Youtube Flashback: Here's Bryan Cranston in a Carnation Coffeemate Commercial from the 80's

 
Before Breaking Bad, before Malcolm in the Middle, and even before his hilarious guest role as Jerry's dentist on Seinfeld, Bryan Cranston was a "working" actor - meaning he would take pretty much anything offered to him. One such commercial featured him as the "doubter" of Carnation Coffeemate's creamy goodness in this 1988 thirty second TV spot.





I believe I first saw this on The Tonight Show, as Jay Leno loves to dig up old and embarrassing clips from a famous guest's past. Jay also showed an old clip of Cranston's guest role as the villain on the helicopter-based classic Airwolf.   

That white powdery substance isn't instant creamer , is it?

Jon Stewart Takes Summer Vacation From the Daily Show

Oliver's got game

Coach: Oliver! get off the bench! you're in the starting rotation!

(The Daily Show's top British correspondent John Oliver will fill in for Stewart as anchor of the broadcast this summer)

John Oliver: Put me in coach, I'm ready! (puts on football helmet and runs awkwardly out of dugout towards outfield)

(Stewart is taking time off from Comedy Central's flagship program to direct a feature film entitled Rosewater. His hiatus begins June 10th and ends September 3rd)

Coach: OLIVER! THE MOUND IS THIS WAY! 

Coach: Oliver!

(John begins kicking around a soccer ball in the outfield) 

(Oliver's first guest is scheduled to be Seth Rogen. I wonder how Colbert will react to the news of Oliver taking over temporarily? I could see him being frightened/confused and possibly trying to get the British replacement host deported). 

That'll Do, Huell, That'll Do...

Huell in his element

TV host and adult child Huell Howser passed away on January 7th, 2013 in Palm Springs, CA. This unfortunate news came soon after Huell suddenly announced his retirement from hosting duties for the California's Gold family of shows on PBS.  

The cause of death was listed as prostate cancer, although that wasn't known by the public until some time after his death - Huell was reportedly a very private person. It looks to me like he got his diagnosis and pretty much disappeared from the public eye, understandable in those circumstances to say the least. 

Personally, I'll miss Huell's well-intentioned demeanor, which was both enthusiastic and and appreciative. He could be over the top at times, occasionally talking over the person answering the question he had just asked. But he always acted like whatever he was looking at, whether it was the golden gate bridge, a hot dog stand, or just a bed of leaves, was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. That kind of approach to interviewing earned many hours of footage that is great legacy for Huell, one that I'm sure he was proud of. 

Youtube Flashback: Super Soaker Commerical

The Super Soaker was a valued toy in the 80's and 90's; it represented a big upgrade in water weapon technology. Remember what we kids had to work with before SS? Single shot water pistols with a range of 18 inches. By the way, could you imagine this commercial airing today, with its spurned teen vigilantes out to exact revenge with (water) guns, complete with a kid spilling red punch that looks exactly like blood all over herself?