By Sylvia Gurinsky
Among television's annual traditions is the broadcast of the Academy Awards, which will take place Sunday on ABC.
Having the program on ABC is another tradition, one that's been in place continuously since 1976. NBC has been the other network (1953-59, 1971-75) to telecast the Oscars.
There have been assorted hosts, but three have stood above all the rest.
*Bob Hope hosted the first of his 18 stints in 1940, the year "Gone With the Wind" won Best Picture. His first televised Oscar gig came in the first televised ceremony, in 1953. His last hosting stint came in 1978, the year "Annie Hall" won. His last, memorable appearance came during the otherwise lamentable 1989 telecast (the year of Rob Lowe and Snow White), when Hope appeared with Lucille Ball, who died soon afterward.
About seven minutes into this clip is the beginning of his hosting of the Oscars honoring films for 1954 (actually a co-host job from Hollywood with Thelma Ritter, who hosted from New York)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yE3F0XVCsg
*Johnny Carson: He hosted five Oscar telecasts with the same aplomb he showed on "The Tonight Show." Here's a moving clip, also including Bob Hope, in which Carson introduced the last appearance of John Wayne (It's from a documentary, "Oscar's Greatest Moments," hosted by Karl Malden):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob0JBcfaDgk
With a lot less reverence, Heeere's Johnny in a "Tonight Show" clip of the first "Sniveling Weasel" awards, spoofing the Oscars:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANKazBdsd_0
*Billy Crystal: After the disaster of 1989, the producers brought in comedian Billy Crystal to host - so inspired a choice, he's hosted eight times. Here's the hilarious intro to the 1998 telecast:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kui6f6Urxog
Enjoy the Oscars! And until next week, Happy Viewing!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Week Of February 18: What Is Jeopardy?
By Sylvia Gurinsky
The presence of Watson, an IBM-designed computer, on "Jeopardy!" has generated new interest in the long-running quiz show.
The program that's been hosted by Alex Trebek since 1984 is actually the second version of "Jeopardy." It was originally created by talk show host Merv Griffin in 1964, when his then-wife suggested a show in which the answers and questions were reversed.
From an initial title of "What's the Question?" came the suggestion of the show needing more jeopardies from a network executive. The "Daily Double" reference is popular in horse racing.
NBC originally telecast "Jeopardy!", mainly in the daytime. Art Fleming was the host of the original version, which ran from 1964-79 in various forms.
Trebek has continued the consistency started by Fleming. The syndicated "Jeopardy!" is currently the second-highest rated program of its kind - behind "Wheel of Fortune," another Merv Griffin creation.
Part of the discussion over Watson's success on "Jeopardy!" this week has centered on whether a computer can create creatively.
Could a computer top Merv Griffin? I don't think so.
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
The presence of Watson, an IBM-designed computer, on "Jeopardy!" has generated new interest in the long-running quiz show.
The program that's been hosted by Alex Trebek since 1984 is actually the second version of "Jeopardy." It was originally created by talk show host Merv Griffin in 1964, when his then-wife suggested a show in which the answers and questions were reversed.
From an initial title of "What's the Question?" came the suggestion of the show needing more jeopardies from a network executive. The "Daily Double" reference is popular in horse racing.
NBC originally telecast "Jeopardy!", mainly in the daytime. Art Fleming was the host of the original version, which ran from 1964-79 in various forms.
Trebek has continued the consistency started by Fleming. The syndicated "Jeopardy!" is currently the second-highest rated program of its kind - behind "Wheel of Fortune," another Merv Griffin creation.
Part of the discussion over Watson's success on "Jeopardy!" this week has centered on whether a computer can create creatively.
Could a computer top Merv Griffin? I don't think so.
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Feb. 12: The Glories of a Pebble
By Sylvia Gurinsky
A beautiful day in Pebble Beach, with the celebrated golf tournament, originally "Crosby's Clambake," (for Bing Crosby, who organized it) and now featuring the likes of Kevin Costner, Drew Brees and Bill Murray, complete with Elmer Fudd hat.
