Charles Lane was an incredible actor...as old as he was then, he lived almost another 30 years after this episode was shot and died at age 102. And 30 years before this, he was working in television. He ALWAYS looked and sounded the same, and usually played the same kinds of dour characters. A couple years before he died he won a TV Land award and in his acceptance speech said, "I'm still available if anyone wants me!!"
Whoa! Charles Lane portraying a fully-formed character (Mort!) That's a real treat because I don't think I've ever seen him portray more that the one-dimensional cutout like "IRS guy" or "accountant" before. These are great. Haven't seen them in many years. Top notch writing, production, acting, the works. It's really quite sad that we'll never see anything on TV of this caliber ever again.
This is a great series when compared with other TV offerings, but it certainly had production problems...too numerous to point out...and most irritating for me was the lack of story consistencies throughout the five seasons it aired. What makes me watch it occasionally now is the acting that somehow kept their professionalism even when the scripts were poor. I do wonder how much influence the superior seasoned actors had on the molding of the characters, esp. that of Margaret's Pynchon. So much strength, courage and intelligence seasoned with humanness! I applaud the entire cast for their talent!!!
He played Charlie's naughty Dad too, didn't he? Where are the character's today! When you read the lives of the old Hollywood stars theirs were So much more interesting than the actors today. Those guys "ran away to sea" - who does that now?! So PC.
I pretty much lived at the race track for years. There aren't many characters like the old dude still around. Most have to bet every race and are compulsive. Today, people are less interested in studying the races, being patient and looking for value. This story is not realistic but there were realistic parts and it was a bit surprising to see them. Good show.
And people wonder why I think we need to reinstate price controls instead of following the Volcker-Greenspan-Powell route of raising the interest rate! Incidentally, they're the same ones who ask me why I say that the late seventies were, overall, the zenith. I, for one, am more than a little tired of forty-two years (as of this typing) of trickle-down Reaganomics.
15:55 - More money for education. . .in my state, lottery tickets are sold as a way to raise scholarship money. The "committee" which runs the lottery takes an obscene percentage of the proceeds. Each year students who qualify do not receive the scholarship because there's not enough money left after the committee takes its cut.
The magazine that the cashier gave Lou for Mort was Grabber magazine from three episodes ago ("Charlatan"). However, they made up a different cover than the one shown in that episode.
“Was it over a thousand dollars? Was it over 10 thousand dollars? Was it over a hundred thousand dollars? Was it over a million dollars? Was it over 10 million dollars? Was it over a hundred million dollars? Was it over a billion dollars?” 😉
Funny how the background sound of the main newsroom hasn’t changed in all the seasons but they now have computers in season 3 and no typewriters like in seasons one but you can hear them. Right?
I didn’t know ANY doctor in the U.S. was still making house calls in the 1970s! Of course, they still do that in France where they have that awful “socialized medicine” called universal health coverage.
Animal claimed that he never gambled and had no interest in it but in an earlier episode where Lou makes Rossi the paper's Ombudsman (and everyone hated him as a result) Animal walks up to Donovan (I think) and asks him if he want to join his office betting pool where you had to choose who among the staff would physically harm Rossi first and what the injury would be.
This was just as newspapers where on the verge of using computers (they look pathetic now) instead of typewriters. I am sure reporters still used typewriters up until the 1990s.
Yeah, that was a real treat, wasn't it? He was in literally hundreds of roles over the years and this is the only time I ever saw him as a fully-formed character. It was great!
She knows baseball in this episode. When she meets her baseball playing husband in season four, she knows absolutely nothing about baseball. Writers should stay true to the story line.
Charles Lane was an incredible actor...as old as he was then, he lived almost another 30 years after this episode was shot and died at age 102. And 30 years before this, he was working in television. He ALWAYS looked and sounded the same, and usually played the same kinds of dour characters. A couple years before he died he won a TV Land award and in his acceptance speech said, "I'm still available if anyone wants me!!"
He also played Mr. Potter’s rent collector in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
Just hearing the intro theme music , takes me back to a happier time. Thank you so much for posting!😊
Thank You for the time you spent to do these!
Whoa! Charles Lane portraying a fully-formed character (Mort!) That's a real treat because I don't think I've ever seen him portray more that the one-dimensional cutout like "IRS guy" or "accountant" before. These are great. Haven't seen them in many years. Top notch writing, production, acting, the works. It's really quite sad that we'll never see anything on TV of this caliber ever again.
