Karen Valentine: Fine Young Actress
My daily gratuitous bolts of late-baby boomer nostalgia have proven to be popular with both e-mailers and commenters. I guess people over 40 have figured out how to play with this new Internet thingee. So I might as well keep it up.
When the family was on the road for the lacrosse final four in May, we stayed in Room 222, which naturally got me to remembering you know what.
"Room 222'' wasn't as big in my family as were "The Brady Bunch'' or the "Partridge Family," and it obviously wasn't as sophisticated for adult viewers as the classic "Odd Couple.'' But the least-remembered member of ABC's vaunted Friday night lineup of 1971-73 did have its charms. (The 10 p.m. show was "Love, American Style,'' which I'm guessing might seem a tad dated to modern audiences.)
Chief among Room 222's aforementioned charms (for a pre-adolescent male) was Karen Valentine as the young English teacher in the short skirts. (AN UPDATE AT 3 P.M. FRIDAY. I JUST LOOKED IT UP AND MS. VALENTINE TURNED 60 YEARS OLD LAST MONTH. OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS.) Also, of course, there was Bernie, the white dude with the outrageous Afro.
I don't remember much else about the show. Well, actually I do. But I want you to feel free to fill in the details yourselves. That's why I post this stuff in the first place.
Newspapers of the future: We're interactive!
(P.S. In 1970-71, the 9 o'clock Friday night slot on ABC was occupied by "That Girl.'' My aunt, Lynn Masters, was Marlo Thomas' hairdresser for that show. Once when I was 8 or so we visited Ms. Thomas in her suite at The Plaza early one Sunday morning, before she had her makeup on. She looked different.)
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Comments (6)
I remember the late Bruno Kirby of City Slickers fame as a student on Room 222. He and a character named Jason used to be featured in many of the episodes. I saw an episode on TV Land a few years ago and the show has held up surprisingly well. In fact, TV Land did the entire 1971 ABC Friday night lineup that night and Room 222 was the only show that was watchable. Love American Style made me understand why Elvis fired a shotgun into his TV.
Hope your back feels better. Try acupuncture. I started about 8 years ago to relieve pain from a compressed disc and it not only relieved the pain, it moved the discs apart.
I remember the late Bruno Kirby of City Slickers fame as a student on Room 222. He and a character named Jason used to be featured in many of the episodes. I saw an episode on TV Land a few years ago and the show has held up surprisingly well. In fact, TV Land did the entire 1971 ABC Friday night lineup that night and Room 222 was the only show that was watchable. Love American Style made me understand why Elvis fired a shotgun into his TV.
Hope your back feels better. Try acupuncture. I started about 8 years ago to relieve pain from a compressed disc and it not only relieved the pain, it moved the discs apart.
I loved Room 222 when I was a kid. I always wanted a teacher like the one the lead actor played. I think his name is Lloyd Haynes.
Denise Nichols?? played the love intrest of Carrol O, Conner (In The Heat Of The Night) and I believe the principal played the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Of course I am getting old and I may be wrong about all of this!
Thanks for the back advice, John. And thanks for the memories, Larry. I think you were right on with your stuff.
I can't believe I missed that TV Land retrospective on the great ABC Friday night lineup.
Interesting factoid: The Partridge Family regularly thumped The Brady Bunch in the ratings. Really!
I have recently come upon an autograph book that I believe belonged to Karen Valentines father, it contains many pages of autographs and well wishes, from many of the older stars. If anyone can get in touch with Ms. Valentine please let her know about this. I am quite sure it is the real thing. Thank you anyone for your help.
Remember the student with the red afro?