It’s been a very busy weekend with no time to sit at my computer (seriously, I’m going through withdrawals!) so we’re going to jump right in to the fact that it is Monday, and Monday means music!

This month our honorary conductor is Alana of Ramblin’ with AM, and her theme choice for this week is “TV/Movie themes specifically from your childhood”. What a fun theme! My childhood didn’t include TV and movies, because we didn’t have a TV while I was growing up – my dad thought there wasn’t enough ‘good’ programs on, and didn’t want us kids unduly influenced by what he considered ‘bad’ during those years.

I know, I know – I’m sure that’s why I’m pretty much a tv-aholic as an adult – I always have the TV on with something on while I’m doing other stuff (even though we cut the cord long ago – who has time to watch ‘live’ TV anymore?). At any rate, I do remember fondly watching some shows with my mom when we finally did get a TV in our house (partly from when I was old enough to babysit the neighbor kids who did have a TV, and I relayed all the ‘good’ shows that were on at the time, so my dad finally acquiesced and got a TV). 

Now that you have that long-winded background, let’s start off with a show I remember my mom loving, and I’d watch with her when it was showing years later in syndication. It’s an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre that was popular at the time.

It was created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, and had its television premiere on NBC on September 18, 1965, starring Don Adams (who also worked as a director on the series) as agent Maxwell Smart, a.k.a. Agent 86, Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, and Edward Platt as Thaddeus, the Chief.

The show was created to capitalize on “the two biggest things in the entertainment world today”: James Bond and Inspector Clouseau. Mel Brooks was quoted as saying:

“It’s an insane combination of James Bond and Mel Brooks comedy.”

He was definitely right about that!

For your enjoyment, here’s the Get Smart Theme:

Next up is another show my mom loved, that I had the opportunity to watch with her later in years. It’s American legal drama series where the title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles criminal-defense lawyer who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner.

This was Hollywood’s first weekly one-hour series filmed for television, and remains one of the longest-running and most successful legal-themed television series. During its first season, it received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination as Best Dramatic Series, and it became one of the five most popular shows on television.

What my mom and I both loved about it was the unique procedural aspect to it. There are no jury trials. All the courtroom drama unfolds in preliminary hearings to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with the charges. We are spared histrionics and pandering to a jury.

We also appreciated the excellent English. The language, the diction of the performers, the use of words like “testamentary,” and the proper conjugation of the verbs “lay” and “lie.” I know, we were grammar geeks even back then.

Without further ado, here’s the Perry Mason opening credits and theme:

Next is a show that contributed to my dad deciding that maybe TV wouldn’t be such a bad thing to have in the house, when there are shows like this one on…heh! It’s an American television drama series that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983.

It followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons, plus one reunion TV movie in October 1998. I had a serious crush on Ponch – which one was your favorite?

Here’s the fun CHiPs intro:

Last, but certainly not least, is another favorite show I watched with my mom. Another American crime drama television series starring my other major crush, Tom Selleck, as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii.

The series ran from 1980 to 1988 during its first-run broadcast on the American television network CBS. According to the Nielsen ratings, Magnum, P.I. consistently ranked in the top twenty U.S. television programs during the first five years of its original run in the United States.

I’m not sure how I feel about the upcoming reboot of this show, with a ‘new’ Magnum – I just don’t think anyone else could be Magnum other than Tom Selleck. The jury will remain out, however, until I see how they handle the reboot.

Without further ado, here’s the theme for Magnum, P.I.:

That’s a wrap for this week, have a great Monday – see you on the dance floor!

Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:   PhotobucketI have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and while our beloved Callie of JAmerican Spice is taking a break, our friend Michelle from Michelle’s Musings and Merriment is helping out with hostess duties! And, for the month of June, we welcome our Honorary Conductor and Spotlight Dancer, Alana from Ramblin’ with AM!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!

INTRODUCING OUR “SPOTLIGHT DANCER” and Honorary Conductor for the month of June:

Alana from Ramblin’ with AM



9 Comments

  1. Stacy,

    You featured some excellent PI/detective/law enforcement type TV shows. The earlier programs brought back some definite smiles and I just love the theme mewsic from Magnum PI. Tom Selleck is excellent as Magnum. That was show had it all suspense, thrills, and laughs! Why can’t Hollyweird write good shows like this anymore? Thanks for the dance, my friend!

  2. There were plenty of histrionics in “Perry Mason.” Hamilton Burger was always pitching a fit at the things Perry would do, and the grand finish usually ended up with someone dramatically telling the court “I DID IT!” None of which detracts from the entertainment value: it’s one of our favorite shows. We love watching for the up-and-coming actors making their first guest appearances. MeTV runs it nightly at 11:30 Eastern, but we don’t get MeTV anymore. Fortunately, the little religious station here in Atlanta runs some of the older episodes (from the first couple of seasons) three times a week. That was TV at its finest.

    “Get Smart” had a lot of great guest stars, many of whom were also guest stars on “Perry Mason” and “Hogan’s Heroes” (I’m thinking specifically of Gavin MacLeod, but there were others). Don Adams was perfect for the role; Steve Carrell played Max in the movie, and he left me cold.

    “Magnum” was a dramedy, part drama, part comedy. Tom Selleck was perfect for the role, I thought, and John Hillerman was perfect as Higgins.

    As for “CHiPS,” it and “Wonder Woman” are great looks back into the world of the late ’70’s. If something was a trend then, you could count on Ponch and John or Diana Prince getting into it on their shows. And I was always a fan of Officer Bonnie Clark, myself.

    Great choices!

  3. I understand the busy girl. I feel like I have not enough time to get it all done. Not sure if I should just shrug or be overwhelmed.
    Haha. I’m watching live tv right now. It’s world cup baby 🙂

    Seriously I might have to watch Chips one day.

    Thanks for the fun Stacy,
    Have a blessed week.
    Aloha.

  4. These bring back fun memories. Everyone in the family liked one or another of these shows.

  5. If my memories are correct, my family did not have a TV until I was almost 5 years old – and getting one made they suspect I was having vision difficulties because I would watch (so they said) the TV with my nose practically up against the screen. Sure enough, I was extremely nearsided. As an adult, I gave up TV a couple of times (once for over a year) so it intrigues me that you grew up without TV. I would say you are a better person for it. (Why? because it helped you to develop in many other ways). I watched Perry Mason growing up (I am of that generation) and my husband loved Get Smart. I never did watch CHiPS so that song was new to me.

  6. Hi Stacy.
    Sorry it’s taken me all week to get here. It’s been crazy and I’m ready to call it a day already. I’m falling asleep at the computer! So im hitting the shower and I’m going to fall into bed.
    You had some great picks here that were also some of my favs as well. I loved Get Smart! The phones in their shoes always killed me!
    Perry Mason: I think that may have been what started my keen interest in the law. I often catch the re-run episodes that air now. That’s funny that you were “grammar geeks”! Lol.
    And then there are the host of cop showss:: Magnum PI was a big one that I was addicted to. I remember seeing the series finale when I was on a vacation getaway with a few friends. We were all so addicted to it, we made absolute sure we would be back to our rental home in time for the finale.
    Thanks for the memories!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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