Reggie Roby

Lloyd Bochner

The Great Escape

Gary Gygax

Leo Burke

Dave Stieb

Billy Sims

Don Henley

Danny Glover

Don Knotts

Kim Carnes

Earl Hamner

Bob Newhart

David Hasselhoff

Barnard Hughes: “Mr. Merlin”, “The Cavanaughs”, “The Lost Boys” and more

Barnard Hughes starred in shows such as "Doc", "Mr. Merlin" and

"The Cavanaughs", and the movie "The Lost Boys".

Source: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0400464/

(May be subject to copyright)

What would it look like if Merlin the Magician was still alive all these years after he was part of King Arthur’s Court? Maybe he’d be an old man seeking an apprentice.

That was the premise of “Mr. Merlin”, a show that starred Barnard Hughes.

It was his birthday today and, once I saw his name, not only did “Mr. Merlin” come to mind, but a show where he played the cantankerous patriarch of an Irish-American family, and a movie where he knew much more about vampires then he let on.

Barnard Hughes had quite a career, and much of it was in the ‘80s.

What’s up?
My earliest memory of Barnard Hughes was in a sitcom called “Doc”, where he played a general practitioner who dealt with strange patients and his own, even stranger family.

“Doc” is at the outer fringes of my memory. All I can really recall is the opening credits with Barnard Hughes walking through the streets.

The show ran two seasons from August of 1975 to October of 1976, for a total of 29 episodes.

Magic man
The next time I saw Barnard Hughes was at my friend and neighbour Mike’s place in 1981. He and his brother were watching a show called “Mr. Merlin”. All I could think was, “That’s the guy who played that doctor.”

The show intrigued me, so I tuned in to “Mr. Merlin” the next week it was on Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial. Hughes played Max Merlin, a mechanic, who is actually the immortal wizard from King Arthur’s Court living in modern-day San Francisco. When I tuned in, he had an apprentice named Zac, played by Clark Brandon.

“Mr. Merlin” had been in the “TV Guide” fall preview, but I did not read the description. It took me seeing part of an episode to tune in, and I really liked it.

I finally found out why Zac was Mr. Merlin’s apprentice through Wikipedia. Merlin hired Zac to work at his garage. When Zac pulls a crowbar from a bucket of cement, the crowbar is actually Arthur’s sword Excalibur. Merlin must then reveal himself to Zac and make him an apprentice.

The other characters I recall are Leo, Zac’s best friend, played by Jonathan Prince, and Alexandria, played by Elaine Joyce. She is Merlin’s magical liaison with an unseen council, who insisted Merlin have an apprentice or lose his powers and immortality. I knew Elaine Joyce best from game shows, such as “Match Game”.

There is one episode I remember in particular. Zac finds this magic puzzle, kind of like the Rubik’s Cube, but you take it apart and put it back together. He and Leo want to use it as a money maker, because only people with magical powers can solve it. When Merlin finds out, he puts Zac and Leo's plan to a stop by actually solving the puzzle.

I really liked the show.

However, it lasted just one season from 1981 to 1982, for a total of 22 episodes.

Barnard Hughes would be back though, in another sitcom, which was much less fantasy and much more blue collar.

When Irish eyes are smiling
“The Cavanaughs” was a sitcom I stumbled on by accident one night on CBC Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial during Grade 12. Barnard Hughes stars as Pop Cavanaugh, a blue collar Irish Catholic living in Boston with his son Chuck, played by Peter Michael Goetz and his daughter Kit, played brilliantly by Christine Ebersole.

The show was funny, primarily because of the chemistry and conflict between Pop and his children. It debuted in December of 1986 and its first season ran to March of 1987. It went on an extended break, returning August of 1988 and running until July of 1989. It lasted two seasons for a total of 26 episodes. I also recall Art Carney playing Pop’s brother.

I cannot recall any particular scenes, but I do remember talking about the show with my dear friend David Perlich in our high school guidance counsellor’s office, where we hung out regularly.

Vampires everywhere
In the summer of 1987, I was done high school and getting ready to go off to university. One night in late July or early August, I went to this movie “The Lost Boys” that remains one of my favourites. Michael Emerson, played by Jason Patric, and his younger brother Sam, played by Corey Haim, move with their mother Lucy, played by Dianne Wiest, to their grandfather’s place in Santa Carla, California.

Grandpa is played by Barnard Hughes. He is eccentric and seems to do strange and non-sensical things, such as building a fence with wooden posts that come to a point. The family didn’t need that fence.

Soon, we discover the town is full of vampires who have Lucy and her boys in their sights. In the end, the head vampire, played brilliantly by Edward Herrmann, is closing in. During the climatic chase, one of those fences posts is plunged through his chest. A wooden stake through the heart kills a vampire.

With smoke and relief all around, grandpa remarks he loves the town except for all those vampires around.

Barnard Hughes was brilliant as grandpa.

The rest of the decade
Barnard Hughes was quite prolific through the ‘80s in screen and film.

He was in movies such as “First Monday in October”, in 1981, which starred Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh as battling Supreme Court justices; “Tron”, in 1982, as a computer programmer on the outside and a video game character on the inside; and “Best Friends”, also in 1982, opposite Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn;

Hughes was in a number of TV movies as well as episodes of “Tales from the Darkside”; “Hotel”; “The Love Boat”; “American Playhouse”; “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd”; and more.

The years before
Barnard Hughes got his start playing Bob Cratchit in a 1947 TV movie version of “A Christmas Carol”, and went from there.

He was on television in the soap operas “The Guiding Light” and “As The World Turns”; TV movies; and series such as “Route 66”; “Car 54, Where Are You?”; “Naked City”; “The Defenders”; “For the People”; “Dark Shadows”; “Cannon”; “Love Story”; three episodes of “All in the Family” as a Catholic priest who battled with Archie Bunker; “The Wide World of Mystery”; “Hawaii Five-O”; three episodes of “The Bob Newhart Show”, as Bob’s father; and more.

Hughes was also in one episode of “Lou Grant”, where he won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in Drama or Comedy Series for his portrayal of a senile judge.

He was in movies as well, such as “Midnight Cowboy”; “Cold Turkey”, where an entire town tries to quit smoking; “Oh, God!” opposite George Burns and John Denver; and more.

The years after
Barnard Hughes kept on acting for decades.

He appeared in movies such as “Doc Hollywood”; “Lincoln”; “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit”; “The Odd Couple II”, where he was the old man who gave a ride to Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon; “Cradle Will Rock”; “The Fantasticks”; and more.

His last role was in 2004 in the video “The Lost Boys: The Lost Scenes”.

Hughes also appeared on TV in 52 episodes of “Blossom” as the title character’s maternal grandfather; “The Marshal”; “Homicide: Life on the Street”; and “Deadline”, in 2000, which was his last television appearance.

Barnard Hughes died in 2006 five days short of his 91st birthday.

Parting thoughts
Whenever I think of Barnard Hughes, I cannot help but think “Grumpy old man”, because he seemed at his best playing that role in “Mr. Merlin”, “The Cavanaughs”, and “The Lost Boys”.

Yet, he also brought a sensitivity and understanding to the roles he played.

He was a great actor who, like fine win, seemed to get better with age.

James Sikking: Hill Street Blues to Doogie Howser, M.D. and more

James B. Sikking as Sergeant Howard Hunter in "Hill Street Blues".

Source: https://www.tvline.com/news/james-b-sikking-dead-cause-of-

death-hill-street-blues-obituary-1235282439/

(May be subject to copyright)

He was the one who introduced me to the term “Judas Priest” as a swear word, back in the early 1980s. At the time, James B. Sikking was playing Howard Hunter, the pipe chomping head of the SWAT unit on “Hill Street Blues”. Using that phrase was how he showed emotion.

Before the end of the decade, he would move on to another role, this one as the father of a child prodigy turned doctor.

I was sad to hear today that James B. Sikking had died, but it reminded me of those two roles and more.

He was 90 years old.

The years before
James B. Sikking, and the “B” stands for Barrie, began his career in film with an uncredited role in “Five Guns West”. He had his first credited role in 1964 in “The Strangler”. He had several uncredited roles then would also appear in movies such as “The Magnificent Seven Ride!”; “Scorpio”; “Capricorn One”; “The Electric Horseman”; and others.

He had a lot more work in television, starting with a guest role in “Perry Mason” in 1961, then appearing in “Combat!”; “Rawhide”; “The Outer Limits”; “The Loner”; “The Long, Hot Summer”; “The Virginian”; “My Favorite Martian”; “My Mother the Car”; “The Fugitive”; “The Invaders”; “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”; “Bonanza”; “Adam-12”; and “The Survivors”.

