The Men Who Rocked My World…
It’s time to reveal the list of men that influenced me during my formative years. When I use the word “influenced” of course I mean these men had an effect on the development of my character, for good or bad. I realize I grew up in a great era when TV shows were substantive rather than just fluff. I think you’ll see from my list that I’ve chosen carefully. If you don’t recognize these friendly faces then I suggest you get familiar with them and their body of work. You won’t regret it.
Latex; friend or foe?
Batman taught me not to under estimate the importance of whispering when you’re in danger or fighting crime. I don’t think Bruce Wayne’s voice ever reached normal speaking range decibels. Even when he was tied up and about to go through a buzz saw he never raised his voice. There was something sexy about it really, but I’m pretty sure that aspect of it went over my 8 year old head, or did it?
Tom Corbett, played by Bill Bixby, On The Courtship of Eddie’s Father was perhaps my favorite TV father. He was kind and patient. He also employed an Asian housekeeper/ nanny, Mrs. Livingston, who seemed to be as wise as Buddah, but not nearly as fat. If I could have escaped out of my dysfunctional childhood home and lived on the beach with Tom Corbett and Mrs. Livingston, trust me, I would have jumped at the chance. (One small glitch– I would have had to get rid of Eddie. Despite being cute with his freckles and all, he was always asking stupid questions. I don’t think he would have been missed.) 
Reuben Kincaid, played by Dave Madden, was the Partridge Family’s agent. He booked all their shows at the most pathetic venues around, and by “venues,” I mean an old bankrupt firehouse, an albuquerque desert and the high school parking lot. Were we really supposed to believe that Shirley Partridge, the mom, was supporting her 5 kids on those random gigs? I guess that’s why they couldn’t afford normal clothes and had to wear those cheap velvet costumes and drive that crap bus. Mr. Kincaid was possibly the worst agent of all time. His influence on me can’t be diminished. Thanks to him I would have the good sense to find a reputable agent, should I ever need one.
Herman Munster, played by Fred Gwynn, on The Munsters, taught me not to judge a book by it’s cover and would prepare me later in life for my kid’s Goth friends. He was a good guy, despite appearances and shoe size. I also learned that a spin on the genetic roulette wheel could, even in monster families, produce the occasional cousin Marilyn. 
Archie Bunker, played by Carrol O’Connor, on All In The Family, taught me that being socially and politically incorrect could actually be endearing and quite funny – at least in the privacy of your own home. haha! Seriously, he was a real talent and that show was a gem. It hit just the right note and may have, in fact, been responsible for quietly educating lots of people – my bigoted, opinionated grandmother for one. (I say that with only love in my heart.)
I’d go with Jimmy Buffett, who’s lifestyle has probably had way too much of an influence on me.
After the shout out to Herman Munster, I was hoping there’d be an Abe Vigoda reference too.
I can definitely see that Jimmy Buffett had his influence on you, right down to your Hawaiian shirts and relaxed attitude.
Lol! Abe Vigoda… seriously? I don’t think my younger self would have allowed him to get on my radar. He would have scared me.
This is a little embarrassing, but for a short time in college, Abe Vigoda was our battlecry.
Too bad you can’t totally erase that memory, although I’m sure you’ve tried.
Herman Munster, you slay me. Prepared for Goth friends hahaha. Let’s see, influences from my youth, John Lennon for social conscience, Don Johnson, cause white silk suits are (were?) cool, Tolkien, cause fantasy is important and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker cause there is more to rock and roll than just 3 chords.
Your reply dropped below….
I loved the Munsters and even sport a Lily Munster hair style (ie skunk strip)…lol Color won’t hold 😦
I’m sure you rock that stripe. I’ve gotta say, I always got a little frustrated because they always wore the same clothes. They must have had a low budget! haha!
you are an eclectic woman
It’s just the way I roll.
and I dig it
You may be the only one : )
haha! Please know, John, that you and Guapo are under the impression that only men from bad TV shows impressed me. Not at all. I just zeroed in on the men that I saw on a daily basis as a KID – so they made a lasting impression(and I thought I could get some laughs.) I like your list quite a bit, especially the nod to Steely Dan. I happen to be a fan as well.
