The Watchin' of the Green: Some Personal Memories of Annual Saint Patrick's Day Viewing

by Michael Lyons

 Growing up in Long Island, New York, in an Irish-American community, the weeks leading up to Saint Patrick's Day were almost like a "mini-Christmas season." For three to four weeks leading up to March 17th, green decorations would adorn stores and restaurants (many would offer appropriate food specials like, yes, corned beef and cabbage), houses would place paper and plastic shamrocks on their doors, towns would jockey schedules for each weekend to host their Saint Patrick's Day parade and subsequent celebrations, supermarkets would boast displays of Guiness pints and Irish soda bread, and the big parade in New York City on the 17th pre-empted regularly scheduled programming to be shown live, on Channel 11 that day (hosted by local legend, Jack McCarthy).

 

In fact, I was fortunate enough to be part of the Parade when I marched with my Uncle Pat and the Ancient Order of Hibernians on several Saint Patrick's Days in the late 70s. That lovely bagpipe music still fills my mind, along with the memory of the crowds, excitement and green bagels from Lenders that were given out.

 

Now, living in Florida, I have traded summer days in the spring for all of that. Saint Patrick's Day here is a day, maybe a weekend, where local restaurants and nationwide chains revamp their menus to offer corned beef and cabbage quesadillas, and beer dyed green that will no doubt have quite the adverse effects on digestive systems.

 

When I visited New York six years ago in early March (just before COVID shut down the day, the parade, and the world shortly thereafter, sadly), I was reminded of Saint Patrick's Day being a season, and the movies and shows that have become as attached to the holiday for me as Rudolph and It's a Wonderful Life for Christmas.

 

If you'd like to add them to your seasonal rotation, here they are:

 

Darby O'Gill and the Little People(1959)

 

First discovered as a kid, during the summer of 1977, on a double bill with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, this Disney live-action fantasy about the title character (Albert Sharpe), who is the only one in his town in Ireland who can see leprechauns, is true magic. Not only a perfect Saint Patrick's Day movie, but it is also one of the best Disney live-action films.

 

Here is the 1977 re-issue trailer:

 

The Jackie Gleason Show: "The Curse of the Kramdens" (1966)

 

In the 1960s, Jackie Gleason moved his show to Miami Beach and produced hour-long episodes of The Honeymooners...that were musicals. One episode had them all traveling to Ireland to defeat a family curse. As a Honeymooners fan, I discovered this late, but it is pure '60s variety-show, brightly colored goodness... with a whole lot of Irish dancing and a catchy song called "Hospitality."

The episode is very difficult to find outside its DVD release, but here is how Gleason's Miami shows opened each week...

 

The Brothers McMullen(1995)

 

From writer/director/star and Long Islander Edward Burns came this Sundance Festival favorite about three adult brothers from an Irish-American family, all forced to live together under the same roof. As a fellow Irish-American/Long Islander, this has hit all the right notes since I first saw it in theaters thirty-one years ago.

 

Here is the original trailer...

 

The Lawrence Welk Saint Patrick's Day Show (1979)

 

Full confession: I bought this for $1.00 on VHS at a charity sale, and after watching it, my wife, Michelle and I discovered that The Lawrence Welk Show airs on PBS every Saturday evening, and we watch it each week.

 

It’s filled with the feeling of an era where people stayed home on Saturday nights to watch variety shows. Outdated? Sure. Filled with songs that have "faded" a bit? Yeah. But, pure innocence from another time that we sorely need right now? ABSOLUTELY.

 

The Saint Patrick’s Day episode is chock full of such standards as "It's a Great Day for the Irish," "Galway Bay," and "I'm Lookin' Over a Four Leaf Clover," among many...

 

Here's the whole show...

 

The Wearin' of the Grin(1951)

 

This classic Warner Bros cartoon, directed by the legendary Chuck Jones, features Porky Pig meeting up with some mischievous (and somewhat scary) Leprechauns, and comes full of after-school childhood memories.

 

Here are just a few minutes...

 

Waking Ned Devine(1998)

 

My Dad's favorite Saint Patrick's Day movie, and one he watches each year. It's an underrated comedy gem. A small town in Ireland bands together to collect the winnings from the lottery after the lucky ticket holder passes away. Full of charm, heart, and a devilish wit.

 

Here is the trailer...

 

The Fugitive(1993)

 

If there can be an ongoing fight about Die Hard being a Christmas movie, then I make the case for The Fugitive being a Saint Patrick's Day movie. After all, in one scene, Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) makes his escape by joining the Chicago Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

 

Enjoy the scene here...

