Thursday, December 21, 2017

December's Underappreciated Music: Shirley Ellis, "You Better Be Good, World"


December's Underappreciated Music is a Christmas tune, but an unusual one.

"You Better Be Good, World" is recorded by Shirley Ellis, who is most famous for "The Name Game." This song, however, is much heavier in tone. The music is literally offbeat, if upbeat, and the lyrics are a bit foreboding, warning the human race to get its act together for Christmas and the new year, and not let "the hydrogen bomb go boom boom." Shirley is direct and to the point!

Considering the harrowing times we're in, this song from 1965 is unfortunately still timely today. I wouldn't recommend this song be added to your Christmas party playlist, but it is worth a listen for its bold take on a holiday tune.

Enjoy! Don't let the hydrogen bomb go boom boom!


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Count Duckula, "A Christmas Quacker"


The last Tuesday's Overlooked TV before Christmas is a holiday-themed episode of the brilliant 1980s British animated series Count Duckula!

In "A Christmas Quacker," Duckula and company are greeted by Jolly Ol' Saint Nick. Santa soon regrets it.

Enjoy!


Monday, December 18, 2017

The Honeymooners, "Twas the Night Before Christmas"


One week to go. ONE. WEEK.

Don't panic, but do be sure you've tied up as many loose ends as possible. And when you rest at the end of this day, be sure to check out today's Christmas goodie--the Christmas episode of the 39-episode run of The Honeymooners!

In "Twas the Night Before Christmas," Ralph frets about his gift for Alice after a neighbor gets Alice the same gift Ralph did. He scrambles to get the money to get Alice the perfect gift, and Ralph waxes poetic about the joy of Christmas at the end of the episode. How sweet it is!

Enjoy!

Friday, December 15, 2017

Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol



I know there's a certain motion picture grabbing everyone's attention this weekend, but I'm very much full of the Christmas Force. I'll be spending my weekend (hopefully) with this holiday treat--Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol!

Although a classic during my childhood, it's become a bit on the forgotten side the past decade or so, which is a shame, as this special is nothing less than charming. I haven't seen it in years and years, so I'l really looking forward to this. I hope you are too.

Enjoy! Have a great Christmasy weekend! May the Force be with you!


Thursday, December 14, 2017

A Garfield Christmas Special (1987)


When it comes to posting holiday TV specials, I prefer to stick to more obscure ones that people may have forgotten or didn't even know existed, but today I'm going the other direction and posting a tried and true one.

Here is A Garfield Christmas Special. First airing on December 21, 1987, it was an instant favorite of mine, if for nothing else than the goofy image of Jon and his family "oohing" over their Christmas tree that you see above. My brother and I cracked up for several minutes over how silly they looked! And don't forget Jon's awesome grandma!

I just realized the special celebrates its 30th anniversary next Thursday. Wow!

Enjoy!


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: A Carol for Another Christmas (1964)


It's only Tuesday for four more hours as I write this, but that's good enough for me. This week's Tuesday's Overlooked TV is the 1964 TV-movie A Carol for Another Christmas.

Carol was directed by Joseph Mankiewicz and written by Rod Serling. The film was commissioned by the United Nations in an effort to promote world peace. You can read about the film in more detail here, but suffice it to say, the film is a modern day take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol from a global perspective. Unfortunately, in light of recent events, it's as relevant as ever.

Enjoy!

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Kenny and Dolly: A Christmas to Remember


Since I'm still in a throwback Christmas variety TV special mood, here are country music legends Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember. This will probably be one of the few programs I feature on this blog that my wife will watch with me.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Al Alberts Christmas Special (1979)


I love this week's Tuesday's Overlooked TV. It's the locally produced Al Alberts Christmas Special!

Al Alberts Showcase was a weekly variety series produced and aired locally in Philadelphia from the 1970s straight through the 1990s. It was hosted by singer Al Alberts, who had been a member of the vocal group The Four Aces (their biggest hit was a version of "Three Coins in the Fountain"). The content consisted of occasional performances by Alberts, but mostly by performances of young children singing, dancing, and telling corny jokes.

