As the silly season begins........

 Major League Baseball's postseason begins tomorrow. As of now, the AL bracket is set, as the Yankees claimed the top seed with 94 wins, followed by Cleveland with 92. The NL? Pending the outcome of the 2nd game of today's Braves-Mets doubleheader, either Atlanta or Arizona, last year's NL champion, will advance. We'll have the NL bracket tomorrow.

American League preview:

Wild Card:

Kansas City @ Baltimore:

Once upon a time, both teams were in a position to win their divisions. The AL Central was that wide open for most of the year, absent the historically putrid Chicago White Sox. Baltimore collapsed late, enabling the Yankees to win the division.

The question, of course, is can the Orioles recover? Kansas City hasn't seen the postseason since beating the Mets in 2015, so they're hungry. There'll be some Royals fans here in the home district, as manager Matt Quatraro grew up in the 518, and graduated from Bethlehem High. You can argue that this would make the Royals a sentimental favorite in some corners of this region.

However, Baltimore, galvanized by last year's run, will be prepared to go further.

Pick: Baltimore in 3.

Detroit @ Houston:

The Astros won another AL West title, but not in as dominant fashion as per normal. No, they had to get up off the deck, and overtake Seattle to claim the title. Detroit was one of those teams that was in the AL Central hunt most of the season, and even led at one point. Like the Royals, the Tigers are young and hungry. Houston advancing is not guaranteed, but......!

Pick: Houston in 3.

The Division series pairings will be decided by the two wild card series. The way we see it, it'll be Baltimore renewing hostilities with the Yanks, while Houston goes to Cleveland.

We'll see if that does come to pass. Of course, I could be wrong.

Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)

 While I was at church this morning, the worship team was warming up with a few bars of Kris Kristofferson's country gospel classic, "Why Me Lord". The drummer then told me in an aside that Kristofferson had passed away.

Confirmation came several hours later with a headline on Yahoo!, which had gotten the information nearly 24 hours after Kristofferson had passed away at 88, three months after his birthday.

Kristofferson not only scored a massive hit with "Why Me Lord", but also wrote hits for other artists, including "Me & Bobby McGee" (Roger Miller, Janis Joplin), "For The Good Times" (Ray Price, Ray Stevens), "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" (Johnny Cash), and "Help Me Make It Through The Night" (Sammi Smith, Gladys Knight & The Pips). He had essays published in the Atlantic Monthly that earned him his first acclaim as a writer.

Kristofferson played rugby in high school & college, and served in the Army before heading to Nashville in the 60's. He also turned to acting, with roles including "Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid", "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "Convoy", "Semi-Tough", "A Star is Born", and the "Blade" trilogy with Wesley Snipes. 

The following clip is of Kristofferson performing "For The Good Times".

Rest in peace, Kris.

When Oxydol was a major detergent (1960's-70's)

 Here's a block of commercials Procter & Gamble produced for Oxydol laundry detergent. Pat Carroll (ex-Make Room For Daddy) stars in 3 of the 5 ads, including one with Bill Fiore as a salesman, perfecting the sad sack character he'd later use in Right Guard ads with Chuck McCann.

P & G sold Oxydol off in 2000, and it's changed hands again since, such that you'd be hard pressed to find it at supermarkets these days.

What Might've Been: Easy Street (1986)

 After flopping in a crime drama, Partners in Crime (with Lynda Carter), Loni Anderson returned to NBC with Easy Street, a sitcom that cast Anderson as an ex-showgirl who caught a break marrying into wealth, but runs into opposition when her husband dies, and the in-laws want her out, even after she's moved her uncle (Jack Elam, ex-Struck by Lightning) and his best friend (Lee Weaver) into the mansion.

For Anderson, this also meant a mini-WKRP in Cincinnati reunion. Hugh Wilson produced, wrote, or directed most episodes. Max Tash served as a producer. In this sampler, Richard Sanders guest stars.

The series lasted just one season. Anderson, Sanders, and WKRP would return in syndication 4 years later for a 2 year run.

Rating: B-.

