This image represents the 1970's from a 1996 Kmart calendar
tracing the history of Kmart through the decades.
The image is being used for fair use purposes only. All rights reserved byKaizenVerdant
Does anyone remember the original blue light specials at K-Mart?
When least expected, the blue light (a mobile police light) would light up at a specific section of the store where a discount was being offered. Simultaneously, the speakers would be blaring "attention Kmart shoppers" . . . announcing what the special was, directing customers to the flashing blue light.
Actually, the phrase "attention Kmart shoppers" is part of American pop culture history. Did you know it was included in the movies Troop Beverly Hills, Six Days Seven Nights and Beetlejuice?
The original marketing plan of the Blue Light Special was first introduced in 1965 and was retired in 1991. Various marketing campaigns using the phrase have come and gone, but none of the revivals had the excitement of the original concept at the peak of Kmart's success.
Who's The Boss was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1980's,
winning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards.
The sitcom broadcast from 1984-1992
with the same cast . . .
Tony Danza, Judith Light, Alyssa Milano,
Danny Pintauro and Katherine Helmond
We loved watching the perils of the male housekeeper and
the workaholic woman he was employed by. Together, along with
her mom Mona, they struggled with the difficulties of raising
children, dealing with everyday ups and downs of life, death
and of course my favorite part, romance.
Tony Micelli, a widower and retired professional baseball second baseman, wanted a better life for his daughter Samantha . . . away from Brooklyn.
They ended up in the yuppie community of Fairfield, Connecticut where Tony accepts a job as a live-in housekeeper for Angela Bower, a divorced advertising executive with a son Jonathan.
Her mother Mona could have possibly been the first "cougar woman" portrayed on television . . . quite unusual for those times. The powers that be took much liberty and sexual innuendo with this character and her men friends who ranged from preppy college age hotties to silver haired foxes.
Mona was my favorite character!
Throughout the course of the eight seasons, there were hints of mutual attraction between Tony and Angela, although they dated others and denied their feelings for each other for many years. What developed through the years was an awesome friendship . . . they were best friends and relied on each other for emotional support. In my opinion, it was a wonderful message of the "friends first" mentality.
In the final season, they enjoy a whirlwind romance that continued until the close of the sitcom . . . leaving the audience to wonder . . . and possibly open the door for another sitcom at another time.
The Nanny's theme song, "The Nanny Named Fran", which was written and performed by Ann Hampton Callaway, replaced the former theme song in syndicated reruns of the pilot episode.
"The Nanny" Promo Video
The Nanny is an American television sitcom first aired from November 3, 1993, to May 12, 1999, and starred Fran Drescher as Fran Fine, a Jewish Queens native who becomes the nanny of three children from the New York/British upper class.
Fran Drescher created and was executive producer, taking much of its inspiration from her personal life, involving characteristics based on friends and friends, including Fran Fine's parents, Sylvia and Morty, and grandmother Yetta, who all were named after their real-life counterparts.
The show earned a Rose d'Or and one Emmy Award, out of a total of thirteen nominations, and Fran Drescher was twice nominated for a Golden Globe as well as for an Emmy. The sitcom has also served as inspiration for several foreign adaptations.
Funny moments from "The Nanny"
During it's six-season run, The Nanny maintained the same core characters, although a large number of guest stars and recurring characters were introduced through the years.
Early The Nanny episodes were shot in front of a live studio audience on Stage 6 at the Culver Studios, however, during later seasons the taping was no longer performed before an audience.
My favorite running gag of the show was Fran lying about her age . . . followed by Maxwell's rivalry with Broadway producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sylvia's obsession with food and Fran's obsession with Barbra Streisand.
In my opinion, the best storyline was the season 3 finale where Maxwell tells Fran he loves her, but takes it back in the Season 4 premiere.
The sitcom is currently in syndication on TV Land.
