While in Utah a couple of weeks ago, my friend Todd, called me with some upsetting news. Charles Nelson Reilly (CNR) of "Match Game" fame died of "pneumonia." (Yes, I meant to put the quotes I think he died of something else). Anyway, I think that Todd and I are really the only people younger than 50 who know about Match Game and who know about CNR. Case in point, while in Spain Todd pretended to be CNR and I pretended to be Joanne Whorley (another famous person who no one knows unless you are 50+). Ross, being a great sport, would laugh at our very awesome celebrity impersonations. But the second we got home Ross had to IMDB "Charles Nelson Reilly" to figure out who he was. Oh well, so maybe CNR never had the fame that he should have had. Todd and I will wear some kick ascots one day this week in honor of the man and his "top-notch" wit. Here is a picture of us doing what was likely our 157th impersonation of CNR and Joanne.
8 comments:
Charles Nelson Reilly...the greatest entertainer the world has ever known. He will certainly be missed by his tens of dozens of adoring fans. I believe it was stars of CNR's caliber that Whoopi Goldberg had in mind when she brought back the Hollywood Squares with what she claimed were nothing less than A-list celebrities. RIP CNR!
Well honestly Whoopi Goldberg never had anyone on the squares who was not an A list celebrity. Bobcat Goldwaithe or whatever his name is what everyone considers an A list celebrity. Everyone.
...not to mention Little Richard and Bruce Valanch.
Trust me, no one is forgetting Bruce Valanch. As an A list celebrity he also was on "celebrity fit club" it was powerful.
I believe Bruce Valanch was also one of the original muppets.
I can't decide whether to be embarrassed for me or for y'all that I've had to look up every person y'all have referred to on IMDB--except, of course, Little Richard. Oh--and Whoopi Goldberg.
Dear Abby,
Your blog comment has left me feeling delighted and appalled. Delighted that you made a comment on the most important blog to date, yet appalled that you don't know each and every one of the A-list celebrities we've mentioned. Don't be ashamed, though. Just yesterday I told Kitty that I saw an episode of Murder, She Wrote with guest stars Dick Van Patten and Barbi Benton. She had no idea who Barbi Benton was despite the fact she was a guest-star on hit shows such as Love Boat and Fantasy Island (not to mention Hee Haw) so regularly you would have thought she was a cast member. Stick with us, Abby, and you will learn all you need to know about anyone whose star has ever been bright enough to appear on the Hollywood Squares (or Match Game).
Speaking of A list celebrities--I am reminded of my classic anecdotal story--the one where I saw Dick Van Patten, that's right the Dick Van Patten on the flight from Atlanta to Asheville, NC. It really doesn't get much better than that.
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