Around the dial

If you're old enough to remember the programs I write about each week, then you probably remember the Bobby Darin song "Beyond the Sea" That's the first thing I thought of when I read "Beyond the Sea of Death," the latest Alfred Hayes contribution to Jack's "Hitchcock Project" at bare•bones e-zine. Believe me, the similarities end there.

Next week I'll be unveiling my Christmas Gift Guide (in this era of e-commerce, there's always time!), and one of the items you can be sure is on the list—aside from my own books, of course—is When Television Brought Us Together, the new book by David Hofstede of Comfort TV. Those who read David's blog know what an astute observer of classic television and pop culture he is, and you'll find more of the same in this book. Follow the link to read what David has to say about it.

Speaking of holidays and Gift Guides, Television Obscurities has a great gift guide for that fan of the short-lived TV series. Plenty of DVDs of shows from all eras, shows that shouldn't be overlooked; additionally, some really good books that include details on many of those same shows. 

I've never driven a sports car and I don't know that I ever want to--for one thing, I don't know if I'd fit in one. Be that as it may, I like looking at them, and in that regard, I have something in common with Dave Garroway, as we can see in this piece by Jodie at Garroway at Large. 

At A Shroud of Thoughts, Terence has a handy guide to Christmas movies on TCM this month. Some of them are favorites that you watch every year, but there are others that don't immediately come to mind when you think about holiday flicks. If you get TCM, you'll want to keep this bookmarked.

An interesting question: why has The Twilight Zone survived for so many years when other programs from the era haven't? I'd wager there are some markets where the show's been on in syndication ever since it went off the air. One-time TZ writer Earl Hamner Jr. has some ideas, as Paul recounts at Shadow & Substance.

Abby Dalton, whom I remember from the revamped Joey Bishop Show as well as having been one of the originals on The Hollywood Squares, died this week at age 88. The Hollywood Reporter has the story, as well as a look back at her long and successful television career.

Finally, let's end with some video. Courtesy of Terry Teachout's About Last Night, here's a rare clip from the pre-Johnny Carson Tonight Show: a nearly 13 minute long standup routine by Lenny Bruce, with host Steve Allen at the end.  TV