Abbott and Costello

Bud Abbott (left) and Lou Costello (right)

Abbott and Costello

Category: Stand up comedy, Stage, Film

Rating: anyone that can see and hear, you may learn some bad habits by watching but they will be harmless habits

Abbott and Costello are William (Bud) Abbott and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo). They became famous from their work in radio, film and television. They were the most popular comedy team during the 1940s. Their famous "Who's on First?" routine got them featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was rumored that they were inducted into the Hall,

Bud Abbott was born in Asbury Park, NJ, October 2, 1895 and died April 24, 1974 in Woodlands Hills, California. Lou Costello was born in Paterson, NJ, March 6, 1906 and died March 3, 1959 in East Los Angeles, California.

The Burlesque Years

Bud Abbott came from a show business family and was a veteran burlesque entertainer. He had worked at Coney Island and ran his own burlesque touring companies. He first worked as a straight man to his wife Betty, then later with burlesque comedians like Harry Steppe and Harry Evanson. Abbott was performing in Minsky's burlesque shows when he met Costello.

Lou Costello had been a burlesque comic since 1930. He failed to break into movie acting and worked as a stunt double and did film extra work.

The duo first worked together in 1935 at the Eltinge Burlesque Theatre on 42nd Street in New York. Abbott's wife and other performers in the show recommended that Abbott and Costello start an act together. Abbott would be the straight man and Costello would dimwitted sidekick.



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Fame

Abbott and Costello's first known radio appearance was on the Kate Smith Hour in February, 1938. The following month they performed "Who's on First?" for a national radio audience. They were regulars on the show for two years. The similarities in their voices made it hard for listeners to tell them apart, especially because the script was quick moving. Costello started using a high-pitched childish voice. They were able to get roles in a Broadway revue "The Street of Paris" in 1939.

In 1940 they were signed by Universal Studios for the film One Night in the Tropics. They were cast in supporting roles. They replaced Fred Allen during the summer of the same year. Two years later they had their own NBC show. They signed a long-term contract with universal. Their second film, Buck Privates, (1941) made them box-office stars. They made over 30 films between 1940 and 1956. Abbott and Costello were among the top and highest paid entertainers in the world during World War II. In 1942, Abbott and Costello were the top box office draw with a reported take of $10 million. They would remain a top ten box office attraction until 1952.



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Radio

After working as Allen's summer replacement, Abbott and Costello joined Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy on The Chase and Sanborn Hour in 1941, while two of their films (Buck Privates and Hold That Ghost) were adapted for Lux Radio Theater.

The Abbott and Costello Show was a mix of comedy and music. Ken Niles was the show's longtime announcer. He also played part in Abbott and Costello's mishaps. Michael Roy succeeded Niles.

In 1947 Abbott and Costello moved the show to ABC (the former NBC Blue Network).





Television

In 1951, they moved to television as rotating hosts of The Colgate Comedy Hour. (Eddie Cantor and Martin and Lewis were among the others.) Each show was a live hour of vaudeville in front of a theater audience, revitalizing the comedians' performances and giving their old routines a new sparkle. Beginning in 1952, a filmed half-hour series, The Abbott and Costello Show, appeared in syndication on local stations across the county. Loosely based on their radio series, the show cast the duo as unemployed characters. One of the show's running gags involved Abbott perpetually nagging Costello to get a job to pay their rent, while Abbott barely lifted a finger in that direction.

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Private lives

Both Abbott and Costello married women they knew in burlesque. Bud Abbott married Betty Smith in 1918, and Lou Costello married Anne Battler in 1934. The Costellos had four children; the Abbotts adopted two. Abbott and Costello both gambled and had serious health problems. Abbott suffered from epilepsy and turned to alcohol for pain management.

Costello had occasional, near-fatal bouts with rheumatic fever. On November 4, 1943, the same day that Costello returned to radio after a one year layoff due to his illness with rheumatic fever, his infant son "Butch" (born November 6, 1942) died in an accidental drowning in the family's swimming pool. During 1945, a rift developed when Abbott hired a domestic servant who had been fired by Costello. Stung by Abbott's move, Costello refused to speak to his partner except when performing. The team's films of 1946 reflect the split, with the comedians appearing separately in character roles. Abbott resolved the rift in 1947 when he volunteered to help with Costello's pet charity, a foundation for underprivileged children.



Later years

In the 1950s Abbott and Costello became less popular as Martin and Lewis took over their spot. Overexposure was another reason they lost popularity. Abbott and Costello routines were flooding the movie and television markets. Universal dropped the comedy team in 1955. After one more independent film, Bud Abbott retired from performing. In 1956, the Internal Revenue Service charged them for back taxes, forcing them to sell their homes and most of their assets, including their film rights. In 1957 they formally dissolved their partnership.

