Thursday, June 27, 2013

Nostalgic Notions/Super Blogger Award!!



Secret fact about yours truly:

Some nights, after my wife goes to bed and the house is very quiet, I'll go on YouTube and watch.....



....old t.v. show intros/previews (such as the one above). You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you? Shame on you! :P

Sometimes, I'll spend a few hours doing this....taking me deep into the early morning.

Now, I've often asked myself "Why?"





The best answer I can come up with is my strong sense of nostalgia. It always seems that we look back on the past with rose colored glasses and believe that it was a more 'simpler' time....which it was, in many respects, but it was also just as complicated as it is today.

Still though, it's always nice to revisit a time when things didn't seem as hectic and when expectations weren't as high. I guess that's why I go back and check out the old t.v. shows.

I used to love television.

Seriously.

A lot of times, with moving around a lot due to being in a military family, it was one of the few constants/comforts in my life. It seemed, no matter where we ended up (in America), I could always find The Munsters, The Monkees, The Twilight Zone or Hogan's Heroes somewhere on the dial.

Maybe that's why I find myself being so critical of t.v. in this "reality show" era of programming. It seems like a lot of the networks have taken the 'easy' way out, as far as offering the public quality entertainment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing all "reality" television. I used to be a huge Survivor fan....and when I say 'huge', I mean sending in three audition tapes and standing in line for six hours for a live audition, huge. I think shows like The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition are great in that they actually do something for people, besides showing them acting like idiots in front of the entire world.

Anyway, I think the sad state of television these days is another draw to revisit the t.v. of old and remember a time when four channels (if you were lucky) could keep you entertained all day long.

These days, even four hundred can't do that, in my opinion.

With that secret revealed, I'd also like to reveal something else I've been working on.....an award. Yes, I can see Gary over at Klahanie rolling his digital eyes as we speak....haha.

I'm calling it The Super Blogger Award, in keeping with my A to Z Challenge theme, and the criteria is simple. Take the award for yourself, then pass it along to someone who inspires you or you just think is 'super' in one way or another. Tell us why you think that person is super and deserving. Now, all the recipient has to do is reveal a (as in one) small secret about themselves (super people always tend to have a secret or two, right?) and pass the reward on to someone they think is deserving.

Simple, right?

Anyway, I think I'd be remiss if I didn't award the first Super Blogger Award to the Ninja Captain himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh.....

Taaaa daaaaa!!!


Alex has been dropping by since the early days of this blog...always with an encouraging word about whatever topic (usually writing) was on tap for that day or about blogging, in general. I remember if he reminded me once, he reminded me a hundred times about turning off comment verification....lol

It's not just me that Alex has given a digital helping hand to. To this day, he remains one of the most helpful and supportive bloggers out there and, for that reason, I think he's super.

Thanks for all you do, Alex!

50 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Hey, that's me! Thanks so much, Mark. Honored to be first. And I think I only told you about the word verification ninety-nine times...
I'm not a nostalgic person, but I agree with television being the one constant in a military brat's life. (And yes, I did watch a lot back then.) Real life friends might change every couple of years, but most of the shows didn't. Back in the day when series ran for more than half a season.

randi lee said...

I'm a military brat too and TV was always a constant for me! I really, really hate this new reality TV phase and don't understand it at all....and yes, Alex definitely deserves to be recognized!!!

Bevimus said...

I'm also a huge fan of TV but to me the landscape isn't as bleak as you see it. Granted, I have to go to the cable channels to find high qulity entertainment but as soon as I do there's a whole host of well-written, smart and highly addicting shows with pretty damned high production quality (Game of Thrones, anyone?)that I love just as much as the syndicated shows of olde, just in a different way.

GREAT choice on your recipient for the first Super Blogger Award. Like you, I've seen Alex stopping by my blog consistently since he discovered it and I have no earthly idea how he does it since every other blogger I know expereinces the same from him. He trully does have super powers, so it couldn't be more appropriate.

jaybird said...

Very cool choice Mark. And oh my gosh you had me there for a second. I thought you were about to confess to something a bit naughty...LOL

I love all of those old nostalgic shows, like The Munsters and The Monkees. Brings me back to a carefree time in my life. And it makes me laugh to rewatch some of those old episodes.

Maurice Mitchell said...

I haven't tried watching old shows on YouTube, but I love TV Land. It's hard to believe the 80s were so long ago.

Thanks for the flashback Mark!

Congrats on the brand-spanking new award Alex!

Anonymous said...

What a super post? and a new award into the bargain.Also Alex is a most remarkable person Congrats to him to be the first to receive it.

Yvonne.

