“Better Call Saul” Season 4 Poster and Trailer are Here!
Here’s the Better Call Saul season 4 trailer. Boy, it seems like it’s been forever since season 3 ended. Looking forward to more Saul and company.
Category: Humor
10 Slap-Happy Facts About The Three Stooges
Jake Rossen and Mental Floss present 10 Slap-Happy Facts About The Three Stooges. Here are three of my favorites…
3. HITLER WANTED THEM DEAD.
Having established their comic personas on film, the Stooges proceeded to make some accidental history. Their 1940 short, You Nazty Spy!, was the first American production to openly make a mockery of Adolf Hitler’s regime. (Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator opened nine months later.) The short was perceived as a great insult by the Führer, who listed the Stooges as favored casualties on his own personal death list. (It’s not known whether he named each one individually.)
7. A REPLACEMENT STOOGE HAD A NO-VIOLENCE CONTRACT CLAUSE.
Sorting out the musical chairs of Stooges enrollment can be difficult: While Moe and Larry were largely engrained, the trio was originally rounded out with Shemp before he departed for a solo career: Curly was his replacement. Following Curly’s departure due to illness, Shemp stepped back in, but he died in 1955. After briefly considering a run as the Two Stooges, Moe and Larry recruited Joe Besser, a comic actor who already had a deal with Columbia, in 1956. But Besser wasn’t quite as game for the physical comedy as his predecessors. He insisted his contract contain language prohibiting him from being abused to excess, including anything pastry-related. “I never was the type of comic to be hit by a pie,” he said, a mentality that calls into question the decision to become part of The Three Stooges. Following Besser’s departure in 1959, the group roped in Joe DeRita for live shows and several feature films, including 1961’s Snow White and the Three Stooges.
10. THERE’S A STOOGES MUSEUM IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The Stooges’ vital contributions to pop culture have always deserved some archival recognition. They got it in 2004, when The Stoogeumopened its doors in Ambler, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles outside of Philadelphia. The museum’s founder is Gary Lassin, who married Larry Fine’s great niece in 1981. A Stooges fan, Lassin acquired over 100,000 items related to their careers and displays roughly 3500 pieces at a time. There’s a Hall of Shemp, a game area (with Whack-a-Moe), as well as countless artifacts.
13 Altogether Ooky Facts about “The Addams Family”
MeTV presents 13 Altogether Ooky Facts about The Addams Family. Here are three of my favorites…
1. Until the TV show, the characters did not have names.
Charles Addams, pictured here in his home office, did not name the creepy, charming characters in his one-panel cartoons. When the show was green-lit, Addams and producers came up with names for the clan. Did you know Wednesday’s middle name is Friday?
4. Ted Cassidy played two roles.
While best known for playing Lurch, Ted Cassidy also lent a hand — literally — by also playing Thing.
7. The Addams were the first TV family to have a home computer.
A couple years later, Bruce Wayne would utilize his Batcomputer in the Batcave, but the first family “P.C.” seen on TV was the UNIVAC on The Addams Family.
10 Things You Might Not Know About Beetle Bailey
Jake Rossen and Mental Floss present 10 Things You Might Not Know About Beetle Bailey.
1. IT STARTED AS A COLLEGE CAMPUS COMEDY.
Walker’s initial idea for a strip didn’t feature any fatigues or military equipment. While drawing cartoons for The Saturday Evening Post, he decided to try creating a story around a university student named Spider who kept his hat pulled over his eyes and tried to navigate college life by doing as little as possible. Changing his name to Beetle Bailey—the surname was a nod to a supportive editor at the Post—Walker had him wander into an Army recruiting station. Inspired, he retrofitted the strip so that barracks would take the place of a dorm. (Walker himself had been drafted, serving four years during World War II.) Debuting in 1950, Beetle Bailey set a record for the longest continuous work by a comic strip artist: Walker worked on it for 68 years.
2. IT WAS BANNED BY THE U.S. MILITARY.
In the 1950s, Beetle Bailey took its place as a steady but otherwise unremarkable addition to the comics pages. Then Walker got an unexpected promotional boost. The U.S. military’s Stars and Stripes newspaper, which had been running the strip, banned it from its Tokyo editions over fears it might incite disrespect toward commanding officers. (Beetle was lazy and typically disinterested in following orders.) The prohibition lasted for a decade and was subjected to so much ridicule that Beetle became a recurring presence in newspaper headlines. The strip was eventually syndicated to more than 1800 papers.
10. THE STRIP WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE PENTAGON.
After 50 years of “service,” Beetle Bailey finally got a little acknowledgment from his higher-ups. The (real) Pentagon invited Walker and three of his costumed characters to a ceremony in May 2000 that honored the cartoonist for his work in supporting the military. Walker was presented with the Secretary of the Army’s Decoration for Distinguished Civilian Service, the Army’s highest civilian honor. “I think finally the brass has learned how to laugh at themselves a little bit,” Walker said. “They’re not kicking me out of Stars and Stripes anymore like they did a couple of times.”
