While Charles Nelson Reilly was away taping Uncle Croc's Block, Gary Burghoff (M*A*S*H) usually filled in. However, at the start of Daylight Saving Time, Burghoff missed an episode of Match Game, forcing the producers to scramble. Announcer Johnny Olson filled in, and, as you'll see, fit in quite well......
Just days ago, a Federal court ordered president Trump to pony up $5.6 million to E. Jean Carroll. Should we be surprised at all that the biggest skinflint this side of Ebenezer Scrooge wants it back?
Hmmmmmmm, welllllllllllll, of course not!
But Trump can't deal with it. His ego, of course, won't allow him to. Just because he holds the highest office in the country doesn't mean he's untouchable, but he thinks the opposite.
As Charles Dickens saw it, Scrooge eventually saw the light. Trump's happiest with the lights of cameras in front of him. I'm begging someone to do a cover of the Little River Band's "Lonesome Loser", and make it about Trump. It'd be fun.
You knew it would happen.
The phoniest sports fan on the planet, Donald John Oscar Madison Trump, picked Argentina to make it 2 World Cups in a row. On Sunday, Spain won the Cup for the first time since 2010, their only other Cup title, 1-0 in double overtime.
After the game, Dumb Donald tried to bigfoot the moment, like he did last year. The Spaniards wanted none of that, and quietly escorted him off to the side. Argentina, on the other hand, became the latest victim of Trump's kiss of death.
Conspiracy theorists worried about Lionel Messi and Argentina, though, could rest easy.
You know by now that former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, a Senator misrepresenting Alabama when he lives in Florida (so they say), wanted to run for a higher office in Alabama. Last we heard, however, he might've been talked out of it.
Five years earlier, Herschel Walker moved back from Texas to Georgia to run for Senate, and got spanked at the polls. Dumb Donald rewarded him with an ambassadorship to the Bahamas.
Now, Dumb Donald has endorsed embattled MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to run for governor of Minnesota, where MyPillow is based, to unseat Tim Walz.
Small problem, as Jesse Dollemore explains.
Saturday Night's Main Event was the centerpiece to the annual Fanatics Fest, wrapping today in New York. WWE made sure to give the fans some real thrills with help from the NBA champion Knicks.
The program's final segment had Jalen Brunson, sporting a brace on his wrist, joining WWE champion Roman Reigns in the ring, only to be interrupted by Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, accompanying Seth Rollins. The two hoopsters were injured, and not cleared for physical activity.
Earlier in the night, Danhausen, credited with helping the Knicks end a 53 year title drought, was facing JD McDonagh of the Judgment Day stable. Some "Minihausens" tried to help in a No-disqualificaion match, but McDonagh and his cornerman, AAA Mega Champion Dominick Mysterio, fended them off. That's when Danhausen pulled out his wild card..........
CBS' slogan for 1970 was, "We've put it all together". As we all know, that wasn't true. Of the freshman class, only 2 shows were renewed.
The Class of 1970:
Headmaster: Andy Griffith returns after 2 years away, this time running a school. Replaced by The New Andy Griffith Show in mid-season.
The Tim Conway Comedy Hour. After flopping with a self-titled sitcom that reunited him with McHale's Navy co-star Joe Flynn earlier in the year, Conway tries again, hoping to use the same formula as his friend, Carol Burnett.'
Arnie. Herschel Bernardi (ex-Peter Gunn) toplines this domestic comedy with Sue Ane Langdon, Roger Bowen, and, in the preview clip, Dick Van Patten. Lasted 2 seasons, and then, Bernardi kept busy shilling for Star-Kist as the voice behind Charlie the Tuna.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The crown jewel. 7 seasons, and a box of Emmys.
Storefront Lawyers. From Hawaii Five-O producer Leonard Freeman comes a courtroom drama that all but mirrored ABC's Young Lawyers. The title was changed to Men at Law at midseason, but its fate was sealed.
The Interns. What did in this Screen Gems entry was where it was placed, on Fridays, opposite studio stablemate The Partridge Family. With Broderick Crawford, Mike Farrell, Stephen Brooks, & Christopher Stone.
Dick Tufeld is our narrator.
So Donnie Diapers (Donald Trump to all the rest of y'all) gave his speech on Thursday night. CBS only carried a part of it before cutting away, and issuing a disclaimer that it was, as reported, full of tall tales. Fox & Fox News aired it. ABC & NBC didn't, but while ABC aired it on their streamer & radio network, NBC opted to air part of it on MS Now before cutting away, and aired the full speech on their streamer. CNN passed, as well, but because they're run now by friends of Dumb Donald, they got a free pass from the predictable criticism that followed.
As expected, Trump whined about 2020, claiming it was stolen when it clearly wasn't, and blamed China for election interference that doesn't exist, and that was debunked rather easily. His tiny brain can't comprehend that he, and he alone, blew his reelection chances six years ago because of his pathetic response to the COVID pandemic, which exposed to the world how ill prepared he was, and still is. His ego refuses to allow him to accept the responsibility for that failure, so he projects, he deflects, and he lies. When he started downplaying the pandemic as less of a threat than it really was, his goose was cooked.
He wants his voter suppression bill, known as the SAVE America act, passed, but even Republicans are expressing doubts that it will take place. They just don't have the votes needed to pass it.
At the end of the day, Trump needs to finally put 2020 behind him, like the rest of us have. If he doesn't we'll still have this to look forward to........
