Junk Food and Television: The Perfect Combination

It’s time to talk a little bit about this and a little bit about that…..and we’ll begin with….

Junk Food

I am the perfect consumer. If I see a commercial on television for a new this or that at some fast food place – I want to go out and try it – and if it’s good – I want to tell the whole world. Right now, Wendy’s is advertising a new Bacon and Blue burger – which is their standard one patty burger, kicked up a notch or two with bacon and blue cheese. I love blue cheese in a salad, but I never thought of putting it on a hamburger, but I’m grateful that Wendy’s has….what a burger! The hot hamburger melts the blue cheese and gives your hamburger a taste you never thought possible. The only problem that I have with Wendy’s bacon and blue burger is that the size of the patty should be a bit bigger – maybe a 1/3 pound burger instead of their standard 1/4 pound patty. It’s a bit pricy ($4.55 for the burger alone in the Port Huron, Michigan area – with tax), but its well worth the price.

Tired of the same old candy bars and you want to try something different? Leave it to the folks at Mars/Milky Way to save the day with a couple of new M and Ms (Wild Cherry and Coconut) and a new Milky Way bar. The Milky Way bar is called “Simply Caramel” – no nugget or nuts – it’s as the label says “real milk chocolate surrounding nothing but rich delicious caramel.” If you love caramel – this is the chocolate bar for you – because “Simply Caramel” is simply delicious.

I’ve been sharing my breakfast cereal with the grand kids lately and have come to a conclusion. When it comes to Lucky Charms – forget about the milk – eat them straight from the box. It could be me – but Lucky Charms straight from the box tastes like popcorn with marshmallow bits and like peanuts – its addicting as hell, too. You can’t stop at just one handful…you keep going back for more.

Long John Silvers, any one? If anyone has tried their new shrimp taco – you got to tell me what you think. I’m a big fan of their Baja Fish Taco, but haven’t been in to try their shrimp taco yet – I’m hoping that it isn’t one of the items that they’re featuring for people observing Lent.

TV: Everything Old Is New Again

There are a bunch of old television shows that are coming back soon – some on the big screen and some on the small screen. One of the TV shows that put the ABC television network on the map in the 60s and spawned a top 40 hit is coming to the big screen – with Warner Brothers producing a period piece based on “77 Sunset Strip”. The TV show was a star vehicle for Roger Smith (who later married Ann-Margaret) and Connie Stevens – but it was Ed “Kookie” Byrnes’ character that spawned the 60s hit, “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb”.

Here’s a TV show that I never would have expected a new movie version of – “Gilligan’s Island”. Believe it or not, Hollywood producers right now are in the process of casting a movie version of “Gilligan’s Island” – I can imagine a new Gilligan – just as the late Bob Denver will always be Maynard G. Krebbs on “Dobie Gillis” – he’s always going to be the skipper’s little buddy to me on “Gilligan’s Island.”

Remember Jeff Bridges’ brother, Beau Bridges from the movie “The Fabulous Baker Brothers”? Beau has just been cast by NBC for their remake of “The Rockford Files” where he’ll be playing Jim Rockford’s father, Rocky – which was originally played by Noah Beery, Jr.

And guess who wants to return to TV? Daytime TV? None other than Rosie O’Donnell! Rosie once had a successful daytime talk show and left the show at the height of its popularity to concentrate on her family. Then Rosie came back to Barbara Walter’s little ABC chat fest known as “The View” and we all know what happened there….and now she feels like she’s ready to come back to TV again. The route that she’s taking to coming back to daytime TV is a little unusual, too – she isn’t looking for a major syndicator to distribute her show – she wants to syndicate the show herself. If anyone can do it…Rosie can….but is daytime TV ready for another turn with Rosie O’Donnell?

Well…that’s going to be it for now. Until we meet again – keep that remote close to your side and remember – hey, it’s only TV.