It had been 4 years since The Dick Van Dyke Show had ended and moved into syndication. Van Dyke would soon return, but his leading lady got there first and cemented her own icon status in the process.
Everyone knows the theme to The Mary Tyler Moore Show
For 7 seasons, Moore charmed audiences as Mary Richards, a producer and sometime on-air personality for a Minneapolis television station. Her series would spawn three spin-offs, the last of which, Lou Grant, was a hour-long drama instead of a sitcom, and became a classic in its own right.
Moore had been a fixture, really, since the 50's, when she played "Happy Hotpoint" in a series of ads, and her first series gig was an anonymous one, as viewers only saw her legs as Sam, the secretary to Richard Diamond, Private Eye, a gig she lost before the series ended.
At WJM-TV, the staff was an eclectic bunch. Anchorman Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) was vain, pompous, and about as sharp as a soggy toothpick. Producer Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod, ex-McHale's Navy) tried to keep things in perspective, and even had a crush on Mary at one point. Then, of course, there was Lou Grant (Ed Asner), tough, but fair, even though he famously told Mary that he hated spunk. As time wore on, Lou & Ted were softened in terms of character. Ted even got married late in the run.
At home, Mary's best friend was Rhoda (Valerie Harper), who would soon return to New York in her own series. Phyllis (Cloris Leachman) seemed to be a 3rd wheel, but she too would merit a spinoff series. However, the first cast member to move on was John Amos (Gordy), who left to star on Good Times. After the series ended, Knight & MacLeod moved to ABC (Too Close For Comfort & The Love Boat, respectively). Mary waited about a year before trying a variety show whose repertory company included two future stars in David Letterman & Michael Keaton, but that series didn't even make it to a full season.
Reruns currently air on Me-TV weeknights.
Rating: A-.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
A Classic Reborn: Dragnet (2003)
Procedural crime dramas such as Law & Order & CSI: Crime Scene Investigation owe their existence to Jack Webb's seminal radio & television series, Dragnet. So it stood to reason, then, that Law producer Dick Wolf, whose studio was affiliated with Universal, which acquired Dragnet in the 60's when Webb revived the series, would take a chance on revisiting his biggest inspiration.
Dragnet returned as a mid-season replacement in the winter of 2003, but instead of airing on NBC, as it had done in two previous network runs, the series shifted to ABC. Not only that, but Wolf tailored his version in the same one hour format as his Law & Order line of shows. The last half-hour version, billed as The New Dragnet and run in syndication for one calendar year (1989-90), was a bust because it was missing a key ingredient---Sgt. Joe Friday, the iconic sleuth created by Webb. The attempt to make the franchise hip was a disaster.
So Wolf had to bring back Friday, but who would play him? To the stunned surprise of fans, character actor Ed O'Neill (ex-Married....With Children), who had some experience playing cops (i.e. "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane"), was given the gig, a chance to once and for all shatter the perception that he'd been typecast as Al Bundy (to this day, my brother refers to O'Neill, currently on another ABC series, Modern Family, as "Al Bundy" out of derision). In this writer's opinion, O'Neill succeeded, but where this version failed was the way ABC treated the show.
Dragnet aired on Sundays initially, but when the fall season began, it was shifted across the calendar to Saturdays, and rechistened L. A. Dragnet for no other reason than to try to boost ratings by making it more of an ensemble drama, which it was never meant to be. Ethan Embry was cast as Frank Smith, a role created by Ben Alexander on radio & TV in the 50's, but written out of the 1967 series (due to Alexander's commitment to ABC's Felony Squad). For season 2, historians will note it was the first series gig for Eva Longoria, better known now for her run on Desperate Housewives. ABC essentially had given up, and cancelled Dragnet 6 episodes into the 2003-4 season. USA picked up the show, but didn't go very far with it, either.
It should be worth noting that Universal has had a poor track record of reviving classic properties in recent years, as evidenced by the failures of revivals of Night Stalker, Kojak, Knight Rider, Bionic Woman, and an ill-advised reboot of The Munsters. What, then, would make them think that rebooting Ironside this fall won't be any different? Someone should hand the suits at NBC-Universal-Comcast a book of Santayana's writings.
Now, let's scope the open to the 2003 Dragnet, with Mike Post revamping the classic theme.
Unlike its forebears, this version ain't out on DVD yet, and they're in no hurry to do so. Their loss.
Rating: A.
