The Carol Burnett Show, "My Husband is Dracula"

 

We're approaching the frightening finish line of the season! Don't lose steam now!

Today I offer a clip from The Carol Burnett Show, titled on YouTube as "My Husband is Dracula," although the title of the sketch in the clip says "The Bat and the Beautiful." Either one works!

In this skit, Carol is indeed married to the famous bloodlusting count, but marriage to a vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be. Poor Carol!

Enjoy!

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!

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Review!

 

Hello all! I hope everyone had a fantastic summer! The season is a great time to take things easy and relax in the warm sun. But the season is just about over, and it's time to look ahead. Of course, what better event lies ahead during the fall season than that most spookiest of holidays, Halloween!  And I can't think of a better way to begin the spooky season than with the release of the long-awaited movie sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!

The movie opens wide Friday, September 6th, but I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to attend a preview screening with my daughter this past Tuesday. It was quite the pleasant experience!

When we first walked into the theater, we were greeted by a "bartender" dispensing Beetlejuice-themed beverages, two cocktails and one mocktail. Although my daughter and I are both of drinking age, we chose the mocktail, "Precious Potion," or something like that. Basically, it was a Shirley Temple in the guise of an afterlife drink, but it was good!

We were also greeted by this fellow by the bar.

The lobby was adorned with this fun display where you could appear to be hanging out with Betelgeuse and friend in the afterlife. We felt right at home!

As we entered the screening room, we picked up a couple of pieces of fun swag: a poster for the movie, which is featured at the top of this article, and specially adorned sunglasses to show your Beetlejuice fandom while keeping away the UV rays!

And now, my spoiler-free review of the film itself!

The now-grown Lydia (Wynona Ryder) is a TV psychic/medium on a Ghosthunters type of series, which is produced by Lydia's vapid boyfriend (Justin Theroux). When Lydia and her stepmother Delia (Catherine O'Hara) learn of Lydia's father Charles' death, they go to tell Lydia's estranged daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega). All the while, the "ghost with the most" still pines for Lydia and sends her visions of himself from beyond. From there, we encounter a vengeful figure from Betelgeuse's past, a young romance with a twist, a celebrity cameo, a hammy afterlife cop (gleefully played by Willem Dafoe), and all of the usual insanity you'd expect from a Beetlejuice sequel.

So, the bottom line of this review--I loved it! Michael Keaton hasn't missed a step since 1988 when the original film was released (he turns 73 years old on September 5th). Ryder is as "strange and unusual" as ever as Lydia, even if adulthood has polished off her rougher edges from her teen years. No matter, as Ortega more than makes up for it with her steely portrayal of Astrid. O'Hara's Delia is as "Delia" as ever. The supporting cast provide exactly what their roles require and make great contributions to the film.

The style of the Beetlejuice universe is completely consistent with the original movie, relying much more on practical sets and effects than CGI (which is used sparingly but effectively). But the film also has as much substance as style. The importance of family, seeking understanding, crossing the generational divide, and processing grief, are themes prominent in the story, adding depth to the silliness.

I was thoroughly thrilled with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and I think you will be too! It's the perfect way to kick off the Halloween season!

Now excuse me while I strut down the street in my Beetlejuice specs!

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!

'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!

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!

Love, American Style, "Love and the Haunted House"

 

Today I have what might be an unusual pick for the Countdown to Halloween on the surface, but I think it works just fine. For this blog, anyway.

Love, American Style was a TV comedy anthology series (I don't know of many comedy anthologies!) that aired in the early 70s on ABC. Each half-hour episode featured one or two stories of people falling in, out, or around (?) love. The series was light as a feather, and even spun off one of its episodes into a very successful series of its own---Happy Days!