It was amazingly kitschy, but it was a big hit in Philly. Here is an hour-long Christmas special that aired in 1979. This special hits all my soft spots: local TV, produced in Philly, with retro Christmas flair. I can't not love this!

Enjoy!

Friday, December 1, 2017

John Denver & the Muppets, A Christmas Together


It's officially December! We've reached the end of the first work week of the holiday season. How have you spent it? Diving into Christmas TV specials, as I have? Cranking up the Christmas tunes? Hanging up the mistletoe and holly? Hopefully your answer is all of the above. It'll be January before you know it!

This weekend I present the 1979 Christmas special John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together, which aired on ABC-TV on December 5th of that year. I've had the soundtrack in mp3 form for several years, but I don't think I've seen this special since I was a very young child, if I've ever seen it at all! I'll give it a go with my family and see if it jogs my memory.

Enjoy! Have a great weekend! Do Christmasy things! Drink eggnog! Hang your stocking! Put up your Christmas tree! Sing "Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth" with your best buddy after arguing which one of you is Bing and which one is Bowie!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: The DuPont Show with June Allyson, "A Silent Panic"


For this week's Tuesday's Overlooked, I'm going way back to December 22, 1960 and an episode of the anthology series The DuPont Show with June Allyson.

This episode is titled "A Silent Panic," and features a rare dramatic turn by comedy legend Harpo Marx. He stars as a deaf-mute performer in a department store's Christmas window display who witnesses a murder. He is unable to communicate what he saw to the police, yet is still a target by the killers. 

I know this is heavy subject matter for a Christmas post, but the story is intriguing, and classic anthology series such as this fascinate me from a broadcasting perspective. They were so commonplace back in the day, but seem so alien to modern audiences.

Enjoy!

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Classic Christmas Commercials 2017 Edition



Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way...

Hello everyone to another great Christmas season at Me and You! I really need this Christmas season, and it couldn't have come at a better time. My body is ready!

First up, my annual collection of Christmas commercials. We start with a fun Christmas commercial from blog stalwart McDonald's. Their gift certificates are great for the Hamburglar in your family!



Not to be outdone, here comes Burger King!



After all that fast food, you may need some Alka-Seltzer to calm things down. Here are two great commercials, one featuring the late Sammy Davis Jr!





Up next, a quick network promo for two of the best animated Christmas specials of all time, A Charlie Brown Christmas and 'Twas The Night Before Christmas!



Speaking of Charlie Brown, here is a commercial from 1991 for Shell Oil which had a promotion with Peanuts that year, selling VHS copies of A Charlie Brown Christmas.



Finally, here is a great local commercial for Ben Franklin's 5 and 10 store promoting their Christmas decorations and novelties. Local commercials such as these may not have the best production values, but they make up for it in charm and warmth. I love it!



I'll feature more commercials in the season if I can. If not, check out my archives from Christmases Past for other great ones.

Thanks, and stay tuned. There's plenty of Christmas cheer on the way!


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Happy Days, "The First Thanksgiving"


Hello everyone! I'm sure you're busy wrapping things up before the holiday weekend, so I'll get right to it!

Today's offering is a well-remembered Thanksgiving episode of Happy Days, as the cast recreates the first Thanksgiving in full pilgrim regalia. This episode is a lot of fun, despite how silly it is--and probably because of it! I haven't seen this since I was a kid, so I'm thankful to share it with you now.



Happy Thanksgiving!

But wait--what's this?



REJOICE! The holiday season is officially upon us! My favorite time of the year by far! Please stay tuned the rest of the year, as we're gonna have more holiday fun than you can shake a candy cane at.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Classic Tootsie Pops Commerical Extended Version


It may come as much of a surprise to you as it has to me, but there is an extended version of the classic Tootsie Pops commercial from the 70s and 80s! 

