Night of the Playground

Began the morning with breakfast and Little Bear. Little Bear is on his way "To Grandmother's House" with gifts, but he and his friends eat the gifts before they can get to her. Little Bear loves playing with "Grandfather Bear," even if he can't roll down a hill or do some of the more energetic things he does. Grandmother tells him the story of "Mother Bear's Robin." His mother took care of a baby robin when she was a young girl, finally letting him go when spring came.

Did two more cartoons involving the start of spring, which begins on Saturday. In Care Bears Family, Grams Bear tells Hugs and Tugs the story of "Caring for Spring." Jack (Tugs) and Jill (Hugs) must rescue Mother Nature (Grams) from the Wicked Witch of Winter (Shreeky) and her henchman Simple Simon (Beastly). They're given a magic ring, but use the wishes to help Jack Be Nimble (Champ) and Wee Willy Winkie (Bright Heart Raccoon). They learn about the importance of working together when their new friends help them after they're caught by the Witch, too.

Twilight Sparkle, on the other hand, must bring the spring without magic in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Each pony has a job to do in the "Winter Wrap Up," whether it's clearing snow clouds or breaking up icy ponds or awakening animals from their hibernation. Twilight struggles to find a group she can fit into, until she realizes how unorganized the others are. She then discovers where her true talents lay...making lists and making sure the others stick to them and to their schedule.

It was late when I called Uber. Thankfully, it only took me 8 minutes to get a ride going to the school. I had a much harder time getting a ride home. It took me 15 minutes! I was slightly late to work, but nothing really bad. 

Thankfully, we had slightly fewer kids today, only 22, 7 at my table. They cleaned up pretty well and were a little rowdy in the bathrooms, nothing really horrible. At least we were able to get them out to the playground this time! It was cloudy and chilly, probably in the upper 40's, but not windy or frigid. The kids had a marvelous time chasing bubbles and each other. I have no idea why half of them ditched their coats when they ran outside - it wasn't THAT warm! And I had to argue three of them back into their shoes. (You do not want to walk around in your sock feet on mulch.) They were so funny running after those bubbles, I spent most of the time doubled over laughing. We listened to "The Gummy Bear Song" and songs from Trolls, Bluey, Tangled, Moana, and Moana 2. 

Before and after we were outside, we let the kids color on papers taped to the tables. When we got back in, they used those dot markers and did stencils, too. We'd just had snack time and were trying to get the remaining four younger kids to settle down when they let me go. I saw the older kids in the playground on my way out to Uber. I even had the time to talk to one upset girl about how she was mad at her older sister. I know about being angry with sisters! Sometimes my sisters drive me crazy, too.

Put on Somebody Loves Me when I got home. I go further into this biography of legendary jazz singer Blossom Seeley and her long-time husband Benny Fields at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Somebody Loves Me

Switched to Match Game Syndicated next. This finished out the week with Robert Pine, Fannie Flagg, and Dolly Martin. They spent most of the week dealing with tiebreaker after tiebreaker when the contestants just couldn't seem to win anything. Fannie came up on the Star Wheel three times...and only got the answer right once.

Finished the night with The Wild Wild West. "The Night the Dragon Screamed" gets into stereotypical territory when Artemis Gordon and Jim West are tracking down opium smugglers who also run a thriving business bringing in Chinese immigrants. While Artemis poses as a Chinese worker for the head of the ring, Jim has to deal with British military man Colonel Allenby-Smythe (Ben Wright), who wants to capture a princess and take over China. 

Keeping Cool With Kids

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Plus. "SPOTS the Beagle-Bot" is a robotic dog Professor Ludvig Von Drake invented as a companion to Pluto. Pluto and the others try to teach SPOTS how to do all the things real dogs do, but he's more interested in the Professor than in learning new tricks. 

Spent the rest of the morning finishing up the wrapping. This time, I did get everything done, including Jessa's and all of Lauren's. That ends my gift shopping. Anyone else who turns up unexpectedly will get cookies or a gift card. I'll get the gift cards tomorrow or Wednesday. 

Watched My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever on Tubi as I worked. Hoping to lighten their workload, the Mane Six do what they call a "Hearth's Warming Helper" (or a Secret Santa to us humans) and choose one pony to give a gift. Spike desperately changes recipients with Fluttershy in order to impress Rarity, then can't figure out what to give her. Fluttershy falls for a cheap toy being sold by resident con-ponies Flim and Flam as the "must have gift for Hearth's Warming." Applejack helps her get back at them, but they spend all their money doing so. Discord pesters Rainbow Dash into catching a seemingly cute little critter for Fluttershy, not realizing it isn't so cute at night. Pinkie Pie is sent north to get her gift from a trio of flying reindeer who claim she'll understand what it is later. Twilight desperately tries to make Pinkie a certain magical pudding, but her little niece Flurry Heart adds a few too many ingredients, and it floods everywhere. In the end, after they figure out how to fix the pudding and Fluttershy tames the critter, they realize that the real "Best Gift Ever" is their friendship, not something that came from a store.

Had a quick lunch while watching The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas, which is also on Tubi. Most bears hibernate through the cold months, December included. Ted E. Bear, however, is a curious little fellow, and he's most interested in Christmas. He's heard stories about it and wants to see all the colors and lights, but can't seem to stay awake long enough to see it. His girlfriend leaves him over it; he loses his job when he talks about it to the press. He finally stumbles to the big city, where he learns that Christmas isn't just a time of year. It's a feeling...and one that's best spent with someone you love.

Called Uber after I finished eating. It was way too cold to even consider the bike today. It barely got into the 30's! To my shock, the driver arrived in less than a minute. I was at the school in less than five.

Things did not begin well today. The Collingswood elementary schools are on half-days this week, thanks to parent-teacher conferences. The kids were all rowdy and full of energy, and not being able to take them outside due to the cold didn't help matters. Even the big kids stayed in today. They were especially crazy in the bathrooms, bouncing off the walls, running around in the bathrooms, and refusing to listen to anyone, including me. I tried to read to them after lunch, but they would sit down. The head manager kept having to move them further and further back into the music offices/storage area. 

They weren't all that happy when the head manager told them they had to stay at their assigned tables and play with what was there, either. They're used to being able to go to whatever table interests them. That said, I did have some nice conversations with some of the children at my table, including a little girl dressed as Alice In Wonderland who looked like something out of Tenniel. The kids at my table played with magnetic tiles. I made geometric shapes and a "skirt" with the young lady until she was allowed to join the coloring table. I then chatted with the remaining boys until enough kids went home to move them and the tiles to the front of the cafeteria. By 4:30, it was down to three younger kids and eight older ones, and it had calmed down enough for me to go home.

Instead of calling Uber right away, I walked the brief five minutes a couple of blocks down to Speedy Mart on Collings Avenue. Picked up four bagels for lunch this week and a Propel water for later. Once again, the Uber driver arrived quickly - six minutes at the height of rush hour - and other than some traffic on Collings, got me home even faster.

I took the recycling outside, then put the laundry in the washer and watched The Price Is Right. The wheel was hot this evening! A handsome young Air Force pilot and a pretty lady both hit $1,000, and he got $10,000. He did make the Showcases, but way underbid on a donut-themed Showcase with a trio of trips to Solvang, California, Mexico, and Germany. The other lady ended up winning.

Let it continue into Match Game '73 during dinner. They jumped way, way back tonight, likely to honor Bob Barker, whose birthday would have been this week. Barker made his first appearance on the show during its second week, along with Arlene Francis, Della Reece, Michael Lerned, and Richard Thomas. Thomas and Lerned would be the only actors from The Waltons to appear on any version of Match Game. Learned seemed to have a great time, but Thomas looked like a deer caught in the headlights and didn't really seem to get the humor. 

Worked on The WENN Nutcracker Suite next after I put the laundry in the dryer. Mr. Eldridge continues to tell the story of how Queen Mouserinks took her revenge on King Alexander and Queen Lana of Toyland when they trapped all of her sons but one, the equally greedy and mean Prince Rollie. When their daughter Princess Pirlipat refused to marry Prince Rollie, his mother cursed her into an ugly monster who could only be cured by the meat of a certain very hard nut. Scott gallantly cracked the nut for her, restoring her beauty. The furious Mouse Queen bit him and cursed him into the form of a Nutcracker...but not only did he crush her falling over onto her, Prince Rollie stole his Christmas Star Sword, a family heirloom that could help restore him. Pirlipat refused to marry a Nutcracker and banished him and Mr. Eldridge forever.

Finished the night after I brought the laundry upstairs with game shows featuring host Bob Goen. Goen came in late to game shows, having gotten his start as a California-area correspondent for ESPN in the early 80's. He started out on game shows with Perfect Match, a Newlywed Game clone, in 1986. Basically the same deal, only the contestants get to bet on what their spouse will actually say, and there's more fill-in-the-blank games. Though the spicier stories could be funny, it mostly came off like the cheap syndicated imitation it was. It was gone in eight months.

In fact, Goen is another host who never seemed to catch a break. He always ended up hosting flops like Blackout or summer replacement shows like The Hollywood Game. Blackout from 1988 was the more creative of the two. In fact, I have fond memories of watching this one. Two contestants joined two celebrities to solve pun-filled puzzles. One would record the description of a word. The other would push a plunger and "black out" parts of the recording, making it harder to figure out what was being said. I enjoyed it as a kid and was disappointed when it only lasted four months.

