Godspeed Cynthia Lennon

Cynthia Lennon photographed by Astrid Kirchherr

Cynthia Lennon occupies a singular place in rock music history. She was the first woman to marry a Beatle, although John Lennon was not even famous when she married him. Her status as John Lennon's first wife overshadowed everything else about her life, to the point that all most people know of Cynthia Lennon is her marriage to John Lennon. Sadly, Cynthia Lennon died April 1 2015 at the age of 75. The cause was cancer.

Cynthia Lennon was born Cynthia Powell on September 10 1939 in Blackpool, Lancashire. It was not long after her birth that her family moved to Hoylake, Lancashire (now Merseyside). She was interested in art from a very young age. She was eleven years old when she won a prize in an art contest held by the Liverpool Echo. At age 12 she was accepted into the Junior Art School in Liverpool. It was in September 1957 that she enrolled in the Liverpool College of Art. It was there that she met John Lennon.  The two eventually began dating. It was in August 1962 that Cynthia learned she was pregnant. Upon being told, John Lennon insisted that the two should get married. They did so, on August 23 1962. She gave birth to their son on 8 April 1963.

The Lennons' marriage was only a few months old when The Beatles' first single, "Love Me Do", was released on October 5 1962 in the United Kingdom. It was not long before the United Kingdom was swept up in Beatlemania, and the rest of the world followed. Cynthia had met John as a poor art student and struggling musician, but found herself married to the leader of the most successful rock band of all time. Unfortunately, their marriage would suffer because of The Beatles' success. Cynthia was often left at home with their son Julian while John toured with The Beatles. Over time the two of them grew apart as John became less and less communicative with her. In the meantime John's friendship with artist Yoko Ono eventually blossomed into an affair. Cynthia and John Lennon divorced in November 1968.

In 1973 Cynthia opened a restaurant called Oliver's Bistro in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales. In 1978 she published the memoir A Twist of Lennon, which she also illustrated. She sold the bistro in 1983. She was involved in various ventures over the years. In 1988 she launched a failed perfume called Woman. In April 1989 she opened  a restaurant called "Lennon's" in Convent Garden, London. In 1995 she recorded a cover of Mary Hopkin's "Those Were the Days", produced by Sir Paul McCartney. In 2002 she published the biography John about her relationship with John Lennon. In 2010 she and her son Julian unveiled the John Lennon Peace Monument in Liverpool.

Cynthia would eventually remarry. She was married to Roberto Bassanini from 1970 to 1973. She was married to John Twist from 1976 to 1983.  She had a relationship with  Jim Christie from 1981 to 1998. She was married to Noel Charles from 2002 to his death in 2013. After her marriage to John Twist she had her name changed back by deed poll to "Cynthia Lennon".

For better or worse Cynthia Lennon will always be known as John Lennon's first wife. Sadly, this ignores the fact that she was her own person. From her various illustrations it was obvious that she had talent as an artist. While it is difficult to say how things may have unfolded had she not met John Lennon, it seems possible that she could have had a successful career as an artist. At the very least, she could have had a successful career in commercial art.

It also seems possible that she may have played a role in The Beatles' success. Writing in The Rolling Stone, Yoko Ono noted that The Beatles behaved differently when she was around, saying, "I wonder how much her presence encouraged the group to go all the way to the top." It is impossible to say if The Beatles would have been a success had it not been for Cynthia's presence, but regardless she was a part of The Beatles' lives even before they became the biggest band ever. Cynthia Lennon has sometimes been reduced to a footnote in the life of John Lennon and the career of The Beatles, but she was always so much more.

Vince Gilligan's Island on ME-TV

If you watch ME-TV regularly, chances are you have seen the promos for Vince Gilligan's Island. If you haven't, it is an event hosted by Vince Gilligan, who was a long time writer and producer on The X-Files as well as the creator of The Lone Gunmen, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul. It will air on Sunday, April 5 from 6:00 PM  Eastern/5:00 PM Central to 10:00 PM Eastern/9:00 PM Central.

