Tony Randall

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In a local community near by own, the city proudly displayed a sign that said it was the hometown of the young lady who was the Queen of Baton Twirling in the state. All communities whether at the local or state level love the celebrities we can call our own. In Oklahoma, there's no shortage of famous people who can hang their cowboy hats on the panhandle they call home.

Here's a who's who of just a few famous Oklahomans and some info about houses available in what was or still is their neck of the woods.

Miss America 1981 - Susan Powell

Susan hails from Elk City, a town of about 10,000 people that is located in Western Oklahoma about 100 miles from Oklahoma City. The town has changed names a couple of times, but Elk City stuck in the early 1900's, named after Elk Creek that runs through the middle of the town.

Elk City didn't experience the terrible devaluation of home values that impacted so many other parts of the country. In fact, values have gone up just a little more than 2 percent so far in 2010. For about $523 per month, there is one home currently for sale that exactly meets the average sales price of $122,000. It has 1348 square feet, three bedrooms, and two baths. In all, about 100 homes are currently for sale.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa finds itself the virtual centerpiece of famous people. They include bank and train robber Jack Blake, New York Senator Patrick Moynihan, Radio Great Paul Harvey, Hee-Haw Star Roy Clark, Golfer Nancy Lopez, Football Player Tony Casillas, Country Music Superstar Garth Brooks, Musicians Elvin Bishop ("Fooled Around and Fell in Love"), Leon Russell, and David Bagsby (composer), Odd Couple Tony Randall, and actors Jeanne Tripplehorn, Anita Bryant (the orange juice lady), and William Boyd.

Tulsa must have pretty good water to put out that kind of talent! A virtual boom town, Tulsa currently has over 4,000 homes available with the average list price of about $129,000 and an average sales price of $105,000. We can't guarantee that you or your family will be the next famous person living on Tulsa time, but a lovely brick 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home with a sunroom is now available for just $129,900.

Geronimo

One of the most famous Native Americans in the U.S. hailed from what is now Ft. Sill. The town was at the epicenter of the Indian Wars of the late 1800's, established to keep hostile tribes from raiding border settlements in Kansas and Texas. While the frontier has all but disappeared, the Fort Sill Apache Tribe exists still and brings about $10 million to the local economy through its casino and other industries.

Housing in nearby Lawton has experienced a down-turn in value, but in the last quarter prices are on the upswing. While the median list price is just at $100,000, there are many homes available up to $200,000 that offer modern floor plans, all brick, stainless steel appliances, and other great amenities.

If the values of real estate in Oklahoma, the famous and smart who were born and raised there, and those who have helped form the history of the United States isn't enough to entice you to living in Oklahoma, perhaps this will convince you: Brad Pitt was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Compare mortgage rates for Oklahoma to stay on top of the average home value, market value changes, mortgage rates and more in Oklahoma at Banks.com. Oklahoma Mortgage Rates

The State of Television Today

Sitcoms have changed from the beloved series of the 1970s (“All in the Family,†“Newhart,†“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,†and so on). I think the changes in the sitcom have been a natural reflection of the changes in society. Faster paced – multiple stories in play – lot more representation of different lifestyles and characters. All of which I think is very good.

There’s also been a more realistic look at society, perhaps, reflected in the newer shows. Certainly a more cynical look which, also, I think, reflects the tenor of the times.

I do think the sitcom has survived as it’s been transformed. I think we may have seen the end of the laugh track and, maybe even the end of the traditional multiple camera format shot in front of a live audience. Whether that’s good or bad I don’t know. Done well those audience shows were pretty special. And, for writers and actors you did get that thrill of performing in front of a live audience. In the end, though, that format could also be confining. We tried to enlarge the sitcom universe with our approach to Spin City. Shot about half in front of the audience. Half on location. Used 5, sometimes 6 camera – lot of steadi-cam in an attempt to create a satisfying hybrid.

But, in essence, I think TV right now is what it has always been - “the best of times†and “the worst of times†at the same time. There are some excellent sitcoms out there. “Ugly Betty,†“Scrubs,†“The Office†to name three that my kids have insisted I watch. The last two series I kind of followed, “Friends†and “Will and Grace,†were as funny as any ever done, I think.

