Welcome to March! If you’re a fan of St. Patty’s Day, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, or if you’re chilling out in Florida or Arizona watching spring training baseball, then this is your month! However, for fans of Pink Lady, it means so much more! Yes, the time has finally arrived! This month marks the 30th anniversary of the debut of Pink Lady & Jeff! Hard to believe thirty years have passed since Mie and Kei co-hosted what has long since been called by some, if not most as THE worst comedy-variety show in the history of American television. And, much as I would like to argue that claim, unfortunately, I can’t.

I fondly remember when I found out about the show in early February and spent nearly a month on pins and needles waiting for Saturday March 1st when I would finally get to watch my beloved heroines on U.S. television. I fondly remember wanting to record the blessed event for posterity, but since I didn’t have a VCR (too expensive for me back then), I had to settle for using an audio cassette and my trusty tape recorder. I fondly remember sitting alone in my bedroom that night with the door closed and locked so I wouldn’t be bothered, my hands sweaty as I held a microphone in my hand, my heart pounding like a triphammer as I awaited the 10 o’clock hour. And when the hour arrived and the show began, and I saw Mie and Kei, I was instantly transported to seventh heaven. While I covered all that in Pink Recollection, the warmth of those memories when I saw the Ladies still makes me smile.

Of course, we all know the bittersweet story of PL & J, that it was a calamity from jump street, I wouldn’t even try to deny that. The show was ill-advised, poorly planned and clumsily executed, the tandem of a Japanese pop duo that barely spoke passable English and an unknown and wholly unfunny comic as its headliners was a recipe for disaster. Throw in lame comedy skits, lousy writing, D-list guest stars and it’s dreadfully cheesy atmosphere and the end result was a prime-time catastrophe that’s still being talked about to this day as the chief example of how NOT to do a TV variety show. As I mentioned in Pink Headlines just last month, NBC, which brought us PL & J failed to learn from its own regrettable history when they moved Jay Leno from the familiar environs of The Tonight Show to a prime-time slot (10 p.m.) for a variety show, and it bombed. The irony was totally inescapable. 

However, none of that mattered to me then, nor does it matter today. The important thing was the magic and wonder that came from seeing Mie and Kei on my 25 inch TV screen in glorious color. What an incredible moment that was for me, one I still cherish to this day. And so, with that in mind, let’s celebrate all things PL & J! If you’ve never seen this feature, or wish to relive same, check out Pink Primetime with gobs of captures from the show along with its accompanying features. As for new stuff, I’ve chimed in with a new essay on the show’s hallowed anniversary, and, my good friend, Trulawn McCray gives us his unique views on the show. SO, let's give it for PL & J! Until next month, take care and have a great day!

Your Friend,
Jeff

Comments? Email me at treetop.jeff@verizon.net

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