"Sharknado 5: Global Swarming" premieres 2017

Sharknado 5:Global Swarming, he fifth installment of the crazy, popular Syfy Sharknado series, premiered on August 6, 2017.  In this chapter, the sharknados are occurring across the globe, so Fin and his crew travel all over the world to save it.

Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprise their roles from the previous four films. It starred Nichelle Nichols, Bret Michaels, Olivia Newton-John, Greg Louganis, Fabio, Al Roker, Kathy Lee Gifford, and Dolph Lundgren.

Sharknado 5 trailer 

"Sharknado 4: The Fourth Awakens" premieres 2016

Sharknado 4: The Fourth Awakens, the sequel to the sequel to the sequel to Sharknado, premiered on the SyFy Channel July 31, 2016.  Ian Ziering and Tara Reid reprise their roles for the fourth time. In this movie, the sharknado strikes Las Vegas.

It stars David Hasselhoff, Tommy Davidson, Cheryl Tiegs, Al Roker (again), Garey Busey, Susan Anton, Wayne Newton, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and plenty of beefcake Chippendales dancers.

Sharknado 4 was nominated for a BloodGuts UK Horror Award for Best Prequel/Sequel/Remake

Sharknado 4 trailer 

"Sharknado 2: The Second One" premieres 2014

Sharknado 2: The Second One, the long-awaited sequel to Sharknado, premiered on the Syfy Channel July 30, 2014. This time the apocalyptic storm strikes New York City.  It starred Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, and Vivica A. Fox (who has a birthday today!). It featured cameos by Judd Hirsch, Billy Ray Cyrus, Robert Hays, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Michael Strahan, and the Naked Cowboy.

It referenced other movies such as Airplane! and Star Wars, and the Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

Sharknado 2 trailer 

"Caddyshack" released 1980

 

Caddyshack, the golf comedy from director Harold Ramis, opened in theaters July 25, 1980. It starred Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Ted Knight, and Rodney Dangerfield. Upon its release, it received mediocre reviews but has gained a cult following over the years. The main complaint was the three leads, Dangerfield, Chase and Murray, did not have much interaction, as if they were playing in three different movies.  Chase and Murray have a long-standing feud, but were in one scene together.

Caddyshack has been recognized by the American Film Institute: Laughs, Movie Quotes, and #y on the Top 10 Sports movies.

Kenny Loggins' I'm All Right, from the movie made reached #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1980.

Caddyshack trailer

Celebrating Pride Month: Hot l Baltimore, first show to feature gay couple

Hot l Baltimore (a neon sign Hotel Baltimore with "e" burnt out) premiered January 24, 1975 on ABC.  It was produced by Norman Lear and became the first series to feature a gay couple in a recurring role.  It also included primary characters who were prostitutes, one of whom was an illegal immigrant.  

It starred Lee Bergere and Henry Calvert as a middled-aged gay couple.  James Cromwell was the desk clerk and Conchata Ferrell as a prostitute.  Charlotte Rae appeared as Mrs. Bellotti.

Unfortunately, the series never gained an audience and was canceled after just 13 episodes. 

Final episode of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" airs 1973

The twenty-fourth episode of the sixth season of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In was the last of the series, airing March 12, 1973. The first episode aired January 22, 1968. Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Gary Owens, and Ruth Buzzi appeared in all seasons.

The final episode starred Ernest Borgnine, Sammy Davis Jr., Robert Goulet, and Jo Anne Worley. The Flying Fickle Finger of Fate was awarded to the show itself.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer claimed that the show's jokes about Cleveland had caused economic damage to the city.

It was nominated for 32 Primetime Emmy Awards and won seven:

Outstanding Individual Achievement in Electronic Production for Arthur Schneider (1967)

Outstanding Writing Achievement in Music or Variety (1968)

Outstanding Musical or Variety Program for the 9/9/1967 episode (1968)

Outstanding Musical or Variety Series (1968)

Special Classification Achievements-Individuals (Variety Performances) for Arte Johnson (1969)

Outstanding variety or Musical Series

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety or Music for Mark Warren

The series was nominated for 6 Golden Globes and won two:

Best TV Show (1969)

Best Supporting Actress-Television for Ruth Buzzi (1973)

"The Haunted House" released 1921

Buster Keaton's silent comedy The Haunted House was released February 21, 1921. Keaton plays a bank clerk that finds a house, reportedly haunted, that is actually a hideout for thieves, who disguise themselves as ghouls to keep people away.

How Scooby-doo!

It is full of Keaton's characteristic physical, slapstick humor, and very funny.

"La Maison ensorcelée" released 1906

La Maison ensorcelee (The House of Ghosts or The Witch House), released February 9, 1906 in Denmark, is one of the first haunted house movies.  Directed by Segundo de Chomon, it uses stop-motion animation and superimposition photography to ramp up the spooky activity.

Two men and a woman take refuge in a small house in the woods and experience paranormal activity such as disappearing furniture, a knife cuts food by itself, and a ghost.

The X-Files episode "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas" airs 1998

I'm always looking for horror-comedies, so the sixth episode of the sixth season of the X-Files How the Ghosts Stole Christmas is a treat. It aired December 13, 1998.  Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) explore a haunted house.  Apparently, two lovers killed each other in a lovers' pact some 81 years before, but it seems they still reside there.

Lily Tomlin had previously mentioned her interest in appearing in an episode and Ed Asner was also on board for the episode.  Scares and laughs abound.  It is a great episode and I look forward to watching it again.

The Naked Gun released 1988

Naked Gun, the first of three movies from the Files of Police Squad, was released in the US December 2, 1988.  It starred Leslie Nielsen as Lt. Frank Drebin, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, and disgraced professional athlete OJ Simpson.  

The movie followed Ricardo Montalban's character trying to attempting to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II, and Frank Drebin trying to stop him.   The result is a hilarious non-stop ride of slapstick humor and dark comedy.  

It opened to pretty positive reviews with a 90% rating from Rotten Tomatoes.  Naked Gun spawned two sequels.  

Benny Hill and Alien actress Helen Horton born 1923

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the shrewish wife with the shrill, cackly voice on the Benny Hill Show was also the flat voice of Mother, the computer in Alien. Helen Horton, born November 21, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, appeared in the Poirot episode One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, Superman III, and Miss Marple's At Bertram's Hotel.

Helen passed away in September 2007 in Vero Beach, Florida.

"The Beverly Hillbillies" debuts on television 1962

The first episode of the long-running series The Beverly Hillbillies aired September 26, 1962.  It starred Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer as a poor family living in rural Missouri, who discover oil on their land.  The backwoods folks become instant millionaires and move to Beverly Hills.  Although critics panned the series, it became one of the most-watched programs for eight of its nine seasons.  It was nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys, including one for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy for Nancy Kulp.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" released 1975

The king of cult movies, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, was released into US theaters September 26, 1975, after opening in the UK the month prior.  Written by Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien, who played Riff-Raff, the movie is based on the 1973 musical stage production about an engaged couple whose car breaks down near a spooky castle.  They go there to call for help and strange antics ensue.

The movie starred Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and Meat Loaf. It was a failure when it was initially released, but over the years has grown into one of the largest movie franchises.  It is still shown around the country at midnight showings, making it the longest theatrical release in history.

In 2005, it was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" released 1985

We're still reeling from the death of Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman), but we can still celebrate his legacy!  His big screen debut Pee-wee's Big Adventure was released across the US August 9, 1985. I guess I was in the 'wrong crowd' because I found most of his antics to be juvenile and not very funny, but I admitted, even at the time, that the movie had its moments.

I liked the part where he proved to his girlfriend he was in San Antonio by singing the opening lines of Deep in the Heart of Texas.  I also liked the scene where he rescues all the animals from the pet store.  

It has become a cult classic and I will have to watch it again.  I forgot that Godzilla and King Ghidorah had cameos in it! Look for Milton Berle, Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Dark), and Dee Snider from Twisted Sister. 

Celebrating Black History Month: "In Dahomey" first African-American musical opens on Broadway 1903

In Dahomey, the first full-length musical to be written, played, and performed by African-Americans, opened on Broadway February 18, 1903.  It featured music by Will Marion Cook, book by Jesse A. Shipp, and lyrics by Paul Laurence Dunbar.  

It starred George Walker and Bert Williams who were popular vaudeville entertainers at the time.  It ran for 53 performances, then toured twice in the US and once in the UK. In Dahomey became one of the most successful musical comedies of that time.

"Laverne & Shirley" debuts 1976

The Happy Days spin-off, Laverne & Shirley, aired its first episode January 27, 1976.  It starred Penny Marshall as Laverne DeFazio and Cindy Williams and Shirley Feeney, two working class girls, making it through the latter part of the 1950s in Milwaukee. In the last three seasons, they move to Burbank, California in 1965 when they are replaced by automatic bottle cappers. 

The show ran for 8 seasons, ending in 1983, racking up numerous awards nominations.  Although Marshall and Williams had many fights during filming, Cindy Williams stated later that they still remained good friends.  

Comedian extraordinaire Benny Hill born 1924

Benny Hill, born January 21, 1924 in Southampton, England, is best known for his television variety comedy and sometimes bawdy show in the 1980s.  The Benny Hill Show was nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy series.  

He had a cameo in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang where he played the Toy Maker.  He also appeared in music video Anything She Does with Genesis.

He passed away in April 1992.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode "Santa Claus" airs 1993

Mike and the bots were subjected to the campy, Spanish movie Santa Claus, December 24, 1993 on Mystery Science Theater 3000.  In this film, Santa Claus must deal with an imp from the devil who tries to brainwash Earth's children.  Viewers can really feel their pain!

Fortunately, Kevin Murphy appears briefly as the real Santa Claus!

One of the best lines: 

Narrator: [in film] Children from the USA...

Crow T. Robot: ...are too spoiled and lazy to help Santa!

"Clue" released 1985

The madcap, slapstick comedy Clue was released in US theaters December 13, 1985.  It was based on the popular board game Clue, which has been around since 1949.  It boasted a stellar cast: Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Lesley Ann Warren, Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, Michael McKean, Kellye Nakahara, and Jane Wiedlin.  

Nakahara is best known for her recurring role as Nurse Kellye in M*A*S*H.  Jane Weidlin is best known as a guitarist/vocalist for the Go-Go's.  The movie had three different endings and each theatre received a different only one of the three.  

Clue was not a box office success and received mixed reviews, but it has endured and has developed a cult following. A remake is in the works and a writer was hired to rewrite the script in 2022.

"Not Necessarily The News" wins 3 CableACE Awards 1983

Not Necessarily the News, a favorite of mine and an HBO satire show, won 3 CableACE awards at the 5th ceremony held December 12, 1983.  The show was on air from 1983-1990 and won 14 CableACE awards during its run.

The satire won for General Entertainment or Variety: Comedy, Single Program - General Entertainment or Variety: Comedy; and Best Writing in a Variety Program.  Stuart Pankin was nominated for Best Actor in a Variety Program.  Anne Bloom and Audrie Neenan were both nominated for Best Actress in a Variety Program. John Moffitt was nominated for Directing in a Variety Program.

The same evening, Angela Lansbury won the award for Actress in a Theatrical or Musical Program.

The CableACE Awards (ACE = Award for Cable Excellence) was created in 1978 as cable television's answer to broadcast television's Primetime Emmys.  The Emmys did not honor cable television until 1988 and soon cable shows began dominating the Emmys. The CableACE Awards waned in popularity and the last awards were handed out in 1997.