By Sylvia Gurinsky
Well, we trust a generation of schoolchildren WON'T be thinking of the 16th president of the United States as a vampire hunter.
President Abraham Lincoln's true legacy, of course, is much different. Television has presented it numerous times, in documentary and dramatic form.
For documentaries, PBS' excellent "Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided" is top of the line. This multi-part series, from the network's "American Experience," spans Lincoln's entire life. It is available on DVD.
NBC made two docudramas about Lincoln. The first one, "Sandburg's Lincoln," based on Carl Sandburg's writing, was created in 1974, with Hal Holbrook in the role.
Holbrook, of course, is best known for his portrayal of another American legend, writer Mark Twain. He won an Emmy for his portrayal of Lincoln. Here's a clip:
Sandburg's Lincoln
Fourteen years later, the Peacock network came up with "Gore Vidal's Lincoln." Unlike the 1974 version, "Lincoln," based on Vidal's book, made somewhat less of a mark.
The reason may have been, surprisingly, the lead actor. Sam Waterston, known for great work in dramas ranging from the brief "I'll Fly Away" to the long-lasting "Law & Order," played Lincoln. He's played the president on the stage as well. But critics and the public were divided over a portrayal that deviated from long-time perceptions of Lincoln. There were also questions about accuracy.
The biggest problem may actually have been Ernest Kinoy's script. Kinoy won an Emmy for his writing on "Roots" and wrote such excellent dramas as 1981's "Skokie," about the battle over attempts by neo-Nazis to march in Skokie, Illinois. But Kinoy's adaptation of Vidal's work lacks zing.
Still, director Lamont Johnson won an Emmy for directing "Lincoln." Mary Tyler Moore was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln.
Here's a look at Waterston's portrayal:
Gore Vidal's Lincoln
Both are also available on DVD.
********************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Week of June 15: How "Dallas" Became An International Sensation
By Sylvia Gurinsky
The saga of the Ewing family resumed this week on cable's TNT.
But no one knew what to expect when "Dallas" made its debut on CBS on April 2, 1978. (History has it as a miniseries, though this writer remembers it as a mid-season replacement. Of course, I was only 9. :)
Ratings for the story that started with Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) marrying Pamela Barnes (Victoria Principal) were nothing to dance about - the first episodes finished in 44th place. But CBS was satisfied enough to allow the show to continue as a weekly series during the 1978-79 season.
Head writer David Jacobs and executive producer Leonard Katzman kept it as mostly a family drama, with stand-alone episodes, until about a third of the way through that season, when he turned the show into a soap opera, with the storylines that would send its ratings on a steady climb. It did well enough to be renewed for a third season.
The third season would turn "Dallas" into a hit, with the central focus shifting to J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman. Hagman, the son of Broadway legend Mary Martin, became famous playing astronaut Anthony Nelson during the long-running NBC comedy "I Dream of Jeannie."
Prime-time television had never seen a character like J.R. - lying, scheming, cheating, manipulative. And he was the star. Larry Hagman obviously has had a ball playing the character.
Then came the end of the March 21, 1980 episode "A House Divided":
Cliffhanger
There was a presidential campaign that year, but the most asked question became, "Who Shot J.R.?"
The actors' strike of 1980 put off the answer to that question until the Nov. 7 Season 4 premiere, when Kristin Shepard, Sue Ellen's (Linda Gray) sister (played by Mary Crosby, Bing's daughter) was revealed as the shooter. Kristin herself would die in the cliffhanger at the end of Season 4, in the Southfork Ranch pool.
Incidentally, the Nov. 7, 1980 episode became the most watched television program in history until the last episode of "M*A*S*H" passed it in February, 1983. To date, it is still the second most-watched episode of a scripted (non-sports) television program.
Season 3 kicked off the golden era of "Dallas." It would dominate ratings during the first half of the 1980s and provide reliable programming for CBS on Friday nights.
"Dallas" also had an ongoing intramural competition with ABC's "Dynasty," which went on the air in 1981 with a look at various types of lying, scheming and backstabbing among a Denver oil family.
