Trouble In the Winter

Began the morning with a quick breakfast and Mickey Mouse Mixed Up Adventures. "Pete and Goofy's Wild Ride" takes the cat and dog duo all across town when they accidentally hijack Billy Beagle's blimp. Billy, Mickey, and the others have to chase after them. Daisy, Minnie, and Cukoo-Loca are looking forward to celebrating What Makes You Happy Day...but they discover when they gather orders for banana bread to keep Clarabelle from leaving that "The Happiest Day of All!" for them is when they help make others happy.

Worked on writing for a while. Richard Dawson orders the remaining sailors to leave. He'll deal with the miscreants. No one is happy to see him. Brett flat-out attacks him, and Gene's still livid about his turning traitor. Richard regrets his decision to go with Goodson, especially after Goodson lied to him about putting Gene on trial. He'll take them to Jack Narz and help Brett find Charles and release the other women.

Broke in time to change into work clothes, call Uber, pack lunch and dinner, and head out. Work was on-and-off steady all day, neither really dead nor overwhelmingly busy. I spent almost the entire day outside, pushing carts and enjoying the gorgeous weather. It's back to being sunny, breezy, and in the mid-40's here. It's great for pushing carts, not too cold for the time of year or too warm. 

By the time I got off at 7, the Acme was dead...and so was I. I called Uber again. A car showed up, but I couldn't tell if it was the right one or not. It was black, but I couldn't see the make. I should have asked quicker. By the time I looked it up on my cell phone, the lady waited too long and left. When I tried to call another rider, the cell phone died and refused to get through to Uber again. I just ended up walking home, angry and frustrated with myself for not being more careful.

When I did finally get in, I took out the trash, then watched Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood while having snacks to bolster my spirits. "Daniel Goes to Sleep" shows off his nighttime routine, from one last bit of playtime with his sister Margaret to brushing his teeth and hearing a story. "Prince Wednesday Sleeps Over," joining Daniel and their stuffed animals in an indoor tent. While Prince Tuesday keeps an eye on Margaret, they settle down and try to help Tuesday calm Margaret as well.

Finished the night with That's Entertainment on the Watch TCM app after a much-needed shower. TCM showed the three That's Entertainment films on New Year's Eve. Frankly, I'm not really up to anything besides discussing this collection of numbers from MGM musicals, hosted by the stars who appeared in many of them. (Look for the other two movies on Thursday and Saturday!)

Musical Documentaries - That's Entertainment!

Dolls at Home

Began a cloudy morning with texting Jessa. I really need a new cell phone. I'm desperately worried that the one I have will die soon and not come up again. I initially suggested we get together on Thursday, before remembering I work that day. We eventually decided to get together at 9 in the morning on Wednesday. 

Put on Muppet Babies while making Apple-Cinnamon Pancakes for breakfast (that came out a little too chunky - the first one fell apart). "The Mystery of the Missing Pearls" has Detective Summer and Piggy looking for a pearl necklace Piggy "borrowed" from her mother that vanished. As they talk to the other Muppets, they realize other objects have vanished without permission, too...and Piggy realizes that she shouldn't have taken her mother's pearls to begin with. "Rowlf Gets the Blues" when his mother goes out of town. He's determined not to show it, but his fur turns blue until he finally sings about his feelings.

Switched to Match Game '75 while cleaning up from breakfast. For some reason, Buzzr swapped '74 to the 6 PM hour and '75 to noon. Carol Bartos, who would become the series' all-time champion at that point, was introduced in this episode. We also saw "Gene __" on the Audience Match...and Gene Rayburn hold his breath while Earl revealed if he was the top answer! 

Spent the next few hours dressing the dolls for colder weather and listening to George Shearing CDs. Jessa is trying on one of the outfits Lauren sent from Amazon in late November. Like her original owner, Jessa loves all things flamingo. The soft aqua top with the embroidered flamingo patch was perfect for her. The attached lavender tulle skirt is a bit too frou-frou, though, and really short. I paired it with gray American Girl leggings, Molly's bobby socks, and a pair of flamingo-print sneakers I found at a local craft show about a decade ago. 

Ariel also gets to wear a new outfit. She's in Julie's Casual Outfit with the blue corduroy gauchos, the orange embroidered tunic, and brown boots that are so cool, I'd love to have a pair. (My mother vouched for the boots' authenticity. When Julie came out, she said those boots looked just like a pair she had as a young adult in the mid-70's.)

The other dolls wear more familiar outfits. Molly also goes casual in her flannel plaid Play Outfit shirt, blue corduroys, and oxfords from Kit's School Outfit. Samantha curls up in her gray flannel Buster Brown Dress with black stockings and boots from Rebecca's School Outfit. Felicity is ready to hit the nearest trails in her Riding Outfit and tri-corn hat. Josefina looks elegant in the blue striped empire-waisted dress and navy flowered hat I bought on eBay a few years ago. Whitney's hoping the creek will freeze up again so she can glide over the ice in Molly's Skating Outfit and Springfield Collection skates. 

Finished in time for a very late lunch and Super Password. It's Night Court week as Markie Post and Richard Moll competed to see who could lead their contestant to the Super Password bonus round. Comedian Martin Milner and his wife Judy were the big winners on Tattletales, over goofy Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill and the more glamorous Mary Ann Mobley and Gary Collins. 

