Here's.... Carson

Review: Father Knows Best

When I was a kid, Father Knows Best was one of my favorite televison shows.  The show was originally run in the 1950's but I didn't see it until the 1970's.

In the late 1980's, there was something of a revival of the television show and I won some kind of contest related to the show, winning a 10 pack of VHS tape!  I used those tapes to help finish recording the show - I had most of them recorded.

The television show remains one of my favorite boob tube memories.  The radio show, which came out some years before - does not hold such a sacred place for me.

Robert Young plays Jim Anderson, the father in both the radio and television versions.  He's not your typical radio father as he's not bumbling or stupid.  And in most cases, he really knows best.  He makes his share of mistakes of course as his psychology often backfires when handing down advice to one of his three youngsters: Betty, Bud or Kathy.  But by-in-large, he's an efficient dad with a bright head on his shoulders.

Margaret, Jim's wife, is almost emotionless, playing a very level-headed woman - again something different for most sitcoms of the period.

The radio show is set up exactly as the TV show is but unlike the TV show, I don't like radio the radio version; it's not funny at all.  It's actually annoying.  Kathy, played by Norma Jean Nilsson (who I really like on the Jack Carson Show) is a whiny, little brat who gets on my nerves.  I've said it before and it's worth repeating - if I were Jim Anderson, I would have choked her to death.

Betty has frivolous teenage girl problems (which is enough to make anyone sick, in my opinion.)  Bud is bright but at the same time has no idea what he is doing.  But at least I can empathize with him.

I have listened to most of the run of these shows and it's hard to listen to them,  I do know people who love this show - I just don't understand how or why.

Two stars (on a good day.)

©Jimbo 2010/2011

Norma Jean Nilsson

Review: The Jack Carson Show

Jack Carson

Jack Carson was a major Hollywood actor in the 1930's and 1940's for the Warner Brothers.  He was just as often cast as a lover and a good guy as he was a tough guy.  A Milwaukee native, Carson was considered a healthy type - an "All-American" boy, if you will.  He was a large man with stunningly good looks and a pleasant - albeit loud - baritone voice.

In 1943, he got his very own radio show, called (oddly enough) The Jack Carson Show.  In this show, he played himself, the same Milwaukeean who worked for Warner Brothers (etc.) with the caveat that he is much more egotistical than in real life and quite a bit less intelligent.

Dave Willock

The show is about Carson's home life, which includes his nephew Tugwell (Dave Willcock) and man servant (Arthur Treacher.)  Each of these fellows is all about playing foil at every opportunity.  Willcock is much more verbose about it and a bit funnier than Treacher, as Tugwell had the ability to use an Andy Devine-like voice to cut down his uncle.

Tugwell never seems to have a job or go to school at all.  Sometimes he goes to an acting class.  It seems that most of the time, he simply wanders through the house waiting for an opportunity to bust a hole in Carson's balloon.

Arthur Treacher

Treacher, on the other hand, with his British upbringing, was much quieter but still had a knack for sarcastically knocking Carson's rather clumsy attempts at fixing a radio, getting a date or giving an interview.

On the show, Carson has an eye for the ladies and living in Hollywood, he has dates with many gorgeous "dolls."  You'd think that they too would shoot him down - and they usually do, as he never has a steady girl.  Instead, he plays the field -- but this is probably out of necessity, not out of desire.

Irene Ryan

Also contributing to show was Irene Ryan (known on the show as 'Miss Ryan.')  Miss Ryan was a spinster who could never find a man -- and really gave up long ago trying to find one.  She seems to enjoy being a class 'A' hypochondriac.  I suppose it was her way of getting attention.  Ryan ran the general store near Jack's house and Jack would pop in every show and listen to her complain - but you always wondered why he did so.

Ryan, of course, later went on to play TV's 'Granny' on The Beverly Hillbillies.  Though both characters are spinsters, Granny is full of pep, life and shotguns while Miss Ryan is frail and much more concerned about convalescing her ailments.

Rounding out the cast is little Norma Jean Nilsson (known on the show as 'Little Norma Jean.')   A former member of the Father Knows Best cast (as Kathy) she plays Jack's cute neighbor kid.  She is all about correct enunciation and doesn't at all sound like a child.  At any rate, she and Jack are great friends and often will break into song.  The songs are usually the type that you might not hate listening to.

The surviving episodes are all sponsored by Campbell's Soups and the commercials are probably the best incorporated commercials ever -- aside from Harlow Wilcox and Johnson's Wax.  Actually, the commercials are so clever, they kind of outshine the show as a whole as Carson and the gang are really not that funny.   The commercials aren't funny either but they are done really well.

Here's an example of a Campbell's commercial incoporated into the show (allow a few seconds for the clip to start):



The show is upbeat and entertaining - just not brilliantly written or acted.  It's not a bad show but then again, it's not really a good show.  I listen to it once-a-week and it seems to be missing an element or two that would have made the show better.  I seem to say this about every show but an Arnold Stang or Walter Tetley in there would have made the show three times as good.  Or if Little Norma Jean had been a little devil instead of the cutesy moppet living next door, she could have breathed needed life into a show that just walks leisurely about.

Out of 5 stars, I will give this 2.5 -- although 2 stars wouldn't be out of line.  Certainly worth a try if you are looking for a harmless, wholesome comedy.

No Jack Carson Radio on Wikipedia, BUT...

I just found this little gem.

Hodge-podge [#04]

I am still working on the looks of the blog, forgive me again for any distractions.

I am adding links as I go along; I am finding some incredible OTR information out there so check the link section often for new things - especially today.
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According ro the book, Raymond Burr: a film, radio and television biography, Burr did most of the series Fort Laramie in a wheelchair as he had an operation just before the series began.

Do you ever get the impression that every tune that calypso guitarist/singer King Moses plays on the show Bold Venture is exactly the same or close to it?   It's actually annoying to me, dunno about you.

Did you know drummer Spike Jones got his start on The Fibber McGee and Molly Show in Billy Mills' band?

Do you know Jack Carson's "eight year old neighbor", Norma Jean Nilsson?  Ever had her pictured in your mind?   Did you look like this?:

Norma Jean Nilsson

I'm almost done with the first year (1942) of Billboard radio program reviews. I should start posting them today or tomorrow at a new periphreal blog site (I'll let you know where when I begin.)

As stated before, it's probably not something you are going to use everyday but it will come in handy at times, especially when you encounter a new series you are contemplating to download (is that correct grammar?)

Jack Carson: Regular guy

Random photos I've found

A very young (and thin) Jack Carson and his new bride (Circa 1941) long before he got his own radio show

Coffee Time cast (Baby Snooks)

Edgar Bergen (right) and the penultimate foil, Charlie McCarthy

Similar Characters [#03]

Dave Willock as Tugwell

John Hubbard as Willy

Tugwell (Dave Willock on The Jack Carson Show) could be a double with Willy (both Robert North and John Hubbard played the part on The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.)

Both characters were essentially the same; neither worked (or did so very seldomly); they were ego-bursting foils to both Carson and Harris - as they seemed to have nothing better to do than lounge around the house and do just that.

Carson and Harris would sometimes complain openly about their particular foils (especially Harris) but very little was ever done about it to remedy the situation.

It appeared as though Tugwell was kin to Carson (I really don't know and have only heard 10-12 episodes of The Jack Carson Show) but I do know Willy was Alice Faye's brother - so Harris was stuck with him.