Today is Michael Jackson's 50th birthday. Oh, it should have been so different......He has turned into a living, walking tragedy of what happens when you don't get to be a child, or get to live a normal life.
What makes it more tragic is the unquestionable singing and dancing talent he has. Here's a look back at a 1971 Jackson 5 television special, "Goin' Back To Indiana." That's Bill Cosby (resembling Groucho Marx) at the beginning, with Tom Smothers sneaking in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYgf_Cl59o
See you next week. Don't know about a happy birthday for Michael, but happy viewing for lovers of classic television.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Week of Aug. 22: Remembering a Classic McDonald's Olympic Ad From 1988
I've been looking for a classic McDonald's ad from 1988 online all week, but haven't found it.
The ad, shown before and during the Seoul Olympics, showed "Future Olympic Hopefuls" - babies presented for weighlifting (a boy lifting a box), Greco-Roman Wrestling (a boy wrestling his teddy bear), equestrian events (a little girl riding one of the rides at a McDonald's) and discus (a little boy sitting in his high chair and throwing his plate on the floor).
If anyone knows an Internet location for this precious ad, please let me know. (Sadly, it isn't on YouTube, at least not yet.)
See you next week. Until then, happy viewing!
The ad, shown before and during the Seoul Olympics, showed "Future Olympic Hopefuls" - babies presented for weighlifting (a boy lifting a box), Greco-Roman Wrestling (a boy wrestling his teddy bear), equestrian events (a little girl riding one of the rides at a McDonald's) and discus (a little boy sitting in his high chair and throwing his plate on the floor).
If anyone knows an Internet location for this precious ad, please let me know. (Sadly, it isn't on YouTube, at least not yet.)
See you next week. Until then, happy viewing!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Week of Aug. 15: Hawaii Five-O Times 2?
No kidding: CBS is thinking of doing a new version of the classic series "Hawaii Five-O":
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id0839a35f93f4784baf0ead3bc3ea388
In television history, roughly 60 years plus of programming, there has been only one television series that has been fully successful with successors: Star Trek. That's probably because the original series creator, Gene Roddenberry, was also behind the creation of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Sadly, "Hawaii Five-O"'s creator, Leonard Freeman, died in 1974, halfway through the show's run.
The idea for the new show would seem to follow conventional wisdom - too conventional, I think. Freeman's series broke taboos in many ways, including location filming, diversity of the cast and interracial relationships. I believe it was also among the first dramas, if not the first, to use the word "rape" in a plotline. The DVDs have been selling extremely well, which may be one reason for the interest in a new version of the show.
If they're going to make a "Five-O" for the 21st century, I have a suggestion: Instead of Chris McGarrett, the son (which brings back bad memories for Five-O fans who know the "V For Vashon" episodes), how about Christine McGarrett, the daughter? Steve McGarrett had a reputation as a chauvinist; what better way to put a modern twist on the series than to make the Five-O head a woman?
****
New DVDs this week include Season 1 of "Dave's World," a show loosely based on the life of syndicated columnist Dave Barry that starred the very funny and underrated Harry Anderson. "Dave's World" was funny until real life intervened, and Barry divorced his first wife, Beth, who was portrayed in the series by DeLane Matthews.
Speaking of Harry Anderson, there has to be a way to get the rest of "Night Court" after the first season available, either on DVD or online. I believe Sony has the rights to the series, and only the first 13 episodes, with Karen Austin and Paula Kelly, were ever released. None of the episodes with Markie Post et. al, when the show truly became a hit. The show was always funny, though.
Also new on DVD: Season 4 of "That Girl."
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id0839a35f93f4784baf0ead3bc3ea388
In television history, roughly 60 years plus of programming, there has been only one television series that has been fully successful with successors: Star Trek. That's probably because the original series creator, Gene Roddenberry, was also behind the creation of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Sadly, "Hawaii Five-O"'s creator, Leonard Freeman, died in 1974, halfway through the show's run.
The idea for the new show would seem to follow conventional wisdom - too conventional, I think. Freeman's series broke taboos in many ways, including location filming, diversity of the cast and interracial relationships. I believe it was also among the first dramas, if not the first, to use the word "rape" in a plotline. The DVDs have been selling extremely well, which may be one reason for the interest in a new version of the show.
