Remembering Ted Nichols (1928-2026)

 Let your mind travel back to the days of Hanna-Barbera's line of "super adventure" series in the mid-60's. Space Ghost. Frankenstein, Jr. & The Impossibles. Birdman. Shazzan. The Fantastic Four. The Herculoids. The Adventures of Gulliver. Moby Dick & Mightor. Sinbad, Jr..

Ted Nichols had taken over as H-B's musical director while Hoyt Curtin left to pursue other opportunities. The above named adventure series, plus comedies like Space Kidettes and Wacky Races, all bore Nichols' signature sound.

Only now are we just learning that Nichols, 97, passed away in January after a lengthy bout with Alzheimer's disease. Nichols left Hanna-Barbera in 1972 to become the musical director for Campus Crusade for Christ. Nichols, like Curtin, had served in the military, and joined the Air Force ROTC during the Korean War in the 50's.

Rest in peace.

Toon Rock: The Rose (2008)

From Family Guy: 

The Griffin family heads out on a road trip, but, rather than do some typical sing-a-long's, Peter (Seth MacFarlane) breaks into a cover of Bette Midler's "The Rose", from the movie of the same name. Soon, Lois, Meg, & Chris (Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, & Seth Green) join in.

Well, MacFarlane did a better job with this than "Surfin' Bird".......!

Saturtainment: Capital One's All-Stars at the NCAA's (2026)

 March Madness means a new set of Capital One commercials with Samuel L. Jackson joined by Charles Barkley (Inside The NBA), and, in this spot, Jennifer Garner (ex-Alias), and another NBA & NCAA legend in Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who replaces Spike Lee in the troupe. I think Spike is directing.

Well, it could've been worse. We could've gotten Stephen A. Smith trying to sing. Barkley's definitely a golden throat........

I hope the rest of the Inside crew roasts Barkley on the next episode.........! I wonder if Jennifer brought anything from Once Upon a Farm, the business she helped launch thanks to her commercials for Capital One.

Saturday Morning Ringside: Remembering Dennis Condrey (1952-2026)

 As a founding member of the heel tag team Midnight Express, Dennis Condrey was a decorated wrestler in the 80's, winning the NWA tag titles with Bobby Eaton under the leadership of motormouth manager Jim Cornette.

Condrey left the team in the mid-80's when he left the NWA, then returned with Randy Rose as the Original Midnight Express, first in the AWA, then back in the NWA, with Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman), a Cornette clone at the time, except that his weapon of choice was a cordless phone as opposed to Cornette's tennis racquet.

We are sad to report that Condrey, 74, who last appeared at an AEW event a couple of years ago as a guest of FTR, has passed away. Following is an angle from Mid-South Wrestling, circa 1984, involving Magnum TA and Mr. Wrestling II:

There will almost certainly be tributes on AEW television, if not WWE or TNA, too, in the coming days.

Rest in peace, Dennis.

Celebrity Toons: Abbott & Costello in Luna-Tricks (1967)

 Abbott & Costello are bound for the moon to stop Super Terror (Don Messick). Here's "Luna Tricks". The open & close are edited off, and the title card is not the original. I think.

Stan Erwin plays Costello as more heroic than normal this time, an eager space cadet, if ya will.

Rating: B-. 5 minutes just isn't enough time.

Toon Legends: Popeye Meets Ali Baba & His 40 Thieves (1937)

 A year after Popeye was matched vs. Sindbad, the sailor met "Ali Baba & His 40 Thieves", except that in the context of the story, Ali Baba's name has been changed to Abu Hassan (Gus Wickie). I've lost track of how many times I'd seen this in syndication in the 70's & 80's.

An excerpt from this was used to open WPIX's 1970's Popeye broadcasts for a time. If you're from my generation, you'll recognize it right away.

Rating: A-.

Toons You Might've Missed: Leprechauns' Gold (1949)

 Begorra! 'Tis back to Ireland we go as St. Patrick's Day draws to a close, as we learn about "Leprechauns' Gold":

I'm sure there are better ways to attend to the gold.....

No rating. Just a public service.