What’s different at this moment and time and impacting everything is new technology, instant ratings, a more or less insane need in the network mind to hit a very particular, very young demographic.

When I began my writing career in 1975 and through most of the “Family Ties†years in the early to mid 80’s there were only three networks. It was difficult for any of those networks to actually lose money. It was really more a matter of how high can we go.

It was also extremely rare to have a show summarily cancelled after just a few episodes. If you had an order for 13 it was more the norm for all 13 to get a chance to air. If you look back on “Cheers,†“Hill Street Blues,†“St. Elsewhere,†and “Family Ties†for example, these shows all started out slowly. But, they existed in an economic climate where they could be kept on TV long enough for audiences to find them. When I worked on “Lou Grant†we were the absolute lowest-rated show one week and then later that same year the number one show of all shows. I’m not sure that could ever happen again.

When I worked on “The Tony Randall Show†in 1979 the technology that existed could only provide over-night rating for three cities: NY, Chicago, and LA. Sometimes you had to wait a day or two days for the national ratings to come in. Often they could be in direct contrast to those overnights. It resulted in people taking a much more wait and see attitude about the numbers in general.

The most insidious development has been, I think, this lemming-like network march over the cliff at the altar of the 18-34 year old demographic. I like 18-34 year olds. I have two of them as daughters. I was once one myself. But, I think it’s damaging to hold our whole culture hostage to this very fickle group of consumers. This causes the networks to panic at any sign of trouble, yank shows, try something new, try something different. Try something edgy. All in a desperate attempt to get the attention of a group that isn’t paying them very much attention. Spending much more time with their computers and their phones and their games.

Television has gone from being our great national campfire to a series of small, private and personal “fires†where we’re separated by age, race, and gender, the better to be marketed to. I think that’s a bit of a loss.

There’s a fourth element, too, I think. The networks -- ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox -- have been taken over by large corporations, and the over-the-air delivery systems operating over our public airwaves delivering the content of our lives and hopes and dreams are just small blips on the profit screens of the behemoths that control them.

The fact that the financial interest rule was amended allowing these networks to now own their own programming has resulted in a “mafia-like†stranglehold on the means of production, as they force themselves into unwanted “partnerships†with the creative community. And, it results in a dangerously thin opening at the top of the funnel of ideas.

There are no more Grant Tinkers, no more Bill Paleys, Leonard Goldensons who were broadcasters to their bones. Who took great pride in their communication empires, put great store in the trust granted them by the public and their requirement by charter to operate in the public interest. That idea is as quaint as the Geneva Conventions are to Dick Cheney.

One thing I know. There’s no going back.

About the Author

About the Author:
Gary David Goldberg is the founder of UBU Productions which produced nine television series including “Family Ties†and “Brooklyn Bridge.†He is the author of the book, Sit, Ubu, Sit: How I went from Brooklyn to Hollywood with the same woman, the same dog, and a lot less hair (Harmony 2008). Visit him online at www.GaryDavidGoldberg.com

This or That: Men of the Superbowl Edition?

I'm watching the superbowl and I put this little this or that together during the commercials. So, if you had to pick one from each pair of names, which would you pick (Colts on the Left, Saints on the Right). I'm guessing that many of these are nicknames for more traditional full names, but since I'm not certain I'm just giving the name on the roster.

LOL!:

Joseph
Pierre
Garrett
Mike
Devry
Jeff
Lance
Gary
Antoine
Sedrick
Thomas
Eric
Aaron
Randall
Kelvin
Tim
Antonio
Jacob
Daniel
Jerraud (Jared?)
Clinton (lol)
Pat

• Randall Correll files for sheriff
By Jessie Burchette jburchette@salisburypost.com Randall Correll sent a shock wave through local politics in 2006. He took on two-term incumbent Sheriff George Wilhelm and pulled in 35 percent of Republican votes. Wilhelm retired in November. Th ...

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