Lou Costello made about ten solo appearances on The Steve Allen Show and headlined in Las Vegas. He appeared in episodes of GE Theater and Wagon Train. On March 3, 1959, shortly after making his lone solo film, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock, Lou Costello died of a heart attack just short of his 53rd birthday. Bud Abbott attempted a comeback in 1960, teaming with Candy Candido. Although the new act received good reviews, Bud quit, saying, "No one could ever live up to Lou." A serious weakness of the new act was that it copied the old act. Abbott and Candido simply reprised old Abbott & Costello routines, with Candido blatantly imitating Costello. Candido would then do a comedic monologue in his own persona while Abbott took a break backstage, then the finale consisted of both men performing the classic "Who's on First?" routine.

Abbott made a solo appearance on an episode of GE Theater in 1961. In 1966 Bud voiced his character in a series of 156 five-minute Abbott and Costello cartoons made by Hanna-Barbera. Lou's character was voiced by Stan Irwin. Bud Abbott died of cancer on April 24, 1974.

Spin-offs

Warner Bros.'s Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies made a few cartoons featuring Abbott and Costello as cats or mice. The characters were called "Babbit and Catstello." In "A Tale of Two Kitties" we are introduced to Tweety. Did you just say "who?" Slap yourself. "I taught I taw a putty tat. I did I did. I did see a putty tat." My mom used to get a chuckle out of Tweety. (Tweety gave me many happy memories with my mom). The voices in "Babbit and Catstello" and "A Tale of Two Kitties" are done by Tedd Pierce and Mel Blanc. Tedd Pierce is Abbott and Mel Blank is Costello. In 1994 Jerry Seinfeld hosted a television special Abbott and Costello meet Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld claims to be inspired by the work of Abbott and Costello.



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8 Simple Rules

8 Simple Rules
Category: Sitcom

Created By: Tracy Gamble

Stars: John Ritter (2002-2003), Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, Martin Spanjers, James Garner (2003-2005), David Spade (2004-2005)

Number of Seasons: 3

Number of Episodes: 76

Original Channel: ABC

Original Run: September 17, 2002 to April 15, 2005

The show (originally known as 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter) is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 17, 2002 to April 15, 2005. Loosely based on humor columnist W. Bruce Cameron's book of the same name, the show is most well known as the series John Ritter was starring in when he died.



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Premise

8 Simple Rules is about a married couple with three children, set in a Detroit, Michigan suburb. The father, Paul Hennessy (John Ritter, Three's Company), is a sportswriter who is prompted by his wife Cate's (Katey Sagal, Married... with Children, Futurama) return to nursing to take a more active role in raising their two teenage daughters, Bridget (Kaley Cuoco)--(You're probably watching Big Bang Theory because of her and then liking the show because it's great), and Kerry (Amy Davidson), and their son Rory (Martin Spanjers).

He is soon overwhelmed by the responsibility of being the father of teenage daughters and misses being a sports writer. Paul begins writing a column from home about his struggles with his children and offers advice to people who are in his same position. His teenage daughters are dating, which sparks the use of the "8 rules". The show, created by veteran comedy writer Tracy Gamble, derives its name and some of its elements from W. Bruce Cameron's book 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (ISBN 0-7611-2314-8).

8 Simple Rules The rules are:

Use your hands on my daughter and you'll lose them after.

You make her cry, I make you cry.

Safe sex is a myth. Anything you try will be hazardous to your health.

Bring her home late, there's no next date.

Only delivery men honk. Dates ring the doorbell. Once.

No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil.

If your pants hang off your hips, I'll gladly secure them with my staple gun.

Dates must be in crowded public places. You want romance? Read a book.



8 Simple Rules Characters

John Ritter: He is the husband of Cate and father of three kids, two girls and a boy. Three's company and I'm sure some movies. My family didn't watch it earlier because it was considered a bit risque back when it originally aired. We watch most of the episodes as a family more recently. I watch every episode I could and I'd like to watch all the episodes again many times. John Ritter played the part of Paul Hennessy, a former sports writer, who worked from home as a Lifestyle columnist. Paul used a double standard when dealing with people. He often embarrassed his children. John Ritter died suddenly in 2003 from an aortic dissection during rehearsal. His character Paul collapsed and died at the store while getting batteries.

Katy Sagal: She is Cate S. Egan-Hennessy, the wife of Paul Hennessy and mother of the two girls and one boy. We all remember her as Al's wife on Married with children. She was always horny and Al was too, but not as much for her. They did love each other though. On Eight Rules Katy Sagal is a wholesome mother of three and a nurse. On Married With Children she was a lazy stay at home mom who couldn't care less about anything responsible. On Eight Rules she is the example of responsibility. On Futurama she does the voice of Leela. In that role she is basically the responsible person who tries to keep the other characters out of trouble. She takes a nursing job at the kids' school so she can keep a similar schedule to the kids' schedule. When she starts dating the school Principal her kids don't take it well. They later accept it.