I'd started cleaning the kitchen and wiping down the windows by the time Press Your Luck came on. The Christmas Eve 1984 episode began fairly calm, with everyone getting something in the first round and no Whammies. That changed in the second episode, as the holiday Whammies flew fast and furious. The champ finally picked up a trip to Seattle and a lot more cash. The champ also won in a Christmas 1978 episode of Card Sharks. One lucky move netted him a big payout on the Money Board. 

Worked on writing for a while after I finished. Bill pulls a gun on Goodson, but he manages to distract him and knock it from his hand. The others use those sheets they wore to keep Goodson's sailors at bay, but Goodson dodges them and flees into the bowels of the ship. Brett insists not only on going after them, but rescuing her ladies as well. They don't know where they're going...but someone else who wants revenge on Goodson does...

Broke to take out the recycling and make turkey burgers and steamed broccoli at 6:30. Jimmie Walker joined the regulars, sweet blonde Joyce Bulifant, and sarcastic blonde Loretta Swit for his first week on Match Game '74. Gene complained that he couldn't find his microphone, while the others tried to figure out what a cop was assigned to do to streakers. Giggly Betty Kennedy took Brett's place on Match Game PM while she did a stage show in St. Louis, while Charles tried to help a Dutch-born contestant win 20,000.

Started dusting the apartment by the time Sale of the Century was on. I don't know why Buzzr is burning off all its Christmas episodes now. They switched to Christmas week 1987, as the champ was unseated at the last minute in the Speed Round by a smart young woman. She made a major comeback in the Guess the Puzzles bonus round, beating it with three seconds to spare after missing the first puzzle (and only needing two words to get the right answer on the first puzzle!). 

Finished out the night after I finished cleaning with The A-Team on The Roku Channel. George Peppard was the leader and Mr. T the most prominent member of a group of former Vietnam vets who are recruited for jobs most US agents would turn down. In "Death Do Us Part" from the first season, they rescue a Texas woman who just inherited her father's business from marrying his partner, a sociopath who killed his partner and played up his bride to get the company. Face (Dirk Bennedict) isn't thrilled when Hannibal (George Peppard) suggests marrying the lady himself to protect her from the bogus businessman and his flunkies. 

Sunshine In the Winter

Began a bright, sunny morning with a quick breakfast and my Cinderella CD. I love this collection of songs from various musical versions of the beloved fairy tale. Some of the lesser-known tunes include  "Spread a Little Happiness" from the British 20's musical Mr. Cinders, the rousing "Raise a Ruckus" from another British show Cindy-Ella, "Suddenly It Happens" from The Slipper and the Rose, and "On the Steps of the Palace" from Into the Woods.

Worked on a little writing after breakfast. Goodson thinks he can call his men right away...but he turns around and discovers Bill Cullen training a gun on him. Bill has nothing against his boss, but he also wants him to release his brother-in-law. Brett is about to shove that knife where the sun don't shine when they hear the sound of sailors' feet outside...

Broke at 11:30, giving me enough time to change, pack up, and call Uber. The driver frankly went way too fast, to the point where I was a little worried. I did get to work in plenty of time, though.

Work started out busy, but slowed down once the football games started. Other than I got stuck in the register at least three or four times (the last two times for cashiers' breaks), the night didn't go too badly. In fact, we had way more help than we needed. At one point, there were four baggers outside gathering carts when we barely needed one. I spent most of the last few hours bagging and shelving loose items. Gathered trash and recycling earlier.

At least the weather was great for being outside. It's sunny and bright, and the wind continues to diminish. While chilly, it's in the upper 30's-lower 40's, really what it should be at this time of year. 

The Uber driver took forever to arrive, but when he did finally drop me off, I had a treat waiting for me. I gave Jodie's friend around the corner Sandy who gave me the curtains last summer a bag of cookies and a card for Christmas. She stopped this morning right as I was getting ready to leave to thank me for the cookies and left me a cupcake in a bakery box on the counter in the kitchen. It was yellow, topped with a mountain of pink frosting and metallic dragees. I ate it while watching Lee Merriweather somehow miss Lady and the Tramp as a puzzle on Password Plus.

Stuck with game shows after I got out of the shower. Wasn't really up for much more than finishing up Bill Cullen's career on YouTube. Bill hosted the original version of Chain Reaction in 1980. This one is more like Password, with celebrities helping a contestant link one word to another in a chain. The front games are more-or-less the same as the Canadian version from later in the decade, but the bonus round plays more like the Pyramid games, with the two celebrities going back and forth, giving linked clues until the contestant guesses correctly. 10 right answers nets $10,000. 

(Wish more of this was online. Despite BillCullen.net claiming the entire series still exists, only one full episode is currently on YouTube, the one I watched tonight.)

Bill took over hosting Password Plus for a few weeks in 1980 when his friend Allen Ludden went out for stomach surgery. I also wish Buzzr would finally show his hosting run and Tom Kennedy's. He really seemed to enjoy himself, happily chatting with the contestants and Bill Anderson and Elaine Joyce. He was even the subject of one of the puzzles! (Which made me laugh so hard.)

Child's Play is kind of a weird one. Two contestants listen to a kid give an explanation of a word. The contestants have to guess what the word is from how the kids explained it. The bonus brings the kids in to answer the adult's descriptions of words. It's too adorable for words, and Bill works very well with the kids, listening to them patiently and praising their efforts. The episode I have listed was the second-to-last from September 1983.