In the 1970s, he was in “The Young Lawyers”; “Love, American Style”; “Hogan’s Heroes”; “The Bold Ones: The New Doctors”; “Night Gallery”; “Ironside”; “Longstreet”; “Mission: Impossible”; “The Bob Newhart Show”; “Banyon”; “Room 222”; “M*A*S*H”; “The Streets of San Francisco”; “The Mod Squad”; “The Rookies”; “Mannix”; “Columbo”; “The F.B.I.”; “Cannon”; “Ellery Queen”; “Police Story”; “Little House on the Prairie”; “Delvecchio”; “Eight is Enough”; “The Feather and Father Gang”; “Man from Atlantis”; “Rafferty”; “Starsky and Hutch”; “The Bionic Woman”; “The Incredible Hulk”; “Operation Petticoat”; “The Rockford Files”; “Lucan”; “Hawaii Five-O”; “Charlie’s Angels”; “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo”; and “Paris”.

He was also in the miniseries “A Woman Called Moses” and “Rich Man, Poor Man – Book II”; and television movies such as “The Astronaut”; “Family Flight”; “Coffee, Tea or Me?”; “The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping”; “The President’s Plane is Missing”; “Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy”.

Sikking also played surgeon Jim Hobart on the soap opera “General Hospital”; and Geoffrey St. James on the comedy series “Turnabout” in 1979, about a husband and wife inhabiting each other’s bodies.

His life changed in 1981 when Steven Bochco cast him as a SWAT team leader in a new police drama he was creating.

Hill Street Blues
Bochco was groundbreaking with his work on “Hill Street Blues”. The writing, photography, and characters earned it Emmy awards from the pilot episode on.

James B. Sikking was cast as Sergeant Howard Hunter who was later promoted to lieutenant. The website www.writeups.org describes Hunter in detail, writing he seems to have a military background and mentioned being in Vietnam. He prefers offensive tactics and is known to eagerly attack perpetrators. He is clumsy; an eloquent speaker who uses slang and odd metaphors, such as “Judas Priest”; likes referring to people by their last names; and likes using high-tech weaponry or vehicles. Hunter also takes great care filling and smoking his pipe.

Wikipedia reveals Sikking stated his Howard Hunter character was based on one of his drill sergeants from basic training at Fort Bragg when Sikking was in the army.

“Hill Street Blues” ran from January of 1981 to May of 1987 for seven seasons and a total of 146 episodes.

For his efforts, Sikking was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1984.

Coming to Lethbridge
“Hill Street Blues” aired on Channel 7 of the peasant vision dial. The station had affiliates in Lethbridge and Calgary, so they would work together and bring celebrities to the area from shows that aired on Channel 7.

One year, James B. Sikking came to Lethbridge for Whoop-Up Days and, if memory serves, taped a commercial in the character of Howard Hunter, with his pipe, stating “Judas Priest that’s a good station”, or something like that.

He definitely used the words "Judas Priest" though.

Next up
Steven Bochco was one of those writers, directors, and producers who had a stable of actors that appeared in various productions. James B. Sikking was one of Steven Bochco’s actors, just like Dennis Franz, Barbara Bosson, and Jimmy Smits.

So, it wasn’t long before Sikking was back on television, in another series created by Steven Bochco.

James B. Sikking, at right, as Dr. David Howser with

Neil Patrick Harris, the title character in "Doogie Howser, M.D.".

Source: https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/

james-sikking-dies-doogie-howser-hill-street-blues-rcna161898

(May be subject to copyright)

Child prodigy
“Doogie Howser, M.D.”, came out in September of 1989, starring a very young Neil Patrick Harris as Douglas “Doogie” Howser, a child prodigy who becomes a doctor. James B. Sikking played Dr. David Howser, Doogie’s dad.

His role as David Howser was much more thoughtful, measured and respectful, than Howard Hunter. David Howser is a Vietnam War MASH veteran with a family practice. He discovered suspicious bruising on Doogie which led to a leukemia diagnosis that saved Doogie’s life. It also inspired Doogie to become a doctor.

I did not start watching “Doogie Howser, M.D.” until the summer of 1991 when I came home from university after three full years away. I liked the show, and one of the best relationships was between David and his son. David was the sage veteran doctor who Doogie went to for advice, often advising his son on matters more about people than prescriptions and diagnosis.

One episode I recall had Doogie stumped by a patient. He could not figure out what was wrong. He talked to his dad who advised Doogie to just chat with his patient. When Doogie did, he discovered she did pottery. That lead to him discovering the glaze on her pots was making her sick.

“Doogie Howser, M.D.” ran from 1989 to 1993 for four seasons and a total of 97 episodes.

The rest of the decade
James B. Sikking did a lot of other work in the ‘80s. He was in movies such as “Ordinary People” and “The Competition” in 1980; “The Star Chamber”, in 1983; “Morons from Outer Space” in 1985; and “Soul Man”, in 1986.

He was also on TV in a guest spot on “L.A. Law”, another Bochco production; some miniseries; and several television movies, such as “The Final Days”, in 1989, about the last days of the Richard Nixon presidency.

Out in space
Sikking was also in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” in 1984, playing the captain of the ship set to replace the Enterprise when Captain Kirk and company stole it. He looked down his nose at the Enterprise scoffing that it could not out-run his ship the Excelsior and its new trans-warp drive. However, when he goes to pursue the Enterprise, and engage the new drive, it stalls. It turns out Scotty had removed some key components. Once more, Captain Kirk had outsmarted his opponent. 

The years after
James B. Sikking kept on acting on TV and in films.

He was in the movies “Narrow Margin”; “Final Approach”; “The Pelican Brief”; “Fever Pitch”; “Made of Honor”; and “Just an American” in 2012, which was his last role.

He was also in “Cop Rock”, another Bochco production; and TV movies such as “Doing Time on Maple Drive” in 1992, which was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie; “In Pursuit of Honor”, as Douglas MacArthur; and “Tyson”; “Brooklyn South”, for 22 episodes; and voice work in a number of productions.

His television last role was in “The Closer” in 2012.

Parting thoughts
I never saw a lot of episodes of “Hill Street Blues”, something I should rectify. Of the few I did see, my outstanding memories of Howard Hunter are running the SWAT team, sporting that pipe, speaking slowly and deliberately in sometimes indecipherable English, and getting ready to attack.

I did see a lot of episodes of “Doogie Howser, M.D.”. Doogie’s parents, including his mom played by Belinda Montgomery, played a prominent role. What I recall most about Sikking’s portrayal of David Howser was that he was really the only one who referred to his son as Douglas. He was also, for the lack of a better word, very fatherly.

Sikking was also the one who watched as Kirk and company stole the Enterprise while he stood by helplessly on his state-of-the-art ship because Scotty had disabled its brand new trans-warp drive.

It just shows how talented James B. Sikking was, from “Hill Street Blues” to “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and beyond.

Out of Nowhere: "Oh Sheila" by Ready for the World

It’s not really that Ready for the World came out of nowhere when their single “Oh Sheila” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

It’s that I had never heard of them, nor heard the song, when I discovered one day watching “Entertainment Tonight” that “Oh Sheila” had topped the charts for that week.

That all came back to me this morning when, as I was sipping my morning coffee, I heard “Oh Sheila” on “Stingray Remember the ‘80s” coming from my TV.

The hits
By the Fall of 1985, I had really been into music for over a year. That summer, and into early Fall, there were a lot of songs receiving a lot of airplay on the radio and video shows. It was pretty clear who was going to hit the top of the charts, just by virtue of staying power, quality, and all that airplay.

I was taking Accounting 30 in the first semester of Grade 11. We had a big project we were given a lot of time to complete, so while we worked, we talked a lot.

One of the subjects was music, and the songs of the day.

Again, those same songs kept coming up, and they did go to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

There was “Separate Lives” by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin from the movie “White Nights”. At the time, everything Phil Collins released whether solo or with someone else, went to number one. There was “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Richie, which was also from the movie “White Nights”. There was “Broken Wings”, by a new band on the scene called Mr. Mister. And, probably the biggest ear worm of them all, the song that seemed to be on all the time was “We Built This City” by Starship. One of my classmates even came up with a parody of the song, although it is too rude to mention here.

Over time, all these songs did hit number one, as expected, often following each other up the charts.

New kid on the block
Then, one day, I was watching “Entertainment Tonight”, which often announced the top single on the Billboard Hot 100 for that week.

Mary Hart and Robb Weller said that week’s number one song was “Oh Sheila” by Ready for the World. It was the week of October 12, 1985.

I listened to the radio a lot, and honestly had never heard of that song. I couldn’t even imagine a song with those words in it.

It made me wonder if the charts were different or a week behind or something. I found that highly unlikely though. The chart toppers I watched on “Entertainment Tonight”, and heard on CKXL radio from Calgary, matched up every single week.

Obviously, the song was either not getting much play on 1090 CHEC broadcasting from Lethbridge, or it just got a lot more play in the States.

It remains a mystery to me.

Turn up the radio
That all changed pretty quickly. Shortly after learning “Oh Sheila” topped the charts, I heard it for the first time on the radio. It was on the school bus while going home from school one day.