All week, the word has gone around that president Trump was planning to address the nation tonight, and it'd been leaked out that he was using this address to, again, whine about getting screwed in 2020, despite the fact that the case has been litigated so many times, with Trump losing every time.
Listen, fella, if that was true, you wouldn't be in the White House now.
Anyway, we just got this:
And you know you're getting this:
During the 70's, Hal Williams had the role of a lifetime as one of the most relatable cops on television, playing Officer Smith in 22 episodes of Sanford & Son, then returning for 5 more in the later Sanford series (1980-1).
Officer Smith, or, "Smitty", to friends like the Sanfords, often had to translate the misspeaking of his partners, whether it was Officer Swanhauser (Noam Pitlik) or Officer Hopkins (Howard Platt).
However, there was that time when Fred was at loggerheads with his dimwitted neighbor, Grady (Whitman Mayo), over a stolen TV....
The finals of the FIFA World Cup are now set, after Argentina rallied to beat England, 2-1, earlier today. Lionel Messi & Argentina now will play Spain on Sunday (3 pm ET, Fox) at the Meadowlands.
However, there are headlines away from the pitch, with reports that singer-talk show host Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem prior to the game Sunday, despite the fact that the US was eliminated 9 days ago. Figure FIFA head Gianni Infantino got that idea from his friend, president Trump, who, unfortunately, will hand out the championship trophy.
The National League was held to 2 hits as the American League won the All-Star Game, 4-0. The Yankees' Cody Bellinger drove in the game winners in the first inning, and the AL pitching & defense made it stand up, such that Bellinger was named game MVP.
St. Louis' Jordan Walker, who won the Home Run Derby by outpointing the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, which made the partisans very unhappy, to the point where they booed Walker when he entered last night's game.
Talk about a tough crowd.
By the way, Netflix has taken over the Derby beginning with Monday's broadcast. The landscape of baseball on television continues to change.
While he's being used in a daffy sci-fi story arc on Smackdown with Danhausen, the Miz (Mike Mizanin) is very active away from the ring.
Miz is at the ESPY's tonight, and made an appearance on SportsCenter to promote SummerSlam, coming up August 1-2 in Minneapolis. Three days earlier, he was finishing up at the American Century celebrity golf championship, and may have gotten on ESPN's top 10 plays list with this shot:
After MTV jettisoned The Basement Tapes, the network decided to find another outlet for alternative music.
British producer-DJ Dave Kendall gave them 120 Minutes, and even spent 3 years as series host (1989-92) before moving back behind the camera. At first, the regular VJ's were rotating in the host position until they settled on Kevin Seal around 1988. Kendall took over the next year, and they were off and running.
120 Minutes had its original run end around the turn of the century, then moved to MTV2 for a couple of years before being cut. One last go-round came a few years later with Matt Pinfield, who'd succeeded Kendall, returning as host.
Following is a sample episode from 1990.
Sometime in the early 80's, Robin Williams incorporated a brief excerpt of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire", which later became a hit for the Pointer Sisters, into his stand-up act. Less than a minute of pure bliss.
Woke up this morning to learn that South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, 71, had passed away on Saturday after a brief, sudden illness. Reports have it that Graham had suffered cardiac arrest in his Washington home.
Conspiracy theorist "Loopy" Laura Loomer is pushing an idea, with no basis in truth or reality, of course, claiming that either Iran or Russia was looking to assassinate Graham, 10 months after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was murdered.
Laura Loomer calls for probe into Lindsey Graham’s death sharing Putin theory - AOL
Oh, but that ain't all.
Loomer is also stirring up controversy surrounding Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized for nearly a month under a cover of secrecy. She keeps poking into things where she doesn't belong to extend her 15 minutes, but, sooner or later, the more she cries wolf........!
Laura Loomer fuels speculation about McConnell’s health and home renovations
I hear Bellevue is calling.
Earlier this week, singer Bonnie Tyler had passed away. Tyler's hits included "Holding Out For a Hero", "Total Eclipse of The Heart"., a #1 hit in 1983, and 1978's "It's a Heartache":
Producer Don Taffner had acquired the rights to adapt Thames' Man About The House into Three's Company, 50 years ago. However, the first pilot didn't have the familiar trio of roommates that we'd all remember. Oh, sure, John Ritter is here, playing an aspiring filmmaker named David, instead of Jack Tripper. Norman Fell (ex-Dan August, 87th Precinct) and Audra Lindley, as the Ropers, are here. But, who the other two roomies?
Samantha (Suzanne Zenor) wants to be an actress. Jenny (Valerie Curtin) works for the DMV.
The plot remains the same. Samantha & Jenny find David in the bathtub after a party the night before......
Peter Gunn creator Blake Edwards, hot off the "Pink Panther" movie, wanted to revive Gunn, starting with a feature film. Instead of releasing it through United Artists, which had the "Panther" series, Edwards went with Paramount, whose new management at the time felt casting changes needed to be made, six years after the series had ended.
For example, Lola Albright was not invited back to reprise as lounge singer Edie Hart, Gunn's girlfriend. The part was given to Laura Devon. Why? Paramount suits, for some reason, thought Albright had gotten too old for the part. As if. There is, though, that youth demographic to consider.
Herschel Bernardi wasn't doing much aside from Star-Kist commercials and other cartoons, but wasn't brought back to play Lt. Jacoby. Future icon Ed Asner took his place. Our supporting cast also includes Alan Oppenheimer, Albert Paulsen, George Murdock, Carol Wayne, J. Pat O'Malley, Regis Toomey (ex-Burke's Law), & Charles Dierkop.
