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.
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.
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.
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......
If you're a programmer at NBC, you convince producer Glen A. Larson to bring in Dean Martin to appear on the premiere of The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo.
I remember sitting down with my folks to watch this. The slapstick idiocy of Perkins (Mills Watson) somehow struck a chord, such that the series would get a 2nd season, albeit with a shorter title and a new locale, as we've discussed previously.
Andy Williams actually had two variety series on NBC. The one I remember was the 2nd one, ending in 1970-1.
The first series was about a decade prior, and, as demonstrated in this Christmas episode from 1962, was one of the first series to be produced by the late Norman Lear and his business partner, Bud Yorkin. Andy is joined by the New Christy Minstrels, Bette Davis, and the Osmond Brothers (Alan, Wayne, Merrill, & Jay), and series regulars R. G. Brown & Marian Mercer.
Barnaby Productions was Williams' production company. R. G. Brown would also be a part of Rich Little's repertory company for the impressionist's 1976 series.
Veteran comedy writers Dick Clair & Jenna McMahon, who'd been working on The Carol Burnett Show, among other things, created a whimsical adaptation of Clement Moore's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, which, informally, was also The Paul Lynde Christmas Special, the last of two primetime specials from Lynde (Hollywood Squares, ex-Bewitched, who was recurring on Donny & Marie at the time).
Our cast also includes Alice Ghostley, Howard Morris, Anne Meara, George Gobel, Anson Williams (Happy Days), and Foster Brooks.
Didn't see this the first time, as I was at church when it aired on a Wednesday night in 1977. No rating. Just a public service.
We've previously reviewed both TV iterations of Irving Brecher's The Life of Riley, so it's way past time to visit the radio series that started it all.
Film star William Bendix had the lead as Chester Riley, family man. Riley lasted a few years, shuttling between networks, leading to a feature film spin-off, followed by the first TV series with Jackie Gleason filling in for Bendix, who returned four years later.
Let's take a look at a Christmas Eve episode from season 1 in 1944. Bendix breaks character to address the audience at the end of the show.
Narcissism isn't a disease that spreads. Most of the time.
However, today's GOP is more than willing to follow the lead of the Oldest Narcissist, Donald Trump.
Take, for example, Nancy Mace.
You've probably heard by now that the veteran lawmaker fabricated an assault to get attention, as if she's trying to usurp Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Greene's role as the Queen of Narcissism. A mere handshake from a foster care activist leads to a wrist injury and the activist's arrest?
Farron Cousins breaks it down:
The exaggeration, claiming an injury that didn't happen, is part of Mace's campaign against transgender citizens. Sorry, Nancy, but this is going nowhere. The activist, James McIntyre, will likely have the charges against him dropped due to lack of evidence against him, and, in turn, as people have already started predicting, Mace is in line for a defamation suit.
Here's the reality for Mace. She lied, she's already being called out, and with the GOP's paper thin majority in the House, she's going to be shamed into apologizing. Around here, this means Mace has earned a set of Weasel ears for this self serving stunt.
Vince McMahon's national expansion of the then-World Wrestling Federation had hit some bumps in the road.
His brazen usurping of WTBS' coveted Saturday night wrestling program was met with apathy from NWA fans, and in general, after Wrestlemania was in the books at the end of March 1985, two things happened.
First, McMahon gave up the TBS berth. Then, he, with help from NBC, launched Saturday Night's Main Event, which would fill Saturday Night Live's berth a few times a year. In its initial run, the series aired on NBC from 1985-91, then moved to Fox for 2 episodes in 1992. NBC brought it back in 2006 for a series of specials until 2009.
Ahead of the series' 2nd revival on Saturday, we'll take you back to October 1985 and a literal theatre of the absurd, overseen by McMahon & Jesse Ventura.
As was the case from 2006-9, the new SNME will be in primetime, as a sort-of lead-in to Saturday Night Live.
George (Alex Karras) has his heart set on playing Santa at a local department store, but plans change.
Emmanuel Lewis (Webster) may have been one of the youngest actors to have his own production company, beginning in season 4. The series shifted to syndication for its final two seasons.
Bill Belichick's television career is going on hold after football season is over.
That's because Belichick has agreed to his first collegiate coaching job.
Belichick has agreed to be the next head coach at North Carolina, replacing Mack Brown, who was fired earlier this season. Belichick has been seen in commercials, as well as on Inside The NFL on CW, which will likely address the North Carolina hire tonight (8 pm EST), and on some ESPN+ show with old nemesis Peyton Manning. What we're not sure of is if the new job will preclude Belichick from returning for a 2nd season of Inside, anchored by ESPN's Ryan Clark.
I wonder if they'll order a custom powder blue hoodie for Belichick for next season....!
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In response to the Mets signing Juan Soto and reliever Clay Holmes, the Yankees plucked starting pitcher Max Fried from the Atlanta Braves to the tune of a contract in excess of $200 million.
