Spooktober: A Match Game Halloween (1990)

 Match Game had its only Halloween episode during the Ross Shafer era in 1990. Why Charles Nelson Reilly (ex-Lidsville, Uncle Croc's Block, Flintstone Comedy Show) opted to wear a homemade Superman costume over reprising as Frankenstein's monster (i.e. Frank Frankenstone), I don't know. Shafer's Dracula ensemble only heightened the fact he might've been separated at birth from Jon "Bowzer" Bauman......

Spooktober: Misfortune Hunters (Archie's Weird Mysteries, 1999)

 They say no good deed goes unpunished. When Betty gets some fortune cookies and performs good deeds, she runs afoul of a demon.

Here's "Misfortune Hunters":

Rating: B.

Sunday Funnies: The Boys From Termite Terrace (Camera Three, 1975)

 CBS' Camera Three, a Sunday public affairs program, took a close look at Warner Bros.' legendary Termite Terrace studio in this 1975 installment, loaded with vintage clips, and interviews with Chuck Jones, Mel Blanc, Bob Clampett, and others.

Seems to me this might've been a 2 parter, since Camera Three was normally a half hour program. Coincidentally, CBS had reacquired the rights to the Looney Tunes gang that same year. The video also includes a UNICEF PSA with Carroll O'Connor (All in The Family), who made his debut as a producer that year with Bronk, a promo for which is the last item on the video.

No fair rating. Camera Three did not air in the Albany market, so I never saw the show.

Toonformercial: Alice in Rexall-land (1966)

 Rexall was one of the sponsors of the 1966 animated adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, or, What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?. To that end, some in-show ads were made, not just for Rexall, but also for the other sponsor, Coca-Cola.

Here, Alice (Janet Waldo) chases her dog through a magical TV screen, and finds the White Rabbit shilling for Rexall. Howard Morris voices the White Rabbit.

I think, if you listen close, Morris would rework his Rabbit voice for Dilton Doiley in the Archie cartoons (1968-78).

Animated World of DC Comics: The Marvel Family vs. Black Adam, round 2 (1981)

 In "A Little Something Extra", Black Adam poses as a newspaper delivery man to set a trap for the Marvels. It would be Adam's final appearance in animated form for several years.

"A Little Something Extra" was written by Paul Dini.

Rating: B.

Coming Attractions: The Simpsons go anime

 If you're a fan of the anime, Death Note, it might interest you to know that you're not alone.

You can count some creative personnel on The Simpsons among its fans.

What we're learning is that this year, the series' annual Treehouse of Horror will include a vignette inspired by and paying tribute to Death Note. The Korean animators hired for this segment gave the family a completely new look, as opposed to the golden yellow skin that is Matt Groening's trademark.

What we can tell you is that the regular cast will still be intact. A clip of this segment is already viral, with Yeardley Smith as Lisa.

Personally, I'd love to see a full episode in anime format. There's your next challenge.

Game Time: "Superman" meets Duncan Hines and a soap box derby champion (To Tell The Truth, 1957)

 I think most of us have used Duncan Hines products over the years. I know my late mother did, when it was made by Procter & Gamble.

Now, you have the opportunity to meet the man himself. Duncan Hines was an author and restaurant expert by the time he appeared on To Tell The Truth in September 1957. Pay close attention as moderator Bud Collyer simply scolds panelist Hy Gardner with just a simple look.

Also: 1957 soap box derby champion Terry Townsend.

Tooniversary: Jackson & The Beanstalk (1972)

 ABC renewed The Jackson 5ive in 1972, rechristening it as The New Jackson 5ive Show, even though only 6 new episodes were produced by England's Halas & Bachelor, which was also contracted for The Osmonds. Anyway, the boys are caught up in a parody of an oft-adapted children's story in "Jackson & The Beanstalk".

Actor Donald Fullilove, the speaking voice of Michael, was also heard on another freshman series, Kid Power. Marlon's speaking voice was performed by a member of another musical family, Edmund Sylvers (The Sylvers).

In memory of co-executive producer and director Jules Bass, who passed away earlier this week at 87. No rating out of respect.

Looney TV: Chester Cheetah meets Daffy Duck (1998)

 There was a time when Daffy Duck was being licensed for commercial endorsements more often than frenemy Bugs Bunny. One such instance was in 1998, when Frito-Lay hired Daffy to work with Chester Cheetah----as a stunt double. 

If anything, we'd already proven that Daffy was meant to be a second banana after all......