"Dallas" would also become among the most successful American television series sold overseas - and symbolic of both U.S. abundance and greed. It showed up in references in series such as Britain's "Are You Being Served?"
Another cliffhanger would bring the golden era of "Dallas" to an end - the finale of Season 8 and the start of Season 9, which revealed that Pam had dreamed about Bobby's death, her marriage to Mark Grayson (John Beck) and other plot points. The reason for the twists was that Patrick Duffy had left the show for a year and come back. But fans were so angry at the twists that many stopped watching. The twist would be spoofed - splendidly so by the finale of the same network's "Newhart," which had that series as a dream by Dr. Bob Hartley of "The Bob Newhart Show."
After the Bobby-in-the-shower twist, "Dallas" would go through a slow decline in ratings, coupled with the success of a new Friday rival - the NBC hit "Miami Vice." But "Dallas" would actually outlast "Miami Vice," as well as "Dynasty," going off the air after 14 seasons with the May 3, 1991 finale.
Arguably, "Dallas" revolutionized prime-time drama - right down to the now very-annoying habit of practically every show, be it comedy, drama or procedural, ending its season with a cliffhanger. (The CBS police show "Blue Bloods," starring Tom Selleck, is a refreshing exception.)
Barbara Bel Geddes, who played family matriarch Miss Ellie, won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama in 1979, and Hagman was nominated twice.
Alas, Jacobs isn't part of the TNT continuation. But it's still good to see Hagman, Duffy and Gray back in these roles.
The entire series is available on DVD.
Here's a little more classic J.R.:
J.R.
***************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
The saga of the Ewing family resumed this week on cable's TNT.
But no one knew what to expect when "Dallas" made its debut on CBS on April 2, 1978. (History has it as a miniseries, though this writer remembers it as a mid-season replacement. Of course, I was only 9. :)
Ratings for the story that started with Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) marrying Pamela Barnes (Victoria Principal) were nothing to dance about - the first episodes finished in 44th place. But CBS was satisfied enough to allow the show to continue as a weekly series during the 1978-79 season.
Head writer David Jacobs and executive producer Leonard Katzman kept it as mostly a family drama, with stand-alone episodes, until about a third of the way through that season, when he turned the show into a soap opera, with the storylines that would send its ratings on a steady climb. It did well enough to be renewed for a third season.
The third season would turn "Dallas" into a hit, with the central focus shifting to J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman. Hagman, the son of Broadway legend Mary Martin, became famous playing astronaut Anthony Nelson during the long-running NBC comedy "I Dream of Jeannie."
Prime-time television had never seen a character like J.R. - lying, scheming, cheating, manipulative. And he was the star. Larry Hagman obviously has had a ball playing the character.
Then came the end of the March 21, 1980 episode "A House Divided":
Cliffhanger
There was a presidential campaign that year, but the most asked question became, "Who Shot J.R.?"
The actors' strike of 1980 put off the answer to that question until the Nov. 7 Season 4 premiere, when Kristin Shepard, Sue Ellen's (Linda Gray) sister (played by Mary Crosby, Bing's daughter) was revealed as the shooter. Kristin herself would die in the cliffhanger at the end of Season 4, in the Southfork Ranch pool.
Incidentally, the Nov. 7, 1980 episode became the most watched television program in history until the last episode of "M*A*S*H" passed it in February, 1983. To date, it is still the second most-watched episode of a scripted (non-sports) television program.
Season 3 kicked off the golden era of "Dallas." It would dominate ratings during the first half of the 1980s and provide reliable programming for CBS on Friday nights.
"Dallas" also had an ongoing intramural competition with ABC's "Dynasty," which went on the air in 1981 with a look at various types of lying, scheming and backstabbing among a Denver oil family.
"Dallas" would also become among the most successful American television series sold overseas - and symbolic of both U.S. abundance and greed. It showed up in references in series such as Britain's "Are You Being Served?"