Creepy TV: The Munsters (1964)

 While ABC & Filmways adapted Charles Addams' long running strip, The Addams Family, into a sitcom, CBS opted for an original idea. 

Norm Liebmann & Ed Haas developed an idea from fellow writers Allan Burns & Chris Hayward (Rocky & His Friends) into The Munsters, which, like Addams, ran for 2 seasons. Herman (Fred Gwynne, ex-Car 54, Where Are You?) was a Monster of Frankenstein who worked the night shift (of course), for a firm. Grandpa (Al Lewis, ex-Car 54), a vampire, spent most of his time in a lab. Lily (Yvonne DeCarlo) was his granddaughter, another vampire. Eddie (Butch Patrick) was a werewolf, as you could see. Marilyn (Beverley Owen, later succeeded by Pat Priest) was the lone human in the family, but the exact nature of where she stood in the family tree was never really clarified. As a result, she remained a bachelorette for the entire series, as all of her dates were chased off, scared.

In the opener, Marilyn wrangles an invitation for Herman & Lily to attend a costume party. Mabel Albertson, who would also recur on another freshman fantasy-com, Bewitched, Linden Chiles, and Frank Wilcox (ex-The Untouchables) guest star.

Turning 60 this week, The Munsters remains a beloved favorite of baby boomers on cable and, before that, in syndication. After the 1966 theatrical feature, "Munster, Go Home", the series would not see any sort of revival until the 80's.

Rating: B.

The poster child for gaslighting loses his license in Washington, DC. Rudy Giuliani needs to just give it up

 America's Disgrace, Rudy Giuliani, was disbarred in Washington, DC, today, for the same reason he was disbarred in New York earlier this year. He just won't stop alleging non-existent election fraud.

Already on the hook for nearly $500 million owed to mother & daughter election workers Ruby Freeman & Shay Moss in Georgia, Giuliani keeps digging a deeper hole for himself every time he appears in front of a camera, continuing to claim without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump. It wasn't, but an attorney for Giuliani maintains that the former attorney general and NYC mayor actually believed there was fraud. Only because longtime pal Trump said so, actually.

Talk about gaslighting. Meet the poster child.

Giuliani, like many of Trump's supporters and allies, went all in on the phony fraud claims, but what is it going to take to make an 80 year old man understand that he's been wrong all along?

His association with Trump has caused plenty of collateral damage for Giuliani in the last two years alone. To wit:

Son Andrew failed in his bid for governor of NY 2 years ago.

Rudy's WABC radio show was cancelled earlier this year for the same reason he was disbarred. He just won't give up on the "fraud".

Rudy, taking advice, and a paycheck, from Mike Lindell, tried to start a line of coffee. DOA.

To borrow from ESPN's Tony Kornheiser, Rudy, please pick up the white courtesy phone. Your career is over.

The Orange Brat is now threatening our citizens & soldiers overseas

 The "orange brat", of course, is Donald Trump, who posted another deranged screed on Truthless Social, claiming that if he is elected, American soldiers & citizens living and/or working overseas will be subject to arrest and jail if they vote.

Bollocks & balderdash!!!

This just illustrates yet again the desperation of the former president, who can't accept the fact that voting is not restricted to domestic citizens. He didn't have a problem with this in 2016 and 2020, did he? Of course not, because he didn't think of it at the time.

Trump is that scared that he is going to get blown out at the polls November 5, and is conditioning his Legion of The Brainwashed and his drones in Washington to believe the election is rigged against him. Again.

The man is not well, mentally, it's that obvious at this point. He is paranoid, scared, and desperate. Farron Cousins breaks it down.

Sure, Trump's mini-me, Steven Cheung, will try to spin it, but it won't work.

This is the lasting image we'll have of a 78 year old man with the mind of a toddler:

Soldiers stationed overseas and their families have cast absentee ballots for years. That isn't changing, just because Trump wants to game the system. 

Bellevue is still waiting.