Seems to me the New York clubs will play salary chicken all post-season.
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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fit to be tied after the Cowboys blew a chance to win Monday against Cincinnati, botching the recovery of a blocked punt in the 4th quarter.
For a lot of fans, that invoked memories of Leon Lett's infamous gaffe on Thanksgiving 1993 in the snow at Texas Stadium vs. Miami.
Of course, there were some online clowns who thought a CGI version of Homer Simpson was a better quarterback than Cooper Rush, as in the alternate broadcast on ESPN+ & Disney+, Simpson completed a touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb. Looking at the replay, this looked more like a Disney audition for a NFL video game.
Ahead of Saturday Night's Main Event returning on Saturday with a live broadcast (8 pm EST, NBC/Peacock), Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura will return to the broadcast table as part of his new deal with WWE. Figure he'll be paired with Michael Cole for the broadcast, since Vince McMahon left the company several months back. Current pro-rulebreaker announcers Booker T, Wade Barrett, & Corey Graves should take notes.
After last year's Victorian Stroll was, for the most part, a washout because of rain killing the vibe, it was back to the streets on Sunday.
As was the case in 2022, the first stop was St. Paul's Church on 3rd Street, where we were treated to some carolers, and we even sang along in some cases. "We" being ye scribe and a pair of classmates from Troy High, whom you'll see in a bit.
We sat 4 rows deep in front, so this was the best we could do.
And, then, there was this:
Our party increased by one as we left the church. Our next stop was the Hart-Cluett Mansion on 2nd Street, and the Holiday Greens Show.
I think Sylvester Stallone said it best in "The Expendables". It's good to have friends.
And, there's one of the displays at the show:
Former Albany Times-Union & Albany Business Review reporter Claire Hughes met us as we were finishing the tour:
Our final stop was Stacks' Espresso Bar, where Maurizio played 2 1/2 hours, virtually without a break. Here he is with moi after the show:
Dude, I'll admit we should've been side by side.
This was a trip and a half, and it was worth the time.
Juan Soto is staying in New York. He's simply changing boroughs.
Today, the Mets signed Soto to a 15 year contract worth $765 million, but with an opt-out after 5 years (because Scott Boras Badenov can't help himself), something the Mets can negate by adding some extra money per year past the 5th season.
Soto returns to the NL East, where he won a championship with Washington 5 years ago. Had the Yankees won the World Series, perhaps he stays in the Bronx. That heart of the batting order with Soto followed by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (when the latter is healthy) was lethal, but not enough to overcome the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Soto with Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and possibly a returning Pete Alonso? Scary.
The College Football Playoff is now set, and, to the shock of many, SEC perennial Alabama is not in the field.
The tournament committee's selections were announced Sunday afternoon on ESPN in what amounted to a more bloated than usual edition of College GameDay, albeit in the network's Bristol studios.
The top 4 seeds all get byes as tournament play begins December 20. The field:
10. Indiana @ 7. Notre Dame, December 20, 8 pm. The winner advances to the Sugar Bowl to face Georgia on January 1.
11. Southern Methodist (SMU) @ 6 Penn State, December 21, 12 noon. The winner will advance to the Fiesta Bowl on December 31 vs. Boise State.
12. Clemson @ 5 Texas, December 21, 4 pm. This game will air on TNT. Strange that the ACC champion didn't get one of the top 4 spots, but then again, the committee members aren't exactly experts at rocket science. Winner will play Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on January 1.
9. Tennessee @ 8. Ohio State, December 21, 8 pm. Winner will play Oregon in the Rose Bowl on January 1.
Alabama's consolation prize is a New Year's Eve date with Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Rapper turned T-Mobile pitchman Snoop Dogg hosts a namesake bowl game on December 28 on CW. Miami (Ohio) and Colorado State will meet. No truth to the rumor that the winner will get a year's worth of T-Mobile service.
That same night, Deion Sanders & Colorado will play in the Alamo Bowl on ABC vs. Brigham Young.
If Archie Comics is so serious about making Amber Nightstone a nemesis for Sabrina, why not give the teenage witch her own series again?
As we've previously discussed, 5 page stories in one-shots, such as the Josie & The Pussycats Halloween Spectacular, released last month, and the just released Sabrina Holiday Spectacular, just won't cut it. Writer Ian Flynn spent many years writing Sonic The Hedgehog for Archie, and can do a book-length story, but Archie has gone el-scrimpo in recent years, hence these 1-offs with 5 pages of original story, and backed by reprints.
In the new book, Amber is taken aback by a show of compassion from Sabrina. What happens next will be a surprise.
Meanwhile, Archie's knuckleheads have decided to showcase Archie Andrews himself in the 4 part Archie is Mr. Justice, somehow giving the red-headed teen the abilities of the hero whose history goes as far back as Archie's own history, back to the Golden Age. Tim Seeley, another writer who should know better, has already told readers in this first issue that each issue will have different points of view. Where is Sabrina when you really need her?