Another cliffhanger would bring the golden era of "Dallas" to an end - the finale of Season 8 and the start of Season 9, which revealed that Pam had dreamed about Bobby's death, her marriage to Mark Grayson (John Beck) and other plot points. The reason for the twists was that Patrick Duffy had left the show for a year and come back. But fans were so angry at the twists that many stopped watching. The twist would be spoofed - splendidly so by the finale of the same network's "Newhart," which had that series as a dream by Dr. Bob Hartley of "The Bob Newhart Show."
After the Bobby-in-the-shower twist, "Dallas" would go through a slow decline in ratings, coupled with the success of a new Friday rival - the NBC hit "Miami Vice." But "Dallas" would actually outlast "Miami Vice," as well as "Dynasty," going off the air after 14 seasons with the May 3, 1991 finale.
Arguably, "Dallas" revolutionized prime-time drama - right down to the now very-annoying habit of practically every show, be it comedy, drama or procedural, ending its season with a cliffhanger. (The CBS police show "Blue Bloods," starring Tom Selleck, is a refreshing exception.)
Barbara Bel Geddes, who played family matriarch Miss Ellie, won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama in 1979, and Hagman was nominated twice.
Alas, Jacobs isn't part of the TNT continuation. But it's still good to see Hagman, Duffy and Gray back in these roles.
The entire series is available on DVD.
Here's a little more classic J.R.:
J.R.
***************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Week of June 8: Ray Bradbury and Richard Dawson
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Ray Bradbury and Richard Dawson. One influenced the public view, while the other simply had fun with the public.
Ray Bradbury, who died this week at 91, was one of this country's most prolific science fiction writers. He took that talent to television during the medium's infancy. He wrote for everything from "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" to his own anthology series (which aired on cable).
Here's a clip from a "Twilight Zone" episode, "I Sing the Body Electric," Bradbury wrote in 1962:
Twilight Zone
*********************************************************************
Richard Dawson came to prominence as Corporal Peter Newkirk on the CBS comedy series "Hogan's Heroes." During the early 1970s, he alternated guest starring spots on television series and game shows.
Then, in 1976, Goodson/Todman Productions tapped him as the host of a new game show in which families competed to come up with the most popular answers to questions asked in general polls. "Family Feud" was successful during the next decade, both on ABC Daytime and in syndication.
Subsequent editions have been produced. But Dawson's version was immortalized by two items: His "Survey Says" and his kissing of the female guests.
Here's a 1981 show, and watch Gretchen Johnson, in the blue print dress. Dawson did "ask her first": She later became his wife:
Family Feud
**********************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Ray Bradbury and Richard Dawson. One influenced the public view, while the other simply had fun with the public.
Ray Bradbury, who died this week at 91, was one of this country's most prolific science fiction writers. He took that talent to television during the medium's infancy. He wrote for everything from "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" to his own anthology series (which aired on cable).
Here's a clip from a "Twilight Zone" episode, "I Sing the Body Electric," Bradbury wrote in 1962:
Twilight Zone
*********************************************************************
Richard Dawson came to prominence as Corporal Peter Newkirk on the CBS comedy series "Hogan's Heroes." During the early 1970s, he alternated guest starring spots on television series and game shows.
Then, in 1976, Goodson/Todman Productions tapped him as the host of a new game show in which families competed to come up with the most popular answers to questions asked in general polls. "Family Feud" was successful during the next decade, both on ABC Daytime and in syndication.
Subsequent editions have been produced. But Dawson's version was immortalized by two items: His "Survey Says" and his kissing of the female guests.
Here's a 1981 show, and watch Gretchen Johnson, in the blue print dress. Dawson did "ask her first": She later became his wife:
Family Feud
**********************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Week of June 1: I Want My MeTV
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Not since the classic Nick at Nite of the 1990s has retro television been so good.
A few years ago, Tribune-owned Antenna TV went on the air with classic television shows. Now, MeTV - owned by Weigel Broadcasting and distributed by MGM - is spreading throughout the country as well.