The Smothers Brothers returned to television in 1975, hoping to start anew. However, it didn't last too long, and, aside from their comedy-drama, Fitz & Bones, would not try again with a variety show until the 1988 writers' strike.
From the 1975 series comes this number that resonates even today, in the face of the intentional, ham-handed handling of government affairs by the current administration. John Stewart, formerly of the Kingston Trio, released "Survivors" that year, and is joined by the Smothers Brothers, Ringo Starr, Lily Tomlin (who was on the big screen that year in "Nashville"), Bob Einstein, Pat Paulsen, Steve Martin, & Don Novello, making a rare appearance without his Father Guido Sarducci persona.
Three years after Bachelor Father had ended, and, I believe, was in syndication at that time, John Forsythe returned, this time in a self-titled sitcom for Universal & NBC that underwent a mid-season makeover that ultimately killed the show.
Air Force Major John Foster (Forsythe) inherits an all-girls school, which would've been all well & good, except that viewers weren't interested. The show aired opposite I've Got a Secret on CBS, and the 2nd half of Twelve O'Clock High on ABC. At the end of January of 1966, the series was retooled to use the school as a cover so that Foster and his wingman, Ed Robbins (Guy Marks, ex-The Joey Bishop Show) could go on spy missions for the government. The John Forsythe Show was cancelled two months later.
Forsythe was also joined by Ann B. Davis (ex-The Bob Cummings Show), Elsa Lanchester, and even had his own daughters appear in a few episodes shot during the summer before they went back to school. Pamelyn Ferdin was one of the students.
In this outing, post-format change, Ed steps into the ring to settle a dispute with a man involved in an accident (Peter Palmer, "Li'l Abner"). David Lewis (Batman) guests as well.
From season 2 of The Real McCoys:
Amos (Walter Brennan) uses a divining rod to pinpoint a spot on his land to build "The New Well". Andy Clyde & Joe Flynn guest star.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made some "legend" picks for this year's All-Star Game, taking place July 14 in Philadelphia. We reported that the Phillies' Bryce Harper was granted legend status, which is a little bit ridiculous when you think about it.
Now comes word that the AL "legend"-designate is Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander, who used the opportunity Wednesday to announce that he will retire after the season. Verlander has also pitched for Houston, the Mets, and San Francisco. He'll hang 'em up after the season so he & wife Kate can start a family.
Thanks for the memories.
The injury bug continues to plague the Mets.
Infielder-designated hitter Mark Vientos, mired in a season long malaise, was removed from today's matinee vs. Kansas City after getting hit by a pitch, which fractured his hand. The Mets won't say just yet how long Vientos will be out, other than "weeks".
And a lot of fair weather "fans" wanted him gone by the trade deadline. Sure, kick the guy when he's down.
Reddit is the only form of social media I use. Good thing, too.
Three days after the US was eliminated from the World Cup, a member of the Trump administration is trying to justify President Pampers persuading FIFA President Gianni Infantino to rescind the red card issued to a US player a week ago. Not that it did the US any good, but the annoying orange's meddling was the kiss of death.
Try telling that to this moron.
Shouldn't you be getting a prescription for Ginkoba for your father, anyway, Andrew?
The 5th Dimension's "Age of Aquarius" was released as a single in 1969, coupled with "Let The Sunshine In", off the "Hair" soundtrack. However, we have this clip, origin unknown, of the group performing "Aquarius", complemented with cheesy special effects.
Billy Joel. Carnegie Hall. "The Stranger", title song from the album. Enough said.
In the end, to borrow from Shakespeare, it was much ado about nothing.
The Belgian Red Devils were angry, hungry, and motivated to beat the US men's national soccer team in the World Cup, and did so in a 4-1 victory Monday that was as much a statement as it was about proving a point.
The Belgians had appealed the decision to reinstate US striker Folarin Balogun the day before, but the appeal was denied. In hindsight, the admission by president Trump that he prevailed upon FIFA president Gianni Infantino to rescind Balogun's suspension gave the Belgians all the motivation they really needed, and gave the US the dreaded kiss of death.
If only Trump had kept his mouth shut on this matter........!
From season 1 of The Man From UNCLE:
Two years before Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner are among the guest stars. You'll also see Werner Klemperer, a year before Hogan's Heroes. Missing from this scene? Sheila MacRae, who'd soon, if not by then, join The Jackie Gleason Show.
On Wednesday, US striker Folarin Balogun was given a red card during a win over Bosnia, meaning he would not play tonight vs. Belgium.
However, FIFA reversed field four days later, and suspended the red card for a year for Balogun, clearing him to play tonight (8 pm, Fox). Immediately, the suspicions were raised, especially after it'd gotten out that the White House, or, more specifically, president Donald Trump, contacted FIFA honcho Gianni Infantino or one of his aides, asking for Balogun's reinstatement.
Even though Trump, as a representing statesman, will present the championship trophy following the finals on July 19, he'd be better off sending VP JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his place, for obvious reasons. He's already stained this year's tournament enough.
As for the question of the tournament being rigged, the answer is no, as of right now. No one expects the US to reach the finals, but one major obstacle was removed Sunday night when Brazil was eliminated by Norway at Met Life Stadium, 2-1. Given that the Belgians are upset over Infantino's latest ruling, there's every reason to believe the US won't move to the quarterfinals.
