First season of Star Trek: The Next Generation wins three Primetime Emmys 1988

The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation generated seven Primetime Emmy nominations and won three at the 40th annual ceremony August 28, 1988.  The Creative Arts awards ceremony was held the previous evening.

Television during the 1987-1988 season had some pretty great series, and a couple of pretty lame ones as well.  I highlighted the wins from my favorites.  I liked Cheers, but never connected with it.

Star Trek: The Next Generation faced intense scrutiny won during its first season, since the original series from the 60's had been elevated to cut status, with four blockbuster movies.  Yet, the newest installment in the Star Trek franchise stepped up to the challenge.  It won Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for the episode Conspiracy.  This was well-deserved achievement if you have seen the episode.  It also won Outstanding Costume Design for The Big Goodbye, in which the officers of the USS Enterprise become trapped in the holo-suite running a 1940s noir program.  The episode 11001001 won for Outstanding Sound Editing.

The series was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling, Outstanding Achievement in Makeup, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.

The Golden Girls was nominated for eleven Primetime Emmys and won three.  Bea Arthur won Outstanding Lead Actress and Estelle Getty won  Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.  The Golden Girls won Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control of the episode Old Friends.

Rue McClanahan and Betty White were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress.  Herb Edelman and Geraldine Fitzgerald were nominated for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. The Golden Girls was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Editing for a Series-Multi-Camera Production, and Outstanding Sound Mixing.

The series was nominated for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series but lost to The Charmings.  Seriously? 

The Vietnam War series China Beach won Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series for the pilot episode.  It received three more nominations: Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Outstanding Editing for a Series-Single Camera Production, and Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.

Designing Women won Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for the episode I'll Be Seeing You. The show was nominated for Outstanding Editing for a Series-Multi-Camera Production and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.

I watched the TV movie The Secret Garden, which won for Outstanding Children's Program. Well-deserved.

Angela Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series her work on Murder, She Wrote, but lost to Sharon Gless for Cagney and Lacey. Oh, well.  The show was nominated for Outstanding Costume Design for a Series.

Newhart was nominated for Outstanding Editing for a Series-Multi-Camera Production.  Peter Scolari and Julia Duffy were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

Happy birthday, Spider-man actor Nicholas Hammond!

Nicholas Hammond, born May 15, 1950 in Washington DC, is probably best known for his role as Friedrich von Trapp in The Sound of Music, but he also starred as The Amazing Spider-Man for 14 episodes in the late 1970s. He was the first actor to portray Spider-Man in a live-action series.

He appeared in episodes of Farscape, Murder She Wrote, Dallas, and The Martian Chronicles. 

Happy birthday, Star Trek actor Andrew Robinson!

Andrew Robinson, born February 14, 1942 in New York City, is best known for his role as Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A versatile and talented actor, he has been nominated for awards for his work on Ryan's Hope (daytime soap), Child's Play 3, and Deep Space Nine. He's provided the voice for Garak in other Star Trek series and video games.  He has also appeared in an episode of The X-Files, The Incredible Hulk, and two episodes of Murder, She Wrote.

Happy birthday, Electra Woman!

Diedre Hall, born October 31, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is best known for her work on Days of Our Lives, for which she has won numerous awards.  However, I know her best as her role as Electra Woman on the Saturday morning TV show Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, a campy, low-budget superhero show that ran for 16 episodes in late 1976, with Judy Strangis as Dyna Girl.  The show has become a cult classic.

She also appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote. 

Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Voyager, Cyndi Lauper, and Babylon 5 win Primetime Emmys 1995

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Star Trek: Voyager each won 3 Primetime Emmys at the 47th annual ceremony held September 10, 1995.  My girl Cyndi Lauper won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in Mad About You.  Babylon 5 won Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Acts of Sacrifice. Angela Lansbury was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Murder, She Wrote. The X-Files received 7 nominations, four of which were for the episode Duane Barry. Mystery Science Theater 3000 was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program.  CCH Pounder was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in The X-Files.