The Home Shopping Game from 1987 was much worse. This syndicated show had people playing a word game somewhat similar to Wheel of Fortune for prizes that a contestant from home could call in and win, too. Goen is charming, but the game is dull, and the home shopping aspects are more confusing than exciting. 

The Hollywood Game fared only slightly better. This summer replacement show from 1992 was basically "Jeopardy with movie trivia." Contestants even bet on how well they could answer a question. It wasn't unique enough to stand out at a time when game shows were falling out of favor and didn't even last a month.

Today, Goen is best-remembered as the host of the daytime Wheel of Fortune from 1989 through its demise in 1991. It was the closest he came to helming a hit. Alas, there seems to be no footage of his tenure online at all, other than a few ads and one badly-recorded tape of a tape recording. 

He didn't have nearly as much luck with Born Lucky from 1993. This was part of Lifetime's attempt to create a shopping-game block with Supermarket Sweep and Shop 'Til You Drop, and it was by far the least-successful of the three. Filmed in malls across the country, contestants had a chance to win "Mall Money" by playing various quiz games and silly stunts. Cute, but the mall setting couldn't disguise that it was basically a less-gross Double Dare with shopping components. 

That's the Question would seem to have more going for it. This 2006 GSN adaptation of a Dutch show had contestants answering questions that filled in letters on a phrase. The answer to the question was already shown. The letters would fill in the question, until one contestant could guess what the question was. Fast-paced and actually kind of fun. I wish this one had lasted longer than a couple of months. (And although Goen continues to host live game shows and hosted Miss Universe and Miss USA for several years in the mid-2000's, That's the Question is his last TV game show gig to date.)

Learn movie trivia, try to figure out what the celebrity is saying, and hope you're born lucky with this disc jockey and sportscaster turned game show charmer!

Perfect Match (1986)

The Home Shopping Game (1987)

Blackout (1988)

The Hollywood Game (1992)

Born Lucky (1993)

That's the Question (2006) 

Winter Is Just Around the Corner

Got a quick start with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Plus. "Martian Mickey's Clubhouse" was damaged in a sandstorm, so Mickey and the others help their space counterparts build a new one. Martian bubbles are ten times stronger than Earth ones and make splendid walls and furniture, but they need to call in a friend for the books and games needed to make it truly a home.

Hurried off to work soon as the cartoon ended. Work was off-and-on busy, likely due to it being the beginning of the month. I was constantly called to put away cold items, including during my break. Otherwise, there were no major problems, and I was in and out. I even helped a co-worker who couldn't bend over clean up the ice she spilled from her drink in the break room after I finished.

Put on the 2002 Strawberry Shortcake when I got home and was settled down for lunch. It's a "Merry Berry Christmas" as Strawberry struggles with what to give her friends, especially Huckleberry Pie. She and ever-bragging Honey Pie Pony travel to Holidayland to find just the right gifts. Honey Pie keeps dropping obvious hints and insisting on buying horse things for everyone, even though Strawberry constantly admonishes her that she needs to buy gifts that the recipient actually wants, not just her. Strawberry even gets to meet Santa. When one gift makes a mess, Strawberry thinks she has nothing to give the others. They insist they're just glad to have her back...and are even happier with the surprise at Strawberry's front door.

Headed back out even before the show ended. I don't know if it's early holiday jitters or the full moon, but the kids were really rowdy today. They played with dreidels they got in class, grabbed each other's chocolate coins, and put up a fuss about wearing their coats outside. While the weather was beautiful, sunny, breezy, and bright, it was also in the 40's. Not freezing like it will be by Friday, but not exactly warm, either. Definitely not weather to go without coats!

With two teachers having left for good last week, I ended up in charge of the swings again. Most of the kids were pretty good about it, but I had to argue one of the older boys off when he wouldn't listen and kept saying "whatever." I wasn't the only one who had problems with him and the other older boys, too. I was too busy with the kids on the swings to see it, but apparently, the older boys spent their time outside fighting. It got so bad, we ended up calling them inside earlier than planned. One of the younger girls was so upset she hadn't been able to get on the swings, she cried all the way inside, even after we swore she could go on tomorrow.

Things weren't a whole lot better inside. We had two managers come to check out the new assistants. One of them separated the older kids and younger kids, even though we usually just let them mingle when we came in. I couldn't do anything right. I sat with the group coloring and was told to go with the younger kids. I sharpened colored pencils for the kids coloring and was told to sit with the kids building with Duplos and magnetic tiles. I spilled a teacher's coffee cup when I couldn't find a place for my coat. At least it only had water, and one of the new assistants helped me clean it up, but it was still embarrassing. One of the managers said I was doing fine, but I felt like a klutz. 

Hurried straight home after that mess. Watched Match Game '78 during dinner. Richard Dawson was still around and still playing pretty well at this point. He got to see David Doyle make his debut next to Brett, along with Betty White and glamorous Eva Gabor.

Worked on writing The WENN Nutcracker Suite throughout the evening. Mr. Eldridge tells the story of how the Nutcracker came to be the way he is, aided by Gertie Ginger's fireplace. Queen Gloria, King Benjamin, and their con-artist son Prince Scott were the beloved, benevolent rulers of the Land of Sweets, adored by their people. Mr. Eldridge was Scott's mentor and tutor, but he spent most of his time keeping Scott from brawls and sailing around the world with him. King Benjamin finally gives his son the sacred Christmas Star Sword that is fueled by Christmas spirit before he takes a carriage to Santa's Workshop on Christmas Eve. He does talk to Santa, but never makes it home before his carriage goes over a cliff during a blizzard.

Finished the night with My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas. Sock-loving Minty is the title character of the Christmas special for the mid-2000's version of the franchise. The "Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane" tree topper is supposed to guide Santa to Ponyville with its fabulous light. Fussy Minty's attempts to make it "just perfect" end with her knocking it over and breaking it. She first tries to play Santa herself and gives her massive sock collection to her friends. When Pinkie Pie catches her doing that, she insists on going to the North Pole herself to tell Santa what happened. Half of Ponyville ends up following her to tell her that she matters more than any candy cane. 

Storm Front Games

Began the morning with breakfast and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. "Bats!" are attacking Applejack's apple orchards. She and the others convince Fluttershy to use her stare and get rid of them. It works...too well. Fluttershy turns into a bat after Twilight Sparkle's magic goes wrong and starts eating the apple orchard. Her friends find a way to change her back and learn that the short-term solution is usually not the best one, and that you shouldn't be afraid to say "no" to your friends when you don't feel comfortable with what they're doing.

Spent the rest of the morning bringing my laundry downstairs and doing research on local online communities to join. I don't think I'm going to find a decent home or a better "safety net" job to replace the Acme until I can improve my network. The neighbors are nice and so are the people at the school, but I need more. I want several solid groups I can rely on, not one or two people. I realized as I did research that I do already have communities to talk to - all those record and book stores I love to visit. I'll observe there for a while, seeing what people are talking about. 

Watched Manhattan Murder Mystery while I worked in honor of Diane Keaton, one of my mother's favorite actresses, who passed away last week. It was this or Annie Hall, and I thought this one focused more on Keaton's character than Hall did. Carol Lipton (Keaton) is suspicious when her seemingly robust neighbor Lillian (Lynn Cohen) dies suddenly, especially given how cheerful her husband Paul (Jerry Adler) is after her death. Her husband Larry (Allen) is annoyed when he finds out she's been breaking and entering and wants her to stop, but she's obsessed. She even gets her friend Ted (Alan Alda) involved. It's not until they find what seems like their neighbor's dead body in the bedroom at a shady motel that Larry starts believing his wife, too...and when the body disappears, they both become determined to find out what really happened with their neighbor and bring her two-timing husband to justice.

I have seen this before, but not in a long time. I thought a murder mystery was incredibly appropriate for a day that was cold, windy, and rainy, and this is definitely a fun one. Keaton has a blast as the paranoid lady who thinks there's more to their neighbor's death than a sudden heart attack. Alda has almost as much fun as her friend Ted who also gets roped in, and there's a ton of references to classic mystery film and film noir. 

Had a very quick lunch, then called Uber. There was no way I was riding my bike during a nor'easter, even though it wasn't raining at that point. The driver going there and going home arrived in 9 minutes. No traffic either way.

I think you can guess that the kids never went outside today. It was starting to rain lightly as I arrived at the school. Some of the kids played Uno. Some colored. Some built high Lego towers with their friends. I helped with the ones playing Musical Chairs and Freeze Dance. The latter involves people dancing and making silly poses when the music stops. We eventually gave up on playing the actual game and just watched the kids make goofy poses. It was hilarious. I hadn't laughed so hard in ages.

Went straight into Match Game '76 after I got home, had dinner, finally remembered to bring up the laundry, and finished Manhattan Murder Mystery.  Bill Anderson made his first appearance on the show during the second hour. Gene finally got to kiss Bonnie Franklin - he had a cold during her first appearance - and wondered how she could sit cross-legged on her chair. (The answer - she was a dancer on Broadway and was used to sitting that way.)

