Carole King - Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (BBC In Concert, February 10, 1...

Toys R Us Commercials, 1980 & 1981

This is a bit of an experiment. In lieu of longform blogging for the time being, I'll just share quick, text-free bits of fun until I can get things going. Enjoy!

Starsky & Hutch, "The Vampire"

 

Welcome to the weekend! I'm rounding out this week of the Countdown with a vampire story starring the late David Soul--no, not THAT story!

This is an episode of Soul's most famous claim to fame, the '70s police series Starsky & Hutch, costarring Paul Michael Glazer. In this episode, a perp wholeheartedly believes himself to be a vampire. Which of course can't be true--or CAN it?

See for yourself. Enjoy the episode embedded below or watch directly on YouTube here.

Have a great weekend!

The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo, "Doctor Frankenstein" (1965)

 

Today I present my first cartoon of the season, and it's long overdue. This is an episode of the 1960s TV cartoon series The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo.

This series was a follow up to the original Mr. Magoo series. In this series, Magoo would play a famous story from literature, similar to Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. This episode, which aired March 13, 1965, features an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Unlike the fun, wholesome silliness of the original series, this episode was quite dark and serious, and it is a bit more faithful to the original novel than one would expect.

Please enjoy this episode embedded below or directly on YouTube here. Thanks!

Remembering Joe Flaherty: SCTV Monster Chiller Horror Theater

 

Last year I posted a segment of "Monster Chiller Horror Theater" from SCTV starring comedy legend Joe Flaherty. Little did I know at the time that we would lose Flaherty just a few months later. When he died, I knew I had to feature him as Count Floyd once again.

Here he is in two SCTV skits as that Halloween-ish character: the first skit with costars John Candy and Eugene Levy, and the other with actresses Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin. Everyone is great in their respective roles in these sketches, but I send this out in Flaherty's memory. He was such a great actor!

Thanks!

The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula

 

Well, I might have to throw out my Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule of posting, because I missed another day (Wednesday), but here we are at Friday. Continuing the Dracula theme, today I present a movie-length installment of the late 70s TV series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries entitled "The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula."

This series featured Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy as the brotherly sleuths, and Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy Drew. The boys and girl took turns each week solving a mystery, but sometimes they teamed together for a big event. You can't get more "event-like" than running into the Prince of Darkness himself!

Enjoy! Have a great weekend! Please see the show embedded below or directly on YouTube here.

Halloween TV Commercials 2024 Edition

 

Hello all! Welcome to the first real post of the Countdown to Halloween. Today I kick off the Countdown in earnest with a look at fun TV commercials with a Halloween spin, or at least a spooky spin. Here we go!

The Bride of Frankenstein is a fan of the New York lottery in this fun spot.

Her husband appears in our next commercial, shilling for--the Federal Trade Commision? Yep! Also, I find it interesting to see the monster boss around Igor instead of the doctor doing so for once.

In this next very quick spot, local Philly haberdasher Benny Krass advises you on the best suit to wear to the grave!

This Rice Krispies commercial from 1997 is actually two commercials in one: the first an everyday commercial, the second Halloween-specific for Halloween Rice Krispy Treats, a classic holiday perennial.

I suspect the voice of Pop is legendary voice actor Rob Paulson, but I'm not certain.

Here is a commercial for Nickelodeon's Nick or Treat event from 1992. I was too old for Nick at that time, but I'm sure this spot will resonate with older millenials out there!

Way back in 1971, you could take your chances with the Voice of the Mummy board game!

Boo! Avoid free radicals by drinking Pom pomegranate juice. Wash your sheets in peace!

Finally, sticking with the ghosts theme, you never know what's going on in your house when you're not there. Ikea shows us what!

I hope you enjoyed this year's crop of spooky commercials. Stay tuned for more Halloween hi-jinks. We're just getting started!

CBS Fall Lineup Preview Reel for Fall 1978

 

Hello everyone! Welcome to the official beginning of Fall 2024! It's our favorite time of year around here, as longtime readers know. One of the signs of the new fall season is the slate of new and returning TV series appearing on our flatscreens. This year, they will trickle in more so than pour, as the writer and actor strikes of last year are still being felt at this time.

But there was no such stumbling block in 1978!

Here is a preview reel of CBS's fall slate for the year 1978. This was likely shown to advertisers to whet their whistle for what programs they would buy airtime on. You'll see such shows as Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, Lou Grant, and more--even the notorious Star Wars Holiday Special, which would air in November of that year.

