A vital ingredient in teamwork is chemistry. You hear about it all the time with great sports dynasties like the Yankees, Cowboys, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Celtics, etc., and comedy teams like Abbott & Costello, the Three Stooges, and even, well, Beavis & Butt-Head.
It also applies to anchor teams for ESPN's SportsCenter, and to be honest, they really haven't had a team that actually gelled like Dan Patrick & Keith Olbermann back in the 90's. Until now, and they have an unlikely benefactor to thank for that. Fella by the name of Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
Earlier this week, former WWE announcers Jonathan Coachman & Todd Grisham were reunited on primetime broadcasts of SportsCenter on ESPNews. Grisham joined ESPN last year after a 9 year run with WWE, during which time he spent some time working on Sunday Night Heat alongside Coachman, who left WWE in 2008 after 9 years. A 3rd ESPN anchor, Max Bretos, also came from WWE, but wasn't as well known as the others because he wasn't utilized as often, which explained why he left WWE around the same time Coachman did.
On Heat, Coachman had already established a heel persona as a sidekick to then-GM Eric Bischoff and tried passing himself off as a bit of a playboy. In truth, he came across as a cross between Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribiero on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) and Leon Phelps (Tim Meadows on Saturday Night Live). That is to say, as a playa, he was a poseur. Period. Grisham's biggest moment in WWE was perhaps a Halloween edition of Raw when he did a mimic of Chicago sports icon Harry Caray on the air. Spot on. Grisham even incorporated Caray's home run call ("It might be! It could be! It is!") into his play-by-play commentary. The two actually worked well together on Heat, and it stands to reason that since they were good friends off camera, Coachman might've gotten a word in for Grisham when he became available a year ago.
On SportsCenter, Grisham & Coachman showed some of that chemistry in doing baseball highlights. A meeting of three fielders behind 3rd base on a pop fly led to a chorus of "We have a failure.....to communicate!" Hilarious. Now, mind you, Coachman has been on ESPN as host of NBA Shootaround and has been a studio anchor during college football & basketball games. Grisham is still the new kid on the block a year later, but, paired with Coachman, he may have found his comfort zone. Not sure if he's dusted off his Caray impersonation on air, though I'd not be surprised if he did in covering highlights of a Cubs game. In time, they may have more catchphrases between them to go into the ESPN lexicon with these:
"From way downtown.......BANG!" (Olbermann)
"Cool as the other side of the pillow." (Stuart Scott).
"Get outta town....and he means it this time!" (Steve Levy)
"Holla at a playa if you see him in the street!" (Scott)
"The simplicity of this game amuses me. Bring me your finest meats & cheeses!" (Kenny Mayne)
And, of course, a virtual dictionary full of nicknames created by Chris Berman.
I think that inside of a year's time, we'll see Coachman & Grisham anchoring the 6:00 pm (ET) SportsCenter on ESPN. That is, barring a screw-up by either one, and Grisham has already made a faux pas on the air before being teamed with Coachman. Hey, it took time for them to find themselves in WWE, so this shouldn't be so hard, especially for Coachman, who was a sportscaster in his home state of Kansas before WWE came a' calling. And a few clicks down the road in Stamford, Vince McMahon will tune in to ESPN with a smile on his face. We think.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The dream couple everyone's waited for finally comes together
DC Comics first teased it some 20-25 or so years ago. There have been a seemingly infinite number of fan fiction stories written projecting them as eventually getting married. To a jaded fan like me, this really isn't a big deal after all.
Let me bottom line it for you. Beginning with the new issue of Justice League, in stores tomorrow, writer Geoff Johns & artist Jim Lee have put Superman & Wonder Woman together as a romantic couple. This would explain why, when DC relaunched its universe in the "New 52" initiative a year ago, Superman was no longer married to investigative reporter Lois Lane, ending a 15 year coupling. By the same token, the Amazing Amazon's long-standing relationship with military lifer Steve Trevor was treated as past tense when the "New 52" began.
DC, however, is playing this up as major news, getting ink in the papers and online within the last 24 hours. Two of the company's icons, both of whom had some major tweaking done to them in the "New 52", now the very definition of "power couple". Oh, sure, as fans of the animated Justice League Unlimited are aware, WB tried pairing Wonder Woman with The Batman for a brief time, but that was doomed to fail. It would've been something if DC picked up on it and tried to transfer it to their monthly books, and, yes, there've been fan-fics about Batman & Wonder Woman, too. You have to understand that the classic pairings could eventually be put together anew down the line, but the only way that happens is if the union of a Kryptonian orphan and a Amazon Princess-turned-goddess ends up failing.