It was obviously the song “Entertainment Tonight” had mentioned because the phrase “Oh Sheila” featured prominently in the chorus.

Parting thoughts
When I heard “Oh Sheila” this morning, I sang along with the song like I often do. It obviously meant I heard the song enough times to internalize the words and the music.

Yet, I still have this memory that “Oh Sheila” came out of nowhere and then was number one, which obviously is just not the case.

I still can’t figure it out.

Richard Simmons: Providing the gift of health

Exercise and health advocate Richard Simmons.

Source: https://wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/gallery/

richard-simmons-fitness-outfits-photos-1236140125/richard-simmons-portrait-session-2/

(May be subject to copyright)

A few months ago, I made a note that I really needed to write about Richard Simmons. He was another one of the characters from the 1980s that defies description.

He was not an actor, writer, musician, or entertainer. He was more a force of nature, dragging many into the fitness craze of the decade.

Simmons was energetic and charismatic, inspiring thousands to get moving to lose weight and get fit.

Sadly, I heard today he had passed away, moving Richard Simmons to the top of the list.

He was just 76 years of age.

As seen on TV
“Real People” was a television show that run from 1979 to 1984, hosted initially by Skip Stephenson, Sarah Purcell, Canadian John Barbour, Byron Allen and Bill Rafferty. It featured segments on a wide variety of topics from the Rubik’s Cube and a man who could speak backwards, to Terry Fox running across Canada in his Marathon of Hope for cancer research.

The first time I ever saw Richard Simmons was on “Real People”. I remember him being so full of energy and so flamboyant. On the show, he was initially at his gym where viewers met his customers who had lost weight through a combination of diet and exercise. He talked about people’s hearts being covered in chips and cookies from eating all this bad food, and how that could stop.

He was living proof of the message he was delivering, because he himself lost more than 120 pounds, and kept it off.

Richard Simmons would go on to have his own series, “The Richard Simmons Show” which aired from 1980 to 1984. I often heard about it, and saw clips of him leading aerobics, but don’t recall ever seeing it air on peasant vision.

He would also make appearances on game shows, talk shows, television series such as a season one episode of Steven Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories” in 1986, and even the soap opera “General Hospital”, usually just playing himself.

Parting thoughts
Richard Simmons continued to promote health and exercise for decades. He made his last pubic appearance in 2014.

He is another one of those personalities from the ‘80s who defied description really. Simmons raised so much awareness about health, and especially fitness, at a time when media were becoming much more accessible.

He said he had a lot to give people.

The biggest gift Richard Simmons gave was their health.

Paul Newman: Great actor, better person

Paul Newman as lawyer Frank Galvin in the 1982 film "The Verdict".

Source: https://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/revisiting-sidney-lumets-the-verdict

(May be subject to copyright)

“This is the case, there is no other case. This is the case, there is no other case.”

There sat lawyer Frank Galvin, psyching himself up to go into court. He was set to do battle against a battery of lawyers representing, if you can imagine, the Roman Catholic Church in a wrongful death suit. Battling alcohol and other demons, it was make or break, not only for his career but his life.

Paul Newman played Frank Galvin in “The Verdict”, and would be nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor for his work.

It is my favourite Paul Newman film, but one of many outstanding efforts from the ‘80s and beyond.

The years before
Paul Newman got his start in movies in 1954 wih a role in “The Silver Chalice” in 1954. He played boxer Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me” in 1956, which became his breakthrough role. He also appeared in “The Rack” in 1956, winning the Golden Globe that year for New Star of the Year Actor, and was in “The Helen Morgan Story” and “Until They Sail” in 1957.

Newman’s career reached the next level in 1958. He starred in “The Long, Hot Summer”, winning Best Actor at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor for his starring role in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. He also played Billy the Kid in “The Left Handed Gun” and was in “Rally Round the Flag Boys”.

He went on to star in “The Young Philadelphians” in 1959, and “From the Terrace” and “Exodus” in 1960.

In 1961, he was in another iconic movie, playing pool player “Fast” Eddie Felson who takes on a legendary champion played by Jackie Gleason. The role earned Newman his second Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor Drama. He would reprise the role 25 years later. He also starred in “Paris Blues”.

In 1962, he was in “Sweet Bird of Youth”, where he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor Drama, and “Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man”, where he earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Another great role came along in 1963 in “Hud” where Newman played the title character doing battle with his son over the future of their ranch. “Hud” garnered Newman his third Oscar nomination for Best Actor as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor Drama. He was also in “A New Kind of Love” and “The Prize”.

In 1964, he was in “What a Way to Go!” and “The Outrage”, then “Lady L” in 1965.

Then, in 1966, he starred in the first Paul Newman movie I ever rented on video.

Private eye
When I was about 12, I started really getting interested in spy and private detective novels and movies. That’s when I discovered, through a variety of sources, Ian Fleming’s James Bond, Donald Hamilton’s Matt Helm, John D. McDonald’s Travis McGhee, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, and more.

While I was in Brooks with my cousins one summer, I read about a private detective named Lew Archer, written by Ross McDonald, and how he had been played in the movies by Paul Newman. However, the name was changed to Lew Harper, because Newman had a great deal of luck with “H” movies, earning Oscar nominations for “The Hustler” and “Hud”.

I was staying with my sister in Lethbridge one night, and we decided to rent a movie. This would have been in 1983 or 1984. We ended up renting “Harper”. The scene I will always remember is when Harper wakes up and goes to put on coffee, he discovers he is out of grounds. He looks in the trash and sees a previous day’s filter and grounds. He looks at them, looks up, and scratches his head. In the next scene, he takes a sip of coffee and winces. It was pretty funny.

More pre-history
Newman was also in “Torn Curtain” in 1966, a thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, about an American scientist, played by Newman, who appears to defect to the other side.

He started 1967 in “Hombre”. Later that year he was in “Cool Hand Luke”, playing a prisoner in a Florida prison camp. The role earned Newman his fourth Oscar nomination for Best Actor, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor Drama.

In 1968 he was in “The Secret War of Harry Frigg”, then the car racing movie “Winning” in 1969. That same year another iconic role came calling.

Outlaws
In 1969, Newman teamed up with Robert Redford for the first time in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Based on actual historical characters, they play outlaws fleeing a posse after a string of robberies. Newman plays Butch Cassidy who, in real life, lived and worked part of his life in High River, not far from where I live.

This is another in a string of movies I watched as a child where I saw the first part, then fell asleep, and to this day have never seen all of.

The movie was a hit. It is also well known for the song “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head”, by B.J. Thomas.

Much more pre-history
Newman started a new decade with “WUSA” in 1970, “Sometimes a Great Notion” in 1971, and “Pocket Money” in 1972.

In 1972, he was also in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”. This movie always seemed to be on Channel 13 of the peasant vision dial when I was growing up. For whatever reason, I always mixed it up with “Hud”, thinking “Hud” was a western. In “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”, Newman plays the title character, an outlaw who appoints himself a judge in a lawless town in the Wild West.

Newman was in the spy thriller “The Mackintosh Man” in 1973, then another iconic role came calling.

Con men
The chemistry between Newman and Redford was undeniable in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, so they teamed up again in 1973. This time they play con men in “The Sting”, out to fleece a mobster and gain a measure of revenge at the same time. Redford plays small-time grifter Johnny Hooker who, with his partner Luther, fleeces the wrong guy. It turns out their big score is mob money, and the mobster sends his boys after Luther and Hooker. Luther gets killed, Hooker escapes, and vows revenge. He ends up seeking out Henry Gondorff, a legendary con man, to help him out.

The scene we first see Gondorff is priceless. Hooker goes into his room and sees him passed out, his face pressed against a wall, snoring.

“The great Henry Gondorff,” Hooker mutters.

It is an amazing movie I love as much as “The Verdict”. This was yet another movie I saw as a kid a few times, but always fell asleep part way through. “The Sting” was different though because, at Christmas time of 1997, I rented it with my friends Chris Vining and Corinne Zimmerman and watched it beginning to end. I have seen it a few other times since.

Redford was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor and Wikipedia reveals it rekindled Newman’s career after “a series of big-screen” flops.

Even more pre-history
In 1974, Newman was in the disaster pic “The Towering Inferno”. It focuses on a group of people trying to escape a high-rise building on fire. Newman plays the architect who designed the building.

He reprised his role as Lew Harper in “The Drowning Pool” in 1975; made a cameo as himself in “Mel Brooks’ “Silent Movie” in 1976; played Buffalo Bill Cody in “Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson”, also in 1976; and closed out the decade in 1979 with the post-apocalyptic science fiction film “Quintet”.

He also had another iconic role in 1977.

Goon hockey
It is a cult classic for a lot of hockey fans. In 1977, Paul Newman strapped on some blades to play Reg Dunlop, the player-coach of the Charlestown Chiefs, a hockey team in the Federal League in “Slap Shot”. With the town’s steel mill closing, layoffs looming, the team playing poorly, and fans growing increasingly hostile, Dunlop resorts to more goon hockey. He is aided in his endeavours by the Chiefs’ latest acquisition, the brawling Hanson brothers.

