I awoke to a cloudy, incredibly humid morning. Ate breakfast while watching the second half of Blockbusters. The contestant from yesterday seemed to be doing well against the mother-daughter team, but they came back at the last minute and won.
Switched to PBS Kids as I finished eating and did the dishes. I've done the nature-themed episodes of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood before, but I thought I'd do them again now that I've been able to spend more time outside myself. "Daniel Explores Nature" when his family spends time outside. He and Katerina watch cardinals build a nest and even get Dan Sr. to help when their nest is blown over. O an X the Owl join "Daniel's Nature Walk" and see a squirrel run and worms wiggle after a rainstorm.
Took down the spring decorations next. Normally, the summer and 4th of July items would be going up in their place, but I'll need to repack them in a few weeks. I'll see what I can put up of the summer stuff after I move and likely won't bother with the 4th of July decorations.
Watched Doc McStuffins while I worked. Dan and his friends aren't the only kids who enjoy being outside. Doc and her toys are "Out in the Wild" during a camping trip with her brother and dad. Her brother's toy Robot Ray has an accident with a bluebird that results in his arm breaking. Doc puts his arm in a sling until she can get back home to fix it. Doc and her friends have "A Whale of a Time" helping Lula, the Beluga Whale sponge toy from the aquarium gift shop, get enough water to grow.
Spent the next hour or so cleaning the bathroom. It needed it badly, especially the bathtub. I scrubbed not only the tub itself, but used cleansing powder on the tiles in an attempt to get rid of all gunk there. Really needed to wipe down the mirror on the medicine cabinet, too.
Returned to Buzzr and Match Game '74 while I cleaned. Fannie Flagg sported a Girl Scout uniform in the first episode as she, Pat Harrington, and Jo Anne Worley finished their run. One question asked who the dumbest answers on the show came from, Everyone but Jo Anne answered Brett, including Brett and the contestant. (I don't think that's true, though Brett tended to be better at the Audience Match and Head-to-Head.) Charles returned for the second one, along with Patti Deustch, Betty White, and Bill Cullen.
Finished out the cleaning while watching Chasing Rainbows. I go further into this early talkie backstage melodrama at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Chasing Rainbows
By the time the movie was winding down and I was putting towels in the laundry, we were in the midst of a massive thunderstorm. It did rain a bit earlier, but that was nothing like this storm. Buckets of rain poured down as thunder crashed. It started to slow down as I was eating yogurt for lunch. The rain returned later in the afternoon, but finally vanished by about 3 and hasn't returned since.
I thought I'd heard someone on the porch while I was cleaning the bathroom, but I thought I imagined it. I'd just finished lunch when I opened the door to check the weather and found a damp Amazon package sitting under the roof on the porch. Thank goodness, the DVD boxes I ordered arrived! They're stylish 60's-esque plastic boxes containing four books of 24 holders each. The boxes are a tad on the flimsy side, but they still looked better than the heavy CD books, and they can even be stacked.
Moved the action, musical, and musical documentary DVDs to books while returning to Buzzr. I'm not familiar with Lynda Cornell, but I remember Fred Grandy from the occasional Love Boat re-run during my childhood. They made a good run with their contestants on Super Password. Gary Crosby and his wife Barbara were the big winners on Tattletales, even after everyone missed a question in the beginning. Everyone kept getting slammed with Whammies on Press Your Luck. The only reason there was a new champ was she picked up a home entertainment system that cost more than the little bit that the old champ had.
Finally got some writing done around 4:30. The Evil Queen Malade easily sees through Richard's princely disguise. She still wants him to marry her or tell her where Queen Betty (White) fis. He refuses to do either. Maid Lee (Merriweather) and Charles cut in before she can do any damage.
Broke for dinner at 6. Jack Albertson and Lynn Redgrave finished out a wild week on Match Game in 1975 with Albertson accidentally giving the answer to a question, causing it to be thrown out, then with a decision against an answer by the show's judge and producer Ira Skutch that lead to a lot of arguing from the panelists. Things had calmed down by the time Nipsey Russell, buxom blonde Lee Meredith, and Joyce Bulifant joined the group. Gene and Richard happily ogled Lee, while Brett tried her best on a Head-to-Head.
I'd started pulling the musical DVDs as Sale of the Century came on. It was another tight race, with the two men neck-in-neck the entire time. The champ bought two Instant Bargains and still managed to win the speed round, with the help of a money card found in the Fame Game. After three tough wins in a row, he decided he'd had enough and opted to take an elegant grand piano home.
Went to The Roku Channel for The Patty Duke Show as I finished with the boxes. "The Conquering Hero" is the super-tall Stretch, who represents the only hope for Brooklyn Heights High's basketball team to win the championship. Patty and her dad are so desperate for their team to win, they let the boy stay at their house when his family moves to Detroit. Patty's mom and Cathy aren't as amused. The very tall boy is sweet and polite, but he eats a ton and tends to be awkward or break things. His coach (Charles Nelson Reilly) is horrified when Stretch's bad grades may not let him play. Cathy thinks of a way for Stretch to learn...and makes a friend when Stretch admits that he's tired of the adoration and feels like a freak.
Finished out the night with The Golden Girls at Hulu after the Match Game premiere on YouTube. Blanche is thrilled that a handsome stud from the gym (Charles Hill) asked her out in "Blanche and the Younger Man" from the first season. She works hard to be as young as she can for him, to the amusement of Dorothy and Sophia. Meanwhile, Rose is shocked when her mother Alma (Jeanette Nolan) wins money at the track, whips Sophia at poker, and manages to get around town on her own. Alma has to remind her worried daughter that she may be older, but she's not a child or an incapable woman.
Life is a lazy river - no matter where you are. Movies, musicals, mysteries, pop culture, and lots of other great stuff.
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
The Heat Is On
Ugh. Awoke to a hot, muggy morning. Had breakfast while watching Blockbusters. The returning lady's comeback must have worked - she was the champ and won just as I tuned in. She only missed one question on the Gold Rush bonus round and won that, too, but had a harder time with a quick-on-the-buzzer mother-daughter pair.
Switched to Molly of Denali as I finished eating and did the dishes. Molly's friend Trini is amazed at how big vegetables get in Alaska, especially "Cabbagezilla." She's convinced that a moose is trying to eat her giant cabbage. She and Molly do everything they can to keep the moose out...but the real culprits aren't what Trini thinks. Molly plays the "Name Game" when her stoic Aunt Myrna tells her that her parents and grandparents all have tribal names that describe who they are or what they love. Molly wants one too, but there's no book of tribal names in the library. Inspired by talking to her neighbors about their tribal names, she writes her own.
Went to Hulu for Doc McStuffins "Frida Fairy Flies Again!" when Doc takes a fairy kite whose wing tore on a tree branch in for repair. Trouble is, Frida is convinced she's a real fairy who can fix her wings with magic and then gets upset that the patch doesn't look like the rest of her wings. Doc and the others point out that magic won't solve all her problems, and the patch makes her unique. "A Tale of Two Dragons" introduces a robotic dragon owned by Doc's brother whose wings won't pop out. After she fixes his wings, Stuffy gets jealous of everything this newcomer can do and tries to be as scary as him.
Finally headed out around quarter of 1. Whew, it was a hot one here today! Must have gotten into the mid-90's...and not only did a nice breeze not help, but it was hazy and humid, too. I'm surprised I saw as many people out riding bikes and working in their yards as I did. The adults must have wanted to get their yards together before most of them go back to work next week.
The heat must have scared people away from the Acme. They were dead as can be today...and fairly empty, too. For once, it was normal sale items that went missing. Given how hot it's been, I think you can guess that all the ice cream on sale vanished. Decided that those tasty organic fruit bars were far better for me than any of the ice cream. Off-brand white flour was 99 cents; it's probably left over from the baking boom in March and April. The Kashi shredded wheat is still on sale; went with Autumn Harvest this time. Grabbed coconut for a recipe later. Restocked cocoa, yogurt, milk, peanut butter, oatmeal, ground turkey, butter, strawberries, and bananas.
Password Plus with Patty Duke and Jon "Bowzer" Bauman was ending as I arrived home. By the time I was eating lunch, they'd moved on to Super Password. Constance McCashin may have been the one who got her contestant to the Super Password bonus round, but Jamie Farr managed to help his get the super-hard "Ca$hword" mini-game.
Started another batch of no-bake cookies as Tattletales came on. I saw a recipe that used vanilla and coconut instead of chocolate and peanut butter. Added a little lemon in with the coconut, too. I don't think it set as well as the chocolate-peanut butter ones did, but they otherwise came out pretty decently, nice and chewy. Slid them into the refrigerator as people avoided trick-or-treating Whammies on the Halloween 1984 episode of Press Your Luck.
Did some writing for a while after that. Lee and Charles break away as the song ends. He wants to avoid the crowds. She's hoping to find Richard, who is still dancing with evil Queen Malade. She's well aware that he's really Robin Hood...and so is Malade, who won't let him go until Lee cuts in.
Broke for dinner at 6. Had turkey burgers with salad and tomatoes while watching Match Game. A pregnant contestant came in for a few jokes in the first episode, as Patti Deustch was also expecting what would become her son Max at that time. The second one brought on a college student with the memorable name of Delight who was perky and very funny, but not terribly good at the game.
Sale of the Century was a nail-biter today. The champ and the other man went back and forth the whole time. In the end, the champ bought a trip to the Bahamas and still managed to blast through the speed round. He said he had his eye on a grand piano that was the next prize up and opted to once again return tomorrow.
Finished the night before the Match Game syndicated premiere on YouTube with some more vintage shows. In the Hart to Hart third-season opener "Harts and Flowers." The Harts' housekeeper Max has named his prize rosebush the Jennifer Hart Rose and entered it in a contest. Not only does the judge think that Jennifer is the one who entered the roses, but someone is killing off the other entrants one by one...and Jennifer is the next target!
I'd heard of Designing Women as a kid, but I rarely watched the very adult-oriented sitcom line-up at CBS. Since it's at Hulu, I thought I'd give it a try. Went with a first season episode, "A Big Affair." Suzanne (Delta Burke) is hoping to impress an important client at an intimate dinner party, but Charlene, the business manager of their design firm (Jean Smart), isn't as happy when she's set up on a date with a wealthy but overweight man. She's not sure what to think of the guy, especially given all his jokes are directed at himself and his girth. They finally have a talk after Suzanne has more than a little difficulty getting the new cook to prepare the food for her guests and they don't end up eating much anyway.
Switched to Molly of Denali as I finished eating and did the dishes. Molly's friend Trini is amazed at how big vegetables get in Alaska, especially "Cabbagezilla." She's convinced that a moose is trying to eat her giant cabbage. She and Molly do everything they can to keep the moose out...but the real culprits aren't what Trini thinks. Molly plays the "Name Game" when her stoic Aunt Myrna tells her that her parents and grandparents all have tribal names that describe who they are or what they love. Molly wants one too, but there's no book of tribal names in the library. Inspired by talking to her neighbors about their tribal names, she writes her own.
Went to Hulu for Doc McStuffins "Frida Fairy Flies Again!" when Doc takes a fairy kite whose wing tore on a tree branch in for repair. Trouble is, Frida is convinced she's a real fairy who can fix her wings with magic and then gets upset that the patch doesn't look like the rest of her wings. Doc and the others point out that magic won't solve all her problems, and the patch makes her unique. "A Tale of Two Dragons" introduces a robotic dragon owned by Doc's brother whose wings won't pop out. After she fixes his wings, Stuffy gets jealous of everything this newcomer can do and tries to be as scary as him.
Finally headed out around quarter of 1. Whew, it was a hot one here today! Must have gotten into the mid-90's...and not only did a nice breeze not help, but it was hazy and humid, too. I'm surprised I saw as many people out riding bikes and working in their yards as I did. The adults must have wanted to get their yards together before most of them go back to work next week.
The heat must have scared people away from the Acme. They were dead as can be today...and fairly empty, too. For once, it was normal sale items that went missing. Given how hot it's been, I think you can guess that all the ice cream on sale vanished. Decided that those tasty organic fruit bars were far better for me than any of the ice cream. Off-brand white flour was 99 cents; it's probably left over from the baking boom in March and April. The Kashi shredded wheat is still on sale; went with Autumn Harvest this time. Grabbed coconut for a recipe later. Restocked cocoa, yogurt, milk, peanut butter, oatmeal, ground turkey, butter, strawberries, and bananas.
Password Plus with Patty Duke and Jon "Bowzer" Bauman was ending as I arrived home. By the time I was eating lunch, they'd moved on to Super Password. Constance McCashin may have been the one who got her contestant to the Super Password bonus round, but Jamie Farr managed to help his get the super-hard "Ca$hword" mini-game.
Started another batch of no-bake cookies as Tattletales came on. I saw a recipe that used vanilla and coconut instead of chocolate and peanut butter. Added a little lemon in with the coconut, too. I don't think it set as well as the chocolate-peanut butter ones did, but they otherwise came out pretty decently, nice and chewy. Slid them into the refrigerator as people avoided trick-or-treating Whammies on the Halloween 1984 episode of Press Your Luck.
Did some writing for a while after that. Lee and Charles break away as the song ends. He wants to avoid the crowds. She's hoping to find Richard, who is still dancing with evil Queen Malade. She's well aware that he's really Robin Hood...and so is Malade, who won't let him go until Lee cuts in.
