Of Sesame Street and 70s sitcoms

I've been up to my eyeballs in old TV shows lately, and while watching an episode of Three's Company, I was struck by one of those connections that was made in my 4-year-old brain. I finally realized who Mrs. Roper reminded me of when I was a kid.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily make this connection now, but these two will always be linked in my head. And while we're on the topic of Sesame Street, I can't see Snuffleupagus without being reminded of another character from another 70s ABC show.

I think it's the eyes. Snuffy and Al Molinaro have those sad eyes.

Still alive...

My computer's power supply took a dump, and I fixed that, only to find that my keyboard crapped out, too.

So in the meantime, enjoy:


Find more videos like this on Geeks!

In no particular order...

I mentioned a while back that I was working on a list of TV shows that are my must-sees, not necessarily because they are supposed to be particularly good, but because they intrigue me for one reason or another.

1. Turn-On

This hyper version of Laugh-In aired exactly once (Feb. 5, 1969) before being axed like Lizzie Borden's parents. The premise was that it was hosted by a computer that was ostensibly responsible for offering up the scatter-fire comedy sketches, blackouts and gags. Each week's show would have a guest star, and in the only episode that aired, Tim Conway was the unlucky guest.

So poorly received was this show that some ABC affiliates canceled the show midway through. How could I not want to see this?

2. Supertrain

You can learn everything you want about this "Love Boat on a train" NBC flop at the awesome Supertrain Web site.

3. The Ugliest Girl in Town

This 60s show featured love and cross-dressing. Oddly, it didn't catch on and was canceled after a few months. Who'da thunk?

4. Whodunnit?

Okay, technically, I saw this one, but as it was only on in April and May on 1979, I was only 4, so I don't have a total mental record of it. In fact, the only reason I want to see it is because of the only part I remember.

Here's TV.com's summary:

Three contestants competed in this short-lived prime time game show. First, a mystery was presented in two acts. If by after the 2nd act a contestant locks in a suspect and is correct, that player wins $10,000.

Then the interrogation round begins as experts questions the witnesses. Then the contestants can lock in a suspect for $5,000. The suspect is revealed & payoffs are paid. If you're wrong, your consolation prize was a color TV.

All I remember is one episode that featured Erik Estrada. I don't know if he was supposed to be a rock star, but I remember seeing him grab a microphone and getting electrocuted with a cheesy over-the-top electrical effect.

For 30 years that memory has been lodged in my brain. I finally found out that it came from this show only a few years ago. The major problem is that it only had a handful of episodes, and no my knowledge, was never rerun.

I can only hope that some early tech adopter out there had a VCR and taped the show, because that may be my only chance to see it again and expunge it from my memory.

I keep checking the various video sites like YouTube in hopes that someone will upload one of these. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

After all, misery loves company.

Bob Wilkins, R.I.P.

Daryl stopped in mid-sentence and gave me a look.

"Dude, stand right there. Don't move." He raised his camera and snapped a picture. "Okay, got it."

I had been lamenting the fact that I was to shy to ask former Creature Features host Bob Wilkins if I could take a picture with him when I stuttered hello at his table at WonderCon. Luckily, as we were hanging out outside, Mr. Wilkins happened to be walking right past, so Daryl snapped the shot for me.

Though I didn't get to watch the show that Bob (and later, John Stanley) hosted on a regular basis since it was difficult tricking my parents into letting me stay up real late to watch it, I saw it often enough for my taste in movies to be forever warped.

Several years ago, the day the picture was taken, I talked to Mssrs. Wilkins and Stanley and told them that I wasn't sure if I should thank them or blame them for getting me hooked on these movies.

I know I've told this story before, but it seemed relevant, as Bob lost his battle with Alzheimer's disease this week. He was 76. I have tapes of some of the old shows -- my brother bought them from Bob one year I couldn't make it to WonderCon -- so I'll probably pop them in the old VCR this weekend.

A crappy story for the new year

Just to warn you right now, this story is a little gross.

