tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post7541232645722022883..comments2024-02-03T19:15:40.505-06:00Comments on Back In the Bronze Age: TV Guided: The Golden Age of Sitcoms?Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-67128995896265720132021-04-26T14:11:58.975-05:002021-04-26T14:11:58.975-05:00Adding to the Jack Benny tangent-- Sirius/XM's...Adding to the Jack Benny tangent-- Sirius/XM's Radio Classics aired his FIRST SHOW during my drive home this afternoon-! Early May, 1932. He served as the Emcee for the Canada Dry show-- introducing musical numbers and such, nothing at all like his later show. But even with a script that came across as forced, he was still that same irreverent, slightly-over-it, hard-to-impress Jack Benny that we're familiar with-- right from the get-go--!<br /><br />So, he was on the radio from '32 through '55, and had a television program from (effectively) '50 through '65. After that, iirc, he had a number of anniversary/annual-farewell specials. The man. . . was a workhorse-!<br /><br />HBHumanbellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07354663010063679194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-89433658079691427802021-04-26T13:17:39.157-05:002021-04-26T13:17:39.157-05:00Colin, sorry I'm a bit behind the conversation...Colin, sorry I'm a bit behind the conversation :) We have some of the same streaming stuff in Canada (like Netflix, which is actually cheaper here than in the States) plus some of our own (like Crave), but I don't use any of them. We've got satellite TV, so plenty of channels to choose from. If I had Netflix or something like it, I'd probably never leave the house! <br /><br />Although to be honest, I haven't watched many sitcoms lately, old or new; I pretty much stick to the DC superhero shows and rewatching old episodes of some favourites. Speaking of which (and not to hijack the topic), but did anyone watch Stargirl last year? Maybe that's a thread for another day ...<br /><br />Charlie, I heartily agree on Jack Benny; the Comedy Channel used to show old episodes of his TV show and they were brilliant. Great supporting cast too ... Mel Blanc was a genius.Mike Wilsonhttp://eruditegorilla.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-35699820730288378472021-04-26T10:35:34.797-05:002021-04-26T10:35:34.797-05:00Now THIS is crazy....
All this talk about Red Ske...Now THIS is crazy....<br /><br />All this talk about Red Skelton has jarred loose a memory that I didn’t even realize I had. I think my family and I went to a taping of his variety show when I was very young. I remember driving to the CBS studios, and I remember seeing Red himself on the stage doing a monologue of some sort but that’s it —the rest of the taping is a blank. Don’t recall the guest stars, any of the sketches, nothing. Wikipedia says his show moved to NBC in 1971, so I was no more than 9, but it’s still kind of odd that I don’t remember more about it. <br /><br />We saw THE NEWLYWED GAME being taped — they taped a week’s worth of shows all in a single day — I think we bailed after two. And some classmates and I saw SANFORD AND SON being taped around ‘77. We dutifully clapped when the ‘APPLAUSE’ sign lit up and laughed when the ‘LAUGH’ sign ordered us to but laughed the loudest whenever Redd Foxx blew a line (which was often) because he would swear like a G-D, M-F, S-O-B sailor every single time :)<br /><br />b.t.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-37770188105368743512021-04-26T07:36:33.954-05:002021-04-26T07:36:33.954-05:00Charlie and Red, thanks for the information on Ind...Charlie and Red, thanks for the information on Indiana.<br /><br />Charlie, I'm very familiar with that Maurice Chevalier song - it comes from the musical 'Gigi'.Colin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564469551279026689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-46968447209748143232021-04-26T01:16:03.500-05:002021-04-26T01:16:03.500-05:00The one thing I immediately associate with Indiana...<br />The one thing I immediately associate with Indiana is that it's the birthplace of Kurt Vonnegut. He made several references to it in his books.<br />Oh and David Letterman too, if I remember correctly?<br /><br />And my favorite 70s sitcoms were Barney Miller and Bob Newhart. But the funniest show on TV was definitely Monty Python.v marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-52677207517155529082021-04-25T13:36:26.790-05:002021-04-25T13:36:26.790-05:00Fellas, I must confess, I've. . . I've swi...Fellas, I must confess, I've. . . I've swiped Red Skelton's shtick before when on-stage business has called for it. Sometimes there are moments when it's, like, "No, HE nailed the right way to work this piece of business-- the timing, the mechanics, the style & mannerisms-- if I can invest in it and make it true, THAT'S what I need to be doing." He was a big favorite in our house as well. The Silent Spot was the segment I adored most---<br /><br />HBHumanbellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07354663010063679194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-87232860742834607062021-04-25T11:24:06.693-05:002021-04-25T11:24:06.693-05:00Red! I had a royal LOL when I read your remark abo...Red! I had a royal LOL when I read your remark about Red Skelton vs. Red Skeletons! <br /><br />I too confused the two in my youth and indeed, when I was writing the name above, I had to stop and make sure I did not write skeleton!!!