Jack Valenti Is Dead. Long Live Jack Valenti.

Jack "Boom Boom" Valenti, the architect of the MPAA American film rating system, died last Thursday at 85, and the news outlets are doing their best to predict what this means for the ratings board. If you haven't seen This Film Is Not Yet Rated [Amazon link] now is a great time to do so.

My prayer for Jack Valenti is that these words live on for generations to come:

"I say to you that the VCR is to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone."

That pretty much sums up both his perspective and his showmanship. I'm sure he'd defend both from beyond the grave if he could.