120 over 80

Back from our annual summer hiatus we dive into the life and times of the effervescent Sandy Duncan, best known for her appearance in the award winning miniseries Roots, her Broadway portrayal of Peter Pan and her lead role in the series The Hogan Family. Doug relives a traumatic audition for The Fantasticks and we dissect Gags Beasley's famous Banana Sketch.

Next Week: Candice Bergen

Credit: The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test.   

What we knew about British comedian, presenter and game show host Bruce Forsyth prior to this episode was next to nothing, but one of UK television's most ubiquitous characters had a long and fascinating career. Despite our ignorance Doug actually has a personal connection to Sir Bruce who hosted a short lived game show in America in the mid-1980's on which his cousin-in-law appeared. We also present the QPR NYC British Game Show Host XI, and discuss who we would want to emcee our memorial services. 

Next Episode: Sandy Duncan

Credit: The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test. 

One of the great sketch comedians of all time joins the Muppets this week and doesn't quite live up to his reputation. We discuss Korman's role on the Carol Burnett Show, the history of comics not hogging the laugh lines, cracking up on live TV and what it means to be "halfway down the stairs". Also, the return of cocktail parties hosted by 95-year-olds.

Next Week: Lena Horn

Credit: The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company

FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test.

Oh, but he's so much more than that. This week's guest star is French crooner Charles Aznavour. Known to many as "the French Sinatra", Aznavour lived a long and fascinating life. We talk about the impact of French culture in America, Aznavour's progressive politics, and deep connection to his Armenian roots and we tell some French army jokes right off the top. Plus, Scooter works with Gonzo on his act, and Piggy is driven mad by Aznavour telling her she needs to have her transmission and tire pressure checked in French.

Next Week: Harvey Korman

The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company

FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test. 

This week's guest star is the diminutive songwriter and actor Paul Williams who made a name for himself writing songs for the likes of David Bowie, Helen Reddy, the Carpenters and Three Dog Night. Doug discusses the change in who could be a frontman that was brought about by the rock n' roll revolution, and how the same trend could be seen in Hollywood. Plus, I relive the nightmare of music cue sheets and we talk about technological utopianism and the debut of a new character…Dr. Bunson Honeydew.

Next Week: French crooner Charles Aznavour

The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company

FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test.

This week's guest star is Florence Henderson, who will forever be remembered as the matriarch of the Brady family but also enjoyed a career on Broadway before hitting it big in TV. After the hit show went off the air in 1974 she followed what had become a well-worn path for celebrities of the time, making countless appearances on TV game shows, most notably Hollywood Squares and the $25,000 Pyramid. Plus, Doug recalls some of the perks of having a father who worked in the advertising industry, including the time his family got a tour of the Paramount lot given by a member of the Mod Squad and the early peeks he would sometimes get of Mission Impossible scripts.  

The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company  

FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test.

This week Doug and I discuss episode three from season one of The Muppet Show, with Academy and Tony Award-winning guest star Joel Grey. In recent years Grey has made headlines for coming out of the closet at the age of 82. We talk about the odd and discordant way that the sexuality of actors and actresses was (and to some degree still is) handled in Hollywood. We also discuss the first "content warning" of the season, Grey's daughter Jennifer Grey, Gonzo's continuing efforts to gain approval, and how post-modernism made another appearance in a skit about Sherlock Holmes.

Next Week: We're joined by Comedian Ryan Beck to talk about fellow yuckster Ruth Buzzi.

Credits: The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company  

FAIR USE ACT DISCLAIMER Fair Use: Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Fair Use Definition: Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching and scholarship. It provides for the legal, non-licensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor balancing test.

Our journey begins with South African dancer and actress Juliet Prowse. Doug and I discuss why she looked slightly out of place on TV in 1976, as well as her big break that led to a run in with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and a (brief) engagement to Frank Sinatra. Meanwhile, how did the Muppets reflect a growing affinity amongst the viewing public for shows that were about show biz? And we pay tribute to the father of Doug's childhood friend, and writer of one of the Muppets most well-known songs Mah Nà Mah Nà, Mr. Irwin Rawitz of Fresh Meadows, Queens.  

