Carol’s Crack-Up: Celebrating Tim Conway’s Greatest “Carol Burnett Show” Moments

By Michael Lyons

Television in the 1970’s could most definitely be called “The Golden Age of Variety Shows,” a genre that has all but disappeared and is remembered now only by the numerous “rerun channels” on cable services.

And without a doubt, the reigning “Queen of the Variety Show Golden Age” was Carol Burnett.  Her CBS show, which aired from 1967-1978 set the standard for comedy skit shows that would follow.  In addition to sharp writing, her cast which included Vickie Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner and Tim Conway added to making “The Carol Burnett Show,” the classic that it is.

Conway, (who was a recurring Guest and later became a regular on the show) had an innate gift for improvisation and character creation that, more often than not, caused his co-stars to laugh uncontrollable and barely get through a skit.  Harvey Korman in particular, was many times the victim of Conway’s comedic gifts and the unscripted laughter that would break-out in their scenes is the stuff of television legend.

Sadly, we lost Tim Conway this past week, when he passed away on May 14th.  While he will be missed, he gave the world a gift of laughter that will live-on in repeats forever.

No better time to celebrate this comedy legend and his greatest “Carol Burnett Show” moments:

“The Dentist” (1969) One of the first skits between Conway and Korman, in which Conway plays a bungling dentist who continually, accidentally injects himself with novocaine. The physical comedy that results from this is nothing short of miraculous.  Korman, playing the patient, seems to be in pain from trying to stifle his laughter to get through the skit...and we feel his pain.

“Mrs. Wiggins” (1976).  Burnett was the main character,  a dim-witted, slow paced secretary and Conway, her boss, Mr. Tudball, who talked with an accent that seems like a cross between Porky Pig and the Swedish Chef.  The skits were a prime example of Conway’s amazing ability to craft a character.

“The Interrogator” (1974).  A send up of World War II propaganda films, in which Conway plays a Nazi officer who uses a Hitler hand puppet to interrogate an American soldier (Waggoner).  Conway is relentless in his improv here and Waggoner is eventually helpless at stifling his laughter.

“The Oldest Living Fireman” (1973).  Another of Conway’s amazing creations, a slow moving, shuffling “Oldest Living Man” who here, as a fire fighter, attempts to give mouth-to-mouth to Korman, who winds up in hysterical tears by the end of the skit.

“The Elephant Story” (1978). A skit that centered on the recurring characters of “Mama’s Family,” Burnett, Lawerence and then show regular Dick Van Dyke are helpless as Conway regales them with a story that is completely improvised and utterly hysterical.  None of the actors are able to keep a straight face and the scene was taped twice and finally ended because of Lawrence’s PG-13 remark that brings down the house.  Search for this on You Tube and get ready for a case of non-stop laughter.

Social Media was abuzz after Conway’s passing this week, particularly comedians who discussed the influence that he had on generations that followed.

A legacy of joy and laughter is an admirable one and we can all be thankful to Tim Conway for that.  In his life, he could even find laughs when discussing the dark subject of death, as he once said:

“I spend a lot of time thinking of the hereafter - each time I enter a room, I wonder what I am here after.”

We will miss you Tim.

Sources:

IMDb

Wikipedia

Prehistoric Parenting: A Mother’s Day Flintstones Double Feature

By Michael Lyons

One of the perfect ways to celebrate all that Moms do for us to reflect back on the past.

And you can’t get more “in the past” than prehistoric times.  Hanna-Barbera’s landmark prime time animated sitcom “The Flintstones,” which aired from 1960-1966 introduced us to “the Modern Stone-Age Family.”

One of the many aspects of family life explored by the Flintstones and Rubbles was Motherhood.

In fact, two of “The Flintstones” most popular episodes make for a perfect Mother’s Day Double Feature.

“The Blessed Event” (Originally Aired February 22, 1963)

All of America tuned in when Wilma was expecting and this episode takes a very ‘60’s look at new parents.

Fred is so nervous that he insists on practicing driving Wilma to the hospital (complete with Barney in drag).  The results are very typical cartoon slapstick.

Wilma, on the other hand is calm and cool, as the writers subtly imply what we all know: that Moms are often times the glue that hold a family together.

