Robert Guillaume: Remembering “Benson” and much more

He may have been the most versatile butler on TV – servant, friend, surrogate father, and eventually budget director and candidate for state governor.

But Robert Guillaume was much more than “Benson”, with a variety of characters on TV and in movies, usually playing the wise sage or mentor.

When he passed away awhile back, I was reminded of how much I enjoyed Robert Guillaume, and how often he made me laugh, and even cry a little.

The butler did it

Robert Guillaume first attracted attention as the butler of the Tate family in “Soap”, a comedy and satirical spoof of soap operas.

He always seemed to be one step ahead of Jessica Tate, his dim-witted boss, and her philandering husband Chester, and always seemed to be the one in charge.

Even when the doorbell rang, every time he would say, “You want me to get that?”

However, as much as he obviously disliked Chester Tate, he was fiercely loyal to Jessica and her children Billy, Corrinne and Eunice. The best example was when he led the rescue of Billy when he was being held captive by a cult called “The Sunnys”.

Soon, Benson would take his talents to the state capital, to work for another member of Jessica’s family.

Yes, governor

Gene Gatling was a newly-elected state governor, widower, single dad, and cousin of Jessica Tate’s. To say he needed some help managing his household was an understatement.

So Benson went to work for the governor, and the sitcom “Benson” was spun off from “Soap”.

Initially, Benson was the head of household affairs, but he quickly developed a bond with the governor and his daughter Katie, and became much more. He was a surrogate parent – to both Katie and the governor, a confidante, and he would come to the governor’s aid on numerous occasions. Soon, he became budget director for the state.

One of the most stirring episodes I recall was when it became clear the governor was being pushed out of his own party, and they were going to nominate someone else as their candidate for governor. He was sad and dejected, and felt abandoned.

Benson got in his face and challenged him. If he wanted to be governor, than run as an independent.

He did and won re-election. Benson became lieutenant governor too, and eventually ran for governor himself.

The winner is…

Robert Guillaume would go on to critical success for his role as Benson. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1979 for the role of Benson on “Soap”.

Once he got his own show, Guillaume was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985 when he finally won the award.

What’s in a name

Initially, Benson only had one name. All through “Soap” he was only referred to as “Benson”. Somewhere along the line in the show of the same name he acquired a last name – DuBois. I can find little mention of this online. However, when I re-watched all four seasons of “Soap” on DVD, Benson never had a last name. (It was the same with MacGyver, who over the years acquired the first name “Angus”, although that was never mentioned through much of the run of that 1980s TV series).

The “Kid” movies

Over a period of about five years, Robert Guillaume made a series of movies with Gary Coleman. They each played different characters in each movie, but the relationship was still pretty much the same. Guillaume was the adult mentor and Coleman was the overachieving, gifted or just plain mischievous child. There were three in total, and I enjoyed them all.

It started with “The Kid from Left Field” which was actually aired in 1979, but I saw it several times thereafter. Coleman plays a boy who seemingly knows everything about the San Diego Padres and baseball generally. In part as a publicity stunt, the Padres make him their manager. In the end, we discover the real genius is the boy’s father, played by Guillaume, who takes over the Padres and manages them to victory.

“The Kid with the Broken Halo” followed in 1982 where Coleman plays an angel-in-training needing continual advice from his guide on earth, played by Guillaume, who is frustrated and none to eager to help.

A year later, in 1983, came “The Kid with the 200 IQ”, where Coleman played a genius trying to fit in at a university, with Guillaume playing the professor who brought him.

History comes alive

One of the most popular mini-series of the 1980s was “North and South”, which chronicled two friends who met in military college and were on opposite sides of the U.S. Civil War.

Guillaume  played historical figure, and black leader Frederick Douglass, who was an abolitionist and social reformer.

Educating Robert

Guillaume  closed out the decade by playing the superintendent who hired firebrand principal Joe Clark in the movie “Lean on Me”. Guillaume turned in an amazing performance. Clark, played by Morgan Freeman, was a harsh taskmaster who yelled, screamed and at times bullied even those who agreed with and supported him. Guillaume played the man who was able to reel in Clark, make him listen to reason, and help him ultimately succeed. He also was a fearless defender of Clark to the principal’s critics.

The years after

Robert Guillaume would keep on acting in TV and movies, including a turn as the voice of Rafiki in “The Lion King” in 1994, a television executive in the TV drama “Sports Night” from 1998 to 2000, and much more. He suffered a stroke during the run of “Sports Night” and not only did he return to his role afterwards, but his stroke was worked into the plot of the show.

Parting thoughts

What always made an episode of Benson so good was that it would go from almost farcical comedy to dead serious for just a minute or two. The governor, or one of his staff would get into some kind of trouble, or face some sort of predicament, and Benson would save the day. He had a genuine bond with the governor, affection for the governor’s daughter Katie, and loyalty towards the staff including the ones he did not always get along with. It was that whole package that was so endearing.

Beyond that, in his other TV work, he played the role of the elder statesman, teacher, mentor and guide perfectly. Each character offered a certain wisdom.