Even the current generation is familiar with the little boy looking to various talking animals (??) for the answer to "how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop." In most versions, he seeks the answer from Mr. Turtle first, then to Mr. Owl, who provides his answer (3). However, in the extended version, there are two other animals from whom the boy seeks the wisdom of the Tootsie Pop!

See below to experience the boy's journey to the truth with Mr. Cow and Mr. Fox. The voice of Mr. Fox is provided by none other than V/O legend Paul Frees!



Not only are there two additional characters, but the dialog between the boy and Messrs. Turtle and Owl are different from the traditional shorter version. I won't type it all out here, so here's the traditional commercial that most of us know and love for comparison.



Perhaps I'm the only person to be blown away by the differences between two versions of a nearly 50-year-old commercial--but I suspect I'm not!


Thursday, November 9, 2017

Holiday List O' Links 2017 Edition


Thanksgiving is exactly two weeks away as I write this, and while many don't like to celebrate the holidays before their time, it's still smart to at least begin holiday preparations now. And that's what these links are all about!

Below are some holidays happenings you may want to work into your seasonal calendar. Take a look!

Reba McIntyre hosts this year's CMA Country Christmas celebration on ABC Monday, November 27th.

Pepsi is releasing a Christmas cake-flavored soda for the holidays. But only in Japan. And it tastes like strawberry shortcake. Because that's what Christmas cake is in Japan. The more you know!

Your favorite TV network and mine, MeTV, is airing blocks of Christmas episodes of their series every Sunday afternoon between now and Christmas. Set your DVRs!

Horror fans sorry to see their favorite season over can take solace in a new Christmas horror movie this year, The Elf. You better watch out!

Elvis Presley fans like myself can rejoice! There is a new album of Elvis Christmas classics remixed with performances by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The regular edition has been available since October 6th, and a deluxe edition will be released Friday, November 24th.

My other favorite music act also has a history of classic Christmas recordings, although of a different kind.

Finally, SiruxXM satellite radio announces their holiday music lineup for 2017.

I hope to have more holiday links for you throughout the season. Thanks! Have a great weekend!


Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: No Man's Valley (1981) UPDATED!


Coming in under the wire (9pm) for Tuesday, this week's Overlooked TV is a revisit of an animated special I discussed two years ago.

No Man's Valley is a special produced by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez, the creators of the Peanuts specials, about a condor who tries to find a sanctuary for his animal friends when their habitat is threatened by human developers. It aired on November 23rd, 1981, right after A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. In my original article, I mentioned the rarity of the special, having only aired once on network TV and only being available on VHS very briefly in the mid 80s. Except for one televised promo, no footage of the special was available anywhere.

Until now.

Posted online just six months ago, I am happy to present the show in its entirely as it aired on WBBM Channel 2 in Chicago that November night in 1981. Thanks to the Museum for Classic Chicago Television, please enjoy No Man's Valley!

Thanks!

Monday, November 6, 2017

Tooth Brushing and It's Dental Flossophy, Charlie Brown

I've had both my semiannual dental cleaning and oral surgery within the past couple of weeks, and I go back to my dentist this weekend for more work. Needless to say, my teeth have been on my mind a lot lately. Your teeth will be on your mind too after you see today's findings.

Here are two educational short films for children's dental health produced by the same people that created the Peanuts TV specials. In the first, Charlie Brown learns how to properly brush his teeth, and then he learns to floss in the second. Snoopy provides hilarity along the way, as he usually does.

As a huge Peanuts fan, I love finding Peanuts-related material I didn't know about, and these films certainly fit the bill.

Enjoy!

Friday, November 3, 2017

How Was Your Halloween?


To quote Charlie Brown, "another Halloween has come and gone." I hope yours was a safe, happy, and healthy one. Mine--not so much.

A very strong stomach virus infected our house this weekend, putting most of us down for the count this week at one point or another. My poor 11-year-old son even missed trick or treat because of it. Suffice it to say, the 2017 Halloween season ended on a very down note. Which is not to say there weren't things I enjoyed this season--my kids had a fun time at their school's Trunk or Treat the Friday before Halloween, so there's that. Plus, I caught some good horror movies, did some spooky reading, and enjoyed having not one but TWO Halloween mood tables. If you don't know what a mood table is, check out the origin here.