In this episode, an engaged couple, played by Frank Sutton (Gomer Pyle, USMC) and Ruth Buzzi (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In), run out of gas along a highway during a thunderstorm and reluctantly spend the night in a seemingly abandoned cabin. The couple sleep in separate rooms at Buzzi's insistence, as the couple are not yet married, much to Sutton's chagrin. However, the cabin seems to have a mind of its own, disturbing the couple's sleep. Creepy for them, laughter for us!

The episode is only 15 minutes long, so you can watch it in no time, and at the end, a very special someone (something?) appears, a someone I try to fit into the Countdown every single year if possible. The best part, I didn't even know this about the episode when I selected it!

Enjoy! Watch it with someone you love!

The Haunted House Starring Buster Keaton (1921)

 

It's Hump Day this week at the Countdown to Halloween, and you're probably already looking forward to the weekend. But we still have a few days ahead of us until then, and you may need a pick-me-up. I hope this feature will do the trick!

Today I present the short silent film The Haunted House, starring old school comedy great Buster Keaton. In it, Keaton plays a bank teller who is framed for robbery by thieves who are working with an unscrupulous bank manager. When the police are in pursuit of Keaton, he seeks shelter in an abandoned house which just so happens to be the real thieves hideout. The thieves have rigged the house to appear haunted to passersby to prevent from being found out. When Keaton arrives, he is treated to the gang's spooky sinisterness.

Silent films may not be for everyone, but please give this one a try. I laughed out loud several times at Keaton's inventiveness. This movie is a lot of fun!

Enjoy!

SCTV, Monster Chiller Horror Theatre, "Dr. Tongue's House of Cats"

 

Welcome to Week 2 of the Countdown to Halloween! Please be sure to check out all of the great sites participating in the event by clicking on the main site here.

I'm starting off the week with this fun clip from the Canadian comedy sketch series SCTV. It stars Joe Flaherty as Count Floyd hosting the horror movie series Monster Chiller Horror Theatre. His feature this particular segment is "Dr. Tongue's House of Cats," starring John Candy as the titular Dr. and Catherine O'Hara as his unwitting "victim." Eugene Levy is the Dr.'s gortesque servant Bruno.

This appears to be the first appearance of the Dr. Tongue character, who would appear numerous times throughout SCTV's run. He's a spoof of the cheesy horror movie villains of the 50s and 60s with ridiculous premises and even cheesier 3-D. It's a lot of fun!

Enjoy!

Mel Brooks, The Critic (1963)

 

Sticking with the animation theme, here is another Oscar award-winning cartoon from 1963, created by Mel Brooks and animator Ernest Pintoff, "The Critic."

"The Critic" features a series of abstract images across the screen while light orchestral music plays in the background. Watching the cartoon in an unseen elderly movie patron who is verbally not happy with the cartoon. Brooks improvised his monologue in character while the images play, resulting in a funny three minutes of film.

Ernest Pintoff is a legendary animator who creates several unique short cartoons, some of which I may feature in future blog posts.

Enjoy!

Mork & Mindy, "It's A Wonderful Mork"

As we end Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas (already?), I present something that I didn't know existed until earlier this morning. I was going to post something else, but I discovered this and couldn't wait to share it. This weekend's offering is a Christmas episode from the first season of Mork & Mindy, titled "It's A Wonderful Mork."

On Christmas Eve, Mork, in all his Morkness, ruins the evening for Mindy and her dad. Feeling ashamed, he returns to his home planet Ork, where his leader Orson shows him what Mindy's life would be like if Mork and Mindy hadn't met. That's right, it's the old It's A Wonderful Life pastiche. This plot was used on countless sitcom Christmas episodes, and here, Mork & Mindy throws it's hat into the ring.

I have to thank the fine people who follow and comment on Dino Drac After Dark, the spin-off site of the superb Dinosaur Dracula site for bringing this episode to my attention.

Enjoy! Drink that egg nog! And that hot buttered rum! And that hot toddy! Then rethink your life choices, because dude, you've clearly got a problem.