All in all, Robert Guillaume was always likeable and engaging.

It felt like, even as a viewer, he had your back, even if he made fun of you while being there.

Rutger Hauer: Remembering Ladyhawke and more

I still remember that towering, imposing presence on the back of a horse thundering across the screen, accompanied by the booming soundtrack by Alan Parsons.

He was a broken-hearted man searching to kill the man who took from him the woman he loved. Worse than killing her he imprisoned the lovers in a curse, doomed forever to be so close they could almost touch – but not quite.

That man, former captain of the bishop’s army, was Etienne Navarre, played by Rutger Hauer.

When I heard the actor died a few months ago, I was taken back to 1985 and perhaps his best movie – “Ladyhawke”.

A medieval classic

I have always enjoyed medieval movies, and “Ladyhawke” just caught my attention from the commercials.

It starred a very young Matthew Broderick as Felipe Gaston, who escapes from an impenetrable jail, attracting the attention of everyone in the kingdom, including the bishop who wants him killed. The bishop wants to make an example of Felipe because, according to the bishop, no one leaves that prison alive. In his desperate attempt to survive, Felipe meets Navarre, who rescues him, then joins him on his quest.

Navarre is travelling to the capital, with a bounty on his head as well, in a quest to kill the bishop who, in a fit of jealousy, took away Isabeau, the love of Navarre’s life.

As they travel, this white hawk stays close by, never far from the travellers.

Then, night falls, and Navarre disappears. Suddenly, Felipe happens upon a beautiful young woman, played by a very young and stunning Michelle Pfeiffer.

Felipe soon discovers a dark secret. The bishop never killed Isabeau or took her away. Instead, he put a curse on her and Navarre. By day Navarre is a man, by night a wolf. By day Isabeau is a hawk, by night a woman. The only time they can almost touch is at dawn, when night and day almost co-exist. Almost. It is heart-breaking to see them so close to touching only to see the curse work its dark magic.

As they travel, it is Felipe who dubs Isabeau the “Ladyhawke” when she is in bird form.

Along the way, they visit a disgraced priest, played by English actor Leo McKern who, it turns out is responsible for the curse.

I won’t share much more of the plot, because I don’t want to be a spoiler.

Broderick was fresh off his breakout performance in “War Games”, and he brought a tongue-in-cheek flavour to the role of Felipe Gaston.

For example, Felipe starts talking to God after his miraculous escape from prison. At one point Navarre mentions God.

“I talk to God regularly,” Felipe responded. “And he’s never mentioned you.”

In another example, the priest says, “Felipe, I will see you at the gates of St. Peter”, to which Felipe responds, “I’ll be there father, even if I have to pick the lock.”

Stirring soundtrack

It seemed pretty unconventional to set a medieval story to the sounds of rock music, but it worked. I recall taking notice when my sister and I sat in the theatre as the opening credits played, and the screen said music by Alan Parsons. I had just started listening to music and the Alan Parsons Project had a couple of songs I liked – “Don’t Answer Me” and “Eye in the Sky”. This was different, but it was good.

That point was reinforced three years later when I was moving into residence for my second year of university and I met a fellow named Bruce Freadrich. He had a copy of the “Ladyhawke” soundtrack on tape and we listened to it some time after our initial meeting. We both said it was as good as we remembered. That also was the springboard for a long friendship.

Scary characters

Rutger Hauer built quite a portfolio of imposing and frightening characters in the 1980s. He played a terrorist in “Nighthawks” in 1981; turned in a haunting portrayal of android Roy Batty in 1982’s “Blade Runner”; and a chilling hitchhiker in “The Hitcher” in 1986. He was also in “The Osterman Weekend” (1983); and “Escape from Sobibor” (1987).

As the 1980s receded into the distance, Hauer would go on to supporting roles after that, in such films as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in 1992 and “Batman Begins” in 2005, where he played William Earle, chief executive officer of Wayne Enterprises.

Parting thoughts

When I saw “Ladyhawke” in Lethbridge in 1985, I had only heard of Rutger Hauer, but never seen him in anything, other than interviews on “Entertainment Tonight”.

He left a lasting first impression on me. His portrayal was brooding, and understated, and perfect for a man who was haunted by loss and the mistakes of his past. He was imposing, fitting for the one-time leader of an army, and skilled with a sword and a horse. He was also tender and vulnerable in the scenes with the hawk, and Isabeau.

Later on, in university, I would see “Blade Runner”, where he turned in a haunting performance as an android who becomes self aware, and parts of “The Hitcher” where he was just plain scary.

Through it all, Rutger Hauer brought a physical presence, coupled with a sense of foreboding to every role he had in the decade. You never knew if, or when, he was going to blow and that was worth the price of admission.

The 1980s is when he peaked as an actor, and something that will remain unforgettable.

So long “Mad” magazine

That face was unmistakable – freckles, toothy grin, with a tooth missing, tussled brown hair, and most of all…cartoon.