Actions do have consequences: A non-profit files suit against Donald Trump & JD Vance

 A California based non-profit group, the Haitian Bridge Alliance, has filed suit against Donald John Pinocchio Trump and his running mate, Just Dumb Vance, for spreading debunked false claims about Ohio Haitians stealing and eating neighbors' pets. As Brian Tyler Cohen acknowledges, the suit isn't likely to get too much traction, but it is an aggressive move, a pre-emptive strike, if you will, to shut down the GOP misinformation campaign that has turned Springfield, Ohio into an epicenter of bomb & death threats at schools, as well against Haitian immigrants who are here in the US legally.

Brian breaks it down:

Since this started, it's come out that the Facebook user who posted what was revealed to be a hoax had gotten the information 4th hand. Despite the debunking, Trump refuses to stop repeating and amplifying the phony story.

Oh, by the way. If you think ol' Donnie Diapers will leave politics after he gets spanked at the polls November 5, keep dreaming. He'd have to be locked up in a psychiatric ward, far, far away from his phone and social media for that to happen. Just sayin'.

Forgotten TV: International Detective (1959)

 Five years before Jeopardy! made him a household name, Art Fleming was an actor. His best known film role was, insofar as this writer knows, was in "A Hatful of Rain". However, Fleming made his small screen series debut in 1959's International Detective.

Fleming plays Ken Franklin, the titular sleuth. The series lasted 39 episodes, which some sources say stretched across two years (1959-61). Until episodes began surfacing on YouTube last week, I didn't even know this show existed.

Let's check the opener, "The Conway Case""

Fleming also did commercials before landing the MC's gig on Jeopardy!, such as for Pepsodent in 1962.

Let's see if a cabler somewhere picks up this show.

Rating: B.

New Jackson Swing: Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)(1989)

 The Jacksons made their final album, "2300 Jackson Street", a real family affair. In addition to the four remaining brothers---Jermaine, Randy, Tito, & Jackie----still recording, Michael, 2 years removed from "Bad", Marlon, and Janet, a few months away from her multi-platinum "Rhythm Nation" album for A & M, all contributed, along with the children of the four leads. They were preparing, it seems, for the next generation of Jacksons, but, apparently, Epic wasn't interested.

The family recruited producer-songwriters LA Reid & Ken "Babyface" Edmunds, and veteran producer Michael Omartian, who had shepherded Christopher Cross' hits at the beginning of the decade. Toto's Jeff Porcaro was among the guest musicians along with Babyface. The album title and first single refer to the family's childhood home in Indiana. 

"Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)" is the Jacksons' idea of New Jack Swing.

In memory of Tito Jackson, who passed away last week. Rest in peace.

Again, a threat of a government shutdown

 Will the GOP never learn?

First, House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced legislation that included a resolution of redundancy that would actually reiterate a pre-existing law that prohibits non-citizens from voting. The legislation was shot down in the House.

Next, Donald Trump is demanding that the government be shut down, believing that the Biden administration would be blamed. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had said, no, the GOP would be blamed, and rightfully so. McConnell rightfully believes a government shutdown, which would take effect at the end of the month, would hurt them at the polls in November. Trump is not in a position to demand diddly squat, but he has to have dirt on Johnson and others, such that they still cater to the whims of a 78 year old toddler.

Farron Cousins breaks it down.

Get this straight, Republicans. Orange Narcissus has no power, no say in Washington at this time. Ignore him, and finally do what you were elected to do.

For what it's worth, the redundancy legislation gets Johnson a Dunce Cap.

Horseplay: The Three Stooges in Horsing Around (1957)

 "Horsing Around" is the sequel to "Hoofs & Goofs". In it, the The Three Stooges discover that what they thought was the reincarnation of their late sister, Birdie, is a reincarnation, alright, but of another horse, and then, the guys set out to help reunite her with her baby daddy, who's in danger of being euthanized due to injury.

As before, Ruth Godfrey White, uncredited, is the voice of Birdie.

Continuity? The Stooges? Whodathunk?

Rating: B--.

Musical Interlude: Personal Jesus (2018)

 Depeche Mode's 1990 classic, "Personal Jesus", gets a 21st century metal makeover, courtesy of Def Leppard.

Tasty.

Forgotten TV: Lampoon (1974)

 After Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In ended its run, George Schlatter, who'd flopped with Turn On so badly, you'd think ABC would never talk to him again, came back to the alphabet network with a pilot that looked like an off-Broadway show.

Lampoon had not a single connection with either the Harvard Lampoon or the long running humor mag, the National Lampoon, which had a syndicated radio show around this time, and soon would spawn a series of movies that were hits at the box office (i.e. "Animal House").

Among the familiar faces, we find Desi Arnaz, Jr., fresh off Here's Lucy, Brenda Vaccaro, Marshall Efron, who'd later front a Sunday school show a few years later, then get into voice acting (i.e. Smurfs), Wayland Flowers w/Madame, Bo Kaprall, and Lonnie Schorr.

A few quick notes: Flowers suffered from the same problem Edgar Bergen had when Bergen first appeared on camera with his puppets. Flowers' mouth moves when Madame speaks. Flowers improved over time, of course. Bo Kaprall later turned up on a short-lived Saturday morning variety show, Wacko, with Charles Fleischer (Welcome Back, Kotter) and Julie McWhirter (The Rich Little Show), which ran for one season on CBS. Kaprall's largely been off camera ever since.

Schlatter tried to recapture the magic of Laugh-In, but ABC suits weren't impressed. Flowers, for all we know, may have been a reason why.

Rating: B-.

After a tragedy, there are copycats, and there are clowns

 It's been nearly 2 weeks since a 14 year old killed two fellow students & two teachers in Georgia. His father has since been arrested as well, as law enforcement is finally holding parents accountable for their juvenile children's rampages.

However, there have been more than the usual copycats looking to get their 15 minutes of infamy, but gun violence is not and never has been the real answer. We'll get back to that shortly.

Since the Georgia incident, there have been threats and foiled attempts, and a lot of the threats have turned out to be swatting hoaxes, including one close to home.

On Monday, Bethlehem School superintendent Jody Munroe held a presser to reveal that, well, the phoned threats her district and the police had been getting since last Wednesday were an extended swatting hoax.

Jody Munroe, Bethlehem School District.

The FBI and local police have also determined that the swatter is from outside the target area, which begs to ask, why randomly choose a school district miles away from your home?

Because it's all for the perp's twisted amusement. When the threats at Bethlehem were first reported, aimed at the high school football team, my first thought was, maybe this clown is an unhappy student who didn't make the team, or had a grudge with a coach or teacher. Swatters don't care about the target, just the reaction of law enforcement. If it works, you do it again until you get caught. With today's technology, sooner or later, the swatter does get caught, then make up some flimsy excuse.

Nationally, an 11 year old in Florida was arrested late last week for making threats he later claimed were in jest.

Sorry, kid, but this ain't no joke anymore.

We hear the usual stories that the shooters, such as the 14 year old in Georgia, were bullied, and they were lashing out. We hear about video games being blamed. The video games are used as a form of release if the child isn't sharing with his parents about how he's being hassled and bullied.

Video games aren't at fault. The lack of communication between parents and their troubled children, especially when it comes to physical or online and/or psychological bullying, is. All it really takes is a meeting between parents, their child or children, and a psychologist, as well as school administrators, to address the bullying, and how to stop it. The sooner it's addressed, and handled, the less of a chance the child lashes out. It's really that simple.

Making matters worse is the fact that on Monday, a first grader, 6, was found to have a gun in his backpack, presumably for show & tell in class. Presumably, the parents put it there because the child needed something for class. Somewhere in the southeast, there are parents who have insulated themselves from reality, with no clue on how to explain to their first grader that it's not safe to bring a gun to school, just for show & tell, not in these sensitive times.

Maybe, in that case, the parents need to be checked for psych issues, too.........

Rudy Goofiani loses another lawsuit, and this is one we didn't know about

 America's Disgrace, Rudy Giuliani, is in trouble again.

It turns out that Giuliani had filed a defamation lawsuit against President Biden over remarks Biden made in a 2020 debate with then-president Donald Trump, claiming that Giuliani was being used as a pawn by the Russians.

Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner, now the host of the YouTube series, Justice Matters, breaks it down.

I think Giuliani didn't object because, quite frankly, given his myriad of legal troubles, some of which Kirschner referenced, he forgot about the Biden case. In all honesty, most of us didn't know about the case in the first place, because all the attention was focused on----who else?----Trump.

Rudy, there is dumb, and, then, there is you. Case closed.

Musical Interlude: That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine (1987)

 Austin City Limits welcomed Johnny & June Carter Cash, along with the Carter Family, and Johnny's brother, Tommy, in 1987.

In this segment, Tommy joins his big brother for a cover of Gene Autry's "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine", which had also been covered by the Everly Brothers.

In memory of Tommy Cash, who passed away this weekend. Rest in peace.

On The Shelf: A thesis on Batman, and M & M's solve a mystery?

 Last time, I had stated I had acquired a copy of Rabbi Cary Friedman's 2006 tome, reissued last year, Wisdom From The Batcave, from the author himself, after he'd found my name in some old lettercols dating back to the late 80's and early 90's. I'd guess I wasn't the only one.

Using selected panels from various Bat-books and an editorial cartoon from the NY Post, circa 2001 (the panels go back to the 70's & 80's), Friedman offers 18 chapters of life lessons, based on an exploration of the Dark Knight himself.

With testimonials from a host of comics luminaries, including Gerry Conway, now a television producer, Ed Brubaker, and the late Dennis O'Neil, Friedman hit the best-seller list in 2006. This could also pass as a college course for serious Bat-fanatics.

Rating: A.

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Titan Comics has rolled out its anticipated miniseries, Battle of The Black Stone, which was previewed in Savage Sword of Conan #4 last month. The idea here is to bring a number of Robert E. Howard's creations, not just Conan, but Solomon Kane, Black Agnes, and others, sans Red Sonja, whose rights are held by Dynamite.

That said, this is a time travel adventure as it'll unfold over the next three chapters, enveloping all of the protagonists. Unfortunately, the artwork doesn't do anyone any favors. Titan could've gotten Conan artists Doug Braithwaite and/or Roberto de la Torre, the latter of whom contributes a cover to issue 2, out next month, to do the interiors, but, nope. We're not sticking around.

Rating: B--.

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Mars Wrigley licensed the M & M's mascots to Marvel for a 1-shot special, Small Town, Big Trouble, aimed at the kiddo's as school begins for the season. The gang run across a robot that's draining happiness is a suburban village. Adding to the Scooby-Doo vibe this book generates are a cover and pin-ups by The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries artist Dario Brizuela. Delightful fun, but released a wee bit too early. Marvel should've waited until Halloween. No, really. The book's pretty fun, though.

Rating: A.

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Now that Tom King's The Penguin has wrapped, two months later than originally scheduled, the villain will return in new book tied to the HBO series starring Colin Farrell, itself spun off last year's "The Batman" feature film.

This week in GOP stupidity

 "Dumb Donald is really dumb!"---Gene Rayburn, Match Game, 1973-84.

If someone could x-ray the brain of former president Donald John Narcissus Trump, they'd probably find orange peels and prunes where his brain cells should be.

In the wake of a disastrous debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Trump was back on the road, continuing to push false claims about Haitian immigrants in Ohio taking neighbors' pets, and eating them like cannibals. The 78 year old Trump is himself so gullible as to fall for a Facebook hoax like that, believing it's real when it clearly is not. That hoax has led to bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, forcing school officials there to close schools the last two days.

Brian Tyler Cohen recaps what has happened on MSNBC's YouTube channel:

That ain't all.

We mentioned before that Trump had Loopy Laura Loomer with him at the debate, and at a Ground Zero memorial in New York on Wednesday, instead of wife Melania. While the former first lady hasn't been heard from, Empty-G (Marjorie Taylor Greene) lashed out at Loomer for pushing the hoax and other nuttier conspiracies, ideas so out there, they're too extreme for the peach brained misrepresentative from Georgia. Jealous much, Empty-G?

