The death of Adam West on Saturday (June 10) at the age of 88 marked the end of an era for generations of TV fans. Sure, West was known for guest appearances in recent years on shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons, and did a lot of voiceover work, but was of course best … Continue reading How big was Batman, really? Neal Hefti and others (1966)
television
Why TV Variety Shows Died: Pink Lady, “Kiss In the Dark” (1979)
(Above: Mie and Kei with Jeff Altman in the hot tub.) A lot of the television that I remember from the 1970s included something you just don't see anymore: the variety show. The show format had a long, successful history. Mentioning the names of some of the hosts bring back pleasant memories of the family … Continue reading Why TV Variety Shows Died: Pink Lady, “Kiss In the Dark” (1979)
Rest in peace, Michael Parks: “Long Lonesome Highway” (1970)
(Above: The picture sleeve from the MGM single.) Singer and actor Michael Parks passed away today at the age of 77. Fans of television may remember him best for his role as Jean Renault in "Twin Peaks," while film buffs may recall his role in "Argo" or his part in the "Kill Bill" series. In … Continue reading Rest in peace, Michael Parks: “Long Lonesome Highway” (1970)
A Friday night watching MTV Classic’s “I Want My ’80s”
It's a cold Friday night in Michigan. Spring break at GVSU has technically started, but we're too exhausted to do anything more than plop down on an overstuffed couch and relax. There's nothing on television worth a darn (we had Will and Grace on WeTV, but that ended in favor of Marriage Bootcamp and promos … Continue reading A Friday night watching MTV Classic’s “I Want My ’80s”
Junior (and senior) samples: Lyn Collins, “Think (About It)” (1972)
(I'll stop you, since you've heard this one before. Trust me.) I don't see myself as old. I see myself as "older." For as much as I want to believe that I'm still in my early 20s, playing the role of college radio rebel, there are indications that I am not. To wit: -My hair … Continue reading Junior (and senior) samples: Lyn Collins, “Think (About It)” (1972)
Rest in peace, John Wetton: Asia, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)
(Above: And now you find yourself in '82.) Among the first stories that I read this morning was the sad news of the death of John Wetton at the age of 67. Wetton was a part of a group that isn't often referred to as a "supergroup" anymore, Asia - although they definitely count as … Continue reading Rest in peace, John Wetton: Asia, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)
Guilty pleasures: Lesley Gore, “California Nights” (1967)
(Above: Lesley Gore as Pussycat, 1967) I will freely go on record as saying I like Lesley Gore records. There. It's out there. Sure, the songs are sometimes over-simplistic. They're often dismissed as watered-down tales of high school romance that devolves into fights ("Judy's Turn to Cry") and frustration about the egghead not noticing her … Continue reading Guilty pleasures: Lesley Gore, “California Nights” (1967)
12+ Blogs of Christmas: The Les Tucker Singers*, “Hardrock, Coco, and Joe” (1951)
(Above: It's not Christmas without these puppets.) You can take the boy out of Chicago, but you can't take Chicago out of the boy. Get in a discussion with anyone of a certain age about growing up in Chicago, and the discussion inevitably turns to local television, especially for kids. It's amazed me how many … Continue reading 12+ Blogs of Christmas: The Les Tucker Singers*, “Hardrock, Coco, and Joe” (1951)
Gruesome ghouls and grisly ghosts: Henry Mancini, “Experiment in Terror” (1962)
For Halloween, let's do three stories in one. The first has to do with haunted radio stations. I understand that many of you do not believe in ghosts, or a supernatural presence, or what have you. That's fine. Had you worked with me at WXLP in the Quad Cities, you may have an opinion that … Continue reading Gruesome ghouls and grisly ghosts: Henry Mancini, “Experiment in Terror” (1962)
Self-help music: Will Powers, “Adventures in Success” (1983)
(Above: What a Friday night at home looked like, 1984.) If you lived in a place without cable television in the early 80s, you weren't a part of the revolution that MTV was bringing to music distribution, at least not directly. The success of music video led other networks and even local stations to offer … Continue reading Self-help music: Will Powers, “Adventures in Success” (1983)
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