31 Day TV Challenge: Day 15

Day 15 of the 31 Day TV Challenge: Favorite TV Detective. It's six for me...Once upon a time there were three little girls who went to the Police Academy, followed by one from San Francisco, another from Boston, and one from a top school for models. They left their exciting careers and went to work for Charles Townsend. My favorite detective(s) are Kelly Garrett, Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe, Kris Munroe, Tiffany Welles and Julie Rogers. Not to forget their man Friday--John Bosley. So for this one, I had to create a tribute video for Charlie's Angels.

On the 5th Day of Christmas

A Christmas Angel

Angel Anniversary

What's On? Wednesday: Charlie's Angels

Thirty four years ago on a Wednesday night just like this at 10:00pm, the very first episode of a new series began with an episode called "Hellride". Months earlier, my parents and I watched a pilot movie called Charlie's Angels and I fell in love with the show. So one night a week for the first year of the series my parents allowed their eight-year-old son to stay up past his bedtime. They were so glad when the show changed it's timeslot for season two. They didn't want to tell my teacher the real reason I kept falling asleep in class.

September 22, 1976 was the date in which a television landmark hit the small screen and the six women who played the title characters became household names and will forever be linked to the show. They each went on to other successes, but to be remembered as an Angel is definitely not a bad thing.

Happy Anniversary Angels!

We want Season Five!!!

YouTube Tuesday presents: Charlie's Angels Season Five

Charlie's Angels ran for five seasons. Four have been released on DVD. The first season was released way back in 2003 with the three original Angels--Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, and Jaclyn Smith. A year later, season two was released. This season Farrah had left and Cheryl Ladd joined the team. It would be another three years before season three would be released. The Angels didn't change, but it did have the return of Farrah.

It looked like season four or five weren't going to be released. The saving grace for season four was the fact that it contained three more episodes with Farrah returning. I like Farrah, but she (believe it or not) wasn't my favorite Angel. However, if anyone mentioned Charlie's Angels, the first person that came to most minds was Farrah Fawcett. It's great that season four was released, because I think most people were surprised that they liked Shelley Hack. For some reason, Shelley Hack got a lot of bad rap, but I always liked her and people can now see that season four was actually not a bad season because three years after season three was released, season four was finally released.

That was last year. Season five is the only one left to be released. The pros of this season: Tanya Roberts joined the team; five episodes were filmed in Hawaii allowing for the first time--three Angels in bikinis in the same scene; guest stars Christopher Lee, Jane Wyman, and Dack Rambo; and Julie attacking her fellow Angels. The cons of this season: shortened season with only 16 episodes due to the writer's strike that year; three of the worst episodes of the series happened in season five; guest stars Lyle Waggoner, Sonny Bono, and Dan Haggerty; and no appearances of Farrah Fawcett.

The Charlie's Angels Wiki features three great videos related to season five to whet your appetite.

First is a trailer he made for Season Five:



Next is a tribute to Julie, the final Angel:



And last are some scenes from "Attack Angels" where Julie is brainwashed:



Join the Facebook Petition to Sony requesting Season Five of Charlie's Angels!!!
I'm afraid that it will be 2012 before it will be released at the rate they're going and if all the predictions of the world ending that year, I would at least like to revisit this final season before it does.

A True Angel

Monday's Man (I know it's Tuesday): David Doyle

There is always so much written about the women who played Charlie's Angels, but the unsung hero of the show has to be the character of John Bosley, played with humor and class by David Doyle. Intoducing himself in many episodes like he was 007, "Bosley, John Bosley", the character, more often than not, was called just Bosley. In fact, many episodes, you never hear his first name. It was like he was "Jeeves" the faithful butler, but he was more than that. Bosley was a member of the team, often going undercover, seducing women, and shooting the bad guys. The show may have centered on the three women, but Bosley was there getting computer readouts, monitoring the phones in the office, coordinating the sting, and still maintaining the financial records. In his undercover roles, he was usually assigned the menial jobs like valet, chauffer, bellhop, and occasionally played the "sugar daddy" to the Munroe sisters.