And, in all fairness, maybe it's better that way.
When fans vote for the annual All-Star Game, this year's edition taking place July 14 in Philadelphia, they ignore current events like idiots. When I've cast a ballot over the years, I've taken injuries into account. The majority of people voting don't because they have a singular purpose.
Blind loyalty also means blind stupidity in some cases.
American League:
Catcher-Shea Langeliers, Sacramento.
First base: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto, who may have set the record for fastest opt-out in All Star history, as he dropped out within an hour of the rosters being announced on Fox, due to a back issue.
Second base: Ernie Clement, Toronto.
Third base: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay.
Shortstop: Bobby Witt, Jr., Kansas City.
Outfield: Byron Buxton, Minnesota; Mike Trout, Los Angeles; Aaron Judge, Yankees. Of these, Judge may not make it due to injury.
Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez, Houston.
National League:
Catcher: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta. Baldwin's been struggling since coming off the IL, and had the night off last night vs. the Mets.
First base: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles.
Second base: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta.
Third base: Max Muncy, Los Angeles.
Shortstop: CJ Abrams, Washington.
Outfield: Juan Soto, Mets; Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia; Andy Pages, Los Angeles.
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles (who else?).
It's already been reported that Sacramento's 2nd year star, Nick Kurtz, will replace Guerrero. Judge likely will be replaced as well unless he returns this week. The Mets' lousy season is punctuated with Soto being the only one on the roster at this point, though if any pitchers opt out, relievers Luke Weaver and/or Devin Williams may be added.
Philadelphia's Bryce Harper was designated as a "legend pick" by Commissioner Rob Manfred. Legend? Harper? It is to laugh. Scott Boras Badenov must've slipped a few extra bucks Manfred's way to get that "honor".
Just pray the world's oldest wet blanket doesn't show up in Philadelphia. If you don't know who I mean, you haven't been paying attention.
Ahead of President Obama's inauguration in 2009, a concert took place in Washington. From that event, Bruce Springsteen & Pete Seeger cover Woody Guthrie's immortal folk classic, "This Land is Your Land".
John Oliver used his anchor's position on Last Week Tonight to make a public plea for an appearance on a daytime soap.
ABC & Peacock answered. CBS? Who knows?
Oliver made his soap debut Thursday on General Hospital, and will finish there on Monday. Next month, he moves over to Days of Our Lives for three episodes. E! has the scoop.
Jeannine Pirro, former Fox No News whiner, former TV judge, currently the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, can't win a conviction if her life depended on it, and that's not about to change anytime soon.
That this is even happening is another distraction from the myriad of issues facing the White House, including poor attendance at the Great American State Fair at the National Mall. Seems most folks are more interested in watching the World Cup on the big screen, and ignoring everything else. Welp, if the organizers didn't insist on most of the artists having peaked in the 80's or 90's, they wouldn't have that problem, either.
Back to the topic at hand. Hearn will be cleared, Jeannine Pirro, this week's Weasel, will be disgraced yet again, and President Pampers will have egg on his face. Again.
Call Holme was a pilot that went nowhere for NBC in 1972. Writers Gerald Gardner & Dee Caruso had worked on The Monkees & Get Smart, among their credits, and concocted this farce about a PI who's also a master of disguise (Arte Johnson, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In), who somehow gets his job done. In the course of this story, Johnson breaks out some of his characters from Laugh-In for quick cameos.
Our ensemble also includes Reta Shaw (ex-The Ghost & Mrs. Muir), Arlene Golonka (ex-Mayberry RFD), Jim Hutton, and Vic Tayback, plus a brief cameo from Danny Bonaduce (The Partridge Family)
Unfortunately, the credits were edited off.
A year before being cast in The Hathaways, the Marquis Chimps were signed to do a series of ads for Red Rose tea.
Here, the chimps rock out as a jazz band. Like, swing it!
For the first time that I can think of, a message flashed across my television screen Sunday night that wasn't warning of inclement weather.
Instead, the message had to do with a young Menands boy who had gone missing. 7 year old Harbe Nagi, diagnosed as being autistic & non-verbal, had wandered off from his parents. Nearly 48 hours later, young Harbe was found dead as a result of drowning in a neighbor's swimming pool.
Chuck Miller's take:
A Taste of Italy and its black heart – Chuck The Writer
A Taste of Italy, which has been a sponsor of Siena University basketball, may be losing that sponsorship unless the truth about the social media kerfluffle comes out soon. Redditors are already ripping into the restaurant, and are planning a peaceful protest not too far from the eatery in Latham. I should point out that Jesus taught us to love, not hate, and that he did not have hate in His heart for anyone. To suggest that He "doesn't like ugly" is missing the point by a country mile.
Rest in peace, Harbe.
It is known that part of the inspiration for Batman came from Johnston McCulley's Zorro, and one example comes in this 1st season episode, "Zorro's Secret Passage". Don Diego (Guy Williams) discovered a secret cave beneath his home, and asserts his grandfather had built it years earlier. Of course, you know that Batman would have a Batcave.......
Back in the day, the networks would start rolling out commercials promoting new series for the following fall around the middle of July. As it's the end of June, we're turning back the clock to 1975 for CBS' fall preview that year. We've previously reviewed the following:
Phyllis. 2nd spinoff from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Bronk. Jack Palance stars in his first series since 1963's Greatest Show on Earth. Carroll O'Connor (All in The Family) and Terry Becker (ex-Voyage to The Bottom of The Sea) produced the series for MGM.
