Judging Amy & Lightfoot - blog

[charlene]

http://deesknees.blogspot.com/2007/0...foot-what.html

, January 24, 2007
Judging Amy and Gordon Lightfoot-What Do They Have in Common?
I'm feeling the old thing pretty tough lately. My bones are achy; my heart is still beating faster than it should be. But most of all, I've given up on the whole Anti-Television manifesto that I had running out of my head for the past 5 years or so. I don't know, maybe it's the age, or maybe it's suburbia. I try to stay away from what I would have called 'crap' so many years ago. But yeah, Judging Amy, that's pretty crappy. I'm going to tell you why I like her though. I am going to go on record and contradict myself. I'd like to catch my self in an act of self awareness. Here it goes.

Amy. Ah Amy. You're little show is sweet. Let me tell you how I came across this Soap--yeah it's soap. I had never seen the show when it was on primetime television. I heard of it like I had heard of many of the droves of pedestrian, pull at your heartstring dramas of the time. I thought they were all 'crap'. I still do. I don't care. I found Amy on a sick day from the jobby job.I remember when I was sick as a wee lad. Those days, it was Bob Barker who got the engines roaring. Man I loved Plinko. But what I found as I got older, out of school and into the working world was that daytime television was really set up for 3 demographics of which I didn't fit into. 1. Moms 2. Kids 3. Old People. So I came across Amy when I simply couldn't muddle through Days or Passions, or any of the talk shows or gameshows.

But let me just say some things about Amy. There is a real comfort level to that show. It's pretty melodramatic and over the top, but you know Maxine Gray. Well she's just the bees god damn knees. She takes Social Work to all kinds of levels. She's the anchor of that show. Her and Bruce. Bruce is the man. Cool and collected and guarded. When him and Amy got it on it was tender.That's all I really have to say about Amy for now. I'd welcome any comments on her. She's hott.

This leads of course to the next topic of convo. Gordon Lightfoot. I like him. I like him a lot. What does that mean? Am I getting old? The man has a voice that is smooth as butter. I don't know what else to say. I know that 'older' people like his music. At least that's what I used to say to myself. Well I like him too. I guess I'm 'older'.

Anybody have a show that they watch when they are home sick? Or better yet did it hook you?We want to know.

Dee
posted by DeesKnees at 3:25 PM

[charlene]

http://deesknees.blogspot.com/2007/0...foot-what.html

, January 24, 2007
Judging Amy and Gordon Lightfoot-What Do They Have in Common?
I'm feeling the old thing pretty tough lately. My bones are achy; my heart is still beating faster than it should be. But most of all, I've given up on the whole Anti-Television manifesto that I had running out of my head for the past 5 years or so. I don't know, maybe it's the age, or maybe it's suburbia. I try to stay away from what I would have called 'crap' so many years ago. But yeah, Judging Amy, that's pretty crappy. I'm going to tell you why I like her though. I am going to go on record and contradict myself. I'd like to catch my self in an act of self awareness. Here it goes.

Amy. Ah Amy. You're little show is sweet. Let me tell you how I came across this Soap--yeah it's soap. I had never seen the show when it was on primetime television. I heard of it like I had heard of many of the droves of pedestrian, pull at your heartstring dramas of the time. I thought they were all 'crap'. I still do. I don't care. I found Amy on a sick day from the jobby job.I remember when I was sick as a wee lad. Those days, it was Bob Barker who got the engines roaring. Man I loved Plinko. But what I found as I got older, out of school and into the working world was that daytime television was really set up for 3 demographics of which I didn't fit into. 1. Moms 2. Kids 3. Old People. So I came across Amy when I simply couldn't muddle through Days or Passions, or any of the talk shows or gameshows.

But let me just say some things about Amy. There is a real comfort level to that show. It's pretty melodramatic and over the top, but you know Maxine Gray. Well she's just the bees god damn knees. She takes Social Work to all kinds of levels. She's the anchor of that show. Her and Bruce. Bruce is the man. Cool and collected and guarded. When him and Amy got it on it was tender.That's all I really have to say about Amy for now. I'd welcome any comments on her. She's hott.