I always wanted to see this movie when I was young. My brother left behind the book when he went off to college. I read about half and wanted to see the movie. I waited and waited and waited. A year or so later it was on TV and I watched the first half hour or so when – my Mom made me go to bed. She said I could watch it another time. She didn’t understand, it wasn’t like it was on regularly. I actually heard how it ended from my sister the next day. It is funny looking back, because in today’s world of the Internet, on-demand and streaming services, I bet it would take five minutes to find “Slap Shot”.

Anyway, it was another great role for Newman, as he headed into his fourth decade of films, which would bring even more success.

Dawn of the decade
The 1980s began for Paul Newman with a role opposite William Holden and Jacqueline Bisset, in “When Time Ran Out…”, a disaster film in 1980 about a volcano threatening a Pacific Island resort.

In 1981, he was in “Fort Apache, The Bronx”, playing a veteran cop with a young partner, played by Ken Wahl. They were working in a rough part of the Bronx, when a new police captain arrives, played by Ed Asner.

Then, Newman began another string of movies that pretty much closed out the decade.

Absence of Malice
Newman played liquor wholesaler Michael Gallagher in “Absence of Malice” in 1981. He is the subject of a news story written by journalist Megan Carter, played by Sally Field, claiming he is under investigation for the disappearance of a union official. The story was leaked to Carter by an unscrupulous federal prosecutor seeking to get information from Gallagher.

Absence of malice is a concept used by journalists to show the conflict between disclosing damaging personal information and the public’s right to know.

My brother got the original pay TV around this time, and began to tape movies from one of the movie channels. One of the tapes he lent me had “Absence of Malice” on it. I recall watching it and loving it. There is undeniable chemistry between Newman and Sally Field too. Little did I know that almost 20 years later I would be studying this very concept when I went to journalism school.

The role earned Newman his fifth Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

The Verdict
I was home sick from school one day in 1982, when I first heard about “The Verdict” on “Canada AM”. Host Norm Perry was talking to a film critic about Paul Newman’s latest film and how this role might finally earn the Best Actor Oscar that eluded him.

It tells the story of Frank Galvin, a struggling, alcoholic lawyer who is given a sure-thing, no-lose case by his former partner. It is a malpractice suit against the Catholic Church and, as Galvin discovers, is no sure thing as the church has hired a team of highly-skilled lawyers. Initially, he seems to just be going through the motions, but when he meets the victims, he becomes committed to the cause.

Newman is absolutely amazing in this role, going from listless and uninterested, to the crusading passionate lawyer he obviously was in earlier years. He has always had this talent for wearing his emotions on his face, and that skill is on full display in this movie.

“The Verdict” ultimately did earn Newman his sixth Oscar nomination for Best Actor, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor Drama.

Oscar comes calling
Newman followed up “The Verdict” with “Harry and Son” in 1984. The film focused on a worker, played by Newman, and his relationship with his son, played by Robby Benson.

That year he was also awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.

Around that time, there was also a lot of talk about how Newman never won an Oscar and it was his time. Consequently, in 1986 he was awarded an Honourary Oscar celebrating achievements not covered by existing Academy Awards. To some it seemed like a consolation prize, or an admission Newman would never win the Best Actor Oscar.

That same year, 1986, Newman reprised his role as “Fast Eddie” Felson in “The Color of Money”, a sequel to “The Hustler”. He starred opposite Tom Cruise.

Paul Newman would finally win that coveted award, winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in “The Color of Money”. He was also nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor Drama.

End of the decade
Newman closed out the 1980s with two more solid movies. He played General Leslie Groves, the military liaison for the Manhattan Project in “Fat Man and Little Boy” in 1989. It is the same character Matt Damon played in last year’s “Oppenheimer”. Also in 1989, he played Governor Earl K. Long, a politician who falls in love with a stripper, in “Blaze”.

The years after
Paul Newman kept right on working in the succeeding decades. He was in movies such as “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge”; “The Hudsucker Proxy”; and “Nobody’s Fool”.

I saw “Nobody’s Fool” in 1994 in the theatre with my friend Richard Ellis. There is one scene that stands out for me. Newman plays Sully, a man with a complicated life. He regularly hits on this waitress played by Melanie Griffin. Feeling really sad one night, he asks her if she wants to go back to his place.

She finally agrees.

“Don’t you have any pride?” he asks. It was hilarious.

Newman earned his seventh Oscar nomination for Best Actor for that role as Donald Sullivan, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor Drama.

He was also in “Twilight”; “Message in a Bottle”; “Where the Money Is”; and “Road to Perdition”, which was his last live acting role. He earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor, both for “Road to Perdition”.

In “Message in a Bottle”, he played Dodge Blake, father of grieving widower Garrett Blake, played by Kevin Costner. Newman is awesome as Costner’s dad, charming and stern, but loving and supportive. They also had great on-screen chemistry.

After that Newman lent his voice to various productions as a character and a narrator. 

He got more into television as well. Newman appeared in a production of “Our Town” in 2003; and the HBO miniseries “Empire Falls” in 2005. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Television in 2005 for “Empire Falls”.

He did a great deal of producing and directing dating back to the ‘60s. He is work included “Rachel, Rachel”, for which he won the Golden Globe for Best Director in 1968; many of the movies he starred in; “The Shadow Box”, for which he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special in 1980; “The Glass Menagerie”; and “Empire Falls”, where he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries.

He also had a number of other interests, including Newman’s Own food products, such as salad dressing, where proceeds went to charity; and race car driving, where he won several national championships in Sports Car Club of America road racing.

In 1994, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Oscars; and that same year was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Paul Newman died on September 26, 2008.

He was 83 years old.

Parting thoughts
It is hard to fathom the career of Paul Newman. He had so many great movies, amazing roles, and outstanding moments. He has always been my favourite, and I distinctly remember mourning his death back in 2008.

Yet as I read more about him, I was taken aback at what kind of a person he was too. There are dozens and dozens of causes he has supported over the years. In one year alone, he donated more than $20 million to charity, and was voted the most generous celebrity.

Some people assume actors are exactly like the people they play on screen, while others assume they are the exact opposite. Some also assume actors are selfish, and self-absorbed.

Well, Paul Newman seemed to be one of those actors who was kind, generous and supportive of so many people in need.

It shows, as great an actor as he was, he was an even better human being.

Shelley Duvall: Remembering Olive Oyl and more

Shelley Duvall in the 1980 film "Popeye".

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHjfqs3R04T/

(May be subject to copyright)

It is always interesting to see what happens when a cartoon is brought to life in a live-action production. We all see the drawing on the screen, but invariably we have different interpretations of what the actor who plays the character should look like.

I was very curious when I heard “Popeye” was coming to life as a live-action movie. When I saw Robin Williams as the title character, I wasn’t so sure he was the right choice. The hair colour and style was different, the forearms looked off, and even the can of spinach was under stated.

The same could not be said of Shelley Duvall, who I thought was the perfect choice to bring Olive Oyl to life.

I heard today that Shelley Duvall had died, and all the tributes that came pouring in focused on her performance in the horror thriller “The Shining”.

Yet, for me, it always starts with her work in “Popeye”.

The early years
Shelley Duvall got her start in movies in 1970 with “Brewster McCloud”, then was in “McCabe and Mrs. Miller’; “Thieves Like Us”; “Nashville”; “Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson”; “3 Women”; and “Annie Hall”.

Meanwhile, she was also appearing on TV in shows such as “Cannon”; “Love, American Style”; “Baretta”; the television movie “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”; and “Saturday Night Live”.

As the calendar flipped to the ‘80s, Shelley Duvall hit the decade running with two of her biggest roles.

The decade
The year 1980 began with Duvall playing Wendy Torrance, wife of the possessed Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, in “The Shining”. Later that year, she breathed life into the cartoon character Olive Oyl, Popeye’s love interest in “Popeye”. Critic Roger Ebert said Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl.

She went on to have roles in “Time Bandits”, in 1981; “Frankenweenie”, in 1984 and “Roxanne” in 1987.

Duvall also did a lot of work on television. She created and hosted “Faerie Tale Theatre” from 1982 to 1987, for a total of 27 episodes. Of those, 25 were re-told classic fairy tales, one was based on the poem “The Pied Piper of Hamelin”, and the last episode was a reunion special. Duvall starred in the episodes “Rumpelstiltskin”; “Rapunzel”; “The Nightingale”; “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”; “Puss in Boots”; and “Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp”.

She created and produced a similar show from 1985 to 1987 called “Tall Tales and Legends” for nine episodes, garnering her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program in 1988. She also appeared in a 1986 episode of “The Twilight Zone”, produced and starred in the TV movie “Frog” in 1987; and produced a horror anthology series called “Nightmare Classics” in 1989.

