Dolls On National Night Out

Began the morning with breakfast and Little Bear. "Auntie Hen" is preparing her home for lunch when Little Bear brings her chick nephews and nieces to visit. They wreck so much havoc inside, they end up eating at Hen's picnic table. Little Bear would love to "Play Ball," but he's angry that Emily took his ball without asking. Emily's angry at him for making fun of her baseball uniform. It takes the actual game to patch up their hurt feelings. "Lucy's Okay," even after Duck accidentally sits on her and they hold a mock funeral for the doll.

Had no trouble getting to the Acme on time this morning and on my bike. That's about the only thing that did go right at work. Work was a pain in the rear end from beginning to end. It's the beginning of the month and the day seniors get a discount. I had no help, either. The bagger who was supposed to help ended up in a register again. I kept getting behind on carts. I'd fill them, and they'd vanish again. I was very happy when I finally finished and got out of there.

At least the weather was pleasant. In fact, I think this is supposed to be the nicest weather we have this week. Sunny, breezy, hot, a little humid, but nothing like yesterday! For all the trouble, I did have a pleasant ride home, and it wasn't bad gathering carts when I could get out.

Returned to cartoons during lunch with Paw Patrol "Sea Patrol" episodes. "Pups Save a Water Walker" when Mayor Humdinger steals Francois Turn'bot's new water walking boots, intending to turn Turtle Island into part of Foggy Bottom. Not only did he completely ignore the fact that the island is a turtle habitat, but he can't control the boots. The pups have to go after him. "Pups Save a Windsurfer" when they save an older lady and her friend from an underwater and island volcano that are about to go off.

Switched to the 2002 Strawberry Shortcake as I finished eating. Peppermint Fizz is the only one who refuses to accept newcomer Rainbow Sherbet. She lives on a houseboat, and her life revolves around the water. She's too different for Peppermint. Strawberry holds "The Costume Party" to show why differences are nothing to be afraid of.

Dressed the dolls for August next. Kit, Samantha, and Molly wear their historically-accurate bathing suits I found on eBay. Jessa's purple tropical-print modern bathing suit also came from eBay. Ariel and Whitney's bathing suits were gifts from Lauren. Lauren also gave me the purple sundress with the lace jacket and hot-pink pineapple print. I can't find a historically-accurate bikini for Barbara Jean, so she gets to wear that for a summer date. 

Josefina and Felicity come from time periods where swimming and bathing weren't considered ladylike. Felicity wears her lavender striped Traveling Gown and second "meet" outfit. Josefina is in the pretty beige flowered dress and beige moccasins I found her in.

Listened to CDs while I worked, starting with finally getting all the way through American Musical Theater Vol II. The Cradle Will Rock, an opera about a steel worker who attempts to unionize against a miserly boss, was so politically charged the government tried to shut it down before it opened. Writer Marc Blitzstein ended up playing the piano for the cast while they sang their parts from the audience. Howard DaSylva gets dark title song. They weren't the only show to have trouble, either. Porgy and Bess wasn't a hit in its original 1935 run, though songs like "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" eventually put it over by 1940. Pins and Needles was a very similar revue from around the same time, though far more comic in nature. Ruth Rubenstein sings about being a "Chain Store Daisy" who has to sell to men instead of chase them. 

Two of the big names in this time period couldn't have been more different from another. Kurt Weill specialized in groundbreaking concepts and odd fantasies featuring brittle leading ladies like Gertrude Lawrence, who introduced "Jenny" in Lady In the Dark, and Mary Martin, who joined Kenny Baker to introduce "Speak Low" in One Touch of Venus. He also wrote the wistful "September Song," which was introduced by Walter Huston in Knickerbocker Holiday. "Tchaikovsky" had very little to do with Lady In the Dark, and everything to do with the performer who introduced the wild patter number about Russian composers - Danny Kaye. Cole Porter, on the other hand, went in for goofy shows with sassy belters like Ethel Merman. She introduced the title song of Anything Goes and "Friendship" with Bert Lahr in DuBarry Was a Lady. Mary Martin became a star singing Porter's sexy "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" in Leave It to Me. 

All of that changed when Oklahoma debuted. Rodgers and Hammerstein's romantic comedy-drama led a revolution where stories got meatier and songs and dances now had to have some relevance to the plot. The version of "Soliloquy" heard here is from the original cast album of Carousel and has a passage Hammerstein cut after opening that is heard nowhere else. For some reason, they use the 1966 revival of Annie Get Your Gun with Ethel Merman, Bruce Yarnell, and Jerry Orbach singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" instead of the original. Irving Berlin himself sings his own comic number from This Is the Army, "Oh How I Hate to Get Up In the Morning." St. Louis Woman wasn't a hit, but it did give us the gorgeous ballad "Come Rain or Come Shine."

Put on Diana Krall as I cleaned up the dolls' boxes and shoe hangers. Quiet Nights mean just that, soft ballad and bluesy numbers. There's standards here, too, "Where Or When," "Too Marvelous For Words," "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry," and a really lovely version of "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face." Of the newer numbers, I liked the title song and "So Nice" the best.

Rested while watching the first three episodes of Remember WENN. Decided to rewatch my favorite TV show in honor of its 30th anniversary this year. "On the Air" introduces Betty Roberts (Amanda Naughton), who has just arrived at Pittsburgh radio station WENN in 1939. She won a writing contest, but erudite station manager Victor Comstock (John Bedford Lloyd) isn't impressed until her script saves a broadcast.

"Klondike 9366" brings in perky ingenue Ceila Mellon (Dina Spybey) and shows us more of husband-and-wife acting team Jeff Singer (Hugh O'Gorman) and Hilary Booth's (Melinda Mullins) contentious relationship. Celia is tossed into the fray when she and Jeff host Victor's latest radio creation, a late-night call-in talk show. It just ends up with crossed lines, until they help a little boy (Nick Holmes) keep a prowler at bay. 

Victor and Betty are caught between "A Rock and a Hard Place" when wealthy Mr. Action (Barton Heyman) wants to create a slam-bang action show. However, that would mean canceling Pittsburgh Public Library Theater and upsetting another influential sponsor, Mrs. Mellon (Irene Worth). While Victor tries to figure out how to appease both of them, Ceila tries desperately to avoid Mrs. Mellon...and Betty learns she wasn't entirely upfront about how close she was to the Mellon family. Good thing Betty can keep a secret (something she'll be doing a lot more of in the later seasons). 

Headed out after "Rock and a Soft Place" ended. I dropped off a book at the kiosk in front of what used to be the Oaklyn Library, then headed down to West Clinton. The Oaklyn Police Department held their National Night Out at the parking lot between the school and Tonewood Brewery. They were giving out free bags of popcorn, water ice, hot dogs, bottles of water, and very thin slices of pizza. I had two slices of pizza and one of everything else. Ate while watching older kids slide around and jump triumphantly out of a sports-themed bounce house. There was a Mickey Mouse-themed bounce house for the younger kids. 

I had just come back for cherry water ice when the police announced a pie-eating contest. Actually, it turned out to be more of a Reddi-Whip-in-the-pie-pan eating contest. Two cops competed against a line of kids. They were all utterly hilarious to watch, kids and cops alike! I think one of the older boys ended up winning. I finally went home as mothers wiped their children's whipped cream-covered faces and the cops grabbed lots of napkins.

Caught the last Match Game '76 episode of the night when I got in. Jimmie Walker spent a lot of the week enamored with a very pretty contestant who made her own clothes. Richard Dawson was happier to be between Elaine Joyce and Fannie Flagg (and their shapely figures).

Put on more WENN after Match Game ended. Movie and theater star Grace Cavendish (Patti LuPone, the first of three Broadway divas to appear on the show) makes a special appearance at the station in "There But for Grace." Hilary Booth is furious. She never forgave Grace for stealing her part in Razzle Dazzle. Grace is really there to see Victor, whom she once had a relationship with. Betty's not too happy either when she catches them renewing said relationship. Victor, however, is married to the station and the artistic freedom it brings. Meanwhile, Hilary is determined to get rid of this interloper, or at least give her the stomach ache of her life. (Look for LuPone's performance of the title song, the first of two times on the show you'll hear its lyrics.)

Finished the night at PBS Kids with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Strawberry Shortcake and her friends aren't the only ones who learn that it's not so bad for our friends to have different interests. It's "Pizza Day at School." Dan wants to be "pizza buddies" with Prince Wednesday, but doesn't understand why he prefers broccoli over green peppers. Likewise, Miss Elainia tries to get Katarina to try finger painting, but she prefers painting with a brush. "Daniel and Jodi Like Different Things" when they play at the beach. Dan doesn't like to be squirted with a squeezy whale. Jodi's brother doesn't want his feet covered with sand, but he loves to help make sandcastles! 

