Who, What, When, Where & Wiandt

“Uncle Buck,” the John Candy comedy made in 1989, is a funny movie. Don’t take my word for it — ask fellow blogger Joni Bowen (Web Savvy) who recently viewed the film for the first time (I loaned her my copy). A pre-”Home Alone” McCaulay Caulkin steals every scene he’s in. One of the best scenes of the movie, Caulkin’s character Miles Russell grills his Uncle Buck in Joe Friday fashion when Buck is called to babysit Miles and his two sisters when their parents are called out of town in a family emergency. Another winner is Miles’ birthday party and the giant pancakes Buck makes, flipping them with a snow shovel (mmmm….pancakes…). The scene involving Buck, the assistant principal and a wart is funny, too.

Check out the movie if you’ve never scene it.

Three “classic” TV sitcoms debuted on this date. “The Beverly Hillbillies” in 1962, “Gilligan’s Island” in 1964, and “The Brady Bunch” in 1969.

I have to admit these shows are silly, some would say stupid, but I used to watch them religiously when I was a kid. Today, I can hardly stand to watch an entire episode of any of these shows (except for Gilligan’s “Shakespeare A Go-Go” with Phil Silvers). Sometimes, however, I can’t help watching the Hillibillies. If I’m the right frame of mind, they crack me up.

My favorites are still Andy, The Honeymooners, Car 54, Sanford and Son, and Hogan’s Heroes. And sometimes The Munsters and Happy Days, and more recently MASH and Cosby. Corner Gas, too; a new classic. Leave it to Beaver is good too, and Dick Van Dyke. What are your favorites?

Five years ago today Johnny Cash left this earth. He was 71. He made his mark in music, movies and television. The man in black was bigger than life. His deep voice was unmistakable. He was a star. However, as it has been said so many times, stardom comes with a price. Cash had his demons. He struggled with drugs, alcohol and depression. He wasn’t perfect. But he was honest with the world. He was open about his shortcomings and used the stage to share his faith in Jesus. Cash suffered from many health problems later on in his life, but he likely died of a broken heart. His love for June Carter Cash was so great he lived only four months after she died.

Bill Melendez, the only person Charles Schulz authorized to animate his Peanuts characters, died Tuesday. He was 91. Early in his career he worked for Disney and Warner Brothers. He is probably best remembered for his Peanuts TV specials, including “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”