First to Barbara Billingsley, who passed away at the ripe, old, age of 94 on Sunday, October 17, 2010. She is best known for her role as June Cleaver, in the television program "Leave it to Beaver". I LOVED "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER" WHEN I WAS A KID, and natch -- I loved June Cleaver. I wanted her to be my mother (seriously, who didn't?) She was beautiful and was always perfectly dressed in heels and her pearls. She's the quintessential 1950's mom. But I also remember her small role in the movie "Airplane" as the woman who "spoke jive". If you haven't seen "Airplane" (and shame on you if you haven't), you really need to see it. With so many memorable moments, Barbara Billingsley talking "jive" is hysterical. Thank you, Ms. Billingsley for being my favorite TV mom. Watching you on "Leave it to Beaver" gave my childhood a healthy dose of comfort food or chicken soup for the soul, or whatever the appropriate equilavent is for this situation. You made me feel safe and happy and provided me with motherly love and affection even though we were seperated by many years and a television. I always wished you were my mom. The Beav and Wally were so lucky. I doubt you would have beat my ass with a shoe or tried to drag me down the hallway by my hair. I think you probably would have solved a lot of problems by baking a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies, and you would have encouraged me to talk to you about my problems (and then not judged me by them). *sigh*
And you rocked the shit out of jive-talking in "Airplane" which made me respect you all that much more.
Second, to Tom Bosley, who passed away today, at age 83. He is best known for his role as Arthur Cunningham on the TV Program "Happy Days". When I was in elementary school, I was a huge fan of "Happy Days" (I used to fantasize about marrying Fonzie). "Mr. C" was my favorite TV dad, and I loved him because he always gave fatherly advice with a calm and collected head. He was wise and his children loved him. Granted, Mr. C got exasperated with his children every now and then, but he never called his kids "morons" or "idiots" and always gave them chances to make a bad situation better. Mr. C was pretty kick-ass. Thank you, Mr. Bosley for being my favorite TV dad and for giving your TV children good advice that I could sometimes work into my own life. I think if you had been my dad, I would have turned out a little more self-adjusted, with a dash more self-esteem. I doubt you would have called me "chubby" as a kid (because, let's face it, you're a little chubby yourself) and I believe you would have let me win at the video games we would have played together instead of beating my ass because you can't lose at anything.
Too bad TV parents aren't more like real parents, huh? I'm sure a few of you out there agree with me. ;) You know that saying that "you can't choose your family"? I'm hoping that if there's a heaven, we CAN choose our family...because my parents would be June Cleaver and Arthur Cunningham. I hope their writers got Emmys for all the great advice they gave their TV children. Because that shit was pure solid gold.
Adieu Babs and Tom!
