By Sylvia Gurinsky
The big screen was where she became a legend, but the small screen was where Elizabeth Taylor went to have fun.
The peak of her movie stardom coincided with the rise of television as America's major entertainment. In 1954, she appeared on the game show "What's My Line?":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gR-vU44gd4
It's too bad MGM wasn't casting her in lead comedy roles!
Sadly, Elizabeth Taylor wasn't among the MGM stars who appeared on "I Love Lucy" when the Ricardos and Mertzes went to Hollywood. But 15 years later, she appeared with then-husband Richard Burton on "Here's Lucy," when Lucy (now secretary Lucy Carter), couldn't get that famous Taylor ring off her finger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FntN7Tr_O0Y
Taylor was a huge soap opera fan, and "General Hospital" was her favorite. In 1981, she got the chance to play the widowed Helena Cassadine - including scenes in the famous Luke-and-Laura wedding episode watched by 30 million viewers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK17NAY1d-8
In 1984, she also managed a cameo appearance on another favorite soap, "All My Children," that surprised good friend Carol Burnett, who was playing Verla Grubbs at the time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSJGBYvm_Es
Taylor was dressed like Burnett's famous cleaning woman character from "The Carol Burnett Show" on CBS. Burnett took the "pilot light" comment from Vicki Lawrence's famous "Mama" character on her show.
She also did a number of television movies. The best of them, "Malice In Wonderland," a CBS production in which she played gossip columnist Louella Parsons to Jane Alexander's Hedda Hopper, is available on DVD.
To wrap up, here's part of her fantastic appearance on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" in 1992:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5WlCf9zFMo
Alas, her marriage with Larry Fortensky (husband No. 8) did not work. But she was a survivor for 78 years with a marvelous film career - and very entertaining appearances on the small screen.
Farewell, Elizabeth.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Week of March 18: Just a Quickie From "Laugh-In"
By Sylvia Gurinsky
It's "Sock It To Me" Time!
This week, PBS, as part of its pledge drive, showed the "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" retrospective aired by NBC a few years ago.
"Laugh-In," created in 1968 by George Schlatter for NBC, was very much of its time. Like CBS' "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," "Laugh-In" fed on the discontent of many young Americans with the Vietnam War and their government; unlike "The Somthers Brothers," "Laugh-In" got away with considerably more, with a lighter touch. The fast pace helped with that.
Among the show's writers were Lorne Michaels, who would go on to create "Saturday Night Live," Allan Manings, who wrote for "One Day At a Time" and "Good Times," and Jim Mulligan, who wrote for "M*A*S*H." The initial regular cast included Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne, Arte Johnson, Jo Ann Worley, Dave Madden and Henry Gibson. Lily Tomlin joined the cast in 1969. The two hosts, comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, cast member Ruth Buzzi and announcer Gary Owens would be the only participants to last through the entire run (1968-73). Hawn would go on to Oscar glory and movie stardom, Madden headed for "The Partridge Family" on ABC and many of the others had a variety of television appearances.
Who wasn't a guest star on this show? Sammy Davis, Jr. had frequent appearances. "Laugh-In" drew the cream of comedy, including Jack Benny; and film, including John Wayne and Kirk Douglas; and presidential candidate Richard Nixon (His opponent, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, declined an appearance; many believed that contributed to Humphrey's loss in 1968.).
Its snappy pace helped inspire the creators of PBS' "Sesame Street," whose initial seasons took children through fast-paced letters, numbers and life lessons.
Timely, "Laugh-In" would not prove to be timeless, since it was so topical. But it's fondly remembered, and a look at clips today provides laughs for those who remember the 60s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ8Vrvy0VeE
Was "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" great TV? You bet your sweet bippy!
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
It's "Sock It To Me" Time!
This week, PBS, as part of its pledge drive, showed the "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" retrospective aired by NBC a few years ago.
"Laugh-In," created in 1968 by George Schlatter for NBC, was very much of its time. Like CBS' "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," "Laugh-In" fed on the discontent of many young Americans with the Vietnam War and their government; unlike "The Somthers Brothers," "Laugh-In" got away with considerably more, with a lighter touch. The fast pace helped with that.
Among the show's writers were Lorne Michaels, who would go on to create "Saturday Night Live," Allan Manings, who wrote for "One Day At a Time" and "Good Times," and Jim Mulligan, who wrote for "M*A*S*H." The initial regular cast included Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne, Arte Johnson, Jo Ann Worley, Dave Madden and Henry Gibson. Lily Tomlin joined the cast in 1969. The two hosts, comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, cast member Ruth Buzzi and announcer Gary Owens would be the only participants to last through the entire run (1968-73). Hawn would go on to Oscar glory and movie stardom, Madden headed for "The Partridge Family" on ABC and many of the others had a variety of television appearances.
