B E S T / /O F
Sit back and enjoy tales of television long ago
and the latest, freshest entertainment news
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this blog covers current and classic TV shows
and reviews of upcoming television programs
along with the latest TV on DVD releases
WHAT I'M WATCHING
I was enjoying The Andy Griffith Show on Netflix Streaming, the black and white episodes are priceless. I wonder why Mayberry RFD hasn't gotten any attention? I know it's not a great series but not much worse than the color episodes of TAGS. Then again, I haven't seen Mayberry RFD in 40 years so it could be a lot worse. Still, given the strong DVD sales TAGS enjoyed you'd think there would be a market for the sequel.
Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is awesomely hilarious!
Viewing Hot in Cleveland on the TV Land site. I think it was a mistake to take Wayne Knight off the series in favor of his own show. Hot in Cleveland lost one of its best laugh getters. Still, Hot gets some chuckles out of me - what more could you want from a sitcom?
Here's an early review of TNT's new Dallas reboot - I'm really looking forward to it so I'm glad to read a glowing write up of the first episode.
Thursday, January 26, 2011 - 11:29pm
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AROUND THE DIAL
Did you know in 1967 Dark Shadows had 10 million weekly viewers? That would be a primetime hit today. So why didn't the reboot of Dark Shadows make it in the 1990s? In my opinion, extremely poor casting and poor direction.
How did I not know NBC gave Betty White a TV series? It premiered last night to pretty good numbers, helping NBC come in second for the night. Betty White's Off Their Rockers is a prank show where the elderly are the punkers and youngsters are the punkees. You can watch the first episode here, Betty is HILARIOUS. My problem is that some of the 'elderly' don't look that old! I guess that makes me old...
I got some big laughs out of this program, I love Candid Camera type setups. Watch the body language on the guy in the beard who's being propositioned by the old lady in the airport.
TV shows I enjoyed very much last year: Revenge, Sons of Anarchy, Leverage (somewhat weak season overall), Boardwalk Empire, Damages, Kitchen Nightmares, Louie, Nurse Jackie, Walking Dead (very weak season). Out of those Revenge (hell of a season ender!), Sons of Anarchy, and Damages were off the charts amazingly entertaining dramas. And to think I used to hate TV dramas.
Carol Burnett is so cool. This article is just one more example, she called a family in New Bern, NC to apologize for not having them backstage at her local performance - Burnett got their request a year too late but felt bad anyway.
Wednesday, January 18, 2011 - 1:29am
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GENERAL MUSINGS
I was watching (don't ask why) Married with Children streaming on Netflix and they've replaced the theme song with some boring synth music meant to faintly remind you of that great Sinatra tune they led off with. Too expensive to license no doubt, being Sinatra and all!
Jack in the Box is advertising a $4.29 meal with a Jumbo Jack hamburger, two tacos, small fries and a 20-ounce soft drink. I miss Jack in the Box!
Over at TVparty! I have tributes to the Music of Dark Shadows, the 2 Dark Shadows movies and the Dark Shadows novels.
One of my favorite shows, Louie, goes back into production next month. Best 'comedy' on television right now.
Joss Whedon announced that The Avengers will be told from the perspective of Captain America. Makes sense but I hope it's better than the Captain America movie!
Here's one of the single versions of the theme from Gidget, one of my favorite classic TV openings.
Monday, January 16, 2011 - 5:14am
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ADVENTURE SERIALS
In the post below James H. Burns brought up the Flash Gordon serials and, in an email, he asked me which of the Saturday morning shorts I enjoyed as a kid. That's when I had to tell him my sob story.
I had only seen one serial growing up. I'm too young, as is James, to have experienced going to the movie theater on Saturdays to see the latest 20 minute chapter of a 12-15 episode storyline starring Captain America, Superman, Blackhawk, King of the Rocketmen, or The Shadow. Too young to know what a pain it must have been to wait a week to find out how the hero and his girl survived being in a house that exploded into a load of lumber. Too young to guess what a ripoff it must have felt like to plunk my nickel down the next week only to find they left out a key scene in the last chapter - the part where the good guys all beat it out the back door, get in their Packard, and speed away!
Here you'll find our rundown of the best serials of the 1930s and 1940s!
Sunday, January 15, 2011 - 9:59am
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HMMMM
James H. Burns has an interesting article - Growing Up With Flash Gordon (And A Tribute To Al Williamson). I continue to be amazed at the late Al Williamson's work in the Creepy Archives hardback reprints of the Warren horror comic magazines. As a kid Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin were heroes in my eyes.
Former child star Susan Gordon passed away on December 11, 2011. I've posted a tribute here, this is an episode of Gunsmoke she starred in:
This scene from Green Acres sums up the predatory nature of our business climate today. They're all Mr. Haneys now!
Tuesday, January 10, 2011 - 7:46am
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THIS 'N' THAT
One Life To Live star Erika Slezak declared that the Soap Opera's recent cancellation is "Bullshit."
Dukes of Hazard's own Daisy Duke - Catherine Bach - is joining the cast of Young and the Restless beginning Feb. 7.
A Secret Santa has been delivering Pecan Pies to an Ohio man for 35 years but the pie that arrived this Christmas had a note saying this one will be the last. The 87-year-old guy still doesn't know who was sending the sweets all those years.
Heard against the inevitable montage on Revenge the other nite is a scorching version of Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' by Paula Fernandez.
Rihanna is now the top selling digital artist of all time.
Kathy Griffin will get her own talk show on Bravo. I won't be watching, will you?
Sunday, January 8, 2011 - 6:16am
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QUICK HITS
Scathing review of the new 'comedy' Work It from the Hollywood Reporter.
Ratings for the season premiere of Desperate Housewives were off by 28%.
More brilliant TV Land stunt casting - Liza Minnelli will guest star on Hot in Cleveland playing Victoria (Wendie Malick) Chase's agent.
Britney, Pink, and Beyoncé as symbols for American imperialsm, put to death in a Pepsi commercial for the Middle East? (In the European version, almost identical, the pop goddesses overthrow the despotic leader at the end.)
One of my fave shows from the 1970s was The Gong Show. It came on weekdays at noon on NBC (replacing Jeopardy) and evenings in syndication. The morning show was vastly superior because of the nutty host, Chuck Barris, also the series' creator / producer. Here's some of that bizarro entertainment:
Wednesday, January 4, 2011 - 6:25am
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This Television Blog is hosted by Billy Ingram, one of the nation's top Pop Culture Gurus and expert on classic TV. Seen on VH1, These TV Blog entries are from the TVparty! website. (I'm not normally this smug - this photo was shot for a film where I played a villain.) |
More Television Blog Highlights: Dark Shadows / Mae West and Mr. Ed / Sky King / Rat Pack Golddiggers / Joe E. Ross (Ooh Ooh!) / Sanford & Son meets Two and a Half Men / Ed Asner Interview / Super Circus / Celebrity Fast Food Joints / Eydie Gorme / Carol Burnett Show / Knight Rider Car / 1969 Fall Previews / Groucho! / Crazy Bloopers / Patty Duke Show / 1957 TV set restoration / The Goldbergs on DVD / Wonderama / O. J. Simpson Ads / 1977 TV Shows / Andy Griffith / Three Stooges / Selling Smokes on TV
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