This leads of course to the next topic of convo. Gordon Lightfoot. I like him. I like him a lot. What does that mean? Am I getting old? The man has a voice that is smooth as butter. I don't know what else to say. I know that 'older' people like his music. At least that's what I used to say to myself. Well I like him too. I guess I'm 'older'.

Anybody have a show that they watch when they are home sick? Or better yet did it hook you?We want to know.

Dee
posted by DeesKnees at 3:25 PM

[Auburn Annie]

Love it! For those who have never watched "Judging Amy" Maxine Gray is Amy's feisty mother played by the indomitable Tyne Daly. Broke my heart when Richard Crenna died; that would have been a fabulous story to continue with (he played Maxine's fiance.)

[Auburn Annie]

Love it! For those who have never watched "Judging Amy" Maxine Gray is Amy's feisty mother played by the indomitable Tyne Daly. Broke my heart when Richard Crenna died; that would have been a fabulous story to continue with (he played Maxine's fiance.)

[vlmagee]

Originally posted by Auburn Annie:
Broke my heart when Richard Crenna died; that would have been a fabulous story to continue with (he played Maxine's fiance.)

You know, I only watch the show now on TNT, in the mornings (Denver time) when I use the bike. (Not as often as I should, I might add. With this year's snow, I won't get outside again until April!).

I always wondered why they killed him off, and I was sad about it. Thanks for the explanation!

[Auburn Annie]

From wikipedia:

Suffering from pancreatic cancer, Crenna died on January 17, 2003 of heart failure in Los Angeles, California at the age of 76. At the time of his death, he had a recurring role in the television series Judging Amy. On the show, his death was recognized by the death of the character he portrayed.

---------------------------------------------
I am old enough to remember him from "Our Miss Brooks" and "The Real McCoys" (sheesh!) but came to really enjoy the series of murder mysteries (I think there were 7) he filmed featuring the detective Frank Janek. By the way he and Tyne Daly worked together before Judging Amy, in one of the Janek films, The Forget-Me-Not Murders.

[Auburn Annie]

From wikipedia:

Suffering from pancreatic cancer, Crenna died on January 17, 2003 of heart failure in Los Angeles, California at the age of 76. At the time of his death, he had a recurring role in the television series Judging Amy. On the show, his death was recognized by the death of the character he portrayed.

---------------------------------------------
I am old enough to remember him from "Our Miss Brooks" and "The Real McCoys" (sheesh!) but came to really enjoy the series of murder mysteries (I think there were 7) he filmed featuring the detective Frank Janek. By the way he and Tyne Daly worked together before Judging Amy, in one of the Janek films, The Forget-Me-Not Murders.

[Borderstone]

Don't forget,Richard Crenna also played that incredibly shy & awkward teen-age boy Aurthur, that Lucy tries to teach to dance on "I Love Lucy".

:D He ends up thinking he "really" loves Lucy. LOL!

I could never believe that was the same guy who later was in the movie "Body Heat" in 1981.

[ELizabeth]

My memory of Richard Crenna was when he played Walter Brennon's son on some sitcom. Does anyone recall the name of the show? It was set on a farm.

[Dream Street Rose]

The Real McCoys was the name of the show. I watched it when I was a kid. Later I watched the reruns.

[Paul Farnham]

OMG the memories this thread is conjuring of "granpappy Amos & the girls & the boys & the family known as the Real McCoys"! I recall that Crenna's character was Luke. His son was "little Luke". He had a daughter as well. He was a widower whose sister was helping him raise the kids. Granpappy Amos couldn't read or write. They had a Mexican hired hand named Pepina. Anyone recall any other details? Character names etc.? No fair googling LOL!

[ELizabeth]

Details about The Real McCoys: I remembner that Amos had a bad hip and hitched himself along and he almost always wore bib overalls.

