Flotsam and Jetsam - Massie Gets the Boot

But not without some insane last minute texts to convince low information voters that he was MAGA afterall. From Ace, Disgraceful RINO Grifter Tom Massie is Now Sending Out Texts Claiming Trump Endorsed Him Rather Than His Opponent. ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena, "Kentucky election day shenanigans; Massie campaign sends out to KY 4 voters via text a 2022 Trump statement making it look like the president supports Massie today where he clearly supports Gallrein Text ends with "Paid for by Thomas Massie for Congress." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair has LIVE PRIMARY RESULTS: Mässiedämmerung in KY; UPDATE: Massie Loses; UPDATE: Massie Loses It Too. NRO, Massie Ousted by Trump-Backed Challenger in Kentucky Primary. Sundance at CTH, UPDATE: Massie Loses His Seat – Kentucky Vote Results, Ed Gallrein vs Thomas Massie, Open Discussion Thread. Ace, in red font, Goodbye Massie: Decision Desk Projects Ed Gallrein will be the Republican Nominee for KY-4. At Twitchy, Unclassy With Massie: Thomas Massie's Concession Jab at Ed Gallrein Shows EXACTLY Why He Lost (Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "JUST IN — REP. THOMAS MASSIE CONCEDES: "I would've come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede." "And it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv." "I have called and conceded the race."" Also, MAGA Vs. Massie: Scott Jennings Delivers Kentucky Republican Incumbent’s Primary Post-Mortem on CNN Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "You don’t tug on Superman’s cape, spit into the wind, pull the mask off the ole’ Lone Ranger, or mess around with … Trump! My KY-04 analysis for CNN tonight." Scott Pinsker at PJM, Welcome to the NEW Republican Party: What It Stands for, What It Hates, and Why Thomas Massie Is Toast and Stephen Kruiser, Republicans Finally Get Serious About Purging the Squishes. 

In a not unrelated story, Sundance reports President Trump Endorses Ken Paxton, for Texas Senator, snubbing the incumbent Republican John Cornyn for being off the reservation too often. Ace, Trump Endorses Ken Paxton for Senate, "It's a bit late but hopefully it will swing enough votes to put another RINO out on the street outside of MSNOW begging to go on camera for five minutes to pitch his podcast." David Marcus @BlueBoxDave, "The president was crystal clear, the deal was; pass the Save America Act and I’ll save Cornyn. This was John Thune’s choice." Quote Jake Sherman @JakeSherman, "BREAKING -- TRUMP ENDORSES KEN PAXTON IN TEXAS SENATE RACE." Jen O'Connell at RedState thinks JD Vance's Response to Trump Dropping Cornyn Like a Hot Rock Is Really a Message From the Voters, "I've known John Cornyn for a long time, But unfortunately, you know, when it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president, and that's why he ultimately earned the president's endorsement. He thinks he's going to be a better senator, thinks he's going to make a better candidate, and so, I do think it sends a message."

Amy Curtis at TownHall, Here's What Vice President Vance Had to Say at Today's White House Briefing and Sundance, Vice President JD Vance Delivers White House Press Briefing and President Trump Gives Media a Tour of White House Ballroom and Defense Infrastructure. The Manhattan Contrarian, "Sue And Settle": Two Can Play This Game. At Armed Forces Press, Why Is My Alma Mater USAFA Allowing Professors Who Undermine The Commander-In-Chief?

Steve Richards at JTN reports Trump pursues ‘strategic stability’ with China, downplays conflicts over Taiwan and land ownership, "The American president has prioritized ironing out a stable trade relationship with the world’s second-largest economy, but experts warn of China’s spotty history of following through." Sundance has Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin Arrives in Beijing, China for Summit with Chairman Xi and Happening Quietly – Mexico Freezes Bank Accounts of Indicted Sinaloa Members and Collaborates with U.S. Intelligence Hub in Juarez.

