(Sunday) School: The Gospel Bill Show (1981)

 For 12 years, Willie George brought viewers a Western with a twist with The Gospel Bill Show, which has aired on CBN & TBN during the course of its history. The series originally aired from 1981-93. Substituting the Bible for common frontier justice, Gospel Bill (George) was the chief lawman in the fictional town of Dry Gulch, with Nicodemus (Ken Blount) as his sidekick, Festus to Bill's Matt Dillon, if you will.

Anyway, evangelist Kenneth Copeland guest stars in this offering as reformed outlaw Wichita Slim.

There was a time when CBN was on local cable systems, and loaded their weekend fare with classic Westerns. Gospel Bill, then, fit right in.

No rating. Just a public service.

Toons You Might've Missed: Barnacle Bill (1930)

 From the Fleischers' Talkartoon series comes "Barnacle Bill", with Bimbo in the title role. During this period, Betty Boop (Margie Hines) has more of a canine appearance, before her evolution into the icon we would know.

Anyway, Bimbo gives himself a shore leave so he can see "Nancy Lee" (Betty).

Five years later, Fleischer & Paramount referenced Barnacle Bill again, this time with Bluto in the role as a villain (as per normal) in a Popeye short. The character of Barnacle Bill was introduced in a song recorded by Hoagy Carmichael in 1928.

Rating: B-. There's a reason Bimbo was reduced to a supporting player when Betty was given her own series.......

Saturtainment: Bad Cat (1984)

 From the ABC Weekend Special:

Ruby-Spears' "Bad Cat" was the season finale for the 1983-4 season. Bart Braverman (ex-Vega$) leads an all-star cast that also includes Alan Young (ex-Mister Ed, Battle of The Planets), Hal Smith, Judy Strangis, Jon Bauman (one of his first toon jobs), Steve Spears (ex-Space Stars), and Marvin Kaplan (Alice, ex-Top Cat). Not sure if Steve was Ken Spears' son.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Get Down Tonight (1975)

 KC & The Sunshine Band heralded the launch of the disco era in the mid-70's, and "Get Down Tonight" landed them on The Midnight Special.

Toon Rock: Meet the Chipettes (Alvin & The Chipmunks, 1983)

 From season 1 of Alvin & The Chipmunks:

It was the 80's, after all. The MTV generation gave rise to a new group of female artists, including groups like the Go-Go's and the Bangles, and solo stars like Kim Wilde. 

Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. & his wife, Janice Karman, decided that Alvin & the Chipmunks would have female counterparts in response. Enter The Chipettes.

In the season 1 premiere, following a team-up with Mr. T, whose animated series would later in the morning, Alvin, Simon, & Theodore met Brittany, Jeannette, & Eleanor (all voiced by Karman). A chance meeting after the girls, billed as the Chipmunks, are booked at a hotel, which gets David Seville (Bagdasarian) all confused.

Over the course of the series, we'd meet the girls' adoptive parent, Beatrice Miller (Dody Goodman, "Grease", ex-Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), who would also care for the guys when Dave was away.

The title card for this episode was edited off.

Rating: A.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Boys & Girls (1968)

 From The Archie Show:

Jughead gets a dance named after him, which he & Hot Dog demonstrate. Next, the band performs "Boys & Girls":

Not to be confused with the later R & B song of the same name by the Intruders......

Toons You Might've Missed: The Wee Men (1947)

 Begorra! St. Patrick's Day is 2 weeks away, and, so, we'll set the ball a'rollin' with Paramount's 1947 tale, "The Wee Men". Jackson Beck voices all the characters.

These leprechauns would return in 2 more shorts.

Rating: B.