Three For The Road. Family drama with Alex Rocco & Leif Garrett.
Big Eddie: Sheldon Leonard's return to acting.
Bicentennial Minutes. Short features leading up to the bicentennial.
Switch. Glen Larson's pairing of Robert Wagner (ex-It Takes a Thief) and Eddie Albert (ex-Green Acres) lasted three seasons. Co-starring Sharon Gless and Charlie Callas.
Doc. Broadway favorite Barnard Hughes as a doctor (of course).
We will be on the lookout for Beacon Hill. William Conrad (Cannon) is our tour guide.
Another school has bitten the dust in the 518.
Doane Stuart School just completed its 51st season earlier this month, but, due to a shrinking enrollment that saw just 40 students on campus this season, the Rensselaer based school is closing its doors.
If you're walking around Watervliet, you've probably noticed by now some stenciled signage on the sidewalks marking the city's 200th birthday. Commissioned by Meneely Bell, the signs promote the fact that the city, originally West Troy, was founded in 1826, 50 years after American independence.
This will make this year's 4th of July parade that much more of a landmark occasion.
Unfortunately, the pending rain this week might wash away the signage......
Very quietly, there was a carnival at Powers Park in Lansingburgh over the weekend. Outside of maybe a mention in the pages of El Cheapo Media, or on social media, few probably knew about it.
Powers Park will also host a rummage sale for residents on July 25, a far cry from the days of monthly flea markets sponsored by a local church. There hasn't been a rummage sale or flea market at Powers Park in years, but that will soon change. If this works out, there will be more.
Today's technology allows for radio stations to very sneakily let their on-air talent pre-record their bumpers & cues.
One such case was last night, during Ben Patten's evening show on WROW. What listeners didn't know, and didn't find out until this morning, was that Patten had recorded promos, bumpers, & cues in advance so he & his wife could attend the Barry Manilow concert at MVP Arena. While the pre-recording was not acknowledged on the air, listeners could figure it out on their own. I've often suspected this has been done in the past, especially on holidays. Now, it's almost certain.
The Supreme Court, in one of several cases regarding president Trump heard today, ruled that President Cheapo needs to pay E. Jean Carroll what he owes her, per a civil liability ruling 2 years ago.
From the Associated Press YouTube channel:
You know the story of how Mary Tyler Moore lost her first series gig on Richard Diamond when it got out she was the mysterious switchboard operator, Sam.
Welp, Mary, billed as Mary Moore here, began making appearances on 77 Sunset Strip a few months after getting sacked from Diamond. In "Thanks For Tomorrow", she's the love interest of one Lonnie Drew (Adam West), who is being set up as a fall guy by some gamblers.....
Edit, 7/6/26: WB put in a copyright claim on the full episode, so we'll sub in an excerpt.
We're launching a new feature today with Cinema Saturday. First up, we're bringing back the 1966 pilot for the 2nd Dragnet series, which didn't air until 3 years later. Unfortunately, the last copy we had was removed from YouTube.
This time, we'll start with the opening sequence, which has, for unknown reasons, been edited off subsequent prints.
You could see it coming a mile away. Six errors in the nightcap of a Wednesday doubleheader seemed to be the last straw, but the Mets allowed 3rd year manager Carlos Mendoza one more game, the front office equivalent of having a reliever in the bullpen after the starter gets a mound visit, and it's assumed he has one more batter to face.
The Mets were swept by the Chicago Cubs, extending their current losing streak to six games, or half the size of their longest dry spell of the season. Today, the cut the cord on Mendoza, a move many fans saw as long overdue.
After falling out of playoff contention at the end of last season, the Mets were expected to turn things around, but slugger Pete Alonso (Baltimore), closer Edwin Diaz (Dodgers, currently on the IL), and utility ace Jeff McNeil (Sacramento) all chased the money, and Brandon Nimmo was shipped off to Texas for an underachieving Marcus Semien, who's started to turn it around on offense before going to the IL earlier this week with a hip injury. Fans on reddit rebelled, believing the team had reverted to the pre-Cohen era method of rebuilding on the cheap, choosing to stupidly convert Jorge Polanco to a first baseman (currently on the IL). Mark Vientos has been hot & cold, as has Jared Young. The experiment of making Brett Baty into another McNeil (that is, a utilityman who can play anywhere) has been met with indifference.
It's almost as if someone was really, really unhappy after the popular Alonso was allowed to walk, and hexed the team, but there's no proof that ever happened, of course. It isn't helping that the Mets' current malaise has dampened the momentum generated by the Knicks' NBA title victory earlier this month.
Fans on reddit already have given up on 2026, but is it premature? Philadelphia offers a case that it might be. They were the last team to change managers, swapping out Rob Thomson for Don Mattingly several weeks back, and they're back in the thick of the pennant race. Boston dumped Alex Cora, but Chad Tracy has not been the answer so far, leaving the Red Sox in the same position as the Mets, and it's not pretty. At the same time, the fans are not paying much attention to the usual spate of injuries, preventing the 2026 team from actually coming together as a unit, and looking for someone to blame. If you want to do that, whine on talk radio, kids.
Time will tell if Green, a veteran manager like Mattingly, can turn the ship around before it does hit a season ending iceberg. And the clock starts ticking tonight.
