Last week, my father-in-law asked if he could borrow my zero turn mower to cut the grass up north. Just a day before I had been out cutting my grass and told him it didn’t feel right the last few times I mowed. So he came over with a jack and we jacked it up.
As soon as I got underneath it, I could see what the problem was. One of the blades was completely bent.
The blade above is NOT the blade from my mower. The one from my mower was curved like a “C” or a “U.” It was bad! The other side of it had a nice chunk out of it too.
So I ran to the place I bought our mower and got a new set of blades. The guy at the store told me that since it’s been more than 3 years, it was probably a good idea to put three new ones on so the balance was right.
My father-in-law came over yesterday afternoon and we again jacked up the mower. Changing the blades is a fairly easy thing to do. The only thing holding them on is a bolt. We loosened the bolt, dropped the blade, put the bolt through the new blade and screwed it back on. The whole job took less than a half hour.
Once the blades were on, I started it up and drove out to the grass. I engaged the blades, and they seemed to work for like two seconds. I began to get a whiff of something that smelled like it was burning. I disengaged the blades and waited. I tried to engage them again and nothing. The blades weren’t turning.
Even know I knew it wasn’t the case, I began to wonder if we tightened the blades so much they wouldn’t turn. Impossible. We only tightened them by hand. I drove back to the driveway and we saw something in the grass. I walked over and picked it up. As soon as I showed my father-in-law, we both knew the belt broke.
It was shredded! It made perfect sense. The belt moves the pulleys that turn the blades. With that one blade bent like it was, the last couple mows I thought something felt “loose”. That belt had to be jumping up and down inside the pulley, which was just shredding the ends until finally, it broke.
So this week, the grass will have to grow until my father-in-law and I can drop the deck to fix the belt. He says it will be a job … it’s always something!
Originally, we were told he’d probably be wearing it until July. With each measurement that was taken from the beginning, his head continued to reshape itself quickly. Today, he was measured by the clinician and we were told that he would no longer need to wear it daily. Today was his Helmet Graduation!
Over the past 7 weeks, he wore the helmet 23 hours a day. In the hour that it was off he had to have a bath to wash his hair (which smelled like sweaty helmet). The helmet had to be wiped clean before it could be put back on.
In the time he has been wearing the helmet, he has become more adventurous and is standing on his own and has even taken a step or two. There have been plenty of falls over the last 7 weeks and the helmet had brought some great protection for his head. Both Sam and I realize that now that the helmet is off, the possibility of a good bump on the head is more likely. We’ve joked that the helmet saved us a few trips to the ER.
It’s actually weird to see him without the helmet for so long. We got used to seeing him in it. Now, we can actually hold him and snuggle him forehead to forehead. It’s not such a chore to kiss him on the cheek. The hugs feel closer because that “barrier” is no longer there. It’s fantastic.
Today he had his helmet graduation. When he graduates high school, his helmet and graduation certificate will be on full display at his graduation party. It will be a reminder of one of his first hurdles that he jumped over successfully. I’m proud of our little boy today!
There was a Katy Perry song that I used to play when I was doing radio part time called Hot N Cold. I often wonder if she spent time at my workplace and found the inspiration for that song here! It’s insane!
Our tech room is a rectangle. At both ends of the tech room there are doors that lead to opposite hallways. They just installed this huge heating/cooling unit at one end of the tech room. There is still a thermostat on the wall and a remote that controls the big unit up above.
You can walk in one door and feel like you are freezing and walk through the other door and feel warm and toasty. There is literally no rhyme or reason for this. All night long I feel like I’m either in an igloo or in the tropics. I bring a zip up sweatshirt to work and it goes on and off throughout the night. It’s crazy.
When I try to explain it to people, the one thing that comes to mind is the old Batman episode from the 1960’s with George Sanders as Mr. Freeze. In the show he can make where he is standing cold and where others are warm. It’s hard to explain, so maybe the picture will help.
Batman in the warm area – Mr. Freeze in the cold area.
In all honesty, I’m not sure whether the thermostat or that big thing on the wall is responsible for the temperature anymore. Last night it was reading 75 degrees on the big unit and 72 on the wall thermostat, but I was in my sweatshirt and wrapped in a blanket.
It’s quite comical because depending on where you are in the tech room, you are either on Team Heat Miser or Team Snow Miser!
