TV Characters:Schneider

Whether it was his oversized tool belt or undersized mustache, I'm sure the girls from One Day at a Time felt safe whenever this creepy apartment superintendent decided to drop by and fix something. What family of teenaged girls would have a problem with a registered sex offender making unannounced visits into their home?

Andy Rooney's last rant

Andy Rooney signed off on his last rant on 60 Minutes yesterday evening. 92 years old, Rooney doesn't look a day over 91. However, he is clearly still "with it." When I did catch one of his segments, they were always pretty funny.

I was subbing the other day and the 5th graders were given a writing assignment by their teacher. I told them, the great thing about 2011 is that you don't have to be a great writer to be a great writer. In other words, write about something you and/or your readers find interesting. Here is what Rooney said last night...

“People have often told me I said the things that they’re thinking themselves,” Rooney said. “I probably haven’t said anything here that you didn’t already know or have already thought. That’s what a writer does. There aren’t too many original thoughts in the world. A writer’s job is to tell the truth. I believe that if all the truths were known about everything in the world, it would be a better place to live.”

Well said. Here is last night's 3 minute segment in case you were too depressed over the Bills' loss to watch television...


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Infamous TV characters: Larry from Three's Company

Jack Tripper: Larry, haven't you ever thought of telling a girl the truth?
Larry: Well, I figure, anyone who gets up an hour early to put on eyeliner, fake eyelashes, and plastic nails isn't someone who wants to hear the truth.

Larry was the used car salesman/swinger who lived upstairs of Jack, Janet, and Chrissy on the TV show Three's Company. He liked to hang out at the Regal Beagle and lie about his career to whatever skank happened to be hanging out there that night. I have to question his prowess with the ladies, though. He lived upstairs of Suzanne Somers, yet seemed to spend more time with Jack and Mr. Roper. They're thinking about making a spinoff of Three's Company, where Larry and Mr. Furley are is forced to register as convicted sex offenders and become roommates. Financial problems force them to move back into the old apartment, which happens to be next door to two schools and a daycare center.

In this clip Larry explains his last name is Dalliapoulas. He says he shortened it to Dallas, claiming he could never spell Dalliapoulas. Here is Larry and his big Greek family helping Jack (again, helping Jack-not Chrissy or even Janet) with his new restaurant...

Threes Company - Larry's Greek Family from Ari Kalos on Vimeo.

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Archie Bunker

Remember when people weren't afraid to talk about real issues? Racism is alive and well today, but God forbid we see it played out on television. They should bring back characters like Archie Bunker. His genius was using humor to show how ridiculous actual racists truly looked...

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Reality television

American serial killer Rodney James Alcala makes an appearance on The Dating Game in 1978. He had already killed two victims before this appearance. The best part is, he was the bachelor that got chosen for the date! In what might be the greatest example of female intuition ever recorded, contestant Cheryl Bradshaw wisely decided to cancel after meeting Alcala backstage after the show. Interestingly enough, Alcala still was the second creepiest guy on the set that day. That title had to belong to the coke addicted host Chuck Barris. I wonder how the two guys who weren't picked felt?



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Fixed?

You tell me. A woman solves a very long phrase on Wheel of Fortune with only one letter. Something seems a little too suspicious. Was the answer card leaked? I'd like to buy a YES...

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Tom Bosley 1927-2010

Howard Cunningham couldn't have been a bad guy. He raised his two kids Richie and Joanie to have high moral standards. He also took in every degenerate in the neighborhood (see Fonzie, Ralph, Potsie, Chachi, and Spike). He owned Cunningham Hardware and was very active with the Leopard Lodge(#462) He began as a Leopard first class and then rose to the rank of Grand Puba. He also enjoyed bowling with his team (the ten pins).



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M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H was a great show about the Korean War, not the Vietnam War as was commonly believed. Max Klinger was a character from Toledo, Ohio, known for dressing up in women's clothing to get a Section 8 psychiatric discharge. He grew to like the army and eventually even earned a promotion from Corporal to Sergeant. I'm not a big Alan Alda fan, but I thought he was very good on this show, also. You knew the show was about to begin when you heard the sound of the helicopters buzzing and this song. 30,000 visitors today. When did this blog achieve cult-like status?...

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Taxi: Reverend Jim's driving test

One of my favorite actors of all time is Christopher Lloyd. Most people recognize him as the wild eyed scientist from Back to the Future. Some might remember him as Taber from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or Uncle Fester from the Adam's Family movie. Before he was in films, he was on the TV show Taxi. He played a stoner from the 1960's, the Reverend Jim Ignatowski. In this scene, the cab drivers try to help him pass his permit test so he can get a job. Mental illness or narcotics addictions? That's a tough choice. What does a yellow light mean? Slow down. Whaaaaat dooooeeeessss a yelllllooooooow ligggghhht meeeeaaaan?...

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War of the Worlds- Part II

There's nothing like a harmless practical joke. Maybe, this wasn't such a good idea, though...

Fake Russian invasion broadcast sparks Georgian panic

(CNN) -- A television station in Georgia triggered a panic when it broadcast a mock half-hour report about a Russian invasion of the country.

On Saturday night, the pro-government Imedi TV in Georgia broadcast what it called a "simulation" of what a fresh invasion would look like. And the broadcast ended with a note that the events in it were not real.

However, the show did not run any on-screen notes during the half-hour broadcast to alert viewers that what they were watching was not real.

About two hours later, the station began scrolling a text, apologizing for spreading panic among viewers.

Manana Manjgaladze, the spokeswoman for Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, also made an unexpected live appearance at Imedi's studio to apologize to viewers for the false alarm.

Time Warner to Raise Their Rates

It might be time to drop Time Warner cable. I watch less and less television and this rate increase could be the last straw. I wouldn't be surprised if this latest stunt ends up backfiring on these capitalist pigs. It made me realize that I only watch two channels ever (MSNBC and Tru TV).

Everything just keeps adding up in Western NY. Just this week, we had increases in our water bills, thruway tolls, and now basic cable. Most can live without water and roads, but cable TV is an American right. Where's the neighborhood cable thief when you need him?
Time Warner raising rates on Feb. 1 : City & Region : The Buffalo News

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Infamous TV Characters-Officer Carl Levitt

Carl Levitt was the diminutive police officer on the 70s/early 80s show Barney Miller. He was played by actor Ron Carey. Carey passed away in 2006 at the age of 71. Levitt would stop at nothing to achieve his goal of becoming a detective. If he lived in Buffalo, all he'd have to do is make large donations to area politicians.

Levitt was known for sucking up to Captain Miller. From time to time, he would tattle on his fellow officers. Aren't people like this fun to work with? They exist at every job where there are more than four employees. What kind of an adult tells on other adults? Anyway, I couldn't find any clips on Officer Levitt. Those of you as old as me will remember his character from the show.