I covered Hot Potato and The Joker's Wild a couple of months ago, when I discussed game shows I used to watch on the USA Network as a kid. Hot Potato in particular was a favorite of mine. It could be genuinely funny to watch people in very different occupations (like the beer testers and flight attendants who play each other in the episode I watched) toss answers back and forth. 

Bill wasn't just a great host. He was a great panelist, too. I finished off the night with one of his many appearances on the 1973-1982 Match Game. The episode I went with is from the later syndicated run. Everyone who played that week either had been a game show host (Cullen, Peter Marshall) or would be (Elaine Joyce and Betty White briefly hosted game shows in the 1980's). It was one of the better weeks of the syndicated run; I went with an episode where Bill got to help a contestant win 5,000 with "__ Cactus."

Here's the final shows in a legendary career! (As a bonus, look for commercials, either the original or from the USA Network run, on many of these recordings! And a warning that The Joker's Wild episode looks especially rough, but I don't think Bill's run of that show has turned up anywhere in decades.)

Chain Reaction (1980)

Password Plus (1980)

Match Game (1980) 

Child's Play (1982)

Hot Potato (1984)

The Joker's Wild (1986)

Ponies, Penguins, and Prices

Kicked off the morning with breakfast and the original My Little Pony on The Roku Channel. "Escape from Catrina," the second spring special, was eventually absorbed into the series as the show's two-part finale. Catrina (Tammy Grimes) is a witch whose powers rely on the production of Witchweed potion. She's forced the Bushwoolies to make the potion, but they rebel and flee her underground factory. Catrina sees the little ponies and their human friend Megan preparing for a costume party and tries to attack them, but Megan's Rainbow of Light pushes her back. She eventually sends her shape-shifting brother (Paul Williams) to capture one of the baby ponies and the rainbow, hoping to get rid of both.

Worked on writing for a little while after breakfast. Brett hands Gene the knife while she lets the others into Goodson's cabin. Gene tries to get Goodson to tell him where Jack is, but he's more interested in trying to figure out how Gene survived belly-flopping into the Atlantic.

Broke for lunch a little after 11. Buzzr runs black-and-white Bill Cullen Price Is Right episodes from the late 50's-early 60's on Saturday mornings. Came in just in time to witness a man win a car and a 12-inch bronze version of "The Thinker" statue. Caught the beginning of the next episode and got to see everyone bid on some really nifty patio furniture. I loved the swinging table-booth combo that reminded me of the ones that used to be at the water ice shop on the corner of the White Horse Pike and Cuthbert. 

Rose called as I was half-done with lunch. I still need to buy a new bike and a new cell phone, and I really should have done it ages ago. I haven't decided on a bike yet. When I pick a bike, we'll try to arrange for it to be shipped to a bike shop so they can put it together. I'd rather choose it in the shop, like I did when Dad took me to Cherry Hill to buy the one that got stolen, but the Cherry Hill shop doesn't allow browsing at the moment. I have to call Jessa to deal with the cell phone, since she's the one who mainly used the original line and would know more about how to change to a new phone and keep my old line.

Unfortunately, Rose's call meant I got a late start with Uber, which meant I was late to work. Spent the first couple of hours outside, enjoying a windy, sunny afternoon. We were busy through about 2:30; after that, the crowds vanished, and I had more help. Hung gift cards until the rush hour crowds came in at 5, when I tried to bag for one of the cashiers who had a long line. The manager decided she'd rather have me wipe doors for the final half-hour instead, despite the fact that I really didn't have the time for it.

Finished up the night at home, with leftover chicken, curried peas, and brown rice. Tried to watch Happy Feet while I ate, but the DVD turned out to be scratched and froze up on me half-way through. Finally finished it on Amazon Prime. 

Animation Celebration Saturday - Happy Feet

Of Belles and Muppets

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Doctor Anna and Music Man Stan are "Firefighters at School" when they come to show the kids what they do. The kids are surprised to see a doctor and a music store owner volunteering, but they remind them that you can be more than one thing. "Daniel's Doll" is a baby doll his Grandpere made him. He wants to play parents, but his friends want to play other games. He finally convinces them that they can play many different roles.

Worked on writing for a while after breakfast. Brett holds Goodson at bay with a sharp knife she hid on her person as Bill Cullen lets Gene in. He demands Goodson takes them to wherever he's holding his crew and Jack, but Goodson has his own ace up his sleeve...

Broke for lunch at 11. Watched Muppet Babies as I made a quick smoothie. Poor Sweetums is upset when he squishes the yellow tomato Nanny wanted to use for their snack. He just can't control his great strength. Gonzo recalls "The Legend of El Tomahto," a golden tomato in a temple guarded by booby traps. Sweetums is just too big for his own good...until he realizes his great strength can be a major asset. Gonzo wants to play "Interplanetary Kickle Ball" on Planet Gonzo, but he has no partner. Kermit joins him. He plays so badly at first, Gonzo ends up doing everything himself...until he realizes he hurt his friend's feelings, and that the important thing is having a good time with him.

Headed to work shortly after the cartoon ended. This is the only day I was listed for cashiering this week. We weren't bad early in the afternoon. It got crazier the closer we got to rush hour, and we didn't have nearly enough help. At least two customers got upset when they were confused over a Nabisco cookie sale, and they wouldn't listen when I tried to explain it. At least everyone else was in a good mood, including the very sweet young woman who was my last customer of the night.

