Archive | August, 2011

HEY BATTER BATTER

26 Aug

72 years ago today, on Saturday, August 26, 1939, the first televised Major League Baseball game in history was broadcast. In fact the first TWO major league games were televised, as it was a doubleheader* between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds.

Your blogger at a Brooklyn Dodger exhibition at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, 1984.

Legendary broadcaster Red Barber was the announcer for the games, which were seen on W2XBS, the station now known as WNBC in New York City. Just 3 months earlier the same station televised the first baseball game of any kind — a college game between Princeton and Columbia Universities.

The teams split the doubleheader at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, with Cincinnati winning the first game 5-2 and the Dodgers winning the second, 6-1.

Apparently, only two cameras were used, but there are differing reports on what they showed. It’s agreed that one was stationed behind home plate – some say it was from a high angle to show a wide shot of the field. The second camera may have been near the third base line to show throws to first base… or the second camera may have been on announcer Red Barber himself. Either way, to make the historic day even harder, Barber had no monitor and couldn’t see what the viewers were seeing.

It must have been a success because today Major League Baseball is practically run by television; the length of breaks between innings is dictated by TV commercials and all World Series games are at night.

 

*Doubleheader: A doubleheader was when two baseball teams played two games in one day, with fans paying just a single admission to see both games. It was once a common occurrence until major league baseball realized they were not maximizing their revenue. Now, on the rare occasion of a doubleheader, the stadium is cleared and a second admission is charged.

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FROM WACO TO WACKO

14 Aug

66 years ago today, on Tuesday, August 14, 1945 actor/writer/producer/comedian Steve Martin was born in Waco, Texas.

Steve Martin autograph signed on October 23, 1976

He began performing while still in his teens and by the time he was 22 he was writing comedy for network TV shows. Between 1967 and 1973 Steve Martin worked as a writer on half a dozen comedy variety series including “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” “The Summer Brothers Smothers Show,” “Pat Paulsen’s Half a Comedy Hour,” “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” “The Ken Berry ‘Wow’ Show,” and “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.” He was also a featured performer on several of those shows, as well as on “The Ray Stevens Show” in the summer of 1970.

I still remember the first time I saw Steve Martin on TV. It was on NBC on a Saturday night at 11:30pm, but I wasn’t watching “Saturday Night Live.” In fact, that show hadn’t even been created yet. I was watching the program that “SNL” replaced: reruns of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

It was that first appearance on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” in 1973 that brought Martin some national attention. His first appearance as host of “Saturday Night Live” in 1976 sealed the deal and made him a comedy “rock star.” I was in the audience for that show. In fact, I got his autograph earlier that day, on the back of my admission slip for the PSAT exam.

What's on the other side of Steve Martin's autograph? The date on my admission slip for the PSAT exam, which was administered that morning.

So, while many people were introduced to Steve Martin on October 23, 1976, I was already a fan.

But in addition to lots of laughs, I also remember a very touching moment provided by Steve Martin on the day Gilda Radner died (May 20, 1989). Martin was hosting “Saturday Night Live” that night and I was in the audience. When he introduced a clip of he and Gilda dancing in an old sketch it was quite moving. Martin, and most of the audience, seemed to be holding in some emotions.

Although Martin has never starred in his own series his career is a product of TV. From his roots as a writer… to his TV specials and guest appearances… to his hosting the Academy Awards broadcast… Steve Martin is a TV star.

He has now hosted “Saturday Night Live” a record 15 times (tied with Alec Baldwin) and prior to abandoning standup he starred in four network comedy specials for NBC: “Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy” in 1978, “Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty” and “All Commercials–A Steve Martin Special” both in 1980, and 1981’s “Steve Martin’s Best Show Ever.”

Happy Birthday to Steve Martin, the TV star (and movie star, playwright, musician, novelist, and art collector). Thanks for everything.

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DO YOU LOVE LUCY?

