Blowing In the Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and the original Broadway cast of Young Frankenstein. After the wild success of The Producers, Mel Brooks opted to turn another one of his films into a musical. I have to admit, while this would not have been my first choice for a musical and I don't think it quite matches The Producers, it's still a fun show. Sutton Foster is hilarious as Inga in "Roll In the Hay" and lovely in "Listen to Your Heart." Roger Bart's "The Brain" and "Fredrick's Soliliquy" are hilarious, and he and Christopher Fitzgerald as Igor get the show's best song, "Together Again." I'm not as sold on Megan Mullally as Elizabeth. Her "Surprises" is cute, but "Please Don't Touch Me" and "Deep Love" are more annoying than funny. All in all, if you loved the film or The Producers, this one is honestly worth trying as well.

Switched to A Goofy Movie while having lunch and getting ready to go. Goofy Movie is about as mid-90's as you can possibly get in a Disney animated film. The anthems "I 2 I" and "Stand Up" reek of the early-mid 90's. "After Today," in which we see every teen stereotype - and Max and his friends - and their excitement over the last day of school, is much better. There's also the charming "Nobody Else But You," in which Goofy and Max admit that, no matter how much they fight over their generational differences, they still have each other, and the hilarious chorus number "On the Open Road," in which Max ignores all the weird and wild things on the road (including Mickey Mouse!) while pining for his crush Roxanne. Probably not necessary unless you grew up in the era or really love the movie, but there are some fun tracks here.

Hurried off to work after the Goofy Movie CD ended. It was cold and windy, and though the sun was coming out by the time I arrived, it and the football games beginning were likely enough to get most people to stay home. It was relatively busy early-on, to the point where I needed help with the carts again. That died around 2:30-3 and was just picking up again when I left at 6. Other than I wish the old ladies would stop telling me I shouldn't be pushing carts because I'm a woman (I know they think they're being funny, but I find it offensive - I'm perfectly capable of doing my job), there were no major problems.

Went straight home and into a shower and dinner. Finished the night with today's Match Game marathon. Comedian and impressionist Fred Travelena didn't appear on the show until the syndicated era, when he turned up alongside Joyce Bulifant and fellow comedian Phyllis Diller. Like Kaye Stevens earlier in the run, he tends to be controversial among fans. Some, like me, generally find his many, many impressions of celebrities and presidents to be funny. Others just think he's annoying and best taken in small doses. 

He did turn up on a few classic episodes. He was there for the week where McLean ditched his famous sweaters and wore western-styled cowboy shirts instead. There was also the week where the contestants just kept tying and tying and tying and took forever to get to the Audience Match. He was also around when Fannie Flagg and Lee Merriweather did that kick line to explain the Rockettes for a British woman who didn't know about them. 

Fred continued turning up through Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour and into Match Game '90. In fact, he probably did his best work in 1990. He dressed as Elvis (or a low-rent version of Elvis) in a sequined jumpsuit. In another, he helped an excitable young man become one of the biggest winners ever on that version of the show. He also saw Richard Simmons, another very excitable person, jumping around under him. 

You never know who Fred will be next in this wild and wacky marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Fred Travalena Laugh-a-Thon