For Whom the Tinker Bell Tolls

Former television executive and former husband to Mary Tyler Moore, Grant Tinker, died at the spry age of 90.

Tinker toyed with NBC in the early 80s, a time that saw such great shows as Family Ties, Cheers, Manimal,  and The Cosby Show (although, we don’t like to mention that last one so much).

In 1969 he and his then wife, Mary Tyler Moore, started MTM Enterprises (meow) where they hired James L. Brooks… because that’s what you do in TV.  You hire James L. Brooks.

The company’s 1st show was The Mary Tyler Moore Show [a title which was kicked around

Tinker got his NBC job by winning a Johnny Carson look-alike contest.

in development for years], it was moderately successful and some people liked it enough.  The show is known to be reviled in clown communities.

MTM (meow) went on to make shows such as Rhoda (“This is Carlton your doorman.”), The Bob Newhart Show (“Hi, Bob.”), WKRP in Cincinnati (“As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”), Hill Street Blues (“Let’s be careful out there.”) and St. Elsewhere (which was really created by an autistic kid holding a snow globe, so they don’t get a lot credit for that one).

After he foolishly divorced Mary Tyler Moore (Because who the hell would divorce her?  She’s fuckin’ awesome!), Tinker left MTM (meow) because, well… awkward…

He became chairman and CEO of NBC trading the “meow” of “bong bong bong.”  He left in 1986 to make way for his replacement, John Francis “Jack” Donaghy.

Tinker then tried to repeat his success with MTM by forming GTG Entertainment (ummm… woof?) but the business venture failed because it was a hollow shell of what can be created with Mary Tyler Moore at your side!  (Dresses be damned!  I’m wearing mother-fuckin carpris,bitch!)

This hit goes to: Josh!  Josh literally pulled this pick out of his ass in the 58th round.  I guess he was at the point in the night where he was like, “Fuck it, I’m Googling ‘old people” and seeing what comes up!”  Because when I told him about his hit, he had no idea who it was.

Though, I can’t fault him.  I don’t know who half of my picks are.  Between me, the obscure names and the alcohol, a thought don’t have much of a chance.

Happy pooling,

SPMI

Current Standings:

Wes: 50 – (Holly Dunn – 50)

Josh: 30 – (Florence Henderson – 20, Grant Tinker – 10)

Gianna: 20 – (Leonard Cohen – 20)

Jami: 10 – (Fidel Castro – 10)

Tailgating w/ Jesus: 10 – (Ralph Branca – 10)

You Only Get One Chance with Edna Krabappel

In her later years, Wallace enjoyed scrubbing pots and pans with her hair.

Actress and former executive assistant to Bob Newhart, Marcia Wallace, died at the spry age of 70.

Wallace got her big break playing the secretary in “The Bob Newhart Show,” where for six seasons, she gained the power to get people to drink just by saying “Hi, Bob.”

After that, she wallowed in the celebrity-game-show pit of mediocrity.  Right along with Charles Nelson Reilly.

Over the years, Wallace appeared on “Hollywood Squares,” “Password Plus” and its 1980s spin-off “Super Password,” “Whew!,” “Crosswits,” “Hot Potato,” “Body Language,” “The $25,000 Pyramid,” “Double Talk,” “Win, Lose or Draw,” “To Tell the Truth” and “Match Game.” She was also on special celebrity episodes of “Family Feud” and “Card Sharks.”

All this caused Paul Lynde to fire his agent and hire Marcia’s.

But Wallace didn’t just do game shows.  Hell no!  She was on two episodes of “Alf.”  She appeared in “Full House,” “Bewitched,” “The Brady Bunch,” and, of course, “The Love Boat.”  Marcia believed in quality, so she took the smaller roles that she wanted to do instead of that role on that fly-by-night “LA Law.”  It was a career that inspired the likes of Ewan McGregor.

Marcia was pulled out of her three-decade tailspin of the pedestrian when she landed the role of Edna Krabappel in “The Simpsons.”  Edna was the perpetual first grade teacher to the eternal first grader, Bart Simpson.

In addition to not teaching Bart, Edna also had an affair with Principle Skinner and, without knowing it, a crush on Gordie Howe, whom she sent a racy lingerie photo. Edna was a burned out teacher by day and a saucy, desperate minx by night.  But one of my favorite things about Edna Krabappel, her catch phrase: HA!  How awesome is that?

This year, for their 25^th season (just stop already, guys!  End it!) the producers of the Simpsons announced that they planned on killing off a character.  Apu was thought as the favorite character to die (according to my five-second Google Search).  Now I think that Edna Krabappel is even money.

This hot goes to: Erika!  She catapults herself from being shut out to being in 7^th place!  This may sound impressive, but remember that there are five people tied for 6^th place.

But at least she got a hit!  I have come close top being shut out before, and brother, it doesn’t feel good.  So, congrats to Erika on her first solo hit!

Happy Pooling,

SPMI

PS: Draft day: T-minus six days and counting!