As might be expected Vince Gilligan is the host of the event, during which he will feature episodes of television shows that have had an influence upon him. He will be joined by  Bob Odenkirk, best known as Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

I have to say I admire Mr. Gilligan's tastes in classic television, as he has chosen a solid line up for the event. Vince Gilligan's Island will feature episodes of The Twilight Zone, The Honeymooners, Taxi, and Columbo. He also talks about other classic shows he loves in this interview ME-TV conducted with him, which you can read here. Aside from reading about Mr. Gilligan's love of classic television, I was happy to find out his childhood was a lot like mine and many others of our generation. He grew up with only four television stations to watch that were picked up by a huge aerial on the roof, the orientation of which was changed by device called a rotator (which Mr. Gilligan, like many of us, calls a "clicker").

Anyhow, if you are a fan of classic television and Vince Gilligan,  you might want to check out Vince Gilligan's Island this Sunday!

Harry Styles to Guest Star on Sherlock

Harry Styles of One Direction is set to make his acting debut in the next series of Sherlock. The popular young singer will play a forensics expert at Scotland Yard who assists Sherlock and Watson on an important case.

Mark Gatiss, executive producer and co-creator of the show with Steven Moffat, said of Harry Styles's upcoming guest appearance, "Studies conducted by the BBC have shown that Sherlock appeals primarily to people over thirty. We are hoping that Harry's guest appearance will pull in a slightly younger demographic for the programme."

Steven Moffat, executive producer and co-creator of the show with Mark Gatiss, commented, "I am so happy that Harry Styles is guest starring on Sherlock. I am a huge One Direction fan. I'm hoping we can get him to sing in the episode as well!"

Harry Styles, who is currently on tour with One Direction in South Africa, said of his appearance on Sherlock, " I had never even heard of Sherlock until Steven Moffat contacted me. It's no wonder. I checked and it's only on three times every three or four years! I really feel sorry for Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. I hope that my guest appearance will help boost both of their careers!"

A standalone special of Sherlock is set to air around Christmas this year. No date yet has been set for the fourth series of the programme.

And if you believed any of this (except for that very last line) do keep in mind what day it is....April Fools!

The Pre-Code Blogathon: Island of Lost Souls (1932)

It was on March 31 1930 that the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) adopted the Motion Picture Production Code. The Code essentially laid out what was and was not allowable in motion pictures. While the Code had been adopted in 1930, however, it was not rigorously administered and as a result it was often ignored. Many films made in the early Thirties included content that would not be seen again until the Fifties or even the Sixties, content that even then violated the Code. Extreme violence, promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality, sexual innuendo, and drug use all appeared in Hollywood movies made in the late Twenties and early Thirties. It was on June 13 1934 that an amendment was added to the Production Code that required all films made after July 1 1934 to be submitted to the Production Code Administration to get a seal of approval before they could be released.  What has since come to be known as the "Pre-Code Era" was over.

The Pre-Code Era overlapped with another historic period in American film history. It was on February 12 1931 that Universal premiered its film Dracula in New York City. This marked the beginning of what can be considered the "Golden Age of Horror Films", an era that can perhaps be ended with the release of Dracula's Daughter in 1936. Given the Golden Age of Horror overlapped with the Pre-Code Era, it should come as no surprise that many of the horror films released in the period were much more intense in terms of content than what would follow. Indeed, while Universal's well known horror films only occasionally overstepped the bounds of what was considered acceptable at the time by many, other studios would push the envelope with regards to content. This was particularly true of the horror films produced by Paramount. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) ran afoul of  state and local censorship boards even upon its initial release. Paramount's 1932 horror film Island of Lost Souls would as well. In fact, in the end it could well have been the most controversial Pre-Code horror film besides MGM's Freaks (1932).