 

Merry Christmas Mr. Bean

 

Today's Countdown to Christmas offering is the Christmas episode of the British sitcom Mr. Bean.

In "Merry Christmas Mr. Bean," the episode simply follows the man-child Bean through his holiday season and all the looniness he creates. If you like Rowan Atkinson and his unique brand of comedy, you'll love this. I actually featured a couple of clips from this many years ago at the blog, but here is the episode in its entirety.

Enjoy!

Saturday Night Live Cast Auditions

 

Welcome back! I hope you all had a great Halloween season; I certainly did! With that and the Countdown behind us, let's move on to other fun stuff.

This summer I read a fascinating book called Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. The book is an oral history of the legendary TV series told by the many people who have been a part of it both on and off camera. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of classic TV and comedy.

Reading the book inspired me to do a bit of a dive into classic SNL online, and I found this great collection of onscreen auditions from some of the most popular cast members of the show. It's over a half hour long, so you're sure to see at least a couple of your favorite performers.

Enjoy!

Saturday Night Live's Stefon on Halloween's Hottest Tips

 

As we get closer to Halloween, it's important to shore up your Halloween plans. If you live in New York City, here are some of the hottest Halloween celebrations according to Saturday Night Live's Stefon (played hilariously by Bill Hader). Enjoy!

Classic Steve Martin Appearance From 1975 | Carson Tonight Show

Hello folks! Welcome to Spring, and I hope you have an awesome one, whether indoors or out, depending on your comfort level in the ongoing pandemic. 

Today I offer a classic appearance of Steve Martin on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1975. Why, you ask?

A) I love Steve Martin.

B) I especially love early Steve Martin.

C) It came up as a recommended video in my YouTube feed.

D) This blog needs content.

Simple as that. Enjoy!

P.S. Apropo of nothing, Happy Birthday to my son BJ! I love you!

You Can't Do That On Television, "Halloween"

Today's Countdown post should be a fun one for Generation X readers out there. Today I present an episode of the fondly remembered '80s Nickelodeon series You Can't Do That On Television.

You Can't was a Canadian-produced sketch comedy show aimed at pre-teens. The series began airing locally in Ottawa in 1979 before going national in Canada and in the US on Nickelodeon in 1981. The show became a huge hit for Nick, becoming the most famous show on the network at the time. The green slime poured on the show's young performers remains associated with the network to this very day.

Each episode's skits revolved around a particular theme, and in this episode, that theme is Halloween. This video is courtesy of the Museum of Classic Chicago Television, a YouTube channel that is a showcase of classic TV recorded in the Chicago area. It's one of my favorite YT channels; check them out!

Enjoy!

The Three Stooges Halloween Special

Hey there numbskulls! It's time for a long-form Halloween program, as I do every Friday during the Countdown. And this week, I'm featuring three of my favorite people of all time--The Three Stooges!

The Three Stooges Halloween Special is a compilation of several spooky-themed Stooges films put together for the official Three Stooges YouTube channel. I've featured a couple of their frightful films before, and I'm very happy to present more to you this year.

So jump in the saddle and enjoy the show! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

Have a great weekend! Ride that hayride! Haunt that house! Drink that cider! Enjoy!

 

Fridays, "Diner of the Living Dead"

 

Today on the Countdown I offer a fun, if gross, skit from the infamous 1980s comedy series Fridays.

Fridays aired for three seasons on ABC in the early 80s and featured future Seinfeld co-creator Larry David and cast member Michael Richards ("Kramer"). The skit below is one of the earliest, and most notorious, of the entire series. On the third episode of the first season, "Diner of the Living Dead" aired, about a young human couple looking for a bite to eat, and stop at a local diner--completely staffed by flesh-eating zombies.

The skit is pretty gory for a comedy show, even one airing late at night, and a decent number of ABC affiliates were so offended by the sketch that they dropped the series from their schedules

So I choose to show it to you now. Enjoy!

Just don't watch while eating!