RCP opines Voting Rights Act Never Mandated Racial Districts. Shipwreckedcrew, The Louisiana Redistricting Case: The End of Mandating "Majority-Minority" -- Errrr Democrat -- Congressional Districts? A Law Splainer, "The claim has long been they are required by the Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act: Justice Alito -- "The law doesn't say that and it never did."" Matt Vespa at TownHall, We Have Some HUGE News About South Carolina's Redistricting Effort, 7R-0D, eliminating Jim Clyburn's gerrymandered district. If the state senate passes it. At Twitchy, Marc Elias Sets Himself Up for a MAJOR TORCHING from Mollie Hemingway That's Just Too Damn FUNNY. Marc E. Elias @marceelias, "Many of you are asking how you can help me. My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket for free and share its content with everyone you know. Thanks." Mollie @MZHemingway, "Buddy, do I have news for you! A man named Marc Elias is behind most threats to election integrity, including the nepharioys and horrific Russia collusion lie, efforts to destabilize election security with tens of millions of unsupervised ballots, and even radical gerrymander efforts. Look into him!"

At Da Caller, Karen Bass Pitches Second-Term Goal Showing Lights Are Truly Out In LA. Proposing solar street lights because addicts are stealing the copper from regular lights. James Woods @RealJamesWoods, "This is satire for the record." Quote James Woods @RealJamesWoods, "This would be wrong. And you could get in trouble when asked for your ID to vote. Oh, wait! Never mind. Voter ID is not allowed in California. Oh, and on a completely separate note, the best freeway hours are 10AM-11:30 AM. Just saying." Steve Hilton @SteveHiltonx, "We destroyed California - vote for us!" Quote Mayor Matt Mahan @MattMahanSJ, "California ranks first in population loss, first in gas prices, and dead last in housing affordability. My party has to own this, fix it, and push back on a federal government that’s making it worse. That’s why I’m running for governor." From Ace, "Teen Takeovers" Are Now Common in Blue Cities; Media Begins Pushing Idea That Violent Teen Orcs Don't Need Jail Time, Just "Youth Centers" They Can Fight In and Destroy Instead of Chipotles. At State of the Day, State of Monday: JUDGE JEANINE GETS HER OPPORTUNITY. “Starting today, my office will aggressively prosecute parents under D.C.’s curfew law,” Pirro said during a press conference Friday. “This statute makes it unlawful for an adult to enable, facilitate or permit a minor to engage in delinquent acts. The penalty is up to six months imprisonment."

Rusty Weiss at RedState, Graham Platner Was Already Disgusting — These Latest Unearthed Posts Make It Much Worse. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, Graham Platner Is One Revolting Tub O' Goo. Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "Democrat star Graham Platner’s now deleted reddit account was archived. Here’s some gems: "I still have to jerk off every time I sit in a portas----er… that blue water smell conditioned me." Described penis drawing inside a portable toilet while deployed overseas and called d*** art "beautiful," "engorged and veiny," and moving "towards its penetrative glory." Wrote that he “became a communist” Praised Hamas terrorists." Quote Fox News Politics @foxnewspolitics, "FIRST ON FOX: Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's deleted Reddit account reveals graphic posts about masturbating in portable toilets and praising explicit military restroom graffiti — the latest in a growing trail of vulgar comments that could define his race." Youthful stupidities I can forgive. But then he became a communist. From the San Antonio Current, House candidate Maureen Galindo pledges to send ‘American zionists’ to internment camp, "Despite a growing storm of criticism, including from members of her own party, the San Antonio Democrat insists she’s not antisemitic." Fox, Hakeem Jeffries shredded over ‘disgustingly violent’ call for Dems to break spirit of MAGA. "While speaking at a progressive conference on Tuesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called for Democrats to not only defeat "MAGA extremists" electorally but also "break their spirit."" John Sexton at Hat Hair, Democrats Have a Problem. The Solution is Less Extremism.

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair says Hmmm: Key MN Fraud Figure Claims Omar Took Part in $250M Scam. Elon Musk @elonmusk, "SPLC got better returns than Nancy Pelosi and inverse Cramer combined!" Quote David Sacks @DavidSacks, "SPLC invested $270k in Charlottesville and got $81 million in additional donations. Extraordinary returns."

At NYPo, the Divine Miranda Devine: Anthony Fauci can’t escape his ‘origin’al COVID lie.

Sundance sees (and hosts) Acting AG Todd Blanche Taking a Stronger, More Oppositional Approach to Democrats During Senate Testimony.