The years after
Duvall kept on in both film and television for the next two decades. She appeared in movies such as “Suburban Commando”; “The Underneath”; “The Portrait of a Lady”; “Tale of the Mummy”; “Casper Meets Wendy”; “Home Fries”; “The 4th Floor”; “Boltneck”; and “Manna from Heaven”.

She took a 20-year break from movies before appearing in “The Forest Hills” in 2023, her final film role. It was revealed she had been working on her mental health, and those private challenges were made public when she appeared on “Dr. Phil” in 2016.

She was much more prolific on television, appearing in the TV movies “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme”; and “Frogs!”; producing television movies and specials, such as “Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories”, which ran 14 episodes and earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Program; and appearing in episodes of “The Ray Bradbury Theater”; “L.A. Law”; “Frasier”; “The Adventures of Shirley Holmes”, for which she was nominated for a Gemini for Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series; “Maggie Winters”; “Wishbone”; and “The Hughleys”.

Shelley Duval died on July 11, 2024 from complications due to diabetes.

She was 75 years old.

It’s relative
The question I always had when I was young was – are Shelley Duvall and Robert Duvall related?

No.

Parting thoughts
It seems from her body of work that Shelley Duvall's main interests were fairy tales and cartoons, and horror movies. Virtually all of her work is in those two areas, and I think that is really cool.

She brought life to classic fairy tales, as well as cartoons, and horror stories of all kinds.

Yet to many, she will be known for that role in “The Shining”.

For me, I will always think of Olive Oyl.

I agree with Roger Ebert – Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl.

Kim Mitchell: Shakin’ like a human being

The look is as distinctive as the music – a navy blue Ontario Provincial Police hat covering stringy long hair, to go with a t-shirt and jeans.

Much like other Canadian musicians of the era, Kim Mitchell really was not about the flash. It was substance over style.

Although he may have cut his teeth with the band Max Webster, and had his first solo success with the song “Go for Soda”, my first encounters with Kim Mitchell were on his epic album “Shakin’ Like a Human Being” in 1986.

It yielded a bunch of songs, that all came to mind when I read it is Kim Mitchell’s birthday today.

In the beginning
Kim Mitchell formed Max Webster in 1972 in Toronto, and yielded hit singles in Canada such as “Let Go the Line”, which reached number 39. They were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2023.

Kim Mitchell went solo in 1982, and released his first solo album, “Akimbo Alogo” in 1984. It yielded his first hit single, “Go For Soda”, which peaked at number 22 in Canada and number one on the Cancon chart. It was the only single Mitchell charted in the States, going all the way to number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and number 12 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. It appeared in a Season 2 episode of “Miami Vice” as well. “Akimbo Alogo” also had the song “All We Are”, which went to number 79 in Canada and number 10 on the Cancon chart.

For his efforts he won the Juno for Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year in 1983.

Kim Mitchell came to Lethbridge in 1985 or the first part of 1986, when I was in Grade 11 anyway, and played at the Sportsplex. I remember the commercials for the concert focusing on “Go For Soda” and “All We Are”.

The success of “Akimbo Alogo” set the stage for his breakout album.

Not a leaf
When Kim Mitchell was asked about the title of the album “Shakin’ Like a Human Being” he released in 1986, he referred to the saying “shaking like a leaf”, and said “shaking like a human being” was more serious.

I recalled hearing the phrase in a song from one of his next albums, and thought that odd. Wikipedia reveals the title “Shakin’ Like a Human Being” does come from the song “I Am a Wild Party”, which came out on his live album “I Am a Wild Party” in 1990.

“Shakin’ Like a Human Being” would go on to win the Juno for Album of the Year in 1987.

The singles
“Shakin’ Like a Human Being” yielded songs that stayed on the radio for more than a year, obviously due in part to Canadian content regulations.

He led off with “Patio Lanterns”, a song that paints vivid pictures with imagery. It is an iconic Canadian song now, that peaked at number 12 in Canada and number one on the Cancon charts.

The second single was “Alana Loves Me”, a song I just could not get out of my head in the summer of 1986. I just love the chorus, and distinctly remember where I was when first hearing it. I was taking driver’s ed the summer of 1986 in Lethbridge and staying at my sister’s place. Back then, one of the channels on the cable TV package played a local radio station, and that’s where I heard “Alana Loves Me”. I did not get the name of the song for awhile, because deejays didn’t always announce the names of songs.

“Alana Loves Me”, peaked at number 31 in Canada, and number four on the Cancon charts.

Next up was “Easy to Tame”, another song me and my best friend Chris Vining used to sing at class change in Grade 12 down the halls of Kate Andrews High School in Coaldale. We especially harped on the opening line, “What am I doing to make you so sad…”

“Easy to Tame” peaked at number 32 in Canada and number two on the Cancon charts.

Mitchell slowed things down with “In Your Arms”, the fourth and final single from “Shakin’ Like a Human Being”. It went to 97 in Canada and did not place on the Cancon chart.

Rockland
As the decade closed, Kim Mitchell released the album “Rockland” in 1989, yielding two more radio hits.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Duty” peaked at number seven in Canada and number one on the Cancon chart, while “Rockland Wonderland” peaked at number 10 in Canada, but did not chart anywhere else.

The years after
Kim Mitchell keeps on writing, recording and performing to this day. A friend of mine I grew up with actually just saw him play in Taber a few weeks ago, and he even had a chance to meet him.

Mitchell released songs such as “Expedition Sailor”, which peaked at number 20 in Canada; live versions of “All We Are”, reaching number 73 and “I am a Wild Party”, hitting number 43; “Find the Will”, peaking at number 28; “America”, reaching number three; “Some Folks”, hitting number 16; and much more.

He won the Juno for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1990, and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.

Parting thoughts
The 1980s had a definite Canadian music scene. Some of the artists experienced international success while others such as Blue Rodeo, the Tragically Hip, Luba and Kim Mitchell were very popular at home, but just never caught on the States.

It really is their loss.

Kim Mitchell, especially with the hits from his second album “Shakin’ Like a Human Being” were special. They told great stories, often about Canadian themes, and really resonated with me.

Perhaps what I will always remember about Kim Mitchell was that every time I saw him, he always just seemed to be having a good time.

That just made us all listening to him have a good time too.

We need more of that today.

Sean Connery: Leaving Bond behind – mostly

Sean Connery in the movie "The Untouchables" in 1987.

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094226/mediaviewer/rm593762816/

(May be subject to copyright)

He is a decorated actor with a long list of accomplishments. Yet, as the 1980s opened, Sean Connery was best known for a role he hadn’t played for a few years, which another actor was currently occupying.

At the dawn of the decade, Connery was best known as the first real, big screen James Bond, that spy in the British secret service with a licence to kill.

As the decade progressed, Sean Connery would leave James Bond behind, with a series of memorable performances in a variety of films.

The years before
Sean Connery, had his first big-screen role in 1954, an uncredited turn in “Lilacs in the Spring”. His first movie as James Bond was “Dr. No”, in 1962. He followed that up with “From Russia With Love” in 1963 and “Goldfinger” in 1964. The first time I saw him was doing battle with Oddjob and flirting with Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger”.

He was back as Bond again in 1965 in “Thunderball”; “You Only Live Twice” in 1967; and “Diamonds are Forever” in 1971, which was his last turn as James Bond – or so we thought.

Connery had also been in other movies including “A Fine Madness”; “The Molly Maguires”; “The Anderson Tapes”; “Murder on the Orient Express”; “The Man Who Would be King”; “Robin and Marian”; “A Bridge Too Far”; “The First Great Train Robbery” and “Meteor”.

Dawn of the Decade
His first movie of the ‘80s was “Outland” in 1981, where he plays a new marshal at a mining colony on Jupiter seeking to uncover the truth and root out criminals.

He followed that up with “Time Bandits” in 1982, where a boy goes on an adventure through time with a band of thieves. Connery played King Agmemnon.

Next, he was in “Five Days One Summer” and “Wrong is Right”, both in 1982.

Then something strange happened.

Familiar Face
In 1983, the producers of the James Bond franchise were readying to release “Octopussy”, the latest movie starring Roger Moore as the secret agent.

Then there was word, another James Bond movie was coming out – with Sean Connery back as Bond. It seems, there was some issue over the copyright of “Thunderball”, so it was available to be made again. Connery was cast and “Never Say Never Again”, a reference to him never playing Bond again, came out in 1983.

The movie season was billed as the “Battle of the Bonds”

It would be Sean Connery’s last turn as Bond. Interestingly, when he started playing the secret agent, Bond creator Ian Fleming was still alive. He said Connery looked exactly like what Fleming had imagined Bond to look like except for a scar on his face.

There can be only one
It is a movie that has become a cult classic, but in 1986 was anything but that. After Connery had appeared in “Sword of the Valiant” in 1984, he appeared in “Highlander”.

It is a movie that I went to in the theatre with my friends David Perlich, Michael Kozbial, and Mathew Ebner. There were 13 other people in the theatre. We knew because we counted.