Oh, wait, you're saying. Wonder Woman, a goddess? Yeah, that's what was done a year ago. Someone decided that instead of being molded out of magic clay, Wonder Woman was now the daughter of Zeus, which would make her Hercules' half-sister or something. I stopped reading Justice League a few months ago, and I wasn't reading Wonder Woman, so I found out about her altered lineage via a piece in today's New York Daily News. My brain hurts just thinking about it.
I am not sure about how older fans, especially those in my age bracket, are reacting, but as I said at the start, to me, this is not a big deal. I get that DC wants to try something that, to most readers, is relatively new. However, I just don't see this working out in the long term.
Let's say DC pulls the trigger and marries off the two icons. Then, some genius comes along with a radical idea to again reboot the DC Universe, and we're back at square one, and this will have all been for naught. In hindsight, DC was better off leaving well enough alone, and maybe, just maybe, they'll learn that lesson the hard way.
Let me bottom line it for you. Beginning with the new issue of Justice League, in stores tomorrow, writer Geoff Johns & artist Jim Lee have put Superman & Wonder Woman together as a romantic couple. This would explain why, when DC relaunched its universe in the "New 52" initiative a year ago, Superman was no longer married to investigative reporter Lois Lane, ending a 15 year coupling. By the same token, the Amazing Amazon's long-standing relationship with military lifer Steve Trevor was treated as past tense when the "New 52" began.
DC, however, is playing this up as major news, getting ink in the papers and online within the last 24 hours. Two of the company's icons, both of whom had some major tweaking done to them in the "New 52", now the very definition of "power couple". Oh, sure, as fans of the animated Justice League Unlimited are aware, WB tried pairing Wonder Woman with The Batman for a brief time, but that was doomed to fail. It would've been something if DC picked up on it and tried to transfer it to their monthly books, and, yes, there've been fan-fics about Batman & Wonder Woman, too. You have to understand that the classic pairings could eventually be put together anew down the line, but the only way that happens is if the union of a Kryptonian orphan and a Amazon Princess-turned-goddess ends up failing.
Oh, wait, you're saying. Wonder Woman, a goddess? Yeah, that's what was done a year ago. Someone decided that instead of being molded out of magic clay, Wonder Woman was now the daughter of Zeus, which would make her Hercules' half-sister or something. I stopped reading Justice League a few months ago, and I wasn't reading Wonder Woman, so I found out about her altered lineage via a piece in today's New York Daily News. My brain hurts just thinking about it.
I am not sure about how older fans, especially those in my age bracket, are reacting, but as I said at the start, to me, this is not a big deal. I get that DC wants to try something that, to most readers, is relatively new. However, I just don't see this working out in the long term.
Let's say DC pulls the trigger and marries off the two icons. Then, some genius comes along with a radical idea to again reboot the DC Universe, and we're back at square one, and this will have all been for naught. In hindsight, DC was better off leaving well enough alone, and maybe, just maybe, they'll learn that lesson the hard way.
Videos of Summer: You Get What You Give (1998)
New Radicals only released one album, and were a true 1-hit wonder with "You Get What You Give", which dominated airwaves in 1998. Singer-songwriter Greg Alexander is joined by actress-turned-singer-songwriter Danielle Brisebois (ex-Archie Bunker's Place), who'd released her debut record a couple of years earlier, and a few close friends for a day of anarchic mayhem in a shopping mall.
Uploaded to YouTube by the band's VEVO channel:
Uploaded to YouTube by the band's VEVO channel:
Monday, August 27, 2012
NFL Forecast 2012
As I write this, we are 9 days away from the start of the 2012 season. Last year's pre-season was shortened because the players were locked out. This year, the NFL has locked out the referees, and of course that has led to some blown calls by their subs, and some even more glaring errors. If this remains par for the course when it all starts on September 5, there will be chaos.
Let us consider the 8 divisions:
AFC:
East:
All roads to the Super Bowl still run through New England until further notice. In this writer's opinion, the Patriots shouldn't have been in the Super Bowl in February, and thus karmic justice was served when Bill Belichick's crew lost----again----to the Giants. For some reason, the schedule makers, perhaps on the take, have the defending champs returning to Foxborough, where the Pats lost to the Giants last year, too, for a late-season game. Apparently, Belichick doesn't want to make more than one trip to the Meadowlands per year. Whatever.
