Build Tomorrow - Another Day Of Life

Welcome to the July 2, 2008 Edition of “Way Back Wednesday“, “These Words from Our Sponsor” edition.  We will be revisiting the land of the 80’s, big hair, and toy marketing for the Generation X group. (Those born between 1965 and 1982).  This was a huge time of both technological advances such as Cell phones, and the birth of more and more interactive toys.  Toys and TV became synced up so that if you watched it, someone would build a toy.  Commercials also worked on your heart strings.  They tried to give you that warm and fuzzy feeling such as our first two entries this week. 

“Peeper”, Bell Telephone 1982

This commercial for the Bell Telephone system was to remind you how with the Bell system you could “reach out and touch someone”.  Bell was broken up by the United States in 1984.

 

“Birthday’s” Kleenex (1984)

Kleenex in the 80’s tugged our heart strings.  I swear some of these commercials were only geared to make you cry…and use Kleenex.  Kleenex has been making tissues and toilet paper since 1924.

Then there are the all famous toys commercials.

Teddy Ruxpin (1985)

This cuddly animatronic bear was introduced by WOW toys in 1985.  He was a bear with an animated face, which would talk and tell stories via a cassette deck in his back.  With the fold of WOW Toys the bear was made by Playschool from 1991 until 1996.  He was then reintroduced twice. In 1996 by YES toys, and in 2005 by Backpack toys, and the current version uses digital cards, as opposed to the old fashioned cassette deck.  A’int technology grand!

WWF Action Figures (1984)

With the rise in popularity of “Sports Entertainment” in the 80’s the WWF (now WWE), introduced action figures to promote the wrestling brand.  The industry is much more adult oriented today, and the characters much left colorful.  Oh Yeah!

And finally, one of the best commercials of the 80’s.  Wendy started a series of commercials asking “Where’s the beef?” using an elderly lady named Clara Peller.  She was 81 at the time.  She was fired by Wendy’s in 1985 after appearing in a Prego ad, claiming, she “Found the Beef”.  So without any further Adou:

“Fluffy Bun”, Wendy’s 1984

And that is the Way Back Wednesday for July 2, 2008, “These words from our Sponsor” Edition.  Join us next week for another “Way Back Wednesday”

~Aslan

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Welcome to the Fond Farewell edition of Way Back Wednesday.  This week we are highlighting the farewell scenes from some of TV’s memorable shows.

Cheers

The Finale of Cheers entitled “One for the Road“, has been named one of the best television finales of all time, as well as one of the highest rated ever on record.  It aired on May 20, 1993 bringing 11 seasons to a close.  The series aired on NBC from 1982 until 1993.

The show revolved around a group of patrons and employees at a fictional Boston Bar named “Cheers”.  The main character was that of retired major league relief pitcher Sam “Mayday” Malone, played by Ted Danson.  Sam purchased the bar while an alcoholic, but kept it once recovered to keep it as a reminder.  The bar itself was molded after the “Bull & Finch Pub” in Boston.  The actual pub has since been remained Cheers in honor of the sitcom.

It also Starred Shelly Long as Diane Chambers, Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, George Wendt as Norm Peterson, John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, Nicholas Colasanto as “Coach” Ernie Pantusso, and Bebe Neuwirth as Lilith Sternin.

Originally the part of Sam Malone was offer to actor Fred Dryer (Hunter), and was to be a retired football player.  Fred Dryer became unavailable, and the part was offered to Ted Danson, and changed to a retired baseball player.

The Wonder Years

The episode “Independence Day (part II)” aired on May 12, 1993, bringing the show to a close after Six Seasons.  The Show began in 1988, and aired on ABC.  I told the story of a boy named Kevin Arnold growing up in the late sixties and early seventies.  The show was narrated by Daniel Stern as a grown up Kevin retelling the story of his life. 

The show starred Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, Dan Lauria as Jack Arnold, Alley Mills as Norma Arnold, Josh Saviono as Kevin’s best friend Paul, Olivia d’Abo as Karen Arnold, Jason Hervey as Wayne Arnold, and Dancia McKellar as Kevin’s childhood girlfriend Gwendolyn “Winnie” cooper. 