Broke for dinner at 6. Had turkey burgers with salad and tomatoes while watching Match Game. A pregnant contestant came in for a few jokes in the first episode, as Patti Deustch was also expecting what would become her son Max at that time. The second one brought on a college student with the memorable name of Delight who was perky and very funny, but not terribly good at the game.
Sale of the Century was a nail-biter today. The champ and the other man went back and forth the whole time. In the end, the champ bought a trip to the Bahamas and still managed to blast through the speed round. He said he had his eye on a grand piano that was the next prize up and opted to once again return tomorrow.
Finished the night before the Match Game syndicated premiere on YouTube with some more vintage shows. In the Hart to Hart third-season opener "Harts and Flowers." The Harts' housekeeper Max has named his prize rosebush the Jennifer Hart Rose and entered it in a contest. Not only does the judge think that Jennifer is the one who entered the roses, but someone is killing off the other entrants one by one...and Jennifer is the next target!
I'd heard of Designing Women as a kid, but I rarely watched the very adult-oriented sitcom line-up at CBS. Since it's at Hulu, I thought I'd give it a try. Went with a first season episode, "A Big Affair." Suzanne (Delta Burke) is hoping to impress an important client at an intimate dinner party, but Charlene, the business manager of their design firm (Jean Smart), isn't as happy when she's set up on a date with a wealthy but overweight man. She's not sure what to think of the guy, especially given all his jokes are directed at himself and his girth. They finally have a talk after Suzanne has more than a little difficulty getting the new cook to prepare the food for her guests and they don't end up eating much anyway.
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
It's a Beautiful Day
Kicked off a late morning with breakfast and one of the Barbie movies on Hulu. Barbie: Mariposa and Her Butterfly Friends is one of my favorites of the series of movies based around the most famous fashion doll in the world. I can certainly relate to Mariposa, a shy butterfly fairy who would rather read and admire the stars than attend parties with he friends. Mariposa and her friend Willa work for the spoiled twins Rayna and Rayla, who hope to attract the attention of Prince Carlos. Carlos, however, befriends Mariposa, for he too loves to read and wonders about the world beyond their land. It's to her he turns when his mother, Queen Marabella, falls ill. If she dies, the lights that scare off the fairy-eating skeezites will die, too. It's up to Mariposa and her extensive knowledge of the world beyond the butterfly fairies' realm to save Flutterfield and her friends.
This is by far my favorite of the earlier Barbie specials. The story is fun (and I like that there's no shoehorned romance - Carlos remains friends with the girls), the animation is lovely, and as someone who has struggled to fit in since childhood, I know all too well how Mariposa feels in the beginning, when she keeps saying that no one understands her. (I'm not the only one who enjoyed Mariposa's tale. Mattel and Universal released a sequel, Mariposa and the Fairy Princess, in 2013.)
Went online while the movie was on to see if the money from disability came through. It did. It's not as much as I'd hoped, but something is better than nothing. I added my regular checking account so I could transfer the money there, but it won't go through for a few days. I'd use the card until it did.
Had a quick lunch while watching Match Game and getting organized. Everyone was in a great mood in this episode from 1974. There was lots of hugging and kissing when the contestant won her first Head-to-Head Round, including Brett smooching Bert Convy and Dick Gautier giving Ann Elder maybe too big of a squeeze!
Headed out to run errands after the episode ended. First on the list was checking to see the progress on the apartment and the street in front of it. Hillcrest has been repaved and the sidewalk redone; they're now working on the ends leading to the street. If they've done any painting, it was in the living room or bathroom. The bedroom remains peach with turquoise walls, though there are paint spatters on the window.
I've been wanting to get back to Dollar General for a while. Alas, they didn't have that cleaning vinegar I loved so much, but there were other things I needed. I was shocked to discover eggs for a dollar! They weren't that cheap before the virus hit, even at Dollar General. Grabbed a container, along with two more bins. They sell pillows too, and my pillows have been going flat for a long time. My bathtub has been draining slow; needed Drano badly. Treated myself to my favorite pecan roll and a cherry limeade sparkling soda.
The day was perfect for a long walk. While it was much hotter than it has been - 91, according to the digital sign at City Hall - it was also sunny, breezy, and not humid at all. No wonder Dollar General was relatively busy and there were plenty of other people working in their yards or riding bikes.
Put the pillows in the back until tomorrow after I got home and wiped down the bins before bringing them in. Went through the pots and pans under the sink while Jamie Farr of MASH and soap opera star Constance McCashin helped their contestants through Super Password. Packed baking pans it'll likely be too hot for me to use before I move.
Switched to going through comic books by the time Gary Crosby and his delightfully sarcastic wife were winning Tattletales. I never heard of comic Milt Kamen and his wife Margot, but I know the work of the third contestant well. Sammy Cahn is the lyricist of such beloved standards as "Let It Snow!," "Three Coins In the Fountain," and "It's Been a Long, Long Time." He seemed to have a great time with his wife Tita.
I was clearing out most of my American Girl books by the time Press Your Luck was on. Whammies abounded on this Halloween-themed episode as they trick-or-treated away with people's money. The previous champ couldn't get close to a woman who won two vacations and lots of money.
Worked on writing for a while. Charles talks to the woman, who claims she knows Fannie and is looking for her. She knows Richard by name, too, and has seen through his princely disguise. The two dance, and she reveals herself to be Maid Lee (Merriweather), the head of Malade's ladies-in-waiting. She must find Fannie, as she has news about Malade and her prisoners...
Broke for dinner and to sign the papers for disability at work at 6. Skipped ahead a year on Match Game to 1975. Jack Albertson and Lynn Redgrave joined the panel in these episodes. Albertson in particular did very well, getting most answers right and matching the Head-to-Head on his first try!
Sale of the Century had its third close game in a row. The woman was ahead for most of the game and bought two of the Instant Bargains, but the champ bought the third and once again blew everyone away in the speed round. He didn't seem to be impressed by the diamond ring and opted to come back tomorrow to try for more prizes.
Finished the night online with On With the Show! I go further into this vintage early talkie at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
On With the Show!
This is by far my favorite of the earlier Barbie specials. The story is fun (and I like that there's no shoehorned romance - Carlos remains friends with the girls), the animation is lovely, and as someone who has struggled to fit in since childhood, I know all too well how Mariposa feels in the beginning, when she keeps saying that no one understands her. (I'm not the only one who enjoyed Mariposa's tale. Mattel and Universal released a sequel, Mariposa and the Fairy Princess, in 2013.)
Went online while the movie was on to see if the money from disability came through. It did. It's not as much as I'd hoped, but something is better than nothing. I added my regular checking account so I could transfer the money there, but it won't go through for a few days. I'd use the card until it did.
Had a quick lunch while watching Match Game and getting organized. Everyone was in a great mood in this episode from 1974. There was lots of hugging and kissing when the contestant won her first Head-to-Head Round, including Brett smooching Bert Convy and Dick Gautier giving Ann Elder maybe too big of a squeeze!
Headed out to run errands after the episode ended. First on the list was checking to see the progress on the apartment and the street in front of it. Hillcrest has been repaved and the sidewalk redone; they're now working on the ends leading to the street. If they've done any painting, it was in the living room or bathroom. The bedroom remains peach with turquoise walls, though there are paint spatters on the window.
I've been wanting to get back to Dollar General for a while. Alas, they didn't have that cleaning vinegar I loved so much, but there were other things I needed. I was shocked to discover eggs for a dollar! They weren't that cheap before the virus hit, even at Dollar General. Grabbed a container, along with two more bins. They sell pillows too, and my pillows have been going flat for a long time. My bathtub has been draining slow; needed Drano badly. Treated myself to my favorite pecan roll and a cherry limeade sparkling soda.
The day was perfect for a long walk. While it was much hotter than it has been - 91, according to the digital sign at City Hall - it was also sunny, breezy, and not humid at all. No wonder Dollar General was relatively busy and there were plenty of other people working in their yards or riding bikes.
Put the pillows in the back until tomorrow after I got home and wiped down the bins before bringing them in. Went through the pots and pans under the sink while Jamie Farr of MASH and soap opera star Constance McCashin helped their contestants through Super Password. Packed baking pans it'll likely be too hot for me to use before I move.
Switched to going through comic books by the time Gary Crosby and his delightfully sarcastic wife were winning Tattletales. I never heard of comic Milt Kamen and his wife Margot, but I know the work of the third contestant well. Sammy Cahn is the lyricist of such beloved standards as "Let It Snow!," "Three Coins In the Fountain," and "It's Been a Long, Long Time." He seemed to have a great time with his wife Tita.
I was clearing out most of my American Girl books by the time Press Your Luck was on. Whammies abounded on this Halloween-themed episode as they trick-or-treated away with people's money. The previous champ couldn't get close to a woman who won two vacations and lots of money.
Worked on writing for a while. Charles talks to the woman, who claims she knows Fannie and is looking for her. She knows Richard by name, too, and has seen through his princely disguise. The two dance, and she reveals herself to be Maid Lee (Merriweather), the head of Malade's ladies-in-waiting. She must find Fannie, as she has news about Malade and her prisoners...
Broke for dinner and to sign the papers for disability at work at 6. Skipped ahead a year on Match Game to 1975. Jack Albertson and Lynn Redgrave joined the panel in these episodes. Albertson in particular did very well, getting most answers right and matching the Head-to-Head on his first try!
Sale of the Century had its third close game in a row. The woman was ahead for most of the game and bought two of the Instant Bargains, but the champ bought the third and once again blew everyone away in the speed round. He didn't seem to be impressed by the diamond ring and opted to come back tomorrow to try for more prizes.
Finished the night online with On With the Show! I go further into this vintage early talkie at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
On With the Show!
Monday, June 08, 2020
Organizing In the Late Spring
Started off another gorgeous day with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Takes His Time" when he and Grandpere make raisin bread at home and choose the ingredients at the store. He wants to rush everything, but his grandfather knows if you take the time, you can do things right. "Sometimes It's Good to Go Slow," like when the kids are on a school nature walk. Miss Elania keeps running past everything and misses the butterfly she wanted badly to see.
Switched to The Cat In the Hat Knows a Lot About That after breakfast. Nick and Sally don't want to leave their tree house and wonder what it would be like to live in a tree. The Cat shows that "Tree's Company" when he takes the kids to the jungle to see how a tree frog, a boa constrictor, and Capuchin monkey live in a tree without falling out. In "Now You See Me," Sally's trying to hide from Nick with little success. The Cat and a gecko teach her ways to camouflage herself and make it harder for someone to find her.
Tried something slightly different during Cat In the Hat. I had one pack of yeast left in the refrigerator, and I wanted to get rid of it before it expired. Thought I'd try making a simple round loaf of Finnish Bread I saw in my 70's bread recipe. Unfortunately, I wasn't reading it right and put the yeast in the hot water instead of the warm! Oh well. I kept making it anyway and finally put it in the bathroom to rise.
Mom suggested yesterday that I should buy CD books to reduce the space my DVDs take in my new, smaller apartment. It was a good idea. I have books that I keep the home-made DVDs that I burned when I had a DVD recorder. Trouble is, those books are also big, heavy, and clunky. Lauren sent me a pile of extra-slim DVD and CD cases a while back when I was making DVDs. I didn't really use most of them, but maybe it was time to change that. (I've packed too many of the CDs to change their cases now. I'll deal with them after I move.)
Ran Charlie's Angels on the Roku Channel as I moved the comedy DVDs into slim or jewel cases. Kris is thrilled to take the "Angels on Vacation" to the small town in Arizona where her uncle lives during the third season. Things take a darker turn when no one in town, including Kris' aunt the mayor (Jeanette Nolan), will welcome them. When they discover that Kris' uncle the Sheriff and the women in the town are being held hostage in an attempt to release a gangster from prison, the girls and Kris' aunt leap into action to rescue them.
Moved to Doc McStuffins next. I'd seen "Awesome Guy's Awesome Arm!" before, but it's another one that seems appropriate now. Having pulled tired muscles quite a few times, I know how Doc's resident superhero feels when he's told he has to rest his damaged arm before he can use it again. He has to find another way to save Lambie's home from the Wicked King. Lambie is a "Lamb In a Jam" when she gets covered with jelly and can't go to school with Doc. Worse, she gets jam on Stuffy and he can't go, either. Hallie has to think of ways to keep the disappointed duo occupied after they're cleaned.
Pulled out the bread dough as the cartoon wound down. It still hadn't risen. Oh well. I kneaded it again and put it in the oven to rise again.
Had lunch while watching a darker episode of The Golden Girls. "The Break-In" during the first season upsets Dorothy when she realizes her fur stole is gone and has Blanche ready to tar and feather the criminals for stealing her mother's jewels. None of the women are more frightened than poor Rose, who stays up every night with a gun and waits for intruders to come. Even seeing a psychiatrist doesn't help (though it does improve Blanche's love life). It takes an encounter in a parking garage for Rose to realize that she's better at taking care of herself than she thinks.
Headed out for a quick walk after the show ended. It was another absolutely glorious day, sunny and breezy and clear, if a little bit warmer than yesterday. I strolled around the park and up to the train bridge, stopping to take in breathtaking views of the creek and the surrounding homes and boat docks. Two teens in socks and jeans sat on the edge of the bridge and enjoyed the stunning afternoon, and I couldn't blame them. This is the way we want the world to stop, not with panic, but with peace on a perfect late spring.