When I was about 6 or 7 (I thought I was younger, but a cursory Google search leans more toward the early 80s), 9-Lives used Sylvester from the Warner Bros. cartoons to shill for their cat food.

I found a picture of a cel from the commercial:

Now I hadn't heard about this revelation despite being a gigantic Looney Tunes fan, primarily because there was no Internet.

So one day while I was dutifully reading a book, I heard my mom call from the living room, "Jeff! Sylvester's on TV!" Again, in my memory, I'm like 4, but I guess I was older unless this started in 1978.

What my mom didn't realize was that I was on the porcelain throne. Being a fiend for any new Looney Tunes content, I stood up, opened the door and poked my head out into the hallway to see the commercial.

What failed to occur to me was that in addition to reading, I was in mid-push when my mom called me, and I was so excited that I forgot all about my lower half.

The commercial ended, and I was brought back to reality with the faintest PLOP behind me as something--I'm not saying what, but you already saw this coming--hit the linoleum floor of the bathroom.

"Moooooooooooommmm!" I called, not knowing exactly how to handle the situation.

The mild admonishment I got a minute later--next time, just wait until you're done--was worth the expression on her face when she got a look at the floor.

And thus far--knock on wood--I have not had this problem again.

Yet another distraction

I'm killing a brief portion of my online day by playing Forumwarz, a funny RPG parody that takes place on the Internet.

Between this and Mob Wars on Facebook, it's amazing I get anything done.

The list dwindles

Interestingly, my list of old shows I want to see keeps getting smaller. Today, I stumbled across an episode of the short-lived The Second Hundred Years.

A guy gets frozen in an avalanche in 1900s Alaska, and is revived almost 70 years later, where, as the deep freeze put him in suspended animation, he finds himself younger than his son and about the same age as his grandson.

Yeah, it happens to everyone eventually, right? This playlist has the episode divided into three parts.

Making a list, checking it twice...

Still working on my list of must-see shows, but I have a sample for you. Here's the opening for Supertrain, a flop from 1979 that only lasted a few months. From what I hear, it was basically, like Love Boat on a train.

Happy New Year

Well, 2008 is almost done as I write this. It also marks a whole year's worth of daily posts. I don't know if I'll keep up daily posts in the coming year; I might focus more on quality than quantity.

I'd like to thank all of you who come here and read this blog and take the time to comment; I really appreciate it.

In 2009, I'm going to finally finish Bad Movies From A to Z, if only so I can start another project I've been thinking of doing, and hopefully, I'll be able to write more in-depth posts in general.

Have a safe night tonight, and I'll see you in the new year.

Finding TV treasure

In researching my list of must-see TV shows I mentioned yesterday, I rediscovered the treasure trove of old TV at the Internet Archive.

For example...

Do I really need to watch more TV shows?

Yes.

As many shows as I've seen, I am reminded that there are four basic groups into which TV shows fall:

1) Shows I remember

2) Shows I know I've seen but don't recall

3) Shows I have heard of but have never seen

4) What the hell was that?

The latter two categories are the most interesting to me, because it astounds me when you think of just how much stuff has been on TV, good, bad, and bizarre. Even with as much TV as I consumed as a kid, growing up with three solid independent stations that offered a cornucopia of TV shows, there's stuff that I just plain missed.

Here's an example of all four types of TV shows:

Fortunately, the Internet is chock full of people who share their memories of shows, which often times is the only resource for people like me who have yet to make the trip to the Paley Center for Media for research.

Someday I'll make it to the West Coast branch of the center, and I'll finally be able to see such lost shows as Turn-On, a Laugh-In-type show that was canceled after its first episode (and in some markets during the broadcast). Any time a book about TV referred to legendary flops, Turn-On was always at the top of the list.

In many cases, I'm sure there's a pretty logical reason why we don't see certain shows: they're abysmal. But I feel like there's a treasure trove of stuff out there that I have yet to see. It's sort of like archaeology, except with fewer degrees, less travel, and (in my case, at least), a developing pot belly.

Some shows defy belief that they managed to make it to air. But everything that did represents the fact that someone, somewhere, thought a program was worthy enough to spend money on and show to millions of people.

