Week of 8/26: Thanks, Jerry and the Look of Reza

By Sylvia Gurinsky

What could have happened to break the almost 60-year relationship between Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association?

Lewis is not the most politically correct of people. But unless the 86-year-old actor/comedian is suffering from illness, there seems to be no reason to toss him out completely without letting him take part in this year's telethon, which is much shorter than the 21-hour programs of years past.

Last year, the 21-hour telethon raised $61 million - in a severe recession. Lewis was a big reason for that, and for MDA's high profile.

One has to wonder if the organization can keep that profile - and its success - without him, and whether MDA prepared for a post-Lewis future.

One legacy of his success with both corporate and mom-and-pop donors was the news this week of a common source being found for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

One thing's for sure: The telethon will never again be as entertaining as it was in its glory television years of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. That's not MDA's fault. That's a function of the transfer of "show business" from genuine superstars - Lewis has had connections to the very best - to superficial people on rubberneck (reality) shows.

So here's a thanks to Jerry Lewis for everything he did for his "kids" and for MDA, and a fond look back at one of the telethon's most entertaining moments - in 1974, when the Jackson 5 performed:

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

**************************************************************************

Reza Badiyi, who died this week, directed more episodes of television programs than anyone else. But the two greatest TV memories he leaves involve the introductions to a trio of classics.

The first involved a secret agent and how he got to work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cscedJQ3PFU

"Get Smart," of course, was a spoof of the "James Bond" movies and various spy shows, so the entrance of Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) to Control headquarters was also a spoof.

In 1968, Badiyi gave a new look to Hawaii beyond ukeleles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepyGm9Me6w

Combining his images to Mort Stevens' music made the opening to "Hawaii Five-0" one of the most memorable in television history.

In 1970, Badiyi showed the new single woman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCL3B5LgUCo

Mary Tyler Moore's opening theme and images would change from year to year - but the iconic final image of Mary throwing her hat in the air would stay and become immortalized in numerous ways.

Here's to the Look of Reza Badiyi.

***************************************************************************

YesterTube will be on hiatus until after Labor Day. Enjoy the rest of the summer and Happy Viewing!

Week of August 19: Streisand On the Small Screen

By Sylvia Gurinsky

One of the few (very few) redeeming pieces of new programming in the current PBS pledge drive is "Barbra Streisand: One Night Only at the Village Vanguard," a cabaret-style concert she performed in Greenwich Village in 2009.

It's another great performance, and a reminder of the close relationship Streisand has had with television for the last 50 years.

It's hard to believe 1961 was that long ago, but that's when 19-year-old Streisand made her television debut on NBC's "The Jack Paar Show." Paar was likely very sorry to have missed that program, guest-hosted by Orson Bean ("Dr. Quinn") and featuring author Gore Vidal and comedienne Phyllis Diller as guests:

http://vodpod.com/watch/330954-barbra-streisands-first-tv-appearance-circa-1961

During the early 1960s, Streisand appeared on numerous variety shows. Memorably, this included "The Judy Garland Show" on CBS, where the legend (Garland) sang with the legend in the making (Streisand):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYpcFHtxm60

In 1965, while she was still performing on Broadway in "Funny Girl," she did her first special for CBS, called "My Name is Barbra." The special included the memorable "Poverty Medley," filmed in the middle of the night in the fashionable Bergdorf Goodman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JoNj6osYM8

The only thing that could have improved it was color. "Color Me Barbara," aired in 1966, featured Streisand at the Philadelphia Museum of Art:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udpu1jIxoXg&feature=related

In 1967, Streisand performed a wonderful live concert, "A Happening In Central Park." Here she is singing one of her standards, "He Touched Me.":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aIYqGZErxo&feature=related

In 1980, she appeared on the Grammy Awards, singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" with her Erasmus Hall High School choir mate, Neil Diamond:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj10EzNKA2M

She would again electrify audiences during her 1993-94 concert tour - my favorite of her live performances. Helped by fellow Oscar winner Marvin Hamlisch, who was the musical director, Streisand had an autobiographical perspective through music. It started with her entrance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPA0Pppen40

To celebrate the millenium, she also did a concert called "Timeless." Here, she sings the title song from "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," one of the Broadway musicals for which she did the movie version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNN0zYLRDWU

Just about everything's available on DVD. Enjoy!

