Sesame Street – I Believe in Little Things

Perhaps one of Sesame Street’s smartest decisions was to utilize the brilliant talents of composer Joe Raposo, who was responsible for many of the show’s most memorable  numbers. Raposo gave us, his young audience, songs that were gentle and soothing yet at the same time intriguingly melancholy. And that is nowhere more apparent than in our first clip, “I Believe in Little Things.” I can imagine lesser kid’s shows giving us some bouncy yet shallow little ditty cheering, “Hooray for little things! ::clap clap::” But not Sesame Street. Here Raposo chose the more earnest “I believe in little things” with an almost worrying edge to it, as though he’s speaking for something he fears would otherwise go tragically unnoticed or undermined.

This song is also brave enough to tell children the truth; in life “flowers die.” Not everything is happy. But it doesn’t leave us with no hope. We are comforted to know that those same flowers “will come back again whenever it’s July.” Life goes in cycles and without the bad, there can be no good.

Sesame Street – Who Am I?

This next Sesame Street clip frequently aired during my childhood, featuring the lovely voice of the late Alaina Reed Hall (who also played Olivia on the show).  Another thing I’ve always  admired about Old School Sesame Street was its willingness to get out into the real world with real people (as opposed to the sterile, Stepford inspired sets of other kid’s shows). As a born and bred suburbanite, one of the few places I could be exposed to scenes of fields of grain, tractors, cows and open skies for kite flying…was Sesame Street. It reminds me of a lyric from another retro kids show, Today’s Special: “Without ever leaving, I’ve been everywhere. I’ve been to those lands cause you’ve taken me there….the things I remember, you’ve given me these. Yes you, you make my memories.” That really demonstrates the awesome power, and heavy responsibility, all kid’s shows possess.

Now  needless to say the story of A Christmas Carol  has been done to death. We know the plot, we know the characters and we all know what’s going to happen at the end. Many adaptations over the years have tried to get around this by incorporating some other franchise’s beloved character, such as Mr. Magoo or Mickey Mouse. Or putting a modern spin on the story such as 1988′s Scrooged or…pretty much any Christmas Lifetime movie! And such gimmicks have been very successful at introducing Dickens’ story to new generations.

The Stingiest Man in Town doesn’t have any flashy franchise mascots (though it did stick in a charming “Humbug” character voiced by Tom Bosley for narration and comic relief). Nor does it try to change the story’s setting or time period to appeal to a hip, jaded crowd. What it does have is a rather ambitious soundtrack which dares to explore the characters’ psyches in ways most adaptations have rarely dared. Dickens’ original dialogue is put to effective use in one hard-hitting number where Scrooge’s cruel words are thrown back at him. Jacob Marley’s eternal punishment is sung in spooky but effective detail.

But it’s not all spooks and scoldings. There’s plenty for the kiddies too, but even then the songs are quite thought-provoking. At one point Tiny Tim is going through his “I’m not sure Santa is real” phase and his family’s answer isn’t your typical parental platitude of “Yes of course Santa’s a real guy” response. Instead, he’s described as “a spirit in the world of generosity” who exists “as long as hearts can realize how good it feels to give.”  In other words, Santa is real as long as we, the parents and children, follow his example of generosity in our lives.

Personally I think this is a much better lesson to teach doubting kids than just breaking it to them that Dad’s the one whose been eating the cookies. After all, why do we tell kids about Santa in the first place? Just to mess with them? Well yes, but it’s also to introduce them to someone who cares enough about them to give. And that message of generosity shouldn’t have to end just because they found out he’s “not real.”

1. “Yes, There is a Santa Claus”

Later on, Scrooge is regretting his cruel rejection of his nephew Fred’s present: “He gave me a gift…and I tossed it away…I never understood such things.” At that point, our comic relief character demonstrates (in song of course) that gifts have been an important part of Christmas from the start, when three kings offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a newborn baby born in humble surroundings. Now of course as a kid I was taught the Nativity story and how we give gifts is to commemorate the kings’ kind gestures. But frankly I think something’s been lost in translation over the years. Gold is certainly valuable but it’s not what kids ask for at Christmas time (unless the latest Barbie doll or video game is gold encrusted or something!). And we didn’t even know what myrrh or frankincense were (though I figured the latter had something to do with that monster guy)! Bottom line, it’s a hard part of the story to identify with.