Let's Go to the Mall

Got a quick start this morning. I grabbed breakfast, then called Uber. I had a longer trip planned for us today. Fortunately, I had no trouble whatsoever getting a driver. The woman taking us to the Deptford Mall arrived in 10 minutes. The man going home came in 3! There was no traffic either way, not even on the highways. Everyone must be at the Shore. We got to the Round 1 at Deptford within 15 minutes

Wanted to get Round 1 in before we were hauling around a lot of packages. I had even more fun today than in Philly yesterday! I spent almost an hour and a half running from Bust-a-Move to skee ball to Centipede Chaos to giant Pac Man to ring toss. Got Princess Peach on Mario Kart and came in second on the Bowser's Castle course. No luck on the big cranes, but I did get a mini Pooh Tsum Tsum (cylindrical Disney character stuffed animal) from one of the small cranes. I got over 3,500 points, enough for a well-made denim tote bag with a smiling plush strawberry on the front pocket and another Beanie Baby, a fluffy pink cat named Lady. Lauren had more luck with the cranes and managed to get two (one for a co-worker), plus her own mini Tigger Tsum Tsum.

We briefly peeked at FYE on our way across the mall. Lauren didn't get anything this time. I grabbed a used copy of the complete series for the short-lived Bird of Prey TV show from 2002 for $5.99. I figured, I have the first two seasons of the Supergirl show. Why not give Batgirl equal time? 

Red Robin isn't far from FYE, so we had lunch there. They were pretty busy for just after 1 PM when we arrived. I had their new Crispy Fish Sandwich with pickles and cabbage slaw, fries, and a dirty coconut soda. Lauren had a berry lemonade with their new crispy chicken sandwich with hot sauce and broccoli. She said the chicken sandwich was really good, and the hot sauce added just the right zing. My fish sandwich was yummy. The fish was huge, and the cabbage slaw complimented it nicely. The coconut soda was really good, too, and I love their big salty steak fries.

We were in and out of stores for the next two hours. Lauren didn't find anything at Boscov's. I finally got a pair of Clarks' "Cloudsteppers" walking sandals there for $44. The pair I bought last year were falling apart (wearing them in torrential downpours twice last week didn't help). I got the exact same pair in beige, and they're just as comfortable this year. We both looked around Toys R' Us but didn't get anything. Lauren found a Harmony Bear Care Bear with her original triple-heart tummy symbol at Miniso. 

She got shirts at Macy's and used the bathroom at JC Penney. I didn't bother with Macy's (I rarely find anything there) and went to the bathroom at JC Penney's, then picked up a coral t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts to replace the pair that's starting to go in the thighs. Lauren got three shirts and sweaters off BoxLunch's clearance rack, including a Garfield sweater I couldn't find in my size. I did get a cute Strawberry Shortcake/My Melody t-shirt and a Hello Kitty and Friends computer pad (my blue computer pad had drink rings and was curling at the edges) from the clearance rack for buy one, get one half-off, along with a Sailor Jupiter pen. 

After we finished at BoxLunch, we figured it was time to warm up a bit and headed across the street to Barnes and Noble, past Aldi's, the Tractor Supply Company, and the new breakfast restaurant. (They're still working on Nordstrom Rack.) Lauren went to Old Navy, but had no luck. I finally found the new Shady Hollow mystery Mockingbird Court by Juneau Black (I've been waiting for more Shady Hollow mysteries!) and two Disney soundtracks on record, Cars (in a nifty picture disc) and the brand-new live-action Moana. (I also picked up an adult version of Wizard of Oz called West of Wicked, but...um...paging through it later in the evening revealed that it's overly violent and a bit too adult for me. It'll go to Goodwill or one of the kiosks. Considering this is the second time in six months I grabbed what sounded like a romantic adult retelling of a classic story that got too adult, I really need to take a better look at these books before I buy them if I'm not familiar with the author.) 

I met Lauren around quarter of 6, and we went across the street to Red Lobster for dinner. I'm so glad the Red Lobsters in my area are still open! We had an absolutely delicious seafood dinner. I had shrimp scampi, shrimp Alfredo, and broccoli...and there was so much, I didn't finish the Alfredo. Lauren had scampi, Alfredo, fried popcorn shrimp, and fries, and she ate everything but the fries! Even with us having two cheddar biscuits each, we still had three to bring home for later in the week.

Took out the trash when I got home, then went straight in the shower. I finished the night watching American game shows that were adopted in Canada in honor of Family Feud Canada running on Buzzr. To be fair, most Canadian adaptations of American shows are pretty close to the originals. Those who are offended by the Steve Harvey Feud here in the US may prefer the Canadian version hosted by comedian Gary Dee, which has an identical set and somewhat less naughty questions. The 90's Canadian Supermarket Sweep also resembled its American counterpart, with a slightly different set, different-colored sweaters for the teams, and a much cuter host, Tino Monte (who also wore ugly ties). 

For some reason, the English-language Canadian version of Match Game in 2012 used the 1990-91 version, up to and including the Match-Up round (only one per show here) and Star Wheel, as its basis. Otherwise, it's just as funny as its American counterpart later in the decade, and only slightly less raunchy. Darrin Rose was the host. Caroline Rhea, who anchors the panel here, would later turn up in the 2016-2021 ABC show as well.

The Canadians have been adapting our shows since at least the 60's. Their Beat the Clock from 1970 originally featured American Jack Narz as the host, until he got tired of communing. Announcer Gene Wood took over from him, the only time he'd get to host a show. This is also the only version of Beat the Clock to have celebrities helping out with the stunts (rather than playing the game). Narz's little brother Tom Kennedy is the celebrity in the episode I have here. 

They occasionally adapted shows that didn't go over well north of the border. Pay Cards ran on syndication in 1968 and 1969, but it was never wildly popular. Canada tried it twice on their own version of syndication. It went over better in its original version from 1973 to 1975 than as the revamped Super Pay Cards! from 1981, which is what I have here. 

Monty Hall, himself Canadian, struck out with game shows in his native land. His 1980-1981 version of Let's Make a Deal ran into the same problem that the more lavish Pitfall with Alex Trebek did around the same time. The production company went belly up after a year, and he never did get paid. He did slightly better with a revival of Split Second. It too only ran a year, but at least there was no chicanery and everyone got their money and prizes. 

Take a summertime trip to visit our neighbors in the north with these delights from the land of hockey, comedy, and some pretty funny Feuds!

Beat the Clock (1970)

Let's Make a Deal (1981)

Super Pay Cards! (1981)

Split Second (1986)

Supermarket Sweep (1992)

Match Game (2012)

Family Feud Canada (2024)

Rainy Day In the Library

Began the morning with breakfast and Paw Patrol. "Pups Save the Sea Turtles" when baby turtles hatch across the road from the beach. They have to find a way to get the turtles across the road without touching them. "Pups and the Very Big Baby" have them helping a baby whale who has accidentally gotten stuck on the beach get back to her worried mother.

Did a few things online after that, but I think I lingered too long. It was just cloudy, breezy, and cool when I headed out on my bike. Dropped King Arthur in the book kiosk on Johnson Avenue, then drove down to the Westmont Plaza. I got a Horschata Frappucchio at a very quiet Target Starbucks. It did taste like a horschata drink, or at least enough like rice and cinnamon to drown out most of the coffee flavor. Headed to Sprouts a few doors down next. Culture Pop soda was buy one-get one. Coconut milk is just cheaper there. Got dried cranberries and raspberry-lemon mango slices out of the bulk bins and a turkey sandwich and vegan sea salt caramel chocolate chip cookies on clearance. 

I was trying to pick a sandwich when I heard what sounded like rain on the roof. Sure enough, when I looked up as I made my way to the bulk bins, it was pouring. It slowed down a bit as I made my way to the Westmont Acme, but I still got wet. At least neither the Acme nor Sprouts were any busier than Target had been. Restocked strawberries, soda, puffcorn, granola, granola bars, and yogurt at the Acme. Found coconut macaroons on the bakery clearance rack. Got a bagel to eat with the kids tomorrow on their long half-day. They had Fresca in 20 ounce bottles for the first time in ages, too. 

Rushed home across Newton Lake Park after I finished. On one hand, the rain had taken a temporary leave of absence at that point. I got home damp, not soaked. It's just as well that the path over the hill would have been too muddy for me to push my bike over. I noticed construction workers fixing the path alongside the hills as I went past them.

Put everything away, then had a really quick lunch while watching the 2003 Strawberry Shortcake. "The Play Is the Thing" when Strawberry and her friends have to find other plans after their garden party is rained out. Inspired by the girls teasing Strawberry about her tattered raincoat, they put on "Cinderella"...and learn a lesson in appearances and true beauty being on the inside.

Though it wasn't raining at that point, I still called Uber. I wasn't going to trust Mother Nature again. The first driver came in 13 minutes and got me there a bit late. The one going home came in 11 minutes. No traffic either way.

On one hand, we only had 15 younger kids, 8 of whom came with me to the bathroom. The kids were already antsy when we had to start in the library again due to a school assembly. They didn't improve much once we got into the cafeteria. Two of the little girls tried to hide under the table again, while two others pushed at each other, and one girl put out her legs and blocked people from sitting next to her. On the other hand, I got to admire all of their stuffed animals. This must have been stuffed animal day, because they all had at least one, from a little girl toting a giant Figment dragon from Epcot who was almost bigger than her to the girl who brought an adorable reindeer with a light-up nose who would move his legs when you flipped a switch on his stomach. 

