The Titanic: Still Down But Definitely Not Out at 100 Years...

Television is having a field day with this week's 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic, and The Flaming Nose is all for it.  We're Titanic buffs around here and love nothing more than great TV commemorating an unforgettable historical moment.  Many of our favorite networks are loading up their schedules with Titanic-related programming, starting this past Sunday on Smithsonian.  They premiered two very interesting specials, one with Titanic movie director James Cameron further exploring one of his favorite subjects, and another with the actual Titanic's amazing 1985 re-discoverer Bob Ballard.  (Both are repeating this week, so don't worry if you missed them on Sunday.)

We thought the best way to cover this already-started seminal week of television was to go day to day, beginning today, and let you know what's coming on.  Obviously Sunday is the biggest blow-out, but Titanic treasures are on tap all week long.  We will cover ABC's new Titanic dramatic miniseries in another post coming up, plus we also have some looks at historic television references to Titanic which have intrigued viewers over the years. 

But first -- the documentaries!!

Tonight, Tuesday, April 10th:

The Titanic With Len Goodman:  PBS, 8pm - 9pm  (Definitely check PBS local listings!)  Also airs Friday 4/13 at 10pm (Check local PBS listings!)  Click here for Program Website.

We're thrilled to see PBS get into the Titanic action; too often cable nets steal all the thunder for historical documentaries.  Dancing with the Stars judge Goodman leads viewers on a tour of Belfast and other Titanic-related cities, and talks with descendants of Titanic passengers and crew.

Saving The Titanic:  PBS, 9pm - 10pm  (Again, check your local listings!)   Click here for the Program Website, and the entire special is available for viewing there, too.

This doc-with-drama focuses on the efforts of the fireman, stokers and engineers of the Titanic who worked so courageously to keep Titanic aloat as the minutes ticked away to her inevitable doom.

Titanic Belfast: Birthplace of a Legend:  PBS, check your local PBS outlet for dates & times!
Click here for more information on the special.

This documentary focuses on the construction of the Titanic at the Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast, where work began on her in March of 1909. 

PBS outlets are also featuring several other Titanic-related specials:

Titanic: The Wonders Exhibit:  PBS, check your local PBS outlet for dates & times.

This special is about the 1997 exhibit of artifacts from and relating to the Titanic and her demise.

Words from the Titanic: PBS, check your local PBS outlet for dates & times.  Click here for more information on the special. 

The actual words of Titanic survivors are read by actors including The Iron Lady's Richard E. Grant, bringing to life the terrible night from those who were able to escape with their lives.

(You may also be interested in a NOVA episode from a couple of years ago entitled Titanic's Lost Sister about the Brittanic; lots of resources and a transcript available, too.)

I can't emphasize enough the importance of looking up your local PBS outlet to find out when they will be airing some or all of these programs.  PBS schedules are not standardized across the country and you need to figure out where your particular station will be airing these. 

Wednesday, April 11th:

Titanic's Final Mystery:  Smithsonian Channel, 9am - 11am.  Also airs Friday 4/13 at 6pm and Saturday 4/14 at 3am.   Click here for Program Website. 

This terrific documentary follows Titanic researcher Tim Maltin as he investigates the various theories surrounding the sinking and comes up with some fascinating optical, meteorological and other scientific evidence that brings more understanding to the tragedy.  I watched this the other day and I highly recommend it!  Very science-y and completely riveting!

Last Mysteries of the Titanic:  Science Channel, 10p - 11pm, 1am - 3am and Friday, 4/13 at 5am.  Click here for Program Website.   Also airs on Discovery Channel on Saturday 4/14 at 1pm. 

This 2005 documentary  features director James Cameron on another trip back to the site of the shipwreck to examine the Titanic's final resting place once more.

Thursday, April 12th:

Modern Marvels -- Titanic Tech: H2 Channel, 9am, 3pm. 

From their website: 

Welcome aboard the luxury liner Titanic, the world's largest ship and pride of the White Star Line. Watertight compartments and a steel-plated hull render it all but unsinkable. Nearly every technological breakthrough of the previous 50 years is employed onboard, providing comfort and safety for passengers and crew. But none of this will matter on April 15, 1912, when the ship bears down on an iceberg on her maiden voyage, sinking within hours with more than 1,500 lives lost. Learn the details of her construction and how the achievements of technology may have masked her vulnerabilities.

Building the Titanic:  H2 Channel, 10am, 4pm.  Click here for info and whole video to view.

From their website:

The construction of the "unsinkable" Titanic needed an army of workers and the resources of a purpose-built town complete with an array of specially built docks and facilities to construct it. This is the forgotten story of Belfast's "Titanic Town."

Titanic's Tragic Sister:  H2 Channel, 1pm, 7pm. 

