Krofftverse: The Showoff (Pryor's Place, 1984)

 Richard Pryor recalls the time he appeared in front of an audience for the first time. Stage fright? You bet. In the flashback, young Richie (Akili Prince) runs afoul of a teacher (Marla Gibbs, The Jeffersons), and meets Willie Nelson, who shaved off his signature mustache for this appearance. Ray Parker, Jr. makes a rare acting appearance in the wraparounds, and John Ritter (Three's Company/Three's a Crowd) also guest stars in "The Showoff":

From an official Pryor fan channel:

With all that star power, you'd think CBS would've done the sensible thing, and put this on at an earlier time.......

Rating: A.

Retro Toy Chest: Remember Tippee Toes & Lucky Locket Kiddles? (1966-7)

 Mattel's line of toys in the late 60's for young girls wasn't entirely all about Barbie. For younger girls, there were the Lucky Locket Kiddles, introduced in 1966, and Tippee Toes, a toddler doll, in 1967.

Periscope Films packaged two commercials together for this video, with some familiar actors' voices doing the narration. First we have Tippee Toes, narrated by William Schallert (ex-The Patty Duke Show, Dobie Gillis), followed by the Lucky Locket Kiddles, with Olan Soule (The Andy Griffith Show, Dragnet, etc.) narrating.

Rare Treats: A pilot and screen test reel of Young/Space Sentinels (1977)

 Vinnie Rattolle has unearthed a real rarity.

The Young Sentinels, later rechristened, Space Sentinels, was one of two freshman entries from Filmation sold to NBC in 1977. In this sizzle reel, we see preliminary sketches and what would be a pilot, with prototype costumes for the 3 leads, Mercury, Hercules, and Astrea. Dick Tufeld, who otherwise never worked for Filmation, narrated this part.

Afterward, we see a sort of screen test with Kim and two young actors who didn't make the final cut, filling the roles of Hercules and Astria.

If the background music sounds familiar, it does. It was used on other Filmation action shows like Star Trek, Shazam!, Tarzan, Lord of The Jungle, & Secrets of Isis.

This was Evan Kim's only cartoon credit, as it turns out.

Saturday School: The series premiere of Curiosity Shop (1971)

 Toon Tracker has acquired black & white copies of the bookend episodes of Curiosity Shop. By bookend, of course, I mean the 1st & last episodes in the series. Only 1 season of 1st run episodes were produced, with the series moving to Sundays in reruns the next year.

Anyway, after this episode, the producers, after introducing all four children (John Levin, Pamelyn Ferdin, Kerry MacLane, Jerelyn Fields), opted to alternate between the two girls. Barbara Minkus (Love, American Style) begins a recurring gig as Gittle the witch. The puppets are voiced by Les Tremayne, June Foray, Mel Blanc, Bob Holt, and Don Messick, and designed by Bob Baker.

Here's the opener:

Interesting factoids dept.: Pamelyn Ferdin & Kerry MacLane would meet with Les Tremayne a few years later. Each guest starred in separate episodes of Shazam!. After production ended on Shop, Pamelyn would land three series gigs the next year, the animated Sealab 2020 & Roman Holidays for NBC, and, as we've seen, she played Paul Lynde's youngest daughter on his self-titled ABC sitcom. Jerelyn Fields (Aesop's Fables), like Pam, has retired from show business, and we must assume the same for the boys.

Music by Dean Elliott, by then the go-to musical director for DePatie-Freleng's Dr. Seuss specials (after Chuck Jones had ended his association with Seuss), and the legendary Henry Mancini. The cartoons introduced by Prof. Balthazar (Tremayne) were produced in what is now Croatia.

Rating: A-.

Amazon Prime claims two more Max castoffs

 On Wednesday, Amazon Prime confirmed that they have a 2 season order, or, 52 episodes, for Batman: Caped Crusader, but, that ain't all.

Seems the streamer has now pulled the TV-movie, "Merry Little Batman", a "Home Alone" riff with Damian Wayne, off the scrap heap, and are adding a series spinning out of the film.

Bat-Family will focus on Batman, Damian, and ever-faithful Alfred. On the other hand, hardcore Bat-fanatics might not like the designs:

Pssst! Pass the Pepto!

If that's what the movie will look like, barf me out!

On the other hand, I think we can see why Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav said, "no thanks", to "Merry Little Damian", and probably knew Bat-Family was part of the package.

The target audience, though, would rather not have young Damian to be as dour as he's been presented in the books, one would guess.

And if you think this is bad, keep in mind this isn't the first time DC green-lit a series with a bad premise. Fans of a certain age will recall that when Plastic Man was renewed for a 2nd season at ABC, they had Plas marry his sexy sidekick, Penny, off-air, and somehow, got Baby Plas out of that. 43 years later, its standing as the worst DC Comics cartoon ever is in jeopardy.

Stay tooned.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits (Revisited): The Bee Gees cover The Beatles (1973)

 The Bee Gees were frequent guests during the early years of The Midnight Special. In August 1973, the brothers paid tribute to the Beatles with a 5 song medley, comprised of:

"If I Fell".

"I Need You".

"You'll Be Back".

"This Boy".

"She Loves You".

Three of the five get regular airplay on classic rock and oldies channels. You know which ones, but check the Gibbs' harmonies on this acoustic medley.

Animated World of DC Comics: Mitefall (Batman: The Brave & The Bold, 2011)

 I've heard of going meta, but the series finale of Batman: The Brave & The Bold does go there, and then some.

By the time "Mitefall" aired, it was already known that Chumptoon Network had decided to cancel the series. The ill-fated Beware The Batman followed several months later. "Mitefall", then, was the producers' way of sending a message to CN, using Bat-Mite (Paul Reubens) to deliver the message. In this outing, Bat-Mite is a little more malevolent than he'd ever been portrayed, behaving like that other 5th dimensional imp, Mr. Mxyzptlk. Bat-Mite even reads off some of the cast list.

With John DiMaggio (ex-Futurama, Kim Possible) doing double duty as Aquaman & Grodd, the writers cut him a break by having Ted McGinley (ex-Married...With Children, Happy Days, The Love Boat) step in for him as part of the plot.

The whole idea of Grodd turning people into bananas reeked of an old Powerpuff Girls cartoon, except that the bananas were subbed in for dogs.

Here's "Mitefall". CN screwed up with the closing credits.

Maybe the snafu with the closing credits was one last FU from CN to the show's producers & writers. What we do know is one extra special guest was added to the mix, with Henry Winkler as Ambush Bug. Whoa! McGinley was cast as a play off his unfortunate rep of joining a series as it's nearing its end.

Rating: A-.

Saturtainment: Around The World in 80 Ways (Fonz & The Happy Days Gang, 1981)

 From season 2 of Fonz & The Happy Days Gang:

The "good group", as Wolfman Jack christened our crew, winds up in a parody of a certain Jules Verne story that Hanna-Barbera had previously adapted. Here's "Around The World in 80 Ways":

In memory of co-writer Duane Poole, 74, who has passed away. No rating out of respect.

Sunday Funnies: Shivering Sherlocks (1948)

 Mistaken for a trio of thieves, the Three Stooges take it upon themselves to clear their names while helping an heiress (Christine McIntyre). Here's "Shivering Sherlocks":

I've lost track of how often McIntyre was a damsel in distress in these shorts.

Rating: A-.

You Know The Voice: Gerald Mohr (1966)

 Before he entered a recording studio in 1967 to record Green Lantern for Filmation & CBS, and Fantastic Four for Hanna-Barbera & ABC, Gerald Mohr was already well known as a radio & film actor.

In one of future president Ronald Reagan's last episodes as host of Death Valley Days in 1966, Mohr stars as Andres Pico in "The Firebrand".

Reagan left the series to make a successful run for governor of California. Mohr, as previously documented, appeared on Pistols & Petticoats the following fall.

We previously reviewed Death Valley Days in detail at The Land of Whatever.

Tooniversary: The Spirit of '43 (1943)

 Donald Duck (Clarence Nash) faces a moral dilemma most of us face every year, paying his taxes. "The Spirit of '43" includes a prototype, created by Carl Barks, of Uncle Scrooge.

