Godspeed Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night

Chuck Negron, co-founder of Three Dog Night, died yesterday, February 2, 2026, at age 83 of complications from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chuck Negron was born on June 8, 1942 in New York City. He grew up in the Bronx. He sang with doo-wop groups from when he was very young. He also played basketball. He played at William Howard Taft High School, and then at at Allan Hancock College, a junior college in Santa Maria, California. This put him in proximity to the music industry in Souther California. 

It was in 1967 that Chuck Negron joined Danny Hutton and Cory Wells to form a a group initially called "Redwood." It was under that name that they did some work with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. It was in 1968 that they stopped using the name "Redwood" and adopted the name 'Three Dog Night." They also hired a group of backing musicians. 

Three Dog Night signed with ABC Dunhill Records. Their self-titled debut album was released on October 16, 1968. Their first single, "Nobody," failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100, but their second single, a cover of "Try a Little Tenderness," reached no. 29 on the chart. Their third single, a cover of Harry Nilsson's "One," proved to be their first major hit. It peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be followed by their version of "Easy to Be Hard," which peaked at no. 5 on the chart. This would be the beginning of a string of hits from Three Dog Night which lasted into the Seventies. It was with their cover of  Randy Newman's "Mama Told Me Not to Come" that they reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Over the next several years, Three Dog Night would have such hits as "Eli's Coming," "Joy to the World," "An Old Fashioned Love Song," "Black and White," "Shambala," and "The Show Must Go On" among others. As time passed, Three Dog Night's album sales declined. Their 1975 album Coming Down Your Way peaked at no. 70 on the Billboard album chart. Their following album, American Pastime, did even worse. It only reached no. 123 on the chart. Three Dog Night then disbanded in 1976. 

Three Dog Night reunited in 1981 and recorded the album It's a Jungle. Chuck Negron remained with the group through 1985. He would record several solo albums, including Am I Still in Your Heart? (1995), Joy to the World (1996), The Chuck Negron Story (2005), and Negron Generations (2017). He continued to tour regularly until the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chuck Negron sang lead vocals on several of Three Dog Night's major hits, including "One," "Easy to Be Hard," "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," "Joy to the World," and "The Show Must Go On." He had a powerful, tenor voice, that could be both emotive and filled with energy. It was versatile enough that Mr. Negron could sing lead on the heartbreaking "One" and later sing lead on the humorous "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)." His voice also covered several octaves, so that Chuck Negron could reach some very high notes. If Three Dog Night has multiple hits, it is in part due to Chuck Negron's powerful and soulful voice.

Bugs Bunny, TCM's Star of the Month for February 2026

Bugs Bunny may be more closely associated with Warner Bros. than any other star in the studio's history, more so even than such heavyweights as Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, and James Cagney. According to Guinness World Records, Bugs Bunny has appeared in more films than any other animated character and is the ninth most portrayed character in film. From 1940 to 1967, Bug Bunny appeared in 167 theatrical animated shorts, and has appeared in even more since then. It should come as no surprise that he has often served as Warner Bros.' mascot.

This month Bugs Bunny will be Turner Classic Movies' star of the month, a first for any animated character. From February 2 to February 9, TCM will show 45 different Bugs Bunny animated shorts. What is considered the first Bugs Bunny cartoon "A Wild Hare" (1940), will kick things off tomorrow, February 2. Over the next several days, TCM will air such classic shorts s "The Rabbit of Seville" (1950), "What's Opera, Doc?" (1957), "Hair-Raising Hare" (1947), "Bugsy and Mugsy" (1957), "Broom-Stick Bunny" (1957), "Rabbit Fire" (1951), and yet others. The shorts will air alongside curated classic feature films. 

As to why Bugs Bunny is TCM's Star of the Month (beyond the fact that he obviously deserves it), it is tomorrow, February 2, 2026, that Turner Classic Movies becomes the ongoing home of the Warner Bros. Cartoon library. This is part of a new six-year licensing deal. Here I must point out that this is not the first time Warner Bros. Cartoons have aired on TCM. Long time TCM fans might remember the channel's anthology series Cartoon Alley, which ran from 2004 to 2007. Cartoon Alley aired the classic Warner Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, as well as cartoons from Fleischer Studios, Famous Studios (Paramount), and MGM. More recently, during TCM's celebration of Warner Bros.' 100th anniversary, they showed classic Warner Bros. Cartoons.

As a long-time fan of Warner Bros. Cartoons, I am elated that Bugs Bunny is this month's Star of the Month. My only complaint is that Bugs isn't getting a whole month. TCM 31 Days of Oscar begins on February 13 (a Friday, fittingly enough) and runs into March, so my favourite theatrical cartoon star is being shorted by my least favourite programming block on TCM. I can only hope that they devote a day during Summer Under Stars to Bugs to make up for that....

Godspeed Demond Wilson

Demond Wilson, best known for playing Lamont Sanford, the son of junkman Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) on the classic sitcom Sanford and Son, died yesterday, January 30, 2026, at the age of 79. The cause was complications from cancer.

Demond Wilson was born Grady Demond Wilson on October 13, 1946, in Valdosta, Georgia. He grew up in Harlen in New York City. He was only 4 years old when he appeared on Broadway in a revival of Green Pastures starring William Marshall and Ossie Davis. When he was 12 years old he danced at the Apollo Theatre. Demond Wilson studied acting at the American Community Theatre and at Hunter College in New York City. His studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army. He served in the 4th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

Demond Wilson's tour of duty ended in 1968, after which he appeared in various Off-Broadway plays. He made his film debut in an uncredited role in Cotton Comes to Harlem in 1970. He made his television debut in 1971 in a guest appearance on All in the Family, playing one of two burglars (the other was played by Cleavon Little) who hold the Bunkers hostage in their own home. It was the strength of that performance that led to Demond Wilson being cast as Lamont on Sanford and Son. Debuting at mid-season, the show proved to be smash hit. becoming the sixth highest rated show for the year in its first season.When Sanford and Son ended, it was not because of ratings, but because Redd Foxx took an offer of a multimillion dollar contract and his own variety show from ABC. NBC wanted to continue Sanford and Son after a fashion as Sanford Arms with Demond Wilson in the lead, but he turned the show down after a salary dispute. 

In the Seventies, Demond Wilson also guest starred on Mission: Impossible, Laugh-In, and The Love Boat. He starred on the short-lived sitcom Baby...I'm Back! as Raymond Ellis, a man who returned to his family after having abandoned them years ago. It only lasted 13 episodes. He appeared in the movies The Organization (1971), Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972), and Amazing Grace (1974).

In the Eighties, Demond Wilson played Oscar Madison on The New Odd Couple. The show only lasted 18 episodes. He guest starred on The Love Boat and Today's F.B.I. He appeared in the movie Full Moon High (1981). Demond Wilson left acting and was ordained as as a minister in the Church of God in Christ. He returned to occasionally acting in the movie Me and the Kid in 1993. In 2000, he appeared in the movie Hammerlock. He had a recurring role on the UPN sitcom Girlfriends, playing Kenneth Miles, the father of the character Lynn An (Persia White). He more recently had a regular role on the Pure Flix drama series Eleanor's Bench. In 2011, he toured with Nina Nicole in a production of  The Measure of a Man by Matt Hardwick. 

Sanford and Son is one of the most iconic television shows of all time, and much of the reason for that is Demond Wilson's performance as Lamont. He was the perfect straight man to Redd Foxx and the two had a great deal of chemistry. With Lamont, Demond Wilson convincingly portrayed a young man who wants to escape his current circumstances and better himself, but at the same time wants to look after his father. While Demond Wilson will always be best remembered as Lamont Sanford, he did play other roles. On The New Odd Couple, he did a good job of playing Oscar Madison, giving a performance that compares well to both Walter Matthau and Jack Klugman. In his Mission: Impossible guest appearance, he played a role far from Lamont or Oscar. He played Simmons, a hench of the villain who tortures Berlinger (Fritz Weaver), a millionaire and a dealer in stolen gems. In one of his guest appearances on The Love Boat, he played Isaac's Uncle Jesse, who appears to be somewhat shady. Demond Wilson was a great talent who played other roles beyond Lamont Sanford and played them well.