And our comic relief friend agrees; these gifts were nice but it’s not what Jesus was about. This was an all-powerful deity who chose to express his love for human beings by becoming one himself. And though he could have come as a King with material wealth, he instead chose the form of a child born into poverty who only desires one thing… “a heart that really loves him.” And that is what is truly important at Christmastime or any time, no matter what our beliefs: the least and most vulnerable among us who just need to know they are not forgotten in this world. : )

2. “The Birthday Party of the King”

As a child I didn’t fully appreciate or recognize these complex messages in a quasi anime children’s cartoon. But I was drawn in by the endearing characters and gorgeous music and that’s what motivated me to seek it out again years later, only to learn something new from something old. And that’s what nostalgia’s all about.

Happy Holidays!

And here we are at Round 3 of Classic Christmas commercials! Now this ad may win the award for briefest and most random explanation of Christmas ever: “All children behave…Reindeer fly…” I mean I can just picture some writer going, “OK, describe Christmas in under 10 seconds! Uh…uh…well children have to behave! And uh….uh…oh yeah reindeer fly! That’s it!” I mean if you had no idea what Christmas was, the whole idea would seem insane! But then again what holiday tradition doesn’t sound a bit odd? This is also the holiday where it’s considered charming for an old bearded guy to break into your home!

But that aside, this commercial does manage to be quite atmospheric (even if the music at the end sounds like a tropical jungle for some reason!). And it’s just a nice, fanciful way of getting a simple message across: “It’s Christmas and we’re bringing out the holiday packaging!” End of story, no big deal. True this may be one of the weirdest holiday commercials I’ve ever seen, but one that definitely deserves a cherished place in nostalgia lore.

OK here we go, Round 2 of Classic Christmas Commercials! Now in truth I’ve never been to an Eat ‘n Park (a Restaurant chain located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia). Actually, the first time I’d even heard of one was through this commercial on YouTube! In fact I’m not even sure I get it, shouldn’t it be Park and THEN Eat?? Nevertheless, I have to compliment them on a truly sweet and inspirational commercial. It really represents what the holidays mean to me, a chance to have my spirits “lifted” during difficult times. I admit I am occasionally prone to depression. Doubting myself, worrying about things, walking past the same old store windows everyday.

But during the holidays, suddenly those windows are lit up with bright lights, idyllic winter vignettes and the reflection of the consumers’ delighted expressions. Nearby a Salvation Army worker rings a bell, offering you the opportunity to make a difference for the less fortunate. And suddenly my problems don’t seem so insurmountable. I think that’s why holidays are so important, they serve as a welcome “lift” from reality and a reminder to think beyond ourselves.

P.S. OK I just found out why it’s called Eat ‘n Park, as opposed to Park ‘n Eat. According to their official website:

“Logically, a customer parked first then ate — either in or out of the restaurant. However, in the late 1940′s, “Park & Eat” was as common a sight as “Drive Thru” is today and could not be copyrighted.”

Well, now I’ve learned something new! Aren’t the holidays great? ;D

7UP…and Nintendo…and Toys “R” Us…

How many brand names does it take to make a classic Christmas commercial? An impressive three, according to our first spot. You have the mischievous 7Up Spots dragging along a Nintendo Game Boy, that they apparently bought from Toys “R” Us! But wait! We have to tie this cavalcade of commercialism into Christmas somehow! Sure we’ve got a cute little rendition of “O Christmas Tree” playing in the background, but what does that have to do wi….Ahhh I see! While two of our spotty friends were busy spending their 7Up inheritance on Tetris games, the wiser Spot #3 was working hard at home, shaping a 7Up liter bottle label into a Christmas tree (good thing it’s green!) which even lights up on cue!

Personally, I think if they’d really tried, they could have stuffed even more classic brand names into this ad. Perhaps the Spots could have brought in a McDLT to eat with the soda. Or had play fights with their Thundercats action figures. And then take an instant photo of it all with their new Polaroid Captiva!

Well The Muppets (2011) is a very good step in the right direction. Is it as good as the original Muppet Movie from 1979? No (though to be fair, nothing ever will be ). The Muppets (2011)  is more like a very ambitious and high budgeted fan fiction put to screen. The effort and love put into this project is evident throughout. There are many moments where Kermit & Company are their old selves again, achieving a unique combination of laughter and poignancy as they struggle to save their long neglected theater.