Word on the street is that Buffalo is cutting loose QB Vince Young, who infamously anointed his last team, the Eagles, as a "Dream Team" last year, and we know how that turned out. Instead, the Bills are working on a deal to bring Tavaris Jackson over from the Seahawks to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick. All that tells me is that the Bills still haven't figured out how to get out of the cellar.....! Miami took a chance on Chad Johnson, then cut him loose nearly 2 weeks ago when he was busted on a domestic assault charge. Well, another "diva", Terrell Owens is available, now that the Seahawks have dropped him like a bad habit, but I don't see him faring any better than Johnson did. In New York, the Jets, amazingly, have forgotten how to score touchdowns, having gone 0-3 in August because of this malaise, but all the tabloid media wants to play up is the QB controversy, such as it is, between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Please, give me a break.
Projected order of finish:
1. New England
2. Jets
3. Miami
3 (tie). Buffalo
North:
Pittsburgh fans got their last look at WR Hines Ward in a cameo role in "The Dark Knight Rises". They're probably wishing he'd stick around at least another year, what with his heir apparent, Mike Wallace, having held out for most of the summer. The only real controversy surrounding the Steelers might be whether or not Troy Polamalu has to do any more shampoo commercials with Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer. Last year's bits weren't exactly comedy gold. However, it's been proven that the Steelers aren't even the top team in the division any more, and neither, really, are the Bengals. Cincinnati hasn't won back-to-back division titles in I don't know when. And, then, there's Baltimore, hungry to get back to the Super Bowl after getting screwed by the Patriots in January. Maybe if Joe Flacco can land an endorsement deal or three, something Tom Brady doesn't have right now, by the way, maybe the power brokers will finally see things through for the Ravens. Cleveland? They gave up on 2010 1st rounder Colt McCoy already, drafting Brandon Weeden to be their new QB. Oh, stop the pain. At this rate, WWE Intercontinental champ Michael "The Miz" Mizanin, a native of suburban Palma and a former high school gridiron star, might get a call. Not.
Projected order of finish:
1. Pittsburgh
2. Baltimore
3. Cincinnati
4. Cleveland
South:
The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis officially ended when he went on IR last year. Now, Manning and his commercial endorsements have gone west, and 1st round pick Andrew Luck takes over at QB. He's as advertised, despite having lost to the Steelers on national television 8 days ago. However, Houston, marking the 10th anniversary of the Texans this year, is the defending division champ, and has virtually everyone back from last year, including QB Matt Schaub, who was injured for most of 2011. Jacksonville will have Blaine Gabbert starting at QB on opening day, and pried CB Aaron Ross away from the Giants to help the defense, despite his injury history. However, Maurice Jones-Drew is holding out, and the Jaguars are not willing to trade him. I don't blame them there. Tennessee enters year 2 of the Matt Hasselbeck-Jake Locker era, and maybe gets back to the postseason. Stress maybe.
Projected order of finish:
1. Houston
2. Tennessee
3. Indianapolis
4. Jacksonville
West:
Denver started the vicious circle of QB transfers by cutting Tim Tebow after signing Peyton Manning. As per usual, you can't escape Manning on your TV, as he's shilling for Buick, DirecTV (w/brother Eli & Deion Sanders), and Reebok. Pray he still isn't doing ads for MasterCard, because that was getting tiresome 2 years ago. The Broncos also let Kyle Orton walk (the Cowboys took a flier on him), and so Manning has to mentor someone after all. At this rate, y'think maybe Tebow should've stayed? Oakland let Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens walk, weakening their WR corps. Schilens is with the Jets, and Murphy signed with the Panthers. There's nothing to get excited about. As for Kansas City & San Diego, it's business as usual. They'll fight for a playoff spot, but they'll also be chasing Peyton.........