Kaley Cuoco: She plays the slutty daughter, Bridget. Bridget is the oldest child of Cate and Paul's three. She depicts a stereotypical blonde, popular, bombshell who is interested in her looks, teenage boys and little else. She has morals but mostly she does whatever it takes to keep her popularity intact. She is now the reason I started watching The Big Bang Theory. I have gotten to know the characters. I think the show is great but I hope it gets better. Kaley plays her role well. The role is similar to her role on Eight Rules. She is the popular girl that gets away with a lot. On Big Bang she isn't just relying on her looks. She works as a waitress. Bridget on Eight Rules wouldn't work---well she does work as a lifeguard later in the series. She likes the job because she can show off her body and look at cute guys. Oh and did I mention --- she sits for most of the shift. Bridget sees Kerry as a nerd. She is sarcastic, and constantly makes snide remarks about essentially everybody, though less to her mother. She is also very artistic and keeps a sketchbook. She is the smart child, but often shows naiveté.

Amy Davidson: She is Kerry, the youngest of two daughters. (At least her character is.) She's best known for her role in 8 Simple Rules. She has done all kinds of other work which you could look up. She is older than Kaley Cuoco but plays the younger sister. This is similar to the oldest character on The Golden Girls. Estelle Getty was younger than both Bea Arthur and Betty White. She had to go through three hours of make up to look as old as she did on that show.

Martin Spanjers: He is the son of Paul and Cate. He is an instigator but his conscience always gets the best of him. He is Rory. He almost got the starring role of Malcolm in Malcolm in the Middle. He did do a guest spot. Not getting the part of Malcolm freed him up for the role of Rory on 8 Simple Rules. Rory lets his sisters get in trouble then he rats them out. He gets into money making schemes with C. J. Rory is his father's favorite because he is "the boy".

James Garner: He is Grandpa Jim Egan, Cate's father on 8 Simple Rules. He joined 8 Simple Rules when John Ritter died in 2003. It was supposed to be a one time thing but he ended up staying until the series ended in 2005. The older and smarter people reading this will remember James Garner from Rockford Files and many movies. So you can claim to be older or smarter or both. If your smarter you will claim to be both older and smarter. Is that you Granny?...... Sorry I just had a mental fart. Can you smell it? Smells like burnt toast. Okay enough smelling salts. He is like a guardian for the family. He lives in Cate's basement. He once sent C. J. to Canada for acetylsalicylic acid for him. C. J. discovered that this is just Aspirin. He is proud of C. J. when he becomes a teacher.

David Spade: He played the part of C. J. Barnes on 8 Simples Rules. You might recognize him from SNL and Just Shoot Me. He is currently starring as Russell Dunbar on the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement. He was the star of the film Joe Dirt and is working on an animated version of that movie. In all his sitcom and movie parts he plays a weasel like. He was once in the Army. He doesn't have much success with women. He shares the basement with his Grandfather. He started living in the basement after his Grandfather accidentally burned his van to a crisp.

The third season took a creative turn, revolving more around Jim and C.J. than the Hennessy family, more specifically not revolving around the raising of the Hennessy girls. However this was little more than a phase in a way, and newly added characters joined the show as an ensemble, and shortly after their novelty wore off, the show found its roots once more.



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Three's Company Spoof

In one episode a remake of some of the antics from Three's Company are used. Three's Company is the show where John Ritter became famous. Paul plays the part of Stanley Roper in the dream sequence. Don Knotts appears in a guest spot at the end of the episode. Knotts would be the last Three's Company co-star to work with Ritter before his death.


8 Simple Rules Production

John Ritter's Death

John Ritter died soon after an interview on the set of the Museum of Television & Radio. That was September 11, 2003. He suffered an aortic dissection. That means he bleed to death when the top part of his heart ripped open. He had some discomfort during a rehearsal that afternoon and crew members took Ritter to a nearby hospital. He died that night. The show went on hiatus and then continued. The death of Ritter's character was worked into the show. The three new episodes that Ritter completed were aired with Katey Sagal introducing them.

On November 4, 2003 8 Simple Rules returned with a one hour episode named "Goodbye." It was dedicated to Ritter's death. Later episodes explored the family's reaction to his death. The first four episodes after Ritter's death were shot without a live audience. Suzanne Pleshette and James Garner guest starred as Cate's parents. David Spade joined the cast later as Cate's unpredictable nephew C. J. Eventually Garner and Spade became regulars on the show until it's end.

8 Simple Rules Season 3 and Subsequent Cancellation

Rumors about the show ending were getting around after the third season finale. In the first season the show ranked 42nd in the Nielsen Ratings. More viewers tuned in after Ritter's death. At the end of the second season the show slipped to 50th. After the show moved to Friday night 8pm the show ranked 94th.

Some people could not get passed Ritter's death and were okay with the show ending. Other people were happy with the show continuing, almost in Ritter's honor. 8 Simple Rules was one of few shows that continued for nearly two full seasons beyond the death of its star. The Friday time slot did bring the show down. Katey Sagal's character is found to be dating the principal of the school she is a nurse at during the third season finale.