Jeremy [Retro] said...

superman shows and shows about super heroes those are for me... i find i am watching cartoons, which are not even cartoons... mini movies. i too hate all that is dropped in our laps and told this is what is too watch... i am not a lemming, you are not a lemming. i am excited for the return of boy meets world, i mean girl meets world... is that sad?

happy award, there are many deserve it... alex is totally on the top of the list...

S.P. Bowers said...

Awesome award!

Brandon Ax said...

I agree with you about TV I mean I watch the cooking reality shows because my daughter is obsessed with being a chef one day, but I am not a big fan of the others.

Awesome award and Alex is truly worthy of it. So if we have someone in mind we can just hand it out?

Manzanita said...

I like the fact that you have appreciation of the older days. Yes, I do believe they were simple and people seemed more trustworthy. I used to live in Minneapolis and I could walk around any of the lakes alone at any time during the night. People have told me I wouldn't dare do that today.
A good choice for your super award. We don't visit but I always read his comments on other's blogs.

Dee @ A Deecoded Life said...

I completely agree with the nostalgia thing. I also loved Survivor but whoa... You actually auditioned! Too bad you didn't get to join.

What a great award you created! Congrats to the well deserving Alex.

Al Diaz said...

I can't think of a more deserving person for the Super Blogger Award than your first choice.
Hmm, I wonder why he didn't mention the word verification to me. :P
I used to watch The Twilight Zone! Ah, I loved that show. Now I hardly watch TV once a week. Hardly.

~Sia McKye~ said...

Military brat here, too. Then traipsing all around the country for construction projects.

Books were always first on my entertainment list but TV was second. Yep, I watched the shows you mentioned. Today? Pfft. I might watch 3 hours of TV a week.

I don't mind some of the DIY shows but I really don't like reality shows.

Good choice for the blogger award.
:-)

Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

Shannon Lawrence said...

Well deserved, Alex! I have a tendency to read Cracked articles late into the night, clicking from one to the next to the next. Now that I've caught up, it's become less of a problem. :p

Shannon at The Warrior Muse

Mark Koopmans said...

YO!

I think Alan is very deserving of your first award - and I shall never forget him for that :)

Old TV, huh :) Well, considering we're *raising* three military brats, I am so thankful for Netflix having so much stuff for the boys.

(But I do make them watch Sesame Street a few times a week - but I think that's more for me than them:)

Have a great weekend, Mike - I won't forget you, either :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Mark's comment - LOL!

Alex certainly deserves it first.

I get really nostalgic for old music. It captures a moment in time for me. My husband teases me that all it takes is a little wine and I'm digging out the old records.

Dana said...

Congratulations to Alex! He definitely deserves the award.

I get nostalgic for "old" TV, too—even though I do enjoy some of today's programs as well. There's no question that TV is different now; I wish my kids could have experienced the shows I did.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Mark, Alex truly deserves the first super blogger award. He is amazing.

John Wiswell said...

I think that Youtube hobby is totally fair! I had the intro to Unsolved Mysteries on loop recently.

Samantha May said...

I'm super nostalgic about the 90s. Life definitely was complicated then, as you said, but I think when you're a kid you only take in the simplicity of it all. I miss those days.

And Alex totally is a super blogger! I don't know how he does it sometimes...

Annalisa Crawford said...

That's such a cool badge, and Alex totally deserves the honour.

I love British sit-coms from the 70s/80s, because I grew up with them, and the best thing is they're still shown regularly and my kids love them too. Dad's Army, Ever Decreasing Circles, The Good Life... (although it might be seen as a bad thing they're still being shown instead of new programmes!)

Suzanne Furness said...

I'm with Annalisa, we have loads of sitcom repeats over here but they are still great. Only watch old kids programmes on You Tube!

Christine Rains said...

I do the same thing. I remember watching so much TV when I was younger. These days, maybe I'll watch something twice a week. Congratulations to Alex! :) Have a wonderful weekend.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Love the award!

Last summer I made my kids watch "The Beverly Hillbillies" with me for the nostalgia factor.

Misha Gerrick said...

Great idea for an award.

I also used to love t.v. but nowadays, it feels like it just wastes my time.

Unknown said...

My husband loves the old TV shows. Thanks to Netflix, he can feed his craving on shoes like Andy Griffith, Adam 12 (blech) and others. I'm rolling my eyes.

Congrats to Alex-- well deserved.

Allison said...

I know what you mean! TV shows helped me get through college when I was sick most of the time. It's true though... it's definitely not what it used to be. I love Hogan's Heroes!! Dick van Dyke and Newhart were also great.

Alex is a perfect choice.

Allison (Geek Banter)

klahanie said...