A beautiful day in Pebble Beach, with the celebrated golf tournament, originally "Crosby's Clambake," (for Bing Crosby, who organized it) and now featuring the likes of Kevin Costner, Drew Brees and Bill Murray, complete with Elmer Fudd hat.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Week of Feb. 11: Top Five Committed TV Couples
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Looking for some classic TV for your Valentine's Day celebration? Take a look at some of television's classic committed - either married or seriously involved - couples. Here are my top five:
5. Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt), "Mad About You" (NBC, 1992-99): Forget the last three seasons when the show jumped the shark, first with their flirtations with other people and then with baby Mabel. The first four seasons showed the Buchmans going through what many couples go through. The best: The two-parter at the end of Season 3 when Paul and Jamie recalled falling in love and getting married.
4. Ann Marie and Donald Hollinger (Marlo Thomas and Ted Bessell), "That Girl (ABC, 1966-71): A fun relationship to watch evolve, from Ann and Donald's first meeting in the pilot as they battled over a piece of furniture in a store. They had many adventures - Donald getting his car and himself stuck in the mud on a picnic date and Ann getting her toe stuck in a bowling ball come to mind. Ann's always suspicious father, Lou Marie (Lew Parker) never thought Donald was good enough for his daughter, but viewers knew better. At the beginning of Season 5, Donald proposed and Ann said yes; regrettably, and reportedly at Thomas' request, the series did not end with a wedding.
3. Bob and Emily Hartley (Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette), "The Bob Newhart Show" (CBS, 1972-78): The first successful situation comedy to truly feature a married couple as two intelligent and independent beings. Bob, a psychologist, and Emily, a schoolteacher, had intelligent discussions, the occasional disagreement (over Emily's IQ being higher than Bob's) and were so identified as a unit that their payoff actually came in the series finale of "Newhart" 11 years after "The Bob Newhart Show" left the air.
2. Jonathan and Jennifer Hart (Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers), "Hart To Hart" (ABC, 1979-84): What couple has ever had more fun on television than the wealthy Harts, who were to the small screen what William Powell and Myrna Loy's Nick and Nora Charles were to the big screen. With their faithful butler, Max (Lionel Stander) their adorable dog, Freeway, and a lot of romance, Jonathan and Jennifer solved all the crimes. They were so convincing that many people thought Wagner, who tragically lost real-life wife Natalie Wood halfway through the run of the series, and Powers should become a real-life couple!
1. Cliff and Claire Huxtable (Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad), "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-92): Five children and anybody else who happened to live in the Huxtable residence didn't stop Cliff and Clair from enjoying those romantic moments with each other. Famous Cliff comment about the children: "I just hope we get them out of the house before we die."
Here's a look at their priceless discussion about what would happen if Claire died:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEorB-OHjAU
Happy Valentine's Day! And until next week, Happy Viewing!
Looking for some classic TV for your Valentine's Day celebration? Take a look at some of television's classic committed - either married or seriously involved - couples. Here are my top five:
5. Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt), "Mad About You" (NBC, 1992-99): Forget the last three seasons when the show jumped the shark, first with their flirtations with other people and then with baby Mabel. The first four seasons showed the Buchmans going through what many couples go through. The best: The two-parter at the end of Season 3 when Paul and Jamie recalled falling in love and getting married.
4. Ann Marie and Donald Hollinger (Marlo Thomas and Ted Bessell), "That Girl (ABC, 1966-71): A fun relationship to watch evolve, from Ann and Donald's first meeting in the pilot as they battled over a piece of furniture in a store. They had many adventures - Donald getting his car and himself stuck in the mud on a picnic date and Ann getting her toe stuck in a bowling ball come to mind. Ann's always suspicious father, Lou Marie (Lew Parker) never thought Donald was good enough for his daughter, but viewers knew better. At the beginning of Season 5, Donald proposed and Ann said yes; regrettably, and reportedly at Thomas' request, the series did not end with a wedding.
3. Bob and Emily Hartley (Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette), "The Bob Newhart Show" (CBS, 1972-78): The first successful situation comedy to truly feature a married couple as two intelligent and independent beings. Bob, a psychologist, and Emily, a schoolteacher, had intelligent discussions, the occasional disagreement (over Emily's IQ being higher than Bob's) and were so identified as a unit that their payoff actually came in the series finale of "Newhart" 11 years after "The Bob Newhart Show" left the air.