The 50 Greatest Comedies
Empire Magazine took a look at The 50 Greatest Comedies. Using just their list, here are my top three with their rankings & comments as well as mine…
12. Dr Strangelove
Stanley Kubrick‘s jet black comedy famously stars Peter Sellersplaying three separate roles and wildly improvising in all of them. He’s the buttoned-down British Group Captain Lionel Mandrake; the ineffectual US President Merkin Muffley; and the mechanically-armed cartoon ex-Nazi Dr Strangelove (real name “Merkwürdigliebe”) who can’t quite get out of the habit of calling the president “Mein Fuhrer”. Sellers was also supposed to play Texan Air Force Major TJ “King” Kong, but injured himself and couldn’t work in the fighter plane’s cockpit (he was replaced by Slim Pickens). Devastatingly deadpan, this has the darkest of all imaginable endings, which is all the more impressive given that it originally climaxed with a pie fight. Kubrick, wisely, thunk again.
Dr. Strangelove is the perfect mix of comedy and drama with a strong message that will leave you laughing at the absurdity of nuclear escalation. Dr. Strangelove is played straight which makes it all the funnier. Some comedies aren’t as funny on repeat viewings but Dr. Strangelove offers increased pleasure with each visit. And remember, “There’s no fighting in the war room!”
35. Young Frankenstein
Slap bang in the middle of Mel Brooks‘ 1970s run of movie parodies, Young Frankenstein is obsessive in its devotion to the Universal take on Frankenstein’s monster (down to using the same props and lab equipment as the 1931 film) but also willing to go to any length for a gag. Physical humour brings the wordplay to life, and there’s even a legendary dance number in ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’. Brooks and co had so much fun shooting that the writer-director even added scenes near the end of production just so they could keep on going, resulting in a disastrously long first cut that required a marathon editing session to bring down to the swift, 106 minute final running time.
Young Frankenstein is the perfect merging of two genres (horror and comedy) to create a classic. Brooks was at his best with a cast in sync with his vision. Blazing Saddles was released around the same time as Young Frankenstein, but while Blazing Saddles seems a bit dated, Young Frankenstein is timeless.
34. Step Brothers
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play pampered fortysomethings whose juvenile worlds collide when their single parents get married, in this classic Adam McKay comedy. Often overlooked as the difficult third album following Anchorman and Talladega Nights, it can actually hold its head high in that company, and Reilly is great Ferrell foil. The pair are currently at work on Etan Cohen’s Holmes And Watson.
I absolutely love this movie. This pairing of Ferrell and Reilly is perfect. So many laughs and stuff that would just get eye-rolls from other actors. Sure, I’ve seen this same pairing in other comedies, and they’re ok. Step Brothers rules.
Since we’re talking comedies, I have to give shout-outs to 3 movies that I saw in crowded theaters and the audiences (myself included) roared with laughter throughout the viewings:
- Airplane (the original)
- 10 (yeah, with Bo Derek and Dudley Moore)
- Richard Pryor Live in Concert
I’ve seen them at home and without the large audience, they just weren’t quite as funny.
The “Damsel” Poster and Trailer are Here!
The Damsel Poster and Trailer are Here!
Incredible Facts From ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ TV Show
Jason Owen of Definition.org posted Incredible Facts From The Beverly Hillbillies TV Show. Here are three of my favorites…
11. TV Ratings Hit
Despite criticism, the show was a huge success. Only three weeks on air, it hit the first spot in TV ratings, gaining the reputation of the fastest rise to the number 1 spot in TV history. It then managed to stay there for a record breaking two seasons and maintained its position in the top 20 for eight seasons, only dropping down during its last year on the air.
5. John Wayne to fight the “Injuns”
On the show’s fifth season, John Wayne had a small guest appearance. On the episode titled “The Indians Are Coming,” Granny kept mentioning her hopes country star John Wayne would show up and help fight the “Injuns,” – yes, that’s Indians with an accent! Coincidentally, at the end of the episode, John Wayne actually does show up, and Granny’s dream is fulfilled. Reportedly, Wayne was happy to accept a fifth of bourbon as payment for his appearance on the show.
6. Have you seen Sharon Tate?
Sharon Tate may have been most famous as being one of the victims of the Manson family killings, as well as being the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski at the time, but she also played a recurring role on the American Hillbillies. She appeared approximately 15 times on the show in the repeat role of bank teller Janet Trego. Many fans did not recognize her at first because she’s in disguise wearing a brunette wig.