[Auburn Annie]

For anyone with a hankerin' to buy the whole series, you can get all 224 episodes on DVD at various places including here http://www.dvdavenue.tv/movie/comedy...708573148ec140

There are also smaller collections with as few as 4 episodes to two seasons each. The show ran from 1957 - 1963, with Kathleen Nolan leaving just before the last season, so Luke became a widower in the storyline, with Grandpa trying to fix him up with a new wife. Here's some background:

The Real McCoys

Show Type: Sitcom

First Telecast: October 3, 1957

Last Telecast: September 22, 1963


Cast

Grandpa Amos McCoy..... Walter Brennan

Luke McCoy..... Richard Crenna

Kate McCoy (1957-1962)..... Kathy Nolan

Aunt Hassie..... Lydia Reed

Little Luke (1957-1962)..... Michael Winkelman

Pepino Garcia..... Tony Martinez

George MacMichael..... Andy Clyde

Flora MacMichael..... Madge Blake

Aggie Larkin (1959-1960)..... Betty Garde

Louise Howard (1963)..... Janet De Gore

Greg Howard (1963)..... Butch Patrick

Winifred Jordan (1963)..... Joan Blondell


SYNOPSIS

When this backwoods situation comedy was first proposed to the networks by writers Norman and Irving Pincus, they said it would never make it - it just would NOT appeal to city viewers. NBC turned the series down cold. Walter Brennan, their intended star, wanted nothing to do with it.

The Pincus Brothers, however, would not take no for an answer. Walter Brennan finally said yes, financing was obtained from Danny Thomas Productions and a spot was found on ABC's lackluster schedule. The two brothers had the last laugh however as The Real McCoys became one of the biggest hits on TV for the next six seasons and started a trend toward rural comedy shows which lasted through the 1960's.

The show revolved around a happy-go-lucky West Virginia mountain family who picked up stakes and moved to a ranch in California's San Fernando Valley. The undisputed star of the show was Grandpa, a porch-rocking old geezer with a wheezy voice who liked to get involved in everybody's business - neighbors and family alike! Three-time Academy Award winner Walter Brennan was 63 when the series began. He played the role to perfection!

Grandpa's kin included: Luke, Grandpa's grandson; Kate, Luke's new bride; "Aunt" Hassie, Luke's teenage sister and Little Luke, Luke's younger brother (their parents were deceased). Other cast members included: Pepino, the musically talented farm hand; George MacMichael, their argumentative neighbor and George's sister Flora, who had eyes for Grandpa but he never noticed and they never got together.

In 1962, the series moved to CBS and Luke became a widower and many of the plots began to revolved around Grandpa's attempts to match him up with a new wife. There series ended in 1963.

CBS aired reruns of the show with the title shortened to The McCoys from October 1962 to September 1966 on weekday mornings.

------------------------------------------------

I had completely forgotten Joan Blondell in the last season, and she's one of my favorite under-rated actresses. I think it's funny Walter Brennan had to be talked into taking the part. See also Butch Patrick before he became Eddie Munster.

[Don Quixote]

The Mexican hired hand was named "Pepito" ("Little Joey"), and he called Walter Brennan "Señor Grandpa". The McCoys were originally from West Virginia (I think the theme went "From West Virginny they came to stay in sunny Cal-i-for-ni-a").
DQ

[Auburn Annie]

For anyone with a hankerin' to buy the whole series, you can get all 224 episodes on DVD at various places including here http://www.dvdavenue.tv/movie/comedy...708573148ec140

There are also smaller collections with as few as 4 episodes to two seasons each. The show ran from 1957 - 1963, with Kathleen Nolan leaving just before the last season, so Luke became a widower in the storyline, with Grandpa trying to fix him up with a new wife. Here's some background:

The Real McCoys

Show Type: Sitcom

First Telecast: October 3, 1957

Last Telecast: September 22, 1963


Cast

Grandpa Amos McCoy..... Walter Brennan

Luke McCoy..... Richard Crenna

Kate McCoy (1957-1962)..... Kathy Nolan

Aunt Hassie..... Lydia Reed

Little Luke (1957-1962)..... Michael Winkelman

Pepino Garcia..... Tony Martinez

George MacMichael..... Andy Clyde

Flora MacMichael..... Madge Blake

Aggie Larkin (1959-1960)..... Betty Garde

Louise Howard (1963)..... Janet De Gore

Greg Howard (1963)..... Butch Patrick

Winifred Jordan (1963)..... Joan Blondell


SYNOPSIS

When this backwoods situation comedy was first proposed to the networks by writers Norman and Irving Pincus, they said it would never make it - it just would NOT appeal to city viewers. NBC turned the series down cold. Walter Brennan, their intended star, wanted nothing to do with it.