Sister Toldja at RedState, New: Alleged Manifesto in San Diego Mosque Mass Shooting Throws Wrench in Early Assumptions About Motives. 

Mark Krikorian at Common Place says Immigration Enforcement Needs ‘You’re Fired’ "There are many ways to shrink the illegal immigrant population—use all of them."

From Ace, Katy Tur: When Speaker Mike Johnson Said That God Imbues People With Inalienable Rights, Was He Attempting to "Put God Over the Declaration of Independence"? "Katy Tur is a moderately pretty girl with a nice rack. That is the only reason she is on TV "news." Keith Olbermann used to sleep with her and claimed that she was so stupid that he had to rewrite all of "her" news articles for her, because they were poorly written and pointless. Typical case of an old bent gangly dweeb having to do the hot girl's homework for her. But I do imagine that he's telling the truth about this one thing."

On Stephen Colbert's imminent departure and the demise of the Late Show, John Sexton says Thank Goodness, It's Almost Over. A Driscolly post at Insty starts with DAVID HARSANYI: Stephen Colbert turned into the pompous dullard he once satirized.

Daily Mail @DailyMail "Deportation flight to Muslim-majority Pakistan serves pork sausages as part of 'full Irish breakfast'" Not the Bee @Not_the_Bee, "So you guys are upset enough about this to write about it, even though you admit in the article that Halal food was available on the flight but simply not chosen by the passenger. Journalism is dead."

At Hat Hair, Mark Judge (remember him?) comforts Conservatives: The Culture is Not as Bad as You Think.

Tom Knighton at Bearing Arms is delighted with Babylon Bee Going on a Rampage Mocking Anti-Gun Media, Politicians

Almost forgot to plug the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 05.19.26. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: A Common Enemy and FMJRA 2.0: Writing Until Dawn up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Rule 5 Saturday - In the Loop with April Rose

This week's Rule 5 goes back to2015, from Inside Radio, Chicago's WLUP The Loop 97.9 names April Rose as "Loop Rock Girl"

Cumulus Chicago’s WLUP The Loop 97.9 announces that it has selected actress, television host, comedian and model April Rose as its Loop Rock Girl. The Loop has a long tradition of Loop Rock Girls that serve as brand ambassador for Chicago’s Classic Rock station, making appearances to meet listeners at station events and concerts. The Loop Rock Girl is also featured on the famous Loop Rock Girl Calendar.

Rose, who hails from Chicago, was an original cast member on MTV2’s highest-rated show, “Guy Code” and its successful spinoff, “Girl Code”. She hosted MTV's infamous Spring Break Cancun 2014, and is an on-air contributor for VH1 music countdown shows. Rose, frequently featured as a model in Maxim Magazine, appeared on the cover of Maxim’s first Canadian issue, and was named to Maxim's annual definitive list of the world's most beautiful women, "Maxim’s Hot 100" for two years in a row. She also created, wrote and hosted Maxim Magazine’s weekly show, "Maximum Exposure", and currently hosts a successful web series, “#ARfiles” on Playboy.com. Rose made her movie debut in 2013 co-starring in Sony Pictures’ “Grown Ups 2”, and appeared on the Fox hit drama series “Empire”.

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: More Like Sparking Ramp, Amirite? and FMJRA 2.0: The Hits Just Keep On Coming online and garnering clicks at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

RIP: Loni Anderson

 Fox, Loni Anderson, 'WKRP in Cincinnati' star, dead at 79

Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a "prolonged" illness, her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. She was surrounded by her loving family. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother," Anderson’s family said in a statement.

Over four decades, Anderson starred in various TV shows and films, including "Swat," "Three on a Date," "Three’s Company," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Love Boat," "The Bob Newhart Show," and more.

 

Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson's greatest ambition was to be an actress. In 1975, Anderson moved to Los Angeles, where she quickly began making a name for
herself.

She landed the role of the titillating and intelligent Jennifer Marlowe in 1978 and cemented her status as a beloved TV sex symbol. 

"I remember we all did posters back then. Everybody always asks me, ‘What made you do a poster?’ I would say, 'Because someday my grandchildren will look at this. And I’ll be able to tell them that I really looked like that. What you saw is what you got," she told Fox News Digital in 2021.

