Redartz: Hello everyone; climb aboard for another excursion back to the Bronze Age! Today our trusty transport is destined for Saturday January 21, 1978. Those of us living in the US midwest don't realize it yet, but a historic blizzard is just a few days away. We would enjoy a snow break of a full week! But for today, the weather is yet clear, and your humble host (still in high school at this time) is a big follower of pop culture. Not the least of which is the Billboard pop music chart, which tells us that the top song today is:
"Baby Come Back" by Player
Rounding out the top 5:
2. Bee Gees- "How Deep is Your Love"
3. Dolly Parton- "Here You Come Again"
4. Rod Stewart- "You're in My Heart"
5. Randy Newman- "Short People"
Not a huge fan of "Baby Come Back", but it's ok. I am more impressed by the number two song; the Bee Gees have recently dropped out of the top spot. The brothers Gibb and their record label. RSO, have been red hot lately (I may be the only kid in school who doesn't own "Saturday Night Fever"), and they aren't done yet. And I hear that in the UK, they are listening to Wings doing a song called "Mull of Kintyre". Stateside, we have never heard of this one...
As this is Saturday, we should certainly check out some of the Saturday morning cartoon offerings today. This ad shows the CBS programming. Meanwhile, ABC gives us "Super Friends" and "Scooby's All-Star Laugh-a-Lympics". NBC has "Archie and Sabrina", "Muhammad Ali", and "Thundarr the Barbarian". I still never miss "Bugs Bunny", and am enjoying "Thundarr" quite a bit.
While watching a few cartoons and enjoying our bowl of "Lucky Charms", we take a glance at the TV guide to see what's on tonight. We see;
US Television schedule:ABC: "What's Happening!", "Operation Petticoat", "The Love Boat", "Fantasy Island"
CBS: "Bob Newhart Show", "Tony Randall Show", "The Jeffersons", "Maude", "Kojak"
NBC: "The Bionic Woman", "NBC Saturday Night at the Movies"
BBC1: "Saturday Night at the Movies: Trapeze", "Les Dawson Show", "Starsky and Hutch"
BBC2: "The Book Programme", "Film International- The Desert of the Tatars", "M*A*S*H"
I have to admit to watching the 'guilty pleasures' of "Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island". The latter, on the strength of Ricardo Montalban, and of course Herve Villachaize ("da plaaane, da plaaane!). Those two back-to-back are a trivia fiend's pleasure: they give a haven to every character actor, costar and veteran in show business!
Finally, let's take a look at a few of the comics on the stand today. Still 35 cents, but I think DC has the right idea with those big dollar comics...
I make a point to grab Amazing Spider-Man and Avengers (man, that book is good). Also like Showcase with Power Girl. I neglect to pick up that "Batman Family" with it's excellent cover, and soon regret my lapse.
Alas, the 21st. Century calls. Time to bid farewell to the late 70's in all their funky splendor. I have to go get my wife to sing her version of the "Love Boat" theme. So tune in again next time for another ride on the Retro!