Hey Mark,

Yes, I know, you've been eagerly waiting for one of my highly collectable comments. Wait no more. Okay, wait until I comment on your posting after this posting :)

I so wish to return to Saturday nights and ABC with, "Love Boat", followed by, "Fantasy Island". "Smiles, everybody! Smiles!"....'Da pain..da pain..!'

Yay to creating, "The Super Blogger Award", never enough awards in blogsville, I say. The award is nice and simple. I like nice and simple. Hearty congrats on bestowing your own award on what's his name. Seriously, a worthy recipient is our friend, Alex. Well done to you, Alex. Well done to you, Mark.

Reality shows. I did a "Blogger's Got Talent" posting. Still, not one to blatantly self-promote. *Cough!* *Cough!* :)

Thank you for your supportive words on my latest posting, Mark.

A happy weekend to you, my friend.

Did you mention that ridiculous alphabet challenge? Arggggghhhh!!!! LOL

Gary :)

Mina Burrows said...

I was a TV junkie too. I don't get a chance to watch it very often but if I could I'd like to watch Star Trek reruns.

Alex is the bomb.

Ella said...

Are we related? I have been doing this lately myself! I remember those 4 channels, lol. I think there is a magic that comes watching these shows, for me the memories enter of who watched it with me, what was going on behind the scenes. It is always a way to visualize some of the people I have lost in my life.

I love your reward..it is Super! ;D
I know so many deserving bloggers...I'll have to think on that.

Happy weekend to you n' yours!

Mark Means said...

@Alex: My pleasure and I really appreciate all your help and support and, yes, it was a time when they -did- give shows a chance.

@Randi: Yes, they've totally gone overboard with the 'reality' t.v. thing...but, I guess, people are watching, so...

@Beverly: Thank you for shining a ray of sunshine on my bleak outlook :) You're right...there are some good shows out there and, maybe, I was just easier to please back then :)

@jaybird: Haha...had you going for a minute, eh? I remember watching those shows as well as "Get Smart" and "I Love Lucy"....a bunch of classics :)

@Maurice: Oh yeah, T.V. Land is awesome. I wish we got Retro T.V. or ME T.V around these parts, though :(

@Jeremy: Those are my kind of shows, too, and one of the main reasons we keep Netflix streaming around :)

@S.P: Thank you!

@Brandon: I wouldn't lump cooking shows in with the mindless sort of 'reality' show we're seeing today...cooking shows do have some redeeming value :) By all means, yes, if you want to hand it out to someone you feel is deserving, go for it :)

@Manzanita: Yes, you definitely couldn't do that in this day and age and I'm a big nostalgia buff :)

@Dee: I know...I wonder how I would have done? :)

@Al: The Twilight Zone has always been one of my faves :) What sort of reception does the lair get? :D

@Sia: Thanks and, yes, books (as well as comic books) were also comforts....good call, there :)

@Shannon: Haha, yes, that's why they call it 'the web'...it can certainly tangle you up....especially a neat site like Cracked :)

@Mr.K: Ah to have Netflix back then...it would have been a godsend :) Thanks Matt, you have a great weekend too :D

@Diane: Haha, yeah he's a funny one alright. I can get the same way with music, too, and especially music videos.

@Dana: Yes, it was definitely a different (and better, in my opinion) time back then!

@Rachna: I couldn't agree more :)

@John: Thanks and I used to love that show!

@Samantha: Yes, definitely...when you're younger things seem a lot less complicated.

@Annalisa: Thanks and he certainly does. I've heard of Dad's Army, but have never seen it. I might have to YouTube that one :) I wouldn't think them showing reruns a bad thing, but I guess the younger folks might.

@Suzanne: Old sitcoms are the best, for sure :)

@Christine: I rarely watch anything that's not DVR'ed these days. No more 'appointment' t.v. for me

@Elizabeth: Thanks and you're definitely doing your parental duties by making the kids watch The Beverly Hillbillies! :)

@Misha: Thank you and I agree on you t.v. assessment!

@Julie: LOL...sounds like he and I have a lot in common :)

@Allison: Oh yeah, Dick Van Dyke and Newhart were also great ones :)

@Gary: Haha, yes, now I can rest easy seeing your comment appear :D Yes! Saturday Nights on ABC were great...loved the Love Boat and Fantasy Island. I knew you'd enjoy this latest award but, for your sake, I made no mention of the alphabet challenge...lol. Seriously, though, always glad to lend support where I can. Have a great weekend! :)

@Mina: I think Netflix streaming has all the Star Trek series now...I've been meaning to catch up :)

Mark Means said...

@Ella: If not related, then just great minds thinking alike? :D Yes, it's all about the memories and where we were in our lives at the time. Thank you and have a great weekend, yourself :)

Julie Flanders said...