Dragnet returned as a mid-season replacement in the winter of 2003, but instead of airing on NBC, as it had done in two previous network runs, the series shifted to ABC. Not only that, but Wolf tailored his version in the same one hour format as his Law & Order line of shows. The last half-hour version, billed as The New Dragnet and run in syndication for one calendar year (1989-90), was a bust because it was missing a key ingredient---Sgt. Joe Friday, the iconic sleuth created by Webb. The attempt to make the franchise hip was a disaster.
So Wolf had to bring back Friday, but who would play him? To the stunned surprise of fans, character actor Ed O'Neill (ex-Married....With Children), who had some experience playing cops (i.e. "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane"), was given the gig, a chance to once and for all shatter the perception that he'd been typecast as Al Bundy (to this day, my brother refers to O'Neill, currently on another ABC series, Modern Family, as "Al Bundy" out of derision). In this writer's opinion, O'Neill succeeded, but where this version failed was the way ABC treated the show.
Dragnet aired on Sundays initially, but when the fall season began, it was shifted across the calendar to Saturdays, and rechistened L. A. Dragnet for no other reason than to try to boost ratings by making it more of an ensemble drama, which it was never meant to be. Ethan Embry was cast as Frank Smith, a role created by Ben Alexander on radio & TV in the 50's, but written out of the 1967 series (due to Alexander's commitment to ABC's Felony Squad). For season 2, historians will note it was the first series gig for Eva Longoria, better known now for her run on Desperate Housewives. ABC essentially had given up, and cancelled Dragnet 6 episodes into the 2003-4 season. USA picked up the show, but didn't go very far with it, either.
It should be worth noting that Universal has had a poor track record of reviving classic properties in recent years, as evidenced by the failures of revivals of Night Stalker, Kojak, Knight Rider, Bionic Woman, and an ill-advised reboot of The Munsters. What, then, would make them think that rebooting Ironside this fall won't be any different? Someone should hand the suits at NBC-Universal-Comcast a book of Santayana's writings.
Now, let's scope the open to the 2003 Dragnet, with Mike Post revamping the classic theme.
Unlike its forebears, this version ain't out on DVD yet, and they're in no hurry to do so. Their loss.
Rating: A.
On DVD: The Three Stooges: Live & Hilarious (2007)
As I noted yesterday when I reviewed The Ed Wynn Show, I came across this Three Stooges DVD compilation when shopping the other day. The fact that it was going for mere chump change was enough of a selling point.
"Live & Hilarious" collects some rare footage thought lost to the mists of time, including the aforementioned Wynn show, and a New Year's Eve skit from The Frank Sinatra Show. Plus, there's a clip from the movie, "Private Buckaroo" in which Shemp gets dissed by the Andrews Sisters big time. The "Trailermania" portion collects trailers from almost all of the team's films, including their lone feature with Shemp, "Gold Raiders".
Edit, 10/31/23: Had to change the video again. Here are the Stooges in a compilation from the Sinatra show:
Rating: B.
"Live & Hilarious" collects some rare footage thought lost to the mists of time, including the aforementioned Wynn show, and a New Year's Eve skit from The Frank Sinatra Show. Plus, there's a clip from the movie, "Private Buckaroo" in which Shemp gets dissed by the Andrews Sisters big time. The "Trailermania" portion collects trailers from almost all of the team's films, including their lone feature with Shemp, "Gold Raiders".
Edit, 10/31/23: Had to change the video again. Here are the Stooges in a compilation from the Sinatra show:
Rating: B.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Of Weasels, Twits, and assorted other things
You know, I just can't figure some people out.
The pickings must be rather slim for political races in New York City this year. The tabloid media is having a field day with the news that Anthony Weiner is making a run for City Hall to succeed Mike Bloomberg, who has termed himself out after three terms. Weiner, we all thought, was done after he was forced out of Congress a couple of years back after pulling a Brett Favre with his private areas and a cell phone, if you get my drift. However, figuring that voters are a fickle, forgetful lot, despite their claims to the contrary, Weiner threw his hat in the ring. Somehow, I get the feeling it ain't going to end well for Weiner, whose next gig should be as a commercial spokesman for----what else?----hot dogs.
On the heels of Weiner's re-entry into the political arena comes former governor and failed talk show host Eliot Spitzer, who, according to today's New York Daily News, is entering the race for NYC Controller, since the guy currently in that position, John Liu, is running for Mayor. It's been five years since Spitzer was forced to resign in disgrace after it got out that he'd been involved with call girls. The funny thing is, former madam Kristen Davis is one of his opponents. Unfortunately for Davis, she's on the Libertarian line, which automatically means her chances of winning are S-O-L. Then again, it'll be a nightmare for women's groups if Spitzer & Weiner are both winners on Election Day.