But enough about my busted Halloween--how was yours? Please let me know in the comments. I hope you had a great one!

It's time to put the 2017 Halloween season into its coffin, where it will sleep a sound repose until it rises from the grave to become Halloween 2018 next October. Until then, I hope you enjoyed the 2017 Countdown to Halloween!

You notice that? The smell of fire and brimstone has turned into--*sniff sniff*--turkey and gravy!

Have a great weekend!




Monday, October 30, 2017

Halloweens From Years Past


Much of the love that adults have for Halloween is due to nostalgia for the Halloweens of our youth. We remember the fun times we had running around in our costumes and getting our favorite candy from family, friends, and neighbors. That's where today's post comes in.

Here are a few homemade family films of Halloweens gone by. They are sure to take you back to your own Halloween experiences as a child, even if you grew up in a different era than the ones depicted here.

First up, a fun family Halloween gathering from 1977. That ghost is sure giving it his all in the role!



From the same year, this footage was taken at an elementary school.



And the same school three years later in 1980.



I love these! They truly represent what it is we love so much about Halloween. You can enjoy more of these at my article from last year.

Tomorrow--is it! Halloween 2017! Be there or be scared!

Friday, October 27, 2017

Trick or Treats (1982)


It's the last weekend before Halloween! AUGH! Make it a great one! Hopefully you can start by watching the last full length program I have for you this year, the 1982 slasher film Trick or Treats.

Trick or Treats involves an escaped madman searching for his ex-wife and son on Halloween night. The mom is out for the night, and the son is at home with a babysitter. The son is a holy terror, playing prank after prank on the hapless sitter. Meanwhile, the deranged father gets closer and closer to the house.

To be honest, in the research I did for this movie, I came across some less than stellar reviews. But I've decided to feature the movie anyway for two reasons:

1) The son actually does play some cool, Halloweeny pranks.
2) David Carradine.

Although this isn't the goriest of slasher flicks by any measure, viewer discretion is still advised. Enjoy! And have a great Halloween weekend!

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Halloween Odds and Ends


With October 31st mere days away, I'm running out of both time and material. So today I just want to give you a few small treats that I think you will enjoy that may not necessarily warrant a blog post unto themselves. Consider these items Halloween hors d’oeuvres to tide you over until the full course of Halloween night. Let’s get to it!

By the way, I had to Google how to spell “hors d’oeuvres.” See how much I love you fine folks?

First up: the Muppets’ own Dr. Bunson Honeydew and Beaker go ghost hunting—with hilarious results!



Next, here is an adorable video about how to greet deaf or hard-of-hearing trick-or-treaters this season!



Here is the recording of the great Vincent Price's voiceover for Michael Jackson's Thirller without the music, plus with extra text that didn't make it into the single. You really get to hear how amazing Price's work is on the song--not that you couldn't tell that with the music. This is further evidence that Vincent Price was the ultimate pro!



You've never heard the theme from Alfred Hitchcock Presents until you've heard it played on the banjo!



Here is a fun TV promo for the much beloved 80s horror series Tales From The Darkside!



Speaking of TV promos, I can't let a Countdown to Halloween season go by without mentioning It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown at least once!



Finally, here is by far the most bizarre and graphic clip I have for you today. This is  John Carpenter's The Thing as recreated with characters from the foreign children's program Pingu the penguin. Even if you're not familiar with Pingu--and you probably aren't--you should find this both disturbing and hysterical! VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!


 


Time's running short! Get your Halloween on now!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: The Greatest American Hero, "The Beast in the Black"


I apologize for not posting anything yesterday, but I have a good excuse. My daughter celebrated her Confirmation yesterday (it's a Catholic thing), and I spent the earlier part of the day preparing and the latter celebrating. Time very well spent!

