I’m late..I know! I have been working late plus my pain from my bad fall is coming out more so I’ve been lax in visiting people, my apologies, and creating this post. Wandering Through The Shelves created this TV spotlight. So, let’s get it going…
1. M*A*S*H- 1972-1983
This is an incredible show that I’m so happy to have watched while it was still on TV and I was one of the millions who watched the TV finale which is still the highest rated TV program ever. It’s about a group of surgeons and nurses on a MASH unit who do their all saving soldiers in surgery while dealing with their hijinks off surgery. The main leads are Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda, who, at first starred in the show and later, became a writer and director of many episodes. Trapper John, played by Wayne Rogers and MacLean Stevenson, as Col. Henry Blake. Loretta Swit was Margaret, “Hot Lips”, Houlahan as head nurse who is having an affair with Mgr. Frank Burns, an inept doctor who is a thorn in the side of Hawkeye and Trapper. Rounding out the cast is Gary Burghoff as Corp. Radar O’Reilly ( who appeared I. The film version), Corp. Max Klinger who dresses in dresses trying to get a section 8 and Father Mulcahy, played by William Christopher. Later on, when Rogers and Stevenson left the show, they were replaced by Mike Farrell as BJ Hunnicutt and veteran actor, Harry(Or Henry) Morgan as Col. Henry Potter. When Larry Linville left after the 5th season, David Ogden Stiers, came in as Mgr. Charles Emerson Winchester the 3rd. There are so many classic episodes from this landmark series it’s hard to pick. I love the first 3 seasons when it was more comedic since some of the later episodes felt a bit preachy but they are still classic and one of the best later episodes is the dreams episode where each person dreams something and it is so memorable.
2. LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE-1974-1983
I actually read the books when I was a kid and this series ventured way off the books but that doesn’t matter because it is a good tv show from star, writer and director, Michael Landon who plays the father, Charles Ingalls who brings his family, wife and 3 girls to Walnut Grove. From there, we often view the episodes through the eyes of Laura Ingalls, Half-Pint who is a happy kid that must deal with bully, Nellie Olsen. There are some great episodes and some have been comedic and some devastating. Michael Landon did not hold back when it comes to grief like the snowstorm episode or, later on in the series, the fire episode. It’s worth watching.
3. MILDRED PIERCE-2011
I went with this miniseries which is a remake of the famous 1945 film of the same name, starring Joan Crawford which, I believe, is better than this miniseries even though this is closer to the book than the older film. Kate Winslet plays Mildred who must deal with a husband who does not help her when the going gets tough. Her 2 daughters are so opposite from one another with Veda, a spoiled, nasty brat and Ray Pierce, a sweet-natured daughter who ends up dying throwing everyone into the whirlwind of this plot. Guy Pierce plays the debonair a-hole that Mildred falls for when she makes it big in the restaurant business. This is well acted but I do prefer the film version. I also love the Carol Burnett satire..so funny.
What tv shows, that were adapted from books, have you seen? Oh and I’m Ok but more pain has come out all on my right side plus other pains in my hips, ankles and wrists. My pinkies are bluish and my knees…don’t look nice. I’m Going to work and am moving.
Oh, Birgit, I'm so sorry you were injured. A fall can put everything out of whack. You might recall that we disagree on Little House On The Prairie (love the books, hate the series) and The Waltons (love the book, love the series). The Waltons is based on Earl Hamner's book Spencer's Mountain. It's my all-time favorite TV show, especially the first few years. In later years the plots became convoluted at times. For 12 seasons now, I've loved Call The Midwife, based on the books by Jennifer Worth. The TV series sanitizes some of the true stories told in the books. It's a sweet show. I also really liked Friday Night Lights as a show, although I didn't care for the book or the movie. The show wasn't really about football. It was about young people growing up, guided by some caring adults and a few who were not caring at all.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Yes, I remember you not liking Little Outhouse...lol. The Waltons is a good pick and you are right about the later parts of the show but I was never a fan. We are opposite on that. I never got into Midwife but I know it's a hit.