Went straight into my own grocery shopping after work. I mainly needed fruit and vegetables. Grabbed onions, mushrooms, grapefruit on sale, bananas, and spinach. Treated myself to peppermint white chocolate-covered cookies out of a cart filled with Christmas clearance bakery items. Decorator's sugar is buy two, get one. I ran out of green sugar making the Molasses Roll-Outs last month, and I was already out of blue. Thought I'd try white pearls, too. Had an online rewards coupon for free eggs. Restocked milk, cereal, brown sugar, mandarin oranges, oatmeal, and yogurt.

Not real happy with my schedule next week. In good news, more hours, Monday and Friday off. I just wish all my days weren't 7 and 8-hour shifts. That's a long time to push carts. I'm going to be absolutely dead tired after next Saturday.

After the Uber driver dropped me off, I put everything away while watching Match Game PM. Excited college students in the audience whose football team just won a game made this one of the noisier episodes. Gary Crosby, Fred Grandy, and former beauty queen Marjorie Wallace join Fannie Flagg and the regulars for jokes about what you use tenderizer on, while Brett helps a contestant with "Speedy ___."

Moved on to Sale of the Century by the time I was eating leftovers for dinner. No one really did that well early-on. The guy kept buying Instant Bargains; the ladies kept winning Fame Games. (I can't believe they all missed the Fame Game about George Lucas.) In the end, the champ bought the final Instant Bargain, breezed through the Speed Round, and won a shopping spree on the Match the Prizes board.

Finished the night on Kanopy, one of the two streaming sites the Camden County Library system is connected to. I found a recording of the one-woman play Belle of Amherst there. This is the show Charles Nelson Reilly took that extended hiatus from Match Game in late '74 and early '75 to direct. His good friend Julie Harris won a Tony as isolated poet Emily Dickenson, who spent almost her entire life with her parents and sister. She's absolutely splendid, conveying so much emotion or different characters with just a small change of her voice and face. Apparently, this was filmed for PBS when it was on Broadway in 1976, so it's not the flashiest show in town, but if you love Harris or Dickenson, or just want to see a riveting no-frills play, you'll want to look around for this. 

Went from plays to short stories for Bernice Bobs Her Hair, also made for PBS in 1976. Bernice (Shelly Duvall) is a shy girl from a small Wisconsin town whose cousin Marjorie (Veronica Cartwright) finds to be dull company. She teaches Bernice how to flirt with boys and dance all the latest steps. This works too well, and Bernice becomes very popular among the young men in the town, especially after she claims she'll bob her long hair. Marjorie, threatened by Bernice's sudden popularity, tricks her into actually doing it...but Bernice has her own way of getting even.

Slightly biting tale of manners and mores among the smart set, just as the 1920's started to roar. Delicate Duvall makes for a lovely Bernice, while Cartwright is perfect as her scheming cousin. Love the great costumes and sets that perfectly convey the early 20's setting, too. 

Moving Into the 21st Century

Slept in so long, it was past 11:30 when I had breakfast. Watched Mickey Mouse Mixed Up Adventures while I ate oatmeal and applesauce. It's "All Aboard the Hot-Dog Express" when Mickey and the gang fix up a historic steam engine. Everyone in town wants a ride...but that mad scientist steals the train so he can be the engineer first. Big Pete's bulldog Spike has "Flea-bee Jeebies" after running through the park and picking up fleas while dirty. Pete, Daisy, and Minnie show him how much fun taking a bath can be.

Switched to Match Game '74 while doing the breakfast dishes and getting organized. Jack Narz of Concentration made his only appearance on the 70's version of the show this week, joining Elaine Joyce, Fannie Flagg, Gene, and the regulars. In the first episode, they did a vert goofy question about what the first McDonald's at the North Pole serves and a few wild answers to "Plum __". The second joked about Brett wearing her own hair for once and Fannie's tie-print t-shirt. 

Headed out shortly before the second episode ended. I needed to get the laundry done today. It was a great day for it. Sunny, breezy, cold but not outrageously so for early January. Sat on the concrete border and worked on story notes while my large load was in the washer. After I tossed it in the dryer, I strolled a few blocks down and treated myself to a S'mores Frozen Hot Chocolate and a pretzel at WaWa.

When I got home, I put away the laundry, then set up my new printer. It's an HP Envy 6000, a long, sleek, and brand-new model and my first with scanning capabilities. My previous printer never wanted to sync with either laptop I owned while I had it. Thankfully, I had a harder time figuring out how to get the ink cartridges in the machine than syncing it with the laptop. Tested it by printing the first 20 pages of Fairy Tale Blank. They came out perfectly. My only complaint is it doesn't hold much paper, which will be a problem when printing out long projects. Otherwise, it's exactly what I wanted.

Half-listened to Buzzr while I worked. Milton Berle and his witty wife Ruth were joined by chatty Orson Bean and his very sensible wife Carolyn and Amanda Blake and her animal-tamer husband Frank Gilbert on Tattletales. Things got even wilder on Press Your Luck. The champ kept hitting Whammies, especially in the second round. The eventual winner hit no Whammies and won a Caribbean windjammer cruise along with a ton of money.

