It's the Paul Lynde Name-Dropping Special!
Happy Halloween...
I managed to piece together some sort of decent costume with bits of clothing found solely in my dresser. The only thing I ended up having to buy was a pair of red tights for a grand total $1.99. What is the costume intended to be? Mrs. Lovett. What is it really? Helena Bonham Carter. Anyway, right now I'm out-Helena-Bonham-Cartering Helena Bonham Carter. I think I'm even digging the hairstyle, and foresee myself recklessly piling it on top of my head again quite often in the near future.
But I'm really here to talk about the Paul Lynde Halloween Special, which I'm shocked to say I've never seen before now. Granted, as a kid, I only knew Paul Lynde as the center square on Hollywood Squares, so I doubt I'd have thought twice about parking myself in front of the set to see any variety special he starred in. But the guests! My god, the guests! I would not have just parked there for these guests, I would have pitched a tent in the living room and set up camp for days. Not only do you have Witchipoo and the Wicked Witch of the West appearing throughout, you have Billy Barty, Betty White, Tim Conway, Florence Henderson, Pinky Tuscadero, and KISS. Oh and Donny and Marie make a quick cameo too, but in those days it wasn't hard to catch appearances of Osmonds. They were like Ryan Seacrest.
While I didn't see this show before, I had heard about it. Given the host and the format, I always thought it was one of those "so bad it's good" types of experiences like the Star Wars Holiday Special and KISS Meets the Phantom. But ohhhhh nononononooo. Don't get me wrong, it's camp. It's also the most 70s thing ever. These two characteristics really collide when Lynde plays an ultra-gay trucker who's on his way to marry Pinky Tuscadero. Trust me, it has to be seen to be believed.
Thing is, though, the show...is utterly utterly charming! And funny! The witches are adorable as hell, especially when you see them cackling while one reads "Rosemary's Baby" and the other "The Exorcist" (a joke later stolen by Beetlejuice, btw) I actually found myself laughing at the jokes rather than the premise, like when the ultra-gay trucker sarcastically explains why he's going to tie the knot: "Because I never learned to tie a bow."
The whole thing just made my October. Now if they'd only release entire Bing Crosby and Dean Martin Christmas specials, the rest of my year will be set.
I managed to piece together some sort of decent costume with bits of clothing found solely in my dresser. The only thing I ended up having to buy was a pair of red tights for a grand total $1.99. What is the costume intended to be? Mrs. Lovett. What is it really? Helena Bonham Carter. Anyway, right now I'm out-Helena-Bonham-Cartering Helena Bonham Carter. I think I'm even digging the hairstyle, and foresee myself recklessly piling it on top of my head again quite often in the near future.
But I'm really here to talk about the Paul Lynde Halloween Special, which I'm shocked to say I've never seen before now. Granted, as a kid, I only knew Paul Lynde as the center square on Hollywood Squares, so I doubt I'd have thought twice about parking myself in front of the set to see any variety special he starred in. But the guests! My god, the guests! I would not have just parked there for these guests, I would have pitched a tent in the living room and set up camp for days. Not only do you have Witchipoo and the Wicked Witch of the West appearing throughout, you have Billy Barty, Betty White, Tim Conway, Florence Henderson, Pinky Tuscadero, and KISS. Oh and Donny and Marie make a quick cameo too, but in those days it wasn't hard to catch appearances of Osmonds. They were like Ryan Seacrest.
While I didn't see this show before, I had heard about it. Given the host and the format, I always thought it was one of those "so bad it's good" types of experiences like the Star Wars Holiday Special and KISS Meets the Phantom. But ohhhhh nononononooo. Don't get me wrong, it's camp. It's also the most 70s thing ever. These two characteristics really collide when Lynde plays an ultra-gay trucker who's on his way to marry Pinky Tuscadero. Trust me, it has to be seen to be believed.
Thing is, though, the show...is utterly utterly charming! And funny! The witches are adorable as hell, especially when you see them cackling while one reads "Rosemary's Baby" and the other "The Exorcist" (a joke later stolen by Beetlejuice, btw) I actually found myself laughing at the jokes rather than the premise, like when the ultra-gay trucker sarcastically explains why he's going to tie the knot: "Because I never learned to tie a bow."
The whole thing just made my October. Now if they'd only release entire Bing Crosby and Dean Martin Christmas specials, the rest of my year will be set.