Spooktober: Monster in My Pocket: The Big Scream (1992)

 Monster in my Pocket started as a toy line, originally produced by Matchbox, but by the time The Big Scream, produced by Hanna-Barbera for the ABC Weekend Special, aired, Matchbox had turned over the rights to another company. A license had been granted to Harvey Comics in 1991 for 4 bi-monthly issues, but the publisher's internal issues killed any chance of it continuing.

Let's go to October 1992 for The Big Scream:

I'm thinking this was meant to be a back-door pilot for a spin-off series, but nothing came of it, same as the comic book before it.

No rating. Just a public service. 

Animated World of DC Comics: The Marvels vs. Black Adam (1981)

 Black Adam made his television debut in 1981 in this Shazam! cartoon from The Kid Super Power Hour.

41 years later, DC has rebooted Adam, as he is no longer an Egyptian, opting to create the fictional country of Khandaq, as seen in the new movie. In addition, had this cartoon been made in more recent times, Adam wouldn't be that gullible at the end, either.

Rating: A-.

Space Cadets: There's No Place Like Outer Space (The Archie-Sabrina Hour, 1977)

 Archie and the gang get a tour of a space station, and bumble into a mission simulator. John Erwin (Reggie) doubles as the tour guide (using his Dick Tracy voice, later recycled for He-Man), and is also heard as the computer, Q. Good thing Dilton (Howard Morris) went on this trip....

What killed this for me is Reggie immediately suspecting Sabrina as she walked through the moon simulation, while the others tested the zero gravity. Give it a rest!

Rating: B-.

Saturday School: Cry, The Beloved Mascot (Fillmore!, 2002)

 Fillmore (Orlando Brown, That's So Raven) has to have his parents postpone family dinner night to solve a case when the school mascot disappears, and Principal Folsom (Wendie Mallick, Just Shoot Me) sends for him. Holly Robinson Peete is heard as Fillmore's mom, and Jeff Probst (Survivor) low-keys it as the assistant principal in "Cry, The Beloved Mascot":

It's fitting we're using this episode, as a number of schools around the country, including here in the 518, are holding spirit weeks this month. At my alma mater, its Homecoming week, but nothing cheesy like the festivities at X Middle School.

Series creator Scott Gimple might not be in a hurry to revisit this series, but, then, there's his current franchise, the adaptation of the Image comics series, The Walking Dead.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: The Arabian Knights vs. The Desert Raiders (1968)

 It's been a while since we checked on the Arabian Knights.

Van-Gorr (Paul Frees) fancies himself as the leader of "The Desert Raiders", pillaging villages to enrich Bakkar (John Stephenson). The Knights, however, have other ideas.

Rating: B.

Toon Legends: Pink in The Drink (1978)

 The Pink Panther is lured onto what he thinks is a pleasure cruise, but it's a scam.

And, oh, is the duplicitous captain going to regret it!

Rating: B.

Toonfomercial: Snagglepuss becomes a chocolate King Midas (1961)

 This Cocoa Krispies ad is a parody of the story of King Midas, except that Snagglepuss (Daws Butler) has a chocolate touch. June Foray is also heard in one of her first jobs for Hanna-Barbera. Some YouTube commentators thought it was either Janet Waldo or Jean VanderPyl.

The first couple of seconds were edited off, but if we can find a complete copy, we'll sub it in.

Saturtainment: The Mighty Termite (1961)

 Here's a Paramount Modern Madcap that, according to the YouTube poster, was later used on The New Casper Cartoon Show.

A scientist (Jack Mercer) wants to study the habits of a termite, but the subject is very resistant. Here's "The Mighty Termite":

Rating: B.

You Know The Voices: Pat Harrington & Micky Dolenz (1973)

 From season 3 of Owen Marshall, Counselor-at-Law:

Singer John Denver makes his acting debut, as a son wrongfully accused of killing his terminally-ill mother (Teresa Wright). 

Pat Harrington appears around the 20 minute mark as a prosecutor going over the case with Marshall (Arthur Hill) and his assistant, Danny (Reni Santoni). Micky Dolenz (ex-The Monkees, Funky Phantom) turns up at the 35 minute mark as a record producer who testifies at trial. Look quick, too, for Kristina Holland (ex-Funky Phantom, Courtship of Eddie's Father).

Also co-starring Mike Farrell (ex-The Interns), two years before joining the cast of M*A*S*H.