Worked on Maplepunzel for the rest of the night. Maple finally catches Brumpton drugging the coffee the morning of the wedding. Victor, Gertie, and Mr. Eldridge join them, having found the can of decaffeinated coffee. Scott, though he's exhausted, stays awake long enough to add he found out Abernathy wasn't working for the Pittsburgh Town Gazette, as he claimed. He and Brumpton were really potion-makers from Berlania Pavla hired to make sure no one asked questions about her wedding. Gertie and Mr. Eldridge had the duo arrested for conspiracy against the crown. On hearing the wedding music, Victor and Maple take Gertie and Mr. Eldridge's arms as everyone heads to the ballroom to stop the wedding.

Finished the night after a shower with game shows hosted by Art James. James initially started off as an announcer for Concentration in 1958, but eventually became a host in his own right. Alas, like most game show hosts of the 60's and 70's, the vast majority of his work is lost to time. One episode of his first show as a host Say When!! survives. This Price Is Right imitation has contestants choosing one prize at a time from an assortment. The contestant who got closest to a certain number without going over won the prizes. The second game had the contestants selecting a prize up to a certain amount over its individual cost. After the prize was revealed, it was added to their score. Not bad to watch, and James is certainly charming enough.

James also got involved in quiz shows. He hosted the New York area version of It's Academic in 1963. Three teams from local high schools played each other to test their knowledge. His longest-running hit as a host was The Who, What, or Where Game, which ran from 1969 to 1974. This imitation Jeopardy had contestants wagering on whether or not the other contestants could answer a question. Actually pretty interesting, with very challenging questions. 

He returned to the shopping show well with Temptation in 1968. Three contestants are shown three prize packages. Each chooses a package. They only win it if the other two don't choose it. Pretty simple, maybe a little too much to be fun to watch. James dressing as a riverboat gambler with a cigar only made things more smarmy rather than charming.

Two of his biggest shows in 1975 were also among the many failed high-concept game shows that debuted that year. Blank Check had one contestant sitting in front of a giant check, choosing random numbers. James asked questions about how one phrase or thing related to the other. The contestant who answered got to challenge the Check Writer, who chose one of the digits. If the contestant guessed the right digit, they became the check writer. If they didn't, the number went on the giant check, and the game continued. Um, interesting idea, but kind of complicated, with a rather ugly, flashy set. This was probably too complicated to last longer the 7 months it ultimately ran.

The Magnificent Marble Machine only did slightly better, managing 8 months from November 1975 through 1976. This time, two contestants and two celebrities try to guess the answer to a pop culture clue they're given. The winner of the main game went on to play the title pinball machine, a massive mechanical marvel that would give them prizes, then money with a special "super ball." Though the giant pinball machine does look cool, I can understand why this didn't work. The front game is nothing special, and pinball is generally more fun to play than it is to watch.

James' last show as a host was the original US version of Catchphrase in 1985. Here, Herbie the Robot showed different pieces of a "catch phrase" drawn by computer. The correct answer allowed the contestant to guess the Super Catch Phrase, a completed picture hidden behind nine squares. If they got it, they got the jackpot money, though they lost nothing if they didn't. Winner went on to guess all the catch phrases hiding behind 25 squares. I really wish this had gone over better in the US! It's one of the most adorable game shows I've ever seen. Herbie's hilarious. Considering it's been running off and on in England since 1986, maybe someone over here will take another crack at this someday.

Join this charming host to solve trivia, guess the catch phrase, write that blank check, and just say when!

Say When!! (1961)

It's Academic (1963)

Temptation (1968)

The Who, What, and Where Game (1970)

Blank Check (1975)

The Magnificent Marble Machine (1975)

Catchphrase (1985)

Library Dance Party

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and two classic Disney shorts. Chip and Dale are "Chips Ahoy" when they steal a boat in a glass from Donald and use it to cross a lake and get to a tree full of nuts. Mickey's looking for "The Simple Things" during a fishing trip. What he gets is a curious Pluto chasing the seagulls who want the fresh fish he's using for bait.

Hurried off to work after "Simple Things" ended and just made it on time. That was the worst thing that happened all day. The Acme was dead the entire morning. I honestly didn't have a lot to do. There weren't even a ton of carts to push. No wonder I got the weekend and all of next week off. Maybe the weather scared everyone off. It was cloudy, warm (though not to the degree of yesterday), and murderously humid. I was in and out with no trouble whatsoever. 

Made a quick stop at the pretzel shop on my way home for pepperoni-stuffed pretzels and two regular ones. Had those and grapes while watching cartoon episodes with characters playing superheroes. In My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Spike feels unwanted and unneeded when Twilight and the other ponies are repairing an old castle. They get sucked into the world of his comic and become "Power Ponies" who must defeat the evil Mane-iac in order to get home. Spike (and Fluttershy) prove that being quiet or small doesn't mean you're not a great superhero or a better friend.

The Backyardigans spoofed superhero tropes several times on their show, notably in the first season episode "Race to the Tower of Power." Austin is Captain Hammer, who can build anything with a magic hammer, while Uniqua is Weather Woman, the weather-controlling wonder. They have to stop Yucky Man (Pablo) and Dr. Shrinky (Tyrone) from reaching the Tower of Power and claiming the Key to the World.

I was going to take my bike to Thomas Sharp, too, but by the time I was ready to leave, it had finally started showering. Called Uber instead. The driver was a bit late. I got to the school just in time. The rain was still coming down when I finished, so I took Uber home, too. 

I think you can guess that the kids never went outside today. We were in the library almost the entire afternoon, but we still had a marvelous time. In fact, I think we had more fun in that library than we ever did outside. One of the teachers brought a speaker, playing "The Flamingo Dance," "Sharks In the Water," "Let It Go" from Frozen, and several songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters. One of the other teachers moved the tables out of the way so we could all dance. Oh boy, did we have fun! The kids were hilarious, swirling around, scooting on the floor, or wiggling their arms and legs. After our dance, we all settled down to hear Pete the Cat and Hop on Pop. Several kids claimed teacher laps, including mine. I hadn't had so much fun on a rainy afternoon in a long time.

When I got in, I worked on Maplepunzel. Queen Gertrude (Gertie) is tired of this so-called "Maple" (Pavla) not letting her see Victor and treating the servants badly behind her back. She recruits the real Maple to keep an eye on her, write down what she sees, and report back to her. Maple also enjoys hearing the stories told by their butler Mackie, who speaks fondly of his late wife Penelope, her strong healing power, and the little daughter they lost.

Watched Match Game Syndicated while working and as I had dinner. They started off finishing the week with McLean Stevenson, Eva Gabor, and Elaine Joyce. The next week introduced Edie McClurg as a semi-regular. She annoys some people, but I think her energy and her Valley Girl imitations are cute and funny. That week cut off early...because part of it is on the tape with the Jimmie Walker week that he still hasn't cleared for being shown. They skipped to the week with Robert Donner and giggly Betty Kennedy. Delightfully sarcastic Patty Duke sat in Brett's character actress seat that week.

Finished the night with The Love Boat at Paramount Plus. "Country Cousin Blues" has a country singer (Florence Henderson) falling for an old friend (James Noble) who is now a politician, which his actual girlfriend (Carol Lawrence) doesn't like one bit. Gopher thinks he's hit the "Jackpot" when he finds a purse full of money and fantasizes about how he'll spend it. A young woman (Randi Oakes) is on the boat with her father (Mason Adams), but rethinks being "Daddy's Little Girl" when he almost drives away a veterinarian (Frank Bonner) who seems interested in her. 

Ponies and Matches

Started off the morning with breakfast and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Poor Fluttershy is "Dragonshy" when the ponies see an ominous cloud of smoke blanketing Ponyville. Dragons are the one type of animal Fluttershy is terrified by. She has to practically be dragged to its lair in the hope of waking it up and asking it to sleep elsewhere. Twilight tries to reason with it, Rarity to flatter it. It's not until Rainbow Dash kicks it and gets knocked back that Fluttershy finally overcomes her fear and tells the creature off for her friends.

It was so late by the time I finished, I called Uber. That might not have been a bad idea. While not as overwhelmingly hot as it has been, it was still pretty warm. Plus, the driver arrived in less than 3 minutes and got me to work right on time. Even the one going home only took 7 minutes to arrive, not bad for the start of rush hour.

Work went just fine. It was surprisingly not that busy for much of the afternoon. It did pick up later, but it probably could have been worse. If people weren't continuing to celebrate the 4th of July weekend, they were on outings with their families or down at the Shore. And no wonder. The weather was sunny and warm, a little humid but not horrible. I swept and did carts early in the day, switching to all-carts after a second bagger arrived. No real trouble here whatsoever.

When I got in, I went straight into My Little Pony: Equestria Girls - Rainbow Rocks. I go further into the second film in the direct-to-home-video series about the Ponies as teenagers at Canterlot High at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Animation Celebration Saturday - My Little Pony: Equestria Girls - Rainbow Rocks

Worked on writing next. Actually, I went back and added a flashback sequence to right before Hilary's dinner with the Troll. Hilary recalls the last time she saw Jeff before Pavla claimed he was her husband. He had taken her to a gala at the Frick Mansion, talking about the extensive gardens and claiming he had a big anniversary surprise for her. They run across Scott flirting with Betty; to Hilary's delight, and despite her obvious interest, Betty turns Scott down for a date. Betty knows he's a con-man of the first order. As Hilary sends her to Doug Thompson, she almost literally runs into Victor Comstock, holding papers on the situation in Europe that he wants Jeff and Scott to read. Maple is trying to get Victor to notice her, but he's oblivious to her advances or anything that isn't the growing threat in Europe. 