Fun Facts About the Original 1960s ‘Batman’ Series
John Spearman of Definition.org posted 20 Fun Facts About the Original 1960s ‘Batman’ Series. Here are three of my favorites…
3. In order to find the perfect dynamic duo, two separate screen tests were held. One included Adam West and Burt Ward, while the other included Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell. Needless to say, West and Ward got the parts; however, the screen tests for both pairs can be found on YouTube, and they show just how different the show could’ve been.
Waggoner later went on to appear alongside another television super hero, Wonder Woman Lynda Carter, in the 1970s.
18. Adam West could have gone on to play another hero if he had wanted. He was offered the part of James Bond in the 1969 film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. He turned down the role, as he felt a British actor would be much better for the part. The role in that film eventually went to George Lazenby, who was Australian.
20. After the series was cancelled ABC held out hope that another network would purchase it and continue making the show. After waiting for a considerable amount of time, they assumed this wouldn’t happen, and the sets were destroyed.
NBC then decided to acquire the show; however, took back their offer when they realized the sets were gone.
Oh what might have been!
Rare Video: Batman Teaching Children to Safely Cross the Street!
Crime must have been at an all-time low in Gotham when Batman headed over to England to provide children with tips on how to safely cross the street in this extremely rare video from 1966!
9 Altogether Ooky Facts About John Astin
Me-TV presents 9 Altogether Ooky Facts About John Astin. Here are three of my favorites…
3. He was nominated for an Oscar…
Image: MGM Television
…but it wasn’t for acting. Astin directed the 1968 short film Prelude. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
4. He appeared in ‘West Side Story.’
Image: United Artists
The 1961 musical blockbuster starred box office heavyweights like Natalie Wood and Rita Moreno, but it also featured an uncredited appearance by Astin. The actor appeared as the character Glad Hand, the social worker who kicks off the “Mambo” dance sequence in the gymnasium.
5. He appeared as The Riddler on ‘Batman.’
Most people associate the devious villain with Frank Gorshin. But Astin also put on the green tights and purple mask in the season two episodes “Batman’s Anniversary” and “A Riddling Controversy.”
Marilyn Monroe’s Response
This is one of those stories that if it isn’t true, it should be.
In 1951, Marilyn Monroe wore a low-cut red dress to a party.
The next morning, a columnist complained that Marilyn Monroe was “cheap and vulgar,” and would have looked more decent in a potato sack.
Marilyn’s response was the photos above.
Source: Anthony Oliveira.
Me-TV Can Guess Your Age Based on Your Taste in Cartoons
Me-TV made the bold prediction:
So, I took them up on their challenge. They said the following about my age.
The truth of the matter is I’m 59, so close enough. I’m pretty sure my enjoyment of Tom & Jerry and Roadrunner gave my time on this planet.
Can You Guess the Cartoon from 1967?
I surprised myself with how well I did on MeTV’s Can You Guess the Cartoon from 1967? Quiz. For the record, I missed question 7.
7 Darn Tootin’ True Facts about ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’
MeTV presents 7 Darn Tootin’ True Facts about The Beverly Hillbillies. Here are three of my favorites..
1. The Critics Loathed It
If there was ever evidence of the divide between critics and the public, this is it. Few seismic hits have ever received such a drubbing in the press. According to the book Blockbuster TV: Must-See Sitcoms in the Network Era, upon the Hillbillies premiere, The New York Times deemed the show “strained and unfunny.” Variety said it was “painful to sit through.” Time decried that “the pone is the lowest form of humor.” The elitist uproar hardly seemed to matter.2. It was a Ratings Behemoth
The number are truly staggering — like being punched by a kangaroo. A mere six weeks after its debut, The Beverly Hillbillies was the most watched program on television. Between the years 1962 and 1964, the show averaged 57 million viewers. The episodes that aired January 8 and 15 in 1964 rank as the second and fourth most watched television episodes of the entire decade, respectively. The former of those, “The Giant Jackrabbit,” remains one of the most watched half-hours of all time. It ran the same day at LBJ’s first State of the Union address. Bear in mind, this show was luring around 60 million viewers at a time when the U.S. population was approximately 190 million. At some points in its run, 44-percent of all American televisions were tuned to the show.5. Sharon Tate Appeared in the Biggest Episode
Wearing a brunette wig, blonde bombshell Sharon Tate actually appeared in fifteen episodes as Janet Trego, including “The Giant Jackrabbit.” Her character was a secretary at the bank. Tate, who was close with “Jethro” portrayer Max Baer, Jr., would end up as a tragic victim of the Manson family killings. In Stephen Cox’s book The Beverly Hillbillies, director Joe Depew is quoted as saying, “When we first got her, she couldn’t even walk through the door convincingly.”
Ray Stevens – “I’m My Own Grandpa!”
Poor ole Ray Stevens is his own grandpa!
