I'm back from L.A., trying to get back to basics -- so today's blog will be a mixed bag, with some news about my Smothers Brothers book, but also pointing out some TV worth watching: Ray Romano's original, very entertaining new TNT series...

First, book news.

Publication ended with a nice troika of publicity: My deer-in-the-TV-lights appearance on CBS's The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Friday, a 3-1/2 star review in People magazine, and a Fresh Air Weekend replay of my interview last Monday with Terry Gross. The combination kept the book in the Top 200 on Amazon, where it's been pretty much since publication day. Even I, the eternal pessimist, see that as good news.

The Ferguson appearance, by the way, you can see by linking HERE.

My Fresh Air interview with Terry can be heard by clicking HERE.

And last Tuesday's Good Morning America piece on the Smothers Brothers can be seen by clicking HERE.

Still to come, according to my publisher: reviews from Newsweek, The New York Times and others. Whether or not they're GOOD reviews, though, only time will tell...

Now, back to the TV Worth Watching business.

I really, really enjoy TNT's new Men of a Certain Age, starring Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula as friends with problems, unrealized dreams, and very dry senses of humor.

What won me over was the opossum. But it's not fair to explain it, just to try to persuade you to tune in and enjoy it. I've loved Braugher ever since Homicide: Life on the Street, and this is a role he clearly can do a lot with. He, Bakula and Romano all are showing different sides of their talent here -- and what we're seeing is impressive, and very likable.

TNT, it's clear from even just the pilot, has another solid hit on its hands. And cable has another intelligent show that the broadcast networks could have done, but didn't.

8 Comments

Phillip R. Crabb said:

Glad you're back Dave...the book just arrived from Amazon. Was going to wait for Christmas but, well, that didn't last long. Good to hear the opening reviews are strong. I'm sure it will be a great success.

On the TV front, I'm late this year in my annual remembrance of the great Christmas Specials "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

I knew the season was off to a bad start when WPIX (here in NY) broke what had to have been a 40-year tradition and did NOT show "The March of the Wooden Soldiers" on Thanksgiving morning. Some football highlights were on in its place, of all things. I mean, who's in charge over there (WPIX)? Was somebody put in charge who didn't have a clue?

Christmas is the season where many of us reminisce about simpler and happier times as kids, who could count on these shows at the appointed time. Traditions that tie you back and provide you 'foundation' for the present.

As you once mentioned, even though they are readily available on DVD, shows like Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph, and MOTWS are must-see as a family viewing.

Now, as Diane noted, "Charlie Brown Christmas" was pre-empted by the President (LBJ would have NEVER done that), and Rudolph was put up against the Rockefeller Tree Lighting...another local (NY) tradition that for many is a must-see that is worthy of more than the back-and-forth-between-commercials viewing.

I mean, who is doing the scheduling..? Who is putting ounce-one of thought into what has proved themselves still to be television forces some 40-years (boy, when did we get old..) later..?

Oh, the humanity.

Frankly, at this time of year, someone should be driving this that knows of the history..and is not blind to the loyal following that has passed these traditions to new generations.

Frankly, this should be the simple stuff.

Sorry for the (annual) rant, congratulations on the book...look forward to the discoveries therein.

Phillip R. Crabb
Franklin (Sussex County), NJ

[It was a well-deserved, and well-written rant. Thanks. -- David B.]

Comment posted on December 7, 2009 4:10 PM

Angela said:

Phillip. Well said! And then there are people like me, who somehow missed out on these traditions growing up and need people like you and the writers here to show the way.
I've never even seen March of The Wooden Soldiers!
Maybe you could post this "rant" to your local paper, and to your local TV station. I know AMC said that they *really* need viewers to write in about what we want to see. (Can you tell I'm an idealist?)

David, Yea! I finally get to see your live interview! (I screwed up my recording). I will try to give you an unbiased appraisal of it. Or die trying.

BTW, I listened to your Fresh Air interview and learned a lot. I didn't know their story. They paved the way which is great. But like you said, it would have been really cool had they been able to make a come back. The way it turned out, is sad....

Comment posted on December 7, 2009 8:02 PM

Eileen said:

David,
Welcome back & congratulations. No one deserves the accolades more, as the time & talent you've spent is overwhelming.

I couldn't agree with Phillip more. March of the Wooden Soldiers was a "must see" in my house on Thanksgiving. It seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird.