Current Standings:

Dawn-n-Mike – 170 (Oscar Niemeyer – 0, Norman Joseph Woodland – 10,Patti Page – 20, Reg Presley – 30, Hugo Chavez – 50, Frank Thornton – 10 – George Jones – 20, Tompall Glaser – 30)

Babysitter – 140 (Clive Dunn – 10, Ravi Shankar – 10, Margaret Thatcher – 20, Chi Cheng – 60, Pat Summerall – 20, Douglas Englebart – 20)

The New Dick in Town – 120 – (Jack Klugman – 10, Mindy McCready – 70, Jonathan Winters – 20, Jeanne Cooper – 20)

“Imaginary” Steve – 100 (Al Neuharth – 20, Ken Venturi – 20, Art Donovan – 20, Elmore Leonard – 20, Julie Harris – 20)

Joanne – 100 – (Freddy Schmidt – 10, Robert Bork – 20, C. Everett Koop – 10, Moon Mullen – 10, Virgil Trucks – 10, Dr. Joyce Brothers – 20, Eydie Gorme‏

– 20)

Gianna – 100 – (Lucille Bliss – 10, Bonnie Franklin – 40, E. L. Konigsburg – 20, Deanna Durbin – 10, Margaret Pellegrini – 20)

Tailgating with Jesus – 90 – (Marvin Miller – 10, Earl Weaver – 20, Jerry Buss – 20, Gus Triandos – 20, Bum Phillips – 10, Bud Adams – 10)

Team Sushi – 90 – (Conrad Bain – 20, Roger Ebert – 30, Deacon Jones – 30, Helen Thomas – 10)

Occupy the Casket – 50 (Phil Chevron – 50)

Sean P. McFeeley I – 50 – (Patty Andrews – 10, Dick Trickle – 30, Jean Stapleton – 10)

Council of Geeks – 50 (Richard Griffiths – 40, Ray Harryhausen – 10)

Jami – 50 – (Larry Hagman – 20, Annette Funicello – 30)

The Girl on Fire – 50 – (Dear Abby – 10, Ed Koch – 20, Milo O’Shea – 20)

Erika – 30 (Marcia Wallace – 30)

Carol – 20 – (Stan Lynde – 20)

Nikki the Bad-Ass – 10 – (Stan Musial – 10)

“Sister” Mary Sheila – 10 (Lee MacPhail – 10)

She Ain’t Heavy, She’s Joyce Brothers

Self-proclaimed inventor of Media Psychology, Dr. Joyce Brothers died at the spry age of 85. 

Brothers was forced to tone down her theory on the benefits of interracial three-ways to make it more “TV Friendly.”

Brothers first became famous for a stint on “The $64,000 Question.”  The producers decided to ask her all questions about boxing.  Because girls don’t know jack-squat about pugilism.  Well, she won… $64,000.  That’ll learn ‘em.

She was then given her own show and a column in “Good Housekeeping.”  And ever since then we’ve had to listen to drivel from quacks ranging from Bob Hartley to Frasier Crane.   It wasn’t until a few years back when a therapist also became an analyst.  This made Tobias Fünke the world’s first Analrapist.  (Yes, I am very excited about new “Arrested Development” episodes.)

Born Joyce Diane Bauer, (she changed her name to hide her identity from the enemies of her terror fighting brother, Jack), Brothers also appeared on a dew other television shows, including: Saturday Night Live, CHiPs, Simon & Simon, Ellery Queen, Mama’s Family, Taxi, Happy Days, Police Squad!, Police Woman, Night Court, The Nanny, Frasier, The Andy Dick Show, One Life to Live, WKRP in Cincinnati, Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Mr. Belvedere, Married… with Children, Entourage, The Simpsons, All That, Kenan & Kel, The Steve Harvey Show, My Two Dads, Melrose Place, ALF, The Larry Sanders Show, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Suddenly Susan and Moonlighting.    

I know, isn’t it amazing?  She got to meet Mr. Belvedere! 

She also used to go on The Match Game where vicious rumors came about of a torrid affair with Charles Nelson Reilly.  These rumors were put to rest when Charles Nelson Reilly… well… acted like Charles Nelson Reilly.

This hit goes to: Joanne!  Yes, Joanne said, “Oh yeah, New Dick in Town?  I see your twenty points and I…. match it…” 

This also puts Joanne in the At-Least-We-Have-More-Points-Than-Bean Club!

Happy pooling,

SPMI

Current Standings:

Dawn-n-Mike – 140 (Oscar Niemeyer – 0, Norman Joseph Woodland – 10,Patti Page – 20, Reg Presley – 30, Hugo Chavez – 50, Frank Thornton – 10 – George Jones – 20)

Babysitter – 120 (Clive Dunn – 10, Ravi Shankar – 10, Margaret Thatcher – 20, Chi Cheng – 60, Pat Summerall – 20)

The New Dick in Town – 120 – (Jack Klugman – 10, Mindy McCready – 70, Jonathan Winters – 20, Jeanne Cooper – 20)

Joanne – 80 – (Freddy Schmidt – 10, Robert Bork – 20, C. Everett Koop – 10, Moon Mullen – 10, Virgil Trucks – 10, Dr. Joyce Brothers – 20)

Gianna – 80 – (Lucille Bliss – 10, Bonnie Franklin – 40, E. L. Konigsburg – 20, Deanna Durbin – 10)

Tailgating with Jesus – 70 – (Marvin Miller – 10, Earl Weaver – 20, Jerry Buss – 20, Gus Triandos – 20)

Council of Geeks – 50 (Richard Griffiths – 40, Ray Harryhausen – 10)

Jami – 50 – (Larry Hagman – 20, Annette Funicello – 30)

The Girl on Fire – 50 – (Dear Abby – 10, Ed Koch – 20, Milo O’Shea – 20)

Team Sushi – 50 – (Conrad Bain – 20, Roger Ebert – 30)

 “Imaginary” Steve – 20 (Al Neuharth – 20)

Sean P. McFeeley I – 10 – (Patty Andrews – 10)

Nikki the Bad-Ass – 10 – (Stan Musial – 10)

“Sister” Mary Sheila – 10 (Lee MacPhail – 10)