Show Toppers: ‘Angie’ (1979-’80)

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‘Angie.’ Finding freedom in a Philadelphia coffee shop,1979

Angie debuted on ABC on February 8th, 1979 and ran until October of 1980.

Angie Falco, played by Donna Pescow (Saturday Night Fever), is a working class waitress until she meets and falls in love with a wealthy customer, Dr. Bradly Benson, played by Robert Hays (Airplane!). The two get hitched and the merging of the two families creates opportunities for comedy of the situation variety.

Angie co-stars include Debralee Scott (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Welcome Back, Kotter) as Marie Falco and Doris Roberts as Theresa Falco.

‘Angie’ Season One Intro (1979)

Angie Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Show Toppers: McCloud (’70-’77)

Happy (belated) Birthday, Steve Martin

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Steve and Johnny, November 21st, 1978

It has just come to my attention that yesterday was Steve Martin’s 67th birthday. Let’s celebrate the beloved actor/writer/comedian/musician by viewing a clip from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson which originally aired on November 21st, 1978.

Happy Birthday, Steve and many happy returns!

Steve Martin Wiki, SteveMartin.com

(Thanks, Mental Floss.)

A Bruce Lee Moment: Destroying O’Hara

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The calm before the storm of blows. Bruce Lee, ‘Enter the Dragon,’ 1973.

Hey, kung fu kiddies! It’s time for a “Bruce Lee Moment.” On this debut fist-flashing installment we watch as Bruce Lee metes out well-deserved revenge upon the horrid O’Hara.

This glorious moment is ripped from 1973’s Enter the Dragon. Bruce Lee died on July 20th, 1973. Enter the Dragon was released in Hong Kong on July 26th, 1973 and in the US on August 17th, ’73.

Enter the Dragon Wiki, IMDb

*Note: Lee’s moves aren’t really Kung Fu. They’re Jeet Kune Do, his own special blend.

‘Welcome Back, Kotter”s Ron Palillo Has Died

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Ron Palillo (left) with John Travolta. ‘Welcome Back, Kotter,’ 1977.

Sad to hear that actor Ron Palillo, best known for playing Arnold Horshack on TV’s Welcome Back, Kotter, has died today at the age of 63. According to CNN, Palillo died of a heart attack in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

If you’re a child of the 1970s, or simply a fan of classic sitcoms, you probably enjoyed Palillo’s Horshack character and well remember his “Ooh, ooh, ooh, Mr. Kotter!” exhortations while raising his hand to be called upon and that distinctive “Hyun, hyun hyun” laugh. Thanks for the good times and entertainment, Mr. Palillo!

Fellow actor and “Sweathog,” Robert Hegyes, passed away in January of this year.

CNN Quote:

“Palillo died of a heart attack in the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, area, where he had moved to live near his mother and was active in the theater, his agent, Scott Stander, told CNN.

He was best known for his role as one of the ‘Sweathogs’ — remedial students at a Brooklyn high school — on the 1975-79 show, which starred Gabe Kaplan and launched the career of fellow Sweathog John Travolta.”

Welcome Back, Kotter Wiki, IMDb

Trailer Tuesday: Lucky Lady

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“Gun moll” Liza Minnelli in Lucky Lady, 1975

Lucky Lady stars Liza Minnelli, Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds as a team of rum runners in Prohibition-era San Diego. The movie, directed by Stanley Donen, hit theaters on Christmas day, 1975.

The story goes that Gene Hackman wasn’t interested in doing the movie but eventually gave in when his pay-out hit $1.25 million.

My dad took me to see this pic when I was but a wee lad and I remember enjoying it. Heck, it was a period gangster piece with Tommy guns blasting and boats exploding. The charming cast also helped keep me enthralled and I was glad Robby Benson had a role. I was a fan of Benson’s after seeing his teenage love story, Jeremy (1973).

After the credits rolled on Lucky Lady and we exited the theater, I told my dad how much I’d enjoyed it. I asked if he liked it too and he mumbled something like “Oh, yeah.” I could tell he hadn’t felt the same way. I haven’t seen Lucky Lady since. I wonder if it holds up when viewed as an adult. Time to find out.

Lucky Lady Wiki, IMDb

Babes Of The 1970s: Manly Males

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Bionic Disco proudly presents Babes of the 1970s: Manly males. Feast your eyes on 20 “hunky” entertainers the North American public found enticing and exciting in the years 1970 through 1979.