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of August 12: The Magic of the Original "Bewitched"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Continuing the bird-brained saga of trying to make new television shows from classic ones is CBS, which should really know better after its under-performing non-copy of "Hawaii Five-0." Now on the target list: A new version of "Bewitched."

The original ran on ABC from 1964-72. Of course, it starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, the witch who just wanted to live a normal life. She married Darrin Stephens, a mortal advertising executive originally played by Dick York, and he inherited her secret - and her wacky family.

The success of the show inevitably triggered a movie. With Nicole Kidman, an Oscar-winning actress, as Samantha and other cast members, including Oscar-winner Shirley MacLaine, the movie should have been a hit - if it had stuck to the original premise of the series. Screenwriter Nora Ephron chose not to do that, however, and the movie flopped.

So one has to wonder why on earth CBS programming head Nina Tassler is turning to the producers of that failed effort for a new series.

But enough (please!) about any remakes. Let's focus on the original series.

Montgomery and York (who had to leave halfway through the fifth season because of serious back problems) were joined by a quality cast: Agnes Moorehead as Endora, Samantha's mother; Marion Lorne (through Season 4) as Aunt Clara; Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur; Alice Ghostley (after Season 4) as Esmerelda; Maurice Evans as Samantha's father (also named Maurice); Alice Pearce, then Sandra Gould with George Tobias as the neighbor Kravitzes and David White as Larry Tate, Darrin's boss. There were also occasional players, including Bernard Fox as Dr. Bombay. For most of the show's run, twins Erin and Diane Murphy played Tabitha, the Stephens' young daughter.

There were two secret weapons: The large writing staff, beginning with series creator Sol Saks, who took typical family and business situations and added a "bewitching" element to them, and the special effects team - particuarly after Season 3, the first season the show was broadcast in color.

Another secret weapon was the show's message of tolerance. In just one episode, Season 7's "Sisters at Heart," in which Tabitha puts black and white polka dots on herself and her African-American friend Lisa, is the issue tackled overtly. But it was an undercurrent throughout the series.

Here's one example: Season 3's "The Trial and Error of Aunt Clara," in which Samantha is trying to prevent Endora and other witches from putting her dear aunt out to pasture - an apt analogy for the treatment of many senior citizens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ByYBq1n3M

The entire series is available on DVD. Stick with that one. Avoid any pale imitations.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of August 4: Happy 100th Birthday, Lucy

By Sylvia Gurinsky

There isn't much more that can be said about Lucille Ball on her 100th birthday, which is tomorrow. So we'll let Ricky Ricardo do the talking - and the singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fn7PKzf5tk

Happy Birthday, Lucy! And Happy Viewing, Everyone!

Week of July 28: Jimmy Stewart and "The Tonight Show": Poetry In Motion

By Sylvia Gurinsky

NBC News anchor Brian Williams' very funny imitation of talk show host Regis Philbin earlier this week on "Late Show With David Letterman" alluded to something that happens frequently with guests, even very famous ones, on talk shows: They can be dull, and both questions and answers can be formulaic.

That didn't happen when actor James Stewart appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." When Stewart described what he did on his summer vacation, he often did so in verse.

Stewart became known for his poems, including the classic "The Top Step In the Hotel in Junin (Is Mean)," about a balky step at an Argentina hotel. Here's another one about his trip to Lake Barengo in Kenya. Get ready for a surprise if you haven't heard it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rQJutUBHTo

Stewart's travels also resulted in a poem about a destroyed movie camera - from the camera's perspective.

Many of Stewart's poems were published in a book, appropriately called "Jimmy Stewart and His Poems," in 1989. Some of them are available for viewing in DVDs of some of Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" episodes.

