tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8444899841277847816..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: From my dusty archives...By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32835945443475818402008-10-23T07:55:00.000-07:002008-10-23T07:55:00.000-07:00I have to agree with an earlier comment. The "I A...I have to agree with an earlier comment. The "I AM Mario Lanza" line has stayed with me -- and made me laugh -- countless times in the last 30 years. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81903708423789287052007-08-17T21:29:00.000-07:002007-08-17T21:29:00.000-07:00My memory is that the show started on ABC, where i...My memory is that the show started on ABC, where it didn't work, so CBS picked it up, believing its MTM pedigree and relative sophistication was more of a fit with its popular sitcoms. (Similar to NBC picking up Taxi's last year after ABC dropped it)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90336196580748976242007-08-17T19:52:00.000-07:002007-08-17T19:52:00.000-07:00A squeaky-voiced radio personality named Cleaver.....A squeaky-voiced radio personality named Cleaver...Ken, where DO you come up with these brilliant conceits?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72623369778990363522007-08-17T09:12:00.000-07:002007-08-17T09:12:00.000-07:00A genius bit of casting on 'The Tony Randall Show'...A genius bit of casting on 'The Tony Randall Show' was Hans Conreid as his father. I think he gave the show a real shot in the arm.<BR/><BR/>Allyn Ann McLerie (I think I have the name right) and Rachel Roberts also contributed to a great cast!Toby O'Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999037844031101965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83658403290453393182007-08-16T18:54:00.000-07:002007-08-16T18:54:00.000-07:00You mentioned ALN, and I found it is on my digital...You mentioned ALN, and I found it is on my digital cable, so I'm taping them. Can someone explain to me why there isn't a cable channel devoted to REALLY good shows? TV Land and Nick at Night used to have classics, and seem to be going to 80s crap. <BR/><BR/>zitcypc -- Verification WordRobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923161793979910495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20783667326998556292007-08-16T18:48:00.000-07:002007-08-16T18:48:00.000-07:00We do have such a channel. It is called TV Land.....We do have such a channel. It is called TV Land... owned by some old dude named Redstone.<BR/><BR/>So Zane is hilarious? I would think that Zane was zany.Dwaconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07544514023626682777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7038374288617126782007-08-16T17:57:00.000-07:002007-08-16T17:57:00.000-07:00I loved this show and not just because I was from ...I loved this show and not just because I was from the Philadelphia area. It boasted a wonderful cast, really funny writing, and crisp direction.<BR/><BR/>I do recall that one season (the final one?) had a very different feel. It seemed to lack the spark and originality that made it stand out. I assume that was tied into the network switch mentioned elsewhere in this thread. I would love to know what other behind-the-scenes changes contributed to the change in tone and style.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32049338666970960932007-08-16T16:40:00.000-07:002007-08-16T16:40:00.000-07:00This writing and acting on this show were fantasti...This writing and acting on this show were fantastic. I remember a favorite scene that went something like this, when Tony Randall first met Mario Lanza:<BR/><BR/>Mario: Pleased to meet you, sir. Mario Lanza.<BR/><BR/>Judge: Really? Any relation?<BR/><BR/>Mario: To who?<BR/><BR/>Judge: Mario Lanza.<BR/><BR/>Mario: I AM Mario Lanza.mbkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06980287775392119763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30477606293824751882007-08-16T16:35:00.000-07:002007-08-16T16:35:00.000-07:00I think George C Scott's daughter played Tony's da...I think George C Scott's daughter played Tony's daughter during the first season. She was kind of a plain Jane. When the show moved to CBS for its second season, the daughter was suddenly played by the very cute Penny Peyser.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60330717925044534172007-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:002007-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:00For some reason, the line I remember from the Tony...For some reason, the line I remember from the Tony Randall show was "so many bagels, so little time." It wouldn't have been as funny with doughnuts.Chris Riesbeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09361434968521805027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14382164986184579022007-08-16T11:59:00.000-07:002007-08-16T11:59:00.000-07:00I remember my family liking this show a lot. (It w...I remember my family liking this show a lot. (It was on two seasons, though, right?) <BR/><BR/>And didn't George C. Scott's daughter play Tony's daughter?Jim Donahuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04140325442403671800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43318636681350561142007-08-16T11:58:00.000-07:002007-08-16T11:58:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jim Donahuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04140325442403671800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57613006480303858532007-08-16T10:50:00.000-07:002007-08-16T10:50:00.000-07:00"the Medal of Honor isn't the "Congressional" MoH...."the Medal of Honor isn't the "Congressional" MoH. It is the Medal of Honor plain and simple." <BR/><BR/>This is why Mario Lanza was a bad campaign director.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36672409327595710422007-08-16T10:43:00.000-07:002007-08-16T10:43:00.000-07:00I hate to nit pick because I, too, loved that show...I hate to nit pick because I, too, loved that show, but the Medal of Honor isn't the "Congressional" MoH. It is the Medal of Honor plain and simple. <BR/><BR/>(Another of my peeves is hearing people say "over and out" on the radio. That's incorrect radio procedure. You say either over or out, but not both.)Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76228964052188970542007-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:002007-08-16T10:36:00.000-07:00Great scene. And although I never actually landed...Great scene. And although I never actually landed a radio interview when I ran for judge, the scene plays out about the way I'd expect it to if it were me....<BR/><BR/>Roger Green mentioned one of my favorites, "The Associates." Martin Short as a baby. Wilfred Hyde-White as the senile senior partner. I haven't seen that anywhere since it went off the air.The Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14723009641287783218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76944035282567984512007-08-16T10:28:00.000-07:002007-08-16T10:28:00.000-07:00I LOVED that show! As a matter of fact, ever...I LOVED that show! <BR/> As a matter of fact, ever since then, had I met Tony Randell--or anybody named "Franklin"--I had intended to stick out my hand and say, "Judge Franklin? Mario Lanza."<BR/> Sure, I would have been the only one laughing, but sometimes I crack me up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88752759860796177452007-08-16T09:26:00.000-07:002007-08-16T09:26:00.000-07:00Hi Ken,The late (Boss-jock) Frank Terryand I were ...Hi Ken,<BR/><BR/>The late (Boss-jock) Frank Terry<BR/>and I were good pals and songwriting partners. I put together a YouTube tribute.<BR/><BR/>Elton John, 'Funeral For A Friend'<BR/>(In Memoriam: Frank Terry)<BR/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSEHofvfAygAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55911786647700600182007-08-16T06:44:00.000-07:002007-08-16T06:44:00.000-07:00The local cable system here in town just added ALN...The local cable system here in town just added ALN to it's digital tier. It's re-branded itself as TV for the Boomer Generation, but that the whole family can watch. I don't have it but from what I can tell they feature one night a week of MTM properties (MTM, Bob Newhart, Newhart and WKRP) that TVLand doesn't want anymore.<BR/><BR/>Also, it looks like I've got about a dozen Tony Randall Shows from when WGN stripped them in the late 80's. I'll try and digitized one for YouTube. In fact, I know one episode was written by Levine/Isaacs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70790676514971446182007-08-16T06:34:00.000-07:002007-08-16T06:34:00.000-07:00Holy crap! YOU worked on The Tony Randall Show? Yo...Holy crap! YOU worked on The Tony Randall Show? You are God.<BR/>I LOVED that show. I remember when the judge was teaching a law class that featured a then unknown actor named Michael Keaton.<BR/>Nice.Tony Semczukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10475776101286654740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88499759595047024872007-08-16T06:31:00.000-07:002007-08-16T06:31:00.000-07:00Tony Randall's shows had the unusual distinction o...Tony Randall's shows had the unusual distinction of being well regarded after they had been off the air for several years. On its original run even "The Odd Couple" was not a hit (not even a mild one). If you are interested on some insights about his career told in the first person check out Tony Randall's Archive of american television interview on Google video, done circa 1998, where he chats for 2 hours about his professional life off and on television. other remarkable and funny interviews you might find there are from glen and les charles from cheers, directors James burrows and Robert Butler, Larry Gelbart, Gene Reynolds Burt Metcalfe, Alan Alda (all from MASH), and even Mr Bob Newhart, among many others. some of these are quite lengthy stretching sometimes for 12 half hour tapes, but well worth it for the funny stories and knowledge.MrCarlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18081465847843874816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86966837061945213272007-08-16T06:23:00.000-07:002007-08-16T06:23:00.000-07:00Funny writing as usual, Ken!I remember another gre...Funny writing as usual, Ken!<BR/><BR/>I remember another great character actor, the late Barney Martin (who also played Jerry Seinfeld's dad), was an assistant to Tony Randall's character in this show.... It was a good combination: Tony, the fidgety proper judge, and Barney, the everyman schlep who Tony's character was able to play off of, and vice versa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2091919322286998042007-08-16T04:57:00.000-07:002007-08-16T04:57:00.000-07:00For a time, a cable network named Trio ran a recur...For a time, a cable network named Trio ran a recurring feature, "Brilliant But Cancelled," featuring about a dozen shows including John Cassavetes' Johnny Staccato, Bakersfield PD and God, the Devil and Bob.<BR/><BR/>Trio was then itself, uh, cancelled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70884837569858324742007-08-16T04:04:00.000-07:002007-08-16T04:04:00.000-07:00I'm thinking that this one has been rerun somewher...I'm thinking that this one has been rerun somewhere in the last 15 years, hasn't it? <BR/><BR/>Funny stuff.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923161793979910495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77805512100095241322007-08-16T03:53:00.000-07:002007-08-16T03:53:00.000-07:00Didn't TV LAND, once upon a time, used to run shor...Didn't TV LAND, once upon a time, used to run short-lived comedies? I swear I saw The Associates (with Martin Short and others) at some point after its short network run.Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24789345172645514332007-08-15T23:46:00.000-07:002007-08-15T23:46:00.000-07:00That was a funny show. I still remember Ed's Law ...That was a funny show. I still remember Ed's Law School with great fondness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com