In the Spring of Things

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. When Mrs. Tiger's about to make a peach pie, she discovers that "Daniel's Allergy" is peaches. Dr. Anna tells him how he can take care of his allergy and avoid peaches. His friends help him avoid them too during a class picnic when he tells them about his "Allergies at School."

Caught a bit of To Tell the Truth while I got ready for work. The very funny Anne Meara took over for Kitty Carlisle in this episode. They were trying to figure out which of three men was a plastic surgeon when I came in. Half the panelists guessed big, jolly number 2...and they were all right. 

Headed off to work shortly after that. Work was quiet when I came in, but it picked up around 11 and remained steady for the rest of the afternoon. That wouldn't have been a problem if I had more help. I was the only bagger until the night shift came in. I had to gather inside trash (thankfully, the outside trash never got bad), do the sweeping, run errands and put cold items away, and round up carts. At least the day was gorgeous for it. The morning's cold and fat clouds largely gave way to sunshine and warm mid-50's temperatures by late afternoon, though the chilly wind remained all day. 

It was such a beautiful day, I took the long way home down Nicholson Road. That may not have been the smartest thing to do during the dinner-time rush hour. They were incredibly busy, especially by the entrance to the mall and senior center. Oaklyn was much quieter. Stopped to fix the strap holding my bike basket up after going over the train tracks.

Worked on writing briefly when I got in. Richard steps up to the bandits when they attack Gene and shove Gary down. He tries to appear to be uninterested, but he's really forming a plan. He tells the men he's not interested in helping anyone, just passing through. The men are ready to push him aside, too, but they don't get that far...

Switched to Match Game '76 while eating a spinach-tomato omelet for dinner. The sweet contestant at the end of this episode too so long giving her answer, Gene ended up sitting on the floor waiting for her. She put it out just before the buzzer sounded. 

Joyce Bulifant was on fire during tonight's Match Game PM. For once, she got every question right in the first round and matched the top answer on both Audience Matches. Of course, she also complained that she had nothing to do in the remaining rounds after having matched everyone. Brett had less luck helping a contestant with "___ Humor" in the Head-to-Head.

Joyce isn't the only blonde who did well tonight. The pretty blonde contestant dominated Sale of the Century. She bought both Instant Bargains, won all three Fame Games, and killed at the Speed Round. Got the Bonus Round with no trouble, too.

Finished the night at TCM's on demand website with the 1959 comedy It Happened to Jane. Jane Osgood (Doris Day) is a widow running a lobster-trapping business in Maine. She's livid when a shipment of her lobsters die because the railroad didn't check them and convinces her lawyer boyfriend George Denham (Jack Lemmon) to take the obnoxious railroad boss Harry Foster Malone (Ernie Kovacs) to court over the matter. They first try to pay her 700, but she refuses it. After Malone appeals to the Supreme Court in Augusta, George takes their ancient train as payment. Malone forces her to pay rent on the train siding, so she goes on television to advertise her plight. He then cuts off all train travel to their town. The townspeople and Jane are ready to quit, but George reminds them that it's important to fight for your rights and what you believe in.

Charming comedy is of interest to me for several cameos from familiar TV faces of the era. Gene Rayburn of Match Game turns up in a brief but funny bit as a hammy news reporter who's in town to do a story on Jane. The then-cast of I've Got a Secret, including Bill Cullen and Jayne Meadows, also get to briefly interview Jane during their show. Day and Lemmon make a cute couple; Lemmon even gets to make a big, dramatic speech late in the movie defending Jane for trying to save her business and calling the townspeople on their cowardice. Some aspects of Jane's romances with George and a handsome reporter (Steve Forrest) haven't dated that well. Otherwise, this is one of Day's better non-musical comedies and is worth swimming the lobster tank for.