Projected order of finish:
1. Denver
2. San Diego
2 (tie). Kansas City
4. Oakland
NFC:
East:
This is not how you begin defending a Super Bowl title. The New York Giants lost Aaron Ross (Jacksonville), Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham (both in San Francisco), and Jake Ballard (the Patriots gave him a look and passed) to free agency, but picked up Martellus Bennett from the Cowboys to replace Ballard. Eli Manning looks silly with those wings on his back in those DirecTV ads with Deion and Peyton, and deserves better. Unfortunately, they close the pre-season against the hated Patriots, but then they didn't have a winning pre-season last year, either....! In Dallas, Dez Bryant must feel like he's back in college, as the word is the Cowboys placed him on double secret probation. Ask anyone who's seen "Animal House" what that means. Tony Romo has to prove he actually can win when it counts, especially in December, but what they really should do is give Jerry Jones, the NFL's answer to the late George Steinbrenner in terms of hot air, a muzzle so he doesn't write checks with his mouth that his team won't be able to cash. Philadelphia did the smart thing by jettisoning Vince Young after last season's debacle. Unfortunately, there is too much talent in the division to allow the Eagles to take the title. All the rage in Washington, of course, is Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, who is already an inescapable presence in terms of endorsements. Gatorade & Subway signed him up in mere heartbeats, as if they needed more people shilling their products. Griffin, though, may be the last piece of the Redskins' title puzzle.
Projected order of finish:
1. Giants
2. Washington
2 (tie). Dallas
4. Philadelphia
North:
Chicago upgraded their receiving corps by drafting Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina. Johnny Knox starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, so Jeffery will be under heavy pressure to produce immediately. Green Bay got some bad press when the New York tabloids bleated how Clay Matthews Jr. was spewing sour grapes about a playoff loss to the Giants. There is a rematch, you know, so a receipt is due. Detroit, despite a solid 2011 season, has to fight for 2nd place. Minnesota just needs to avoid the cellar.
Projected order of finish:
1. Green Bay
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Minnesota.
South:
New Orleans has to rely on QB Drew Brees and the offense more than usual, since the defense was ravaged by suspensions caused by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' bounties. They're better off if the only bounties in the locker room are a certain brand of paper towels. Carolina stands to benefit the most, as 2nd year QB Cam Newton came of age late last season. However, they need to get past Atlanta & Tampa Bay to earn a playoff spot. The Buccaneers had a down year in 2011, but it has to be just an aberration. As for Matt Ryan and the Falcons, they just have to win consistently on the road.
Projected order of finish:
1. Atlanta
2. New Orleans
3. Carolina
3 (tie). Tampa Bay
West:
San Francisco returned to the top of the division last year under Jim Harbaugh, and all they did in the offseason was add to their offense, prying Mario Manningham & Brandon Jacobs from the Giants. Like, doesn't QB Alex Smith have enough weapons already? Seattle named rookie QB Russell Wilson, out of Wisconsin, as their opening day starter over ex-Packer backup Matt Flynn. Tavaris Jackson wasn't even considered. The Seahawks ditched the reclamation project of Terrell Owens, who will land somewhere, I'm sure, as long as the price is right. In St. Louis, Sam Bradford and the Rams are on the doorstep. They just need a key. Arizona? Uh, not this year.
Projected order of finish:
1. San Francisco
2. St. Louis
3. Seattle
4. Arizona
Wild cards:
AFC: Baltimore, San Diego
NFC: New Orleans, Washington
We'll see where the chips fall in January.
Let us consider the 8 divisions:
AFC:
East:
All roads to the Super Bowl still run through New England until further notice. In this writer's opinion, the Patriots shouldn't have been in the Super Bowl in February, and thus karmic justice was served when Bill Belichick's crew lost----again----to the Giants. For some reason, the schedule makers, perhaps on the take, have the defending champs returning to Foxborough, where the Pats lost to the Giants last year, too, for a late-season game. Apparently, Belichick doesn't want to make more than one trip to the Meadowlands per year. Whatever.
Word on the street is that Buffalo is cutting loose QB Vince Young, who infamously anointed his last team, the Eagles, as a "Dream Team" last year, and we know how that turned out. Instead, the Bills are working on a deal to bring Tavaris Jackson over from the Seahawks to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick. All that tells me is that the Bills still haven't figured out how to get out of the cellar.....! Miami took a chance on Chad Johnson, then cut him loose nearly 2 weeks ago when he was busted on a domestic assault charge. Well, another "diva", Terrell Owens is available, now that the Seahawks have dropped him like a bad habit, but I don't see him faring any better than Johnson did. In New York, the Jets, amazingly, have forgotten how to score touchdowns, having gone 0-3 in August because of this malaise, but all the tabloid media wants to play up is the QB controversy, such as it is, between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Please, give me a break.
