I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "Toddlers & Tiaras With Tom Hanks" via "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on YouTube

Meanwhile...

Morty's joining me in celebrating Jerry Lewis' 85th birthday today. That snoopy cat jumped onto my desk and computer while I was looking at Jerry video from German television. Morty went nuts following the musical pantomime. He'd track Jerry around the screen and enthusiastically scratch and thrash at the comedian to obliterate him from this earth.

I was proud Morty could observe man at his most dignified.

We watched the silliness four times. Here it is:



Jerry Lewis: "Am Laufenden Band" (1977) via YouTube

Slackjaw Dumbstruck: 'Chester the Incredible Peeing Dog'

The Greatest Shower on Earth. 

"Chester the Incredible Peeing Dog" from "America's Funniest Home Videos" via Metacafe

My hat and protective tarp are off to Chester and his morning routine. All I can say is I can't wait to hurry-up go sleep. 

Thanks to Tim Butzon. Wash your hands, Tim.

Slackjaw Dumbstruck: Astrud Gilberto: 'Bim Bom'

Tall and tan and young and lip-synching.

The guy in the tux walks my cummerbund.



"Astrud Gilberto: Bim Bom" (1966) via YouTube
(via PCL LinkDump)

'Cute' in the 'House'

During this week's "House M.D." episode, imagine my surprise when the grumpy doctor mentioned he had been watching Jerry Lewis' lighthearted "CinderFella" on

television. That motion picture struck me as incongruous to House's temperament, but there it was in a flashback, minutes later. We saw a bit of pantomime and listened to Count Basie and His World Renowned Band's classic "Cute" throughout the TV sequence. The original 1960 movie scene is posted below with Fella actively enjoying his radio.

Full disclosure: One of my cats is named Fella, after Lewis and this film. My love for Count Basie and swing jazz is also rooted in the following footage.



"CinderFella: Cute" via YouTube

Conan O'Brien Presents 'The Lingerie Puppy Bowl'

Woof la la!



Conan O'Brien presents "The Lingerie Puppy Bowl" (2011) via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: Larry Griswold on "The Frank Sinatra Show" (1951) via YouTube
Thanks to Frank Thompson

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "Jay Thomas and The Lone Ranger" via YouTube

Fun in the Snow

Snowbound: Day 4 -- The video illustrates a good reason for me to be stuck in the house, safe from the inclement weather. I did elbow a glass lamp to the floor and breakage today, but that's another story for another time. How dare you bring it up?!

Anyway, glad I did not pursue the TV reporter career. This would be me.



"Owned by a Sled" via YouTube

TV Pilot Video: 'Adventures of the Road-Runner'

Image via Wikipedia

The fun things I learn from GoldenAgeCartoons.com, like this:

[Animation director] Chuck Jones found himself in a "Quit or you're fired" situation around 1962 when it was discovered that he moonlighted on the film "Gay Purr-Ee" for UPA. But before his departure, Jones created a pilot for a potential Road Runner TV show. The show wasn't picked up, but the pilot was released as a theatrical featurette called "Adventures of the Road-Runner."

...Parts of the new footage used in this featurette / pilot were edited into "To Beep Or Not To Beep" (1963), though Milt Franklyn's music was replaced with Bill Lava's. Years later, further footage was edited into two more shorts for TV, "Road Runner A Go Go" and "Zip Zip Hooray."

The Oscar-nominated 1953 cartoon, "From A to Z-Z-Z-Z," is also recycled here, oddly, but obviously for financial considerations to pad the episode. Dick Beals, the voice of Speedy Alka-Seltzer, speaks for the young Ralph Phillips and his companion.

I'm not fond of Wile E. Coyote when he talks, as he (Mel Blanc) does in this pilot, because it feels of filler material and impairs the pace and tone of the characters' cartoons. The Road-Runner and his nemesis work best as sight gag comedians. Meep meep....



"Adventures of the Road-Runner" (1962) via YouTube



"Adventures of the Road-Runner, Part 2" via YouTube

'Sometimes I'm Happy' New Year

Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis and The Norman Luboff Choir: "Colgate Comedy Hour: Sometimes I'm Happy" (1955) via YouTube
And check out this uncredited steal, 50 years later!:



Robbie Williams and The Thames Valley Chorus: "White Christmas: Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Take Away Christmas Special" (2005) via YouTube

'Jerry Lewis and Batman Sing Christmas Duet (à la Bing and Bowie)'

"Jerry Lewis and Batman Sing Christmas Duet (à la Bing & Bowie)"

Big Weekend

Friday
Me and the missus and the cummerbund attended the theater, "A Tuna Christmas."

Favorite quote: "I've seen better hair on anchovies."

Afterward, looked in window at Fantastic Swams.

Saturday
Survived wife-inflicted Outlet Mall. My only outlet necessitated an hour-long slog through Kirkland's. I manned sniveling babied up, faced debilitating boredom, puzzlingly pleased female mindset, and inhaled oppressive candle-scented oxygen to the point of phantasms.

Let out, mauled.

Sunday
Watched the first episode of National Geographic's "Great Migrations." So violent and disturbing, I great migrated myself off the couch and returned the DVDs to the store unwatched.

Fred and Barney: Smokin'

"'The Flintstones' Cast for Winston Cigarettes (Record Player)" via YouTube
It is a bit surprising that I didn't become a smoker. When I was a kid, cigarette ads on television were as commonplace as westerns. I was maybe 10 around the time this commercial for Winston appeared. I shied away from tobacco, although "The Flintstones" was captivating and influential to me.

I never ate a brontosaurus burger either.

I did take a forceful shower under an elephant's trunk. I found the tepid nasal fluids cleansing to be lacking. Subsequently, I was forced to hire and bring in a hedgehog to sneeze on me.

Conditioner.


More: "Bedrock's Smoking" | "Back to Bedrock"

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "This workout video brings a whole new meaning to heavy breathing" via A.V. Club

Separated at Birth: Jerry Mouse and Stewie Griffin

Gene Kelly with Jerry Mouse and Stewie Griffin in "The Worry Song" from "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) via YouTube

Meanwhile...

Who says kids don't pick up bad habits from television?

Morty's been watching "The Flintstones" and I'm going to talk to him about it, just as soon as someone unlocks the door and I get back inside. DONNA!!!

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "The Carol Burnett Show" Horse Blooper via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "The Red Skelton Show" Cow Blooper via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "What's My Line?" With Mystery Guest Walt Disney via YouTube