1960's
Space Craze of the 1960's
July 03, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
NASA’s Golden Age of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo during the 1960’s inspired television decision makers to use space as a theme.
I Dream of Jeannie featured Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson, an astronaut in the starring male role. Several scenes featured Captain (later Major) Nelson’s job responsibilities at Cape Canaveral, known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973. Nelson lived in a small house in Cocoa Beach with Jeannie, a beautiful blonde genie played by Barbara Eden who couldn’t stop herself form trying to help her master. Nelson met Jeannie after his space capsule splashed down and he washed up on the beach. He found her bottle, opened it, and out came Jeannie. He rescued her and she served him as payback. Eventually, they married.
Set in the future, Star Trek explored worlds, universes, and planets. The U.S.S. Enterprise went where no man had gone before. Essentially Wagon Train in space, Star Trek showcased the adventures of the Enterprise staff. The episodes were often allegories about peace, war, brotherhood, and racism.
Lost In Space showed us a space launch gone awry. A space takeoff on Swiss Family Robinson, Lost In Space depicted weekly adventures of the Robinson family on strange planets. Initially, the Robinsons’ mission is to colonize space for the United States. A foreign agent, Dr. Zachary Smith, caused the Robinson’s space craft to malfunction. His efforts backfire as he can’t leave the space craft before it launches. Smith becomes the comic relief, foil, and wacky neighbor character.
The Twilight Zone had episodes with a space theme. The Little People tells a lesson about bullying.
Astronauts William Fletcher and Peter Craig encounter a malfunction with their space ship, so they land on a planet to make repairs. Craig discovers an area inhabited by people who are the size of ants. He destroys their property and declares himself their god. He forces them to build a statue of him. Fletcher finishes repairing the space craft but Craig wants to stay. You reap what you sow. Two giant explorers from another planet are repairing their ship. One accidentally kills Craig. The “little people”are ecstatic and they bring the statue down.
david@davidkrell.com
NASA’s Golden Age of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo during the 1960’s inspired television decision makers to use space as a theme.
I Dream of Jeannie featured Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson, an astronaut in the starring male role. Several scenes featured Captain (later Major) Nelson’s job responsibilities at Cape Canaveral, known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973. Nelson lived in a small house in Cocoa Beach with Jeannie, a beautiful blonde genie played by Barbara Eden who couldn’t stop herself form trying to help her master. Nelson met Jeannie after his space capsule splashed down and he washed up on the beach. He found her bottle, opened it, and out came Jeannie. He rescued her and she served him as payback. Eventually, they married.
Set in the future, Star Trek explored worlds, universes, and planets. The U.S.S. Enterprise went where no man had gone before. Essentially Wagon Train in space, Star Trek showcased the adventures of the Enterprise staff. The episodes were often allegories about peace, war, brotherhood, and racism.
Lost In Space showed us a space launch gone awry. A space takeoff on Swiss Family Robinson, Lost In Space depicted weekly adventures of the Robinson family on strange planets. Initially, the Robinsons’ mission is to colonize space for the United States. A foreign agent, Dr. Zachary Smith, caused the Robinson’s space craft to malfunction. His efforts backfire as he can’t leave the space craft before it launches. Smith becomes the comic relief, foil, and wacky neighbor character.
The Twilight Zone had episodes with a space theme. The Little People tells a lesson about bullying.
Astronauts William Fletcher and Peter Craig encounter a malfunction with their space ship, so they land on a planet to make repairs. Craig discovers an area inhabited by people who are the size of ants. He destroys their property and declares himself their god. He forces them to build a statue of him. Fletcher finishes repairing the space craft but Craig wants to stay. You reap what you sow. Two giant explorers from another planet are repairing their ship. One accidentally kills Craig. The “little people”are ecstatic and they bring the statue down.
1970's Saturday Morning Music Toons
November 22, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Between the hard rock sounds of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Doors and the disco beat of the Bee Gees, bubble gum music thrived in the early 1970’s, specifically on Saturday morning cartoons.
Whether used as literary devices to complement the story line or merchandising tools to promote record sales, songs added a dimension to the cartoons. They provided another example of the inevitable connection between music and television.
Kid Power is a show that may be described as Peanuts meeting the Rainbow Coalition. The late 1960’s and early 1970’s messages of peace, friendship, love, and harmony filled the series. Based on Morrie Turner’s Wee Pals comic strip, Kid Power revolved around a melting pot of kids in a group called Rainbow Club. Different colors, nationalities, and backgrounds did not stop the kids from joining forces to accomplish their goals.
Music giant Mike Curb was the show’s Music Consultant. The song for each episode illustrated that episode’s lesson.
Kid Power aired on ABC during the 1972-73 season with seventeen episodes. The following season consisted of reruns.
The Partridge Family went off the air in 1974 after four seasons. In the fall of 1974, Partridge Family, 2200 A.D. showed us a futuristic view of America’s favorite singing family.
Except for Shirley Jones and David Cassidy, the cast voiced their cartoon counterparts.
The Brady Kids capitalized on the popularity of Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy from The Brady Bunch.
Music was a natural fit for the cartoon because the child actors released albums, toured in concert, and performed on The Brady Bunch. Unlike Partridge Family, 2200 A.D., however, The Brady Kids broadcast history coincided with its parent show. The Brady Kids aired 22 episodes and debuted in the fall of 1972.
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show depicted Bedrock’s favorite boy and girl as teenagers. Sally Struthers (All in the Family) and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) voiced the title characters.
Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm and their friends -- Moonrock, Penny, and Wiggy -- formed The Bedrock Rollers, a stone age rock and roll group.
Plots in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show focused on Pebbles’ outrageous ideas that often recalled Lucy Ricardo. Pebbles and Lucy shared enthusiasm, optimism, and inspiration. But their plans often went awry, aside, and down the tubes.
