What Mght've Been: The Court of Last Resort (1957)

 Just weeks after Perry Mason premiered on CBS, Erle Stanley Gardner brought another of his creations to television, but with a twist.

Gardner launched The Court of Last Resort first as a magazine column in 1948, then published a book by that same name in 1952. Five years later, NBC bought Court as a weekly series in which Gardner, a member of the court, would be a character, played by Paul Birch. It was a different kind of crime drama, to be sure, but the cases were all real, dramatized for television.

Unfortunately, viewers rejected this Court, and it'd resurface on ABC in repeats in the 1959-60 season.

Following is "The John Smith Case":

A concept ahead of its time on TV.

And, so, baseball's silly season begins

 By that, of course, I mean the playoffs, which begin with the Wild Card round tomorrow. The Divisional round is set to start Saturday.

Let's take a look at the Wild Cards:

American League:

Chicago @ Houston (5 pm, NBC/Peacock): The Astros held off Texas to claim the AL West, while the resurgent White Sox led the Central for a good chunk of the year before losing the division to Cleveland. You would think the Astros' experience in the playoffs would be a factor in their favor, but  their time has passed. Chicago wants to prove they're not a flash in the pan.

Pick: Chicago in 3.

Boston @ Yankees (8 pm, NBC/Peacock): A rematch from last year's 1st round, won by the Yankees, who have proven they can win without Aaron Judge. Pitching will carry the Yankees, opposite a Red Sox team that got off the mat to make it this far after dumping Alex Cora early in the season. As was the case last year, all three games are at Yankee Stadium. Boston will be lucky to move on.

Pick: Yankees in 3.

National League:

Philadelphia @ Atlanta (2 pm, NBC/Peacock): The Phillies needed to beat Tampa Bay Sunday to just get in. Atlanta reclaimed its perch atop the NL East. Philadelphia will not have any home field advantage, as their rowdy fans will have to stay home or buy bus tickets. Aside from Zack Wheeler & Christopher Sanchez, the Phils' pitching has been spotty. And they have the albatross of having Bryce Harper, who's never won a World Series.

Pick: Atlanta in 3.

Chicago @ San Diego (10 pm, Peacock; NBC picks up the game after Yankees-Red Sox): The Cubs have become media darlings thanks to MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has had a breakout season. The 2nd City would love it if both of their teams get past the 1st round. Aside from their 1-2 punch of Fernando Tatis, Jr. & Manny Machado, the Padres have an underrated offense that can surprise.

Pick: Chicago in 3.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Celebrity Rock: Don't Go Breakin' My Heart (1976)

 From season 2 of One Day At a Time):

Barbara & Julie (Valerie Bertinelli & Mackenzie Phillips) masquerade as Elton John & Kiki Dee to cover "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart". Intro by Schneider (Pat Harrington):

Hard to believe Valerie was just 16 when she taped this.

Maybe he should do some reading before opening his mouth

 I'm referring to Alabama carpetbagger Tommy Tuberville, who went off on a misguided, misinformed rant regarding "furries" in the airline industry. 

Tommy Tubes is running for governor in Alabama, which he currently represents as a US Senator, and we've documented previously that there are reports he maintains a home in Florida, which would make him ineligible to run in Alabama. Today's GOP, however, doesn't care about rules.

Anyway, check this:

Apparently, Tuberville couldn't be bothered to actually, you know, do some reading about "furries" before opening his mouth.

If it's true about his being a carpetbagger, well, if he loses in November, stick a fork in him. He's done.

Awww, this is too cute

 Justin Verlander pitched his final game today with Detroit. After a career that saw him go from the Tigers to Houston, the Mets, and San Francisco before returning to Motown, Verlander not only was lifted from the game by manager AJ Hinch, but also by his daughter, Genevieve.....! Jason Benetti on the call.

Now, that is a Kodak moment. Apparently, having Verlander's wife, model Kate Upton, don a Tiger jersey would've been too obvious.

Family Fridays: Meanwhile, Back at The Cabin (Beverly Hillbillies, 1962)

 From season 1 of The Beverly Hillbillies:

While the Clampetts have settled in Beverly Hills, Cousin Pearl (Bea Benaderet, The Flintstones) is minding the store back in their old cabin. However, the Clampetts have run out of water, except for what is in their cement pond.

Includes an in-show ad for Kellogg's Corn Flakes with Jethro (Max Baer) & Jane (Nancy Kulp).

Weasel of the Week: Care to take a guess?

 China's Xi Jinping is in Washington this week, and the official pandering twit of the USA, Donald Trump, hosted a state dinner for him on Thursday night at the White House.

CNN, Politico, & MS Now had their press credentials reinstated earlier in the day via judge's order, but, as we'd find out, CNN & MS Now had their reporters banned from the dinner. Why? Because Trump thumbed his nose at the judge's order, then had the audacity to claim the outlets pulled a no-show. You can't have it both ways, fella.

Trump also had the lack of brains to call Democrats "communists", when he had the leader of one of the few communist countries left visiting with him. No one filters what Trump says because of his volatile, impulsive nature. For this, he gets another set of Weasel ears, plus a tail.

Grow up, Mr. President.