kept secrets. It’s great to see a magazine recognize the merits of the show. DANIELLE LOUGHLIN Easton, Mass.
‘LETHAL’ INJECTION
It’s easy to criticize a movie that is on its fourth run, but why not take the high road? Lisa Schwarzbaum should have recognized Lethal Weapon 4 for what it is and admitted it was fun. Six times the film was interrupted by cheers and claps so loud I missed a few scenes. Lisa obviously wasn’t in that theater. Maybe she should have been. RON SCHUCKERT schuc@execpc.com Shorewood, Wis.
I hope readers missed your way-off review of Lethal Weapon 4. The Lethal Weapon franchise has managed yet again to tantalize and entertain. The chemistry between Riggs and Murtaugh makes Lethal Weapon 4 a hit. Schwarzbaum’s problem seems to be with older Americans. This is evident in her references to “vintage cars” and “retirement.” The only one who should be talking pension is EW to Schwarzbaum. She hasn’t a clue. CIRA LIMOLI cira777@aol.com Hicksville, N.Y.
HORNER’S CORNER
To say that Celine Dion can claim credit for the Titanic soundtrack’s being one of the best-selling albums of 1998 (Winner of the Week, Music) is a gross insult to James Horner. I hesitated to buy the soundtrack because I did not want to hear Dion’s singing. My admiration of Horner’s music, however, convinced me to buy it. Please give credit where credit is due. PIERRE MEUNIER pmeunier@netcom.ca Kitchener, Ontario