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show first aired in September of 1971.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids showed stories that were universal to growing up. Bill Cosby’s stand up comedy routines about his childhood in Philadelphia laid the groundwork for this animated version of Fat Albert, Weird Harold, Cosby and his brother Russell, and the rest of the gang.
Cosby addressed the audience about the lesson in the story and the kids sang a song corresponding with the lesson learned.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids debuted in September of 1972.
Rankin-Bass produced two shows about family singing groups at the pinnacle of their respective successes -- The Osmonds and Jackson Five.
Jackson Five debuted in September of 1971 on the heels of their four number-one hits in 1970 -- I Want You Back, The Love You Save, ABC, and I’ll Be There.
The Jacksons voiced their animated likenesses for the show’s twenty-three episodes.
The Osmond brothers from Utah who got their big break on The Andy Williams Show got their shot at cartoon fame a year later. Debuting in September of 1972, The Osmonds featured the boys with big smiles, harmonious sounds, and innocence.
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan featured a cartoon version of Charlie Chan with ten kids. Chan led his children in solving crimes. The older kids had a rock band -- The Chan Clan. Ron Dante, the lead singer for The Archies, filled the same role here.
Josie and the Pussycats also enjoy a connection to the Archieverse. The title character first appeared under the Archie comics banner in 1963. In Television Cartoon Shows, Hal Erickson writes, It was at the suggestion of CBS executive Fred Silverman that Hanna-Barbera (taking over from The Archies’ home studio Filmation, then overloaded with product) reshape Josie into the lead singer of a rock group -- hoping no doubt for a reprise of the success that greeted the Archies’ hit single Sugar Sugar.
After the show aired during the 1970-71 season, Hanna-Barbera retooled it with a space theme. Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space aired for two seasons -- 1972-74.
Josie’s comic book cousins from Riverdale, Archie et. al., inspired the music-cartoon nexus. The Archie Show is the first show in the Saturday morning music toon genre. It debuted in September of 1968 and lasted one season. Sugar, Sugar launched during The Archie Show tenure in 1969. It became a #1 song.
The Archie characters continued in different shows and formats between 1969 and 1978 -- The Archie Comedy Hour, Archie’s Fun House Featuring the Giant Juke Box, Archie’s TV Funnies, Everything’s Archie, U.S. of Archie, The New Archie / Sabrina Hour, Archie’s Bang-Shang Lalapalooza Show.
Although Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids aired for several years on television (1972-84), the other programs did not fare as well. But they were still enjoyable to watch, listen to, and learn from, especially during a time where real-life events increasingly challenged innocence -- assassinations, riots, Vietnam War.
On those sleepy Saturday mornings in the early 1970’s, children woke up to these shows that gave entertainment, optimism, and hope.
david@davidkrell.com
Between the hard rock sounds of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and the Doors and the disco beat of the Bee Gees, bubble gum music thrived in the early 1970’s, specifically on Saturday morning cartoons.
Whether used as literary devices to complement the story line or merchandising tools to promote record sales, songs added a dimension to the cartoons. They provided another example of the inevitable connection between music and television.
Kid Power is a show that may be described as Peanuts meeting the Rainbow Coalition. The late 1960’s and early 1970’s messages of peace, friendship, love, and harmony filled the series. Based on Morrie Turner’s Wee Pals comic strip, Kid Power revolved around a melting pot of kids in a group called Rainbow Club. Different colors, nationalities, and backgrounds did not stop the kids from joining forces to accomplish their goals.
Music giant Mike Curb was the show’s Music Consultant. The song for each episode illustrated that episode’s lesson.
Kid Power aired on ABC during the 1972-73 season with seventeen episodes. The following season consisted of reruns.
The Partridge Family went off the air in 1974 after four seasons. In the fall of 1974, Partridge Family, 2200 A.D. showed us a futuristic view of America’s favorite singing family.
Except for Shirley Jones and David Cassidy, the cast voiced their cartoon counterparts.
The Brady Kids capitalized on the popularity of Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy from The Brady Bunch.
Music was a natural fit for the cartoon because the child actors released albums, toured in concert, and performed on The Brady Bunch. Unlike Partridge Family, 2200 A.D., however, The Brady Kids broadcast history coincided with its parent show. The Brady Kids aired 22 episodes and debuted in the fall of 1972.
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show depicted Bedrock’s favorite boy and girl as teenagers. Sally Struthers (All in the Family) and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) voiced the title characters.
Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm and their friends -- Moonrock, Penny, and Wiggy -- formed The Bedrock Rollers, a stone age rock and roll group.
Plots in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show focused on Pebbles’ outrageous ideas that often recalled Lucy Ricardo. Pebbles and Lucy shared enthusiasm, optimism, and inspiration. But their plans often went awry, aside, and down the tubes.
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show first aired in September of 1971.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids showed stories that were universal to growing up. Bill Cosby’s stand up comedy routines about his childhood in Philadelphia laid the groundwork for this animated version of Fat Albert, Weird Harold, Cosby and his brother Russell, and the rest of the gang.
Cosby addressed the audience about the lesson in the story and the kids sang a song corresponding with the lesson learned.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids debuted in September of 1972.
Rankin-Bass produced two shows about family singing groups at the pinnacle of their respective successes -- The Osmonds and Jackson Five.
Jackson Five debuted in September of 1971 on the heels of their four number-one hits in 1970 -- I Want You Back, The Love You Save, ABC, and I’ll Be There.
The Jacksons voiced their animated likenesses for the show’s twenty-three episodes.
The Osmond brothers from Utah who got their big break on The Andy Williams Show got their shot at cartoon fame a year later. Debuting in September of 1972, The Osmonds featured the boys with big smiles, harmonious sounds, and innocence.