8 Simple Rules was officially cancelled on May 17, 2005.

8 Simple Rules Other Characters

Billy Aaron Brown played Kyle, Bridget’s dumb boyfriend. He later dated Kerry. He hangs out with Rory when not with either of the girls.

Adam Arkin played Ed Gibb, principal of the high school. He and Cate were high school friends and even dated. Their versions of their relationship differ.

Dan Cotese plays Coach Scott. Bridget had a crush on him. He like Cate. Cate liked him until she found out that Bridget had a crush on him.

Nikki Danielle Moore plays Jenna Sharpe. She is Paul’s boss’ daughter. She is one of Bridget’s enemies.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas (from Home Improvement with Tim Allen) plays Jeremy. He is Bridget’s tutor and later boyfriend. He was known to be a nerd as school and at first this discouraged Bridget from dating him.

Cybill Sheppard (from Moonlighting, with Bruce Willis) plays Maggie Egan Barnes. She is Cate’s sister and also C. J.’s mother. Maggie is like Kerry in personality.

8 Simple Rules Syndication

In it’s third season 8 Simple Rules had better rating than other Friday shows but ABC cancelled the show because it couldn’t sell it to syndication. John Ritter’s death prevented 8 Simple Rules could not show two show per day including episodes from varying seasons. It was thought that this would confuse and/or upset viewers. This does happen on Danish Channel TV3, the airing not the confusion. Now I’m confused. Did you know that she knew that you knew that she knew you knew? Yeah okay not that confusing.

On July 11, 2005 the 8 Simple Rules was officially cancelled. The WB television network said it would air all the 76 episodes back to back. On or about September 15, 2006 8 Simple Rules was replaced by Reba on the CW Daytimes, the show not the singer. Well she is a singer and she is the star of the show called Reba. A very good show. It is one of my favorites. On June 12, 2007 8 Simple Rules was back on the ABC Family line-up where they did air episodes with and without John Ritter back to back.





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3rd Rock From The Sun

The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming! There's four of them and ....... their friendly.
Their trying to learn about humans. Dick's in charge. (I'm not making a joke here but you can convince me.) He's the father like alien. Tommy (the teenage boy) is the intelligence specialist. Sally is a decorated military officer. Harry is only with them because there was a spare seat....oh yeah and he is the one that allows the team to get messages from home. Whenever a message is coming in Harry acts looks like he's possessed and the leader's voice comes through him. The voice of the leader (Big Giant Head) is played by William Shatner.

The show also stars Jane Curtin (from Kate and Ally) and Wayne Knight (from Seinfeld).





3rd Rock from the Sun

Format: Situation comedy

Created by: Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner

Starring: John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Simbi Khali, Elmarie Wendel, Wayne Knight, and Jane Curtin

3rd Rock Country of origin: United States

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 139 (List of episodes)

Production

Executive producer(s): Marcy Carsey, Caryn Mandabach, Bonnie Turner, Tom Werner, Terry Turner, Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Linwood Boomer (executive producer), Bob Kushell, Christine Zander, David Sacks, Danny Smith, Joe Fisch (co-executive producer) Producer(s): Patrick Kienlen, David Goetsch, Jason Venokur, David Israel, Jim O'Doherty, Andrew Orenstein, Michael Glouberman Gregg Mettler (producer), Tim Ryder, Aron Abrams, Gregory Thompson (co-producer)

Location(s): Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA[1]

Running time: 22 minutes (per episode)

Distributor USA: Carsey-Werner Distribution, NBC, Anchor Bay Entertainment

Original run: January 9, 1996 – May 22, 2001

3rd Rock from the Sun is an Emmy Award-winning American sitcom that ran from 1996 until 2001 on NBC. The show is about a group of extraterrestrial scientists on an expedition of what they consider to be the least important planet, Earth (the "3rd Rock" from the Sun), whilst posing as a human "family" of four to observe human beings.

3rd Rock

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Overview

Basic premise

Four aliens come to Earth to learn what they can about and life on Earth. Dick is the High Commander. The military officer is Sally. The intelligence specialist is Tommy. Harry came with them to take the extra seat.

They are trying to live as "normal" human beings. What human is normal. Are you normal. Do you know where the perfect orange is? My name is Zane and I'm an alcoholic......not!!!

They become so used to their "human" life that they don't pay as much attention to their mission.



3rd Rock

Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) is the High Commander of the team. He takes a teaching job at Pendelton State University. Tommy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is given the role and body of a teenager. He is the information officer. Sally (Kristen Johnston) is the security officer. Harry (French Stewart) is the communications officer. He hangs out at home and goes from one job to another.

The family communicates with their boss, know as "The Big Giant Head". William Shatner is "The Big Giant Head". He sends remote messages through Harry. Harry goes into a trance and poses as if he an antenna as he relays the messages.

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3rd Rock

Sources of humor

A lot of the humor comes from the mismatch between the teams appearance and their actual internal nature. For example Tommy appears to be a typical teenager but he is the team's information officer. He is responsible for educating the team on the way things are for humans and the earth. Dick is the father figure in the team but he is just really arrogant and self-absorbed. He gets into trouble. He is basically a child in the body of an adult. Sally looks like a promiscuous woman but she is actually a soldier who handles security for the team. Harry is the only one who seems to have a look that matches his actual self.