The Late Great Catherine O'Hara

Actress and comedian Cathrine O'Hara, who appeared in the movies Beetlejuice (1988) and Home Alone (1990) and starred on the TV show Schitt's Creek, died today, January 30, 2026, at the age of 71 following a brief illness.

Cathrine O'Hara was born on March 4, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario. She was one of seven children. Her younger sister was singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O'Hara. She graduated from the Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in Toronto in 1974. She was 20 when she joined legendary comedy troupe The Second City. She started out as an understudy to Gilda Radner before becoming part of the main cast. 

Catherine O'Hara made her television debut in an episode of The Wayne & Shuster Show. When Second City launched their show Second City TV in 1976, she was a regular on it. She also guest starred on the TV show Coming Up Rosie. She was a voice on the animated television specials Witch's Night Out. Intergalactic Thanksgiving, and Easter Fever.  She appeared in the mini-series You've Come a Long Way, Katie. She appeared in the movies Nothing Personal (1980) and Double Negative (1980).

In the Eighites, Catherine O'Hara was a regular on the Second City show SCTV Network 90 and had a recurring role on the Second City show SCTV Channel. She was a regulr voice on the animated series The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley. She guest starred on the TV series The New Show, George Burns Comedy Week, Really Weird Tales,  Trying Times, The Dave Thomas Comedy Show, and Dream On. She appeared in the TV specials  Dave Thomas: The Incredible Time Travels of Henry Osgood and I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood. She appeared in the movies After Hours (1985), Heartburn (1986), Beetlejuice (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), (1990), Betsy's Wedding, Home Alone (1990), and Little Vegas (1990).  She was the voice of Aunt Edith in the animated classic Rock & Rule (1983).

In the Nineties, Catherine O'Hara guest starred on the TV shows Morton & Hayes, The Larry Sanders Show, The Hidden Room, Tales from the Crypt, The Outer Limits, Oh Baby, and MADtv. She appeared in the movies There Goes the Neighbourhood (1992), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), The Paper (1994), (1994), Wyatt Earp (1994), A Simple Twist of Fate (1994), Tall Tale (1995), Waiting for Guffman (1996), The Last of the High Kings (1996), Home Fries (1998), (1998), and The Life Before This (1999). She provided the voice of Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1994) and was a voicei n the animated movie Pippi Longstocking (1997).

In the Naughts, Catherine O'Hara was a regulra voice on the animated TVshows Committed and Glen Martin DDS. She guest starred on the shows Bram & Alice, Six Feet Under, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She was a guest voice on Odd Job Jack. She appeared in the TV movie The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch. She appeared in the movies Speakng of Sex (2001), Orange County (2002), A Mighty Wind (2002), Surviving Christmas (2004), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), Game 6 (2006), (2006), Penelope (2006), For Your Consideration (2006), Away We  Go (2009), and Killers (2010). She was a vocie in the movies Chicken Little (2005), Over the Hedge (2006), Monster House (2006), and Where the Wild Things Are  (2009).

It was in 2015 that Catherine O'Hara began her run as Moira Rose on Schit's Creek. She won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2020 for the role and was nominated one other time. She was also a regular voice on Skylanders Academy and The Last Kids on Earth. She appeared on the mini-series Leslie and What Lives Inside. She guest starred on the shows 30 Rock, The Greatest Event in Television History, Modern Family, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. She was a guest voice on the animated shows Harvey Beaks and The Magic School Bus Rides Again. She appearedi in the movies A.C.O.D. (2013), and The Right Kind of Wrong (2013). She was a voice in the movies Frankenweenie (2012) and The Addams Family (2019)

In the 2020s, she guest starred on the shows The Kids in the Hall, The Last of Us, and The Studio. She was a guest voice on the animated show Central Park. She appearedi in the movies Pain Hustlers (2023), Argylle (2024), and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). She was a voice in the movies Elemental (2023) and The Wild Robot (2024). 

Catherine O'Hara was also a writer, writing for the Second City TV shows The Steve Allen Comedy Hour, and Really Weird Tales. 

As both a comedian and an actress, Catherine O'Hara had extraordinary talent. Indeed, she leaves behind a legacy of several memorable roles, including Delia (the sculptor entirely lacking in talent) in Beetlejuice, Kevin's mom Kate in Home Alone, the voice of Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Moira Rose, the eccentric one-time soap opera star, on Schitt's Creek. While chances are good she will be best remembered for these roles, she played a wide variety of other roles throughout her career. She was the voice of Aunt Edith, the aunt of drummer Dizzy (Dan Hennessey), in the classic animated film Rock & Rule. Of course, she was a voice in many animated films from the title character's adversary Mrs. Prysselius in Pippi Longstocking to the mom in Monster House. She played some of her most memorable roles in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, including  Sheila Albertson, a travel agent who has never left her small, hometown, in Waiting for Guffman; Cookie Fleck, the dog owner with many former lovers, in Best in Show; and folk singer Mickey Crabbe, one half of the former couple Mitch & Mickey, in A Mighty Wind. Catherine O'Hara had a gift for comedy, with perfect timing, and she was a bit of a chameleon, able to play a wide variety of roles. She certainly died much too soon. 

"Making Our Dreams Come True" AKA the Laverne & Shirley Theme

Today I am feeling a bit under the weather, so I will leave you with a short post about a theme song to a show that just turned fifty, Laverne & Shirley. "Making Our Dreams Come True" was one of the few television show theme songs that actually reached the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. Charles Fox had wrote the theme to Love, American Style with Arnold Margolin and the theme to The Love Boat. Lyricist Norman Gimbel co-wrote songs form  "Ricochet" to "Killing Me Softly With His Song." "Making Our Dreams Come True"was sung by Cyndi Grecco, then an unknown singer. It was released as a single in May 1976 and included on her debut album, also titled Making Our Dreams Come True. The song actually became a minor hit in the United States. It peaked at no. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It actually did better in Canada, where it reached no. 16 on the Canadian singles chart. Cyndi Grecco would sing the theme to Garry Marshall sitcom, the short-lived Blanksy's Beauties. Unfortunately Cyndi Greccor's recording career would be short-lived. She would only have one other album, Wish Upon a Star in 1976.

The 50th Anniversary of Laverne & Shirley

There are only a few spin-offs that prove as successful or more successful than the show from which they originated. The Andy Griffith Show (spun-off from The Danny Thomas Show) and Gomer Py,le, U.S.M.C. (spun-off from The Andy Griffith Show)) are two examples of spin-offs that were as successful as or more successful than the shows from which they originated. Another example is Laverne & Shirley. Spun-off from Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley was the number one show on television for two seasons and spent a total of four seasons in the top five shows on the air. Successful for much of its original network run, Laverne & Shirley also had a successful run as a syndicated rerun. It was fifty years ago today, on January 27, 1976, that Laverne & Shirley debuted on ABC.

Laverne & Shirley centred on  Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams), two friends and roommates who lived in Milwaukee in the late 1950s. They worked as bottle-cappers at Shotz Brewery there. Laverne was a bit of a tomboy and could be both blustery and cynical, but at the same time she had a softer, more sensitive side. In contrast, Shirley was bubbly, optimistic, and sweet, and sometimes a bit neurotic. The two women lived in a basement apartment. Their upstairs neighbours were Leonard "Lenny" Kosnowski  (Michael McKean) and Andrew "Squiggy" Squiggman (David Lander), with whom they sometimes communicated via a dumbwaiter connecting the two apartments. Their landlady was Edna Babish (Betty Garrett), who later married Laverne's father, Frank DeFazio (Phil Foster) who owned the Pizza Bowl. Carmine Ragusa (Eddie Mekka) was Shirley's high school sweetheart with whom she was involved on again and off again.

