Saturday, August 8, 2020
Happy birthday, Don Most!
Don Most was born on this day in 1953, so let's celebrate with a supercut of Ralph Malph saying, "I still got it!" on Happy Days:
Friday, August 7, 2020
Inside the Guide #5: The Nutty Squirrels Present (June 22-28 1975)
Welcome to a new feature here on the site, "Inside the Guide," in which we explore a vintage edition of TV Guide from the BOTNS archives. Let's look at a cartoon that aired on WSBK 38 (Boston) according to the June 22-28 1975 edition of the mag:
As you may have guessed from all the religious programming, this listing is actually from Sunday morning, not Saturday. It still has cartoons, though!
As you may have guessed from all the religious programming, this listing is actually from Sunday morning, not Saturday. It still has cartoons, though!
(Any interest in an episode about Nature World of Captain Bob?)
I confess I had no idea about Nutty Squirrels, and I have watched a lot of TV and a lot of cartoons. Turns out they are a Chipmunks ripoff, only jazzier, using the sped-up-vocals gimmick to create music.
I confess I had no idea about Nutty Squirrels, and I have watched a lot of TV and a lot of cartoons. Turns out they are a Chipmunks ripoff, only jazzier, using the sped-up-vocals gimmick to create music.
What's interesting to me is they actually beat Alvin and the Chipmunks to television, debuting in 1960 in first-run syndication with The Nutty Squirrels Present. The characters served as hosts for an anthology of European-made (intended for theaters) cartoons that distributor Transfilm bought and redubbed, then added bumpers for:
Unfortunately, that intro is almost all I can find from the Squirrels TV program. This cartoon from the series is the only one I can see on YT:
The Alvin Show, apparently inspired by this show, premiered on CBS in Fall 1961.
Anyone remember The Nutty Squirrels Present? I don't think reruns of the program made it to my area when I was growing up.
For more on this rarity, check out this excellent article by Tralfaz, which is my primary source for this post! The author writes: Someone still had ownership of the squirrels cartoons in 1975 because they aired on WSBK-TV in Boston in a half hour slot between Popeye and Wally Gator. When the squirrels were last seen on the small screen is your guess.
(NOTE: We are retconning a few recent posts that looked at this same issue, so this is technically not #1, but #3 in this ongoing series!)
Anyone remember The Nutty Squirrels Present? I don't think reruns of the program made it to my area when I was growing up.
For more on this rarity, check out this excellent article by Tralfaz, which is my primary source for this post! The author writes: Someone still had ownership of the squirrels cartoons in 1975 because they aired on WSBK-TV in Boston in a half hour slot between Popeye and Wally Gator. When the squirrels were last seen on the small screen is your guess.
(NOTE: We are retconning a few recent posts that looked at this same issue, so this is technically not #1, but #3 in this ongoing series!)
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Great Moments in 70s and 80s TV History: Deacon Jones meets Peter Brady
In season 2 of The Brady Bunch, music consumes the family as Bobby hammered away at the drums while Peter tried out for the glee club. The problem in The Drummer Boy (original airdate ###) is that Pete's football teammates mock him for his pursuit of singing.
Peter is not alone, though. His coach has brought in L.A. Rams great Deacon Jones to help teach the kids, and he takes exception to the wise-ass kid's comments.
you think this guy can't play football because he sings?"
the kids says singing is for sissies--canary stuff.
Deacon stares at him and says, "I sing. Am I a sissy?" and things get really quiet for a second.
This is one of the great moments in the show's run. In tone, it's not all that different from Bobby DeNiro's, "I have nipples, Greg. Can you milk ME?" in meet the Parents. For a split-second, though, this brady Bunch moment is even more tense.
Oh, let me tell you, I really wanted ol' Deac to give that kid a patented head slap, but instead he talks about how guys can sing and be real sportsmen. He and Coach mention guys like Rosey Grier, Joe Namath, and Joe Frazier as examples.
The real lesson here is not that Deacon Jones can sing and still be a tough guy. No, the real lesson is that Deacon Jones can wear these pants and still be a tough guy.
Peter is not alone, though. His coach has brought in L.A. Rams great Deacon Jones to help teach the kids, and he takes exception to the wise-ass kid's comments.
the kids says singing is for sissies--canary stuff.
Deacon stares at him and says, "I sing. Am I a sissy?" and things get really quiet for a second.
This is one of the great moments in the show's run. In tone, it's not all that different from Bobby DeNiro's, "I have nipples, Greg. Can you milk ME?" in meet the Parents. For a split-second, though, this brady Bunch moment is even more tense.
Oh, let me tell you, I really wanted ol' Deac to give that kid a patented head slap, but instead he talks about how guys can sing and be real sportsmen. He and Coach mention guys like Rosey Grier, Joe Namath, and Joe Frazier as examples.
The real lesson here is not that Deacon Jones can sing and still be a tough guy. No, the real lesson is that Deacon Jones can wear these pants and still be a tough guy.
Monday, August 3, 2020
This Day in TV History: Christmas in August on NBC
Where do you stand on Christmas episodes running out of season? Personally, I like everything shown in order in syndication, yet I might skip over a Yuletide installment if I'm watching a series on video or in streaming.
NBC didn't mind having "Christmas in August" 40 years ago today, and I bet they even ran a promo touting it with a Casey Kasem voice-over hyping "Christmas Watch," a rerun of CHIPS.
