One way to measure the impact of the indomitable, talented Valerie Harper, who passed on days back at age 80, is to recall Howard Cosell’s words on the Steelers/Falcons October 28, 1974 football telecast.
It was a Monday night and Cosell cited that Valerie Harper’s “Rhoda’s” wedding was over and in effect welcomed many back, or so he and his network hoped, to football.
One thing is for sure Valerie Harper as “Rhoda” getting married had impact and that went well beyond the tremendous ratings the wedding show garnered.
“Rhoda” was a great character and Harper won multiple awards playing the role.
She went on to play great women, Golda Meir and Tallulah Bankhead.
I really liked her performance in “Chapter Two,” as her character in a really good supporting role has a surprising “affair” with Joe Bologna’s (his also a nice supporting role).
Her bravery knowing her days were numbered and her great spirit in living (“Don’t go to the funeral until the day of it”) stand out.
She was Rhoda and I felt much of Rhoda’s loneliness, the Saturday night time slot on the wonderful Mary Tyler Moore Show/watching alone, adding to that.
Yet Harper as “Rhoda,” citing (in those days before call waiting), that her phone line was “open” all weekend, save midnight Saturday into Sunday, (I believe that is correct, if not, at least this is not a parking sign) when she called the operator to see if her phone was working and that being the time boyfriend “Joe” (played by David Groh) called, (hence getting a busy signal) was brilliant and a lasting memory that soothes.
Laughter is, of course, “the best medicine” and Valerie Harper provided some really good remedies.
Valerie Harper, pictured above.
Is this the year that the New England Patriots do not win the AFC East?
I doubt it, however, I do see both the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills improving, perhaps a great deal.
Maybe one of those two will improve enough to contend.
The Miami Dolphins will not be as bad as expected but are not a threat.
So New England (11-5) again and at least AFC East champions again.
Josh Gordon, pictured above when with the Cleveland Browns, is back withthe Pats, whom he helped so much in last year’s regular season, en route to the team’s 6th title.
While watching some older television shows on MeTV, I noticed the work of some fine actors in different roles and compiled a few notes.
Nancy Gates, so moving as “Ellen Benton” in “Suddenly,” which was a thrilling 1954 film, starring Frank Sinatra, was seen “jilting” Lorne Greene’s “Ben Cartwright” on “Bonanza.”
Alas, it was not that she did not love “Ben.” Additionally, one can blame her “no good” brother, however, most pertinent seems to be, as the great comedian, Buddy Hackett noted and I paraphrase–there was a paucity of sex on “The Ponderosa,” it being the fictional Cartwright’s home.
Moving up to LOVE, two “angels” Jaclyn Smith’s “Kelly” and Cheryl Ladd’s “Cris” fall for the man who would be “Bobby Ewing” on “Dallas,” Patrick Duffy, in a “Charlie’s Angels” two part episode.
In the famed film, Love Story, based on Erich Segal’s best selling book, the great actor Ray Milland is told by son, “Oliver”/ Ryan O’Neal (he was with another “angel,” one who showed her acting chops that augmented her inner and outer beauty, namely Farrah Fawcett) “love means never having to say your sorry.”
In the above referenced “Charlie’s Angels” “One Love …. Two Angels” Mr. Milland plays a character named Oliver.
Jaclyn Smith, pictured above.
The Cleveland Browns are actually the top chpice to win the AFC North crown.
I believe I know better and think somehow that will not manifest.
However, I am not that confident in any AFC North team.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are both good while the Cincinnati Bengals are not considered to be.
A wide open, mediocre record race goes to the Ravens.
Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson, pictured above.
Today, a truly classic episode of “What’s My Line?” that aired on October 18, 1959.
The immortal Gary Cooper is the guest star and spends some extra time talking with host John Charles Daly and the panel, about an upcoming trip to Moscow and having met Nikita Khrushchev.
It is great to see and hear and sixty years later, to still hope.
The panel included Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf and Anthony Perkins, who was told by all, how much his presence as a panelist, was a welcome addition.
Mr. Perkins enjoyed it and please enjoy this great episode with a great mystery guest, Gary Cooper.