Whether it is hot or cold, you have those who are uncomfortable or those who are comfortable. We must all be taking our Vitamin C, because I would think that going back and forth between temperatures would eventually get somebody sick.
One thing is for sure, you never know what you are walking into each night …
Someone asked me why my winter coat was still in my car recently. If they only knew. What they don’t know is that I’ll be packing my bathing suit for when I am in the tropical area of our work space. It was hard to find a suit that matched the color of my scrubs …
Every once in a while, something will happen that prompts me to reach out and give props to someone. One time I called the manager at my local Tim Horton’s to tell them how one of their staff was always so pleasant at the window. I felt that her superiors needed to know she made a difference.
This weekend, I noticed some kids acting suspicious around the daycare behind our house. They had obviously jumped a fence to get back where they were and were attempting to open doors and such. I made a call to the local police station because it sounded like they were up to no good.
The kids must have seen me out on my porch and they climbed the fence and started to walk away. I saw the police cruiser slowly driving around the parking lot. The officer got out and was checking some things out. I started to walk out to the back fence to try to get his attention, but he didn’t hear me. Next thing I saw was the cruiser driving down our street. He pulled into my driveway.
Ella was so excited to see a police car in the driveway that she begged Sam to bring her outside. As I spoke with the officer and told him what I had seen, Ella came out. “Hello, Mr. Policeman!” she said. The officer was so kind to her. He asked her name and then asked if she wanted to see his car. He let her sit in the front seat and turn the lights on. He asked if she wanted to turn on the siren, but she’s not really into loud noises. He gave her a sticker, which she wore proudly for hours! When she went in for her bath, she made sure to say, “Thank you, Mr. Policeman!”
Turning on the lights!
The officer and I spoke for a few more minutes, introduced ourselves, we shook hands and he was off to keep the city safe. I was so very impressed with the entire 5 to 10 minute interaction, I had to make sure I let someone know.
I went to the city’s Facebook page and sent a message to give kudos to “Officer Dan.” I told them that we were so glad that he took the time to do this. He made Ella feel so special and he gained her trust immediately. We feel that it is so important to us that our children know that they can count on the police officers if they are ever in trouble.
I then made a joke about how they probably get sick of people waving to them, but I always do. I then said that I wanted them to know that I appreciate all that they do for our community. I went on to say, “In the 5 years I have lived here, I can honestly say that we feel safe. We know that you are out there every day working hard and doing a job that does not receive enough gratitude.” I then thanked them for a job well done.
I was very surprised to receive the following message back from the police chief:
I cannot thank you enough for your kind words, or for the support you offer. I’m truly proud of Officer Dan. He is the first officer I hired, and he has proven himself, time and again, to be a man of honor, and a professional in every sense of the word. It is all the more heartening that your baby girl was made to feel at ease by his presence.
Our goal is to always make you and your family feel as safe as possible, and with that in mind, I’m happy to tell you we are in the process of hiring our final three officers. Each one is a pro in their own right, and I expect the community will be truly pleased. If all goes according to plan, we should be having their swearing-in ceremony in just a few weeks.
Further, we never get tired of having good people like you waving at us. You might be surprised just how much of a boost that can give us on a rough day. I thank you again, and invite you to stop by one day if you have a few minutes, so that I might shake your hand.
Respectfully, Chief W. M.
You can rest assured that I will make it a point to stop by to say hello, sir.
Just shy of 6 months ago, a school shooting happened 45 miles from my home in Oxford, Michigan. It happened at the high school. 4 students were killed and 7 were injured. 10 days ago, there was a mass shooting in Buffalo, NY at the Tops Supermarket that took the lives of 10 people. Today, another mass shooting at an elementary school that killed 19 students and a teacher.
From NPR:
Education Week as been tracking school shootings since 2018. According to its database, 119 such incidents have taken place since then. There were 27 school shootings with injuries or deaths this year.
The Gun Violence Archive, an independent data collection organization, has counted 212 mass shootings that have occurred so far this year, as of Tuesday. It defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people were shot or killed, excluding the shooter.
As for school shootings, according to Education Week, 2021 had 34 such incidents at educational institutions (the highest since the organization started its database). In 2020, there were 10 shootings. Both 2019 and 2018 recorded 24 shootings.