If they're going to make a "Five-O" for the 21st century, I have a suggestion: Instead of Chris McGarrett, the son (which brings back bad memories for Five-O fans who know the "V For Vashon" episodes), how about Christine McGarrett, the daughter? Steve McGarrett had a reputation as a chauvinist; what better way to put a modern twist on the series than to make the Five-O head a woman?
****
New DVDs this week include Season 1 of "Dave's World," a show loosely based on the life of syndicated columnist Dave Barry that starred the very funny and underrated Harry Anderson. "Dave's World" was funny until real life intervened, and Barry divorced his first wife, Beth, who was portrayed in the series by DeLane Matthews.
Speaking of Harry Anderson, there has to be a way to get the rest of "Night Court" after the first season available, either on DVD or online. I believe Sony has the rights to the series, and only the first 13 episodes, with Karen Austin and Paula Kelly, were ever released. None of the episodes with Markie Post et. al, when the show truly became a hit. The show was always funny, though.
Also new on DVD: Season 4 of "That Girl."
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Greetings
Hello and welcome to Rabbit Ears, a new blog about old television.
At this blog, I'll talk about classic TV shows and include what's being released on DVD, take a look at some shows either on DVD or online, and publish various news items and tidbits that focus on the shows themselves.
Classic television can be as old as the 1940s and as recent as the end of "The West Wing" in 2006. The blog will talk mostly about scripted shows (generally produced by ABC, NBC and CBS), and there could be some mention of classic news/public affairs and sports programs. There will be no so-called "reality" shows (or what I refer to as "lab rat" television) on this blog.
Feel free to comment, but keep it clean.
Now....on with the shows!
****
Get Smart Season 1 on DVD
This week, would you believe....Season 1 of the comedy spy series "Get Smart" has been released, at very good prices. The show poked fun at James Bond and company during the mid-1960s and may have set cellphone creators in motion with the phone in Maxwell Smart's shoe. Smart, of course, was Control Agent 86, played so memorably by Don Adams. He teamed up with Agent 99, played by Barbara Feldon. Their harassed (mainly by Max) chief was played by Edward Platt. Sorry about that, Chief.
Who can forget the visual gags, including Agent 13's many different disguises, the Cone of Silence (which I always think of when the expression is used in government) and, of course, the memorable opening and closing of the series, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.
Here's a link to a website with show details:
http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/
By the way....you might have gone into stores and already seen a "Get Smart" DVD before this week; that's not from the original series. It's from a 1990s re-do that starred Adams and Feldon.
Sorry about that, Chief.
*******
Catch the Classics at Hulu.com
Hulu.com, a site created by NBC/Universal, has tons and tons of classic television series produced by a number of companies available for viewing online:
http://www.hulu.com/browse/alphabetical/tv
What a feast.
See you next week. Until then, happy viewing!
At this blog, I'll talk about classic TV shows and include what's being released on DVD, take a look at some shows either on DVD or online, and publish various news items and tidbits that focus on the shows themselves.
Classic television can be as old as the 1940s and as recent as the end of "The West Wing" in 2006. The blog will talk mostly about scripted shows (generally produced by ABC, NBC and CBS), and there could be some mention of classic news/public affairs and sports programs. There will be no so-called "reality" shows (or what I refer to as "lab rat" television) on this blog.
Feel free to comment, but keep it clean.
Now....on with the shows!
****
Get Smart Season 1 on DVD
This week, would you believe....Season 1 of the comedy spy series "Get Smart" has been released, at very good prices. The show poked fun at James Bond and company during the mid-1960s and may have set cellphone creators in motion with the phone in Maxwell Smart's shoe. Smart, of course, was Control Agent 86, played so memorably by Don Adams. He teamed up with Agent 99, played by Barbara Feldon. Their harassed (mainly by Max) chief was played by Edward Platt. Sorry about that, Chief.
Who can forget the visual gags, including Agent 13's many different disguises, the Cone of Silence (which I always think of when the expression is used in government) and, of course, the memorable opening and closing of the series, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.
Here's a link to a website with show details:
http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/
By the way....you might have gone into stores and already seen a "Get Smart" DVD before this week; that's not from the original series. It's from a 1990s re-do that starred Adams and Feldon.
Sorry about that, Chief.
*******
Catch the Classics at Hulu.com
Hulu.com, a site created by NBC/Universal, has tons and tons of classic television series produced by a number of companies available for viewing online:
http://www.hulu.com/browse/alphabetical/tv
What a feast.
See you next week. Until then, happy viewing!
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