Throwback Thursday: Murder!

Sunday's are lazy days for me. I check my email and catch up on blog reading. I sketch a little. I watch the Bears, hopefully, win.
...And, I watch my mystery shows.

I think I wrote about the channel MeToo a while back. Well, Sunday is their mystery day. Two weeks ago I watched Ellery Queen for the first time. I loved it. I used to read tons of You be the Jury, Encyclopedia Brown, and Clue books. Figuring out the culprit is my speciality.

Which brings me to this week's throwback. Yes, I will admit, I enjoy Matlock and Murder, She Wrote. Maybe it's because it's something I can have on in the background that won't distract me. Maybe because they are so predictable. We all know that in the last 10 minutes of the show Matlock and Mrs. Potts Jessica will find that piece of dryer lint or see the initials of the killer on an English muffin that will point them to the killer.

Enjoy, the opening for the show with your favorite mystery writing busybody.

Throwback Thursday: Read about Stars and Cars, Play Electric Guitars

How do get kids to read in the early 90s? Easy. You rap about it. 'Cause the only way to get us to get away from Super Mario Bros was to use rap. Preferably with colorful moving pictures. Hey, we were the Sesame Street Generation.

Actually, this commercial was pretty catchy. I still remember the lyrics. It was colorful, bright,
rhythmic. But, the odd twist is that the B-boys were the California Raisins.
If you remember the Raisins, they were singing and dancing raisins that encouraged us to eat healthy. And, their popularity spawned toys, games, and a Christmas Special by Will Vinton. I love the Christmas special. This show's version of Joy to the World was some pretty sweet psychedelic-ness. I need to set aside a special post around the holidays focusing on that Christmas Special.

However, the CR were a Temptations/Four Tops hybrid. The Raisins were a Motown-like group.

I guess every 60s soul band had to update their look at some point. At least it was for a good cause. Teaching kids to read and stuff.

Throwback Thursday: 'Cause People like to Repeat Stuff

I had the misfortune privilege of reading the latest Nylon magazine. And, it was a tribute to the 90s, I guess to kick off Beverly Hills 90210 we've been there, done that, The New Class, or whatever its called. I don't particularly like the mag; lack of diversity and other things. But, that's for another post, and a little too deep for this kitschy pop blog. So, let me get to the meat and potatoes.

Nylon, highlighted some of the 90s fashions. Shudder.
I know the 80s are back. But, can we please skip over the 90s? Overalls, shirts with Looney Tunes characters wearing backwards hats and overalls, and Lisa Frank.

I found this advertisement in the back of a 1995 Archie Comic. Tell me, who wants to relive that?

And, the commercial.

With the way fashion rolls, Blossom hats can't be too far away.

Throwback Thursday: Dinner at McDonalds

Throw in Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., and a Dick Tracy-like city and you have McDonalds' late 80s Mac Tonight campaign.

This campaign was geared towards adults ('cause it would probably scare the dear life out of children who were use to cuddly Grimace) to buy late night artery clogging cheap hamburgers. This is the version of the commercial is the one I most remember.

Throwback Thursday: Hammerman

No words. Just watch.

(When this premiered, my cousin and I were big fans of this artist. So big that we had my aunt record this show, so that we could watch it over and over again).

Throwback Thursday: Clap Off

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

This commercial rears its head as soon as the Christmas shopping season rolls around. It has an unforgettable jingle. And, if you live in a particularly loud home, Your lights and entertainment equipment will blink on and off like you're in Poltergeist or at a light switch Rave.

None other than the time saving Clapper. Sorry, this post is not clapper enhanced. You'll have to press the play button to turn it on.

Throwback Thursday: Pow! Boom! Wham!

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

I can't sit still long enough to watch a movie that exceeds 45 minutes. Sesame Street Generation, here (needs quick, ever-changing images, preferably with musical accompaniment). But, I am excited about the new Batman movie.

And, I'm excited about the Gotham Knight animated movie. Both are dark, mysterious, and gritty. Plus, some of the scenes were filled right in Chicago. The Batmobile was often spotted by some of my former co-workers (I never saw it, though).

But, to balance out the dark Batman, how about some ultimate cheese? Like, the 1960s TV series. Go ahead. Sing the theme song. You know it.

Throwback Thursday: Snuggle Soft

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Snuggles was cute and cuddly, before his makeover, . If you've seen one of his commercials lately, you know what I'm talking about. The recent commercials show Snuggles as cool, cynical, and "hip."

Okay, whatever. I'll stick to the cutesy visions of the bear. I don't want some creepy stuffed animal touching my unmentionables. I'll stick to this bear:

Throwback Thursday: You're Not Fully Clean...

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

I would be to embarrassed too use a towel with the word Zestfully and Clean on it. But, if people can wear pants that say Hot or Juicy across the rear, why not Zest around their body?