Antenna TV has a nice combination of shows, including "The Burns and Allen Show," "Adam-12," "All in the Family," "WKRP in Cincinnati" and "NewsRadio," to name a few.
MeTV, which stands for "Memorable Entertainment Television," is even better. Its selections include "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Bonanza," "Hawaii Five-O" (the real, original one), "Perry Mason," "The Rockford Files," "I Love Lucy" and more.
It's addictive. Since it appeared in my community a few weeks ago, many people have started watching.
Here's the website:
MeTV
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Not since the classic Nick at Nite of the 1990s has retro television been so good.
A few years ago, Tribune-owned Antenna TV went on the air with classic television shows. Now, MeTV - owned by Weigel Broadcasting and distributed by MGM - is spreading throughout the country as well.
Antenna TV has a nice combination of shows, including "The Burns and Allen Show," "Adam-12," "All in the Family," "WKRP in Cincinnati" and "NewsRadio," to name a few.
MeTV, which stands for "Memorable Entertainment Television," is even better. Its selections include "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Bonanza," "Hawaii Five-O" (the real, original one), "Perry Mason," "The Rockford Files," "I Love Lucy" and more.
It's addictive. Since it appeared in my community a few weeks ago, many people have started watching.
Here's the website:
MeTV
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Week of May 18: Memorable Carson Moments
By Sylvia Gurinsky
It doesn't seem possible that 20 years ago next Tuesday (May 22, 1992), Johnny Carson bid America "a very heartfelt good night" and walked off our television screens.
The number of appearances he made after that - a Bob Hope birthday celebration and Kennedy Center honor in 1993, a couple of appearances on "Late Show With David Letterman" - before his death in 2005 can be counted on one hand. We still miss him.
This week, PBS featured Carson in its "American Masters" series. Viewers were reminded yet again what made him so enjoyable to watch night after night for 30 years, and why he remains an untouchable in entertainment today.
It's a good time to revisit some of Johnny's most memorable moments. We'll leave out his emotional two final shows - the May 21, 1992 show that featured Bette Midler and Robin Williams, and the May 22 finale.
Here are some more:
-Ed Ames' tomahawk chop, April 29, 1965: Known for his lovely baritone singing voice, Ames also starred on the western series "Daniel Boone" as Mingo, a Native American. (In real life, Ames is a member of a different tribe; he's Jewish.) Ames was attempting to teach Carson how to throw a tomahawk properly, and well......Let's just say the whole scene was a gem - particularly Johnny's response:
Tomahawk
-Copper Clapper Caper, February 19, 1968: Jack Webb was as serious as a heart attack on the long-running "Dragnet." Here, he had a chance to make fun of it. Both Webb's and Carson's timing were impeccable:
Copper Clappers
-Tiny Tim's Wedding, December 17, 1969: Tiny Tim was an entertainment curio of the late 1960s, playing his ukelele and singing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" on a number of talk and variety shows, including "The Tonight Show." After he mentioned to Carson on one visit that he was engaged, the offer was made to host his wedding to Miss Vicki, as she was known:
Ceremony
--The King of Late Night and the Chairman of the Board, November 12, 1976: Johnny Carson had played emcee for the Rat Pack for concerts during the 1960s (One of those concerts has recently been shown as part of PBS' pledge drives.). But he was genuinely nervous having Frank Sinatra on "The Tonight Show," in what turned out to be Sinatra's only visit. Mutual friend Don Rickles came on and smoothed things over:
Johnny, Frank and Don
-Cigarette Case Confrontation with Don Rickles, December 13, 1976: Don Rickles was a genuine friend to Johnny Carson, and what Bob Hope once called his "black belt in comedy" made for a lot of very funny moments on the show. During the 1970s, Rickles was a frequent guest host on "The Tonight Show." He broke Carson's cigarette case, which had made the "Tonight Show" move from New York to Los Angeles, and Johnny decided to confront Rickles on the set of his show, "CPO Sharkey":
Johnny & Don
-Johnny and the Marmoset, 1979: Starting in 1972, Joan Embery of the San Diego Zoo frequently brought animals onto "The Tonight Show." Even more impressive than the animals was Carson's reaction. Here's a classic with a marmoset (It's the second video on the bottom line.):
Marmoset
-Jimmy Stewart, July 28, 1981: The legendary actor was one of Carson's favorite guests. Here, he reads his classic tribute to his dog, Beau:
Beau
-Ronald Reagan Skit, 1982: Abbott & Costello came to the White House - sort of - as the Mighty Carson Art Players featured the star as Ronald Reagan, figuring out his schedule:
Reagan & Baker
-Bill Clinton, July 28, 1988: Clinton was best known as the governor of Arkansas who had just bungled the introduction of fellow governor - and Democratic presidential nominee - Michael Dukakis at the party's convention with an extremely long speech. In having Clinton on the show, Carson poked fun by giving a long introduction, and then put out an hourglass after asking, "How are you?" In return, Clinton played "Summertime" on the saxophone.