The Pincus Brothers, however, would not take no for an answer. Walter Brennan finally said yes, financing was obtained from Danny Thomas Productions and a spot was found on ABC's lackluster schedule. The two brothers had the last laugh however as The Real McCoys became one of the biggest hits on TV for the next six seasons and started a trend toward rural comedy shows which lasted through the 1960's.

The show revolved around a happy-go-lucky West Virginia mountain family who picked up stakes and moved to a ranch in California's San Fernando Valley. The undisputed star of the show was Grandpa, a porch-rocking old geezer with a wheezy voice who liked to get involved in everybody's business - neighbors and family alike! Three-time Academy Award winner Walter Brennan was 63 when the series began. He played the role to perfection!

Grandpa's kin included: Luke, Grandpa's grandson; Kate, Luke's new bride; "Aunt" Hassie, Luke's teenage sister and Little Luke, Luke's younger brother (their parents were deceased). Other cast members included: Pepino, the musically talented farm hand; George MacMichael, their argumentative neighbor and George's sister Flora, who had eyes for Grandpa but he never noticed and they never got together.

In 1962, the series moved to CBS and Luke became a widower and many of the plots began to revolved around Grandpa's attempts to match him up with a new wife. There series ended in 1963.

CBS aired reruns of the show with the title shortened to The McCoys from October 1962 to September 1966 on weekday mornings.

------------------------------------------------

I had completely forgotten Joan Blondell in the last season, and she's one of my favorite under-rated actresses. I think it's funny Walter Brennan had to be talked into taking the part. See also Butch Patrick before he became Eddie Munster.

[brink-]

Remember Walter Brennan in Darby O'Gill and the little people? I am pretty sure that was the name. Loved Walter Brennan. He was also in Rio Bravo with John Wayne and Dean Martin, two more of my favorites. As Archie Bunker would say, Those Were The Days!

[Dream Street Rose]

Like most of the rest of you this brings back wonderful memories. Also it makes me realize I have been on this earth for a few years.

The television shows of yesteryear are still the best as far as I am concerned. :D

[Don Quixote]

I haven't Googled any of this, but does anyone remember Walter Brennan's other foray into primetime TV? He starred in a show called "The Guns of Will Sonnett". As I recall, he was an older gunslinger who, with his grandson, went around trying to find who had killed his son. I think the grandson was played by Dack Rambo, a small-time heartthrob in the late 60s-early 70s; if I'm not mistaken, he was one of the fairly early victims of the AIDS epidemic, proving that he, Rock Hudson, and others were actually much better actors than they might have appeared.
As I recall, the signature line of the program, delivered weekly from Walter Brennan, was "No brag, just fact."
Anyone remember this? Maybe I'll have to do a little research.

DQ

[brink-]

On his death from emphysema at the age of eighty in Oxnard, Walter Brennan was interred in San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Los Angeles. Brennan's wife, Ruth, whom he married in 1920, lived to be 100, and is buried next to him. They had a daughter and two sons.

This from Wikipedia.....take it for what it's worth, it is Wikipedia.

[Dream Street Rose]

The Gnomemobile is a good movie. I bought it last year and my grandkids enjoy watching it over and over.

[brink-]

My bad, it was Gnomemobile. Darby O'Gill had Sean Connery in it.
Walter was also in Scudda Hoo Scudda Hey with an uncredited Marilyn Monroe (Natalie Wood too). He was a great character actor. Now I wonder if we can get Walter Brennan somehow linked to Gord in Six degrees?

[RM]

Originally posted by brink-:
Now I wonder if we can get Walter Brennan somehow linked to Gord in Six degrees?

1) Walter Brennan appeared in Support Your Local Sheriff with Bruce Dern
2) Bruce Dern appeared in Harry Tracy, Desperado with Gordon Lightfoot

[ February 20, 2007, 02:17: Message edited by: RMD ]

[brink-]

EXCELLENT Ron! You are good!