RetroFan #46: One of the best issues ever?

I write here about every issue of RetroFan, and it's no surprise that I enjoy any particular issue. That said, issue 46 is a real CORKER!

The lead story is on KISS, a band I admired more as a kid than now, but Mark Voger presents an entertaining overview with just the right amount of Gene Simmons. I was delighted by the idea of a feature on T.J. Hooker, and author Christopher Robinson strikes the right tone, taking the show seriously but not too seriously and fitting a good summary in not too many pages. 

In similar fashion, the article on Banacek provides the flavor of the series, covering production, a list of the character's proverbs, and references in pop culture. Just the fact that RetroFan is venturing out of the A-list and covering the likes of this and Hooker is commendable and proof that there is much to discuss outside the old top-tier classics.

Andy Mangels continues his look at Filmation's Saturday-morning Ark II. Let me say a word in tribute to the late Will Murray, whose piece on the Destroyer novels is a fascinating account of a long book series. The story of the collaboration of the two creators is totally new to me and great reading, and regular contributor Murray will be missed.

There are cool stories on toys, cereal and Slap Shot, but my two favorite pieces are TV-related. Scott Shaw! tells the story of Nat Hiken, focusing on the two brilliant sitcoms he created, Sgt. Bilko and Car 54, Where Are You? Artist Adrian Ropp brings me a big surprise with his tale of working on Pink Panter comics. It's a thoughtful meditation on not just his own career, but the challenges and advantage of working on licensed properties. Ropp provides compelling justifications for his approach and explains how he came to realize the importance of respecting characters and not treating them as brands.

Is this one of the best issues ever? It's a strong statement, but I think this is certainly my favorite issue of the post-Michael Eury era under new editor Ed Catto. The diversity of material in this issue is appealing, and the articles are well executed. There are a few unfortunate typos, but the mag also spotlights some of my favorite stuff and surprises me in places. It's a great installment.

Top Ten #423

1) Emmys: Did you know the Emmys were now spread out over 3 nights? There has to be a way for someone we like to get one, right? Tomorrow night is "the main event." 

2) Captain O.G. Readmore Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Clearly the big happening on this day in TV history is the premiere of this episode of ABC's Weekend Special in 1986. Nothing against LeVar Burton, but I think Readmore's contribution to childhood literacy is way understated.

3) Miss America 1987: The winner of the pageant held 40 years ago tonight in Atlantic City was Kellye Cash, a great niece of Johnny Cash. That's interesting because before Boardwalk hall outbid it at the last minute, the original venue for the pageant was going to be San Quentin.

4) National Peanut Day:

5) Inside Television '76: 50 years ago tonight on this ABC season preview special, guests like Farrah Fawcett and the Captain and Tennille took apart a Zenith and analyzed its cathode ray tube before reassembling it.

6) Easy Street: Another high-profile premiere on this night in 1986: The short-lived Hugh Wilson sitcom with Loni Anderson, Jack Elam, and Lee Weaver. 

7) Raging Bull: People who watch network TV deserve to see good movies, too, but really? Raging Bull on CBS on some random Saturday night? Seems wrong.

8) National Grandparents Day:

9) Jean Smart: She's poised to win yet another Emmy tomorrow night or at least be runner-up, and the Designing Women star turns 75 today.

10) Columbo: I was looking at the new COZI-TV schedule, and they are showing 8 episodes of Columbo each Saturday. 8! I love the show, but that's a little crazy.

Happy Labor Day from BOTNS!

 

Top Ten #422

1) Labor Day: Tomorrow in the USA we celebrate the working folks. Well, it's a day off, anyway. For most people. Let's just get to my annual Working Stiffs clip so I can post something else tomorrow.

2) Jerry Lewis: Still the King of Labor Day, Lewis' annual telethon to raise funds to fight Muscular Dystrophy made history 50 years ago tonight. Special guest Frank Sinatra "reunited" the legendary Martin/Lewis team.

3) Mr. T: You might want to read this incredible article about the 80s icon. In the story, he is promoting the upcoming Netflix documentary about his story, and, oh, by the way, he seems to hate it.

4) College football: See the stars of tomorrow before they get CTE! We hope! 40 years ago tonight, Florida State and Nebraska opened the season in prime time on ABC. Here's a clip of...a PUNT from the game--posted by the punter!

5) SCTV: It really happened! The series is now on Netflix. Is it complete? Apparently it has music cuts, and it is reformatted for widescreen, but it's on Netflix, and that's pretty darn good, I say. We talk about the show here.

6) Dukes of Hazzard: Legend TV in the UK just added reruns of the series, and of course it prompted a whole new round of complaints of people in the United States--not people offended, but people offended at the thought of anyone being offended.