This is a great series when compared with other TV offerings, but it certainly had production problems...too numerous to point out...and most irritating for me was the lack of story consistencies throughout the five seasons it aired. What makes me watch it occasionally now is the acting that somehow kept their professionalism even when the scripts were poor. I do wonder how much influence the superior seasoned actors had on the molding of the characters, esp. that of Margaret's Pynchon. So much strength, courage and intelligence seasoned with humanness! I applaud the entire cast for their talent!!!
He played Charlie's naughty Dad too, didn't he? Where are the character's today! When you read the lives of the old Hollywood stars theirs were So much more interesting than the actors today. Those guys "ran away to sea" - who does that now?! So PC.
I pretty much lived at the race track for years. There aren't many characters like the old dude still around. Most have to bet every race and are compulsive. Today, people are less interested in studying the races, being patient and looking for value. This story is not realistic but there were realistic parts and it was a bit surprising to see them. Good show.
Love You Grant as a throwback from Mary Tyler Moore.
7:18 - Coffee, lamb chop and salt - $5.81! Coffee alone would cost you more today.
Bill B 17:18 that is
+Bill B I've been saving for a better Car, so last week I bought my first T-bone in about a year, $16.00 YIKES!!!.
And people wonder why I think we need to reinstate price controls instead of following the Volcker-Greenspan-Powell route of raising the interest rate! Incidentally, they're the same ones who ask me why I say that the late seventies were, overall, the zenith. I, for one, am more than a little tired of forty-two years (as of this typing) of trickle-down Reaganomics.
15:55 - More money for education. . .in my state, lottery tickets are sold as a way to raise scholarship money. The "committee" which runs the lottery takes an obscene percentage of the proceeds. Each year students who qualify do not receive the scholarship because there's not enough money left after the committee takes its cut.
I give a $208 yearly " charitable donation" to the Powerball every year. (one set of #'s every drawing)
The magazine that the cashier gave Lou for Mort was Grabber magazine from three episodes ago ("Charlatan"). However, they made up a different cover than the one shown in that episode.
“Was it over a thousand dollars? Was it over 10 thousand dollars? Was it over a hundred thousand dollars? Was it over a million dollars? Was it over 10 million dollars? Was it over a hundred million dollars? Was it over a billion dollars?” 😉
Of course, to me, even in 2023, $1,000 is still a king's ransom. Then again, "A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money."
25:00 - It's Lacey's hubby from Cagney & Lacey.
Funny how the background sound of the main newsroom hasn’t changed in all the seasons but they now have computers in season 3 and no typewriters like in seasons one but you can hear them. Right?
Good ear but It has so little impact
Amazing how Lou just happened to pick up a gambler going to the track when one of his employees has a gambling issue!
Yes, I love TV reality!
Journalistic license
If we wanted watch reality we could sit in the yard and watch the neighbors come and go. Not very entertaining though.
11:00 8 to 12 bucks for tickets to a football game? When was this 1920?!
Miss Pynchon doesn't want to be accused of "being hypocritical"? What newspaper publisher isn't?
Also EVERY1 smoked @ work, nobody took smoke breaks, just light up a butt!!
before the Raiders moved to Los Angeles.
I didn’t know ANY doctor in the U.S. was still making house calls in the 1970s! Of course, they still do that in France where they have that awful “socialized medicine” called universal health coverage.
Oh the horror
$12 for a football game 😂. Now you go to the snack bar and spend $50
44:07 That is damn good! Did you really write that? I'm flattered...and insulted.
Animal claimed that he never gambled and had no interest in it but in an earlier episode where Lou makes Rossi the paper's Ombudsman (and everyone hated him as a result) Animal walks up to Donovan (I think) and asks him if he want to join his office betting pool where you had to choose who among the staff would physically harm Rossi first and what the injury would be.
Funny one.
This was just as newspapers where on the verge of using computers (they look pathetic now) instead of typewriters. I am sure reporters still used typewriters up until the 1990s.
If Lou would have bet 5k He would have destroyed the odds and the old guy would have gotten about 20% of what He got.
Charles Lane as Mort the gambler
Yeah, that was a real treat, wasn't it? He was in literally hundreds of roles over the years and this is the only time I ever saw him as a fully-formed character. It was great!
Did I hear that right? The guy hitting on Billie was named MACGYVER?!
It's Mac McIvor actually.
So close.
Matt MacGyver. Even has a mullet. Crazy. He's probably teaching her about duct tape and bubble gum.
Angus would've been the one teaching her that.
I guess the name is actually Maciver. But it's easy to miss hear.
She knows baseball in this episode. When she meets her baseball playing husband in season four, she knows absolutely nothing about baseball. Writers should stay true to the story line.
A doctor making a house call in the 80s?
1979.
Did he finesse Billie out of $2000 for his gambling debt!?