DAY 146: The Real McCoys

Series Run : 1957-1963

224 episodes

Network: ABC/CBS

Series Premise (as far as I can tell):

Farmers from West Virginia move to Californy (thats what they called it)

Episode Watched: The New Well (Season 2)

Episode Summary: A new well has to be dug and Amos uses his trusty Diviner Rod to locate a place to dig, even though the kids would prefer the scientific approach from the local geologist.

My Thoughts: Two things leapt out at me as I watched this show, first: THEY MADE 224 EPISODES OF THIS! and secondly, “Is that really Richard Crenna?”. The show is actually a vehicle for Walter Brennan, who plays the curmudgeon patriarch backwoods farmer extremely well. Everything about his performance from costume, to the way he walks and talks is spot on. What is strangely out-of-place for me, as having only memories of Richard Crenna as Rambo’s commanding officer and bad guy from Summer Rental, is a folksy, southern voiced Richard Crenna as Amos’ son. If ever there was a before/after commercial about the dangers of smoking, Richard Crenna as Luke vs. Richard Crenna as Col. Trautman should scare anyone from smoking. As for the show itself, its extremely wholesome and non offensive. For the farmers out there in the audience I am sure it appealed to their lifestyles and their view of what Californy must be like. Whatever the reason, it was popular for over 6 years and 200 episodes, and while not particularly memorable, it isn’t that bad either.

  Memorable Quotes:

“The only thing backing up that big mouth of yours is an empty head” -George

“The stick don’t lie!” -Amos

“You gotta be sick, you’re too easy to get along with” – George

Acting Notables:

Walter Brennan- Amos

Richard Crenna- Luke

Kathy Nolan- Kate

Michael Winkelman- Little Luke

Tomorrow: Pre-Catwoman Julie Newmar, she plays a robot

DAY 18: Our Miss Brooks

Series Run : 1952-1956

130 episodes

Series Premise (as far as I can tell):

The life of teacher and 1950’s woman, Miss Brooks

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Episode Watched: Home Cooked Meal (Season 3)

Episode Summary: After almost killing her principal in a freezer, Miss Brooks decides to cook dinner for her crush, Mr. Boynton, and through a series of mishaps winds up almost killing the principal again.

My Thoughts: I love watching these shows from the 1950’s, the medium was so new it seems each show was trying to figure it out as they went along. In this case Our Miss Brooks, was making the transition from a succesful radio show to a tv show. The show itself was somewhat succesful on TV, running 4 years, and even had a movie made of the same name, however it is clear when you watch that they were still running off the old radio scripts, as the dialogue is delivered at a very specific pace and little movement on-screen. That being said, it has some funny jokes, and is a template for what I love Lucy was, or was going to be, which is interesting since this was produced by Desilu productions. The episode relies on accidental mistakes by Miss Brooks, leading to bad outcomes for her principal and love interest. Most notably, accidentally locking the principal in a walk in freezer, which in the 50’s meant you would come out of the freezer looking like a snowman when finally rescued. Not a bad effort for an early entrant into the tv realm. By far the moist notable thing is a 100% unrecognizable Richard Crenna as one of Miss Brooks favorite students, his look, voice and demeanor will remind you nothing of the grizzled actor I saw on-screen during the 80s. Either he is a fantastic actor, or smoking really does change a person.

Memorable Quotes:

“Its the old story, every silver lining has a cloud.”-Walter

“When YOU were in your teens, there weren’t many stars on the flag”-Miss Brooks

“After marriage, all a girl needs is a good lipstick and a can opener”-Mrs. Davis

Acting Notables:

Eve Arden- Miss Brooks

Gale Gordon- Mr. Conklin (the principal)

Richard Crenna- Walter

Tomorrow: Intriguing name, awful show