This visual list contains a healthy amount of masculine marvels and teen heartthrobs but there are many more we could have included. If response is good we’ll post part two in the coming days. Here now, in alphabetical order we have Robert Blake, James Brolin, Jim Brown and many more. Quien es mas macho?…

Robert Blake

Robert Blake

Robert Blake. Best known in the 70s for: Portraying Det. Tony Baretta in TV’s Baretta (1975-’78) and starring in the film Electra Glide in Blue (1973).

James Brolin

James Brolin

James Brolin. Best known in the 70s for: Portraying Dr. Steven Kiley on TV’s Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969-1976) and appearing in films like Westworld (1973), Capricorn One (1977) and The Amityville Horror (1979).

Jim Brown

Jim Brown

Jim Brown. This former running back for the Cleveland Browns is best known in the 70s for: Starring in films such as …tick… tick… tick… (1970), Black Gunn (1972) and Three the Hard Way (1974).

David Cassidy

David Cassidy

David Cassidy. Best known in the 70s for: Starring as Keith Partridge on TV’s The Partridge Family (1970-’74) and touring and performing hit songs such as “Cherish” and “The Puppy Song.”

Shaun Cassidy

Shaun Cassidy

Shaun Cassidy. Best known in the 70s for: Starring as Joe Hardy on TV’s The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977-’79) and performing hit songs such as “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Hey Deanie.”

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in films such as Mean Streets (1973), The Godfather: Part II (1974), Taxi Driver (1976) and The Deer Hunter (1978).

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in films such as Dirty Harry (1971), High Plains Drifter (1973), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) and Every Which Way But Loose (1978).

Erik Estrada

Erik Estrada

Erik Estrada. Best known in the 70s for: Portraying Officer Francis Poncherello on TV’s CHiPs (1977-’83).

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford. Best known in the 70s for: Portraying Han Solo in the movie Star Wars (1977) and starring in films like Force 10 from Navarone (1978) and Hanover Street (1979).

Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb

Andy Gibb. Best known in the 70s for: Recording and singing #1 songs such as “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” and “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water,” and for being brother to members of the Bee Gees.

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in films such as Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), A Star Is Born (1976) and Semi-Tough (1977) and for his singing career with albums such as The Silver Tongued Devil and I (1971) and Breakaway (1974).

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee. Best known in the 70s for: Portraying Li Tsung on TV’s Longstreet (1971) and starring in films like Fists of Fury (1971), Way of the Dragon (1972) and Enter the Dragon (1973). Being extremely badass.

Lee Majors

Lee Majors

Lee Majors. Best known in the 70s for: Portraying Roy Tate on TV’s The Virginian (1970-’71) and portraying Col. Steve Austin on TV’s The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-’78).

Joe Namath

Joe Namath
(Hey! What’s he doing with Lee Major’s gal?)

Joe Namath. Best known in the 70s for: Playing quarterback for the New York Jets (1970-’76) and the Los Angeles Rams (1977), starring in numerous television commercials for products such as Noxzema and Hamilton Beach, appearing on TV shows such as The Brady Bunch (1973) and The Waverly Wonders (1978) and starring in films such as C.C. and Company (1970).

Donny Osmond

Donny Osmond

Donny Osmond. Best known in the 70s for: Performing chart-topping music both as a solo act and with his brothers, The Osmonds, and for co-starring with his sister on TV’s Donny and Marie (1976-’78).

Robert Redford

Robert Redford

Robert Redford. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in film such as Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973), The Sting (1973) and All the President’s Men (1976).

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in films such as Deliverance (1972), The Longest Yard (1974) and Smokey and the Bandit (1977), posing nude in Cosmopolitan Magazine (1972).

Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in films such as Shaft (1971), Shaft’s Big Score! (1972) and Man Friday (1975).

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone. Best known in the 70s for: Writing and starring in Rocky (1976), Paradise Alley (1978) and Rocky II (1979) and starring in films such as F.I.S.T. (1978).

John Travolta

John Travolta

John Travolta. Best known in the 70s for: Starring in the TV movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976) and as Vinnie Barbarino on TV’s Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-’79), starring in films such as Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978), singing the top ten song “Let Her In” (1976).

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