Hart to Hart: Season One 1979 Pilot

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Ederik Schneider
Hart to Hart

Source: NBC- Robert Wagner & Stefanie Powers


Source: This piece was originally posted at FRS Real Life Journal Plus

Hart to Hart is a strange show to me, because it is about this very wealthy businessman with his own company, that he doesn’t seem to spend much time running. Sort of how some pro sports franchise owners treat their clubs and have someone else running their club for them. And his wife who is like a part-time writer, but basically acts as the first lady of her husband’s company. And hosts a lot of parties and charity functions and so-forth. And yet this power couple in Los Angeles is always dealing with crime cases as if they’re the primary detectives on the case. Either as pi’s which they are or police detectives.

And they also don’t make it very clear what type of company Hart Industries, owned by Jonathan Hart played by Robert Wagner, is and what they do. If Hart Industries was a private eye firm run and owned by this power couple the Hart’s, Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, played by Hollywood goddess Stefanie Powers, who has real Raquel Welch qualities, that I’ll talk about in a future blog, then this show would make sense. Except for Hart Industries, they would need to call it Hart Pi’s or something like that.

But this show does have things that make it worth watching. Like Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner, especially Stefanie and this show has a lot of good humor and it and the plots are good. It’s just not very realistic that the two main investigators on the show aren’t investigators. They aren’t police detectives or private detectives. But people who work in finance and do other things. And yet they end up doing most of the investigative work on the show and solving the cases themselves.
Martin Clark: Hart To Hart Season 1 Pilot- August, 1979

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Smithsonian Channel: Enemies Within: Joe McCarthy: Spreading Lies & Ruining Lives

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Rik Schneider

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Source:The Daily Post

I’ve only seen certain parts of this film, but it looks very interesting from what I’ve seen. And about a very important part of the Twentieth Century. The 1940s and 50s where the fear of Communists and communism and even communists in the U.S. Government was real high. And Americans were actually worried about Communists taking over America. Which was never a real concern, considering how strong America was during the entire Cold War. And how weak are so-called Communist rivals were the whole time.

Especially the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. Who were both just trying to keep up with America, especially from a military perspective and having as much if not more influence around the world as the United States. But neither Russia, or China has ever come close to matching our economic power around the world. And yes, the Soviet Union, was a great military power and even diplomatic power. But because of their Marxist state-control economic system, would’ve never been able to compete with America economically and even maintain their military power. And a big reason why the Soviet system collapsed when it did in 1991.

What Senator Joe McCarthy did in the 1950s, especially with his powerful position in the Senate as Chairman of the Government Oversight Committee and perhaps Congress as a whole, was to take advantage of the fears that too many Americans have about communism back then. And use those fears to try to further advance his political career and perhaps make a run for president himself in 1960. If not just further his political power and career in the Senate. Joe McCarthy, was the demagogue of demagogues. And hurt the lives of a lot of good Americans, simply because of who they may have associated with and their political beliefs. Which is un-American.
McCarthy Hearing

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Janet Jackson Vevo: Janet Jackson’s Black Cat- An R&B Singer Becomes a Classic Rocker

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Derik Schneider
Black Cat

Black Cat

This post was originally posted at FRS Daily Journal Plus

This is one of my favorite classic rock songs and I’m a big classic rock fan, not just physically. And one reason why it is one of my favorite classic rocks, is because of the singer and Janet Jackson simply nailed this song and I don’t know anyone that could’ve done a better job of singing this song other than maybe Tina Turner. And another reason why this is one of my favorite classic rock songs, is because it’s sung by someone who is not a classic rock singer, at least full-time. Janet is primarily a rhythm and blues singer and does a great job. But here she shows her great versatility.

I think the really great talented singers can sing more than just one style of music. Tina Turner would be a great example of that who is both a rhythm and blues and classic rock singer and also combines those two great sounds into blues rock. Eric Clapton and Dave Matthews does the same thing and I’m big fans of both. Janet with Black Cat becomes a rock star in the real sense. Not in the pop culture sense of someone considered awesome or cool. But someone who is a great singer rock singer. Who has great material and delivers it beautifully.

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Brandon Hansen: Take a Trip Back to The 1970s

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Ederik Schneider

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Source:Real Life Journal

A very divisive decade politically the 1970s, but a decade with a lot of great movies, sports, music and the designer jeans revolution of the late 1970s. Also the decade where I was born and started school. So I can’t really complain about a decade that I didn’t play much of a part in and don’t remember most of it. My first memories of life start around 1978 or so and if you look at that time, it doesn’t look much different than 1981 or 82. But a fascinating decade with all sorts of incredible things for good and bad.