Here's another classic to wrap things up: Stewart's emotional tribute to his dog Beau:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNJjIwlHk8


See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of July 22: "All In the Family"'s Pilot Trio

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Last week's look at the original pilot of "That Girl," with Harold Gould and Penny Santon playing the parents of Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) - in roles played in the regular series by Lew Parker and Rosemary DeCamp - triggered another find - in fact, two of them.

Check out this unaired 1968 pilot of "Justice For All," featuring Tim McIntire ("Rich Man Poor Man," "Soap") and character actress Kelly Jean Peters as young newlyweds - along with her parents, Archie and Edith, played by Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton.

What? You say it sounds just like "All In the Family?" It is in every way - except for some changed words in "Those Were the Days," sung by O'Connor and Stapleton, O'Connor's haircut (thankfully) - and the casting of the young newlyweds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xwKhHoQ-_w

That pilot was taped for ABC, which said, "Not now." Series creator Norman Lear tried again in 1969 with Oakland Raider football player Chip Oliver and character actress Candice Azzara as the young couple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlboZuvBFNM&feature=related

The show was getting closer to full bloom, with familiar opening titles and the classic song. It was obvious that O'Connor and Stapleton were magic as Archie and Edith. But not to ABC, which said No again.

Then CBS said Yes to the gutsiest show in television history and re-titled it "All In the Family." And, of course, the third time was the charm, with "Smothers Brothers" comedy writer (and Carl's son) Rob Reiner cast as Mike and up-and-comer Sally Struthers as Gloria (not to mention "Good Times" co-creator Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf0sgaB3mkc&feature=related

The two rejected pilots are on the "All In the Family" first season DVD. Of course, the entire series is now available on DVD.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of July 15: Remembering Schwartz and Denoff

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Sherwood Schwartz and Sam Denoff were two people who captured the formula to make people laugh during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Schwartz was the better known of the pair because he created "Gilligan's Island," which perfectly corresponded to the sillier notions of '60s comedy, and "The Brady Bunch," which became a family favorite, then a cult favorite because of the changing fashions, the groovy lingo and the situations.

Schwartz began as a writer for the comedy series "I Married Joan," then wrote for Red Skelton's comedy shows. Then he came up with an idea for a boat captain and his mate out on a three-hour pleasure cruise with five tourists.

The result was television history. "Gilligan's Island" ran on CBS from 1964-67 and immortalized its cast and the characters they played - as well as Schwartz. This writer still believes that show inspired the ABC hit "Lost."

Schwartz came up with an idea for a show about a blended family even before the success of the 1968 movie "Yours, Mine and Ours," which was based on a true story. That movie is what prompted the green light for Schwartz to develop what became "The Brady Bunch."

The show ran on ABC from 1969-74 and was particularly popular among teenagers and young children. It evolved from blended family issues to campiness - which has helped it gain a cult following (including follow-up specials and two feature films) in subsequent years.

Sam Denoff was not as well known as Schwartz, but probably more prolific in his talent. He came out of the "Your Show of Shows" writing stable and wrote for programs such as "McHale's Navy" before he put his experience on "Your Show of Shows" to work as a writer for "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

In 1966, Denoff and Bill Persky created "That Girl," a landmark sitcom. Running on ABC until 1971, the show starred Marlo Thomas as aspiring actress Ann Marie. It was considered the springboard to more feminist shows such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Murphy Brown."

Here's something fun: A look at the unaired pilot of "That Girl." Ted Bessell, who of course would play Ann's boyfriend, journalist Donald Hollinger, throughout the series, was originally cast as her agent, named Donald Blue Sky (!) :

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

It wasn't the last time Harold Gould, who lost the role of Ann's dad to Lew Parker, would be in this situation: He played Howard Cunningham in the "Love, American Style" episode that led to the creation of "Happy Days." Rosemary DeCamp would play Ann's mother in the series.

All of Schwartz and Denoff's principal shows are available on DVD. Here's to their work.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!