Now, it's time to hand out some Weasel ears.
We'll start in Rockford, Il., with Marilyn Meyers, whose grandson, Cody Scarpetta, plunked Alex Rodriguez with a pitch on Saturday night in a minor league game. A-Rod, of course, is on injury rehab and figures to rejoin the Yankees in due course. Problem is, he ain't hitting worth a tinker's dang, but that didn't stop the media from picking up the story of young Mr. Scarpetta, the son of a career minor leaguer, hitting Rodriguez on the injured hip while pitching for the Brevard County Manatees. What gave the tabloids some juice was the fact that Mrs. Meyers, as well as Dan Scarpetta, Cody's dad, took aim at Rodriguez's damaged character. Talk about piling on and kicking someone when they're down. It would appear that Mrs. Meyers would rather that A-Rod just hang 'em up and go away.
Considering how badly Rodriguez is faring to this point, I'd say that, yeah, this is the last roundup. Hence, we'll send a case of Weasel ears to the editors at the Daily News for making a mountain out of a molehill when it wasn't necessary.
Now, it's on to everyone's least favorite Twit, Amanda Bynes, who's at it again, this time declaring on Twitter that President Obama, whom she tried enlisting aid from after a traffic arrest a ways back, and his wife, Michelle, are "ugly". Watch. In about a day or two, she'll backtrack, like she's done before with others. Face it, friends, the girl needs help. Shutting down her Twitter account to stop the schizophrenic twaddle, whether she likes it or not, would be a good start. By the way, Amanda, you're still more attractive as a brunette, so let the hair grow back and lose that lame blonde wig.
Closer to home, the sniping between Democrats & Republicans over Assembly Speaker Sheldon (Not So Sterling) Silver's inaction in the Vito Lopez mess is getting worse by the day.
Referencing the Daily News again, it seems that Silver's designated mouthpiece, Michael Whyland (shouldn't that be Whineland?), is accusing state GOP head Ed Cox of hypocrisy and using the attacks on Silver and Lopez as a cover for their own failures on women's issues. That's one thing, but what's worse is what's surfaced upstate over the last couple of weeks. Some anonymous jabroni went around Watervliet with fliers accusing Assemblyman Phil Steck of "violating the Constitution", presumably by enabling Silver's alleged mistreatment of women. There's no evidence to support this mystery writer's claims, and I haven't seen anything in the local papers on the matter regarding Steck. All I can figure is that this "John Doe" (or is it Jane Doe?) is another GOP type, but he/she is not getting the message out the right way. The fliers are one thing, but what will get the voters' attention is evidence, and cooperation from the press. Taking the story to the local media would help, if this person has the stones to try it. It wouldn't hurt. However, until then, until evidence is produced, Mr./Ms. Doe gets a set of Weasel ears for casting aspersions without merit. As for the bigwigs, well, all that needs be said is that Silver, despite the accrued power, has overstayed his welcome in Albany. Even Teflon breaks eventually, and maybe this will finally send the message that Silver should step down, forget the perks that come with his gig, and walk away.
The pickings must be rather slim for political races in New York City this year. The tabloid media is having a field day with the news that Anthony Weiner is making a run for City Hall to succeed Mike Bloomberg, who has termed himself out after three terms. Weiner, we all thought, was done after he was forced out of Congress a couple of years back after pulling a Brett Favre with his private areas and a cell phone, if you get my drift. However, figuring that voters are a fickle, forgetful lot, despite their claims to the contrary, Weiner threw his hat in the ring. Somehow, I get the feeling it ain't going to end well for Weiner, whose next gig should be as a commercial spokesman for----what else?----hot dogs.
On the heels of Weiner's re-entry into the political arena comes former governor and failed talk show host Eliot Spitzer, who, according to today's New York Daily News, is entering the race for NYC Controller, since the guy currently in that position, John Liu, is running for Mayor. It's been five years since Spitzer was forced to resign in disgrace after it got out that he'd been involved with call girls. The funny thing is, former madam Kristen Davis is one of his opponents. Unfortunately for Davis, she's on the Libertarian line, which automatically means her chances of winning are S-O-L. Then again, it'll be a nightmare for women's groups if Spitzer & Weiner are both winners on Election Day.
Now, it's time to hand out some Weasel ears.