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan featured a cartoon version of Charlie Chan with ten kids. Chan led his children in solving crimes. The older kids had a rock band -- The Chan Clan. Ron Dante, the lead singer for The Archies, filled the same role here.
Josie and the Pussycats also enjoy a connection to the Archieverse. The title character first appeared under the Archie comics banner in 1963. In Television Cartoon Shows, Hal Erickson writes, It was at the suggestion of CBS executive Fred Silverman that Hanna-Barbera (taking over from The Archies’ home studio Filmation, then overloaded with product) reshape Josie into the lead singer of a rock group -- hoping no doubt for a reprise of the success that greeted the Archies’ hit single Sugar Sugar.
After the show aired during the 1970-71 season, Hanna-Barbera retooled it with a space theme. Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space aired for two seasons -- 1972-74.
Josie’s comic book cousins from Riverdale, Archie et. al., inspired the music-cartoon nexus. The Archie Show is the first show in the Saturday morning music toon genre. It debuted in September of 1968 and lasted one season. Sugar, Sugar launched during The Archie Show tenure in 1969. It became a #1 song.
The Archie characters continued in different shows and formats between 1969 and 1978 -- The Archie Comedy Hour, Archie’s Fun House Featuring the Giant Juke Box, Archie’s TV Funnies, Everything’s Archie, U.S. of Archie, The New Archie / Sabrina Hour, Archie’s Bang-Shang Lalapalooza Show.
Although Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids aired for several years on television (1972-84), the other programs did not fare as well. But they were still enjoyable to watch, listen to, and learn from, especially during a time where real-life events increasingly challenged innocence -- assassinations, riots, Vietnam War.
On those sleepy Saturday mornings in the early 1970’s, children woke up to these shows that gave entertainment, optimism, and hope.
Harry Morgan
November 21, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Before he was Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H, Harry Morgan was one of Hollywood’s cornerstone character actors. He shared the silver screen with legends.
Inherit the Wind with Spencer Tracy and Fredric March.
High Noon with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.
The Glenn Miller Story with Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson.
The Shootist with John Wayne.
Frankie and Johnny with Elvis Presley.
Support Your Local Sheriff with James Garner.
Dragnet with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd. In Dragnet, Morgan reprises his role of Bill Gannon from the television series of the same name in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Gannon has climbed the ranks to become a police captain.
Morgan played Pete Porter in the television series December Bride and its spinoff -- Pete & Gladys. He also played Judge Bell in the trio of 1990’s Incident tv-movies starring Walter Matthau -- The Incident, Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore, Incident in a Small Town.
But Harry Morgan’s role of the authoritative, compassionate, and wise Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H is likely the role most identified with Morgan. Potter is Morgan’s signature character.
Morgan had big shoes to fill. When M*A*S*H producers killed off Colonel Henry Blake in the spring of 1975, the creative decision sparked shock, dismay, and even outrage. Who ever heard of a show killing a major, beloved, and valuable character? Blake’s death offered no chance for a spinoff, return appearance, or revival.
While McLean Stevenson’s popularity soared as the affable, bumbling, and concerned Colonel Blake who was also one of the guys, Harry Morgan won the respect of fans by playing Colonel Potter with dignity, understanding, and a voice of experience.
Potter led Hawkeye, B.J. and the rest of the M*A*S*H 4077th, but he never talked down to them. He was a Regular Army style solider but he ignored the rules and regulations if they interfered with treating wounded soldiers.
Potter was a combat veteran who became a doctor. But he never forgot the courage of soldiers in the field.
In a vicious ocean of injury, violence, and death, Morgan’s Colonel Potter was the calm oasis of experience, wisdom, and compassion.
Harry Morgan actually made a pre-Potter appearance on M*A*S*H. In the third season premiere -- The General Flipped At Dawn -- he plays General Steele, a half-crazed general. Morgan received an Emmy nomination for his guest appearance in this episode that kicked off the 1975-76 season.
For his role as Colonel Potter, Morgan received eight nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He won once. He also received an Emmy nomination for Best Director.
Harry Morgan continued playing Colonel Potter in the sequel After M*A*S*H. The show is set in a stateside Veterans Administration hospital in Missouri. Jamie Farr and William Christopher joined Morgan to continue their roles as Max Klinger and Father Mulcahy respectively.
After After M*A*S*H, Morgan mostly enjoyed guest appearances on television shows -- The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Grace Under Fire, Third Rock from the Sun, and The Simpsons.
On The Simpsons, Morgan once again reprised his role of Bill Gannon.
david@davidkrell.com
Before he was Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H, Harry Morgan was one of Hollywood’s cornerstone character actors. He shared the silver screen with legends.
Inherit the Wind with Spencer Tracy and Fredric March.
High Noon with Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly.
The Glenn Miller Story with Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson.
The Shootist with John Wayne.
Frankie and Johnny with Elvis Presley.
Support Your Local Sheriff with James Garner.
Dragnet with Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd. In Dragnet, Morgan reprises his role of Bill Gannon from the television series of the same name in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Gannon has climbed the ranks to become a police captain.
Morgan played Pete Porter in the television series December Bride and its spinoff -- Pete & Gladys. He also played Judge Bell in the trio of 1990’s Incident tv-movies starring Walter Matthau -- The Incident, Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore, Incident in a Small Town.
But Harry Morgan’s role of the authoritative, compassionate, and wise Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H is likely the role most identified with Morgan. Potter is Morgan’s signature character.
Morgan had big shoes to fill. When M*A*S*H producers killed off Colonel Henry Blake in the spring of 1975, the creative decision sparked shock, dismay, and even outrage. Who ever heard of a show killing a major, beloved, and valuable character? Blake’s death offered no chance for a spinoff, return appearance, or revival.