For anyone who’s already seen it (SPOILERS)….

……..I think  my favorite part was Gonzo’s first scene, where it seems he’s become a cold suit-wearing businessman with no interest in getting the Muppets back together. But eventually, after a little prompting from Camilla, he’s convinced to show his true colors….or in this case one of his classic tacky stunt outfits. “I’ve been wearing this under my suit for years!” Lol, Now THIS is the Gonzo I remember from my childhood. It almost felt like a reassurance that the Muppets still have it, despite the set backs over the years.

And best of all, this film pays excellent tribute to the fans who have stayed loyal (many for as long as they can remember!). This is accomplished through a new addition to the Muppet family, Walter. Like many of us, Walter was enamored with The Muppets from the first time he saw them on the small screen. Gonzo’s weirdo stunts, Fozzie’s unbearable jokes, Piggy’s “Hi-yahh!’s”, Scooter’s youthful exuberance, and of course, Kermit’s ability to hold it all together. Walter’s a fan, like we all are. But like many of us, Walter paid the price for his good taste, often subjected to teasing and humiliation from his peers for daring to like something so seemingly childish. Or worse, ::gulp:: old. Sadly, we’ve all been there. The school yard isn’t exactly a haven for individuality.

But Walter doesn’t let the teasing get him down. He stays loyal to the Muppets and is even instrumental in arranging their comeback. I believe this serves as an inspiration to kids everywhere who don’t follow the crowd. Too often today we send the message that a child needs to change his/herself in order to avoid the wrath of the bullies. That may seem to work in the short-term, but in the long-term, what message are we sending? Let the bullies win? Keep your individuality a secret? That’s not a lesson I’d want my kids to learn. And ultimately it doesn’t even work. Bullies know when they’ve gotten to you and that’s how they continue to thrive.

In my experience, if you stay faithful to what’s important to you, many bullies will respect you more. No not all of them, but life will never be without conflict. The Muppets faced their share of bullies too. But they taught us how to deal with them….by having a giant Animal crash through the roof, making your enemies scatter!

Or in other words, by embracing your individuality, rather than hiding it. For a lesson we’re all badly in need of, I recommend giving The Muppets (2011) its chance to inspire new generations who aren’t afraid to be themselves.

P.S. And even if this movie isn’t perfect. If it manages to encourage parents to introduce their kids to the Muppets, then it’s done its job.

Here’s a previous entry, my tribute to Muppet performer, Richard Hunt: http://herald7.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/richard-hunt-1951-1992/

And a review of a long lost Muppet treasure: http://herald7.wordpress.com/2007/06/11/5/

Macy’s Snoopy Plushie

In this case the contradiction is the transition from parade to profit. Here we see Snoopy from the Peanuts comic strip go from looming parade float to cuddly shopping bag stuffer! When you saw these limited time toys on the shelves you knew the holidays were around the corner. For $50 plus dollars you could take your holiday garbed Snoopy home and make all your other plushies jealous!

What really makes this commercial for me though is the charmingly drawn illustration of the Macy’s store with the imposing Snoopy balloon silhouette  floating by. I can easily see it as a prequel to the original Peanuts Thanksgiving special, perhaps titled, “You Missed the Parade (Again!), Charlie Brown!”

Carvel Thanksgiving Ice Cream Cake 

Of course the running gag of Thanksgiving is that its cute lovable animal mascot, the Turkey, is something we carve up, throw in an oven and proceed to gorge on! We put adorable stuffed Turkey plushies on our end tables, then lick our lips at delectable stuffed Turkey thighs! It’s not a subject we’re comfortable thinking about to say the least, so we typically cover it up with humor, as this commercial so expertly demonstrates. We hear our narrator taunting a poor turkey with disturbing images of a freakishly boneless bird that’s “easy to carve.” Woooo! But it’s OK, turns out our boneless wonder actually makes its home in the frozen dessert section of the supermarket and is in fact a very scrumptious looking Carvel ice cream cake in the shape of a turkey! Ah! : D

Frankly I think this was a brilliant idea and I wonder why it hasn’t caught on more. I suppose it’s because ice cream is thought of as a sort of low brow dessert not suitable for formal holiday gatherings. But when you think about it, the first Thanksgiving was about being thankful for what they had, not how fancy it was. It’s easy nowadays to lose sight of that. But perhaps this is the year to get back to our roots. If nothing else, for the sake of the turkey.

Still, one thing did stand out to me. A suggestion of soothing music to relax yourself enough to be able to write. Now personally I was skeptical, and many of my friends agreed, that music would be a distraction more than anything else. Sighing, I decided to resume my seemingly fruitless search for advice. However, I started thinking, there were a handful of musical pieces in my playlist that I would specifically characterize as “soothing.” Most of them were pretty unusual and could be interesting to analyze. Why don’t I try writing about them?!

Well I did, so here we go! My own personal Top 7 selection of “Soothing Songs.”

1. “Listen” by Tears for Fears

Now our first choice, “Listen,” is an instrumental little ditty off the 1985 Tears for Fears album, Songs From the Big Chair. Tears for Fears was of course a very popular New Wave band of the 1980′s, known for tackling thought-provoking issues, such as child neglect and nuclear war.

I always think this song’s “nebulous, dreamy sound”* would have been the ideal soundtrack for an ’80s Fantasy film, as we watch our eager young hero ascend the sleek, silver staircase of some crystalline world. Or perhaps grimly surveying the ruins of a post apocalyptic future. Tears for Fears’ primary songwriter Roland Orzabal once described “Listen” as expressing  “a sense of loss, I think….a social anxiety shared by many people [about] the whole nuclear threat.” At times the music itself seems lost, fearful, almost despairing of finding some mislaid desire. A lost sense of security perhaps, which many at the time feared would never return…

2. Big Wednesday – Morning Glass Riders

Morning Glass. Described as “the most peaceful thing you will ever experience” (Surfinghandbook.com), it refers to the time of day when the sea surface is smooth, with no wind to disturb surfers on their rides. In 1978, director John Milius paid charming tribute to this ritual in the film Big Wednesday, starring Jan Michael Vincent, William Katt (The Greatest American Hero of my previous Blog entry) and Gary Busey as three best friends whose carefree surfer lives are shattered by world events and the unforgiving passage of time.

Surfers in TV and movies are often reduced to a rather unflattering stereotype of tanned, dumb blond whose vocabulary is largely limited to “Radical, dude!”  In contrast, Big Wednesday attempted to present a more balanced glimpse into the soul of a surfer from the  1960′s. We learned about friendships and loyalty within a largely solitary sport,  and their feelings on a world racked by social change.

And of course, we learn about Morning Glass. Our heroes, and their world, are truly the envy of  land locked children everywhere. Ground breaking cinematography lets us get up close and personal with the waves, which we imagine are nice and cold and refreshing, while at the same time daunting and intimidating. We’re in awe of how human beings are able to master the ocean in this way, while still showing respect for its power. The simple, easy-going guitar accompaniment lets us know all is well and we all wish we had this kind of serenity in our lives, even if it can’t last forever.

3. Sesame Street – How Milk is Made 

If you’re a fan of Old School Sesame Street, you probably best remember this clip as the infamous “Cow Film.” Often derided  as dull, repetitive and looooooong (not to mention repetitive), the “Cow Film” occupies an uneasy place in nostalgia history.

Still, I think this film has gotten a bad rap over the years; there are many fascinating aspects to analyze. Sesame Street of course was greatly inspired by TV commercials in the early days, which is precisely the reason for the film’s seeming repetitiveness. Successful commercials are a clever blend of entertainment and manipulation. Drill the message into the audience’s heads (in this case “Milk Comes From Cows”), and they will remember (even when they’d prefer not to!). Indeed, the film’s voice over is reminiscent of the typical 70′s TV commercial narrator (You half expect him to say, “The next time you see a cow, remember, Drink Borden’s!”).

Plus the “Cow Film” is a nice reminder of a time when Television wasn’t always about the quick edit and allowed a few moments for the children in the audience (and their parents) to breeeath.  This is encapsulated by the film’s tranquil yet catchy jingle, “Hey Cow, I See You Now,” guaranteed to send your little one to sleep, dreaming of millions of milk cartons riding down the assembly line, courtesy of that “nice, warm, friendly animal, the cow.” : )

4. Flight of the Navigator – End Credits Suite

If any children’s film deserves the heralded label of cult classic, it’s Disney’s 1986 live action flick, Flight of the Navigator. By all rights it should have been dismissed as yet another obvious E.T. rip-off of the ’80s. And yet, 25 years later, there’s no denying it, Flight of the Navigator remains very much loved and beloved by its now grown up fans. But why? Why would yet another story about a boy befriending a lost alien and battling evil scientists have a chance at remaining relevant?

