In Memoriam: Bernard Jeffrey "Bernie Mac" McCullough, 1957-2008

Comedian/actor Bernie Mac has died at age 50 of complications from pneumonia in a Chicagoland hospital; Newsvine reports his passing here. He had previously suffered from sarcoidosis, a lung illness, but doctors say his hospitalization was unrelated.

Besides appearing in the documentary/concert film The Original Kings of Comedy and starring in his own eponymous Fox TV situation comedy series for five years, the Windy City native also won a Peabody Award for said series,with a citation for "transcending "race and class while lifting viewers with laughter, compassion — and cool." Ironically, his death comes only months after his having told late-night talk-show host David Letterman he was planning to retire soon and "enjoy life a little bit." But considering he also said, "Wherever I am, I have to play. I have to put on a good show," one suspects he would have had a hard time completely retiring in any case.

So long, Mac. Say hi to George Carlin for us when you get to that big comedy club in the sky.

A very happy birthday to someone Atlanta filk fans miss terribly

Happy birthday today to ladyat, one-third of Three Weird Sisters, the better half of bedlamhouse and co-founder of the Southeast's longest-running filk music convention, GAFilk. They moved to Indiana not long ago so Bill could go back to where he grew up; the South's loss is the Midwest's gain...like they didn't already have way too many of the good filkers. :-)