More than 60 years later, this was released as part of a Disney DVD collection. The film itself is now in the public domain.

Rating: A.

Coming Attractions: Tiny Toons Looniversity is finally ready to open

 It's been nearly 3 years since WB (Now Warner Bros Discovery) first announced that Tiny Toon Adventures would finally merit a sequel. Rather than further alienate viewers already upset over content purges at Max (formerly HBO Max; the name change takes effect next month), WBD suits finally greenlit Tiny Toons Looniversity, set for a fall launch on Cartoon Network & Max.

CN has provided a teaser:

Fall 2023 could mean either September or October, so fans have five or six months to wait anxiously. And, oh, yeah, it'll be On Demand, too, for you cable viewers.

IF CN or Boomerang had any sense, they'd dust off the original Tiny Toons this summer. But would they?

Stay tooned.

Saturday School: A primer on developing friendships (One to Grow On, 1984)

 Here's a classic case of a friendship on the verge of fracturing, just because one of the boys has run across someone new that has better, shinier toys than the other lad does.

This One to Grow On short is hosted by Byron Allen (Real People):

40 years later, Byron spends more time behind the camera as a television executive, now specializing in courtroom shows. After WB decided to part company with Judge Mathis and The People's Court, Allen signed both Judges Greg Mathis and Marilyn Milian for new series launching in the fall through his Allen Media Group, which has evolved from shows like The American Athlete and The Entertainers to a revival of Funny You Should Ask (reruns now on Grio) and the courtroom shows.

Animated World of DC Comics: Superman in Jungle Drums (1943)

 After Famous Studios, Paramount's in-house animation house, took over Superman, they sent the Man of Steel (Bud Collyer) after the Axis Powers. In "Jungle Drums", a Nazi general (Julian Coa) is hiding in Africa leading a covert operation, and using the local natives for cover. Jack Mercer is heard as a pilot and an Army Lieutenant shot down in the jungle.

Rating: A.

Tooniversary: Zero finds love (Zero's Dizzy Double Date, 1963)

 Beetle Bailey (Howard Morris) sets up Zero (Morris) with a young secretary (June Foray) who might've been a prototype for Ms. Buxley, for a double date with Beetle & Bunny (Foray) at a costume ball. However, Killer (Morris, I think) tries spoiling the fun, but 'twould seem that Beetle can see right through his deception. 

Beetle & Bunny dress as Robin Hood & Maid Marian. That devil costume fits Killer better than Zero, anyway......

60 years later, Bunny is long gone from the strip, and Beetle is dating Ms. Buxley, though Killer still is looking for a date......

Rating: A-.

Remember Big Fig? (1973)

 We had this next item up before, then it was deleted from YouTube. We're happy to say it's back.

James Harder appeared in a zillion commercials, either in front of the camera or as a voice-over, in the 60's and 70's, and we've recently learned he created the character of Big Fig prior to the debut of this 1973 Fig Newtons ad, in which he introduces the dance, the Newton.

As previously seen, James would shed the Big Fig suit and land a gig for Children's Television Workshop & NBC in the Bet'cha Didn't Know interstitals in the early 80's. Sadly, we lost James 14 years ago. This video will enable a new generation of kids to learn the Newton, though.

You Know The Voice: Sandy Becker (1961)

 Sandy Becker was a NY-based TV & radio personality (i.e. Wonderama), and made a rare primetime appearance in 1961, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show to demonstrate Fab laundry detergent, then made by Colgate-Palmolive, with "The Dirt Experts". Sullivan is heard off-camera, then appears at the end of the video.

This also appears over at The Land of Whatever. Now, we have to find some Wonderama clips with Sandy......

Toonfomercial: A candy bar from outer space? (1974)

 If you've never heard of the U-No bar, and chances are this would be the case, because I had never run across it until the following ad, I can well understand. A small candy company landed a distribution deal with Ralston Purina in 1974 to make the product available across the country.

This ad explains what the ad agency had in mind, as narrated by Jackson Beck.

California based Annabelle Candy acquired U-No in 1978, but it appears that the product remains a regional entity.