Worked on writing for a while after the show ended. Bill Cullen is more than happy to show Gene how to find Brett - just open the door like a normal person. He's there because Jack Narz is his good friend and brother-in-law, not because of any personal problems with Goodson. As it turns out, Brett holds a knife on Goodson as the others storm the room. Goodson is more amused than terrified, even as the others join her...

Broke for dinner at quarter of 7. Had a tasty dinner of chicken cutlets and sautéed onions and mushrooms in lemon sauce with Brussels sprouts sautéed in olive oil while watching Match Game '75. Bill Daily, Dr. Joyce Brothers, and a pigtailed Patti Deustch wondered who stole Bill's "water" in the opening and helped a lady answer "Gin ___" in the Audience Match. Opera singer Diana Soviero became the only panelist from that rarefied world to play Match Game PM. Meanwhile, Betty White and Charles Nelson Reilly complained about Brett's insistence on being in a cranky mood.

The champ on Sale of the Century bought two more Instant Bargains, but she couldn't hold onto the Speed Round this time. She missed by one question to a charming, quick-witted older lady. The woman won a trip to Jamaica on the Match the Prizes board. Apparently, she'd been there before but would be more than happy to return.

Finished the night online with The Glass Slipper. I go further into this lovely version of Cinderella featuring Leslie Caron as the famous put-upon waif at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Cult Flops - The Glass Slipper

Winds of Winter

Slept in a bit; started off the morning with breakfast and Body Language on Buzzr. They're in the middle of their Teen Week. Dana Hill of National Lampoon's European Vacation and Todd Bridges of Diff'rent Strokes relayed the clues this week. Dana helped lead the boy to victory and winning $3,000.

Worked on writing for a bit after I ate. Gene crashes into the office of Bill Cullen, who is now Goodson's navigator. He's an older peg-legged pirate who initially retired and gave up his ship The Winner's Circle to another captain before he heard Goodson captured his brother-in-law. Cullen is ready and willing to help...but he adds that Brett may be able to help herself...

Had just enough time to change, grab lunch, and call Uber before heading out. While not as overwhelmingly busy as yesterday, work was still pretty steady. Except for sweeping the store a few times and getting stuck going in for someone's break towards the end of the night, I spent almost the entire day outside. This would have been less of a problem if it wasn't so windy today! Carts blew all over the place, often ending up in the middle of the lot. Off-and-on sun and clouds only made it colder.

Lugged my new printer and ink inside, then changed and went straight into Match Game '75. Johnny Olsen, the long-time announcer for The Price Is Right and Match Game, got to help Gene read a question that had him announcing Cleopatra's game show. Match Game PM got a lot crazier. Debralee Scott spent the entire episode flirting with a handsome contestant. After she gave him the right answer on the first Audience Match, they ended up in a passionate embrace. The others tried to break them up, while Bill Daily hid them behind his jacket.

The champ on Sale of the Century got pushed around by the other lady all night. The only thing the guy really hit was two Fame Games. Eventually, the champ bought two out of three Instant Bargains and just barely won the Speed Round. She picked up a nifty pocket watch on the Match the Prizes Board.

(As for the printer, I'll set that up tomorrow. I'm too tired to do it tonight.)

Finished the night online after a shower with Kidnapped on TCM. Roddy McDowell appeared in this 1948 version of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel as young David Balfour, whose Uncle Ebeneezer (Houseley Stevenson) has him abducted by a pirate (Roland Winters) and force to sea. He encounters the dashing Scottish revolutionary Alan Breck (Dan O'Herilhly), who joins him after the boat capsizes and they was up on the rugged coat of Scotland. He helps the boy across the Highlands to Edinburgh to retrieve his inheritance, joined by a sweet and saucy innkeeper's daughter (Sue England) who helps them hide when they're accused of murder.

Surprisingly fun, for a low-budget swashbuckler. McDowell makes a fine thoughtful Balfour and England is appropriately pert and saucy in a thankless role. I'm not as sold on O'Herilhy as the dashing rogue, though. I thought he was just a little too calculating. Winters is a little better as the pirate in cahoots with David's scheming uncle. 

If you love the book or are a fan of McDowell or swashbucklers, this is one Scottish fling worth taking.

Widescreen Fantasies

I got such a late start this morning, I barely had enough time to gulp down breakfast, get dressed, get organized, and get into an Uber car. As it was, it was a pretty frantic day. The gloomy and cold weather didn't stop people from coming in. Not only are people supposed to be getting those stimulus checks this week, but Tuesday is our Senior Discount Day, and many of them likely still have beginning-of-the-month money left. I was on my own again, too. They kept the other bagger inside cleaning or on a register. I spent the afternoon running back and forth between the carts and sweeping the store.

Ran into Jodie with her Aunt Colleen as I stepped out of the Uber car. Jodie was putting out Uncle Ken's old towels and blankets for someone who donates them to a local animal shelter. Thankfully (considering she's Jodie's best friend) Aunt Colleen survived her bout with the virus just fine and seemed to be in pretty decent shape when I saw her. 

Spent the next few hours after I changed and took out the trash writing. Gene mistimes his swing and crashes into the next window over...which is occupied by Goodson's navigator Bill Cullen. Bill too is there on assignment. He has nothing against Goodson personally, and even willingly gave up his ship The Winner's Circle to Captain Dick Clark. Tom and Jack are his brothers-in-law, though, and Jack's one of his closest friends. He wants to help release them and make sure Jack isn't hurt. 