His name was Alfred E. Neuman and he appeared somewhere on the cover of virtually every issue of “Mad” magazine.

It was with great sadness that I heard back in September “Mad” magazine was publishing its last issue in December.

Although not a religious reader every month, “Mad” magazine, with its combination of parodies and quirky features, was definitely a part of growing up in the 1980s.

Going mad

Like most things, I learned about “Mad” magazine through my older siblings and cousins. One memory in particular sticks out. My sister was working on an art project on the kitchen table. She was sketching this cartoon of a guy who walked on another guy’s face, leaving a footprint on him. She had drawn a grid on the original cartoon and, as was the project, was sketching what was in each square of the grid. When it was all put together, it was a replica of the cartoon.

That cartoon was from “Mad” magazine.

It was also something my cousins read, and where I first flipped through old issues. They told me they bought it used at Baxter’s Books.

Getting Mad

I can still see the cover of the first issue I ever bought. Alfred E. Neuman is swimming on the top of the ocean, while lurking underneath is a shark. It is a spoof of the iconic “Jaws” movie poster. In this drawing, the shark has its tongue out and is exclaiming, “Yecch!”

That would be the start of buying “Mad” magazine every so often, usually when the cover appealed to me. The one I remember best was a spoof of “Star Trek” with Spock, Kirk and Alfred in a dance line kicking and tipping their hats. Of course, Alfred is wearing the red uniform, and it has “Keep on Trekin’” stenciled on the front.

What to get Mad about

What really stuck out for me were some regular features. There was “Spy versus Spy”, a cartoon with two identical spies chasing each other – one black and one white. There was the cartoon on the back inside cover that, when folded, in threes, made a completely different picture. There were the glossy colour cartoons, usually in the back as well, that could be a tad raunchy. The one I recall seeing in various incarnations was Rapunzel in the tower letting down her hair – except in one case it was her boobs and another her armpits maybe.

And, there were all the advertisements “Mad” magazine poked fun at. The only thing that came close was a set of stickers called “Wacky Packages” that spoofed popular products. For example, Ragu spaghetti sauce became “Raw Goo”.

Above all else, was the spoof and satire of everyday pop culture, particularly television and movies.

Parting thoughts

“Mad” magazine was the place I first learned about parody. Every time I saw an issue at Baxter’s Books, I looked to see what show or movie they were making fun of or spoofing. I just loved the play on words, even though I didn’t always get all the jokes or references.

I liked Wayne and Shuster, that venerable CBC TV show for the same reason, but their parodies were less out there and much more Canadian. Later on, I would discover Weird Al Yankovic, and he brought his own brand of parody, that still keeps on going to this day.

Those pictures you could fold into different pictures, was the other thing I flipped to in every issue. It was just so clever, and so well done. I even tried to emulate my big sister. With the help of one of my cousins, I drew a grid on one of those Mad fold-ins, but never finished the drawing.

Given my mediocre drawing ability, it would have been a visual parody of a parody.

I am pretty sure there is still a box of “Mad” magazines in my mom’s basement. Given she is moving, I may just dig those out and read them again.

I am sure they will have a completely different meaning this time.

But multiple meanings – that’s what parody is all about.

So thank you “Mad” magazine for introducing me to parody, and so long.

Give my best to Alfred.

The return of “Magnum PI”

Everything old is new again. Such is the case with “Magnum PI”, that venerable detective show from the 1980s that was re-booted last year.

It is obvious from the pilot the creators did their research because, although it has been updated, there are some things that only someone very familiar with the original series would incorporate.

Paying tribute

One of my favourite episodes of the original series was called, “Did you see the sunrise?” It starts with an old friend of Magnum, Rick and T.C.,  named Nuzo who comes to visit. He talks about old times in Vietnam and keeps giving T.C. gum. Over the course of the two-hour episode we learn more about how Magnum, Rick and T.C. were tortured as prisoners of war in Vietnam, and especially tortured by a Russian named Ivan.

Along the way, Magnum’s friend Mac is killed when his car explodes. Mac had always been the naval officer Magnum bribed, usually with food, to get information. This time, Mac was with Magnum, and they were going to go drive somewhere to watch the sun rise. The bomb was meant for Magnum, so he carried that guilt.

Meanwhile, things escalate, as Nuzo seems to be having flashbacks, drawing T.C. into his nightmare. Eventually, the two of them snap, and hijack a military helicopter. T.C. is having flashbacks to Vietnam, manipulated by Nuzo, to carry out an assassination using the machine guns on the chopper.

Magnum is able to stop this, at the same time discovering this was not Nuzo, but a Russian spy, and the plot was engineered by Ivan. However, Ivan has diplomatic immunity, so he is going to leave, untouched by the law.

Magnum confronts him in the last scene. Ivan tells Magnum there is nothing he can do to him, then turns and walks away.

Magnum calls after him.

“Ivan, did you see the sunrise?” he asked.

Ivan turned and said he had.

The camera zooms in on Magnum as he fires his gun.

In the pilot for the re-boot, Nuzo is actually one of Magnum’s friends, along with Rick and T.C.