Trump and some, but not all, of his allies are still clinging to the notion he "won" the debate. Only in your mind, dude. Trump described Loomer as a "free spirit". Oh, please, give me a break. She's like Trump, an election loser whose brain is permanently damaged. You know what they say about birds of a feather.

Trump has also said he doesn't want another debate with Harris, but made the mistake of using a boxing analogy, not realizing he was describing himself in a classic case of deflection and denial. He's also said he'd only do another if a friendly (to him) moderator like Fox No News' Spam Hannity were in charge. That ain't happening.

The GOP had a chance to force Trump off the ticket, but, instead, went all in with him again at the convention in July. This will cost them. "Bigly".

"Lind-sanity"? Francisco Lindor makes his case for MVP

 Most baseball experts will concede that the National League MVP likely will go to Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers.

Mets fans would beg to differ.

Left for dead at the end of May, the Mets have climbed all the way to 2nd place in the NL East behind Philadelphia, whom they play this weekend & next. At the center of the team's return to respectability has been shortstop Francisco Lindor, in his 4th year with the Mets after coming over from Cleveland. After a slow start, Lindor's offense has exploded.

Wednesday, with the Mets facing a possible no-hitter at the hands of Toronto rookie Bowden Francis, Lindor burnished his MVP credentials. The Mets' YouTube channel revisits the 9th inning.

Nearly two weeks earlier, the Angels' Taylor Ward similarly foiled Francis, as Keith Hernandez & Gary Cohen noted. The snake-bitten Francis ended up with a no decision, as the Mets won, 6-2.

Cohen's call of "Lind-sanity!" recalls when Jeremy Lin became a NYC folk hero with the Knicks several years back. I wonder if the tabloids have picked up on it......!

Musical Interlude: Change of Heart (1986)

 Cyndi Lauper's sophomore release on Epic, 1986's "True Colors", saw 3 singles hit the charts, including the title track (later covered by Phil Collins), and "Change of Heart", co-written by Essra Mohawk. The video was shot in London. Missing from the clip? The Bangles, who had recorded backing vocals on the track.

Lauper was aided in the studio by Nile Rodgers and Rick Derringer, among others, plus a guest appearance by Pee-Wee Herman on the track, "9-1-1".

Baby be unhinged (again): Donald Trump exposed on the debate stage

 Former president Donald Trump had a chance to blunt the momentum of Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday night, live, on network television. He had an opportunity to actually, and acutely, address the issues. Instead, he was rumblin', bumblin', & stumblin' to the finish line with nothing but lies and fallacies, while Harris, a former prosecutor, served up a sobering dose of reality.

Brian Tyler Cohen offers some highlights & insight.

The fallacy of Haitian immigrants eating dogs and cats came from a Facebook post that itself is unsubstantiated, perhaps satirical in nature, we don't know. What we do know is that Trump fell for it, hook, line, & sinker, but couldn't get the national television audience to buy into it. As Brian said, as soon as Trump brought up this tall tale, he'd lost the game. Sticking to his usual game plan of juvenile insults and lies didn't work this time, and it didn't deserve to.

Some media sources say that Loopy Laura Loomer was seen arriving with Trump prior to the debate. It explains a lot when Loomer is at Trump's side, not his wife Melania, for such an important event.

After the debate, Trump himself went into the GOP spin room, and tried to say he won, when he clearly did not. Even one of his apologists, Lindsey Zing-a-Graham, admitted that Trump had lost.

We shan't be surprised if we get this from Trump today:

A pair of icons say goodbye

 I was mentally preparing a piece for Tri-City SportsBeat as I was coming home from work, then got hit with a double dose of bad news.

First came word that Broadway & Hollywood legend James Earl Jones had passed away at 93. 

Jones was the voice of Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" movies, and even essayed the role in animation as recently as 2 years ago. His other film credits included "Field of Dreams", "Coming to America", "The Lion King", "The Great White Hope", and "Bingo Long's Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings". On television, Jones was cast as author Alex Haley in the adaptation of Haley's best seller, Roots, then starred in two short-lived series, Paris in 1979, and Gabriel's Fire a few years later. 

Then, a gut punch to Mets fans everywhere.