From their website: 

Considered the "Everest of wreck diving," the Britannic was discovered in 1976 on an Underwater Exploration by Jacques Cousteau. The Britannic is the larger sister to the ill-fated Titanic. On November 21, 1916, Britannic was steaming through the Kea Channel in the Aegean when an explosion ripped through the ship causing the world's largest ocean liner to sink. Whether it was a German mine or submarine torpedo that sank her, a bigger mystery remains: Why did this giant ship sink so fast? It took her only 55 minutes to disappear beneath the ocean waves, three times faster than Titanic. Join wreck divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler as they lead an expedition to unravel this mystery of the Britannic's final hour.

Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces:  H2 Channel, 10pm - 12m, 2a - 4am.  Check here for more information on the special. 

The hosts of History's hit series Deep Sea Detectives took a dive to the Titanic in 2005, discovering several lost hull pieces that may hold the answers to questions about the ship's last minutes. 

Titanic's Achilles Heel: H2 Channel, 8pm, 12am.  Click here for info and whole video to view.  This is the follow-up show to Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces.

From their website: 

Did Titanic have a fatal design flaw? In August of 2005 John Chatterton and Richie Kohler (of "Deep Sea Detectives") led an expedition to Titanic, where they discovered two huge intact sections of the ship's bottom, the red paint still on. Naval architect Roger Long, along with a panel of experts concluded that Titanic broke apart earlier in its sinking than has been believed, due to a previously unknown design flaw. Chatterton and Kohler return to the wreck in 2006 searching for evidence to support this theory, but when their research vessel is recalled by the Russian government they head to Greece to dive Titanic's lost sister ship Britannic. Was Britannic quietly modified to correct the problem?

Friday, April 13th:

The Real Story--Titanic:  Smithsonian Channel 5pm, also Sunday 4/15 4am & 10pm.  Click here for more information on the special.

This special looks at the differences between the Titanic story as presented in James Cameron's epic film Titanic and many newly-discovered facts and theories which are causing experts to look at the tragedy in a new light. 

Saturday, April 14th:


Titanic-Birth of the Legend:  Discovery Channel, 2pm - 3pm. 

From their website:  The story ended with the loss of 1,500 lives in April, 1912. But it had begun exactly three years before with a dream to build the largest moving object ever made. This extraordinary story is about the building of the Titanic and the men who built her.
What Sank Titanic?:  Discovery Channel, 3pm - 4pm. 

Trial records from the inquiries following the sinking of the Titanic provide insight into the technical and personal stories behind the monumental event.

Nazi Titanic:  H2 Channel, 9pm - 11pm, 1am. 

Premiere of a brand new documentary.  From their website:  

To the Nazis of WWII, film was a weapon used to justify murder and even genocide. Joseph Goebbels, the head of the Nazi propaganda machine, personally commissioned The Titanic; he saw it as a potent weapon in demonizing the English. In his pursuit of creating what was to be the Third Reich's cinematic masterpiece he was ruthless. He had the first director murdered and poured in unrivalled resources even bringing troops back from the front to use as extras. The film was intended to show German valor and Allied weakness, but when it was finished it portrayed an entirely different message. It had become an allegory for Nazism itself. There was an all too apparent parallel of a country heading towards its own iceberg and sinking. The story of the Nazi Titanic had an unpleasant sting in its tail. The boat used to play the Titanic in the film, the Cap Arcona, was sunk by allied bombers with an even greater loss of life than the original ship.

Sunday, April 15th:

Titanic's Final Moments-Missing Pieces:  H2, 9am - 11am. See Thursday's listings for description. 

Titanic's Achilles Heel:  H2, 11am - 1pm.  See Thursday's listings for description.

Antiques Roadshow, Belfast:  Ovation, 1pm - 2pm.  From the offices of Titanic shipbuilder's Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Ireland.

Rebuilding Titanic:  National Geographic Channel, 10am - 3pm.  Click here for more information.

A five-part series where modern engineers and craftspeople tackle the question of how to bring the Titanic back to life via authentic re-creation.  Episode titles and times:  10a -- Raising the Bow; 11am -- Forging the Anchor; 12n -- Powering a Giant, 1pm -- Floating Palace; 2pm -- Preparing for Disaster.   A two-hour version of this aired in May of 2011, but this one seems to be expanded. 

Secrets of the Titanic:  National Geographic Channel, 3pm - 4pm.  Click here to watch the documentary online.

This is the original documentary chronicling Bob Ballard's discovery of the wreck of the Titanic.  More information here.  Highly recommended!

The Final Word with James Cameron:  National Geographic Channel, 4pm - 6pm, and also Monday 4/16 4pm - 6pm.  Click here for more information on the special.

One of the two documentaries that Nat Geo premiered this past Sunday, this is a fascinating documentary exploration featuring Titanic director James Cameron along with a cadre of Titanic specialists and maritime experts who look at all the recent discoveries and come up with some new conclusions regarding the most famous shipwreck of all.  I've watched this one; very interesting, clearly an extremely emotional subject and interest for all these men (no ladies in the group!).  Although Cameron sort of leads the pack and the discussion, all the smart guys in the room get their turn to speak.  It's a great example of passionate individuals seeking the truth about a fascinating and tragic event.  Highly recommended!