<br /><br />Anyhow, while with my parents I were recalling the Lucy show (solo career in the early 70s?) where Lucy was helping a song-writer compose lyrics. So I started singing aloud, "I was pancakes... you were crepe suzettes... I was coca cola... you were Champaign." <br /><br />The two 85 year olds suddenly started singing the song (below) upon which this skit was likely based. <br /><br />A beautiful song featuring Maurice Chevalier called I Remember it Well.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQxM5rJ-uiY<br /><br />The skit below with Chevalier and Sophie Tucker may be of special interest to our UK chaps too, as Chevalier recalls seeing Tucker perform in London in 1928. A wonderful conversation among two giants of a time gone by.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB5o_J7tOHQ<br />Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-44974894128100020592021-04-25T08:54:28.341-05:002021-04-25T08:54:28.341-05:00Colin- to add to Charlie's comments on Indiana...Colin- to add to Charlie's comments on Indiana: it's nicknamed "The Crossroads of America "- geographically a midwestern state, and centeres between a northern state (Michigan) and Kentucky, generally considered a southern state. Supposedly Indiana represents 'mainstream America ', although as you noted it's a reliably conservative state. There are more Democratic areas, particularly Indianapolis and the Lafayette/Purdue University region. The northern half of the state is pretty flat. The southern half has more hills and forests. In some ways it's a bit mundane (as kids we figured the line in the song you mentioned, "Lord I can't go back there " referred to the inclination of many to go somewhere more exciting). But it was a good place to grow up...<br /><br />Charlie- funny you mentioned Red Skelton. He was my Dad's favorite too. He had a portrait of Red hanging on his wall. I recall him watching "Red Skelton " faithfully on tv in the 60's. Although I was a bit nervous about that; little Redartz didn't want to see any 'red skeletons; lol!Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-3392111407696937592021-04-24T22:43:49.125-05:002021-04-24T22:43:49.125-05:00Colin - I could tell you all sorts of things about...Colin - I could tell you all sorts of things about Indiana some good some bad (very, very bad e.g., the heart of the KKK).<br /><br />But what I would like to recommend is get a few books by Booth Tarkington. He is considered "America's greatest author that no one now has heard of." And in the 1900 - 1920 time frame he was by far America's most prolific and popular author. <br /><br />Anyhow, I recommend The Magnificent Ambersons. Written around 1910 +/- It was made into a movie around WW@ IIRC. I highly recommend it if you want a contemporaneous novel of how the USA was becoming industrialized around the turn of the century, basically due to the automobile, and its impact on the class structure in America. Well worth yours and anyone else's time. The movie has very high reviews as well, directed by Orson Welles.<br /><br />I can also recommend The Gentleman from Indiana. <br /><br />I actually got first prints on ebay for like $10, from around 1910.<br /><br />Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-69453736382693143882021-04-24T22:28:55.005-05:002021-04-24T22:28:55.005-05:00All right gents - I polled my parents tonight at d...All right gents - I polled my parents tonight at dinner (85 years old each) by asking them who they thought was the greatest comedian on TV.<br /><br />Immediately they said Lucille Ball. My father quickly said she could act, sing, dance... the whole repertoire. <br /><br />So I immediately played the "What about Jack Benny" card and they said He was hilarious on booth radio and TV but he did not have the talents of Lucille Ball.<br /><br />So that's that... Lucille Ball is America's greatest when it comes to comedy sitcoms! <br /><br />That said, my old man said Red Skelton made him laugh the hardest. But he was basically in sketches IIRC.Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-77950564339128438302021-04-24T19:49:42.692-05:002021-04-24T19:49:42.692-05:00I remember watching the 1992 Presidential election...I remember watching the 1992 Presidential election coverage (on the BBC but the coverage itself was from one of the big US networks) and somebody said that Indiana was "too close to call" which was an early sign that Clinton had won the election because Indiana was normally an easy win for the Republicans. <br />Up until then my only other knowledge of Indiana was the song "Indiana Wants Me" which reached #2 in the UK singles chart, and the fact that Taylor from Planet Of The Apes came from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Colin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564469551279026689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-17540922516109959812021-04-24T16:04:47.140-05:002021-04-24T16:04:47.140-05:00HUGE Jack Benny fan, me--!
