Sunday, February 25, 2024

Sunshine and Matches

Started off the morning with breakfast in bed and listening to CDs. The stage version of Copacabana debuted in London in 1994, and despite being a hit there, it has yet to play New York. I honestly think there's some nice music in this more upbeat version of the 1985 TV movie inspired by his song. "Man Wanted," Lola's big audition number that gets her the job at the Copa, is the one usually noted. It starts slow, until Tony speeds it up, and she turns it into a showstopping dance routine. I also like Tony's two solos, "Dancin' Fool" and "Sweet Heaven," and the two ballads "Who Needs to Dream?" and "This Can't Be Real." 

Did some editing on my Wizard of Blank story for a while before calling for a ride to work. No trouble with Uber today. The one going to work arrived in 7 minutes. The one picking me up going home came in 4, and that was at the tail end of rush hour. No traffic either way.

It was all at the Acme. We were off and on busy for the entire afternoon. Must have been some really good sales. Or maybe they all just wanted to enjoy the gorgeous weather. It was sunny, breezy, and chilly, but not to the degree of yesterday. Perfectly normal for late February. At one point, the broom I use to sweep the floor vanished. Turns out one of the college kids who do bagging thought he was supposed to come in today, rather than tomorrow! Thankfully, a manager set him straight.

Once I got home, I took a quick shower, grabbed dinner, and went straight into tonight's Match Game marathon. Comedienne Joyce Bulifant started off late in 1973, when she was still appearing as Murray's sweet wife Marie on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Joyce was one of the most frequently-appearing semi-regulars, turning up throughout the entire 70's-80's run of the show. Her sunny, goofy personality contrasted well with some of the more cynical or saltier panelists around her, and she always seemed to have a good time, even when Brett or Charles were teasing her. 

She was also well-known for her odd answers that were matched only in their strangeness by Patti Deustch's. They were often accompanied by a long and rambling story barely related to how she got them. Her early dance training served her well during a 1979 episode where she and a contestant did an awesome jitterbug together. 

She could be even weirder on the syndicated show. During the week of the infamous "Kukla Friend and Ollie" answer, she wore wigs to discern her from the other goofy blonde on the show Elaine Joyce. Much later in the run, she sported fancy hats to match squeaky-voiced sitcom actress Sydney Goldsmith. That episode was wild in general. A tall gentleman gave Sydney his boutonniere on her dress, and McLean Stevenson called up his agent - a little Chinese boy. 

Swing your way into spring with the sweetest panelist on Match Game!

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