While McLean Stevenson’s popularity soared as the affable, bumbling, and concerned Colonel Blake who was also one of the guys, Harry Morgan won the respect of fans by playing Colonel Potter with dignity, understanding, and a voice of experience.
Potter led Hawkeye, B.J. and the rest of the M*A*S*H 4077th, but he never talked down to them. He was a Regular Army style solider but he ignored the rules and regulations if they interfered with treating wounded soldiers.
Potter was a combat veteran who became a doctor. But he never forgot the courage of soldiers in the field.
In a vicious ocean of injury, violence, and death, Morgan’s Colonel Potter was the calm oasis of experience, wisdom, and compassion.
Harry Morgan actually made a pre-Potter appearance on M*A*S*H. In the third season premiere -- The General Flipped At Dawn -- he plays General Steele, a half-crazed general. Morgan received an Emmy nomination for his guest appearance in this episode that kicked off the 1975-76 season.
For his role as Colonel Potter, Morgan received eight nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He won once. He also received an Emmy nomination for Best Director.
Harry Morgan continued playing Colonel Potter in the sequel After M*A*S*H. The show is set in a stateside Veterans Administration hospital in Missouri. Jamie Farr and William Christopher joined Morgan to continue their roles as Max Klinger and Father Mulcahy respectively.
After After M*A*S*H, Morgan mostly enjoyed guest appearances on television shows -- The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Grace Under Fire, Third Rock from the Sun, and The Simpsons.
On The Simpsons, Morgan once again reprised his role of Bill Gannon.
America
November 21, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
God bless America.
Take a look at a program schedule from the last few years.
Patriotic fever apparently strikes television executives.
America’s Next Top Model.
America’s Most Wanted.
American Chopper.
American Masters.
American Hot Rod.
America’s Next Producer.
American Justice.
America’s Got Talent.
American Experience.
American Inventor.
American Idol.
American Dad.
What accounts for these allusions to the red, white, and blue in television program titles that we might expect during an anniversary year, like a bicentennial?
First, size matters.
America is a pretty big, powerful, and awesome place. With a version of the word America in the title, the program naturally targets a mass audience -- all of us.
Second, success matters.
American Idol is popular, so subsequent offerings borrow from the name as well as the format
Models meet American Idol = America’s Next Top Model.
Inventors meet American Idol = American Inventor.
Third, pride matters.
America gives the audience a sense of pride -- the show could not take place anywhere but America.
For example, American Chopper is a series about the prototypical American success story of a family business -- Orange County Choppers. But success does not come easy for this upstate New York business focused on making one-of-a-kind motorcycles. It is a result of hard work, dedication, and passion.
Paul Teutul started Orange County Choppers in his basement because of his passion for building motorcycles. The business ballooned into a marketing, licensing, and television juggernaut.
Although Made in the U.S.A. fever seems to be contagious given the numerous America-based titles, we’ve actually seen the use of America throughout television history.
American Gladiators.
Good Morning, America.
America’s Funniest Home Videos.
American Dream was a short-lived series in the early 1980’s centering on a family’s move back to the city from their quiet home in suburbia.
American Dreamer took an opposite premise. This early 1990’s sitcom stars Robert Urich as a widower who trades in his globetrotting journalism work for a quiet life in Wisconsin with his family and a job as a newspaper columnist.
Amerika was a 1987 miniseries on ABC that depicted life ten years after a Soviet takeover. Robert Urich also starred in this offering along with Kris Kristofferson.
Americathon was a 1979 tv-movie showing what the country would be like in 1998 -- America is bankrupt, the president is a skirt chaser, and the oil supply is facing depletion. Were the writers prescient or was the plot line simply a coincidence?
The title comes from a telethon to save America.
American Bandstand starred eternally youthful Dick Clark from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Clark capitalized on the American Bandstand brand and library with American Dreams. This NBC show enjoyed a three-season run -- 2002-2005. It showed us life in the 1960’s through the Pryor family, specifically Meg Pryor. Meg was an All-American teenage girl in Philadelphia who faced the trials and tribulations of growing up as she fulfilled her dream of being an American Bandstand dancer.
Finally, Love, American Style used an anthology format and featured guest stars in love stories that were varied, funny, and somewhat realistic.
Coincidentally, except for American Dreams and American Dreamer, many of the shows mentioned appeared on ABC -- American Broadcasting Company.
david@davidkrell.com
God bless America.
Take a look at a program schedule from the last few years.
Patriotic fever apparently strikes television executives.
America’s Next Top Model.
America’s Most Wanted.
American Chopper.
American Masters.
American Hot Rod.
America’s Next Producer.
American Justice.
America’s Got Talent.
American Experience.
American Inventor.
American Idol.
American Dad.
What accounts for these allusions to the red, white, and blue in television program titles that we might expect during an anniversary year, like a bicentennial?
First, size matters.
America is a pretty big, powerful, and awesome place. With a version of the word America in the title, the program naturally targets a mass audience -- all of us.
Second, success matters.
American Idol is popular, so subsequent offerings borrow from the name as well as the format
Models meet American Idol = America’s Next Top Model.
Inventors meet American Idol = American Inventor.
Third, pride matters.
America gives the audience a sense of pride -- the show could not take place anywhere but America.
For example, American Chopper is a series about the prototypical American success story of a family business -- Orange County Choppers. But success does not come easy for this upstate New York business focused on making one-of-a-kind motorcycles. It is a result of hard work, dedication, and passion.
Paul Teutul started Orange County Choppers in his basement because of his passion for building motorcycles. The business ballooned into a marketing, licensing, and television juggernaut.
Although Made in the U.S.A. fever seems to be contagious given the numerous America-based titles, we’ve actually seen the use of America throughout television history.
American Gladiators.
Good Morning, America.
America’s Funniest Home Videos.