The appearance is generally credited with giving Clinton a positive re-launch on the national stage. Alas, the clip is not available online, but can be seen in the highlights of The Tonight Show released on DVD.
-Michael Landon, May 9, 1991: Michael Landon, longtime star of three television series, announced in April, 1991 that he had liver and pancreatic cancer. Landon looked good when he appeared on "The Tonight Show" the following month, but it turned out to be his last appearance on the show; he died in July, 1991.
-Bonus: Betty White: Carson used to joke that television's first lady would appear in any skit in which he was half-dressed. The best Johnny Carson/Betty White sketch was probably the 1981 "Tarzan" skit, but this 1979 Adam & Eve palimony skit is pretty good, too:
Adam & Eve
And finally, Southland viewers:
Art Fern
YesterTube will go on a hiatus for the Memorial Day weekend. See you June 1st. Until then, Happy Viewing!
It doesn't seem possible that 20 years ago next Tuesday (May 22, 1992), Johnny Carson bid America "a very heartfelt good night" and walked off our television screens.
The number of appearances he made after that - a Bob Hope birthday celebration and Kennedy Center honor in 1993, a couple of appearances on "Late Show With David Letterman" - before his death in 2005 can be counted on one hand. We still miss him.
This week, PBS featured Carson in its "American Masters" series. Viewers were reminded yet again what made him so enjoyable to watch night after night for 30 years, and why he remains an untouchable in entertainment today.
It's a good time to revisit some of Johnny's most memorable moments. We'll leave out his emotional two final shows - the May 21, 1992 show that featured Bette Midler and Robin Williams, and the May 22 finale.
Here are some more:
-Ed Ames' tomahawk chop, April 29, 1965: Known for his lovely baritone singing voice, Ames also starred on the western series "Daniel Boone" as Mingo, a Native American. (In real life, Ames is a member of a different tribe; he's Jewish.) Ames was attempting to teach Carson how to throw a tomahawk properly, and well......Let's just say the whole scene was a gem - particularly Johnny's response:
Tomahawk
-Copper Clapper Caper, February 19, 1968: Jack Webb was as serious as a heart attack on the long-running "Dragnet." Here, he had a chance to make fun of it. Both Webb's and Carson's timing were impeccable:
Copper Clappers
-Tiny Tim's Wedding, December 17, 1969: Tiny Tim was an entertainment curio of the late 1960s, playing his ukelele and singing "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" on a number of talk and variety shows, including "The Tonight Show." After he mentioned to Carson on one visit that he was engaged, the offer was made to host his wedding to Miss Vicki, as she was known:
Ceremony
--The King of Late Night and the Chairman of the Board, November 12, 1976: Johnny Carson had played emcee for the Rat Pack for concerts during the 1960s (One of those concerts has recently been shown as part of PBS' pledge drives.). But he was genuinely nervous having Frank Sinatra on "The Tonight Show," in what turned out to be Sinatra's only visit. Mutual friend Don Rickles came on and smoothed things over:
Johnny, Frank and Don
-Cigarette Case Confrontation with Don Rickles, December 13, 1976: Don Rickles was a genuine friend to Johnny Carson, and what Bob Hope once called his "black belt in comedy" made for a lot of very funny moments on the show. During the 1970s, Rickles was a frequent guest host on "The Tonight Show." He broke Carson's cigarette case, which had made the "Tonight Show" move from New York to Los Angeles, and Johnny decided to confront Rickles on the set of his show, "CPO Sharkey":
Johnny & Don