Yet, we like “Highlander”, and I still do.

Christopher Lambert plays Connor MacLeod, an immortal, who was born in the Scottish Highlands in the 16th Century, and has live several lives since then. Earth is filled with several of these immortals. When there is only one left, they will receive a reward beyond all imagining. The only way to kill an immortal is to cut their head off. Connery plays Ramirez, another immortal, who trains MacLeod to protect himself when he initially discovers he is immortal. That comes when MacLeod is attacked by another immortal named Kurgan.

There would be sequels and a TV show that really butchered the story, but we all really liked the original “Highlander”.

Success
That role in “Highlander” was the first of what became a renaissance for Sean Connery in his 50s.

His next film, also in 1986, was “Name of the Rose”, where Connery played a Franciscan monk trying to solve a murder in an abbey

He then achieved his greatest success to date. Based on the popular 1960s TV series, “The Untouchables” came out in 1987. Kevin Costner plays Eliot Ness, a Bureau Of Prohibition Agent. He takes on organized crime and Al Capone, played by Robert DeNiro, who was selling illegal booze during Prohibition in the 1930s. Connery played Jim Malone, a veteran cop who helps Ness take down Capone.

For his efforts, Connery won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the role. He also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture.

“The Untouchables” breathed new life into Connery’s career.

His next role was in 1988 in “The Presidio”. He plays the head of an army base, who clashes with a San Francisco police detective, played by Mark Harmon, over the murder investigation of a soldier and two police officers.

The movie was panned by critics, but I have yet to see it to judge for myself.

Connery was brilliantly cast in his next role in 1989 as Henry Jones, the father of Indiana Jones, in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. The chemistry between Connery and Harrison Ford is instant. They portray all the complexity that exists in a father-son relationship from affection and love, to annoyance, irritation and the struggle for independence by the son. For his efforts, Connery was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture.

He closed out the decade in 1989 with “Family Business”, where he plays the head of a crime family opposite Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick.

The years after
Sean Connery continued to do great work in the succeeding decades including “The Hunt for Red October”; “The Russia House”; “Highlander II: The Quickening”; “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”; “Medicine Man”: “Rising Sun”; “A Good Man in Africa”; “Just Cause”; “First Knight”; providing his voice for “Dragonheart”; “The Rock”; “The Avengers”; “Playing by Heart”; “Entrapment”; and “Finding Forrester”.

“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” was his final on-screen role, in 2003.

He in 2006, after receiving the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He came out of retirement briefly for just one more film, lending his voice to “Sir Billi” in 2012.

Sean Connery died in 2020.

He was 90 years old.

Question and answer
In junior high, I took a computer science class using Apple II computers. One of our assignments was to create a trivia game. The structure was multiple choice questions with four possible answers.

I borrowed my cousin’s box of “Trivial Pursuit” questions for material. The question I remember best, because at the time no one seemed to get it right was: What actor has a tattoo of “Scotland Forever” on his right arm?

Sean Connery

Parting thoughts
For people of a certain age, Sean Connery will always be synonymous with James Bond. Even Bond’s creator Ian Fleming thought Connery was right for the role.

Yet, he did so much more after that.

What really kick-started the best part of his career was that Oscar and Golden Globe-winning role in “The Untouchables”.

It happened in he ‘80s and it finally meant Sean Connery had left James Bond behind.

Batman: Remembering the summer of 1989

It may have been one of the most hyped movies of the year. Early trailers started out simply enough. When other movie trailers played bits of their story, all this one had was a plane hurtling around in the night. The screen would dissolve to black and all that would appear was a stylized “Batman” logo. Later, as the premier got closer, we would get a bigger glimpse into what the world of Gotham City was like.

The much anticipated film came out in the Summer of 1989. It was visually stunning, and beautifully acted by Michael Keaton in the title role and especially by Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

The movie had a lot to offer, and I saw it more than once that summer.

Movie buddies
The summer of 1989 would be my first in Edmonton. I was living in residence and taking classes in spring and summer sessions.

Soon after it started, I started hanging out with two guys – Bruce Freadrich and Larry Irla – who I had worked with the preceding school year. We did a lot of stuff together, Maragarita Mondays and Wing Wednesdays at Campus Earl’s; rented movies; went out for supper – and went to movies.

One of the ones I remember distinctly was “Batman”, which came out in the middle of June.

There was a lot of hype about “Batman” for more than a year, so it was kind of a relief it was finally here, and Bruce, Larry and I went to see it.

It did not disappoint.

There had been some debate over whether Michael Keaton was the right choice for Batman, and I thought he was excellent. There was no question Jack Nicholson would do a good job as The Joker, and he was absolutely outstanding. He exceeded expectations is if that was possible.

They put on a great movie, that I will always remember for the number of quotable moments.

It was also visually stunning to watch. The photography is amazing, with that German expressionist sensibility of shadows, light and dark, diagonal lines, and stark contrasts. The Batmobile was as powerful and intimidating as it should be, the Batplane was sleek and stylized, and the Batcave fit perfectly into this world.

“Batman” was a movie I could watch without sound and still enjoy because it was so visually rich. In fact, I did just that. Maybe a year after the movie came out, I was at Room At The Top, or RATT, a bar on campus at the University of Alberta. I was hanging out with some friends and noticed “Batman” was playing on one of the TVs. Obviously, with music playing and people talking, hearing the movie was not possible. Yet, I found myself looking ove to the TV regularly, instantly knowing what was happening, and enjoying the sights of “Batman” all over again.

The performances of everyone else were also top notch from Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, to Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent, and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon.

Quotable
For the rest of the summer, every week, Bruce and I would dwell on another quote from “Batman”.

We went from, “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” to “Never rub another man’s rhubarb” to “This town needs an enema.”

I always joked the last quote we used was the best:

“I’m Batman.”

I went home to the farm at the end of that summer for a week, and went to see “Batman” in Lethbridge with my high-school friend Shawn Kingston. There, I found myself mouthing those lines as we watched the movie. That was the last time I ever saw Shawn too.

The other interesting thing was that Prince did the soundtrack for “Batman”.

Classic Caped Crusader
Leading up to seeing the movie, Bruce rented the old “Batman” movie from the ‘60s. I had seen it twice as a boy, and really liked it. Adam West was Batman and Burt Ward was Robin. The movie featured a good chunk of the classic villains ganging up on Batman and Robin, utilizing a weapon that literally dehydrates people into piles of granules. In this case, the people can be rehydrated, because the show was campy and not as dark as the movie would be.

The Joker was played by Cesar Romero; the Penguin by Burgess Meredith; the Riddler by Frank Gorshin; and Catwoman by Lee Meriweather.

When I first saw the movie, which came out in 1966, I did not realize it would lead to a TV series that ran from 1966 to 1968, for three seasons and 120 episodes.

When I was in Grade 11, CBC Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial started airing on Sunday mornings a show called “Switchback” hosted by a radio deejay named Humble Howard. He played music videos, had interviews and every week played an old episode of “Batman”. I was able to see a couple but going to church meant I missed a chunk of the show – the part with the “Batman” episode. Often, I would get home from church and see the last few minutes of it, but that was it.

Something I started doing, because I loved keeping records, was writing down the different villains each week, often played by interesting actors. I recall in particular Liberace and John Astin.

After the dawn of DVDs, I bought the 1966 “Batman” movie and the first season of the series. I went over to my sister’s right after one of the Christian Bale “Batman” movies came out, and watched the 1966 “Batman” as a prelude.

The rest of the story
Michael Keaton played the Caped Crusader again in the 1992 sequel “Batman Returns”. He was replaced by Val Kilmer for “Batman Forever” in 1995, who was replaced by George Clooney for “Batman and Robin” in 1997.

Parting thoughts
It was a big deal when “Batman” came out in the summer of ’89, because of all the hype and advanced publicity. I have to say the movie delivered, especially the cinematography and that chilling performance by Jack Nicholson as The Joker. He was funny and sarcastic, but also chilling, ruthless, and lethal, all in equal measure. For his performance, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor Musical or Comedy.

Michael Keaton was also good. Up to that point, he had played characters that were rarely serious, and often sarcastic, constantly cracking jokes, and even a bit ridiculous. That was probably why people were a bit concerned about his casting as Batman. Yet, Keaton showed he could be serious. He was intense, understated, quiet, and just as lethal as The Joker. Keaton showed he could act, and has turned in several very good, dramatic performances since.

Yet, as great as the acting, story and cinematography were, what makes “Batman” hold a special place in my heart, is the role it played in my friendships that summer. Its quotes were a rallying cry, and inside joke, and one of those things that make a relationship a friendship.

I can still see Bruce Freadrich grab me by the lapel, look me square in the eye, and mutter:

“I’m Batman.”

Paul Simon: One of the greatest songwriters of all time

“If you can be my bodyguard, I can be your long lost pal…”

It started with this song, but then he told us about him and Julio down by the schoolyard, and invited us to Graceland.