But, Phillip, take heart. AMC usually has a non-stop run of "A Christmas Story", and "It's a Wonderful Life" should be on almost every channel within the next two weeks.

Speaking of WPIX, they used to have an annual "Yule Log" which actually did nothing but throw off a beautiful glow while Christmas music played in the background. In my house, we always tuned to this on Christmas morning, and kept it going all day. There were kids running around, neighbors in and out all day, but this beautiful backdrop was there emitting a sense of calm and holiday beauty.

Some idiot decided to do away with that, and it was amazing to me the public outcry. Well, it's back. So, Phillip, don't give up. You never know when someone at a tv network is actually going to "grow a heart".

Comment posted on December 8, 2009 10:38 AM

Greg Kibitz said:

Just watched your Fergusen segement. I thought it was great. Yea, the Leno dig was a bit of a faux pas but I for one could not agree more (other than I quite liked Leno @ 11:30). If only you had more carefully said you didn't like Leno now at 10pm and the new deskless format, that he was far better behind the desk and at 11:30. But so it goes. I'm sure I would have trashed a dozen shows if I had been asked.

Anyway, just glad the video is finally up on YouTube because I've been looking for days on the CBS site and they have yet to post Friday's show.

FYI: You gotta remember to always plug the web site, especially when you have a very rare national TV audience. But I bet you are kicking yourself in the arse for that already.

[Actually, I know Craig hates plugs, so I avoided them. As much as my brain could focus on anything, that is... -- David B.]

Comment posted on December 8, 2009 1:18 PM

Patrick said:

The above message from "Eileen" is wrong on two fronts. TBS, not AMC, runs the "24 Hours of 'A Christmas Story'" marathon. More importantly, "It's A Wonderful Life" is now covered by copyright (how did that happen?) and will be run exclusively by NBC twice - Saturday December 12, and Thursday December 24, both days at 8 p.m.
Billy Ingram's great website "TV Party" has a page on the "Yule Log" and its history. Here's the URL: http://www.tvparty.com/xmaslog.html
[And, of course, the best way to find any holiday special is on Diane Werts' ever-expanding viewer guide. Check her blog! -- David B.]

Comment posted on December 8, 2009 3:53 PM

Davis W said:

I guess you aren't that familiar with Dinner for Five with Jon Favreau? Kevin James told a story about Ray Romano running over a squirrel over and over for humanity's sake.
Check it out if you have a chance. Sorry I don't know what season it is from.
Look forward to reading your book. My bother and I sneaked our parent's version of Live at the Purple Onion and I believe that I still have the whole album memorized.
I am 46 and read your blog everyday.
[Thanks. And I watched Dinner for Five, but didn't see that episode. I'll dig it out! -- David B.]

Comment posted on December 8, 2009 10:22 PM

Sally W. said:

I enjoyed seeing Charlie Brown's Christmas special on this Tuesday - it is a terrific tradition. But, I really wouldn't hold the delay against the President all that; he was only doing his job (not an easy one) and thankfully ABC re-scheduled (ABC knew full well that they could not avoid airing Charlie Brown). On the other hand, I remember that, when I was growing up (back in the not-that-far 1980's), Charlie Brown was aired on CBS, so seeing him and his friends on ABC is still strange for me.

Maybe it is just me, but I was bothered by another change to tradition: for awhile the local NBC in NYC used to have the original "Miracle on 34th Street" after the Thanksgiving Parade, and then the Westminster dog show. But, this year, they had the dog show and then some other movie entirely. Personally, I loved the original "Miracle on 34th Street" as nice traditional segue from Thanksgiving to Christmas and was a little disappointed with the local NBC for the change.

I too appreciate the local WPIX restoring the Yule Log to tv appearances and also - as a 21st Century twist - putting it on the web. Traditions are sometimes where we can find them these days!
[Dear Sally: To be clear, I wasn't complaining about the delay -- just ABC rescheduling the Peanuts schedule in a 30-minute time slot. -- David B.]

Comment posted on December 9, 2009 1:00 AM

Eileen said:

Patrick,
Thanks for clarifying; I should have known TBS as I watch "A Christmas Story" every year.

As far as NBC & "It's a Wonderful Life", this must be the only good thing NBC has done all year. So let's be thankful for that, at least.

