Tom Jones International

Scoop emailed us:

“I think [Variety's] review of Tom at the Hollywood Bowl robbed your readers of what I thought were two very memorable nights. Though the review was positive, it didn’t capture the depth of the heights Tom reached in that massive outdoor venue. Looking at nearly 17,000 people on each of two nights in a row at the Hollywood Bowl will be among my most cherished memories of seeing Mr. Jones. The many ovations he received those nights were thank you’s, not just for the evening, but for a career. When Hollywood embraces one of its own like this, it must be extremely uplifting to the soul. I hope Tom allowed himself to enjoy what happened there last week. I know I did.”

Moderator’s Note: Our guess is that Variety doesn’t gush. It’s a publication that watches from the sidelines and lobs sardonic, ironic comments on what’s happening. Guess it doesn’t do for them to be impressed with anything but the bottom line. Thanks, Scoop, for your insight. After all, regardless of a knighthood or birthplace, by this time Tom Jones is indeed one of Hollywood’s, LA’s — and the US’s — “own.” It’s great that he’s big enough to belong to so much of the world. And isn’t “depths of the heights” just a great descriptive phrase?