Toonfomercial: When a raisin interviews the sun (1981)

 Here's an odd one. Kellogg's decided to give a sentient raisin (likely Paul Winchell) a reporter's cap and a microphone to interview the Sun.

Silly.

Toons After Dark: Mr. Magoo meets Dick Tracy (1964)

 From The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo:

Dick Tracy made his final appearance for UPA in this crossover episode, produced three years after Dick's syndicated series had ended production. 

The plot: Magoo (Jim Backus, Gilligan's Island) is recruited by Tracy to pose as a lookalike mobster, Squinty Eyes, in order to infiltrate the mob, led in this case by Pruneface (Marvin Miller). Now, I'm not sure if Oodles (Howard Morris) was an actual Chester Gould creation, or was made for TV. It'd have to be the latter to explain his appearance here.

Marvin Miller also voices Chief Pat Patton, who makes his TV debut.

Magoo needed to be humbled at the end, to keep his ego in check. It would be seven years before Tracy and some of his foes, like Flattop, Mumbles, The Brow, and The Mole, would return.

Rating: A-.

Spooktober: A complete episode of Groovie Goolies (1970-1)

 The content of this Groovie Goolies episode includes:

The Rolling Headstones performing "Chick-a-Boom", which was posted separately years ago.

Wolfie (Howard Morris) getting more than he bargained for when the mailbox sends him the beach.

A Goolies number serves as a backdrop for Ratso & Batso hassling Hauntleroy with a robot girl bent on kissing him.

Frankie (Morris) visits Drs. Jekyll & Hyde (a 2 headed doctor).

Weird Window Time, featuring Sabrina (Jane Webb). The segment is derived from the Joke Wall segment on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

As you can probably tell, Larry Storch recycled his Phineas J. Whoopee voice from Tennessee Tuxedo for Drac.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

 We lost the real-life "Coal Miner's Daughter", Loretta Lynn, a week ago. In 1980, her memoir of the same name was adapted into a movie, which netted an Oscar for star Sissy Spacek, whose rendition of "Daughter" landed her and The Band's Levon Helm on The Midnight Special.....

Helm would move up to the front for two additional tracks in this episode, with Sissy picking up a guitar. We'll play those another day.

A lesson in bike safety with the Cisco Kid (1955)

 It's almost like walking through a time warp.

Duncan Renaldo & Leo Carrillo, the stars of The Cisco Kid, appear in costume for this short spot promoting bike safety.

It makes one wonder if there was a longer version of this ad, and there probably was.

Toon Legends: Heckle & Jeckle in Thousand Smile Check-Up (1960)

 Here's a made for TV Heckle & Jeckle short that got quite a bit of play in syndication in the 70's & 80's when the boys appeared on cable. They're out in the desert as owners of a service station, but a competitor wants to drive them out of business.

Here's "Thousand Smile Check-Up":

I've heard of putting a tiger in your tank, but a bulldog?

Rating: A-.

From Comics to Toons: Me & My Shadow (The Archie-Sabrina Hour, 1977)

 In the original Archie Show, we were introduced to one doppleganger of Jughead (Howard Morris). In "Me & My Shadow", we meet Jug's lookalike cousin, Ace (Morris), a prankster framing his cousin for his stunts all over the city.

Seems like this episode gave Morris license to channel his most famous character, Ernest T. Bass (The Andy Griffith Show), through Ace. He even created a voice that was a hybrid of Jug & Bass.

Rating: B.

Spooktober: Shopworn Wolf (Teen Wolf, 1986)

 From season 1 of Teen Wolf:

Scott (Townsend Coleman) wants a guitar, and rocks out when testing it. Stiles, his best friend (Don Most, ex-Happy Days, Fonz & The Happy Days Gang, Dungeons & Dragons) turns the hardware store into a hangout while Scott's father (James Hampton, ex-F-Troop, The Doris Day Show) is away. Yeeks!

No rating. Just a public service. 

Tooniversary: Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997)

 Spawn is one of two Image comics series that has remained in publication over the course of its 30 years of existence (Savage Dragon is the other). 25 years ago, series creator Todd McFarlane, one of Image's founders, struck a deal with HBO and the Japanese animation studio Madhouse to adapt the series for television.

Todd McFarlane's Spawn lasted just three seasons of six episodes each. Keith David, fresh from Gargoyles, voiced the title character, a demonic mutation of ex-soldier Al Simmons, who had been betrayed and killed five years before his resurrection.

Due to language and adult situations, two things very common with HBO, we can't show any video footage. What we can tell you, though, is that during the 1st season, NHL player Tony Twist filed suit due to one of the villains on the show (and comic book), a mob boss, was his namesake. Twist won the case, and the gangster was written off. A follow-up series was in development 13 years ago, but never really got off the ground.

Spawn has become a cottage industry for Image, with a number of spin-off series currently running.

No rating.

Sunday Funnies: WPIX's Sunday brunch with Abbott & Costello (1971)

 When cable television arrived in the 518 around 1973-4, WPIX's Sunday Morning Movie became a regular viewing destination at home with the folks.

Beginning in 1971, WPIX used the Sunday Morning Movie as a means of showcasing the collection of Abbott & Costello feature films. We've noted in the past how WPIX would lead into the movie with reruns of The Abbott & Costello Show or F-Troop on an alternating basis. At one point, the lead-in spot was filled with the Three Stooges after 'PIX reacquired rights to those classic shorts in the 80's.

It didn't matter how often we watched the same movies (i.e. "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein"). It was a means to kill time until football in the fall or baseball in the spring & summer.

I don't even know if the tradition continues today, but it would be a good thing if it did.

From Comics to Toons: A flying saucer over Riverdale? (Archie's TV Funnies, 1971)

 Sightings of a flying saucer send Reggie & Moose in search of a story. Problem is, it's not what it looks like.

Also in this installment of Archie's TV Funnies:

Broom-Hilda falls for a wrestler, but then has to feud with another witch. Sound familiar?

Hans & Fritz free a gorilla that the Captain & the Inspector intend to sell to the zoo on Captain & The Kids.

Dick Tracy battles Flattop (this was previusly reviewed separately years ago).

The Dropouts go fishing.

Plus, quick, short skits with Moon Mullins, Nancy, & Smokey Stover. Emmy Lou has the day off.

​

Rating: B+.

Spooktober: Jeepers Creepers (1939)

 Porky Pig (Mel Blanc) is a cop on the beat, sent to a reputedly haunted house. Oh, there is a ghost (Pinto Colvig), but this wouldn't be the last time Porky would set foot in a haunted house. Here's "Jeepers Creepers":

Edit, 10/30/24: The video was deleted due to a copyright claim from WBD. In its place is a colorized version copyrighted by WB in 1990.

I'm not sure if this has been playing anywhere in recent years, since the ghost ends up covered in black smoke, leading to a mimic of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson at the end. Anderson, of course, would join Mel for "The Mouse That Jack Built" a few years later with the rest of the cast from The Jack Benny Program.

I recall seeing this back in the 70's. Silly.

Rating: B-.

Coming Attractions (continued): Mindy Kaling's take on Velma gets a supporting cast-----------and Velma gets repackaged in a new movie

 It has been whispered for years in fandom, and now, Warner Bros Discovery has acknowledged, per the new Scooby-Doo DTV DVD, "Trick or Treat, Scooby-Doo", that Velma Dinkley is, in fact, gay.

Seems the plot involves Velma crushing on a female crime boss. "Trick or Treat", already out on digital DVD, drops on HBO Max on October 15.

From what we understand, noted director James Gunn, who had a hand in scripting the two live-action theatrical "Scooby-Doo" movies 20 years ago, wanted Velma to be presented as gay in those films, but Warners was a little reluctant at the time, image & merchandising being a big reason.

Meanwhile, Mindy Kaling's forthcoming Velma is filling out its cast. As we've previously reported, Shaggy is being flipped to African-American (voiced by Sam Richardson). Constance Wu (ex-Fresh Off The Boat) has been cast as Daphne, and Glenn Howerton will play Fred. Kaling has assembled a roster of guest stars including Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, and NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns. Frank Welker, long the voice of Fred, will play a different role in the new series, which will drop on HBO Max sometime in 2023. To tie you over, WB Animation has released a teaser video, which premiered today at the NY Comic Con.

Mindy has the voice down, and, as you can see, with Velma being rebooted as having roots in India, she now has darker skin, which won't sit well in certain parts of this country. As for the news of Velma being rebooted as gay, there are certain corners of fandom that won't dig that, either, but then again, 25 years ago, Ellen DeGeneres came out, merited the cover of Time, and became a bigger star. Surprisingly, according to at least one headline I've seen, the usual right wing suspects are suspiciously silent----for now.

We'll see how this all plays out over the next few months. Velma will have 10 episodes in season 1, but beyond that is anyone's guess.

