Fathers and Matches

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and Billboards Top Hits 1987. There's some heavy-hitters here that were a major part of my childhood. Two of them, "Heaven Is a Place On Earth" by Belinda Carlisle and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship remain two of my favorite songs. Other memorable hits from that year include "The Lady In Red" by Chris De Bargh, "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me" by George Michael and Aretha Franklin, "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, and "I Heard a Rumor" by Bananarama. 

Headed to work even before the CD ended. Work was busy when I got in, not surprising for Father's Day weekend and a weekend where the weather was less than wonderful. Though it never rained hard, it was cloudy, gloomy, and cold all day, with occasional light sprinkles. I spent the afternoon gathering carts and the outside trash with no real problems. 

Finished the Billboard Top Hits CD after I got home and did things online, then went into Jimmy Buffett. "Come Monday" is the standard from the Ballads disc, and one of my favorites of his songs. It perfectly encapsulates that laid-back island vibe he was known for, and I was disappointed that the CD set Jodi gave me in 2021 that belonged to Dad was missing the Ballads disc. Other familiar songs here include "I Heard I Was In Town," "Little Miss Magic," and "He Went to Paris."

Finished the night with the Match Game marathon. Quite a few fathers, either ones in real-life or who played fathers on TV, turned up on the 70's-80's run of the show. TV dads and movie father figures who appeared included Tom Bosley, Pat Morita, Pat Harrington, and Michael Landon on the first week. Proud single dad Richard Dawson mentioned his beloved teen sons several times, even bringing the younger Gary onstage for his birthday. Jack Klugman also occasionally mentioned his two sons with Brett Somers. Robert Pine, best known nowadays as the father of actor Chris Pine, was a semi-regular in the late 70's-early 80's. Orson Bean had his own large brood with his wife Carolyn. Gene brought two adorable toddlers onstage in 1978. One was Donald Ross and Patti Deusch's son Max. The other was Gary Burghoff's darling little girl Gina. 

No one got more out of being a dad on Match Game than McLean Stevenson. During his 1978 appearance on the show (his first time since 1974), his lovely daughter Jennifer came up onstage near the end of the show, sporting red, white, and blue ribbons in her hair and a Star Wars T-shirt. (McLean was raising a very intelligent child there.) He'd bring two kids onstage during the syndicated era to share in the fun, a little girl named Michelle who kept giggling the whole time, and a little boy.

Share the fun with your father on these hilarious Match Game episodes!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Father's Day Marathon 2025