We returned to the world of first-run syndication and examined the Eighties glory of Robin Leach in Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It's a show that many might argue epitomizes the decade, for better or for worse. We talked about the glitz, the glamour, and the greed on display in a globetrotting hour of television. Oh, yeah, plus we discussed the original commercials included in the version we saw! Speaking of which, here is that episode:
Anonymous Batty insider says: "I'll be stunned if this one contends in more than a few categories. It should get a lot of folks into the Outstanding Performance As Oneself division, but I didn't get the sense these guys were won over by the show as a whole. The original commercials added some spice to the episode but don't figure to be involved in the awards. Call me crazy, but I think Rick and Mike are more steak and Lowenbrau than champagne wishes and caviar dreams."
One interesting clip in this week's video playlist is Roger Moore on MTV in 1985, perhaps not too distant from his appearance on the Lifestyles episode we discuss, promoting A View to a Kill with Nina Blackwood.
The movie had Duran Duran do the theme song, but does it feel like a MTV 1985 film? I like that the first question Nina asks is about Duran Duran, like Roger was the one who arranged the soundtrack production.
Moore should have struck around and introduced some more clips, like David Lee Roth, Whitney Houston, Simple Minds...
*Thank you again for voting in last season's 80s infotainment poll, which brings us to this week's episode after Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous lost a narrow decision to Entertainment Tonight.
*Announcer David Perry, AKA David Greenspan, was the brother of famed Olympic filmmaker Bud Greenspan and narrated many of those movies.
*Runaway with the Rich and Famous (1991-1998) and Fame, Fortune, and Romance (1986-87) are the two spinoffs of the series. Apparently Robin Leach donated a bunch of VHS tapes to UNLV! Someone digitize this material!
*S.D. "Special Delivery" Jones was active in the WWF from 1974-1990.
*There was an ABC version of the show, re-edited episodes, on daytime weekdays in 1986.
*This episode of Lifestyles aired Saturday, February 9, 1985 in many markets.
*WPXI has been a station in the Pittsburgh market since 1957, though it was WIIC before changing call letters in 1981. For most of its run, it has been an NBC affiliate. In its early days, it aired prominent local shows like studio wrestling and Chiller Theater, both with Bill Cardille.
*"Fat and Furry," premiering September 16, 1989 on CBS, is the Garfield episode Mike mentions. In a show on the show called Lifestyles of the Fat and Furry, Robin Leach shows viewers the luxury lives of spoiled felines.
*Charlene Tilton's single "C'est la Vie" was released in Germany, The Netherlands, and France in 1984. It was not even released in the USA.
*Regine Zylberberg (1929-2022) was a torch singer turned nightclub manager in France. She built an empire of nightclubs for the jet set all over the world. See an incredible disco music video of her and Charo in our video playlist!
*Roger Moore was James Bond in 7 movies from 1873 to 1985.
*Capitol was a CBS daytime soap from 1982 to 1987. other stars included Carolyn Jones, Ed Nelson, Julie Adams, and Rory Calhoun.
*George Michael's Sports Machine launched in 1984 as a production of WRC in Washington D.C. and was syndicated to other NBC stations before getting wider clearance in the Nineties.
*Joan Collins married Peter Holm in November 1985, but they divorced in August 1987, and the marriage was over well before then for practical purposes. She has been married to current husband Percy Gibson for over 20 years.
*Finally, click below to enjoy our video playlist for this week, including promos, commercials, and more! Note that we included something out of the time frame, from the mid Nineties, to give you a taste of the Giant Eagle jingle I mention on the show.
*And remember, you can always check out our official YouTube page for all of our past podcasts and episode-specific playlists for each one!