I think you can guess that no one went outside today, not even the older kids. We moved the remaining 12 kids to the library around 4 PM. They were so noisy, running around, playing under tables when they weren't supposed to, trying to hide in corners, I told them all to sit down, because I wanted to talk to them. That worked. I told them that the other teacher and I were disappointed in them for not listening. Running around was outside behavior, not library behavior. Only one of the boys was actually sitting down, making windmills and satellites from bristle blocks. 

I coaxed one of the girls out from under the librarian's table by pointing out that, for once, the magnetic tiles were completely free. She and I built a lovely little garage for a wooden car sitting on the table. One of the girls was so impressed with our work, she built a lavish pen for the reindeer with the glowing nose and moving legs. Another girl ended up helping her. A boy sat down and built a nifty space station. When the pen almost fell over, I pushed it back up and told the girls if it broke, we could build it again and make it better. 

The other boys set up chairs and pretended to race each other until they got bored and started running around again. Thankfully, by that point, the head teacher had come back from dealing with a few other kids. She finally got the kids to clean up by telling them we all had to do it together in 30 seconds, or we wouldn't go in the cafeteria! That got them. They moved even faster than when they were pretending to be racing cars. Wish they behaved that well in the cafeteria. The older kids were supposed to be playing a game where one kid hid, then another, and one kid had to ask the others questions to figure out who was missing...but they kept peeking on the kid who was hiding. They were so noisy, the remaining 3 younger kids and 5 older ones were having a 10-minute time out when I left.

Went right in the shower when I got home, then made a quick dinner and watched Match Game '74. They've moved on to the week with Bert Convy, Louisa Moritz, and Kaye Stevens of the infamously noisy cackle. The last episode of the night brought in another famous Burt, Reynolds in this case, who came to visit his friend Charles Nelson Reilly. He kissed Louisa, then gave the female contestant a kiss on her cheek that I bet she never washed off. Bert Convy had even more fun beforehand, running off with the contestant after she won the head-to-head round!

Finished the night with Let's Face It at YouTube. I go further into another service comedy, this one with Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, and Eve Arden, at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy Memorial Day! - Let's Face It

Birthday Lady's Blues

Began my birthday with breakfast and The Yogi Bear Show. Kellogg's wants "Yogi's Birthday Party" to be a huge TV special with all his friends. Ranger Smith tells Yogi it's going to be one of the variety specials that were popular in the 60's and 70's. Yogi takes lessons (from thinly veiled spoofs of then-popular entertainers), but takes off when he discovers he's not more talented than the average bear. It takes a picnic basket to lure him back and reveal it's a show with all the Hanna-Barbara funny animals who had been created up to the early 60's.

Switched to Paw Patrol while making the bed (and removing several blankets it's now too hot for). "The Pups' Great Race" will be all around Adventure Bay. They're sure one of them will win...but when they're called to rescue Mayor Goodway after her hot air balloon flies away, it's Alex on his trike who proves slow and steady does win the race. "The Pups Take the Cake" when they help Mr. Porter replace the cake he burned and make the perfect edible recreation of their Lookout Tower that will beat Mayor Humdinger's entry in the Tall Cake Contest.

Headed out after the cartoon ended. Originally, my first stop was Peak Secondhand, a new thrift shop in Audubon, but I forgot they don't open until noon on Tuesdays. I was there a little after 11. I didn't want to hang around, so I dodged traffic going across Audubon and down Nicholson and Cuthbert to Westmont. At least it was a nice day for a ride. It was sunny, breezy, and humid even at 11:30, already in the upper 70's-lower 80's. 

When I got into Westmont, I first went across the street to Samaritan Thrift, but they didn't have anything that interested me. Stopped at Koupa Espresso Bar for an iced drink when I went back across Haddon Avenue. Had a Chai Cherry Latte. Oooh, spicy and very sweet...and very cherry! I downed that pretty fast. They were pretty busy for almost noon, mainly with people getting drinks and reading their phones.

Phidelity Records down the block had a lot more of interest. In fact, I found two out of four of what I picked up right away in the New Arrivals bins. The others came out of the $2 bins or were in CDs and DVDs: 

Bette Midler - Broken Blossoms (Which it turns out I already have - I'll donate it to Goodwill.)

The 1977 K-Tel collection Stars

A Peter Pan Superman book and record set from 1978 with the stories "The Myzptlk-Up Menace" and "Alien Creatures"

The Who - Hooligans (2-disc greatest hits collection)

The one CD was Carole King's Greatest Hits. (Which I also already have and will also be donated.)

The DVD was the 1959 Lil' Abner, which means yes, I'll be reviewing that on the Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog sometime in the next few months. I've had the original cast album since college, but I haven't seen the movie.

Rode down to Collingwood for lunch. Made up for the line at Sabrina's Cafe on Easter by having them for my birthday...and boy, am I glad I did! The lemon-raspberry poppyseed pancakes off their seasonal menu were incredible, soft and swirled with raspberry lemon cream. The turkey bacon was a little more limp than the Westmont's thick bacon...but probably a lot better for me. I washed it down with a tart (and much-needed) lemonade. They were busy, but not so much that I couldn't get a table in the back.

Walked around in Collingswood for a little while after I ate. I didn't linger too long here. Not only was it past 1 PM, but a lot of Collingswood stores are closed on Tuesday. Collingswood is holding their big Green Festival on Saturday, too, and it's also Record Store Day. I'll hold off on Innergroove until Saturday, but I did pick up a few things from Collingswood Music:

Two vintage children's albums, Strawberry Shortcake's Exercise and Fun Album and Sesame Street Happy Birthday! (Not only did the Sesame Street album have the wrong record in it, but it was badly scratched. It goes in the donation bags.)

Beach Boys - Smile (I think it's a bootleg, but it has two of the Beach Boys' best songs, "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations.")

I heard my phone go off when I was in Collingswood Music. I called it back when I got outside. It was Allyssa from Camden County, telling me she was having trouble getting me through that loan. They don't count the Healthy Kids job because I've been there slightly less than a year, and I don't make enough at the Acme job to pay for a loan. That really hurt. I assumed that getting a second job, and one that I loved, would be enough. I feel like nothing I do will ever be enough for these people. She said she'd keep trying, but I was bitterly disappointed when I headed across the street and back to my bike. It was late, and I had to dodge kids coming out of Collingswood High School. I ended up being five minutes late to Thomas Sharp.

I felt much better when I arrived and got settled in with the kids. I had many happy birthday greetings, from kids and adults. One cherubic little miss gave me a bag with candy, a fruit bar (which I appreciated - I forgot a snack), rubber bracelets, and a card she drew herself of her and me together. (I think her parents wrote "Happy Birthday." They have very nice printing.) Later on, one of the boys gave me his own artwork. 

We started off in the library due to the music class taking place in the cafeteria. I'm glad I took my 10 kids to the bathroom first. They were all antsy, though they generally weren't that rowdy. They were better once they had their snacks and a lot of water. We waited a little while until the big kids were outside before we took the little ones out. It was beautiful, but so hot! Most of them either looked for ants or people walking dogs under the big shady trees or hung out in the shade of the slide equipment. Those who ventured into the sun danced to "Sharks In the Water," "The Big Pink Tiger," the theme from Bluey, "Try Everything" from Zootopia, "Zoo" from Zootopia 2, "Pink Pony Club," and songs from Moana 2 and KPop Demon Hunters.

Jessa's car has a bike rack, so she said she would pick me and my bike up at the school. What she didn't add was Mike was with her again. I was once again very disappointed. I was hoping we could spend time together on my birthday. Don't get me wrong, Mike is a nice guy. He's funny and he tells good stories...but I was hoping it could be just the two of us. He did pay for dinner at Carraba's Italian Grill in Maple Shade, which was pretty pricey. I had ravioli stuffed with chicken, spinach, and cheese. Jessa had grilled chicken in a wine sauce with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Mike had chicken Parmesan with mashed potatoes. We all had salads. They had Caesar. I had the "house," lettuce, carrots, and red cabbage in a creamy dressing (with olives and banana peppers that I picked out). I had a tasty peach-blackberry fold over tart for dessert.

Finished the night listening to old favorites from my childhood and teen years. I've had The Wild, the Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle on CD for so long, I forget when I got it now. I think Mom may have had the LP when I was a kid. This and Greetings from Asbury Park always hit the hardest of Bruce Springsteen's albums because...what he's describing was my world, from the time I was born through my college years. "The E-Street Shuffle," "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," "Incident on 57th Street," "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"...that's the Jersey Shore I remember. There's a reason Springsteen is called "the Boss" in his native New Jersey. Even though he's from further north (and I believe still lives up there) and Cape May and Wildwood were in largely better shape than Asbury Park in the 70's and 80's, it still sounds and practically smells like my childhood and adolescent memories.

Elton John's Greatest Hits Vol. III features the John songs I grew up with. "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" and "Little Jeannie" used to play constantly on the jukebox at the Ugly Mug in Cape May during the 80's. "Mama Can't Buy You Love," "Sad Song (Say So Much)," "Empty Garden," and "Blue Eyes" were heard constantly on the radio. I think it's hilarious that the kids seem to have fallen in love with Taran Egerton's recording of "I'm Still Standing," given that came out around the time I was their age and I loved it just as much. 