Enjoy! And save the date--the Countdown to Halloween starts a day early this year (for my blog, at least): Monday, September 30th! See you then!

The Very First Episode of Solid Gold! September 13, 1980

 

Hello all! Today I'm sharing something I just found literally five minutes ago.

Today I present the very first episode of the hit syndicated 1980s music series Solid Gold. This series is mandatory viewing for learning 80s pop culture, especially music! Solid Gold captured the zeitgiest of the decade: music (of course), TV, movies, fashion, you name it, everything that was 80s was in this show.

Being the first episode from the first season in the fall of 1980, there's still some '70s influence here, but the episode lays the groundwork for the series' installments to come. Initially hosted by Dionne Warwick, later hosts would include Marilyn McCoo, Jose Feliciano, and Andy Gibb.

If you're the 80s fanatic that I am, you should find this to be a real treat--even the cringy parts. Enjoy below, or directly on YouTube here!

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve '86

 

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the Rockin' Eve production I featured earlier this week that welcomed 1982. Today, I feature the show that welcomed 1986. Enjoy below or on YouTube here.

I'll be back after the holiday. Happy New Year!

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve '82

 

Hello all! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas--I certainly did! I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family, great gifts, and great food. That's all you can ask for Christmas! Now it's time to look ahead to New Year's Day, and we do that with the full presentation of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve welcoming in 1982!

Every network has it's own New Year's Eve program these days, but back in the day, Dick Clark was the only game in town. Here he welcomes 1982 with performances by Alabama, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, and others. Hosted by Charlene Tilton and Tom Wopat (man, this really IS 1982!)

Enjoy the show below or directly on YouTube here. I hope to have another Dick Clark program this week. Thanks!

The Gathering, Christmas TV-Movie starring Ed Asner (1977)

 

Here we are, my last Christmas post before the big day! And today I have a sobering but untimately life-affirming film for you.

The Gathering is a TV-movie produced by Hanna-Barbera (!) and stars Ed Asner as an embittered husband, father, and businessman who re-enters his family's lives after walking out on them many years ago, seeking reconciliation for his actions before he dies of a terminal illness. Maureen Stapleton plays Asner's estranged wife, who urges the rest of the family to forgive Asner for his bitter ways. Originally airing on ABC TV on December 4th, 1977, the film also stars Gregory Harrison, Bruce Davison, Veronica Hamel, James Karen (the Pathmark guy!), and John Randolph (Clark Griswold's father from Christmas Vacation!), among others.

Unfortunately, the YouTube channel administrator doesn't allow embedding for their videos, so please watch the movie directly on YouTube here.

Enjoy! I'll have more holiday-themed stuff for you next week.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TV Commercials for Children's Christmas Music Albums

 

One of the joys of being a child in the '80s was being the target of many commercials for various products. It made us feel special to know that things were being made just for us. This was especially true around Christmas, and one of the things marketed heavily to us were christmas music albums.

They usually aired in the fall to allow plenty of time for delivery before the season, but it excited us to see them as a sign that Christmas was soon approaching. Here are a few examples.

Here are two commercials for Christmas albums created by Disney. I loved seeing these ads appear every year! Unfortunately, I never had either of these albums myself.

One I'm not sure I remember, but I find amusing nonetheless, is this commercial for a Christmas album recorded by...the Smurfs! This recording has nothing to do with the US TV cartoon, so don't expect the voices to sound like the cartoon, but if the Smurfs are your thing, this might be for you!

I'm sure the audio for these albums can be found on YouTube, so if you have the urge, I suggest you search there. I just might do the same myself.

Thanks!

WKRP In Cincinnati, "Jennifer's Home for Christmas"

 

Welcome to the end of Week 3 of the Countdown to Christmas!

WKRP In Cincinnati will forever be associated with the holidays thanks to the hilarious Thanksgiving episode "Turkeys Away." But that doesn't mean the series doesn't have other fine holiday offerings. Case in point: this Christmas episode.

In "Jennifer's Home for Christmas," Jennifer (Loni Anderson) is unhappy about the forthcoming holiday, so the rest of the staff decide to attend her home to lighten her Christmas. The usual WKRP hijinks ensue.

Basically, the whole series is great. Try to see more of it however you can.

