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Cable set-top boxes can use as much energy as a refrigerator or air conditioning unit.
CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE ROUND UP 2, celebrating the classic TV show Creature Double Feature, will take place on September 24, 2011 at the Sheraton Four Point Conference Center in Norwood, Massachusetts. The organizers will be handing out free programs and comic books throughout the month of September and before the event so grab yours and go to this unique event!
John Wayne recorded an album? Oh yeah, he actually had a minor hit with the title song from his 1973 spoken word album 'America, Why I Love Her.' With July 4th coming I guess it's appropriate to be reminded what a great nation we were lucky enough to be born into.
Bette Davis recorded an album? The actress was never known for her singing voice so judge for yourself as she manages a pretty decent version of 'I Wish you Love,' from her EMI album 'Miss Bette Davis' recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. She lip synced that tune on Dinah Shore's talk show in 1977. It works because of her determination, at least for me.
And that's what I wish for you my friend, love. Find it. Keep it. And if you have to let it go to keep what you can - do it!
Monday, June 27, 2011 - 9:27am
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KENNETH WILLIAMS
This weekend I got the opportunity to play the lead in a short comedy reminiscent of Night Gallery for the 48 Hour Film Festival and it was so much fun mainly because I got to play an over-the-top character, something that rarely happens (I'll link you up next weekend.). No one wants to make comedies! When I finished I thought to myself, "that performance was Kenneth Williams big!"
Anyway, some of the comic actors I love best are the ones that chew the scenery. The guy who gets my vote for biggest performances is England's Kenneth Williams who co-starred in dozens of the Carry On movies, more than any other actor, from 1958–1978, where sexual innuendo and juvenile humor are gleefully embraced.
This cheapo motion picture series was immensely popular with 2 or 3 released a year, all starring the same core cast in a new setting - some of the best include Carry On Camping (the gang goes camping), Carry On Nurse (a hospital setting), and Carry On Teacher (you get the idea). The entire core cast was wonderful, each in their own way, but Kenneth Williams takes the cake with his flamboyant, obliviously closeted homosexual roles.
From a chat show, here's how witty the comic was without a script:
Kenneth Williams passed away in 1988. Here's more on the tragic funnyman from a documentary about the Carry On series.
Sunday, June 26, 2011 - 11:14am
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MORE PASSINGS
You may have heard the news that Columbo star Peter Falk has died. Kevin Butler has an obituary here.
One of our readers (I lost the email!) points out that "Mrs. Noah of the Captain Noah show has passed on. Obviously the bigger news was Peter Falk but this lady was loved." Captain Noah, a religious kiddie program, was seen locally in Philadelphia but was also syndicated.
Saturday, June 25, 2011 - 7:04am
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JACK SHELDON HAS PASSED AWAY?
Jack Sheldon, one of my very favorite stars, was reported to have passed away on June 23rd, the date of death was even listed on his Wikipedia page.
Apparently that's thankfully not the case! So let's celebrate this remarkably talented guy with a brief look at his career on television.
You may not recognize the name but you'll recognize his voice from those wonderful Schoolhouse Rock segments from Saturday mornings. My favorite of his was 'Conjunction Junction' but there were others, like perhaps the mostly well-known of the bunch, 'How a Bill Becomes a Law.'
I became familiar with Sheldon when he starred in the short-lived 1966 crime spoof Run Buddy Run where he played a nebbish on the run from the mob. The show co-starred Sheldon Leonard as the head gangster, a role he played often on many shows like Here's Lucy, Sanford & Son and, of course, The Untouchables.
After that Jack Sheldon would turn up on The Merv Griffin Show where he would be called out by the host for his wild, hard-drinking ways. Here's a Merv segment with Harry James, Merv and Jack performing from 1978, a terrific introduction to Sheldon's dynamic style, he is one of the best jazz horn players and a unique vocalist with an abundant sense of wit who I don't think ever achieved the recognition he deserved.
A rare talent and a true original, if you get the chance check out the 2008 documentary Trying to Get Good: the Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon.
Friday, June 24, 2011 - 11:24am
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Your host - Billy Ingram is one of the nation's top Pop Culture Gurus and expert on classic TV. Seen on VH1, |
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Past CLASSIC TV Blog Entries: Tommy Bond / Discovered George Carlin Routine / John Wayne Loves America / Kenneth Williams / Dating Game / Sunday Morning TV / Make Room For Granddaddy / Car 54 Where Are You? / Vince Neil's Public Service Announcements / Joe E. Ross / Car 54 Where Are You? / 2 Questions with Kathy Bates / 7 Outrageous TV Commercial Fails! / Christmas Blog / Lost Christmas Specials of the 50s & 60s / 1970 TV Shows / Strother Martin / Joya Sherrill / Super Circus / 1950's The Big Show / Saturday Morning TV Memories / Hilarious Outtakes / The Smothers Brothers Revisited/Thanksgiving TV Shows / Thanksgiving Day Parade TV History / Thanksgiving TV Cartoon Specials of the 1970s /WPIX Thanksgiving Day TV Specials / Christmas Specials / INTERVIEW WITH DARIN BROOKS /Filthy Rich / Police Squad / Alan Alda Interview /
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