"Love Me Do" by The Beatles

This evening I am tired from a long day, so I thought it would leave you with a song. It was 62 years ago today that The Beatles' debut single, "Love Me Do," was released in the United Kingdom. It was also today that the first James Bond movie, Dr. No (1962), premiered in London. There could be a very good argument that October 5 1962 is when the Sixties really began. Anyway, in commemoration of those events, I will leave you with "Love Me Do" by The Beatles.

"Love Me Do" was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Paul wrote the verses and the chorus, while John wrote the middle eight. It did not prove to be the megahit in the UK that nearly every other Beatles single proved to be, peaking at no. 17 on the UK singles chart. It was not released as a single in the United States until 1964, following The Beatles' success with "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," and "Can't Buy Me Love." Given how big The Beatles were in the U.S. at the time, quite naturally it hit no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Late Great John Amos

John Amos, who starred as weatherman Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, James Evans on Good Times, and Kunta Kinte on the mini-series Roots, died on August 21 2024 at the age of 84.

John Amos was born on December 27 1939 in Newark, New Jersey. His father was a tractor-trailer driver and mechanic, while his mother was a housekeeper who later became a nutritionist. One of his mother's clients was one of the artists on the Archie comic book feature. He arranged for the young John Amos and a friend to attend a taping of the radio program Archie Andrews at Radio City Music Hall. While at East Orange High School he drew cartoons and wrote columns in the school newspaper. He appeared in the school's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner and was also a running back on the football team.

John Amos won football scholarships to Long Beach City College in California and then Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After graduating, John Amos signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos in the American Football League. He then went to the short-lived United Football League, where he played for the Canton Bulldogs and Joliet Explorers. He played for the Norfolk Neptunes and Wheeling Ironmen  in the short-lived minor league called the Continental Football League. He then played for the Jersey City Jets and Waterbury Orbits in the Atlantic Coast Football League. In 1967 he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League. He returned to the Continental Football League where he ended his football career playing for the Victoria Steelers.

It was while John Amos was in Vancouver that he did stand-up comedy. He also met a television writer who moved him to go to Los Angeles. He got a job a a writer and performer on a variety show hosted by Al Lohman and Roger Barkley.and produced by KNBC. The following year he was a writer and performer on the variety show The Leslie Uggams Show on CBS. He guest starred on The Bill Cosby Show and The Tim Conway Comedy Hour. He began his stint playing Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

It was in 1973 that John Amos first appeared as Henry Evans, the wife of Maude's housekeeper Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) on the sitcom Maude. The character of Florida Evans would lead to the sitcom Good Times, which was not quite a spin-off of Maude John Amos once more played her husband, although he was now named James. Sadly, he would eventually be fired from the sitcom after speaking out about stereotypes on the show. James was then killed off on Good Times. In the Seventies John Amos continued to appear as Gordy Howard on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was one of the regular performers on the sketch comedy show The Funny Side.  He was a regular on the show Future Cop. He played Kunta Kinte on the mini-series Roots. John Amos guest starred on the shows Love, American Style; The New Dick Van Dyke Show; Sanford and Son; and Police Story. He made his film debut in an uncredited role in Vanishing Point  (1971). He appeared in the movies Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971), The World's Greatest Athlete (1973), Let's Do It Again (1975), and Touched by Love (1980).

In the Eighties John Amos appeared in the movies The Beastmaster (1982), Dance of the Devils (1983), American Flyers (1985), Coming to America (1988), Lock Up (1988), Two Evil Eyes (1990), and Die Hard 2 (1990). He had a regular role on the TV show Hunter. He guest starred on the shows Here's Boomer; Insight; The Love Boat;  The A-Team; Trapper John, M.D.; Hardcastle and McCormick; One Life to Live; Murder, She Wrote; Stingray; You Are the Jury; Beauty and the Beast; The Cosby Show; and Gideon Oliver.

In the Nineties John Amos starred on the short-lived sitcom 704 Hauser. He had a regular role on The West Wing. He had a recurring roles on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, In the House, and The District. He guest starred on the shows Touched by an Angel; Martin; Walker, Texas Ranger; King of the Hill; and The Outer Limits. He appeared in the movies Ricochet (1991), Without a Pass (1991), Mac (1993), Night Trap (1993),. For Better or Worse (1995), and The Players Club (1998).

