Meet the Z Team: Steve Jones, editorial director

Over the years, I’ve had two distinct musical loves. One is classical. During the 1990s, I went for a long period listening to nothing but serious, orchestral music. It was a tremendous education in Western Civilization’s musical heritage. But I don’t listen to classical music much these days. I think I may have overdosed on it in the 90s.

My second love is the pop music of my youth. The Beatles are up at the top of my list. Harry Nilsson, Gerry Rafferty, Badfinger, the Guess Who and Gordon Lightfoot all rank high, too. 

“Back to the Future” is one of those movies everyone seems to like, and so do I. Classics such as “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Duck Soup” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” are also favorites. “Superman: The Movie” is another – Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and Gene Hackman were sensational in that film. However, I’m currently burned out on the superhero genre. There’s been too much of it in recent years.
 

I’d like my sit-down session with Abraham Lincoln, Samuel Clemens and Frederick Douglass. Maybe find out what they think about today’s America. I’d keep Ben Franklin as an alternate if one of those three couldn’t make it. 

“The Twilight Zone” is my favorite, by far. I consider it the most imaginative, thought-provoking show in TV history. I never tire of it. My favorite show in the private detective genre is “The Rockford Files.” James Garner was just magnificent in that role and the show had great writing. As for sitcoms: “Seinfeld,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” et al. Out of those comedies, my picks for the two funniest characters are Don Knotts as Barney Fife and Ted Knight as Ted Baxter.

When I was in sixth grade, some official from a military academy – he seemed like a stern, stiff-upper-lip type – gave us a talk about his school. When he opened up for questions, I asked him if they had any bomb shelters (the Cold War was on at the time). The entire class erupted in laughter. Later that day, my teacher reprimanded me in front of the class for asking such a dumb question and embarrassing the school.

This list is voluminous. On the road, tailgating is my most objectionable peeve. Also, when a car in front of me just sits there after the left-turn green arrow comes on.

I grew up in Michigan and my family followed Detroit Tiger baseball, avidly. I loved the late Al Kaline, who went straight to the big leagues from high school and was the youngest man ever to win a batting title. Later on, my favorites included Alan Trammel, Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Chet Lemon, Jack Morris and many others. 

Two outshine them all: “The Far Side” and “Calvin & Hobbes.” No other strips come close to the unparalleled greatness of these two.

When I was young, people thought I looked a lot like Jim Stafford, a popular singer at the time. So, maybe him (except he has a southern accent). If I could pick anyone in cinematic history, it would be James Stewart. But I’m afraid a movie about my life wouldn’t be sufficiently interesting to merit an actor of his stature.