Spring Foolin'

Began the morning with breakfast and The Pirates of Dark Water. "Andorus" is the first episode of the series proper, picking up where the original four-episode miniseries left off. The group's attempt to gather supplies is interrupted by Bloth, who chases them to the titular land. It's here that Tula discovers she's an ecromancer - she can heal and control nature. She and Teron use their magic to help Ren get to the treasure here before Bloth and his men do.

Called Uber after the cartoon ended. It's just easier to take three Uber rides on my double-shift day than it is to try riding my bike. No trouble with any of the drivers here. The one going to work came in 6 minutes. I had a harder time getting one to Thomas Sharp, but they finally came in 9 minutes. The one going home took 11 minutes, not bad at the height of rush hour.

The Acme wasn't busy when I arrived. It picked up slightly later, but it was never overwhelming. I did have to put away a cart filled with cold items someone didn't want. Otherwise, I was mostly outside, and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. It was hot, sunny, and breezy, in the lower 80's by noon. Most people are probably waiting for Easter weekend to do their shopping. 

After I changed, I grabbed two more Easter cards and a container of coconut macaroons on the Clearance rack before heading to the post office. I wanted to get the cards out quick as possible, so I set them up there and sent them out. I figured the post office would be busy during the lunch hour, but it was just me and the ladies behind the counter.

Had lunch at Tu Se Bella's next. I wasn't that hungry, so I just had a simple slice of cheese, slice of mushroom, and a Diet Pepsi. They surprisingly weren't busy either. I ate my lunch while listening to a show about excellent food trucks going in the background.

Since I had some time, I strolled across the street to explore the other stores. I dug through the Squishmallow bin at Five Below, but didn't get anything there this time. I did dig out a CD and four records at Goodwill:

The soundtrack from the 1976 pirate movie Swashbuckler

Tale Spinners for Children: Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (The United Artists version of this British children's album series)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle (Disney children's retelling of the segment from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, plus another Washington Irving story.)

Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra - Dreamy Serenades 

Bette Midler - Bette of Roses was the one CD.

After Uber got me to the school, I went straight inside. Good thing I got there only slightly late. We had 24 kids, 10 of them at my table. It was the same deal as the day before. The ones at my table were just fine. We went to the bathroom second, so they had a little more time to play with magnetic tiles. A few of them were a little rowdy at the bathroom, but it could have been worse, especially after I explained that they couldn't block the hallway. The custodians have their offices in that hall, and the boiler room is there. They needed to get through.

Once again, the trouble was in the cafeteria after snack time. They were all running around, screaming, yelling, hitting each other, calling each other names and then tattling about it. The head teacher kept ten of them inside to talk to them. Once everyone was out, things generally went much smoother. We still had to argue a couple of them back into their shoes and put the kibosh on another "no shoes" party, but they mostly had a wonderful time chasing each other and dancing to "Try Everything" from Zootopia, the themes from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bluey, and PJ Masks, and songs from The Little Mermaid, Moana, and KPop Demon Hunters. 

By 5 PM, we were down to 4 kids, most of whom were complaining about being hot. It was still sunny and 80 degrees, breezy but also a tad humid. They were just taking the kids inside when I decided it was too hot to walk and I was too tired and called Uber.

When I got home, I went straight into Match Game '90. Most of tonight was devoted to the week with Jimmie Walker, Jo Anne Worley, and hilarious comedian Bob Sarlatte. Jimmie happily flirted with a female contestant, while Bob tossed out some darn funny quips.

Finished the night at YouTube with a lot of childhood memories. From the early 80's through the mid-90's, toy companies would debut half-hour specials devoted either to a new toy line or around additions to an existing line in the spring or summer. They generally turned up in syndication or as specials on Saturday morning, though a few rated prime-time slots. Most of these are all but forgotten today, like the Victorian-themed Rose Petal Place or the nature mythology of The Magic of Herself the Elf. Fairies is a unique rarity - it's based on a book rather than a toyline and looks more like the Lord of the Rings animated films. 

One has a special place in my heart despite being unknown today. Dad bought our first VCR in the winter of 1985. The first moves we took out (from a long-gone store in Rio Grande) were The Charmkins and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We'd tape Willy Wonka off The Disney Channel in the late 80's, but I wouldn't see Charmkins again after that video store closed until it turned up on YouTube.

By the early 90's, tighter regulations regarding advertising and children's programming and a change in viewing habits had largely brought an end to the whimsical toy-based specials. One of the last was Peppermint Rose from 1993. I vaguely remember the dolls these were based on, but I never heard of the special until I was an adult. Too bad, because this is one of the better ones. I like how sassy Rose is, and that she genuinely changes throughout the special and learns to be independent and care about others. (Like most of these specials, it's also extremely of its time - check out the random rap battle mid-way through.) 

If you also can't remember a spring without caring bears, nature-guarding elves, singing flowers, and sassy Peppermint Roses, you'll want check out these specials for a blast of warm-weather nostalgia, too.

Fairies (1981)

Care Bears In the Land Without Feelings (1983)

The Magic of Herself the Elf (1983) 

The Charmkins (1983)

Strawberry Shortcake's Housewarming Surprise (1984)

Rose Petal Place: Real Friends (1985)

Peppermint Rose (1993)

It's Really Truly Spring, Charlie Brown

Began the morning with breakfast and The Bernstein Bears' Easter Surprise. I went further into this 1981 special at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog for Easter 2023.

Easter Short Subject Special - The Bernstein Bears' Easter Surprise

Headed out to run errands after the Bears ended. For one thing, it was too gorgeous of a day not to. It was sunny, breezy, and warm as could be, in the upper 70's by noon. I strolled down Johnson and up to the big WaWa on the White Horse Pike to get money for the rent. Tried a Raspberry Chip Smoothie, too. It was delightfully tart and cooling, with real raspberry and chocolate chips mixed in. Stopped at Family Dollar on the way home to get Easter cards (and forgot two - I'll pick them up after work tomorrow). 

Put on Yogi the Easter Bear while I got the cards ready. Ranger Smith is incredibly nervous about this year's Easter Jamboree. The super-tough park commissioner is bringing his grandchildren, and he expects them to have the time of their lives. He's really furious with Yogi when he doesn't act "smarter than the average bear" and eats all the Easter candy. Yogi and Boo Boo go off to find the Easter Bunny so he can replace the lost eggs and candy and end up having to save him from a pair of truly bizarre plastic-obsessed villains who want to replace the Bunny's real eggs with their fake ones.

Watched It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown during lunch and as I got ready for school. Each of the Peanuts crew prepare for spring in their own way, from Peppermint Patty and Marcie's hilarious attempts to color eggs to Sally going shoe shopping and Snoopy getting Woodstock a new birdhouse. Don't bother with all the fuss, says Linus. The Easter Beagle does that. Sally's more than a little skeptical after the Great Pumpkin incident at Halloween, but Easter Sunday brings more than one surprise for the kids!

Despite the nice day, I called Uber for a ride to Thomas Sharp. Jessa was picking me up later. Considering how late I called, I surprisingly got a ride in 6 minutes. I even had a little time to rest in a little garden before I went inside.

Good thing, because it was crazy today. We had 24 kids, 10 at my table. My kids behaved just fine. They all cleaned up this time, and they weren't that bad in the bathrooms. It was after snack time when the trouble started. They were absolutely wild in the cafeteria, running around, screaming, calling each other names and then tattling on each other. Even worse, one of the teachers called out so late, they didn't have time to replace her. It was just the head teacher and me today. The head teacher had to gather a rather large group of them to tell them that name calling isn't nice, tattling is for emergencies, running around and climbing under things is for outside, and they need to remember that we're all in a small space without a lot of room for all of that.

Things went much better once we got outside and the kids were able to enjoy that hot weather. To be honest, it was too hot. It was almost in the 80's by 4 PM on the last day of March. I had to take several kids inside to use the bathroom, and then to fill their water bottles, but they behaved much better when there was only a few of them. When they were on the playground, they happily ran around, looked for tiny pinecones on the ground, and danced to "Try Everything" from Zootopia, "Zoo" from Zootopia 2, the theme from Bluey, "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" from Lilo and Stitch, "Ghostbusters," and songs from The Little Mermaid, Moana, Tangled, Encanto, and KPop Demon Hunters. 

By 5 PM, we moved the remaining 6 kids to the blacktop to play with the 9 remaining older kids. I stayed slightly longer to help with them, since Jessa didn't arrive until 5:30. They were down to 3 older kids and 2 younger ones when Jessa arrived with a newly cleaned-out car.

We had no idea where we wanted to eat, so we drove around a little. Jessa originally suggested Freddy's, a burger-and-hot-dog fast food chain in Cinnaminson, but we spied something far better behind it. Hibachi Grill and Buffet's enormous size belies its location in a generic shopping center. It was huge and gorgeous in there. The bright center area with the food counters are between rows of warm dining areas hung with Japanese paper umbrellas and separated by graceful wooden trellises. I had sushi, a spring roll, salad, two pan-fried pot stickers (I gave one to Jessa), a meat skewer, coconut shrimp, two steamed mussels, a spring roll, fried rice, a little bit of baked white fish, chicken and broccoli, and for dessert, a slice of white cake with tasty vanilla ice cream.