Then again, that episode stood out as the only such rerun on that night. Bookending it were part 1 of "The Omega Connection" on The Wonderful World of Disney and another encore presentation of part something of the miniseries From Here to Eternity.
Perhaps NBC thought people would enjoy revisiting the CHIPS and getting some Christmas cheer. Perhaps they had another holiday episode of the series in the works and figured they might as well rerun this one now.
Or maybe they just didn't care. After all, 1980 was a pretty rough year for NBC. Anyway, Merry Christmas, everyone!
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Top Ten #79
1) Ted Danson: What a week for the TV Icon and Batty winner: He scored an Emmy nomination and then was the subject of our YouTube Spotlight yesterday!
2) The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World: This 1977 Wonderful World of Disney episode may not be the highest-profile addition on Disney Plus this summer, but it should be. You get a great look at the theme park in its youth, plus a wacky (and sometimes, let's face it, appalling) variety special featuring the then-Mousekeeters, headed by Lisa Whelchel. Al this plus Jo Anne Worley and Ronnie Schell AND original commercials? And let's not even talk about the Pooh Polka. Seriously, let's not.
You can't tell me this didn't drive more subs than did Hamilton. OK, you can tell me, but I won't listen.
3) The Odd Couple: Decades celebrates the sitcom this weekend with a marathon. It started in 1970, it is one of my favorites, it is on DVD...Hey, we oughta talk about it on the podcast sometime!
4) NBC's free app: I give props to NBC for not pulling all of its programming off this and moving it to Peacock...yet. Buck Rogers, Punky Brewster, The Equalizer...all are still free (with ads, natch) on here. Unlike Peacock, it's on Roku and Amazon, too.
5) Coloring Book Day: Celebrate by getting Horseshack's scarf just so:
6) Mark-Paul Go--Uh, the guy who played Zack Morris: His new podcast, Zack to the Future, finds the star watching the original series one episode at a time--and I did not write rewatch because he never saw an episode until now! The first episode indicates a fun spirit about the whole thing. Finally, here's your excuse to do that Saved by the Bell rewatch you have been delaying!
7) Carroll O'Connor: The late actor's birthday is today, and, yeah, he had a rich career with many roles, but I am still fighting the urge to call someone a meathead.
8) Sisters Day: Who should we celebrate on this special day? How about Pinky and Leather Tuscadero? Whoa! (picture from The Retroist)
9) 25,000 Pyramid: On TV Confidential with Ed Robertson, Ilene Graff mentioned that you really had to work to get on Pyramid. If you passed that test (yes, a test!), other shows would line up to get you because they knew you were good.
10) Michael Douglas: Congratulations to the star of The Streets of San Francisco for his Emmy nomination.
2) The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World: This 1977 Wonderful World of Disney episode may not be the highest-profile addition on Disney Plus this summer, but it should be. You get a great look at the theme park in its youth, plus a wacky (and sometimes, let's face it, appalling) variety special featuring the then-Mousekeeters, headed by Lisa Whelchel. Al this plus Jo Anne Worley and Ronnie Schell AND original commercials? And let's not even talk about the Pooh Polka. Seriously, let's not.
You can't tell me this didn't drive more subs than did Hamilton. OK, you can tell me, but I won't listen.
3) The Odd Couple: Decades celebrates the sitcom this weekend with a marathon. It started in 1970, it is one of my favorites, it is on DVD...Hey, we oughta talk about it on the podcast sometime!
4) NBC's free app: I give props to NBC for not pulling all of its programming off this and moving it to Peacock...yet. Buck Rogers, Punky Brewster, The Equalizer...all are still free (with ads, natch) on here. Unlike Peacock, it's on Roku and Amazon, too.
5) Coloring Book Day: Celebrate by getting Horseshack's scarf just so:
6) Mark-Paul Go--Uh, the guy who played Zack Morris: His new podcast, Zack to the Future, finds the star watching the original series one episode at a time--and I did not write rewatch because he never saw an episode until now! The first episode indicates a fun spirit about the whole thing. Finally, here's your excuse to do that Saved by the Bell rewatch you have been delaying!
7) Carroll O'Connor: The late actor's birthday is today, and, yeah, he had a rich career with many roles, but I am still fighting the urge to call someone a meathead.
8) Sisters Day: Who should we celebrate on this special day? How about Pinky and Leather Tuscadero? Whoa! (picture from The Retroist)
9) 25,000 Pyramid: On TV Confidential with Ed Robertson, Ilene Graff mentioned that you really had to work to get on Pyramid. If you passed that test (yes, a test!), other shows would line up to get you because they knew you were good.
10) Michael Douglas: Congratulations to the star of The Streets of San Francisco for his Emmy nomination.
Saturday, August 1, 2020
YouTube Spotlight: Sam Malone now pitching...Cheers the TV show
Yesterday we unveiled the video playlist for our new bonus episode, and one of the standout clips is this promo for Cheers on WGN in the 1980s:
I love that it's a promo for a show featuring a character from the show telling us about the show. And what a job he does, too! Someone told Sam Malone to emphasize that "5 times a week" talking point, so he sure gets the message across.
I love that it's a promo for a show featuring a character from the show telling us about the show. And what a job he does, too! Someone told Sam Malone to emphasize that "5 times a week" talking point, so he sure gets the message across.
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