Top Ten #402

1) Benson finale: 40 years ago tonight, Benson and Gatling competed against each other in a race to determine the next governor, and it had an infamous (as infamous as Benson could be!) inconclusive ending.

As much as I wish this was some kind of David Chase situation in which the producers hoped to confound the audience, reports are that ABC asked for a cliffhanger and then canceled the series at the last minute.

2) Sonia Manzano: The former Maria on Sesame Street (last season's Best Show winner at the Battys) was honored this week by the Miami Film Festival.

3) Superman Day: Yesterday we celebrated the Man of Steel. I celebrated by picking up some free stuff at my local comic shop.

You know, I have said Christopher Reeve was "my" Superman back in the day, but that's not the complete story. My "comic book" Superman was that of Curt Swan, and my cartoon Superman was Danny Dark.

4) National Record Store Day: Another event yesterday was this now semiannual celebration of record stores. I popped into one myself but didn't see anything as exciting as this spectacular piece Laurie got me a few years ago:

GENIUS!

5) People Like Us: 50 years ago tonight, NBC aired this unsold pilot with Eugene Roche and Katharine Helmond. It is about a blue-collar family trying to make it. It's produced by Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe of MASH, and it also stars Grant Goodeve!

6) Clyde Kusatsu: The star of Dr. Strange appeared on the MASH Matters podcast, and I want to highlight it because I don't think Clyde Kustatsu makes the media rounds a lot!

7) Larry Holmes vs. Michael Spinks II: 40 years ago tonight, HBO aired this heavyweight championship fight live from Las Vegas. In a rematch from their 1985 bout, Spinks won a split decision to retain the IBF belt, and Holmes was not pleased with the scoring.

8) Billy Idol: Congratulations to the 80s music icon for his announced induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! I hope he greeted the news with a sneer.

9) Crazy About the Movies: Marilyn Monroe: Cinemax was never just Max After Dark. It also showed original documentaries like this one that premiered 40 years ago tonight.

10) R.I.P. Sid Krofft: