Nostalgia TV - E

Welcome to my A-Z list of 2016.
This year, I'll be recalling some of my favourite programs from television, via A-Z, of course.
How many of these do you remember?
Were these before your time?

This blog post has been written in front of a live studio audience.


1971-1977 / Electric Company featuring: Morgan Freeman, Judy Graubart, Rita Moreno, Jim Boyd & Spiderman
There were only two things that really excited me in school. Recess and seeing the TV wheeled into the classroom. This meant we were going to be watching TV. When I was in first grade, this was a regular event. Of course, we were not watching the teachers favourite soap opera, we were watching the Electric Company. It was informative, but it was fun.



1972-1977 / Emergency! featuring: Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Bobby Troup & Julie London
This was probably one of the first drama series that I was seriously interested in watching. Two of the main stars were paramedics and that really held my interest. Well what 6 year old boy isn't impressed with the flashing lights and sirens seen in each episode.



1994-2009 / ER featuring: Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Noah Wyle, Eriq La Salle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, John Stamos, and many others.
I seriously loved this show. In fact, I never missed an episode the 15 years it was on. Yes, there was the year I stopped watching for awhile, but then I caught another episode and tracked down the previous season and watched it. Not something you could do in 1955. I cried when Dr. Green died, and I was elated when I later learned Alex Kingston was going to become a semi-regular in Doctor Who.




This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1958 - Edsel



1970's - Evel Knievel Stunt Toy



1977 - Encore Coffee (Featuring Ted Danson)

I.W.S.G. (8) - Thank You To All Who Encourage Me

Short and sweet this month because of all the activity going on in the A to Z challenge hundreds of bloggers are participating in this month.

I want to take the time to give a big, BIG thank you to all those who have come to support and encourage me. It means a lot to me. I finally came to the decision yesterday to stop posting blog updates to my facebook page. There really isn't any interest from my friends and family except an occasion 'like'. But my fellow bloggers are truly supportive and I great appreciate that. I appreciate each and every one of you! You are the best! Have a great April!


My Goals:

Old Goals:
1.) Find test readers for my story.
I have one niece who was looking to make some money so I offered to give her some funds in exchange for reading and making some notes on my YA short story. It's targeted for her age. I have another niece I may do the same thing for. I also plan on finding a site where true authors exchange stories and beta read for each other. But that'll be after next month.

2.) Prep a few entries for the A to Z challenge I'm engaged in this month.
I'm happy to report I finished all 26 days of the challenge and have them prepped and ready to go. Now comes the task of visiting others and giving support and encouragement to them in this challenge.


New Goal:
May I aim to go blogger lite and concentrate on finishing the third story in my Writers Block series. I want to have it all done, or mostly all done by the end of May.


My Encouragement:
Don't worry, be happy. (Sorry if I get that song stuck in your head now. Forget, and just be happy.)

Questions to ponder:
Are you engaged in the A to Z challenge?
Do you receive any support from friends or family?
Has there ever been a song that has stuck in your head all day?



* * * * * * * * * *

The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of every month. Please follow along as my fellow writers and I relate why we feel insecure, or read as we help encourage others suffering from insecurity.

Are you an insecure writer? Why not join the group? Find out more information via the group HERE.

The site is founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh - Thanks for all the support!

Nostalgia TV - D

Welcome to my A-Z list of 2016.
This year, I'll be recalling some of my favourite programs from television, via A-Z, of course.
How many of these do you remember?
Were these before your time?

This blog post has been written in front of a live studio audience.

1961 - 1966 / the Dick Van Dyke Show featuring: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tylor Moore
Catching this show in reruns, the big question for me was always, will he or won't he trip over the ottoman. I was big into comedy on TV, so this was a must watch for me. He writes comedy... for a TV show... and there was the UFO episode! 'nuff said!
.


1963-TODAY / Doctor Who featuring: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, John Hurt, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and many, many more.
I couldn't do a nostalgic TV list without including my ultimate favourite. This is Doctor Who's theme song. The original, you might say. Starting in 1963, his adventures have continued to this day, making it the longest running and most successful science fiction television show of all time. As a youth, there was a day I was bored and my mother told me there was a cool program on PBS called Doctor Who. I decided to look into it and the rest is history.



1979-1985 Dukes of Hazzard Featuring: Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach & Sorrell Booke as Boss Hogg
What 10 year old boy could resist a program about a couple of good ol' boys never meaning no harm as they engaged in endless car chases and stunts. Then there was the crooked commissioner who received his comeuppance each episode. Then there was the beautiful Daisy where the phrase Daisy Dukes came from. Need I say more?




This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1960'S - Dr. Pepper



1974 - Dow Bathroom Cleaner



1986 - Delta Gold Chips (Featuring Jason Alexander)

Nostalgia TV - C

Welcome to my A-Z list of 2016.
This year, I'll be recalling some of my favourite programs from television, via A-Z, of course.
How many of these do you remember?
Were these before your time?

This blog post has been written in front of a live studio audience.

1948-1967 Candid Camera featuring: Durward Kirby, Alan Funt
I have a suspicion this show needs no introduction. It's been on in one form or another since it's inception. And there are many shows that ape the premise, right down to today on youtube channels.



1976-1981 Charlie's Angels featuring: Kate Jackson, Farrah Faucet, Jaclyn Smith & Cheryl Ladd
Before I discovered girls, this show was seldom seen in my house. I was more interested in TV shows with laughs. However, if I were somehow trapped in the late 70's, this would certainly be a program I would never miss.



1982-1993 Cheers featuring Ted Dansen, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, George Wendt & John Ratzenberger.
Before I was 21, and able to drink. I was already a regular at my favourite bar. No, no one there knew my name and no one was glad I tuned in. But they entertained me all the same.




This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
circa 1963 - Clanky the Spaceman



1970's-ish - Calgon



1983 - Canada Dry (Featuring Whitney Houston)

Nostalgia TV - B

Welcome to my A-Z list of 2016.
This year, I'll be recalling some of my favourite programs from television, via A-Z, of course.
How many of these do you remember?
Were these before your time?

This Blog post has been written in front of a live studio audience.

1962-1971 The Beverly Hillbillies featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas & Max Baer Jr.
A rags to riches story. What would you do if you had more money than you knew what to do with? If you are anything like me, you'd build your very own cement pond. Granny was my favourite character. She wouldn't let the money change her. Not one bit.



1975-1982 Barney Miller. Featuring Hal Linden, Abe Vigoda, Max Gail, Ron Glass & Jack Soo.
This was probably my first 'cop show' series I loved watching. Most likely because it was funny. No matter what New York city perp was brought in, you knew something funny was about to happen. Just don't drink the coffee.



1979-1981 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Featuring Gil Gerard & Erin Gray
The late 70s was a good time for me. It gave me Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek reruns and Buck Rogers. I finally knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, a nerd. This show certainly helped develop my inner nerd. As I recall, Erin Gray was my first nerd crush.




This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1941 - Bulova Watch (Worlds First TV Commercial)



1977 - Bounty



1989 - Brown's Chicken (Featuring Steve Carell)

Battle of the Bands - Werid Al Yankovic

It's April, fools!
This means I have agreed to a crazy thing called the A-Z challenge. Essentially, it means I'm going to be posting a new blog article each and every day. This also means I'm running out of time, but I still wanted to do my BOTB post. As such, I decided to do a quick and simple music battle. One where YOU get to decide what is being battled upon. Watch the provided video below. Is there a specific video you like the best? A specific parody? Which video most closely looks like the original? Is there a song you like better than the video? Do you just want to avoid Weird Al all together and tell me which is your favourite singer Al parodies? Tell me what you like best and I'll tabulate the votes. Yes, this is highly unorthodox, but being April 1st, I'm hoping to get away with it. Or I'm hoping with so many people tied up in the AtoZ challenge it'll slip past the BOTB censors. I'm kind of the BOTB Chuck Barris this entry.


BATTLE OF THE B̶A̶N̶D̶S̶ PARODIES

The musical contenders for this Battle of the Bands are below. Please listen and tell me what you like best. If you have the time and the motive, I have included links to the full videos.

"Weird Al" Yankovic


1. Joan Jett "I Love Rock n Roll" vs "I Love Rocky Road"
2. Michael Jackson "Beat It" vs "Eat It"
3. Michael Jackson "Bad" vs "Fat"
4. Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" vs "Smells Like Nirvana"
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give It Away" vs "Bedrock Anthem"
6.The Presidents of the USA "Lump" vs "Gump"
7. Coolio "Gansta's Paradise" vs "Amish Paradise"
8. Chamillionaire "Ridin'" vs "White & Nerdy"


Those are the contenders. Now it's your job to vote. Additionally, let me know why you feel the way you do. Voting ends on the 15th when I'll announce the winner in a separate posting.

Additional Questions:
Are you a "Weird Al" Yankovic fan?
Are there other novelty songs you are fond of?
Are you participating in the A to Z challenge?

If you enjoyed this Battle of the Bands feature, don't forget to visit the other participants in the Battle of the Band to see what sort of music they are featuring. You will certainly be entertained, so click on their links below.

FAR AWAY SERIES
STMcC PRESENTS 'BATTLE OF THE BANDS'
TOSSING IT OUT
JANIE JUNEBUG RIGHTING AND EDITING
YOUR DAILY DOSE
MIKE'S RAMBLINGS
CURIOUS AS A CATHY
DCRELIEF - BATTLE OF THE BANDS
THE DOGLADY'S DEN
CHERDO ON THE FLIPSIDE
ANGELS BARK
QUIET LAUGHTER
BE_REINVINTAGED
THE SOUND OF ONE HAND TYPING
JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE
eViL pOp TaRt

Are you currently in the BOTB and don't see your name in the list above? Let me know in comments and I'll include it.

Nostalgia TV - A

Welcome to my A-Z list of 2016.
This year, I'll be recalling some of my favourite programs from television, via A-Z, of course.
How many of these do you remember?
Were these before your time?

  This blog post has been written in front of a live studio audience.


1971-1983 All in the Family featuring: Caroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner & Sally Struthers
I practically grew up with this television show about the bigot, the dingbat and the meathead. I wasn't always allowed to watch it, but when it was on, I caught it. I was a fan of comedy, even if I didn't understand all the humour. When the character of Edith was killed off in the series, I thought Jean Stapleton had died.



1983-1987 The A-Team featuring George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schults & Mr. T.
1,000 bullets were fired every episode. Not one person was killed. Or so I remember.
One day, my dad took me shopping with him and I was with my friend. As we shopped my dad was pretending to be BA Baracus. My friend was playing Murdock and I was Hannibal Smith. 



1989-1990, 1994-1997 Alien Nation featured Eric Pierpoint & Gary Graham
The theme song pretty much explains what it was about. This TV show was based off the 1988 Alien Nation film. Drinking sour milk had the same effect on the Newcomers as beer would to us.




This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1951 - Ajax



1977 - Arthur Treacher's



1983 - Apple Computers