Archie is Mr. Justice shouldn't stop at 4 issues. It should be 12, so that each POV is given room to breathe. Just like those 5 page shorties.
Rating:
Archie is Mr. Justice: B--.
Sabrina Holiday Spectacular: B.
In 1967, artist Alex Toth blessed Hanna-Barbera & CBS with The Herculoids, the tale of a bizarre team of heroes tasked with defending their homeworld. The original series had 1 season of episodes, but the open was changed the following year for reruns due to the meddling of media nanny Peggy Charren.
The series returned in 1981 as part of NBC's short-lived Space Stars, which also ran for 1 season.
Come February, Dynamite is taking readers to Amzot, or, Quasar, as it was known in 1981.
Tom Snegoski, a fan whose resume includes writing a number of diverse books, including Vampirella, is teaming with artist Craig Rousseau for the new series.
As a refresher, here's 1981's "The Firebird":
This should be fun.
Actor Martin Kove is best known now to generations of fans for Cobra Kai and the "Karate Kid" movies, but he's also a comics fan.
That said, Kove is launching AMP Comics, which debuts in February with the Western, Prodigal Son. Kove is not a writer, but a publisher. Hmmmm.
We all know who Dick Tracy's true love is. His eventual wife, Tess Trueheart.
So figure that Tess will play a role when Dick is given a Valentine's special from Mad Cave in February. We're digging.
If you're an old school fan like me, you'd rather see Zatanna in heels instead of knee boots.
Count Jamal Campbell as one of us.
Campbell (Naomi, Far Sector) will write & draw a new series featuring the Princess of Prestidigation from DC in February, and, oh, does Zee look so fine. Let's just see how far this will go.
ESPN is reporting that Sunday NFL Countdown contributor Randy Moss is taking a leave of absence from the network as he addresses some health issues. We wish Randy a speedy recovery, and our prayers are with him.
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Back at home, Troy High was given a donation of $2,000 from the proceeds of a golf tournament involving the city's fire & police departments recently......
The donation is for the media departments at Troy & Lansingburgh.
Amid fears that the tariffs president-elect Donald Trump has threatened against Canada, Mexico, & China will have a negative effect on consumers here in the US (and it will), some retailers are encouraging consumers to buy now before the prices go up.
Never mind the fact that Trump actually doesn't understand how tariffs work (no surprise there). The average American is the one who faces the backlash, not the other countries.
Those same fears may be driving sports card collectors, specifically flippers & box breakers, to start hoarding cards again in order to make a profit for themselves, ignorant of other consumers. We went through this during COVID 4 years ago.
It's enough to make a guy think about giving up the hobby....
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Making commercials and appearing on Inside The NFL apparently doesn't suit Bill Belichick.
The former Patriots coach is reportedly interested in moving to the college ranks. Reports have Belichick interviewing for the head coach's job at North Carolina after Mack Brown's tenure ended a week ago when Brown was dismissed by the Tar Heels. Hmmmmmm.
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We know that Colorado coach Deion Sanders recorded his AFLAC ads with Nick Saban before the season started, considering he's since grown a beard.
Now, Sanders is trying his hand as a voice actor.
He currently has a role in a DirecTV ad with Steve Buscemi & Henry Winkler. Yep, "Coach Prime" is another pigeon.
Add Saban. In his first season with ESPN, he's appearing with some of the College GameDay crew in some spots for the show's sponsor, Home Depot. He also plays a hotel manager in a Vrbo ad that's making the rounds, mocking his coaching style. Whatever floats your boat, dude.
This Christmas episode of E. R. finds the staff having to work through a blizzard. Dr. Sheinfeld (Elliott Gould) learns that his daughter (Pamela Seagall) wants to move in with him instead of with her mom and a prospective stepdad.
George Clooney (ex-The Facts of Life) debuts as a new doctor, who's a bit of a ladies man. MTV doll Martha Quinn appears as herself, nursing an injury. Turns out Jenny (Seagall) is a huge fan. Jason Alexander appears briefly.
Unfortunately, while the full episode is available, it is in poor quality, so this excerpt will have to do.
Lucas Tanner (David Hartman) has an unexpected meeting with his former father-in-law (guest star Barry Sullivan) as the holidays approach, reminding Tanner of the family tragedy he had suffered. Here's "Merry Gentlemen":
Two brothers share a loft, and chaos ensues, especially when their mother gets involved.
Everything's Relative didn't even finish its lone season in 1987. Had it done so, and had it been a hit, then Jerry Seinfeld would've been looking for someone else to play George, since Jason Alexander wouldn't have been available.
Alexander toplines as Julian, the elder of the two brothers, and divorced. Our cast also includes Anne Jackson and Gina Hecht (ex-Mork & Mindy). Let's take a look at a sample episode.
To think that Alexander had graduated from commercials (i.e. McDonald's), but it'd be another year or two before he achieved icon status.