Okay, so if you’re gonna open up the field I’ll choose, those four lads we like to call The Beatles, Walt Disney- ’cause he was masterminding a world that I would forever enjoy even with my own kids, Keith Richards cause he’s embodies Rock n’ Roll, Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel…. I’d have to give it more thought. That’s off the top of my head.
Don Johnson! haha!
You picked all the good ones from our era so i had to open it up. Except Red Foxx. I still call out to Elizabeth when something surprises me. Oh and Gabe Kaplan. Loved his humor. I think that rubbed off on me.
Red Foxx was damn funny. I loved that show. I tried to go out of my way to pick slightly obscure Or funny ones. I’ll have to do a part 2. I did women who rocked my world a few posts back so I thought I should do the men to keep things fair.
I missed that. Will have to check it out
I still sing the theme song from ‘Courtship of Eddie’s Father’ (People let me tell you/About my best friend)–I was so in want of them as a family, I’d have let Eddie stay, freckles and all.
Paul Simon influenced my music taste (no surprise to Lily, after all my mentions of his work), Ray Bradbury was another person I’d want for a dad–what an imagination!! His bedtime stories must have rocked! Gomez Addams was another hero of mine, oh, and Walt Disney (before I knew he was a bigot).
Of course you would love that song. I played it all morning and told my son that it was indeed my favorite opening credits song. He said he remembers me singing it to him when he was young – see, I never let a good thing die.
Paul Simon WITH Art Garfunkel was always playing in my house while I was growing up. Gomez Addams intrigued me, I’m not sure I was old enough to really grasp his whole persona. Walt Disney without the flaws.
My dad was a big Addams fan, so, I think I laughed because Dad laughed. Later, I fell in love on my own.
I sang that song to my kids, too!!
Doesn’t it seem like opening credits used to be so much better? Like you’d get a whole song and a montage. Nowadays it’s like two notes and it’s done. haha!
Yes Herman Munster. Loved his childlike laugh. He reminds me of the cowardly lion. “Put ’em up, put ’em up!”
YES!! I was recalling the way he would kind of shake his head and get that crooked smile. Now that I think of it, he was sort of a big baby, too. Wasn’t he always throwing tantrums and needing to be calmed down by his wife? haha! No wonder I liked him!
Carroll O’Connor was indeed a great actor. I think some people mistook him for the character that he played, or just overlooked his acting ability because they were just too uncomfortable to watch the show. I think he was brilliant.
He was brilliant and I really do think he opened up a whole needed dialogue for America at a very crucial time. It was a very delicate balancing act for Carroll O’Connor to keep people entertained but still deliver a big dose of ugly ignorance. It was an important show but also a really funny show. He was brilliant. I agree.
I have a soft spot for Archie Bunker because he reminds me of my dad. Except my dad isn’t quite as bad as Archie. Herman Munster was a pussycat, I liked him. I saw a biography on Fred Gwynne, and it sounds like he was a pussycat too.
I would have added Gomez Addams in there myself, but I’m glad you didn’t including Grandpapa or Uncle Fester!
I was actually trying to come up with funny and, or, obscure TV characters. There’s a lot more where this came from. Yeah, I have a soft spot for Archie, too. He really is a throw back to that older generation of Americans. He’s endearing while being a total ass. My Irish Catholic grandmother was pretty close to an Archie type. Soo uncomfortable.
Fred Gwynne was very sweet – you can kind of see it right through his character. Maybe I should have done Lurch? haha! I had a bunch to choose from. I think I’ll re-visit this at a later time.
You know who else I liked? Eddie Munster when he grew up! And I liked Archie Bunker too. That show was hilarious. I never watched the Waltons, but i liked the Dad. He (and Robert Redford) remind me of my Dad. Oh, and what about Farrah’s first hubby, whatizname, the Bionic Man???
Happy weekend.