Mass shootings are becoming more and more common. I read a blog today that said: I’m not trying to be glib, but mass killings in America have become a bit like living near train tracks. The trains routinely rumble past, but we are so used to it, we stop noticing them after a while. (The blog was pointlessoverthinking.com) I truly hope this is not the case.
It is sickening to me. For the life of me, I cannot understand what motivates someone to do something like this. 19 children – elementary school children with bright futures ahead of them – had their lives taken away from them. 19 families – parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles – all will mourn the loss of someone near and dear to them for many months and years ahead.
How many children told their parents they loved them for the last time this morning? How many parents said they’d see them later when dropping them off at school? How many had plans to go to dinner with family after school? It is SO upsetting to me.
Sam and I were discussing preschools and schools just this weekend. We’d also talked about home schooling as well a few months ago. It scares me to think about it.
I know that “active shooter” and “lock down” drills have become a regular thing in schools today. However, I think about those elementary kids. Do they even know to run? If a gun was going off in a building it would be loud and scary. I know many a child who would just stand there and cry.
When the story about the shooting broke today, it originally stated that 2 children had died. That number quickly grew to 14 and now 19. The numbers don’t matter, because one child is too many. I feel tremendously sad for the families of those children, the children who survived, and the entire community.
Deep down, I also feel anger. I’m not starting a political debate here, please don’t make it that. I am angry that there is so much violence and hatred in the world. I am angry that children cannot be children and have to live ever so cautiously. I’m angry that parents, who already naturally worry about their children, now have more worries than necessary.
Whitney Houston sang, “I believe children are our future.” She wasn’t alone in feeling that way.
Nelson MandelaZig ZiglarPresident John F, Kennedy
Our children ARE IMPORTANT! It is our job to do what we can to keep them safe. We are to raise them to respect others and to be kind. We are to teach them to be honest and show gratitude. We are to teach them integrity. We are to teach them to forgive and to be compassionate toward others. We are to teach them to be determined and perseverance. We are to teach them to be responsible. We are to teach them that it is ok to fail. We are to teach them love.
I pray that the senseless events of Tuesday will cause us to look for ways to protect our children at all costs. The hurt, the anger, the sadness, and the violence needs to stop.
My Facebook feed has been full of pictures of the “last day of school.” Many of those photos are of high school seniors who are celebrating their FINAL “last” day of school, while others are of students in kindergarten through 11th grade who are just excited for summer break!
The theme song to the cartoon Phineas and Ferb (created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh) states:
“There’s 104 days of summer vacation till school comes along just to end it. So the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it.“
The song then goes on to list things that they are going to do. If you are unfamiliar with this cartoon (which is as entertaining for adults as it is for children), it is about two step brothers who make the most out of every day of their summer vacation. Phineas is often heard to say, “Ferb! I know what we’re going to do today!” They then proceed to work on their big idea while their sister tries to get them in trouble.
Some of the big ideas they had include: building a rollercoaster, building a beach in their back yard, becoming a “one hit wonder” band, become movie directors, carve their sister’s face into Mount Rushmore, build robots, go on a cattle drive, create a new season, become secret agents, build the world’s biggest ice cream maker, create a hot new toy, turn their car into a monster truck, build a shrinking submarine, fix a time machine – and time travel, reunite a rock band, build the ultimate treehouse, transform a dinghy into a pirate ship, have a chariot race through their town, build a Ferris wheel, build a roller derby rink, discover a caveman, hold a medieval tournament, build an escalator to the moon, created the biggest bowling game, build a miniature golf course, build a real working teleporter after seeing one in a movie, build a haunted house, paint the unpainted desert, make a cartoon about themselves and their friends, created a rainbow-inator because their friend has never seen one, build a rocket and go to space, build a flying car, AND create a portal to the planet Mars. THAT is all from the first season!!
Let me say that I NEVER had a summer quite like Phineas and Ferb, but I certainly looked forward to summer vacation. As I have mentioned in the past, many of my summer days were spent playing baseball with the guys from my neighborhood. When we weren’t playing ball, we were usually riding bikes, playing cops and robbers, running through the sprinkler, or playing with Star Wars figures.
I believe that kids today are missing out. They are glued to their phones, tablets and video games. I know trying to get my older son outside to do anything is a chore. My daughter loves to be outside! I hope she always stays that way! There are SO many things to do outside. This summer, I plan to spend lots of time outside.