One of the worst fashion decades of all-time and this coming after the 1960s. But in the 1970s we go from min-skirts and western hippie clothing, to bell bottoms, platform shoes and flares. It was a decade where most of America looked like they were high or drunk, or in Jim Morrison’s case both. Where everything was in and everything was done at the same time and whatever happens is whatever happens with not a lot of thought into the consequences.

It was a decade where we go from having a Tricky Dick, to a Peanut Brain, I mean Peanut Farmer, with a stumbling bumbler in between as President of the United States. The greatest country in the world and yet this is who we have leading the way and taking us to the promise land. If this country was the best back then, I sure as hell would get to see the worst. But again most of the country was high, so who the hell cares, even for the people who sober enough to vote. The 1970s, what a decade and America, what a country.

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White Mare: Video: Johnny Cash’s I Walk the Line

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Rik Schneider

Source:The Daily Post

Johnny Cash singing about something he didn’t do very well, or at least very often. Which was walking the line and was someone who was unfaithful and didn’t play by all the rules at least. Not judging him based on that, other than to say he didn’t live the life he sung about. And at best lived a life that perhaps he wanted to and that others lived instead. I think this is a very good song as far as the lyrics and the music to it and of course Johnny Cash with his great voice and that he was a great entertainer. But this song is not autobiographical at least in the sense that he was singing about himself. But perhaps singing about someone else and perhaps singing about someone he wanted to be instead.

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The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Steve Martin Not Important Enough to Leave Early (1978)

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Ederik Schneider

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“Steve Martin tells Johnny Carson he has to leave on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1978. One of the funniest moments on the Johnny Carson show! More Steve Martin on Johnny Carson’s show The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson.”

From Johnny Carson

You hear all the time on these late night talk shows about the guest being so important and busy that they can only give the current host and show that they are talking to when so much time before they have to go to their next appointment. Whether they have to rehearse the show they are currently working on, rehearse a scene in a movie that is coming up, rehearse some new album that they are working on, negotiate their latest divorce settlement, meet their mistress, see their drug pusher, talk to their analyst, you know whatever it might be.

But apparently Steve Martin wasn’t important enough in late 1978 and had nothing else to do that day and could’ve given Johnny Carson all his time and done the entire show together.

He could’ve filled in as the couch potato and given Ed McMahon the day off. He and Johnny could’ve made a cake together, he could’ve picked up Johnny’s laundry or met Johnny’s girlfriend because Johnny needed to be with wife that night. Whatever Johnny needed Steve to do for him, looks like Steve had the time to help out and be a good personal assistant for Johnny, since he wasn’t important enough to have to leave early.

Source:Real Life Journal

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Reason Party: Video: Oxford Union Debate, The American Civil Rights Movement

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Rik Schneider

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This post was originally posted at FRS Daily Post on WordPress

Bill Buckley seemed to be making the case that Africans were better off in America than they are in Africa or anywhere else in the world. Which may be true, but the fact is the African slaves didn’t have a choice whether or not to live in America, or stay back in Africa and build their own countries and societies. And do well on their own and create their own wealth. Which is one of the things that Malcolm X argued for which was for African-Americans to create their. Own wealth and build their own communities in America.You can’t ask for a better debate about American civil and equal rights than to have Bill Buckley on the Right and I guess Jim Baldwin on the Left. Even though I don’t how far to the left Baldwin was overall in his life.
Bill Buckley

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NBC News: Meet The Press- Senator Robert Taft (1952)

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Rik Schneider

Sen_ Robert Taft - Meet the Press, 1952 (1_3)Source:NBC News– U.S. Senator Robert Taft (Republican, Ohio) on NBC News Meet The Press, in 1952

Source:The Daily Post

“Meet The Press. January 20, 1952. NBC-TV net, WNBT-TV, New York City audio aircheck. Sponsored by: Revere Copper and Brass. The first question is, “You’re enemies say that in spite of all your disclaimers, you’re an isolationist at heart. Are you?” Robert Taft (Senator, Ohio), James Reston (The New York Times), Lawrence Spivak (Mercury Publications), Marshall McNeil (Scripps-Howard Newspapers), Ned Brooks (NBC commentator), Martha Rountree (moderator). 28:30. Audio condition: Excellent. Incomplete.

“In the international field we have been victimized by such catch phrases as–“Making the world safe for democracy”, “One world or none”, “Freedom loving countries”‘ “the Four Freedoms”, “Human Rights” and a dozen others. ” – Frank E. Holman, 1953″

From Guy John

America’s role in the world post-World War II and where is our place in the world and what we needed to do to defend ourselves and work with our allies so that Russia wouldn’t try to invade Europe and expand their Communist empire, is what they’re talking about here.