The Smith Family was Don Fedderson's final sale to ABC, and by year's end, he would not have anything on the network, as the series was cancelled, while, The Lawrence Welk Show moved to syndication that fall.
Smith was a mid-season replacement, and the first series for film star Henry Fonda in about a decade (The Deputy). It also brought Ron(ny) Howard (ex-The Andy Griffith Show) back to television after he'd made a movie or two for Disney.
In the opener, Cindy (Darleen Carr, later of The Streets of San Francisco) is ostracized when a classmate (guest star Heather Menzies) is busted for marijuana possession.
The title song is performed by Mike Minor (ex-Petticoat Junction).
I remember watching some figure skating as a youth, and the background music was "Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat, & Tears. It was so, so perfect.
So, let's go back to 1969, and a live performance of "Spinning Wheel":
I think you can stick a fork in Dumb Donald's "SAVE America Act", which is meant to be a voter suppression law. A judge just shut down Trump's efforts to interfere in future elections. Glenn Kirschner explains.
For months, it has sat dormant, even though the logo was already in place. Then, last week, Elev8 Entertainment finally had its grand opening.
Moving to the corner of Congress & 3rd, we find that someone apparently is interested in putting a new business in the retail space last occupied by Midtown Grocery a few years back. Unfortunately, that's all we know.
Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy wanted to put a bus terminal in the former McDonald's on South Pearl Street, a building that last housed an inner city grocery not too long ago. Residents said no way.
So McCoy, undaunted, has decided to try to put a bus terminal in the Empire State Plaza.
Now, if you live in the 518, you know the Plaza is a common stop for CDTA buses arriving in Albany from Troy or Cohoes. What McCoy wants to do is set up space for Greyhound, which closed its terminal years ago, and Yankee Trails.
Stay tuned.
While the town of Brunswick isn't exactly in a hurry to fill the vacancy created by Family Footwear's closing, they are filling space across the road.
QuickChek, which is both a sub shop and a gas station, just opened next door to Mattress Firm, which has Chipotle on the other side.
In all honesty, I don't think they're done just yet developing properties on Hoosick Road, but they'd be well served to work out a deal with CDTA for bus service into and out of Hannaford, just up the street from QuickChek. Just sayin'.
Last month, prior to a home game vs. Cincinnati, the Mets thought they could replicate the magic of 2024, when McDonald's mascot Grimace threw out the first pitch. This time, actor Bill Fagerbakke (ex-Coach), now better known as the voice of Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick's self-titled spinoff series, joined Farmers Insurance pitchman JK Simmons, whom most of you know as J. Jonah Jameson from some of the Spider-Man movies, at Citi Field. The Mets gave the two actors microphones.
"Dumb Donald is really dumb!"---Gene Rayburn, Match Game, 1973-84.
When you rush a project through, disaster usually follows.
Unfortunately, that logic is lost on an 80 year old man-child with the impulse control of a 5 year old.
Donald John Elmer Fudd Trump, man & boy, had the Department of the Interior award a no-bid contract to a friend of his, John Cafaro, and his company, Greenwater Services, to restore the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. However, in his haste to have the pool ready for last week's debacle of a birthday party, headlined by the UFC White House MMA card, Trump didn't give Cafaro enough time to allow his water purification system to be fully installed in the pool. As a result, the water turned green because of algae rising from the floor of the pool.
Cafaro, a neighbor of Trump's in Florida, isn't exactly a saint, either, because of a pair of felonies for which he was sentenced to probation. When the water turned green, Trump threw another temper tantrum, looking for a scapegoat to blame.
If left alone to handle the project, Cafaro could've gotten more time to make sure his system was in place.
"You knew the job was dangerous when you took it."--Super Chicken, 1967.
But, when your client is a neighbor with the mental capacity of a kindergartener.....!
And, oh, that ain't all.....!
On Sunday, it was reported that the oldest baby in America undermined vice president Just Dumb Vance's negotiations with the Iranian government in Switzerland, prompting the Iranian delegation to leave the bargaining table after Trump threatened, yet again, to blow up Iran, days after he'd signed a "memorandum of understanding" with Iran. Seems as though Trump is only going to be happy with a deal that benefits him (of course), moreso than the country. And that ain't happening any time soon.
Bellevue is waiting.
To inspire the US of today, maybe Coca-Cola should bring this commercial back.
In this case, it is Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Ms. Meloni was at the G7 Summit earlier this week, and since coming home, the Ugly American president is repeatedly claiming that she wanted a photo op with him, to the point of begging. You know the drill. Trump is lying, as per usual, because he doesn't like being embarrassed by a strong-willed, assertive woman in a position of authority, just because she won't bend to his will.
No, you did this, Dumb Donald, because the national conversation over here was still about the World Cup AND the Knicks having had their victory parade on Thursday without you. You wanted the spotlight on you. Add to that the fact that the memorial reflecting pool you decided needed repairing without proper consultation is in trouble, because the water has turned green from algae at the floor of the pool. Didn't take that into account, did ya? Hmmmmmmmmm, welllllllll, of course not! I've read that experts have said you should've waited a few days before refilling the pool, but you, due to your impatience and ego, needed it refilled the next day.
Now that you've been home for a couple of days, someone should take your phone away, and keep you isolated for a few days while undergoing psychiatric evaluation, just so you can stop lying. We're sick of you.
Five days after defeating San Antonio for their first NBA title since 1973, the Knicks had the attention of all of NYC this morning.
Trump is in France for the G7 Summit, and missed the parade.