But I'm back today, and this week, Tuesday's Overlooked TV (delayed by one day) is a really creepy episode of The Greatest American Hero. The series involved a high school English teacher (William Katt) entrusted with a superhero suit which gave him special powers. He was aided in his adventures by his girlfriend (Connie Sellica) and a crusty FBI detective (Robert Culp).

In this episode, detective Bill Maxwell (Culp) is possessed by a female spirit that haunts a deserted house set for demolition. It's up to superhero Ralph (Katt) to save his buddy from the spirit. This episode is a bit off the beaten path in context of the rest of the series, and although I loved this show as a kid (and still do), this episode always gave me the heeby jeebies. I hope it does for you too.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween Special


Today begins the last full week of the Countdown to Halloween. The big night is a week from tomorrow. Get your last-minute spooky fix in while you can!

Today I offer the 1977 CBS special Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween. This is a collection of classic Looney Tunes cartoons, each with a spooky theme and perfect for Halloween. There were several such Looney Tunes specials during the late 70s and early 80s made the same way for other holidays. They certainly weren't classics the way the Great Pumpkin and Witch's Night Out are, probably because Looney Tunes cartoons were much more accessible in those days than other cartoons, but they were still welcome additions to prime time children's viewing. For a fun cartoon fix, you usually can't go wrong with Looney Tunes!

Enjoy, Doc!




Friday, October 20, 2017

Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula (BBC Radio Drama, 1981)


Closing out Week Three of the Countdown to Halloween is the 90-minute radio drama Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are inserted into the classic Dracula story, working, somewhat contentiously, with Professor Van Helsing to stop the famous Count. This program aired on BBC Radio 4 on December 19, 1981.

It's a bit weird to hear the rational Mr. Holmes easily accepting the presence of supernatural beings such as Dracula, but the story is so fun and well done you can put that peccadillo aside for the sake of the story.

Enjoy! Have a great weekend! And please come back Monday for the last full week of the Countdown to Halloween!

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Little Dracula (1991)


Today I feature the obscure animated TV series Little Dracula.

Little Dracula aired very briefly on Fox Kids in the fall of 1991. Thirteen episodes were produced, but only 6 aired, including an episode on Halloween. The series is based on a line of British children's books published in the 80s.

I was able to tell this was a Fox Kids series even before I looked it up; it has a Fox Kids "feel" to it. Give this episode a spin and maybe you'll see what I mean. Keep an ear out for actors Joe Flaherty as Big Dracula and Jonathan Winters as Igor and Granny.

Enjoy this kid-friendly treat now. Thanks!



Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Halloween TV Commercials 2017 Edition Part 3

I can't resist. I just can't! I still have so many great spooky TV commercials that they can't wait until next year. I have to share them with you now. YOLO, right?

Also, last week's installment of commercials has been one of the most visited articles I've written in a very long time. I have to give the public what they want. Thank you all for your support!

Without further ado, here are more great commercials!

For starters, in case of vampires, hope that there is plenty of Heineken beer around!



Sticking with the vampire theme, here Dracula enjoys a hearty soup with plenty of cheese!

You don't get to type that sentence very often.



Next, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble encounter some strange visitors as they enjoy their Pebbles cereal.



Not only is the zombie in this Starburst commercial the living dead, he's also very cranky!



This commercial for a local Kia dealer isn't all that spooky, but I still love it because it at least makes the effort to acknowledge the holiday even when it doesn't have to. It some ways, those are the best Halloween commercials, because they actively try to celebrate the day by choice rather than the necessity to sell.



Same thing with this other local Kia dealer, which goes even farther with its Halloween commercial. It's hokey, it's crudely produced, it has talking dogs--I love it!



As I've said before, Snickers has some of the best Halloween/spooky commercials of all time. In this extra long example, the product shilling takes a back seat to the star of the commercial, pumpkin carver John Neill. He is excellent!



In this next one, Snickers goes in a different direction. The host of a fictional budget Halloween kids special is obviously hungry--and obviously unprofessional!


Finally, the master of horror himself, Stephen King, praises the powers of his American Express card in this classic spot (the first time I ever saw King was when I was a kid when this commercial aired).