American Dream was a short-lived series in the early 1980’s centering on a family’s move back to the city from their quiet home in suburbia.
American Dreamer took an opposite premise. This early 1990’s sitcom stars Robert Urich as a widower who trades in his globetrotting journalism work for a quiet life in Wisconsin with his family and a job as a newspaper columnist.
Amerika was a 1987 miniseries on ABC that depicted life ten years after a Soviet takeover. Robert Urich also starred in this offering along with Kris Kristofferson.
Americathon was a 1979 tv-movie showing what the country would be like in 1998 -- America is bankrupt, the president is a skirt chaser, and the oil supply is facing depletion. Were the writers prescient or was the plot line simply a coincidence?
The title comes from a telethon to save America.
American Bandstand starred eternally youthful Dick Clark from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. Clark capitalized on the American Bandstand brand and library with American Dreams. This NBC show enjoyed a three-season run -- 2002-2005. It showed us life in the 1960’s through the Pryor family, specifically Meg Pryor. Meg was an All-American teenage girl in Philadelphia who faced the trials and tribulations of growing up as she fulfilled her dream of being an American Bandstand dancer.
Finally, Love, American Style used an anthology format and featured guest stars in love stories that were varied, funny, and somewhat realistic.
Coincidentally, except for American Dreams and American Dreamer, many of the shows mentioned appeared on ABC -- American Broadcasting Company.
Sixties Sitcom Music
November 17, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
If music be the food of 1960’s television sitcoms, play on.
In the 60’s, the Beatles headed a British invasion across the Atlantic Ocean and inspired sitcom versions of themselves.
We saw the real-life Standells perform I Want To Hold Your Hand on The Munsters.
And who could forget the Bedbugs -- the F Troop answer to the boys from Liverpool.
Gilligan’s Island welcomed the Mosquitoes, known individually as Bingo, Bango, Bongo, and Irving.
On the same episode featuring the Mosquitoes, we saw the girls from Gilligan’s Island transform themselves into the Honeybees. It was an homage to Diana Ross and the Supremes and other members of the girl group genre.
The Beach Boys introduced us to the surfing sound and we heard Jimmy Darren sing Surfing Craze on The Flintstones as Stone Age rock and roller Jimmy Darrock.
The modern Stone Age family embraced rock and roll as a cornerstone of its adventures. By the way, the puns in the previous sentence are intended.
One example is Ann Margret as prehistoric singing sensation Ann Margrock. To the Flintstones and Rubbles, though, she was simply Annie -- Pebbles’ babysitter.
Fred and Barney take Annie under their wing and even bring her into their soft shoe act. They quite a a shocker at the concert when they realize that Annie is really superstar Ann Margrock.
This episode featured Ann Margret’s wonderful rendition of the lullaby The Littlest Lamb and an nergized performance of I Ain’t Gonna Be Your Fool No More.
Another family sitcom benefited from the musical talents of its stars -- The Dick Van Dyke Show. This program frequently featured title star Dick Van Dyke and co-star Mary Tyler Moore dancing and singing.
She, of the 50,000 watt smile, Capri pants, and famous cry Oh Rob! The whole cast got into the act during the only Christmas themed episode -- The Alan Brady Show Presents. For those who need a reminder, Dick Van Dyke’s character -- Rob Petrie -- is Head Writer for The Alan Brady Show, a network television variety program.
The premise was simple. In a show within a show, Alan Brady gives his staff a chance to perform during his Christmas show. Larry Matthews (Richie Petrie) sings The Little Drummer Boy.
Another scene features Rob Petrie, Laura Petrie, Buddy Sorrell, Sally Rogers, and Mel Cooley sing an old favorite -- I Am A Fine Musician.
The characters are played respectively by Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Richard Deacon.
The Dick Van Dyke Show also gave us its version of the Twist -- the Twizzle. It’s a song and dance made popular at a local bowling alley by Randy Twizzle (Jerry Lanning).
Apparently, Rob Petrie also dabbled in writing songs along with writing comedy. When he hears a certain song on the radio, he claims that he co-wrote the song -- Bupkis. Bupkis is a Yiddish term with a not so family friendly translation. In family friendly terms, Bupkis is a lot of nothing. The song’s lyrics reflect that definition.
david@davidkrell.com
If music be the food of 1960’s television sitcoms, play on.
In the 60’s, the Beatles headed a British invasion across the Atlantic Ocean and inspired sitcom versions of themselves.
We saw the real-life Standells perform I Want To Hold Your Hand on The Munsters.
And who could forget the Bedbugs -- the F Troop answer to the boys from Liverpool.
Gilligan’s Island welcomed the Mosquitoes, known individually as Bingo, Bango, Bongo, and Irving.
On the same episode featuring the Mosquitoes, we saw the girls from Gilligan’s Island transform themselves into the Honeybees. It was an homage to Diana Ross and the Supremes and other members of the girl group genre.
The Beach Boys introduced us to the surfing sound and we heard Jimmy Darren sing Surfing Craze on The Flintstones as Stone Age rock and roller Jimmy Darrock.
The modern Stone Age family embraced rock and roll as a cornerstone of its adventures. By the way, the puns in the previous sentence are intended.
One example is Ann Margret as prehistoric singing sensation Ann Margrock. To the Flintstones and Rubbles, though, she was simply Annie -- Pebbles’ babysitter.
Fred and Barney take Annie under their wing and even bring her into their soft shoe act. They quite a a shocker at the concert when they realize that Annie is really superstar Ann Margrock.
This episode featured Ann Margret’s wonderful rendition of the lullaby The Littlest Lamb and an nergized performance of I Ain’t Gonna Be Your Fool No More.
