Showing posts with label 1970s TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1970s TV. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Carol Burnett Show's Tim Conway Dies At Age Of 85

Tim Conway, one of the stars of The Carol Burnett Show in the 1970s, passed away at the age of 85 in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Tim Conway (left) with the cast of
The Carol Burnett Show in 1977

Tim Conway, one of the stars of The Carol Burnett Show in the 1970s, passed away at the age of 85 in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The longtime funnyman had recently suffered complications from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).

From PEOPLE:

Conway is survived by his wife of 35 years, his stepdaughter, his six biological children and two granddaughters. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family would like donations to be made to The Lou Ruvo Brain Center at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The beloved actor is best known for his work on The Carol Burnett Show, winning viewers over with characters like the Oldest Man and Mr. Tudball, whose accent he has said was inspired by his Romanian mother. He was known to ad-lib his sketches — even surprising his scene partners — and won a Golden Globe Award for the series in 1976, along with Emmys in 1973, 1977 and 1978.

He appeared as a guest star on The Carol Burnett Show for eight seasons before becoming a regular in 1975.

“They used to do 33 shows a year on Burnett,” he told the L.A. Times. “She said why don’t you just be a regular on the show? I said I will tell you what. I will do 32 shows and leave one week open at the end, so I can guest on somebody’s show. I always guested on her show, but I did have the right to go somewhere else. My job on every show was to break everybody up.”

God, he was funny...








Wednesday, August 15, 2018

That Time When The Mary Tyler Moore Show Went Gay

    The year was 1973. Homosexuality was considered a mental illness, you could be arrested for being gay in most of the country, no openly gay or lesbian person had ever been elected to public office. And Mary Tyler Moore, America’s sweetheart, put a gay man in front of viewers for an entire episode without anyone noticing until the last minute -- and then acted like it was no big deal. When it was, in fact, a very, very, very big deal.
Cloris Leachman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Journalist, historian and all-around smart-gay Matt Baume devotes this installment of his popular Culture Cruise web series on an episode of the iconic1970s sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

The year was 1973. Homosexuality was considered a mental illness, you could be arrested for being gay in most of the country, no openly gay or lesbian person had ever been elected to public office. And Mary Tyler Moore, America’s sweetheart, put a gay man in front of viewers for an entire episode without anyone noticing until the last minute -- and then acted like it was no big deal. When it was, in fact, a very, very, very big deal.

The episode, titled “My Brother’s Keeper,” aired on January 13, 1973. In the episode, “Phyllis” (played by Cloris Leachman) set out to set up “Mary” (Mary Tyler Moore) with her brother, “Ben.”

It turns out there’s no chemistry there, but Mary’s best friend “Rhoda” (Valerie Harper) ends up finding a connection with Ben. The problem is - Phyllis hates Rhoda, and can’t stand the idea of her brother with Rhoda.

Of course, in the end, Ben it’s revealed that Ben is gay.

What’s important here, though, is how the writers of TMTMS handled the moment. As you may remember, television (or most of America, for that fact) was not welcoming or warm-hearted when it came to ‘the gays.’

As Baume points out, if a gay person was on TV, they were usually portrayed as murderers or perverts. Note the infamous “The Homosexuals” documentary that aired in 1967 that declared “the average homosexual, if there is one, is promiscuous.”

What Baume does so well here is put what could be viewed as just another ‘gay punchline’ into perspective and gives us context on the whys and hows this was actually an important moment.

At the time the episode aired, Minneapolis (where TMTMS took place) outlawed homosexuality even though that same year saw the debut of Minneapolis first Pride event. And 1973 was the year homosexuality was removed from the list of mental illnesses.

I won’t spoil it for you, so watch the video.

Follow Matt Baume’s Culture Cruise on YouTube here, where he regularly takes a deep dive on LGBTQ themes in TV, movies, books, games and more.



Friday, April 20, 2018

Daily Dance: Melissa Gilbert "If They Could See Me Now"

"Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert struts her way through the Broadway classic "If They Could See Me Now"

I'm not laughing at child star Melissa Gilbert but laughing with her as I enjoy this clip from 1978 where the Little House on the Prairie star kick-ball-changes her way through the Sweet Charity hit "If They Could See Me Now."

I just love 1970s variety show dancing. It takes me back.

At this very moment in time, I was learning to dance myself with most of the vocabulary you see here.

According to the YouTube page, Melissa Gilbert herself has seen the video and her response was: "OMG! Adolescence at its worst!"

Ah, good times :)

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Funny: Outtakes From The Classic "Hollywood Squares"


Running from 1966 to 2004, the iconic Hollywood Squares never failed me make me laugh.

Take a minute and be amazed some of this actually got on the air in the 1970s :)

Trivia: Center square star Paul Lynde won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on the show.