When I got in, I finally just tried baking the bread. The outside came out perfectly, just crusty enough, but the insides were too dense and chewy. Daniel and his friends aren't the only ones who learned a lesson about rushing today! I should have been more careful with the yeast. At least it still tasted pretty decent spread with melting butter.
Continued with the DVDs and kept an eye on the bread while watching Tattletales. Today, the clear winners were laid-back Orson Bean and his snarky wife Carolyn. None of the others got close to them.
Worked on writing for a while after the show ended. Overwhelmed by the crowds (and feeling jealous when Malade dances with Richard), Charles rushes outside to get some air. To his surprised, he's joined by the queen's most intelligent lady-in-waiting, who also claimed she wanted to get some air...but she also says she's looking for someone...
Broke for a quick dinner at 6, then to finish organizing the DVDs. Gary Burhgoff finished off his run on Match Game with episodes that had him giving the top answer to "___ Duck" and Gene collapsing after running down the stairs. In the second episode, Richard got to imitate his character Corporal Newkirk in response to a Hogan's Heroes question, and he and Betty had a little too much fun with each other towards the end!
I'd moved on to crocheting by the time of Sale of the Century. The champ bought two more Instant Bargains...but this time, his spending spree backfired on him. The game was tight for most of the episode, with no one really being very far ahead...until the other man, a drama teacher, blasted through the speed round. He too opted to return tomorrow when they change the prizes and try for something else.
Finished off the night after a shower with two more TV episodes. The Roku Channel currently has the third and fourth seasons of Hart to Hart. Jonathan Hart moonlights as a trumpet player with a jazz band, but he and Jennifer to "Deep In the Hart of Dixieland" when the group's pianist is accused of murdering the beautiful heiress who just broke up with him. Jon swears his friend didn't commit the crime and starts digging around with Jennifer...only to find that the deceased woman's disturbed secretary may be at the real heart of the crime.
Roku also has the first three seasons of I Dream of Jeannie. Went with the third season finale, "Haven't I Seen Me Someplace Before?" Jeannie gives her master Tony's buddy Roger one wish for his birthday. He wishes that he could go on a big mission in place of Tony...which somehow results in the two of them switching bodies. Jeannie has to get the two together and have Roger wish them back, before Major Bellows convinces Colonel Peterson that they're all crazy!
Switched to The Cat In the Hat Knows a Lot About That after breakfast. Nick and Sally don't want to leave their tree house and wonder what it would be like to live in a tree. The Cat shows that "Tree's Company" when he takes the kids to the jungle to see how a tree frog, a boa constrictor, and Capuchin monkey live in a tree without falling out. In "Now You See Me," Sally's trying to hide from Nick with little success. The Cat and a gecko teach her ways to camouflage herself and make it harder for someone to find her.
Tried something slightly different during Cat In the Hat. I had one pack of yeast left in the refrigerator, and I wanted to get rid of it before it expired. Thought I'd try making a simple round loaf of Finnish Bread I saw in my 70's bread recipe. Unfortunately, I wasn't reading it right and put the yeast in the hot water instead of the warm! Oh well. I kept making it anyway and finally put it in the bathroom to rise.
Mom suggested yesterday that I should buy CD books to reduce the space my DVDs take in my new, smaller apartment. It was a good idea. I have books that I keep the home-made DVDs that I burned when I had a DVD recorder. Trouble is, those books are also big, heavy, and clunky. Lauren sent me a pile of extra-slim DVD and CD cases a while back when I was making DVDs. I didn't really use most of them, but maybe it was time to change that. (I've packed too many of the CDs to change their cases now. I'll deal with them after I move.)
Ran Charlie's Angels on the Roku Channel as I moved the comedy DVDs into slim or jewel cases. Kris is thrilled to take the "Angels on Vacation" to the small town in Arizona where her uncle lives during the third season. Things take a darker turn when no one in town, including Kris' aunt the mayor (Jeanette Nolan), will welcome them. When they discover that Kris' uncle the Sheriff and the women in the town are being held hostage in an attempt to release a gangster from prison, the girls and Kris' aunt leap into action to rescue them.
Moved to Doc McStuffins next. I'd seen "Awesome Guy's Awesome Arm!" before, but it's another one that seems appropriate now. Having pulled tired muscles quite a few times, I know how Doc's resident superhero feels when he's told he has to rest his damaged arm before he can use it again. He has to find another way to save Lambie's home from the Wicked King. Lambie is a "Lamb In a Jam" when she gets covered with jelly and can't go to school with Doc. Worse, she gets jam on Stuffy and he can't go, either. Hallie has to think of ways to keep the disappointed duo occupied after they're cleaned.
Pulled out the bread dough as the cartoon wound down. It still hadn't risen. Oh well. I kneaded it again and put it in the oven to rise again.
Had lunch while watching a darker episode of The Golden Girls. "The Break-In" during the first season upsets Dorothy when she realizes her fur stole is gone and has Blanche ready to tar and feather the criminals for stealing her mother's jewels. None of the women are more frightened than poor Rose, who stays up every night with a gun and waits for intruders to come. Even seeing a psychiatrist doesn't help (though it does improve Blanche's love life). It takes an encounter in a parking garage for Rose to realize that she's better at taking care of herself than she thinks.
Headed out for a quick walk after the show ended. It was another absolutely glorious day, sunny and breezy and clear, if a little bit warmer than yesterday. I strolled around the park and up to the train bridge, stopping to take in breathtaking views of the creek and the surrounding homes and boat docks. Two teens in socks and jeans sat on the edge of the bridge and enjoyed the stunning afternoon, and I couldn't blame them. This is the way we want the world to stop, not with panic, but with peace on a perfect late spring.
When I got in, I finally just tried baking the bread. The outside came out perfectly, just crusty enough, but the insides were too dense and chewy. Daniel and his friends aren't the only ones who learned a lesson about rushing today! I should have been more careful with the yeast. At least it still tasted pretty decent spread with melting butter.
Continued with the DVDs and kept an eye on the bread while watching Tattletales. Today, the clear winners were laid-back Orson Bean and his snarky wife Carolyn. None of the others got close to them.
Worked on writing for a while after the show ended. Overwhelmed by the crowds (and feeling jealous when Malade dances with Richard), Charles rushes outside to get some air. To his surprised, he's joined by the queen's most intelligent lady-in-waiting, who also claimed she wanted to get some air...but she also says she's looking for someone...
Broke for a quick dinner at 6, then to finish organizing the DVDs. Gary Burhgoff finished off his run on Match Game with episodes that had him giving the top answer to "___ Duck" and Gene collapsing after running down the stairs. In the second episode, Richard got to imitate his character Corporal Newkirk in response to a Hogan's Heroes question, and he and Betty had a little too much fun with each other towards the end!
I'd moved on to crocheting by the time of Sale of the Century. The champ bought two more Instant Bargains...but this time, his spending spree backfired on him. The game was tight for most of the episode, with no one really being very far ahead...until the other man, a drama teacher, blasted through the speed round. He too opted to return tomorrow when they change the prizes and try for something else.
Finished off the night after a shower with two more TV episodes. The Roku Channel currently has the third and fourth seasons of Hart to Hart. Jonathan Hart moonlights as a trumpet player with a jazz band, but he and Jennifer to "Deep In the Hart of Dixieland" when the group's pianist is accused of murdering the beautiful heiress who just broke up with him. Jon swears his friend didn't commit the crime and starts digging around with Jennifer...only to find that the deceased woman's disturbed secretary may be at the real heart of the crime.
Roku also has the first three seasons of I Dream of Jeannie. Went with the third season finale, "Haven't I Seen Me Someplace Before?" Jeannie gives her master Tony's buddy Roger one wish for his birthday. He wishes that he could go on a big mission in place of Tony...which somehow results in the two of them switching bodies. Jeannie has to get the two together and have Roger wish them back, before Major Bellows convinces Colonel Peterson that they're all crazy!
Sunday, June 07, 2020
Only a Moment Ago
I woke up late to an absolutely glorious late spring morning. Listened to the soundtrack from the early 60's TV show The Roaring 20's as I ate. Dorothy Provine apparently played Pinky, the singer on the show who performed authentic numbers from the era as a backdrop to reporters doing articles on the news of the era. Some of the medleys here are really fun, especially the one that includes dance numbers like "Charleston" and "The Black Bottom."
Switched to the Carousel original cast album as I finished my banana pancakes. John Raitt was Billy, Jan Clayton was Julie, and Jean Darling was Carrie in the 1948 cast. Raitt's "Soliloquy" is still considered to be one of the best versions, and features a passage that was cut before the show opened and isn't featured anywhere else.
Put on the 1973 revival of Irene while doing the dishes. Unlike the 1940 film, the Debbie Reynolds revival returned to more-or-less the original story. Irene O'Dare is now a piano tuner who fixes the musical instrument owned by a wealthy Long Island family. She falls in love with the son Donald Marshall, and he with her. Meanwhile, his friend gets together with flamboyant male clothes designer "Madame Lucy" to start a shop of their own. Irene is among their first models. She argues with Donald after he insists that she pose as a society girl to sell dresses. Her friends try to get him to act tougher, but that only upsets her more. It'll take intervention from Irene's mother (Patsy Kelly) and "Madame Lucy" to bring them back together.
While I wish they'd used the songs from the original show, what is there is mostly enjoyable. Reynolds and Kelly have a cute mother-daughter duet, "Mother Angel Darling," Lucy and the models get "We're Going to Get Away With It" right before the big ball that ends the show, and Reynolds pours her heart into one of my favorite songs of the late 10's-early 20's, "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows." (And Carrie Fisher was apparently in the chorus, though I'm not sure if she can be heard on the album.) All in all, a fascinating curio if you love vintage musicals or Reynolds.
Mom called while Irene ran. She's fine. She's hoping to return to work at least part-time at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry starting next week. We talked about crocheting and TV shows and game shows I've been watching that she watched as a kid and a teen in the 60's and 70's, but we mostly discussed my move. I think I might just end up buying boxes instead of trying to haul them home one-handed. It'll probably be easier. Should be able to at least get bins home on the cart.
Mom didn't let me go until almost 3 PM. I went for a walk to WaWa for a treat. It was too nice not to! While it remained warm, a soft blue sky and gentle breezes replaced the stifling humidity of the past few days. It was surprising WaWa wasn't busier. I bought a blueberry pomegranate milkshake, then drank it as I strolled past children on bikes, people walking their dogs, and folks out for jogs.
Had a quick lunch when I got home. Listened to No, No Nanette while I ate. The 1971 revival of this seminal 20's musical kicked off a craze for early 20th century shows on Broadway that included Irene. Bobby Van, Ruby Keeler, Susan Watson, Helen Gallagher, and Jack Gilford. Nanette (Watson) is a flapper heiress who runs off to Atlantic City to spend the money her absent-minded guardian Jimmy (Gilford) gave her. Her boyfriend isn't happy about it, and Jimmy's wife Sue (Keeler) is less thrilled, especially once she finds out her husband may have been financing three lovely ladies.
The big hits here were "Tea for Two," "I Want to Be Happy," and "I've Confessed to the Breeze," but my favorite song was written for the revival. I'm so glad they let Keeler and Gilford record "Only a Moment Ago," even though it was eventually cut from the show. Their discussion of how times have changed, but their love is the same encapsulates why nostalgia is so comforting to so many people.
Worked on writing for a while. The frog is frightened when Malade arrives and tries to hide, and Betty's not happy, either. Richard's entranced by one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, but he doesn't get the chance to talk to them before Malade orders everyone to dance and start searching for suitors. Charles agrees to dance with the Queen and her frog companion while Richard searches for the contact...but she finds him...
Broke for dinner at 7. Made chicken pasta salad with spring vegetables while listening to Oh, Kay! I have the 1955 studio cast recording of this popular 1926 farce with Gershwin music featuring Barbara Ruick of the Carousel film and Jack Cassidy. Cassidy is another wealthy Long Islander, while Ruick is the sister of a bootlegger who poses as a maid while her brother uses his home to stash his booze. "Someone to Watch Over Me" was the big hit here; in the original show, it was staged simply, with Kay singing her lament to a rag doll. Other favorites include "Clap Yo' Hands," "Do, Do, Do," and "Dear Little Girl."
Finished the night before the Match Game syndicated premiere on YouTube with the original American cast of The Boy Friend. Julie Andrews made her debut on this side of the pond in the Broadway version of this seminal British take on 20's musicals. She does get a lovely "I Could Be Happy With You" and does well by the title song. I also like "Won't You Charleston With Me?" here.
Switched to the Carousel original cast album as I finished my banana pancakes. John Raitt was Billy, Jan Clayton was Julie, and Jean Darling was Carrie in the 1948 cast. Raitt's "Soliloquy" is still considered to be one of the best versions, and features a passage that was cut before the show opened and isn't featured anywhere else.
Put on the 1973 revival of Irene while doing the dishes. Unlike the 1940 film, the Debbie Reynolds revival returned to more-or-less the original story. Irene O'Dare is now a piano tuner who fixes the musical instrument owned by a wealthy Long Island family. She falls in love with the son Donald Marshall, and he with her. Meanwhile, his friend gets together with flamboyant male clothes designer "Madame Lucy" to start a shop of their own. Irene is among their first models. She argues with Donald after he insists that she pose as a society girl to sell dresses. Her friends try to get him to act tougher, but that only upsets her more. It'll take intervention from Irene's mother (Patsy Kelly) and "Madame Lucy" to bring them back together.