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Typical episode themes

Most of the episodes deal with the team having trouble with understanding how things work on Earth. They interpret human customs incorrectly, mostly because most of their intelligence comes from media, especially television. (Television is all knowing and we should bow to it on a daily basis. We need to give our first born to it. Have you seen some kids? I think the parents would get the better of the deal. Television is everything. ..... Do I take the blue pill or the red pill or both? Just kidding.)

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3rd Rock

The teams former lives were actually similar to the Borg on Star Trek because their lives basically involved them interacting with each other but not many others.

Many episodes were based on story ideas from TV and films. For example when Harry finds out he is a transmitter he portrays a character like Jim in Rebel Without a Cause and plays chicken with a tough guy in a bar. They also did some scenes similar to that from Twilight Zone and Apocalypse Now, as well as others.

3rd Rock

Common mythology

The characters get in trouble because they aren't familiar with the normal behaviors of humans but their alien skills come to the rescue, kinda. (I always fry eggs on the sidewalk or the hood of my car. I also roast a chicken on the engine of the car. I save a lot of money by eating roadkill......what.....really......if a full pizza box flies out of a car I will fight the idiots who through the box out for it, at least a slice. I wouldn't hurt a fly, if it's awake. Okay so this probably isn't normal behavior but the voices in my head says it is, no it isn't, yes it is.)

Tommy, the son, understands physics better than Dick, the father, but Dick's knowledge still outshines the society's knowledge of physics. In one bit Dick reads from Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time and gets a huge laugh from it. The other three often question Dick's right to command, especially when he gets into trouble when others might have recognized a tricky situation. Sally is often only depicted as being attractive; her great physical strength and abilities are not shown. There is the odd mention of her exploits.

3rd Rock

Tommy has an encyclopedic knowledge about Earth society. It doesn't help him when situations require street smarts. He does maintain straight As.

Harry is almost psychotic in his behavior, even for a Solomon. It is implied that the chip in his brain that allows him to communicate with the home planet makes him that way. He is extremely horny and he's the only Solomon who has artistic talent.

Dick is jealous of Harry's talents and can't understand how a fool like Harry can outdo him in artistic endeavors.

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3rd Rock

Relationships with humans

All four aliens get into relationships with humans. Dick's relationship with anthropology professor, Mary Albright (Jane Curtain) is the most focused on relationship. Mary is insecure and suffers many neuroses. A lifetime of studying the human condition as well as a messy relationship with her parents was probably the cause of it. She is attracted to Dick's lack of understanding of the human condition.

Sally hooks up with Don Leslie Orville (Wayne Knight-- you know Newman...... from Seinfeld). Isn't it interesting when you see all the different places actors show up. I might just have to make a page with a diagram. I saw that is a magazine somewhere. I read at least one article....really I did. I remember there was a nice looking girl in one picture. The caption said something about a car. I couldn't see it. Okay back to the facts of 3rd Rock.... I almost said 30 Rock. I should do a page on that. I'll have to watch more shows before I can write about it.

Don is attracted to Sally after meeting her several times when he confronts or arrests the Solomons for various crimes. They speak to each other is an old 1930s crime drama.

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Tommy dates August Leffler (Shay Astar), a reserved teenager. Later he dates Alissa Strudwick (Larisa Oleynik).

Harry has a relationship with his landlord, Mrs. Dubcek's daughter (played by Jan Hooks). I think she's the one from SNL. Yeah, she is who I was thinking about. She was on SNL from 1986 to 1991. More on her if it comes up.

A neat episode finds Harry foiling a plot by Cindy Crawford to dissolve the Earth. Harry seduced Cindy Crawford to do it, even though he's not that great at picking up women.

There is sharing of partners. Mary and Tommy are briefly attracted to each other when they discover they both like social sciences. Tommy steps aside to let Dick pursue Mary. Ninaa (Simbi Khali), Dick's assistant has a fling with Harry. Mrs. dubcek (Elmarie Wendel) has a fling with Harry too.

3rd Rock

Plot twists

References to the aliens actual nature and home world also claimed that their original bodies were "gelatinous purple tubes" without sex organs. Sally asked why she had to be the woman. Dick said she lost the draw. Supposedly individuals in their species are almost completely identical. This was the reason the Solomons were unaware of the concept of race or ethnicity. They eventually decided that they were Jewish because of their surname, which they had taken from a trucking company.

3rd Rock

The four adventurers often meet up with or think they've met up with other aliens. Jell-O was one such a thing. They thought it was an enemy alien. When they saw it they would try to destroy it. We never are told what the home planet is; it simply referred to as "The Home Planet."

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3rd Rock

Cast

Three of the four characters lasted out all six seasons appearing on every episode. Tommy was the exception. There were many characters added and subtracted over the 6 seasons.

