It is the class, eloquence, humor and most of all, the friendliness in our meetings, that I cherish most about pioneer TV presence (not thrilled with what he preceded and in a sense “begat”), Phil Donahue, a true great, who died days back at age 88.
I was privileged to hear a special talk Mr. Donahue gave, about seven years back, in which he talked of his historic early days in Dayton, Ohio, the fact Vivian Maier, now posthumously, a “flocked to her exhibition” photographer worked briefly as Phil’s housekeeper, his trip to China and most candidly and memorably, his family, especially his beautiful and beloved wife, actress/actor, Marlo Thomas.
Above, there I am with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas some years back.
Before that meeting, I now realize was in 2017, I had asked Phil about “his” Cubs finally winning it all, having denied Cleveland in 7 games with the last going into extra innings. He remarked it being a bit “mixed” as he was from Cleveland, whose then Indians and now Guardians, have gone over 75 years sans title.
Just then Phil’s phone rang with ever loving (their “meeting” on one of Phil’s early shows is so touching, especially since it eventually proved substance in addition to style) Marlo checking on him.
I also was present at a conference circa 2010 in which Donahue, spoke eloquently and passionately about the need for people to do better and be more caring and understanding.
His shows certainly broke ground and did bring into conversation topics that needed to be addressed.
Some “extras” today as additional and up front ways of remembering this fine, talented and in most ways blessed man.
This is the 21st year in which it is possible for a team to win the World Series 100 years after winning a previous one.
There were no World Series played 90 years apart in 1904 and 1994, hence there have been 20 previous possibilities (W.S. play began in 1903) and only once, the 2018 Boston Red Sox accomplished the feat.
In the Red Sox case, that 1918 title made them (5-0) in World Series competition, however that was followed by an 86 year title drought.
Since the drought ended with Boston’s 2004 title, 101 years after the franchise won the first W.S. they added crowns in 2007, 2013 and the aforementioned 2018 title.
100 years ago, the Washington Senators won their only title. They became the Minnesota Twins, moving to Minnesota in ’61, who despite dissipating a (4-0) lead in a loss yesterday, denying them a chance for a 4 game sweep of the defending champion Texas Rangers (they were the second incarnation of the Washington Senators, as a 1961 expansion team), are very likely to at least, be qualifiers for the baseball tournament.
Texas is managed by four time W.S. winner Bruce Bochy, who often gets “ga ga” reviews and while titles, if anything matters in sports, look at Bochy’s team records in the following seasons.
Bochy’s Rangers are 11 under .500 (57-68), 11 behind Houston in their 1/8 “div.”
Herold “Muddy” Ruel, pictured above, scored the winning run B12/game 7 for “Wash” to win the 1924 World Series vs the New York Giants.
I had watched an episode of Gunsmoke on “TV Land” that guest starred Morgan Woodward and Joan Van Ark, as father and daughter.
My thoughts turned to their Dallas/Knots Landing history.
Both shows were monster hits on the CBS network. Mrs. Paley, the wife of CBS chairman William Paley, loved “Gunsmoke” and it ran for 20 years.
Dallas, my favorite, made world news when it was revealed “Who Shot J.R.” in 1980. I was told a pilot made an announcement as to the culprit’s identity on a flight that Friday night in November.
Ms. Van Ark, whom I recall fondly as a big basketball fan and presenter at the first Sports Emmys Award win for Bob Costas in 1988, played “Valene Ewing” on both the “Dallas” and “Knots Landing” TV Shows.
Mr. Woodward, a veteran of 19 Gunsmoke episodes, played Marvin “Punk” Anderson on Dallas. He also is recalled fondly as a resounding, ominous presence behind tinted glasses, in the movie “Cool Hand Luke.”
Morgan Woodward, an ominous presence in “Cool Hand Luke.”
There are so few left and so few were as gifted, classy, beautiful inside and out as Gena Rowlands, a superb actor/actress, who died days back, at age 94.
She teamed with her great actor/director/independent film achiever, John Cassavetes in such seminal films as “Gloria” and “A Woman Under The Influence.”
Her performance in “Gloria,” one I first saw in the early days of cable/uninterrupted television in 1980, was spellbinding and truly resonates to this day.
Ms. Rowlands collaborated with her son NIck Cassavetes in “The Notebook,” another highly acclaimed film.