Next Week: Season 1, Episode 2 with Connie Stevens

Credits:

The Muppet Show - The Walt Disney Company   

In this lo-fi first episode of our second season Doug and I embark on an ambitious project to watch all 118 episodes of the original Muppet Show - which ran from 1976 to 1981 and has recently become available on Disney+ - and provide as much cultural context as possible for this incredibly influential television show. Who was Jim Henson? Where did the Muppets come from? What does the show tell us about the unique (and often ignored) moment in American history in which it was produced? And most importantly what can the eye-watering list of "guest stars" (Milton Berle, Joan Baez, Dizzy Gillespie, Carol Burnett and Johnny Cash to name just a few) teach us about 'The American Century'?

Next Episode - Season 1 Episode 1 staring Juliette Prowse    

It's Bryson birthday so he opens a couple of presents on air, we include everyone in FRIENDS of the Week and I get a hug before we close with a rimshot and sad trombone.

In this episode we discuss the epic 2014 Championship Playoff Final between my beloved Queens Park Rangers and Derby Country with promotion to the Premier League on the line. We are also joined by QPR NYC's Dunstan Bentley who was at the game and shares his impressions of the great day. Then Doug introduces us to The Americanization of Emily from 1964 starring James Garner and Julie Andrews, a film that was ahead of its time in its questioning of the morality of any war with a screenplay by the brilliant Paddy Chayefsky.

Credits:

Just Dropped In - The First Edition - 1967 - Reprise Records

QPR vs Derby County - 2014 - Sky Sports

The Rockford Files Thee - 1975 - Mike Post and Pete Carpenter - MGM Records

Give 'em the Old One Two - 1974 - 13th Moon Recordings

Bryson discusses Iron Man, the Hulk and Spiderman all while eating a juicy apple. Plus this weeks Friend of the Week is Jason. Enjoy!

Sorry, no Bryson this time but in the wake of the chaos in Washington on Wednesday Doug and I discuss two films about Presidents, 1964's Seven Days in May (which is actually about a coup) and 2012's Lincoln. Plus we get the lowdown on a COVID Christmas in New York.

Music
Bad Brains - Banned in D.C. (1983)
Seven Days in May Trailer (1964)
Hail to the Chief - Games & Sanderson (1812)

Talking about Star Wars is one of our favorite pastimes and this morning over shredded wheat and apples Bryson and I drilled down deep on America’s favorite science fiction franchise. Does C-3PO have a belly button? Are Ewoks as dangerous as actual bears? What’s the difference between a smuggler and a snuggler? Does Chewbacca keep cookies in his bandoleer? Who has more wrinkles, Yoda or Daddy? Plus, we have it out over Bryson's stubborn insistence that Obi Wan was killed by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, which he was most certainly not.  **TRIGGER WARNING** We are really having breakfast as we chat so if you hate eating sounds (as Bryson's mother does) you have been warned.

Bryson keeps me on my toes as we switch up up the rundown last second. We do eventually get back to Lions with an in-depth discussion of The Lion King and why bad guys always have British accents. We also breakdown the film Sing and have a possible on-air toot which was denied by the perpetrator (i.e. Bryson). Plus, our recurring segment Friend of the Week!

This week Bryson explores one of his favorite subjects...dinosaurs! We talk about all his favs from Ankylosaurus to Triceratops. Also we premier our newest feature FRIEND OF THE WEEK. This week the spotlight is on Bryson's bestie Natalie. We dig down on the revelation that Natalie likes to "take stuff from everybody" an allegation for which Bryson offers no proof (sound familiar?!), and discuss some of the nuances of Bryson and Natalie's favorite game..."Boop" in which everyone "boops" everyone else and, we're told, nobody wins..or everybody does, not sure. 