Up until that point, he was best known as part of an amazing duo that had broken up in the ‘70s.

However, the ‘80s were really when Paul Simon came into his own. Or at least that’s when I came to know him.

As it turns out, I had heard some of his solo stuff before, then a bunch of that amazing music he made with Art Garfunkel.

Paul Simon came across my newsfeed the other day, and instantly my mind went back to him singing with Chevy Chase in a pretty cool music video.

Call me Al
Because I really got into music in 1984, although I had been listening since about 1982, there were some big gaps in my knowledge. A large gap happened to be one of the best-selling duos of all time.

When I heard Paul Simon put out a new album, I quickly discovered he was the “Simon” in Simon and Garfunkel. However, I really couldn’t tell you off the top of my head any of the songs they recorded.

So, my introduction to Paul Simon came in 1986, when he released the album “Graceland”, which I learned was actually his seventh studio album. The first single was called “You Can Call me Al”, and I liked it. Listening to various radio stations informed me Simon had been influenced by South African rhythms and “You Can Call me Al” definitely had that sound. What I remember most vividly was the music video. Chevy Chase, who is a foot taller than Paul Simon and towers over him, lip syncs Paul Simon while Paul Simon lip syncs the background vocals.

“You Can Call me Al” went all the way to number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Graceland
The album also produced a number of other great singles that I recall vividly, although they didn’t seem to chart that well.

The next single was the title track “Graceland”, which peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100. That was followed by “Boy in the Bubble”, which went to number 86, and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” which did not even chart.

However, in 1987 “Graceland” won the Grammy for Album of the Year and earned Simon a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 1988, the single “Graceland” won Simon the Grammy for Record of the Year and a nomination for Song of the Year. Wikipedia reveals it was the lowest-charting song on any of the world music charts to win Record of the Year until 2009.

History lesson
When I was still on the farm, I think after my first year of university, there was this show on TV that was counting down the greatest songs of all time. The top song sounded so beautiful, and I faintly recognized it, but couldn’t tell you what it was or who sang it.

It was “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.

That Fall, I went back to university and lived on the Fifth Floor of Kelsey Hall. When I was on 5K, I recall borrowing from my floormate Lorne Zaparniuk, his copy of Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits. That’s when I discovered the musical stylings of one of the greatest folk duos of all time. I even recorded “Bridge Over Troubled Water” on a tape I was making. Incidentally, “Deep Cuts the Knife” by Helix was another song I recorded that I had borrowed from Lorne.

Anyway, that greatest hits tape introduced me to Simon and Garfunkel’s songs, and made me realize I had heard others many times before.

Those songs included “The Sound of Silence”, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; “Homeward Bound”, which reached number five; “I am a Rock”, which hit number three; “Scarborough Fair”, which peaked at number 11; “Mrs. Robinson”, which went all the way to number one; “The Boxer”, which reached number seven; “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, which peaked at number one; “Cecilia”, which hit number four; “America”, which went to number 97; and others.

In October of 1988, I went on a student leadership retreat, and recall singing “Cecilia” around the fire led by my newfound friend Michel Despins.

Solo sensation
Over time, I also came to know the rest of Paul Simon’s solo career, and some of the songs from those first six solo albums.

Some of those songs, dating back to 1965, were “Mother and Child Reunion”, which went all the way to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”, which reached number 22; “Kodachrome”, which hit number two; “Loves Me Like a Rock”, which also peaked at number two; “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”, which was Simon’s first solo number one single, and one of the most clever songs I have ever heard; “Slip Slidin’ Away”, which went all the way to number five; and “Late in the Evening”, which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.

Paul Simon retired from touring in 2018, but continues to record music. He released his latest album in 2023.

He has also twice been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1990 as part of Simon and Garfunkel, and in 2001 as a solo performer.

Parting thoughts
Listening to some of Paul Simon’s songs, both with Art Garfunkel and by himself, has just reminded me of how great a songwriter and musician he truly is.

I have always believed folk music is about telling stories, and Paul Simon’s lyrics paint some great pictures, especially with Simon and Garfunkel. What is really interesting to me is how much success and how popular their music was in such a relatively short period of time. In fact, they only released 21 singles in total.

When Paul Simon went solo, he branched out into other types of music such as gospel, soul and reggae.

I read he was named one of the 100 People Who Shaped the World by “Time” magazine, and number eight on the list of 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time by “Rolling Stone” magazine.

He has definitely earned the honours.

Remembering “Knight Rider”

“One man can make a difference”

That was the mission of Michael Knight, who was tasked with taking down criminals who “were above the law”.

Using his computerized car, the Knight Industries Two Thousand, or KITT, Michael pursued bad guys for four seasons and 90 episodes on “Knight Rider”.

Recently, that magical car, the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, appeared on my newsfeed, and it took me back to a time where I waited impatiently every week to watch the adventures of Michael Knight and KITT.

Long day into Knight
The pilot for “Knight Rider” aired in September of 1982 when I was just starting Grade 8. It was an amazing movie, because I really did not know what was going to happen.

Michael Long is a police detective who is double crossed, shot in the face, and left for dead. He is found by a mysterious organization that not only saves his life but, because he is disfigured, performs plastic surgery giving him a new face and new identity.

Enter David Hasselhoff.

The cast of the drama "Knight Rider. Clockwise from top left

are David Hasselhoff; Edward Mulhare; and Patricia McPherson.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/knightriderclassicpage

(May be subject to copyright)

Michael Long has become Michael Knight, and he is under the protection of Knight Industries, founded by Wilton Knight. He is played by Richard Basehart, and creates a crime-fighting organization to go after criminals who act above the law. He enlists Michael to be his lead agent in that endeavour. Michael’s liaison is Devon Miles, played by Edward Mulhare, who takes over after Wilton Knight’s death. Michael has also been given a new car, the Knight Industries Two Thousand, or KITT.

More than a car, it has a personality of its own, and KITT becomes a character in the show, whose voice is provided by William Daniels. Interestingly, he was the voice of KITT at the same time he played Dr. Mark Craig on “St. Elsewhere”.

A state-of-the-art computer, KITT provides information in a pre-Internet world, but also has functions such as x-rays. In one episode, KITT discovers the remains of someone in the ground through x-ray, information that proves useful to Michael. In addition to the onboard computer, KITT also has “turbo boost”. When Michael hits the button, the car can go really fast.

KITT has one other feature, that comes into play in the pilot. Ultimately, Michael Knight’s first mission involves the same woman, played Phyllis Davis, who betrayed Michael Long, seemingly leading to his death. When he first meets KITT, he touches the exterior and asks, “Why does it feel like a baby’s skin?”

It turns out to be the state-of-the-art, bullet-proof skin, that makes KITT virtually indestructible. Well, when Michael confronts the woman, and she discovers who he really is, she has him at gunpoint. He is sitting inside KITT. He warns her not to shoot. Of course, she does not believe him. She fires. The bullet ricochets off the window and kills her.

Karma is a bitch.

From that point on, Michael is assigned his regular missions by Devon Miles. There is a third member of the team, an engineer who understands the inner working of KITT and keeps him humming. Initially it is Dr. Bonnie Barstow, played by Patricia McPherson. In the second season it is April Curtis played by Rebecca Holden; then Barstow returns for the third and fourth seasons.

Nemesis
One of my outstanding memories of “Knight Rider” is the two nemesis of Michael and KITT. We eventually discover Wilton Knight had a son. He appears, and is not a very nice guy. What makes him look more evil is that Michael Knight is an exact double of Garthe Knight, who is also played by David Hasselhoff, but sports a demonic goatee. He also drives Goliath, a massive semi truck, that is computerized like KITT, providing a formidable adversary.

We also meet the Knight Automated Roving Robot, or KARR, which is the precursor to KITT. He too is computerized, talks and is out for revenge.

Times change
“Knight Rider” debuted in September of 1982, when I was just starting Grade 8. It aired that first season on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial, and I watched every episode religiously.

For its second season and beyond, right until its conclusion in 1986, it moved to Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial, on Sunday nights at 7 p.m. I believe.

It had a big impact on me. Unlike my classmates who loved the car, I loved the story line of a man on a mission, solving crimes, stopping bad guys, and making the world a better place. “Knight Rider” even has some influence on my own writing.

In fact, in Grade 9, we had to do a project. I believe it was designing a car or some such. My teacher was Mr. Ron Chmielewski. I decided to design a car I called the “Vogt Industries Two Hundred”, or VITH. Yes, it was a cheap knock-off of KITT. However, I am pretty sure my teacher had no idea what I was talking about, because he wrote as much on my assignment when he handed it back.

However, a few days later, someone called out to me, and Mr. Chmieleswki called out, “You mean the president of Vogt Industries?” At least he got part of it – maybe.

By Grade 10, as “Knight Rider” entered its third season, I began to get into other things. There was my Commodore 64 and playing and even designing video games; then music, which I really got into the Fall of 1984.

