Stormy Matches

Began the morning with a late breakfast and the first disc of my Diana Ross Anthology CD set. This one covered her earliest solo hits, from the late 60's through the mid-70's. Most of her songs at this point were bluesy ballads like "Good Morning Heartache" and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand," or heartfelt anthems like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." I have fond memories of hearing these songs on the radio in my very early childhood, especially the theme from the drama Mahogany, "Do You Know Where You're Going To."

Hurried out after it ended. I didn't want to be late for work this time, but I needed lunch. I was just able to stop at Common Grounds Coffee House really quick for a Peach Raspberry Refresher and spinach turnover. Didn't even have enough time to sit and eat. I ate them quickly on the way out, but I did make it to the Acme right on time.

The Acme was a mess when I arrived. It looked like it must have been busier earlier this afternoon. I thought everyone would have gone to the Shore! It was sunny and breezy, but also hot and very humid, probably in the lower 90's. From the many people who asked me where things were, I suspect a lot of our customers were tourists on their way to or from World Cup events. The carts were so bad, they sent out some of the college boys who were cashiering or stocking to help me with the carts. Other than that, there were no major problems, and I was in and out.

When I came home, I went straight in the shower, then grabbed a quick dinner. Finished the night online with the Sunday Match Game marathon. The Love Boat had been a regular show for less than a year when the first of its three cast members turned up on Match Game. Bernie Koppel did two weeks, in mid-1978 shortly before the set changed, and later in 1980. Ted Lange had more fun during his three weeks. He got Fred Grandy to strip and give him the suit he loaned him right on the set (to Brett's delight) on one episode, then dressed McLean Stevenson in a similar white suit and cowboy hat on another. To tell the truth, McLean looked less like a chic gentleman and more like he got lost on his way to the Dallas set. As Brett pointed out several times during that episode, he had no flair for fashion.

Fred Grandy probably got the most out of his time on the show. He was a semi-regular from 1979 through 1981, usually sitting on either side of Brett. He and Bart Braverman spent a week blowing kazoos and ringing cowbells in everyone's ears. There was also the week in 1981 when a noisy, enthusiastic group from UCLA rattled everyone's nerves. He saw Gene Rayburn give Leslie Easterbrook (later of Police Academy) quite a welcoming kiss and on the PM episode where the older gentleman said he was there to negotiate returning the Dodgers to Brooklyn (and won a bundle to boot). 

Fred's last appearance was on a week of Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1984. McLean Stevenson, who was also on that week, spent most of the episode complaining about marker on his pants. Gene gave him another pair, but they were too big. He ended up showing way more than anyone ever wanted to see of him to the camera when he went to hug the contestant after the Head to Head!

Set sail with the crew of the Pacific Princess as they match wits with wild college kids and Brooklyn gentlemen alike in this hilarious marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Featuring the Cast of The Love Boat On the Panel (Bernie Koppel, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy)

Oh, and it did finally storm around 10:30-11 PM, by which time I was long at home and watching the marathon. It got really noisy at one point, too. There was buckets and buckets of rain off and on for at least an hour.