-Johnny and the Marmoset, 1979: Starting in 1972, Joan Embery of the San Diego Zoo frequently brought animals onto "The Tonight Show." Even more impressive than the animals was Carson's reaction. Here's a classic with a marmoset (It's the second video on the bottom line.):
Marmoset
-Jimmy Stewart, July 28, 1981: The legendary actor was one of Carson's favorite guests. Here, he reads his classic tribute to his dog, Beau:
Beau
-Ronald Reagan Skit, 1982: Abbott & Costello came to the White House - sort of - as the Mighty Carson Art Players featured the star as Ronald Reagan, figuring out his schedule:
Reagan & Baker
-Bill Clinton, July 28, 1988: Clinton was best known as the governor of Arkansas who had just bungled the introduction of fellow governor - and Democratic presidential nominee - Michael Dukakis at the party's convention with an extremely long speech. In having Clinton on the show, Carson poked fun by giving a long introduction, and then put out an hourglass after asking, "How are you?" In return, Clinton played "Summertime" on the saxophone.
The appearance is generally credited with giving Clinton a positive re-launch on the national stage. Alas, the clip is not available online, but can be seen in the highlights of The Tonight Show released on DVD.
-Michael Landon, May 9, 1991: Michael Landon, longtime star of three television series, announced in April, 1991 that he had liver and pancreatic cancer. Landon looked good when he appeared on "The Tonight Show" the following month, but it turned out to be his last appearance on the show; he died in July, 1991.
-Bonus: Betty White: Carson used to joke that television's first lady would appear in any skit in which he was half-dressed. The best Johnny Carson/Betty White sketch was probably the 1981 "Tarzan" skit, but this 1979 Adam & Eve palimony skit is pretty good, too:
Adam & Eve
And finally, Southland viewers:
Art Fern
YesterTube will go on a hiatus for the Memorial Day weekend. See you June 1st. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Week Of 5/11: Spooky "Dark Shadows"; Goodbye Goober
By Sylvia Gurinsky
The story of the television version of "Dark Shadows," which debuts this weekend as a feature film starring show fan (and "21 Jump Street" vet) Johnny Depp started with a basic script. All the ghoulish stuff came later.
When it did come, it made the daytime soap opera, which ran on ABC from 1966-71, extremely popular with teenagers - continuing the teen romance with vampires and warewolves that had started in the movies and serving as a bridge to current popular films, such as the "Twilight" series.
Jonathan Frid, who would become extremely popular as the vampire Barnabas, wasn't even in the first episode. The career of Frid, who died last month, never really extended far beyond "Dark Shadows." But plenty of other talent passed through Collinsport: Conrad Bain, who would later co-star in "Maude" and "Diff'rent Strokes," had a bit part in the first episode as a bellhop. David Selby, later part of the cast of "Falcon Crest," also became a heartthrob on "Dark Shadows."
Others who starred on the show included Louis Edmonds, later Langley Wallingford on "All My Children," and Kate Jackson, soon to star in "The Rookies," "Charlie's Angels" and "Scarecrow & Mrs. King."
Here's Barnabas being freed:
Barnabas is freed
MPI, which has rights to the series, released a limited edition DVD, which quickly sold out. The company will again release the series July 10.
**********************************************************************
As a so-long to George Lindsey, here's Goober Pyle's take-off on Cary Grant, which probably didn't give Grant any sleepless nights:
Judy Judy Judy
But Lindsey sure had plenty of fun on "The Andy Griffith Show" and later on "Hee Haw":
Mountain Dew
So long, Goober.
