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Showing posts with label 1980s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1980s. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Found this perhaps forgotten 80s Don Adams sitcom recently

I didn't know this that Don Adams had a daughter who appeared on Star Trek. Cecily Adams starred as Quark's mother Ishka on several episodes of Deep Space Nine. She had to don some make-up to become a Ferengi - actually I also learned the Ishka character was at first portrayed by different actress.

And then curiosity got the better of me. Adams who passed away in 2005 (and sadly his daughter passed away the year before) starred in one of my favorite sitcoms of all-time Get Smart. And I remember in the 1980s that he starred in another sitcom called Check It Out. I barely remember it and likely saw it in first run probably on cable - it did air on the USA Network back then.

Check It Out probably doesn't have the same popularity as Get Smart does. In fact the episodes I have seen causes me to cringe. Not that this is a know but I didn't know that back in the 80s,  Check It Out was actually a series that aired, produced, and set in Canada. It strikes me as a typical 1980s sitcom and while there have been some good ones this one wouldn't even rank very high on my list.

Here's one I episode found on YouTube recently. In this episode Adams' character Mr. Bannister - a grocery store manager - finds out that he's under consideration for a job with an international hotel chain. He'd have to go to Vienna to interview so most of the events in this episode revolves around that. No pun intended but "check it out"! [VIDEO]

NOTE: usually this is a video I would embed unfortunately this particular channel doesn't allow embeds.

Anyway I see that in a second season episode of the sitcom, Bannister grows a mustache. In the first season Bannister sports a different hairstyle and it was the least Adams like. By season two it goes back to normal I suppose to what I was used to, however, the mustache throws me off more. I recognize what's going on possibly - he doesn't want to be the character he played on Get Smart Agent 86 of Control a fictional spy agency. Nope, he has to play a manager essentially a regular guy with everyday responsibilities as far as his job. He needs not resemble a bumbling spy although he also seems to portray a bumbling store manager.

Another cool feature is how they incorporate Adams' voice into the opening theme. Adams is a well known name and we likely don't remember the other names involved with the show today. Perhaps to attract viewers the former star of Get Smart had been the hook. Imagine this Adams making an announcement and then expressing a new catchphrase for this show "don't just stand there" and then the chorus from the theme "check it out!" Heh, ingenious!

This series lasted three years and probably is in the dustbin of history as far as TV sitcoms. I found it out of curiosity and decided perhaps it's not really worth much of my time. Although it's was cool to see Adams as a different character than the one most in the public identify him with.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Steve Goodman: A Dying #Cubs Fan's Last Request #postseason #flythew

[VIDEO] A nice song by the late Steve Goodman. The response to this song caused him to write the Cubs anthem - Go Cubs Go - you may hear at Wrigley Field after Cubs victories, especially if you're actually there at a game also when you watch a TV broadcast.

Goodman unfortunately would die of cancer in September 1984, that year the Cubs faced the San Diego Padres and would lose the NLCS that year and went the full five games. Up until 1985, the NLCS was best three out of five games.

All the same this silly but somewhat sad song has a new meaning as there have been generations of Cubs fans who have been waiting for a Cubs world series. They got one and now they hope of a long time in coming world series victory.

We shall see as game 1 of the 2016 world series against another long suffering team - Cleveland Indians - will start Tuesday night.

In the meanwhile I can only hope that Mr. Goodman is smiling from the stars especially when the Cubs clinched the National League pennant!

I want to refer you to the last two posts regarding the Cubs. The first is the championship history of the Cubs which dates all the way back to the founding of the National League in 1876. Then there is another post and my history of Cubs fandom.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

This song makes me miss the 1980s

[VIDEO] I'm old enough to barely remember the 1980s. So young by the time I became aware of the decade that was, it became the 1990s just like that.

80s culture is different by culture I'm referring to music, TV or even movies for example. There were other aspects than that I'm sure, but those are the easiest ones to point out.

While the music scene of the 21st Century doesn't stand out to me as much as it did the last century, wouldn't anyone get a kick out of a music video inspired by the one above. Talking Heads song "Road to Nowhere" and watching the video version I pay attention to the running man in the lower right hand corner.

Consider this your Saturday entertainment on this blog!