Category Archives: The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Gilligan

Posted on August 2, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Bob Denver

Robert Osbourne “Bob” Denver (January 9, 1935 – September 2, 2005) was an American comedic actor known for his roles as Gilligan on the television series Gilligan’s Island and the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

Rumor had it that later in life he hated “Gilligan”, the character, and being called “Gilligan.” After all the great memories I have of the show, the laughter, I’d like to think that he wouldn’t mind me calling him “Gilligan” one more time…

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, The Little Screen (Television)

James Garner dies at 86

Posted on July 20, 2014 by James| Comments Off

James Garner as Bret Maverick

James Garner as Jim Rockford

James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American film and television actor. He starred in several television series over more than five decades, which included such popular roles as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western-comedy series Maverick and Jim Rockford in the 1970s detective drama The Rockford Files.

Garner starred in more than 50 films including The Great Escape (1963), Paddy Chayefsky’s The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Blake Edwards’ Victor Victoria (1982), Murphy’s Romance (1985) for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and The Notebook (2004).

Posted in News, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Ernest Borgnine

Posted on July 8, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine (January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012)

Ernest Borgnine (born Ermes Effron Borgnino) was an American film and television actor whose career spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, winning an Oscar in 1955 for Marty. On television, he played Quinton McHale in the 1962–1966 series McHale’s Navy and co-starred in the mid-1980s action series Airwolf, in addition to a wide variety of other roles. Borgnine was also known for his role as Mermaid Man in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. Borgnine earned an Emmy Award nomination at age 92 for his work on the series ER.

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, Merv Griffin

Posted on July 6, 2014 by James| Comments Off

The answer is Merv Griffin. The question could be just about anything.

Mervyn Edward “Merv” Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American singer, talk-show host, composer, mogul, philanthropist and puzzle fan who created the long-running hit game shows of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

Posted in Because I Can, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Andy Griffith

Posted on July 3, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Andy Griffith

Andrew Samuel “Andy” Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012)

Andy Griffith was an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan’s epic film, A Face in the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in the 1960–68 situation comedy, The Andy Griffith Show, and in the 1986–95 legal drama, Matlock. Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President George W. Bush on November 9, 2005. Griffith died on July 3, 2012 at the age of 86.

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Peter Falk (Farewell Detective Columbo)

Posted on June 23, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Peter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles and was nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960’s Murder, Inc. and 1961’s Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once.

Peter Falk

Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011)

Posted in Because I Can, The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, Burle Ives

Posted on June 14, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an acclaimed American folk music singer, author and actor.

Possibly his most remembered role today is as narrator Sam the Snowman in the Rankin-Bass animated television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964).

Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” is a very popular tune during the Christmas season, as it’s frequently played on the radio and was featured in the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special.

Burl Ives

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995)

Posted in Because I Can, Music, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP David Carradine

Posted on June 3, 2014 by James| Comments Off

David Carradine

David Carradine in “Kung Fu”

David Carradine (December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009), born John Arthur Carradine, was an American character actor, best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu and its 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. He was a member of a productive acting family dynasty that began with his father, John Carradine. His acting career, which included major and minor roles on stage, television and cinema, spanned over four decades. A prolific “B” movie actor, he appeared in more than 100 feature films and was nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award. The last nomination was for his title role in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Posted in Because I Can, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Jean Stapleton

Posted on May 31, 2014 by James| Comments Off

To quote Linda Carter’s Tweet upon her passing:

“Those Were The Days…Rest In Peace Jean Stapleton”

Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013)

Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013)

Jean Stapleton was an American character actress of stage, television and film.

She was best known for her portrayal of Edith Bunker, the long-suffering, yet devoted wife of Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O’Connor) and mother of Gloria Stivic (played by Sally Struthers), on the 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Jim Henson

Posted on May 16, 2014 by James| Comments Off

James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was the most widely known American puppeteer in modern American television history.

He was the creator of The Muppets and the leading force behind their long creative run. Henson brought an engaging cast of characters, innovative ideas, and a sense of timing and humor to millions of people. He is also widely acknowledged for the ongoing vision of faith, friendship, magic, and love which was infused in nearly all of his work.

Jim Henson

Statue of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog, on display outside of Adele H. Stamp Student Union in College Park, Maryland.

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Clarabell the Clown

Posted on May 14, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Lew Anderson, who captivated young baby boomers as the Howdy Doody Show‘s final Clarabell the Clown.