3rd Rock Main characters

Dick Solomon character is played by John Lithgow. He is the High commander. He is the most childish of the four characters. He was actually the youngest of the four (in alien years and nature). His appearance only made him the oldest. Dick is the source of most of the problems the family has.

Sally Solomon is played by Kristen Johnston. She is the Lieutenant, the Security Officer, and second in command. She is sometimes called Dick's sister and at other times Tommy's sister. On one occasion she claimed to be Tommy's mother. She is never seen as Dick's daughter or spouse. Sally had a harder time dealing with being a woman than the others had dealing with being a man. She did file a request to be made male but changed her mind later as she began to like being a woman.

Harry Solomon is played by French Stewart. He wasn't originally part of the mission but came along because there was a spare seat. When the topic of position comes up Dick tells Harry "Well, eh, you're, uh... you're Harry!". Harry's reply to this is "Oh, sure, I get the fancy title!". The group later found out that Harry had a chip in his head that allowed them to communicate with the home planet. He was then known as the Communicator or Transmitter. Occasionally, he will get a message from their leader, the Big Giant Head, shaking violently in the middle of a sentence and squats down, with his arms at 90 degree angles, declaring "Incoming message from the Big Giant Head!", before going through the motions of delivering the message. He posed as Dick and Sally's brother and Tommy's uncle.

Tommy Solomon is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Just a side note by I saw him on that show where the spy has been put on burn notice. Joseph Gordon-Levitt came to kill the main character. I've only seen the show a couple times but it is pretty good. Comedy is my first love so I'll deal with that show later. Okay while I was working on this I did some research. The show is called Burn Notice. I'd recommend it to people over 18. If you have bad parents and you're under 18 you decide.

Okay back to Tommy Solomon on 3rd Rock From the Sun. He is the Information Officer and second in command. He has a teenager's appearance so he plays the role of Dick's adolescent son. Tommy is actually the oldest and smartest of all the aliens. He constantly reminds the others of this fact. He left the series (after the fifth season concluded) as a primary character. He came back in about half the episodes of sixth season.

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Dr. Mary Albright is played by Jane Curtain (remember her on SNL and Kate and Ally?). She works with Dick and dates him on and off. She thought Dick was an idiot but was attracted to his child-like behavior. She is insecure because her bad upbringing. Before Dick was in the picture she was know for sleeping around and given the nickname "Dr. Slutbunny".

Nina Campbell is played by Simbi Khali. She is Dick and Mary's administrative assistant. She thinks Dick is an idiot, chauvanist, and a jerk.

Mrs. Mamie Dubcek is played by Elmarie Wendel. She is the Solomon's landlady. She is loose, clueless, and carefree. She is very promiscuous. She has a friend-like relationship with the Solomon's.

Officer Don Leslie Orville is played by Wayne Knight. You might remember his as "Newman" on Seinfeld. His character on 3rd Rock is similar in some ways to his character on Seinfeld. He does devious things to get his way. He works for the Rutherford, Ohio's police department. He is an incompetent police officer. Sally is his on-off girlfriend. In the last episode we find out that Don only joined the force because he felt that he would be safe with all the other police around him.

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3rd Rock

Minor characters

Some of Dick's Students

Bug Pollone is played by David DeLuise.

Leon is played by Ian Lithgow.

Caryn is played by Danielle Nicolet

Aubrey Pitman is played by Chris Hogan

Others

Vicky Dubcek is played by Jan Hooks. She is Ms. Dubcek's daughter and Harry's Girlfriend.

Dr. Judith Draper is played by Iileen Getz. She is a professor at Pendelton and colleague of Mary August Leffler, played by Shay Astar. She was Tommy's first girlfriend during seasons 1-4.

Alissa Strudwick is played by Larisa Oleynik. She was Tommy's second girlfriend during seasons 4-6.

Dr. Vincent Strudwick is played by Ron West who is Alissa's father and Dick's rival during seasons 2-6.

The Big Giant Head/Stone Phillips is played by William Shatner. He is the aliens' boss (season 4 and 5).

Dr. Liam Neesam is played by John Cleese who is a professor who has a brief relationship with Mary. He is later found to be an evil alien who wants to change humans into chimps (seasons 3 and 6).

James Earl Jones did the narration for the first season's opening titles.

3rd Rock

Guest stars





Martha Stewart - (season 1) playing herself when Harry fantasises about appearing on her show.

Phil Hartman - (seasons 1 & 3) playing a camp cosmetics store worker and later Vicky's jilted ex-lover Randy John Mahoney - (season 1) a rude, sexist professor for whom a faculty party is thrown.

Dennis Rodman - (season 2) playing himself. It is revealed that he is actually another alien George Takai - (season 2) playing himself at a sci-fi convention.

Mike Ditka - (season 2) as Coach Mafferty. He is the coach for the Pendelton Badgers football team.

Mark Hamill - (season 2) playing himself. Sally achieves a degree of fame after she attacks him.

