What was the last TV show you watched?

[LizzieMaine]

Sounds like she got on the phone to her old pal Orson and had him rewrite some dialogue.

 

[Stearmen]

Genius. A mini series about Albert Einstein. Not bad, but I hate the concept of bouncing back and forth in time! I know, "the dividing line between past, present, and future is an illusion".

 

[LizzieMaine]

Continuing to sift thru a variety of early kinescopes from the 1948-50 era, I keep coming back to "Howdy Doody," which, the more I watch, the more it comes across as one of the most disturbing kiddie shows ever aired. Those who remember the show's later era will think of Doodyville as a center of innocent, whimsical fun, but the early shows over and over again come across as unsettling on just about every possible level. But the one thing that comes across in just about every show I've seen so far is the palpable, mutual loathing exhibited between Bob Smith and Bob "Clarabell the Clown" Keeshan. I knew the two men didn't much care for each other, and it only got worse the longer they worked together, but I wasn't prepared to see it acted out on screen so obviously and explicitly.

The gentle Kangarooish Bob Keeshan is nowhere to be seen here. His Clarabell is a hulking, thuggish presence around the Peanut Gallery -- which perhaps reflects his off-camera role as Bob's enforcer, keeping the kids in their place and under control. But there is no jolliness or whimsy in this Clarabell -- he storms around the set, throwing violent tantrums like a splenetic two year old when he doesn't get his way, and Bob goes out of his way to goad him. Some of this goes beyond mere teasing -- when the good ol' Buffalo bellows "YOU STUPID CLOWN!" when Clarabell botches some trick or other, it really sounds like he's yelling at Keeshan himself, not the character he's playing. And Keeshan looks, thru the makeup, like he's genuinely seething. When the time comes to let Buffalo Bob have it right in the face with the seltzer bottle, you can see Keeshan glaring at Smith, just before pressing the lever, with a look that can only be described as slit-eyed, murderous hate.

Something must also be said about the absolutely relentless vending on these shows. Bob not only does the interminable commercials, he compels the kids to join him in singing the commercial jingles -- and no matter what you think abou the Boys, there's something honestly distressing about a bleacher full of six year olds being made to sing "Halo, everybody, halo! Halo is the shampoo that glorifies your hair!" When a kid tries to interrupt Bob as he's giving his pitch, he blows the little scamp right off, and keeps on selling. No doubt the wee tyke settled right down, lest Clarabell fix him in that terrifying slit-eyed glare.

(And NBC really needs to adjust its vertical linearity. The test pattern looks like poop.)

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

I recently watched a clip of Howdy doing an incredibly creepy "cowboy" dance. I wish I could remember what it was. I watched the show as a kid but of course all the bad stuff went right over my head.

 

[Stearmen]

Humongous Moves. Seven house boats moved through the ice bound water ways of the Netherlands.

 

[Fading Fast]

Continuing to sift thru a variety of early kinescopes from the 1948-50 era, I keep coming back to "Howdy Doody," which, the more I watch, the more it comes across as one of the most disturbing kiddie shows ever aired. Those who remember the show's later era will think of Doodyville as a center of innocent, whimsical fun, but the early shows over and over again come across as unsettling on just about every possible level. But the one thing that comes across in just about every show I've seen so far is the palpable, mutual loathing exhibited between Bob Smith and Bob "Clarabell the Clown" Keeshan. I knew the two men didn't much care for each other, and it only got worse the longer they worked together, but I wasn't prepared to see it acted out on screen so obviously and explicitly.

The gentle Kangarooish Bob Keeshan is nowhere to be seen here. His Clarabell is a hulking, thuggish presence around the Peanut Gallery -- which perhaps reflects his off-camera role as Bob's enforcer, keeping the kids in their place and under control. But there is no jolliness or whimsy in this Clarabell -- he storms around the set, throwing violent tantrums like a splenetic two year old when he doesn't get his way, and Bob goes out of his way to goad him. Some of this goes beyond mere teasing -- when the good ol' Buffalo bellows "YOU STUPID CLOWN!" when Clarabell botches some trick or other, it really sounds like he's yelling at Keeshan himself, not the character he's playing. And Keeshan looks, thru the makeup, like he's genuinely seething. When the time comes to let Buffalo Bob have it right in the face with the seltzer bottle, you can see Keeshan glaring at Smith, just before pressing the lever, with a look that can only be described as slit-eyed, murderous hate.