**********************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
The story of the television version of "Dark Shadows," which debuts this weekend as a feature film starring show fan (and "21 Jump Street" vet) Johnny Depp started with a basic script. All the ghoulish stuff came later.
When it did come, it made the daytime soap opera, which ran on ABC from 1966-71, extremely popular with teenagers - continuing the teen romance with vampires and warewolves that had started in the movies and serving as a bridge to current popular films, such as the "Twilight" series.
Jonathan Frid, who would become extremely popular as the vampire Barnabas, wasn't even in the first episode. The career of Frid, who died last month, never really extended far beyond "Dark Shadows." But plenty of other talent passed through Collinsport: Conrad Bain, who would later co-star in "Maude" and "Diff'rent Strokes," had a bit part in the first episode as a bellhop. David Selby, later part of the cast of "Falcon Crest," also became a heartthrob on "Dark Shadows."
Others who starred on the show included Louis Edmonds, later Langley Wallingford on "All My Children," and Kate Jackson, soon to star in "The Rookies," "Charlie's Angels" and "Scarecrow & Mrs. King."
Here's Barnabas being freed:
Barnabas is freed
MPI, which has rights to the series, released a limited edition DVD, which quickly sold out. The company will again release the series July 10.
**********************************************************************
As a so-long to George Lindsey, here's Goober Pyle's take-off on Cary Grant, which probably didn't give Grant any sleepless nights:
Judy Judy Judy
But Lindsey sure had plenty of fun on "The Andy Griffith Show" and later on "Hee Haw":
Mountain Dew
So long, Goober.
**********************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Week of 5/4: You're Needed, Mr. Steed and Mrs. Peel - Television's "Avengers"
By Sylvia Gurinsky
When people of a certain fan base think of "The Avengers," it's not the Marvel Comics movie out today that comes to mind. It's the classic 1960s television series.
Patrick Macnee played John Steed througout the series, which lasted from 1961-69 and was produced by a contractor of British television network ITV (the same network responsible for "Downton Abbey" and "Foyle's War"). Steed evolved from assistant to trenchcoat-wearing spy to the old-fashioned suit and bowler hat that came to symbolize his character.
Steed was teamed with a number of co-stars - Ian Henry as Dr. David Keel in the first season and a number of actresses. But the show was at its most popular from 1965-68, when Diana Rigg played Emma Peel. Aside from the team's chemistry, "The Avengers" also benefitted from the evolution of color television and a pickup by ABC. It was one of the first British imports to find success on American television.
Here's a look at the style and substance of Steed and Peel:
Avengers
"NCIS'" Ziva David would be proud of how Emma Peel puts away that thug!
Macnee just turned 90. Rigg has continued to be a constant television presence, which has included her time as the host of PBS' "Mystery."
It was campy, but fun, and it's available on DVD. (Ignore the 1998 Uma Thurman/Ralph Fiennes movie - please!)
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
When people of a certain fan base think of "The Avengers," it's not the Marvel Comics movie out today that comes to mind. It's the classic 1960s television series.
Patrick Macnee played John Steed througout the series, which lasted from 1961-69 and was produced by a contractor of British television network ITV (the same network responsible for "Downton Abbey" and "Foyle's War"). Steed evolved from assistant to trenchcoat-wearing spy to the old-fashioned suit and bowler hat that came to symbolize his character.
Steed was teamed with a number of co-stars - Ian Henry as Dr. David Keel in the first season and a number of actresses. But the show was at its most popular from 1965-68, when Diana Rigg played Emma Peel. Aside from the team's chemistry, "The Avengers" also benefitted from the evolution of color television and a pickup by ABC. It was one of the first British imports to find success on American television.
Here's a look at the style and substance of Steed and Peel:
Avengers
"NCIS'" Ziva David would be proud of how Emma Peel puts away that thug!
Macnee just turned 90. Rigg has continued to be a constant television presence, which has included her time as the host of PBS' "Mystery."
It was campy, but fun, and it's available on DVD. (Ignore the 1998 Uma Thurman/Ralph Fiennes movie - please!)
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
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