Last spring, you may have watched a reality show on CMT called "Popularity Contest." In it, 10 contestants from the big city were plopped down in the Route 66 town of Vega, Texas, to win over residents and vie for a $100,000 prize they would split with one Vega citizen. The Chicago baseball scout, Alex … Continue reading “Popularity Contest” contestant is building a restaurant on Route 66
Category: Television
Route 66 blog roundup 10/11
Jane Genova, Speechwriter-Ghostwriter, makes some observations about Oprah and Gayle's road trip, which included Route 66, and the movie "Thelma & Louise." She says Thelma and Louise, who were fictional movie characters, were a lot more compelling and human than the real-life Oprah and Gayle. The truth hurts. Ouch. Monica and Ben get up-close with … Continue reading Route 66 blog roundup 10/11
No room at the Wigwam
In Part 2 of Oprah Winfrey's "Oprah & Gayle's Big Adventure," the two had been booked for the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz. Oprah was actually looking forward to having her own suite at the Wigwams. After spending hours in close quarters, Oprah and Gayle needed some time apart. "I want my own teepee," Gayle … Continue reading No room at the Wigwam
Show-Me Route 66
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, in a preview to tonight's and Sunday's airing of a locally produced PBS program about Route 66 in Missouri, tells about the Mother Road's important history in Springfield. There's a lot of good information there.
Video essay of the Route 66 Rendezvous
Wandlbaker posted still photos and short videos from the just-completed Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino, Calif. I especially like the footage of the old horse-drawn fire engines.
Southwest Missouri PBS stations to show Route 66 program
KOZK-TV of Springfield, Mo., and KOZJ-TV of Joplin, Mo., part of Ozark Public Television, will broadcast the locally produced "Route 66: Missouri's Mother Road" at 7 p.m. Thursday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Here's a description of the program: Missouri enjoys a rich and special place in Route 66 history, folklore and culture. Route 66: Missouri’s … Continue reading Southwest Missouri PBS stations to show Route 66 program
It’s Oprah’s world
Atlanta Journal-Constitution television critic Jill Vejnoska has an irreverent take on Oprah Winfrey's big summer road trip, which will be unspooling on Oprah's show over the next few weeks. Here's an excerpt: She promised to give the car to somebody when they’ve finished showing us this whole “Big Adventure” thing, which, presumably will be many, … Continue reading It’s Oprah’s world
Oprah’s Route 66 pit stop
Well, I finally found it. There's a kazillion links to surf on Oprah Winfrey's Web site, but I found one about her and her friend Gayle's stop at Mr. D'z on Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., during "Oprah and Gayle's Big Adventure." Here's a photo of Oprah giving a toast with a mug of Mr. … Continue reading Oprah’s Route 66 pit stop
Oprah stops at Mr. D’z
Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner is a 1950s-themed restaurant in Kingman, Ariz. It's well-known in Route 66 circles. One day in May, Mr. D'z had an unexpected patron -- Oprah Winfrey. The Queen of Daytime TV downed a hamburger (she gave it a hearty thumbs-up) and a root beer and let her film crew do … Continue reading Oprah stops at Mr. D’z
Why did George Maharis leave “Route 66”? — Part 2
Karen Funk Blocher has written on her Outpost Mavarin blog the second and final installment about why George Maharis left the "Route 66" show at the height of its popularity in 1963. In short, she reports that Maharis asked for a scaled-back shooting schedule that season because he was recovering from two bouts of hepatitis. … Continue reading Why did George Maharis leave “Route 66”? — Part 2