While I wish they'd used the songs from the original show, what is there is mostly enjoyable. Reynolds and Kelly have a cute mother-daughter duet, "Mother Angel Darling," Lucy and the models get "We're Going to Get Away With It" right before the big ball that ends the show, and Reynolds pours her heart into one of my favorite songs of the late 10's-early 20's, "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows." (And Carrie Fisher was apparently in the chorus, though I'm not sure if she can be heard on the album.) All in all, a fascinating curio if you love vintage musicals or Reynolds.
Mom called while Irene ran. She's fine. She's hoping to return to work at least part-time at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry starting next week. We talked about crocheting and TV shows and game shows I've been watching that she watched as a kid and a teen in the 60's and 70's, but we mostly discussed my move. I think I might just end up buying boxes instead of trying to haul them home one-handed. It'll probably be easier. Should be able to at least get bins home on the cart.
Mom didn't let me go until almost 3 PM. I went for a walk to WaWa for a treat. It was too nice not to! While it remained warm, a soft blue sky and gentle breezes replaced the stifling humidity of the past few days. It was surprising WaWa wasn't busier. I bought a blueberry pomegranate milkshake, then drank it as I strolled past children on bikes, people walking their dogs, and folks out for jogs.
Had a quick lunch when I got home. Listened to No, No Nanette while I ate. The 1971 revival of this seminal 20's musical kicked off a craze for early 20th century shows on Broadway that included Irene. Bobby Van, Ruby Keeler, Susan Watson, Helen Gallagher, and Jack Gilford. Nanette (Watson) is a flapper heiress who runs off to Atlantic City to spend the money her absent-minded guardian Jimmy (Gilford) gave her. Her boyfriend isn't happy about it, and Jimmy's wife Sue (Keeler) is less thrilled, especially once she finds out her husband may have been financing three lovely ladies.
The big hits here were "Tea for Two," "I Want to Be Happy," and "I've Confessed to the Breeze," but my favorite song was written for the revival. I'm so glad they let Keeler and Gilford record "Only a Moment Ago," even though it was eventually cut from the show. Their discussion of how times have changed, but their love is the same encapsulates why nostalgia is so comforting to so many people.
Worked on writing for a while. The frog is frightened when Malade arrives and tries to hide, and Betty's not happy, either. Richard's entranced by one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, but he doesn't get the chance to talk to them before Malade orders everyone to dance and start searching for suitors. Charles agrees to dance with the Queen and her frog companion while Richard searches for the contact...but she finds him...
Broke for dinner at 7. Made chicken pasta salad with spring vegetables while listening to Oh, Kay! I have the 1955 studio cast recording of this popular 1926 farce with Gershwin music featuring Barbara Ruick of the Carousel film and Jack Cassidy. Cassidy is another wealthy Long Islander, while Ruick is the sister of a bootlegger who poses as a maid while her brother uses his home to stash his booze. "Someone to Watch Over Me" was the big hit here; in the original show, it was staged simply, with Kay singing her lament to a rag doll. Other favorites include "Clap Yo' Hands," "Do, Do, Do," and "Dear Little Girl."
Finished the night before the Match Game syndicated premiere on YouTube with the original American cast of The Boy Friend. Julie Andrews made her debut on this side of the pond in the Broadway version of this seminal British take on 20's musicals. She does get a lovely "I Could Be Happy With You" and does well by the title song. I also like "Won't You Charleston With Me?" here.
Saturday, June 06, 2020
Spring Into Summer
Began a bright, sunny day with breakfast and the 2009 CGI version of Strawberry Shortcake at Tubi. They're all hoping for a big vacation "Where the Berry Breeze Blows," but the resort they had reservations for cancels at the last minute. Orange Blossom is determined to make a resort on their own local lake that matches the grandeur of the one that canceled, but it proves to be a bit too much for them. Strawberry finally reminds her that what's important is making a place where her friends can have fun, not that it's exactly like the resort.
Switched to The Adventures of Paddington Bear from the late 90's at The Roku Channel. Paddington's "Adventure at the Seaside" gets a little scary when he drifts out to sea on a flotation device. "Paddington and the Pyramid Selling" takes him to Egypt, where he's conned into buying a pyramid for his friend Mr. Gruber. It takes intervention from Gruber to catch the con-man. Paddington wants badly to find "The Perfect Touch" for Gruber's new patio, to the annoyance of the man who owns the outdoor garden shop!
The Adventures of Sonic the Hedghog was far from the last time Sonic made it into animated form. The year after the first series ended, a second, more serious show debuted on ABC Saturday mornings. Simply titled Sonic the Hedgehog, this one made Sonic and his friends freedom fighters working to overthrow Robotnick and his far less goofy minions. They get into Indiana Jones turf in "Sonic and the Secret Scrolls." Despite the title, it's really Princess Sally who decides to go after the Sacred Scrolls. She's hoping they'll help them find a weapon that'll deal with Robotnick. While Sonic holds off Robotnick and his robots, Sally and their other friends (including the cowardly Antoine) translate the Scrolls and find out what they mean.
Went to Hulu for one of Disney's most peculiar animated series, Gravity Falls. In "Irrational Treasure," Mabel Pines is tired of everyone in town, including spoiled Pacifica Northwest, making fun of her because she's less serious than her brother Dipper. After Pacifica humiliates her during the town's Pioneer Day, she joins Dipper in finding out who the town's real founder was, and why the cops don't want them to find out.
Tried something different while the cartoons were on. I wanted to refill my cookie jar, but the weather is much too warm for baking. Found a recipe for Fudgy Cocoa No-Bake Cookies in one of my Hershey's cookbooks. They were pretty much butter, sugar, cocoa, peanut butter, milk, vanilla, and oats mixed together in a saucepot and cooled on racks. Yum! I boiled them just enough. They came out perfectly, very sweet, crackly, and rich.
Moved to Match Game for an episode from earlier in the week while I had lunch. There were some pretty odd players in this episode from near the end of 1978, including Jon Bauman in his goofy 50's "Bowzer" persona, Nancy Lane from Rhoda, and long-time Los Angeles Dodgers player Don Sutton. Sutton, surprisingly, did the best of the three, playing well and coming off as charming and funny. No wonder I read online that he later became a popular announcer with the Atlanta Braves.
Went for a short walk after the episode ended. While not quite as humid as yesterday, it remains sunny, hazy, and very hot, probably in the upper 80's. Most people who were out front were working in their gardens or chatting as closely as they could with their neighbors, and there were lots of kids out on bikes and people walking dogs. I strolled down Manor and back around, passing Rose's house before heading down to Goff Avenue. A boy greeted me as he fished off the edge of the boat landing, ignoring the increasingly algae-laden water.
Took the recycling downstairs when I got home, then rested for a while. Stayed on Hulu for more Doc McStuffins. I thought "Break Dancer" was entirely too appropriate. Lambie is shy around Doc's beautiful ballerina doll Bella, but she proves to be a great comfort when Bella breaks her leg and they have to find ways to distract her while it heals. Doc's friends Emmie and Alma can't figure out why their "Bubble Monkey" won't blow bubbles. Doc brings her to the toy office to find out, and learn why we should only put good food inside us.
Did some writing for a while after the cartoon ended. Malade finally arrives with her four ladies-in-waiting. Three of them wear pastel and silly smiles, but the fourth is a tall, slender woman with reddish-brown hair and a more serious expression. Charles and Richard believe her to be the contact, but Fannie vanishes before she can tell them...
Broke for dinner around quarter of 7. Watched the tail end of Classic Concentration while eating a quick leftovers dinner. The girl playing was barely out of her teens, but she managed to rack up an impressive collection of prizes before winning the car on her very first try!
Finished the night after a shower with The Frog Prince. I go further into the first Cannon Movie Tale at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Family Fun Saturday - The Frog Prince (1986)
Switched to The Adventures of Paddington Bear from the late 90's at The Roku Channel. Paddington's "Adventure at the Seaside" gets a little scary when he drifts out to sea on a flotation device. "Paddington and the Pyramid Selling" takes him to Egypt, where he's conned into buying a pyramid for his friend Mr. Gruber. It takes intervention from Gruber to catch the con-man. Paddington wants badly to find "The Perfect Touch" for Gruber's new patio, to the annoyance of the man who owns the outdoor garden shop!
The Adventures of Sonic the Hedghog was far from the last time Sonic made it into animated form. The year after the first series ended, a second, more serious show debuted on ABC Saturday mornings. Simply titled Sonic the Hedgehog, this one made Sonic and his friends freedom fighters working to overthrow Robotnick and his far less goofy minions. They get into Indiana Jones turf in "Sonic and the Secret Scrolls." Despite the title, it's really Princess Sally who decides to go after the Sacred Scrolls. She's hoping they'll help them find a weapon that'll deal with Robotnick. While Sonic holds off Robotnick and his robots, Sally and their other friends (including the cowardly Antoine) translate the Scrolls and find out what they mean.
Went to Hulu for one of Disney's most peculiar animated series, Gravity Falls. In "Irrational Treasure," Mabel Pines is tired of everyone in town, including spoiled Pacifica Northwest, making fun of her because she's less serious than her brother Dipper. After Pacifica humiliates her during the town's Pioneer Day, she joins Dipper in finding out who the town's real founder was, and why the cops don't want them to find out.
Tried something different while the cartoons were on. I wanted to refill my cookie jar, but the weather is much too warm for baking. Found a recipe for Fudgy Cocoa No-Bake Cookies in one of my Hershey's cookbooks. They were pretty much butter, sugar, cocoa, peanut butter, milk, vanilla, and oats mixed together in a saucepot and cooled on racks. Yum! I boiled them just enough. They came out perfectly, very sweet, crackly, and rich.
Moved to Match Game for an episode from earlier in the week while I had lunch. There were some pretty odd players in this episode from near the end of 1978, including Jon Bauman in his goofy 50's "Bowzer" persona, Nancy Lane from Rhoda, and long-time Los Angeles Dodgers player Don Sutton. Sutton, surprisingly, did the best of the three, playing well and coming off as charming and funny. No wonder I read online that he later became a popular announcer with the Atlanta Braves.
Went for a short walk after the episode ended. While not quite as humid as yesterday, it remains sunny, hazy, and very hot, probably in the upper 80's. Most people who were out front were working in their gardens or chatting as closely as they could with their neighbors, and there were lots of kids out on bikes and people walking dogs. I strolled down Manor and back around, passing Rose's house before heading down to Goff Avenue. A boy greeted me as he fished off the edge of the boat landing, ignoring the increasingly algae-laden water.
Took the recycling downstairs when I got home, then rested for a while. Stayed on Hulu for more Doc McStuffins. I thought "Break Dancer" was entirely too appropriate. Lambie is shy around Doc's beautiful ballerina doll Bella, but she proves to be a great comfort when Bella breaks her leg and they have to find ways to distract her while it heals. Doc's friends Emmie and Alma can't figure out why their "Bubble Monkey" won't blow bubbles. Doc brings her to the toy office to find out, and learn why we should only put good food inside us.
Did some writing for a while after the cartoon ended. Malade finally arrives with her four ladies-in-waiting. Three of them wear pastel and silly smiles, but the fourth is a tall, slender woman with reddish-brown hair and a more serious expression. Charles and Richard believe her to be the contact, but Fannie vanishes before she can tell them...
Broke for dinner around quarter of 7. Watched the tail end of Classic Concentration while eating a quick leftovers dinner. The girl playing was barely out of her teens, but she managed to rack up an impressive collection of prizes before winning the car on her very first try!
Finished the night after a shower with The Frog Prince. I go further into the first Cannon Movie Tale at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Family Fun Saturday - The Frog Prince (1986)
Friday, June 05, 2020
Outrunning the Showers
Started off a hazy morning with breakfast and the second half of Blockbusters. I came in as the grandmother-grandson pair just won their next round. The grandmother completely dropped the bonus round, missing all but one question. They'd just brought in a woman who was returning after they changed how many days you can return from 10 to 20 when the game ended.
Switched to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood as I did the dishes. Dan's excited when his family goes to the grocery store, then out to eat. He has to learn "Calm at the Restaurant" when he gets too excited at the store and knocks over a display, and then he and Jodie get too noisy while waiting for their tacos and accidentally block waiter Prince Tuesday. Miss Elaina has to be "Calm In Class" when she's excited because her dad Music Man Stan is going to teach them how to tell a story with music.
Did more Doc McStuffins as I rounded up my laundry and detergent. Went with an episode from season three, starting with "Slip n' Slide." Stuffy the dragon learns an important lesson about pool safety when he plays a rough game with Bronto the plastic dinosaur and ends up falling in the wading pool and getting soaked. Doc's brother Donnie loves his teddy bear Teddy B, but not when he has "A Big Pain In Teddy's Tummy" that pricks him. Doc has to figure out what's in Teddy's tummy that is causing the problem...and convince Teddy that he's not a danger to Donnie or anyone.
Headed out to do the laundry at around 11:30. Though it was a bit cloudier, it was also hot, humid, and hazy, in the upper 80's. That may be why I saw fewer people out and about, mainly kids on bikes and couples walking their dogs. Most folks were probably cooling off in their homes or backyards.