We'll start in Rockford, Il., with Marilyn Meyers, whose grandson, Cody Scarpetta, plunked Alex Rodriguez with a pitch on Saturday night in a minor league game. A-Rod, of course, is on injury rehab and figures to rejoin the Yankees in due course. Problem is, he ain't hitting worth a tinker's dang, but that didn't stop the media from picking up the story of young Mr. Scarpetta, the son of a career minor leaguer, hitting Rodriguez on the injured hip while pitching for the Brevard County Manatees. What gave the tabloids some juice was the fact that Mrs. Meyers, as well as Dan Scarpetta, Cody's dad, took aim at Rodriguez's damaged character. Talk about piling on and kicking someone when they're down. It would appear that Mrs. Meyers would rather that A-Rod just hang 'em up and go away.
Considering how badly Rodriguez is faring to this point, I'd say that, yeah, this is the last roundup. Hence, we'll send a case of Weasel ears to the editors at the Daily News for making a mountain out of a molehill when it wasn't necessary.
Now, it's on to everyone's least favorite Twit, Amanda Bynes, who's at it again, this time declaring on Twitter that President Obama, whom she tried enlisting aid from after a traffic arrest a ways back, and his wife, Michelle, are "ugly". Watch. In about a day or two, she'll backtrack, like she's done before with others. Face it, friends, the girl needs help. Shutting down her Twitter account to stop the schizophrenic twaddle, whether she likes it or not, would be a good start. By the way, Amanda, you're still more attractive as a brunette, so let the hair grow back and lose that lame blonde wig.
Closer to home, the sniping between Democrats & Republicans over Assembly Speaker Sheldon (Not So Sterling) Silver's inaction in the Vito Lopez mess is getting worse by the day.
Referencing the Daily News again, it seems that Silver's designated mouthpiece, Michael Whyland (shouldn't that be Whineland?), is accusing state GOP head Ed Cox of hypocrisy and using the attacks on Silver and Lopez as a cover for their own failures on women's issues. That's one thing, but what's worse is what's surfaced upstate over the last couple of weeks. Some anonymous jabroni went around Watervliet with fliers accusing Assemblyman Phil Steck of "violating the Constitution", presumably by enabling Silver's alleged mistreatment of women. There's no evidence to support this mystery writer's claims, and I haven't seen anything in the local papers on the matter regarding Steck. All I can figure is that this "John Doe" (or is it Jane Doe?) is another GOP type, but he/she is not getting the message out the right way. The fliers are one thing, but what will get the voters' attention is evidence, and cooperation from the press. Taking the story to the local media would help, if this person has the stones to try it. It wouldn't hurt. However, until then, until evidence is produced, Mr./Ms. Doe gets a set of Weasel ears for casting aspersions without merit. As for the bigwigs, well, all that needs be said is that Silver, despite the accrued power, has overstayed his welcome in Albany. Even Teflon breaks eventually, and maybe this will finally send the message that Silver should step down, forget the perks that come with his gig, and walk away.
What Might've Been: The Ed Wynn Show (1949)
Ed Wynn, aka "The Perfect Fool", headlined his own comedy-variety show for CBS as part of the Camel Comedy Caravan in 1949, but it lasted just one season. Why? Not really sure, but the episode that I have for you today is a real hoot.
The Three Stooges (Moe & Shemp Howard and Larry Fine) are the special guests, playing a ficticious trio of CBS executives, allowing Wynn to bite the hand feeding him at the time. Right there, you think, maybe this is why they got rid of him so quickly. Well, we're not entirely sure of that.
The Three Stooges (Moe & Shemp Howard and Larry Fine) are the special guests, playing a ficticious trio of CBS executives, allowing Wynn to bite the hand feeding him at the time. Right there, you think, maybe this is why they got rid of him so quickly. Well, we're not entirely sure of that.
Edit, 3/20/24: Had to change the video again:
The episode is available on a Stooges compilation disc I picked up for chump change the other day, and it also has trailers of some of the Stooges' film efforts, some of which have already been reviewed here.
The Ed Wynn Show gets an A.
The episode is available on a Stooges compilation disc I picked up for chump change the other day, and it also has trailers of some of the Stooges' film efforts, some of which have already been reviewed here.
The Ed Wynn Show gets an A.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Classic TV: Whose Line is it Anyway? (1998)
After 10 years on radio & television in England, Whose Line Is It Anyway? was imported to the US in 1998, airing on ABC. If you've ever wondered why Drew Carey became the host of The Price is Right after Bob Barker retired, other than the fact that he might've reminded people of original Price host Bill Cullen (hint: crewcut and glasses), well, here it is.
