More Random TV GUIDE Ads - FEMALE ON THE BEACH

Wow! Talk about Pop Art - this Warhol/Lichtenstein mash-up is a wild way to promote a 1955 sudser starring Joan Crawford as a cougar and Jeff Chandler as her younger beach bum boyfriend. It's "GIDGET in a girdle" as 50-year old Crawford romances 37-year old Chandler. The designer of this awesome ad also chose a font that paid homage to Joan Crawford's role as a member of the board of directors of Pepsi Cola. Jeff Chandler was an up and coming leading man who transitioned from western roles to straight drama, all while headlining in Las Vegas as a song and dance man. Esther Williams claims that the married actor and her had an torrid affair, but she called it off when she found out he had a thing for wearing womens' clothing. Sadly Chandler would die only 6 years later after making FEMALE ON THE BEACH after a botched back surgery.

TV tie-in merchandise that makes you say "Huh?"

Even more perplexing than the secretary set and Cindy's William's role in The Killing Kind, comes this most unusual item: the official LAVERNE & SHIRLEY Tiger Claw Pendant! Now, I don't profess to be an expert on the show, but I did watch just about every episode of the series–and I don't recall a Tiger Claw Pendant ever being a plot point. I could be wrong, but I do recall Boo Boo Kitty (pictured here), Milk & Pepsi and Scooter Pies–but was ever there an episode where the girls mistakenly steal an antique Indian Tiger Claw Pendant and then have to sneak back into the museum at night to return it? It's possible, but highly doubtful. Maybe one of the duo wore a Tiger Claw Pendant as a "good luck charm"? I don't know...once again, maybe. But it's no Greg Brady tiki necklace. I just think it's really weird to sell this to kids as if it was an actual item that had anything to do with Miss DeFazio or Miss Feeney. I guess a little girl (or boy) could wear it while playing with the freaky secretary set that Harmony Toys also sold. Harmony Toys - I think their slogan was  "making toys that have nothing to do with anything."