The origins of Laverne & Shirley go back to the Happy Days episode "A Date with Fonzie" from the show's third season. In the episode, Richie (Ron Howard) has broken up with his long-time girlfriend and, having difficulty dating again, he asks Fonzie (Henry Winkler) for help. Ultimately, Fonzie gets in touch with two women he knows, Laverne and Shirley, two young women known to "date the fleet." At the time Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams were working together as writers for t Francis Ford Coppola's company Zoetrope. Penny Marshall's bother just happened to be Garry Marshall, creator and producer of Happy Days. One day he called them and asked if they would like to take a break from writing and make a guest appearance on Happy Days.Their characters, Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney proved popular enough to appear in two more episodes during the third season of Happy Days. Ultimately, they appeared in five episodes of the show.

It was while Garry Marshall was at a conference with ABC executives on Marco Island off the coast of Florida that Fred Silverman, the the head of ABC, asked him to create more shows. More to the point, Fred Silverman asked Garry Marshall if he had any spinoffs. Mr. Marshall told him that he was too busy working on Happy Days, but Fred Silverman persisted. In truth, Garry Marshall had been mulling over an idea for a show centred around Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney. He then pitched the idea of a show centred around two blue collar women. Fred Silverman liked the idea and gave him the go-ahead for the new show. 

Initially, Cindy Williams did not want to reprise the character of Shirley for the prospective new show, originally titled  Laverne DeFazio & Shirley Feeney. At this point in her career, Cindy Williams had already appeared in several movies, including Travels with My Aunt (directed by the legendary George Cukor), American Graffiti (for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress), and The Conversation (directed by Francis Ford Coppola). It was then quite natural that Cindy Williams was considering a career in film and would not consider a TV series,which could be a long-term investment as far as time is concerned. 

It was then that Liberty Williams (also billed as Louise Williams), no relation to Cindy Williams, was asked to audition for the role of Shirley. A seven minute screen test with Liberty Williams as Shirley and Penny Marshall as Laverne was filmed. As it turned out, Cindy Williams was convinced to do the show and an audition tape was filmed with her and Penny Marshall. ABC executives wanted to see both the audition tape with Liberty Williams and the audition tape with Cindy Williams. Paramount executive Michael Eisner hid the tape with Liberty Williams, telling the ABC executives it had been lost. It was then that they only saw the tape with Cindy Williams and in the end she played the role of Shirley on the show. As to Liberty Williams, today she may be best known as the voice of Jayna, one half of the Wonder Twins, on the Saturday morning cartoon Super Friends. 

While Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney were given their own show, they were toned down considerably from their initial appearances on Happy Days., Indeed, in "A Date with Fonzie," Fonzie even makes the statement that they were "...more boisterous than I usually like." For their own show, Laverne and Shirley would remain working class and independent, but they were no longer loose as they had been in their initial appearances on Happy Days.

Laverne & Shirley proved to be a hit from its debut on January 27, 1976. In fact, it became the very first TV show to ever debut in the number one spot in the Nielsen ratings.  Laverne & Shirley ultimately ranked no. 3 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1975-1976 season. It would rise to no. 2 in its second season. For its third and fourth seasons, Laverne & Shirley would be the number one show on the air. 

The success of Laverne & Shirley would result in a Saturday morning cartoon spun-off from the show, Laverne & Shirley in the Army. The cartoon was produced by Hanna-Barbera and took inspiration from the two-part, fifth season episode "We're in the Army Now,"which found Laverne and Shirley enlisting int  the army. It aired as part of The Fonz-Laverne & Shirley Hour.  For its second season, Fonzie (voiced by Henry Winkler) joined the cast, now serving as a mechanic in the motor pool. Laverne & Shirley in the Army did not repeat the live-action show's success,and ended after only two seasons.

While Laverne & Shirley hit no. 1 for two seasons, it would not remain there. For the show's fifth season, ABC moved it from its original Tuesday night time slot to Thursday night. The show's ratings dropped. The show was moved at mid-season to Monday night and then finally back to its original time slot for the summer. Quite naturally, Laverne & Shirley took a beating, with the show dropping int the ratings to no. 42 for the year. While its ratings would improve for its sixth season, Laverne & Shirley never ranked in the top ten again.

It was perhaps because of the drop in ratings that big changes were made to Laverne & Shirley for its sixth season. Previously set in the late Fifties to early Sixties, the show was now set in the mid-Sixties. Laverne and Shirley lost their jobs at the Shotz Brewing Company in Milwaukee, having been replaced by automated bottle-capping machines. The two women then moved to Burbank, California, where they got jobs at ardwell's department store as gift wrappers. Laverne and Shirley were not along in moving to California. Laverne's father Frank and stepmother Edna also moved, opening a restaurant called Cowboy Bill's. Even Lenny and Squiggy moved, opening their own talent agency, the Squignowski Talent Agency. Two new characters were added to the show.  Rhonda Lee (Leslie Easterbrook) was one of their neighbours, a scatter-brained blonde who wanted to be an actress. Sonny St. Jacques (Ed Marinaro) was their landlord and also a stuntman. Whether it was the changes made to the show or the fact that it was back on Tuesday night, ratings for Laverne & Shirley improved. It rose to no. 20 for the season.

While Laverne & Shirley survived its characters' move to California, there would be one change that the show would not survive. It was towards the end of the seventh season that Cindy Williams became pregnant with her first child. She then left two episodes in the show's eighth season. In the end, Cindy Williams sued Paramount for $20 million. The lawsuit was settled out of court and Cindy Williams was released from her contract. The show then continued with Penny Marshall playing Laverne without Shirley around. Amazingly enough, Laverne & Shirley did not drop dramatically in its ratings. It ranked at no. 25 for its eighth season, after having ranked no. 20 for its seventh season. This was high enough that it would have been renewed under normal circumstances. Penny Marshall was open to the prospect of a ninth season, but wanted production to move to New York City. ABC did not want to shill out the money for such a move, and as a result cancelled the show.

Laverne & Shirley went onto a success in syndication as a rerun. It not only aired on many local television stations, but on such cable outlets as Nick at Nite and, TBS. Laverne & Shirley currently airs on MeTV  and Catchy Comedy, It is currently available on streaming on Pluto TV. The entire series has been released on DVD, starting with the first season in 2004.

Laverne & Shirley was not only a highly rated show, it was also a pioneering one. There had been shows centred on single women before, including Private Secretary, Our Miss Brooks That Girl, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, among others, but in every case the characters were middle class. Laverne & Shirley centred on two working class women. Shows centred around working class characters have never been particularly common, so a sitcom featuring two working class women was unique indeed. What is more, the show was empowering for women outside the working class, with its focus on female friendship and female independence. It must be pointed out that in part Laverne & Shirley led to Penny Marshall's directorial career. After making her directorial debut with an episode of Working Stiffs, she directed four episodes of Laverne & Shirley. She went onto direct such movies as Big (1988), Awakenings (1990), and A League of Their Own (1992). If Laverne & Shirley was popular, it was because it featured a talented cast and crew working on a show that was very different for its time. 

Godspeed Yvonne Lime

Yvonne Lime Fedderson, who appeared in the movie I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) and founded International Orphans Inc.(later renamed Childhelp) with Sara O'Meara, died on January 23, 2026, at the age of 90.

Yvonne Lime was born on April 7, 1935, in Glendale, California. She graduated from Glendale High School in 1953. An agent discovered her while she was appearing in a production of Ah, Wilderness! at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Yvonne Lime first appeared on screen in the recurring role of Dotty Snow, a friend of Betty (Elinor Donahue), on the hit sitcom Father Knows Best. Starting in June, 1960, and into the 1960-1961 season, Yvonne Lime played wife and mother Sally Day on the sitcom Happy. During the Fifties, she guest starred on the shows The Millionaire, Studio 57, The Adventures of Jim Bowie. December Bride, West Point, Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, Crossroads, The Mickey Mouse Club (specifically "The Hardy Boys" segment), The Thin Man, The People's Choice, The Gale Storm Show, Dragnet, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Wichita Town, Bat Masterson,The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Dobie Gillis, and Bringing Up Buddy. She appeared in the movies The Rainmaker (1956), Untamed Youth (1957), I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), Loving You (1957), Dragstrip Riot (1958), High School Hellcats (1958), and Speed Crazy (1959).