Recently I posted about her turn in an “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” episode, one of 4 in which Ms. Rowlands appeared, and that will be shown below.
She died surrounded by her family including husband, Robert “Bob” Forrest
An extraordinary woman and with John Cassavetes, a real great she went mostly independent, perhaps making less quantity, but certainly great quality!
The magnificent Gena Rowlands, pictured above.
I cite Ms. Rowlands early in the post below.
“Doubtful Doctor”/ “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” Notes
This is a testament, not really a review.
However in reading such, I agree to reveal little if anything, about the plot of “Job” (at the Hayes Theater 240 West 44th Street,through September 29th) this wall to wall, superb acting/writing/direction, tense thriller, would diminish your enjoyment and I highly recommend the “you’s” out there see “Job.” It is a superb, riveting production.
Both Paul Friedman and Sydney Lemmon give superb performances.
The writing and story, again so intense from as might be said, “bell to bell” is magnificent. That came from Max Wolf Friedlich and the director, also so good is Michael Horwitz.
Sydney Lemmon is the granddaughter of the great, great Jack Lemmon and some notes/coincidences will arise here in the future.
Once, circa the early 90’s, I asked Mr. Lemmon to compare the to be released “Glengarry Glen Ross,” in which he had a major part, with one of my favorites, “Save The Tiger,” for which Lemmon earned a best actor “Ac” Award.
He answered eloquently and precisely and this “flashed” as I watched an exchange of generational attitudes, between Peter Friedman and Sydney Lemmon. I thought back to a similar, highly animated “discussion” between Jack Lemmon and Laura Heineman in “Tiger.”
One thing for sure Lemmon and Friedman are superb in “Job” and I highly recommend seeing it.
Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman, are pictured top left to right.
Click below for more information, including that involving tickets purchases.
JOB THE PLAY | OFFICIAL BROADWAY SITE
I believe it was in 1988, at a senior golf tournament, called the Commemorative, from which, I have such nice memories of Chi Chi Rodriguez, the talented, outgoing and charitable pro golfer, (can’t wait for golf is said as on ), who died last week at age 88.
My friend and one time CBS cameraman, Tony Ancona conducted the interview and few have ever come off, as lively and sincere, as Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, in that interview.
He talked about playing all the times he was asked and colorfully and emphatically emphasized “practice, practice, practice,” when asked by Tony, how amateur or weekend golfers could improve on the course.
Most of all, I remember Mr. Rodriguez talking of what one leaves behind, what he gave back when that is asked, upon his death.
Now that it came, surely what Chi Chi left behind for all, especially those in his native Puerto Rico, is staggering.
Maybe he and Tony, another giving, good man are hitting some in a better place.
The great Chi Chi Rodriguez, pictured above.
The New York Yankees clinched their 26th American League Pennant, with a win at Baltimore (Orioles) (the teams entered play today, with Baltimore a fraction of a game ahead in a “one eighth division” race) on September 20, 1961.
That game is best known for the Ford Frick deadline imposed (otherwise an asterisk and as cited here before, cited by Dick Van Dyke as “Rob Petrie” to his son “Richie” played by Larry Mathews on the Dick Van Dyke Show) deadline, that if Roger Maris did not pass the Babe’s 60 HRS, within that, the Yankees’ 154th game, an asterisk would be placed next to his name in the record book, if he exceeded the Babe’s 60 home runs, the number Ruth hit in 1927.
In the tilt, Maris hit his 59th home run, passing greats, Jimmy Foxx and Hank Greenberg and joining Babe Ruth, who also hit 60, as the only players to hit 59 home runs in a season.
Phil Rizzuto, who called #59 so well on radio, once told me in an interview of the drama inducing “headache types” produced on his great calls of Roger’s 61st home run 10 days later in ’61 and Chris Chambliss’ ’76 HR, that yielded the Yankees’ 30th Pennant.
As with Superman, when he split into 2, I had help with the fact, it was just after Rizzuto, in the middle innings that 9/20/61, said it would be the Yankees’ 26th pennant, that he intoned “on deck” (for Baltimore) “is Whitey Herzog.”
Yes, that Dorel “Whitey” Herzog, against his managed Kansas City Royals, that the Yankees ended a 12 year pennant drought, winning that 30th such, clinched on Chambliss’ B9, game ending solo home run.