The character also had some romances with mature women during the run of the show. These romances never came to fruition. Like the Angels, the women he dated were either suspects, villains, or just a one episode love never to be heard from again.

Bosley was more than just a member of the team. He was the loving uncle who cared about the Angels and their well-being.

I believe that David Doyle brought that to the character. There have been many stories through the years, where he would take the new Angel under his wing and make her feel welcome. Cheryl Ladd even stated that if it wasn't for David, she wouldn't have made it through that first year.






In the pilot movie for Charlie's Angels, there were two characters who were the middlemen for Charlie. Bosley was the psuedo-investigator/office manager while Woodville, played by David Ogden Stiers, was the lawyer who coordinated with Charlie and was the direct link. When the show was going to series, it was decided they didn't need two men, so Woodville was dropped. In my own opinion, not because I love David Doyle, but looking at the characters as they were portrayed in the pilot, Woodville came across as pompous and snotty (or snooty, you pick) while Bosley came across as friendly and funny.


David Doyle also came across as friendly and funny. I loved seeing him appear on Match Game. He usually gave bizarre answers that rarely matched the contestant (not as bad as Patti Deutsch), but was always smiling and having a good time.


David was a staple on television appearing and guest starring on numerous shows like Lois and Clark where he played a real angel. His character, Mike, was a guardian angel who married Lois and Clark.





He played Uncle Ulysses on an ABC Weekend Specials episode called "Homer and the Wacky Doughnut Machine".


He also appeared in many TV-movies like, Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again where he played Mr. Weatherbee or The Stranger Within with Barbara Eden, George Grizzard, and Joyce Van Patten. His psychiatrist character from The Stranger Within hypnotizes Barbara Eden's character and finds out that the baby inside her is an alien that is possessing her!




Though he may be best known to audiences for his TV appearances, he was also seen on the big screen in films like Capricorn One, Coogan's Bluff, The Comeback, and the bizarre No Way to Treat a Lady.

His distinctive voice was perfect for voice-over work and many animated shows took advantage of his talent. During his later years he played Grandpa Pickles on Rugrats until he passed away from a heart attack.

The character of Bosely was played by Bill Murray in the big screen version of Charlie's Angels, but it is David Doyle that will be most remembered for the role. Along with Jaclyn Smith, he was the only other actor to appear in every episode of the show. He worked with some great talents over the years, but I've never read one word that ever put David in a negative light. I don't think that is a bad legacy to leave behind. Respected, loved, and admired.

Fun with the Angels

YouTube Tuesday presents: Tribute to the Angels

I am a member of a Charlie's Angels fan forum called Townsend Agency and in a previous post I featured a video created by a fellow forum friend. Well that's not the only one she's done.


Presenting The Alley Cats




What would have happened to the Angels and Bosley if Sabrina died?




An interesting way to look at the shootings (that's right...twice) of Kelly:




A tribute to Albert. Who's Albert? Where have you been? Jaclyn Smith's lovable pooch appeared in a few episodes of Charlie's Angels and here is a tribute:



If you get a chance, check out kellygarrett312's Channel for more videos featuring the Angels, Wonder Woman and Emma Peel.



The Townsend Agency Forum has created a new fan website that is also featuring fun videos like this one which gives a little insight into the relationship between Sabrina and Julia Smyth with a "Y":



Check out the site if you get a chance. It has to be THE best fansite for Charlie's Angels.
The fact that I've written an article for the site based on one of my posts here has no bearing on the previous statement. Keep checking for future articles on Angel knockoffs and spinoffs by yours truly and my friend Skewer System. Plus they have some really fun episode reviews that make even the worst episodes ("Chorus Line Angels") bearable.

After Dark July 2010

You’re probably asking yourself, “2010”? Well, I’m sure you realize this isn’t a real issue. This special issue of After Dark is dedicated to the 14th day of July. Being a little self-indulgent, it happens to be an important day in the life of Hilly Blue. More specifically, the beginning of life for Hilly Blue. But a little about me later…let’s spotlight some other birthday buddies.

One of my favorites is Sid Haig, born July 14, 1939. If you don’t know his name, I’m sure you’d recognize his face.