In the Sixties, Yvonne Lime appeared on the shows The Joey Bishop Show, The Third Mn, The Bill Dana Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., Dragnet 1968, and My Three Sons. 

It was while she was on a USO tour of Japan that Yvonne Lime and Sara O'Meara observed orphans on the streets of Tokyo. They then founded International Orphans Inc. It was originally meant to support Japanese children following a large typhoon hitting the coast of Japan. over time International Orphans Inc. would evolve into Childhelp, a charity devoted to the prevention, treatment, and advocacy of child abuse and neglect. Yvonne Lime Fedderson served as the organization's president and vice-chairman. She and Sara O' Meara co-wrote the book Silence Broken: Moving From a Loss of Innocence to a World of Healing and Love, which chronicled their work with Childhelp.

Yvonne Lime married producer Don Fedderson, best known for the shows Life with Elizabeth, The Millionaire, My Three Sons, and Family Affair, in 1969. Afterwards Yvonne Lime Fedderson retired from acting. Following Don Fedderson's death, she served as president and CEO of Don Fedderson Productions for over 30 years. 

Yvonne Lime Fedderson was certainly talented as an actress,. and she will probably always be best remembered for her roles in Father Knows Best and I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Regardless, she played many other roles. She appeared on Dobie Gillis twice, notably in "The Right Triangle" in which she played a girl whose sympathy Dobie tries to win by making it look as if he is being used by a married woman. In the Bat Masterson episode "The Snare," she played the fiancée of a man who has been murdered. She could certainly play a variety of roles. 

Of course, she is notable for more than her acting career. She was president and CEO of Don Fedderson Productions for more than 30 years, managing the rights to the shows Don Fedderson had produced. Much more important was founding International Orphans Inc. with Sara O'Meara. Over the years, the organization has helped numerous children and continues to do so as Childhelp. Yvone Lime Fedderson certainly leaves behind an important legacy. 

Godspeed Television Director Bruce Bilson

Prolific television director Bruce Bilson, who directed episodes of The Patty Duke Show, Hogan's Heroes, Get Smart (for which he won an Emmy), and many more shows, died on January 16, 2026, at the age of 97.

Bruce Bilson was born on May 19, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York. Both of his parents were in the show business. His father was writer and producer George Bilson, who would everything from theatrical short subjects at RKO to the television version of Captain Midnight. His mother was screenwriter Hattie Bilson, who would write multiple Pal the Dog shorts. Show business apparently ran the Bilsons' blood. Bruce Bilson's son is writer and director Danny Bilson. Danny Bilson's daughter, and hence Bruce Bilson's granddaughter, is Rachel Bilson.

Bruce Bilson was nearly four years old when his father George moved the family to Los Angeles in order to take a job in charge of the trailers department at Warner Bros. Bruce Bilson was 14 years old when he started working as an extra in various films. In 1946, he graduated from John Marshall High School and then attended UCLA where he studied theatre, camerawork, and film editing. He graduated in 1950 and enlisted in the United States Air Force,where he trained photo units. 

Bruce Bilson worked as an assistant editor on the game show You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx, for two years before he was accepted into the Directors Guild. His first directorial job was directing episodes of the exercise It's Fun to Reduce. He was second assistant editor on the feature film Sincerely Yours (1955) and then second assistant director on the syndicated series The Liberace Show. It was through Desilu production head Argyle Nelson that Bruce Bilson began working at Desilu. In the mid to late Fifties, he served as an assistant director on episodes of Science Fiction Theatre and The Texan, as well as several episodes of the shows The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and U.S. Marshal. He served as first assistant director on 58 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. He served as an assistant director on the feature film Too Soon to Love (1960). 

In the Sixties, he worked as an assistant director on several episodes of Route 66 and two episodes of The Lawbreakers. He also worked an assistant director on the movies Teenage Millionaire (1961), Wild Harvest (1962), and One Potato, Two Potato (1964). His first credit as a director was on an episode of the short-lived sitcom Karen in 1964.   In the Sixties, Bruce Bilson directed several episodes of The Patty Duke Show; Please Don't Eat the Daisies; Get Smart; Hogan's Heroes; The Doris Day Show; and Love, American Style.  He also directed episodes oft the shows The Baileys of Balboa, Gidget, Camp Runamuck, Run Buddy Run, That Girl, Bewitched, The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, The Tim Conway Show, Bonanza, and Barefoot n the Park.

In the Seventies, Mr. Bilson directed seveal episodes of Love, American Style and Barney Miller. He also directed episodes of the shows The Doris Day Show,. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Green Acres, Arnie, The Good Life, Nanny and the Professor, The Odd Couple, Alias Smith and Jones, Samford and Son, Temperatures Rising, M^A^S^H, The Paul Lynde Show, Jigsaw, The Partridge Family, Roll Out!, Chopper One, Diusty's Trail, The Brady Bunch,The Six Million Dollar Man, Sierra, Emergency!, When Things Were Rotten, Matt Helm, Barbary Coast, S.W.A.T., Spencer's Pilots, Alice, Hawaii Five-O Wonder Woman, Hunter, The Feather and Father Gang, Tabitha, Quark, Delta House, Turnabout, The Bad News Bears, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Skag, B.J. and the Bear, and The Wonderful World of Disney. He also directed the TV movies The Girl Who Came Gift Wrapped, Dead Man on the Run, The New Daughters of Joshua Cable, Duffy, The Banana Company, Pleasure Cove, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, The Halloween That Almost Wasn't,\ and The Ghosts of Buxley Hall. He directed the movie The North Avenue Irregulars (1979).

In the Eighties, Bruce Bilson directed episodes of the shows Harper Valley P.T.A., Aloha Paradise, Simon & Simon, House Calls, The Powers of Matthew Star, Private Benjamin, Knight Rider, Bring 'Em Back Alive, The Renegades, Too Close for Comfort, Just Our Luck, Glitter, Finder of Lost Loves, Half Nelson, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Twilight Zone, Teh Fall Guy, Dallas, The Love Boat, Life with Lucy, The Colbys, Sledge Hammer!, Hotel, Spenser for Hire, Dynasty, The Munsters Today, The Nutt House, The Bradys, They Came from Outer Space, Hull High, and The Flash. He directed the TV movie Gidget's Summer Reunion. He directed the feature film Chattanooga Choo Choo.

In the Nineites, Bruce Bilson directed episodes of The Flash, P.S. I Luv U, Human Target, Almost Home. Dinosaurs, Touched by an Angel, One West Waikiki, Love Boat: The Next Wave Pensacola: Wings of Gold; and Viper.

Bruce Bilson was also an associate producer on two episodes of the short-lived sitcom The Bailey of Balboa and episode of The Tim Conway Show. 

Bruce Bkson was certainly prolific and he directed many episodes of some of my favourite shows, including Get Smart, Barney Miller, The Flash, and Dinosaurs. He was particularly talented when it came to directing sitcoms, with good timing and an emphasis on the characters. It is little wonder he was in demand on the many shows he directed.

Roger Ewing R.I.P.

Roger Ewing was born in Los Angeles on January 12, 1942. He attended college for a year and worked as a lifeguard before becoming an actor. He made his television debut in an episode of Bewitched. After guest starring in a different role on Gunsmoke, in its tenth season, Roger Ewing joined the cast as Thad Greenwood in the show's eleventh season. He would remain with the show through the show's 12th season. He also guest starred on the shows The Baileys of Balboa, The Bing Crosby Show, Rawhide, The Mothers-In-Law, and Death Valley Days. He made his movie debut in Ensign Pulver in 1964. He also appeared in the movies None But the Brave (1965), and Smith! (1969). He made his last appearance on screen in the movie Play It As It Lays (1972). 

Roger Ewing retired from acting in the early Seventies and took up photography. 

Roger Ewing's acting career was short, but memorable. Aside from playing Thad on Gunsmoke, he appeared in other notable roles. In the Bewitched episode "Girl Reporter," he played Marvin "Monster" Grogan, the football player and boyfriend of the girl reporter (Liza Randall, played by Cheryl Holdridge) who has a crush on Darrin (Dick York). In the Rawhide episode "The Calf Women," Roger Ewing played one of his rare unlikable characters, a young buffalo hunter who tries to force himself on a young woman. On The Mothers-In-Law he played a wealthy ex-boyfriend of Suzie (Deborah Walley) that Suzie fails to tell that she is still married. Roger Ewing was always a welcome presence on television and in movies and always gave good performances.

T. K. Carter Passes On

T. K. Carter, who was a regular on such shows as Just Our Luck and Punky Brewster and appeared in such movies as Southern Comfort (1981), and The Thing (1982) , died on January 6, 2026, at the age of 69. 

Thomas Kent Carter was born on December 18, 1956, in New York City. He grew up in the San Gabriel Valley in California. He made his television debut in 1976 in an episode of Police Woman. In the late Seventies, he guest starred on the shows Good Times; Quincy, M.E.; The Waltons; and The Jeffersons. He made his movie debut in Youngblood in 1978. He appeared in the movies Corvette Summer (1978), The Hollywood Knights (1980), Seed of Innocence (1980), and Seems Like Old Times (1980). 

In the Eighties, T.K. Carter starred on the show Just Our Luck and was a regular on the shows Punky Brewster and Good Morning, Bliss. He was a voice on the animated shows Turbo Teen and Jem. He guest starred on the shows Transformers, 227 and The Magical World of Disney. He appeared in the movies Underground Aces (1981), Southern Comfort (1981), The Thing (1982), Doctor Detroit (1983), Runaway Train (1985), He's My Girl (1987) Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), and Ski Patrol (1990).

In the Nineties, T.K. Carter was a regular on the The Sinbad Show. He guest starred on the TV shows Family Matters, A Different World, Moesha, The Gregory Hines Show, The Steve Harvey Show, and The Nanny, NYPD Blue. He appeared in the mini-series The Corner. He appeared in the movies A Rage in Harlem (1991), Space Jam (1996), and My Favorite Martian (1999).

In the Naughts, T.K. Carter guest starred on the shows In Justice and Everybody Loves Chris. He appeared in the movies How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass (2003), The L.A. Riot Spectacular (2005), and Domino (2005). In the Teens, he guest starred on the shows Love That Girl!, Saints & Sinners, The Bobby Brown Story, and Stumptown. He appeared in the movie The Way Back (2020). In the 2020s, he appeared in the movie Fake Friends (2022). He had a recurring role on the TV shows Dave and The Company You Keep. 

T.K. Carter was a great talent who could play a wide variety of roles. This can even be seen early in his career. He guest starred as Head, one of J.J.'s (Jimmie Walker) fun-loving friends in two episodes of Good Times. His following guest appearance was on The Waltons, playing Jodie Foster, the son of Verdie Foster (Lynn Hamilton), who had just joined the Navy. Throughout his career, T.K. Carter would play both comedic roles and serious roles, and play both sorts of roles equally well. He was the unfortunate Cribbs in Southern Comfort (1981) and the cook Nauls in The Thing (1982), but also played Diavolo Washington in the comedy Doctor Detroit (1983). T,K. Carter could play nearly anything, from goofballs to authority figures. He was a teacher in his regular role on Punky Brewster,  and Clarence Hall, the eccentric friend of lead character David Bryan (Sinbad). T.K. Carter had enormous talent and versatility, and leaves behind a legacy of great performances. 

For Moira Shearer's Centenary, "The Tale of Olympia" from The Tales of Hoffman (1951)

Moira Shearer was born 100 years ago on this date in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. She remains famous both as a ballerina and an film star. As a ballerina, she was a rival to the great Margot Fonteyn. She danced Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty in 1946, and danced in both  Symphonic Variations and  Coppelia that same year. In 1948, she danced in Frederick Ashton's Cinderella. As an actress in film, she only made a few movies, but they were significant. She worked with Michael Powell in The Red Shoes (1948), The Tales of Hoffman (1951), and Peeping Tom (1960). She played multiple roles in the comedy The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955).

Of course, most of Moira Shearer's roles on film would involve dance in some way, even Peeping Tom (1960). While Moira Shearer's best known dance performance on film remains her first in The Red Shoes (1948), she was also remarkable as Olympia in the sequence "The Tale of Olympia" in The Tales of Hoffman (1951). Fortunately, Turner Classic Movies uploaded the entire "Tale of Olympia" to YouTube a year ago. Here, then, in tribute to Moria Shearer on what would have been her 100th birthday is "The Tale of Olympia."

The 90th Anniversary of the Radio Show Gang Busters

It was 90 years ago today, on January 15, 1936, that the radio show Gang Busters debuted on CBS. Gang Busters was an anthology series that dramatized real-life police histories based on files from  police departments across the country. It was known for its opening, which featured the sound of a machine gun, a police siren, the sound of convicts marching, and a police radio. It gave rise to the phrase, "come on like Gang Busters," which is still in use to this day. Gang Busters proved to be phenomenally popular and would expand into media beyond radio. It would have a lasting impact as one of the earliest examples of the true crime genre. 

The origins of Gang Busters go back to an earlier radio show titled G-Men. Both shows were created by Phillips H. Lord, who had earlier created Sunday Evening at Seth Parker's, what might be described today as a faith-based program. It was after that show ended that Phillips H. Lord created G-Men, which largely owed its existence to the 1935 movie of the same name starring James Cagney. G Men (1935) was released in the spring of 1935 and proved to be a smash hit. The success of G Men, as well as the popularity of the true crime genre in general at the time, convinced Phillips H. Lord that a radio show based on real-life F.B.I. cases could be successful.

G-Men proved to be a somewhat difficult experience for Phillips H. Lord. J. Edgar Hoover did not particularly approve of a radio show based on F.B.I. cases. Fortunately the United States Attorney General of the time, Homer Cummings did like the idea of the program and as a result Phillips H. Lord obtained access to the F.B.I's files. Unfortunate for Mr. Lord, G-Men would still have to produced with the cooperation of J. Edgar Hoover, who insisted that only closed cased be used for the show and that every single script be approved by him or another high ranking F.B.I official. J. Edgar Hoover also insisted that the F.B.I. agents on the show conform to his vision of G-men, who were invariably strong, educated, intelligent, and free of any eccentricities who pretty much simply cogs in the machine that was the F.B.I. This was completely at odds with what Phillips H. Lord wanted, which was a radio show filled with excitement. Although the show was popular, it was because of the clashes between Phillips H. Lord and J. Edgar Hoover that G-Men ran only one season on NBC Blue, from July 20, 1935 to October 12, 1935.

G.Men would return after a fashion as Gang Busters. Gang Busters was in some respects the same show as G-Men, except that it focused on local law enforcement across the country for the most part instead of the F.B.I.  In other words, Phillips H. Lord would not have to deal with J. Edgar Hoover. To lend more credibility to Gang Busters, Phillips H. Lord had  former head of the New Jersey State Police Norman Schwarzkopf Sr. introduce the show. Later  New York City police commissioner Lewis Joseph Valentine would handle the introductions. 

Not only would Gang Busters feature well-known law enforcement officials introducing the show, but it also featured well-known radio stars, some of who would go onto success in other media. Among them were Joan Banks and her husband Frank Lovejoy, Art Carney, Larry Haines, and Richard Widmark. 

As mentioned earlier, the success of Gang Busters led to the phrase "come on like Gang Busters" entering the English language. It also led to Gang Busters being adapted to other media, In 1942, Universal produced 13 chapter movie serial, Gangbusters, starring  Kent Taylor, Irene Hervey, Ralph Morgan, and Robert Armstrong. Among the most successful adaptations of Gang Busters to another medium was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1947 to 1959 for 67 issues. 

