Thursday, April 18, 2024

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo (1973)

 Rick Derringer and the Edgar Winter Group rocked the Midnight Special with 1973's "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo". Winter had been on earlier to perform "Free Ride", and we'll have that up another time.


Several years later, World Wrestling Federation announcer "Mean" Gene Okerlund covered "Hoochie Koo", with Derringer turning the knobs as producer, strictly for laughs.

Retro Toy Chest: Skittle Bowl (1970's)

 Aurora's Skittle Bowl was the longest lasting of the Skittle line of games in the late 60's & early to mid 70's.

Here, Gene Wood (Beat The Clock, ex-The Adventures of Lariat Sam) is doing what amounts to an auditon for the Pro Bowlers Tour as he calls the end of this match. But check out the name given to the younger contestant......


Most of you know that Don Yarmy was the birth name of comedy legend and Aurora commercial endorser Don Adams. Seems the ad agency and/or Aurora were paying homage to Adams in this spot, which he probably directed while staying off camera. I remember playing this game in my youth, probably at a friend's house, but I don't think I had it at home.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Saturday School: Mr. Peabody & Sherman meet Jim Bowie (1962)

 Mr. Peabody (Bill Scott) & Sherman (Walter Tetley) meet Jim Bowie in this episode of Peabody's Improbable History. You'll note that the open is different from what you're accustomed to. This aired during either season 3 or 4 of Rocky & His Friends/The Bullwinkle Show:


I don't recall seeing this one the first time around. No rating.

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Sunday Funnies: Sing a Song of Six Pants (1947)

 The Three Stooges are tailors, although their spelling leaves a bit to be desired, in 1947's "Sing a Song of Six Pants" (a play on "Sing a Song of Sixpence"), which was remade six years later as "Rip, Sew, & Stitch".


Rating: A.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Daytime Heroes: Disappearing Act (M. A. S. K, 1985)

 From season 1 of M. A. S. K.:

Agents of V. E. N. O. M. use a shrinking ray to steal some valuable cars. To think that this episode premiered on Christmas Eve.

This "Disappearing Act", of course, won't be confused with a He-Man episode of the same name 2 years earlier.


Didn't see this one the first time around. No rating.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits (Revisited): Daydream Believer (1966)

 From season 1 of The Monkees comes one of their most recognizable hits.

Davy Jones sings lead on "Daydream Believer", and things get out of hand when the boys start mugging for the camera toward the end of the clip.


15 years later, Canadian-born country singer Anne Murray covered "Daydream", and took it to the top of the country charts. Both versions do get airplay on oldies channels to this day.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Underdog vs. The Witch of Pickyoon (1965)

 This 1st season episode of Underdog first aired around January 1965. This video collects all four chapters, which became the format when NBC repackaged the series in an all-rerun, done-in-one package until the series was cancelled in 1973.

Sweet Polly (Norma McMillan) is in the titular village when she falls under the spell of "The Witch of Pickyoon", and it's up to Underdog (Wally Cox) to find & rescue her. "Witch" borrows some of its plot from the classic "Sleeping Beauty":


Underdog turns 60 this year, but isn't getting the love.....!

Rating: B.