And the title of the pilot episode: “I saw the sun rise”.

They had to know.

Re-booted

Although writer Robin Masters is still Magnum’s benefactor, in the re-boot Magnum and his friends are the characters in Robin’s latest novel. They are veterans – from Afghanistan or Iraq, not Vietnam. Magnum is still Robin’s security consultant, living free on the estate and using and abusing Robin’s vehicles and other privileges such as the wine cellar.

Higgins is still, essentially, Robin’s major domo, but now he is a she. One thing that is the same is that Juliet Higgins was part of MI-5, just as Jonathan Higgins had been.

Rick still owns a bar, and T.C. still owns and operates a chopper service called “Island Hoppers”. Lieutenant Tanaka is on the Honolulu PD but unlike the original who was pretty friendly to Magnum, this one is much less so. There is still a grudging respect though. However, instead of Tanaka being recurring, his role has been taken over by Lieutenant Katsumoto who has a love-hate, well more a like-hate relationship, with Magnum.

I have only watched the first season, but they have already begun to introduce old characters from the original series. The first was Luther Gillis who, in the original, was an older, rumpled private eye from St. Louis. In the re-boot, Luther Gillis is from Hawaii, and more sleazy than rumpled and bumbling. And he is much younger. He is actually nothing like the original Luther Gillis at all. I hope they don’t do more of this dredging up old characters, if it ends up this way.

Updated

The show has been updated since it went off the air 30 years ago in 1988. One obvious change is the opening credits. The original show’s opening credit, with that driving score, were more than two minutes long. The new show’s credits have been trimmed considerably for the Twitter generation.

The other noticeable update is in the pacing of the show. In the original show, if Magnum said he was going some place, or T.C. was flying him some place, they would show them driving or flying there set to music. It was one way they made Hawaii a character in the show.

However, it really slowed the show down. Now, that is all gone. It is lightning cut from one place to the next, just like every other show on TV.

Parting thoughts

Seeing an old classic re-booted always brings me mixed feelings. There are successes like “Battlestar Galactica” but busts such as “Charlie’s Angels”.

What has unfolded over the course of the new Magnum’s first season has been a show that, like “Battlestar Galactica” stands on its own. The dynamic between Magnum and Higgins is compelling, as is the way in which the writers have devoted a fair bit of time to the plight of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. This has been done primarily in sub-plots involving Rick and TC, but it has been very good. I have had a tear in my eye more than once watching the show.

Ultimately, that is what I hope for in a re-boot, especially one that holds a special place in my life. It cannot be a regurgitation of the original show. That never works. It has to stand on its own, telling stories that are engaging both to fans of the original show, and to people who have no connection to the original show or have never even heard about it.

The new “Magnum PI” has done that.

Betty Kennedy: Remembering “Front Page Challenge”

It was a Friday night staple on CBC in the three-channel universe of peasant vision – four panelists, who were renowned Canadian journalists, trying to guess the identity of a news story or news maker receiving easier and easier clues.

I was reminded of “Front Page Challenge” awhile back when I heard Betty Kennedy had passed away. She had been a longtime member of that panel, and a trailblazer for women across Canada.

Front Page Challenge

The showed debuted on CBC in 1957, and Betty Kennedy joined the panel in 1962 staying until the show went off the air in February of 1995. For much of that time, she was joined by host Fred Davis and fellow panelists Pierre Berton and Gordon Sinclair.

I liked the show because it presented people in the news from athletes to politicians, entertainers and more. Once the panel had guessed, or failed to guess who the guest was, the celebrity would sit and answer questions from the panelists. It really was a neat idea – part game show and part news magazine.

Renowned journalist

Betty Kennedy brought an impressive resumé to the panel. She had her start at the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, then moved to radio, settling in at CFRB in Toronto where she hosted “The Betty Kennedy Show” from 1959 to 1986. In that 27 years, according to Wikipedia, she interviewed 25,000 guests. She also wrote two books and did some TV work.

She was named to the Order of Canada in 1982; the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 1983; and the Canadian Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1992.

Then, in 2000, she was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chretien. However, she only sat in the upper chamber for six months, retiring when she turned 75.

She died at the age of 91, in 2017.

Letter to the editor

I have a very personal connection to Front Page Challenge”.

For more than 15 years I have been the editor of the Claresholm Local Press, a community newspaper in Southern Alberta. The very first letter to the editor I wrote was a reaction to something I saw on “Front Page Challenge” in Grade 12.

The guest was a member of parliament who voted against his party and the government, which was the reason he had made national headlines, or front page news.

Panellist Pierre Berton, who I knew was an ardent Liberal, took the MP to task on his actions. He claimed in this system of responsible government, an MP had a responsibility to vote with his or her party. He was quite condescending about it too.

I was enraged, and vented to my high school guidance councillor Ed Ryan the next time I was in school. He told me to write Berton a letter. I was all excuses then. I didn’t have his address, he wouldn’t even get it anyway and on and on. He refuted all those, producing the CBC address as well as a pen, paper and envelope.

