Thursday Thirteen #320

The Way We Were. 50 years ago, live broadcast TV was the primary way we got our entertainment. There were only three networks (CBS, NBC and ABC), maybe PBS and a local syndicated station if you were in a more populous area or you had a really good antenna on the roof. No cable channels and no way to video record. You watched your favorite show when it was shown and if you missed an episode, you waited months for the rerun. 

And you had a TV book. Either you kept the one that came free in your Sunday newspaper or you bought/subscribed to TV Guide. Here are 13 covers from 1973. I instantly recognized these people/shows. How many are familiar to you?

#1. Here's Mary Richards with her two best friends, Georgette and Rhoda.

#2. Now an Oscar winner, Goldie Hawn returns to TV with a variety special.

#3. A sitcom set in Chicago! Dr. Bob Hartley was a Cub fan, as Bob Newhart is in real life.

#4. The gang from the M*A*S*H 4077th.

#5. Sanford and Son. I never could stand Redd Foxx so I didn't watch this show. But I know the theme song. I'd hear the first bars as I raced across the room to change the channel. (No remotes in those days, either.)

#6. Lucille Ball and Desi, Jr. Lucy was the first woman to appear on TV visibly pregnant; 20 years later that baby co-starred with her on Here's Lucy.

#7. The Waltons. This multigenerational family drama was set in The Depression.

#8. Columbo. I didn't watch this when it was first broadcast but I've seen every episode on cable and am a fan.

#9. Kung Fu. I didn't watch this, either, but I knew about it because all the boys in my class loved it and my PE teacher would call us "Grasshopper."

10. Dick Cavett. Johnny Carson was the undisputed King of Late Night, but I had a crush on Cavett. 

11. Sonny & Cher. We all tuned in to see what Cher was wearing. 

12. Telly Savalas as Kojak. Who loves ya, baby?

13. Hee Haw. Never watched this and remain convinced I didn't miss much.

Please join us for THURSDAY THIRTEEN. Click here to play along, and to see other interesting compilations of 13 things.

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 2

 

2023 August Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: A nap

Tuesday was a busy day: yoga, therapist appointment, monitoring social media non-stop about the baseball trade deadline,* listening to the Yankees, watching the Cubs, trying to be a grown up by following the latest DOJ revelation of Trump's blatant lawlessness ...

Thursday will be an even busier day: dentist, chiropractor, condo board meeting (about the 2024 budget, no less).

So I luxuriated in Wednesday being so uneventful I was able to take a nap. I need days like this.

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

*No, the Cubs didn't trade Bellinger or Stroman. YAY!

August Happiness Challenge: Day 1

2023 August Happiness Icon

Today's happiness: Genevieve McGillicuddy

 

You're probably saying, "WHO?" But if you're a classic film nerd, you know Genevieve. Her title at TCM was Vice President of Enterprises and Partnerships, but we knew her as the goddess who ran the film festival, and she was unceremoniously axed at the end of June.

Well guess what she posted at about 9:30 CST yesterday (so yes, it was so August 1!): "I've been asked to return to produce the 2024 TCM Film Festival."

 

As soon as I learned about the firings, I emailed David Zaslav, head of Warner Bros./Discovery+, TCM's parent company. I tweeted relentlessly. I sent snail mail. I lobbied all my friends -- virtual and in real life (thank you, Kwizgiver) to beg that TCM not be gutted. Charles Tabesh, a Senior VP let go the same day as Genevieve, was rehired in early July. And our girl Genevieve McGillicuddy is back home where she belongs, too.

 

Is this because of activist rabid film fans like me? In part, yes. Spielberg and Scorcese pitching in to help undoubtedly had even more impact. And then there's Barbie. She's likely to make a $1 billion for Warner Bros., and that probably allowed Zaslav to be a bit more free with money.

 

Why am I thrilled? Because this proves that doing something is preferable to bitching and moaning. Because I'm going to Hollywood to see my classic film tribe this spring. Because I love TCM. 

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.