Another family sitcom benefited from the musical talents of its stars -- The Dick Van Dyke Show. This program frequently featured title star Dick Van Dyke and co-star Mary Tyler Moore dancing and singing.
She, of the 50,000 watt smile, Capri pants, and famous cry Oh Rob! The whole cast got into the act during the only Christmas themed episode -- The Alan Brady Show Presents. For those who need a reminder, Dick Van Dyke’s character -- Rob Petrie -- is Head Writer for The Alan Brady Show, a network television variety program.
The premise was simple. In a show within a show, Alan Brady gives his staff a chance to perform during his Christmas show. Larry Matthews (Richie Petrie) sings The Little Drummer Boy.
Another scene features Rob Petrie, Laura Petrie, Buddy Sorrell, Sally Rogers, and Mel Cooley sing an old favorite -- I Am A Fine Musician.
The characters are played respectively by Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Richard Deacon.
The Dick Van Dyke Show also gave us its version of the Twist -- the Twizzle. It’s a song and dance made popular at a local bowling alley by Randy Twizzle (Jerry Lanning).
Apparently, Rob Petrie also dabbled in writing songs along with writing comedy. When he hears a certain song on the radio, he claims that he co-wrote the song -- Bupkis. Bupkis is a Yiddish term with a not so family friendly translation. In family friendly terms, Bupkis is a lot of nothing. The song’s lyrics reflect that definition.
Crime Story
October 01, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
In the 1980’s, an NBC show about cops had it all.
A new look.
Story arcs that existed over several episodes.
And the elevation of lesser known actors into household name status.
Hill Street Blues? No.
Miami Vice? No.
Crime Story.
Michael Mann’s production of a Chicago cop and his mobster prey only lasted two seasons from 1986-1988.
But it was a terrific two years.
Set in the early 1960’s, Crime Story followed the exploits of Chicago Police Department Lt. Mike Torello and his squad at MCU or Major Crimes Unit. Their mission is to take down mobster Ray Luca.
When Luca moves his base of operations to Las Vegas, Torello and team follows, only to trade in their Chicago police badges to work for the feds.
At the end of the first season, Ray Luca and his addlebrained sidekick, Paulie Taglia, escape to the desert where they find themselves in the middle of nuclear testing. Because they survive, the federal government gives them immunity from prosecution and increases the difficulty of Torello’s job.
The medical information learned from their survival is simply invaluable during the Cold War and immunity from prosecution is the government’s compensation.
Crime Story was created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. It starred Dennis Farina as Mike Torello. In a perfect example of art imitating life, Adamson and Farina worked for the Chicago Police Department before their show business careers. John Santucci played Paulie Taglia. Santucci was a thief in Chicago in his previous career. Adamson and Farina knew Santucci from their Chicago days. They arrested him!
Anthony Denison played Ray Luca. He went to the other side of law enforcement during a brief stint on Wiseguy when he replaced Ken Wahl. Denison played a former FBI agent drawn back into the fight against crime.
A reading of the list of guest stars on Crime Story is impressive.
Kevin Spacey. David Caruso. Julia Roberts. Ving Rhames. Gary Sinise. David Hyde-Pierce. Billy Zane. Laura San Giacomo. Dennis Haysbert.
Regular and recurring actors on Crime Story will also be familiar.
Before he was Corky’s dad on Life Goes On, Bill Smitrovich was Detective Danny Krycheck.
Before he was a single dad looking for a chance at true love on Once and Again, Billy Campbell was Detective Joey Indelli.
And before he sold out sports arenas, comedian Andrew Dice Clay was Max Goldman, a savvy partner of Ray Luca.
Del Shannon’s Runaway was the show’s theme song. It set the tone perfectly for the series. An upbeat tune balanced by somber words.
Crime Story paid great attention to style, setting, and detail. It captured the viewer. In Chicago, Torello and his squad often regrouped at a bar called the Orbit Room, a nod to the fascination inspired by the Space Age of the 1960’s.
In one episode, Torello and the guys talk about the Chicago Bears. He says that Ditka is the best player on the team. It was essentially a wink to the viewer. Mike Ditka played for the Bears in the 1960’s and coached the team during the mid-1980’s, the period of the show’s broadcast history.
Cars with fins. Suits with thin ties. Men with hats. All details of another era. But Crime Story recaptured them in an old-fashioned good guy vs. bad guy story line.
Crime Story ended with a cliffhanger. The principal characters airborne in a pilotless plane. Maybe one day, a tv-movie will tie up loose ends. And we will find out the ultimate destiny of Torello and Luca. Until then, you can create your own Crime Story ending.
david@davidkrell.com
In the 1980’s, an NBC show about cops had it all.
A new look.
Story arcs that existed over several episodes.
And the elevation of lesser known actors into household name status.
Hill Street Blues? No.
Miami Vice? No.
Crime Story.
Michael Mann’s production of a Chicago cop and his mobster prey only lasted two seasons from 1986-1988.
But it was a terrific two years.
Set in the early 1960’s, Crime Story followed the exploits of Chicago Police Department Lt. Mike Torello and his squad at MCU or Major Crimes Unit. Their mission is to take down mobster Ray Luca.
When Luca moves his base of operations to Las Vegas, Torello and team follows, only to trade in their Chicago police badges to work for the feds.
At the end of the first season, Ray Luca and his addlebrained sidekick, Paulie Taglia, escape to the desert where they find themselves in the middle of nuclear testing. Because they survive, the federal government gives them immunity from prosecution and increases the difficulty of Torello’s job.
The medical information learned from their survival is simply invaluable during the Cold War and immunity from prosecution is the government’s compensation.
Crime Story was created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. It starred Dennis Farina as Mike Torello. In a perfect example of art imitating life, Adamson and Farina worked for the Chicago Police Department before their show business careers. John Santucci played Paulie Taglia. Santucci was a thief in Chicago in his previous career. Adamson and Farina knew Santucci from their Chicago days. They arrested him!