Enjoy below or on YouTube here. Have a great weekend!

The Real Ghostbusters, "Xmas Marks the Spot"

 

Welcome to Week 3 of the Countdown to Christmas! We're exactly two weeks from Christmas Day. Be prepared!

Today I present a fun, early episode of The Real Ghostbusters. The boys accidentally capture the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, so it's up to Venkman and the gang to convert Ebeneezer Scrooge from his wicked ways.

Ghostbusters--they're not just for Halloween!

Enjoy below or on YouTube here. Thanks!

'Twas The Night Before Christmas TV adaptation starring Paul Lynde (1977)

 

To cap off this week, I present the 1977 TV special 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

Airing December 7, 1977, the special stars Paul Lynde as a grumpy husband and father (!) who learns the true meaning of Christmas. The special costars Anne Meara, Alice Ghostly, Foster Brooks, and Anson Williams. Apparently, the special was so poorly received critically and commercially that it was never rerun, nor was it ever made available on home video.

Is it really that bad, or is it just a typical 1970s TV special? I'll let you be the judge. Please enjoy the special embedded below or directly on YouTube.

Thanks! Have a great holiday season weekend! Happy Chanukah!

The Price is Right Christmas Episode, December 25, 1979

 

Welcome to Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas! Today we have something special for those old school kids to got to watch this show when they were home sick from school.

Today I offer an episode of The Price is Right that aired on Christmas Day 1979. The studio, which usually looks very festive on a normal day, is decorated for the holiday and increases the excitement factor even higher than usual. Consider this also a tribute to Bob Barker, who we lost earlier this year.

Enjoy! Watch embedded below or directly on YouTube here.

Saturday Night Live, "The Contestant," starring Martin Short (1984)

 

As promised this past Monday, I have a fun clip of Martin Short from his one and only season as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. In fact, I believe this was his first starring skit on the show!

In "The Contestant," his original character Ed Grimley is present to audition as a contestant on the legendary game show Wheel of Fortune in front of a dispondent (to say the least!) producer, played dryly by the great Christopher Guest. I love Short, I love Ed Grimley, and I love this season of SNL--one of my favorite seasons of the series.

Enjoy!

On Location Starring Steve Martin Live at the Troubador, October 31, 1976

 

Hello all, and welcome back! I hope everyone had a great Halloween season--I certainly did! But now it's time to cleanse the palate and move on. Today we do so with hilarious style!

On Friday night, October 27th, I had the honor of seeing Steve Martin and Martin Short live at their Philadelphia stop on their current comedy tour, and it didn't disappoint! My wife bought the tickets for me nearly a year ago as a Christmas gift, but unfortunately she fell ill the week of the event and couldn't make it. Better luck next time, hon, and thank you!

Still, I had an amazing time watching two of my entertainment heroes, so in honor of that, I present an old HBO comedy special starring Steve Martin in all of his "wild and crazy" 1970s glory. This was an installment of HBO's On Location series of comedy specials in the service's infancy, and Martin's star was very much on the rise. This was recorded October 31st, 1976 (hey, a Halloween event of sorts!) at the Troubador nightclub in Los Angeles, and it aired on HBO November 19, 1976.

This special is available on a multiple DVD set called Steve Martin: The Television Stuff, and it is available here.

Enjoy below, or see the special directly on YouTube here! I hope to feature a Martin Short post soon.

The Last Halloween with Richard Moll and clip from Friends Halloween Episode with Matthew Perry

 

Hello one and all! It's almost over! We have but two days left of the Halloween season (although I think November 1st and 2nd are Halloweenish enough to celebrate). 

Today's post is a bit of a sad one. We lost two TV comedy greats this weekend, Richard Moll of Night Court and Matthew Perry of Friends. I have two offerings in their honor.

The Last Halloween is a 1991 TV special about adorable aliens who befriend two young Earth children as the aliens search for candy. Richard Moll plays a henchman to a villainess (Rhea Perlman) out to destroy the local candy factory. It's intended for young children, but it's wholesome fun.

Next is a fun clip from a famous Halloween episode of Friends. Here, Chandler, already humiliated by having to wear a pink bunny costume given to him by Monica, is doubly humiliated by seeing Joey's costume--as Chandler! 😂

These two great actors will be sorely missed, but at least we have their outstanding work to enjoy forever.

See you tomorrow for the grand finale of the Countdown to Halloween! Thanks!