Save the Titanic with Bob Ballard:  National Geographic Channel, 6pm - 7pm, also Monday 4/16 6pm - 7pm.  Click here for more information on the special. 

The other new documentary which debuted last Sunday.  Bob Ballard looks back on his discovery of the wreck of the Titanic, reflecting on the current condition of the ship and what "Titanic-tourism" might be doing to hasten the demise of the remains.  He also visits Belfast and the birthplace of the Titanic, coming to some serious conclusions that don't bode well for the Titanic.  This is a really sober look at the current state of affairs about the wreck, coming from the man who made it all possible and who knows what an awesome step it was but also realizes that the Titanic needs careful attention and protection.  Highly recommended!

Titanic at 100: Mystery Solved   :  History Channel, 8pm - 10pm, 12m - 2am, also Tuesday 4pm - 6pm.  Click here for more information on the special.

Premiere of a new documentary.  From the website:  Titanic at 100: Mystery Solved
As the 100th anniversary of Titanic's sinking approaches, a team of scientists, engineers and imaging experts have joined forces to answer one of the most haunting questions surrounding the legendary disaster: Just how did the "unsinkable" ship break apart and plunge into the icy waters of the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912? Two years ago, HISTORY took part alongside the world's top underwater experts in the most thorough and exhaustive study of the wreck ever made. The undertaking yielded unprecedented new discoveries and the first comprehensive map of Titanic's watery grave. This 2-hour special documents this mission, captures the high-tech mapmaking process, unveils astonishing pieces of never-before-seen wreckage and presents the expedition's unexpected findings.


We also recommend taking a look at some nice tributes and general Titanic info at some of the network websites.  History Channel has this user-friendly "Titanic by the Numbers" infographic and a good selection of resources here.  National Geographic Channel has set up a very informative page with tremendous links and much fascinating info to be explored at your leisure.  You also might enjoy reading some of the other compilation articles about the wealth of Titanic programming coming our way, such as the Reuters coverage by Julian Rieffe and Scott Timberg's for The Los Angeles Times.

FYI, a bit of good news on the Titanic front came through today -- UNESCO has extended protection to the Titanic wreck site, as detailed here.  This will certainly make Bob Ballard a little happier, though as he points out in his new documentary, there are no police out there to make sure people follow the rules. 


We'll be updating this post if we learn of any other Titanic documentaries coming our way.

Happy viewing!

Farewell to a Great American Journalist

The Flaming Nose honors the passing of Mike Wallace
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace (May 9, 1918 – April 7, 2012), best known as one of the foremost correspondents on the long lived CBS news magazine 60 Minutes. He was 93 years old and his career spanned 60 years.

During his 37+ years as an investigative reporter on 60 Minutes, Mr. Wallace earned a reputation for exposing corruption that struck fear in the hearts of those who had something to hide. It was said that among the most feared words in the English language were, "Mike Wallace is here to see you now".

He interviewed the famous, uncovered the truth and inspired countless young people to choose broadcast journalism as a career. Who among us can hear the ticking of the 60 Minutes clock open without thinking of him?

Steve Croft, a former colleague at CBS put it best by saying, "He was hands down the best television interviewer ever. I can't think of anyone, besides (CBS legend Edward R. Murrow), who had a greater influence in shaping television journalism."

Here's a little recap of his life. We bid farewell to one of the giants of television.

"Game of Thrones" Season 2 on HBO Coming This Sunday!

Season 2 Tease: Nowhere to Hide

To get you into the proper mindset for the continuation of its spectacular epic series Game of Thrones, HBO has created a twenty-two minute special which you can watch right here on The Flaming Nose.  Season Two premieres this coming Sunday, April 1st at 9pm. 

Full-Length Special: You Win or You Die

HBO also offers a catch-up guide for Games of Thrones here; highly recommended if the details of all the elaborate goings-on in the complicated worlds of the various Houses of Baratheon, Lannister, Greyjoy, Stark, Taragaryen and Tully have grown a bit dim in your head.  All I know is that two of my favorite characters from the first season are no more.  The virtuous Ned Stark (Sean Bean) and the swarthy leader of the horse people Khal Drogo (played by Jason Momo) met their ends in the first season, more's the pity.  (Perhaps even more dastardly was the quick box office death last year of Momo's feature film Conan the Barbarian where he played the title role!)

 

Season 2 Trailer: Seven Devils

At least we have the Emmy Award-winning Peter Dinklage back as Tyrion Lannister!  He's always a delight, a treacherous, lecherous, rapier-witted force who makes every scene he's in a treat. 

Don't miss Games of Thrones as it begins its new season, beginning this Sunday on HBO!

C-SPAN Superhero Brian Lamb Stepping Down as CEO after 33 Years!

Oh, Woe is Us!  There's nobody on talk/news/political/public affairs television that we love more than Brian Lamb on C-SPAN.  For the past three decades and a bit, Lamb's calm and erudite presence has been a low-key delight and influence on the cable industry's premier do-good project.  He was there at the beginning, a key player in the founding of the channel in 1978 and its CEO since then, and his intelligent oversight has kept C-SPAN as the only really truly fair and balanced network out there in TV land. 