DeleteOf course you are sore. Falls can be brutal. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea M*A*S*H was a book first. I've seen the movie. I don't think I've seen Mildred Pierce, the movie, all the way through, but I did watch the miniseries.
The thing that first comes to mind is The Wheel of Time, which I'm currently watching via Amazon Prime. I haven't read the books, but I might just need to. If we're going with top of my head, next I would say The Queen's Gambit, which was on Netflix. Miniseries, but based on a book (I think). And then Big Little Lies (or was it Little Big Lies--I always get that mixed up). I think that was a book first, too.
You chose some good ones and I'd love to see Wheel of Time series. I've wanted to read the books..my ex read all of them. Yup, MASH was a book first...whonknew eh? I'm slowly feeling better but my pains are there in my hips and left foot plus what I already mentioned.
DeleteHi Birgit - I hope the pain eases soon ... take care ... I've never seen any of these series .. but know about two of them ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAt least you know about 2 of them. The pain is slowly getting better but still can't drive which sucks
DeleteThis is a topic where I can't actually think of any other than mini-series (Roots, Les Miserables, Pride & Prejudice, and many others.
ReplyDeleteYour mentions are good ones, but I never really watched any of those other than an occasional MASH episode.
Lately, I've been reading the credits in older TV shows like Wagon Train or Alfred Hitchcock and noticing that the stories for many episodes are adapted from novels. But the shows themselves are not usually based on books. However there is Perry Mason which is based on the Erle Stanley Gardner's book series.
Lee
The mini series is a great place for representing books. I miss the miniseries from. The 70s and 80s. Yes, Hitchcock relied on books for many of his episodes.
DeleteHi Birgit!
ReplyDeleteM*A*S*H is a big favorite of mine, the TV series much more so than the film. The movie was a good sketch to build on, but the series fleshed out both the characters and the story so very well and with the extended length really allowed it to evolve so brilliantly. I think one of the major strengths and what kept the show fresh for all those years was the fact that so many of the characters departed and were supplemented by others who brought a new vibe and energy to the program. While I enjoyed the entire series the later years with Colonel Potter and Charles Winchester are the ones I prefer. Henry Blake and Frank Burns were terrific up to a point, but they were limited, especially Frank which even Larry Linville realized since it was his choice to go when he felt he’d taken the character as far as there was to go. Both their replacements were much more complex people. Of the two main characters who stayed the entire run Margaret Houlihan was the far more complicated and really the person who changed the most. That is a credit to both the writers and Loretta Swit. A very skillful actress it’s a shame she never found another series that worked for her.
It not that I hate Little House on the Prairie but a little of it goes a long way for me. A bit too sanguine and saccharine at times, it doesn’t help that since I read her autobiography, I’ve grown to truly dislike Melissa Gilbert. However, the exact opposite happened when I read Alison Arngrim’s “Confessions of a Prairie Bitch”. That Nellie is one funny, endearing gal.
I agree about the film vs. the television adaptations of Mildred Pierce. The TV take is closer to the book, Kate Winslet is strong as Mildred and it’s competently made but the whole enterprise is missing something. It’s just no fun and I think having Veda played by two different actresses weakens the narrative and certainly the connection between mother and daughter. The classic Joan version is a shadowy treasure with Ann Blyth a perfect pit viper as Veda. The film also has a much more vivid supporting cast, who can compete or compare to Eve Arden, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott or Butterfly McQueen?
I was torn in a couple of different directions but chose to go with a theme within the theme and pick three starring one of the queens of the miniseries genre…. Jane Seymour!
In order of preference:
The Awakening Land (1978)-Elizabeth Montgomery and Jane portray sisters Sayward and Genny Luckett in this mini based on Conrad Richter's trilogy of novels: The Trees; The Fields; and The Town that chronicled the settling of the Ohio Valley in pre-Revolutionary War times by a frontier family and how a town grew around their at first solitary home. The miniseries really strives for authenticity and is full of excellent performances, including a shockingly young William H. Macy.