In the Naughts Mr. Amos continued to appear on The West Wing and The District. He had regular roles on the shows All About the Andersons and Men in Trees. He guest starred on the shows American Masters, Psych, My Name is Earl, Two and a Half Men, Royal Pains, 30 Rock, and Lie to Me. He appeared in the movies All Over Again (2001), The Watermelon Heist (2003), My Baby's Daddy (2004), Countdown (2004),. Shadowboxing (2005), Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006), Ascension Day (2007)., and Lean Like a Choo (2010).

In the Teens John Amos had a recurring role on The Ranch. He guest starred on the shows NYC 22, Ballers, Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, Live in Front of a Studio Audience, and The Last O.G. He appeared in the movies Zombie Hamlet (2012),. Madea's Witness (2012), Act of Faith (2014), Bad Asses on the Bayou (2015), Mercy for Angels (2015), Tamales and Gumbo (2015). Hauntsville (2016), and Uncut Gems (2019).

In the 2020s John Amos guest starred on The Righteous Gemstones. He appeared in the movies Coming 2 America (2021), Because of Charley (2021). Christmas in Miami (2021), Me Time (2022), and The Last Rifleman (2023).

John Amos was an incredible actor. I think it will be safe to say he will always be remembered as James Evans on Good Times. James was in many ways a pioneering role. As a father he was firm and he did have a bit of a temper, but he was also gentle and compassionate. It was a pioneering role, presenting a strong father of a nuclear family, and John Amos played it perfectly. Like many, I think Good Times went downhill after he was fired.  He was also remarkable as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Gordy was friendly and good-natured, and always professional. For the role of the older Kunta Kinte (who was given the slave name "Toby") he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series. Over the years he played many other great roles, including Admiral Percy "Fitz" Fitzwallace on The West Wing, the bodyguard Seth in The Beastmaster, fast food restaurant owner Cleo McDowell in Coming to America, and many others. John Amos gave a number of great performances throughout his career. In fact, I cannot remember him giving a bad one, no matter how poor the material may have been. He was simply a great actor.

Kris Kristofferson Passes On

Singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson died on September 28 2024 at the age of 88. As an actor he had appeared in such movies as A Star is Born (1976), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), and Blade (1998). As a country music singer and songwriter, he had several hit songs and won many awards.

Kris Kristofferson was born on June 22 1936 in Brownsville, Texas. His father was an officer in the United States Army Air Corps and later the United States Air Force. Because of his father's military service the family moved frequently, but finally settled in San Matteo, California. He graduated from San Matteo High School in 1954. He then attended Pomona College in Claremont, California. He wanted to become a writer and actually had two stories published in The Atlantic Monthly. In 1958 he received a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. He studied at Merton College. In 1960 he graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in English literature.

He then enlisted in the United States Army where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He became a helicopter pilot and completed Ranger School as well. He was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division.

Kris Kristofferson left the United States Army to pursue his music career. He moved to Nashville and in 1967 he signed to Epic Records. His first major hit would not be performed by himself. Johnny Cash recorded his song "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and it went to no. 1 on the Country music chart in 1970.

As an actor Kris Kristofferson made his film debut in a small part in  The Last Movie in 1971. His first starring role came in 1972 with Cisco Pike. In the Seventies he appeared in the movies Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume in Love (1973), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976), Vigilante Force (1976), A Star is Born (1976), Semi-Tough (1977), Convoy (1978), and Heaven's Gate (1980). He appeared on television on Saturday Night Live and The Muppet Show.

In the Eighties Kris Kristofferson appeared in the movies Rollover (1981), The Last Horror Film (1982), Flashpoint (1984), Songwriter (1984), Trouble in Mind (1985), Big Top Pee-wee (1988),      Millennium (1989), Welcome Home (1989), and Sandino. On television he appeared in several TV movies, including a 1986 remake of Stagecoach in which he played the Ringo Kid. He starred in the mini-series Amerika.

