Redartz: Excellent; you're just in time for our latest retro road trip ! Grab a seat and hang on, we're headed back to the Spring of 1978; a heady time indeed. The US Senate is debating returning the Panama Canal (to Panama, of course), Volkswagen has just started manufacturing cars in the US, and Woody Allen's "Annie Hall" has won big at the Academy Awards. Also, a certain trio of singing brothers are on top of the world. and they're on top of the US Billboard Hot 100: The Bee Gees, with "Night Fever"
Rounding out the top five:
2. The Bee Gees, "Stayin' Alive"
3. Eric Clapton, "Lay Down Sally"
4. Barry Manilow, "Can't Smile Without You"
5. Yvonne Elliman, "If I Can't Have You"
The brothers Gibb are responsible for three of the top five songs this week (writing and producing Yvonne Elliman's song); they seem to be giving the 1964 Beatles some competition in the area of chart domination. However, some other residents of the top 40 hold more interest for me. Among them: Jackson Browne, "Running on Empty"- a great song proving that the singer/songwriter is alive and well in the disco era. Andy Gibb, "Love is Thicker Than Water"- yes, another Gibb brother. But this song is really sharp, a bit more soulful than some other Gibb compositions, in my opinion. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, "You're the One That I Want"- a dynamic duet from the two stars of that other popular film out now: "Grease". Sweet, "Love is Like Oxygen"- yet another cool offering from the British glam gang; and one of the more unusual metaphors you'll hear for love...
Tops in the UK: Brian and Michael, "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" (love that title)
Yes, there are plenty of riches on the music charts today. But this high schooler wants to know about tonight's tv; what say you? And since we have the schedule right here, let's have a look...
US Television Schedule:
ABC: Eight is Enough, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch
Being a red-blooded American teenager, I never miss "Charlie's Angels". Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson star, and of course everyone has their favorite Angel- mine is Kate. No contest. And lots of folks follow up with Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul as "Starsky and Hutch". Also featuring the two cops' favorite informant, the inimitable "Huggy Bear", and a bright red Ford Gran Torino.
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| Cast of "Good Times" |
CBS: Good Times, Syzsnyk, The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
Just what exactly is "Syzsnyk", anyway?
NBC: The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Black Sheep Squadron, Police Woman
My parents liked to catch "Grizzly Adams", and sometimes Black Sheep Squadron. When I occasionally declined to watch the Angels, I'd watch the Squadron. Robert Conrad stars as the leader of a group of WWII fighter pilots. I have a good friend who is absolutely nuts for this show...
BBC1: The Wednesday Film: Track of Thunder, Miss Scotland 1978, The Budget, The Hong Kong Beat, Sportsnight
BBC2: Mr. Smith Propagates Plants, Newsday, Brass Tacks, Call My Bluff, Midweek Cinema: Broadway Melody of 1940
Oh, by the way, it's Wednesday: new comic day! And since we have plenty of change (unfortunately thirty five cent comics prohibit the purchase of more than two books for a dollar, but so it goes), lets check out the Spinner Racks:
Oh, I have to pick up a bunch of these. Starting with the two Treasury editions (that Batman collection is a gem, a couple of great Neal Adams tales just as a start). In Avengers we're continuing to see the members disappearing; that book is incredible lately. Then I'll take the first issue of DC Comics Presents: Superman teamups, starting with a race against the Flash- a good start, and Garcia-Lopez art too. Red Sonja has a great cover, but so does that Showcase with Hawkman by Kubert. Showcase was a cool 'tryout' book in the Silver age, and I'm enjoying the 70's incarnation as well. Defenders has Spider-man; that has to be good reading. Finally, "Doorway to Nightmare" is a treat for the eyes, and those Kaluta covers grab me every time. It's nice to pick up something a little different now and then.
Well, my funds are now shot, and time is about up for today. Anyway, I need to get home and finish up some homework; don't want to mess up graduation next month with unfinished projects. So it's back on the retro and forward to our future present once again. Hope we roused a few memories, and a few smiles. Until next trip, adios!