Lee Majors? haha! That’s so funny. I liked the dad on Little House on the Prairie – I forget his name…? My dad reminded me of Robert Redford, too! Isn’t that weird? If I could ever get this scanner that I bought hooked up and learn how to use it I would scan a picture of him. We could compare! What if my dad was your dad – now that would be really unexpected! LOL!
Have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful weather – I think it’s traveling your way.
HOLY HEART FAILURE BATMAN!
The first ever Batman I saw was Adam West, he was a man among men! The contrast between West and Bale is so vast. I still watch YouTube clips of West’s Batman, trying to defuse a “bomb”.
He’d be the first on my list too 🙂
haha! I used to LOVE Batman. Remember when they would fight and the camera would slant so the room was crooked? And then they would animate words like BAM and POW. It was really a good show considering the budget was obviously pretty low. Also, didn’t they have good villains – the Penguin, Joker and Riddler?
Haha the special effects of yesteryear! 😀 I remember the feature film they did, that had all three of those villains involve I believe! Imagine that Batman facing Tom Hardy has Bane, “Nows not the time for fear” *POW* film over!
That cracks me up! It was so cheesy and good.
Uh-oh I may be in trouble because I was a huge Mick Jagger fanatic.. no so much a TV watcher.I did like “Courtship of Eddie’s father” and always wanted to see him get married..:-)
I was trying to focus on TV shows, people I would see on a daily basis AND I was attempting to be funny. The Courtship of Eddie’s father was actually one of my favorites and they had a great opening song, didn’t they? I wanted him to get married, too. I thought he was very attractive and that was coming from what, a 9 year old? haha!
Okay, maybe we were separated at birth? I LOVE Mick Jagger, too. I’m a Rolling Stones girl. A fanatic… that’s very hard core, Lynne, but I totally get it. When I want to go back in time I can just put on some Wild Horses or Angie and away I go…
Ohh nice! You saved it! Archie is the best! I always liked Herman Munster for some reason. Maybe because his wife was Lily Munster.
Ruben Kincaid is the worst agent evs. For real. I hate the name Ruben so much. It’s actually my least favorite name ever no joke. I was actually listening to Bandala the other day and thought of you!
Thanks to good old Petey, I saved it! Archie is so fun to watch. I love how politically incorrect he is. Haha! Reuben Kincaid was the worst agent. I seriously don’t think they could have supported themselves on the money they were making from putting on a show at the high school! Haha!
YES to the original batman. It was so psychedelic. The whispering was my fave. Maybe that’s what Christian Bale is going for in the new ones?
I think you may be the only one who remembers his whispery low voice. Batman was such a cheesy low budget delight. Even as a child I knew it was weird. You’re right it was psychedelic! Haha! I loved the bat cave and bat mobile. I wasn’t too fond of Robin. Probably because his name was Robin! Lol!
And the dancing, don’t forget his dancing. Whaaaat.
Mrs. Partridge was probably getting really good alimony checks from Jack Cassidy! Ha! That is true that we were supposed to believe they were just a typical all American family living in a big beautiful house by playing high school parking lots. And I never noticed before how much Kincaid and Herman Munster look alike! They were probably separated at birth due to the fact that their mom took one look at Herman and gave him away! I loved Eddie’s father and I thought Bill Bixby was the perfect dad. I thought Eddie was really adorable too but now that I think about it he looks just like Eddy Munster! Hmmm . . . I’m beginning to see a pattern forming. I loved Archie Bunker. My mother and brother always said I reminded them of Gloria. In those days it was a compliment but now maybe not so much! LOL 😀
Back in the day Gloria had a little something going on, didn’t she? I always thought she was cute and very funny. (Lily said you remind her of Bonnie Hunt! )
There does seem to be a pattern now that you mention it! Maybe all those shows used the same casting agent and that was his or her type! Haha!
On close inspection some of these premises don’t really hold up, do they? and there was an in ordinate amount of single parents trying to make it on their own. Maybe that’s still a popular theme?
I’m so flattered that I remind Lily of Bonnie Hunt! Wow! Ha! And I bet the casting directors were all looking for a certain type that epitomized the 70’s! And they all do don’t they? How funny that Archie Bunker and the Musters had the most traditional family themes! 😀