Projected order of finish:
1. New England
2. Jets
3. Miami
3 (tie). Buffalo
North:
Pittsburgh fans got their last look at WR Hines Ward in a cameo role in "The Dark Knight Rises". They're probably wishing he'd stick around at least another year, what with his heir apparent, Mike Wallace, having held out for most of the summer. The only real controversy surrounding the Steelers might be whether or not Troy Polamalu has to do any more shampoo commercials with Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer. Last year's bits weren't exactly comedy gold. However, it's been proven that the Steelers aren't even the top team in the division any more, and neither, really, are the Bengals. Cincinnati hasn't won back-to-back division titles in I don't know when. And, then, there's Baltimore, hungry to get back to the Super Bowl after getting screwed by the Patriots in January. Maybe if Joe Flacco can land an endorsement deal or three, something Tom Brady doesn't have right now, by the way, maybe the power brokers will finally see things through for the Ravens. Cleveland? They gave up on 2010 1st rounder Colt McCoy already, drafting Brandon Weeden to be their new QB. Oh, stop the pain. At this rate, WWE Intercontinental champ Michael "The Miz" Mizanin, a native of suburban Palma and a former high school gridiron star, might get a call. Not.
Projected order of finish:
1. Pittsburgh
2. Baltimore
3. Cincinnati
4. Cleveland
South:
The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis officially ended when he went on IR last year. Now, Manning and his commercial endorsements have gone west, and 1st round pick Andrew Luck takes over at QB. He's as advertised, despite having lost to the Steelers on national television 8 days ago. However, Houston, marking the 10th anniversary of the Texans this year, is the defending division champ, and has virtually everyone back from last year, including QB Matt Schaub, who was injured for most of 2011. Jacksonville will have Blaine Gabbert starting at QB on opening day, and pried CB Aaron Ross away from the Giants to help the defense, despite his injury history. However, Maurice Jones-Drew is holding out, and the Jaguars are not willing to trade him. I don't blame them there. Tennessee enters year 2 of the Matt Hasselbeck-Jake Locker era, and maybe gets back to the postseason. Stress maybe.
Projected order of finish:
1. Houston
2. Tennessee
3. Indianapolis
4. Jacksonville
West:
Denver started the vicious circle of QB transfers by cutting Tim Tebow after signing Peyton Manning. As per usual, you can't escape Manning on your TV, as he's shilling for Buick, DirecTV (w/brother Eli & Deion Sanders), and Reebok. Pray he still isn't doing ads for MasterCard, because that was getting tiresome 2 years ago. The Broncos also let Kyle Orton walk (the Cowboys took a flier on him), and so Manning has to mentor someone after all. At this rate, y'think maybe Tebow should've stayed? Oakland let Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens walk, weakening their WR corps. Schilens is with the Jets, and Murphy signed with the Panthers. There's nothing to get excited about. As for Kansas City & San Diego, it's business as usual. They'll fight for a playoff spot, but they'll also be chasing Peyton.........
Projected order of finish:
1. Denver
2. San Diego
2 (tie). Kansas City
4. Oakland
NFC:
East:
This is not how you begin defending a Super Bowl title. The New York Giants lost Aaron Ross (Jacksonville), Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham (both in San Francisco), and Jake Ballard (the Patriots gave him a look and passed) to free agency, but picked up Martellus Bennett from the Cowboys to replace Ballard. Eli Manning looks silly with those wings on his back in those DirecTV ads with Deion and Peyton, and deserves better. Unfortunately, they close the pre-season against the hated Patriots, but then they didn't have a winning pre-season last year, either....! In Dallas, Dez Bryant must feel like he's back in college, as the word is the Cowboys placed him on double secret probation. Ask anyone who's seen "Animal House" what that means. Tony Romo has to prove he actually can win when it counts, especially in December, but what they really should do is give Jerry Jones, the NFL's answer to the late George Steinbrenner in terms of hot air, a muzzle so he doesn't write checks with his mouth that his team won't be able to cash. Philadelphia did the smart thing by jettisoning Vince Young after last season's debacle. Unfortunately, there is too much talent in the division to allow the Eagles to take the title. All the rage in Washington, of course, is Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, who is already an inescapable presence in terms of endorsements. Gatorade & Subway signed him up in mere heartbeats, as if they needed more people shilling their products. Griffin, though, may be the last piece of the Redskins' title puzzle.
