McCartney. McCartney's band really kicks butt. This TV show is much better than I thought it would be. The band is great, Paul's performance is terrific, without what I expected would be too much cute. Really affecting. [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

It's funny, at the exact moment I first saw Steve's post, I was listening to "Fool On The Hill" from the soundtrack album to last night's show.  Ann and I thoroughly enjoyed it (in spite of the fact that there were five commercials after every two songs).  Fortunately Paul didn't play too much of that mostly creepy Wings stuff.  The songs from his own non-Wings solo career fares better, but none of it holds a candle to the Beatles tunes.

As a former guitar player, I was disappointed that Paul's new guitar players hardly played a note of their own -- opting instead for note-for-note Harrison copies.  On the other hand, it really makes you appreciate what a compositional player George was.  Hey, if you're only given 12 seconds you better make it count, and his solos have become just as memorable as the melodies and lyrics themselves.

A little obvious, perhaps but carried off very well. There's more in the orginal story:

(We take you now to the Oval Office)
     George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?
     Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
     George: Great. Lay it on me.
     Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
     George: That's what I want to know.
     Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
     George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
     Condi: Yes.
     George: I mean the fellow's name.
     Condi: Hu.
     George: The guy in China.
     Condi: Hu.
     George: The new leader of China.
     Condi: Hu.
     George: The Chinaman!
     Condi: Hu is leading China.
     George: Now whaddya' asking me for?