The final episode tells the outcome of the characters lives after the ending of the TV Series.

Friends

The second part of the finale titled “The Last One” aired on May 6, 2004.  The episode wrapped up the story lines for the majority of all of the characters. The series aired on NBC from 1994 until 2004 and ended after it’s 10^th season.  The show revolved around a group of friends living in New York, and though panned by critics after it’s initial airing in 1994 became one of the most successful television comedies of the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

The Show Starred Jennifer Aniston, as Rachel Green,  Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Courtney Cox-Arquette as Monica Geller-Bing, Lisa Kudrow as Pheobe Buffay, and Matt LaBlanc as Joey Tribbiani.

 The West Wing

The show Finale titled “Tomorrow“, aired on May 14, 2006 ending a seven season run on NBC.  The show premiered in 1999.  It was a critically acclaimed drama series created by Alan Sorkin.

The show revolved around the fictional two terms of the presidential administration of Josiah Bartlett.  The show made definitive that he was a democrat from New Hampshire.  During the shows run many issues were tackled that were mirrors of real world events.

The Show Starred Martin Sheen as President Bartlett, Stockard Channing as Abby Bartlett, John Spencer as Leo McGarry, Allison Janney as CJ Craig, Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn, Janel Maloney as Donna Moss, Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman, Richard Schiff as Toby Zeigler, and Dule Hill as Charlie Young.  Other cast members joined and left the ensemble cast during its seven seasons.  The series ended with the election of President Matthew Santos portrayed by Jimmy Smitts.

 

That is the fond farewell edition of Way Back Wednesday!  Stay tuned for the next episode of Way Back Wednesday!

~Aslan

Life Goes On was a television series that aired on ABC from 1989 to 1993. The show starred Chris Burke as Charles “Corky” Thatcher, Kellie Martian as Becca Thatcher, Bill Smitrovitch as the father Drew Thatcher, Patti LuPone as Libby Thatcher, and Tracey Needham as Paige Thatcher.

The show was originally written to written to showcase Chris Burke’s character of Corky and the challenges of a family whose son had Down Syndrome. The first season as well as much of the second was the challenge of integrating Corky into “normal” life.  During the second season ans for the remainder of the show other storylines were incorporated to include other family members.  Becca developed a story line where she fell in love with an HIV infected boy played by Chad Lowe

21 Jump Street was an hour long police drama television series, developed by FOX. It ran from 1987 to 1991.  It was one of the first television dramas aimed at the teenage market, a favorite market of FOX in the early years.

It Starred Johnny Depp as Officer Thomas “Tom” Hanson, Jr, Holly Robinson as Officer Judith “Judy” Marie Hoffs, Dustin Nguyen as Officer Harry Truman Ioki, Peter DeLuise as Officer Douglas “Doug” Penhall, and Steven Williams as Captain Adam Fuller.

The show is about a group of young cops whose youthful appearances enabled them to work undercover in both high schools and sometimes colleges to catch troubled youths. The show’s plots covered typical issues of its time, including alcoholism, hate crimes, drug abuse, racism, homophobia, AIDS, drinking, child abuse, and sexual promiscuity.

Party of Five was a TV Drama that aired on FOX  from1994 until 2000 for a total six seasons.

The show was aimed at the teenage market and set in San Francisco. It around five children who grow up orphans after their parents were killed by a drunk driver in an auto accident. The first two seasons it flirted with cancellation before gaining higher ratings in the third season.  It is one of the only shows to ever win a golden globe while not in the Top 20 Nielsen ratings.  It starred Scott Wolf as Bailey Salinger, Matthew Fox as Charlie Salinger, Neve Campbell as Julia Salinger, Lacey Chabert as Claudia Salinger, Paula Devicq as Kirsten Bennett Thomas Salinger, Scott Grimes as Will McCorkle, and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Sarah Reeves.

See you next week for more, Way Back Wednesday!