Captains and the Kings (1976)-Sprawling adaptation of Taylor Caldwell’s mammoth novel of the steady rise of Irish immigrant Joseph Armagh (Richard Jordan) who arrives in America a penniless orphan in pursuit of the American Dream, ruthlessly climbing his way to the top and pushing his son to within a hair’s breadth of the presidency. Loosely based on Joseph Kennedy and of course JFK. Jane plays a beauty who passes through their orbit.
Jamaica Inn (1983)-Recently orphaned Mary Yellan (Jane Seymour) journeys to live with her Aunt Patience and Uncle Joss, innkeepers of the isolated Jamaica Inn and finds herself in a world of peril. A tale of piracy, smuggling and murder on the Cornish coast of England in the 19th century, this is based on the Daphne du Maurier (who also wrote Rebecca and The Birds) novel.
Hi Joel...I love MASH and would love to own the series. I actually divide the series in 2 because the first 3 seasons it's more of a comedy and I love it but as Alan Alda gained more control he steered it to more of a dramady. I love Winchester who could outwit the other 2 housemates on occasion and Potter was so good as an old army guy..well, cavalry but who could relate to Hawkeye. Margaret really evolved into an independent woman instead of a needy gold digger. She still loved the army despite the issues.
DeleteI know what you mean about Little Outhouse and prefer the earlier episodes to some of the later ones that bordered o WTF?? I know what you mean about Melissa Gilbert...I don't want to know her but it seems she and Alison are very good friends.
Mildred was missing the soul that the film has in droves. I love that sketch from Carol Burnett.
Jane Seymour was the Queen of the mini series back in the day but I had not seen these versions. I'd like to see the one with Elizabeth Montgomery. What a shame Jane never worked with Richard Chamberlain when they were King and Queen of the miniseries
Birgit,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're still sore but it's difficult to get over hard falls. I haven't watched the complete MASH series but I really liked it. I think I have it in cue on one of our streaming services. As a kid, I loved the Little House TV series. We bought the book set for our girls when they started school and they loved them! I read a few of them but haven't finished the set. This is one collection I held onto. :) The other one I've heard of but haven't watched. The Waltons is a TV adaption, isn't it? That's another old program I liked as a kid. My favorite part was at ending with everyone saying goodnight to each other. Take it easy and have a good weekend, darlin'!
I read the Little House books which are nothing like the series nut I still love the series. The Waltons is a perfect choice here. It was based on the man who wrote the stories and is represented as John Boy. In fact the narrator is the author of the books!
DeleteLoved M*A*S*H! Hope your pain continues to ease.
ReplyDeleteMASH is great. The pain is slowly going but still tough walking.
DeleteThe first two were series that my parents grew up watching, I never saw them though. I have seen like the first episode of Mildred Pierce. I'll get back to it when I subscribe to HBO again.
ReplyDeleteOh.. I feel old...lol. I love the original film and liked the miniseries but something is missing in the miniseries.
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the pain you're experiencing. Dr. McCarthy prescribes Dr. James Crow's 'OLD CROW' for that. No less than a 5th per day!
Look at me! I'm only two days late getting here this time. I'm gettin' better and better all the time.
I actually worked on an episode of 'Little House On The Prairie' once. I remember it being some sort of classroom scene, but that's all I remember. (No, actually, I also remember that it was a very short day, which I loved back then. I think maybe they were just doing some pick-up shots or some 2nd Unit stuffs, and I was on my way home in just a couple hours.)
I suppose my selection would be 'THE WALTONS'. I didn't watch it a great deal, but viewing the pilot, 'The Homecoming', is still a yearly Christmas tradition in my house.
~ D-FensDogG
Thats cool that you worked on 2 series I chose here. The Waltons is a popular pick here. I'm always late here so I. Glad you responded.
DeleteYou already have the best one in MASH. I love Anne of Green Gables but I don't think any of the TV series have ever lived up to the books.
ReplyDeleteDo comic books count? Both DC and Marvel have solid television legacies at this point, predating the big movie franchises.
BBC's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy miniseries is wonderful.
Yeah to Hitchhiker's to the Galaxy which i love. Rarely does a movie or show fare better than the books.
DeleteMash was a monumental classic wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteI do hope you're feeling better.
Hugs, Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I'm slowly getting better but I take a long time in healing
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