By Sylvia Gurinsky
Before a mention of that other soap opera, here's Larry Hagman's first turn as a soap opera actor - on "The Edge of Night" in 1961:
The Edge of Night
Of course, Hagman, who died this week, is much better known for two other shows, though he guest-starred in others and starred in still more.
One of those shows Hagman tried was NBC's "The Good Life," which was on the air for just one season, 1971-72. Hagman and Donna Mills - later Abby Ewing on the "Dallas" spinoff "Knots Landing," played an upwardly mobile married couple who pretended to be servants to a millionaire played by David Wayne ("House Calls"). Alas, only the introduction to that show is online; no clips yet.
But there are plenty of clips of Hagman in his greatest, Emmy-nominated role - as evil oil tycoon J.R. Ewing on "Dallas." Enjoy this clip, and Hagman's timing with his lines. Thanks for the memories, Larry (and J.R.):
J.R.
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Starting next week, the YesterTube blog will move to Tuesdays.
Happy Viewing!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Week of 11/9: Bob Brunner Was More Than "Jumping the Shark"
By Sylvia Gurinsky
The words "Jump the Shark" have unfortunately been at the top of many notifications about the death of television writer and producer Bob Brunner. That's because he wrote the "Happy Days" episode in which Fonzie (Henry Winkler) jumped over a shark cage with his motorcycle when the whole gang was in California.
But Brunner did plenty more for the show, giving Arthur Fonzarelli's character his famous nickname, coining the catchphrase "Sit On It" and writing plenty of episodes. (And to be fair, "Happy Days" continued to have plenty of mileage on it after that episode; the show didn't start to lose steam until star Ron Howard left in 1980.)
Brunner also wrote for "The Odd Couple," "Laverne & Shirley" and many other television shows through the 1980s. He also produced many of those shows.
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
The words "Jump the Shark" have unfortunately been at the top of many notifications about the death of television writer and producer Bob Brunner. That's because he wrote the "Happy Days" episode in which Fonzie (Henry Winkler) jumped over a shark cage with his motorcycle when the whole gang was in California.
But Brunner did plenty more for the show, giving Arthur Fonzarelli's character his famous nickname, coining the catchphrase "Sit On It" and writing plenty of episodes. (And to be fair, "Happy Days" continued to have plenty of mileage on it after that episode; the show didn't start to lose steam until star Ron Howard left in 1980.)
Brunner also wrote for "The Odd Couple," "Laverne & Shirley" and many other television shows through the 1980s. He also produced many of those shows.
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Week of November 2: Television News In Its Purest Form
By Sylvia Gurinsky
It often takes a disaster to remind us what television news is supposed to do.
Viewers discovered that again this week with coverage of Hurricane Sandy. The reports by New York television stations are just what they were by the Miami television stations after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 or the New Orleans stations after Katrina in 2005: A lifeline.
It is only during the last 35 years or so, during the era of live television news coverage, that television news departments have been able to develop this response during crises. For natural disasters, besides the mourning of the dead and treatment of the injured, there are the basics of searching for food, water, batteries, places with electricity and so forth.
When television news often consists of bubbleheaded sweeps stories and election coverage resembling an episode of "American Idol," it's refreshing to know that when it counts the most, reporters remember what they learned in journalism school.
See you next week.
It often takes a disaster to remind us what television news is supposed to do.
Viewers discovered that again this week with coverage of Hurricane Sandy. The reports by New York television stations are just what they were by the Miami television stations after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 or the New Orleans stations after Katrina in 2005: A lifeline.
It is only during the last 35 years or so, during the era of live television news coverage, that television news departments have been able to develop this response during crises. For natural disasters, besides the mourning of the dead and treatment of the injured, there are the basics of searching for food, water, batteries, places with electricity and so forth.
When television news often consists of bubbleheaded sweeps stories and election coverage resembling an episode of "American Idol," it's refreshing to know that when it counts the most, reporters remember what they learned in journalism school.
See you next week.
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