THE BIG EVENT: Christmas Around The World?

From last year....

NBC once had a weekly Sunday night "showcase" called THE BIG EVENT that featured movies, miniseries, and specials. While some shows were big events, others were just slot fillers. Not sure what to make of CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD. You decide.

90 minutes of celebrations from 22 countries..that's BIG. Sponsored by McDonalds...that's BIGGER! Hosted by William Conrad? That's BIGGEST! Featuring Vikki ("It Must Be Him") Carr, MGM legend Gene Kelly, French mime Marcel Marceau, Fifth Dimension refugees Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., acclaimed International actress Liv Ullman, TV legend Dick Van Dyke and comedy genius Jonathan Winters. That's pretty BIG. Introducing Scott Beach and Larry Finlayson. Yes - Scott Beach, the original voice of Garfield the cat! And Larry Finlayson - who went on to star in....um, nothing. Looking up Misters Beach and Finlayson on IMBD, you will discover that Scott did much voiceover work and some on-screen acting before his death in 1995 - but Larry doesn't even have a listing. As a matter of fact, this entire show doesn't not have an IMDB entry! How can that be? It even had a TV Guide "close up"...

Wait...an oompah band and Maude Frickert??? And this is not on IMDB? Where's the justice people?
Now I'm beginning to wonder if this show ever even aired at all. It's not on Jonathan Winter's resume, there are no screen shots, just an illustrated TV Guide ad and a clip art nativity scene. I mean if Vikki Carr isn't still talking about it...maybe it was all a dream. Maybe Larry Finlayson didn't exist? Perhaps it was all a McDonald's junk food induced nightmare. But come on , how cool would it be to hear the Trinidad steel drum cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"?

The Boys : The Sherman Brothers' Story

From 2009, in honor of Robert Sherman: I had the opportunity to see a great feature-length documentary film this past weekend. If you're like me grew up in the 1960s or 70s, chances are real good that you’ve been singing along to songs of Richard and Robert Sherman Brothers’ songs. With unforgettable songs tunes from Disney classics like “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from MARY POPPINS; "Let's Get Together" from THE PARENT TRAP; “I Wanna Be Like You” and "Trust in Me" from THE JUNGLE BOOK and even theme park favorites like “It’s a Small World (After All)” and "In The Tiki Room". Their work beyond Disney, includes the memorable hits CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, SNOOPY GO HOME and Hanna-Barbera's original CHARLOTTE'S WEB..
While Dick and Bob's songs were cherished by both audiences and Walt Disney himself, outside the public eye, the boys’ personal relationship with each other was far less harmonious. In the film, a wide array of celebrities from Julie Andrews to Ben Stiller, join Disney peers, family and friends, as well as the brothers themselves to tell the story Shermans’ incredible prolific and tumultuous career. It's a powerful story of talent, teamwork, loyalty and estrangement. I highly recommend it to any one who has an interest in Disney, music and dysfunctional families. For more info on the film go here.

As a special treat, here's Siouxsie &The Banshee's incredible cover version of "Trust in Me."

From Arizona to Los Angeles

I'm finally back home, and like THE NEW DICK VAN DYKE SHOW in its final season, I've travelled from the Arizona desert to the glittering sites of L.A.. Only I didn't have a crappy, unmemorable theme song playing behind me.