 

The Quiet Man(1952)

 

The greatest Saint Patrick's Day movie and one of my all-time favorite films. Director John Ford's story of American Sean Thornton (John Wayne), who returns to his family roots in the small town he grew up in in Ireland, is a perfect reflection of the country and its culture.

 

WPIX, good ol' channel 11 in New York, would show this on or around Saint Patrick's Day each year, and the day just wasn't complete without it.

 

Here is a WPIX commercial...

 

And so, there are some memories of shows and movies that have made Saint Patrick's Day special to me over the years. As I watch each one now, I can still smell Aunt Peg's corned beef and cabbage cooking in the kitchen and the distant echo of the voices of family members that I once shared the day with.

 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all...and here is one more memory...

 

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"Love"-ly Milestones: Perfect Movies for Valentine's Day That Are Celebrating Anniversaries

 by Michael Lyons

Choosing the right movie for Valentine's Day is like searching for that perfect Christmas film on December 25th. The choices are overwhelming. Romantic drama? Romantic tearjerker? Romantic period piece? Or, the good ol' "rom com?"

To assist with winnowing down your choices for this Valentine's Day, consider one of these films that not only celebrate love, but also celebrate anniversaries this year.

 

The Philadelphia Story (1941) 85th Anniversary

Classic Hollywood movies don't get more classic or Hollywood than this one. Three of the silver screen's most shining stars - Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart - star in this sophisticated, comedic love triangle.

From director George Cukor (and based on the play by Phillip Barry), it tells the story of a socialite (Hepburn) who finds herself falling for both a journalist (Stewart) and her ex-husband (Grant).  

All of the stars are luminous (and Stewart won the Oscar), as they work with rapid-fire dialogue. The silver screen has never shimmered so brightly.

High Society (1956) - 70th Anniversary 

Ironically, the musical remake of The Philadelphia Story also celebrates an anniversary this year.

Here, Grace Kelly (in her last performance before becoming Princess of Monaco) plays the socialite, Bing Crosby as the ex-husband, and Frank Sinatra as the journalist. Wall-to-wall with iconic songs from Cole Porter, and musically narrated by Louis Armstrong, this isn't just movie musical magic, it's pure joy.

And, Crosby and Sinatra's duet of "Well, Did You Evah?!' could be watched over and over.

Any Wednesday (1966) - 60th Anniversary

A lesser-known romantic comedy, this is so much a product of its time, but that makes it all the more fun. Jane Fonda is a young woman living in Manhattan who is having an affair with a married businessman (Jason Robards) and falls for one of his clients (Dean Jones, best known for many Disney live-action classics).

With perspectives around infidelity and women that are squarely of the era, and cringy today, this is still a bright, breezy, and easy-to-take comedy.

A Star is Born (1976) - 50th Anniversary 

After the 1937 version of this story, starring Janet Gaynor and Frederick March, and the 1954 version starring Judy Garland and James Mason, but before the Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper version, came this version starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

This variation on the tale of a self-destructive singer (Kristofferson) who discovers an unknown singer (Streisand) whose career takes off, while his declines comes with gritty, 70s realism, as well as the heartfelt (and heartbreaking) performances of the two stars, which rightfully made this film a hit.

And the movie's Oscar-winning song "Evergreen" (by Streisand and Paul Williams) is still one of the loveliest ballads in movie history.

Pretty in Pink (1986) - 40th Anniversary

Nobody captured teen angst better than John Hughes, and this was his most angst-ridden movie. Directed by Howard Deutch (from Hughes' script), it tells the story of a high school senior (Molly Ringwald), who is falling for one of the most popular boys in school (Andrew McCarthy), while her longtime friend (Jon Cryer) pines for her.

With less humor and more thoughtful moments that resonate with the pain of high school, this is a plunge into the "full 80s," but still relatable today. 

Only the Lonely (1991) - 35th Anniversary 

Another Hughes film, this time as producer, with Chris Columbus writing and directing, this film was released just six months after the duo's iconic smash Home Alone.

John Candy is a lifelong bachelor who falls in love with a shy woman in the neighborhood (Ally Sheedy), and they must both pass the approval of his controlling mother, played by Maureen O'Hara, who came out of a 20-year retirement to play the role, which would be her last screen appearance.

A funny and touching film, crafted with just the right touch by Columbus, with O'Hara displaying why she was one of Hollywood's greats and walking away with the movie.

 

So, there you have it, every one of these eclectic choices can help provide some "reel" romance to your Valentine's Day.

