Classic TV: Alcoa Premiere, aka Fred Astaire's Premiere Theatre (1961)

 Alcoa Premiere was an anthology series in the truest sense of the word.

The series gave birth to a trio of series, McHale's Navy, Channing, & Wild Country, the latter of which ended up on NBC. Host Fred Astaire, like Boris Karloff on NBC's Thriller, also acted in some episodes, and we'll look at those down the line. Comedian George Gobel even guest hosted one episode, and one more was moved over from Alfred Hitchcock Presents, complete with Hitchcock getting an executive producer's credit for his Shamley Productions.

We've already seen the McHale pilot, "Seven Against The Sea". This time, we're in season 2, with "Million Dollar Hospital", with an all-star cast of then-current & future stars, including Charles Bickford, William Shatner, Ken Berry, John Banner, Arte Johnson, Reta Shaw, and Burt Mustin.

Rating: A.

When life makes art a reality. Yes, Virginia, there really is a WKRP

 Eight years after his passing, Hugh Wilson's vision, if you will, of a rock station in Cincinnati has come to life.

Wilson created WKRP in Cincinnati, which spent a total of 6 seasons on the air (CBS 1978-82, syndicated 1991-3), in which the station's format had shifted from staid muzak to classic rock.

Recently, a Cincinnati radio station, a part of the iHeart network, acquired the famous call letters from a North Carolina non-profit for a classic oldies channel that covers Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana in its broadcast district. The playlist now consists of oldies from the 60's, 70's, & 80's, just like iHeart affiliate WTRY here in the 518.

Of course, it got some play on the local news in Cincy....

Of the TV WKRP's cast, only Gary Sandy, Richard Sanders, Tim Reid, & Jan Smithers are still with us, and I shan't be surprised if they've been contacted about doing guest appearances for the new, real-life WKRP. As of now, WKRP, nicknamed, "The Oasis", has just 3 on-air personalities. I wonder if a certain 518 doll's syndicated show will show up there soon........

Sports this 'n' that

 Open Channel D. 

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

The connections of Preakness winner Napoleon Solo had to be fans of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., even if it was the box office bomb, and not the 1964-8 series that aired on-----wait for it----NBC, which carried Saturday's Preakness......

No truth to the rumor that there was anyone named Waverly among the owners. 

I'll move on.

When part 1 of the 2026 Subway Series began Friday, fans figured that the Yankees, despite a slump of their own, would lord it over the Mets, what with the injuries that have plagued the Amazin's. Friday's Yankee win came at a price for the Mets, who lost starter Clay Holmes, the ex-Yank, to a broken leg.

But, if there is a word that describes the Mets now, after a horrid start to the season, it's resilience.

The Mets came back and won Saturday. Today, after Freddy Peralta fell into a hole with 6 walks in 5 innings, the Mets fought back. Tyrone Taylor smacked a 3-run homer off Yankee closer David Bednar to tie it in the 9th. In the 10th, Yankee manager Aaron Boone gave his detractors some fuel by moving one of his outfielders into the infield to cut off the winning run. Rookie Carson Benge hits a chopper that causes a collision between two infielders, and the Mets win the game, 7-6. Devin Williams, last year's Yankee closer, picked up the win.

The teams will meet again in September.

Weasel of The Week: Elon Musk & Matt Walsh

 Christopher Nolan's latest, an adaptation of Homer's legendary poem, The Odyssey, doesn't hit theatres until July. Conservative scum are forwarding false rumors about some of the casting, and the world's richest man, South African emigre Elon Musk, has gotten headlines for reposting and sharing such false opinions.

Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire, a shameless piece of human trash, slammed Nolan's pick of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy. Transgender actor Elliot Page has been cast in an undisclosed role after rumors surfaced that Page would play Achilles. Rapper and pariah to WWE fans Travis Scott has a small, undisclosed role. Musk posted his agreement with Walsh's sentiments.

Well, here's a reality check for you guys. In 21st century Hollywood, filmmakers make casting choices based on, and this is the important part for you conservative peabrains, the best actor or actress available for the part!!

Of course, part of the problem is the right wing obsession with eradicating DEI in everything, undoing decades of societal progress. To conservatives, diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) are dirty words. Yo, jobronies! It's 2026, not 1946. Get a clue! A whole box of them.

"The Odyssey", as a summer blockbuster, will overcome the haterizing, and likely make a ton of money when it opens in 2 months' time. Walsh & Musk get the Weasel ears for formenting unnecessary hatred because of their closed mind mentality on today's Hollywood. They'll be sending you plates of crow come July.

That time Muhammad Ali fought a jobber (1976)

 Ahead of his boxer vs. wrestler match in Japan vs. Antonio Inoki, Muhammad Ali fought a 3 round exhibition against a lesser known wrestler, Buddy Wolfe. Fred Blassie was in Ali's corner, and Dick The Bruiser was in Wolfe's, with AWA legend, and future Hall of Famer, Verne Gagne, wearing his warmup suit as the ref.

Hearing Blassie shouting instructions to Ali, it made me think of what might've been had Blassie auditioned for a supporting role in "Rocky". Of course, we all know that "Rocky" was a mammoth hit, with film legend Burgess Meredith as Mickey opposite Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa.

I think this might've been the first time Gagne was in the same building with Vince McMahon, who conducted a post-fight interview with Ali & Blassie.

Musical Interlude: 19 (1985)

 In 1982, ABC News produced the documentary, Vietnam Requiem, more than a decade after US troops had left Vietnam. Three years later, Paul Hardcastle scored a UK #1 hit, and reached the top 40 here in the US, with "19". Veteran commercial voiceover artist Peter Thomas narrated Requiem, and some of the dialogue was sampled on "19".

Thomas, after a bazillion commercials in the 70's & 80's, would narrate Forensic Files years later.

Many thanks to Chuck Miller for the tip.

Hmmmm, this came out around the same time as Max Headroom with the digital stuttering. 

What Might've Been: The Spike Jones Show (1954)

 Bandleader Spike Jones and his City Slickers landed their first television series as a mid-season replacement in the winter of 1954 on NBC. Small problem. Jackie Gleason was already an established draw over on CBS, and Spike was sent packing after 5 months. Jones would return with three more short-lived series between 1957-61, this time on CBS.

In addition to the City Slickers, Jones also had his wife, Helen Grayko, as a featured vocalist, and recurring regulars including Bill Dana, Len Weinrib, and, in this next clip, Billy Barty.

For those of you who may only know Billy from his work for the Kroffts in the 70's, as well as his later TV & film work (i.e. "Under The Rainbow"), this is a treat in and of itself. And now you know why Billy was so at home in primetime when he made appearances on Donny & Marie (like the Osmonds, Barty was a Mormon).

Spike made a number of Soundies in the 40's, including a hysterical number, "Clink! Clink! Another Drink!", with Mel Blanc. We'll bring that out another time.

No rating. Just a public service.