Also revised Hilary and the Troll's explosive dinner. Now, it's talk about the curse that sets them off. He doesn't want to discuss it, partially because he can't. Pavla's magic stills his tongue (and Scott's) every time he tries. Troll brusquely asks her to marry him, but she still turns him down. She's still in love with someone else - Jeff. He ends up roaring, she ends up name-calling, and the entire dinner still ends with her stomping off in a huff to go home and him breaking dishes.

Finished the night after a shower with dinner and tonight's Match Game marathon. Brett had a tendency to rip up answers that she didn't like, or ones from questions she didn't like, or ones Charles gave that she complained were stolen from her. There were also all the times a question had to be thrown out, usually when either a panelist or Gene blurted out an answer or accidentally showed theirs. Producer Ira Skutch would make a rare appearance to bring out a new question.

Of course, papers aren't the only things that can be torn off. In a 1979 PM episode, one of the contestants was a balding but cheerful young man who joked about renting his head as a geodesic dome. The panel were so charmed by his jokes, Charles eventually gave him his toupee (and it did make him look at least 10 years younger). 

There's also the PM episodes where two contestants totally struck out at the Audience Matches. The first time it happened, Richard did comic reading in his Newkirk accent on a bricklayer's troubles with his wares. They were more prepared the second time. They let the lady match each member of the panel on a question for $100 each. She went home with $600 and a smile on her face.

Watch the Match Game panel rip it up and let it roll with this rippingly good marathon!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Toss It Out, Throw It Out, and Rip It Up Marathon

Star Spangled Lady

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel and Margaret Visit the Farm," where Daniel rides a horse for the first time. He's nervous about being up so high, until his father holds his hand. Likewise, Margaret is too scared to feed the ducks, until her big brother holds her hand and shows her how it's done. Daniel is excited about "Fireworks and Fireflies," but Margaret is scared of the fireflies, and they're both not fans of the noisy fireworks! They hold each other's hands while they get used to these new sights and noises.

Switched to Supermarket Sweep on Buzzr while making my grocery list. This was one of those episodes when it was pretty obvious one team would dominate the proceedings. Team One got by far the most time, along with more extra money from getting David's bread list right and winning one of the "find the item" games. They didn't do quite as well with the bonus round...but considering no one got two out of three of the movies in the Snack Attack Movie Game, maybe it should have been obvious that they wouldn't have gotten the third question, either.

Hurried out to run errands after the show ended. I would normally have waited to do the grocery shopping until tomorrow, but the last place I want to be on the 4th of July is a grocery store. Grabbed an iced matcha latte at a busy Starbucks in Target before heading to Sprouts. Found granola bars and cherry shortbread cookies on sale. Restocked the soda and coconut milk. Got dried mango slices out of the bulk bins.

It was hot, sunny, and humid (though not quite as hot as last week) when I headed up the hill and past the library and Haddon Township High School to the Westmont Acme. Mainly needed to restock yogurt and soda here. Picked up granola bars with an online coupon, strawberries, and a bag of Kellogg's Extra granola on a really good sale. Neither Sprouts nor the Acme were busy. Everyone must be waiting for tomorrow or intended to go out after work.

Took the long way home across Newton Lake Park. It's deep into summer now. The barest breeze ruffled the large, deep green leaves as the waters on the lake sparkled. I took the shortcut over the hill, enjoying the shade, the stillness, and the damp, earthy scent.

Had lunch and put everything away when I got home while watching two episodes of Jem on Tubi. Jerrica runs into "The Presidential Dilemma" when none other than the head of the country invites them to play at the Kennedy Center. The Holograms are thrilled, until they realize they can't get Synergy, the computer who provides the Jem hologram, through the Secret Service. Jerrica is really in a bind when a dashing thief steals all of America's greatest treasures...including the president...and she has to rescue him without Synergy's aid.

I'm not the only one who is fascinated by "Beauty and the Beast" stories. "Beauty and the Rock Promoter" has Jem and the Holograms playing Beauty and the mean sisters in a rock take on the original French "Beast" story. Jem is curious about the actor playing the Beast, too much for her boyfriend Rio's liking. The promoter who came up with the show is working Jem to exhaustion, so much that she collapses and has to rest. The Misfits are eager to take over, and while they might make great bad sisters, Pizzazz isn't much of a Beauty. There's only one Beauty for this show...and she learns where her real Beast is when they have to stop gangsters from harming their Beast.

Switched to YouTube for the 1959 TV version of Meet Me In St. Louis. I go further into this surprisingly charming remake of the beloved 1944 MGM movie for the 4th of July at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy 4th of July! - Meet Me In St. Louis (1959)

Moved back to Tubi for one of the later My Little Pony: Equestria Girls specials. It's a Rollercoaster of Friendship when Internet diva Vignette Valencia hires Rarity as the costume designer for a major amusement park. Rarity is thrilled, until Vignette tries to butt in on her friendships, and she realizes how difficult the job is. Applejack is jealous at first, but then she realizes there's something going on with Vignette's cell phone when their friends disappear one by one because Vignette doesn't think they're perfect enough. 

Worked on writing for a while during and after the film. Hilary spends most of afternoon playing phone tag with Pittsburgh City Hall and talking to Doug Thompson. He says he'll pull strings and find out who owns the mansion, because it probably isn't a troll. He also wants to talk to Betty, but is cut off before he can do so.

Hilary goes off in search of her sisters and finds Maple munching on peanuts in front of Eagle's door. She's trying to get him to play in the snow or have lunch with her, but his annoyed squawk basically says he's having none of it...until Maple asks to see his work. That's when he finally lets her and Hilary in. Turns out his "work" is mostly on the situation in Europe and Asia in 1930, which many Americans were deeply concerned about. Maple flirts with him and asks him to explain more about this "political junk" in the best way he can.

Her older sister moves on to the library. She's not too happy to find Betty reading "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" to Bear. He relates deeply to the enchanted white bear in the story and asks Betty if he's a prince. Betty doesn't think he's that, but she does think he is kind and gentle, which is just as important as being smart. She wishes he wouldn't let Troll bully him, but he says that the troll is his friend, he's not usually like that, and he's smarter than he is. 

Hilary doesn't approve of this romance at all. She wants Betty to continue her writing career and marry someone more successful like Doug, not a walking throw rug. She reminds Betty that she has a play to work on and that Bear has chores. Bear's so frightened of her, he overturns furniture in his attempt to hurry out.  Betty scolds Hilary for her high-handed treatment of her new friend, then says she'll make her own decisions and conduct her own investigation.

Listened to records while I worked. The political satire Of Thee I Sing was revived in 1952. Alas, it would prove to be short-lived, but it did last long enough to throw out this album. Jack Carson has a lot of fun as Wintterbottom, but Paul Hartman's Throttlebottom isn't nearly as interesting. We also get some songs that didn't make it into the TV version, like "Here's a Kiss for Cinderella" and Hello, Good Morning." (Interestingly, "Mine" is interpolated into this version, too.)

My copy of Yankee Doodle Mickey is the original from the early 80's that includes the Disneyland Glee Club's rousing version of "The Liberty Tree" from Johnny Tremain. A very young Molly Ringwauld can be heard on "This Is My Country" and "God Bless America." My favorite number is the Armed Services medley, with Mickey singing for the Marines and the Air Force, Goofy for the Army, and of course, Donald for the Navy.

Charles Ives' Holiday Symphony is actually a series of four classical pieces related to major American holidays. I listened to the ones on side 2. I have no idea what Forefather's Day is, but the piece for Thanksgiving is appropriately choir-like. The other one for the 4th of July is more sizzling, as benefitting a summer holiday.

Switched to Match Game '73 during dinner. They're now on the week with game show host Robert Q. Lewis that also introduced Joyce Bulifant. Morey Amsterdam takes Charles' fussy guy seat here...and he's so funny, I wish he came back after early 1974.

Finished the night after dinner with more patriotic programming and music. I went further into Uncle Sam Magoo, the second and last Mr. Magoo special, at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog two years ago. 

Animation Celebration Saturday - Uncle Sam Magoo

America the Beautiful is a Reader's Digest collection of patriotic music, apparently released in honor of the Statue of Liberty's big restoration in 1986. I prefer the first disc for the sheer variety. You get everything from Kate Smith singing "God Bless America" to the Guadalcanal March from Victory at Sea to excerpts from "On the Trail" to a medley of George M. Cohen songs. 

(Oh, and it finally rained hard but briefly sometime around 9 PM. I don't think it's done anything since then.)

The Kids are Alright

Began a beautiful morning with breakfast and something different on Tubi. They have a lovely half-hour book version of Beauty and the Beast from 1990, narrated by Mia Farrow. This one is based on the original French story, where Beauty has spoiled sisters, the servants are invisible, her father is a merchant, and the Beast was cursed by a fairy when his parents didn't believe in fantasy. It's charming and brittle as Farrow herself.