Bud Grant turned 92 years old this year.
He coached the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to 4 Grey Cup/Canadian Football League crowns.
Additionally, he was a reserve player on the 1950 Minneapolis Lakers’ basketball title team.
“Mr. Grant” coached the Minnesota Vikings to eleven division titles, seven in years the fabulous “Mary Tyler Moore Show,” which was set in Minneapolis, aired.
Ed Asner played “Mr. (Lou) Grant” and in seven of the eight years the show aired in first run (1970-1977), the Vikings under Bud Grant won at least a division crown. Only in 1972 did they fail to do so.
Ed Asner, pictured above.
Somehow, some way, it is my opinion and prediction there will NOT be a 5th straight college football playoff clash between Clemson and Alabama.
I am even more confident there will Not be a fourth title game clash between the teams in the last five seasons.
Another prediction is that both Alabama and Clemson will not have undefeated regular seasons.
Let’s see what transpires, that is why, among other, perhaps better reasons, they play the games.
Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney, pictured above, has guided the Tigers (Clemson) to two national crowns. He makes “mucho dinero!”–I think more than any person ever has, coaching collegiate sports.
My prediction is that the Minnesota Vikings will win the NFC North Division.
With Aaron Rodgers return, the Green Bay Packers likely, will be serious contenders.
In my early read, I feel the defending division champion, Chicago Bears will drop a bit in the 2019 season.
The Detroit Lions could surprise. I do see them improving under former Patriots assistant coach, Matt Patricia.
Bud Grant, pictured above, turned 92 this year.
He won 11 division titles, as Vikings’ coach.
The race for the top seed in the American League between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees had another “seesaw” week (The film,”Two for the Seesaw,” with Shirley MacLaine and Robert Mitchum aired yesterday on TCM), this time, with the Astros gaining significant ground.
Two weeks ago, Houston led by a game, went (1-6) (Sunday-Saturday) including a loss in a Verlander start, with Houston, one of, if not the biggest, road favorites in memory. The Yankees went (7-1) during that period and led the ‘Stros by four and a half games, beginning play last Sunday.
A week later, Houston went (6-1) (Sunday-Saturday), their lone loss taken by Verlander, despite a 2 hit game, as the biggest game favorites in memory (over 5 to 1). The Yankees went (1-5) during that period and each team is (84-47), with Houston owning the tiebreaker.
Seesaws pictured above.
There are so few great broadcasters from the days of yore or quite frankly, period. That number decreased with the passing of Jack Whitaker, an eloquent great, at the age of 95, days back.
Jack was perhaps best known for his latter day work as an Eric Sevareid type essayist (quite the well deserved praise for Whitaker, being likened to Mr. Sevareid) on the CBS network NFL scoreboard show.
I recall Jack as an excellent, low key, not overly talkative, game/ lead announcer, most specifically working on New York Giants’ road games in the 1960’s.
Mr. Whitaker was a Philadelphia native and along with Blaine Walsh, was on the national radio broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 1960 NFL Title game win, vs the Green Bay Packers.
That game played the day after Christmas, on a Monday in 1960, was the only post-season game the Packers lost, under legendary head coach, Vince Lombardi.
Jack was subsequently part of the CBS broadcast of the first Super Bowl, also telecast by NBC, in which Lombardi’s Packers won the fourth of five NFL crowns within 7 seasons (1961-1967).
When the Dallas Cowboys finally won their first NFL title in 1971, after years of frustration under coach Tom Landry, Jack was the lead broadcaster, as the Cowboys passed their toughest post-season test en route, a win at Minnesota, vs the Vikings. That game and the famous 2 overtime Dolphins/Chiefs, later in the day, were the last NFL playoff games played on Christmas Day.
His work on the telecast was excellent, citing the Dallas history, however, not jamming it down the collective audience’s throats.
I was fortunate to be a researcher on the ABC College Football Scoreboard show when Jack was there in 1983. What a nice classy man! I have included my tribute to a good friend Beano Cook, in which I cited and praised Jack Whitaker. Click below to read it.
- Recollections of Beano Cook on October 14, 2012
Jack Whitaker, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 