From Primetime to Daytime: A lesson on self-esteem (McHale's Navy, 1963)

 Ensign Parker (Tim Conway) is assigned by Captain Binghamton (Joe Flynn) to teach self-defense to a new corps of nurses. Girl-shy Parker bumbles this assignment, but at least one nurse seems to have her eyes on him.

Joyce Bulifant guest stars in "Today, I Am a Man!":

More than a decade later, Joyce would be reunited with Gavin MasLeod (Happy) on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Coming Attractions: Netflix finds Scooby-Doo's voice. It wasn't that hard

 Once production begins on Greg Berlanti's live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo, the titular dog will have a familiar voice.

Frank Welker has been associated with the franchise from day 1, and took over the voice role of Scooby with What's New Scooby-Doo in 2002, shortly after Neil Fanning had essayed the role in the first live-action movie.

Media reports say that Team Berlanti is looking at a darker version of the franchise, a la Riverdale, one in which Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, & Fred meet Scooby, who apparently witnessed a supernatural murder.

Netflix might want to consider landing a deal to repurpose this Scooby on TNT.......!

There's a reason HBO Max dumped Mindy Kaling's Velma after 2 seasons. Fans of the franchise will only take so much darkness.

Stay tuned.

Getting Schooled: A primer on sex education (Room 222, 1972)

 From season 3 of Room 222:

Mrs. Higgins (Ruth McDevitt, ex-Pistols & Petticoats) is teaching a class on sex education, but when a student has questions about STD's, the student's father (Walker Edmiston) is upset, and threatens the teacher's job...

Countdown to Christmas: Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noel)(1996)

 Lily Tomlin brings her precocious 5 1/2 year old persona of Edith Ann back to television in the 3rd & final primetime special for ABC.

Edith Ann's Christmas (Just Say Noel), written by Tomlin's long time partner, Jane Wagner, sees Edith Ann (Tomlin) run away from home, but you know that won't last.

Tomlin & Wagner hired an independent studio to animate this show, after Klasky-Csupo had produced the first two specials, though the designs are similar to the K-C style.

Tomlin & Wagner had hoped to create an actual series for Edith Ann, but apparently, either the ratings weren't what ABC had hoped for, or other factors were involved.

No rating. Just a public service.

From Primetime to Daytime: The unlikeliest of heroes (McHale's Navy, 1963)

 From season 2 of McHale's Navy:

Ensign Parker (Tim Conway) is recruited to impersonate a British general (Conway in a dual role) while the general is on a mission. Henry Corden, Rolfe Sedan (who'd recur on The Addams Family a year later), and Walter Brooke (later of The Green Hornet) guest star in "The Great Impersonation":

Poor Binghamton. Even when it's so obvious, when the general & Parker are in the same room, he can't get past his hatred for the crew of PT 73......!

Toon Legends: Betty Boop in Blunderland (1934)

 The Fleischers decided to take on Lewis Carroll's literary classic, Alice in Wonderland, by sending Betty Boop (Bonnie Poe) to "Blunderland" in this 1934 short. There was also a feature length version.

The reason we have this to start December is because of some disturbing news that correspondent Steven Dolce shared over the weekend.

Deadline is reporting that some independent filmmakers are going to go with a twisted adaptation of Betty, making her a killer. Is nothing really sacred anymore in Hollywood? In the last few years alone, some of these screwballs have messed with Winnie-The-Pooh, The Banana Splits, and there's been rumors of a Mickey Mouse horror movie based on "Steamboat Willie", which went into public domain a while back.

Do yourselves a favor, guys. Be creative. Come up with your own ideas. Stop messing with everyone else's childhoods.