The laundromat was a lot bigger than it was last week. The former office in the back was now a mostly empty space, except for a big square laundry sink, the soap and dryer sheet dispenser on the back wall, and seats that had been moved from the front of the building to against one of the remaining pillars. They were still kind of busy when I arrived, so I dropped my laundry in the very last washer and headed out.
There were dark clouds sputtering on the horizon over the White Horse Pike, but I figured I had enough time to treat myself to a drink from WaWa. They were a little busy at lunchtime, but not as bad as it could have been. I ordered a Peach-Mango Smoothie and grabbed a cheese stick and darted out.
By the time I returned to the laundromat, the small crowds were clearing out. I worked on story notes and ignored the news blaring on Channel 6. At least I only had a fairly small load. It wasn't in the dryer for long. I was in and out in less than an hour.
Those clouds on the horizon continued to build as I walked home as fast as I could. Felt a few fat drops of rain on my nose as I dragged the laundry and detergent upstairs, but nothing came of it. Thankfully, I managed to get everything in with no trouble.
Switched to music while I put my clothes away and had lunch. Though the title song in the Nat King Cole record Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer was written for the album, most of the other songs are turn of the 20th century standards like "Bicycle Built for Two" and "The Sidewalks of New York." Some of those songs turn up on the Dorothy Provine album Oh You Kid!, which also covers the music of the first two decades of the 20th century.
Had a quick muffin and fruit lunch while watching Super Password. Elaine Joyce continues to help her contestants destroy the competition at the main game, but they didn't do quite as well at the bonus round this time. Folksy Orson Bean and his wife Carolyn were the big winners in Tattletales today, despite missing the first question.
It finally started raining, and raining hard, while Tattletales was on. Though I did hear some rumbling when it first started, for the most part, it was just a heavy shower. The showers would continue off and on for the rest of the evening.
Did some writing after I'd put aside the dish rag I'm crocheting. Richard is smitten with Fannie (to Charles' dismay) and wants to court her, but Fannie has no interest in him. She's more concerned about when her contact will arrive. She's a member of the evil Queen Malade's court and will be coming in with her...
Broke for dinner at 6. The lunacy continues on Match Game. In the first episode, a contestant didn't know what a delicatessen was (to the surprise of Gene and the panel) and couldn't give a good answer to one of the round one questions. In the second, Gary Burghoff took offense to a question that asked which celebrities were shorter than he was!
That young man just kept right on winning on Sale of the Century. This time, though, the other challengers gave him a real run for his money, especially early in the game. Even finding a money card on the Fame Game couldn't help the other guy. Once again, the young man bought two of the three Instant Bargains, blasted through the speed round, and decided he'd come back for more.
Rose called shortly after dinner. She did get my phone call about the letter, but has been focusing on trying to get back to work in Camden full-time. She says she'll send me her current e-mail and we'll take a look at the apartment to see where things can fit sometime this weekend.
Ended the night with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Watching the two Allan Quartermain films the other day put me in the mood for more adventure. In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is on the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant, the golden box that is said to hold the Ten Commandments. Indy first heads to Nepal to retrieve a golden medallion that tops a staff. His ex-girlfriend Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) has it and insists on coming along after he burns her bar down. Unfortunately, the Nazis are on the hunt for the Ark too, lead by Indy's French rival Beloq (Paul Freeman). They'll stop at nothing to get the sacred chest, from shutting Indy and Marion in a snake-filled tomb to testing it on a deserted island. Indy, however, knows better than to play with magic...and he realizes that there are some mysteries that are better left undisturbed...
The first, and probably still the most popular, of the Indiana Jones movies. Marion remains his most famous love interest, Ford is wonderfully laid-back and charming, and the action-packed script remains funny and even chilling, with a fair amount of blood and the scary, flesh-melting finale. It's probably too scary for most kids, but for adults, if you want to know about Indy, this is probably the best place to start.
Switched to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood as I did the dishes. Dan's excited when his family goes to the grocery store, then out to eat. He has to learn "Calm at the Restaurant" when he gets too excited at the store and knocks over a display, and then he and Jodie get too noisy while waiting for their tacos and accidentally block waiter Prince Tuesday. Miss Elaina has to be "Calm In Class" when she's excited because her dad Music Man Stan is going to teach them how to tell a story with music.
Did more Doc McStuffins as I rounded up my laundry and detergent. Went with an episode from season three, starting with "Slip n' Slide." Stuffy the dragon learns an important lesson about pool safety when he plays a rough game with Bronto the plastic dinosaur and ends up falling in the wading pool and getting soaked. Doc's brother Donnie loves his teddy bear Teddy B, but not when he has "A Big Pain In Teddy's Tummy" that pricks him. Doc has to figure out what's in Teddy's tummy that is causing the problem...and convince Teddy that he's not a danger to Donnie or anyone.
Headed out to do the laundry at around 11:30. Though it was a bit cloudier, it was also hot, humid, and hazy, in the upper 80's. That may be why I saw fewer people out and about, mainly kids on bikes and couples walking their dogs. Most folks were probably cooling off in their homes or backyards.
The laundromat was a lot bigger than it was last week. The former office in the back was now a mostly empty space, except for a big square laundry sink, the soap and dryer sheet dispenser on the back wall, and seats that had been moved from the front of the building to against one of the remaining pillars. They were still kind of busy when I arrived, so I dropped my laundry in the very last washer and headed out.
There were dark clouds sputtering on the horizon over the White Horse Pike, but I figured I had enough time to treat myself to a drink from WaWa. They were a little busy at lunchtime, but not as bad as it could have been. I ordered a Peach-Mango Smoothie and grabbed a cheese stick and darted out.
By the time I returned to the laundromat, the small crowds were clearing out. I worked on story notes and ignored the news blaring on Channel 6. At least I only had a fairly small load. It wasn't in the dryer for long. I was in and out in less than an hour.
Those clouds on the horizon continued to build as I walked home as fast as I could. Felt a few fat drops of rain on my nose as I dragged the laundry and detergent upstairs, but nothing came of it. Thankfully, I managed to get everything in with no trouble.
Switched to music while I put my clothes away and had lunch. Though the title song in the Nat King Cole record Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer was written for the album, most of the other songs are turn of the 20th century standards like "Bicycle Built for Two" and "The Sidewalks of New York." Some of those songs turn up on the Dorothy Provine album Oh You Kid!, which also covers the music of the first two decades of the 20th century.
Had a quick muffin and fruit lunch while watching Super Password. Elaine Joyce continues to help her contestants destroy the competition at the main game, but they didn't do quite as well at the bonus round this time. Folksy Orson Bean and his wife Carolyn were the big winners in Tattletales today, despite missing the first question.
It finally started raining, and raining hard, while Tattletales was on. Though I did hear some rumbling when it first started, for the most part, it was just a heavy shower. The showers would continue off and on for the rest of the evening.
Did some writing after I'd put aside the dish rag I'm crocheting. Richard is smitten with Fannie (to Charles' dismay) and wants to court her, but Fannie has no interest in him. She's more concerned about when her contact will arrive. She's a member of the evil Queen Malade's court and will be coming in with her...
Broke for dinner at 6. The lunacy continues on Match Game. In the first episode, a contestant didn't know what a delicatessen was (to the surprise of Gene and the panel) and couldn't give a good answer to one of the round one questions. In the second, Gary Burghoff took offense to a question that asked which celebrities were shorter than he was!
That young man just kept right on winning on Sale of the Century. This time, though, the other challengers gave him a real run for his money, especially early in the game. Even finding a money card on the Fame Game couldn't help the other guy. Once again, the young man bought two of the three Instant Bargains, blasted through the speed round, and decided he'd come back for more.
Rose called shortly after dinner. She did get my phone call about the letter, but has been focusing on trying to get back to work in Camden full-time. She says she'll send me her current e-mail and we'll take a look at the apartment to see where things can fit sometime this weekend.
Ended the night with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Watching the two Allan Quartermain films the other day put me in the mood for more adventure. In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is on the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant, the golden box that is said to hold the Ten Commandments. Indy first heads to Nepal to retrieve a golden medallion that tops a staff. His ex-girlfriend Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) has it and insists on coming along after he burns her bar down. Unfortunately, the Nazis are on the hunt for the Ark too, lead by Indy's French rival Beloq (Paul Freeman). They'll stop at nothing to get the sacred chest, from shutting Indy and Marion in a snake-filled tomb to testing it on a deserted island. Indy, however, knows better than to play with magic...and he realizes that there are some mysteries that are better left undisturbed...
The first, and probably still the most popular, of the Indiana Jones movies. Marion remains his most famous love interest, Ford is wonderfully laid-back and charming, and the action-packed script remains funny and even chilling, with a fair amount of blood and the scary, flesh-melting finale. It's probably too scary for most kids, but for adults, if you want to know about Indy, this is probably the best place to start.
Thursday, June 04, 2020
June Is Bustin' Out All Over
Began a sunny day with breakfast and Strawberry Shortcake on The Roku Channel. The girls think it'll be a "Piece of Cake" when Ginger Snap suggests they put on their own cooking show. Orange Blossom is too shy to participate beyond helping with the set, but when the others get angry after their recipes are eaten and the show is a disaster, she has to step up and prove that she's as good of a baker as anyone else.
Switched to The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour while getting organized. The panel on the show the week of New Year's Eve 1983 brought together actors from the original Leave It to Beaver...and, for some reason, then-popular comedian Gallagher. I wasn't a fan of Beaver myself as a kid, but Barbara Billingsly and Jerry Matthers in particular were so much fun to watch, I kind of wish they'd turned up in the 70's Match Game. (With the death of Ken Osmond, who played Wally's best friend Eddie, two weeks ago, this is actually a rather fitting tribute.)
Headed out after the show ended to run to the grocery store. I'd originally planned on getting the laundry done today, but I heard the storms may continue tomorrow and I wanted to make the longer trip while Mother Nature behaved. Actually, it was supposed to rain today, but it never did. It remained sunny, breezy, hot, and humid as I strolled down the Black Horse Pike to the Acme.
I forgot it's the beginning of the month. While not overwhelmingly crowded, there were a lot more people in the store than when I went shopping last week. I mainly needed fruit and vegetables again. Strawberries and blueberries were still on decent sales; cherries weren't, but they looked better than the grapes did. A four-pack of tomatoes were also on sale, and I had an online coupon for bananas. Treated myself to a bag of low-sugar organic frozen juice bars I spied in a display up front. Found the last relatively cheap generic bag of sugar on the shelf. It had a rip in the bottom, but I wrapped it in a plastic bag. Restocked canned black beans, canned diced tomatoes (both with the lowest salt I could find), milk, powdered sugar (mine somehow hardened), and yogurt. Bought a bottle of flavored water from the clearance rack for the walk home.
Put everything away when I got home while watching Doc McStuffins on Hulu. "Caught Blue-Handed" is especially appropriate right now. Several of Doc's toys, including Chilly the snowman, end up covered in blue dots. Doc calls it "Mystery Pox" and recruits her remaining toys to figure out where they came from and how they spread. Doc, Lambie the cuddly lamb, and Stuffy the dragon learn about non-verbal communication when they have to find a rubber duck's lost squeaker box at a mini-water park in "To Squeak or Not to Squeak."
Returned to Buzzr as I did therapy on my arm and worked on crocheting a dish rag. Elaine Joyce and Richard Moll continue on Super Password. Elaine did much better here than she usually does on Match Game, getting her contestant to the bonus round and helping him win at least once. Married singer and songwriter Julie London and Bobby Troupe were once again the big winners on Tattletales over comedian Army Arnard and his wife Selma and Orson Bean and his wife Carolyn.
Moved to writing after Tattletales ended. First, inspired by yesterday's Match Game episodes, I made Johnny Olsen the queen's page and announcer who doesn't give the Queen away. He announces Fannie, who immediately catches Richard's eye. Fairies Jo Ann (Pflug) and Joyce (Bulifant) are there as her ladies-in-waiting. Jo Ann dances with a nobleman. Joyce (who has done singing in real-life) joined Charles for the big romantic dance to "It Only Takes a Moment."
Had leftover Tuscan Tuna Bean Salad with cucumber and spring greens for dinner while watching more Match Game. Ira Skutch, the show's producer and judge, was unusually lenient with one of Richard's Head-to-Head Match answers in the first episode. It wasn't 100 percent right, but close enough that for once, he let it pass. The second show was one of my favorites of the entire series. Charles Nelson Reilly returned from his six-month directing hiatus in the most spectacular way possible. He was dropped down center stage via flying harness and a stuffed bird!
No one could get anywhere close to that new young champ on Sale of the Century. The other two contestants just kept getting everything wrong. The guy bought two Instant Bargains (he said he was a klutz and would probably break the glassware set offered in the first) and flew right through the speed round. Despite looking seriously at the gold bars in the Indiana Jones-themed prizes, he opted to return and try for the bigger ones down the line.
Finished the night with Carousel. I go further into this darkly romantic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tragedy at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Carousel (1956)
Oh, and it did finally storm...around 11:30, when I was long online and chatting with Lauren. While the thunder and pyrotechnics are long gone, the rain continues to patter heavily on the roof.
Switched to The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour while getting organized. The panel on the show the week of New Year's Eve 1983 brought together actors from the original Leave It to Beaver...and, for some reason, then-popular comedian Gallagher. I wasn't a fan of Beaver myself as a kid, but Barbara Billingsly and Jerry Matthers in particular were so much fun to watch, I kind of wish they'd turned up in the 70's Match Game. (With the death of Ken Osmond, who played Wally's best friend Eddie, two weeks ago, this is actually a rather fitting tribute.)