After we got home, I watched the last episode of Match Game '90, then finished the night with Spring for Strawberry Shortcake. Strawberry is worried that winter is taking much too long to recede. If spring doesn't come soon, she won't be able to plant her berries, Orange Blossom's trees won't bloom, and Ginger Snap won't have grain and eggs to make her delicious cookies. Huckleberry Pie and Custard the Cat are more interested in goofing off than helping. Strawberry, Orange, and Ginger go in search of spring...and learn a lesson about putting duty before pleasure, the importance of spring's place in the calendar year, and that working together not only gets the job done faster, but is a lot more fun. 

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. 

Autumn Blue and Gold

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and a spooky episode of the 2002 version of Strawberry Shortcake. After getting scared in the woods during a hike, the kids are convinced "The Blueberry Beast" lives in that spooky old house. Strawberry is determined to prove that their imaginations are running away with them, and just because the house is in bad shape doesn't mean the owner isn't nice.

Headed out to run errands next. I had donations to drop at Goodwill, then went around front. Found a brown cowboy hat that was better than the one I picked up a few years ago, a disc with the Lord Peter Wimsey episodes Clouds of Witness and The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, the first season of Boardwalk Empire, and two CDs: 

Barenaked Ladies - Snack Time

The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Boogie Woogie Christmas

Had lunch at Antonio's Pizza on Market Street. They're a pretty typical hole-in-the wall in a small shopping center that likely hasn't been remodeled since 1972, if the blonde wood paneling and Formica booths are any indication. They do make great pizza, though. The tomato-basil-mozzarella and mushroom were excellent. Washed them down with a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. Stopped quickly at Desserts By Design a few blocks down and got a chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream icing and fall sprinkles. I said hi to the lady working there, but she was busy dealing with customers and didn't have time for talk.

Took the longer way home down Market Street and across the border of Audubon and Westmont. It was too nice to not be out and enjoy the weather! The sun was shining, and although it remains windy, it was also warmer, probably in the upper 60's-lower 70's. Couldn't have been a nicer day in October. The leaves are finally starting to change colors here, too, turning shades of burnished gold and russet that glowed in the mid-afternoon sun.

Put on spooky-themed episodes of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at home while I got organized. Tigger convinces Piglet to tell a scary story of "The Monster Frankenpooh," but Piglet (and Pooh) get a little too caught up in it. "Things That Go Piglet In the Night" has Piglet running off when he hears scary noises in the night, and the rest of the Hundred Acre Woods residents chasing after him. It's a "Pooh Moon" when the group is camping and Pooh thinks the moon is made of honey. While he and Piglet try to find if this is true, the others think they were abducted by the Grab-Me-Gotcha.

Went to work even before the cartoon ended. The kids were really antsy today, not helped by the younger ones ending up having snacks in the library due to the school's music class running late. I had trouble taking five of the girls to the bathroom. The two smallest took forever to come out. The three older ones wouldn't stop running, laying on the floor, and yelling in the halls. They fooled around so much, they accidentally knocked down a banner hanging on the walls. I wasn't happy with any of them.

It's a good thing we ended up spending the rest of the session outside. The kids got to let out that pent-up energy and enjoy the gorgeous day. Frankly, it was too beautiful to have them play inside. I did have to argue over the swings with some of the kids, but I also had a nice chat with two of the younger girls later in the afternoon, and the one boy who needed to use the bathroom was a perfect gentleman. It was so gorgeous, we just turned the few remaining younger kids loose with the older kids playing ball games on the black top when I left.

It was too nice to go straight home after work. I rode around in West Collingswood for a little while instead. West Collingswood Heights is the neighborhood between Newton Creek, Route 70, and the two Pikes. Though there's a few newer houses and condo rental buildings, most of the houses date to between the late 1800's and the 1930's. Some of them are actually quite lovely, with their turrets and wide porches.

I watched Studio 666 when I got in. This was originally going to be my musical review for tonight, but...this spoof of slasher flicks featuring the Foo Fighters wasn't really a musical. Though it did have some amusing moments, it was mostly way too bloody for my taste. Doesn't help that I'm not that big of a fan of the Foo Fighters, either. The Foo Fighters rent a house where another hard rock band supposedly died in the 90's, only to be stalked by the same killer who eliminated the band. This is strictly for fans of the Foo Fighters, hard rock, or cheep, bloody horror.

My actual review ended up being Murder In the Blue Room. I go further into this equally cheap but far more palatable horror murder mystery at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Murder In the Blue Room

Ramblin' Woman

Since I already packed the novel I was reading, I started the morning with two American Girl books about vacations. Samantha Saves the Day when the boat she and the twins Agnes and Agatha took to Teardrop Island floats away. She has to navigate the twins and the kindly Admiral through the Sharp rocks around the island during a storm. Felicity Saves the Day reunites her with her beloved horse Penny. Her equine friend proves to be instrumental in helping her find her father's runaway apprentice Benjamin and convincing him to return to her father's service.

Lissie and Sam are far from the only ones to have eventful vacations! Paddington Takes the Road when he repairs a tricycle and joins the Tour De France. Of course, Paddington being Paddington, he goes down a steep hill, only to realize he forgot to add brakes. Donald Duck has an even worse time in The Grand Canyon. He falls off his burro, and Mickey has to take a raft though the rapids to rescue him.

Switched to the 2002 Strawberry Shortcake during breakfast. "Strawberry's Big Journey" takes her, Orange Blossom, Angel Cake, and a worried Ginger Snap on the road to see a certain flower at Tangerine Torta's home. Angel Cake and Ginger Snap complain about getting lost, and they encounter a young mechanic named Banana Twirl who wants them to stay in her little town. Even though things don't work out the way they planned, Strawberry reminds them that the important thing is they had fun on the way.

Mickey and Minnie go on their own adventure "Around the Clubhouse World" in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Professor Ludvig Von Drake has them get stamps on a passport from each country they visit. They encounter artist Donald and flapper Daisy in France, Goofy as a gondolier in Italy, Chip and Dale ready for the Dragon Dance in China, and Big Pete reveling in Egypt, a land where cats are gods.

After Mickey ended and I finished making the bed, I figured it was time to go. Soon as I had my bags downstairs, I called Uber. No trouble there whatsoever. He picked me up in 6 minutes and got me there in a little over 20. There wasn't even much traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway for once. 

Normally, I love walking around in 30th Street Station. It's a huge old barn that looks more like the lobby of an expensive hotel and makes me feel more elegant just being there. It's also in the midst of a years-long remodeling. The stained glass windows are blocked by scaffolding, and the stores are replaced by narrow booths. I got a pumpkin spice donut and a matcha latte at Dunkin Donuts, then sat down to read. After I got tired of sitting, I used the bathroom, then walked around until it was time to get in line.

No trouble whatsoever with either train. The train going to New York was full, but I did manage to get a seat to myself. I ate lunch and did crosswords. It got in about 15 minutes late, but that could have been worse. Bought a big soft pretzel outside of Moynihan Train Hall. Used the bathroom inside, then had a snack in the main hall and walked around until I saw a line for the train to Albany. The train was actually going to Chicago. I got to see the outside of the sleeper car and dining car. 

The train stopping at Albany left on time and arrived on time. It was full until we left Poughkeepsie, then most everyone got off, and I finally got the seat to myself. Before that, the lady who sat next to me spent the two and a half hours we were on the train reading. I colored Cheer Bear and Funshine Bear in the ancient Care Bears coloring book that goes so far back, it's based on Adventures In Care-a-Lot from the late 2000's. 

I love the view going to Albany. All you see in New Jersey are train tracks and suburbs. Upstate New York is a fairy land of shining lakes, beautiful old mansions, forbidding factories, bobbing boats with crisp sails billowing in the breeze, and lacy suspension bridges. No wonder Washington Irving thought there were Headless Horsemen running around in the area. 

Lauren was there right when I got in. She had her own adventures to talk about as we drove to Outback Steakhouse on Wolf Road about 20 minutes from the train station. She did a "buddy walk" with some of her co-workers that was really a long hike. Needless to say, between her hike and my long travel day, we were both famished. Neither of us are the biggest steak fans, but Outback does have other meats. She had seared ahi ahi tuna on a bed of vegetables, with green beans and mashed potatoes. I had grilled chicken with green beans (they were out of any other vegetables) and a baked sweet potato. We shared a Bloomin' Onion and brown bread. Oh yuumm! It was all so good, the only things left after we finished was half of the bread and a quarter of the Bloomin' Onion.

Finished the night after we got home and I took a shower with the Match Game Saturday Classics marathon. The classic cop show CHIPs was just getting started when Match Game was finishing its run on CBS. Brianne Leary, who appeared as a cop in its first year, actually turned up on Match Game before the show was even conceived. She was a contestant in 1976, and won quite a bit of money, too. She became the only contestant to later appear on the panel when she turned up for several weeks in 1979. Robert Pine (later the father of actor Chris Pine) was actually a semi-regular who appeared fairly frequently from 1979 through 1981. Randi Oakes did a few weeks during the syndicated run in 1980, and she and Pine would both later turn up on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. 

Let's hit the highway with the members of the highway patrol and keep the streets of LA safe for matching in these hilarious episodes!