Mystery

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

I love a good dark mystery. Taiwanese drama Bump Off Lover is fulfilling my need for dark entertainment at the moment. The story follows the mysterious death of a 17 year old's twin sister's murder.

Anyway, this show subconsciously inspired some new pieces from me. I've worked on several sketches, trying to capture a mysterious alluring feel. These drawings remind me of the types assignments I used to love in art school; illustrating a poster or cover for a movie or novel.

The first drawing, Twins, was done with pencil and a page from a vintage coloring book.

The second drawing, Leaves of Three, was done on a recycled piece of brown paper with graphite and chalk.

The ultimate mystery is one's own self. Sammy Davis, Jr.

I'm going to solve the puzzle, Alex

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

With the resurgence of game shows on TV, I started thinking about the ones I watched religiously during Spring/Summer/Winter break. Particularly, daytime game shows. There was The Price is Right, Family Feud, Win, Lose or Draw. And, Classic Concentration hosted by Jeopardy's Alex Trebek.

Classic Concentration premiered in 1987. The object of the game was to solve a puzzle with pictures as hints.

Like just about every game show/cartoon/ movie/ athlete/soft drink, there was a video game version (ooooh exciting). This clip is from the Nintendo Classic Concentration, released in 1990. Boy, video games have come a looooong way.

Throwback Thursday: Cookies in the Morning

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Nothing like a bowl of cavities to start the morning off. My mother wouldn't let us eat Cookie Crisp Cereal for obvious reasons.

The Cookie Crook in all of his 1981 glory.

Magic and Wonder are waiting for You

Remember this show of the 80's?

Throwback Thursday: Spiderman

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Let's go global! Spiderman in Japan! I found the opening of the live action Spiderman in Japan. If the music doesn't give you a hint, this was released in 1978. The theme song is so catchy, you'll have it in your head all morning.

There's an interesting twist to this version of Spiderman. Spiderman doesn't fight alone.

Thrift Store Find

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Sailor Moon. I found this little Sailor Moon figure at the thrift store this weekend. It was a whooping 99 cents. She was still in her box. Yay!

Throwback Thursday: Look at those low rates!

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Quite possibly one of the worst commercials ever. Eagle Company advertised in the Chicagoland area in the early 90s. Their infamous famous commercial consisted of bad acting, the world's ugliest dress, an egg laying eagle, feathered bangs, and a damaged car.

Oh, did I neglect to mention, this is an advertisement for a car insurance company. Nothing like kitsch to sell me on some insurance.

(People, including me, thought the commercial was hilariously awful. Probably not what Eagle Insurance intended.)

Throwback Thursday: Go, Speed!

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

Everything old is new again. Which is why Speed Racer is back. As you may know, the Speed Racer live action movie premieres this week. I'm a fan of the cultish, cheesy original cartoon. A part of me wants to see this movie and a part of me is worried that it will be terrible. I feel that, as a fan of the original, I should go see it. If not for the fact that it is Speed Racer, at least for the fact that Rain is in it. I first saw Rain in Full House (not DJ's Full House), the Korean Drama version of the comic of the same name. And, I'm also curious to see how they portray Trixie.

Christina Ricci doesn't remind me of Trixie. Trixie was pretty much a pushover in the cartoon. Speed's special groupie. He did treat her pretty trashy. If you watch any of the episodes, you'll notice him yelling at her to stop talking him, pushing her out of the car, and flirting with other girls right in front of her face.

Ricci has more of a sinister look. I think Ricci's presence as Trixie will at least give the character some backbone. But, everytime I see Christina Ricci, I think of evil or a character in Soundgarden's video to Blackhole Sun.

To commemorate the original (and complete ignore the new Nickelodeon Speed Racer cartoon, blah), here is one of the best theme songs in history. Go Speed!

Throwback Thursday: Bed Bugs

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

What do you get when you cross colorful tweezers, bugs, and a vibrating bed. No, there is no dirty punchline. You get the 1985 children's game Bed Bugs. I distinctly remember the commercials theme song, "Bed Bugs! Bed Bugs! Don't let 'em get away!" And, the kids in the commercial looked like they were having such fun trying to catch those zany bugs.

My cousins had the game (my relatives always had the stuff I wanted). And, I do remember it being fun. Why wouldn't it be fun trying to pluck off insects the size of a gumball? I think I need some Off Spray now.

Bill Withers, Cyon, Daniel Henney

Narrator: Tabitha of The Pairabirds

I heard Bill Wither's Ain't No Sunshine today on the radio. I forgot how much I enjoyed the lyrics. And then I remembered the Cyon commercial featuring that song. The commercial included model/actor Daniel Henney. Nice looking (actor)commercial with a very appropriate song. A beautiful blend of soul, loneliness, and realization.

Throwback Thursday

I first saw this commercial starring the melodic 5th Dimension on the channel MeToo (shows classic shows as well as a few vintage commercials).

Who wouldn't want to drive an Impala after seeing this?