A great example of this is illustrated in an article on Television Obscurities that features 10 of the "most outlandish TV concepts ever."

And before you ask, yes, I've seen most of them. You can say many things about me, but you can't say I don't have a morbid sense of curiosity and a strong stomach for weird programming.

I think I'll work on a list of my must-see shows in the next day or so, and why I want to see them. Feel free to jog my memory in the comments.

Idol of millions, give or take a few million

Earlier tonight, I got to play Rock Band 2 on Xbox Live with some friends, which was a lot of fun. And I hardly even sucked that bad, too.

This was a pretty fun weekend. We did some Christmas get-together stuff and hung around the house as well, although we did manage to take advantage of the sunshine that beamed in through the windows.

And, apropos of nothing, here's a video:

A minor writing roadblock

Not only did my wife get me Rock Band 2 for Christmas, but my parents got me Guitar Hero: World Tour, and my wife's parents got me a fat stack of cool games that will also take up my time.

All of this means that for the next few weeks, I will likely get little extraneous writing done. I know, I know, I really ought to be putting my nose to the grindstone and all that, but dude--I have a bunch of new games I haven't beaten yet; I'm obligated.

You can't see it, but I'm throwing the horns right now in anticipation of a rousing round of fake guitar playing.

If you're on Xbox Live, add SiftinJeff to your list of pals, and you, too, can beat my ass at a game.

...little pond hopper...

If you just can't wait until March when it finally gets a DVD release, you can watch Howard the Duck right here, thanks to Hulu.

Much has been said about how awful this movie is. I was 11 going on 12 when this came out, so I'm not as critical as others. Don't get me wrong; it's not a great movie, and it bears little resemblance to what made Steve Gerber's waterfowl creation so awesome.

That said, it does have Lea Thompson in it, albeit as a victim of a crimping iron accident. So sit back, grab some corn, and it's movie time.

Ho ho ho!

On the twelfth day of Christmas...

Well, tomorrow's Christmas, so Merry Christmas in advance to all of you (and Happy continued Hanukkah as well).

We're spending the holiday with family, so tomorrow morning should be fun. I'm already full of, um, holiday cheer (since I don't have any driving to do tonight), and consequently, am pretty relaxed.

I hope everything is well with all of you. I appreciate everyone who reads my drivel, even if I don't say it very often.

And in Christmas song-related news, I somehow managed to get all the way until today without hearing "Feliz Navidad," and then I heard in twice already. For some reason, I used to hate that song, and knowing this, my mom would use it to get me out of bed on Christmas morning. I have since developed an appreciation for the song.

So, Feliz Navidad!

On the eleventh day of Christmas...

The thing I'm looking most forward to this Christmas is seeing my son's face when he opens his presents. He's five now, and he does this thing when he's happy.

The corners of his mouth turn up and he does his best not to smile, but you can tell that he's excited about what he's seeing.

I never get tired of seeing it.

Even better; in a few years, I'll be able to see my daughter's reactions, too. I feel kinda sappy looking so forward to it, but I'm a sentimental fool. Sue me.

On the tenth day of Christmas...

I thought it appropriate I saw this today, as I convinced my son to watch an episode or two of Thundercats this morning.

Alas, it's fake, but it's really well-done. Enjoy.

On the ninth day of Christmas...

While the Super Powers Collection action figures were always on our Christmas wish lists, a solid backup was anything from the Marvel Secret Wars Collection.

They weren't as cool as the Super Powers figures; they weren't as articulated, for one, and, well, they were Marvel characters, and my brother and I were DC kids.

Still, we ended up with almost the whole first wave of figures, and we staged our own Marvel vs. DC slugfests, with DC always coming out on top. We had one vehicle; a motorcycley thing, and I eventually got a Doom Roller and the Tower of Doom on eBay when I was much older.

This is also from the 1985 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog.

On the eighth day of Christmas...

I was asked to compile a wish list for work, so you know, if anyone out there still needs gift ideas for me, get your notepad ready and click this link.