Something must also be said about the absolutely relentless vending on these shows. Bob not only does the interminable commercials, he compels the kids to join him in singing the commercial jingles -- and no matter what you think abou the Boys, there's something honestly distressing about a bleacher full of six year olds being made to sing "Halo, everybody, halo! Halo is the shampoo that glorifies your hair!" When a kid tries to interrupt Bob as he's giving his pitch, he blows the little scamp right off, and keeps on selling. No doubt the wee tyke settled right down, lest Clarabell fix him in that terrifying slit-eyed glare.

(And NBC really needs to adjust its vertical linearity. The test pattern looks like poop.)

I saw the show in reruns in the late '60s or early '70s (if memory serves) and hated it. I don't really remember much about it - but I do remember I couldn't stand it and watched, probably, no more than three or four episodes.

It's funny, you really do see some crazy things - as you describe in "Howdy Doody -" in that first decade or so of TV before Corporate America had systemized out all the variation, spontaneity and errors/problems/free-wheeling.

 

[Doctor Strange]

The first episode of American Gods on Starz. I really like the Neil Gaiman novel, and the adaptation is off to a fine start. Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday is staggeringly perfect casting (I mean: Ian McKellen as Gandalf perfect!) and the production is opulent and fearless. It's gonna be some ride!

For those who haven't read the book, I suspect this episode played as kinda interesting... interspersed with some utterly WTF?!? moments. (Poor Joel Murray.)

 

[Benzadmiral]

IMDb to the rescue, but, according to them, it was in the second episode. "We are quicksilver, a fleeting shadow, a distant sound...our home has no boundaries beyond which we cannot pass. We live in music, in a flash of color...we live on the wind and in the sparkle of a star!"

I could have sworn it was in the pilot/premiere episode, and that was where I looked on IMDb. Thanks!

It occurred to me years ago that the witches are very much like the Greek gods of Olympus: immortal, almost omnipotent, fascinated by -- and powerfully attractive to -- humans, and liable to cause said humans untold grief through either malevolence, or trying to "help" them.

Maurice and Endora seem to have a relationship much like that of Zeus and Hera as well. No doubt she's been known to turn Maurice's human or witch mistresses into trees or zebras!

 

[LizzieMaine]

I saw the show in reruns in the late '60s or early '70s (if memory serves) and hated it. I don't really remember much about it - but I do remember I couldn't stand it and watched, probably, no more than three or four episodes.

It's funny, you really do see some crazy things - as you describe in "Howdy Doody -" in that first decade or so of TV before Corporate America had systemized out all the variation, spontaneity and errors/problems/free-wheeling.

There are some pretty extraordinary stories about the antics that went on backstage at "Howdy," especially revolving around one of the puppeteers, who allegedly had the habit of exposing himself to anyone who'd make the mistake of getting into an elevator with him. This fellow, who later achieved considerable success as a comedian, enjoyed causing the marionettes to engage in all sorts of obscene behavior during program rehearsals, which greately amused and entertained the agency and sponsor reps. It got so rough and ribald that NBC finally had to lock the studio during "Howdy" rehearsals, lest some unsuspecting civilian walk in on Mr. Bluster buggering the Flub-a-dub. Ah, the good, clean, wholesome Fifties.

There were constant fears among the suits that this puppetteer would slip up during a live broadcast, and he constantly threatened to do so, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence that he ever did. But everybody at NBC sighed with relief when he was finally fired.

 

[Trenchfriend]

German TV, at the moment:

I'm watching Crocodile Dundee I for the first time.

Ah wait. I meant of course, I'm (32) watching 28 year old Linda Kozlowski in 1986, acting in a kind movie.

And the soundtrack:

 

[Touchofevil]

Watching the original Swedish/Danish "The Bridge" on Netflix, series 2. Euro TV detective shows tend to have very convoluted plot lines and this is no exception but the female lead is one of the most interesting and unusual characters ever. Highly engaging.