Projected order of finish:
1. Giants
2. Washington
2 (tie). Dallas
4. Philadelphia
North:
Chicago upgraded their receiving corps by drafting Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina. Johnny Knox starts the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, so Jeffery will be under heavy pressure to produce immediately. Green Bay got some bad press when the New York tabloids bleated how Clay Matthews Jr. was spewing sour grapes about a playoff loss to the Giants. There is a rematch, you know, so a receipt is due. Detroit, despite a solid 2011 season, has to fight for 2nd place. Minnesota just needs to avoid the cellar.
Projected order of finish:
1. Green Bay
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Minnesota.
South:
New Orleans has to rely on QB Drew Brees and the offense more than usual, since the defense was ravaged by suspensions caused by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' bounties. They're better off if the only bounties in the locker room are a certain brand of paper towels. Carolina stands to benefit the most, as 2nd year QB Cam Newton came of age late last season. However, they need to get past Atlanta & Tampa Bay to earn a playoff spot. The Buccaneers had a down year in 2011, but it has to be just an aberration. As for Matt Ryan and the Falcons, they just have to win consistently on the road.
Projected order of finish:
1. Atlanta
2. New Orleans
3. Carolina
3 (tie). Tampa Bay
West:
San Francisco returned to the top of the division last year under Jim Harbaugh, and all they did in the offseason was add to their offense, prying Mario Manningham & Brandon Jacobs from the Giants. Like, doesn't QB Alex Smith have enough weapons already? Seattle named rookie QB Russell Wilson, out of Wisconsin, as their opening day starter over ex-Packer backup Matt Flynn. Tavaris Jackson wasn't even considered. The Seahawks ditched the reclamation project of Terrell Owens, who will land somewhere, I'm sure, as long as the price is right. In St. Louis, Sam Bradford and the Rams are on the doorstep. They just need a key. Arizona? Uh, not this year.
Projected order of finish:
1. San Francisco
2. St. Louis
3. Seattle
4. Arizona
Wild cards:
AFC: Baltimore, San Diego
NFC: New Orleans, Washington
We'll see where the chips fall in January.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Classic TV: Gilligan's Island (1964)
What started as a "three hour tour" has turned into a cult classic creeping up on 50 years.
Gilligan's Island launched on CBS in 1964, the brainchild of writer-producer Sherwood Schwartz, and has remained a beloved favorite in syndication and on cable ever since ending its network run in 1967 after three seasons. The popularity of the series was such that not one, but two animated follow-ups were produced, sandwiched around a trio of made-for-TV movies that aired on NBC during the early 80s.
Audiences were already familiar with some of the cast. For example, Alan Hale, Jr. (Jonas Grumby, the Skipper) had previously appeared on Biff Baker, USA & Casey Jones. Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III) was, at the time, also the voice of Mr. Magoo, whose Famous Adventures series also bowed in 1964, but lasted just the one season. Of course, Bob Denver (Gilligan) was already a fan favorite from his days as Maynard G. Krebs on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Suffice to say that Gilligan was completely different from the work-phobic Maynard would be an understatement.
As previously documented over in Saturday Morning Archives, Schwartz reassembled most of the cast, save for Tina Louise (Ginger), who'd disassociated herself from the franchise, and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), who had conflicting commitments, for the animated New Adventures of Gilligan, 7 years after the original series had ended. Just a few short years later, with Schwartz developing projects for NBC, the network landed a series of TV movies that saw the castaways return home to the mainland, then ultimately return to the island and turn it into a tourist paradise, now armed with modern technology. The last of those films co-starred the Harlem Globetrotters, along with Scatman Crothers (ex-Chico & The Man), Martin Landau & Barbara Bain (ex-Space: 1999 & Mission: Impossible), with David Ruprecht subbing for Backus as the newly created Thurston Howell IV. Gilligan's Planet rehashed the New Adventures series, bringing the castaways back to their original network, CBS, in 1982, but was beached after 1 season.
In recent years, TBS tried rebooting the franchise with a "reality" show, The Real Gilligan's Island, which was, if memory serves, a colossal flop. You know what they say. If it ain't broken, you don't fix it, which is what the TBS suits tried to do. Dawn Wells resurrected Mary Ann, or a facsimile thereof, for a commercial that has probably been forgotten. I think it was for Western Union, but I can't be certain of that.
Anyway, here's the season 2 open & close. The Wellingtons, who'd recorded the theme the first season and appeared on the show, were jettisoned in favor of an anonymous artist who recorded a more up-tempo version. George Wyle, who co-wrote "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" with Sherwood Schwartz, would later be Flip Wilson's bandleader.