So right there in Mr. Ryan’s office at Kate Andrews High School in Coaldale, Alberta, I wrote a letter to Pierre Berton. Mr. Ryan talked on and off about writing his memoirs, and he was always photocopying stuff. He asked if he could take a photocopy of my letter, then did.

The next week, I opened the local community newspaper, “The Sunny South News”, and there was my letter staring me in the face. Obviously Mr. Ryan had submitted it.

For that I am eternally grateful.

Not to Pierre Berton though. I never did get a response from him.

Parting thoughts

“Front Page Challenge” was another one of those very Canadian institutions that has passed into history. There is nothing really like it on the air, neither a news magazine nor game show.

Betty Kennedy was always a striking part of that show, because she was the only female on the panel. I always recall how articulate and professional she was.

That alone made her a trail blazer. Once you drill down deeper into her career, she built quite a body of work as an interviewer and journalist, primarily on radio.

Yet, for me, she was part of a Friday night ritual in the three-channel universe, that taught me about current events and Canada.

Erin Moran: So long Joanie Cunningham

If you are a man of a certain age, chances are you had a crush on Joanie Cunningham. Although she started out as an annoying little sister in pig tales with a whiney voice, she matured into a beautiful, sexy woman, before our eyes on television, gracing the pages of teen magazines and, for a brief while, getting a show of her own.

When Erin Moran passed away awhile back and far too young, it brought back all those memories of Joanie Cunningham, her boyfriend Chachi Arcola, “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

In the beginning

Erin Moran was just 13 when she first appeared as Joanie Cunningham on “Happy Days”. Initially, the show chronicled the trials and tribulations of teenage boy Richie Cunningham, played by a young Ron Howard. Back then he was still best known as a child actor from the Andy Griffith Show and The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Richie's little sister Joanie was mostly just that stereotypical annoying younger sister at first.

She seemed to be a one-joke pony too. At least once every episode, Joanie would say or do something that caused her parents to exclaim, “Joanie, go to your room!” Over time they would even poke fun at the joke with Joanie saying, “I know, I know, go to your room”, or just generally being prepared to go to her room.

That would all change.

Growing up

The character of Joanie Cunningham would develop over time. She developed a brief crush on Potsie Webber after he sang to her. She would leave him these love notes, addressing him as “Dren”. Once it was revealed she was the author, and Potsie could not have feelings for someone so young, she explained “Dren” was “Nerd” backwards and she chose it because, although everyone else seemed to call him a nerd, she thought the opposite. Hence “Dren”.

She would also befriend a boy-crazy girl named Jenny Piccalo who she talked about often, but the audience never saw. Eventually, Jenny would be seen and become a regular, played by Cathy Silvers, the daughter of comedic actor Phil Silvers, who even guest starred as Jenny Piccalo’s dad.

The Fonz would also take Joanie under his wing, calling her the playful nickname “Shortcake”. There was one episode where she had been pushed around by a classmate who beat her out in cheerleading tryouts. That girl was played by a young Charlene Tilton, who would go on to a long run playing Lucy Ewing on “Dallas”. She looked to do the same to Joanie in an upcoming dance marathon, until the Fonz stepped in to be her partner. She was so excited. Then tragedy struck. The Fonz’s motorcycle broke down and he had to push it miles home. He was exhausted when he got to Arnold’s for the dance marathon. Yet, he gutted it out. At the end, there were just a few teams left. Somehow, the Fonz found a new reserve of energy and let loose this amazing dance that won the marathon. It was almost like a Ukrainian dance.

Soon, Joanie’s life would be changed forever when Fonzie’s younger cousin, Chachi Arcola, comes to town.

Joanie is irritated by Chachi

Initially, Chachi tries to ask Joanie out and hit on her. He calls her “Blue Eyes” and uses the phrase, “Wah, wah, wah.” It becomes a patented phrase, but does not impress Joanie at all. In fact, she usually rebuffs him and makes some joke about his height while doing it.

Joanie likes Chachi

One day, as it seems Chachi is going to give up, he asks her out, and she says yes. He gets so excited, it seems things are finally going right for him.

Then he inadvertently sets fire to Arnold’s, which is just gutted, but will eventually come back as a modernized set.

Joanie Loves Chachi

There is obvious chemistry between Joanie and Chachi, and Erin Moran and Scott Baio. Their relationship blossoms and becomes quite serious.

Eventually they start a band. Al Delvecchio, part owner of Arnold’s, also starts dating Chachi’s mom, played by Ellen Travolta, sister of John Travolta.

This all leads into a spin-off, called “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

Al marries Chachi’s mom, and they all move to Chicago, where Al takes over a restaurant where Joanie and Chachi will play much of their music at.

The show aired on CBC, much like its parent show “Happy Days” did. However, it was tough to find because it was on during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Yet, I loved every episode, and especially the music.

It is unfortunate that not too many other people did.

“Joanie Loves Chachi” lasted parts of two seasons, from March of 1982 to May of 1983, airing a total of 17 episodes, then was cancelled.