Now, at the beginning of next month, two of his trusted lieutenants -- Susan Swain (pictured at right with Lamb) and Rob Kennedy -- will take over the day-to-day management of the C-SPAN trio of channels, each of them presenting 24 hour-a-day coverage of all things political, historical, literary and beyond.  Whichever ill-informed and short-sighted wag once-upon-a-time bemoaned the dulless of "talking heads on television" clearly never envisioned or watched C-SPAN.  There isn't a dull moment on the channels, not if you're a citizen who cares about what's happening in Washington, or a history buff interested in life's rich pageant (especially America's past), or even merely a book lover looking for a place on TV that celebrates the written word.

Not that we won't still have Lamb as host of his weekly Q and A series, and not that Swain and Kennedy aren't utterly qualified to serve as co-CEOs (a brilliant move acknowledging both of their complementary talents and expertises).  Susan Swain has been an reliable and smartly entertaining on-air presence and behind-the-scenes management force since her arrival at the network in 1982, while Rob Kennedy came onboard a few years later and is the whiz behind C-SPAN's invaluable web archive, among other accomplishments.  We know the network couldn't be in better hands, thanks to Brian Lamb's decades of hard work and complete dedication to making C-SPAN the national network of record. 

A lot of people undoubtedly take C-SPAN for granted, and maybe seldom watch it, but it's inconceivable to imagine what cable TV would be like without it.  Talk about your vast wasteland...C-SPAN is a beacon of responsibility, ethics, intellectual prowess and civic responsibility in an America gone lazy and saturated with junky TV.  I am so grateful that the cable industry continues to value C-SPAN's incredible legacy and its ongoing efforts to make our government more transparent, more accessible and more engaging to the citizenry.  We all have Brian Lamb to thank for the high-minded standards that C-SPAN has always stood for towards and achieved, without question and without peer. 

Of course the internet was abuzz with the announcement of C-SPAN's management changeover, with plenty of terrific coverage over the past week.  We recommend this great article by Brian Stelter with some wonderful quotes from Lamb, Kennedy and Swain at The New York Times, nice coverage in USA Today, Patrick Gavin's complete-with-video look at five best-of Lamb moments on Politico, a wonderful piece by James Rainey from The Los Angeles Times, an amusing read from The Weekly Standard by Andrew Ferguson from a while back, and you can peruse the official C-SPAN press release here.  Don't forget to visit C-SPAN's own incredible website, a treasure trove of information, video, and special features. 

C-SPAN -- everything about it -- is tops in my TV world, and Brian Lamb is one of the most under-appreciated and unsung heroes of cable television.  Take a big bow, Mr. Lamb -- you've earned it!

Frozen Planet Debuts Tonight on Discovery

Heads up for the latest magnificent nature series. Frozen Planet premiers tonight on Discovery and it will take us to the bone chilling northern most and southern most regions of our world. These icy lands are full of breath taking beauty. Who among us would not want to see the Aurora Borealis? Spoiler alert: it will also feature some top of the food chain predator cruelty. I saw a preview where a pod of killer whales (the gangsters of the deep) capsize a poor fat seal who was sunning herself on a floating cake of ice. A terrifying chase ensued, and I had to avert my eyes. Nature is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. It's especially dangerous when you put a very, very smart mammal brain into a fast water animal the size of a sport utility vehicle. I will never understand why all the Sea World Shamu orcas don't rise up and turn their human slave masters into a quick smorgasbord. Look how clever the orca in the picture above is, spy hopping so he can see all the delicious seals on the ice.

It took Discovery over four years to create the seven episodes that will begin airing tonight. They'll cover all the seasons of the frozen lands, as well as a special segment on global warming. Be sure to check out the website where you can find gorgeous photos and a wonderful live penguin cam generated by Sea World. I generally don't approve of the latter as I don't believe that large predators should be kept in captivity. But I have to admit that those water birds look pretty happy. Maybe in their case they realize that life at Sea World trumps becoming dinner for an orca.

Here's a little Frozen Planet preview. It looks glorious!

Goodbye, Cuddly Toy: Monkee Davy Jones Passed Away Today

This one really hurts.  As a Monkees fan from the very beginning -- and I do mean beginning, from the first show of The Monkees on NBC back in September of 1966 until today -- it was shocking to learn of the fatal heart attack of  Davy Jones, who died this morning in a Florida hospital at the too-young age of 66.  Davy was nominally the "cute one" of the Monkees, an almost-diminutive (he trained as a jockey) but super-talented Brit who prior to becoming part of what wags dubbed "The Pre-Fab Four" was an acclaimed performer on the Broadway stage and British TV.  Davy, along with Micky Dolenz -- he was the other show biz veteran in the group, starring in his own TV show as a youth -- was a performing dynamo and a consistently adorable presence whose accent made him even more delightful. 