6 Aug

100 years ago today, on Sunday, August 6, 1911 one of TV’s most gifted comic actresses was born in Jamestown, New York; Lucille Ball.

Although Lucille Ball would find success as a model and then as an actress on film, stage and radio, it was her work in TV that made her an American treasure and icon.

She turned to TV when CBS asked her to develop her radio hit “My Favorite Husband” for the new medium. She agreed with one stipulation; that her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, star alongside her. But CBS executives didn’t think America would accept Ball with a Cuban husband, so Lucy & Desi toured the country with a vaudeville act. The success of that tour led to CBS picking up “I Love Lucy.”

Your blogger, sitting in for Fred Mertz, during the “I Love Lucy” 50th Anniversary Tour in 2001.

America had a love affair with “I Love Lucy” and the sitcom ran for seven seasons and 180 episodes. After some changes the show became “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour” and ran for 3 more seasons.

Lucy & Desi divorced in 1960 and Lucille Ball returned to sitcoms with “The Lucy Show” in 1962. Vivian Vance returned as Lucy’s “partner in crime” and veteran actor Gale Gordon became the male foil for Lucy’s wacky hijinks. It ran on CBS for six seasons (1962-1968) before giving way to “Here’s Lucy” which also co-starred Gale Gordon and Ball’s children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. “Here’s Lucy” also ran on CBS for six seasons (1968-1974).

In 1986, at the age of 75, Lucille Ball was lured back to TV for an ABC sitcom called “Life with Lucy.” Unfortunately, even with former co-star Gale Gordon in the cast, the old magic wasn’t there and only eight episodes were broadcast. “Life with Lucy” was Lucille Ball’s only failure on TV but it’s not how she’ll be remembered.

Lucille Ball was a comedic genius who we welcomed her into our homes from 1951 to 1974 (except for two years off). There have been other talented and exceptional comedic actresses on TV but Lucille Ball stands alone as the first and arguably the best.

She also became the first woman to run a Hollywood studio when she bought Desi’s share of Desilu following their divorce.

Today she is also remembered by The Lucy-Desi Center in her hometown of Jamestown, New York which manages two facilities: The Lucy-Desi Museum and The Desilu Playhouse. The center’s premiere event is The Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy, held each August. This year, in honor of Lucy’s 100th birthday, there were performances by Joan Rivers and Paula Poundstone. Lucy Fest continues through Sunday (August 7th).

Lucille Ball died in April 1989 at the age of 77, but she left her mark on several generations, who will always love Lucy.

Happy 100th birthday Lucy.

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MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA

5 Aug

55 years ago today, on Sunday, August 5, 1956 actress Maureen McCormick was born in Los Angeles, California. 

Your blogger with Maureen McCormick, circa 1994.

Maureen’s TV career began in 1965 with appearances on “The Farmer’s Daughter,” “Honey West” and “Bewitched.” That was followed by roles on “Camp Runamuck,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “My Three Sons.” Then in 1969 she landed the role of Marcia Brady in “The Brady Bunch.”

What can we say about “The Brady Bunch” that hasn’t already been said? I remember my older sister suggesting we watch this new show that she heard was supposed to be good, and I never stopped watching.

Although the sitcom ran for only 5 seasons it launched a brand that kept returning in several genres and is still remembered fondly. Is there anyone between ages 45 and 60 who doesn’t know all the words to the theme song?

Maureen McCormick would appear in most of the Brady “spin-offs” including “The Brady Bunch Hour” – a variety show that ran in the 1976-77 season and “The Brady Brides” – a sitcom that ran in 1981 for less than a season. She did not appear in the 1990 dramatic series “The Bradys.”

McCormick also starred in the TV movie, “Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story” in 1997, as country singer Barbara Mandrell.

More recently she appeared on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” in 2007.

In 1994 Maureen –played the role of Rizzo in the Broadway revival of Grease. That’s when I met and interviewed her.  I can’t lie. It was “groovy” meeting “Marcia Brady.”

Happy Birthday Maureen.

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