The Knicks have already worked out a deal with the WWE in relation to Danhausen, who was a good luck charm for the team during their post-season run. Comparisons to the Mets' magical run 2 summers ago after a promotional appearance by Grimace can be dismissed, since Danhausen got the Knicks "to the finish line".
Speaking of WWE, there are no plans to hold a PLE at the White House, unlike the UFC spectacular four nights ago. UFC frontman & Ram pitchman Dana White has already shot down plans for a second card at the White House, and has to deal with the backlash of one of his fighters taking a cheap shot at former First Lady Michelle Obama. Right wing morons are overestimating the crowd size for Sunday's card. Par for the course for chronic liar Trump and his supporters.
Belated congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes on winning the Stanley Cup on Sunday, besting Vegas in 6 games. We referenced this over at Tri-City SportsBeat on Monday.
It must've been guys night out for WWE's Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Roman Reigns, & Nick Khan at the UFC card on Sunday. Levesque's brother-in-law, Shane McMahon, was also in the house, as he's probably the biggest MMA fan in the family.
The Three Stooges' final feature film for Columbia sends them back to the old west.
"The Outlaws is Coming", released in January 1965, enables the team to reward the children's show hosts screening their shorts across the country, such as WPIX's "Officer" Joe Bolton, by casting them as outlaws. Emil Sitka plays three different roles (keep an eye out for him in this picture), and, otherwise, the supporting cast includes Adam West, a year before Batman, Nancy Kovack, & Henry Gibson.
Paul Frees (of course) delivers some Lone Ranger-esque narration early on.
I remember seeing this on WSBK once upon a time, introduced by Dana Hersey, back in the 70's or 80's, I forget which.
Nearly 10 years after their debut, "Hot Fuss", The Killers released a compilation CD, which included the single, "Just Another Girl". Save for a cameo at the end, where he's dressed like he was in "All These Things I've Done", Brandon Flowers doesn't appear. Instead, Dianna Agron acts as a stand-in, miming Flowers' vocals.
From season 1 of All in The Family:
We had this one up before, and ended up losing it after it'd been taken down from YouTube. Now, it's back, via the Norman Lear Effect channel.
Archie (Carroll O'Connor) learns about judging people when he makes a wrong impression about a friend of Mike & Gloria's, only to discover when he goes to the bar that a friend of his has a secret. Anthony Geary and Philip Carey guest star, along with Billy Sands (billed as Billie), whose former McHale's Navy castmate, Bob Hastings, makes his debut as the bartender.
Edit, 6/24/26: Had to change the video as the episode, for whatever, has been privatized. Following is a short excerpt with Philip Carey.
Sure, Flag Day was yesterday, but let's travel back to World War II with The Gallant Men, a one season drama from Warner Bros. & ABC.
Van Williams (ex-Surfside Six), George Murdock (later turning up on The Bold Ones & Barney Miller), and Philip Carey (ex-Philip Marlowe) guest star in "The Leathernecks". Hank Simms is our announcer.
Hey, bub, check it. Henry Mancini. Peter Gunn. Ed Sullivan. Whut more y'need to know?
1973.
That was the last time the Knicks were NBA champions. The last title run for Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Phil Jackson, Earl Monroe, and Bill Bradley. The Mets tried to ride that momentum to another World Series that fall, but fell to the then-Oakland A's in 7 games as the A's won their 2nd straight title. The Yankees, Jets, Giants, & Rangers weren't even close.
2026.
An improbable post-season run culminated in the first NBA title since then on Saturday night, as the Knicks avenged a 1999 NBA finals loss to San Antonio by dusting the Spurs in 5 games. Jalen Brunson took on the role of Willis Reed, willing his team to victory, leading the Knicks with 45 points as his father, Rick, a member of the 1999 team, and now, an assistant coach, looked on from the Knicks bench.
Predictably, fans in NYC were delirious, and also prone to violence, just out of sheer stupidity, not knowing how to properly celebrate. For the Knicks' man-child owner, James Dolan, he adds the Larry O'Brien trophy to the Stanley Cup the Rangers won 32 years ago.
But, it almost didn't happen, because of the NBA's star system, and how they want to protect their most marketable players, like the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. In the 3rd quarter, as the Knicks were making their comeback, the refs missed what would've been a flagrant foul, committed by Wembanyama, on Brunson. Knicks coach Mike Brown, Brunson, and Knicks fans who made the pilgrimage to San Antonio, complained. So did ESPN's team of Mike Breen, Tim Legler, & Richard Jefferson. The refs held their whistles because the league, conspiracy theorists say, wanted the series to continue.
For all the negativity that came with president Trump showing up at MSG on Monday, with granddaughter Kai in tow, the Knicks, you can say, gave Washington's resident man-child an early birthday present.
But, now comes the hard part. Repeating. Good luck.
He was America's most famous film critic, until Chicago's Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel got their own show. A bushy mustache, with an afro to match, made Gene Shalit a television icon for nearly 40 years on The Today Show, starting around 1972.
Shalit didn't just do movie reviews. He also conducted interviews with actors whose films he'd review, such as, in this case, a 1981 interview with Liza Minelli, who was promoting "Arthur":
Bandleader Ozzie Nelson, previously on Red Skelton's radio show, had spun off into his own radio series, which transitioned to television in 1952, beginning a 14 year run on ABC.
It was Ozzie, wife Harriet, and sons Rick & David, with the usual recurring cast of supporting characters, representing the prototypical American family in the 50's.