These happy days

Joanie and Chachi returned to “Happy Days” for its final season. They would go through some ups and downs, including a break up but, as the series moved towards its finale, Chachi finally proposed to Joanie. I remember the episode well, because as he starts to propose, Joanie realizes what he is doing and starts to laugh and cry at the same time. Her reaction seemed so real too, as if Erin Moran herself was overcome by emotion.

“Happy Days”, which had been cancelled after 11 seasons, was in its final episodes, and the show wrapped up with Joanie marrying Chachi.

It was a poignant way to end an iconic show.

Guest star

Erin Moran also guest starred in a wide array of weekly shows in the 1980s including “The Love Boat”, “Murder, She Wrote”, and “Hotel”.

I recently saw her appearance on “Hotel”. She played Karen Donnolly, an aspiring singer who, in the climax of the episode, is given a chance to sing on stage by Mel Tormé. She sings, “Delta Dawn” and it is sultry and sexy, and awesome. It was obviously her real voice, because it sounded just like her voice on “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi”.

She continued acting until 2012.

Erin Moran died on April 22, 2017. She was 56.

Parting thoughts

It was pretty amazing to watch the transformation of Erin Moran.

She started off as an annoying, freckled girl with a bit part in an up-and-coming sitcom.

However, as “Happy Days” gained in popularity, Erin Moran matured as well, blossoming into an attractive young woman, who became a regular in teen magazines and would be a teen idol.

Part of that was due to the unmistakable chemistry she had with Scott Baio. It is unfortunate that “Joanie Loves Chachi” did not last longer, but maybe it was meant to be that they wrap up their romance on “Happy Days” where it all began.

And that was such a part of growing up for me. I grew up right along with Joanie and Chachi, cheered when she said yes to go on their first date, cried when Arnold’s burned down to mar that first date, cheered when they started singing then moved to Chicago, cried when they broke up back in Milwaukee, and was elated when they got married.

I shed a tear when Joanie’s father Howard Cunningham looked straight into the camera in that final episode and toasted, “Here’s to all your happy days.”

It was a fitting end to an era, that was so much a part of growing up in the 1980s. “Happy Days” represented a simpler time.

The passing of Erin Moran, at far too young an age, was a reminder of that.

So long Joanie Cunningham.

St. Louis Blues of the 1980s: Ever so close

This is is the logo of the St. Louis Blues, who made

the Stanley Cup playoffs every year of the 1980s.
Source: https://www.brandsoftheworld.com/logo/st-louis-blues-1

(may be subject to copyright)

Much has been made about the St. Louis Blues making their first Stanley Cup final since 1970, but in the 1980s it wasn’t for a lack of trying.

They made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs every years and once to the semi-finals in dramatic fashion, coming ever so close.

Johnny on the spot

Throughout their history, the St. Louis Blues benefitted from the way the National Hockey League was aligned.

It started in 1968, the year they entered the league. When the NHL expanded from six to 12 teams in 1967, it decided to put the original six teams in one conference and the six expansion teams in the other conference. Since the conference champions met for the Stanley Cup, the expansion teams had a decidedly easier road to the Stanley Cup final. So, in those first three years – 1968, 1969, 1970 – the Blues made it to the final by beating weaker opponents to get there. That’s why, when they got there, they were swept four straight games all three years. That is the reason they were 0-12 lifetime coming in to this year’s final.

They benefitted in the 1980s from a similar situation. Now, starting in 1981, the league, which had expanded to 21 teams, was divided into four divisions. The top four teams in each division made the playoffs. First place played fourth and second played third. The winners played for the division championship. The division champions played for the conference championships and the two conference champions played for the Stanley Cup.

The worst division, by far, was the Norris Division, also called the “Snorris”, because the hockey was boring and the teams were mediocre at best. Routinely, fifth place teams from other divisions would finish with better records then the top four in the Norris, but were on the outside looking in. Worse, a Norris Division team was guaranteed a spot in the Stanley Cup semi-finals when, often, two or three Smythe Division teams were better. Not once in the 1980s, did the Norris champion make it to the Stanley Cup final.

So, a fair part of the St. Louis Blues’ playoff success was because they were Johnny on the spot.

Nevertheless, they still had to win the games.

In the beginning

The decade opened with the Blues making the playoffs for the first time in three years. They would go on to make the playoffs every season in the 1980s, and for 25 consecutive seasons overall.

They were swept in three straight games in 1980, but were back again in 1981 after winning the Smythe Division for the first time in four seasons with 45 wins, 18 losses, and 17 ties. They beat Pittsburgh 3-2 in the best-of-three opening round series, before falling 4-2 to the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup quarter-finals.

Realignment

Before the 1981-1982 season began, the National Hockey League realigned. The Blues moved into the Norris Division with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Minnesota North Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. The Smythe Division was the other half of the Campbell Conference, with the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, and Colorado Rockies (who would move to New Jersey the next season to become the Devils).