At the end of the episode, when we finally meet Pebbles Flintstone and she says her first word, “Yabba-Dabba-Goo,” one can’t deny that despite a limited animated show, there’s an all-out sweetness to the moment.

“Little Bamm Bamm” (Originally aired October 3, 1963)

When Fred gets frustrated (and acts like a jerk) at the Rubbles always wanting to come over and play with Pebbles, Barney and Betty wish upon a star (in a nice moment) and make a wish to be parents.

Their wish is answered the next morning, when a little toddler named Bamm-Bamm arrives on their doorstep.

The seemingly strongest baby in the world, Bamm-Bamm makes the Rubbles life complete, until the Rubbles attempt to officially adopt Bamm-Bamm and wind up in a legal battle against a millionaire who also wants to adopt the mighty little toddler.

No spoilers as to how things turn out, but if you have seen later seasons, well, you know.

A surprisingly touching episode, “Little Bamm-Bamm” shows that motherhood, parenthood and family come in all shapes and sizes, including little, white haired toddlers who wield a club.

Watching both of these episodes for Mother’s Day would be perfect.  After all, Mom is a...Rock...Star!

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Sources:

IMDb

Suddenly Summer: Films That Changed The Summer Movie Season

By Michael Lyons

It never fails, each year on October 31st, Social Media is abuzz about how once Halloween ends at midnight, it’s the Christmas Season.  As a culture, we do like to move on to “the next big” thing quickly and, with that, the official start of the Christmas Season continually gets bumped up, eclipsing Thanksgiving.

There’s also a version of this that has been happening in the Spring, specifically in Hollywood and even more specifically with the Summer Movie Season.

On June 20, 1975, Steven Spielberg’s seminal blockbuster “Jaws” debuted and essentially created the Season.  Prior to “Jaws,” movie studios viewed Summer as a wasteland.  After all, who in their right mind would be at a movie theater during a vacation time of year filed with beaches and bar-b-q’s

The immense success of “Jaws” shattered this mindset and Hollywood soon began positioning some of their biggest movies during the hot and hazy time of year.

The Summer Movie Season was born.

Much like Christmas, Hollywood’s start of this season has continually moved up earlier and earlier, so that now, according to Tinseltown, Summer starts the last weekend of April.

Last year, Marvel released “Avengers: Infinity War” on April 25th, followed up by this year’s “Avengers: Endgame,” which was released on April 26th.  The concluding comic book epic has left everyone staring in bug-eyed wonder, not only at how amazing the film is, but at how immensely successful it’s been at the box-office.  A landmark in every way.

As audiences, how did we get to a point where Summer Blockbusters come on the heels of Easter?  To answer this, one must take a trip back in time to look at the movies that changed the Summer Movie Season and through the years allowed it to start earlier and earlier.

“Star Wars” (Released May 25, 1977).  Just two years after “Jaws,” George Lucas’ evergreen science fiction masterwork jumped the gun on the Summer Movie Season by opening on Memorial Day weekend.

After all, if a Summer movie is going to come out, shouldn’t it open during the “unofficial” start of Summer?  This made so much sense to Hollywood that for almost twenty years Memorial Day Weekend not only kicked off the Summer Season, it heralded the start of the Summer Movie Season.

Two of the “Star Wars” sequels and all of the prequels opened for Memorial Day, as did the successful “Indiana Jones” sequels.  Every franchise in Hollywood from “Poltergeist” to “Pirates of the Caribbean” have found themselves here.

Movies released over Memorial Day Weekend were, for years, the all-important “first strike” for the Season and the biggest blockbusters-in-waiting were scheduled here.

However, in recent years, Memorial Day Weekend has emerged as somewhat of a jinx for many promising movies that went on to box-office disappointment (last summer’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is the most recent example).

Could be that the shifting Summer release dates have changed audience habits.  So, how did the start of the season get even earlier?  Believe it or not, it started with a Barbarian.

“Conan the Barbarian” (Released May 14, 1982) Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Sword and Sorcery film adaptation of the popular pulp novels was a modest success that teetered on blockbuster status.