Ed Kranepool, who signed with the team as a 17 year old in 1962, passed at 79 over the weekend, two months shy of his 80th birthday, due to cardiac arrest in his home in Florida.

SNY offers this mini-bio:

The Mets will pay tribute to Kranepool when they return to Citi Field after their road trip, which starts tonight in Toronto.

Rest in peace.

What Might've Been: Big Eddie (1975)

 Sheldon Leonard moved back in front of the camera for one last run. Unfortunately, he should've convinced CBS to leave Big Eddie on Saturday nights.

Big Eddie was "sneak previewed" on 3 consecutive Saturdays, and got good reviews & ratings. Unfortunately, CBS slotted it on Fridays. Opposite Sanford & Son. Ballgame over.

Eddie Smith (Leonard, who also sang the theme song) is a retired mobster who's gone straight, running a sports arena. Sheree North plays his wife, and Quinn Cummings, who'd gain rave notices herself a few years later for "The Goodbye Girl", is Eddie's daughter. Billy Sands (ex-McHale's Navy) and Alan Oppenheimer co-star.

This was old home week, as series creators Bill Persky & Sam Denoff doubled as executive producers.

Gilmore Box provides the open.

No rating. I was doing other things on Friday nights then.

Musical Interlude: Mas Que Nada (But What Nothing)(1966)

 Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 scored here in the US with "Mas Que Nada" in 1966. The title translates into "But What Nothing", in case you wonder.

In memory of Mendes, 83, who passed away earlier this week. Rest in peace.

Back to School Week: Boynton vs. Bundy (Alcoa Theatre, 1959)

 From season 2 of Alcoa Theatre:

A well meaning freshman faces the prospect of near instant expulsion from college on his first day. 

"Boynton vs. Bundy" was a pilot that never got past its initial broadcast in May 1959. There are some familiar faces, including Bert Convy, Raymond Bailey (3 years before Beverly Hillbillies), and Madge Blake, who recurred on Leave it to Beaver at the time. Robert Trumbull is the "Bundy" in the title.

The vibe I get from this is trying to take the basic concept of a high school sitcom, and move it into college. The producers were in over their heads with this one, and the viewers realized this.

Rating: C.

Back to School Week: A lesson in karate (Room 222, 1970)

 Chuck Norris made one of his first television appearances in a 2nd season episode of Room 222. Appearing as himself, having already made his fame as a karate champion, Norris is brought in to mentor a student (Eric Laneuville) dealing with an inferiority complex. Glynn Turman appears as a bully.

We'll forego a rating here for historical significance and public service.

Back to School Week: Violent is The Word For Curly (1938)

 The Three Stooges are mistaken for college professors, and end up charming some young ladies with "The Alphabet Song" in "Violent is The Word For Curly":

Rating: A+.

Musical Interlude: Just When I Needed You Most (1996)

 Dolly Parton failed to crack the country top 40 in 1996 with her cover of Randy Van Wormer's 1979 one hit wonder, "Just When I Needed You Most". Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski added harmony vocals on the track, and although Dolly is shown playing the autoharp, she's actually sitting in for former Lovin' Spoonful frontman John Sebastian, who did not appear in the video, as was the case when he sat in with Van Wormer 17 years earlier.

Back to School Week: The series premiere of Mr. Novak (1963)

 It is a tradition in most, but not all, high schools, that freshmen are "initiated", or, "hazed", same as in college. 

Teachers have issues when they start at a new school, too.

Take, for example, the premiere of Mr. Novak in 1963. John Novak (James Franciscus) is almost in the school building when his parked car is blindsided by a hit & run driver, who later has an encounter with Novak.

Yes, Ed Asner was part of the faculty, at least at the start of the season, but was long gone before the season was over. The cast also included former radio star Larry Thor.

No rating. Just a public service.

NFL 2024 preview, part 2

 Today, we'll take a look at the AFC. 

AFC East:

Buffalo let receiver Stefon Diggs walk (Houston), just as they did with Devin Singletary last year. Singletary, of course, moved from Houston to the Giants this year. Hmmmmm. Do the Bills have enough weapons left for another playoff run? We'll soon see.

