Category — 1970s

I’m a huge Jim Henson fan, especially his breakout television program “The Muppet Show”. The puppet variety show began in 1976 and ran for five years with a total of 120 episodes! My top 3 favorite muppet characters are Animal, Kermit the Frog, and the old man duo - Statler and Waldorf.

Can’t pick a favorite muppet? I know it’s hard. If you or someone you know (like me!!) is a huge fan of Jim Henson and/or “The Muppet Show”, you should give them their own personalized muppet for the holidays.

What? How can this be you ask? FAO Schwartz has opened up a Muppet Whatnot Workshop! For $90-130 bucks you can design your own muppet doll and have it delivered to you in just a few weeks! If you prefer dvds to dolls, the tv seasons are available on dvd today.

The Muppet Show - Season 1
The Muppet Show - Season 2
The Muppet Show - Season 3

Source: Gothamist

Pop Candy’s interview with Ed Asner reminded me of how hilarious he was on “Mary Tyler Moore” as her boss, Lou. And let’s not forget that Ms. Moore still has that natural tv magic. She’s pretty funny on her “Lipstick Jungle” guest spot as Wendy’s mom, brutally honest but with a warm heart. Once you get past that botox face, you see that she’s still the woman who played that spunky reporter all those years ago.

The “Mary Tyler Moore Show” was one of the first television shows to focus on an unmarried (aka gasp, single!) woman with a promising career. And whatdyaknow, the character works in a television newsroom as an associate producer. The show was all about Mary and her adventures at work with Lou, Ted Baxter the anchorman (Ted Knight), and Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod). Plus, her trials at home with her friend and neighbor Rhoda, played by Valerie Harper. The show was created by the legendary James L. Brooks, who went on to later produce “The Simpsons” with Matt Groening.

“Mary Tyler Moore” theme song:

Mary Tyler Moore played one of those seminal television characters that you’ll never forget. I think I need to rent some dvd of the first seasons and get reacquainted with Mary and her friends.

M.A.S.H. is one of the most celebrated television shows in the history of the planet. In my mind, its fans are dead-on right to give it rave reviews.

Years after its final telecast, I still remember how impressed I was with the acting and the writing, principally by Larry Gelbart. From Alan Alda as Hawkeye to Harry Morgan as Col. Sherman T. Potter, the cast was a marvel of ensemble acting in a comedy.

The funny thing is I hated the movie (directed by Robert Almtan and starring Elliot Gould). I found the writing predictable, not funny, and overdone by half. Even though Gould and Donald Sutherland are among my favorite actors, I didn’t think either were able to overcome the bad lines they were given to recite.

But go figure. The movie was released in the fall of 1970 when anti-Vietnam sentiment was high, and was an instant hit. Ring Lardner Jr. won the Oscar for Best Screenplay and the film was nominated for Best Movie. Sally Kellerman also received a Best Actress nomination for her role as Hotlips.

Judge for yourself. Rent or buy the DVDs—both of the film and the TV series. I will. I want to see if my memories stand up to the real thing.

Buy the “M*A*S*H” - Season 1 dvd today.