The Radio Classics chan...HUGE Jack Benny fan, me--!<br />The Radio Classics channel on Sirius/XM is one of the things that keeps me subscribing, and Jack's program is a staple of my listening. And man, for several years there he was doing a weekly radio program AND a weekly television show. With the same unparalleled supporting cast right there with him. Decades before Harvey Korman couldn't keep a straight face when trapped onstage with Tim Conway, Mel Blanc was cracking Jack Benny up mid-scene with delightful ease. Heh.<br /><br />The use of Peoria as a go-to punchline for "The Sticks" in the theater world prrrrrobably originated with vaudeville, I bet? The less-than-A-list circuits would have performers and their acts trekking out into the midwestern hinterlands, playing in towns as opposed to Big Cities-- where the mindset of the locals was still largely rural and. . . well. . . unsophisticated. BUT still expecting to be entertained, so-- less forgiving, in a way. The proverbial Tough House. And just about as unrewarding a gig for a performer as there could ever be. Hence, Peoria became the butt of many jokes along those lines. . . <br /><br />(Mind you, I don't know this for a fact-- it's mostly ringing a bell from an old book about vaudeville I perused about 20 years ago. . . )<br /><br />HBhumanbellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00966945028900783234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-53713074640848244612021-04-24T13:32:14.746-05:002021-04-24T13:32:14.746-05:00Charlie, the only thing I know about Peoria, Illin...Charlie, the only thing I know about Peoria, Illinois - other than that expression, which I take to mean its the quintessential straight American small town - is that its where the late, great Philip Jose Farmer came from, and lived most of his life.<br />So I assume it must be a stranger place than it seems. <br />Maybe so are all the other (seemingly) straight American small towns...? <br /><br />-seanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-80019278637519649302021-04-24T10:06:19.000-05:002021-04-24T10:06:19.000-05:00Charlie and HB- yes, Indiana is a land of paradox....Charlie and HB- yes, Indiana is a land of paradox. I grew up near Indianapolis and went to college there, later lived up north in Lafayette, now down along the Ohio. And there is certainly a different feel to each area. And, it always seems to be about 10 degrees warmer here than even Indianapolis...Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-14906433682621491992021-04-24T09:34:38.179-05:002021-04-24T09:34:38.179-05:00HB - Indiana is a land of many paradoxes. 'Nu...HB - Indiana is a land of many paradoxes. 'Nuff said! <br /><br />Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-19935891235673475252021-04-24T09:31:43.427-05:002021-04-24T09:31:43.427-05:00I wish there was an objective way to measure the p...I wish there was an objective way to measure the popularity / success of a comedy actor b/c I truly wonder where Jack Benny would stand.<br /><br />Hailing from Waukegan, Illinois (near by) he did vaudeville, radio, then TV. I think he is considered radio's "greatest" comedy actor.<br /><br />The TV show was a stitch too!<br /><br />He did do vaudeville in Peoria IL which reminds me of that saying I've heard "If it plays in Peoria it'll play anywhere." <br /><br />Maybe HB or some of you other guys who are actors can explain that? Why Peoria of all places, LOL?Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-81723407038847967222021-04-24T05:53:18.185-05:002021-04-24T05:53:18.185-05:00Re: the enigma of Indiana
South Bend: Feels very...Re: the enigma of Indiana<br /><br />South Bend: Feels very much like a Northern City (small/medium sized). Gets clobbered regularly by blizzards, etc.<br /><br />Drive down US 31, and get past Indianapolis.<br /><br />The accents have shifted when you stop for gas.<br /><br />By the time you get to the southern border (and Kentucky), you are in The South now. No question. <br /><br />(At least that was the case when I made that drive a couple of times in the 80's- !)<br /><br />HBHumanbellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07354663010063679194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-40131209394603051062021-04-24T02:08:42.161-05:002021-04-24T02:08:42.161-05:00Red - It is funny how, though we are both Hoosiers...Red - It is funny how, though we are both Hoosiers you grew up on the extreme south end of the state and me on the extreme north end. <br /><br />I got oil refineries, steel mills, chemical plants... a lake as big as Portugal... Michael Jackson<br /><br />You got bucolic hills, pasture land, agriculture... the ohio river... Jphn Cougar...<br /><br />Funny the differences... <br /><br />BUT we saw the same TV shows and read the same comic books! THe glue that binds us together! <br /><br />Can I get an AMEN BROTHER???!!!<br /><br />Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-40263842944420818232021-04-24T02:04:21.585-05:002021-04-24T02:04:21.585-05:00Colin, Here in Chicago land you can get about 45 ...Colin, Here in Chicago land you can get about 45 channels broadcast over the air. OF that, 4 (?) just show reruns from the 1950s - 1990s. One just shows old B&W movies.