Disneybear

I adore Patty Duke, but this is just sad!

I just learned that the actor Bob May, who was inside The Robot on Lost in Space has passed away at 69. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Los Angeles at the Lost in Space, Return to Earth celebration in April of 1998. He was a nice man and my heart goes out to his friends and family. Who can ever forget the way he moved the robot’s arms during the lines “Danger, Danger, Will Robinson”!

Monday, January 19th 2009, 2:42 AM

LOS ANGELES — Bob May, who donned The Robot’s suit in the hit 1960s television show “Lost in Space,” has died. He was 69.

May died Sunday of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Lancaster, said his daughter, Deborah May

He was a veteran actor and stuntman who had appeared in movies, TV shows and on the vaudeville stage when he was tapped by “Lost in Space” creator Irwin Allen to play the Robinson family’s loyal metal sidekick in the series that debuted in 1965.

“He always said he got the job because he fit in the robot suit,” said June Lockhart, who played family matriarch Maureen Robinson. “It was one of those wonderful Hollywood stories. He just happened to be on the studio lot when someone saw him and sent him to see Irwin Allen about the part. Allen said, ’If you can fit in the suit, you’ve got the job.”

Although May didn’t provide the robot’s distinctive voice (that was done by announcer Dick Tufeld), he developed a following of fans who sought him out at memorabilia shows.

“Lost in Space” was a space-age retelling of “The Swiss Family Robinson” story in which professor John Robinson, his wife and their children were on a space mission when their craft was knocked hopelessly off course by the evil Dr. Zachary Smith, who became trapped in space with the

May’s robot was the Robinson family’s loyal sidekick, warning them of approaching disaster at every turn. His line to one of the children, “Danger, Will Robinson,” became a national catch phrase.

The grandson of famed vaudeville comedian Chic Johnson, May was introduced to show business at age 2 when he began appearing in the “Hellzapoppin” comedy revue with Johnson and his partner, Ole Olsen.

He went on to appear in numerous films with Jerry Lewis and in such TV shows as “The Time Tunnel,” “McHale’s Navy and “The Red Skelton Show.” He was also a stuntman in such 1950s and ’60s TV shows as “Cheyenne,” “Surfside 6,” “Hawaiian Eye,” “The Roaring 20s” and “Stagecoach.”

He was particularly fond of his Robot role, once saying he came to consider the suit a “home away from home

Lockhart said May wore the suit for hours at a time and learned the lines of every actor in the show so he would know when to respond to their cues. Because it wasn’t easy to get in and out of the suit, he kept it on during breaks

“He was a smoker,” Lockhart remembered. “From time to time (when he was on a break), we’d see smoke coming out of the robot. That always amused us.”

May and his wife lost their house in November when a wildfire destroyed their upscale mobile home park in the San Fernando Valley.

Survivors include his wife Judith; his daughter; his son, Martin; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services are pending.

Kudos: The Associated Press

I love Rosie and I love variety shows. I did not love Rosie Live! The production values were terrible, the jokes not funny, and a feeling of mediocrity permeated the air. Rosie we love you, but please don’t sing! There were so many flat notes coming out of her throat I thought there was something wrong with my TV! I think it could have worked, but she needs a better producer. I really doubt that the powers that be will give her another chance…I wouldn’t!

What a fantastic night! I just got home from seeing Liza Minnelli at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Now those of you who know me know that I have been attending Liza concerts since the 70’s! All I can say tonight is Wow! The show is wonderful and Liza is in tip top shape! I had great seats in the 3rd row with my dear friend Susan.

Liza has had vocal trouble off and on, since she had surgery on her vocal cords . She damaged them after she filled in for Julie Andrews in Victor Victoria on Broadway. Well I am happy to report that her voice is vibrant and is as strong as ever in this current show! The first half of the show is many of Liza’s showstoppers, while the second act has a big section of songs from her godmother, Kay Thompson. In Act II, Liza also sang Judy’s Palace Medley … and believe me Mama would be proud!

The audience was mesmerized for the show and didn’t want it to end! For an encore Liza gave us a beautiful rendition of her Mom’s, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Before she sang it, she mentioned how at the holidays she always thinks of her parents and by the last stanza of the song you could hear the sniffles in the audience… including mine!

This was a tryout of the show that is headed for the Palace Theatre the first week of December in New York! Get your tickets now as this is definitely a show you’ll want to see!

Okay, I cried. Abby was by far my favorite character on E.R. It was really sad to see her go. This is the last season of the show and cast members are dropping like flies. Thursday nights will never be the same!

As many of you know I loved The Bionic Woman as a kid. Lindsay Wagner brought so much to the role of Jaime Sommers. I was cruising the web and I found this great fan tribute to one of my favorite episodes. Now if we can ever get them to release the series on DVD I will be really happy!