The Yankees won pennants 31 and 32 and titles 21 and 22, the next 2 seasons, again defeating Herzog’s Royals in highly competitive ALCS.
Try this one as 12 teams in the ‘offs/2024 baseball drags on.
I have 4 examples of teams winning their last crown the number of years ago, with said team winning at least the pennant that number year.
Surely examples are needed.
All 4 won pennants but only one won the World Series in that #’d year.
The Detroit Tigers last title was 40 years ago and they were 7’d in the 1940 World Series by the Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati also won the 1919 World Series vs the White Sox, whose last crown was 19 years ago in 2005.
The Minnesota Twins nee Washington Senators won it all most recently 33 years ago in 1991.
As the Senators, “Wash” lost to the New York Giants in the 1933 World Series.
Only the Chicago Cubs, who ended a 108 year title drought, winning a 7 game World Series from the then Indians (now the Guardians, still sans a crown since ’48 and whose one eighth “div” lead has been cut to just one and a fraction games over the Twins) 8 years ago won the numbered year World Series as their last previous crown had been achieved in 1908.
Who but me, and all this to avoid talk of the “shooting fish in a barrel”/very lucky U.S. Men’s team winning by just 4 points vs Serbia, which was “Siberia-ish” in shooting when it counted most.
The great player, Ed Roush, pictured above, felt and I believe justifiably, that his 1919 champion Reds would have won vs the White Sox whether the “Chi” team played all out or not.
Cincinnati did win and that is the point.
The great memories of the superb running back Duane Thomas’ actions both on and off the field, especially that which “evidently”/did occur after the 6th Supe, can be discussed many ways.
I praise them as great, this day after Duane died at age 77.
If it is the ultimate game referring to the so hyped Super Bowl, “why do they play it every year,” “he queried. For that alone, praise to you Mr. Thomas and those “doubtingThomas” (pun intended)–check reality and football’s way too much hold on this, as my father, who truly liked football, called it long ago, “duped” U.S. public.
On the field, two superb Duane Thomas seasons, those in ’70 and ’71, each year a Cowboys’ great winning streak, respectively leading to a conference and finally at long last an NFL crown in a (24-3) win vs Miami (Dolphins)–they would win the next 2 and none since—in the 6th Super Bowl.
After that game, that fine day in “The Year of Garcia” (Rod in the Rose Bowl and high school classmate Vin’s Cowboys, and “my” Lakers and Bruins winning titles), Tom Brookshier of CBS prepared to interview Duane, who was accompanied by the great Jim Brown.
A picture/video is worth so many words, especially mine, though I do not hesitate to praise this action, on so many levels. Perhaps it can be seen below.
Above in heaven, as James Lipton said if it exists and at the so called “pearly gates,” no need for Duane to be “nervous,” (he rarely if ever was) and a good thought is Brookshier Jim and Duane gathering in some way, all in certain agreement, regarding the great, albeit brief football and sociological greatness of Duane Thomas.
Here it is, Duane and Jim appear at the 7 minute mark.
The opening picture (left to right) is that of a pair of greats at what they did, broadcaster Pat “Super” Summerall and quarterback Roger Staubach.
At the end, the greatest of television football broadcasters, Ray Scott calls Duane’s TD run that gave Dallas a (17-3) lead with Mike Clark’s subsequent point after touchdown conversion.
On radio, I wish I could find it, another great broadcaster, Bill Mercer the Cowboys’ “voice,” delineates the 5 to the 3 and touchdown, the proper and great call of Duane’s TD.
So much of it gone, I heard Harlan making a mockery of radio broadcast cannons, but as in “The Boys of Summer” “Don’t look back” as all, more than “gained on us,” and I do not mean Bob Gain.
The great Duane Thomas, pictured above.
Of course citing the White Sox loss skein and other factors including those that made “Chi” a growing underdog manifested in the White Sox win at Oakland last night, which snapped their A.L. record tying 21 game losing streak (O’s in ’88 to start the season).
Elsewhere, last week Blake Snell authored a no-hit game while last night Framber Valdez was denied his second career such game, when ‘2024 World Series MVP Corey Seager unloaded a 2 out/2RHR in the “still’ Astros win (4-2) vs Texas.
Only Don Wilson, who died far too young among the so many excellent Astros’ pitchers, has hurled 2 no-hit games with that franchise.
Andy B Sports 