Randy Newman - (season 2) playing himself. He appears in Harry's dream.

Roseanne Barr - (season 3) playing Dick's forced-wife Janet Elaine Stritch - (seasons 3 & 6).

Martha Albright, Mary's mother Cindy Crawford - (season 3) Mascha, a Venusian woman who falls for Harry John Cleese - (seasons 3 &6) Professor Liam Neesam, an evil alien in disguise as a biology professor Laurie Metcalf - (season 4).

Jennifer Ravelli, a teacher of comparitive literature that Dick has a fling with.

Kathy Bates - (season 4) Charlotte Everley, an alien hunter who discovers the truth about Dick and tries to disect him.



William Shatner - (seasons 4 & 5) The Big Giant Head (a.k.a Stone Philips), the aliens' overlord.

Billy Connolly - (season 5) An actor playing the part of a Scotland Yard inspector in a murder mystery the Solomons take part in.

David Hasselhoff - (season 5) A plastic surgeon that Dick visits when considering a facelift.

Alan Cummings - (season 5) Angus 'The Hole' McDuff, a hole expert hired to get Dick and Harry out of a hole.

Enrico Colantoni - (season 5) Frank, a gay friend of Mary's that Dick mistakes for an alien Megan Mullaly - (season 6).

Renata Albright, Mary's rich sister





Phew......that's a lot of people. If you want to add comments or information to this page email me at zany1968@sympatico.ca


December 6, 2012 Thursday

227

Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show, and many more
shows allowed African-Americans to share what used to be a mainly "white"
entertainment medium. Shows that had African-Americans on them usually had them
playing supporting or "extra" parts.
George Lopez is doing a similar thing buy giving Mexicans a more
than supporting or "extra" part in sitcoms. George Lopez performed stand up
comedy before he got his chance to run his sitcom (with the help of his good
friend Sandra Bullock). He also has his own late night talk show. (Click here to find out more
about George Lopez)
I would look at the characters played by Marla Gibbs (Mary
Jenkins) and Jackee Harry as kind of a Betty and Veronica characters, except
they are not fighting over a guy. Mary is like Betty and gets things done by
the rules and only gets in trouble because Jackee gets her into it. Mary is
homely (generally) while Jackee is a major flirt.
I will admit that I didn't watch this show much either because I
was relatively young compared to who I imagine watched the show during its
original airing or I might have been told not to watch it because the Jackee
character was seen as very immoral by one of the people who raised me. Some
people still think I must have been raised by wolves by the way I act.
Awoooooooooooo!!!!!! Kibbles and Bits, Kibbles and Bits...... sorry.
227 was a great show that, like many good shows, ended with a
moral lesson.
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Following are more details so you can get more familiar with the
show
**************************
227 was a popular American situation comedy that
aired on NBC from September 14, 1985 until May 6, 1990. The series starred Emmy
Award-nominated television actress Marla Gibbs, who shot to fame in 1977 on The
Jeffersons as sassy maid Florence Johnston. 227 was produced by Embassy
Television from 1985 until 1988, then ELP Communications produced the series in
its final two seasons (1988-1990).
Origins
The show is based on a play written by Christine Houston about
the lives of women in a predominantly black apartment building in 1950s
Chicago.
(Click here to go
to top)
Synopsis
Emmy Award-nominee Marla Gibbs portrayed the lead role, Mary
Jenkins, a housewife who lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Lester
Jenkins, a construction worker, played by Hal Williams, and their studious
14-year-old daughter, Brenda, played by Regina King in her first significant
acting role.
Jackée Harry, another Emmy-winning actress played a flirty
resident 227. Every building has a Mrs. Cravitz and this building had Pearl
Shay. She was always snooping and getting into everyone's business. Funny
stuff happens. You can watch clips on YouTube until they are removed. If you
really are a good human being you'll buy the dvds or digital
downloads.
Do you remember Olivia from Sesame Street? Well on 227 she was
everybody's friend Rose. She also became the landlord. You have to watch the
show in whatever way you can to find out the weird way she became the
landlord.
Jackée's spin off Sandra didn't make it past the
pilot.
227 ended in the spring of 1990.
(Click here to go
to top)
227 Theme Song
The theme song for 227 was written by television songwriter Ray
Colcord and sung by series star Marla Gibbs entitled "There's No Place Like
Home".

SpongeBob SquarePants

See the general details of the show later on below -- For now here is my summary:

This page is PG 13

SpongeBob SquarePants is a cartoon about a talking sponge and his friends. They all live underwater in a place called Bikini Bottom. Before I continue you should know that SpongeBob SquarePants and Fairly Odd Parents are the two most popular
Cartoons in North America, at the time I'm making this blog post.

Okay back to SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob is a friendly talking sponge -- well all the characters talk on this show. SpongeBob is a burger flipper (Krabby Patties) at The Krabby Patty, one of the two main restaurants. He feels he has a dream job and often does work for free. He is often tricked into working for free.