During our summer breaks as kids, one thing my brother and I always looked forward to was a weekend or two up in Caseville. When my grandparents bought their place up there, we went often. Many times we’d be their with my aunt and uncle and my grandparents, too. On those weekends, it wasn’t odd to have a tent pitched outside because there were so many of us.
Highlights of Caseville included fishing at the back lake, swimming at the beach, horseback rides from the folks at the end of our street, and tooling around on the mini-bike. In town, we could stop at the IGA for groceries, play Putt Putt Golf, or shop at many of the souvenir shops. Occasionally, we’d drive over to Port Austin or drive down to Pigeon to walk around.
The only other real trip I remember was when I was 11. We went up to Mackinac for a week. I remember we visited the Grand Hotel (where the movie Somewhere in Time was filmed) and because we were in shorts and tank tops, we didn’t stay long. I remember posing next to a cannon and I was wearing a cowboy hat and those awful tube socks! We also got to go on the boat ride over to Mackinac Island. There were no cars on the island and there were many horses. We visited the Fort, which was full of wonderful artifacts. One of my favorite pictures is of my mother standing over my brother and I while we are locked in the stocks.
As summer vacation approaches, I hope that we will be able to do something nice with the kids. They are both still very young and may not remember it all, but I really want to take them somewhere. I just need to sit down with my wife and talk things over. The two of us will “find a good way to spend” time together as a family!
It has been a VERY long time since I read an entire book in less than 24 hours. That is exactly what I did with James Patterson’s The Shadow. I had only finished the first chapter or two when I wrote my blog yesterday. Once I picked it back up, I couldn’t put it down.
As I read it, it was just like listening to an old Shadow radio show. As a fan of the show, I wonder if that is what kept me turning pages. I was already familiar with the characters Lamont Cranston and Margo Lane, and I thoroughly enjoyed this new adventure.
I have to wonder if someone who is unfamiliar with the Shadow would find it as entertaining as I did. I don’t know. One really doesn’t need to know much about the show to enjoy it. While the cover of the book calls it “a thriller,” I guess it falls into the drama/adventure/sci-fi category in my opinion.
Here is the Amazon.com description:
Only two people know that 1930s society man Lamont Cranston has a secret identity as the Shadow, a crusader for justice. One is his greatest love, Margo Lane, and the other is fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. When Khan ambushes the couple, they must risk everything for the slimmest chance of survival . . . in the future.
A century and a half later, Lamont awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious secrets, including a knowledge of the legend of the Shadow.
Most disturbing, Khan’s power continues to be felt over the city and its people. No one in this new world understands the dangers of stopping him better than Lamont Cranston. And only the Shadow knows that he’s the one person who might succeed before more innocent lives are lost.
I won’t spoil the ending or give away any secrets. I will just say that I really hope that Patterson and Sitts decide to write more adventures with the Shadow. It is a character that, despite his age, still has many adventures to experience.
Time to read is very rare in my life. My stack of books to read seems to always be growing. Every once in a while, I get a few moments to crack open a book and read, but those moments seem to be few and far between. This week, I started reading a book by James Patterson and Brian Sitts based on a character who is over 90 years old – The Shadow. The book is one of my birthday gifts from Sam.
The Shadow made his debut in the 1930’s in a variety of novels. The character has made appearances on radio, in magazines, comic books, comic strips, on TV, in serials, video games and at least 5 feature films.
From Britannica.com:
The Shadow, American radio program that ran from 1937 to 1954. The title character, a caped vigilante who was also featured in The Shadow Magazine, was one of the most enduring and influential creations of the pulp era.
The Shadow was originally created as the narrator of the 1930 radio show Detective Story Hour, a program that was intended to promote publisher Street & Smith’s Detective Story magazine. The character of the Shadow, given a mysterious voice and ominous laugh by actors James La Curto and Frank Readick, was popular enough to convince Street & Smith to develop him as the protagonist in his own pulp magazine. The magazine was commercially successful, and in 1937 the Shadow returned to radio on the Mutual network as the protagonist in a weekly series. Initially played by Orson Welles, this version of the Shadow was significantly different from the pulp version. On radio the Shadow was the secret identity of Lamont Cranston, who had the power to hypnotically cloud the minds of those near him to make himself invisible. In early episodes, he occasionally used telepathy and the ability to cause others to see illusions, though these other powers were gradually dropped in later seasons.