"But you know, I had this discussion with Ann-Margret. Will there ever be a time when our names won’t be followed by ‘bombshell’ or ‘sex symbol?’ It becomes a part of your name," she continued. "And you know, I’d never thought I would reach that point. I was so serious. I was doing ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ for 53 weeks on tour. I never thought I would be Loni Anderson, sex symbol. But I embrace it. I think I was lucky enough to have been able to play so many different things and sex symbol was a part of it. I took whatever my career threw at me. So I embrace it. And my granddaughters think it’s a hoot!"

"Prolonged" illness usually means cancer of some kind. Too bad, she was one of the good ones.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Doughnut Dolly up on time and under budget.

Rule 5 Saturday - The Karate Kid - Rayna Vallandingham

This week's Rule 5 competitor is: 

Rayna Vallandingham (born January 18, 2003) is an American martial artist, actress, and social media influencer. Vallandingham was born to a mother of Indian origin, and a father of Dutch origin.

She began practicing taekwondo at the age of 2, encouraged by her grandfather, who played an instrumental role in her early development. By the age of 8, she won her first American Taekwondo Association world championship, becoming one of the youngest black belts to achieve this feat. Her achievements are not in World Taekwondo official championships and her name is not found in Taekwondo Data or any official WT posts.

Over her career, Vallandingham has earned 13 American Taekwondo Association titles, excelling in both traditional combat and weapons forms such as the bo staff and nunchaku. After winning the XMA Forms world championships, Vallandingham flew to Los Angeles to start her acting career at the age of 10 on Underdog Kids as Leticia Hernandez, directed by six-time taekwondo black belt and actor Phillip Rhee. The movie was released on July 7, 2015. Vallandingham made an appearance in her first music video role in 2018, starring as herself in "Youth" by Shawn Mendes, featuring Khalid, demonstrating her martial arts skills.

In 2024, Vallandingham starred in her first television show on Netflix's martial arts series, Cobra Kai. She plays a supporting antagonist in the final season, portraying Zara Malik, a cocky, high-maintenance, social media influencer, and skilled martial artist, as a co-captain under the dojo Iron Dragons, starring besides Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf and Patrick Luwis as Axel Kovačević. Malik was introduced during the Sekai Taikai tournament as the defending champions and as an undefeated rival team. In the third part of Season 6's Cobra Kai, Vallandingham took on her role as Zara Malik again, where she took her first defeat in competitive action against Tory Nichols, portrayed by Peyton List, in the Sekai Taikai girls finals.

Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: San Romero Knights and FMJRA 2.0: A Week of Wins! ready and awaiting clicks at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Rule 5 Saturday - Jr. MythBuster Rachel Pizzolato

This week's Rule 5 wonder is Rachel Pizzolato, a former Jr. MythBuster, and working model:

Hi, my name is Rachel Pizzolato, and……Yes!!! I can finally admit it!! I am a part of MythBusters Jr. with Adam Savage on the Discovery Science Channel!!

To see what we are doing, check out @MythBusters or @Science Channel. I am so glad you made it over to my little part of the web. The last few years have been extremely exciting, and I have met many interesting people, visited dozens of cities, and I have also been fortunate enough to be part of one of the most iconic shows in television history.

Doing the math, and, umm, yep, she's legal. 

Since I was a little girl, I have been extremely focused on my academics and athletics pursuits. Also, I have developed an interest in dance, art, and studio performance, in addition to a love for fashion and beauty and science. I have been extremely lucky to have two very supportive parents, and I want to say, “Thanks!” I have also been fortunate to have the support of my teachers, coaches, and friends to whom I cannot begin to thank enough. However, I want to shout out a big “Thanks!” to all of them for the love and support that they have shown me over the last few years.

Facebook, Instagram.

Linked at the Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: The Long View and FMJRA 2.0: The Cost of Victory up on time and under budget at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Tattoo Tuesday

YaHoo! DWTS ' Gleb Savchenko & Brooks Nader Get Tattoos in PDA-Packed Outing

Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader are stepping up their relationship.