Worked on notes for Hilary and the Beasts while watching two more cartoons. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic goes western for "Over a Barrel." Applejack is excited to deliver a new apple tree to her settler relatives in the frontier town of Appaloosa. The Ponies realize they're smack in the middle of a land dispute when their train is attacked by stampeding buffalo. Applejack's cousin Braeburn is excited about the new apple trees they just planted, but the local native buffalo say they planted them on their stampeding grounds without permission. Though the buffalo were there first, the ponies still try to get them to share...and they may be in the middle when the stampede takes place and the town fights back.

(And...er, while the idea of Ponies going western is cute, I suspect this probably doesn't get re-run often. The depiction of buffalo as Natives is a little stereotypical, and the buffalo really were there first.)

In honor of the first day of summer (and its new version set to debut on Disney Plus soon), I switched to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and "Pete's Beach Blanket Luau." Pete invites the gang to the lake to cool off on the hottest day of the year, but first, they have to clean up trash, then find a shady spot for their party.

Headed out after the cartoon ended. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, especially compared to what it will be this weekend. It was warm, but not to the degree of next week, in the mid-80's and not that humid. There was a nice stiff wind that kept everything from feeling too hot. 

Given it was their last day of school, you likely won't be surprised to hear that the kids got pretty noisy today. They all kept running around, regardless of who told them not to. Thank heavens we were able to take them all outside, not once, but twice. The first time, we had more kids. They spent most of the hour we were out there playing cops and robbers. The second time was the end of the day. The head of the program turned our outdoor day into a game by asking the kids questions about the program and giving them all time on the swings as the prize. They all had so much fun out there! We had a great time drawing inside, too. They kids were fascinated by my attempt to draw Hilary and Troll Jeff and Maple and Eagle Victor from Hilary and the Beasts.

I'm so glad I took this job. Between vacation, the kids, rediscovering WENN, and starting to write stories again, this has been the nicest month I've had in years. I will certainly be applying for the fall program. I'm going to miss those kids! One of the girls gave me a huge hug. Three of them gave me their artwork and paper fans. The father of another girl gave all the caretakers $10 gift cards to WaWa for doing so well taking care of their daughter. I sat with the very last pre-school boy, chatting about water parks and thrilled that we finally got the swings to ourselves before his parents came for him.

I had already planned on getting some kind of a treat after we got out. That WaWa gift card meant I could have one on the kids. I rode up to the WaWa on the White Horse Pike and treated myself to a larg coconut cream milkshake. So sweet and cooling on a fairly hot day!

After I got home, I resumed with the notes and finished out the third season of Remember WENN. "The Ghost of WENN" has everyone on edge during a horror broadcast. Mackie is nervous about the actor who played the part of a lawyer having died when the script got to page 13. Hilary is a bit cheered from having won a radio award...but she's even more anxious than Mackie when the spooky voice seems to target her.

More than any other episode, "Caller I.D" cements why radio is unique among mediums. Mackie dismisses a young woman who calls his music show and claims she's going to jump off a building...until Eugenia confirms that she is out there. She demands that they put on a grand broadcast of all their shows blended together. Not only do they inadvertently create the crossover event, but when she comes to the studio, they give her a chance to see what her idols look like for real...and that the real magic of radio (and TV) is what your imagination conjures.

"Happy Homecomings" are anything but when Betty hears another Johnathan Arnold on the radio. She spends the episode trying to open that locked strongbox...and getting a major shock when she finally does. Meanwhile, Scott not only discovers that codes are still going out through WENN, but that Victor Comstock is alive and well...and brainwashed...

Yeah, this is the infamous episode that left the entire fandom screaming at the top of their lungs...for six months. Before the fracas with finding a place to live in 2021-2022, that was the longest six months of my entire life. It's a good example of why the third season is far and away my favorite season of the series. Though Jeff is missed, some of the series' best and most dramatic episodes turned up here, including "Homecomings," "Who's Scott Sherwood," and "Mr. and Mrs. Singer." This is where the show really became the blend of heart-rendering drama and comic hilarity that makes it such an underrated delight to this day.

Watched The Muppets while I worked. I'll go further into the hit 2011 revival of the beloved puppet characters at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog tomorrow.

Finished the night after dinner with the French Beauty and the Beast at Kanopy. Almost every version of Beauty, from the Fairie Tale Theatre episode to the Disney animated and live-action films, owes something to this 1946 fantasy about a beautiful and kind young woman (Josette Day) who takes her father's place as prisoner to a hideous Beast (Jean Marais). Marais is also Belle's arrogant suitor, who very likely inspired Disney's Gaston. The details here are exquisite even now, with Belle wandering around in the shadows and the Beast turning up with a bloody stag, moving statues and smoke everywhere. If you're a fantasy and or fairy tale fan like me and can handle subtitles, this is an absolute must-see. 

We Built This City

Began the morning with breakfast and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. I wanted to introduce Lauren to the show after she bought that Rainbow Dash toy yesterday. Rainbow Applejack compete to see who is the most athletic pony in Equestria, but it comes out a tie. They take part in the "Running of the Leaves," the Ponies' big fall race to see who can knock down the most leaves, but spend the race trying to take out each other. When even Twilight, who has never raced before, comes in before them, they realize that the most important thing is having fun, not who comes in first.

We headed out after that. It was a gorgeous day for a walk to the PATCO. It was hot, hazy, and sunny, more humid than yesterday, but not as bad as it could be. Maybe that's why the train wasn't terribly full when we arrived. (That, and it was quarter of 11. We likely just missed the lunch rush.) We got off at 8th Street and Market at 11 PM.

(Oh, and while we didn't get off there, I must mention that they FINALLY finished the Franklin Square PATCO entrance. The train stopped there, and it's now listed as a stop on the ticket kiosks. And they're now working on the other side of the Collingswood station, which means the escalator is working, but not the elevator.)

I wanted to show Lauren all the great places I found in South Philly last summer and early fall, starting with checking out the vibes at that anarchist bookstore. Repo Records was pretty busy. She didn't get anything here, but I found two records and a CD I'd been looking for. The records were:

Wings - London Town

Peggy Lee and George Shearing - Beauty and the Beat! 

The one CD was:

Jimmy Buffet - Ballads (The missing CD from that 3-disc set Jodie gave me that used to belong to Dad.) 

On our way down 6th Street to the Italian Market, we ran into Philly AIDS Thrift Shop. This is one of those stores that looks small on the outside, but the inside is room after room after room of clothes, books, musical instruments, toys, and furniture. There was some great stuff...that we'd have to carry back with us on the train. I just ended up with two CDs:

1993 London concert recording of On the Town with Tyne Daly and Cleo Laine

A double soundtrack (that I suspect might be a bootleg) of Holiday In Mexico and Weekend In Havana

We did better when we made it to the bustling Italian Market. There was no way we were going to leave Philly without having cheese steaks for lunch. I took her to Lorenzo's Pizza, the place I ate at when I went to the Market last summer. She had just a plain old cheese steak. I had a chicken cheese steak with spinach. Oh, yum! Mine was so good, just the right salty and earthy. We washed them down with Diet Cokes.

Molly's Books and Records proved to be an even bigger hit. This time, there were no interviews being recorded, and we were easily able to check out the stacks of books in the narrow back area. Molly's specialty is cookbooks and classic literature. The last thing I need is more of the former, but we both found something from the latter we wanted. Lauren bought a copy of the Sherlock Holmes novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. I bought two of Andrew Lang's color fairy tale collections, The Blue Fairy Book and The Gray Fairy Book, along with the soundtrack from Ghostbusters II. I've had the soundtrack album from the original film for over a decade, but could never find any of the sequels.

Our last stop in South Philly was another book store that looked deceptively small from the outside. Mostly Books is situated in a slightly dilapidated bright blue row house, but that doesn't stop it from being floor-to-ceiling books, CDs, DVDs, and records inside. At least the records were in bins this time, rather than dropped in an alcove in the very back of the store. Lauren didn't get anything, but I ended up with three records and two books. The records were:

The 1985 studio cast recording for Richard Rodgers' last musical, I Remember Mama (still sealed!), and the original cast for the 1952 revival of Of Thee I Sing.

Secret Love, a 4-disc collection of soft ballads from the 70s and 80s

The books were: 

Spindle's End, by Robin McKinley 

Scarmouche, by Rafael Sabatini 

By this point, it was 4 PM. Not only was rush hour beginning, but we'd done enough walking. I called Uber. The driver arrived in 4 minutes, not bad for the start of rush hour in downtown Philly, and got us to the Primark entrance at the Fashion District Mall in less than 10. 

Lauren loves Primark, the Irish department store, but I'm not as big of a fan. They don't have much in the way of plus sizes, and a lot of their clothes are kind of on the cheap side. She got packs of underwear and pajama bottoms. I headed out early and went to the bathroom.

Our plans got a check when we made it to the top floor. The Round 1 next-door to the AMC Theater was closed. In fact, if the sign on the door from the health inspector was any indication, it had just been forced to close yesterday. Rather suddenly, if the gaggle of disappointed boys who didn't know either were any indication.

Good thing I spotted a mini-golf course downstairs on our way to the PATCO station inside. The theme on this black-lit indoor course was ancient history, from day-glow orange pyramids and tall brown camels to resin columns covered in real grape vines and surrounded by potted olive trees. I think Lauren won (after she took a call from her parents, who wanted to know about a package they just got in the mail), but not by much.

