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.......