SpongeBob has a lot friends:

Patrick the starfish. He is SpongeBob's best friend. (my phone kept trying to type beat friend but I want to keep this page PG 13)

Sandy the squirrel. She is a squirrel scientist from the land (all the characters on this cartoon live underwater (Bikini Bottom). She has to wear a helmet and suit to interact with everyone, except when she is in her controlled dome. She loves karate and so does SpongeBob.

Mr. Krabs

Squidward

Pearl

Mrs. Puff

And many other characters that are good but don't come to me right now.




*******
THE FACTS


Genre: Comedy Adventure
Format: Animated series
Created by: Stephen Hillenburg
Developed by: Derek Drymon, Tim Hill
and Nick Jennings
Creative director(s): Derek Drymon
(Season 1–3), Vincent Waller
(Season 4–present)
Voices: Tom Kenny: Bill, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, and Dee Bradley Baker
Theme music composer: Hank Smith Music
Opening theme "SpongeBob SquarePants" performed by Pat Pinney
Ending theme "Cierre Bob Esponja"
Composer(s) Nicolas Carr
Eban Schletter
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 8
No. of episodes 204
172 (aired)
330 (Segments) (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Stephen Hillenburg
Paul Tibbitt
(Season 5–present)
Running time 22–23 minutes
Production company(s) United Plankton Pictures
Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Rough Draft Studios (Overseas animation)
Distributor MTV Networks International
Broadcast
Original channel Nickelodeon
Picture format 480i: SDTV (1999–present)
1080i: HDTV (2009)
Audio format Advantage Audio Services (1999–2009) (NTSC)
Advantage Audio Services 8.0 (2009–present)
Dolby Surround 5.1 (2009–present) (NTSC)
Original run May 1, 1999 – present
External links
Website
SpongeBob SquarePants (often referred to simply as SpongeBob) is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. The series' popularity has prompted the release of a media franchise, contributing to its position as Nickelodeon's highest rated show, the most distributed property of MTV Networks, and among Nicktoons' most watched shows.[1] It is listed 15th in IGN's top 100 animated series list.

When Rocko's Modern Life ended in 1996,[2] Hillenburg began working on SpongeBob SquarePants.[3][4] He teamed up with several Nickelodeon veterans and Rocko crew members, including creative director Derek Drymon (Action League Now!, Hey Arnold!, and Rocko's Modern Life) writers and directors Sherm Cohen, and Dan Povenmire[5], writer Tim Hill, actor and writer Martin Olson, animation director Alan Smart (all from Rocko's Modern Life), and story editor Merriwether Williams (The Angry Beavers), who worked on the series for its first few seasons and switched to SpongeBob SquarePants in July 1999. To voice the character of SpongeBob, Hillenburg approached Tom Kenny, who had worked with him on Rocko's Modern Life.[6] Originally, SpongeBob was to be named SpongeBoy, but this name was already in use.[7] This was discovered after voice-acting for the original seven-minute pilot was recorded in 1997. The Nickelodeon legal department discovered that the name was already in use for a mop product.[8] Upon finding this out, Hillenburg decided that the character's given name still had to contain "Sponge" so viewers would not mistake the character for a "Cheese Man". Hillenburg decided to use the name "SpongeBob". He chose "SquarePants" as a family name as it referred to the character's square shape and it had a "nice ring to it".[9]

The pilot episode of SpongeBob SquarePants first aired in the United States on Nickelodeon on May 1, 1999, following the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The first episodes were called "Help Wanted", "Reef Blower", and "Tea at the Treedome". The "official" series premiere followed on July 17, 1999, with the second episode, "Bubblestand/Ripped Pants." The show reached enormous popularity by 2000 during the second season, and has remained popular since. A feature film of the series was released in theaters on November 19, 2004. The series celebrated its tenth anniversary on July 17, 2009. SpongeBob was renewed for a ninth season on January 3, 2011.[10] So far the series has aired 330 individual episodes.

**********

Another cartoon I watch -- fairly odd parents

First of all Jay Leno does the voice of The Crimson Chin.

This cartoon is about a kid who has a couple of fairies as godparents. They grant him almost any wish he makes. That sounds great but it never works out that way.

By the way the kid's name is Timmy.

Around the time Timmy makes his wish one of the characters usually says "what could go wrong?"

If you watch the show you'll see what can go wrong.

Timmy's fairies are a married couple who love each other but their love is challenged all the time.

Timmy has a nutty teacher who lives to find and exploit fairies, especially Timmy's fairies.

Timmy's parent's are easily messed up and get Timmy in more trouble.

The fairies have a boss who talks and looks like swartzeneggar. He keeps all fairy related business by the book.

Timmy's fairies are Wanda and Cosmo.

Ranger becomes politician

The guy who was the ranger (Ranger Gord) on the red green show played a politician who dated Elaine on Seinfeld.

Way to go Canada. We have a lot of Canadian talent in Hollywood.

On a side note: Harold from the red green show was on a fundraising program with Rick Green. The cause was the television station and ADHD.