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* Classic TV Blog *
Sunday,
October 15, 2006 - 9:58pm : Billy Ingram
I went
to ConvergeSouth this weekend, a conference of local bloggers. It was
really interesting, with lots of spirited back and forth about the new
media, where it fits in with the old ways, newspapers in particular. The
whole thing was flawlessly executed, casual and often unintentionally
revealing. I only wish I could have stayed for the whole thing.
 The
keynote speaker was Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Senator John Edwards
who is out now promoting her book, Saving
Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers.
(If I'm not mistaken the proceeds from this book go to charity?)
The
founder of Redstate.com, one of those Bizarro-world conservative blogging
communities, expected - as did I - that her message would be tainted with
politics, or at least be a prolonged plug for her book. That would have
been only fair, after all. Instead, I found her to be a genuinely nice
person, what I think of as the modern southern lady, the kind of folks
I grew up with. Insightful and inclusive in her remarks (with no books
in sight - I mean at all), Ms. Edwards was wonderfully down to earth -
especially when you consider she had just made an appearance on Oprah
a few days earlier.
She
had a lot to say about creating and being involved in online (and offline)
communities; it's what her book is about, essentially. Apparently. I haven't
read it. Her presentation was unprepared and casual and I couldn't have
been more impressed. There's a certain joy in watching someone who is
clearly used to public speaking kick back and engage an audience off the
cuff. That takes a certain talent that few people possess.
I
was going to say that she's the polar opposite of Laura Bush - without
that being a slam on either lady; how impressive it was that someone can
be that plain spoken after all she's been through in the public light.
I certainly wouldn't expect to see much humility in Hillary Clinton or
Mrs. George Allen or Tipper Gore.
Ms.
Edwards mentioned in passing that her husband has a hard time blogging
because he doesn't type very well. I sympathize. I type with one finger
- two when I really get into the groove. I type quickly, almost as fast
as someone who types for real - but the text is riddled with mistakes
that I have to go back and correct. Overall it's a frustrating experience.
So why don't I take a typing course as has been suggested to me? If this
old dog learns any new tricks it will be a skill I don't currently possess
- like writing.
Anyway,
the blogger's conference got me thinking about whether I should start
blogging about my personal life - or what I think about this and that.
Maybe I will. Truth is, I don't find my life all that interesting right
now and I can't imagine anybody else would either. The TVparty
Blog is the Un-Blog?!?
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 Friday,
October 13, 2006 - 5:59pm : Billy Ingram
In
the mid-fifties, legendary silent film comedian Buster
Keaton starred in commercials for (among others) Alka-Seltzer.
In this spot you get to see 'Speedy,' Alka-Seltzer's animated mascot.
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Wednesday,
October 11, 2006 - 4:45pm : Billy Ingram
Here are some random clips I added over the last few months
that you may have missed. Pretend you care...
Red
Skelton and Martha Raye in a rehearsal for The Red Skelton
Show in the 1960s. Red would do a run-through for the CBS staffers
before taping his program each week. It was anything goes at these rehearsals
where the dirty jokes flew. Martha Raye happily joined in.
Ric
Flair and the Four Horsemen / early-1980s
CBS
1986 Saturday Morning transitions
Did
you know William Shatner sold Olds
in 1987 with his daughter - part of the 'Not Your Father's Oldsmobile'
campaign.
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 Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 4:44pm
: Billy Ingram
Another sound clip: the late, great Pat
Paulsen was running for President again in 1975. Here's one
of his comedy routines from that election cycle where he skewers the primary
candidates on both sides.
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 Wednesday,
October 11, 2006 - 4:36pm : Billy Ingram
Here's another sound clip I recorded from the television during the
mid-seventies with one of my favorite comedians, George
Burns.
Also
from those tapes - Gilda Radner
announcing a two week hiatus for SNL on 10-30-74.
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Tuesday,
October 10, 2006 - 9:16am : Billy Ingram
How cool is this?!?