Certainly it’s due in part to the characters themselves. The boy, David, is natural and not spouting off obnoxious catch phrases every two minutes. The adult villains are intelligent yet vindictive and not played as laughable, easily defeatable morons. Similarly, the parents are concerned rather than clueless. The alien character, Max, strays a bit into catch phrase territory, but is also genuinely funny and develops a great rapport with David, as they go from enemies to friends. Realizing they’re about to be separated at the end, David asks, “Max, will I ever see you again?” Though the puppet itself is fairly limited (with a blank screen for a face), we are genuinely moved by Max’s simple bowing of the head and plaintive reply, “…I don’t know.” Bottom line, Flight of the Navigator didn’t condescend to its audience and we recognized that.

But another reason the film has remained so popular is its soundtrack. It truly represents the best of ’80s synthesizer music, creating an other worldly atmosphere that still has a firm grasp on reality. It easily transitions from a montage of frisbee loving dogs to a giant spaceship trying to avoid the San Fransisco Bridge’s cables. And let’s not forget the music video cameo of Blancmange’s “Lose Your Love.” Anytime that clip is on YouTube, the great majority of comments aren’t about the band, or the song, but rather some form of, “Hey, that’s from Flight of the Navigator!…I loved that movie!” If that’s not cult classic, I don’t know what is.

5. The Fabric of Our Lives – Cotton Incorporated Commercial (Clip below, saving for dramatic purposes )

I once read a very excellent book by Jonathan Price called The Best Thing on TV: Commercials, which analyzed the essence of a successful TV advertisement. Price corrects the notion that the job of a commercial is merely to provide information. Because when you think about it, if that were true, instead of TV commercials we’d have PowerPoint presentations! I can just imagine how that would go in the case of Cotton Incorporated:

But of course we don’t have that, because in fact commercials don’t merely give information. Rather, commercials set out to connect a product, in this case cotton, with an emotion. And according to Price, one emotion advertisers love to toy with is our nostalgia for the past; a simpler time in our lives when we could turn to Mom and Dad for protection and comfort. We like familiarity, people, places and things that seem to have been in our lives forever. Like visiting your old house many years later to discover how little, or how much, has changed. And it doesn’t always have to be a “happy” moment in our lives. It could be a wistful, quiet moment at dawn or dust as we remember the past or contemplate daunting choices in the present.

Anyway, put it all together…and instead of a PowerPoint slide, we get this…

I’m not sure how much we learned about cotton, the fabric, from this commercial. But, in theory, we begin to incorporate said cotton within the fabric of our wistful, nostalgia loving lives.

6. Publix – The Last Train Home Holiday Commercial

Of course nothing says soothing nostalgia like a good old-fashioned holiday commercial. The thing about yuletide advertisements is that they’re generally a pleasant practice in wishful thinking. As much as we love the holiday season, we also know it’s going to be racked with traffic jams through snow drifts and stressful dinner preparations.

But with TV commercials, we can have the holiday we’ve always wanted. Instead of a mind numbing, frustrating traffic jam, we can imagine ourselves curling up with a blanket on a quiet, mellow train ride through snow-capped hills and forests. We hear the hurried rush of the train, echoing our excitement and anticipation, coupled with a relaxed, leisurely guitar drawl to represent the ease and comfort of family together for the holidays.

Meanwhile, Grandma and Grandpa are at home waiting for you, bustling up a…..surprisingly elegant holiday dinner, complete with basted turkey, stuffed peppers, shrimp cocktail, Oyster Rockefeller and sparkling wine (What, no Yorkshire pudding?). And the only stress here is Grandma playfully pinching Grandpa’s cheek for daring to touch the ham. And of course it all culminates in a cute little twist that shows us holiday merriment can happen anywhere.