What a great idea for an award! Alex is the obvious choice to get it started. :)

I do the same thing on youtube! I love to watch clips of old shows and even enjoy old commercials and theme songs. I am very nostalgic and even though I know the 70s/80s were not a perfect time by any means, the world was certainly a much simpler place for me.

cleemckenzie said...

Ah, nostalgia. Unfortunately, I can't keep my eyes open after ten, so I'd wind up on the couch all night if I followed your routine.

The Super Blogger Award is perfect. Congrats to Alex for being the first to receive it.

Chancelet said...

Okay, that's something I CAN'T understand. But, hey, we're all different for some reason, right?? :) Writer’s Mark

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Hi Mark.

I'm here thanks to Robin. I really like the clip she dedicated to you. It's a good sample of all the reasons why you watch old-time tv shows. I loved all those same shows, and Twilight Zone was one of the most brilliant. Nowadays, I rarely watch tv. It's a good thing.

xoRobyn

Mark Means said...

@Yvonne: Sorry Yvonne, your comment (for some reason) was flagged as spam and it's a good thing I check the folder every so often or I would have missed it. I didn't want you to think I was ignoring your comment :)

I do agree, though, Alex is a heck of a guy and 'super', indeed :)

@Julie: Great minds think alike, eh? Yes, I realize I'm looking through rose colored glasses about those days....but still, I have fond memories :)

@Lee: LOL....yeah, I do know what you mean. I'm only there with the help of coffee :)

@Nancy: Heh, very true, very true. Different strokes for different folks, I guess :)

@Robyn: Hey, thanks for stopping by and following. I'd probably watch more t.v. if we got the 'retro' channels around here :)

Cynthia said...

There's a certain warm and fuzzy feeling I can get from watching old TV shows. There's something smoothly predictable about some of those old shows, and this can give us comfort....especially when certain elements of our own lives might not be so predictable.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Mark for allowing us to take the award. I have put it on my site but as I am not used to doing LINKS have not been able to put them on my blog.

Yvonne.

Sherry Ellis said...

Alex is super! I couldn't think of someone more deserving of the award!

I like old TV shows, too. They have the same effect on me.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Love nostalgia. I used to be glued to the television back in the day, however, I dislike much of what I'm seeing today. I'm down to three shows I generally watch and that's about it.

LD Masterson said...

Darn you , mark. I did not have time to watch old previews today but once you got me started, I couldn't stop.

Nice award.

Elise Fallson said...

I'm one to stay up really late too, though I'm not real big at watching old reruns, unless, it's an episode or series I haven't seen yet. But I can see the nostalgic appeal it can have. Anyway, great looking blog award and Alex is a fine recipient! In fact, anything with a superhero is awesome in my book. (:

Mark Koopmans said...

PS... hey Malcolm...

Just saw your comment on Alex's post and all I can say is:

What. Evah.

Dude :)

PS... thanks for nominating Alex, who nominated me for this sweet award :)

Jeff Hargett said...

I know better than to click these YouTube "play" buttons on people's blogs, but do I take heed? No, I see a much too young Richard Dean Anderson, the gorgeous Judith Light who knocked my socks off and a Bruce Willis with hair!

And oh! how I miss my Moonlighting! I miss wondering if there will be a new episode showing on Tuesday night and then crying on my wife's shoulder when there wasn't. Those were the days.

Mark Means said...

@Cynthia: Very true and well said! I think it's the familiarity that is so calming, sometimes.

@Yvonne: No worries about the links and enjoy the award. Thanks for passing it on and Lee is a very deserving candidate :)

@Sherry: Agreed....cheesiness and all :)

@Cathrina: Same here. I hardly watch anything new these days, besides Defiance on Sy-Fy and even that's on shaky ground.

@LD: Haha...sorry...I'm a nostalgia 'pusher' :)

@Elise: Thanks and he sure is...though, you're pretty super yourself :)

@Mr. K: Hehehe...well, you're a deserving, super type too, Mitch!

@Jeff: Yes! Moonlighting was a great show and it's neat to look back on how Bruce Willis got his start.

Stephen Tremp said...

I used to watch all the great Sitcoms. TV today sucks. I watch Discovery Sciemce Channel and ESPN Sportscenter. And thats about it.

Valerie said...

This is pretty spectacular!

You had me at the capes... I'm a sucker for capes.

Hugs!

Valerie

Tyrean Martinson said...

Love old tv shows - 4 channels were way more entertaining than the hundreds we have now.

And Yay for Alex!!!

Lisa said...

I'm with you not only on Alex C and his ninja abilities, but also on TV and the shows available. My first heroes were Captain Kirk and Barnabas Collins, go figure!

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