Anthony Denison played Ray Luca. He went to the other side of law enforcement during a brief stint on Wiseguy when he replaced Ken Wahl. Denison played a former FBI agent drawn back into the fight against crime.
A reading of the list of guest stars on Crime Story is impressive.
Kevin Spacey. David Caruso. Julia Roberts. Ving Rhames. Gary Sinise. David Hyde-Pierce. Billy Zane. Laura San Giacomo. Dennis Haysbert.
Regular and recurring actors on Crime Story will also be familiar.
Before he was Corky’s dad on Life Goes On, Bill Smitrovich was Detective Danny Krycheck.
Before he was a single dad looking for a chance at true love on Once and Again, Billy Campbell was Detective Joey Indelli.
And before he sold out sports arenas, comedian Andrew Dice Clay was Max Goldman, a savvy partner of Ray Luca.
Del Shannon’s Runaway was the show’s theme song. It set the tone perfectly for the series. An upbeat tune balanced by somber words.
Crime Story paid great attention to style, setting, and detail. It captured the viewer. In Chicago, Torello and his squad often regrouped at a bar called the Orbit Room, a nod to the fascination inspired by the Space Age of the 1960’s.
In one episode, Torello and the guys talk about the Chicago Bears. He says that Ditka is the best player on the team. It was essentially a wink to the viewer. Mike Ditka played for the Bears in the 1960’s and coached the team during the mid-1980’s, the period of the show’s broadcast history.
Cars with fins. Suits with thin ties. Men with hats. All details of another era. But Crime Story recaptured them in an old-fashioned good guy vs. bad guy story line.
Crime Story ended with a cliffhanger. The principal characters airborne in a pilotless plane. Maybe one day, a tv-movie will tie up loose ends. And we will find out the ultimate destiny of Torello and Luca. Until then, you can create your own Crime Story ending.
Underdog
August 11, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!
That's the motto of America's Canine Crusader.
With speed of lightning and roar of thunder, Underdog sprung onto the pop culture scene in 1964 on NBC.
He made a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of baby boomers who grew up cheering him in his adventures.
Mega-star Tom Hanks proved Underdog's enduring popularity into the 1990's by recanting the theme song word-for-word on The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
In addition, Friends mentioned the Underdog balloon, a Thanksgiving Day Parade staple. The occasion was a story line focused on the holiday.
And in 2008, Underdog reached the big screen in a live-action feature film of the same name.
Only a year after his television debut, Underdog made his inaugural Thanksgiving Parade appearance with a special showcase following the parade.
In a shrewd cross-promotion, NBC aired the parade from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Eastern on Thanksgiving Day -- November 25, 1965. A thirty-minute Underdog show followed from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm. The name of the episode is No Thanksgiving.
No Thanksgiving features Underdog squaring off against Simon Barsinister.
The evil scientist wants to use a time machine to cancel the first and all subsequent Thanksgivings so he can stop the current parade and capture the entire city.
Underdog's name has great appeal because everyone has felt like an underdog at one time or another.
Indeed, character names were descriptive.
Riff Raff is a stogie-smoking bad buy whose name tells us he is nothing more than a common hood.
Simon Barsinister's name certainly sends a message that the character's scientific knowledge will not be used to help society.
Sweet Polly Purebred's name tells us that she is the ideal dog.
The mutual devotion between this rather perky television news reporter and her champion reinforces a romantic match made in doggie heaven.
After all, every hero needs a damsel in distress.
Underdog valiantly fights evildoers, changing immediately from his identity as Shoeshine Boy whenever he saw trouble on the horizon. Each episode put Underdog in a seemingly impossible situation to overcome. But he always emerged the victor.
Shrinking Water -- Simon Barsinister wants to become the biggest man in the world.
Vacuum Gun -- Simon Barsinister captures crooks to build his own criminal army.
Safe Waif -- Underdog's focus is a young boy who gets locked in a bank vault.
Riffraffville -- Underdog fights Riff Raff when the villain leaves the city to take over the west. The story culminates in an old-fashioned showdown in a western town.
From Hopeless to Helpless -- Riff Raff uses an Underdog lookalike to commit crimes.
Tricky Trap By Tap Tap -- A sequel to From Hopeless to Helpless showing what happens to Underdog's lookalike, Tap Tap, when he tries to disguise himself as the Canine Crusader again.
Because Underdog originally appeared during the Space Age of the 1960's, space themes fit naturally in some episodes.
Underdog vs. Overcat -- Underdog fights the toughest alien in the galaxy -- Overcat.
The Flying Sorcerers -- Aliens force Sweet Polly Purebred to bake for them, but she falls into the giant mixer.
david@davidkrell.com
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!
That's the motto of America's Canine Crusader.
With speed of lightning and roar of thunder, Underdog sprung onto the pop culture scene in 1964 on NBC.
He made a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of baby boomers who grew up cheering him in his adventures.
Mega-star Tom Hanks proved Underdog's enduring popularity into the 1990's by recanting the theme song word-for-word on The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
In addition, Friends mentioned the Underdog balloon, a Thanksgiving Day Parade staple. The occasion was a story line focused on the holiday.
And in 2008, Underdog reached the big screen in a live-action feature film of the same name.
Only a year after his television debut, Underdog made his inaugural Thanksgiving Parade appearance with a special showcase following the parade.
In a shrewd cross-promotion, NBC aired the parade from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Eastern on Thanksgiving Day -- November 25, 1965. A thirty-minute Underdog show followed from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm. The name of the episode is No Thanksgiving.
No Thanksgiving features Underdog squaring off against Simon Barsinister.
The evil scientist wants to use a time machine to cancel the first and all subsequent Thanksgivings so he can stop the current parade and capture the entire city.