2. Jonathan and Jennifer Hart (Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers), "Hart To Hart" (ABC, 1979-84): What couple has ever had more fun on television than the wealthy Harts, who were to the small screen what William Powell and Myrna Loy's Nick and Nora Charles were to the big screen. With their faithful butler, Max (Lionel Stander) their adorable dog, Freeway, and a lot of romance, Jonathan and Jennifer solved all the crimes. They were so convincing that many people thought Wagner, who tragically lost real-life wife Natalie Wood halfway through the run of the series, and Powers should become a real-life couple!
1. Cliff and Claire Huxtable (Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad), "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-92): Five children and anybody else who happened to live in the Huxtable residence didn't stop Cliff and Clair from enjoying those romantic moments with each other. Famous Cliff comment about the children: "I just hope we get them out of the house before we die."
Here's a look at their priceless discussion about what would happen if Claire died:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEorB-OHjAU
Happy Valentine's Day! And until next week, Happy Viewing!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Week of 2/4: All-Star Football TV Stars
By Sylvia Gurinsky
With the Super Bowl this Sunday, it's a good time to look at the all-stars of the gridiron who also became all-stars of the small screen:
*Merlin Olson: The Los Angeles Rams' tackle went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But he was a gentle giant who co-starred in "Little House On the Prairie" and his own series, "Father Murphy," for NBC, as well as being a commentator on the network's football telecasts for many years.
*Rosey Grier: Also a star with the Los Angeles Rams, Grier, recently seen on the "Pioneers of Television" segment on Western series, made repeated appearances as Gabe Cooper late in the run of NBC's "Daniel Boone." He was also on Danny Thomas' "Make Room For Granddaddy" on ABC, and guest-starred on many other series during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
*Alex Karras: The tackle for the Detroit Lions went on to a solid television career, including six seasons with wife Susan Clark and young Emmanuel Lewis on the ABC comedy "Webster."
*Ed Marinaro: Ed Marinaro played six seasons in the National Football League, including four for the Minnesota Vikings. He's had quite a bit of staying power in NBC series, including "Sisters" and five seasons as Officer Joe Coffey on "Hill Street Blues."
*Fred Dryer: Another former Los Angeles Ram, Dryer took naturally to television. His career has included seven seasons on another NBC hit show, "Hunter," as Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter. Interestingly, his biography on the Internet Movie Database states that he was a finalist for the role of Sam Malone on "Cheers" before Ted Danson won the part.
**************************************************************************
The best way to watch the big game? Here's a classic clip from ABC's "Home Improvement" to show you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-V04Q-Ymhk
Enjoy the Super Bowl! See you next week! And until then, Happy Viewing!
With the Super Bowl this Sunday, it's a good time to look at the all-stars of the gridiron who also became all-stars of the small screen:
*Merlin Olson: The Los Angeles Rams' tackle went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But he was a gentle giant who co-starred in "Little House On the Prairie" and his own series, "Father Murphy," for NBC, as well as being a commentator on the network's football telecasts for many years.
*Rosey Grier: Also a star with the Los Angeles Rams, Grier, recently seen on the "Pioneers of Television" segment on Western series, made repeated appearances as Gabe Cooper late in the run of NBC's "Daniel Boone." He was also on Danny Thomas' "Make Room For Granddaddy" on ABC, and guest-starred on many other series during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
*Alex Karras: The tackle for the Detroit Lions went on to a solid television career, including six seasons with wife Susan Clark and young Emmanuel Lewis on the ABC comedy "Webster."
*Ed Marinaro: Ed Marinaro played six seasons in the National Football League, including four for the Minnesota Vikings. He's had quite a bit of staying power in NBC series, including "Sisters" and five seasons as Officer Joe Coffey on "Hill Street Blues."
*Fred Dryer: Another former Los Angeles Ram, Dryer took naturally to television. His career has included seven seasons on another NBC hit show, "Hunter," as Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter. Interestingly, his biography on the Internet Movie Database states that he was a finalist for the role of Sam Malone on "Cheers" before Ted Danson won the part.
**************************************************************************
The best way to watch the big game? Here's a classic clip from ABC's "Home Improvement" to show you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-V04Q-Ymhk
Enjoy the Super Bowl! See you next week! And until then, Happy Viewing!
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