It's always interesting to ask ladies of a certain age who was their favorite Monkee. I went for Micky who was the most traditionally comedic of the lads -- I've always gravitated towards the funny -- but I'm sure that most young girls set their sights on Davy.  I can easily imagine what a huge mountain all the Pee Chee folders of yesterday adorned with Davy's name in little hearts would make.  He was probably the ultimate teen idol -- sweet, enthusiastic and talented until the end -- and the hearts he won more than forty years ago never stopped loving him.  (Even a few years after the initial craze of Monkee Mania, Davy Jones was still a powerful force, famously setting Marcia Brady's heart aflutter on the "Getting Davy Jones" episode of The Brady Bunch in December of 1971; clips below.) 

Despite only having a two-year 58 episode run, The Monkees series has been a TV favorite for decades.  Syndication kept Monkee magic alive during the 1970s and early 1980s, then in 19

86 MTV scooped up the series and enabled a full-on revival of Monkee Mania thru marathons and special events.  Since that time the show has truly never left the air, always keeping faithful fans happy and constantly winning over more hearts, each new fan discovering the tremendous goodwill that emanated from Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith as The Monkees.

The Monkees, singly and together in various iterations, have continued to make their music for loyal followers, too.  Davy, particularly, had a full schedule of personal appearances all over this country and abroad, delighting audiences with his non-stop energy and genuine joie de vivre wherever he went. Fans lined up to hear him revisit his collection of hits such as "Daydream Believer," "She Hangs Out," "I Wanna Be Free," "When Love Comes Knockin' At Your Door," "Cuddly Toy," "Star Collector," "Valleri," "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and also all the Monkees hits where he wasn't the lead singer.  (We highly recommend reading this thoughtful article from Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone for an appreciation of Davy's pop star status.)  Relax a while and revisit the marvelous music of The Monkees:























Davy Jones left us too soon.  There were still songs to be sung, audiences to be entertained, new memories to be made and old ones remembered.  The Flaming Nose TV Blog offers our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Davy Jones.  We will carry his enthusiasm with us always, and we will never forget how much we -- and the world -- loved this consummate entertainer. 

"Ancient Aliens" is Back -- Now on H2, Starting Tonight!

This is some wonderful fun for Friday nights!   History Channel's series Ancient Aliens is moving over to H2 (formerly History International) for its new 4th season, and that means one thing -- more Giorgio Tsoukalos!  If you've caught Giorgio on the series or on any of his other TV, radio or personal appearances, you know that he's one dynamic individual and the head cheerleader for the notion that extraterrestrials visited Earth long ago and left profound influences on the planet's progress.  This is the same theory expounded by Chariots of the Gods author Erich von Daniken for so many years, and Tsoukalos is a Daniken colleague.

I don't know whether I buy the theory or not, but I do know that you won't find anyone more entertaining or more enthusiastic in his beliefs, nor will you find anybody with a more spectacular hairdo than Giorgio.  He is simply, as he's been dubbed, Tsoukalicious!  The other Ancient Astronaut theorists who appear on Ancient Aliens are equally immersed in the subject and suitably persuasive, but Tsoukalos is something special.  He brings to his subject the same tremendous energy and passion that the late Steve Irwin brought to his various wildlife TV series, with the end result being immensely watchable television. 

Yikes! you may be thinking, enough of this pseudo-science, and I hear you.  At least, though, somebody watching Ancient Aliens will be getting a dose of archaeology along with the rest, and if it encourages people to delve into history and come up with their own opinions on the subject, that can't be a bad thing.  In a TV world where suburban housewives, gator-wrestlers, bridal consultants, Alaskan gold miners (and cops and truckers in a seemingly endless stream of workers from the 49th state), catfish-grabbers, tattoists, and everyone else can become a star in today's motley world of cable reality shows, I'm all for focusing on  folks who have a philosphy (even if it's outside the mainstream) and research their particular interest with zeal and dedication. 

Giorgio Tsoukalos serves as consultant and one of the producers on Ancient Aliens, as well as being the publisher of Legendary Times magazine and all-around go-to guy in the field.  The other great thing about Tsoukalos is that he and his astounding hair have become the subject of an internet meme which has been making the rounds.  It plays on his obsession with ancient aliens at the root of many Earth mysteries and his trademark near-melodramatic delivery, but I swear that you couldn't be bored listening to Tsoukalos expounding on the subject.  Instead, you will be hugely entertained and perhaps turn into a believer.  In any case, Ancient Aliens is a riveting hour of documentary-ish television, and highly recommended!  I think Giorgio Tsoukalos is hilarious (in the best possible sense of the word) and I hope you will, too. 

The newest season of Ancient Aliens airs on H2 (and frequently shows up on History, also) Fridays at 9pm, with frequent encores.  Check out the show website for more information.  You might like to watch a short clip of him from The Mo'Nique Show -- he's quite personable, check it out here. 

Here are a few of the photo memes of Giorgio, too:

Our Classic TV Valentines

Here's a Happy Valentine's Day to all our nostalgic TV crushes -- not that we don't still love these guys!