Orson Welles as The Shadow
The many agents the Shadow employed in the pulp stories were dropped in favour of a single female companion named Margo Lane, initially played by Agnes Moorehead.. The radio episodes were melodramatic, with the Shadow often tracking down mass murderers and psychotic killers who were carrying out bizarre crimes. In one episode, a modern-day pirate uses a submarine to wreak havoc on the high seas, and in another a mad scientist rips airplanes out of the sky with a giant magnet. Using his invisibility to gather information and carry out psychological warfare on the criminals, the Shadow would inevitably foil their schemes. The show’s acting and production values were excellent, and it was popular enough to last for 17 years.
During this run, the Shadow was played by Welles, Bret Morrison, Bill Johnstone, John Archer, and Steve Courtleigh. Actresses who played Margo Lane included Moorehead, Marjorie Anderson, Marion Sharkley, Laura Mae Carpenter, Lesley Woods, Grace Matthews, and Gertrude Warner. The show was canceled in 1954, but many episodes were recorded and preserved.
I was introduced to the Shadow by my dad. We would listen to old radio shows together and it was one that played often. I can remember the first time I heard the organ theme to the show followed by those marvelous opening words:
“Who know what evil lurks in the hearts of man? The Shadow knows.” This was followed by that ominous laugh ….
At the end of every show, The Shadow would appear again to remind listeners:
“The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay. The Shadow knows.” This would be followed again by his laugh and the show was over.
I remember in the early 1990’s Alec Baldwin starred as the Shadow in a feature film. Many panned it, but I found it to be very good. It’s worth the watch.
I remember reading somewhere that James Patterson was going to tackle the Shadow. I wasn’t sure what to think and I will wait till I finish the book to pass judgement on it. I have high hopes for it and hope it does not disappoint.
It’s time for my next pick in the Hanspostcard TV Show Draft. My next pick is sort of a guilty pleasure. So many of the gags are ones you see coming a mile away, but they still crack me up. It is another one of those shows that was loaded with great guest stars and a solid cast. My next pick is Get Smart.
In the early 1960’s, America got their first look at James Bond and the secret agent/spy genre took off in full force. In 1965, Daniel Melnick, who was a partner in the production firm of Talent Associates in New York City, decided that it was time for a TV series that satirized James Bond. He approached Mel Brooks and Buck Henry to write a script about a “bungling James Bond-like hero.”
Mel said that Talent Associates had a pool table. He and Buck met at the pool table and while playing discussed the show. Mel says, “I knew we could do this thing together because we couldn’t stop babbling about things like the Shoe Phone and the Cone of Silence. These things just rolled out of our mouths.”
Henry said they created the script for the pilot in about three months around the pool table. “We decided on a secret agent named Smart – Maxwell Smart – and gave him, as his most sterling quality, a remarkable lack of insight. Nevertheless, since he was our hero, he would always win out despite his inspired inefficiency. We also gave him a number, which all operatives must have.” The number they chose was 86, which was chosen by Melnick and derived from the slang expression “to eighty-six someone.”
The show was pitched to ABC. The pitch was pretty much exactly what the show ended up being: Max would work for the Chief, the head of the Washington-based US intelligence agency Control. He would have a beautiful and brilliant young partner known only as Agent 99. Loaded up with gadgets, they would fight against the evil agents of Kaos, an international organization seeking world domination.
Originally, Mel Brooks considered playing Smart himself. Orson Bean was also considered. ABC decided that if it aired the show, Tom Poston (best known for his work on the Steve Allen Show and Newhart) would star as Agent 86. ABC liked the pilot, but wanted to change things up. They wanted Max to have a mother and a dog on the show. Brooks hated the idea of Max coming home to his mother at the end of every show and explaining everything to her. When they told ABC “no,” they passed on the show calling it “un-American.”
They took the script to NBC. NBC had already spent all the money allotted for making pilots. Grant Tinker was contacted about the show and was told that he “had to” read the pilot. “I read it and I just loved it. It was exactly the kind of thing that makes me laugh.” He called the head of programming at NBC and convinced him to come up with the money for one more pilot. They did so on one condition – Tom Poston, who was not under contract at NBC, would be replaced by Don Adams, who was.
The Cast
Maxwell Smart – Agent 86
You have to wonder how Max keeps his job! He is extremely clumsy and forgetful. He’s forever on the Chief’s last nerve, yet he always wins. He is a proficient marksman, skilled in hand to hand combat, and incredibly lucky. Believe it or not, he is one of the top Control agents!