The Blues finished third in the Norris, setting up a divisional semi-final against Winnipeg which they won 3-1. They lost the division final 4-2 to Chicago, who would lose the conference final to Vancouver, who in turn lost the final to the New York Islanders.

More realignment occurred prior to the 1982-1983 season, as the New Jersey Devils, formally the Colorado Rockies, were moved to the Patrick Division. Winnipeg then moved from the Norris Division to the Smythe to replace Colorado/New Jersey. Now, four of the five teams in the Norris would make the playoffs.

The Blues finished fourth in the division with just 25 wins, earning a first-round date with Chicago, who won the series in four games.

Success

The Blues finished second in the Norris Division in the 1983-1984 season. They defeated Detroit 3-1 in the first round, before losing in the second round 4-3 to Minnesota. The North Stars were swept by Edmonton who then defeated the New York Islanders for their first Stanley Cup.

The Blues finally finished first in the Norris in 1984-1985 with 37 wins, 31 losses and 12 ties. They would have finished fourth in the Smythe Division behind Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary, and just four points ahead of Los Angeles. However, things came crashing down as the Blues were swept 3-0 in the first round by the North Stars.

The next season, 1985-1986, became one of their most successful in the post-season since expansion. Although they finished third in the Norris, they exacted revenge over Minnesota by defeating them 3-2 in the first round, then outlasted Toronto 4-3 in the second round, winning their first playoff division championship. Awaiting them in the Campbell Conference final were the Calgary Flames who jumped out to a 3-2 lead. The Blues mounted a massive comeback, including a stirring come-from-behind, overtime win in Game 6, to take the Flames to the brink. Calgary would win, but the Blues took so much out of them, they had little left for the Stanley Cup final, which Montreal won in five games.

The Blues won the Norris again in the 1986-1987 season with a losing record, at 32 wins, 33 losses and 15 ties. It was their last division championship until the 1999-2000 season. They again would have finished fourth in the Smythe behind Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. St. Louis again bowed out of the playoffs early, losing in the first round 4-2 to Toronto.

St. Louis finished second in the Norris in 1987-1988, defeating Chicago in the first round in five games, before losing in five games to Detroit in the division final.

The Blues rounded out the decade by finishing second in the Norris in 1988-1989 with 33 wins, 35 losses, and 12 ties. That set up a first-round date with Minnesota, which St. Louis won in five games. They in turn lost the division final in five games to Chicago.

Parting thoughts

The success of the St. Louis Blues in the 1980s mirrored the rest of the teams in their division. They would be competitive in their own division, making the playoffs every year, and occasionally winning one series. In one year, they did win two rounds, but suffered the same fate as Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota – losing, often badly, to the Smythe Division champion.

The conference never had competitive balance. From the time of realignment, the Smythe Division won every conference title in the 1980s and won five Stanley Cups in eight seasons. This situation was one of the main reasons the league would change the playoff format in the early 1990s.

It really would have been a miracle for the Blues to make the Stanley Cup Final, and they came within one goal of engineering that miracle in 1986. But that was as close as they would come for a very long time.

Yet, it still is a major accomplishment to make the playoffs all 10 years of the decade.

Now, they have a chance to put all that history behind them. They are currently tied 2-2 in the 2019 Stanley Cup final.

Why I like the Boston Bruins

This is the first edition of the Boston Bruins I ever cheered for, the 1977-1978 team that advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup final before losing to the defending champion Montreal Canadiens.
Source: http://hockeygods.com/images/16130-Boston_Bruins_Team_Photo_1978

(may be subject to copyright)

As my beloved Boston Bruins are playing the St. Louis Blues for the Stanley Cup, someone asked me the other day, “Why do you like the Bruins?”

It is a good question, given I live in the heart of Calgary Flames country and spent another 11 years of my life living in the heart of Edmonton Oilers country.

My loyalty to the Bruins pre-dates the merger that brought the Oilers into the NHL in 1979, and the re-location of the Atlanta Flames to Calgary a year later.

It goes back to a family gathering and is rooted, in part by sibling rivalry.

In the beginning

My interest in the Bruins was first peaked in the 1978 Stanley Cup final where they faced the Montreal Canadiens, defending Stanley Cup champions. In fact, I soon discovered the Bruins had been swept by Montreal in the previous Stanley Cup final in 1977 as well.

To be honest, the main reason I cheered for Boston was that everyone else cheered for Montreal, led by my brother George. We were all at a family gathering, crowded in my Uncle Ed’s basement. It was the first hockey game I remember watching. Everyone was cheering for Montreal, and I wondered what the big deal was. They did seem better, stronger, faster. So, I resolved to take up the cause of the under dog – I was rooting for the Bruins.

They lost the first two games of the series in Montreal, including the one we watched at Uncle Ed’s, but managed to win Game 3 at home in the Boston Gardens. Game 4 was crucial, but I was unable to see it. I was in Grade 2 and we had a field trip to Drumheller. It kind of slipped my mind until I heard some of the adults talking about it. Our bus driver was a fellow named Abe Ens, so when we were filing onto the bus I asked him if I knew who won the hockey game. I was pretty sure I had heard one of the teachers say Boston had won the game 2-0, and Mr. Ens confirmed that. I was thrilled. Not only had Boston won, but goaltender Gerry Cheevers, one of my more favourite Bruins, got a shut out. He blanked the mighty Montreal Canadiens!

