Countdown to Christmas: Christmas with The Hollywood Squares (1987)

 The 2nd annual Christmas episode of The New Hollywood Squares would also be the last first-run episode for 1987, what we would refer to today as the mid-season finale. Joan Rivers (ex-The Adventures of Letterman) shares her center square with John Davidson, Jr., and 518 native Joe Alaskey (Out of This World) is on the panel.

Countdown to Christmas: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1987)

 From A Claymation Christmas Celebration:

The California Raisins, who would be spun off into their own show, perform a cover of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" in the style of the Temptations' version, released a few years earlier. Buddy Miles is the lead voice of the Raisins musically.

Countdown to Christmas: December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)(2010)

 To be totally honest with you, I hadn't heard of this next track until today.

25 years after Wham! released "Last Christmas", George Michael recorded "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)". In keeping with a more recent preference at this stage in his career, Michael opted not to appear, and, instead, we have a mix of CGI and traditional line animation.

Countdown to Christmas: I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas (Operation Petticoat, 1977)

 One of Jim Varney's 1st gigs before "Ernest" made him famous was in the TV version of Operation Petticoat, which lasted a season-plus on ABC, cancelled a month into its 2nd season. That first season cast also included John Astin (ex-The Addams Family), inheriting the lead as Lt. Sherman, played by Cary Grant in the movie version nearly 20 years earlier, a young Jamie Lee Curtis, and, in a recurring role, Norman Alden (The All-New Super Friends Hour, ex-Electra Woman & DynaGirl), who plays Sherman's commanding officer in a few episodes, including the holiday entry, "I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas". Norman shows up around the 17 minute mark. The video's not perfect, but it'll have to do.

Six years later, Norman would be recurring in Varney's next series, The Rousters, this time playing a police detective who worked occasionally with the Earp family.

Countdown to Christmas: Disney's Very Merry Christmas Songs (1988)

 In 1988, Disney compiled some classic Christmas songs, matched them up with some vintage cartoons, and created Disney's Very Merry Christmas Songs. The same tracks were used for a sing-along volume, released concurrently.

You'll recognize the open from the annual "From All of Us to All of You" from The Wonderful World of Disney, but with Eddie Carroll as the singing voice of Jiminy Cricket while Mickey Mouse multi-tasks. The rest of the set includes music by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, and the Disneyland Chorus.

Toon Legends: Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions (1933)

 Betty Boop (Mae Questel) and friends try out some bizarre items in "Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions".

Luckily, wiser minds came up with a spot remover that doesn't harm the fabric, and, years later, Tex Avery did it better with  his "Tomorrow" series of shorts at MGM.

Rating: C.

Literary Toons: Franklin (1997)

 By the late 90's, kids were accustomed to the heroic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in reruns and finishing their run on CBS.

In Canada, a series of children's books gave birth to an animated series from Nelvana about a young turtle named Franklin, who made his way to the US on CBS & Nickelodeon, starting in 1998. Franklin is the older of two children. Younger sister Harriette is your typical mischief maker that big brother Franklin has to keep out of trouble.

Franklin had two separate Saturday runs on CBS (1998-9, 2000-2), and aired weekdays on Nickelodeon as part of their Nick Jr. block, before Nick Jr. was rebranded to succeed Noggin as their preschool channel. Reruns aired there until 2013.

To kick off this year's Countdown to Christmas, let's go back to 2001 for Franklin's Christmas Adventure.

I don't know if the books that birthed the series ever made it to American stores and libraries.

Rating: A.

Rare Treats: The Lone Ranger on Super Circus (1956)

 Super Circus was in its final season under that title when, in February 1956, the Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) stopped by to visit with the show's new ringmaster, Jerry Colonna (Claude Kirschner and Mary Hartline, based in Chicago, were let go when the series moved from Chicago to New York), and perform a few tricks.

Prior to becoming an actor, Clayton Moore was, in fact, a real life circus acrobat.

ABC actually rebooted Super Circus into the primetime Circus Time, with Paul Winchell taking over as ringmaster/host, aided, of course, by Jerry Mahoney & Knucklehad Smiff.

In 1980, the producers of Filmation's Lone Ranger paid a sort of homage to Moore by setting one episode at the circus. 

From Primetime to Daytime: Enter Bruce Lee Urkel! (1995)

 Family Matters co-star Jaleel White shares a birthday with the late martial arts legend Bruce Lee. That, more than anything, might've been a reason why Steve Urkel (White) adopts the persona of Bruce Lee Urkel in the season 6 episode, "The Substitute Son". While the title refers to Eddie's dimwitted BFF, Waldo, Urkel, of course, stole the show.

After being roughed up trying to protect Laura from some thugs, Urkel uses his transformation machine, and... let the butt-whuppin' begin.

White does most of his own stunts, save for some flips. Mix in a little Jackie Chan and the Three Stooges, and this became a fan favorite in a hurry. One wonders why he didn't take on any more serious roles after Matters ended. Could've been an action hero.....