In the Nineties Mr. Kristofferson appeared in the films Night of the Cyclone (1991), Original Intent (1992), No Place to Hide (1993), Paper Hearts (1993), Knights (1993), Pharaoh's Army (1995), Lone Star (1996), Fire Down Below (1997), Girls' Night (1998), Blade (1998), Dance with Me (1998), A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998), Payback (1999), Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999), Limbo (1999), The Joyriders (1999), and Comanche. On television he was the narrator on the Western anthology series Dead Man's Gun and guest starred on The Larry Sanders Show. He appeared in several TV movies.

In the Naughts he appeared in the movies Planet of the Apes (2001), Chelsea Wails (2001), Wooly Boys (2001), D-Tox (2002), Blade II (2002), Where the Red Fern Grows (2003), Silver City (2004), Blade: Trinity (2004), The Jacket (2005), The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (2005), The Wendell Baker Story (2005), Dreamer (2005), Disappearances (2006), Fast Food Naiton (2006), Room 10 (2006), Requiem for Billy the Kid (2006), Jump Out Boys (2008), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), Powder Blue (2009), For Sale By Onwer (2009), Bloodworth (2010), The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2010), and Yohan the Child Wanderer (2010). On television he appeared in the mini-series Lives of the Saints and was a guest voice on the show Handy Mandy. He also appeared in a few TV movies.

In the Teens Kris Kristofferson appeared in the movies Dolphin Tale (2011), The Greening of Whitney Brown (2011), Joyful Noise (2012), Deadfall (2012), The Motel Life (2012), Angels Sing (2012), Midnight Station (2013), San Patricios (2014), Dolphin Tale 2 (2014), 7 Minutes (2014), Traded (2016), The Red Maple Leaf (2016), Hickcok (2017), The Star (2017), Abilene (2017), and Blaze (2018). On television he appeared in the mini-series Texas Rising.

I am not a country music fan, so I don't know too much about Mr. Kristofferson's music career. I do know he recorded 21 studio albums. He also won several awards for his songs, including one Country Music Association Awards for Song of the Year and one Academy of Country Music Award for Single of the Year. In 2004 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the CMA and the Grammy Awards.

I don't know much about country music, but I think it can be said that Kris Kristofferson was a legendary songwriter and singer in the genre. I do know movies and television, and I think he was a remarkable actor. He played a wide variety of roles throughout his acting career. He gave a solid performance as self-destructive rock star John Norman Howard. He was also quite good as Billy the Kid in Pat Garrett and Billy Kid. While the mini-series Amerika was controversial and received mixed reviews, Mr. Kristofferson was convincing as Devon Milford, the leader of the resistance against the U.S.S.R. He also did a great job as Whistler, Blade's mentor and weaponsmith, in Blade. While known for dramas, Westerns, and action movies, Kris Kristofferson was quite adept at comedy, as shown by his performance as circus ringmaster Mace Montana in Big Top Pee-wee. Kris Kristofferson was a rare multi-talent and he will always be remembered.

The 40th Anniversary of Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote is possibly the most successful American mystery television series of all time. It ran for twelves. Four TV movies aired after its run. While at the time of the show's debut Angela Lansbury was known for movies from Gaslight (1944) to The Manchurian Candidate (1962), she may now be best known as mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher. It was forty years ago today, on Sunday, September 30 1984, that Murder, She Wrote  debuted on CBS.

For those unfamiliar with Murder, She Wrote, the series starred Angela Lansbury as a widowed mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher, who has a talent for solving crimes. She lived in the small town of Cabot Cove, Maine, although she travelled extensively. Only a few episodes of Murder, She Wrote actually take place in their entirety in Cabot Cove.

It was in late 1983 that CBS looked to Universal Television for a new mystery series that they wanted to be produced by Peter S. Fincher, Richard Levinson, and William Link. Messrs. Levinson and Link were already old hands when it came to television mysteries. Not only had they written several episodes of various mystery shows, but they also created both Mannix and Columbo. Peter S. Fincher had been a story editor on Columbo, and with Richard Levinson and William Link had developed the TV series Ellery Queen. Although it had only run one season, Ellery Queen had developed a cult following and had received positive reviews.