Who wasn't a guest star on this show? Sammy Davis, Jr. had frequent appearances. "Laugh-In" drew the cream of comedy, including Jack Benny; and film, including John Wayne and Kirk Douglas; and presidential candidate Richard Nixon (His opponent, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, declined an appearance; many believed that contributed to Humphrey's loss in 1968.).
Its snappy pace helped inspire the creators of PBS' "Sesame Street," whose initial seasons took children through fast-paced letters, numbers and life lessons.
Timely, "Laugh-In" would not prove to be timeless, since it was so topical. But it's fondly remembered, and a look at clips today provides laughs for those who remember the 60s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ8Vrvy0VeE
Was "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" great TV? You bet your sweet bippy!
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Week of 3/10: Remember Those Hurt By Charlie Sheen Situation
By Sylvia Gurinsky
In another instance, I wish I could be writing about Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen as one of the successful teams of father-child combinations on classic television. Hopefully I'll be able to, someday soon.
For now, it's just a matter of hoping the Sheens don't wind up like the O'Connors.
Carroll O'Connor, the brilliant actor who won Emmys as Archie Bunker in "All In the Family" and Sparta Police Chief Bill Gillespie in "In the Heat of the Night," died in 2001, officially of heart trouble brought on by diabetes, but really because of a broken heart brought by the tragedy of his son, Hugh.
Hugh O'Connor, who played Lt. Lonnie Jamison on "In the Heat of the Night," struggled for much of his life with drug addiction and finally committed suicide shortly after the show's cancellation in 1995. (In addition, Howard E. Rollins, Jr., the Academy Award nominee ("Ragtime") who played Virgil Tibbs on the series, also battled drug addiction for years.)
The heartache was too much for Carroll O'Connor to take. For years, he fought to have drug dealers connected to his son brought to justice. He did numerous interviews and public service announcements about the dangers of drugs.
If there was any consolation for Carroll O'Connor, it could have been that his son's battle was conducted in relative privacy. Anyone who watched "In the Heat of the Night" never would have known about it unless they'd seen some news stories about it.
Martin Sheen and the rest of the Sheen/Estevez family don't have the same consolation with Charlie Sheen. Not only is seemingly everyone watching the horror show, but too many - including correspondents at three television networks (ABC, NBC and CNN) and an executive (Mark Cuban) at a fourth, who should all know better - are exploiting it, or trying to, for ratings and profit.
Forget about what you see of Charlie Sheen. Think about his parents, his three siblings and especially his four children.
This isn't entertainment.
For them, this is persistent pain. One can only hope it won't end in the same tragedy that befell the O'Connors.
In another instance, I wish I could be writing about Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen as one of the successful teams of father-child combinations on classic television. Hopefully I'll be able to, someday soon.
For now, it's just a matter of hoping the Sheens don't wind up like the O'Connors.
Carroll O'Connor, the brilliant actor who won Emmys as Archie Bunker in "All In the Family" and Sparta Police Chief Bill Gillespie in "In the Heat of the Night," died in 2001, officially of heart trouble brought on by diabetes, but really because of a broken heart brought by the tragedy of his son, Hugh.
Hugh O'Connor, who played Lt. Lonnie Jamison on "In the Heat of the Night," struggled for much of his life with drug addiction and finally committed suicide shortly after the show's cancellation in 1995. (In addition, Howard E. Rollins, Jr., the Academy Award nominee ("Ragtime") who played Virgil Tibbs on the series, also battled drug addiction for years.)
The heartache was too much for Carroll O'Connor to take. For years, he fought to have drug dealers connected to his son brought to justice. He did numerous interviews and public service announcements about the dangers of drugs.
If there was any consolation for Carroll O'Connor, it could have been that his son's battle was conducted in relative privacy. Anyone who watched "In the Heat of the Night" never would have known about it unless they'd seen some news stories about it.
Martin Sheen and the rest of the Sheen/Estevez family don't have the same consolation with Charlie Sheen. Not only is seemingly everyone watching the horror show, but too many - including correspondents at three television networks (ABC, NBC and CNN) and an executive (Mark Cuban) at a fourth, who should all know better - are exploiting it, or trying to, for ratings and profit.
Forget about what you see of Charlie Sheen. Think about his parents, his three siblings and especially his four children.
