Dolly Parton, Drew, & Roseanne

I just finished updating the Johnny Carson Tonight Show page… and loaded some of the greatest moments of TV history… Bob Hope crooning Thanks for the Memories with Johnny, Tiny Tim not only singing Tip Toe Thru the Tulips, but getting married on the show, Drew Barrymore, a mere tyke – takes of her top set of teeth and lays them on Johnny’s desk, Raquel Welch has a classic moment, Roseanne Barr’s big stand-up debut on national tv, Albert Brooks goes digital, Jack Benny, Madeline Kahn… and one of the funniest bloopers in early tv history – Ed Ames and the hatchet – once you’ve seen this clip, you’ll never forget it. Live tv was really funny sometimes. Enjoy some great Johnny Carson moments – it’s free to all our guests and members alike.

Stalin Infamy -12/28/1934

Seventy years ago today – on December 28, 1934 – Stalin begins his purges. Exploiting the assassination of Sergei Kirov, Stalin goes on a killing spree – leaving most of the old Bolsheviks dead. For more background – search for czar, Potemkin, Russian Revolution or Soviet, or Stalin.

Also added a very cool free preview of Throne of Blood – Akira Kurosawa’s epic Samurai movie based on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The film is remarkable – great story, beautiful cinematography, and very well acted and executed. The special FX are so ahead of their time, especially the arrow scene – where strings were used to guide arrows to their designated targets.

Typhoon & the Tommy Gun

Over the Christmas weekend, a Tsunami slams into Sri Lanka – killing over 22,000 people. A sad and terrible tragedy. Typhoons are brutal. Remember Nov. 13, 1970?

For the menu page, Superman, Billion Dollar Limited was added with a link to a terrific sample of the animation quality. Watch Lois Lane pack heat as she squeezes the trigger on her Thompson sub machine gun, a.k.a tommy gun. And who could forget, Billy Mumy (Will Robinson from Lost in Space) hawking a snub nosed 38 and a Tommy Burst, which of course was a machine gun.

Yojimbo – Kusosawa’s Classic

Yojimbo – one of Kurosawa’ best films – just got a major data upgrade. For the past few weeks we’ve been working on Yojimbo – cleaning up the subtitle text, major audio improvements, and so sweet, 450kps streaming media files of the movie, plus new mpeg 1 files are ready in the download library. (~1.8 GIG). Check out this sample – free preview or this 6 sec promo, or how about this..

Christmas Media at LikeTelevision

For the joyous holiday season – LikeTelevision has a cornecopia of Christmas content for your viewing pleasure. Unlike traditional broadcasters, we are ok with being happy about Christmas… and not feeling compelled to reduce the season to a lukewarm Happy Holidays…. but for those who believe in Jesus as the son of God,… you bet – Have a very Merry Christmas. For those of you who are believers of a non Christian faith, yes… you bet… Peace on Earth, good will towards men. There’s only one God, and we encourage you to strengthen your faith. Be a better Muslim, Hindu, Jew or Christian. (Mother Teresa’s advice). That said – here’s some terrific Christmas media.

One of my favorite Christmas episodes comes from Dragnet – starring Jack Webb. In Big Little Jesus, someone has stolen Jesus from the nativity scene on Christmas Eve – and Joe has 24 hours to solve the case. Here’s a free preview. The Beverly Hillbillies has three Christmas episodes – you can watch them as streams or download them. The best?… hmmmm – i think i like Home For Christmas, because the scene where Granny and Jed ride on a plane the first time is just too funny for words. But Clampetts get Culture, and Christmas at the Clampetts are also must see LikeTelevision. Another classic tv series episode- is One Step Beyond’s Ordeal on Locust Street. And who could ever forget – Howdy Doody Christmas.

Need some music? Try out Caste in Bronze, which features a band palying a massive carillon live or Larry Kirwin playing a hammer dulcimer live in our studios. Last we heard – Larry went to study at the seminary to become a priest!