I watched “Knight Rider” less and less.

That reached a crescendo in the final season of the show when, in Grade 11, my friends started getting their licences and I started going out more and more while, simultaneously, getting interested in girls.

I am not sure I even saw an episode in the fourth season of “Knight Rider”, and I definitely have no idea how it ended or what the last episode was.

“Knight Rider” ran from 1982 to 1986 for four seasons and 90 episodes. I own all four seasons on DVD as well.

The rest of the story
Re-boots and updates are not new. They have been going on for decades, but in the ‘80s and ‘90s they were called reunion movies more than anything.

My parents moved off the farm in the first part of 1991, and retired to Lethbridge. I visited in March for the first time and immediately fell in love with the new house. One of the biggest reasons was, after a lifetime of peasant vision, my parents had cable TV. That made coming home after university a much easier choice.

It was in May of 1991, just a month or so after moving to my new home in Lethbridge, I read in the “TV Times” in the “Lethbridge Herald” there was a reunion movie coming up.

It was called “Knight Rider 2000”, and starred Davis Hasselhoff.

The movie was can’t miss television, and my Mom and I tuned in. It was set in the year 2000 which, as hard as that is to believe now, was the near future. All I really remember is that KITT is going to be taken apart and studied to make a better version of the car. Michael was angry, ultimately took KITT’s inner workings and installed them in an antique car Michael had been working on, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.

Parting thoughts
“Knight Rider” would be re-worked and re-imagined a few times, the last being the made-for –television movie “Knight Rider” in 2008. It served as the pilot for another “Knight Rider” series that ran from 2008 to 2009, which focused on Michael Knight’s estranged son. I watched it, and enjoyed it, but it wasn’t the same.

“Knight Rider” was David Hasselhoff and William Daniels, working as a team to take down people who acted like they were above the law. For me, it was never about the cool car, it was about the story and the characters.

So, whenever I think of “Knight Rider”, I really think of that pilot movie in 1982 and hearing Richard Basehart declaring “One man can make a difference”.

Katherine Helmond: From Jessica Tate to Mona Robinson and more

Katherine Helmond, at left, with her co-star Tony Danza in the sitcom "Who's the Boss?".

Source: https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/katherine-helmond-dead-dies-whos-the-boss-1203153175/

(May be subject to copyright)

Nothing defines the density of Jessica Tate better than the following conversation she had with her nephew Jodie Dallas about him being gay.

He told her some very famous people were gay, including Plato.

She got very serious, looked her nephew squarely in the eye and said:

“You mean Mickey Mouse’s dog is gay.”

It was just one of the priceless moments in the groundbreaking sitcom “Soap”, where Katherine Helmond played Jessica Tate.

That role was just coming to an end as the ‘80s started, but Katherine Helmond would soon be back with another memorable character, although this one was not just another incarnation of Jessica Tate.

It is Katherine Helmond’s birthday today, and a good chance to look back at her career, which really got rolling in the ‘80s.

Jessica Tate
Looking back, I am still quite surprised my Mom let me watch “Soap”. From the time it started, I got to watch it pretty much every Thursday night on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial, right after “Live it Up”. It had a lot of adult themes that I still vividly remember,. It addressed all sorts of issues such as homosexuality, when that was still pretty much a taboo; celibacy; the Catholic church; cults; infidelity; and a lot more. Having not really seen soap operas before, I didn’t really appreciate the way “Soap” also spoofed the daytime drama with plot lines on alien abduction; demonic possession; infidelity; sex; and others.

Through it all, Katherine Helmond was brilliant as Jessica Tate. The show started each episode with the narrator explaining “Soap” was the story of two sisters, Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell, who was also brilliantly played by Cathryn Damon. Everything emanated out of their families.

Jessica was much better off financially than Mary, who was very blue collar. Jessica was rich, lived in a mansion, and had a butler. First it was Benson, until he got his own show, then Saunders. Jessica was a ditz, and made some poor choices, as soap opera characters do, such as having affairs. However, she was kind, sweet and vulnerable at heart. She, in particular, had a relationship with Benson that was more like family then employer and employee. That was evidenced when she called on him to return to rescue her son Billy from the clutches of a cult.

She was so ditzy, it made for some really funny moments. In the first season, she was having an affair with her tennis pro Peter Campbell, played by Robert Urich. After an afternoon quickie, he made a comment about them “boffing” as they got dressed. Jessica just laughed and couldn’t stop using the word. She said her husband Chester wouldn’t even knew what it meant, so she could say, “I boffed”, and he wouldn’t blink an eye. It kind of went on and on, and was pretty funny.

Because of that blend of sensitivity, comedy, vulnerability and everything else that made Jessica Tate, Katherine Helmond was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981, all four years “Soap” was on the air. She also won a Golden Globe in 1980 for Best Actress Television Series Musical or Comedy.

“Soap” lasted four seasons and ran a total of 85 episodes.

The years before
Katherine Helmond brought a lot of experience to “Soap” in both film and television. Her first movie was “Wine of Morning” in 1955; and she would have a few roles including one in “The Hindenburg” in 1975.

Her television career began in 1962 with a guest role in “Car 54, Where Are You?”; and went on to episodes of “Gunsmoke”; “The F.B.I.”; “Adam’s Rib”; “The Bob Newhart Show”; “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”, a TV movie; “The Snoop Sisters”; “Hec Ramsey”; “Mannix”; “Medical Center”; “The Rookies”; “The Legend of Lizzie Borden”, a TV movie; “Barnaby Jones”; “Harry-O”; “The Six Million Dollar Man”; “The Blue Knight”; “Petrocelli”; “Joe Forrester”; “Visions”; “Spencer’s Pilots”; “The Bionic Woman”; and more.

The in-between time
After her run on “Soap” ended, Helmond reprised the role of Jessica Tate for an episode of “Benson”; had guest spots in “The Love Boat”, “Faerie Theatre”, and “Fantasy Island”; as well as roles in a number of TV movies such as “Scout’s Honor”, ”For Lovers Only”, “Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story”; and the miniseries “World War III”.

Things would change again when Helmond landed another defining role in her career.

Mona Robinson
The premise of “Who’s the Boss?” is simple. Tony Micelli, played by Tony Danza, is an ex-baseball player, widowed with a young daughter, Sam, played by Alyssa Milano. He goes to work as a live-in housekeeper in Connecticut, for Angela Bower, played by Judith Light, who is divorced with a son. The comedy flows from there.

Helmond played Mona Robinson, Angela’s mother. Mona is nothing like Jessica Tate. She is also kind and sensitive, but is sly, clever, and foxy. She is the cool grandma for Jonathan Bower, played by Danny Pintauro.

“Who’s the Boss?” ran eight seasons, from 1984 to 1992, for a total of 196 episodes. For her efforts, Helmond won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 1989, and was nominated for another Golden Globe in the same category in 1986. She was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1988 and 1989.

Helmond was in a number of films in the ‘80s as well, including “Time Bandits”, in 1981; “Brazil”, in 1985, where her face was stretched beyond measure; “Overboard”, in 1987 opposite Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn; and more.

The years after
Katherine Helmond kept right on acting, after the end of “Who’s the Boss?”

After a number of television movies, she would land two more memorable roles.

She played Doris Sherman in 19 episodes of “Coach” from 1995 to 1997, as the owner of the professional team Hayden Fox and Luther Van Dam work for. She was also Luther’s love interest.

Helmond also played Lois Whelan in 14 episodes of “Everybody Loves Raymond” from 1996 to 2004. Lois was Debra Barone’s mother, that is Ray Barone’s mother-in-law. For her efforts, Helmond won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Appearance in a Comedy Series in 2002.

She would have guest roles in “Providence”; “Strong Medicine”; “The Tony Danza Show”, reprising her role as Mona Robinson; “The Glades”; “Melissa and Joey”; “True Blood”; “Harry’s Law”; and some television movies.

Her last role on TV was in 2012, providing her voice for an episode of “Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Tales”.

She was also in films such as “Amore!”; “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”; “Beethoven’s Fifth”; voiced three “Cars” cartoons; and more. Her last film role was in “Frank and Ava” in 2018, a biographical drama on the lives of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner.

Katherine Helmond died in 2019 from Alzheimer Disease.

She was 89 years old.

Parting thoughts
There may not be two characters much more different than Jessica Tate and Mona Robinson, yet Katherine Helmond played them both so very well. Doris Sherman and Lois Whelan were two different characters yet again.

She was recognized with awards and nominations for three of these characters, proving she was not an actor who was typecast into a particular kind of role.

Her greatest strength was her comic timing and ability to communicate so much without saying a word. It could be Jessica Tate with an utterly confused look on her face, or Mona Robinson with that knowing glance, telling us she knew something no one else did – and it was good.

Looking back, Katherine Helmond was a big part of my viewing habits in the first half of the 1980s, and for good reason – she was a great actress.