Daily Dirt: Raise your hand if you remember Eb and Arnold

Today’s edition should stir plenty of fond memories … sit back, relax and relive yesterday through today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 195 of the Daily Dirt.

1. Here are some TV shows I would like to see brought back, decade by decade:

1960s

“Green Acres”: Remember Eb the farmhand? He was one of this show’s semi-hidden gems. And how about Arnold the pig? Arnold was farmer Fred Ziffel’s “son”. Yep, this show was a special kind of special.–

“The Untouchables”: Maybe Kevin Costner as Elliot Ness in a remake of this series? Everything Costner seems to touch these days turns to gold (yes, that’s a “Yellowstone” reference.)

“Rawhide”: Ever wonder who sang the catchy theme song? It was Frankie Laine. This was the program that set the stage for Clint Eastwood becoming one of our favorite western film stars.

1970s

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”: It’s hard to believe that Mary, Mr. Grant, Ted, Murray, Sue Ann, Rhoda and so many others from this show are longer with us.

“WKRP in Cincinnati”: How could you not love a show when one of the key performers went by the name of Venus Flytrap?

“All in the Family”: Remember the famous Sammy Davis Jr. episode in February 1972 (which was exactly 50 years ago)? Sammy planted a big kiss on Archie Bunker at the end of program. That particular episode has long been hailed as one of the most memorable moments in TV history.

1980s

“Dallas”: The famous “Who Shot J.R.?” episode drew 90 mullion viewers and 76 percent of all U.S. TV sets.

“Cagney and Lacey”: For six consecutive years, the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series went to either Sharon Gless (Cagney) or Tyne Daly (Lacey). This was a great, great show, and probably my favorite of the decade.

“Married … with Children”: The program that Fox built an empire around. Long lived Al Bundy! (PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Homer Simpson would like a word. JRG)

1990s

“Seinfeld”: Always in the argument for No. 1 TV show ever.

“Beverly Hills 90210”: My kids got me hooked on this show years ago. My favorite character was Andrea Zuckerman, played by Gabrielle Cartreris.

“Ally McBeal”: You’re right, I had a major crush on Calista Flockhart.

2000s

“Breaking Bad”: Arguably, one of the top 10 programs of all-time, not to mention one of the most addictive.

“Big Bang Theory”: The last few years were rather lame, but in this show’s heyday there were few funnier — or better. 

“Cold Case”: A great cast, arguably the best overall lineup of dramatic talent on one show this decade: Kathryn Morris, John Finn, Danny Pino, Thom Barry, Jeremy Ratchford.

2010s– “The Americans”: This unique show provided insight into how the Russians infiltrated America in the 1980s with a sophisticated spy network.

“White Collar”: Longtime character actor Willie Garson, who played Mozzie on the show, recently died. Matt Bomer was the popular star of this USA Network program.

“Justified”: Though Timothy Olyphant was the star, Walton Goggins (as Boyd Crowder) may have been the most popular member of the cast.

2. The Mount Rushmore of 1970s individual male singers:

Rod Stewart: Incredibly, Rod the Mod has been sharing his music for all or parts of seven decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Most iconic song: “Maggie May” (1971).

Al Green: Rolling Stone magazine declared Green one of the “100 Greatest Artists” of all-time. No argument here.  Most iconic song: “Let’s Stay Together” (1971).

Elton John: Elton and Bernie Taupin formed one of the great songwriting teams of this or any other era. Most iconic song: “Your Song” (1970).

Barry White: The soulful White died way too early. Due to a poor diet being extremely overweight and smoking 150 cigarettes a day, White died at age 58 in 2003. Most iconic song: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love” (1974).

3. A happy late-January birthday to the following:

• Justin Timberlake: He’ll be 41 on Monday. Will we ever forget that infamous Super Bowl halftime show with Janet Jackson?
• Nolan Ryan: The Hall of Fame pitcher also has a birthday on Monday. He will be 75.
• Tom Selleck: The “Blue Bloods” star and former “Magnum P.I.” lead man turns 77 on Saturday.
• Farrah Fawcett: The former Charlie’s Angel would have been 75 on Tuesday. She died in 2009 at age 62 from complications tied to cancer.
• Sherman Hemsley: Best known as George Jefferson on “The Jeffersons,” Hemsley would have been 84 on Monday. He died at age 74 in 2012.

Steve Fact O’ The Day
Steve knows at least one song by heart from each of Rod, Al, Elton and Barry. “I’ve had the words to ‘Maggie May’ memorized since August 1971,” Steve has said on more than one occasion. “If I’m singing a song from one of the others, I’ll probably need the sheet music.”

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Do you think he’s sexy?