Friday, December 5, 2025

Countdown to Christmas: Good Will to Men (1955)

 In 1939, Hugh Harman made the post-apocalypic holiday film, "Peace on Earth". Unfortunately, a complete print of "Earth" is not available on YouTube unless you want one of those reaction videos where YouTubers are watching it for the first time.

16 years later, producer Fred Quimby and producer-directors Bill Hanna & Joseph Barbera revisited the concept in "Good Will to Men".


A future where man is extinct? Extreme to be sure.

Rating: B.

Daytime Heroes: Remember Inspector Willoughby? (1961)

 After appearing in shorts with Woody Woodpecker and Fatso The Bear, Inspector Willoughby was granted his own series of shorts, directed by co-creator Paul J. Smith, who developed the character with Walter Lantz.

Some prototype shorts of a similar character had appeared between 1958-60, with Daws Butler essaying the role, but when the series launched, the part was given to Dallas McKennon, who performs all the voices in 1962's "Phoney Express":


Sounds like McKennon recycled his Willoughby voice for Riverdale High Principal Waldo Weatherbee a few years later, don't ya think?

Rating: B.

Thursday, December 4, 2025

From Primetime to Daytime: A lesson on self-esteem (McHale's Navy, 1963)

 Ensign Parker (Tim Conway) is assigned by Captain Binghamton (Joe Flynn) to teach self-defense to a new corps of nurses. Girl-shy Parker bumbles this assignment, but at least one nurse seems to have her eyes on him.

Joyce Bulifant guest stars in "Today, I Am a Man!":


More than a decade later, Joyce would be reunited with Gavin MasLeod (Happy) on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Coming Attractions: Netflix finds Scooby-Doo's voice. It wasn't that hard

 Once production begins on Greg Berlanti's live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo, the titular dog will have a familiar voice.

Frank Welker has been associated with the franchise from day 1, and took over the voice role of Scooby with What's New Scooby-Doo in 2002, shortly after Neil Fanning had essayed the role in the first live-action movie.


Media reports say that Team Berlanti is looking at a darker version of the franchise, a la Riverdale, one in which Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, & Fred meet Scooby, who apparently witnessed a supernatural murder.

Netflix might want to consider landing a deal to repurpose this Scooby on TNT.......!

There's a reason HBO Max dumped Mindy Kaling's Velma after 2 seasons. Fans of the franchise will only take so much darkness.

Stay tuned.

Getting Schooled: A primer on sex education (Room 222, 1972)

 From season 3 of Room 222:

Mrs. Higgins (Ruth McDevitt, ex-Pistols & Petticoats) is teaching a class on sex education, but when a student has questions about STD's, the student's father (Walker Edmiston) is upset, and threatens the teacher's job...

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Countdown to Christmas: Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noel)(1996)

 Lily Tomlin brings her precocious 5 1/2 year old persona of Edith Ann back to television in the 3rd & final primetime special for ABC.

Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noel), written by Tomlin's long time partner, Jane Wagner, sees Edith Ann (Tomlin) run away from home, but you know that won't last.

Tomlin & Wagner hired an independent studio to animate this show, after Klasky-Csupo had produced the first two specials, though the designs are similar to the K-C style.


Tomlin & Wagner had hoped to create an actual series for Edith Ann, but apparently, either the ratings weren't what ABC had hoped for, or other factors were involved.

No rating. Just a public service.

Monday, December 1, 2025

From Primetime to Daytime: The unlikeliest of heroes (McHale's Navy, 1963)

 From season 2 of McHale's Navy:

Ensign Parker (Tim Conway) is recruited to impersonate a British general (Conway in a dual role) while the general is on a mission. Henry Corden, Rolfe Sedan (who'd recur on The Addams Family a year later), and Walter Brooke (later of The Green Hornet) guest star in "The Great Impersonation":


Poor Binghamton. Even when it's so obvious, when the general & Parker are in the same room, he can't get past his hatred for the crew of PT 73......!