Island of Lost Souls was an adaptation of the 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells. The novel centred on an Englishman named Edward Prendick and his time on an island on which the scientist Dr. Moreau was intent on creating human beings out of animals. While Island of Lost Souls would retain the idea of a traveller and his encounter with Dr. Moreau (played by Charles Laughton in the film), it would also take a few liberties with the source material. The least of these may have been the change in the protagonist's name, from Edward Prendick to Edward Parker (played by Richard Arlen). A more substantial change was the addition of two new characters. One was a traditional, Hollywood love interest in the form of Parker's fiancée Ruth Thomas (played by Leilia Hyams). The other was a more complex character, that of Lota the Panther Woman (played by Kathleen Burke).  Island of Lost Souls departed from the novel in other ways as well, including introducing sex into the mix as well as having a traditional, Hollywood ending rather than the slightly more complicated end of the novel.

Despite being based on a best selling novel by H. G. Wells, Island of Lost Souls faced opposition even before production on the film began. The Studio Relations Committee (the MPPDA's body charged with implementing the Code at the time) expressed a great deal of concern with regards to Island of Lost Souls.  They warned that the idea of crossing humans with animals would be a risk and even advised that the film "..should be abandoned." They also expressed some concern over Dr. Moreau's line, "Mr. Parker, do you know what it means to feel like God?" Paramount ignored the the Studio Relations Committee and went forward with the film. And, as history shows, Dr. Moreau's famous line remained in the film.

Even by today's standards it is easy to see why the Studio Relations Committee would have objections to the film. Dr. Moreau doesn't only want to make humans out of animals, but it is fairly clear that he wants the hero Parker to mate with Lota the Panther Woman. One of Dr. Moreau's "beast men", Ouran also tries to assault Parker's fiancée Ruth. Dr. Moreau performs his operations without anaesthetics and makes free use of a whip against his "beast men". One can easily see why the Studio Relations Committee would have cause for concern.

Indeed, it should come as no surprise that Island of Lost Souls faced a good deal of censorship across the United States upon its initial release. The Kansas State Board of Review passed the film only after extensive edits were made to it. Virginia's state censorship board rejected it twice before Paramount threatened them with a lawsuit. The Virginia state board then passed Island of Lost Souls, although it was with several cuts to the film. Of course, Paramount could not threaten legal action every time Island of Lost Souls faced censorship, as they would have soon found themselves buried in legal bills. Fourteen different regional censorship boards outright rejected Island of Lost Souls.

The film would also face censorship outside the United States. In the United Kingdom the British Board of Film Censors banned Island of Lost Souls outright. It would not be seen in Britain until 1958. Even then it was only after several cuts had been made to the film and it was given an "X" Certificate (meaning no one under 16 could see the film). Several other countries also banned the film, including Denmark, Germany, Holland, Hungary, India, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Given the reception it received upon its initial release, it should come as no surprise that Island of Lost Souls suffered greatly once the Code started being more strenuously enforced in 1934.   Indeed, when Paramount wanted to re-release the film in 1935, the Production Code Administration rejected it entirely. When Paramount wanted to reissue the film in 1941, the Production Code Administration only allowed it after any references Dr. Moreau made comparing himself to God were cut, as well as the doctor's line "Man is the present climax of a long process of organic revolution. All animal life is tending to human form," and any reference to Dr. Moreau's intention for Parker to mate with Lota the Panther Woman. Sadly, Island of Lost Souls would not be entirely restored until 2011.

While Island of Lost Souls is regarded as a classic by many today,  H. G. Wells himself disliked the film, and referred to it s "...a travesty of his intent..."  He apparently felt that it was a vulgarisation of his work that emphasised  horror and sadism, and that it entirely missed the more subtle philosophical underpinnings of his novel The Island of Doctor Moreau.

While it is true that Charles Laughton's Dr. Moreau is more a sadistic megalomaniac than the misguided idealist of the novel, I personally think H. G. Wells was wrong. I think Island of Lost Souls actually does address the philosophical themes of The Island of Dr. Moreau and does them quite well. Certainly the theme of the folly of human interference with nature, a theme that can also be found in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, is present in the film as it is in the novel. The film also does a fairly good job of addressing the theme of man's responsibility towards his fellow living beings that is found in novel. Arguably, the film does an even better job of addressing the themes of cruelty and pain than the novel does. While Island of Lost Souls was certainly shocking for its day and is still disturbing even today, it was never a mere horror film, even though it seems H. G. Wells thought so. In fact, much of the reason Island of Lost Souls retains its power to disturb is that it addresses themes that people usually do not like to think about.