On the whole, it was wholesome fun. Too bad the TV-movies don't get as much airplay as the series anymore.
Rating: B.
Gilligan's Island launched on CBS in 1964, the brainchild of writer-producer Sherwood Schwartz, and has remained a beloved favorite in syndication and on cable ever since ending its network run in 1967 after three seasons. The popularity of the series was such that not one, but two animated follow-ups were produced, sandwiched around a trio of made-for-TV movies that aired on NBC during the early 80s.
Audiences were already familiar with some of the cast. For example, Alan Hale, Jr. (Jonas Grumby, the Skipper) had previously appeared on Biff Baker, USA & Casey Jones. Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III) was, at the time, also the voice of Mr. Magoo, whose Famous Adventures series also bowed in 1964, but lasted just the one season. Of course, Bob Denver (Gilligan) was already a fan favorite from his days as Maynard G. Krebs on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Suffice to say that Gilligan was completely different from the work-phobic Maynard would be an understatement.
As previously documented over in Saturday Morning Archives, Schwartz reassembled most of the cast, save for Tina Louise (Ginger), who'd disassociated herself from the franchise, and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann), who had conflicting commitments, for the animated New Adventures of Gilligan, 7 years after the original series had ended. Just a few short years later, with Schwartz developing projects for NBC, the network landed a series of TV movies that saw the castaways return home to the mainland, then ultimately return to the island and turn it into a tourist paradise, now armed with modern technology. The last of those films co-starred the Harlem Globetrotters, along with Scatman Crothers (ex-Chico & The Man), Martin Landau & Barbara Bain (ex-Space: 1999 & Mission: Impossible), with David Ruprecht subbing for Backus as the newly created Thurston Howell IV. Gilligan's Planet rehashed the New Adventures series, bringing the castaways back to their original network, CBS, in 1982, but was beached after 1 season.
In recent years, TBS tried rebooting the franchise with a "reality" show, The Real Gilligan's Island, which was, if memory serves, a colossal flop. You know what they say. If it ain't broken, you don't fix it, which is what the TBS suits tried to do. Dawn Wells resurrected Mary Ann, or a facsimile thereof, for a commercial that has probably been forgotten. I think it was for Western Union, but I can't be certain of that.
Anyway, here's the season 2 open & close. The Wellingtons, who'd recorded the theme the first season and appeared on the show, were jettisoned in favor of an anonymous artist who recorded a more up-tempo version. George Wyle, who co-wrote "The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" with Sherwood Schwartz, would later be Flip Wilson's bandleader.
On the whole, it was wholesome fun. Too bad the TV-movies don't get as much airplay as the series anymore.
Rating: B.
Sounds of Praise: Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)(1965)
Folk legend Pete Seeger used the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, as a template for "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)", which became a worldwide hit for The Byrds in 1965. This would be the closest thing to a gospel record the Byrds would record, but I shan't be surprised if some Christian stations play this song occasionally.
Mcd220 uploaded this clip from Shindig!:
Mcd220 uploaded this clip from Shindig!:
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) & William Windom (1924-2012)
While the sports headlines speak of the embarassment visited upon Lance Armstrong, another American hero named Armstrong has left us.
Neil Armstrong passed away earlier today at 82, his place in American history secure as the first man to walk on the moon in July 1969. His statement, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!", has become as iconic as Armstrong himself.
And we're finally catching up with one Hollywood obituary. Character actor William Windom, who starred in The Farmer's Daughter (1963-6) and My World & Welcome to It (1969-70), then began landing guest parts on series such as Night Gallery before settling back into series television as Seth Hazlett on Murder, She Wrote in the 80's, passed away on August 16.
Furryisthenewedgy uploaded this NBC promo for My World from 1969:
Rest in peace, gentlemen.
Neil Armstrong passed away earlier today at 82, his place in American history secure as the first man to walk on the moon in July 1969. His statement, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!", has become as iconic as Armstrong himself.
And we're finally catching up with one Hollywood obituary. Character actor William Windom, who starred in The Farmer's Daughter (1963-6) and My World & Welcome to It (1969-70), then began landing guest parts on series such as Night Gallery before settling back into series television as Seth Hazlett on Murder, She Wrote in the 80's, passed away on August 16.
Furryisthenewedgy uploaded this NBC promo for My World from 1969:
Rest in peace, gentlemen.
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