The Dancing With the Stars contestants—who are currently competing as partners on season 33 of the reality competition series—capped off a PDA-packed outing in Los Angeles on Oct. 7 by getting tattoos together at Hollywood's Nautilus Tattoo.

In photos shared by TMZ of their trip to the parlor, Brooks—clad in a white tank top, jeans and sunglasses—laid on the table while the tattoo artist inked her right hip. Standing next to her, Gleb—rocking a black sweater and gray jeans—leaned over and planted kisses on her lips and neck.

 

And distracting her from the pain of the tattoo gun wasn't the only way the choreographer helped out. In an Oct. 8 TikTok video shared by the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Gleb was also seen applying the ink to her hip himself. Captioning the clip, Brooks wrote, "OOOPSSS."

Well, good for them! 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Where My Wolfsbane At? on time and under budget at the Other McCain.

Rule 5 Saturday - Nicole Chamoun

One of the brighter spots in this summer's "show hole" has been "Troppo" an Australian TV series recently added to Amazon's Freevee, starring Nicole Chamoun as the shaved, heavily tatted, shaven headed Amanda Pharrell, recently released from jail for a horrific murder committed when she was 16.

Nicole Chamoun is an Australian actress. She is known for her role as Zahra in the 2018 SBS miniseries Safe Harbour, and for playing a lead role as Amanda Pharrell in the 2022 ABC crime drama series Troppo.

Nicole Chamoun was born in Australia, after her parents had fled civil war in Lebanon in the late 1970s. 

She studied acting and drama at Deakin University and Victoria University in Melbourne.

In 2020 she was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma, which appears to account for the shaven hair in the first season of Troppo. Sydney Morning Herald. Actor Nicole Chamoun: ‘My whole life changed with one sentence’

“I lost everything: eyebrows, eyelashes and hair within three weeks,” she says. “I cut my hair off before I started treatment. It was long, thick and curly. It wasn’t ideal but I was like ‘take it, take it all, I don’t care’.”

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Sunday Morning Coffee and FMJRA 2.0: Is It October Yet? up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

A Thursday Tune - Obsessed

Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (born February 20, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She first became known for starring on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark (2016–2019) and the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–2022).

Overall, Rodrigo has achieved three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, two Billboard 200 number-one albums, and five multi-platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her other accolades include an American Music Award, seven Billboard Music Awards, and four MTV Video Music Awards. She was recognized as Time's Entertainer of the Year for 2021. Billboard named her as the Woman of the Year in 2022. She was awarded as the "Songwriter of the Year" at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards in 2022 and 2024.

Olivia Isabel Rodrigo was born on February 20, 2003, in Murrieta, California, to Jennifer, a school teacher, and Chris, a family therapist. An only child, she grew up in neighboring Temecula. Rodrigo was born half-deaf in her left ear. Rodrigo identifies as Filipino American. Her grandfather and one of her paternal great-grandfathers both emigrated from the Philippines, and her family follows Filipino traditions and cuisine. Her mother has German and Irish ancestry. She grew up listening to her parents' favorite alternative rock music, such as the bands No Doubt, Pearl Jam, the White Stripes, and Green Day. 

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Bullpen Blues ready for business at The Other McCain. 

Rule 5 Saturday - Alessandra Mastronardi - She's No Quincy

One of the odder delights on TV recenty, as we strove to fill the pre-Super Bowl show hole, was the discovery of an Italian series (subtitled in English), A'llieva (The Good Apprentice), staring Alessandra Mastronardi, as a fresh doctor studying to be a medical examiner in Rome:

Alessandra Carina Mastronardi (born February 18, 1986) is an Italian actress. She is best known for her roles in the films To Rome with Love and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and the television series Master of None, for which she garnered a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017.

Alessandra was born in Naples, Campania, Italy, to a father from Agnone, in the province of Isernia and a mother from Naples, but was brought up in Rome after moving there at the age of five.  She attended a Classical Lyceum and then the Sapienza University of Rome where she studied performing arts. Previously she had attended a psychology course at the same institution.

Her smile is amazing. 