And it’s all thanks to Publix, a Florida supermarket chain (see there, that’s why all the close-ups of food, see). Now I’ve never personally been to one of their stores (nor to Florida), but I do applaud them for their effective use of advertising. Commercials like this allow us to briefly escape our seasonal blues and, for 60 seconds at least, experience the holiday we’ve always dreamed of. Btw, the song in the commercial is “Last Train Home” by The Pat Metheny Group. Check it out on iTunes and play it at your next seasonal traffic jam.

7. Ladyhawke – Main Theme 

OK, I’ve saved the most polarizing clip for last, lol. For I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie soundtrack receive such applause  and at the same time provoke such ire. The soundtrack from the 1985 Fantasy film Ladyhawke is truly the epitome of “you either love it or hate it.”  The idea of a “middle ground” is even more fantastical than this movie’s plot!

So why does this soundtrack receive such a mixed reaction? Using the clip above as a reference, we start with the beginning of the clip up to :27. We hear a solemn violin piece which conjures up images of knights of the realm, maidens in distress and epic battles. Pretty standard fare for a Fantasy story. But now, starting at :28, things start to get weird. The sound of violins is quickly replaced by….’80s Synth? Huh? Our knights of the realm have been overrun by the guys from Journey! Still, this light and fragile melody is not unpleasant to listen to. So what could have made people so upset?

Moving to 1:00….ahhh that’s what! Now we’re going from dreamy ’80s synth to rockin ’80s…um…Rock. Complete with pounding drums and epic guitar solo. Um, this is still a Fantasy film right? Well yes. See as legend goes, director Richard Donner had the radical idea of breaking with convention and giving his medieval era flick a more “modern” soundtrack. Many vehemently object to this day, saying ’80s synthesizers don’t mix well with knights and fair maidens.

Still, other fans like myself love the soundtrack precisely because it’s so unexpected. Who says Fantasy soundtracks always have to be traditional orchestrations? Forget for a minute that that kind of music didn’t even exist in Medieval times; this is FANTASY, since when are there rules?? It’s refreshing when composers think outside the box. And hey it’s not like they’re playing “Video Killed the Radio Star” over the battle scenes (though that would have been interesting!).

Plus Ladyhawke’s soundtrack takes me back to a truly golden age of Fantasy films in the 1980s, which were more concerned with quirky characters and thoughtful moments than flashy CGI battle scenes. Those were the days.

******

So there we have it, my eclectic** list of soothing songs. I can’t say they’re a definitive cure for Writer’s Block. But they’ve definitely shown me there’s hope. And I’d recommend making a similar list next time you’re face to face with an empty screen.

*Roland Orzabal, co-author of “Listen.” http://memoriesfade.com/

**Thanks to a friend for using this word to describe my list, hehe.

That’s right, July 21 and 22nd, SyFy Channel will be screening a marathon of that cheeky bit of super hero nostalgia, The Greatest American Hero! Now for anyone unfamiliar, Greatest American Hero was an action/comedy TV series that ran from 1981-1983. A sort of tongue-in-cheek look at the super hero genre, where an idealist yet somewhat sarcastic school teacher has (stay with me here) an unexpected encounter with aliens (again, trust me) who give him a special, powerful, amazing super suit that…frankly looks embarrassing…BUT, said suit gives him super powers that will aid him in his new role as America’s latest super hero, fighting off leisure suit wearing gangsters, rogue politicians and the occasional electric shock monster (ooooo!)

But whereas many super heroes we’re familiar with are distant, intimidating figures confidently charging into danger…our great American hero is learning as he goes and dealing with his super powers in the real world. Which means he occasionally crashes into walls, has to use the Yellow Pages before he goes damsel-rescuing, and struggles to avoid being discovered and thus locked in a padded cell!

Greatest American Hero was a funny, cleverly written and charmingly acted series which combined super hero action with witty analysis of human nature and society. And it very much deserves a chance this week to be remembered  by original fans, and introduced to the younger generations.

So to get everyone in the proper nostalgic mood, below are some of the original 1980′s ABC promos for individual episodes of Greatest American Hero, complete with hammy narrator, cheesy graphics and the occasional plot summary that has little to do with the actual episode! So have fun and btw even if you miss this week’s marathon, Greatest American Hero is available for viewing on Hulu and on DVD (sometimes progress is a good thing!) Enjoy!

“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”

“Best Desk Scenario”

“Operation: Spoilsport”

“Hog Wild”

“ABC is the Place!” (Cameos from actors Robert Culp, William Katt and Connie Sellecca)