Not surprising given the censorship it faced, Island of Lost Souls did not particularly do well at the box office upon its initial release. Fortunately over the years it would develop a following until such time as many regard it as a classic. Despite two more adaptations having been made (both titled The Island of Dr. Moreau--one released in 1977 and another in 1996), Island of Lost Souls is still considered by many to be the best film adaptation of the novel. Island of Lost Souls has also had a lasting influence. It has been referenced in everything from Sullivan's Travels to The Simpsons. Rock bands from Devo to Oingo Boingo have taken inspiration from the film. While Island of Lost Souls faced a good deal of censorship and did not do particularly well at the box office upon its initial release, it has since become regarded by many as one of the all time great horror films of the Thirties.

Thank You for a Successful Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon!

I just wanted to thank everyone who participated in the Favourite TV Show Blogathon for making it a success. The blogathon not only boasted several entries, but also a wide variety of entries. We had everything from posts on poplar favourites to lesser known, more obscure TV shows. We also had posts devoted to both American and British shows. And I think very nearly every genre of scripted television shows was covered! I must say that I was very impressed with all of the posts. All of you did a very good job.

As I said in the official post for the blogathon, I have decided to make the Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon an annual event. It will still be in March, although next year I plan to pay a bit more attention so it does not conflict with the Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival (which I hope to attend)! I also have the second annual British Invaders Blogathon coming up in August (the official announcement will be in early June), so you might want to start thinking about that if you enjoy blogathons!

Anyhow, thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations on jobs well done!

The Avengers: "A Touch of Brimstone"

"Extraordinary crimes against the people, and the state, have to be avenged by agents extraordinary. Two such people are John Steed, top professional, and his partner Emma Peel, talented amateur. Otherwise known as The Avengers."
(the prologue added to episodes of The Avengers aired in the United States on ABC-TV)

Emma Peel: "I've come here to appeal to you, Mr. Cartney."
The Honourable John Cleverly Cartney: "You certainly do that."
  (an exchange between Emma Peel and the Honourable John Cleverly Cartney from The Avengers episode "A Touch of Brimstone")

Worldwide it is quite possible that The Avengers is the most famous spy show to emerge out of the United Kingdom in the Sixties. In fact, short of Doctor Who, it might be the most famous British show of all time. For all its fame, however, in many respects the premise of The Avengers is very simple. When the show began in 1962 it centred on Dr. David Keel (Ian Hendry), a surgeon who takes to fighting crime following the murder of his fiancée. Dr. Keel's partner in fighting crime was a mysterious figure known as John Steed (Patrick Macnee), who apparently had ties to British Intelligence.

While Ian Hendry would leave the show after its first series, the show's premise of a "top professional" and "talented amateur" fighting crime together would remain.  Of course, from there on out John Steed's partners would be a succession of beautiful, intelligent, and independent women: Mrs. Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), Mrs. Emma Peel (Dame Diana Rigg), and Miss Tara King (Linda Thorson). John Steed's female partners were women as never seen before on television, either in the United Kingdom or the United States. It was not enough that they were intelligent,  independent, and competent, but they could easily defeat most men in combat. 

A popular show in its first series, The Avengers became a phenomenon all its own in Britain with its second series, when Cathy Gale became one of  John Steed's partners. With its fourth series, the first to feature Emma Peel, the show finally came to the United States. The Avengers became even more successful in the United Kingdom and developed a cult following in the United States, where it was even nominated for Emmy Awards.