After that, we tried the smallest of the billiards tables in the game room next-door. Lauren's guy buddy has taught her to play. She's probably no pool shark, but at least she could figure out how to hold the stick. I think I got one ball in. She got all the others. At least I can say I tried.

We dashed downstairs to the PATCO concourse just in time to catch the 5:30 train home. Maybe that wasn't such a great idea. The 5:30 was literally elbow-to-elbow with commuters on their way home from work. Even when I found a seat, it was jammed next to a big, huge guy. I was so grateful when we finally got off at Collingswood. Called Uber here, too. They arrived in 9 minutes, and barely needed five to get us home.

As soon as we got in, we put everything upstairs, then went right back out. By 6 PM, it was cloudy and hazy, but also windy and much cooler and more humid. It was too cool to hang out inside. Besides, Lauren wanted to eat at Jalapeno's Bar and Grill, the Mexican restaurant a block from the WaWa. They were surprisingly quiet for the dinner hour when we got in. She had fish tacos that looked amazing. I went with my favorite shrimp quesadilla. 

Since she treated me to Mexican, I treated her to Hispanic ice cream at the Mexican Ice Cream parlor two blocks from Jalapeno's. La Moretense Plus was also busy with people getting a cool respite from the earlier heat, but we did manage to find a seat. She had intensely pink strawberry ice cream with sprinkles. I had a cherry nut milkshake that was also very pink...and very, very cherry!

Finished the night back at my rooms after a shower with The Singing Fool. I go further into the massive hit Al Jolson vehicle that introduced audiences to "Sonny Boy" and truly pushed sound as a viable medium for film at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

The Singing Fool

No April Foolin'

Began the morning with breakfast and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. The "Equestria Games" finally begin as Spike and the delegates from Ponyville take part in the festivities. Spike gets stage fright when called on to light the torch. Twilight uses her magic to do it for him, leading him to believe he can light it with his mind. He tries to help in other ways when he learns otherwise, but just ends up embarrassed. It takes a major calamity that only he can stop to make him see just how valuable a member of the team he is.

Threw on Press Your Luck while getting organized. I came in during the second half of the episode. The one lady accidentally passed her seven turns over to the guy next to her, forgetting he already had over $10,000. She thought she made a mistake...but a Whammy wiped him out. She would earn enough money to make it to the next show. She did well enough in the first round, but another guy did better and was leading when I left.

Started with a stroll to Dollar General. I mainly needed cough drops and tissues. I've used up a ton of both lately, thanks to my allergies. I got the only sugar-free bag of cough drops they had, along with two boxes of tissues, more Propel-type drink mixes, and a card for my nephew Khai's birthday later this month. 

Headed down the White Horse Pike to WaWa next. I was mainly there to use the ATM machine and get the rent. Treated myself to a pretzel and a strawberry cheesecake smoothie. Yum. The smoothie was really good. It didn't taste like cheesecake, but it sure tasted like strawberries. I suspect WaWa likely used real ones. 

The other reason I went for a walk was simply to enjoy the gorgeous weather. Though it was windy, it also wasn't that cold for early April, probably in the upper 50's-lower 60's, and sunny and bright as can be. Though most people haven't put up their Easter decorations yet, their gardens are bursting with new green grass, brilliant yellow and white daffodils, and deep purple violets. The trees are blossoming now too, wide carpets of pink, white, and purple.

Had lunch, then vacuumed and dusted my rooms while watching Night at the Opera. I go further into this classic Marx Brothers movie for April Fool's Day at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Happy April Fool' Day! - A Night at the Opera

Switched to the Peanuts baseball specials in honor of the just-started season while I put up the Easter decorations. Charlie Brown's All-Stars are ready to quit, but Chuck manages to entice them with the promise of new uniforms. Unfortunately, the offer is withdrawn when the businessman discovers that the team features four girls and a dog. After Linus and Schroeder scold the girls for their nasty behavior towards Chuck, they find a way to show how much they appreciate him. 

It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown is an almost identical story, but this time, the kids just have to win a game to get their uniforms. Frieda's little brother Leland insists on joining the big kids, despite being far younger than them. He ends up being the hero of the game when he's too small for the pitcher to really aim at and literally stumbles around the bases.

Went downstairs after the cartoon ended to make muffins for work this week. I've made Orange-Chocolate Chip Muffins from The Hershey's 1934 Cookbook before. They're another recipe that hasn't failed me yet. I overcooked them slightly, but they still tasted wonderful. I added fresh-squeezed orange juice from the one I zested to give them even more flavor.

Watched Match Game Syndicated as I baked and ate dinner. The first two hours finished out the week with Fred Grandy, Gary Crosby, Marjorie Wallace, and a noisy audience full of college students. The last hour moved to the first week Brett was away appearing in a play. Bubbly Betty Kennedy took her place and Phyllis Diller took over her crusty wisecracks. McLean Stevenson demonstrated why he'd permanently take over the third seat in the next season.

Finished the night working on my review with more recent record and CD finds. I had no idea what Dr. Blizzard's Original Savannah Band was before I ran across this, but I loved the colorful cover depicting the big band era of the 1940's. Apparently, they were a disco group with a big-band sound, not unlike some of Donna Summer's earlier work. "Cherchez La Femme," "Hard Times," and "Sour and Sweet/Lemon In the Honey" in particular leaned on the big-band side of things.

 

I was a kid when The Kinks made their comeback in the late 70's-early 80's. "Come Dancing" was one of my favorite songs from my early childhood. I may not have known what a "palley" was, but I figured it was like the dance halls and soda shops I saw in movies set in the 40's and 50's and heard about in my parents' stories of their childhoods. Come Dancing With the Kinks features this and more songs from that comeback, including "A Rock and Roll Fantasy," "Low Budget," and "Father Christmas."

Memories of Spring

Got a quick start today with breakfast and the Disney short "Chef Donald." Donald wants to make waffles from a recipe he hears on the radio. That would be a lot easier if he hadn't accidentally gotten rubber cement in the batter. Now Donald has to fight with his own creation while wondering what went wrong.

Work was dead as a doornail. It's the middle of the week, the end of the month, and the only thing going on is college basketball. Not to mention, the weather wasn't the best. It was cold and breezy, and the clouds were in and out all morning. It showered very briefly around noon, but to my knowledge, hasn't done anything like it since. I was in and out with no trouble whatsoever. 

I heard from the office rental place in Cherry Hill during work. I guess they never got my e-mail, because they wanted to know when they could do a quick phone interview. Tomorrow at 1 PM will be fine.

Put on another Disney cartoon when I got home while changing. "Flowers and Trees" was the first short done in the new, wider three-strip Technicolor process, and it won an Oscar in 1933. The still-gorgeous color manages to offset the simple story. Two saplings in love are threatened by an old stump, who burns the woods to take them out. That proves to be his undoing when he remembers that he can burn, too...

Went for a quick walk to A&A Pretzels to pick up lunch. All they had were the stuffed pepperoni pretzels, so I got those, a can of Diet Pepsi, and two of the regular. Though the clouds were breaking up by this point, it remained breezy and chilly for the time of year. 

Had lunch while watching My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. "Games Ponies Play" have Twilight and her friends doing everything they can to impress the Equestria Games Inspector Ms. Harshwhinny to hold the games at the Crystal Empire this year. When they meet her at the train, she seems to be impressed by their huge cheer, but not so much by the endless tours of the castle. Rarity hopes they can stall, so she can do an especially elaborate hairstyle for Princess Cadence. Turns out all of the pomp and circumstance wasn't necessary. Not only are they entertaining the wrong pony, Ms. Harshwhinny is more impressed by those who don't go out of their way to make a fuss.

Went online for Broadway's Lost Treasures Volume II, which can currently be found at the Internet Archive (along with the rest of the series). We have a lot more Tony-winners and nominees here. Thankfully, only three of the songs are from the 1971 "through the years" Tony show, and one, Tom Bosley's lively "The Name's LaGuardia" from Fiorello!, is actually a chorus number. Robert Morse also does well by his "I Believe In You" from How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Angela Lansbury and Beatrice Arthur have a blast reviving their "Bosom Buddies" from Mame in 1987, when they were major TV stars. We see more of Jerry Orbach than I'm sure most people ever wanted to when he takes it all off for "All I Care About Is Love" from the original 1975 Chicago. 

The undisputed winner among the big numbers was "The Lambeth Walk," energetically performed by the cast of the British comedy Me and My Girl. They have so much fun with the number, they actually take it into the audience. Katherine Hepburn gives us a glimpse of how she managed to keep the Coco Chanel biography Coco up and running with her sterling performance before a lengthy fashion show to "Always Mademoiselle." Patti LuPone kicks things off in high style performing the title song from the hit 1987 revival of Anything Goes. Michael Jeter seems to be made of rubber as he flies through an amazing drunk Charleston with the cast of Grand Hotel in "We'll Take a Glass Together." "One Day More" shows off the entire enormous cast and complicated plots of Les Miserables. 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. This was the wild week with McLean Stevenson sitting between Jannelle Allen and Debralee Scott. In the second episode, Charles hits Gene with his card during an argument over the merits of the original Shogun mini-series. Gene collapses onto Jannelle's lap, prompting McLean to take over the next two questions. The none-too-happy host shows up with his head wrapped in bandages in the next episode, leading to a round of mummy and toilet paper jokes before he finally calls the female contestant to help him get it off.