For more of my articles, podcasts and books, head over to: Words From Lyons 

 

 

The Age of Innocence: Classic Sitcom Episodes that Recall Simpler Times

 by Michael Lyons

Remember the phrase, "A slow news day?"  Not anymore. Lately, all news seems to be "Breaking News" or "A Special Report."

It's a lot, isn't it? There's so much going on. Every day. It's heavy—all of it.

During times like this, it's good to take a break and look to those things that we know provide the comfort we need.

In that spirit, if you need that break, even just a brief one, what follows is a collection of iconic episodes of classic sitcoms. Each one will allow your mind to decompress, have a well-deserved laugh, and recall "simpler times."

 

I Love Lucy, "Job Switching," (1952) - streaming on Paramount+

Nothing helps ease your mind like settling in for an episode of one of television's greatest shows.

In "Job Switching," Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ethel (Vivian Vance) go out and get jobs after Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and Fred (William Frawley) think that housework is easy. So, the boys do the work around the house (disastrously, of course), while Lucy and Ethel get a job...in a candy factory.

Yup, this is the episode where the two work an assembly line, putting candies in wrappers. And, the conveyor belt gets faster and faster, and funnier and funnier, as Lucy and Ethel can't keep up and do everything to hide the candies. 

Every time one watches this episode, it's no wonder this has become one of the most famous of the well-known I Love Lucy episodes. It's also a testament to the brilliant physical comedy skills of the stars.

 

The Honeymooners, "Better Living Through Television," (1955) - streaming on Pluto TV and Tubi

Like I Love Lucy, this is comfort food television.

In this episode, Ralph (Jackie Gleason) buys an overabundance of a "new kitchen gadget." He ropes his pal Norton (Art Carney) into buying commercial time on local television to sell it.

All seems fine until Ralph gets a hysterical case of stage fright and winds up, literally, bringing down the house, or in this case, the set.

This is pure gold from a sitcom that inspired so many other shows, featuring Gleason and Carney at their best playing off each other. "Hammina! Hammina! Hammina!"

 

Gilligan's Island, "The Producer," (1966) - streaming on Tubi

Is there any TV show more innocent than creator and producer Sherwood Schwartz's Gilligan's Island? From the era of "fantasy sitcoms," this one is a cartoon come to life (and it eventually inspired an animated Saturday morning version in the 70s).

In this episode, a big-time Hollywood producer, named Harold Hecuba (guest star Phil Silvers), lands on the island, and the castaways, in an effort to be rescued, decide to impress the producer by putting on a show!

And, yes, they build the stage, the costumes, the whole extravaganza - making it another one of the series episodes that has one asking, "If they could do all that, why couldn't they build a boat and get off the island?"

But, when you have a premise where the cast puts on a musical version of Hamlet, on a deserted island, you don't ask questions; you set your brain to "innocent fun," and just enjoy.

 

The Brady Bunch, "Dough Re Mi," (1972) - streaming on Paramount+

Also, from Mr. Schwartz came this iconic 70s sitcom. Like Gilligan's Island, it wasn't big on realism, but it comes with another dose of innocent comfort.

In this episode, the kids have a chance to record a professional song, but Peter's (Christopher Knight) voice begins to change. So, Greg (Barry Williams) incorporates his cracking tones into it, and the result is "When It's Time to Change," which became a well-known ditty for generations. "She-na-na-na-na-na!"

 

Cheers, "Dinner at Eight-ish" (1987) - streaming on Paramount+

Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelly Long) are invited over to the new home of Frasier (Kelsey Grammar) and Lilith (Bebe Newerth) for dinner. But, as hidden stories of the past come to light, tensions hilariously spread across the evening. 

With all the action taking place in one room and a humorous version of "Our House," this episode plays out like a well-constructed stage play.

Friends, "The One Where No One is Ready," (1996) - streaming on HBO Max

Another sitcom episode that unfurls like a one-room, comic stage play is this famous episode from the equally famous 90s sitcom.

Ross (David Schwimmer) has been invited to a black-tie affair at the Museum of Natural History, where he works, but he is the only one who is ready. As he waits in Monica's apartment (where all of the action takes place), everyone finds themselves more and more delayed, as Ross gets more and more frustrated.

Among the episode's well-crafted moments is the one in which Joey (Matt LeBlanc) comes into the apartment wearing everything Chandler (Matthew Perry) owns.

Could this episode be any funnier?!?

So, put down the phone, turn off the news, and take some time for a deep breath and some well-deserved moments escaping with these episodes of sitcoms from a time when the phrase "a slow news day" was actually a thing.

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