Match Game Saturday Classics - CHIPs Actors on Match Game Marathon

Sweet End of Summer

Slept in again today. I had a quick snack for breakfast while watching the 2003 version of Strawberry Shortcake. Strawberry's boat-loving friend Rainbow Sherbet is "A Princess Named Rap. " Rapunzel is a tomboy who would rather be sailing on the ocean or climbing trees than learning to be a proper princess. Her teacher Sour Grapes keeps locking her away in higher and higher towers, trying to keep her focused on her studies and away from her friends Strawberry and Huckleberry Pie. It's not until she uses her nautical knowledge to save Sour Grapes and her boat from a storm that her teacher understands that being a princess is about a lot more than fancy hairstyles or perfect manners, and that each girl has their own way of being a princess.

Headed out after I finished writing last night's entry. I had just enough time to treat myself to lunch out in honor of the summer program coming to an end. The Legacy Diner was surprisingly not that busy, despite it being quarter after 1 when I arrived. I had huge, tasty blueberry pancakes with lots of butter and syrup and enjoyed every bit of them.

Went straight back to Oaklyn after that and to the school for the last day of the summer program. I sat with the kids during snack time, listening to the girls chatter while I ate a granola bar. I was pleased with how kind they were to the head teacher's autistic nephew, whom she had brought with her, as well. I had more trouble getting all of the kids to sit down and draw. They kept running around. It was even worse over with the Legos. One of the boys threw a fit, kicking Legos around until the teachers scolded him and got him to pick them up and bring them back to the table.

We ended up calling free play time almost 40 minutes early and moving everything, including the art supplies, to the cafeteria where the pre-schoolers played. I guess they needed to clean the gym. Half of the kids resumed drawing there with me, while the other half played with the magnetic tiles or the giant life-sized Connect Four board. 

I drew me walking around on the Atlantic City boardwalk to illustrate what I plan on doing for the rest of the summer. Finished the scene from the first dream sequence in Hilary and the Beasts, with Pavla attacking Hilary, Jeff, Scott, Betty, and Maple (I ran out of room for Victor) at the cafeteria, then did Maple with the blinded Victor from Maplepunzel before the session ended and we had to clean up for good this time. I even got a couple of donuts. Apparently, the pre-school teachers bought donuts to share and weren't able to bring them all home.

One of the parents gave the teachers $5 gift cards to WaWa. I had already planned on getting some kind of a treat after I finished, so that was my next stop. Considering it was well past 5 by that point, they too weren't that busy. Everyone must be on vacation. I got a rich, tasty Chocolate Banana Smoothie (made with real bananas). 

Listened to The Story of Who Framed Roger Rabbit when I got home. Yes, it's what the title says...but instead of the usual syrupy woman or stoic man heard in these retellings, we have a hilarious, perfectly deadpan tough-guy narrator. Not only do they include all of the major story beats, but the narrator actually suits the story and the time period depicted (post-World War II Los Angeles) really well, and even gets a few good lines in their own right. Honestly, if you're a fan of Roger Rabbit, I highly recommend tracking this down, even if books-and-records aren't normally your thing. It's hilarious.

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts while the record was on. Music literally helps soothe the savage beast...or at least, tames the bad magic in his head. Maple's Christmas carols and Betty's gentle presence helps Bear through his pain long enough to break several pages of code. Meanwhile, Troll is still trying to get Hilary to marry him...and she's seriously considering saying yes. There's just something about him that is so...familiar, even if she doesn't want to admit it...

Watched Match Game Syndicated during dinner. The first episode featured Phyllis Diller (in a wild purple cloche hat) and Fred Grandy, but the remaining shows switched to the week with Robert Walden and Judy Landers. This prompted quite a few jokes about Judy's...er, assets...along with Charles' attempts at macho jokes when he wore a football jersey.

Got my schedule at this point as well. As it turns out, I barely have any hours next week...which is fine by me. Work has been nothing short of a royal pain lately. I even work late enough next Saturday to have plenty of time for the Farm Market in the morning. 

Finished the night with the last of my recent record acquisitions. The Jungle Book is actually a vintage Golden Records retelling of the original Jungle Book, Letting In the Jungle, and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. As such, all three stories are extremely truncated, especially Jungle Book - the record is barely a half-hour. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi comes off best, maybe because it's a short story to begin with.

The Best of Bachman Turner Overdrive says So Far on the cover, but it does feature what would be their two biggest hits, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" and "Takin' Care of Business." There's a couple others that are still pretty well-known now. I like "Let It Ride" and "Take It Like a Man." 

Out In the Sunshine

Began the morning with breakfast and two fairy-tale Silly Symphonies. "Three Blind Mice" are a trio of mini-musketeers who do their best to avoid the captain of the cats. "Babes In the Woods" retells "Hansel and Gretel." Here, though, Hansel is turned into a spider by the witch, and the kids are rescued by little dwarfs who attack her. 

Hurried out the door for my mammogram appointment as soon as the cartoon ended. Not only was I late getting out, but Cutthbert and Haddon Avenue were messes...more than usual. Cuthbert where the Westmont Acme is was in the middle of being repaired, and I think they were doing some repairs on Haddon, too. Thankfully, I was only about a minute or two late when I arrived at South Jersey Radiology, just over the border of Haddonfield and Westmont.

The mammogram appointment is pretty simple. I got in. I signed some papers. I changed into a wrap. They squeezed my chest for 20 minutes. I got out. It hurt a little bit when I had to turn to the side, but just standing straight on wasn't a problem. At any rate, it took me less than a half-hour before I was on my way again.

Treated myself to brunch at the Haddon Diner, just two blocks down Haddon Avenue from South Jersey Radiology. They're a much smaller and older diner than some of the others around here, with really nifty wood and vinyl booths decorated with painted flags and star stencils. I was pretty hungry and couldn't decide what I wanted, so I went with the breakfast combo. I had two limp pieces of bacon, one delicious, fat sausage, decent but slightly bland scrambled eggs, and two fluffy pancakes with lots of butter. Tossed in a fruit salad so I could get some vitamins in there.

The reason I made the appointment for the mammogram today was I'd already planned on going grocery shopping anyway. Thankfully, they were done with laying the road on Cuthbert by the time I headed to the Westmont Acme. Mainly needed yogurt there. Found a new flavor of Kind Granola Bars on sale. Had online coupons for more of those yummy cookie sandwiches from the bakery; got carrot cake. Grabbed soda and sparkling water. Picked up Pure Silk shaving lotion on a decent sale. Got a gift card for a friend's birthday next week.

Sprouts was only slightly less busy than the Acme had been. Mainly wanted dried fruit here. Found "Pina colada pineapple chunks" on clearance. Got dried cranberries out of the bulk bins. Picked up snickerdoodles on clearance (though I had a hard time ringing them up), soda, sparkling water, and coconut milk.

At least the weather was decent for the running around. It's still sunny and a bit humid, but it was also much cooler. I don't think it got out of the mid-80's today. 

Headed home after that. Watched the 2003 Strawberry Shortcake while I got organized. "Toto's Tale" takes Strawberry and Pupcake to their own version of Oz. Sour Grapes is the witch trying to steal her silver shoes back. Orange Blossom is the Cowardly Lioness, Ginger Snap is the Scarecrow, Peppermint Fizz is the Tin Woodsgirl, Huckleberry Pie is the Wizard, and Plum Pudding is Glinda.

Switched to Remember WENN next. Scott's Aunt Agatha (Jan Miner) causes chaos when she visits the station. Seems he told her he's "Scott Sherwood of the FBI," WENN is a field branch, and the others are agents. Betty and Scott jump through hoops to keep her from finding out the truth...until a seemingly real agent (Tom Tammi) turns up, and Scott and Betty begin to realize Aunt Agatha was ahead of them from the start.

Scott's fibbing really gets Betty into trouble - and him over his head - by the time of "The First Mrs. Bloom." He's been telling the sponsors of their bridal show that they marry real couples on the air...which becomes a problem when said sponsor (Julie Haggarty) turns up to oversee the show. She's also Mackie's former fiancee Penelope whom he left at the altar, and now she thinks he and Betty are getting married on the air. They seemingly go through with it so Scott won't get in trouble, but Penelope knows Mackie better than that.

Spent the rest of the afternoon watching something unique on Tubi. I found a series of low-budget, but spooky and charming retellings of various fairy tales set during periods in American history. "King Thrushbeard" became "Bristlelip," a sweet Regency romance. "The Frog King" had a princess who looked a bit like Samantha, and a king and Prince in Edwardian suits. "Jack and the Dentist's Daughter" was a hilarious retelling of "The Master Thief" with a mostly-black cast set in the South during the early 30's. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel" was a darker Edwardian romance, "Hansel and Gretel" an unsettling Depression-era tale. "The Goose Girl" was a Colonial fantasy with a merchant prince. "Soldier Jack," set in the post-World War II Midwest, had a soldier literally cheat death to gain a free house and win the President's daughter...then regret it when no one can die.

If you're as big of a fairy tale fan as I am, you'll want to look up these at Tub under The Brothers Grimm: American Folktales Part I and Part II. 

Oh, and I got my schedule at this point. In good news, more hours. However, they're all early, and this time, I have a day on Friday. At least I'll be able to get my grocery shopping done then. 