I'm thoroughly convinced that's his real house and not a set.

Thanks again for the support! I really mean it!

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Highway to Heaven, "I Was A Middle-Aged Werewolf"


This week, Tuesday's Overlooked TV features a Halloween episode of the 1980s NBC series Highway to Heaven.

A Halloween episode of Highway to Heaven, you say? Absolutely!

For those unaware, Heaven starred Michael Landon as Jonathan, an angel who traveled the country with his human friend Mark (Victor French), helping people God deemed in need of their help. In "I Was A Middle-Aged Werewolf," Jonathan comes to the aid of a young boy in an attempt to help the boy overcome his fears on Halloween. The episode is inspired by Landon's performance in his younger days in the movie I Was A Teenage Werewolf.

Enjoy!

Monday, October 16, 2017

The Crown of Bogg (1981)


Welcome to Week 3 of the Countdown to Halloween. With October half over, it's time to put the pedal to the metal and shift your Dragula into second gear to the big day!

Today I present the 1981 Showtime children's special The Crown of Bogg. This was created by Paul Fusco, the creator of ALF and predates that series by several years. Two factions of trolls/gnomes/creatures/whatever are competing for rule of their people. The two contenders must bring back a cursed artifact from the human world to take reign.

And yes, all of this does tie into Halloween.

This special is obscure to be sure, but others have written about it before me.

Enjoy!


Friday, October 13, 2017

The Monster of Frankenstein (1981)


Rounding out Week 2 of the 2017 Countdown to Halloween is the 1981 Japanese animated movie The Monster of Frankenstein!

The movie was created by Toei Animation and aired on Japanese television on July 27, 1981. This English-dubbed version I feature today was released on home video in the States in 1984. This version stays pretty close to Mary Shelley's novel.

Although this is an animated movie, don't think this is a family film! There is graphic violence in this version, so viewer discretion is advised!

Enjoy! Have a great spooky weekend! Happy Friday the 13th!



Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Legend of the Haunted Toys R Us!


There's a legend in Sunnyvale, California about a ghost haunting. A ghost haunting in...a Toys R Us?

Yep!

The following clips from the 80s TV reality series That's Incredible! and the 1991 special Real Ghosts II will tell you all about it. Both shows feature late psychic Sylvia Browne. Enjoy--if you dare!


Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Halloween TV Commercials 2017 Edition Part 2

As promised, here are more spooky TV commercials to put you in that Halloween mood!

It wouldn't be Halloween without the involvement of McDonald's. Here is a Happy Meal commercial with the ever-popular McNugget Buddies!



Next, here are promos for CBS Saturday morning programs from 1981, as well as a promo for two long-forgotten Halloween specials, Bugs Bunny's Howl-O-Ween and Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile (featured previously at this blog)!



I can't let a Countdown to Halloween go by without at least one mention of the Monster Cereals. Here they are pushing their monster-sized marshmallows!



Here is a fun ad for the defunct party supply store iParty involving zombies hungry for Halloween savings!



This is an awesome TV spot from 1980 for the first Friday the 13th movie. I see commercials for horror movies all the time today, but there's something about the older ones that seem to have more...something. I don't know what, but I think you know what I mean!



Vampires are tough. Vampires are ruthless. Vampires...can be stopped by a set of Audi headlights.



This commercial was recorded off of a camera pointed at a TV screen, but it doesn't make watching this ad for Play-Doh's Fuzzy Pumper Monster Shop any less fun!



Finally, here is a great one for T-Mobile. Dr. Frankenstein can be such a condescending bore!



Even better, outtakes from that same commercial!



Maybe--maaaaaaaaaaybe--I'll have one more installment of commercials for this year. I don't want to go this well too often, but I have such a large collection this year that I may not be able to resist.

Thanks!

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Hunter, "Killer in a Halloween Mask"


This week's Tuesday's Overlooked TV is a Halloween episode of the NBC police series Hunter.