Personally, I'm just relieved the channel is in the UK because I saw this news and thought, hey, how did I not know this existed?

7) Rodney Dangerfield: It's Not Easy Bein' Me: This special aired this night in 1986 on HBO and features the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Sam Kinison. It shouldn't be confused with the 1982 ABC special of the same name, which features the likes of Bill Murray and Aretha Franklin, plus a lot less swearing.

8) Chang and Eng Bunker: Earlier this season, Mike and I talked about HBO, focusing in part on Some Call Them Freaks...a 1980s documentary that includes the story of conjoined twins Chang and Eng. There's a lot more to that story, and you can get some of it in this piece about the annual family reunion of their descendants.

9) US Open Super Saturday 1986: On this day in 1986, the tennis tournament crowned Martina Navratilova champ after a win over Helena Sukova; on the men's side, Ivan Lendl and Miloslave Mecir won their matches to advance to the final.

10) Thames on 9: 50 years ago tonight, WOR-TV in the New York City area kicked off a theme week in which it devoted its evening (way beyond "prime time," going all the way to signoff) schedule to imported UK programs from Thames TV. The lineup included episodes of Bless This House, Rock Follies, and of course Benny Hill.

Brooks on Books: The Dennis the Menace Storybook (1960)

I found this in a box of old stuff at my parents' house recently, and of course I claimed it. Well, I am sure it was mine, but I don't know the provenance considering it's a 1960 publication and I was not on this planet, let alone reading, in 1960.

I loved Dennis as a kid, though, as I said in our Dennis the Menace episode, though I focused on the comic books. This is a great hardback book, still in decent shape. The photo cover with Jay North is appealing, and there are numerous illustrations throughout by Lee Holley.

The book is an interesting concept: An adaptation of TV series scripts in prose form, supplemented by the comic book-style illustrations. I have not read the prose, at least not in this century, but I am enjoying the art. Overall it's a great package and a notable Dennis item!

Top Ten #421

1) Perry Mason: Thanks to the fine folks at FETV, who I believe are showing reruns of the series uncut and uncropped, I was able to watch an episode not in the streaming package: "The Case of the Jaded Joker." It was great! I think maybe music rights is the issue, but at any rate, I was impressed with FETV's presentation.

2) Tom Brokaw: 50 years ago this morning, the newsman began co-hosting Today on NBC. Yes, I said that in a faux Brokaw voice as I typed it.

3) Perfect Strangers: The Complete Series: The whole run was released on Blu-Ray this week. Must avoid saying the catchphrase. Must avoid saying the catchphrase. This is not ridiculous.

4) Power's Play: This unsold pilot aired 40 years ago tonight on CBS. It combined nighttime soap elements like corporate intrigue and villainy with a Western setting, and it starred David Birney, Sheree North, and Noah Beery. Birney plays...Lucas Cord. You thought I was gonna say Lucas Power, didn't you?

5) Amuck in America: Remember this MTV series that Alan Hunter hosted? Hunter and crew took a road trip across the country in August 1986. The episode airing this day in 1986 saw a visit to surfing championships in Huntington beach, CA

6) Making It: A Lorimar pilot also known as Four the Hard Way that aired this night in 1976. Burt Metcalfe produced this sitcom about 4 undergrads boarding with a thrice-divorced woman. Ed Begley Jr. starred. Not to be confused with later disco sitcom Makin' It nor with later Ed Begley Jr. sitcom My Mother the Electric Car (OK, I made up that one).

7) Newman's Drugstore: A pilot co-produced by Paramount and Playboy Productions with Herschel Bernardi as Charlie Newman, a widower/proprietor in Depression-era Brooklyn.

8) Winds of War: Congrats to our pals Steve and Dave, who just launched a podcast devoted to the epic miniseries!

9) Spitting Image: An NBC special of the popular BBC show, "Down and Out in the White House," aired this night in 1986 on NBC. I never could get into this concept. I didn't even like the "Land of Confusion" video!

10) R.I.P. This section is a long one this week. I also want to mention Anissa Jones of Family Affair because the news of this day in 1976 was filled with stories about her death at the age of 18. Not represented with clips below: Leslie Parrish, who was in many TV shows of the Sixties and Seventies; and Michael Wright, who starred as Elias Taylor in V.

Shelley Fabares:

Tim Curry:

Jaye P. Morgan:

Peter Cullen:

Dolly Parton:

Spider-Man (1978) on location

The great TV Days YouTube channel posted the following video, which is full of cool second-unit footage from the making of the CBS Spider-Man series:

I believe this is an updated version of a video he posted several years ago. Read the description for notes on the secret origin of the footage!

Of course we talk about The Amazing Spider-Man in our most recent season. You can find that episode right here!