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Hilary brings Betty her breakfast at her typewriter the next morning. Betty's typing because she didn't sleep well the night before. She dreamed of the man in the white tuxedo meeting her in the library. He brings her pink roses and first shows that he can read (or mouth the words of books, as he remains silent), then tries to point out the European news on Newspaper. 

He finally ends up holding her, and they're about to kiss when the troll-like monsters appear. He fights them, but is overwhelmed and held to the ground. The largest monster tells him he's stupid and useless, and will be a tame animal to be petted and paraded on a leash by the end of the year. The creature hits Betty on the head, knocking her out and ending the dream. Hilary can't do much more than offer to bring her sister tea and toast. Betty continues to clack away, Hilary now worrying more than ever about her little sister and the strange Bear who captured her heart.

A few weeks later, she returns to Eagle's rooms. Maple's there, translating his wing gestures again. Hilary finds radio transcripts on records. She plays one, revealing the voice of Victor Comstock delivering a speech on the situation in Europe. Maple is mesmerized by his handsome, stentorian voice...but squawking Eagle is more frustrated than delighted. He ends up knocking the record off with one of his wing swoops. Maple catches it before it's more than scratched. In his fury, he knocks the papers off the desk with his wings, perches on his chair, and finally sobs into his wings. Hilary leaves Maple curled into the hurt and frustrated Eagle, his wings gently folded around her.

Moved to Match Game '76 during dinner. They mainly ran the hilarious week with Price Is Right model Anitra Ford in the ingenue seat and Greg Morris in the first seat. Richard spends the week flirting with attractive blonde contestant Darlene, who calls him "Dickie Doo," and despite her slightly nauseating flirting, ends up being the biggest winner the show had at that point.

Finished the night at YouTube and The Roku Channel with 80's anime versions of fairy tales. The Grimms Fairy Tales retelling of "Rapunzel" is an entirely straight retelling of the story...up to and including Rapunzel regarding the Prince as her husband, and him finding her with a child in the wilderness at the end.

Hello Kitty Furry Tale Theater has more fun with "Kitty and the Beast." Here, Hello Kitty is Beauty, and Catnip is her spoiled sister who comes along for the ride because fancy castle. It's Kitty who treats the Beast (Tuxedo Sam) kindly and ends up saving him from Witch Fangora's spell. "Little Red Bunny Hood" has My Melody as a Wild West Little Red Riding Hood, dodging mangy Wolf Grinder and helping cowboy hunter Chip rescue her Grandma from the outlaw Belle Catnip. 

Dolls On a Stormy Day

Began the morning with breakfast and Alice's Wonderland Bakery. "Hattie Wishes Upon a Star" during their Japanese tea festival, and is upset when the stars are covered with clouds and the wishes blow away. Alice, Rosa, and Fergie chase the slips of paper that hold their wishes, and get help from a very unlikely source! It's "Season's Eatings" when the Queen of Hearts insists that Alice's "pumpkin pizzels" should be a year-round treat. Everyone keeps buying them and buying them, until they're not popular anymore, and Alice and her friends have to think of another way to entice eaters to the store.

I gathered clothes to donate at the bin in the back of Dollar General while watching the 2003 Strawberry Shortcake. They did two fairy tales late in the series that weren't plays or dream sequences. "Sleeping Beauty" was the first. Strawberry is the Sleeping Beauty, cursed by Brambleberry Fairy because she thought they forgot to invite her to the christening. She's jealous of how all of the other fairies work together to try to lift the curse, until Prince Huckleberry reminds her that her thorns - both around her house and her heart - are keeping her from seeing the truth or accepting apologies. 

Went for a walk after the cartoon ended. I dumped the clothes bag in the bin, and then went in Dollar General for a drink...only to dash back out when I heard a loud argument between a customer who wanted her coupon back and two cashiers who couldn't give it to her. I bought 2 for $5 Gatorade at CVS instead before heading into Newton Lake Park. At least they've finally finished the playground, a green and orange melange of spiral slides and twisty monkey bars. The swing set is now yellow, and the baby swing is basically a baby seat with a restraining bolt on metal links.

I originally planned on going for a longer walk, but it was hot and killer humid, and there were dark clouds rumbling on the horizon. I dodged Canadian geese hogging the road and finally got off at the stone staircase leading up to Clinton Avenue. Rushed home as quickly as I possibly could.

(Thankfully, the clouds didn't finally burst until over an hour after I got in. We had a pretty good thunderstorm going too, with loud pyrotechnics and buckets of water. Even after the thunder finally passed, it would continue showering off and on for the rest of the afternoon.)

Had lunch after I got in while watching Care Bears Family. Cheer is excited about the "Care Bear Town Parade," even buying a fancy new outfit for it...and neglecting to help Bright Heart, Treat Heart, and Champ with their float. She spends her money on a barrette instead of giving the others her share for a new car. When a certain strange car seller (Beastly) turns up with a snazzy pink and purple limo for all the money they have, she thinks she's found the perfect vehicle for them...until it turns out it's a trap by Beastly to destroy the parade and Care Bear Town. 

Spent the next few hours dressing the dolls for the 4th of July. Whitney's ready to show her new dance moves in the 4th of July Parade in the AG Dance Dress and tap shoes borrowed from Molly. (The red shoes that go with the dress are coming apart.) Samantha is ship-shape in her Middy Dress and black and white boots. Jessa sports a more laid-back red t-shirt from the original Blue Jean Basics and the shortalls from the Earth Day Outfit. Molly's ready for camp in her Camp Gowanigan uniform and saddle shoes. 

Josefina's in her Indigo Skirt and Camisa, while Ariel gets a patriotic peasant shirt Lauren sent a while ago and red satin shorts from Julie's original Skating Outfit. Felicity is light and airy in her white cotton Summer Gown with the wide blue and white sash. Barbara Jean is the only one old enough to pull of a brief pink and blue Terry cloth romper with her own white shoes.

Listened to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella while I worked. Known as Bad Cinderella when it played Broadway, Cinderella is "bad" because she's a realistically unattractive and spunky young woman in a kingdom that is completely obsessed with appearances. Her friend Sebastian is the prince whose mother insists on him having a ball to find a bride after his brother dies. Cinderella insists on changing herself to attend, but learns a lesson in being yourself when it's her...the dirty, spunky her...that Sebastian really wants. 

This is...ok. It plays its parodies of cultures obsessed with conformity and superficial beauty as broadly as possible...which, to be honest, gets kind of annoying. Cinderella is less "bad" than she is "generic misunderstood." Though her "I Know I Have a Heart" isn't bad, Sebastian gets the lion's share of the the decent material, including "Man's Man" and "I Know You." Ok if you love Webber's other work or Cinderella stories like me, but nothing you need to go out of your way for.

Switched to writing after I finished the dolls. The ladies all wake up the next morning to discover massive headaches...and that they all had the same dream. Hilary is more worried about Jeff and what Pavla did to him than she'll admit. Betty wonders about the protective larger man, why she recognized him, and why they were attacked first. Maple's mind is mostly still tied up in ribbons, roses, and cute intellectuals with lovely whiskey eyes, but even she'll admit she was afraid when she couldn't rescue the guy or Betty.

Betty is only slightly surprised to see a kindly old cat-man (Mr. Eldridge) turn up at their door to fetch them for breakfast. They try to question him, but he either dodges them, or doesn't seem to understand. He'll only tell them that they have to figure it out for themselves.

Watched Our Town as I worked. I go further into this poignant musical version of the play where Frank Sinatra introduced the standard "Love and Marriage" at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On TV - Our Town (1955)

Watched Match Game '73 as I ate dinner. Yes, they jumped back to the beginning again, but this time, they're at some of the most delightful episodes of the first year. Jim Backus made his only appearance and Patti Desuch her first in the first week. "Mama" Cass Elliott became one of only two rock stars to appear on the 70's-80's Match Game in the second. 

Finished the night with game shows for the whole family. Families go way back in game shows. The Parents Game from 1972 was a Chuck Barris attempt to recapture that Newywed Game magic. Here, couples who either have children or are expecting them answer questions about how to raise them. Yeah, pretty generic. It wasn't enough to keep it around for more than a year.

The undisputed family game show champ was and remains Family Feud. The episode I have here is from early in Richard Dawon's run, right after he gave up on Match Game. Watching the two groups of families work together to get the answer and some of their funner mishaps can be a lot of fun.

Nowadays, families are more likely to be competing in stunt shows. Family Game Night and The Game of Life are two early game shows on the Hub before it became Discovery Kids. I can see why Family Game Night was the bigger hit of the two. Watching two families playing games based on beloved Habro board games is delightful. The Game of Life asks its questions on a CGI playing field that hasn't dated well. The stunts played at the end are a little to perfunctory, too.

Family Double Dare did far better with stunts in 1990. It's the same Double Dare, with daring and Physical Challenges, but here, we have families playing, rather than just kids. The big prize at the end of the Obstacle Course isn't a trip, but a car. This would be just as popular as it's other spin-offs, and remains just as much fun to watch.

Celebrate the 4th of July with your family in these hilarious showcases of family dynamics and parenting!