DS9 won:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Distant Voices

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Special Visual Effects for The Jem’Hadar
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for Improbable Cause

Voyager won:

Outstanding Individual Achievement – Special Visual Effects for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music for Jerry Goldsmith
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series for Faces

Voyager was nominated for:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series for Heroes and Demons
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Caretaker
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Heroes & Demons

X-Files was nominated for: 

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a Series for One Breath
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production for Sleepless
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series – Single Camera Production for Duane Barry
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for Duane Barry
Outstanding Writing for a Drama for Duane Barry

Murder, She Wrote was also nominated for 
Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction for a Series for Death ‘N’ Denial
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costuming for a Series for Murder A La Mode
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for Murder in High C

Happy birthday, actress Barbara Babcock!

Incredible and under-rated actress Barbara Babcock, born February 27, 1937 in Fort Riley, Kansas, appeared in two Star Trek episodes and provided voices in four others.  She first appeared in A Taste of Armageddon in 1967 and then Plato's Stepchildren in 1968.  She voiced Trelane's mother in Squire of Gothos, Isis the cat in Assignment: Earth, the Tholian commander in The Tholian Web, and Zetar in The Lights of Zetar. 

She appeared in three episodes of Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury.  She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Hill Street Blues.

Remembering Stella Stevens (1938-2023)

Just days after losing Raquel Welch, another 70s icon has passed away.  Stella Stevens, who starred in The Poseidon Adventure and several other of my favorite movies died today at age 84 from Alzheimer's disease.  Born October 1, 1938 in Yazoo City, Mississippi, she made her acting debut in Say One for Me in 1959 for which she won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Female.  In 1972, she appeared in The Poseidon Adventure, a classic disaster movie, and then in 1973, she starred in the horror-comedy Arnold. Just two years later, she played the bad guy Marcia in the pilot for the new Wonder Woman series starring Lynda Carter.

She appeared with Angela Lansbury in Funeral at Fifty-Mile, an episode of Murder, She Wrote.

I don't know why I love this fight scene between Marcia (Stella) and Wonder Woman (Lynda).

Angela Lansbury wins fifth Golden Globe 1990

Multi-talented actress Dame Angela Lansbury won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama for her role as Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote, at the 47th ceremony held January 20, 1990.  It was her third win for playing Fletcher and fifth Golden Globe overall.  

Happy birthday, Babylon 5 actress Andrea Thompson!

Beautiful actress Andrea Thompson, born January 6, 1960 in Dayton, Ohio, is probably best known for her work on NYPD Blue, but my favorite is her appearance as Psi Officer Talia Winters on Babylon 5.  She also appeared in an episode of Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury.  

Thompson was only in two seasons of Babylon 5, appearing in 44 episodes, and her character was written out of the series rather rudely, but I understand there were some extenuating circumstances.  

Remembering actress extraordinaire Angela Lansbury (1925-2022)

The amazingly talented, beautiful, intelligent, and all-around perfect Angela Lansbury passed away today in Los Angeles, California at the young age of 96, just 5 days shy of her 97th birthday.

Her first on-screen appearance was in Gaslight in 1944 which garnered her first Academy Award nomination.  The next year, she received her second nomination for her performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Her final nomination came in 1962 for her performance in the Manchurian Candidate, a powerful piece of filmmaking, and she delivered a knockout performance.  One of the Academy's biggest snubs.  But in 2013 she received the Academy Honorary Award.  Good for her!

She kept busy during her career, appearing in some of my favorites, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Death on the Nile, The Mirror Crack'd, Pirates of Penzance, Beauty and the Beast, and Nanny McPhee.  One of her most beloved roles was that of Jessica Fletcher in the immensely popular television series, Murder, She Wrote.  

She was nominated for twelve Golden Globes for her performance as Jessica Fletcher and nominated for 6 more. She won 4 Golden Globes for Murder, She Wrote, plus an additional 3 wins and 8 more nominations.

She received 18 Primetime Emmy Nominations, 12 for Murder, She Wrote, pretty much a nomination for every season of the show.

She has won 5 Tony Awards, the first of which was for originating the role of Mame in the musical of the same name.

She also received a Grammy Award nomination for the soundtrack for Beauty and the Beast.

She will be so missed.  🙁😦

Yvonne De Carlo (Lily Munster) born 1922

Beautiful and talented Yvonne De Carlo, born September 1, 1922 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is best known and loved for her role as Lily Munster in the hit comedy The Munsters.  She appeared as Sephora, Moses' wife in The Ten Commandments, a role for which she was nominated for a Laurel Award for Top Female Supporting Performance.  

De Carlo starred in an episode of Murder, She Wrote, when she appeared as a prison cook.  She appeared on Broadway in Steven Sondheim's musical Follies.  

She passed away in January 2007 from natural causes.

Celebrating Asian-American Heritage Month: Rosalind Chao, beautiful and talented Chinese-American actress

Rosalind Chao, born September 23, 1957 in Anaheim, California, is everyone's favorite Chinese-American actress.  She is probably best known for her role as Keiko O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, for which she was nominated twice for Online Film & Television Association awards.

She appeared as Soon-Lee, Klinger's wife on M*A*S*H.  She also appeared in The Joy Luck Club, Murder, She Wrote, What Dreams May Come, Hawaii Five-O, and Mulan.

Murder, She Wrote episode "Murder Takes the Bus" 1985

A very Agatha Christie, "the-murderer-is-one-of-us" episode of Murder, She Wrote, Murder Takes the Bus, aired March 17, 1985.  Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and Sheriff Tupper (Tom Bosley) are stranded at a road-side diner.  Jessica finds one of the passengers stabbed to death with a screwdriver.

The episode had a stellar cast including Rue McClanahan, Linda Blair, and Larry Linville.  

Angela Lansbury her third Golden Globe 1985

Angela Lansbury won her third Golden Globe For Best Actress in a Drama Television Series at the 42nd awards ceremony January 26, 1985 for her performance as Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.  It was her third Golden Globe win.

The same night Murder, She Wrote won for Best Television Series Drama. It was the first of two Golden Globes for the series.

Happy birthday, Electra Woman!

Deidre Hall, born October 31, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has won numerous awards for her performances in Days of Our Lives.  

But before that she was Electra Woman!  She appeared in the Saturday morning live-action superhero show Electra Woman and Dyna Girl with Judy Strangis.  She also appeared in Murder, She Wrote, but did not have any scenes with Angela Lansbury. Bummer.

Morgan Woodward, Star Trek actor, born 1925

Morgan Woodward, prolific actor, was born September 16, 1925 in Fort Worth, Texas.  He appeared in many westerns and two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series.  He played Dr. Simon van Gelder in Dagger of the Mind and Captain Tracey in The Omega Glory.  

He also appeared in episodes of Murder, She Wrote, The X-files and Millennium.

Woodward passed away in February 2019.

Remembering John Saxon (1935-2020)

My favorite bad guy, John Saxon, passed away yesterday from pneumonia.  He would have turned 85 next week.  I always thought he was handsome and he was always popping up as the bad guy: The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Murder, She Wrote.

He also appeared with Angela Lansbury in The Reluctant Debutante and with Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon.

Saxon won a Golden Globe in 1958 as Most Promising Newcomer - Male for his role in This Happy Feeling.

May he rest in peace.

Susan Oliver, Star Trek actress, born 1932

Susan Oliver, born February 13, 1932 in New York City, New York, gained a minor cult following after her appearance in the original Star Trek pilot, The Cage.  The pilot was not approved and another pilot show was filmed.  The Cage was later edited and inserted into the Star Trek episode, The Menagerie. 

It was her only role in the Star Trek universe but she did appear in the Twilight Zone and Murder, She Wrote.

She passed away from lung cancer in May 1990.

Actress Bibi Besch born 1942

It stands to reason that I would celebrate an actress who has appeared in so many of my favorite movies.  Bibi Besch, born February 1, 1942 in Los Angeles, California, is probably best known for her role as Dr. Carol Marcus in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.  She starred in Steel Magnolias, Tremors, The Day After, and a guilty favorite, Meteor.

On television, she appeared in Murder She Wrote and The Six Million Dollar Man. She started her career on the daily soap opera, Secret Storm.

Unfortunately, she passed away in September 1996 from breast cancer.

"Murder, She Wrote" premieres 1984

Murder, She Wrote, a whodunit series, starring the awesome Angela Lansbury premiered September 30, 1984.  I remember watching it.

The show was so popular it lasted for twelve seasons.  It won 6 Golden Globes: 4 for Angela Lansbury for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series; and 2 for Best Television Series - Drama.  The series won 2 Primetime Emmys.  Angela Lansbury holds the record for most Primetime Emmys at twelve, one for each season but did not win any of them, another record.