Once Don Adam’s was brought in as Max, many of his routines from his stand up act were incorporated into the character. He had used his “Would you believe…” before, but it became a staple on Get Smart.
Smart: At this very moment, 25 Control agents are converging on this building.
Kaos Agent: I don’t believe it.
Smart: Would you believe 2 squad cars and a motorcycle cop?
Kaos Agent: No
Smart: How about a vicious street cleaner and a toothless police dog?
Agent 99
Played by Barbara Feldon, whom Buck Henry says he fought for from the beginning. Despite some sources, the creators of the show and Feldon herself say that 99’s real name is never mentioned. Originally, they wanted her to be Agent 69, but Henry says, “We knew it would never get past the censors. So 99 was our little joke.”
99 is another of Control’s top agents and often works together with Max. One had to wonder what an intelligent and sensible woman like 99 sees in a goofball like Maxwell Smart!
The Chief
For the Chief, Mel Brooks and Buck Henry wanted someone who would “personify authority and grave intensity all while delivering ludicrous information with a stern voice and fatherly demeanor.” They had seen Ed Platt in North by Northwest and Rebel Without a Cause and knew he was their Chief.
He is the head of Control. He oversees all of Control’s activities and missions. He frequently speaks to the President over a direct line. He considers 86 and 99 to be Control’s best agents and his best friends, even though Max seems to be a continuous thorn in his side.
Chief: All we know is that they threaten to wipe out the city containing our finest intellectual minds and greatest leaders!
Max: Well, at least Washington is safe.
Larabee
Larabee (played by Robert Karvelas) is the Chief’s right hand man and assistant. In all honesty, he is even more slow-witted and incompetent than Max! Don Adams said that they used Larabee for the jokes that were “too dumb for Max.” Despite his stupidity, his unwavering dedication and extremely simple mind make him an indispensable government employee.
Hymie The Robot
Hymie (played by Dick Gautier) was a robot originally designed by Kaos to battle against Control. However, in his first appearance on the show, Max mistakes him for a rookie Control agent and takes him under his wing. When Hymie is ordered to kill Max, Hymie shoots his creator instead. Max then reprograms him to work for Control.
Hymie often takes things literally. When told to get a grip on himself, he grabs himself. Many jokes of this type were Hymie oriented (“Kill the lights,” “Grab a waiter,” “Hop to it,” “Knock it off,” and so on.
Agent 13
Agent 13 (David Ketchum) is forever spying from odd places. You will find him in washing machines, in mailboxes, file cabinets, lockers, fire hydrants, and other small places. He is loyal to Control, but often complains about his assignments. Though he complains, he always gets the job done intercepting messages, overhearing plans, and often coming to Max’s rescue.
From 1965-1966, Agent 44 was played by Victor French and was also confined to small spaces like Agent 13.
Professor Carlson
Carlson (Stacy Keach Sr.) is a Control scientist and inventor. He often presents Max with gadgets that will be used on his assignment. Carlson succeeded Professor Parker who was played by Milton Selzer.
KAOS
Maxwell Smart calls Kaos “a monstrous organization of evil dedicated to the destruction of the free world and the systematic subjugation of every man, woman, and child on this planet. Kaos Agent Omar Shurok describes it as “the international organization of evil formed in 1904 in Bucharest , designed to foment unrest and revolution throughout the world.”
Ludwig Von Seigfried
Seigfried (played wonderfully by Bernie Kopell) is described as “the merciless, fiercely conceited, preeminent Kaos kingpin” who “considers himself vastly superior to his underlings and his adversaries.” He is also described as “undeniably sinister, shrewd, underhanded, conniving, contemptuous, haughty, scornful, and explosive. He considers all Kaos agents thick-witted, nitwits, fools, incompetents, bunglers, dummkopfs, dunderheads, and sissies, and he is easily angered by the slightest display of incompetence or silliness.”
Seigfried (on the phone with Max): Your Chief was just silenced by a pistol butt.
Max: That’s a little drastic, wasn’t it, Seigfried? Couldn’t you have just shushed him?
Seigfried: We don’t SHUSH here!
Shtarker (or Starker)
(King Moody) He is Seigfried’s ruthless, but often inept henchman. Shtarker is the Yiddish word for a “strong-arm man” or a “tough guy.” He certainly is a towering bodyguard, but he is nothing more than a goofball.
