Around the dial

Let's begin today's roundup at Comfort TV, where David looks back at what he calls "specialty acts," the performers that were a fixture of variety shows and other specials: Foster Brooks, Shields & Yarnell, Super Dave, and more. Good times, those.

At Cult TV Blog, John brings down the curtain on The Omega Factor with the show's final episode: a resolution of the plot lines, the biggest questions, and some loose ends that never were wrapped up. John also assesses the series as a whole. As I've said, now on my watch list.

At last year's Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention, I had the pleasure of meeting the adorable Hayley Mills, who, with her sister Juliet, were the highlights of the show for us. I mention this only as an excuse to visit Classic Film & TV Cafe, where Rick reviews one of her early adult roles in The Family Way.

It's a pleasure when Terence gets to look back at the career of a celebrity who hasn't just passed on, and this week at A Shroud of Thoughts, he remembers Karen Valentine, who came to prominence on Room 222 and was a fixture on television shows throughout the years. America's sweetheart? Well, certainly a familiar face.

"Beverly Hills Assault" may sound like an average episode of one of those Real Housewives shows that pollute the airwaves (and our culture), but rest assured, it's only this week's episode of The A-Team that Roger review at The View from the Junkyard. Sadly, it doesn't get rid of any of those shows.

Finally, as you probably noticed (because I won't stop talking about it), my new novel, The Book of Revelations, was published this week. I know that many of you follow me because of the TV content, but if you're open to contemporary fiction and are wondering how you can help your humble scribe out, here are five easy suggestions:

1. Buy the book.

2. Read the book.

3. Review the book, at Amazon or elsewhere.

4. Tell a friend.

5. Subscribe to my newsletter. 

I can promise you that you won't regret it. And I know that "promise" is a big word, but The Book of Revelations is a big book. And for me, a big deal.

Thank you for your time! TV

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Around the dial

We've got a full slate of goodness this week, so let's get right to it.

At Garroway at Large, Jodie has a wonderful look back at Today's 25th anniversary show on January 14, 1977, a classic demonstration of how a show with the history of Today should celebrate it. Dave's there, of course, with Jack Lescoulie and Frank Blair, and Pat Weaver's on hand as well. It's wonderful when a program can take advantage of having its stars still alive to celebrate a landmark occasion—and when they want to celebrate that history.

St. Valentine's Day isn't until next month, but David at Comfort TV has another Valentine in mind: Karen Valentine, who for some reason never had the success of Mary Tyler Moore, but whose body of work is more widely available now, thanks to YouTube.

At bare•bones e-zine, Jack continues his look at the Hitchcock work of Sterling Silliphant with the third-season episode "The Perfect Crime," adapted from the classic story by Ben Ray Redman, directed by Alfred Hitchcock himself, and starring Vincent Price and James Gregory. Silliphant's script makes a strange (and probably unnecessary) addition to the story, but even that can't ruin a great episode.

From Silver Scenes, a story that aired on last week's Sunday Morning on CBS, about the legendary Kim Novak and her hobby, at which she excels: painting. She's been doing it since she was a girl, and recently her work appeared in a show at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. You'll see some examples when you click on the link.

I've always enjoyed Glenn Ford's work; there's a toughness about him that I find very appealing, and that shades his portrayal of good guys, making them a little more complex than usual. This week. Rick takes a look at Ford's 1971 telefilm The Brotherhood of the Bell at Classic Film and TV Café; it's "an absorbing film that goes on too long and opts for a contrived, unbelievable ending" but survives thanks to the performances of Ford and Dean Jaggar, another favorite.

Carol Serling, widow of Rod, passed away a few days ago; it's thanks in part to her dedication that the Twilight Zone Magazine came to be. This week at The Twilight Zone Vortex, Jordan looks at the September, 1982 issue, which includes (among other things) Thomas Disch reviewing books by Philip K. Dick and Robert Heinlein, and an interview with director Paul Schraeder.

At Thrilling Days of Yesteryear, Ivan is prompted by last month's death of actress Shelley Morrison to revisit The Flying Nun, in which Morrison appeared as Sister Sixto. I was never a big fan of the show myself, but I wholeheartedly agree with Ivan's assessment that "The Flying Nun is just a solid example of why 60s TV was so wonderfully demented…and why I’ll take any of those classic shows over the inanity of “reality” television any day of the week."

Edd Byrnes, one of the stars of 77 Sunset Strip, died last week at the age of 87. Until I started watching Strip a couple of years ago, I didn't really have much on which to base an opinion of Byrnes, but I've come to have a real appreciation for him since. I enjoy the show anyway, but there seems to be just that little more spark when Kookie's part of the action. At A Shroud of Thoughts, Terence has a nice remembrance of the man and his work, which deserves to be remembered. TV