I Beg to Differ

COOLNESS & WHAT DID I JUST SEE ON TV?

By Mike Olszewski

For some odd reason, I’ve been seeing a lot of online articles with headlines like, “Things Boomers Say That Drive Millennials Crazy!”, “Things You Won’t Believe Baby Boomers Still Do” and “Stuff that Boomers Still Think are Cool.”

These are likely written by Generation X, Y or Z folks who moved back with their parents because they blew their money on tickets to see an act that we saw in a club for two bucks when they could still sing. The last time I checked, there were over 65 million Boomers, which is a pretty good chunk of the population. And we’ve managed to enlighten and entertain ourselves pretty well without giving up things our younger friends don’t understand.

I’d rather get breaking updates from a 24-hour news network than social media (which is the #1 source of information for certain demographics). I know what I’m getting from an occasional visit to a favorite chain restaurant rather than a pop-up that could close next week. I know you’re a lot healthier playing racquetball than a video game. And I’d rather watch a movie on a big screen than on my smartphone. Plus, in the long run, it’s easier for a doctor to treat a sore neck from looking up at a screen than having to use a crowbar to pry a phone out of someone’s hand.

Speaking Of Screens

I was dialing around one morning and came across the show “2 Broke Girls.” Funny stuff, but definitely “Adults Only.” All of a sudden, video games seem like an attractive and safer option. This stuff wouldn’t have made it on the air when we were younger but look at reruns of “All in the Family,” “Sanford and Son” and early “Saturday Night Live” episodes. Broadcast networks would pay serious fines if they used some of that language today.

While I’m on the topic of old TV shows, the birth name of Redd Foxx, the star of “Sanford and Son,” really was Sanford and his dad’s name was Fred. The show was based on a longtime BBC comedy called “Steptoe and Son.” Like the American version, it focused on a father-son duo who were in the “rag and bone” business and the dad was constantly being labeled a “dirty, dirty old man” by his kid.

The father was played by Wilfrid Brambell, who at the same time was in The Beatles film, “A Hard Day’s Night,” as Paul McCartney’s uncle. At one point in the film, you’ll recall John Lennon speaking to Brambell and then looking at the audience and stating with a wink, “He’s very clean,” an in-joke for British telly fans.

Both “Sanford” and “All in the Family” (based on the BBC’s “Til Death Do Us Part”) were adapted for American TV by Norman Lear, who made it a point to hire guys well past their prime. Without Lear, who is still around, people like jazz great Billy Eckstine, former Bowery Boys Billy Hallop and Gabe Dell, former Little Rascal Stymie Beard and others would have faded from memory.

Mike Olszewski is a veteran award-winning radio, TV and print journalist, and a college instructor. Contact him at janmike1978@gmail.com

Last issue, I asked about Tribe pitcher Mel Harder’s two memorable pitches. When Municipal Stadium opened in 1932, Harder was the starter and tossed the first pitch. When the Indians held their last game there in 1993, they brought Harder out after the final ceremonies to toss the very last pitch.

For next time: “Sanford and Son” had a Cleveland connection. What was it?