~Aslan

We’re back, after a rough week of storms, power outages, and lots of heat.  Since we missed last week we will highlight 4 shows this week, under our “Rescue Hero’s” theme

Emergency! Was a television series that aired from 1972, on NBC, until 1977. The series followed the Paramedic program in the Los Angeles County Fire Department with the focus on the Paramedics of Fire Station 51, in particular Firefighter/Paramedics John Gage (Randolph Mantooth) and Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe). The paramedics coordinated with the Emergency Room (ER) staff of Rampart General Hospital.

Rescue 911 was a reality-based television series, hosted by William Shatner. I aired on  CBS for from1989 until  1996. The show retold stories of Crimes,  accidents, medical emergencies, and  fires, Other situations commonly presented on Rescue 911 included people getting themselves or their body parts stuck in tight places, baby deliveries, animal rescues, and search and rescue situations.  This is Rescue 911.

ER premiered in1994 and has been aired on Thursday nights at 10:00 for its entire run on NBC. ER will end in February 2009 after 16 seasons.  The show tells the story of the staff of Chicago County General’s ER staff, and has launched the careers of actors such as Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene, George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross, Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis, Noah Wyle as Dr. John Carter, Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton and Julianna Margulies Nurse Carol Hathaway.

Third Watch was an NBC television drama set in New York City that ran 1999 until 2005. It followed the exploits of a group of police officers, firefighters, and paramedics in 55th Precinct and Fire Station 55 whose shifts fell between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m, the “third watch.” Third Watch’s original ensemble cast in the series’ first season consisted of Michael Beach, Coby Bell, Bobby Cannavale, Eddie Cibrian, Molly Price, Kim Raver, Anthony Ruivivar, Skipp Sudduth, and Jason Wiles.

That’s all for this week, see you next week with a new edition of Way back Wednesday!

~Aslan

Welcome to Way Back Wednesday!  This week is the family comedy edition.  Let’s take a look at some of our past tv families.

The Dick Van Dyke Show

The Dick Van Dyke Show was a situation comedy which aired on CBS from 1961 to 1966. The show starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore, and was created by Carl Reiner. Reiner had in fact starred in the original pilot episode, Head of the Family.  The pilot was rejected.

After its rejection, Sheldon Leonard helped Reiner revive the project, convincing him to recast, and to switch to the three-camera/studio, live audience format.

For five seasons, the show was also produced by Reiner, who wrote many episodes and played the part of Alan Brady.  Many of the show’s plots were inspired by Reiner’s experiences as a writer for Your Show of Shows.

The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch was a television comedy based around a large blended family. The show aired from 1969 to 1974 on the ABC network and was subsequently syndicated around the world.

 The Series was conceived by producer Sherwood Schwartz.  Though it never was a top rating getter the series ran for five seasons, generated reunion movies and two short lived “Brady” Spin-Offs”.

It starred Robert Reed, Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Florence Henderson, Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, and Susan Olsen as the Brady’s. The live in housekeeper Alice was played by Ann B. Davis.

The Cosby Show

The Cosby Show was a comedy airing from 1984 to 1992 on NBC. The show focused on the Huxtable family, an upper-middle class American family living in a brownstone building in Brooklyn, New York.

TV Guide called the show “TV’s biggest hit in the 1980s”.  I was breakthrough in many areas for both race and gender roles.

It starred Bill Cosby as “Cliff” Huxtable, Phylicia Rash?d as Clair Huxtable, Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Theodore Aloysius “Theo” Huxtable, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable, and Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudith Lillian “Rudy” Huxtable.

 

That 70’s Show

That ’70s Show was a sitcom that aired from 1998 until 2006. It centered on a group of kids in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin, during the late 1970’s. 

The main character was teenager Eric Forman (Topher Grace) five of his friends: Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), his girlfriend and next-door neighbor; Steven Hyde (Danny Masterson), a rebellious stoner who was eventually adopted by the Forman family and lives in their basement; Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), a dim-self centered ladies man; Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis), a self-involved high school cheerleader overly preoccupied with wealth and status; and Fez (Wilmer Valderrama), an exchange student from a country that is never identified.