Toonfomercial: Garfield shills for Alpo cat food (1990)

 While Garfield's creator, Jim Davis, landed an American Express commercial, Garfield starred in a series of commercials for Alpo when the pet food company began producing cat food in 1990.

Don't know who the actor is who appears to be playing Jon, Garfield's owner. It is, of course, Lorenzo Music as Garfield.

Reportedly, Music missed a subsequent taping, resulting in singer-comedian Tom Smothers filling in for at least one ad.

Saturtainment: A complete episode of The Kwicky Koala Show (1981)

 Well, this one's a treat.

Episodes of Kwicky Koala are now available on YouTube, or at least until Warner Bros Discovery sends their copyright enforcement unit out to have them removed. You know how it works.

Anyway, the Bungle Brothers (Michael Bell & Allan Melvin) are a would-be post-modern vaudeville act. The three vignettes here have them trying out various circus acts. Loosely based, we think, on Tex Avery's George & Junior.

Kwicky in "Robinson Caruso". Kwicky (Bob Ogle impersonating Bill Thompson) is on a deserted island where Wilford Wolf (John Stephenson) has been marooned. A treasure is involved.

Crazy Claws in "The Claws Conspiracy": Crazy (Jim MacGeorge doing a slight mimic of Groucho Marx) creates trouble for Rawhide Clyde (Don Messick) as usual.

Dirty Dawg in "Dirty's Debut": Dirty (Frank Welker mimicking Howard Cosell) tries entering Ratso (Peter Cullen) in a dog show, thinking no one would know the difference. One of the first instances of the two actors working together, forging a partnership still going strong more than 40 years later.

What doomed the show was its early time slot, airing at 8 am on the east coast as a lead-in for Trollkins. If CBS had slotted The Bugs Bunny-Road Runner Show at 8 (it was 90 minutes by this point), and plugged in Kwicky & Trollkins from 9:30-10:30, maybe they survive the season.

Rating: B.

You Know The Voice: Gilbert Gottfried (1989)

 In the late 80's, Gilbert Gottfried had a recurring gig as a faux executive at MTV. He was working a similar schtick doing ads for Oh Henry candy bars, at the time made by Nestle. This video has three short ads.

After Ferriero acquired the rights to Nestle's candy line, which also included Crunch and 100 Grand, three years ago, they retired Oh Henry in the US. It's still being produced in Canada-----by Hershey.

To think that around the same time these ads aired, Gottfried also was shilling for Banquet's microwave chicken nuggets, and was a little more normal in that he didn't do his usual schtick.

Spooktober: The Ghost Busters meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1975)

 Robert Louis Stevenson always meant to have Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde as two distinct personalities sharing the same body. Ghost Busters creator/head writer/associate producer Marc Richards felt the need to turn this novel on its side by having Hyde (Joe E. Ross, fresh from Hong Kong Phooey) co-exist with Jekyll (Severn Darden) by having the two appear simultaneously.

Anyone that ever read Stevenson's tale knew better. Ross dug up his caveman gear from It's About Time, almost a decade earlier, which also was the wrong look for Hyde. Ugh.

Rating: C-.

Tooniversary: Archie becomes honorary chief of police (The Archie-Sabrina Hour, 1977)

 When Entertainment Rights had the distribution rights to the Archie line of animated series, they chopped up The Archie-Sabrina Hour into half-hour increments under the revised title, The Archie-Sabrina Surprise Package.

In the opener, Reggie loses his post as honorary police chief to Archie. Making matters worse for Reggie, he brings in a friend from rival Crosstown High, and soon regrets it.

This story revisits elements from 1968's "Disappearing Act".

You'd think Reggie would be smarter than this. His false accusations of Sabrina, a carry-over from the past, rang hollow, as usual.

Rating: B.

Spooktober: Earth, Wind, Fire, & Air (1999)

 We all know that the four elements are Earth, Wind, Fire, & Water, the latter substituted with Air for a Hex Girls track that closes "Scooby-Doo & The Witch's Ghost" from 1999.

Actresses Jennifer Hale and Kimberly Brooks join with Jane Weidlin of the Go-Go's to form the trio, and, 23 years later, fans are still waiting for a Hex Girls CD or spin-off movie.

In case you wonder, Thorn (Hale) is the lead singer and guitarist. Luna (Brooks, South Park) is the bassist and back-up singer. Dusk (Weidlin) is the drummer. Methinks any of those three could cure Shaggy's fear of the supernatural, if you know what I mean.