Despite its relatively simple premise (a professional spy teamed with an amateur crime fighter), The Avengers was unlike any show that had ever aired before, even beyond Steed's liberated female partners. At least from the second series onwards, John Steed and his partner of the moment fought a number of bizarre opponents and over time the tone of the series became very tongue in cheek. In the second and third series John Steed and Mrs. Gale faced such diabolical masterminds as a group plotting to re-enact the Gunpowder Plot with nuclear weapons and a conspiracy to restore the Stuarts to the throne of the United Kingdom. With the arrival of Emma Peel, the plots became even more outré, as Steed and Mrs. Peel faced remote controlled robots ("The Cybernauts") and even a sentient, man-eating plant from outer space ("Man-Eater of Surrey Green"). Among the strangest episodes of the entire run of The Avengers was "A Touch of Brimstone", in which John Steed and Emma Peel face a modern day version of the Hellfire Club. "A Touch of Brimstone" would also prove to be perhaps the most controversial episode of The Avengers, as well as one of the most popular.

"A Touch of Brimstone" begins innocently enough, with the British government suffering embarrassment as a number of juvenile pranks are played on important, international figures: an exploding cigar, a collapsing seat in a theatre's box, and so on. John Steed determines that the Honourable John Cleverly Cartney (Peter Wyngarde) may be linked to the various pranks, as he is always present before, during, or after they occur. Of course, as might be expected, the pranks soon turn to murder, and Steed and Mrs. Peel find themselves facing Mr. Cartney and his modern day recreation of the notorious Hellfire Club. Naturally, this modern day Hellfire Club has much more sinister plans afoot than simple pranks or even murder. Today "A Touch of Brimstone" may be best remembered for its climax, in which Emma Peel is named "the Queen of Sin" by the Hellfire Club and clad in a spiked collar, a black Edwardian corset, and stiletto heeled boots.

For those unfamiliar with the historical Hellfire Club, there were actually a number of exclusive clubs that went by that name in 18th Century Britain and Ireland. The best known of these clubs, and the one that Mr. Cartney obviously wants to emulate, was founded by Sir Francis Dashwood and  John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who met as part of a Hellfire Club in the 1730's at the the George and Vulture Inn before founding the Order of the Knights of St Francis in 1746. The Order of the Knights of St Francis, later given the name "the Hellfire Club", was devoted not only to parodying Christianity, but to drunken orgies and debauchery as well. Some very powerful men belonged to Sir Francis Dashwood's Hellfire Club, including John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich; Thomas Potter (MP for Aylesbury, Okehampton and St Germans in Cornwall), jurist Robert Vansittart; and satirist Paul Whitehead. In addition to founding the best known Hellfire Club, Sir Francis Dashwood was also well known for his pranks, including the publication of an abridged version of the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer.

As might be expected, recreating an 18th Century gentleman's club devoted to debauchery for a television show episode in the mid-Sixties would not meet with approval from all quarters. Rediffusion London, the ITV contractor who transmitted The Avengers in the London area, demanded cuts to "A Touch of Brimstone", particularly the climactic scene in which Cartney menaces Emma Peel with a whip. Associated British Corporation, who produced The Avengers, had no real objections to the episode. Ultimately Associated British Corporation cut the scene in which Cartney threatens Emma Peel from twelve cracks of the whip to only two, but absolutely refused to make any other cuts. The fact that "A Touch of Brimstone" was cut by censors was acknowledged by the British press at the time. The February 18 1966 issue of the Evening Standard even devoted an article to the episode with the headline, "What You Won’t See on The Avengers Tonight".

Between Emma Peel's costume as the "Queen of Sin" and the scene in which Cartney threatens her with a whip, "A Touch of Brimstone" would cause even more of  a furore at the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States than it had in Britain. American broadcasters being much more conservative than British broadcasters at the time, ABC found the episode wholly objectionable and simply refused to air it. Of course, here it must be noted that ABC was committed to only airing 21 of the 26 episodes produced for the fourth series of The Avengers. As to how they decided which five episodes of The Avengers not to air, it seems possible that it was based on any the content of the episodes (namely, was it objectionable or not). It seems notable that "Silent Dust", another one of the episodes not aired by ABC in the Untied States, contained a scene in which Emma Peel is threatened by a whip much like "A Touch of Brimstone". As to the other episodes not aired by ABC in the United States, "Honey for the Prince" featured Emma Peel in a harem outfit, and "Quick-Quick Slow Death” included a scene with a shoe salesman who is obviously a foot fetishist. Only “A Surfeit of H2O” contained little in the way of content ABC might have found offensive, unless one counts a villager building his own ark in anticipation of a second Great Flood.