Finished the night back at YouTube with spring childhood memories. From the early 80's through the early 90's, toy companies released half-hour specials based on either a new toy line, or an addition to an existing line. More rarely, there would be something based on a popular book or comic strip, like Fairies from 1981. A teen hunter is brought to the fairy realm to stop the fairy king's shadow from spreading darkness across the land. Despite the fairy tale premise, this actually a bit darker than most of the shows I watched tonight, with almost painterly artwork bringing the fairies and their world to life.

The early Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears specials are a lot more typical. In Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine, Professor Coldheart lures a bullied boy who wants revenge on the kids who made fun of him into repairing his machine that will turn them into ice statues. The Care Bears know that revenge is hardly the best way to make friends, and the boy learns a lesson when Hugs and Tugs (who make their debut here) are also caught in the machine's rays.

Strawberry Shortcake and Pets on Parade introduces the kids' beloved critters, sweet diet-obsessed Angel Cake and her skunk Souffle, the Purple Pieman's female counterpart Sour Grapes, Strawberry's bike (one of the few toys from her line we had), and the Strawberryland Trolley. Sour Grapes and the Pieman claim Strawberry fixed the pet contest in favor of their crow and snake. Souffle knows what it's like to have people misunderstand you and encourages Strawberry to fight with her greatest weapon - the Pieman's dislike of berry talk.

For every Strawberry Shortcake that's well-remembered today, there's a Herself the Elf or Rose Petal Place that only animation historians, toy collectors, and kids who grew up in the era remember. Herself the Elf is something of a cross between Strawberry and Fairies. Herself and her friends control nature with their magic wands. After Herself is kidnapped by a wicked wizard and his shrill daughter, her friends combine their powers to go after her. Likewise, Rose sings to keep the garden alive in Rose Petal Place, but her friends have to rescue her after she's taken by obnoxious spider Nastina and her annoying fly partner Horace. 

Sweet Sea is entirely new to me. I never even heard of the doll until tonight, and I certainly don't remember the cartoon. Unlike most of the toys advertised in these specials, Sweet Sea was the only doll in her line, a cherubic mermaid. Her friends were sea animals that came as part of outfit packs. In the special, Sweet Sea's parents give her a magic necklace that is supposed to keep an evil sea serpent at bay. When the Serpant's octopus partner gets his tentacles on it, Sweet Sea and her seahorse friend go after them.

I have far fonder memories of The Charmkins. This and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory were the first videos we ever rented in 1985, and we took it out a lot over the years. Despite having never owned any of the sweet-smelling, charm-based toy line, we loved the story of how feisty Black-Eyed Susan and her brother Wee Willie Winkle rescued dainty ballerina Lady Slipper from Dragonweed and his brothers.

Peppermint Rose debuted in 1993, by which time most of the fanciful girl lines had come and gone. It was too late in the day for even the pretty dolls in their flowery Victorian bloomers and Blossom hats to make much of an impression. Too bad, as this special is honestly pretty fun. Rose is recruited by a tiny wizard to rescue the magical peppermint rose bush from beetles who want to devour it. Seeing her go from a whiny kid who thinks she can solve anything by writing a check to a thoughtful young woman who is able to lead her friends in the song that finally defeats the beetles is actually rather sweet. The sequence where she has a rap-off with an insect is as hilariously campy and of-its-time as it is out of left field. 

If you also can't remember a spring without fairy, nature, and Care Bear magic, you'll want to check out these rare 80's fairy tales!

Fairies (1981)

Strawberry Shortcake and Pets On Parade (1982)

The Magic of Herself the Elf (1983)

The Charmkins (1983)

The Care Bears Battle the Freeze Machine (1984)

Rose Petal Place (1984)

Sweet Sea (1985)

Peppermint Rose (1993)

A Hint of Spring In the Air

Began the morning with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. Hattie is initially excited when the Queen of Hearts' daughter Rosa announces a sleepover at Hearts Palace. When the time comes for the actual party, he can't sleep because of how different the Palace is from his home. Alice shows him that there's "No Palace Like Home" when she makes him comfort food that helps him settle down. Rosa wants her heart tarts to be "A Royal Remembrance" when her Abulito comes to visit. Even though her tarts aren't exactly like her Abulita's, she knows how to dress them up so her grandfather knows they were made with love.

Headed to work after that. No problems whatsoever there. We were quiet the entire morning. It was a gorgeous day at the end of the month and the middle of the week, and we're between holidays. I pushed carts, swept the floor, and enjoyed sunny, breezy, unusually warm weather that was already in the lower 60's by 1 PM.

Stopped at the Common Grounds Coffee House in Oakyn for lunch. Some jerk gave the baristas a hard time yesterday because they were busy and had no tables open. You don't make a fuss over that. Thankfully, they did have a table open this time. I bought a chai latte, a slice of mushroom and Swiss quiche, and a huge blueberry muffin and watched the college students and office workers tap busily at their laptops. 

Put on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic while changing and flattening all those boxes I unloaded yesterday to put in recycling later. "The Crystal Empire" is a magical land in the north that has suddenly reappeared after a thousand years. It was attacked by evil unicorn King Sondra, who made the ponies forget how happy they once were. Twilight Sparkle and Spike searches for a Crystal Heart that could protect the city, while the other ponies keep the residents happy at a Crystal Fair and Twilight's friend Princess Cadence and her brother Shining Armor use Cadence's magic to keep Sondra at bay.

Went through all those cookbooks and the stuff I unloaded yesterday while finishing up Roots. Chicken George (Ben Vereen) happily returns to his family a free man in the 1860's. His son Tom (Georg Stanford Brown) is now a blacksmith for man named Sam Harvey (Richard McKenzie) and has two sons and a lovely wife named Irene (Lynne Moody). Tom and his family are glad to see him and love his stories of England, but he can't stay long. If he remains in South Carolina for 60 days, he'll lose his freedom.

Tom is continually harassed by a pair of obnoxious brothers, Evan (Lloyd Bridges) and Jemmy (Doug McClure) Brent. At one point, he does a favor for Jemmy after he deserts the Confederate Army and finds him attacking Irene. He kills him...but no one will tell Evan who did it. Fortunately, not all whites are so unfriendly. George (Brad Davis) and Martha (Lane Binkley) Johnson turn up at the plantation in search of a meal. They end up befriending the community...and unlike Tom Moore or Missy Anne, they know how to be faithful friends, even though Tom's brother Lewis (Hilly Hicks) doesn't trust them at first. 

The postwar period doesn't go well for Tom, George, or their families. Corrupt Senator Arthur Justin (Burl Ives) buys up all the land and forces the black farmers into heavy debt. After raiders attack their farms, Tom figures out a way to find out who the raiders are. The Sheriff, however, is in Justin's pocket and tips him and Evan off. George is told to whip his friend, and only does it to save his life. Good thing Chicken George returns at this point, announcing that he has land in Tennessee...and an idea that will get Evan and his group off their backs once and for all.

Whew! That was quite a saga. Though the story lightened slightly towards the end, this is still really dark territory. As I mentioned last week, the N word is tossed around with abandon, there's strong violence, and honestly, even some of the black characters don't come out smelling like a bed of roses. The well-done drama and all-star cast still makes it worth checking out for those looking to see American history in a less-rosy light and can handle the violence and abuse.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. Foster Brooks and Sarah Purcell joined in this week, just in time for the difficult "__ Balsam" Audience Match. After an audience member gets the answer that the rest of the panel can't figure out, the panel walks out!

Finished the night with Murder She Wrote. "The Grand Old Lady" from the sixth season goes for something different. Jessica Fletcher recounts how beloved mystery author Lady Abigail Austin (June Havoc) ran across a murder on the Queen Mary in 1947. She's there when wine merchant Peter Daniken staggers in, beaten and bloody. Turns out the man was hardly what he claimed to be. Aspiring journalist Christie McGinn (Gary Kroger) smells a story and helps her solve the case and bring together a nurse who fell for a wounded soldier onboard, despite him being married. 

Cast Your Fate to the Wind

Got a later start than planned and had just enough time for a few cold-weather cartoons on The Roku Channel before work. Started off with breakfast and Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Adventures. Raspberry Tart wants to have a spring fashion show and regatta at the water fountain, the same day construction worker Berrykin Bruce planned a big water show. Strawberry gets them to compromise, first alternating rehearsals, then putting their shows together. When the fountain freezes over during a sudden cold snap and their plans are put "On Ice," they figure out how to work with the weather they have.

Switched to the original My Little Pony and Friends as I got ready for work. Strawberry and the residents of Berry Bitty City aren't the only ones dealing with surprisingly chilly weather. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" when a blizzard hits Paradise Estate in the middle of summer. The ponies enjoy it at first, until a little prince penguin tells them the snow is a plot by his father the Penguin King to freeze the world and eliminate any creature who can't handle the cold. They join him on a quest to convince the cold-hearted bird that penguins aren't the only creatures who deserve to live.