Underdog's name has great appeal because everyone has felt like an underdog at one time or another.
Indeed, character names were descriptive.
Riff Raff is a stogie-smoking bad buy whose name tells us he is nothing more than a common hood.
Simon Barsinister's name certainly sends a message that the character's scientific knowledge will not be used to help society.
Sweet Polly Purebred's name tells us that she is the ideal dog.
The mutual devotion between this rather perky television news reporter and her champion reinforces a romantic match made in doggie heaven.
After all, every hero needs a damsel in distress.
Underdog valiantly fights evildoers, changing immediately from his identity as Shoeshine Boy whenever he saw trouble on the horizon. Each episode put Underdog in a seemingly impossible situation to overcome. But he always emerged the victor.
Shrinking Water -- Simon Barsinister wants to become the biggest man in the world.
Vacuum Gun -- Simon Barsinister captures crooks to build his own criminal army.
Safe Waif -- Underdog's focus is a young boy who gets locked in a bank vault.
Riffraffville -- Underdog fights Riff Raff when the villain leaves the city to take over the west. The story culminates in an old-fashioned showdown in a western town.
From Hopeless to Helpless -- Riff Raff uses an Underdog lookalike to commit crimes.
Tricky Trap By Tap Tap -- A sequel to From Hopeless to Helpless showing what happens to Underdog's lookalike, Tap Tap, when he tries to disguise himself as the Canine Crusader again.
Because Underdog originally appeared during the Space Age of the 1960's, space themes fit naturally in some episodes.
Underdog vs. Overcat -- Underdog fights the toughest alien in the galaxy -- Overcat.
The Flying Sorcerers -- Aliens force Sweet Polly Purebred to bake for them, but she falls into the giant mixer.
Cesar Romero
June 16, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Heath Ledger's chilling, sinister, and violent portrayal of the Joker in 2008's The Dark Knight earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Motion Picture and a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ledger continued the standard of excellence in portraying the character.
Jack Nicholson owned the role in 1989's Batman.
And Cesar Romero owned it in the 1960's camp version of the Batman franchise on ABC's Batman.
With his maniacal laugh, wide smile, and refusal to shave his mustache, Cesar Romero lit up the screen when he was the Special Guest Villain. White makeup somewhat covered up the mustache, but we could still see it. It added to the character's bizarre qualities.
But Cesar Romero did much more than embody the Joker, the character with the most guest appearances on Batman.
He was a serious dramatic actor with credits forming a terrific body of work, including the movie The Thin Man. He plays a villain opposite William Powell.
And he plays Duke Santos, a highly significant role in the 1960 Rat Pack movie Ocean's 11.
Santos is the fiancé of the mother of Jimmy Foster, played by Peter Lawford.
Santos is also a reformed gangster who figures out that Foster and his buddies pulled a New Year's Eve heist on five Las Vegas casinos. He becomes a thorn in their side as he pledges to the casino owners that he will get the money returned, provided he gets a percentage.
Besides Batman, Romero guest starred on several iconic television programs.
In an episode from the 1960's spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., he plays the head of U.N.C.L.E.'s rival spy agency T.H.R.U.S.H.
He played Gilberto, Chico's absentee father, in the Chico and the Man episode Chico's Padre.
He also guest starred on The Golden Girls, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Magnum p.i., The Love Boat, and Ironside.
In addition, Romero had recurring roles on Alias Smith and Jones and in Disney's Medfield College starring Kurt Russell.
He also played Peter Stavros for a few seasons of the 1980's CBS nighttime soap opera Falcon Crest.
But for baby boomers who saw the original 1960's television show Batman in its initial run and the Generation Xers who saw it in reruns, Romero's defining role is the Dark Knight's greatest villain -- the Joker.
david@davidkrell.com
Heath Ledger's chilling, sinister, and violent portrayal of the Joker in 2008's The Dark Knight earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor -- Motion Picture and a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ledger continued the standard of excellence in portraying the character.
Jack Nicholson owned the role in 1989's Batman.
And Cesar Romero owned it in the 1960's camp version of the Batman franchise on ABC's Batman.
With his maniacal laugh, wide smile, and refusal to shave his mustache, Cesar Romero lit up the screen when he was the Special Guest Villain. White makeup somewhat covered up the mustache, but we could still see it. It added to the character's bizarre qualities.
But Cesar Romero did much more than embody the Joker, the character with the most guest appearances on Batman.
He was a serious dramatic actor with credits forming a terrific body of work, including the movie The Thin Man. He plays a villain opposite William Powell.
And he plays Duke Santos, a highly significant role in the 1960 Rat Pack movie Ocean's 11.
Santos is the fiancé of the mother of Jimmy Foster, played by Peter Lawford.
Santos is also a reformed gangster who figures out that Foster and his buddies pulled a New Year's Eve heist on five Las Vegas casinos. He becomes a thorn in their side as he pledges to the casino owners that he will get the money returned, provided he gets a percentage.
Besides Batman, Romero guest starred on several iconic television programs.
In an episode from the 1960's spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., he plays the head of U.N.C.L.E.'s rival spy agency T.H.R.U.S.H.
He played Gilberto, Chico's absentee father, in the Chico and the Man episode Chico's Padre.
He also guest starred on The Golden Girls, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, Magnum p.i., The Love Boat, and Ironside.
In addition, Romero had recurring roles on Alias Smith and Jones and in Disney's Medfield College starring Kurt Russell.
He also played Peter Stavros for a few seasons of the 1980's CBS nighttime soap opera Falcon Crest.
But for baby boomers who saw the original 1960's television show Batman in its initial run and the Generation Xers who saw it in reruns, Romero's defining role is the Dark Knight's greatest villain -- the Joker.