Billy,
S'more Entertainment has The Paul Lynde Halloween Special
listed as "Coming Soon" in their product listings. But I doubt
that it will be available in time for Halloween this year. The company
is changing its distribution company from the St. Clair Entertainment
Group to Image Entertainment beginning in January and, I suspect, will
not be able to bring the DVD to market this year . . . but, at least,
it's "on the radar screen."
- Regards, Bob Huggins
I
know I'll be buying a copy...
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Tuesday,
October 10, 2006 - 6:26am : Billy Ingram
I love Halloween.
Did you know this is the 40th anniversary of It's The Great
Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? I saw a really cool book at Borders
the other day that relates the entire story of the special and reprints
the picture book that was released in 1966 in conjunction with the broadcast
(I still have my original copy).
It's also the 30th anniversary of The Paul Lynde Halloween Special
with Paul camping it up with Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked With of the
West, Billie Hayes as Witchiepoo, Donny & Marie, Tim Conway, Roz Kelly
as Pinkie Tuscadero and the first primetime appearance of KISS. I understand
there are bootlegs on Ebay - this one really should be on DVD.
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 Sunday,
October 8, 2006 - 10:06am : Billy Ingram
One of the
best theme songs of the sixties (of all time, really) came from a show
that only lasted a half-season - The
Pruitts Of Southampton starring Phyllis Diller. It
was written by the immortal Vic Mizzy, who also wrote the themes for The
Addams Family, Green Acres, Mr. Terrific and so many other classics.
Michael Thom recently sent us this tune - he taped it off of the TV with
a reel-to-reel recorder in 1966 and it's a joy. Think we'll ever see this
one on DVD? Not likely - yet this show, Camp Runamuck, Hank and
other one season wonders from the golden age are the programs I really
want to see again.
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Friday,
October 6, 2006 - 2:06pm : Billy Ingram
I reviewed
the new Battlestar Galactica Season 2.5 here if
you're interested. Great series! And I'm loving Dick
Cavett Show: Hollywood Greats, where entire shows
are presented starring Bette Davis, Robert Mitchum, Groucho, Alfred Hitchcock,
Orson Welles and other legends. Not the usual hatchet job where you get
the 'best of.'
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Thursday,
October 5, 2006 - 11:44am : Billy Ingram
Was the funniest
man in America (IMHO) - Paul Mooney of the Richard Pryor
and Dave Chapelle shows - censored? Scary stuff... you can be too smart
and funny for today's America. Referring to the Bush daughters as Gin
and Juice? Priceless. Read
for yourself.
Of
course, this is the day and age when you can be arrested
for criticizing the vice-president to his face. Shameful.
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Thursday,
October 5, 2006 - 10:33am : Billy Ingram
 I
Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things That Strike Me as Funny
- by Bob Newhart
A couple of weeks ago, I received a copy of this book to review - but
it took me until a couple of days ago to get it back. When it arrived,
I had a houseguest and he immediately devoured the book. He loved it so
much he was recounting the hilarious stories in it at every opportunity.
I finally had to tell him to stop - that I wanted to read it myself! Then
he hijacked the book to give to his parents and they didn't want to put
it down either. Everyone who got a hold of it thought it was a sensation.
And no wonder. The stories in this book are priceless. This is the closest
we may get to an autobiography of Bob Newhart - as such, it's a breezy
romp from one great show business story to another.
When I see Bob Newhart on TV these days - and it's an all too-rare occurrence
- I think of him as our elder statesman of comedy; the forerunner of the
smart, early-sixties comedians that distinguished himself from the Bob
Hope / Jerry Lewis prototype to usher in a new age of intelligent comedy.
After Newhart and his contemporaries, people could laugh with - and not
solely at - the comedian. This book is a pleasant reflection on his years
in the business; wall to wall smiles and laughs - insightful, delightful
and only the least bit spiteful.
Click here to order from Amazon.
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