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Watched one of the best episodes of Match Game '75 while eating leftovers for dinner. Gene reveals that the German version of Match Game that ran in the 70's was called Schncksnack, the closest word the Germans have to "blank" in their language. He used "schncksnack" in place of "blank" for the entire episode, leading to lots of German accent jokes (and Richard Dawson to make use of the German he learned making Hogan's Heroes). Match Game PM began with jokes about Ted Lange's Russian pin and ended with the contestant making a very nervous (and terrible) answer to "___ Tennessee."

I'd started home-made applesauce by the time Sale of the Century was on. The champ and a goofy actor were neck-and-neck all night, to the point where no one bought any Instant Bargains. She picked up 15 in one of the Fame Games and killed at the Speed Round. Finally got the car on the Match the Prizes board.

Finished the night online with The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. I go further into this swirling fantasy originally filmed in Cinerama at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

Home Is Best

Awoke to a cloudy and very cold day. It was the perfect day to sleep in and linger in bed, reading the Bill Cullen biography. When I did finally roll out of bed, I put on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood while eating breakfast. "Miss Elaina Gets Hurt" when she falls and scrapes her elbow. Her mom Lady Elaine is there with bandages and ointment. She gives Daniel a bandage after he gets a bump on his leg, too. He hurts his ankle after he trips while chasing his sister Margaret around. "Daniel Feels Better" when his parents take him to Doctor Anna, who teaches him how x-rays work and how to wrap a bandage.

Switched to Muppet Babies for their first episode of the third season and 2021. Fozzie's saying "Oh Brother!" when he finds out his folks are adopting a little sister, Razzie. He's not sure he's cut out to be a big brother. Rizzo assigns him to his "Big Brother Academy," but he fails every test. Nanny just reminds him that what's important is he loves his sister. He loves Razzie so much, he goes on "Fozzie's Boo-Boo Patrol" to keep her safe. Trouble is, that means keeping her from doing pretty much anything that's fun outside. Razzie leads him on a wild chase as he tries to make sure she doesn't get hurt.

Moved on to Match Game '74 as I cleaned up from breakfast and last night. Came in for the tail end of an episode involving Nipsey Russell, little Jackie Joseph in a flowered headband, and jokes about aliens in delis and Charles calling for Brett's nurse. Ever-laughing Kaye Stevens and giggly blonde Louisa Moritz came in for the next episode, along with jokes about what King Kong would do to the Lemmon Sisters.

Ran The Shop Around the Corner on the Watch TCM app while making Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. This is the original film version of what would later become In the Good Old Summertime and You've Got Mail. Here, Alfred Kralik (James Stewart) and Klara Novak (Margaret Sullivan) are the battling co-workers at the Budapest leather store Matuschek and Company, and she gets her job when she manages to sell a cigar box that plays a certain song. Alfred and Klara remain pen pals, but this time, Alfred is fired when Matuschek (Frank Morgan) is certain he's having an affair with his wife. Turns out the one who's really having the affair is smarmy clerk Ferencz Vadas (Joseph Schildkraut). Alfred is re-hired, but he still has to contend with Klara, who holds her "dear friend" on a pedestal to the point where she gets sick when he doesn't write. 

This is charming and surprisingly low-key work from Ernst Lubisch, who is better known for sexy romantic comedies and musicals like The Love Parade. Lovely, sweet, and even a bit sad (Matuschek almost commits suicide at one point), this is one of Lubisch's best films, with its focusing on each characters points of view and how we can almost miss the chance that's right in front of us. 

(I just wish the TCM behaved better. I think it doesn't like my old Roku box. It kept buffering and reset during the last five minutes of the film. I ended up watching them online.)

Even just making cookies wore me out so much, I settled down for a rest on the futon during Tattletales. Considering the nature of the show, it's almost not a surprise that today's big winners were Dr. Joyce Brothers and her psychiatrist husband Milton, over TV star Don Galloway and his wife Linda and comedians Marty and Frenchie Allen. Press Your Luck was even more exciting. Not one, but two contestants hit the 10,000 mark in the second round. The guy just pushed ahead, thanks to winning a car, golf clubs, and a trip, among others. 

Did some writing after the shows ended. Brett continues to string Goodson along, asking him about his feud with Gene. Gene was one of Goodson's best generals, but he didn't like how Goodson treated his workers or the people on land, so he went rogue and started stealing money for the villagers. Gene thinks he'll be able to rescue Brett by swinging in her window. Not only does she have this covered, but he's not as adept at this swashbuckling business as he thinks...

Broke at 6:30 for a quick leftovers dinner and Match Game '75. Somehow, a woman ended up getting her hands on Gene's socks in one of the funnier episodes of that year. Richard played prince charming and got his shoe back on. Vega$ cast members Phyllis Davis and Bart Braverman get to Phyllis help a contestant win 10,000 in Match Game PM. 

I managed to quickly clean the bathroom and vacuum while Match Game PM was on, and then Sale of the Century. The champ on Sale just keeps right on rolling. She had stiff competition from the one guy, and the other lady won a Fame Game. He bought an Instant Bargain that set him back towards the end of the show. That champ ultimately won the Speed Round and picked up 10,000 on the Match the Prizes board. 