Linked at the Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Country Girls and FMJRA 2.0: Saturday Night Squeezebox Serenade up on time at The Other McCain. Linked at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

RIP: Lois Lane

Aka Phyllis Coates: From Da Caller,  Phyllis Coates, Iconic Actress Who First Played Lois Lane, Dead At 96

Phyllis Coates, the first to play Lois Lane on the small screen, died of natural causes Wednesday at the age of 96, her family says.

Her daughter, Laura Press, confirmed Coates’ death to The Hollywood Reporter (THR). The famous actress made her debut as Lois Lane in the very first season of “Adventures of Superman,” which ran in syndication for six years, starting in 1952. She appeared in a total of 26 episodes.

Coates had played the role of Lois Lane in the 1951 film “Superman and the Mole Men,” which was the first feature film based on a DC Comics character, before “The Adventures of Superman.”

Coates’ other television credits include a number of episodes of “The Abbott and Costello Show,” “The Lone Ranger,” “Leave It to Beaver,” “Perry Mason” and “Gunsmoke,” to name a few.

Her big-screen credits include “I Was a Teenage Frankenstein,” “Blood Arrow,” “Girls in Prison” and “The Baby Maker.”

The famous actress also played the role of Marilyn Monroe’s mentally ill mother, Gladys Baker, in “Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn,” in 1989.

Only 26 episodes? Then I must have seen them four times over. I still judge Supermen by the standards of that show, however hokey it was. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Best Wrench Wench And Gun Bunny Too? up at The Other McCain more or less on time.

RIP: Illya Kuryakin

Sharon Tate, Danica D'Hondt,
David McCallum and Jill Ireland

Aka David McCallum. Vanity Fair reports David McCallum, Star of ‘NCIS,’ ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,’ Dies at 90

David McCallum, who starred as Illya Kuryakin alongside Robert Vaughn’s Napoleon Solo in the 1960s hit spy drama “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and had a supporting role as pathologist Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the top-rated series “NCIS” decades later, died Monday of natural causes in New York City. He was 90.

His son Peter made a statement on behalf of his family, saying, “He was the kindest, coolest, most patient and loving father. He always put family before self. He looked forward to any chance to connect with his grandchildren, and had a unique bond with each of them. He and his youngest grandson, Whit, 9, could often be found in the corner of a room at family parties having deep philosophical conversations.

With first wife, Jill Ireland

“He was a true renaissance man — he was fascinated by science and culture and would turn those passions into knowledge. For example, he was capable of conducting a symphony orchestra and (if needed) could actually perform an autopsy, based on his decades-long studies for his role on NCIS.

“After returning from the hospital to their apartment, I asked my mother if she was OK before she went to sleep. Her answer was simply, “Yes. But I do wish we had had a chance to grow old together.” She is 79, and dad just turned 90. The honesty in that emotion shows how vibrant their beautiful relationship and daily lives were, and that somehow, even at 90, Daddy never grew old.”

With second and final wife, Katherine Carpenter

The James Bond-influenced “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” in which Vaughn’s Solo and McCallum’s Kuryakin battled the evil forces of THRUSH around the globe (thanks to the glories of stock footage), was quite the pop-culture phenomenon in the mid-1960s, even as the show’s tone wavered from fairly serious to cartoonish and back again over its four seasons. It spawned a spinoff, “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.,” starring Stefanie Powers, as well as a few feature adaptations during the run of the TV series, “One Spy Too Many,” “One of Our Spies Is Missing” and “The Karate Killers,” that starred Vaughn and McCallum.

McCallum also guested as Kuryakin on sitcom “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies”; he reprised the role in 1983 for TV movie “The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair.”

With Pauley Perrette from NCIS

In an appreciation of “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” series in the Boston Globe in 2008, Mark Feeney wrote, “Where Vaughn’s Solo was chilly, McCallum’s Kuryakin was cool — very cool indeed. If Julie Christie had the ’60s’ sexiest lower lip, as she most certainly did, then McCallum was a distant second. Add in his blond bangs, high cerebral forehead, and penchant for dark turtlenecks, and a teen idol was born.”

I was a big of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", at least the first couple of seasons, and of the Illya Kurykin character in particular. IIRC, I even had a turtleneck or two, in imitation. I could never see him in any other role without thinking of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. However, I got used to him as "Ducky." Damn this makes me feel old.