Friday, February 27, 2026

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits (Revisited): Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen (1961-4)

 Neil Sedaka took "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" to #6 on the Hot 100 in 1961. 3 years later, he brought the song back on American Bandstand. The clip opens with Charlie O'Donnell bringing us back from commercial.


In memory of Sedaka, 86, who passed away today. Rest in peace.

Sunday Funnies: Shot in The Frontier (1954)

 Jules White's 1954 Three Stooges Western, "Shot in The Frontier", is a send-up of the classic Gary Cooper oater, "High Noon", which helped put director Stanley Kramer on the map in Hollywood.

Anyway, the boys recently got married, but soon discover a trio of outlaws have taken a liking to their brides. Emil Sitka didn't get credit as a justice of the peace this time (He played the same role in "Brideless Groom" a few years earlier), and Shemp stand-in Joe Palma is one of the outlaws.


Rating: B.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Literary Toons: Yeh Shen: A Cinderella Story From China (1985)

 From season 1 of CBS Storybreak comes a much different version of Cinderella, one that, according to host Bob Keeshan, takes place 1000 years before the Brothers Grimm's legendary, oft-adapted tale.

Yeh Shen: A Cinderella Story From China, features the talents of George Takei, Brian Tochi, & Michael Bell, among others.


I believe George was in between "Star Trek" movies when he took this gig.

No rating. Just a public service.

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Looney TV: Pigs in a Polka (1943)

 Friz Freleng's take on the Three Little Pigs gets mashed up with a Brahams composition in 1943's "Pigs in a Polka", which has a Big Bad Wolf (Mel Blanc) with a Brooklyn accent. Seems he failed the same elocution course that Bugs Bunny passed. And, danged if one of the triplets doesn't resemble Porky Pig (who should've been the star of this one). And, yeah, the open recalls "A Corny Concerto" from a couple of years earlier.

Following is a Blue Ribbon reissue.


Rating: B.

From Primetime to Daytime: A primer on what to do at an auction (The Dick Van Dyke Show, 1963)

 From season 3:

Alan Reed (The Flintstones) plays an auctioneer at an art auction that Rob (Dick Van Dyke), Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), Sally (Rose Marie), and Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) attend. Howard Morris and Ray Kellogg, the latter would soon be on Hazel, also appear in "The Masterpiece":

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Saturday School: The series premiere of Lizzie McGuire (2001)

 Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) decides to try out for cheerleading in the series opener.


Yes, Lizzie's animated self was done in Squigglevision.

In memory of Robert Carradine, 71, who passed away earlier this week. No rating.

Monday, February 23, 2026

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Hoppity Hooper in Oil's Well at Oasis Gardens (1965)

 "Oil's Well at Oasis Gardens" was the 2nd season finale of Hoppity Hooper, and illustrates how Uncle Waldo (Hans Conreid) can be just as gullible as the marks he's trying to work. Paul Frees narrates, and also is heard as Boris Badenov, making his 2nd & final appearance in the series.

No rating. Just a public service.