Like many radio shows, Gang Busters would make the transition to television, although it did so because of another radio show, Dragnet. When Dragnet first came to television, however, its creator and producer Jack Webb had difficulty producing a half hour episode each week.  NBC needed a show to air during the weeks that they did not have episodes of Dragnet. As a result Gang Busters came to television as a temporary show that would alternate weeks with Dragnet until Jack Webb could begin producing weekly episodes. The television version of Gang Busters debuted on March 20, 1950, on NBC, and proved to be a hit. It ranked no. 14 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1951-1952 season. For the 1952-1953 season, it actually ranked no. 8. Unfortunately for the producers of Gang Busters, by 1952 Jack Webb was able to provide NBC with a new episode of Dragnet every week. NBC then cancelled Gang Busters despite the fact that it was the no. 8 show for the season.

For syndication, the television version of Gang Busters was re-titled Captured and nine new episodes were added to the seventeen episodes broadcast on NBC. Episodes of the show were also edited, along with new footage, into two feature films: Gang Busters (1955) and Guns Don't Argue (1957). 

Gang Busters ultimately had a long run on radio, although it did change networks from time to time. It aired on CBS until 1940, at which point it moved to the NBC Blue Network, its first episode airing there on October 11, 1940. It moved back to CBS on January 8, 1948. It was in 1955 that it moved to the Mutual Broadcasting System with its final season starting there on October 5, 1955. In the end, it ran until November 27, 1957 At twenty one years, it was one of the longest running, broadcast network radio shows. 

Gang Busters would have a lasting impact beyond a still common phrase in English. It was one of the earliest true crime shows in any medium, and would pave the way for other, similar radio shows. Border Patrol, Call the Police, Dragnet The Black Museum, and yet others owe something to Gang Busters. Perhaps Calling All Cars, which debuted in 1933 and dramatized Los Angeles Police Department cases, had as much impact on Gang Busters. Gang Busters' impact would even be felt on television, and can be seen in shows from Dragnet to America's Most Wanted. It is still seen today in the form of true crime podcasts and shows like Dateline NBC. Chances seem good that Gang Busters will still have an impact 90 years from now.

The 60th Anniversary of the TV Series Batman

The classic TV series Battman, starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin, debuted 60 years ago today, on January 12, 1966. I have already written considerably about Batman on this blog, so I will not write another detailed post today. Regardless, I did want to recognize today, as Batman is one of the most significant TV shows in my life, if not the most significant. Quite simply, I first saw Batman when I was very young, before I could even read. It is because of that show that I sought out Batman comic books when I could read. It was comics books that led to me to want to become a writer. In other words, without the TV show Batman, this blog might not even exist.

Anyhow, if you want to read the history of Batman, I wrote a two part article on it years ago, "Batmania: How Batman Conquered America in 1966" . There is also a good deal of information on the show in my post "Batman Turns 75 Part Three: Television, Radio, and Other Media. For now I will leave you with the opening credits for Batman, featuring one of the most popular theme songs of all time. 

The 60th Anniversary of Daktari

If you're a younger Baby Boomer, Gen Xer, or a Millennial, it is quite possible that you might remember a show called Daktari.Daktari is a family drama about a veterinarian in Africa that aired on CBS from 1966 to 1969. It proved to be popular as a syndicated rerun on local stations in the Seventies, and aired on cable channels from the Eighties into the Naughts. Today it can be found on more than one streaming channel. Daktari debuted sixty yeas ago today, on January 11, 1966, on CBS.

Daktari centred on Dr. Marsh Tracy (Marshall Thompson), a veterinarian who runs a the fictional Wameru Study Centre for Animal Behaviour, in East Africa.. He was assisted by his daughter Paula (Cheryl Miller), native African Mike Makula (Hari Rhodes), and animal hospital member Jack Dane (Yale Summers). Marsh and Cheryl had two unusual pets in the form of a cross-eyed lion  named Clarence and a chimpanzee named Judy. As to the title, it is the Swahili word for "doctor."

The origins of Daktari go back to the 1965 movie Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion, produced by Ivan Tors. Ivan Tors's inspiration for Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion (1965) came from the real-life work of Dr. Antonie Marinus Harthoorn and his wife Sue Hart, who operated an animal sanctuary in Kenya. Ivan Tors went to Kenya on vacation, where he visited Antonie Marinus Harthoorn and Sue Hart's animal sanctuary. Ivan Tors's visit led to the movie Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion, which in turn led to Daktari. Marshall Thompson and Cheryl Miller reprised their roles as Dr. Marsh Tracy and his daughter Paula for the TV series.

Of course, given the movie's title, it should come as no surprise that Clarence the cross-eyed lion was more or less the star of both the film and the TV show. Clarence was born and raised in the animal reserve Africa USA in California. Ivan Tors took an interest in Clarence and was convinced of his star potential. Despite this, Clarence's visual impairment would cause problems from time to time. Fortunately, Clarence's vision would improve over time. It was in part because of Clarence's visual impairment, in part because he was frightened of vehicles, and in part because he was so tame that stunt doubles were used for him. . In those scenes with vehicles present, then, a lion named Leo was used. At the time Leo was the lion appearing in the MGM logos of the time. Yet another, much less gentle lion also named Leo was used for those scenes in which Clarence was called upon to growl or snarl. 

Daktari debuted on Tuesday, January 11, 1966, and proved to be a hit. In its first season, it ranked no. 14 for the year in the Nielsen ratings. It performed even better in its second season, ranking no. 7 for the season in the Nielsens. The show's popularity would lead to merchandise associated with the series. Dell published a Daktari comic book that ran for four issues from 1967to 1969. A paperback novel was published by Ace Books in the U.S. There was also a Big Little Book. Four Darktari paperbacks were published in the UK by Souvenir Press Ltd. Corgi Toys put out a set that included the Land Rover from the show as well as figures of Clarence, Dr. Tracy, Paula, and Judy.

For its third season, Daktari dropped in the ratings from no. 7 to 33. In its first season, Daktari faced such competition as My Mother the Car and Please Don't Eat the Daisies on NBC and Combat! on ABC. The firs two shows bombed in the ratings for the season, while Combat! did not appeal to children the way Daktari did. For its second season, Daktari continued to face Combat! on ABC, but its competition on NBC continued to be another low-rated show, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. For its third season, Daktari faced stronger competition on NBC in the form of I Dream of Jeannie. While I Dream of Jeannie received mediocre ratings during its original network run, it was popular with children, the primary audience for Daktari.

For its fourth season, Daktari saw some changes. Yales Summers left the show. He was replaced by Ross Hagen as Bart Jason, a popular guide for safaris who had been a hunter and ranger. Also joining the cast was a young Erin Moran, who played Jenny Jones, an orphan who joined the Tracy household. Unfortunately, Daktari would only last one more season.

Perhaps because its ratings had declined, CBS moved Daktari from Tuesday night at 7:30 Eastern/6:30 Central to Wednesday night at 7:30 Eastern/6:30 Central. In its new times slot, its ratings toppled catastrophically. Unfortunately, its new Wednesday night time slot put it against the still popular Western The Virginian on NBC. The Virginian ranked no. 17 for the year.Ultimately, CBS cancelled Daktari only 15 episodes into its fourth season. It was replaced by The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, which did much better in the time slot.

While Daktari had ended its original network run, it was hardly forgotten. The show entered syndication and proved to be poplar on local TV stations in the United States from the Seventies well into the Eighties. CBN (the forerunner of the Family Channel that later became Freeform) aired the show in Eighties. In the Nineties, it could be seen on TNT and still later on Animal Planet. Currently, Daktari can be streamed on Tubi and The Roku Channel.

Daktari remains fondly remembered by many people of a certain age, whether they discovered it in its original network run, as a syndicated rerun on their local TV station, or as a rerun on a cable channel. It is the sort of animal show made for children that they simply don't make any longer. Despite this, it seems possible that it might continue to be seen sixty years from now. 

Changes: The 10th Annivesary of David Bowie's Death

David Bowie is one of the few celebrities whom have cried over uncontrollably upon learning of his death 10 years ago today, on January 10 2016. David Bowie had kept his 18 month fight with liver cancer hidden from the public eye, so his passing came as a total surprise to the general public. Faced with the death of a legend whose music I had loved since I was a child, I did what many did and dissolved in tears. 

