The biggest difference is the inclusion of six songs, none of which would make it onscreen. Truth be told, that could be because they aren't all that great. My favorite is the delicious march "Money" for Scrooge as he tells Mickey Cratchit why buying and selling is important to him. The chorus numbers "Under the Mistletoe" at Fezziwig's party and "What a Wonderful Christmas Morning" are also kind of fun.
Headed off to work even before the album ended. Work was no problem at all, and I didn't really think it would be. The Eagles didn't play until tonight. Most people are getting ready for the holidays right now. Not to mention, the regular Sunday bagger was there to sweep, do inside work, and help with the carts, and they're still training all those new cashiers. Even when it started to pick up around noon, it still wasn't that bad. I was in and out with no trouble. The weather largely cooperated, too. It was chilly, windy, and a little cloudy, but not rainy like it was late last week. Even the clouds had largely vanished by the time I rode home.
Grabbed a few things on my way out. The reason I bought apple cider yesterday was to try a recipe for Apple Cider Pound Cake I saw online. Thought it might be something different I could contribute to Thanksgiving. Picked up the eggs and butter I'd need for the recipe. Found those yummy pumpkin pecan cookies on the clearance rack, too, and I needed a new box of baking soda for my mini-fridge.
Finished Dickens' Christmas Carol when I got home, then ran two more holiday children's albums. Walt Disney Studios Presents Merry Christmas Songs is a two-disc set that came out in 1978. I actually bought this for a few unusual numbers one doesn't expect to hear on a Disney holiday recording, like "Patapan," "Oh Sanctissima," and "The Westminster Carol." I also finally discovered where that annoying squeaky chipmunk-like version of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" on my Disney Christmas CD from the 90's came from. The back of the album lists it as being sung by "Ludwig Mousensky and His All-Mouse Orchestra and Chorus," though I suspect that's a cheeky name for "Disney chorus members singing in squeaky novelty mouse voices."
The Care Bears' Christmas is from the height of their initial popularity in 1983. It follows the fairly simple story of the Bears waiting for Santa and being disappointed when it seems he's running late. That's pretty much it. The songs are nothing to write home about, either, and the voice actors still can't sing them, though "Christmas Without Santa" and "The Ten Bears of Christmas" are mildly cute.
Finished the night on YouTube with the second half of that Richard Dawson marathon. Richard and the show were on a roll as 1976 began, but changes were already in the air. Richard would finally get to host his own show, Family Feud, that fall. As he got more involved with Feud, he became less enamored with giving salacious answers to silly questions on a show he had far less control over. Richard's frustration resulted in no less than three major full-scale riots in 1977. In addition to the infamous School Riot, Richard protested loudly and angrily when he wrote "sat on" and said he meant to write "ate" in one episode and Ira the producer and judge wouldn't match "sack" with "bag" in another one a few weeks after the School Riot.
Richard wasn't the only person who got fed up with Ira's inconsistent rulings during 1977 and 1978. Debralee Scott and Patti Deusch backed up Richard in the School Riot when their answers were rejected, too. Betty White protested when "hips" didn't match "legs" in early '78. Richard and Gene even helped show off her hips to demonstrate.
Other episodes were far more pleasant. Sweet older lady Bertha was so shocked when she made it to the Super Match early in 1978, she just about passed out. Everyone was so kind to her. Charles gave her his chair. Johnny Olsen brought her water. The ladies fanned her. Richard got her settled. She was such a dear, and a joy to watch. No wonder they all pampered her.
My favorite episodes from the nighttime and daytime shows in this era had Richard and two of the comediennes playing the panelists on the tier above them. In the PM episode, Richard was a very funny Brett in her glasses, sipping "club soda" and using multiple cards to write answers. Betty White wore Charles' hat and glasses and retied her scarf to look like his. I have to agree with the real Charles that her attempt at his voice might have been a tad too deep, though! They did this in an earlier daytime show as well, only this time, Fannie Flagg made an even funnier Charles, and Jo Ann Pflug's huge wide grin as Dick Gautier was perfect.
Enjoy a riot of laughs with some of Richard Dawson's best episodes in this hilarious and heartbreaking marathon!
Oh, and I didn't watch the late Eagles-Rams game, but I did frequently check the score. Though once again the Eagles had a bit of a shaky first half, they eventually came back to win 37-20.
No comments:
Post a Comment