Still Real After All These Years: The Real McCoys

 

I found out today that the final two seasons of The Real McCoys went on sale in August.  I also found out that they are sold out already.  Why did I just now find out about this Amazon, when you have a record of me buying the other four seasons?  Isn’t your “recommendations” supposed to be the best system on the internet?

So I just checked again, and they now say available in 5 to 11 days.  I guess that’s narrowing it down, right Mr. McFeely’s Speedy Delivery?

Season Six would be a curiosity piece at best since that was the year they killed off Kate and shipped the kids out, thus totally wrecking the show.  Even in the sixties TV Executives were a bunch of know-it-all dumbasses.  Decades later, and nothing has changed.  But I still want it, because I always like to complete a set of my Classic Series when possible. 

If you are unfamiliar with the series, as I’m sure many of you are Read On.

From Wikipedia, my favorite source of infallible information:

The Real McCoys revolves around the lives of a mountain family who originally hailed from fictional Smokey Corners, West Virginia. The McCoys moved to California and became dirt farmers.

The family consisted of Grandpa Amos McCoy (Walter Brennan); his grandson Luke (Richard Crenna), Luke's new bride Kate (Kathy Nolan), Luke's teenage sister Hassie (Lydia Reed), and his 11-year-old brother, Little Luke (Michael Winkelman).



The double-naming of the brothers was explained in the first episode by the elder Luke: Because their parents were so excited over the birth of the younger boy, "they forgot all about me!" Only Crenna was in every episode.



The McCoys' farm had previously been owned by an uncle, Ben McCoy, who died. The former West Virginians joined the Grange farm association and acquired a Mexican farm hand named Pepino Garcia, played by the Puerto Rican-born Tony Martinez.

In the episode which aired on January 8, 1962, Pepino becomes an American citizen and takes the surname name "McCoy".

The McMichaels, a brother and sister combination played by Andy Clyde and Madge Blake in twenty-nine and twenty-one episodes, respectively, lived on the hill not far from the McCoys. Amos McCoy and George MacMichael, both rather devious individuals, would sometimes quarrel, particularly over their games of checkers.



Kate was friendly with Flora McMichael, George's sister, and became involved with life in the community. Though still in her twenties, Kate served as a mother figure for Luke's younger siblings, Hassie and Little Luke, and one episode shows her bewilderment in trying to entice the children to take responsibility for their school studies.

Many episodes have a moral theme consistent with the conservative views of Walter Brennan, such as two 1957 segments entitled "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" with Joseph Kearns, later of Dennis the Menace, and "Gambling Is a Sin," in which Amos allows a casino to advertise on McCoy property before the ethics of the matter is brought to his attention.

Other such episodes are "Go Fight City Hall", "The Taxman Cometh," "You Can't Always Be a Hero", "You Never Get Too Old," "Where There's a Will", "Beware a Smart Woman", "Money in the Bank", "How to Win Friends," "You're As Young As You Feel", "Honesty Is the Best Policy", and "Never a Lender Be".

I must have them.  So hopefully they’ll still be around come next pay day.  Season Two, after having been out of print for a while is now available with the same waiting period.  Season One is still showing “not available.”  But I suspect they may finally reissue it because the price gougers who were charging over $100 and they are nowhere to be found.

I highly recommend the series because after watching the first four seasons, I found them to be much more entertaining then I remember from back when I was five or six or eight or whatever it was.  Meaning, I didn’t really remember a damn thing about them except for the “divining rod” episode which is mentioned in the Wikipedia article.

And if nothing else, it is my honest opinion that Kate McCoy (Kathleen Nolan) was the hottest farm wife to ever grace your TV screen and that’s reason enough to own this set.  I’m sure you’ll agree.



Of the original cast, only Kathy Nolan and Lydia Reed survive.  Brennan died in 1974 at the age of 80, Crenna passed away in 2003 at age 76, and Tony Martinez in 2002 in Las Vegas at age 82.  Michael Winkelman, who also served in Veitenam, would die at the age of 53 in Riverside, California.

Anyway, if you’re familiar or curious, you might invest in at least a season or two because don’t count on them coming back if they disappear this time.  I’ve been waiting about five years or so for these final seasons so that should give you a clue.  And you won’t be shortchanged.  Although the price may seem steep, remember there were 30 episodes or more in a season in those days.  Plenty of entertainment in that deal.  Use the picture of the DVD set at the top of the page for a link.

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid? Dead Men Walking? Weekend at Clementes? D.O.A.?

So, you’re a grave digger.  Your assignment:  Dig up the grave of a one of your patrons so it can be extended so that the deceased man’s recently departed wife can be tossed in there to keep the guy company whether he wants her there or not.  For all we know, she may have been an old nag who sent him to an early grave.

So an uncle and a niece show up, you dig the old guy up, and they decide that since they are having this family reunion anyway, why not make it the photo-op of a lifetime?  Not all of us have that opportunity, so I say, go for it.

From The New York Daily News expressing their own faux outrage:

A Spanish gravedigger has been suspended after a creepy picture of him posing with an exhumed corpse went viral.

The cemetery worker reportedly dug up the body of a man who'd died 23 years ago so his recently deceased wife could be added to the family tomb. But when he opened the crypt he discovered that the man's body had become mummified and was still practically intact.

Rather than break up the body so another corpse could fit into the same space straight away, he decided to contact members of the deceased man's family.

His nephew and niece arrived — and the woman took a photograph of her dead relative standing next to the digger and her living relation.

The niece is then believed to have sent the snap to another family member via messaging service WhatsApp. It then quickly spread and was posted on several different social media sites, reports The Local.