Messrs. Fincher, Levinson, and Link pitched a concept to CBS that they had tried pitching to NBC. It was a series about a retired magician who over 50 years of age who solved mysteries. NBC did not like the idea of a protagonist over 50 and asked that the magician be in his thirties. Unlike NBC, CBS did not mind a lead character who was over 50, but they preferred a female lead. It was on October 22 1983 that CBS aired the made-for-TV movie A Caribbean Mystery, starring Helen Hayes as Agatha Christie's character Miss Marple. The TV movie did respectably well in the ratings, leading Peter s. Fletcher, Richard Levinson, and William Link to come up with the idea of a TV show about a crime solving, female mystery novelist over 50, essentially an Americanized Miss Marple with a bit of Ellery Queen thrown in for good measure. Like Ellery Queen, the show would feature big-name guest stars.

Fortunately, Harvey Shepherd, head programmer at CBS, liked the idea and gave the go-ahead for what would become Murder, She Wrote. As to who would play the all important role of Jessica Fletcher, Jean Stapleton, most famous as Edith Bunker on All in the Family, was initially considered. Miss Stapleton was initially interested in the project, but eventually decided against it. Fortunately, screen legend Angela Lansbury had expressed interest in starring in a television series. Messrs. Fincher, Levinson, and Link met with Miss Lansbury, and she was cast as Jessica Fletcher.

While Jessica Fletcher was the only regular character on the show, Murder, She Wrote featured several recurring characters. For the first four seasons, Tom Bosley played Sheriff Amos Tupper. He was replaced by Ron Masak, who played Sheriff Mort Metzger from the fifth season to its end. Starting in the second season, William Windom played Dr. Seth Hazitt. There were many other recurring characters, including Jessica's nephew Grady Fletcher (Michael Horton), Cabot Cove realtor Eve Simpson (Julie Adams),private eye Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach), and may others.

Of course, over the years Murder, She Wrote featured many famous guest stars, among them John Astin, Gene Barry, Earl Holliman, Kevin McCarthy, Martin Milner, John Saxon,and  George Segal. The show featured several stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, including June Allyson, Ann Blyth, Cyd Charisse, Mel Ferrer, Marsha Hunt, Van Johnson, Mildred Natwick, Jean Peters, Mickey Rooney, and Mary Wickes, among others. Indeed, the episode "The Days Dwindle Down" was actually some of a sequel to the classic film noir Strange Bargain (1942). It guest starred Jeffrey Lynn, Martha Scott, and Harry Morgan, who reprised their roles from. Clips form Strange Bargain served as flashbacks during the episode.

It was during the third season of Murder, She Wrote that the show had a crossover with another hit CBS show, Magnum P.I., then in its seventh season. The crossover began on Magnum P.I. with the episode "Novel Connection" and ended with the Murder, She Wrote episode "Magnum on Ice."

Murder, She Wrote would also inspire one spinoff. The TV series The Law & Harry McGraw centred on private eye Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach), who had been a recurring character on Murder, She Wrote, as he worked for attorney Ellie Maginnis (Barbara Babcock). The should would not prove to be a success. Debuting on September 27 1987, the series ended its run after only 16 episodes. That would not be the end of Harry McGraw, as he would appear in more episodes of Murder, She Wrote.

The success of Murder, She Wrote generated some merchandise. Numerous Murder, She Wrote novels have been published over the years, the first 1989. The latest Murder, She Wrote novels are set to come out October 8 2024 and March 18 2025. It was in 1985 that Warren Company published a Murder, She Wrote board game. In 2009 Legacy Interactive released the computer game Murder, She Wrote. It was followed by a sequel, Murder, She Wrote in 2012. Funko even released a Jessica Fletcher POP! figure in 2020.

Murder, She Wrote proved to be a hit from the beginning. In its first season it ranked no. 8 for the year in the Nielsen ratings. It consistently ranked in the top twenty, more often than not in the top ten, for its first eleven seasons. Murder, She Wrote was moved from its usual 8:00 PM Eastern, Sunday time slot for its 12th season to 8:00 PM Easter, Thursday for its 12th season. The show promptly dropped in the ratings. It was moved back to Sunday for its last few episodes, but unfortunately it was too little too late. For its 12th and final season, Murder, She Wrote ranked only 58th in the Nielsen ratings for the year. CBS cancelled the series.