I enjoyed the "Yule Log" site; it's amazing how many people hold this dear as a real, yearly holiday tradition. I'm glad it's back, and getting great ratings.

Comment posted on December 9, 2009 8:49 AM

Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)

Name (required)

Email (required) (will not be published)


Type in the verification word shown on the image.

Page: 1 of 19 | Go to page:

380 Comments

PURPLE PEEL EXPLOIT

Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work.

Dec 25, 2024 | Reply

PROSTAVIVE

Yes i am totally agreed with this article and i just want say that this article is very nice and very informative article.I will make sure to be reading your blog more. You made a good point but I can't help but wonder, what about the other side? !!!!!!Thanks

Dec 22, 2024 | Reply

mitolyn reviews

Thanks for the blog loaded with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for.

Dec 20, 2024 | Reply

PAWBIOTIX

A very excellent blog post. I am thankful for your blog post. I have found a lot of approaches after visiting your post.

Dec 14, 2024 | Reply

NeuroQuiet Review

You delivered such an impressive piece to read, giving every subject enlightenment for us to gain information. Thanks for sharing such information with us due to which my several concepts have been cleared.

Dec 12, 2024 | Reply

Leanbiome

Thank you so much as you have been willing to share information with us. We will forever admire all you have done here because you have made my work as easy as ABC.

Dec 11, 2024 | Reply

Leanbiome

Thank you so much as you have been willing to share information with us. We will forever admire all you have done here because you have made my work as easy as ABC.

Dec 11, 2024 | Reply

Mitolyn

All your hard work is much appreciated. Nobody can stop to admire you. Lots of appreciation.

Dec 10, 2024 | Reply

FITSPRESSO

This article was written by a real thinking writer. I agree many of the with the solid points made by the writer. I’ll be back.

Dec 9, 2024 | Reply

Prodentim

nice post, keep up with this interesting work. It really is good to know that this topic is being covered also on this web site so cheers for taking time to discuss this!

Dec 5, 2024 | Reply

Prodentim

nice post, keep up with this interesting work. It really is good to know that this topic is being covered also on this web site so cheers for taking time to discuss this!

Dec 5, 2024 | Reply

Nagano Tonic

Great content material and great layout. Your website deserves all of the positive feedback it’s been getting.

Dec 5, 2024 | Reply

Alpha bites

I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.

Dec 1, 2024 | Reply

TONIC GREENS

Great articles and great layout. Your blog post deserves all of the positive feedback it’s been getting.

Nov 30, 2024 | Reply

????

I like your post. It is good to see you verbalize from the heart and clarity on this important subject can be easily observed...

Nov 29, 2024 | Reply

Provadent

howdy, your websites are really good. I appreciate your work.

Nov 28, 2024 | Reply

nanodefense pro

Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the last part I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.

Nov 28, 2024 | Reply

FEMIPRO

Only aspire to mention ones content can be as incredible. This clarity with your post is superb and that i may think you’re a guru for this issue. High-quality along with your concur permit me to to seize your current give to keep modified by using approaching blog post. Thanks a lot hundreds of along with you should go on the pleasurable get the job done.

Nov 27, 2024 | Reply

plataforma nova

Thank you for such a well written article. It’s full of insightful information and entertaining descriptions. Your point of view is the best among many.

Nov 23, 2024 | Reply

Gluco 6

I admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much.

Nov 19, 2024 | Reply

Page: 1 of 19 | Go to page:

New From TVWW

8 Comments

PBS' 'Frontline’ Examines Pension Promises and — Spoiler Alert — Finds the Math Doesn’t Add Up

The Decadence of ‘Versailles’ Comes to Ovation

Prescribing Mamie Gummer in 'Emily Owens, M.D.'

Looking for a Free Ride? HBO Can Deliver

'Pass the Biscuits' Part of the Hatfield-McCoy Pop-Culture Legacy

1957: Julie Andrews Stars in 'Cinderella'

Dispatches From TVWW

'Extinction: The Facts' is a Sobering Call to Action

How 'Mayans' Has Been Influenced by the Show's Creator Elgin James

For Whom the Bell Tolls: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick Take on Ernest Hemingway, the Man and the Myth

In the Final Season, Sutton Foster's Liza is Now the Genuine Version of Her 'Younger' Self

Season 2 of 'City on a Hill' Returns with Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, and Boston Corruption