The Parents Game (1972)

Family Feud (1979)

Family Double Dare (1990)

Family Game Night (2010)

The Game of Life (2012) 

Fools and Games

Took so long finishing Burning Water (which was too dark and bloody for my taste), it was late when I finally got moving. Watched Alice's Wonderland Bakery while I ate. Alice and Fergie are surprised when they learn that "Another Alice" has been delivering subpar versions of her Teacup Cakes. They follow the clues to find out who the imitation baker is. "Fergie Plays the Palace" after the Queen of Hearts hears him playing his trumpet for his friends. The kids try to turn his number into a huge production, but Alice finally figures out that some recipes - and musical numbers - work best with simple ingredients.

Messed around on the computer, then took the laundry downstairs and stripped the bed. The weather is supposed to be off and on warm this week, but even the mid-50's is too warm for turtlenecks and wool trousers. It's time to get the spring and summer clothes out, toss the spring/fall sheets on the bed, and shed a few blankets. It's also time to see what I need for the season. I could use a plainer lightweight skirt that's appropriate for interviews and to replace 

Threw on a couple of animated specials and episodes about baseball and enjoying the game while I worked. I went further into The Berenstain Bears Play Ball (along with the Easter special Peter and the Magic Egg) at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog last March.

The Berenstain Bears Play Ball

Angel Cake has similar problems on the 2003 Strawberry Shortcake. Angel is used to having complete control at her bakery and making each cake look perfect. "Angel In the Outfield" learns that it doesn't work that way with sports when she isn't very good at the ball games her friends play. She tries not to storm off in a huff, but her anger and bad behavior gets worse every time she joins in, until she won't even let them borrow her ball. It takes watching toddler Apple Dumplin' goofing off with her pet Apple Ducking to make her realize that playing games with your friends is about having fun, not being perfect.

It was past 3 PM and I had just put the laundry in the dryer when I realized I hadn't had lunch yet. Not to mention, I had some books to drop off at the kiosk down the block. After I left them there, I headed to Capitol Pizza on the White Horse Pike. They were surprisingly busy for past 3 PM. An older man watched the game show America Says on the monitor; a kid on his way home from school ordered a take-out treat. 

I had a slice of cheese, a slice of mushroom, and a bottle of Diet Pepsi while joining him for America Says. This cross between Hot Potato and Family Feud has two groups of people from different professions each guess the answers to a survey questions. The first letter of the answers are provided. If one group misses an answer, the other can finish the question. The bonus round has the winning team identifying top answers to a survey question, with the answers increasing with every question. No wonder this was a five-year hit for Game Show Network and continues to re-run there. The game-play is fast-paced and funny, and host Joel Michael Higgins is adorable.

Originally thought of getting ice cream, but I still had a lot of work to do at home. I have a lot of oatmeal cookies left, too. Not to mention, though it was above-average warm for late March, in the upper 70's, it was also above-average humid, cloudy, and windy. This was no day to linger. 

Went right back upstairs when I got in, brought the clothes upstairs to sort, and dropped the sheets and blankets in the washer. Put on Hook, Line, and Sinker at Tubi while I worked. Wilbur Boswell (Bert Wheeler) and Addington Ganzy (Robert Woosley) are insurance salesmen who are out selling their wares when they come across runaway playgirl Mary Marsh (Dorothy Lee). Mary just inherited an old hotel from her uncle and wants to do something with it. Addington convinces her to restore it and attract a wealthy and elite clientele. 

What they attract is Rebecca Marsh (Jobyna Howland), Mary's mother, and the lawyer John Blackwell (Ralf Harolde) whom her mother wants her to marry. Turns out John's involved with a group of unsavory gangsters who are after the contents of the hotel safe. Another gang is interested in the smuggled goods stashed in the basement. Both groups do everything they can to scare the guys and Mary off or force them to reveal the password for the safe, including getting into a shootout in the hotel lobby.

I have to admit, Wheeler and Woosley have grown on me over the years. While not all of their movies have dated that well, a lot of their wiseguy schitck still works. Woosley in particular is a riot wooing Howland, and Lee and Wheeler are too cute together. This is in the public domain, so it's pretty easy to find if you're into them or 30's comedy.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated after the movie ended and I brought the sheets upstairs. (I brought the blankets up earlier - the sheets hadn't dried all the way.) I really wish Diana Sorvino had come back. She wasn't a bad player and could be pretty funny, especially when flirting with a handsome young contestant. Betty and Charles even helped her hand around spaghetti and meatballs on the second-to-last day of the week. Former Miss USA Marjorie Wallace returned the next week, joined by Fred Grandy and Gary Crosby. 

Finished the night after dinner and a shower with more very funny game shows. Comedy-driven game shows go back almost to the beginning of television. Groucho Marx's You Bet Your Life started on radio in the late 40's. Groucho would interview goofy or funny contestants, then ask them a few questions for increasing amounts. It was an even bigger hit on TV, where you could see Groucho and his cigar and duck and all the wacky people who flummoxed him. In the episode we get here, he interviews a hilariously down-to-earth older woman from Maine and a guy who does some rather bad celebrity impressions. 

Ernie Kovacs and his wife Edie Adams had just as much fun in the late 50's with Take a Good Look. This spoof of panel shows like What's My Line had Kovacs introduce a celebrity guest, or someone who had done something unusual or had a strange occupation...then join two other actors to perform skits barely related to the subject at hand. Hans Conried, Caesar Romero, and Ben Alexander join Adams to figure out how all this leads to who the person is or what it is they do. 

Two of the undisputed winners among comedy game shows are Match Game and Family Feud. Though Match Game had more of an uphill climb than Feud (which was a hit out of the gate), they both went through multiple incarnations and remain wildly popular in re-runs. (In fact, at press time, Steve Harvey's Feud is still going strong in syndication.) This early Feud episode from 1976 and Match Game episode from its peak in 1977 give us an example of why both shows remain beloved and influential to this day.

The wild success of Match Game prompted the creation of other celebrity-driven comedy panel shows.  Celebrity Sweepstakes ran on NBC from 1974 to 1976. Two contestants try to guess which of six celebrities could correctly answer questions read by handsome host Jim McKreil. It's played as a horse race, with the audience given tip sheets on each panelist's strengths and weaknesses and giving odds on whether they can answer the questions. Not only are their wisecracks funny, but the format is really unique, and I love the colorful set. I hope more of this one turns up eventually.

Purely comic shows had a rougher time of it in the more conservative 80's. The Joke's On Us is something of a comedy variation on Liar's Club. Four comics begin a joke, and the contestants have to decide which punchline is the real one. Not bad. The comics, here including Fred Willard and Soupy Sales, are having a lot of fun, though the jokes range from groaners to corny to still hilarious now. Monty Hall keeps the comics in line and delivers a few groaners of his own. 

Cable channels could get away with a lot more weirdness. Remote Control was the first game show on MTV. Host Ken Ober is a goofball who lives in his basement and obsesses over TV shows. Three college kids are strapped into recliners and answer TV and music video-related questions. The student with the lowest score is dragged into the wall half-way through. The winner moves on to the bonus round, where they have to name nine music videos in 50 minutes. My sisters and I loved this show in the late 80's, and despite the very 80's set and attitude, it remains hilarious to this day. We even get a local battle here, with two of the students being from Drexel and Rutgers New Brunswick.

America Says is far from the first funny show on Game Show Network. National Lampoon's Funny Money from 2003 also involved stand-up comics doing their schtick. This time, host Jimmy Pardo would ask a question. The contestant who answered the question would choose a comedian to perform for 45 seconds. During each performance, when the laugh meter reached the green zone, the contestant would get the advantage on the next question. Round two had the comedians giving funny captions for pictures, with the contestants guessing which would get the most laughs, while the third had them trying to remember the comedians' routines. In the bonus round, they'd get to remove a piece from the board to reveal a scene from a comedy movie every time a comedian hit the green zone.

Complicated, but the comedians and their routines could also be pretty darn hilarious. It's too bad this one doesn't seem to have worked at Game Show Network and only ran a few months. I wonder if they could try reviving it, maybe simplifying the game play and eliminating the National Lampoon name. 

Comedy game shows continue to this day. Funny You Should Ask, a semi-revival of the 1968 series of the same title, started in 2017. Six comedians are asked for their answer to a trivia question. The contestant has to decide if they're right or wrong. The bonus round has the winner answering multiple-choice questions with only one real answer. 

No wonder this is still going in syndication at press time. The gameplay is simple, the set is colorful and stylized, and the panel is hilarious. I especially loved Tiffany Haddish and Jon Lovitz in the early episode seen here. Louie Anderson appeared so often, the chair he sat in apparently now has a plaque that says "Louie's Chair." I'll definitely be looking for more of this one.

Celebrate April Fool's Day tomorrow and the start of spring with some of the wackiest fools to ever grace game shows!

You Bet Your Life (1956)
Take a Good Look (1961)

Celebrity Sweepstakes (1976)

Family Feud (1976)

Match Game (1977)

The Joke's On Us (1983)

Remote Control (1987)

National Lampoon's Funny Money (2003)

Funny You Should Ask (2017)

Oh, and the thunderstorms did finally roll in around quarter of 9. It's been storming off and on - including high winds and buckets of rain - ever since.