Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special


Arguably the most infamous TV special of the excessive seventies, THE PAUL LYNDE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL probably got remembered for its early appearance by KISS. Certainly that's why it was bootlegged so much over the years. But in time, the entire special took on a weird luster it certainly didn't have originally. 



Lynde was one of those singular talents that TV couldn't quite figure out what to do with. He was known and loved as Samantha's Uncle Arthur on BEWITCHED in spite of the fact that he only appeared a little more than a handful of times throughout that series' run. His greatest fame came as the sardonic center square on HOLLYWOOD SQUARES.



But Paul really wasn't a particularly good actor and various attempts to have him play characters who weren't just Paul Lynde failed--often miserably. And Paul Lynde, as himself, came best in small doses.



In 1976, Paul was a regular on Donny and Marie Osmond's variety show and someone decided to give him this special in which the 2 Osmonds cameo. That, of course, makes this the only time Osmonds and KISS appear on the same show.


Other guests included WIZARD OF OZ witch Margaret Hamilton and HR PUFNSTUF witch, Witchipoo (Billie Hayes). Betty White, Florence Henderson, Tim Conway and ABC flavor of the month Roz Kelly also appeared.


It's definitely not the best showcase for Paul Lynde's humor but over time it may well have become the thing most younger fans know him from...and that's all because of KISS, whose fans passed the show around from the earliest days of home video.
















Thursday, October 24, 2013

John Astin


Nobody but nobody played wide-eyed looney like John Astin on THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Although the role of Gomez was played very differently than its cartoon counterpart, Astin seemed made for the part. He managed an impressive career outside that role, though, including a decent stab as a big screen character star.
















But no matter how entertaining and brilliant, in our hearts, he remains the definitive Gomez Addams!



 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Fred Gwynne


An early favorite TV actor on CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU? and THE MUNSTERS, I followed Fred Gwynne's career after that and found him always an enjoyable presence in anything he did. And typecast or not he ended up in a widely diverse collection of roles on television, in films and even in "new-time" radio, where he was heard quite often in the seventies on THE CBS RADIO MYSTERY THEATER.













 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

My Favorite Doctor Who Companions


Discounting Captain Jack Harkness and Professor River Song as companions i the traditional sense, these are, in order, my personal favorite DOCTOR WHO companions. Starting with Sarah Jane Smith, friend to the 3rd, 4th and later Doctors.


Rose Tyler, 9 and 10.


Amy Pond-11


Romana II-4th


Jamie McCrimmon-# 3



Micky Smith-# 9 and 10


Nyssa-# 5


Rory Williams-# 11


Ace # 7


Tegan Jovanka-# 5