Return With Us Now To The Days Of Yesteryear

I am a fan of television. Ask anyone that knows me well enough to have ever asked me a question about television, and more than likely I know the answer. I do not know why, but I have a propensity for TV trivia. The depths of my trove of useless knowledge go so far as to knowing things about shows I have NEVER watched. I do not know how this is possible but it is. There are a lot of shows on today that I should be watching regularly that I do not. There are just too many. I enjoy the old days when there were 5-6 channels to choose from.

 

I like to watch the re-runs of shows from when I was growing up, and even the re-runs of the shows that were re-runs when I was growing up. Nick at night used to be my favorite channel with shows like Car 54 Where Are You, Dobie Gillis, 77 Sunset Strip, etc. Cartoon Network was great for this as well when it first started, playing cartoons like

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Funky Phantom, Speed Buggy, Wacky Races before Tim and Eric had an Awesome Show and did a great job. (I still don’t understand that show)

 

While those channels have gone on to other things and “better” programming, there are still a few places to catch some of that great television of yore. For a while, in Chicago at least, channel 26 The U has been a haven of old programming. It is, at times, a throwback to the classic UHF stations when I was growing up. All they could afford were the 3^rd and 4^th run programming. They still run The 3 Stooges on the

weekends and let Svengoolie out of his coffin as well.

 

For cartoons, Boomarang has been good for some of the old classics but unfortunately, I can’t get that. Best I can do is occasionally catch an episode or two of JabberJaw on demand.

 

There are also 2 other channels in the area that all they do is play the classics. MeTV and MeToo. They have everything from The Addams Family to Wild, Wild West and everything in between. Seriously, you can watch Combat … or T.J. Hooker!

 

A new station has also entered the mix on the throwback TV bandwagon … HUB. Now, granted, this is a channel for kids, and they have a lot of kid’s programming but … they also play Fraggle Rock, the original Transformers and the campy Batman show with Adam West!!!! Who can’t get on board with that?

 

It is true what they say, what is old is new again. I am glad that these shows are seeing a new audience. This is from when television is good.  These are the originals, not crappy remakes. Speaking of remakes … I was recently watching Galactica 80 on Hulu and I had totally forgotten that they introduced human looking Cylons way back then.

 

Well, have a fabulous Festihanuchristmakwanzadan everyone and see you next year with the Year in Celebrity Deaths wrap up.

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A Legend Lost

RIP Ronnie

Ron Santo died today. For those of you who don’t know who Ron Santo was … he was an athlete, a humanitarian, and the biggest Cub fan in the world. I am not going to say much. I just wanted to get it out there and give my condolences to his family and all the fans and friends of Ronnie. He will be missed and always loved. Good bye Ron and rest in peace.

Surely It’s Sad … And Don’t Call Me Shirley

It’s the first of the month and with that headline, I am sure you know where this is going. Yup, it is the November edition

I AM serious ... and stop calling me Shirley.

of the “Celebrity Death Watch”. The end of the year is coming soon. Since this is one of the only things I have been consistent with this year on my blog. Someone is going to win a few dollars I think this year. Anyway, grab your stuffed beaver, cuddle up with your Tauntaun and read on to find out who died last month.

 

Monica Johnson – 54 – Author Lost in America – Nov. 1

Charlie O’Donnell – 78 – Announcer Wheel of Fortune – Nov. 1

Shannon Tavarez – 11 – Actress The Lion King – Nov. 1

Midge the Sea Lion – 25 – Oklahoma City Zoo Sea Lion – Nov. 5

Jill Clayburge – 66 – Actress – Nov. 5

Quintin Dailey – 49 – Basketball Player Chicago Bulls – Nov. 8

Dino De Laurentiis – 91 – Film Producer – Nov. 10

William Self – 89 – Actor/Producer/Production Manager Batman, Lost in Space – Nov. 15

Ronni Chasen – 64 – Publicist – Nov. 16

Little Smokey Smothers – 71 – Blues Guitarist/Singer – Nov. 20

Prince Chunk – 10 – Overweight Cat – Nov. 21

Irvin Kershner – 87 – Director Empire Strikes Back – Nov. 27

Leslie Nielsen – 84 – Actor – Nov. 28

Alfred Masini – 80 – TV Producer, creator of ET, Solid Gold and Star Search – Nov. 29

 

 

That’s it for now. A lot of big losses last month (not including the cat). Until next time, remember … “A parachute not opening… that’s a way to die. Getting caught in the gears of a combine… having your nuts bit off by a Laplander, that’s the way I wanna go!”