Thursday, January 19, 2017

Throwback Thursday: Tom Jones Gets Freaky With Some 'Beatles'


Regular Randy Report readers know I love kitschy 60s/70s TV specials.

How could you not love black and white cow costumes and a groovy orange jumpsuited Tom Jones getting freaky on the Beatles "We Can Work It Out?"

Thursday, August 18, 2016

#TBT - "The Rookies"


I hadn't seen the opening of The Rookies probably since the show aired from 1972-1976.

Looking at it now, three things immediately jump out at me that I'd never noticed:

• Check that famous Police Academy shot - same one used in the original opener for Charlie's Angels

• Speaking of Charlie's Angels, Rookies cast member Kate Jackson went on to big-time stardom with that mega-hit from the 1970s

• And one more Kate Jackson connection - Rookies cast member Michael Ontkean starred as Jackson's husband in the 1982 "coming out" pic Making Love.

That flick was probably the first mainstream portrayal of gay life I'd ever seen. I can remember like it was yesterday sitting in a movie theater with my freshman college roommate, Matthew. Neither of us had come out yet, and the silence driving home that night was ripe.

Ah, 1970s TV. See what you do to me.


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Wayback Wedbesday: Charlie's Angels On The Captain & Tennille Show



I've never seen this, but regular readers know how much I love the camp of 70s TV.

How cool that Farrah, Jaclyn and Kate did this - not really in their wheelhouse, but good on them for being good sports.

And to this day, I can still stop in my tracks if I come across an episode of the original Charlie's Angels.

(tipped by hubby Michael)

Friday, April 8, 2016

70s TV: Opening Sequence From "ElectraWoman And DynaGirl"


Talk about some 1976 TV kitsch realness.

Deidre Hall and Judy Strangis fought the evil-doers on Saturday mornings thanks to producers Sid & Marty Kroft.

Happy Friday!


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour "Get Ready"

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour - GET READY!
Posted by Bill Presley on Sunday, October 25, 2015

Regular readers of The Randy Report know how much I love kitschy 1970s TV. Especially musical dance numbers.

I just came across this today and HAD to share: from the Brady Bunch reboot "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour."

It all just makes me smile, it's so camp. I don't know if there's ever enough time to "get ready" for this :)

And then, they bring on the synchronized swimmers and I lose it all over again.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Netflix Announces Bill Murray's "A Very Murray Christmas" TV Music Special


Who misses the fab holiday TV specials of the 60s and 70s?

Well, so does Golden Globe winner Bill Murray.

So he's gathered celeb friends like George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Chris Rock, Amy Poehler and more to take part in a Netflix produced extra-special dose of holiday cheer with this all-star musically-driven holiday special, A Very Murray Christmas.

Trailer description: Set inside New York City’s iconic Carlyle hotel, A Very Murray Christmas opens with Murray preparing to host a live, international holiday broadcast.

After a blizzard shuts down the production, he makes the best of the situation by singing and celebrating with friends, hotel employees and anyone else who drops by.

A Very Murray Christmas premieres Dec. 4 on Netflix.



Friday, October 9, 2015

Matt Baume Explores American TV's First "Same-Sex Married Couple"


Smart guy Matt Baume reminds us of a truly ground-breaking moment in television history: the night America met it's first same-sex marriage couple.

From Baume:

When did gay partners become a part of the family on TV? October 9, 1977. That's the night CBS aired an All in the Family episode entitled "Cousin Liz," which in just a half hour did three amazing things: it showed America that they could have queer family members. It depicted what may be TV's first gay marriage. And oh yeah it may have changed the course of an election.

I haven't thought about this episode since it aired in 1977, but I do remember it. At the time I must have been 14 years old. I didn't exactly know I was gay yet, but it lodged in my consciousness.

Baume does a great job of breaking down how the storyline at first goes all "comedy" on the idea of a lesbian couple. But then, as only "Edith" could do when given the chance during All In The Family, she steps past the "dingbat" and becomes our teacher.

Definitely worth the watch. Make sure you check the moment at the 5:05 mark.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Happy Birthday Julie Andrews - "At The Ballet"


I am a fan of the fab Julie Andrews. What a talent.

Rather than post something obvious, like the opening of "The Sound of Music" - I found this rather rare, and unusual clip from a 1979 TV special where Julie sings all three parts of "At The Ballet" from the then fantastically popular A Chorus Line.

It gets a little surreal as she tries to interpolate all three parts, but you get the idea.

Gotta love 1970s TV specials....