I really enjoyed the fx version of The Bridge. Quality entertainment throughout.
It was a shame that it was cancelled.

 

[Touchofevil]

Last night, Fargo. I am really enjoying this season.
Tonight, not sure.

 

[belfastboy]

I really enjoyed the fx version of The Bridge. Quality entertainment throughout.
It was a shame that it was cancelled.

In the Euro version the female lead is played a little more broadly. Her "symptoms" are much more noticeable and her interpersonal relationships are fraught with problems. In both versions I very much enjoyed this character. Started season 3 last night and the plot continues to be at least one sigma past believable.

 

[MisterCairo]

I watched the first two episodes of season one of Into the Badlands. I'm hooked, and glad to learn just today it's been renewed for an expanded 16-episode third season.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

The Affair. season 3. In my opinion, this season had two finales. While I liked episode 10 well enough, I don't really get why it was necessary for this season. They spent nine episodes on a trajectory, and they found its end. Then, they throw this situation at you that is months down the road and not necessarily properly built. Sure, we have some elements that root it in the first nine, but to me, it felt more like a season opener. Maybe they thought they weren't going to get renewed for season 4? Just odd. It also required more of that suspension of belief to buy into the new trajectory. Not great storytelling.

 

[Worf]

"Superhero's Decoded" on the History Channel. They spend 4 hours over two nights discussing in great detail the "American Invention" of the superhero (only if you don't include ancient myths and Gods). They show how comic book hero's morphed over time to mirror or push American culture through the decades since their inception. They gloss over certain facts and forget others... "Captain Marvel" or "Shazam" is not mentioned AT ALL and the debt owed to "The Shadow" and the other pulps is not given full weight. The similarity of Batman to the Shadow and Superman to Doc Savage is too great to ignore. One thing that's clear, while D.C. may have "invented" the superhero with Superman, it was Marvel that saved it. McCarthy and the 50's had all but killed em off till Kirby, Lee and Ditko saved the day. I know a ton about comics (charter member of the MMMS) but I learned some things even I didn't know.

1. George R. R. Martin (yeah THAT one), was a comic geek from WAY back. His first published work was a letter to Marvel about Fantastic Four 17. Martin also attended the FIRST comic book convention ever held and was the first to sign up.
2. In 1949, to combat stereotypes of Blacks in comics and cartoons, a black publisher started "All Negro Comics". After good initial sales a second issue was never produced due to a sudden lack of newsprint.
3. The covert gay messages in pre Comic Code "Batman and Robin" were NOT all imagined nor were they lost on homosexuals of the time. As one writer put it, "seeing Dick Grayson sharing a bed with Bruce Wayne or taking moonlit boat rides with him struck a chord with me."

All in all a good documentary to see if you can catch it on re-run.

Worf

 

[Worf]

slit-eyed, murderous hate.

God, how I love your way with words!

Worf

 

[Worf]

Joshua vs. Klitschko - Over the years I've seen a ton of fights. Saw Tyson on the way up LIVE and at least 100 ppv. This fight last Saturday on HBO is probably the best heavyweight title fight I've seen since Ali's reign. Young champion (Joshua) vs. old ex-champ Klitschko. Both men taste the canvas, both men get up to put the other man down. If you scripted this Hollywood would throw you out the door. Amazing, catch it on HBO. I don't care if you HATE boxing or violence in any form... if this fight doesn't get the juices flowing better check your pulse cause you might be dead!

Worf

 

[Touchofevil]

Joshua vs. Klitschko - Over the years I've seen a ton of fights. Saw Tyson on the way up LIVE and at least 100 ppv. This fight last Saturday on HBO is probably the best heavyweight title fight I've seen since Ali's reign. Young champion (Joshua) vs. old ex-champ Klitschko. Both men taste the canvas, both men get up to put the other man down. If you scripted this Hollywood would throw you out the door. Amazing, catch it on HBO. I don't care if you HATE boxing or violence in any form... if this fight doesn't get the juices flowing better check your pulse cause you might be dead!

Worf

Cannot yet watch it. It is sad to admit Klitschko's days at the top are over. He was a classy champion.

 

[Touchofevil]

Last night, Into the Badlands.