New full episode hopefully coming later this week, but until then enjoy Bryson (who is under the weather and taking one for the team) discussing his lifelong love of Hippos, singing Christmas songs and belching. 

This week Doug and I (god help us) spend a few minutes talking about the topic du jour, "cancel culture". As a 40 year subscriber to the Old Gray Lady Doug gives his take on Bari Weiss' resignation from the New York Times Op-Ed page and the long, complicated history of the New York newspaper scene. Does cancel culture exist or is it just a bunch of elites whining because everyone now has the opportunity to yell at them in real time about their crappy opinions?

From there we discuss the classic 1964 film A Hard Day's Night starring the Beatles, and the University of Vermont's upset of Syracuse in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

Next Episode: We'll compare one of Doug's favorite movie/musicals, 1972's 1776 with the current cultural powerhouse that is Hamilton.

Music:
The Temptations - Ball of Confusion (1970)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1964)
Kurtis Blow - Basketball (1984)

This week discuss Steve Coogan and Rod Brydon's popular film franchise in which they travel through lush European scenery, eat amazing food and trade impressions of Michael Caine amongst many others. Then we have a special guest, as old friend Dan Moffitt joins us to talk about he and Doug's impromptu visit to the Ed Sullivan Theatre to see Sir Paul McCartney perform. 

Next Episode: A Hard Day's Night (1964) and the 2005 NCAA Tournament first round match up between Vermont and Syracuse.  

We ask the important questions: Which dead world historical figure do you wish were alive for the pandemic? What was it like living next to Jonas Salk's mother? Why does CVS have the freshest milk?

Plus the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Frank Sinatra from 1978 and Simon and Garfunkel's 1981 Concert in the Park.

Next Episode: The Trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon and Paul McCartney's David Letterman appearance from 2009.  

Credits:

Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Dean Martin Celebrity Roast Theme (NBC)
The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel) 

We get our usual Garden of Eden update, excitement grows for the anticipated arrival of Doug's new oximeter and we discuss his appearances in the Time to Make the Donuts commercials as I consider transferring to Dunkin' Brands University (fight on ol' DBU!).

9:23 - Making your own bread, more on the Micro Machines Man and Time to Make the Donuts

20:08 - Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. the Bill Mazeroski game.

39:09 - The Cinque Terra Episode of Rick Steves' Europe

Music

Sweet - Love is Like Oxygen
Take me out to the Ballgame - Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra
Rick Steves Rap - bathcorp  

1:34 - Garden of Eden Update (Things have taken a turn)

10:31 - Doug remembers his star turn as the leading man in a commercial for "Fed Ex Zap Mail" in 1985.  

21:53 - Doug reminisces about the night he spent in a cheap motel with the fast talking 1980's pitchman and Micro Machines guy John Moschitta.

23:09 - The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella (1986)

42:20 - The Last Waltz directed by Martin Scorsese (1978)

Next Week: the Cinque Terra episode of the PBS travel show Rock Steves' Europe and Game 7 of the 1960 World Series

Music/Audio Credits:

John Prine - All the Best
Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures)
The Band - Down on Cripple Creek

00:00-12:12 NYC Lockdown, Hollywood Diner, Garden of Eden and blood pressure update

12:13-33:29 Singin' in the Rain (1952)

33:30-55:10 UConn vs. Duke 1999 NCAA Tournament Championship Game

Next Episode: Magnum P.I. Don't Eat the Snow in Hawaii (1980) and the 1980 Wimbledon Final between Bjorn Borg and John (not Patrick) McEnroe

Music used in this episode

Artist: Dinosaur Jr. (J. Mascis)
Song: Start Choppin
Album: Where You Been

Artist: Gene Kelly (Freed & Brown)
Song: Singin' in the Rain

Artist: Nuttin' But Stringz (Escobar)
Song: Thunder
Album: Struggle from the Subway to the Charts (2006)