Diff'rent Strokes Full Episodes S07E14 The Gymnasts

Description:

Diff'rent Strokes is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985 and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, respectively, two African-American boys from Harlem taken in by a rich white Park Avenue.

Chainey's first appearance on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

Blurb:

Chainey Umphrey on Mister Rogers' NeighborhoodEpisode 1566 Albert Chainey Umphrey (born August 2, 1970) is a retired American gymnast. He competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, helping the U.S. team to a 5th-place finish in the team all-around. Umphrey was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on August 2, 1970, and took up gymnastics at age 7. He attended Albuquerque Academy and graduated in 1988. While in Albuquerque, he trained at Gold Cup Gymnastics along with future Olympians Lance Ringnald and Trent Dimas. Umphrey competed in college gymnastics at UCLA, where he was an All-American and two-time team captain. He was a member of the U.S. national team from 1989 to 1997, competing at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 1991, 1994, and 1996. His best result was a 4th-place finish on the horizontal bar in 1994. He also won a gold medal for the team all-around at the 1995 Pan American Games. Away from competition, Umphrey also worked to promote the sport of gymnastics and appeared at clinics around the United States. He was a guest on the children's program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1986 and again in 1995, demonstrating gymnastics skills and training methods.

Kurt Thomas

I had a late start in gymnastics. 16 yrs old. Somehow ended up a walk-on at UCLA (took a yr off after I graduated high school).

One of the driving inspirations for me was Kurt Thomas. He had me living and breathing gymnastics. Back then, there was no YouTube videos. No instagram. No internet. The only way I could see good gymnastics was when one of the 3 networks on television would televise a competition, with the color-commentators dramatizing what you were watching and providing backstory for the athletes.

When I was 16, I lived in Austin, Texas. One of the books I checked out from my high school library was "Kurt Thomas on Gymnastics". I ate it up, page after page. From beginning to end It wasn't dry reading but colorful. And after every 2 weeks, I'd check the book out again. (I wonder if anyone else ever got to read it?).

I spent my last 2 years of high school in California (military brat). Instead of attending my high school graduation, I went to International Gymnastics Camp in Pennsylvania. There, from the cantine store, I found the book, "Kurt Thomas on Gymnastics", which I think may have been out of print (I certainly couldn't find it in any bookstore; and there were no online Barnes and Noble, Borders, or Amazon to check and order from). I bought 2 copies.

And I still have them.

Kurt Thomas made it cool to be a male gymnast back when most other boys were doing traditional American sports.

Wayback Wednesday: Tracee Talavera on The Tonight Show August 10, 1979- 40 years ago!

I've long seen Johnny Carson footage of Tracee Talavera doing gymnastics on The Tonight Show; but I've never seen the entire interview before.




I believe Kurt Thomas made a couple of Tonight Show appearance; but I wonder if any film footage has survived the passage of time because I've never seen any of it.  Maybe someone out there has a VHS tape of Kurt's guest appearance and will one day see the light of day on YouTube.

Video blurb:

Tracee Ann Talavera (born September 1, 1966) is an American retired artistic gymnast of Mexican-American descent who competed for the United States at the. Tracee Talavera performs the 1980 compulsory UB routine and her optional UB routine. Johnny Yune was born 1936 in Eumseong County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, South Korea. His Korean first name is Jong-seung and got an American. Brief report on a few US female gymnasts' performances in 1979. Schwandt, Talavera, Frederick, Johnson, McNamara. Video starts with bloopers at a women's NCAA meet. Poor quality.

The Affection of Confection

Chocolate!  Yes!  Snack food of champions!  Association to feel good moment of tender affection, too.

If Simone is endorsing it, I'm certainly game for some chocolate.  Who am I to question the future Olympic champion?

I remember when it used to be McDonald's making these heart-string tugging causal associations between their fast food and feel good.

This one could have been a Father's Day post.

All in for Full Out tonight?