Supposedly, Jackie Chan had been considered for a guest role, but that was nixed because he would've likely overshadowed Urkel and the concept behind this homage. Jackie as a technical adviser, though? That would've been gold.

Remembering Jason David Frank (1949-2022)

 Another gut punch for 90's kids.

Just over a week after Kevin Conroy, the beloved voice of the Batman from 1992-forward, had passed away from cancer, an actor associated with another Fox Kids franchise has passed.

Jason David Frank played Tommy, the Green Ranger, during the early years of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers franchise, but, aside from a memorable guest appearance on Family Matters (and a fight scene he choreographed), he seemed to disappear. Still, it comes as a shock to fans of the Power Ranger franchise.

It would be too easy to bring back that Family Matters clip, in which Frank played a gang member embarrassed by Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), but instead, we'll use a Power Rangers clip. Here, Tommy regains his powers and Green Ranger identity.

Rest in peace.

You Know The Voice: Norman Alden (1967)

Ah, Rango. Tim Conway's 1st post-McHale's Navy series lasted just 17 episodes (January-May 1967). It also served as Norman Alden's 1st series gig, playing Captain Horton, the CO of the Texas Ranger station where Rango (Conway) is assigned. Horton can't get rid of Rango, despite the latter's bumbling, because Rango's father was the head of the Rangers!

Director Sidney Lanfield had also done a good number of episodes of McHale, so he was familiar with Conway. In this sampler, Mike Mazurki guest stars.

I'm going to be on the hunt for a particular episode in which future ABC announcer Ernie Anderson, a long time friend of Conway and a fellow Cleveland area native, had a rare acting role. Anderson would cross over to CBS to be Conway's announcer for his two variety shows.

As for Norman Alden, he wouldn't get another primetime series role, but he would land a role in the Kroffts' female-centric Batman knockoff, Electra Woman & DynaGirl, which, like Rango, lasted just one season, but is considered a cult classic. Why Rango isn't given similar consideration? Built around Conway, it tried to be a cross between F-Troop (halfway through its 2nd season) and McHale, and failed.

Sunday Funnies: Mah-na, Mah-na (1969)

 The Muppets were recurring guests on The Ed Sullivan Show long before the launch of Sesame Street in 1969.

In this bit, "Mah-na Mah-na" is also the name of the Muppet (voiced by Jim Henson) doing the singing & scatting.

The song was also used on Sesame Street, as well as on other shows.

Thanksgiving Toons: B. C.: The First Thanksgiving (1973)

 After debuting in skits on Chuck Jones' ABC series, Curiosity Shop, Johnny Hart's B. C. made its primetime debut in 1973 in this NBC special, B. C.: The First Thanksgiving, produced by frequent Jones collaborator Abe Levitow.

Daws Butler voices the title character, and does a Jack Benny mimic at the start, as B. C. discovers fire. From that point, it's a series of gags that could just as easily have been lifted from the strip itself. Singer-actress Joanie Sommers joins Butler and fellow voice vets Bob Holt and Don Messick in rounding out the cast.

No real plot, just a showcase for the strip. However, it'd take 8 years before these cave people would return to TV.

Rating: B-.

Toons After Dark: Turkey Television (1985)

 Nickelodeon already had a hit importing You Can't Do That on Television from Canada, but that wasn't enough. They wanted their own version, too. A clear case of having cake, and eating it as well.

Unfortunately, Turkey Television, which was also part of the then-nascent Nick at Nite evening block, was a dud, cancelled after 1 season. A mishmash of cartoons imported from across the globe, and comedy skits from here, there, and everywhere. Dana Carvey appeared in at least one episode while on Saturday Night Live. Nick at Nite was finding its footing at the time, but giving Turkey a weekend daytime berth to widen its audience didn't work, either.

Here's the intro:

Co-creator/co-executive producer Geraldine Laybourne would recover from this debacle.

No rating.

Saturday School: City Guys (1997)

 Call it Saved by The Bell: East Coast.

That was the issue with City Guys, which ran for five seasons on NBC as part of its Saturday teen-centric block, with the last 1st run episode rolling out right before Christmas 2001.

What producer Peter Engel sought to do was recapture the vibe of Saved by The Bell, but on the east coast. Bell's New Class had started its 5th season when City Guys launched, but in reality, the last thing NBC needed was another Bell clone. The last time they tried it, Running The Halls bombed out four years earlier.

Unlike Bell, City Guys' largely unknown cast didn't have any breakout stars. Marcella Lowry, who played the school principal, had been on The Cosby Show, but none of the kids really stood out. In other words, this was as generic as it got.

Let's take a look at the intro. This is from the series' rerun cycle on BET:

While season 5 was on the air, seasons 1-4 went into syndication in a package with another Engel entry, California Dreams, but was pulled from syndication after 1 year. After brief cable runs on networks such as BET, the series now is available for streaming on Tubi.