New England promoted from within with former defensive lineman-turned-coach Jerod Mayo taking over for Bill Belichick. That may be the spark they need. The Mac Jones era is over, and they're starting from scratch, although bringing back Jacoby Brissett (Indianapolis) is meant to be a transitional phase. The Jets have to hope Aaron Rodgers can play beyond the 1st offensive series of the season. Gang Green gets the Monday night opener for the 2nd straight year as a make-good for Rodgers' season-ending injury last year, even though the Jets beat Buffalo in OT. However, San Francisco isn't Buffalo, and a healthy Rodgers isn't going to be enough.

Miami doesn't look like they needed to do much in the off-season, and, if Buffalo does fold, the division is theirs, not the Jets, for the taking.

Projected order of finish:

1. Miami.

2. Buffalo.

3. Jets. 

3 (tie). New England.

AFC North:

Mike Tomlin has left himself open for 2nd and 3rd guessing in Pittsburgh. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson (Denver) and Justin Fields (Chicago) in the off-season while sending Kenny Pickett to in-state rival Philadelphia. From what I saw, Wilson still has it, but in spurts, as a 13 year veteran. People will say there's a reason Chicago gave up on Fields too soon, but from what I saw, that might've been a premature decision.

Cincinnati gets Joe Burrow back to start the new year, though Jake Browning showed what he could do in a pinch last season. Cleveland tried a stunt last year in bringing YouTube star & boxer Jake Paul to training camp, but it went no further. Another Cleveland area product, WWE's Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, would've been a better bet. He was, at least, a star running back in high school before MTV called some 20-odd years ago. DeShaun Watson should be healthy and ready for a full season. Baltimore stands pat, and why not? Lamar Jackson should be able to have a better year than last year.

Projected order of finish:

1. Baltimore.

2. Pittsburgh.

2 (tie). Cincinnati.

4. Cleveland.

AFC South:

Tennessee made a gamble, and let 2022 #1 draft pick Malik Willis walk, then cut Ryan Tannehill last week, meaning 2nd year QB Will Levis is the starter. A questionable decision at best. Houston should get more mileage out of CJ Stroud in year 2, and maybe make a deep playoff run. I wouldn't discount Indianapolis if Anthony Richardson is healthy for a full season. Jacksonville acquired Mac Jones (New England) to be Trevor Lawrence's caddy, and not much else.

Translated, not much has changed.

Projected order of finish:

1. Houston.

2. Indianapolis.

3. Jacksonville.

4. Tennessee.

AFC West:

Can Kansas City 3-peat? No NFL team, not New England, not Pittsburgh, not Dallas, not Green Bay, no one has done it. And KC added Marquise "Hollywood" Brown (Arizona) to their receiving corps, while Kadarius Toney has his head on a swivel. Network cameras will still obsess over Taylor Swift if she attends a game to cheer on Travis Kelce. Travis might need an extra gig, and I don't mean as a game show host. He already has that. Patrick Mahomes has added a new endorsement deal, this time with Dick's World of Sport, if you've already seen it.

Las Vegas brought in Gardner Minshew, tired of being Jalen Hurts' caddy in Philadelphia, to be their starter. Last chance for Minshew, in this writer's opinion. Zack Wilson (Jets) takes over for Russell Wilson in Denver. I don't extpect much improvement. Los Angeles needs help.

Projected order of finish:

1. Kansas City.

2. Las Vegas.

3. Los Angeles.

4. Denver.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Back to School Week: A primer on cheating (Room 222, 1971)

 From season 2 of Room 222:

A mediocre but ambitious student (Chris Beaumont) aspires to go to college, but getting there by cheating? I don't think so.

Chris Beaumont is the son of writer Charles Beaumont, who scripted a fair number of episodes of the original Twilight Zone, among his accomplishments. Elizabeth Baur (ex-Lancer) would join the cast of Ironside a few months later. Chris Beaumont's only other notable role, as YouTube commenters reminded, was another guest shot as a ne'er do well on The Brady Bunch.

Rating: B.