For all the controversy the scene in which Cartney menaces Emma Peel with a whip caused on both sides of the Pond, it is worth noting that the whip never touches Mrs. Peel. It is also worth nothing that "A Touch of Brimstone", nor any of the other episodes not aired by ABC, was not banned in the United States. When The Avengers entered syndication in the United States in 1969, it was included as part of the syndication package. The sequences in which Emma Peel is threatened with a whip would later be fully restored when The Avengers aired on the cable channel A&E in the Nineties and released on DVD.

Of course, the scene in which Cartney threatens Emma with a whip was not the only sources of controversy with regards to "A Touch of Brimstone". According to the book The Complete Avengers: The Full Story of Britain's Smash Crime-Fighting Team by Dave Rogers, not only Rediffusion, but even studio technicians were worried about Emma Peel's costume as the "Queen of Sin". Curiously the "Queen of Sin" costume was designed by none other than Dame Diana Rigg herself.

Despite the controversy that has surrounded "A Touch of Brimstone" to this day, it remains one of the best loved episodes of The Avengers among its fans. There can be no doubt that this is not due simply to Emma Peel's appearance as "the Queen of Sin" or the episode's idea of a modern day Hellfire Club. Instead "A Touch of Brimstone" remains popular because it is simply a well done episode. Not surprisingly, the episode was written by Brian Clemens, the man who largely shaped The Avengers into the show we now know. It was directed by Sidney Hill, who also directed the feature films A Study in Terror and Born Free as well as episodes of  The Human Jungle, Gideon's Way, and The Saint. He also directed several other episodes of The Avengers.

"A Touch of Brimstone" also featured a top notch cast. Peter Wyngarde played the role of the Honourable John Cleverly Cartney, a role that has since become possibly his best known aside from Jason King from the TV shows Department S and Jason King. Collin Jeavons, who appeared in several adaptations of Dickens novels and later had regular roles in such shows as Billy Liar and The Return of Sherlock Holmes, played Cartney's stooge Lord Darcy. Carol Cleveland, later best known for her work with Monty Python, played Cartney's somewhat scatter brained lover Sara. Robert Cawdron, who had a regular role on Dixon of Dock Green, played Horace, Lord Darcy's housekeeper and a member of the Hellfire Club. With top notch performances and top notch writing, it is little wonder that "A Touch of Brimstone" remains one of the most popular episodes of The Avengers.

Indeed, in some respects it can be argued that "A Touch of Brimstone" is the quintessential episode of The Avengers. It features what might have been the most common premise for an episode during the show's run--John Steed and his partner of the moment fighting a bizarre conspiracy intent on toppling the British government.  It also featured, for lack of a better term, the prerequisite kinkiness associated with the show. In fact, given Emma Peel's appearance as the Queen of Sin, it might well have more than its fair share of kinkiness. Finally, "A Touch of Brimstone" could well be the most "English" episode of what was a very English TV show. Let's face it, not only are Steed and Mrs. Peel battling a gentleman's club that takes its inspiration from Sir Francis Dashwood's original Hellfire Club, but we even get to see John Steed in a sword duel.

Ultimately "A Touch of Brimstone" would have a lasting impact on both British and American pop culture. It is notable that, except for the 1961 film The Hellfire Club, the Hellfire Club was only rarely referenced in literature, films, or television prior to "A Touch of Brimstone". Since then it has been mentioned in several novels, as well as TV shows from Blackadder to Sleepy Hollow. The Hellfire Club in Marvel Comics' various "X-Men" series is obviously inspired by "A Touch of Brimstone". The Hellfire Club's Black Queen and White Queen obviously take their inspiration from Emma Peel as "the Queen of Sin". In the initial plotline featuring Marvel's Hellfire Club, the supervillain Mastermind even takes the identity of Jason Wyngarde, the name derived from Peter Wyngarde's surname and the first name of Mr. Wyngarde's most famous character (Jason King from Department S and Jason King).

