I didn’t plan on writing this post, it just sort of happened. I was more emotional about Mad Men ending than I thought I would be, and pretty soon there was this list…in no particular order of preference, just chronology. As I look back through the list, it’s pretty clear it’s really the The Don and Peggy Show, at least to me, though I must ask you to pretend that most of Roger’s one-liners and every scene involving Rachel Menken is on this list (she was Don’s best mistress). Also, one of the greatest and most memorable things about Mad Men didn’t happen on TV…Lane Pryce’s funeral. Episode numbers and titles from Basket of Kisses.
Tag: TV
So…I’m going to be on TCM next Saturday 11/29
It doesn’t even really seem real, but just about a week from now, if you tune in to Turner Classic Movies (TCM), you’ll see me chatting with Ben Mankiewicz about the Bob Hope Christmas classic, The Lemon Drop Kid. I’m one of four TCM fans introducing favorite films on the afternoon/evening of Saturday, November 29. I am lucky enough to know the other three, Aurora Bugallo, Joel Williams, and Miguel Rodriguez, who are all friends I met first online via the live tweet I co-founded and organize, TCM Party, and then offline at the TCM Film Festival.
The intros were all recorded in August via Skype, which I think is a cool use of technology. Mine took place at Cinema Detroit, the indie theater I co-own with my husband, Tim. While my programming there is mostly contemporary and decidedly indie, we have shown classics like The Lady from Shanghai, A Hard Day’s Night, and a whole mess of noir for Noir Detroit (during CD’s first full month, November 2013). I definitely think my experiences bringing people and movies together online influenced us to try to do the same offline with Cinema Detroit.
So here is the schedule for Fan Favorites on Saturday, November 29 (all times Eastern):
12:30 p.m. Meet Me in St. Louis – Aurora
2:30 p.m. The Lemon Drop Kid – Me
4:15 p.m. The Thing From Another World – Miguel
6:00 p.m. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – Joel
In case anyone is curious why the The Lemon Drop Kid…TCM producer Courtney O’Brien asked me to submit a list of 10 mostly family-oriented, somewhat holiday-related, classic movies that I would want to introduce. As it is extremely difficult to limit oneself to 10 films, I actually sent more than 10. This was the list I sent, there’s no particular order:
Christmas in Connecticut
It Happened on 5th Avenue
The Lemon Drop Kid
Remember the Night
Holiday Affair
Stand-In (1937)
Show People
The Rains Came
The Lady Vanishes
The 39 Steps
Rio Bravo
Angel and the Badman
There is nothing on here I don’t really love, but I’m glad they went with Lemon Drop Kid. It has a special place in my heart, because Christmas is a tough time for me. My mother passed away a few days after Thanksgiving in 2002 and during the holiday season, I often need a laugh, which this film provides. It does have some sentimental moments, but it’s mostly Hope one-liners, sight gags, and Runyon-esque characters and situations. Damon Runyon wrote the story it’s based on…think Guys and Dolls, Little Miss Marker…like that.
I cannot say enough good things about the people at TCM, who made the whole process easy for me, a total novice. Noralil, Courtney, Mardy and Ben…thanks for your patience and understanding.
So I hope you will tune in on Saturday afternoon, November 29, and check it out. And in the meantime…what would be on your list of 10?
The getTV Mickey Rooney blogathon MEGAPOST
The audience and I are friends. They allowed me to grow up with them. I’ve let them down several times. They’ve let me down several times. But we’re all family.
Mickey Rooney would have celebrated his 94th birthday this month, and in tribute, getTV is dedicating a substantial portion of the month’s programming to him. Kellee (@IrishJayHawk66) of Outspoken & Freckled, Aurora (@CitizenScreen) of Once Upon a Screen, and myself, Paula (@Paula_Guthat) of Paula’s Cinema Club, are thrilled to join forces with getTV for their first ever blogathon collaboration to celebrate Rooney’s career with The getTV Mickey Rooney Blogathon, running the entire month of September.
As the posts are published, I will update this list. Check back for great new Mickey Rooney posts throughout September.
- First up, Once Upon A Screen… recounts Rooney’s “small but memorable” contribution to Operation Mad Ball.
- Jack Deth compares two of Rooney’s 1950s films, The Atomic Kid and Baby Face Nelson.
- The Vintage Cameo takes a look at sailor-on-leave musical All Ashore, which getTV is showing again September 21 and 25.
- The Hollywood Revue goes behind the scenes of Babes on Broadway, the film that sparked her love of classic movies.
- (This) Girl Friday reveals why Strike Up The Band is her favorite Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland musical.
- Caftan Woman captures the magic of seeing Mickey Rooney live on Playhouse 90‘s “The Comedian.”
- Another Old Movie Blog explores “a gift, and a challenge, from the studio” to Mr. Rooney — Killer McCoy.
- Paula’s Cinema Club (that’s me!) analyzes Rooney’s complete lack of vanity in Pulp (1972).
- Blog of the Darned hits the beach with Mickey Rooney in How To Stuff A Wild Bikini.
- Crítica Retrô compares Rooney’s work as Andy Hardy with his 1950s roles in films like Quicksand.
- Mae’s Musings goes on the wild goose chase with Rooney in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
- Girls Do Film tackles the Rooney role it’s best not to mention in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
- It’s A Wonderful Movie covers Christmastime in Carvel in Love Finds Andy Hardy.
- Outspoken and Freckled looks at The Black Stallion, “[a] film that tugs at the nostalgic heart-strings. For many reasons…”
- Classic Movie Hub deconstructs Rooney’s “unexpected ascent to manhood” in National Velvet.
- Margaret Perry reviews Rooney’s work at Disney, Pete’s Dragon and The Fox and The Hound.
- Classic Movie Hub shares some of her favorite scenes from the wonderfully resonant Boys’ Town.
- Sister Celluloid tells us why formulaic doesn’t have to mean boring when it comes to My Pal, The King.
All about getTV
getTV is a digital subchannel available over the air and on local cable systems dedicated to showcasing Hollywood’s legendary movies. The network, operated by Sony Pictures Television Networks, launched in February 2014. It features Academy Award® winning films and other epic classics titles. getTV distribution is close to covering nearly 70 percent of all U.S. television households across 65 markets, including 40 of the top 50 designated market areas (DMAs). The network is broadcast by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Univision Television Group and Cox Media Group owned stations and others. For information, visit getTV and connect with the network on Facebook and Twitter @getTV.
If you’d like to submit a blog post (or several) dedicated to Mickey Rooney – on his life, career, television work or a particular film – you can do so by submitting the entry to any one of the event hosts throughout the month of September.
Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club (leave comment below) – Twitter @Paula_Guthat
Aurora of Once Upon a Screen and Twitter @CitizenScreen
Kellee of Outspoken & Freckled and Twitter @IrishJayHawk66
We ask only that you please do the following:
- Leave us a comment or send us a Tweet with your preferred Rooney topic
- Let us know when you post your entry so we can promote it
- Please copy @getTV on all tweets related to this event
- Include the blogathon banner provided by getTV (above) in your post as well as the following statement:
- “This post is part of The getTV Mickey Rooney Blogathon hosted by Once Upon a Screen, Outspoken & Freckled and Paula’s Cinema Club taking place throughout the month of September. Please visit the getTV schedule for details on Rooney screenings throughout the month and any of the host sites for a complete list of entries.”
- Have fun!
Thank you!