"The Diving Fool" (November 13, 1951)

Amazing comedy diving act from Larry Griswold on the Frank Sinatra Show:

Griswold (September 17, 1905- August 24, 1996) was a co-inventor of the trampoline with George Nissen.  Wikipedia:

known as "The Diving Fool", was an American gymnast & entertainer who was involved in the early development of the trampoline.

Griswold was a college level gymnast and tumbler while studying physical education at the University of Iowa. While coaching at an acrobatic school in New York, he enjoyed performing in vaudeville shows. However, he decided to return to Iowa to become a teacher and in 1931, he became a gymnastics coach at the University of Iowa where he met George Nissen who was also a skilled gymnast & tumbler.

Read more on Wikipedia.

Here's the 2010 ISHOF induction:

For the Gymnastics Dads!

I just got Pantene-rolled!

How on earth do you tie together a feel-good drama to a hair product?

Well.....kinda like this:



That is one long commercial!  If you're rolling your eyes, just look at it like this:  At least it wasn't an ad promoting the virtues of soft drinks or fast food.

Maroney on Bones

On Bones tonight:

McKayla Maroney might be in big trouble on this week’s episode of Bones.
In the episode, airing Friday, the gold medalist finds herself on the wrong end of one of Booth and Brennan’s investigations after a fellow gymnast meets her end. In the exclusive preview below, Maroney, who was part of the 2012 gold medal-winning U.S. women’s olympic gymnastics team and brief Internet sensation, admits to her Bones obsession and talks about her day on the set.



First Look:

Maroney becomes the key suspect in Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan's (Emily Deschanel) latest case, which involved the murder of a nationally ranked gymnast. While the deceased was ranked No. 1 prior to her death, Maroney's character Ellie just so happens to take the top spot once her competition is gone. Suspicious, no?

But we've got an exclusive sneak peek that may just clear Maroney's character and that shows off her very impressive tumbling abilities!

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Evil Gymnasts

On your skidmark....get set....GO!!!

Seat Race:
   

And if any gymnast begs for something more challenging, how about split racing? (Hat tip:  Gymnasticscoaching.com):

The Japanese are Sooooo Weird.....

......in a good way, of course:



Here we have vaulting:


About the show:

"Masquerade" is one of the most popular TV shows produced by NTV Japan. People from all walks of life participate in the contest to present their unique performances. In addition to preparing their own costumes and props, contestants exert themselves physically and creatively to bring forth their best possible performance. We hope you enjoy their brilliant works.

Check out some other videos.  This one isn't so much humorous as it is well-choreographed.  Here's one on rhythmic gymnastics.  Meh...

This one, however, is pretty clever:



Matrix Pong remains the most well-known one.

Hat tip: HuffPo

Johnny Carson tries a V-Seat and Straddle-L

Photo taken from the book "Kurt Thomas on Gymnastics"

Johnny Carson will always be the king of late night comedy.

Apparently, Kurt Thomas had appeared 5 times on the Tonight Show.  I"ve never seen any of those appearances.  I also have never seen footage of Dick Cavett appearing on the Tonight Show to do a pommel horse routine (He's a former Nebraska state champion).  But I remember seeing this Tracee Talavera (12 yrs old?) appearance in "Best of Carson" repeats:

America's New Golden Girl!

"She's...energetic; she's caring, she's compassionate...you know, if I didn't know her, I'd want to meet her."

-Natalie Hawkins (Gabby's mom)

Gabby Douglas of the United States competes on the uneven bars Thursday during the women's gymnastics individual all-around final. Douglas won gold, joining Mary Lou Retton, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin as the only Americans to win the sport's most prestigious event.

Ronald Martinez / GETTY IMAGES

America take note: Your new golden girl! Hoping young kids all across America are watching and wanting to become the next generation of "flying squirrels".

"How do you not bust your head?"

Gymnasts + Drugs = Bad, mmm'kay?

Gimnasia y Sesame Street

Hat tip: JAG on Facebook. The gym in the video is Chelsea Piers gym

Go Paula!

Around 2 minutes into the video.

Anyone remember this?