What Might've Been: Mr. Merlin (1981)

 Imagine if Merlin, the court magician of Camelot, existed in the 20th century.

Such was the premise behind Mr. Merlin, which lasted one season for CBS (1981-2), with Barnard Hughes in the title role. In the 20th century, Merlin adopts the guise of mechanic Max Merlin, who takes on an apprentice (Clark Brandon), but also needs assistance from a fellow magician (Elaine Joyce).

This was the year where Mork & Mindy was on its final lap, a sign that this era of fantasy-coms was coming to an end, but it really wouldn't until NBC's Jennifer Slept Here several months later.

In this sampler, apprentice Zack (Brandon) learns to how "clone" money. Directed by Bill Bixby (The Incredible Hulk).

Co-creator Larry Tucker had a hand in developing The Monkees 15 years earlier, but he didn't have too much success afterward.

No rating. Just a public service.

Countdown to Christmas: Andy Williams' last NBC Christmas show (1970)

 Andy Williams had fallen victim to the networks' "rural purge" in the 1970-1 season, with his show cancelled before the season was over, replaced by Emergency!.

The final Christmas show of his 1969-71 run is, as per normal, a family affair, with three generations of the Williams family, including Andy's then-wife, singer-actress Claudine Longet, appearing with Charlie Callas, John Astin (ex-The Addams Family), and Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo). Astin & Keeshan figure into a lengthy fantasy sequence narrated by Longet.

Mind the bar on the left side of the screen, placed there by the poster to block a time stamp.

Rating: B.

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas with Bob Hope (1985)

 It was a tradition for decades at NBC, with Bob Hope hosting a Christmas special, and staying as contemporary as possible.

Take, for example, this 1985 entry. Bob is joined by William "The Refrigerator" Perry, then a rookie with the eventual Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, Emmanuel Lewis (Webster), Barbara Eden, Brooke Shields, and the AP All-American football team, featuring a few future NFL stars, including Bo Jackson.

This show comes complete with commercials, including Joan Collins (Dynasty) shilling for Canada Dry. John Harlan is our announcer, while Danny Dark leads us in.

The Miami Vice parody was silly. All that was missing, since his then-entourage was there, was Michael Jackson. Bob sang "Silver Bells" for every Christmas show, and here, Eden gets the honors to sing with him.

Rating: A.

Countdown to Christmas: Deck The Halls (1999)

 SheDAISY's 3 part harmonies put a new spin on a holiday traditional. Here's "Deck The Halls":

Gets ya right in the feels, doesn't it?

With the Jests, the dysfunction starts at the top. Aaron Rodgers could've had an extra target but for a.......video game?

 If you thought the Jests had already hit rock bottom this season, eliminated from the playoffs even after dismissing coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, it's even worse.

Owner Woody Johnson, it is being reported, is getting bad advice at home from his teenage sons, who suggested that dear old dad not trade for receiver Jerry Jeudy, just because of some stats from a Madden football video game.

Like, seriously?

At least Dallas' Jerry Jones has his adult sons on his front office staff. The younger Johnsons are still in school----we think-----and they have their dad's ear on personnel decisions they have no business getting involved in.

He should talk to his sons' counselors.

Douglas even admitted during pre-season, we think, that he "answers to a teenager". Neither one of these kids is exactly Richie Rich (the comic book kid, not the 3rd Bass DJ), but this brings a whole new level of stupid to a franchise that hasn't smelled the Super Bowl since they won it 55 years ago.

One of the kids made a potty-mouthed proclamation after giving receiver Garrett Wilson a game ball recently, then posted it on his social media account. Kids today. 

Richie Rich could probably do a better job running the Jests. It couldn't be any worse.

What MIght've Been: Funny Face (1971)

 Broadway star Sandy Duncan made her TV series debut with 1971's Funny Face. While reviews were mixed, the network had enough faith in Duncan, such that when the series ended prematurely due to Duncan needing eye surgery, the show was brought back as The Sandy Duncan Show a year later. 

In Funny Face, Sandy is a student teacher doing some acting on the side. The latter gig gets her a role on Mission: Impossible in the episode, "A Star is Born on a Stretcher". Mission star Peter Graves guest stars, along with Avery Schreiber.

No rating. Just a public service.

Countdown to Christmas: The Cowboys' Christmas Ball (2011)

 The Killers released "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball" as a digital single for charity in 2011. It's based on an early 20th century poem, with new lyrics added.

The song was also recorded by country singer Michael Martin Murphey around the same time.

Some of those actors in this video look kinda familiar, though......