More importantly, it showed Hollywood that there was an appetite for Summer appropriate movies prior to the start of Summer.  The weekend or so before Memorial Day became the release date for such films as “Willow” (1988), “Die Hard with a Vengeance” (1995) and the the now famous flop, 1987’s “Ishtar.”

None were game-changing blockbusters however.  That would be a movie that blew through Hollywood...like a storm.

“Twister” (Released May 10, 1996).  Bill Paxton, Helen Hunt, computer generated tornados and flying cows all added up to a surprisingly successful opening weekend that took everyone by surprise.

The visceral, immensely entertaining film went on to become the second high grossing film that year and Hollywood took notice.  Suddenly, Mother’s Day Weekend became the start of the Summer Movie Season.  But, even this was to change in a “super” way.

“Spider Man” (released May 3, 2002).  Director Sam Raimi’s blockbuster adaptation of Marvel’s most popular super hero was important in many ways: it laid the groundwork for the mega-Marvel bonanza we enjoy today and it’s success signaled a Summer Movie Season that would begin the first weekend of May.

In fact, for many years after, with movies ranging from “Iron Man” in 2008 to 2012’s “The Avengers,” this weekend has been dominated by Marvel releases.  The Studio then bumped up “Avengers: Infinity War” to the last week of April a year ago...and the start of the Summer Movie Season changed again.

With so many big movies like this released throughout the year now, it makes one wonder if the Summer Movie Season is slowly becoming a thing of the past.  The “Golden Age” of the Spielberg/Lucas Summer movies of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and the anticipation and popularity of Summer Movies now seem like a bygone era.

Our current, impatient tastes of wanting new movies now and the short window between theaters and home video has led to a round-the-calendar schedule of movies that, at one time, were reserved for May through August.

Something to ponder as we wait for the Halloween Movie Season, which will now probably start right after July 4th.

Sources:

Wikipedia

Holy Roller: The 60th Anniversary of “Ben Hur”

By Michael Lyons

“The Entertainment Experience of a Lifetime!”  This promotional tag line from the original movie poster for “Ben Hur” is not only a clever play on words, it truly sums up the film.

At a time in Hollywood history when films became events; when movie studios battled television by creating epic films; when these films were three plus hours in length, came with an intermission and a program; when a night at the movie theater with an oversized screen felt like a night at a Broadway theater; and when studios turned to the Bible for inspiration, few films were more epic, more Biblical and more of an out-and-out moviegoing experience than “Ben Hur!”

A movie regular around the Easter season, coupled with the fact that this year marks the 60th anniversary of “Ben Hur,”makes this the perfect time to celebrate this most classic film.

Based on the 1880 novel, “Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ” by General Lew Wallace, the story was actually first adapted as a silent film in 1925.

Set in Jerusalem in AD 26, the film tells the story of a wealthy Jewish Prince, Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a kind, generous nobleman who lives a life of privilege, until he and his family are betrayed by a family friend Messala (Stephen Boyd).  Messala has grown up to be a Roman Tribune and wrongfully accuses Judah Ben-Hur of attacking the Roman army as they march by.

Ben-Hur is sentenced to a life of slavery, his sister and mother sent to prison.  While enslaved and shackled, marching through the desert, a stranger takes pity on Ben-Hur, offering him water.  The stranger is Jesus Christ, who also provides Ben-Hur with hope and a will to live.

While a slave in the galley of a ship, Ben-Hur saves the life of a Roman Consul Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins).  To repay this, Quintus adopts Ben-Hur, bringing him back to civilization and, once again, a life of privilege, where he becomes one of Rome’s greatest charioteers.

Through all of this, Ben-Hur searches for his mother and sister, only to find them lepers who have been banished to a leper colony.  Filled with hate and despair, Ben-Hur and his family find themselves back in Jerusalem and witness to the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

The experience changes and transforms Ben-Hur, losing the anger that filled his heart, filling him with peace, as he lets go of his past and looks ahead to life anew.

“Ben-Hur” was directed by veteran William Wyler (“The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Mrs. Miniver”) in a style that gives new meaning to the term “cinematic beauty.”   The expanse and magnitude of some of the scenes in this epic film are still breathtaking after all of these years.

Standouts are the sea battle with galleys full of oarsman trapped in the bowels of the boats and the emotional trial of Jesus with its endless mass of extras as he is marched through the streets.