The story is that Whose Line was brought to Carey's attention, presumably by Ryan Stiles, one of his co-stars on The Drew Carey Show and a regular performer on the British version of Whose Line. Carey then pitched the idea to executives at ABC, and, well, the rest is history.
The success of Whose Line also brought benefits for regulars Colin Mochrie and Wayne Brady. Mochrie landed some commercial endorsement deals with Mohegan Sun and Nabisco, albeit short-term. Brady was spun off into a self-titled variety series on ABC that showcased his considerable talents as a singer, and from there had a brief daytime run with a syndicated talk show. Currently, Brady, following Carey's footsteps, is hosting another classic game show, Let's Make A Deal, which, depending on where you live, may be coupled with Price on CBS. Later this month, Whose Line returns, this time on CW, with Aisha Tyler (The Talk) taking over for Carey, and joined by Brady, Mochrie, Stiles, and rotating guests.
Whose Line has also led to some similarly themed series after it ended its ABC run. Carey helmed two of them himself, one for CW, and one for the GSN cable network, neither of which was successful. Meanwhile, MTV created a hip-hop themed version, Wild & Out, with Nick Cannon (currently MC'ing America's Got Talent) serving as host. While it has its roots in England, debuting on BBC Radio 4 in 1988, the series may also have some roots here in the US via the comedy game, Make Me Laugh, although the contestant participation on Whose Line is minimal and is part of the improvisational theme of the show, as demonstrated in this clip with special guest star Robin Williams (ex-Mork & Mindy), making a rare return---at the time, anyway---to primetime television after winning an Oscar for "Good Will Hunting":
Could you picture Williams hosting this show? I could.
Rating: A-.
The story is that Whose Line was brought to Carey's attention, presumably by Ryan Stiles, one of his co-stars on The Drew Carey Show and a regular performer on the British version of Whose Line. Carey then pitched the idea to executives at ABC, and, well, the rest is history.
The success of Whose Line also brought benefits for regulars Colin Mochrie and Wayne Brady. Mochrie landed some commercial endorsement deals with Mohegan Sun and Nabisco, albeit short-term. Brady was spun off into a self-titled variety series on ABC that showcased his considerable talents as a singer, and from there had a brief daytime run with a syndicated talk show. Currently, Brady, following Carey's footsteps, is hosting another classic game show, Let's Make A Deal, which, depending on where you live, may be coupled with Price on CBS. Later this month, Whose Line returns, this time on CW, with Aisha Tyler (The Talk) taking over for Carey, and joined by Brady, Mochrie, Stiles, and rotating guests.
Whose Line has also led to some similarly themed series after it ended its ABC run. Carey helmed two of them himself, one for CW, and one for the GSN cable network, neither of which was successful. Meanwhile, MTV created a hip-hop themed version, Wild & Out, with Nick Cannon (currently MC'ing America's Got Talent) serving as host. While it has its roots in England, debuting on BBC Radio 4 in 1988, the series may also have some roots here in the US via the comedy game, Make Me Laugh, although the contestant participation on Whose Line is minimal and is part of the improvisational theme of the show, as demonstrated in this clip with special guest star Robin Williams (ex-Mork & Mindy), making a rare return---at the time, anyway---to primetime television after winning an Oscar for "Good Will Hunting":
Could you picture Williams hosting this show? I could.
Rating: A-.
On DVD: The Fatal Hour (1940)
Boris Karloff returns as Hugh Wiley's inscrutable detective, James Lee Wong, in "The Fatal Hour". This was Karloff's next to last performance as Wong, and it's business as usual.
A close friend of Police Captain William Street (Grant Withers) is murdered, and Street, unofficially, hires Wong to help find the killer. Throw in pesky reporter Bobbie Logan (Marjorie Reynolds), and it becomes a formulaic whodunit. Karloff's quiet, understated performance as Wong demonstrated he could do more than horror movies, but, sadly, there were few roles outside the genre that could attract Karloff after the Wong series ended.
Cult Cinema Classics uploaded "The Fatal Hour":
Rating: B.
A close friend of Police Captain William Street (Grant Withers) is murdered, and Street, unofficially, hires Wong to help find the killer. Throw in pesky reporter Bobbie Logan (Marjorie Reynolds), and it becomes a formulaic whodunit. Karloff's quiet, understated performance as Wong demonstrated he could do more than horror movies, but, sadly, there were few roles outside the genre that could attract Karloff after the Wong series ended.
Cult Cinema Classics uploaded "The Fatal Hour":
Rating: B.
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