From Comics to Toons: Beetle Bailey in The Heir (1963)

 Beetle Bailey (Howard Morris) gets a telegram informing him he is the sole heir to a fortune from an otherwise obscure relative. Allan Melvin voices Rocky & Cosmo in "The Heir":

It's one of the oldest plots in the business, and with predictable results.

Rating: B-.

Toonfomercial: The Frito Bandito gets busted! (1968)

 How brazen was the Frito Bandito (Mel Blanc)? He gets arrested, but when he sees the desk sergeant (Stafford Repp, ex-Batman, General Hospital) with a bag of Fritos, well.......

Ay caramba!!!

You Know The Voice: Arnold Stang (1965)

 Broadside, a spin-off from McHale's Navy, made a slight cast change in the winter of 1965. Two supporting players were cut to make room for veteran Arnold Stang (ex-Top Cat), who had worked with producer Edward Montagne on some short subjects in the 50's when Stang wasn't working with Milton Berle or making Chunky commercials.

Anyway, Arnold debuted in the 20th episode of the season as seaman-master chef Stanley Stubbs, an old high school classmate of Selma (Sheila James, ex-Dobie Gillis). The fact that Stanley quickly makes friends with the WAVES irritates the base CO (Edward Andrews), to be sure.

Arnold first appears just ahead of the 5 minute mark.

Unfortunately, budgetary concerns at Universal torpedoed Broadside after 1 season, and Arnold Stang never got another primetime berth.

Retro Toy Chest: Kenner's Easy Bake Oven gets corporate sponsorship (1967?)

 In 1967, General Mills acquired Kenner Products, which explains why the cereal giant's Betty Crocker brand became attached to Kenner's Easy Bake Oven. Check out this vintage ad:

From Primetime to Daytime: The Monkees Take Manhattan (1967)

 Actually, the title of this episode is either "The Monkees in Manhattan" or, "Monkees, Manhattan Style". Anyway, the guys are in New York, and help a down on his luck producer (Richard Anders). Keep an eye out for a cameo by Foster Brooks, using his drunk persona, and for Olan Soule, who was appearing on Dragnet at the time this first aired, as a waiter. Olan first appears around the 6 minute mark.

Rating: B.

Toonformercial: When Esso became Exxon (1972)

 I had this one before, then it was taken down. Now, it's back.

Let's take you to 1972 and the Advertising Hall of Fame. The Smith Brothers received a telegram for the Humble/Esso tiger, who learns that the company will now be known as Exxon (Today, it's Exxon-Mobil). Peter Thomas narrates. Dick Beals is heard as Speedy, the mascot of Alka-Seltzer.

The series premiere of The Midnight Special (1972)

 A few short weeks before Soul Train went national, NBC developed an overnight music series that would air after The Tonight Show. The Midnight Special lasted a decade, launching in August 1972. 

The series now has a fan channel on YouTube, and the series premiere, hosted by John Denver, is up. We've previously screened Argent's performance of "Hold Your Head Up", but now comes the whole enchilada.

No rating.

You Know The Voice: Didi Conn (1976)

 2 years before "Grease" made her a household name, and 4 years before Fonz & The Happy Days Gang, Didi Conn was contracted by an ad agency for Procter & Gamble to do a commercial for Biz laundry bleach.

Didi made other movies (i.e. "Corvette Summer", "You Light Up My Life"), just in case anyone thinks I didn't know.

Tooniversary: The Littlest Musketeer (1968)

 The series opener of The Three Musketeers establishes the quest of Tooly (Ted Eccles, The Herculoids) to join the Musketeers. When that fails, he decides that, despite his being a juvenile, he wants to join the Cardinal's guards. Of course, that doesn't work, either.

But when the Musketeers (Bruce Watson, Jonathan Harris, Don Messick, Barney Phillips) are sent to aid a Spanish envoy, Tooly, of course, decides to tag along, riding separately.

Rating: A.

On DVD: Cash & Carry (1937)

 The Three Stooges showed their sentimental side when they help an orphaned brother & sister raise money for an operation the boy needs to heal his leg. Here's "Cash & Carry":

Rating: A.