In no particular order...

Rob Petrie, played by Dick Van Dyke, on The Dick Van Dyke Show

How could any young girls not fall in love with the hilarious, urbane, supremely silly and utterly adorable Rob Petrie?  Not only did he have a cool job -- TV comedy writer -- but he worked in a great office with smart entertaining colleagues...how is that not perfect?  Even if we couldn't be Mrs. Petrie, I think we'd have settled for being Sally Rogers, just to be near Rob.  Wouldn't you?

Adam Cartwright, played by Pernell Roberts, on Bonanza

Naturally, young girls watching the series were supposed to fall for the teen idol-ish Little Joe (Michael Landon), but there was something dangerous and sexy about Ben Cartwright's oldest son Adam.  Smart as a whip and back at the Ponderosa after going away to college, this often-brooding brother had a temper and wasn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with his dynamic father (Lorne Greene).  If Little Joe was the heartthrob and Hoss the safe older brother, Adam was the slightly wild card.  So wild that he left the series after a few years, but while he was there, he lent a seductive air to the Cartwright clan.

Diver Dan, played by Frank Freda, on Diver Dan

Can an actor in a diving suit playing on a fake underwater set with puppet fish really make little girls' hearts flutter?  Well, Diver Dan did!  Whether it was his understated heroics or his "do-they-or-don't-they" -- or maybe more accurately "could-they-even-do-it" -- relationship with the elusive and beautiful mermaid Miss Minerva, Diver Dan made afterschool afternoons more exciting!

Professor Roy Thornton, played by Russell Johnson, on Gilligan's Island

Wouldn't you like to be stranded on a desert island with the Professor?  Handsome and so very smart -- and not even just compared to Mr. Howell, the Skipper or Gilligan -- the Professor was also inventive, good-natured and not a bit of the aloof intellectual.  I still think he's the perfect companion for a coconut-tinged retreat, though of course you'd have plenty of competition, what with Ginger and Mary Ann also having an eye for Roy.  Who can blame them?

Dr. James Kildare, played by Richard Chamberlain, on Dr. Kildare

Chamberlain brought a huge dose of charisma into the corridors of Blair General Hospital and became a huge teen idol for his role as Dr. Kildare.  The show was intelligent and dramatic, beautifully produced, excellently acted -- by Chamberlain, his co-star Raymond Massey and a bevy of guest stars -- but mostly we all fell in love with the appealing Dr. Kildare.  Sure, Ben Casey was also a hit TV series at the time on a different network, but Casey (Vince Edwards) was gruff and grim, while Kildare was bright and inviting.  Maybe the older ladies went for Casey, but Kildare got the youth vote, and how.

Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Andy Griffiths, on The Andy Griffiths Show

Even those of us who grew up far from small town America -- or maybe especially us -- were drawn to Sheriff'Taylor's soft-spoken and kind-hearted brand of law enforcement.  He also had the allure of being a widower, and in the show he had a couple of different steady girlfriends, including the equally likeable schoolteacher Helen Krump (Aneta Corsaut).  Who could begrudge Sheriff Taylor a little Mayberry-style lovin', right?  In truth he was probably more of a father figure than boyfriend, but his comforting male presence was a welcome feature of our childhoods and ever since.

Superman/Clark Kent, played by George Reeves, on The Adventures of Superman

That smile, that cape, the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound -- we're still in love with Superman!  The brawny All-American good looks and personality of George Reeves gave his super-portrayal an irresistible appeal that has never died.  Okay, so maybe we didn't want him for a boyfriend exactly, but if he wanted to drop by and take us for a flight around the world...well, that would have been okay with us. 

Dr. Zachary Smith and the Robot, played by Jonathan Harris and Dick Tufeld, on Lost in Space

Yeah...there's no denying these two were one of the most authentic Odd Couples ever on TV, but they were also hilarious and they could have easily been, if not our boyfriends exactly, maybe our funny best friends.  We sometimes think that's even better than romance, in case anybody needs to be told that.

Hercules, voiced by Jimmy Tapp, on The Mighty Hercules

Hercules, like Diver Dan and Clark Kent, was a shy guy with a big job, and little time for romance with the lovely damsel Helena who worshipped the Greek he-man.  For a crudely animated show with only a dozen or so episodes, the influence of The Mighty Hercules was huge in our childhood and mostly because Hercules himself was the epitome of a classic hero.  Even though it was unlikely that we would ever accompany him to Mount Olympus -- "Olympia!" he cried at the end of every segment as he ascended -- we loved to watch him vanquish evil and yet somehow never quite get the girl.

Mickey, played by Mickey Dolenz, on The Monkees

Davy Jones was the anointed "boyfriend-in-chief" of the pre-Fab Four, but if you were a young lady who loved the funny, then Mickey was your guy.  Unconventionally good-looking, slightly hyperactive, and a terrific singer to boot, Mickey was my Monkee of choice and I'm sticking to it!