Hunter revolved around the titular cop, a Dirty Harry for television, and his straitlaced partner. This episode's title is "Killer in a Halloween Mask." That pretty much says it all.

Also, Jesse Ventura guest stars. Bonus!

Enjoy!

Monday, October 9, 2017

Mickey's Safety Club, "Halloween Surprises"


The first week of the Countdown is already over. Yikes! Time to get right in to Week 2 before it also becomes history!

Today I offer an installment from Disney's educational video series Mickey's Safety Club, released in 1989 and 1990. In this installment, a little girl learns about Halloween safety from the Disney gang in "Halloween Surprises."

Gather the kids around for this one. Enjoy!

Friday, October 6, 2017

Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972)


As we approach the first full weekend of October, I've decided to make Fridays movie days during the Countdown. This week, I offer the 1972 Spanish zombie film Tombs of the Blind Dead.

Tombs concerns an undead order of knights who wreck havoc on living vacationers in Spain. You can check out the Wikipedia entry for the full description. I prefer to just dive right into the flick! The MPAA rating is only PG, but I'd still recommend viewer discretion just in case (although this American edit is supposedly much more tame than the original Spanish version).

I hope you've enjoyed the first week of the Countdown to Halloween here at Me and You. Please stay with me, there's plenty more to come!

Have a great weekend! Do Halloweeny things! Bob for apples! Drink pumpkin beer! Buy or make a costume! Carve a pumpkin!

Thursday, October 5, 2017

List O' Links Halloween 2017 Edition!


Without the Internet, Halloween celebrations like the Countdown wouldn't be possible, so I'm very thankful for the 'Net's existence. You will be too, as you peruse the following awesome Halloween Web sites throughout the month!

First up, I can't put off mentioning the awesomeness that is Dinosaur Dracula. Site owner Matt has been counting down to Halloween since 2003 at his old site X-Entertainment, and he continues the tradition in bigger and better fashion every year at Dino Drac. Videos, junk food reviews, his music jukebox, and his wonderful writing are all the ways Matt will make you feel warm and spooky inside. Go to his site now!

If you're a big fan of Halloween music--and I know you are--check out Halloween Hits. The mysterious curator offers a great set of Halloween tunes every year at the site, which is only functional throughout the month of October. If you try to visit on September 30th or November 1st, you'll be out of luck! I suggest you rush on over and download all 14 volumes (!) of great music, ranging from hard rock to spooky standards of the 30s and 40s. You never know what you'll find!

Cable channel AMC once again brings its FearFest marathon of horror movies to the small screen. Unfortunately, it's only one week this year, but it's still worth it. Check out this article from Bloody Disgusting for the full lineup!

While we're at it, here are the Halloween programming options from Turner Classic Movies and FreeForm's 13 Nights of Halloween as well!

If you're a fan of both Halloween and classic TV like I am, you'll love these photos of classic TV stars in Halloween costumes!

On October 27th, CBS will air a one-hour animated special loosely based on Michael Jackson's song "Thriller," complete with an appearance by Michael in the special's finale. OK.

Finally, this site lets you know what America's favorite Halloween candy is by state. While I don't enjoy Sour Patch Kids myself, I'm not surprised they came in first place in my current state, New Jersey.

Thanks for visiting!

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Halloween TV Commercials 2017 Edition Part 1

Some of my favorite Halloween posts of all time have been my collections of Halloween TV commercials. They're society's way of recognizing that the season is upon us. I have a large amount of creepy commercials to share with you, so I'm showcasing them in multiple posts. Enjoy part one now!

This first quick clip features a promotion by Bonkers fruit candy for a Mad Balls rip-off called Ugly Balls. 15 seconds of pure creepitude!



In this next clip, the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz meets her match in the Energizer Bunny!



Snickers is always one of the most popular Halloween candies, and they're also one of the best advertisers around. This Spanish language commercial makes excellent use of a zombie in the workplace!



This next commercial may be the most elegant one I've ever featured in the Countdown. Using Lux bath soap may save your life!



Poor Phil the Vampire. He should have chosen a more understanding partner with whom to take to dinner at Sonic!