Headed out after the show ended to run to the grocery store. I'd originally planned on getting the laundry done today, but I heard the storms may continue tomorrow and I wanted to make the longer trip while Mother Nature behaved. Actually, it was supposed to rain today, but it never did. It remained sunny, breezy, hot, and humid as I strolled down the Black Horse Pike to the Acme.
I forgot it's the beginning of the month. While not overwhelmingly crowded, there were a lot more people in the store than when I went shopping last week. I mainly needed fruit and vegetables again. Strawberries and blueberries were still on decent sales; cherries weren't, but they looked better than the grapes did. A four-pack of tomatoes were also on sale, and I had an online coupon for bananas. Treated myself to a bag of low-sugar organic frozen juice bars I spied in a display up front. Found the last relatively cheap generic bag of sugar on the shelf. It had a rip in the bottom, but I wrapped it in a plastic bag. Restocked canned black beans, canned diced tomatoes (both with the lowest salt I could find), milk, powdered sugar (mine somehow hardened), and yogurt. Bought a bottle of flavored water from the clearance rack for the walk home.
Put everything away when I got home while watching Doc McStuffins on Hulu. "Caught Blue-Handed" is especially appropriate right now. Several of Doc's toys, including Chilly the snowman, end up covered in blue dots. Doc calls it "Mystery Pox" and recruits her remaining toys to figure out where they came from and how they spread. Doc, Lambie the cuddly lamb, and Stuffy the dragon learn about non-verbal communication when they have to find a rubber duck's lost squeaker box at a mini-water park in "To Squeak or Not to Squeak."
Returned to Buzzr as I did therapy on my arm and worked on crocheting a dish rag. Elaine Joyce and Richard Moll continue on Super Password. Elaine did much better here than she usually does on Match Game, getting her contestant to the bonus round and helping him win at least once. Married singer and songwriter Julie London and Bobby Troupe were once again the big winners on Tattletales over comedian Army Arnard and his wife Selma and Orson Bean and his wife Carolyn.
Moved to writing after Tattletales ended. First, inspired by yesterday's Match Game episodes, I made Johnny Olsen the queen's page and announcer who doesn't give the Queen away. He announces Fannie, who immediately catches Richard's eye. Fairies Jo Ann (Pflug) and Joyce (Bulifant) are there as her ladies-in-waiting. Jo Ann dances with a nobleman. Joyce (who has done singing in real-life) joined Charles for the big romantic dance to "It Only Takes a Moment."
Had leftover Tuscan Tuna Bean Salad with cucumber and spring greens for dinner while watching more Match Game. Ira Skutch, the show's producer and judge, was unusually lenient with one of Richard's Head-to-Head Match answers in the first episode. It wasn't 100 percent right, but close enough that for once, he let it pass. The second show was one of my favorites of the entire series. Charles Nelson Reilly returned from his six-month directing hiatus in the most spectacular way possible. He was dropped down center stage via flying harness and a stuffed bird!
No one could get anywhere close to that new young champ on Sale of the Century. The other two contestants just kept getting everything wrong. The guy bought two Instant Bargains (he said he was a klutz and would probably break the glassware set offered in the first) and flew right through the speed round. Despite looking seriously at the gold bars in the Indiana Jones-themed prizes, he opted to return and try for the bigger ones down the line.
Finished the night with Carousel. I go further into this darkly romantic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tragedy at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Carousel (1956)
Oh, and it did finally storm...around 11:30, when I was long online and chatting with Lauren. While the thunder and pyrotechnics are long gone, the rain continues to patter heavily on the roof.
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
Laughter In the Rain
Started off a sunny, hazy morning with breakfast and Split Second. This time, there was a clear winner. The champ pulled ahead the entire time, and though the one man initially got ahead of her in the Countdown round, she came from behind and won. Alas, she didn't choose the car and opted to return.
Having enjoyed It's a Living last night, I decided to sample other vintage sitcoms streaming online and see what else I felt like doing a marathon for. Started at Hulu with MASH. "Crisis" from the second season is entirely too appropriate right now. The supply lines for the 4077th have been cut off, leaving many shortages in the middle of brutal winter weather. Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) keeps losing his office furniture to the surgeons chopping it for firewood, Frank Burns (Larry Linville) totes a rifle and is hoarding hams with Hot Lips (Loretta Swit), and no one is happy about sharing quarters to conserve heat.
Clouds were starting to build in the distance as I switched to The Bob Newhart Show, also on Hulu. Bob played a psychiatrist with a lot of nutty patients and Suzanne Pleshette was his smart wife Emily, but "Bob and Emily and Howard and Carol and Jerry" from the first season focuses on their three supporting friends. Their neighbor Howard (Bill Daily) manages to charm Bob's receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) when he's high on laughing gas, but he can't even remember her name when they actually go on a date. She eventually goes on a date with Bob's dentist friend Jerry (Peter Bonnerz), but Howard is still interested in her and wants to try again.
By the time I'd moved to What's Happening!! on The Roku Channel, we were in the middle of a very loud, full-on thunderstorm. I quickly threw down all the windows in the apartment as "The Maid Did It" played behind me. Mabel King was the head of family who is fired from her maid job when she's accused of stealing a ring. Her son Roger (Ernest Thomas) and his friends Dwayne (Haywood Nelson) and Re-Run (Fred Berry) take it on themselves to find the real thief.
(Incidentally, something I didn't realize until I read the credits - well-known composers wrote the themes for at least two of the shows I watched yesterday and today. Leslie Bricusse did the infectious showtune title song for It's a Living; Henry Mancini wrote the funky instrumental theme for What's Happening!!)
Though the thunder was gone by the time I was on NewsRadio, it continued to rain fairly hard. I have an odd soft spot for shows about failing radio stations. WKRP In Cincinatti was one of my favorite sitcoms as a kid, and I still adore the underrated AMC historical dramady Remember WENN. I probably would have gotten more into NewsRadio if it hadn't been on around the same time as WENN. I did like what little I saw at the time, but I haven't seen it since the late 90's.
For some reason, Roku currently only has seasons 3 and 4. I went with "Complaint Box" from season 3. News director Dave Nelson (Dave Foley) installs a complaint box (with a buzzer), but it's quickly overwhelmed with with jokes and nonsense complaints. Dave's first horrified when he somehow loses the box he hears his boss Jimmy James (Stephan Root) through, then angry when lawyers take the complaint from Lisa Miller (Maura Tierney) seriously.
Even waiting out the rain didn't make taking Uber during a storm any cheaper. Not to mention, I forgot to confirm the first ride and had to do it again. Thankfully, the young man was able to avoid traffic, and I got to my appointment just in time, by which time the rain was gone and the sun was just emerging.
It took about 15 minutes for the doctor to take me this time, and there were several other people in the room, including a man getting a cast on his hand taken off and an elderly mother and her daughter. The ultimate verdict from Dr. Ramerez was about what I figured it would be. The fracture is healing, but not 100 percent better yet. I'm to leave the sling off at home and do light arm therapy on my own whenever I can.
The Uber took longer to get home than it did to get to Cooper. The guy who drove me there took the highway, but the man going back to Oaklyn took the back roads, where there were tons of downed trees and large limbs from the earlier storm. Saw a lot of downed trees at Newton Lake Park as we drove past too, including one that was blown over with a ton of roots and dirt intact.
Ran Tattletales as I had a snack and got organized when I arrived at home. This time, Orson and Carolyn did the worst of the three, only getting two questions. The winners were comedian Army Archerd and his equally funny wife Selma, who got everything right.
Switched to writing after the show ended. As Charles and Clifton start the music, Richard attracts a bevy of adoring beauties. Among them are are Fannie's stepsisters, bubbly Meredith and grumpy Vicki. Neither of them will take "no" for an answer on that dance...until Larry announces a beautiful and mysterious newcomer...
Had leftovers and a salad for dinner while watching Match Game. Both episodes got pretty wild today. The first one began with Earl, the young man who slides the question and answers on the Audience Match board, missing his cue and forgetting to slide the question.The second episode brought legendary announcer Johnny Olsen in when a question asked about what he says to his wife to wake her up at nights. As the long-time announcer for The Price Is Right, he got to say that famous "Come on down!" Gary Burghoff even dashed down the stairs in imitation of an excited Price contestant.
Yesterday's champ on Sale of the Century just couldn't get anything going today. The young man playing against him bought all three Instant Bargains and still killed everyone in the speed round. He too opted to return and try for better prizes.
Finished the night with four more classic sitcoms, starting with the first season of The Golden Girls on Hulu. Ironically, Rose Nylund (Betty White) faces a similar dilemma to Vicki last night in "Rose the Prude." She has a wonderful new boyfriend named Arnie (Harold Gould) who has asked her on a cruise, but she's not sure if she's ready after her husband died. Unlike Vicki, her roommates are able to convince her to make the leap and go further in the relationship.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is also currently on Hulu. In the fourth season, Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) drags her best friend Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) to New York for her sister's wedding in "Rhoda's Sister Gets Married." While her noisy aunt (Brett Somers) is squeezing them a little too tight, Rhoda's mother (Nancy Walker) is worried that her unmarried daughter might be jealous. Rhoda's more concerned that her mother is going to ruin her sister's wedding because of her.
The first three seasons of That Girl are currently free at Tubi. Mary Richards is hardly the only working woman on TV to run into problems with her jobs and love life. Went with the series' first episode, "Don't Just Do Something, Stand There." Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas), an aspiring actress, is thrilled when she's offered a commercial that's filming right at the news stand where she works. She's supposed to play a girl who gets kidnapped, but Don (Ted Bissell), a writer in the same building, thinks she's being kidnapped for real and tries to save her. To make up for yelling at him over it, she attempts to buy him the desk they both had their eye on.
The last show I watched before tonight's syndicated Match Game premiere was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which is also found on YouTube. "The Spirit of the Law" from the second season brings a power company workman (Jack Burns) to Gull Cottage in the hope of putting up power pylons on their land. When the Captain's sabotage gets her into hot water, Carolyn (Hope Lange) opts to go to jail and let it go to trial rather than cause further damage. Claymore (Charles Nelson Reilly) tries to play lawyer and help out, but it's not until the Captain takes over his body and recalls an earlier case of unlawful demolition that the Judge (J. Pat O'Malley) takes them seriously.
Oh, and the storms returned in force tonight, twice in a row, actually. It doesn't sound like they'll be going anywhere for the next few days...which isn't good, as I still have errands I need to run.
Having enjoyed It's a Living last night, I decided to sample other vintage sitcoms streaming online and see what else I felt like doing a marathon for. Started at Hulu with MASH. "Crisis" from the second season is entirely too appropriate right now. The supply lines for the 4077th have been cut off, leaving many shortages in the middle of brutal winter weather. Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) keeps losing his office furniture to the surgeons chopping it for firewood, Frank Burns (Larry Linville) totes a rifle and is hoarding hams with Hot Lips (Loretta Swit), and no one is happy about sharing quarters to conserve heat.
Clouds were starting to build in the distance as I switched to The Bob Newhart Show, also on Hulu. Bob played a psychiatrist with a lot of nutty patients and Suzanne Pleshette was his smart wife Emily, but "Bob and Emily and Howard and Carol and Jerry" from the first season focuses on their three supporting friends. Their neighbor Howard (Bill Daily) manages to charm Bob's receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) when he's high on laughing gas, but he can't even remember her name when they actually go on a date. She eventually goes on a date with Bob's dentist friend Jerry (Peter Bonnerz), but Howard is still interested in her and wants to try again.
By the time I'd moved to What's Happening!! on The Roku Channel, we were in the middle of a very loud, full-on thunderstorm. I quickly threw down all the windows in the apartment as "The Maid Did It" played behind me. Mabel King was the head of family who is fired from her maid job when she's accused of stealing a ring. Her son Roger (Ernest Thomas) and his friends Dwayne (Haywood Nelson) and Re-Run (Fred Berry) take it on themselves to find the real thief.
(Incidentally, something I didn't realize until I read the credits - well-known composers wrote the themes for at least two of the shows I watched yesterday and today. Leslie Bricusse did the infectious showtune title song for It's a Living; Henry Mancini wrote the funky instrumental theme for What's Happening!!)
Though the thunder was gone by the time I was on NewsRadio, it continued to rain fairly hard. I have an odd soft spot for shows about failing radio stations. WKRP In Cincinatti was one of my favorite sitcoms as a kid, and I still adore the underrated AMC historical dramady Remember WENN. I probably would have gotten more into NewsRadio if it hadn't been on around the same time as WENN. I did like what little I saw at the time, but I haven't seen it since the late 90's.
For some reason, Roku currently only has seasons 3 and 4. I went with "Complaint Box" from season 3. News director Dave Nelson (Dave Foley) installs a complaint box (with a buzzer), but it's quickly overwhelmed with with jokes and nonsense complaints. Dave's first horrified when he somehow loses the box he hears his boss Jimmy James (Stephan Root) through, then angry when lawyers take the complaint from Lisa Miller (Maura Tierney) seriously.
Even waiting out the rain didn't make taking Uber during a storm any cheaper. Not to mention, I forgot to confirm the first ride and had to do it again. Thankfully, the young man was able to avoid traffic, and I got to my appointment just in time, by which time the rain was gone and the sun was just emerging.