Gadgets
Throughout the show there are many gadgets. No doubt, many of these were inspired by the James Bond series. There are too many to list here, but there are a couple that have become synonymous with the show.
Shoe Phone
Mel Brooks is credited with coming up with the idea for the Shoe Phone. It came to him one day when every phone in his office started ringing and he took his shoe off and began speaking into it.
In 2002, the prop shoe phone was placed on display in an exhibit called “Spies: Secrets from the CIA, KGB, and Hollywood” which featured real and fake spy gear in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Cone of Silence
Buck Henry claims to have come up with this recurring gag.
Whenever something needed to be discussed that was sensitive, Max would insist on Control’s protocol of using the Cone of Silence. It was designed to keep whatever was discussed audible to whoever was in it. However, it almost never worked. Many times the people under it could not hear each other, or couldn’t understand what the other was saying. Sometimes they had to yell so loud that the people outside the Cone of Silence could hear better than the ones under it.
Catchphrases
Get Smart contributed many catchphrases that were popular among viewers. “Would you believe…” which I already mentioned was just one of them. Others were:
“Missed it by that much.”
“Sorry about that Chief”
“I asked you not to tell me that”
“….and LOVING it!”
“Of course, the (such and such). Just one question. What’s the (such and such)?
“The old (such and such) trick”
Passwords
Sometimes a password was needed to enter Control buildings. Other times a sign and counter sign was needed.
Passwords include:
Ricardo Montalban hates tortillas
Herb Alpert takes trumpet lessons from Guy Lombardo
Signs/Countersigns include:
Sign: Camptown ladies sing this song
Countersign: Doo-dah. Doo-dah.
Sign: Camptown racetrack five miles long
Countersign: Oh Doo-dah day.
The Show
Get Smart aired for 5 seasons. The first four seasons were on NBC and when faced with cancellation, it moved to CBS for it’s fifth and final season. In the final season, the show “jumped the shark” and 86 and 99 got married and had kids, which many say is what killed the show.
Afterward
In 1980, Don Adams starred in the theatrical film, The Nude Bomb. It lacked much of what made the show so good. Max is not working for Control, 99 is not present, and it lacked all the fun of the show.
In 1988, many of the original cast reunited for Get Smart Again, a TV movie that aired on ABC. It reunited 86, 99, Larabee, Hymie, and Agent 13. Seigfried and Shtarker return as Kaos agents. It was more true to the original series and it helped spawn a short-lived weekly series on Fox in 1995.
Why I Picked It
Today, we are bombarded with all kinds of shows on TV that try to push a political or social message. Get Smart makes me laugh. It is one of those shows that I wish didn’t have a laugh track (the only thing I hate about it). I love to watch the interaction of the characters and enjoy the guest stars. It’s one of my favorite guilty pleasures.
The theme song is one of my favorites, too! When I worked at one hospital, I used to have to walk down a long hallway and I would often find myself humming the theme! Silly, yes! Incidentally, it is interesting to note that in 2010, TV Guide ranked the opening title sequence at number 2 on its list of Top 10 credits sequences as selected by readers. It’s classic!
Normally, I don’t react to word prompts, however, today’s word is one that immediately made me laugh. I began following EM Kingston’s blog recently and her word of the day is “kibitz.”
The word is Yiddish and which can mean “make unwanted comments (as a spectator at a card game),” or something more general like “chitchat.” While it’s a word with a rich history, its origins are ultimately mysterious.
One who likes to kibitz is a kibitzer, which brings me to why I laugh at this word.
I’m a fan of the Three Stooges and they tend to use many Yiddish words in their shorts. Back when I worked on the radio on a regular basis, I used to watch movies, TV shows, and many Stooges shorts looking for lines I could pull out and use on my show. One of those lines came from a 1943 Curly Short entitled Three Little Twirps.
In the short, the boys are hanging posters. Larry’s brush ends up under Moe’s chin as he is not paying attention. When Moe says, “I beg your pardon” Larry sees him and spouts off the line, “Beat it grandpa, we got no time for kibitzers!” I’m not sure why, but this line cracks me up every single time! You can see the entire short below and the line I am talking about takes place about 1 minute into the video:
What a great word! I highly encourage you to Kibitz today! Be a Kibitzer!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 