And speaking of music… as i was driving in the car the other day, i heard one of my personal favorite Christmas songs – O Holy Night, sung by Celine Dion. As i listened, i wondered why she felt compelled to add a few hundred extra notes to a song that, for me… had a near perfect melody. (you know… like some people do the national anthem…. oh say ca an ana you u u see e e e e? at football games. Sheesh, what about the song. I felt the same way when i heard Clay Akins sing O Holy Night… though he only added about 20 notes to the melody. And yes… i understand that these folks have more talent in their pinky than i have in 3 generations of my family… but talent is just one measure. For me… heart has always trumped talent. I just got this rendition of O Holy Night in my email… and you know what… I LOVE IT. Ok… talent is lacking… but WOW… now that’s heart! And yes… i know some of you will laugh…. at the guy, or some of you will think i am mocking him .. or worse making fun of the Christmas season. But you would be woefully wrong on both counts. (or as my dad likes to say.. when you put somebody down, it says more about you than the other person). Honestly… i just loved this fella’s outpouring of emotion…. and i think Voltaire may have been right… that God is a comedian playing before an audience that’s afraid to laugh. So.. be joyous, lighten up, smile and relish the unique nature of everyone. And check out this free MP3 of a heartfelt rendition of O Holy Night. (RIGHT CLICK and Save Target As).

And who could forget this cult classic – Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, which features a young Pia Zadora. (free preview). Want more Santa related media – how about Santa’s Surprise, The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives, or just as bizarre – Little King, Christmas Up North. Another great toon from the Fleischer Brothers – Christmas Comes But Once a Year.

For those looking for snowmen, – check out Mainstring Theaters‘ Snowman, starring a marrionette Frosty type character. And who could forget the toy from Hasbro – Frosty, the sno-cone maker, not to be confused with Kenner’s Ice Bird.

You betcha.. let it snow…. Watch this classic animation, Jack Frost, or Hector’s Hectic Life, or Snow Foolin.. for Linux fans, check out Peeking Penguins. More? Search for Snow.

Yikes… just listing all the media might take forever… so search for Christmas, and see if you can find time to watch it all.

Christopher Walken is Psycho

The Mind Snatchers, a.k.a. The Happiness Cage or The Demon Within – is a cult classic film for a lot of good reasons. Christopher Walken is awesome as Private James Reese, a borderline psycho, or sociopathic as the Army doctor calls him. And Ronnie Cox as Miles also delivers – in his debut movie no less. Check out Frank Random’s free movie preview, another tasty morsel for our users and guests. It reminds me of Frank Zappa and the brain police. If you like sublime, disturbing and bitterly ironic – well this film is for you. Great story, well acted and the kind of movie that will stick in your head for a while. Check it out.

Tomorrow i hope to provide a link to some of the best Christmas related videos featured at LikeTelevision. Yeah, i know – we should be like most retail stores that push Christmas content as soon as Halloween ends. SHeesh – they used to wait till after Thanksgiving… but this year i noticed that many retail halls were decked with holly as early as November 1st. Leaves me wondering – in 2025, will Christmas sales begin after the July 4th holiday? OK, enough whining… if you want a preview of some cool Christmas content – just search for Christmas.

Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier) Rocks!

On December 14, 1902 – Frances Bavier was born in New York City (like Mt Pilot… only bigger). On December 6, 1989 she died in Siler City, North Carolina after suffering a heart attack. For folks of my generation – Aunt Bee was one of the most recognizable faces on TV. While she sometimes seemed a little harsh when she chided young Opie (Ron Howard) – she was always able to be tough… yet you never felt like she didn’t love Opie just like a grandma.