<br /><br />There is also a service you can sign up for called locast (for local cast) that runs all those channels over the internet so you can watch on your favorite device of stream to your TV.<br /><br />THat is how I watch the things I reference here like Jack Benny, The Honeymooners, Dick Cavett, etc. via Locast at $5 / month. The antennae is just a bit too unreliable. Charlie Horse 47https://www.blogger.com/profile/00906538705798228800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-27427756645467702632021-04-23T23:07:02.008-05:002021-04-23T23:07:02.008-05:00Colin- like HB, I find myself viewing many differe...Colin- like HB, I find myself viewing many different services. Between Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube, I can find most anything. Additionally, there are several local broadcasting stations which carry vintage programming, so I can binge on Westerns all afternoon if desired. <br /><br />Sean- yes, I must admit to watching Benny back in the day. Although there was much that I found cringeworthy even then. Growing up in Indiana, most any British entertainment was a welcome break from Farm reports, televangelists and late night infomercials...Redartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08221459636234713619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-65370354907257074722021-04-23T21:30:02.328-05:002021-04-23T21:30:02.328-05:00Oh gosh Charlie-- I never would have expected you ...Oh gosh Charlie-- I never would have expected you to delete your post, partner-! I figure sorting out the details from decades ago is just a natural part of the conversation. And what made me think twice about it at all was that the public outcry was, if anything, to tame for the subject at hand to have been abortion-- even for that more liberal era. I feel like there would have been boycotts, sponsors pulling out, all KINDS of stuff like that. . . <br /><br />Colin- with the Classic Shows-- It seems like they're all on too many different services or platforms. . . and many just not at all. We have a few favorites on DVD, and for quite awhile were checking out full season DVDs from our neighborhood library. . .. ! (We've also gotten to the point where watching commercials is unbearable-- sorta wrecking the whole economic model, I believe. . . )<br /><br />HBHumanbellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07354663010063679194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-11058695734512067422021-04-23T21:12:38.671-05:002021-04-23T21:12:38.671-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Colin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564469551279026689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-87220251884158278012021-04-23T20:54:20.842-05:002021-04-23T20:54:20.842-05:00Colin, Citizen Smith wasn't the only sitcom I ...Colin, Citizen Smith wasn't the only sitcom I mentioned - and Yes Minister and (if it counts) Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy were appealing too - but I stand by my opinion that the Brits did better sketch shows.<br />Although er... Benny Hill wasn't really what I had in mind. (Really, Redartz? Benny Hill?)<br /><br />So b.t., have you seen Father Ted? If so, did you find those accents hard to follow too?<br /><br />-seanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-9661091552851707182021-04-23T19:58:37.700-05:002021-04-23T19:58:37.700-05:00I've never heard of 'Maude' (but I kno...I've never heard of 'Maude' (but I know Bea Arthur from the Golden Girls) so I googled the series and it says that several episodes featured only Maude and her husband with no other characters involved - this was the NORMAL situation on Steptoe & Son where Steptoe Sr and Jr were the only regular characters in the series and most episodes were a dialogue between them and if other characters appeared it was only briefly.Colin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564469551279026689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072202919737727496.post-66705171623398661992021-04-23T19:01:18.958-05:002021-04-23T19:01:18.958-05:00In my list of sitcoms I also mentioned Porridge (t...In my list of sitcoms I also mentioned Porridge (the one set in a prison) and I'm currently working my way through all 21 episodes of that series on iPlayer which is the BBC's downloading and streaming website and app (there's also a version for radio called BBC Sounds). Tomorrow lunchtime I intend to enjoy a glass of rum while watching the Porridge Christmas Special originally broadcast on Christmas Eve 1976 :)<br /><br />So Red, HB, Charlie, bt or whoever wants to answer: I know that the big US broadcasters have similar online streaming services to iPlayer so do you use them? Do you watch classic sitcoms (or dramas) in this way? (and same question for Mike in Canada if he reads this). Colin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13564469551279026689noreply@blogger.com