Illya Kuriakin, played by David McCallum, on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Open Channel D!  The suave Russian Illya, Napoleon Solo's partner in spying, soon almost eclipsed his James Bond-ish co-agent in popularity and fan mail, not that Robert Vaughn was anything less than spectacular.  It's just that Illya was so...so...cute, dang it all!  From his fluffy blond hair to his delicate foreign accent, Illya was oh-so-seriously wonderful and most definitely won the hearts of the younger set. 

Artemus Gordon, played by Ross Martin, on The Wild Wild West

In this series, ladies who loved tight blue pants went for the ultra-suave uber-hero James West, played by Robert Conrad.  Those of us who liked our heroes a little more creative, a little funnier, a little more inventive, preferred Artemus Gordon, masterfully brought to life by actor Ross Martin.  If West almost always ended up with the girl, Artemus ended up with our hearts and our minds, a potent two-fer that made Mr. Gordon my personal choice for the most super secret agent. 

I've saved the best for last --

Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, on Star Trek

Who might have dreamed that a half-human alien hybrid from the fictional planet Vulcan could become one of the most desirable of TV boyfriends for millions of young girls?  Super smart -- there's that very cool intelligence attribute once again! -- ultra-competent, and nearly non-emotional, although Spock might have seemed an unlikely candidate for Valentine's pin-up boy, he's the logical choice.  Since the late 1960's Spock has made the search for extraterrestrial life a must; how else are Sarek and Amanda, Spock's Vulcan father and Earth mother, ever going to get together?  From the first moment we set eyes on him to his evidently farewell appearance as Spock in J.J. Abram's 2009 Trek franchise reboot feature, Mr. Spock has truly been one of the wonders of the TV universe.

We all have our favorites, and many newer faces have come in since these guys captured our hearts long ago, but you never forget your first love...er...loves.  A Happy Valentine's Day to all of the many unforgettable characters who have made us fall in love with them!

Don Cornelius of "Soul Train" - RIP

This morning at 4am Don Cornelius, the creator of the iconic music and dance series "Soul Train" apparently took his own life in Sherman Oaks, California. Health issues and a recent bitter divorce battle are getting the early blame for the suicide. It is difficult to understand the pain that one must suffer from in order to take their own life.

"Soul Train" (the title of which was narrated in a style that had the voiceover coming to a slow stop at a train station) ran for 22 years beginning back in 1971. At the time of its premiere I was a kid. As the decade progressed I would find myself watching Dick Clark's American Bandstand and then follow that up with Soul Train. Keep in mind, I came of age in Chicago and our winters were cold (well, not this year) and after our morning chores we would often spend early Saturday afternoons watching television. It was a simpler time and it is virtually impossible to describe our lifestyles to young people today. We actually played outside. We rode our bikes, we took long walks, we laid on the ground and watched the stars, we caught fireflies (with holes in the cans, so they could breathe), we built snowmen and igloos. We had no smart phones, no computers, no iPods, iPads or anything else that is deemed as technology. We had two television sets, two telephones (that were attached to the wall), four radios and a transistor (go and look it up).

After rolling out of bed on a Saturday in January, I would do my chores, watch a bad B movie (I loved "The Killer Shrews"), American Bandstand and Soul Train. If I have secluded a secret in my life it is that I love to dance and I dance often, but back in the 1970's I loved Led Zeppelin and the Eagles too. I rarely danced in public outside of the weddings that I seemingly went to on an almost monthly basis. To this day, I dance and I dance often. I will put on McFadden and Whitehead's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" or "Stomp" by the Brothers Johnson and move to the groove.

I didn't want to miss "Soul Train." I had the opportunity to see some of the best acts of the era and watch some of the best dancing in all of television history. By and large, the dancers on "Soul Train" weren't professional dancers, so you thought "I could try that move."

My older sister was already out of the house living on her own at this point, but she'd find herself visiting the family house on Saturdays and we'd watch together. I have some wonderful memories of this innovative show. About six years ago, a friend of mine from ABC and I were having dinner at Giorgio Baldi's in Santa Monica and in walked Don Cornelius with some woman young enough to be his granddaughter. When you live and work in Los Angeles this sight is never particularly surprising, but I looked at him and thought I bet I am the only person in this room who recognizes him. As we were departing, I simply walked past his table (I certainly wasn't going to say anything to him, since the guy was eating dinner and my intensely private friend from ABC would have been embarrassed) and left the following note written on a napkin on the side of the table. It read "Thanks Mr. Cornelius. I loved Soul Traaaaaaaain!

Thanks for the music. Thanks for the peace, love and soul.

The clip below showcases some of the giants of the music industry that appeared on Soul Train. A truly stunning roster of talent.

RIP Dick Tufeld: Voice of the Lost in Space Robot

One of the most iconic voices from 1960's era television passed away this week. The Flaming Nose mourns Dick Tufeld, who was best known as the voice of the robot in the Irwin Allen series "Lost in Space". He left this earth at the age of 85, and we are all richer by at at least a dozen catch phrases for his work in television.

