Monday, February 27, 2006

Don Knotts 2/26/06

Sitcom legend Don Knotts passed away. He's probably best known for playing Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. I was more of a fan of his work as the sniffling swinging heip cat landlord on Three's Company. Rest in peace Don, its been a tough week at CITW headquarters.

Goodbye Don Knotts
Sitcom watchers knew you well
You played Barney Fife as a fool
Single bullet as Andy Griffin would tell
You crawled out of West Virginia
With a dream in your hand
Played a talking fish
Then Mr. Furley, Jack’s friend again

And it seemed to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing when to think
Jack was a gay guy again
And it seemed that I would know you
When I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
The Regal Beagle ever did

Darren McGavin 2/24/06 Ralphie's Dad

Darren McGavin who played the Dad in the Christmas classic "A Christmas Story" passed away. Granted he does fall below the Branigan line but he is in one of the all time great Christmas movie. Here is goes for Ralphie's dad.

Goodbye Darren McGavin
Holiday audiences knew you well
You played the dad in Christmas Story
You son Ralphie sure would tell
You crawled out of nowhere
You were a winner and a man
You won the special prize
Till if got broken once again

And it seemed to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Change that tire With Ralphie
He says the F word once again
And it seemed like I did know you
When I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Christmas dinner of Chinese ever did.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Franklin Cover 2/10/06

You're probably wonder who on earth is this guy? Well its Tom Willis from The Jeffersons. He was part of the at the time cutting edge interracial couple with Roxie Roker. When the show was on at the time I guess it was a big deal but I was just a kid and it didn't strike me as odd. I thinkn The Jefferson's is truly a gem of a little show with George and Florence always getting after each other. Well since its a Friday and in honor of Franklin I've put together a special CITW remix to the tune of The Jefferson's theme song. Yes technically he does fall below the Branigan Line but this is more about my appreciation of The Jefferson's theme song. Here ya go:

Well he’ll be movin’ on up
Up in the sky
To join his TV wife who also died
Movin’ on up
To the east side
He gets to tell Weezie “hi”

Fish don’t fry in the kitchen
Beans don’t burn on the grill
They broke all the barriers
White guy and black wife will
Now he’s gone from the big leagues
Got his turn at bat
As long as he’s alive, he got acting gigs
There ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Well he’ll be movin’ on up
Up in the sky
To join his TV wife who also died
Movin’ on up
To the east side
He gets to tell Weezie “hi”

Monday, February 06, 2006

"Granpa Al Lewis" 2/4/06

Grandpa Al Lewis passed away. He was 95 years old and kept working up to the very end. He apparently still did a radio show and ran a restaurant. Al regualrly appeared on Hoo Hoo Howard's show and was a regular on goofy little bits on Conan's show. Looks like Abe Vigoda is the only old guy that Conan has left to use. Rest in Peace Al

Goodbye Al Lewis
Crappy sitcoms knew you pretty well
You always like to play a fool
Conan O’Brien’s show sure would tell
You crawled out of nowhere
With only a few roles in your hand
Became a TV icon
Milking The Munster’s all you can

And it seemed to me that you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing when to finally
Retire and take it easy again
And it seemed like I did know you
When I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long after
Butch Patrick’s career ever did