While Murder, She Wrote was cancelled, it was hardly over, as CBS agreed to four Murder, She Wrote TV movies to air in the following years. The first was South by South West, which aired in 1997. It was followed by A Story to Die For in 2000, The Last Free Man in 2001, and The Celtic Riddle in 2003.

Murder, She Wrote would prove to be a hit in syndication, where it is still running. From the late Nineties well into the Naughts, A&E showed Murder, She Wrote so often that many jokingly called it "The Murder, She Wrote Channel." Currently it airs on  Murder, She Wrote airs on Cozi TV, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Great American Family, and Start TV. Murder, She Wrote can be found on several different streaming services, including Prime Video, Fubo, Peacock, Philo, and Sling TV. The entire series, as well as the TV movies, have been released on DVD.

Murder, She Wrote has certainly permeated pop culture. Jessica Fletcher is one of the most recognizable characters in television history, alongside Lucy Ricardo, Barney Fife, and Mr. Spock. There is also something of a running joke that Cabot Cove is the murder capitol of television, although this is not quite true. Jessica Fletcher travelled extensively and the majority of her cases were in such places as Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and even other countries. Out of the 264 episodes of Murder, She Wrote, only 54 took place in Cabot Cove. While that is still an extraordinarily high murder rate for a town of 3560 people, it's probably lower than the murder rate of Badger's Drift on Midsomer Murders. The village, which has 300 people according to  the original novel The Killings in Badger's Drift, saw over 20 murders in the course of six episodes. Regardless of whether Cabot Cover is the murder capital of the world, everyone can agree that Jessica Fletcher is murder magnet. She could not go any place without someone being murdered.

Of course, if Jessica didn't encounter murder everywhere she goes, there would not have been a show. And Murder, She Wrote was one of the finest mystery series of all time. It compares favourably with such shows  as Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, and Columbo, and can quite rightfully be considered a classic in and of itself. In fact, an argument can be made that the Cabot Cove episodes of Murder, She Wrote in particular pioneered the cozy mystery genre. In the cozy mystery genre, the protagonist is generally an amateur detective (like Jessica), the protagonists usually has a contact on the police department (in Jessica's case, Sheriffs Tupper and Metzger), the murders generally take place off-stage, and the setting is usually a small town or village (in Jessica's case, Cabot Cove.). While the cozy mystery genre takes a good deal of inspiration from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, the Cabot Cove episodes of Murder, She Wrote would certainly seem to have provided the template for the genre.

Murder, She Wrote continues to be popular, as evidenced by the number of television outlets and streaming channels on which it can still be found. Novels based on the series are still being published. One has to suspect that people will still be watching Murder, She Wrote forty years from now.

Hammer Horrors on TCM in October 2024

Every October Turner Classic Movies shows a lot of horror movies. This also means that they usually a good number of the Hammer Horrors, although never nearly as many as I would like. This year is no different, although some of the Hammer movies are showing at awkward times. If you want to watch The Reptile (1966) and The Plague of the Zombies (1966), you'll have to be up at 2:00 in the morning in the Central time zone, unless you DVR them.

Below is a schedule for this year's Hammer horrors on TCM. All times are Central.  I have to apologize for not having times for movies on October 30 and Halloween itself. As of now (Sunday, September 29), Turner Classic Movies does not have the complete October schedule up. It only goes to Saturday, October 26. I do wish TCM would give us the next month's full schedule by a week before the end of any month. Not getting the full schedule of a month until it has already begun makes writing blog posts very difficult! Anyway, I will update the schedule with the times for the movies on October 30 and 31 when they become available.

Thursday, October 3:
11:30 PM  The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Friday, October 18
2:15 AM The Reptile (1966)
4:00 AM The Plague of the Zombies (1966)

Wednesday, October 30
8:00 AM Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)
9:45 AM Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)
11:30 AM Mummy, The (1959) 
1:15 PM Dracula (1958--Horror of Dracula in the U.S)
2:45 PM The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Friday, November 1
12:45 AM The Witches (1966--The Devil's Own in the U.S.)
1:30 AM The Devil Rides Out (1968--The Devil's Bride in the U.S.)