Lewis Burr Anderson (May 7, 1922—May 14, 2006) was an American actor and musician, most famous for being the third and final actor to portray Clarabell the Clown on Howdy Doody between 1954 and 1960. He famously gave Clarabell’s one and only line on the program on the show’s final episode in 1960, with a tear visible in his eye, “Goodbye, kids”.

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, George Lucas

Posted on May 14, 2014 by James| Comments Off

George Lucas

George Walton Lucas, Jr. (May 14, 1944 – )

George Lucas is an Academy Award-nominated American film producer, screenwriter, director and chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd. He is best known for being the creator of the epic Sci-Fi franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones.

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish!

Posted on May 11, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Douglas Adams

Douglas Noël Adams (March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001)

Douglas Adams was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. He is best known as author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. Hitchhiker’s began on radio, and developed into a “trilogy” of five books (which sold more than fifteen million copies during his lifetime) as well as a television series, a towel, a live theater show, a drink, a comic book series, a computer game and a feature film that was completed after Adams’ death. He was known to some fans as Bop Ad (after his illegible signature), or by his initials “DNA”.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is the fourth book of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “trilogy”. Its title is the message left by the dolphins when they departed Planet Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass, as described in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The phrase has since been adopted by some science fiction fans as a humorous way to say “goodbye.”

Posted in Because I Can, Literary, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Dom DeLuise

Posted on May 4, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Dom DeLuise

Dominick “Dom” DeLuise (August 1, 1933 – May 4, 2009)

Dominick “Dom” DeLuise (August 1, 1933 – May 4, 2009) was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author.

Posted in Humor, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Bea Arthur

Posted on April 25, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Bea Arthur

Beatrice “Bea” Arthur (May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009)

Beatrice “Bea” Arthur (May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009) was an American comedienne, actress, and singer. In a career spanning seven decades, Arthur achieved success as the title character, Maude Findlay, on the 1970s sitcom Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls; she won Emmys for both roles.

Posted in Humor, The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, Shirley Temple

Posted on April 23, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Shirley Jane Temple, later known as Shirley Temple Black, is an American diplomat and former film child actress. She starred in over 40 films during the 1930s.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple (April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014)

Posted in Humor, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Benny Hill

Posted on April 20, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Alfred Hawthorn Hill, better known as Benny Hill, was a prolific English comic, actor & singer, best known for his television program, The Benny Hill Show. Since its debut in 1955 his television show has been sold to over 140 countries worldwide, with viewership in the billions.

Benny Hill

Alfred Hawthorn Hill (January 21, 1924 – April 20, 1992)

Posted in Because I Can, Humor, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Burle Ives

Posted on April 14, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an acclaimed American folk music singer, author and actor.

Possibly his most remembered role today is as narrator Sam the Snowman in the Rankin-Bass animated television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964).

Ives’s “A Holly Jolly Christmas” is a very popular tune during the Christmas season, as it’s frequently played on the radio and was featured in the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special.

Burl Ives

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (14 June 1909 – 14 April 1995)

Posted in Because I Can, Music, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Annette Funicello

Posted on April 8, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Annette Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013)

Annette Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013)

Annette Joanne Funicello was an American actress and singer. Funicello began her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve. She rose to prominence as one of the most popular “Mouseketeers” on the original Mickey Mouse Club. As a teenager, she transitioned to a successful career as a singer with the pop singles “O Dio Mio,” “Tall Paul” and “Pineapple Princess“, as well as establishing herself as a film actress, popularizing the successful “Beach Party” genre in a series of beach movies in the 1960s including “Beach Party,” “Bikini Beach” and the hit “Beach Blanket Bingo,” released in 1965 and co-starring teen idol Frankie Avalon.

In 1992, Funicello announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She died of complications from the disease on April 8, 2013

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Mickey Rooney

Posted on April 7, 2014 by James| Comments Off

Mickey Rooney (September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014)

Mickey Rooney (September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014)

My recollection of “seeing” Mickey Rooney has always been from the first role I remember seeing him in, as “Bill.” But I’ll always remember “hearing” Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus in four Christmas TV animated/stop action specials: Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970), The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974), Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July (1979), and A Miser Brothers’ Christmas (2008)—always Santa Claus.

He had one of the longest careers of any actor, spanning 92 years actively making films in ten decades, from the 1920s to the 2010s. For a younger generation of fans, he gained international fame for his leading role as Henry Dailey in The Family Channel‘s The Adventures of the Black Stallion.

Until his death in April 2014, Rooney was one of the last surviving stars who worked in the silent film era. He was also the last surviving cast member of several films in which he appeared during the 1930s and 1940s.

Wikipedia Article

Posted in Because I Can, News, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)