Picked up Uber slightly early...and nearly got blown into the car. It never snowed here, it but it remains cloudy and gray. The wind howled like the angry Penguin King, and it was almost as cold. At least there was no trouble than Uber. The drivers both ways took about 10 minutes to arrive and less than 5 minutes to get me to and from work.

Picked up a few things at work I missed on Friday. Used a $2 bakery items online coupon to get Irish scones for lunch and try some caramel pecan shortbread cookies. Grabbed yogurt for breakfast and a $1.99 carton of Acme generic mint cookies and cream ice cream, too. 

Work was busy almost the entire afternoon. Not only are we coming up on St. Patrick's Day at the end of the week, but today was our Senior Discount Day. And of course, we had absolutely no help whatsoever. They had to shut down the deli around 4 PM because the entire afternoon and evening shift called. They called a guy from the bakery to come in so I could go home.

Went upstairs and into dinner when I got home. Watched the second half of the Match Game '74 episode as I ate. Some of the answers get pretty wild in this episode, including Charles' weird response to what a psychic gazes into instead of a crystal ball. Jimmie Walker is far happier with the top answer for "__ Times" in the Audience Match. (And it's too bad the last two episodes of this week are currently lost. The first three were really fun, and I believe this was the last week for ever-laughing Kaye Stevens.)

Since the 7 PM Buzzr Match Game is still running the same shows they had on last week, I opted to go way back and watch one of my favorite episodes of Match Game '73 on YouTube. McLean Stevenson turns up in his seat shirtless, claiming the other men wouldn't lend him any clothes. Gene gives him his jacket...then his other one when McLean claims the first is itchy. Richard makes a crack about having to get him to the Largo, a then-popular strip club in LA.

Finished the night after a shower with Paddy O'Day. I go further into this vehicle for 30's child star Jane Withers about an Irish girl who hooks up with Russian immigrants and a shy scholar when she arrives in America at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Paddy O'Day

Spring Into Good Health

Started off the morning with reading and writing upstairs. Just started Mercedes Lackey's Firebird, which is fairly long. I love explorations of fairy tales, and it's rare that I find one based on Russian stories. The tale of a young prince who is banished after he manages to see the Firebird who steals his father's cherries. He gains magic, but his squabbling brothers aren't too happy and try to get rid of him. I've read the original version of this story many times, and I'm looking forward to this retelling as well. 

Had a quick breakfast, then dashed out around 10:55. Got to Collingswood right on time for my doctor's appointment. After they weighed me, a nurse took my heart rate, and the doctor did it again when she came in. She asked me a lot of questions about my health and my family, then checked my eyes, ears, nose, and throat. I turned on my back and front so she could listen to my heart. 

Basically, she said I need a multitude of testing done. I know I need to see the gynecologist again, and another eye exam wouldn't hurt, especially since I can now afford glasses. Evidently, my thyroid is swollen, and she wants me to call the local radiology office. Having lab work done for a multitude of deficiencies is crucial, too. She suggested the Walgreens in Westmont to check it all out. 

Cut through Collingswood after I left, making my way down to Newton Lake Park. It was too nice of a day for rushing. At that point, it remained sunny and fairly warm. It was probably in the lower-mid 60's, which may be why even Cuthbert wasn't that busy. I got across the street with no trouble, for once.

Next stop was the Haddon Township Library. Looked up several books on managing money and job-hunting, but I ultimately just grabbed the next two books in the Tea Shop Mysteries series. My worn out card wouldn't work with the self-checkout, but there was no line at the regular check-out, either. 

Rode across the street to Target after I left the library. Dr. Jessica was totally adamant that I need a bike helmet. She really sort of went on about it. I finally bought the most decent one I could get for a half-way decent price, along with one of their 50-cent composition books. Had a tomato-basil panini, vanilla bean scones, and rather tasty unsweetened black tea lemonade at the small Starbucks in the Target. By that point, it was nearly rush-hour, and there were busy. I was lucky one of the self-checkout terminals opened quickly. 

I was hoping to get my schedule today and make the calls, but as of this second, they still haven't posted them. I don't know what's taking so long. The schedules are supposed to debut Friday. I ended up writing instead. Yes, that is the Red King riding the enormous raven and bringing monstrous birds known as the jub-jub to attack them. Patti and Donald start to flee - the others follow in a hurry. Richard,  however is too busy fighting them to follow quickly...

Broke at 6:30 for Match Game '77. This was the second of two times tough gal Roz "Pinky Tuscadero" Kelly appeared on the show. Gene gives her a kiss anyway...and she's just as happy with it the second time around. The others get more creative with the Audience Match "Loaded __" with a broad-shouldered contestant whom, as Gene pointed out, could probably take on the entire audience and the panel in a pinch. 

Went downstairs to make dinner after the show. Quickly threw together salmon with leftover zucchini and tomatoes, along with my home-made chicken stock. It might have been a little bland, but I left half for others anyway. 

Finished the night on YouTube reliving some wonderful childhood memories. One of the forgotten aspects of spring from the early 80's through the early 90's was the debut of many syndicated animated specials. Most of them were advertising for either new toys that were just on the market, a new playset or doll for an already-existing line, or more rarely, a comic strip or popular children's book . 

Kid video lines like Family Home Entertainment (F.H.E) and Children's Video Library put out many of them for rental (and even a few made-for-video specials later), often packaging them with random vintage shorts and/or advertisements for other specials and they released. Sometimes, as in the second and last Rose Petal Place special "Real Friends," they'd even include characters based after toys that were planned, but never made it to market. 

We used to spend whole afternoons in the mid and late 80's watching those children's video collections. You never knew what would pop up after the main program. Sometimes, you might get vintage Looney Tunes or Terrytoons or Hanna Barbara or Gumby. There might be ads for other specials they released in the same genre - Strawberry Shortcake commercials included with the Care Bears, for instance, or Transformers ads on the end of a Thundercats video. Or you might get a short picture book retelling featuring the characters, with voices, sound effects, and slight camera tricks to simulate movement. 

Fairies from 1981 is a bit more unique. It began life as a hit picture book and didn't expand into merchandise until much later. And if the Care Bears episode included here looks a lot different from the later Care Bears Family, the first two specials and the first series were animated by a different company. Nelvana didn't start doing them until they put out The Care Bears Movie. 

If you also remember those specials or the toys that inspired them, you'll want to take a trip down a song-filled memory lane of happy childhood memories!

Fairies (1981)

The Care Bears In the Land Without Feelings (1983) - full FHE recording with ads and shorts

The Magic of Herself the Elf (1983)

My Little Pony: Escape From Catrina (1985) (Uncut video version)

Rose Petal Place: Real Friends (1985)

Rainbow Brite: A Horse of a Different Color (1986)

Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World & Rockin' Back to Earth (1987)

Peppermint Rose (1992) Part 2

Eye of the Tiger

Started off a quick morning with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Shares His Tigertastic Car" when Prince Wednesday forgot to bring a car with him to the park. Dan isn't sure about this at first, until his father insists that they can take turns. "Katerina Shares Her Tutu" when she wants to use it to dance as a flower, and Daniel wants it for a lion's mane. Katerina's mom Henrietta reminds them that they can both use it. 

Dashed out shortly after. It was cold this morning and the streets were still messy, but not so cold that I couldn't ride my bike this time.  I thought I was bagging at first and almost swept the floor, but it turns out I was cashiering. I usually bag on Tuesdays. We were relatively busy, probably because Tuesday is Senior Discount Day and the Acme is less than two blocks from senior housing. At least it slowed down enough for me to get out on time.

Went straight home after work. Changed and put on Match Game '78 while having leftovers for dinner. Gene inadvertently gives the answer for the first question, leading Charles to wisecrack that Bob Barker should partner with Richard Dawson on the show they mentioned yesterday instead! Later on, Charles continues the joke as he reads Variety and Patti Deustch actually manages to get almost every question right (and when she doesn't match the contestant, she at least has the definitive answer). 

Patti's winning streak continued into the next episode as I cleaned up from dinner. Gene reads letters from a fan chastising the panel for not being more up-to-date on their music, while Brett admits how much she misses her buddy Charles when he's out directing plays. Later on, the others help them figure out "Harold __" in the Audience Match.

Mom called as Match Game PM came on and I gathered the ingredients for Ginger Molasses Cookies. No, I have not found an apartment yet, and I'm fast running out of options. Right now, it's either I find an apartment who'll accept a third-party co-signer, figure out that government assistance, or get a second job. And if I do get a second job, I'm not going to do what Mom thinks I should do and get a physical job at a store. I'm already dead tired from my current physical job. I'll look for an online job, like transcriptionist. I did sign up a few years ago, but nothing came of it. Maybe it's time to try again. 

Switched to a quick 1980's My Little Pony short as I pulled the cookies out of the oven. The First Tooth Baby Ponies are tired of babysitting the Newborn Twins and take them for ice cream. They're all disappointed when Sweet Stuff explains that the ice cream maker and the toppings maker are feuding because the former thinks his friend stole his top-secret ice cream recipe. The ponies have to convince the two to make up, before it escalates into "The Ice Cream Wars"...and worse, the Newborns get cranky.

Finished the night online with Stowaway. I go further into this Shirley Temple vehicle with her as an American orphan raised in China at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Honoring Chinese New Year - Stowaway (1936)