Monday, February 9, 2026

Sunday Funnies: Pardon My Backfire (1953)

 "Pardon My Backfire" was the 2nd & last Three Stooges short produced in 3D, though the effects were replaced for television.

Moe, Larry, & Shemp are mechanics looking to raise money to marry their girlfriends, who are a little shy about commitment. Some escaped convicts enter their shop, and the fun really begins.


Rating: A-. I've never seen the 3D version.


Sunday, February 8, 2026

From Primetime to Daytime: Joanie Cunningham, teacher (Happy Days, 1984)

 From the final season of Happy Days:

Joanie (Erin Moran) has landed her first teaching job. On just her 2nd day, a punk decides he wants to hit on her, not realizing she's already spoken for, and when she's not ready. Of course, Joanie's got some backup......


What is forgotten after the 3rd Cunningham sibling, Chuck, was written off early in the series, Fonzie (Henry Winkler) became more of a surrogate big brother/guardian angel to Richie & Joanie. It just happens here that Fonzie had a job at the same school, making for a timely save.

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Saturtainment: Zack & The Magic Factory (Weekend Special, 1981)

 Two teens decide to open a magic shop, with the help of their aunt (Jane Withers), but it's also a building being earmarked for demolition. Yoiks! "Zack & The Magic Factory" was a 2-part Weekend Special from the winter of 1981, hosted by Michael Young (Kids Are People, Too):


Former child star Withers had resurrected her career with a lengthy gig as Josephine, shilling for Comet cleanser during the 60's & 70's, back when Comet was part of the Procter & Gamble family. Real life magician Mark Wilson served as a technical adviser.

No rating. Just a public service.

From Primetime to Daytime: The series premiere of F-Troop (1965)

 We had this before, but, then, a mass deletion of F-Troop on YouTube resulted in the previous video being removed.

"Scourge of The West", the series opener, explains how bumbling Wilton Parmenter (Ken Berry) landed at Fort Courage. The opening sequence is narrated by William Conrad (The Fugitive).


Rating: A.

Friday, February 6, 2026

Getting Schooled: The Schoolmaster (The Rifleman, 1960)

 From season 3 of The Rifleman:

A very strict new teacher (Arnold Moss) causes problems for Mark (Johnny Crawford), but must work with Lucas (Chuck Connors) to rescue Mark and a friend from a mine after the boys run away from school.

Worth noting: Connors' real life son, Jimmy Fields, and niece, Pamela Cole, are among the guest stars.


Didn't see this one the first time to my reckoning. No rating.

Looney TV: Injun Trouble (1938)

 Return with us now to a time when Native Americans were treated as stereotypes, such as the villainous Superchief, also known as Injun Joe. Porky Pig is a scout leading a wagon train, and runs afoul of Joe until the lone survivor of Joe's last raid shows up........


Originally known as Goofus when he appeared here, the bearded survivor was rechristened as Sloppy Moe in the remake, "Wagon Heels", several years later.

Rating: B.

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Right Time of The Night (1977)

 Jennifer Warnes went all the way to the top of the Easy Listening (now Adult Contemporary) chart in 1977, and hit #6 on the top 40, with "Right Time of The Night", which crossed over to the country chart, peaking at #11. This landed Jennifer on The Midnight Special: