These two singers and actors were staples for me growing up in the Seventies. It’s a shame they’re both gone and on the same day.
Helen was more like Vicki Lawrence for me, an actress that sang but it was really the other way around. I feel stupid too. I can only remember “I Am Woman,” since there other hits on the radio. She was a great guest on The Muppet Show and on during Christmas, there was this syndicated break starring celebrities explaining how they celebrated the holiday. Helen explained how it was Summer in Australia so she had fond memories of going to the beach. I was like, dang! Presents and swimming! Lastly, she co-starred in the original version of Pete’s Dragon. Oh wait, Helen did appear on The Carol Burnett Show to promote the movie. Then the Eighties happened. Other Aussie pop stars displaced her alongside the Bee Gees and sadly, her hit anthem became an object of ridicule; the song was something a super-bossy woman would play before going to her job. There’s a bigger story to the stereotype, ask me in person and no, it’s not something I made up nor agree with. What was funnier was a bit SCTV did involving Helen Reddy being played by Catherine O’Hara on the show’s music showcase parody.
Mac fell into the same category as Helen in my mind. I don’t recall his TV show since practically everybody had one in the Seventies. He was really funny on The Muppet Show as he performed his hit “It’s Hard to be Humble” with them. I think I’d hear it on WMAQ while dad drove us to grade school too. Not sure what anyone was thinking by putting him into a sequel of The Sting and I vaguely recalled his comedy Cheaper to Keep Her, like a trailer on TV. Good fortune smiled on Mac more though, he continued to have work with bit parts on sitcoms/dramas as the guest/villain of the week. Could’ve sworn he was the traveling softball pitcher on King of the Hill, but I was wrong, he was usually the voice of Sports Jock on the local Arlen radio station.
Thank you Helen and Mac for all you did to contribute to my childhood. May your music live on and to Helen, I hope your upcoming bio movie is a success.