Friday, August 14, 2015

Matt Baume On 70s/80s Sitcoms And The Homos


In a very worthwhile 7 minute history of the portrayal of gays on sitcoms in the 1970s and 1980s, Matt Baume tracks how gays slowly gained visibility (and a voice) on TV.
When did TV first permit joking while gay? I've been combing through sitcoms to figure out when queers stopped being a scary threat, and were allowed to be real people with love lives and funny punch lines. Here are just a few of my favorite early gay characters on sitcoms.
As Baume states at the end, a 7 minute video can't provide enough time to cover all the good and bad of the gay 70s and 80s. I am a bit surprised he skipped over Showtime's Brothers which featured an openly gay lead character that was memorably positive.

But, again, how much can you fit into a web video?

Very good watch here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Theme Songs: "Eight Is Enough"

Thinking of the passing of Dick Van Patten yesterday made me a bit sentimental for this clip from the hit 1970s show EIGHT IS ENOUGH.

Grant Goodeve, who played eldest son "David Bradford." performs in it's entirety what would become the show's theme song.

The song is perfectly 70s, and while I didn't really get it at the time, now I realize what a huge crush I had on Grant Goodeve.

It's funny to realize today that I never put together the fact that I liked the show so much while in my own life had lost my mother early on, like the Bradford kids of the TV show did.

Also, much like the Bradfords, my family headed in different directions most of the time, too.

Kind of a "rear-view mirror" moment for me.

RIP Dick Van Patten.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

EIGHT IS ENOUGH Star Dick Van Patten Passes Away At 86



From Variety:

Dick Van Patten, who played the paterfamilias on the 1980s TV dramedy “Eight Is Enough,” died on Tuesday morning. He was 86.

Patten died at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. due to complications from diabetes.

The always-genial, round-faced actor also appeared in Disney films including “Freaky Friday” (the original, Jodie Foster version) as well as Mel Brooks comedies “High Anxiety,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and “Space Balls.”

He had most recently appeared onscreen in a guest role as Lester on TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland.” Other relatively recent credits include “7th Heaven” in 2004, “Arrested Development” in 2005, “That ’70s Show” in 2006 and “The Sarah Silverman Program” in 2008.

Van Patten starred as Tom Bradford, the father of eight children, on ABC’s “Eight Is Enough” from 1977-81. The show was based on the life of journalist Tom Braden, who had written a book of the same name. Van Patten also appeared in the 1987 reunion movie and 1989’s “An Eight Is Enough Wedding.”

Broadway legend Betty Buckley, who co-starred opposite Van Patten issued this statement:

I am deeply saddened to hear about Dick Van Patten passing away. I am grateful that I got to see him and his lovely wife Pat when I was in Los Angeles in late January.

He taught me so much when I worked with him on "Eight Is Enough". He was our rock, our leader, our role model. He was the consummate professional, a wonderful actor and master of comedy. Every day on set he was a happy, jovial person, always generous and ready to play, tease and always keep us all laughing. His love for life and his family were an inspiration.

I loved him very much. I send my deepest condolences to his family.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

1970s Variety Special: Mary Tyler Moore with David Letterman, Michael Keaton & Swoosie Kurtz


Mary Tyler Moore sings and dances with David Letterman, Michael Keaton and Swoosie Kurtz in a number from Mary's 1978 variety special.

I love 70s song and dance specials, but this is really pretty awful. David Letterman looks like he's just trying to survive the segment.

And the choreography! They go from box steps to just plain jogging. Bless their hearts.

The funny thing is Mary is a talented singer and dancer herself. It's just a shame this is a huge mess. But she sure does give it her all. I'll say that much.

The first clip is Michael Keaton watching & remembering the experience with Dave, and the second clip is the number in it's entirety.



Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Suzanne Crough Of THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY Fame Dies At 52


Former “Partridge Family” actress Suzanne Crough Condray died Monday night, the Clark County coroner’s office said Tuesday.

The 52-year-old died in a Laughlin residence, likely her own, about 9:30 p.m. the coroner’s office said.

Condray’s cause and manner of death will be released by the coroner’s office.

Crough swung a mean tambourine on The Partridge Family from 1970 to 1974, when she was ages 7 to 11. She later appeared on TV shows such as Mulligan's Stew and Wonder Woman.

She last reunited with her 'Partridge' co-stars for an appearance on the 'Today' show back in 2010.

(source)

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Camp Fabness: Joey Heatherton "Look What They've Done To My Song"


I have a special affinity for the music specials of the 1970s. Growing up in that period, just knowing I was destined to be a performer somewhere, somehow, I thought shows like this were fabulous.

(And I didn't even know I was gay yet...)

This clip of the uber-fab Joey Heatherton (from a Jack Benny TV special, apparently) epitomizes the sometimes wild ideas performers and the creative teams would come up with to do something "fresh." The slow, seductive walk through the wacky, mod set  = 1970s gold.

I love the swing into French for a few lines. Very popular at that time.



(tipped by TRR reader Gary)