Finished the night on The Roku Channel. They just got almost the entirety of the original Magnum PI. I went with the first season finale, "Beauty Knows No Pain," since it features a familiar face. Magnum and his buddies are hired by Barbara Terranova (Marcia Wallace), an aerobics teacher from Bayonne, to find her errant gardener fiancee. She thinks getting Magnum into the big Iron Man triathlon on the island will help them root her sweetheart out of the woodwork. It may run Magnum ragged, but it also gives him a chance to think over the case...and realize where the guy hid a fortune in cash stolen from a mobster.

Tony Nelson also winds up being trained for an athletic competition in the fourth-season I Dream of Jeannie episode "The Strongest Man In the World." When they're attacked by thugs, Jennie enables him to fight them off. General Hamilton sees him and pits him against a tough marine in an inter-military boxing match. Tony's sure Jeannie will be able to save his rear, until she ends up trapped in a locker during the bout...

Rain On a Match

Began a rainy, cold morning with breakfast and Singin' In the Rain, but not the soundtrack from the film. I found the cast album for the 1983 London production featuring Tommy Steele at a thrift shop with other British cast albums (and a few Russian albums) a few years ago. While it does include a Brown-Freed song that was only heard in the film as underscoring, "Temptation," it also replaces several of their other tunes with songs by pretty much every other writer in Hollywood in the 1920's-early 30's. That said, "Too Marvelous For Words," the big girlie production number, is really kind of fun, and I like Steele's energetic "Fascinating Rhythm." 

(Incidentally, a Broadway production in 1985 restored the original songs, added two more from Brown-Freed and a couple instrumental routines, and moved "Temptation" to the medley of Monumental Pictures musicals in the second act. Though the show did well enough, running a little over a year, it hasn't been seen in New York since. It's been far more popular in Europe. London stages revived it six times, including two tours and one that should be opening this year.)

By the time I made it to work, the rain was gone, but it remained gloomy, wet, and cold. I was in and out, doing carts and gathering recycling. Spent the last hour wiping down doors and cleaning up icing smears in the seafood department from a cake someone dropped. I was in and out with no problems. Picked up a few things on the way out, including Starlight Mints, peanut butter on sale, and a new thermometer (that didn't work). 

As soon as the Uber gentleman dropped me off, I stumbled into my apartment and fell into bed. I'm not feeling well. I've been tired since yesterday afternoon, and my stomach is achy. The thermometer machine at work revealed I don't have a temperature, I'm breathing just fine, my chest feels normal, and I could definitely taste the ginger ale I picked up at work. Slept until 5:30, then read a chapter of the Bill Cullen biography for a little longer because the blankets just felt so good.

Attempted writing at quarter of 6. Didn't get very far. Brett strings Goodson along, listening to him complain about how Gene was one of his best captains until he started chafing under his demands and went rogue. Brett strings him along...but she has her own plans...

It was past 7 when I broke for dinner. Had leftovers while listening to another film-to-stage musical adaptation, 42nd Street. Jerry Orbach played the director determined to wring out one last hit, while Tammy Grimes is the faded star. This was director Gower Champion's last show; he died on its opening night. My favorites here are the ensemble numbers, including the dreamy "Shadow Waltz," adorable "Go Into Your Dance" with the ladies and Andy Lee (Danny Carroll), "There's a Sunny Side to Every Situation," and the dramatic title song. 

Finished out the night on YouTube with more Bill Cullen game shows in honor of the biography I'm reading. Began with a 1970 To Tell the Truth episode. I wish Buzzr would show ones from before 1973. The set in this early version of the show is a surreal work of art, with swirling rainbow colors in wild psychedelic designs flowing around the walls. Interesting guests, too. The first man made a mural of 1,001 caricatures from the Golden Age of Hollywood (Kitty Carlisle included) that was really awesome. The second was a woman who took photographs of the vanishing Everglades and the many endangered species who live there.

Three on a Match was a hit in the mid-70's. Alas, only about seven shows from late in its run exist today, including this one. They apparently ran through at least three formats during the show's run. I rather enjoyed this one, as people answer true-or-false questions, then spend money to make matches on a prize board. 

Bill's syndicated version of The 25,000 Pyramid is also sadly rare. In this case, the show wasn't erased, just lost. Too bad. Bill has a lot of fun leading people through answering questions in rotating boxes on a pyramid-shaped board. Anne Meara and Tony Roberts were the celebrities in this early episode. 

Pass the Buck is just as complicated as Three On a Match, and even more fun. Bill asks contestants a topic, and they have to keep throwing in answers until the judge doesn't accept one. Contestants are gradually eliminated and sent to a holding area, while the champion continues to answer questions on a board not unlike the one from Pyramid. If they can get at least one answer on a row, they move on. If they can get three or more, they win 5,000. While watching people pass the answers is pretty exciting, it does rely a little too much on a judge's decisions. I can understand why this didn't last long.

Here's more gems from the career of "The Dean of Game Shows" himself! Hope you have as much fun as I did with them. (As a bonus, look for the commercials from the original broadcast on Three, including one from Morton's Salt featuring an early appearance by a very young Jim Perry!)

To Tell the Truth (1970)

Three On a Match (1974)

The 25,000 Pyramid (1975)

Pass the Buck (1979)

Oh, and the Eagles ended their season the same way they've played it - badly. They lost to Washington 20-14. 