SPOILER** Am I the only one on the planet who didn’t want Carrie and Mr. Big to marry finally in the Sex and the City movie? He is always so off and on again and I just think he will be off on her in the future. I am all about forgiveness but leaving her at the alter was just too much for me to take and I don’t think I could ever forgive him. I really think she could do much better, but I guess we always need a predictable happy ending. Oh well, write me hate mail.

I can’t believe that I watch Hell’s Kitchen. I really think that Gordon Ramsay is an obnoxious jerk… with the people skills of a grapenut. I really love to watch it because of that fact I guess. He really is a person I love to hate, and I don’t care how much money would be involved, but I would never work for the man. What I find really interesting is how all of the chefs that are competing… all smoke like chimneys! Season after season, all the contestants light up after work. I wonder why this is. With less than 30% of the population smoking I am wondering if all 30% work in kitchens!

Is it me or is American Idol now kinda boring? There is no one this year that I am that excited about lately. Perhaps I just don’t care anymore. I got that way with Survivor. Maybe it is time for the next big show.

OK, I admit it. I am fascinated by Logo’s Transamerican Love Story and Calpernia Addams! I first heard of Calpernia when I saw the excellent movie, Soldier’s Girl. Soldier’s Girl is the tragic true story of Private Barry Winchell who was murdered by his fellow soldiers when they found out he was dating a transgendered woman. Now, the real Calpernia is starring in her own dating show reminiscent of The Bachelor. Eight suitors vie for her affection, including a female to male transgender! The men are ruthless to one another in their competition for Calpernia’s attention. I found myself not liking any of them, and not one of them worthy. I truly hope that Ms. Addams finds a true love one day. She really comes across no different than any of us, and deserves the happiness we all seek.

Apparently someone has hacked Sesame Street’s Elmo Toy! You can read the full story here. What’s next? Suicide bomber Barbie?

Kudos: Endgadget

This is the 3rd time I watched this show on FOX. It is getting tired fast. It moves at a snail’s pace!

Tonight I watched another episode of NBC’s Bionic Woman and a few things are still really bothering me about this show. Firstly, I am really sick of the camera work, especially during the fight scenes. It is so jerky and nauseating! Must they make me sick every time Jaime gets in a fight? This brings me to the second thing that bothers me. Why do we have to have all these extended martial arts fight scenes? Producers! She is bionic. She can take out an enemy with one hand! Enough with all the kicking and punching! Each fight scene is presented as if she is going to be overpowered or something. It is ridiculous that we have to have these extended fight scenes. And finally, let Isaiah Washington’s contract go. At this point, it is not even for the reason that he is a lying, homophobe. He is an awful actor that brings nothing to the show. He mumbles most of his lines, and has created a character that is not needed and is very unappealing. In tonights episode we added a love interest for Jaime, the CIA agent. Not only is he pleasant to look at, but they have a nice chemistry together. Have him join up with our gal and get rid of our boy Isaiah. You just might have the makings of a show.

Michelle Ryan as The Bionic Woman

Wow! One of the most beloved children’s books has a lead gay character! He not only is gay, but he is not a villain for once. This gives the religious right even more reason to hate the Harry Potter Series!

My favorite show as a child was The Bionic Woman starring Lindsay Wagner. The new fall season brings us a new incarnation simply called, Bionic Woman. So far I would say it is not an instant hit. I like the new lead, Michelle Ryan enough, but the rest of the cast leaves me pretty cold. I can’t believe that they added the lying homophobe, Isaiah Washington,as Antonio Pope to the cast. He gets a new series for being a jerk on another? There are far more actor’s available and willing to work  than rewarding this moron. I would also like to to comment on Miguel Ferrer’s one note performance. He plays Jaime’s Sommer’s boss, Jonas Bledsoe. His performance is emotionless and totally unlikeable so far. Why would anyone work for him. The characters Jae Kim and Ruth are also, in my opinion totally unappealing. Katee Sackhoff who plays the first bionic woman, Sarah Corvus, does add a nice spark to an otherwise dull cast. One of the nice touches of the original series was how compassionate the original Jaime Sommers was. You really cheered for her at her triumphs and felt sad for her when she sometimes just wanted to be a regular gal and not work for a super secret agency and have a normal life… with regular body limbs. I would also like to mention how sick I am of the camera work on this show, as well as many others these days. It is just downright shaky! I think I first noticed this on NYPD Blue and now everyone does it. It is not so special anymore and I never liked it to begin with. The great cinematographers of the past new how to shoot a scene with a locked down camera. No amount of shaking can fix a boring scene.  It doesn’t add anything to the scene other than to make me nauseous!

I wish that the powers that be got together and released the original series on DVD. That would be something to really watch. My rating on the new Bionic Woman? C-