Sayonara, Mrs. Livingston

Another sad departure today. Board members of a certain age will remember her best from television's "The Courtship of Eddie's Father," but she won the Academy Award for her role in "Sayonara."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/06/obit.umeki.ap/index.html

 

That show had a creepy vibe that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

 

The theme song will stick in your head like crack.

 

People let me tell ya 'bout my best friend...

 

I found out later that she'd won an Oscar, which led me to wonder what she was doing on that show in the first place. She seemed like kind of a waste. Guess she needed the money. Maybe Mrs. Livingston gave Tom Corbett a couple of happy endings when Eddie was not trying to scare up girlfriends for him.

Thanks a lot, patchs. Now I have that goddamn song rattling in my head . . .

People let me tell you 'bout my best friend,
He's a warm hearted person who'll love me till the end.
People let me tell you 'bout my best friend,
He's a one boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

People let me tell you 'bout him he's so much fun
Whether we're talkin' man to man or whether we're talking son to son.
Cause he's my best friend.
Yes he's my best friend.

Don't forget the "scat" end of the song, which was written by Harry Nilsson.

 

Harry Nilsson did a lot of drugs.
But he did them with some great people.

 

Guess that answers the question of why the show had a creepy vibe. One boy cuddly toy?

 

If you were a father of a young kid you'd understand. My boys are absolutely my cuddly toys. Hugging them is euphoric.

As for Ms. Livingston, this is truly sad because I loved the Courtship of Eddie's Father. (Did you know that Brandon Cruz was the star pitcher of the other team in Bad News Bears?).

 

I loved Courtship of Eddie's Father when it was on. But it did have that early '70s groovyness that doesn't hold up well.

 

You're welcome.
Thanks for the lyrics.