The Next Right Thing

Began a bright and sunny morning with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Daniel's excited because "The Baby Is Here!" He stays with Grandpere while his parents go to Doctor Anna to have his new sibling. They read a board book called "Margaret's Music" that eventually inspires the name of his new little sister. Daniel can't wait to show the newest member of the household off to his friends! Even as he introduces her to the neighborhood, he learns how important his role as a big brother is when he's the only one who can quiet her.

Switched to Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures while doing the dishes and making the bed. "There Goes Our Fun!" wails Millie and Melody when an evil mad scientist steals all the rides at the local amusement park. Mickey and the others make their own rides, proving that you don't need a lot of stuff to have a great time. Minnie and Daisy also learn how to take care of a little one when they babysit the Matisses' new baby boy Ollie, and Cucko-Loca has to remind them "Don't Wake the Baby!"

It was so warm when I went outside, I switched my heavy winter coat for my jean jacket...and of course, five minutes later, the clouds came out and it became much colder. Good thing I was just strolling to Dollar General. I was able to buy peanut butter, dust cleaner, the Mountain Dew Merry Mix-Up soda, and cooking spray, among other things...but not the new calendar I was looking for. 

Headed straight home after that, shivering in the half-clouds. As soon as I got home, I immediately pulled out the container for the Christmas bears. On one hand, my holidays were pretty decent, given everything that's going on. However, I have way too much going on right now to let them linger for long. Put on my favorite Aerosmith album Permanent Vacation to keep me moving as I undressed the bears and returned the ones that belonged on my bed, then put the holidays-only stuffed toys away. 

Was working on taking the ornaments off the tree when I heard a knock on the door into the main house. Jodie was finally home, and she carried two small packages. I went ahead and ordered the final two Varese Sarabande musical collection CDs I didn't have, Unsung Musicals III and The Musical Adventures of Peter Pan, off eBay. 

Unsung Musicals III is in the same vein as the first two CDs in the series, a collection of songs cut from flops or from flop musicals that were in one way or another never recorded. Favorites here include the sweet title song from a stage musical version of It's a Wonderful Life and "At the Same Time" from a musical retelling of Freaky Friday. The unqualified winner from Peter Pan was the gorgeous "Once Upon a Bedtime Story," from an otherwise poorly-received 1976 TV version with Mia Farrow and Danny Kaye. I also rather liked the touching ballad "When You're Alone," the lone survivor from an attempt to make the 1993 action movie Hook into a film musical. 

Returned to the living room after the tree and its ornaments were all back in their boxes for a quick Bananas-Orange Smoothie lunch and Match Game '75. Did one episode I missed early in the week. The show began with Fannie joked about the new film she appeared in about an amateur theatrical troupe "not unlike this panel," while the others tried to figure out an answer to "Horace ___" in the audience match and what Fannie did to her training bra as a child. 

Finished out the Peter Pan CD while taking down the knick-knack decorations. By the time I'd gotten to the garlands, I'd switched to DC Super Hero Girls on the Cartoon Network app. Diana Prince is thrilled with the baby griffin she got from her mother in Themyscura. Her friend Jessica reminds her that wild animals shouldn't be pets, but Diana is so happy with her new buddy, she insists on handling him herself. Trouble is, he grows at a rapid rate, eating all the ice cream in sight and getting into nothing but trouble until a hydra appears in the city. Diana and the griffin have to work together to figure out where this menace came from...and then get him to a place where he can live with his own kind.

As I began writing, I heard familiar voices outside. Rose and her kids were next-door, introducing Cider to my next-door neighbors and the kids in the neighborhood. While the kids ran up and down the street and Rose and the mothers chatted, big fluffy Onyx sniffed around little Cider and probably wondered how this squirt got here...and Cider probably wondered what a bear was doing living in the neighborhood!  

Talked to one of the moms as Rose took the kids and animals in back of the house next-door. I have no idea what to do next. There's so much I need. I need a new cell phone. I need a new bike. I need a printer. I really need to find an apartment. While it'll likely take Jodie a lot longer to sell the house than she thinks, she will eventually. The main house is too big for her, and the apartment is too small for me. I have no idea what I'll do. I don't want to return to Cape May County, and I have no friends around here I can crash with. My neighbor insisted I ask around about local apartments, including at work, and that I not give up hope.

Got to writing when I went back in. Brett flirts shamelessly with Goodson, insisting that she's glad to be away from those barbaric pirates. Gene can tell she's lying, though, and Goodson is about to get a big surprise when he makes his move on her...

Broke for dinner at quarter of 7. Watched an episode of Fantasy Island on Crackle while making Cincinatti Chili for dinner. Went with "Reprisal/High Off the Hog" from the fourth season. Meek orphaned gymnast Trudy Brown (Maureen McCormick) is tired of letting her Aunt Mabel (Janis Page) and cousin Janet (Holly Gagnier) ignore her. Roarke gives her the power to see herself as beautiful and confident, to make things happen...but she misuses the power and ends up seeing herself as ugly. Meanwhile, a young man (Stephan Sturbridge) whose Ozark family sacrificed heavily for him to attend college wishes for them to be rich. His father and sister enjoy it, but his mother would rather do things for herself, and they're preyed on by a con-man who sells his father a worthless island in Florida.

Finished the night online with Frozen II. I go further into the follow-up to Disney's most popular animated movie to date at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Animation Celebration Saturday - Frozen II