New Charlie’s Angels fails to arouse my inner 12-year-old

Charlie’s Angels debuted on ABC in 1976, the year our country turned 200 and I turned 12.
The timing could not have been better, as the three foxy crime fighters (esp the agonizingly beautiful Jaclyn Smith) were the perfect conductresses for the puberty train my friends and I were embarking upon.  Every Wednesday at 9 p.m. [...]

Human Target

Up here in Santa Rosa, we got a place called Superburger.  It’s been around since, like, the end of the Peloponessian War, or close to it.  It’s this little stand on a corner of Highway 12 that specializes in – surprise! – burgers.  Just so we’re clear, I’m not talking about fast food.  Go in [...]

Mad Men – Rock’n Roll

“I was born in a trunk
Mama died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die alone
In the middle of Tobacco Road
 
Growin’ up rusty shack
All I had was hangin’ on my back
Only you know how I loathe
This place called Tobacco Road
 
Gonna leave, get a job
With the help and grace from above
Save some money, get rich [...]

Hawaii Five-O

The 1960’s were the undisputed golden age of TV opening credits sequences.  Every cop/detective/spy series had to have its own distinctive theme music by a topflight composer and a fast-paced montage guaranteeing more danger, excitement and romance that no mere hour of television could really hope to deliver but promised just the same.  I’m talking [...]