In honor of this terrific lady – LikeTelevision put together a special DVD of three Andy Griffith shows – which features my favorite episode of Aunt Bee. No… not the classic “pickle episode” – my favorite by far… is Aunt Bee’s Medicine Man, starring special guest John Dehner as the medicine show man. (watch this free video sample). In this episode – Aunt Bee finds solace in the elixir offered by the stranger who comes into Mayberry. But things get very exciting for Aunt Bee… as the elixir is a turbo charged high octane alcohol drink. All hell breaks out in Mayberry – when Aunt Bee invites her church group over to try the new miracle cure… and everybody gets tiddly. Which is 1960s speak for intoxicated, drunk or smashed. Wanna see Aunt Bee go to the slammer? Well check out the special DVD with this episode PLUS two more killer shows – Big House and A Wife For Andy.

For those folks who are grumbling… i want the pickle episode… please watch this classic Heinz pickle commercial, and calm down.

Dick Van Dyke Show Birthdays

On December 13, 1925 – Dick Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri. For those youngsters who only know him as Dr. Mark Sloan from Diagnosis Murder, he has enjoyed one of the most fruitful careers in Hollywood history. He got his start as a host on a cartoon show in 1956… and struggled for a few years before breaking out in the 1960 musical Bye-Bye Birdie (and won the Tony Award for his performance). In 1961 – he began a successful run of the Dick Van Dyke Show – one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history, as Rob Petrie a writer for the Alan Brady Show and faithful husband of Laura Petrie played by Mary Tyler Moore. His career includes remarkable roles in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cold Turkey, Fitzwilly and of course Mary Poppins – which was created 40 years ago in 1964.

As many of you know – he’s Jerry Van Dyke’s brother who played Luther the spaced out assistant on Coach. You can check out Jerry Van Dyke with John Wayne and Stephanie Powers in McLintock (watch this free preview). Also of interest – in the 1970s he seperated from his wife of 10 years and got mixed up with Michelle Triola Marvin. Who is Michelle Triola Marvin you ask – why she is an important figure in California legal circles – she’s the woman who files the first Palimony case in 1979. (watch the news clip from the hollywood archive). Small world huh?

And tomorrow is Morey Amsterdam’s birthday – who was born on Dec. 14, 1908 in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his role as Buddy Sorrell from the Dick Van Dyke show – the brutal thorn in Mel Cooley’s bald head. Check out this classic free video of Morey in action. (and search for Richard Deacon who played Mel).

John Lennon -December 8, 1980

Today marks the anniversary of Lohn Lennon’s tragic death. On December 8, 1980 Lennon was shot by Mark Chapman outside the Dakota in New York City, across the street from Central Park’s Strawberry Fields. Check out this news clip from back in the day. I remember how many people were just broken with sorrow over Lennon’s death – myself included. At the time, I think i played John’s songs for about a week straight… and he had so many great songs…. an unbelievable amount of great beautiful music…. i do not think i ever played the same song twice.

It has been a tough week for me…. on Friday Dec. 3, 2004 – I lost one of my most beloved friends, my Grandma – who died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 102. Her life was nothing short of epic – but I will always remember her as someone who loved everyone she met… and loved them with abandon. It didn’t matter who you were…. prince or pauper… made no difference to her. Anyway… a few years ago – Frank Random and i put together this short video for Grandma’s 100th birthday party. About 200 people were there…. there were over 10,000 roses for the party – an amazing party. If you are interested – check out this article from the Milwaukee Journal, written about a week before Grandma’s 100th birthday.

Anyway… thanks for your patience regarding the new movie addition… which should already be available. Sorry about that. In case you missed the preview… check it out now (free video clip).

1956 Chrysler The Forward Look

For 1956 – Chrysler Corporation offers the Forward Look, a sleek new style – and huge fins. A young blond model who goes Bernoulli with her wedge. A guy with a gun, Ted and Elaine. Watch all four to get the full flavors of the forward look. Push Button transmission – true!

Yes – a new rotation of Johnny Carson clips. This batch of goodies is offers legendary moments. Free too. Charles Grodin, Drew Carey, Don Rickles and some terrific animal laughs.