Indeed, David Bowie has been a part of my life for so long that I cannot remember when or where I first heard of him. I could have possibly heard one of his songs on one of the rock stations out of Columbia, St. Louis, or Kansas City. I know I didn't first encounter him on television. By the time I saw him on Cher in 1975, I was already familiar with David Bowie and his songs. Indeed, I knew of him by the time of his release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in mid-1972. Of course, I would see him again on television from time to time. I saw what might be his most famous television appearance when it aired, the Christmas special Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, complete with his famous duet with Bing Crosby and the video for "Heroes." He appeared on both Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show. I remember seeing him perform "Space Oddity" on Dick Clark's special Salute to the Seventies in 1979.

As I mentioned earlier, I did hear David Bowie on the radio. It might seem odd to many today, but David Bowie did not burn up the Billboard Hot 100 in the Seventies. "Changes," one of his most famous songs, only reached no. 41 on the chart. "The Jean Genie" and "Rebel Rebel" didn't even do that well. It would only be in the middle of the decade that Mr. Bowie would do well on the Hot 100. "Fame" actually made it to no. 1 on the chart, while "Golden Years" reached no. 10. Of course, as a kid I was barely aware of the Billboard Hot 100 and I wouldn't care how well David Bowie did on the chart if I had been. I simply loved his songs. 

Regardless of how I learned of David Bowie, I remained a fan of David Bowie all through my teens and into my twenties. As his acting career bloomed, I saw him in such movies as The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), The Hunger (1983), and Labyrinth (1986). I listened to such albums as Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), Let's Dance, and Tonight. I was a huge fan of his supergroup Tin Machine, which only released two albums.

As to why David Bowie appealed to me as a kid, I have to think it was because he was different from any music artist before or since, particularly during his Ziggy Stardust era. As a kid, I loved science fiction, fantasy, old pulp novels, classic movies, and comic books. The word "neurodivergent" would not be coined for another two decades, but if I had heard it described to me as a lad, I would have known it applied to people like me. It was quite natural then that this music artist who dressed like no one else and performed songs like one else would appeal to me. The plain truth is I had more in common with David Bowie than I would, say, the members of Foreigner or Lynyrd Skynyrd. David Bowie didn't sing about love, sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll like a lot of artists in the Seventies. He sang about a lost astronaut ("Space Oddity"), reinventing oneself ('Changes"), dystopias ("1984"), and so on.

In some ways, it still doesn't seme possible that David Bowie is gone. And I believe I can speak for many when I say that I still miss him. While he left behind a legacy of music that remains unmatched, it hurts that we will never have any new David Bowie songs. I don't think I am alone in saying he was one of the greatest music artists of all time.

Richard Dimitri Passes On

Richard Dimitri, who played twins Bertram and Renaldo on Mel Brooks's sitcom When Things Were Rotten and crated the sitcom Daddy Dearest, died on December 18, 2025, at the age of 83. He had suffered with lung and heart illness for decades.

Richard Dimitri was born on June 27, 1942, in New York City. His father abandoned his family when he was only a toddler. He was raised by his mother and his maternal grandfather. He graduated from Yonkers High School and then attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1962. He made his debut on Broadway in 1968 in The Guide. He appeared on Broadway in 1969 in Zorba.

In the Seventies, Richard Dmitri appeared in Lysistrata. He taught at Queens College In New York City. He moved to Los Angeles when he was cast on Mel Brooks's television series When Things Were Rotten. It was a parody of the Robin Hood legend, with Richard Dmitri playing twins Bertram (an assistant to the Sheriff of Nottingham) and Renaldo (one of Robin Hood's Merry Men). When Things Were Rotten only lasted 13 episodes. Afterwards, Richard Dimitri guest starred on the shows Starsky and Hutch; Welcome Back, Kotter; Hawaii Five-O; This is the Life; and Tenspeed and Brown Shoe. He appeared in the mini-series Seventh Avenue. He appeared in the movie The World's Greatest Lover (1977).

In the Eighties, Richard Dimitri appeared in the movies Johnny Dangerously (1984) and Let It Ride (1989). He guest starred on the TV shows CBS Summer Playhouse and Trying Times. In the Nineties, he guest starred on the shows Hearts Afire and Tracey Takes On, and appeared in the mini-series OP Center. 

Richard Dmitri also wrote for television. He wrote the unsold 1977 TV pilot Roosevelt and Truman. He wrote two episodes of the sitcom House Calls. and the live action Saturday morning show Going Bananas. In the Nineties, he created the sitcom Daddy Dearest.

Richard Dmitri left the entertainment industry in 1998 because of his health. He began working as an art and antiques dealer and ran the gallery Engs-Dimitri Works of Art on on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Richard Dimitri had a great deal of talent as a comic actor. He was excellent on When Things Were Rotten, playing the fashion-conscious Bertram and his twin brother and the sheriff's lackey Renaldo, who could have just stepped off the boat from Puerto Rico. Even in a cast that included Dick Gautier, Dick Van Patten, and Bernie Kopell, Richard Dmitri stood out on the show. In the movie Johnny Dangerously, he played nightclub owner Roman Moronie, who never could get swear words correct. In :Let It Ride, he played gambler Tony Cheeseburger. Richard Dmitri had a gift for playing funny, off-the-wall characters and could hold his own with such talents as Gene Wilder, Michael Keaton, and Richard Dreyfuss. 

"Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine

I won't go into it here, but right now I am not in the mood to do a full-fledged blog post, so I will leave you with a song fitting my mood at the moment. Here is "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine.

The 85th Anniversary of Inner Sanctum

It was 85 year ago today. on January 7, 2026, that the radio show Inner Sanctum Mystery, also known as Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Inner Sanctum, debuted on the NBC Blue Network. Inner Sanctum Mystery was an anthology series that featured tales of mystery, suspense, and horror. Inner Sanctum Mystery proved to be popular. While it would change networks over time (it moved to CBS in 1943, then to ABC in 1950, and then back to CBS for its final season in 1952), Inner Sanctum Mystery ran for eleven years. Indeed, not only was Inner Sanctum popular, but it also proved to be influential.

The origins of Inner Sanctum Mystery go back an imprint of books called "Inner Sanctum" first published by Simon & Schuster in 1930. Although the "Inner Sanctum" imprint was most closely associated with the mystery genre (published with green covers), it also featured books in the drama (published with blue covers) and romance (published with red covers) genres. Some well-known authors wrote for the "Inner Sanctum"imprint including Anthony Boucher, John Cowper Powys, J.P. McEvoy,  Patrick Quentin, Craig Rice, and even burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee. 

The "Inner Sanctum" imprint proved popular enough that NBC bought the radio show rights to the imprint. The format of Inner Sanctum Mystery was developed by Himan Brown, who was also responsible for such radio shows as The Adventures of the Thin Man, Dick Tracy, and later CBS Radio Mystery Theatre. The show would open with a creaking door, the idea for which Himan Brown got from a creaking door in his basement. Strangely enough, the sound of the door was not actually provided by a door. They tried to create the creaking sound with a door, to no avail. It was Himan Brown who learned they could get the creaking sound they wanted by a rusty desk chair in which he sat and turned. 

The creaking door would be immediately followed by the host's introduction. In the early days the host was Raymond Edward Johnson, who would introduce himself simply as "Your host, Raymond" in a mocking voice. It was Raymond Edward Johnson's idea to simply be called, 'Your host, Raymond." Raymond was a sharp contrast to earlier hosts on radio shows. His introductions were tongue-in-cheek an often filled with macabre puns and jokes that were punctuated by the organ that provided the show's score. Raymond would close the show with, "Pleasant dreeeeaams, hmmmmm," after which listeners would once more hear the creaking door.

Although Raymond remains the best known host of Inner Sanctum, he left the show in May 1945 to serve in the U.S. Army. He was replaced by Paul McGrath, who was the host of the show for the remainder of the run. Despite the fact that the named "Raymond" was so closely tied to the show, Paul McGrath did not use the name for his introductions and referred to himself simply as "Your host." 