Most memorable by far, however, has got to be the now famous chariot race, in which Ben-Hur faces off against Messala.  Without a doubt, one of film’s greatest action set pieces.  Unfurling in real time, the danger and energy of the scene is palpable.  No mystery that it’s still studied by film students and scholars to this day.

The chariot race sequence, along with the entire film, must have been nothing short of staggering for 1959 audiences to see on the big screen (literally).  “Ben Hur” was a box-office hit that snagged deserved Oscars for Best Picture, Director and Actor, after its initial release on November 18, 1959.

A genre that has faded in time and a film that fits squarely in the “They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore,” “Ben Hur” continues to endure.

What’s allowed this is its strong subject matter and message.  Ben-Hur (whose life experience of being sent to his death and essentially being “resurrected,” mirrors that of Christ himself) learns that faith and forgiveness are powerful allies that can truly save our lives.

More powerful that any epic scale or action-packed chariot race, that’s what makes “Ben-Hur” the “Entertainment Event of a Lifetime.”

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter!

Sources: 

IMDb 

Wikipedia

Lightning’s First Strike: Remembering Filmation’s “Shazam!”

By Michael Lyons

Believe it or not, there was a time, only four decades ago,  when super heroes were not the subject of big-budget movies blockbusters.

Nope, back then, they were fodder for low-budget Saturday Morning TV Shows.

Heavy hitters like Batman and Spider-Man were relegated to minimally animated shows that were consumed by young viewers, as quickly as they consumed overly sweetened cereal.

This weekend’s latest entry in the movie box-office race from DC, “Shazam!” Is no different and was once a part of the CBS Saturday Morning line-up from 1974 through 1976.

Starting life of course as a comic book in 1939, “Shazam!” Was adapted for TV by Filmation Studios, the folks responsible for “Archie” and “Fat Albert.”

“Shazam!”  Was somewhat unique for the animation studio Filmation, in that it was primarily a live-action show, with some animation added for effects.

As in the comic (and the new movie), the TV Show told of the adventures of young Billy Batson (Michael Gray) who had the power to change into the superhero Captain Marvel (played first by Jackson Bostwick and then John Davey in later seasons).

Billy travels the world in a 1973 Dodge Motorhome (don’t ask, no reason is ever given), with his mentor, whose name is actually Mentor (played by veteran actor Les Tremayne).  Together, they look to fight injustices and help those innocents who can’t help themselves.  

“Shazam!” the show is interesting for a number of reasons.  It’s one of the few instances outside of the early comic books, in which the character is referred to as Captain Marvel (the name eventually ceased being associated with “Shazam” after legal entanglements with Marvel Comics).

Also, Captain Marvel never battles a super villain, but instead each episode is about helping out a young person who has “gone astray,” maybe falling in with the “wrong crowd” or possibly even (gasp) cheating on a school exam.

With this, “Shazam!” Has a moral attached to each episode.  A prime example of safe, watered down Saturday Morning TV that was so prevelant in the ‘70’s.

And speaking of the ‘70’s, this is one kid’s show that’s a true time capsule of the disco decade: from the cars, to the clothes to the California setting, it’s all just so, so...well...so ‘70’s.

Add to that very limited animation of the Council of Elders who advise Billy and some threadbare special effects and Filmation’s “Shazam!” Takes on an innocent charm that brings an immediate smile to the face.

So, as 2019’s “Shazam!”  Conquers the box office this weekend, remember that there were once humble beginnings when the superhero fought crime not with a mammoth budget, but with a motorhome!

Sources:

Wikipedia

Kind of a Big Wheel: The 50th Anniversary of Disney’s “The Love Bug”

By Michael Lyons

The years following Walt Disney’s death in 1966 were some of the most challenging for the Studio that he had started.  Most of the films produced during this time were somewhat by-the-numbers family fare.

Most of these films starred actor Dean Jones, most of them featured slapstick humor and most of them concluded with a car chase.  One of these films that fits in this mold managed to not only stand out, but became one of the biggest box-office hits in the “post-Walt” years.

The movie was “The Love Bug,” the story of a Volkswagen Beetle car named Herbie with a very human-like personality, who (thanks to some snazzy special effects) helps race driver Jim Douglas (Jones) win a prestigious race.