What do I think?  I think it’s perfectly genuine and those who are expressing outrage should just take it elsewhere.  I mean, can one really be horrified over an actual dead corpse after watching live walking zombies on The Walking Dead for the past four years? 

If it was any old Tom, Dick, or Harry, off the street you might have a point.  But since it was the relatives, why not have your Kodak moment even though the once largest maker of film and cameras is deader than your departed uncle.  It’s almost poetic.  And share your joy with the world, on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in this case, What’s App?  You now have a Christmas Card insert for all of eternity.

You’ve also made your uncle more famous than he ever was or hoped to be when he had a heartbeat, so why not let him hang around for a while and enjoy all the cool gadgets we didn’t have when he keeled over two decades ago? 

I mean, sit him on the couch and let him watch that 70 inch flat screen while you play your blu-ray copy of Weekend At Bernie’s you have in your library and he’ll feel right at home.  Not only that, when you do watch The Walking Dead, you’ll have your own movie prop right there with you.

And hey, maybe you can get him booked on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon?  He’d be the perfect guest considering how dead that show has been since Fallon took over.

As for myself, if twenty-three years after I’m gone, some relative wants to dig me up and post my picture on a billboard or whatever, that’s fine with me.  If they are still having that family reunion thingy back there every summer, you can take me along and we’ll have a meet and greet.  Let’s Party.

Overnight Comedy Moment Doubleheader: The Mummy & The Marriage Counselor

The Sims 4: My Take on the Newest Edition of the Maxis Franchise Part Two–Build Mode Updated: 9/12/2014

This video appears to be a lot better than the first one I uploaded.  In this edition I talk more about the game, things that are in and things that are out.  Where it succeeds and where it fails.  And I do this while completely remodeling Biff Bumstead’s dreary home in record time….thanks to video editing.  It actually took me about a good eight hours to do this home.

Anyway, as promised here is Part II of my thoughts on The Sims 4.

UPDATED:  In the video I lament about the fact that there are a great many inaccessible items that one could use to furnish their Sims home.  In order to get these items, your Sim has to achieve certain career goals and even then they still have to pay for them.

So no sooner do I post the video then someone from Mod The Sims issues a downloadable fix.  Simply download the Zip file into your Mods folder.  You don’t have to unzip it according to the instructions on this one.  If it works, I may do  another house real soon from scratch.  Use the links to download the file (I think you have to sign up for Mod The Sims but if you haven’t your undoubtedly new to the franchise.)

 

Overnight Comedy Moment: The Sleepover - Part Two

Overnight Comedy Moment: The Sleepover - Part One

The Sims 4: My Take on the Newest Edition of the Maxis Franchise Part One

I was going to write my thoughts regarding The Sims 4, but instead decided to try doing it by video.  There’s a lot to be said about the newest version, and hopefully I can get it all covered during the two videos I have recorded.

Keep in mind the last time I did any public speaking was years ago when I did some live streaming in regards to politics.  That wasn’t particularly good so don’t expect wonders here.  My eyesight is poorer, my voice is going, and thoughts don’t roll off the top of my head the way they used to.  But we’re still here and plugging away at it.

I’ve been playing the Sims since the original game came out and am now going through my fourth go round.  That doesn’t mean I belong to the all things Sims adoration society.  I have my share of criticism now and in the past.  But I try to be fair.

Added to my problem of getting this video up was a bunch of technical difficulties. I had one headache after another getting this video recorded and processed.  Some of the programs I used decided to get glitchy as hell.

So I finally got the first video done and I’ll have more to say when I post the second one.  Hopefully that will be tomorrow but don’t sue me if it doesn’t happen.  I want to cover a lot of area.  Maybe I’ll put up a third one if necessary.  Can I hold an audience that long?  Oh wait, I don’t have an audience.  Never mind.

Like I said, excuse the video quality.  It should have been better.  The voice over should be as well but it is what it is.  Better next time I hope.  (No overnight comedy moment tonight due to the lateness of working on this.)

Overnight Comedy Moment: The Big Scene

 

 

Robert Downey Jr.: No Ironman 4 “in the pipe.”

So as coincidence would have it, after last night's movie musical clip of Heart & Souls (see my Facebook page for that) comes this bit of news. 

Robert Downey Jr. says there is no Iron Man 4 in the pipe, although he has finished filming Avengers: Age of Ultron  and is signed for the follow-up.  And after the enormous amount of money he signed for to do those two films, I doubt if he needs the cash.  If they want him to do another, they may have to mortgage the Studio.  The ball is in his park, not theirs, and that’s the way it should be.  I don’t think the series would have gotten to where it was without Robert Downey Jr.

From Variety:

Don’t hold your breath, Tony Stark fans.

In a new interview with Variety, Robert Downey Jr. shot down speculation about a fourth “Iron Man” movie. 

“There isn’t one in the pipe,” Downey said. “No, there’s no plan for a fourth ‘Iron Man.'”

The actor, in Toronto to promote his new film “The Judge,” signed with Marvel and Disney for two “Avengers” sequels, which hit theaters summer 2015 and 2018, but has been reluctant to commit to any more superhero films.

When asked if he would “let” somebody else play Tony Stark, Downey laughed off the idea.

“I like that the idea is that it would be up to me, like I’m casting director for Marvel,” he said.

“Don’t give it to anybody else,” his “Judge” costar Robert Duvall advised.

Like the article states, don’t hold your breath.  Use the Variety link to read more and also link to info about Downey’s new movie, “The Judge.”

Tonight’s Overnight Comedy Moment: The Apartment