Week of 1/28: Getting Fit With Jack LaLanne

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Thanks to his healthy exercise and activities, Jack LaLanne lived to 96, though even he couldn't outrun Father Time.

What he did was revolutionize the exercise industry using a new mass medium - television. "The Jack LaLanne Show" began running in 1951 and didn't stop until the mid-1980s. Long after that, he continued to appear on talk shows and infomercials, promoting a health-conscious lifestyle.

What he discussed in this clip is just as relevant today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBVk071N88M

One of his "LaLanneisms" was "Anything in life is possible if you make it happen." He certainly did.

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of Jan. 21: Hi Bob......and Hu?

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Personal comment: I was among those disappointed with Bob Newhart's appearance on "NCIS" this week as medical examiner Dr. Walter Magnus. I thought the plotline resembled too closely a previous appearance Newhart had on "ER." And on a drama show that distinguishes itself from all others with its comedy, this would have been a great chance to showcase the classic Newhart sardonic wit.

Even the phone conversation with a Chinese restaurant fell short, but triggered memories of the classic "Moo Goo Gai Pan" scene in the 1975 episode "Over the River and Through the Woods" on "The Bob Newhart Show."

Here's Newhart in an interview with EmmyTVLegends.org talking about that scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh2PSs6XnS8

The first four seasons of "The Bob Newhart Show" and the first season of "Newhart" are available on DVD; the first three seasons of "The Bob Newhart Show" can be found at Hulu.com. YouTube has classic clips of Newhart variety show skits, including this air traffic controller skit from "The Smothers Brothers":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD1MW-nyhxg


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The visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House this week triggered memories of another classic skit, from "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson," featuring Carson as President Ronald Reagan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuLsXHzE1t8

Hu's on the phone......

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This week, PBS kicked off a second collection of "Pioneers of Television" programs; they focus on science fiction, crime dramas, Westerns and children's programming. Check your local PBS station for time and date.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of Jan. 14: Remembering the Nelsons

By Sylvia Gurinsky

This week's news of the death of David Nelson triggered memories of the first real-life family comedy, "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." ("I Love Lucy" doesn't quite qualify, since Desi Arnaz went by another first (and last) name on the show.)

It ran from 1952-66 on ABC, featuring the real-life Nelsons - former bandleader Ozzie (though no job was specified on the show), former singer Harriet and budding singers David and Rick (who became lawyers on the show). While the show featured the real family, including the sons' real wives (first wives, as it turned out), it did not feature the reality of the turmoil-filled world.
But here's a look back at simpler family television:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3BbrSVegLg

And some more detail about the show from The Museum of Broadcast Communications:

http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=adventuresof

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of Jan. 7: Time For More Female Private Eyes

By Sylvia Gurinsky


This week, classic television lovers mourned the death of Anne Francis, who broke the PI gender barrier with "Honey West" during the 1960s.

Still, there haven't been many females on commercial television playing private eyes, and certainly not without a partner. For instance, Laura Holt, played by Stephanie Zimbalist, had to hire Remington Steele, played by Pierce Brosnan in the enjoyable series that ran on NBC from 1982-87. Generally, female detectives have always had a man either as a partner or a boss. Where's the female version of Jim Rockford?

Jessica Fletcher, played by Angela Lansbury in the wonderful CBS series "Murder, She Wrote," doesn't count; she's an author who happens to solve crimes. Charlie's Angels were, well, working for Charlie. And while "Honey West" broke ground, Anne Francis was frequently shown dressed in sexy attire, meaning that men's style wishes usually overcame women's substance.

The British do slightly better, with the successful "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," which is only available on cable here.

Don't expect any more groundbreaking from ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX in this respect, alas. And that's the saddest eulogy that can be delivered for Anne Francis. She may have broken a barrier, but practically no one's run past it.