He has appeared on my favorite TV shows and in some of my favorite films. I never realized until preparing for this post how many things Sid appeared in that I own.

He has starred in many cult films like Spider Baby…

…and Galaxy of Terror with Erin Moran.

He frequently appeared in Pam Grier films including The Big Doll House, The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, and more.



Being a big TV buff, I could see Sid in just about anything where he usually played bad guys. He has guest starred on Here’s Lucy with Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon…


…The Rockford Files with James Garner…

…The Dukes of Hazzard with James Best and Sorrell Booke…



…and, of course, one of my favorites, Charlie’s Angels. He and Jaclyn Smith were very graceful dancing together.

He guest starred on two episodes of Buck Rogers. He played two different characters. On the season finale of Season One, he played the henchman to Julie Newmar and then turned around on the season premiere of Season Two, he returned as a different character.


Sid played on one of those TV Shows that not many people remember or have heard of, but I remember like it was yesterday (actually, it was yesterday since I own the DVD). The show was Jason of Star Command and he was the regular villain named Dragos.




Sid has had a resurgence in popularity because the directors who grew up watching his 70’s exploitation films are now casting him in their films.

He has been in Jackie Brown, House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, the Halloween remake and Kill Bill, Vol. 2.



Harry Dean Stanton, born July 14, 1926 , is another actor who has appeared in many films and television shows.

Credited early as Dean Stanton, he appeared in The Big Valley.

Harry Dean Stanton also appeared in popular sci-fi flicks like Alien with Sigourney Weaver…

…and Escape From New York with Adrienne Barbeau.

He also appeared with Michael McKean in Young Doctors in Love.

In my collection of photo stills, I found some featuring Harry Dean Stanton in Paris, Texas with Dean Stockwell and Karen Black’s son Hunter Carson.




There are many actresses I love not just because of the way that act, but also because of the way they sound. Ladies like Lauren Bacall, Tallulah Bankhead, Carrie Nye, Tammy Grimes, Eartha Kitt and Kathleen Turner are some, but only one was born July 14, 1930. Miss Polly Bergen.

She appeared on the Allen Ludden hosted Password with Janet Leigh, Sammy Davis Jr., and Peter Lawford.


One of those TV movies that were trying to capitalize on the disaster film genre was Murder on Flight 502. It featured Hugh O’Brien, Farrah Fawcett, and Sonny Bono along with Fernando Lamas and Polly Bergen.

In 1984, Polly played Mrs. Vance, the leader of a secret organization of female agents who use the cover of aerobics instructors. The show, Velvet, also featured Shari Belafonte, Sheree J. Wilson, Micheal Ensign, Leah Ayers and Mary-Margaret Humes. I have to say right now, that it will be featured in an upcoming What’s On? post.


Two current stars that have been popular in recent months have been Matthew Fox, born July 14, 1966 and Jane Lynch, born July 14, 1960.


Matthew first became popular in Party of Five, but it was the TV show, Lost, that really made him a household name.



He appeared in the big screen version of Speed Racer as Racer X.


You can’t go anywhere these days without seeing Jane Lynch. Whether she is appearing on TV in Glee or in the papers for her recent same-sex marriage, Jane is popular. I’m not a huge fan, but I enjoyed her in Best in Show with Jennifer Coolidge.



Former President Gerald Ford was born July 14, 1913. Interesting bit of trivia for you: President Gerald Ford was never elected either Vice President or President. He was appointed his vice-presidency under Richard Nixon and then became president when Nixon resigned.


July 14th is also Bastille Day. Celebrating the end of the French Revolution and calling it Bastille Day on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a French fortress and prison.

William H. Bonney AKA Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881.

On July 14, 2003, the U.S. Government admitted the existence of Area 51!

That’s about it…oh, yeah…I was born on this same day in 1968. Mr. & Mrs. Blue were very happy when Hilly came into their lives and they showered their only child with a lot of love.










I currently live in a quiet home on the outskirts of Atlanta with Mom Smackley. We’ve been together almost 11 years.





Our girls, Pyewacket, Susu, Mischa and Ursula, are the center of our lives and we dote on them like any proud parents.


Life is good and when it’s this good, you’ve just got to let people know.