This isn't entertainment.
For them, this is persistent pain. One can only hope it won't end in the same tragedy that befell the O'Connors.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Week of 3/4: Que Pasa?
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Time to take a fun look at the only Cuban-American family to become a television hit - the Peñas of "¿Que Pasa, USA?"
The show was a United States Department of Education project to show a fictional three-generation family from Cuba settling into the United States with all the ups and downs of the late 1970s. Between 1976 and 1980, there were 39 episodes made. Topics included bilingualism, discrimination, alcoholism and drug use, homosexuality, the sexual revolution and more.
The family included grandparents Antonio and Adela (Luis Oquendo and Tampa-born Velia Martinez, who spoke perfect English in real life and was able to do so in one episode), who couldn't speak much English; parents Pepe and Juana (Manolo Villaverde and Ana Margarita Martinez Casado), working and sometimes confounded by "this country," and teenagers Joe and Carmen (Steven Bauer, then known as Rocky Echevarria, and Ana Margo, then known as Ana Margarita Menendez). Carmen had two best friends, Violeta (Connie Ramirez) and the American Sharon (Barbara Ann Martin).
Neighbors and occasional visitors included the nosy Marta (Glenda Diaz-Rigau), somewhat bigoted Mrs. Allen (Jody Wilson) and school counselor Mrs. Peabody (Hilda Wilde). Among the guest stars was a very young Andy Garcia, in one episode as Carmen's fiance. After Bauer left to try his luck in Hollywood, he was replaced by Bernie Pascual as Iggy, a cousin from New Jersey.
The show was produced by WPBT-Channel 2, the primary PBS station in Miami. Amid the laughter was a strong recognition of family quirks and moments by many in Miami's Cuban community.
The show is just as popular today. Check out the official website, whose only flaw is no detailed description of the episodes:
http://www.quepasausa.org/program.html
Full episodes can be found here:
http://www.generation-n.com/shows/quepasa/index.html
Many serious fans of the series (including me) agree that the best episode was "Citizenship," in which Joe wanted to get a college scholarship and had to become a United States citizen to do so. It was unquestionably the most emotional episode, even with the humor (particularly the scene in which Carmen and Violeta are testing the abuelos on citizenship questions!). Here's the finale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kctvREA3Kmc&feature=related
Enjoy. And until next week, Happy Viewing!
Time to take a fun look at the only Cuban-American family to become a television hit - the Peñas of "¿Que Pasa, USA?"
The show was a United States Department of Education project to show a fictional three-generation family from Cuba settling into the United States with all the ups and downs of the late 1970s. Between 1976 and 1980, there were 39 episodes made. Topics included bilingualism, discrimination, alcoholism and drug use, homosexuality, the sexual revolution and more.
The family included grandparents Antonio and Adela (Luis Oquendo and Tampa-born Velia Martinez, who spoke perfect English in real life and was able to do so in one episode), who couldn't speak much English; parents Pepe and Juana (Manolo Villaverde and Ana Margarita Martinez Casado), working and sometimes confounded by "this country," and teenagers Joe and Carmen (Steven Bauer, then known as Rocky Echevarria, and Ana Margo, then known as Ana Margarita Menendez). Carmen had two best friends, Violeta (Connie Ramirez) and the American Sharon (Barbara Ann Martin).
Neighbors and occasional visitors included the nosy Marta (Glenda Diaz-Rigau), somewhat bigoted Mrs. Allen (Jody Wilson) and school counselor Mrs. Peabody (Hilda Wilde). Among the guest stars was a very young Andy Garcia, in one episode as Carmen's fiance. After Bauer left to try his luck in Hollywood, he was replaced by Bernie Pascual as Iggy, a cousin from New Jersey.
The show was produced by WPBT-Channel 2, the primary PBS station in Miami. Amid the laughter was a strong recognition of family quirks and moments by many in Miami's Cuban community.
The show is just as popular today. Check out the official website, whose only flaw is no detailed description of the episodes:
http://www.quepasausa.org/program.html
Full episodes can be found here:
http://www.generation-n.com/shows/quepasa/index.html
Many serious fans of the series (including me) agree that the best episode was "Citizenship," in which Joe wanted to get a college scholarship and had to become a United States citizen to do so. It was unquestionably the most emotional episode, even with the humor (particularly the scene in which Carmen and Violeta are testing the abuelos on citizenship questions!). Here's the finale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kctvREA3Kmc&feature=related
Enjoy. And until next week, Happy Viewing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)