Given the controversy surrounding the episode, it should come as no surprise that "A Touch of Brimstone" was the highest rated episode during the first broadcast run of The Avengers in the United Kingdom. It was watched by 8.4 million viewers, a very substantial audience for a television show in Britain in the Sixties. To this day it remains the most famous (or perhaps notorious, if you prefer) episode of The Avengers of all time. It also remains one of the most popular of the show's episodes, if not its most popular. Given the talent that made the episode, as well as its resulting quality, this should come as no surprise. Emma Peel's appearance as "the Queen of Sin" might have made "A Touch of Brimstone" famous, but it is the episode's quality that has allowed it to maintain its popularity over the years.

The Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon

It's here! The Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon has arrived. We have a very good line up for the blogathon, so much so that I have decided to make it an annual event. That having been said, next year I am paying more attention so it does not conflict with the Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival (which I hope I can attend).

For those of you who are participating in the blogathon, I ask that you link to this page. I will updating this page with links to the various blog posts that are part of this blogathon throughout the weekend. If you want a graphic for your post, I have several on the announcement page here.

Anyhow, without further ado, here are the blog posts!

 Movie Movie Blog Blog:  Monty Python's Flying Circus – Episode 34, “The Cycling Tour,” orig. broadcast on 7/12/1972

Sister Celluloid: RING-A-DING GIRL: The Deceptive Lightness of Maggie McNamara (The Twilight Zone)

Crítica Retrô:  Série Retrô: Agente 86 / Get Smart

The Horn Section: F TROOP Fridays: "Our Brave in F Troop" (1967)

The Man on the Flying Trapeze: Favorite TV Show Episode Blogathon -- "The Dick Van Dyke Show: Scratch My Car and Die

Hamlette's Soliloquy: "The Walking Wounded" -- My Favorite "Combat!" Episode

Barry Bradford Speaking for a Change: Quantum Leap "The Leap Home"

Classic Movie Hub Blog:  Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon: Green Acres “Love Comes to Arnold Ziffel”

Mythical Monkey: TV's Lost in Space, Part 1: Danger, Will Robinson! ("No Place To Hide," The Unaired Pilot) 

Wolffian Classics Movies Digest: Bewitched: "A Is for Aardvark" review

Caftan Woman: The Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon: Ironside: "One Hour to Kill" (1970)

The Second Sentence: Favorite TV Episode Blogathon: The Virginian, "Siege"

Coffee, Classics, & Craziness: Combat! Episode Analysis: “Masquerade”

solidmoonlight: "It May Look Like a Walnut" - The Dick Van Dyke Show 

Speakeasy: Have Gun Will Travel, “The Long Night” 

portraitsbyjenni: For the Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon : The Fugitive “Corner of Hell”   

The Hitless Wonder Blog: Favorite TV Show Episode Blogathon--"The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth"

KC's Film Forum: Flashback Friday: The Partridge Family, Season 1, Episode 8: "But the Memory Lingers On"

A Shroud of Thoughts: The Avengers "A Touch of Brimstone"

Prowler Needs a Jump: The Outer Limits: The Invisible Enemy (1964)  

Pop Culture Revrie: Twin Peaks, S01E01: Pilot; Review by Robin Franson Pruter 

In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood: The Barbara Stanwyck Show: "The Miraculous Journey of Tadpole Chan"

The Stop Button: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (1963, Richard Donner)

Girls Do Film: Twin Peaks (Episode 2): "Zen, or the skill to catch a killer"

Moon in Gemini: Fawlty Towers: "Gourmet Night"

The Wonderful World of Cinema: Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon: "The Caravan" (The Donna Reed Show)

Musings of an Introvert: Ruts and Routines - I Love Lucy: Vacation from Marriage (2.6) 

TV Yesteryear: Lost In Space: All That Glitters (1965) 

The Movie Rat: Favorite TV Episode Blogathon: Alfred Hitchcock Presents: “Incident in a Small Jail”