In syndication, the series used the alternate title, The Adventures of The Nelson Family, as you'll see in this sample episode, with guests Lyle Talbot, Frank Cady (later of Green Acres & Petticoat Junction), and Parley Baer (later of The Andy Griffith Show):
You've heard or read by now that president Trump claims he's nearing a deal with Iran.
And if you believe that one, then he's got a bridge to sell you. Somewhere in a swamp.
On the other side, the Iranian government, which closed the Strait of Hormuz----again----on Thursday, isn't budging from its current negotiating stance, contrary to what Trump wants everyone here to believe.
What Trump, who will be 80 on Sunday, doesn't comprehend is that not only are the people here in the US not buying his hyperbolic BS, but the Iranians can see right through him. The game of diplomatic chicken will continue.
Some fly-by-night jobroni company, 15 Seconds to Fame, copped to digitally altering audio of Trump getting booed at Madison Square Garden on Monday, subbing the boos & jeers with cheers to make him happy. Golfer Kai Trump, the president's granddaughter (Don, Jr.'s daughter) took notice of it, and that forced the company out in the open.
Nice to know Kai has more on the ball than her father & grandfather combined.
We're learning that President Buzzkill won't be at tonight's Team USA first round match in the World Cup (9 pm, Fox) at SoFi stadium, just outside Los Angeles. Just as well. Someone should give him some Sominex so he can sleep at a decent hour.
President Buzzkill, as you know, will now headline what was supposed to be a month long state fair at the National Mall in Washington, scheduled to start later this month. He'll be joined by 80's country star Lee Greenwood, and opera star Christopher Macchio, whom Trump has compared to another 80's icon, Luciano Pavarotti. Trump threw shade on the artists that dropped out, like Martina McBride, Young MC, and the Commodores, and the ones that seemingly were still in, including Flo Rida and 90's star Vanilla Ice, who acted like he was oblivious to it all.
And, then, there's the matter of the Kennedy Center.
Personally, I'd strap Trump to a chair and make him watch "Billy Madison" in a 24 hour loop........
53 years.
That's how long it's been since the Knicks were last NBA champions. Back then, you had Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Walt Frazier, and Phil Jackson, who'd later win a bunch of titles as a coach.
Today, the Knicks have the likes of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns, and they're a game away from their 3rd NBA title.
Wednesday night, the Knicks erased a 29 point 2nd half deficit to beat San Antonio, and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals, with Game 5 set for Saturday night in San Antonio.
Remember when they'd hype the Muscular Dystrophy telethons back in the day? "Stay up with Jerry (Lewis), and watch the stars come out!", Ed McMahon would intone in the voiceover.
The Knicks had the stars at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night....
Knicks radio co-host Monica McNutt, however, threw cold water on Taylor Swift's appearance, not realizing that the singer is, in fact, a Knicks fan. And you thought they were done with the buzzkill......!
Two years ago, the Mets rode a wave of momentum after a promotional appearance by McDonald's mascot Grimace became a meme. The Knicks are riding a similar wave, thanks in large part to WWE star Danhausen, who "uncursed" the team, leading to their current status, having won 12 of 13.
The Mets should be paying attention. They might need Danhausen's services next.
When the late Richard Nixon was President, he had an "enemies" list, which consisted of political foes like Senators Birch Baye, Sam Ervin, Howard Baker, & Ted Kennedy. The existence of this list ultimately contributed to Nixon's resignation in 1974 amid the Watergate scandal. Journalist Daniel Schorr, famous for The Pentagon Papers, was also on the list.
52 years later, the current president, the onion-skinned Donald Trump, has his own list, which includes online commentators like Brian Tyler Cohen & David Pakman. The rationale behind this?
The truth hurts. As much as the Trump administration insists on forwarding false narratives contrary to truth & reality, the fact that they are now targeting the likes of Cohen & Pakman speaks to the frustration in the White House over the fact that Trump and his staff are constantly fact-checked for every falsehood that they speak.
Farron Cousins, who is not on the list, explains:
This one is for Hal Horn at The Horn Section.
From the final season of Ford Theatre comes "The Quiet Stranger". George Montgomery has the title role, a wayfarer who inspires a young boy (Bobby Clark) to race for the building of a schoolhouse. Forrest Tucker & Ted DeCorsia co-star.
Looking at the free concert schedules in and around the home district, it feels like Troy has decided to go el-scrimpo this year. That is to say, not as much entertainment as usual, as the budget is being redistributed elsewhere.
But, the biggest hit is the Powers Park series, reduced to just 2 shows this year, both with a 1 pm start, and running until 8:30 pm.
July 11:
1 pm: Psycho Mutton Chops.
3 pm: Brian Kane & The Beginning.
6 pm: Skeeter Creek.
August 15:
1 pm: Ishikawa (Allman Brothers tribute).
3 pm: Stones Alive (Rolling Stones tribute, of course).
6 pm: Legacy (Styx tribute).
Wake Up Wednesdays began its 2026 season on May 20, and continues through July 1. Next Step Federal Credit Union is the event sponsor. The remaining lineup:
Tomorrow: The Revival, featuring Alyssa Crosby (ex-The Voice).
June 17: Yacht Club.
June 24: Highway Boys (Zach Bryan tribute).
July 1: Legend (Journey tribute).
The city will still have its annual Pig Out and Chowderfest events at Riverfront Park, but this just doesn't hit the same.