Senator Taft who truly was a Conservative Republican perhaps the Barry Goldwater of his time and the Barry Goldwater in Congress of his time, made a really interesting point about NATO which is responsible for defending Europe for the most part. And a position that I hold today about who should defend Europe.

Senator Taft wasn’t taking an isolationist position on foreign policy as it related to Europe. He wasn’t saying that if Russia invades Europe, then that is Europe’s business and America shouldn’t get involved. He was saying that if America is going to be part of NATO, then the European states that get most of the security and benefits from NATO should pay for that defense. Instead of America essentially being responsible for the entire defense of the United States, which twice the size of the European Union in land and have to defend Europe as well.

And Senator Taft was right then and he was right today. America is essentially responsible for the defense of both the United States and European Union. Canada can defend themselves and is now committing the resources to do that under the Harper Government. But while America is still at or around four-percent GDP as far as national defense, Europe is at around one-percent. With Britain, Germany and France being a bit higher than that.

One of the reasons why these social democracies in Europe spend so little on their national defense, is because they’re social democracies. They spend a lot on infrastructure and education and very little on defense. Because America is responsible for their defense.

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The Young Turks: Martin Luther King Was a Republican?

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Derik Schneider

Source:Free State MD

Pre-1964 or so I could see why Martin King was a Republican. Lets face it, the GOP was home to an overwhelming amount of African-Americans. Because of the Civil War, the freeing of the African slaves, Abraham Lincoln, etc. And then go up to the 1950s and 60s, which party is the civil rights party? The Republican Party and their Northern Progressives, especially in Congress. Who without the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 1968 Fair Housing Law doesn’t pass. Those laws would’ve not of passed in the House and Senate without Northern and Midwestern Progressive and Conservative Republicans. Like Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen.

Ideologically except for civil rights, its hard to imagine how MLK would’ve fit into the Republican Party. They did have a progressive faction, but that was about civil rights, infrastructure, environmental protection and to a certain extent the safety net for people who truly needed it. But MLK was much more social democratic in nature, especially economically and when it came to civil rights and racial equality in general. And he was a dove and non-interventionist when it came to foreign policy and national security. And consistently spoke out against the size of the American defense budget and our involvement oversees. But without putting down American serviceman and women. Unlike the New Left of the late 1960s.

I can’t imagine Dr. King as a Republican or Democrat back then and perhaps not today. Today I could see him putting down Democrats as giving up on the poor and less-fortunate over things like Welfare to Work. And not doing enough to address the income gap and eliminate what he and others see as the Military Industrial Complex and Prison Industrial Complex. If Dr. King were a Democrat today, he would’ve been a member of the Progressive Caucus and perhaps one of the leaders of Occupy Wall Street, or creating his own social democratic movement. Or perhaps not a Democrat at all and a member of the Green Party or Democratic Socialists USA. He was very Left on economic policy and when it came to national security as well, for a lot of center-left Democrats.

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TV Guide: Robert Wagner & Stefanie Powers- At The 1993 People’s Choice Awards

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Ederik Schneider

 

Hart to Hart

Source: Galleon Collectables– Hart to Hart, with Stefanie Powers & Robert Wagner

Source:Real Life Journal 

“1979 TV Guide November 3 Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers of Hart to Hart – San Francisco Edition Very Good to Excellent (4 out of 10) Used Cond. by Mickeys Pubs”

From Galleon Collectables

This may sound strange, but I was never a fan of Hart to Hart and explain why and I’ve seen a few episodes on demand and on reruns now on cable. But I’m a big fan of Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner and without them, you would’ve had a bad to mediocre show that probably would’ve been on for maybe three episodes in late 1979 or 1980.

Had RJ and Stefanie not have been on that show and you replaced those two with, let’s say average actors who are perhaps good character actors, but aren’t ready for lead roles and perhaps both of them aren’t that well-known yet and have just been discovered, this show wouldn’t have made it.

Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers are examples of why acting and the ability for actors to improvise are so important. Great actors can make mediocre if not bad shows look watchable, because of their presence and how they present themselves on the show. Especially if they are funny which RJ and Stefanie were and perhaps still are.

Hart to Hart wasn’t that believable which is my main problem with it. You got a guy who runs his own corporation, even though they never make it real clear what his company does. And his wife who is essentially the wife of a CEO and perhaps does charitable work or something.

Hart to Hart was essentially a show about a rich man and his gorgeous wife. A very wealthy CEO with his own company, jet and everything else and yet this show is essentially a private eye show. With Jonathan Hart and his wife doing most of the detective work. Even though neither one of them are professional detectives and have never been detectives or even police officers.

Hart To Hart was similar to McMillan and Wife where you had a big city police commissioner, the Commissioner of Police for San Francisco and his wife doing most of the detective work. But RJ and Stefanie made Hart to Hart watchable, at least some of the time.

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