It took about 15 minutes for the doctor to take me this time, and there were several other people in the room, including a man getting a cast on his hand taken off and an elderly mother and her daughter. The ultimate verdict from Dr. Ramerez was about what I figured it would be. The fracture is healing, but not 100 percent better yet. I'm to leave the sling off at home and do light arm therapy on my own whenever I can.
The Uber took longer to get home than it did to get to Cooper. The guy who drove me there took the highway, but the man going back to Oaklyn took the back roads, where there were tons of downed trees and large limbs from the earlier storm. Saw a lot of downed trees at Newton Lake Park as we drove past too, including one that was blown over with a ton of roots and dirt intact.
Ran Tattletales as I had a snack and got organized when I arrived at home. This time, Orson and Carolyn did the worst of the three, only getting two questions. The winners were comedian Army Archerd and his equally funny wife Selma, who got everything right.
Switched to writing after the show ended. As Charles and Clifton start the music, Richard attracts a bevy of adoring beauties. Among them are are Fannie's stepsisters, bubbly Meredith and grumpy Vicki. Neither of them will take "no" for an answer on that dance...until Larry announces a beautiful and mysterious newcomer...
Had leftovers and a salad for dinner while watching Match Game. Both episodes got pretty wild today. The first one began with Earl, the young man who slides the question and answers on the Audience Match board, missing his cue and forgetting to slide the question.The second episode brought legendary announcer Johnny Olsen in when a question asked about what he says to his wife to wake her up at nights. As the long-time announcer for The Price Is Right, he got to say that famous "Come on down!" Gary Burghoff even dashed down the stairs in imitation of an excited Price contestant.
Yesterday's champ on Sale of the Century just couldn't get anything going today. The young man playing against him bought all three Instant Bargains and still killed everyone in the speed round. He too opted to return and try for better prizes.
Finished the night with four more classic sitcoms, starting with the first season of The Golden Girls on Hulu. Ironically, Rose Nylund (Betty White) faces a similar dilemma to Vicki last night in "Rose the Prude." She has a wonderful new boyfriend named Arnie (Harold Gould) who has asked her on a cruise, but she's not sure if she's ready after her husband died. Unlike Vicki, her roommates are able to convince her to make the leap and go further in the relationship.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is also currently on Hulu. In the fourth season, Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper) drags her best friend Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) to New York for her sister's wedding in "Rhoda's Sister Gets Married." While her noisy aunt (Brett Somers) is squeezing them a little too tight, Rhoda's mother (Nancy Walker) is worried that her unmarried daughter might be jealous. Rhoda's more concerned that her mother is going to ruin her sister's wedding because of her.
The first three seasons of That Girl are currently free at Tubi. Mary Richards is hardly the only working woman on TV to run into problems with her jobs and love life. Went with the series' first episode, "Don't Just Do Something, Stand There." Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas), an aspiring actress, is thrilled when she's offered a commercial that's filming right at the news stand where she works. She's supposed to play a girl who gets kidnapped, but Don (Ted Bissell), a writer in the same building, thinks she's being kidnapped for real and tries to save her. To make up for yelling at him over it, she attempts to buy him the desk they both had their eye on.
The last show I watched before tonight's syndicated Match Game premiere was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which is also found on YouTube. "The Spirit of the Law" from the second season brings a power company workman (Jack Burns) to Gull Cottage in the hope of putting up power pylons on their land. When the Captain's sabotage gets her into hot water, Carolyn (Hope Lange) opts to go to jail and let it go to trial rather than cause further damage. Claymore (Charles Nelson Reilly) tries to play lawyer and help out, but it's not until the Captain takes over his body and recalls an earlier case of unlawful demolition that the Judge (J. Pat O'Malley) takes them seriously.
Oh, and the storms returned in force tonight, twice in a row, actually. It doesn't sound like they'll be going anywhere for the next few days...which isn't good, as I still have errands I need to run.
Tuesday, June 02, 2020
Something Wonderful of My Own
I stayed up late doing last night's entry and slept until 10. Finally started the morning with breakfast. After I ate, I tried something different and made blueberry donuts in the pan Mom gave me a year and a half ago. They tasted pretty good, but a couple fell apart when I pulled them out. For some reason, I just can't get the big ones to stay together.
Watched the 1940 version of Irene on the TV Time Musicals app as I worked. I go further into British movie star Anna Neagle's first attempt to break into Hollywood at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Irene (1940)
Watched a little Match Game '74 as I got organized and ready to go. Orson Bean and his Vermont wit and dainty southern beauty Mary Ann Mobley joined Gene, Betty White, and the regulars as they celebrated returning to their regular home at Studio 33 in Television City (now known as the Bob Barker Studio). The contestant struck out in the first Audience Match (no one got the top answer for "Turtle"), but did better in the second.
Took the Uber to Cherry Hill at around 1. There was no traffic anywhere as the car headed down Route 70, and we arrived at the Cooper Orthopedics building in plenty of time. To my embarrassment, I discovered when I got to the office that my appointment was for tomorrow, not today! I have no idea why I wrote down today on my calendar. I dashed out of the building as quickly as possible.
Wasn't terribly happy when I hit the sidewalk. Normally, I might have gone out to lunch at that point to cheer me up, or continued down Route 70 to the shopping center with Jo Ann's and Shop Rite. I really don't want or need to be ordering things curbside, and I'm not supposed to be eating the salt-laden junk most of the fast food restaurants near the hotel and Cooper Orthopedics sell anyway.
It still seemed a shame to waste the trip. I wandered behind the two buildings and across the street. There's a grassy spot between woods directly across the street from Cooper. Strolling to the riverside revealed roots that created a narrow staircase down to the banks. The view was green and peaceful, with no one around but Canadian geese going for a swim. The day was still cool, but cloudy and more humid than it has been, no day for lingering.
There used to be a mini golf course next to the Cooper River Bridge and across the street from the Crown Plaza Hotel. The golf course closed in 2016 and was mostly dismantled, except for a large sand trap and two buildings. A storage shed is oddly in good shape despite having boards under (not on) the windows, but the former concession stand and ball counter is rotting and falling to bits. Exploring the area revealed a fabulous view of the bridge, a patch of gravel and a boardwalk that look like they've been kept up, and small pine trees and grass and weeds that most definitely have not. I even found fuzzy green patches where the golf courses themselves once were.
Even if I should have been more careful with my appointments, at least the walk was lovely. With everything going on, it was almost cathartic to find a quiet space of my own that no one knew about. I saw maybe two people the entire time I was there. One was on a bike, and neither of them came anywhere close to the golf course or the river.
(Speaking of it being a shame to waste things, I wonder what they intend to do with that space? It's a great location with a wonderful view, one of the largest hotels in the area across the street, a medical building a block away, and one of the larger parks in the area a few blocks in the other direction. They could put a gazebo there and use it as outdoor meeting space for the hotel, or reincorporate it into the country park system.)
After Uber dropped me off, I made a lemon glaze for the donuts while watching Super Password. Bubbly Elaine Joyce and deadpan big guy Richard Moll were the celebrities helping out today. Elaine in particular lead her first contestant through the bonus round in record time. I was working on another dishrag by the time Tattletales came on. Orson Bean turned up here as well with his wife Carolyn Jones. They were joined by married songwriter Bobby Troupe and his shy singer wife Julie London and comedian Army Archerd and his wife Selma. Long-time married couple Julie and Bobby were by far the big winners, getting almost every question right.
Worked on writing for a while after the show ended. Clifton calls Charles over to begin the music as Betty has to explain her amphibian escort to Sir Larry Blyden. Charles borrows a lute just as the disguised Richard, Gene, and their entourage arrive...and make a sensation with the women...
Broke for dinner at 6 and returned to Match Game. Tough Scoey Mitchlll may not have been the best at playing the game, but he was always entertaining, even when he didn't quite get what was going on. He was joined by Fannie Flagg, Broadway singer Karen Morrow, Gene, Richard, Brett, and an eager Gary Burghoff replacing Charles Nelson Reilly while he was on hiatus. Sale of the Century was almost a repeat of yesterday, with everyone buying or winning something and the champ pulling ahead at the last minute. Once again, he opted to return for better prizes later.
Finished the night after a shower with It's a Living. Tubi currently has the first two seasons of one of my favorite childhood sitcoms for free with ads. Five waitresses at the super-modern Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles work for Nancy (Marian Mercer), the strict but well-meaning woman matre 'd. Vicki (Wendy Schaal) is the newest recruit, a naive college girl who just moved to LA. Peppy Dot (Gail Edwards) is hoping for an acting career. Hot-tempered Jan (Barrie Youngfellow) and sensible Lois (Susan Sullivan) are moms earning money for their children and families. Cassie (Ann Jillian) is the resident wisecracker who is basically known for sleeping around. Also working there are elderly cook Mario (Bert Remsen) and smarmy pianist Sonny (Paul Kreppel), the latter of whom hits on anything that does or doesn't move.
Ran the first four episodes of the series tonight, starting with the pilot episode. Vicki isn't sure that she wants to spend a weekend with a guy she doesn't know very well. The other women offer advice to her about how to handle the relationship. "The Intruder" invades when Lois is holding a slumber party with the other women at her house. They prove that there's safety in numbers when they end up holding off a burglar themselves. Cassie and Vicki become "Roomies" when Cassie's apartment isn't ready for her to move in. Cassie, however, is tired of Vicki's cheerfulness and her parakeet but can't quite bring herself to throw her out. Vicki adores her dad who raised her alone, but he becomes a "Fallen Idol" when she catches him in bed with Nancy.
My sisters and I loved this show when we were kids. We watched the later syndicated episodes religiously on Channel 17. Growing up at the Jersey Shore, we were more than familiar with fancy restaurants, huge expensive hotels, sarcastic waitresses, and slightly creepy lounge singers. My mother was one of those women. She worked at the Ugly Mug, a popular bar and restaurant in Cape May, as a cook for a couple of years in the mid-80's.
The show is as much fun as I remember it, especially Ann Jillian as the man-crazy Cassie who gets all the best lines. I hope the syndicated episodes show up on Tubi eventually as well. I remember later additions like Sheryl Lee Ralph and Crystal Bernard being just as funny.
Watched the 1940 version of Irene on the TV Time Musicals app as I worked. I go further into British movie star Anna Neagle's first attempt to break into Hollywood at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Irene (1940)
Watched a little Match Game '74 as I got organized and ready to go. Orson Bean and his Vermont wit and dainty southern beauty Mary Ann Mobley joined Gene, Betty White, and the regulars as they celebrated returning to their regular home at Studio 33 in Television City (now known as the Bob Barker Studio). The contestant struck out in the first Audience Match (no one got the top answer for "Turtle"), but did better in the second.
Took the Uber to Cherry Hill at around 1. There was no traffic anywhere as the car headed down Route 70, and we arrived at the Cooper Orthopedics building in plenty of time. To my embarrassment, I discovered when I got to the office that my appointment was for tomorrow, not today! I have no idea why I wrote down today on my calendar. I dashed out of the building as quickly as possible.
Wasn't terribly happy when I hit the sidewalk. Normally, I might have gone out to lunch at that point to cheer me up, or continued down Route 70 to the shopping center with Jo Ann's and Shop Rite. I really don't want or need to be ordering things curbside, and I'm not supposed to be eating the salt-laden junk most of the fast food restaurants near the hotel and Cooper Orthopedics sell anyway.
It still seemed a shame to waste the trip. I wandered behind the two buildings and across the street. There's a grassy spot between woods directly across the street from Cooper. Strolling to the riverside revealed roots that created a narrow staircase down to the banks. The view was green and peaceful, with no one around but Canadian geese going for a swim. The day was still cool, but cloudy and more humid than it has been, no day for lingering.
There used to be a mini golf course next to the Cooper River Bridge and across the street from the Crown Plaza Hotel. The golf course closed in 2016 and was mostly dismantled, except for a large sand trap and two buildings. A storage shed is oddly in good shape despite having boards under (not on) the windows, but the former concession stand and ball counter is rotting and falling to bits. Exploring the area revealed a fabulous view of the bridge, a patch of gravel and a boardwalk that look like they've been kept up, and small pine trees and grass and weeds that most definitely have not. I even found fuzzy green patches where the golf courses themselves once were.
Even if I should have been more careful with my appointments, at least the walk was lovely. With everything going on, it was almost cathartic to find a quiet space of my own that no one knew about. I saw maybe two people the entire time I was there. One was on a bike, and neither of them came anywhere close to the golf course or the river.
(Speaking of it being a shame to waste things, I wonder what they intend to do with that space? It's a great location with a wonderful view, one of the largest hotels in the area across the street, a medical building a block away, and one of the larger parks in the area a few blocks in the other direction. They could put a gazebo there and use it as outdoor meeting space for the hotel, or reincorporate it into the country park system.)
After Uber dropped me off, I made a lemon glaze for the donuts while watching Super Password. Bubbly Elaine Joyce and deadpan big guy Richard Moll were the celebrities helping out today. Elaine in particular lead her first contestant through the bonus round in record time. I was working on another dishrag by the time Tattletales came on. Orson Bean turned up here as well with his wife Carolyn Jones. They were joined by married songwriter Bobby Troupe and his shy singer wife Julie London and comedian Army Archerd and his wife Selma. Long-time married couple Julie and Bobby were by far the big winners, getting almost every question right.