No rating.

Toonfomercial: Remember the Vlasic stork? (1977)

 Vlasic pickles caught the attention of parents everywhere with a series of ads that featured a stork shilling the product, shattering the myth that storks delivered babies.

Pat Harrington (One Day at a Time), doing a Groucho Marx mimic, is the stork here, with Roger Bowen (ex-Arnie) or John Erwin as the doctor.

Thanksgiving Toons: The Turkey Caper (1985)

 Bill Hutten & Tony Love's Chucklewood Critters, starring Buttons & Rusty, returned in the Thanksgiving special, "The Turkey Caper". We had this up before a ways back, but it was taken down. Luckily, with Thanksgiving 2 1/2 weeks away, it's back. 

Rating: B.

Kevin Conroy (1955-2022)

 This hurts, especially for Batman fans who grew up with the 90's Bat-toons.

Kevin Conroy, long regarded as the definitive voice of the Dark Knight, has passed away. Castmate Diane Pershing (Poison Ivy) confirmed the news this morning on her Facebook page, and after initial skepticism among fans, news has been confirmed by genre outlets, including Newsarama.

Prior to Batman, Conroy had appeared on a number of primetime shows, including a recurring gig on Tour of Duty, and a guest role on Matlock.

From season 1, as Batman battles the Scarecrow (Henry Polic II, ex-Webster, When Things Were Rotten), he overcomes the villain's fear toxin with a now-iconic line.

"I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!":

Rest in peace, Kevin.

Saturtainment: Wacky & Packy in The Party Crushers (1975)

 Wacky & Packy (both voiced by Allan Melvin, All in The Family, who is also the announcer) crash high society in "The Party Crushers":

The Three Stooges did this way better in live action form years earlier.

Rating: C.

Thanksgiving Toons: Holiday For Drumsticks (1949)

 Daffy Duck on a farm? Yep.

A hillbilly farmer brings home a turkey, then throws it into the same pen where Daffy is. Chaos ensues.

Here's "Holiday For Drumsticks":

Daffy's attempt at altruism backfires, of course, but then again, it would begin to be a recurring theme for the next few years.

Rating: B--.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Boogie Shoes (1978)

 I may be wrong about this, but "Boogie Shoes" might've been the last hit for KC & The Sunshine Band. KC himself would return with a duet with Teri DeSario ("Yes, I'm Ready") the next year, then try a solo career. This clip comes from American Bandstand.

Daytime Heroes: The Five Golden Pips (Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century, 1999)

 While Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century lasted just 1 season on Fox, the producers had the good sense to commission original scripts instead of relying strictly on adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works.

Case in point is "The Five Golden Pips". The only downside is that this is an excuse to have Professor Moriarty be further established as a recurring villain in the series, when in truth, he didn't appear in too many of the novels.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Fox dropped the ball with Holmes, which could've continued for at least another 2 seasons.

Rating: A-.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: She's Gone (1974)

 From Soul Train:

Tavares soared all the way to #1 on the R & B chart with "She's Gone" in 1974. A year earlier, Hall & Oates, who had written & recorded the track in 1973, missed the top 40. However, after Hall & Oates left for RCA, Atlantic Records reissued their version of "She's Gone", and that's the version oldies channels here will play.

Check the smooth harmonies of Tavares on "She's Gone":

To tell ya the truth, pilgrims, I didn't even know about this version until tonight.

You Know The Voice: Dan Castelanetta (1992)

Meet the man behind Homer Simpson.

In a very unusual crossover, Dan Castelanetta not only performed the voice of America's most dimwitted father on LA Law, but he even ends up on the witness stand. The scene with the jury all wearing foam Homer heads is priceless.

While LA Law, a 20th Century Fox stablemate of The Simpsons at the time, is long off the air, Simpsons is still going strong 30 years after this classic.

Toonfomercial: Hop aboard the Chexpress (1980)

 In an effort to call attention to their signature brand of cereal, Ralston Purina hired on veteran artist Jack Davis, whose work appeared in TV Guide and Mad Magazine, as well as ads for Spalding, among other advertisers, to create this whimsical bit promoting the Chexpress. (Chex Express. Get it?)

From Out of The Recycling Bin: Acme Hour (1995)

 Back when Cartoon Network wasn't afraid to diversify its programming, the network put together an eclectic block of shorts under the label, Acme Hour, which ran for 8 years (1995-2003). This was where you'd get a generous mix of WB & MGM shorts, where the legends were mostly the creators, such as Hugh Harman, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, and Rudolf Ising.

The shorts presented here are mostly from the golden era, some of which have previously been showcased here (i.e. "Yankee Doodle Daffy"). Front & backloaded with commercials to keep the copyright enforcement folks happy.

This sampler dates back to 2000.

As the carnival barker put it, "you pays your money, you takes your chances".

Rating: B-.