What I really liked was Cheevers’ mask. It was white with a bunch of stitches painted all over it. The team trainer painted a stitch in the spot a puck hit every time that happened, demonstrating how many times it saved Cheevers’ face. I even recall trying to make my own Gerry Cheevers’ goalie mask out of a magazine. I used white water colour to paint the front all white then tried to paint on some stitches. Then, I cut some holes in the side and laced some baler twine through. When I tried to put it on it was really stiff. Only later did I discover that masks were custom made and form-fitted to the shape of the goalie’s face.

Sadly, we returned from the Badlands, and things went bad for Boston too. Montreal won Game 5 at the Forum, and wrapped up their third straight Stanley Cup shortly thereafter in Boston.

Parting thoughts

Quite simply, I was hooked. That first series 41 years ago began an association that has gone through heartbreak, and triumph, and led to this point.

There have been other teams I have rooted for when the Bruins either were not playing, or had already been eliminated from the playoffs, but through it all I was, and remain, a Bruins fan.

Gooooo Bruins!

“That was then, This is Now”: Remembering The Monkees in the ‘80s

Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees
in 1986 amid their 20th anniversary tour.
Source: www.www.monkeeslivealmanac.com

(may be subject to copyright)

They are best remembered for their TV show and hit singles such as “Daydream Believer”, “I’m a Believer”, and “Last Train to Clarksville” in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, but The Monkees experienced a bit of a revival in the 1980s.

That's where I first picked up their trail.

When Peter Tork, who played keyboards and bass for The Monkees, passed away earlier this week, it reminded me of when I first heard them, and of that comeback they made mid-decade.

Pre-history

The Monkees consisted of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, and British singer and actor Davy Jones. They were formed specifically for a TV show that aired from 1966 to 1968, but they continued recording and performing until 1971. Through that period they would have a string of hit singles that included “Daydream Believer”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”, “I’m a Believer”, and “Last Train to Clarksville”

Flashback

Every day after school I used to watch “Entertainment Tonight” hosted by Mary Hart and a variety of male co-hosts, most notably Robb Weller and John Tesh. They did a lot of stories on current TV shows and movies, played some music videos and profiled a lot of celebrities.

They also did some interesting features. One that I recall very well was a look back at old comedies, partly because I not only looked forward to it every day, but I actually wrote them down each day.  There was “Hogan’s Heroes”, “The Real McCoys”, and…”The Monkees”.

I had never really heard of The Monkees to that point, but this piece on “Entertainment Tonight” showed old clips, interviewed the band members, and described it as a show that tried to capitalize on the popularity of The Beatles. I remember thinking these guys even looked like The Beatles.

It was not until I started listening to music on the radio that I actually heard some of their hit singles.

That all changed in 1986.

Revival

It was another one of those odd moments. I was listening to the radio while I was working at Gergeley’s Greenhouse, in late June of 1986, when I heard the announcer say the previous song was by The Monkees. I had not paid much attention, but it struck me as kind of odd because I did not recall hearing one of their songs.

It was not until I heard a countdown show shortly thereafter that I discovered in fact The Monkees had released a new single.

It was called “That was then, This is Now”, and it went all the way to number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, the band’s first top 40 hit in almost 20 years.

It capitalized on a revival led by MTV and Nickolodeon, two TV channels that reran the old Monkees TV series.

"That was then, This is now," would be the last single the Monkees would chart.

Parting thoughts

The Monkees had experienced their greatest success before I was even born, which included three singles that went to number one, one that went to number two, and two that went to number three. I came to know their music strictly from whatever the radio played. The Monkes broke up in 1971, a year after I was born, and seemed to live on only on the radio.

Although it is quite common now, The Monkees may have been the first band I saw who experienced a revival more than a decade after they disbanded.

Now, revivals can be fuelled by the Internet and social media where people have access to virtually any old TV show or music they want.

In the 1980s, it was not as easy. Revivals were fuelled by conventional TV with shows such as “Entertainment Tonight”, and specialty channels such as MTV and Nickolodeon, who were always looking for content for their 24-hour cycle. They tried to capitalize on viewers’ sense of nostalgia.

That is what happened to The Monkees. The segment on “Entertainment Tonight” actually promoted the show being aired on the specialty channels. Then, all those episodes were aired and suddenly there was an appetite for something new from The Monkees. Not only was it new, but it proved popular enough to go all the way to the top 20 – 18 years after their last top 40 single.

The Monkees would continue to record and tour, and even celebrated their 50^th anniversary in 2016. Davy Jones died in 2012, and Peter Tork died yesterday, on Feb. 21, 2019.

It was a reminder that everything old can be new again, something we see an awful lot these days.