Lost in Space is one of the most beloved science fiction series ever, particularly for baby boomers who grew up appreciating its absurdist sensibility. Unlike Star Trek, which thanks to Gene Roddenbury had real science as the basis for many stories, Lost in Space was pure fun. It featured alien planets which were chock full of magicians, opera singers, giant talking carrots and sparkling green ladies wearing bowl hats. The first time I realized that the 4th wall was broken on my TV set as a child, was when I could clearly see that the mine field Irwin Allen had created on a God forsaken asteroid was constructed from colored plastic beach balls. Okey dokey, so the production budget was a little light for Lost in Space.

Of all the characters on Lost In Space, the most compassionate, caring and well... human, was the lovely robot. He was brave and sensistive and able to tolerate the most brutal hazing from his nemesis "Dr. Smith", who routinely referred to him as a "bubble headed booby". Thanks to the talent of Mr. Tufeld, we all believed in the robot when he would slump with sorrow or flail his retractable arms and bellow "Danger Will Robinson". Although I could identify best with the Robinson kids Will (Billy Mumy) and Penny (Angela Cartwright), the Robot was always my favorite.

Take a moment to remember a TV show from a kinder, gentler and definitely sillier age. His character may have said "that does not compute", but we all understand that the man who gave voice to the Robot will be missed.

Anthony Bourdain in The Layover

Anthony Bourdain, known as the globe trotting TV gourmet, is the best walker on the planet. He doesn't swagger, he doesn't stride...he ambles his way down the streets of cities in every corner of the planet. He is my Ambling Man, towering over most of the other folks no matter where he is, a friendly confident American at home in the world. Judging by the shouts of adoration from the minions who recognize him in even the most obscure locations, he is probably one of the best ambassadors this country has got.

Bourdain's latest TV series The Layover, has a slightly more frantic and condensed feel to it than his former Travel Channel show No Reservations. The new show gives him 24-48 hours in a city where he must use that limited time to eat, drink, explore and meet the local denizens. He does all of the above and more with great charm and cheerfulness. Even when the local fare is somewhat challenging, he is refreshingly honest (maybe a bit too honest) about the toll it takes on his digestive system.

So far I've watched A.B.'s adventures in Miami, Hong Kong, Montreal, Amsterdam and San Francisco. The latter was so compelling, I was inspired to take a train into my backyard city yesterday to visit one of the locations he featured in the episode, the historic Fairmont Hotel. Alas, the famous Tonga Room was closed at the time, I should have checked their website to see that it's only open for dinner! I did enjoy a lovely brief chat with the concierge about how exciting it was to have THE Anthony Bourdain at the hotel when they were filming.

Every episode of The Layover features the perfect mix that helps make any travel/food show a winner:

• Fascinating and crazy local people: Bourdain seems to attract them wherever he goes. He seems to prefer offbeat individuals and it always adds great color to the episodes.
• Wonderful trivia and history about the locations in a most palatable format.
• Great looking food and drinks from restaurant venues both high (4 star) and low (gourmet food trucks and hot dog stands).

Anthony Bourdain does not try to hide his carnivorous side, so if you are a Vegan this series might not be for you. And his real life feud with Paula Deen the Butter Queen might be off-putting to those who are fond of down home food. However, I find his utter delight in trying new dishes and seeing new places to be captivating. M. Bourdain would make the perfect fun traveling companion, no matter what your gender. I nominate him as my #1 fantasy TV boyfriend, for his humor, daring and endearing NYC accent.

Here's a little taste of The Layover in Miami. Bon appetite!

Hail to "Portlandia": Keep Portland Weird!

Thanks to my personal content editor (Tommy...the only son), I have been turned on to an exquisitely strange and awesome comedy sketch show on IFC called Portlandia. Every episode
starts with a few soothing strains of smooth jazz and a montage of the Pacific Northwest city that is known for coffee bars, indie rock and artist communities (and not much more). Frankly, Portland has never even remotely been on my radar screen, but it sure is now. If I turn up suddenly missing someday, it's because I packed my bags and cats to go be a cafe barista in Portland.

Portlandia stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein and is executive produced by Lorne Michaels. Every single episode is filmed on location in Portland. Fred and Carrie play a whole host of quirky, freaky, surreal characters, some of whom appear on a regular basis. Most irritating = the lesbian duo running a Women's bookstore. Most fascinating, a pair of Japanese Harajuku girls drinking coffee from microscopic cups. They've already spawned buckets of catch phases, including..."cacao", "put a bird on it" and "we can pickle that". Portlandia has also attracted a constellation of wonderful guest stars, including Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks) who plays the mayor of Portland and Jeff Goldblum who was a joy as a crafty dude who specializes in vintage and modern art knots. It's like minimalist macrame. They also featured my favorite new band "The Decemberists" as a fake indie band called Echo Echo.

You can catch up with Season One on Netflix or On Demand if you have IFC. Season Two just premiered last Friday night on IFC at 10:30pm. Run as fast as you can to watch the best new comedy series on TV!

The dream of the 90's is alive in Portland!