Inner Sanctum Mystery was a mixture of mystery, thriller, and horror, and the episodes often boasted a sense of humour. Many of the most memorable episode fell in the horror and thriller genres. The first season saw an adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Star" starring Boris Karloff and Everett Sloane. The 1945 episode "Terror By Night" featured a killer on the loose. The 1942 episode "Dead Reckoning" featured the loan survivor of an abandoned and possibly haunted ship. The 1945 episode "Corridor of Doom" centered on ill man trapped in a seemingly endless hallway of a hospital. Inner Sanctum also featured a number of notable guest stars, including Boris Karloff, Paul Lukas, Everett Sloane, Claude Rains, Peter Lorre, Martha Scott, Agnes Moorehead, Mercedes McCambridge, Wendy Barrie, and yet others.

The success of Inner Sanctum Mystery lead Universal Pictures to buy the film rights to the "Inner Sanctum" imprint from Simon & Schuster  in June 1943 to produce a movie series called "The Inner Sanctum Mysteries." The series was mostly produced by Ben Pivar, who had produced various Universal programmers and the "Mummy" movies (The Mummy's Hand, The Mummy's Tomb, The Mummy's Ghost, and The Mummy's Curse), although Weird Woman (1944) was co-produced with Oliver Drake, Dead Man's Eyes (1944) co-produced with Will Cowan, and The Frozen Ghost (1945) by Will Cowan alone. 

Lon Chaney Jr. starred in each of the "Inner Sanctum Mysteries" movies, although playing a different role each time. Gale Sondergaard was set to star as well, but dropped out before the first movie in the series, Calling Dr. Death (1943), went into production. Although it was the success of the radio show that led to the films and they used the name of the "Inner Sanctum" book imprint, "The Inner Sanctum Mysteries" adapted neither the radio plays from the radio show nor the novels published by the 'Inner Sanctum" book imprint. Despite being produced by Universal and starring Lon Chaney Jr., nearly all of "The Inner Sanctum Mysteries" movies were closer to mystery than horror, the exception being Weird Woman (1944), which was based on the classic horror novel Conjure Wife (1944) by Fritz Lieber. While the radio show was critically acclaimed, Universal's film series "The Inner Sanctum Mysteries" has largely been dismissed, again with the possible exception of Weird Woman (1944).

Inner Sanctum Mystery would make the transition to television as a series simply titled Inner Sanctum. The TV version was developed by Himan Brown and produced by Himan Brown and his brother Mende Brown. Paul McGrath from the radio show hosted the TV version early in its run, followed by House Johnson as its host. While the TV series featured its share of horror stories, it also featured more straightforward crime stories. The TV series Inner Sanctum debuted on January 9, 1954, in syndication and ran for only one season. 

Inner Sanctum Mystery would prove to be influential. The show's original host, Raymond, would have an immediate impact on the hosts of other radio shows, such as Maurice Taupin on The Mysterious Traveler, who included macabre humour in their introductions. The influence of Raymond as the host of Inner Sanctum would go beyond radio shows. EC Comics' use of hosts in its horror titles Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, and The Haunt of Fear, was largely inspired by Raymond on Inner Sanctum. It seems likely that television's original horror host, Vampira, could have also drawn inspiration from Raymond on Inner Sanctum. Even the Master of Suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock, may have been influenced by the Inner Sanctum with is humorous introductions to Alfred Hitchcock Presents/The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.

Himan Brown would draw upon Inner Sanctum for inspiration in creating CBS Radio Mystery Theatre. CBS Radio Mystery Theatre used the creaking door opening much as Inner Sanctum did. The introduction of the show's host for most of its run, E. G. Marshall, utilised humour similar to that of  the introductons on Inner Sanctum. Even E.G. Marshall's closing, "Until next time, pleasant… dreams?" drew inspiration form Raymond's "Pleasant dreeeeaams, hmmmmm?" 

Only around 200 out of the 511 episodes of Inner Sanctum Mystery survives, but it remains one of the most popular radios shows from the era of Old Time Radio. It certainly had a lasting impact that is still being felt to this day. Its influence may well still be felt 85 years from now. 

Announcing the 12th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon

It is January 2, which means it is time for me to announce the Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon. This will be the 12th one. For those of you unfamiliar with the Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon,  it is a blogathon in which bloggers write entries about their favourite episodes of their favourite classic television shows. This year it will take place March 20, 21, and 22.

Here are the ground rules:

1. Posts in the blogathon must be about an episode from a scripted drama. Episodes of reality shows, talk shows, game shows, and variety shows are ineligible. That having been said, posts can be on episodes from any genre of scripted dramas: animated shows, anthology shows, detective shows, police procedurals, science fiction shows, situation comedies, and so on. I also have to say that episodes can be from scripted dramas that aired at any time of day. They don't have to be from prime time alone. If one wanted to write about their favourite episode from their favourite Saturday morning cartoon or daytime soap opera, they could.

2. Because this blogathon is dedicated to classic television and I think a classic is something that must have stood the test of time, episodes must be from shows that are at least 25 years old. That means one cannot write posts on episodes from shows that debuted after 2001 (nothing from The New Adventures of Old Christine, let alone Abbott Elementary). Now here I want to point out that the episode itself does not have to be 25 years old, only the show on which it aired. Law & Order (the original, not the revival) debuted in 1990 and ran until 2010, so that its final season aired after 2001. Because Law & Order is over 25 years old, however, one could still write about an episode that aired in the 2009-2010 season.

3. Given my love of British television, it should come as no surprise that posts do not have to be about episodes from American shows alone. Posts can be about episodes from any show from any country as long as the show is a scripted drama and debuted over 25 years ago. If you want to write about your favourite episode of The Saint, The Little Hobo, Jaianto Robo, or Escrava Isaura, you can.

4.  I am asking that there please be no duplicates. That having been said, if someone has already chosen to cover "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" from The Twilight Zone, someone else could still write about another Twilight Zone episode.

5. In keeping with ground rule no. 4, I am asking that if you participated in the past years' blogathons that you write about a different episode from what you did the past years. That having been said, you could write about an episode from the same show.  If you wrote about the Star Trek episode "Amok Time" last year, then you could write about the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" this year.

6. I am not going to schedule days for individual posts. All I ask is that the posts be made on or between March 20, March 21, or March 22, 2026.

7. On March 20, I will set up the page for the blogathon. I ask that you link your posts to that page. If you want you can use one of the graphics below or make your own!

If you want to participate in the Favourite Television Show Episode Blogathon, you can simply comment below or you can get a hold of me on BlueSky at mercurie80 or at my email:  mercurie80 at gmail.com.

Below is a roster of participants and the topics they are covering. Come March 20, I will make a post that will include all of the posts in the blogathon.

Realweegiemidget Reviews Films TV Books and more: The Return of the Saint (1979), Se1, Ep19, "The Murder Cartel"

A Shroud of Thoughts:  The Man From U.N.C.L.E: "The Mad, Mad Tea Party Affair"

Liberal England:  Shoestring (1980) - se2 ep10 "The Dangerous Game"

Smoke in the Library: Burke's Law, "Who Killed Mr. X" 

Crítica Retrô: O Vigilante Rodoviário 

The Midnite Drive-In: A Nero Wolfe Mystery, "The Golden Spiders" 

Films From Beyond the Time Barrier:  The Twilight Zone, "The After Hours," S1, Ep. 34, 1960

Moon in Gemini: Favourite Thanksgiving episodes (WKRP in Cincinnati, "Turkeys Away;" Mad About You, "Giblets for Murray;" Friends, "The One With All the Thanksgivings;" Friends, "The One Where Ross Got High")

Another Old Movie Blog: Leave It to Beaver, "Beaver's Hero"

18 Cinema Lane: Murder, She Wrote: "No Accounting for Murder" (Season 3, Episode 19) , "Dead to Rights" (Season 9, Episode 18),  "The Dream Team" (Season 11, Episode 18)

Below are some graphics you can use for the blogathon (or you can always make your own)!