In the Fall Sunshine

Began the morning with breakfast and the Kinky Boots CD. This 2013 adaptation of the 2005 British comedy has Charlie Price (Stark Sands) partnering with drag queen Lola (Billy Porter) to save his father's floundering shoe factory by making high-heeled boots strong enough to support a man's weight. Despite being ravaged by critics, this show was a surprise hit in the mid-2010's and went on to win 6 Tonys. In fact, Cyndi Lauper became the first woman to win a Tony for original score on her own. And yeah, the story is slight, but Lauper did come up with some nice songs. I especially liked the two ballads on parental expectations and how hard it can be to be your own person, "Not My Father's Son," "Soul of a Man," and "Hold Me In Your Heart."

Headed off to work after the CD ended. There were already two baggers at the store when I arrived, so I spent most of the early afternoon outside. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. The weather was incredible today. Sunny and warm, without a hint of breeze or humidity. Couldn't have been more perfect for early October. It was busy at first, but not overly so, probably thanks to the Eagles being off this week. 

Unfortunately, the evening rush hour coincided with the other baggers going home. I was on my own for the last few hours and trying to do everything again, gather carts and clean bathrooms and sweep the store and put cold items away. Needless to say, I fell badly behind on the carts and never did finish them before I finished.

Had a very quick dinner before taking a shower. I mucked around online before a late Match Game Sunday Classics marathon started. MASH was a huge hit during the entire run of Match Game. At least three members of its cast became semi-regulars. Loretta Swit was the earliest to appear during the summer of 1973. She'd turn up sporadically through 1979, usually sitting in the ingenue seat next to Richard Dawson. 

McLean Stevenson made his first appearance during the fall of 1973, shortly after Swit. He was one of the best things about an already-wild week, including fussing that a contestant stole his gold teeth when he kissed her! He would later take Richard's seat in the last two syndicated seasons. Gary Burghoff probably turned up the most. He made his first appearance in 1974 to replace Charles Nelson Reilly while he directed a Broadway play and would be seen through the end of the syndicated series, well after he left MASH. He and McLean were on Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour several times, including a week with another MASH alumni, Jamie Farr. 

Have fun with the members of the 4077th whether they're in Burbank or Korea with this wild marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - MASH Actors on Match Game