The incredibly likable, fun film, which also stars Michelle Lee, Buddy Hackett, Joe Flynn and David Tomlinson, was released on March 13, 1969 and celebrates its 50th anniversary this month.

To commemorate this occasion what follows is a collection of fun facts about “The Love Bug.”  Consider it Herbie’s 10-point check-up:

 - Many think that “The Love Bug” was an original story, but it was actually an adaptation of a book called “Car, Boy, Girl” by author Gordon Buford.

 - The movie was directed by stalwart Disney director Robert Stevenson, who had helmed another Disney blockbuster in the ‘60’s: “Mary Poppins.”

 - It was Stevenson who chose Herbie’s number of “53,” which was also the number of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Don Drysdale.  Stevenson was a fan of the team and the player.

 - Herbie was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, although (other than two brief scenes), the VW logo never appears in the film, as the automaker did not give Disney permission to use the name.

 - “The Love Bug” was so popular that there were four other sequels: “Herbie Rides Again” (1974), “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo” (1977),“Herbie Goes Bananas” (1980) and 2005’s “Herbie Fully Loaded.”  There was also an adaptation for Disney’s TV show “The Wonderful World of Disney.” There were a total of 100 VW Bug’s used in the films, as well as in promotions.

 - Dean Jones not only plays Jim Douglas in the film, but also has an unrecognizable cameo as a hippie.

 - Jones was a Disney mainstay, making ten films for the Studio, in additional to “The Love Bug,” among them: “That Darn Cat” (1965), “Blackbeard’s Ghost” (1968) and “The Shaggy DA” (1976). 

 - “The Love Bug” co-stars Buddy Hackett and Joe Flynn would go on to voice Disney animated characters.  Flynn was the villain sidekick Mr, Snoops in 1977’s “The Rescuers” and Hackett provided the voice of Scuttle the seagull in 1989’s “The Little Mermaid.”

 - To help promote the film, Disneyland hosted “Love Bug Day,” on March 23, 1969, an event in which 101 VW Beetles paraded down the park’s Main Street, USA.

 - Dean Jones purchased and owned one of the Herbie VW Bug’s used in “The Love Bug.”  Fitting that, even in real life,  Herbie would wind up with Jim Douglas.

Sources:

Disney Parks Blog

IMDb

Wikipedia

“In the Lilt of Irish Laughter:” Celebrating “Waking Ned Devine.”

By Michael Lyons

“Is there a greater twist of fate...to win half a million and the next minute die from the shock of it.”

This line of dialogue is the central theme of 1998’s “Waking Ned Devine,” a movie that looks at the ironies of life, how fragile life is and how we can create a wonderful legacy for others, once we leave this world.

Of course, “Waking Ned Devine” does all of this in a very funny...and very Irish...way.  With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, it’s one of the perfect films to help us celebrate.

Set in the small Irish village of Tully Moore, where everyone knows everyone, Ned Devine wins the national lottery and in a sad, morbid twist, dies of shock after finding this out.  Ned’s buddies soon discover that Ned has passed and they also learn of his lottery win.

The friends soon enter a pact: they will pretend that Ned is still alive, so that the money can be claimed, they can split it amongst each other and help themselves and their small village.

But, as Lottery officials come to the town, can the secret be kept and the plan pulled off? ‘Twould be a shame to give away any of the film’s secrets. 

Suffice it to say, the cover up of Ned’s demise leads to some hilarious misunderstandings and predicaments, one of which finds one of the older members of the town riding a Moped naked (you read that correctly).

It’s all put together deftly by director Kirk Jones, who shows a Billy Wilder-esque ability to blend pathos and comedy.

Since it’s debut almost twenty-one years ago, when it garnered nice reviews and great word of mouth attention, “Waking Ned Devine” has faded from popular view.

As a cultural slice-of-life, it’s such a well-meaning, smile on your face film, that everyone should take the opportunity to see it, no matter what the time of year.

Of course, if it means that as March 17th rolls around we shed a light on “Waking Ned Devine,” all the better.

Here’s a glass raised to this fine film!

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to All!

Sources:

IMDb