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Sunday, September 29, 2019

BOTNS Top Ten #35

1) Bob Newhart: I didn't watch the Emmys (hard to get excited about that ceremony when a Battys show is right around the corner), but am told Bob opened the Emmys and did well. Much love to the master. Amazing fact: The Bob Newhart Show never won an Emmy. We might have to give it a Batty even before we cover the series, just on principle.

2) Cheers: This week on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the host made a strange advocacy for his pet idea of a Cheers reboot set in Chicago and starring Vince Vaughn (!) as a retired hockey player. This idea is so bad it's almost good in that it reminds you how fantastic the original series is and what folly it is to reboot it.

3) The Brady Bunch: This past week marked the 50th anniversary of the series premiere. That's 50 years of rapier wit, sophisticated storytelling, and layered performances.

Also: Mom always said, don't play ball in the house!

4) Sonny Spoon: I believe one can trace the steady decline of the world right back to when The United States of America inexplicably refused to be charmed by Mario Van Peebles:




5) Sid Haig: R.I.P. to the veteran cult favorite known for his movie roles but also remembered as the lead heel on Jason of Star Command:




6) Mickey Rooney: Turner Classic Movies saluted the Mickster on his birthday with a lineup of films. Yes, films. Sure, TCM doesn't dip into television often, but it would kill them to sacrifice one more screening of A Yank at Eton to show the pilot for A Year at the Top?

7) Reb Brown: Our investigation of his rare Facts of Life appearance made headlines all over the world. Well, not really, but it should have.



8) Bryant Gumbel: Happy birthday to one of the best TV interviewers ever. If you don't believe it, just ask him!

9) The Mandrell Sisters: I'm only halfway through Ken Burns' epic Country Music miniseries, but surely the series devotes at least a half-hour to their variety show and television's overall attempt to cash in on the "country craze" of the Carter years?





10) John Denver: On a similar note, how can anyone tell the story of country music without a deep dive into the Denver/Muppets connection?


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