Worked on writing for a while after the show ended. Clifton calls Charles over to begin the music as Betty has to explain her amphibian escort to Sir Larry Blyden. Charles borrows a lute just as the disguised Richard, Gene, and their entourage arrive...and make a sensation with the women...
Broke for dinner at 6 and returned to Match Game. Tough Scoey Mitchlll may not have been the best at playing the game, but he was always entertaining, even when he didn't quite get what was going on. He was joined by Fannie Flagg, Broadway singer Karen Morrow, Gene, Richard, Brett, and an eager Gary Burghoff replacing Charles Nelson Reilly while he was on hiatus. Sale of the Century was almost a repeat of yesterday, with everyone buying or winning something and the champ pulling ahead at the last minute. Once again, he opted to return for better prizes later.
Finished the night after a shower with It's a Living. Tubi currently has the first two seasons of one of my favorite childhood sitcoms for free with ads. Five waitresses at the super-modern Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles work for Nancy (Marian Mercer), the strict but well-meaning woman matre 'd. Vicki (Wendy Schaal) is the newest recruit, a naive college girl who just moved to LA. Peppy Dot (Gail Edwards) is hoping for an acting career. Hot-tempered Jan (Barrie Youngfellow) and sensible Lois (Susan Sullivan) are moms earning money for their children and families. Cassie (Ann Jillian) is the resident wisecracker who is basically known for sleeping around. Also working there are elderly cook Mario (Bert Remsen) and smarmy pianist Sonny (Paul Kreppel), the latter of whom hits on anything that does or doesn't move.
Ran the first four episodes of the series tonight, starting with the pilot episode. Vicki isn't sure that she wants to spend a weekend with a guy she doesn't know very well. The other women offer advice to her about how to handle the relationship. "The Intruder" invades when Lois is holding a slumber party with the other women at her house. They prove that there's safety in numbers when they end up holding off a burglar themselves. Cassie and Vicki become "Roomies" when Cassie's apartment isn't ready for her to move in. Cassie, however, is tired of Vicki's cheerfulness and her parakeet but can't quite bring herself to throw her out. Vicki adores her dad who raised her alone, but he becomes a "Fallen Idol" when she catches him in bed with Nancy.
My sisters and I loved this show when we were kids. We watched the later syndicated episodes religiously on Channel 17. Growing up at the Jersey Shore, we were more than familiar with fancy restaurants, huge expensive hotels, sarcastic waitresses, and slightly creepy lounge singers. My mother was one of those women. She worked at the Ugly Mug, a popular bar and restaurant in Cape May, as a cook for a couple of years in the mid-80's.
The show is as much fun as I remember it, especially Ann Jillian as the man-crazy Cassie who gets all the best lines. I hope the syndicated episodes show up on Tubi eventually as well. I remember later additions like Sheryl Lee Ralph and Crystal Bernard being just as funny.
Monday, June 01, 2020
Adventure Is Closer Than You Think
Kicked off another comfortably sunny day with breakfast and Blockbusters. It started with the grandmother half of the grandmother/grandson duo going into the Gold Rush bonus round...where she proved that she is, indeed, a genius by not missing a single question. They were tackling the next solo contestant, a young woman, when time ran out.
Spent the rest of the morning making a banana-upside-down cake, a variation on the pineapple upside-down cake recipe in Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook. Replaced the fruit and fruit juice with mashed bananas and oats; sliced a banana and put that in the melted butter and brown sugar, with blueberries in the middle. The cake part came out perfectly and tasted delicious. The topping...not so much. I must have cooked it for too long. Instead of running down the sides, the topping crusted around the edges. The bananas stuck to the top of the pan. I suspect they may have been too soft to be used for topping.
Watched the 1985 version of King Solomon's Mines, which is currently running on Tubi for free with ads. Great white hunter Allan Quartermain (Richard Chamberlain) is hired by archaeologist Jessie Huston (Sharon Stone) to find her father, Professor Huston. Huston was kidnapped while searching for King Solomon's fabled diamond mines by the very German Colonel Bockner (Herbert Lom) and Turkish slave-trader Dogati (John Rhys-Davies). Quartermain, Jessie, and the mysterious native Umbopo (Ken Gampu) follow the Germans, hoping to get to the Mines first...but they'll also have to deal with warring native tribes, cannibals who think they're on the lunch menu, a pit full of hungry crocodiles, and demanding old tribal queens. Even when they arrive, the mines themselves are full of traps, and Dogati and Bockner are still after them, too.
Switched to Charlie's Angels on The Roku Channel while cleaning up the cake mess and having lunch. Former jewel thief Freddie the Fox proves to be a "Diamond In the Rough" during the second season when he tells the Angels about a gem that was stolen by an unscrupulous financier. The Angels join him in the Caribbean, with Kelly posing as his secretary, Sabrina as his trophy wife, Bosley as his valet, and Kris as his masseuse. Trouble is, Kris never expected to fall for the financier's car-loving mechanic son...
Went out for a walk after the show ended. I decided to avoid the main drag all together and just stuck to the park and Manor Avenue. I wasn't the only one. I saw a family out on a kayaking trip pulling into the park and a woman jogging and walking her dog. Charlie and Willa watered their gardens; I dropped the rent in their mailbox on my way to the park. It was a nice day for a walk, too, sunny and breezy and even cooler than yesterday, probably in the lower 70's.
Picked up my mail on my way in. The card for my disability money had arrived! I went online and activated it at Bank of America's website. The activation went fine...but it turned out that I had no money in my account yet. I had to do some searching, but I did eventually discover that the first payment is a week after you call them. Hopefully, I'll get the money tomorrow.
Worked on writing for a while after I finished fiddling with the card. Betty recognizes the small man with the glasses at the door as one of her pages, Sir Larry (Blyden). He in turn knows her, but reveals that he's friends with Arlene and Soupy the witch and warlock and won't give her identity away.
Broke for dinner around 6. John "Charlie" Forsythe joined Brett, Richard, Gene, Gary Burghoff, Fannie Flagg, and Elaine Joyce for the tail end of a week of Match Game from 1975. Fannie got to show off some of her infamous t-shirts, including one that sported a sequined Popeye, and another made to look like a tuxedo. It was a close race on Sale of the Century. All three contestants were neck-and-neck the entire game, and they all bought or won something. It wasn't until the speed round where the champ pulled ahead. He opted to come back when he learned that the prizes were about to change and liked the sound of some of the upcoming ones.
Returned to Allan Quartermain's world to finish out the night with Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold, which was free with ads at Vudu. Allan and Jessie are still living in Africa when an old friend of Allan's turns up delirious and injured one night. Though he's eventually killed, he does manage to tell Allan that his lost brother Robeson (Martin Rabbett) is alive. Though Jessie wants Allan to return to the US for their wedding, she eventually changes her mind and joins him, his warrior friend Umslopogaas (James Earl Jones) of the massive ax, the cowardly spiritual guru Swarma (Robert Donner), and several natives on a trek into the jungle. Even when they do find the City of Gold and Allan's brother, they end up caught in a power struggle between the city's two queens, it's greedy high priest Agon (Henry Silva), and his army of renegade natives, who want the peaceful city's precious metals.
B and low-budget movie specialists The Cannon Group, who did The Apple and the fairy-tale musicals I've reviewed at my musical blog, also put out these two. On one hand, they're not very good. The dialogue is terrible, the special effects are cheap (Umslopogaas' ax is obviously a plastic prop), the characters are cliched, and the plots have little or nothing to do with the Allan Quartermain books by H. Rider Haggard that these are supposedly based after. There's also the racial aspects to deal with, including the dated treatment of the natives and white gods ruling over a city of mixed races in Lost City of Gold.
And yet...for all the problems, I thoroughly enjoyed them. Chamberlain is obviously having a fine time as one of the most famous "great white hunters" in literature, and Stone's character at least has some use besides "love interest" and can even hold her own in a fight with the evil queen towards the end of Lost City of Gold. Lom and Rhys-Davies are a little too goofy to be menacing in Mines; Silva and his ladies come off slightly better. In a weird way, the cheap production and stiff dialogue almost make them feel even more like the serials of the 30's and 40's that inspired these and the Indiana Jones films.
If you're a big fan of the Indiana Jones series like me or a fan of Chamberlain and can handle the low budget and campy feel, these are both worth checking out.
Spent the rest of the morning making a banana-upside-down cake, a variation on the pineapple upside-down cake recipe in Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook. Replaced the fruit and fruit juice with mashed bananas and oats; sliced a banana and put that in the melted butter and brown sugar, with blueberries in the middle. The cake part came out perfectly and tasted delicious. The topping...not so much. I must have cooked it for too long. Instead of running down the sides, the topping crusted around the edges. The bananas stuck to the top of the pan. I suspect they may have been too soft to be used for topping.
Watched the 1985 version of King Solomon's Mines, which is currently running on Tubi for free with ads. Great white hunter Allan Quartermain (Richard Chamberlain) is hired by archaeologist Jessie Huston (Sharon Stone) to find her father, Professor Huston. Huston was kidnapped while searching for King Solomon's fabled diamond mines by the very German Colonel Bockner (Herbert Lom) and Turkish slave-trader Dogati (John Rhys-Davies). Quartermain, Jessie, and the mysterious native Umbopo (Ken Gampu) follow the Germans, hoping to get to the Mines first...but they'll also have to deal with warring native tribes, cannibals who think they're on the lunch menu, a pit full of hungry crocodiles, and demanding old tribal queens. Even when they arrive, the mines themselves are full of traps, and Dogati and Bockner are still after them, too.
Switched to Charlie's Angels on The Roku Channel while cleaning up the cake mess and having lunch. Former jewel thief Freddie the Fox proves to be a "Diamond In the Rough" during the second season when he tells the Angels about a gem that was stolen by an unscrupulous financier. The Angels join him in the Caribbean, with Kelly posing as his secretary, Sabrina as his trophy wife, Bosley as his valet, and Kris as his masseuse. Trouble is, Kris never expected to fall for the financier's car-loving mechanic son...
Went out for a walk after the show ended. I decided to avoid the main drag all together and just stuck to the park and Manor Avenue. I wasn't the only one. I saw a family out on a kayaking trip pulling into the park and a woman jogging and walking her dog. Charlie and Willa watered their gardens; I dropped the rent in their mailbox on my way to the park. It was a nice day for a walk, too, sunny and breezy and even cooler than yesterday, probably in the lower 70's.
Picked up my mail on my way in. The card for my disability money had arrived! I went online and activated it at Bank of America's website. The activation went fine...but it turned out that I had no money in my account yet. I had to do some searching, but I did eventually discover that the first payment is a week after you call them. Hopefully, I'll get the money tomorrow.
Worked on writing for a while after I finished fiddling with the card. Betty recognizes the small man with the glasses at the door as one of her pages, Sir Larry (Blyden). He in turn knows her, but reveals that he's friends with Arlene and Soupy the witch and warlock and won't give her identity away.
Broke for dinner around 6. John "Charlie" Forsythe joined Brett, Richard, Gene, Gary Burghoff, Fannie Flagg, and Elaine Joyce for the tail end of a week of Match Game from 1975. Fannie got to show off some of her infamous t-shirts, including one that sported a sequined Popeye, and another made to look like a tuxedo. It was a close race on Sale of the Century. All three contestants were neck-and-neck the entire game, and they all bought or won something. It wasn't until the speed round where the champ pulled ahead. He opted to come back when he learned that the prizes were about to change and liked the sound of some of the upcoming ones.
Returned to Allan Quartermain's world to finish out the night with Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold, which was free with ads at Vudu. Allan and Jessie are still living in Africa when an old friend of Allan's turns up delirious and injured one night. Though he's eventually killed, he does manage to tell Allan that his lost brother Robeson (Martin Rabbett) is alive. Though Jessie wants Allan to return to the US for their wedding, she eventually changes her mind and joins him, his warrior friend Umslopogaas (James Earl Jones) of the massive ax, the cowardly spiritual guru Swarma (Robert Donner), and several natives on a trek into the jungle. Even when they do find the City of Gold and Allan's brother, they end up caught in a power struggle between the city's two queens, it's greedy high priest Agon (Henry Silva), and his army of renegade natives, who want the peaceful city's precious metals.
B and low-budget movie specialists The Cannon Group, who did The Apple and the fairy-tale musicals I've reviewed at my musical blog, also put out these two. On one hand, they're not very good. The dialogue is terrible, the special effects are cheap (Umslopogaas' ax is obviously a plastic prop), the characters are cliched, and the plots have little or nothing to do with the Allan Quartermain books by H. Rider Haggard that these are supposedly based after. There's also the racial aspects to deal with, including the dated treatment of the natives and white gods ruling over a city of mixed races in Lost City of Gold.
And yet...for all the problems, I thoroughly enjoyed them. Chamberlain is obviously having a fine time as one of the most famous "great white hunters" in literature, and Stone's character at least has some use besides "love interest" and can even hold her own in a fight with the evil queen towards the end of Lost City of Gold. Lom and Rhys-Davies are a little too goofy to be menacing in Mines; Silva and his ladies come off slightly better. In a weird way, the cheap production and stiff dialogue almost make them feel even more like the serials of the 30's and 40's that inspired these and the Indiana Jones films.
If you're a big fan of the Indiana Jones series like me or a fan of Chamberlain and can handle the low budget and campy feel, these are both worth checking out.
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