Vincent Price appeared in countless commercials and is a Countdown staple here and at many other blogs. He always performed in every commercial as if it were an Oscar-worthy production. Here he gives it his all as the spokesman for the Milton Bradley game Stay Alive. I'd be too scared to play against him!



Finally, this commercial from Hostess snack cakes features a tween boy bullying his sister's sweet-looking doll--a choice he soon regrets!


I'll have plenty more spooky commercials for you later this month. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Mork & Mindy, "A Morkville Horror"


Hello all! Today the Countdown to Halloween starts in earnest, and it also starts by participating in another multi-blog undertaking.

I occasionally take part in Tuesday's Overlooked A/V, a feature hosted by my friend Todd Mason at his blog Sweet Freedom. On Tuesdays, several of us blog about a particular movie, TV series, or other audio/visual project we believe is worth reminding readers of. This month, as I've done in past Countdowns, I will feature spooky-related programming, all with a certain theme. One year, I focused on crawling hand movies; last year, it was killer cars; and this year, it will be spooky-themed episodes of classic TV series!

This week, I feature an episode of Mork & Mindy titled "A Morkville Horror." In this episode, Mindy is selling her childhood home and is feeling wistful about it. Little does she know that the ghosts of two of her ancestors haunt the house and wish to drive away potential buyers. It's up to a frightened Mork to save the day.

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Welcome to the Countdown to Halloween!


WELLLLLLCOOOOOOOOME TO THE COOOOOOOUNTDOOOOOOWN TO HALLLLLLLLLLOWEEEEEEEEN!

Hi.

I am thrilled to take part yet again in this multi-blog event. All month long, I and my Halloween blogging sisters and brothers will give you thrills, chills, spills, and other words that end in "ills." You'll see spooky TV commercials, weird movies, creepy images, and all-around Halloween fun. Maybe even a surprise or two!

Be sure to check out the host site of the event, where you will find dozens of participating blogs! A hearty hallowed thanks to curator John Rozum for organizing this event every year!

I'm getting a late start considering I'm writing this at 7 o'clock at night, but better late than never. Let the Countdown to Halloween officially begin!





Friday, September 1, 2017

List O' Links for Friday, September 1, 2017


Hello all! I hope you haven't forgotten me. If not, thanks for checking in, even when I'm absent for awhile. I still love this blog and those who read it!

As we say goodbye to the commercial summer season, let us relax with these links!

I love the Cartoon Network series Teen Titans GO!, and I also love the '80s. The two combine perfectly in the characters' love for a real life song, "The Night Begins to Shine." Read how the show made this stock music library track a cult hit!

Comic books based on hit TV series are not uncommon in comics history, but it's not just hit series that have been adapted that way. Here are 13 comic books based on TV series you may not have know existed!

Did you know Mickey Mouse once suffered from extreme depression? Yep, it happened!

With the summer season about to wind down, this may not do you much good now, but next time you go back into the water, here are steps to help you survive a shark attack!

Beloved actor Bruce Campbell has a new book out, and season 3 of Ash vs Evil Dead has wrapped production, but you can also check out a rare homemade horror film of his from way back in 1974 called Curse of the Werewolf thanks to the horror news Web site Bloody Disgusting!

Finally, learn a little more about Labor Day and celebrate the way the holiday's founders intended--by doing nothing!

Have a great Labor Day weekend! Enjoy the fruits of your hard work! I hope you had a great summer! And stay tuned right here, as the blog will be back in business the rest of the year!

Monday, July 24, 2017

Tuesday's Overlooked TV: Nova, "Jaws, The True Story"


This week, Tuesday's Overlooked TV is the documentary film "Jaws: The True Story."

Produced by the BBC, this first aired in the US as an episode of the PBS documentary series Nova on December 4, 1984, but the taping I feature here is from the Australian documentary series The World Around Us. The special is a bit exploitative here and there, and we know much more about sharks today than we did then, but it's still interesting to see a shark documentary created pre-Shark Week.

Enjoy!