In addition to his "Take On Orbitz" TV spots, the one, the only Wink Martindale is now doing radio spots for Orbitz' currently-running sweepstakes offering the winner a vacation to the Caribbean or Mexico. Wink is pretty effective in the radio campaign as the spots are attention-getting. Unfortunately, the orbitz.com web site does not use Wink's visage but instead uses a caricature with a freaky rectangular orifice. Think this could lead to a late revival of the Winker's career similar to the career boost Bill Shatner got from priceline.com?

If Wink gets a recurring role on Boston Legal, then yes.

Maybe the Winker will be asked to perform a couple numbers on the next MTV Awards.

He could do his holiday classic, "Deck Of Cards".

(And I say that compeltely mockingly, because for as much of a holiday classic as it is touted as, I have never heard it in all of my going-on-35-years.)

Consider yourself fortunate. Unless, of course, you could really go for a steaming cup of warmed-over glurge.

I recall an interview Wink did for a TV magazine right around the time Debt premiered, where he actually said words to that effect: "I think this show might do for me what MTV did for Tony Bennett."

And as to the Wink caricature on orbitz.com, at least we have an idea what the Wink PEZ dispenser will look like. The chest hair and leg hair are a nice touch.

"Deck of Cards" is not really a holiday recording, it could be played any time of year. It's a recitation about a soldier who uses a deck of cards as a bible.

aaaaaand Jimmy gets a big frothy mug of WHOOSH.

What can I say? You got me!

I heard the song one time a few years ago, whatever you do clemon...listen at your own risk!

That's logical. If you're going to dispense PEZ you're going to need a rectangular orifice.


If you say so. I prefer to think they will be replaced with a rectangular shaft full of candies.

Winker doesn't look a day over 60. That kinda-fresh air in Calabasas must be good for the skin.

"Deck Of Cards," for those who have never heard it, is a sweet ol' religious tune, but not Christmasy, per se. Though it's not half as catchy as "Jesus Whipped Me At Texas Hold 'Em" by the Cosmic Jellyfish.

I'll take Golden Throats in the top left to block: The flip side of Deck Of Cards is the real ace in the hole. Wink actually sings on Now You Know How It Feels. It's a typical '50s rock ballad that's not real special except for the fact that you can actually hear Wink smile as he sings.

I had stumbled across an old a.t.g-s post around the time of the premiere of "Debt" in which I stated that the show would perhaps be the last go-round for Wink to do his over-the-top game show host act; how wrong I was.

BTW, anyone ever catch the one rare Orbitz spot that Wink did in which he has obviously gay contestants looking for accomodations in (of all places) San Francisco? Wink even says in the tag that Orbitz makes it easy to find "a gay-friendly hotel". I saw it once on GSN but am thinking it may now be running on Logo.

The only network I recall seeing the gay-targeted Orbitz spot on is Bravo.

Esoteric Eric; I saw the spot during Celebrity Poker Showdown (not that there's anything wrong with QE...)

FWIW, you too can own a copy of "Deck Of Cards" by Wink Martindale* for only 99 cents by visiting I-tunes.com today!

* -- The version on I-tunes is indeed that of the Winkster, but it's one of those "newly recorded" versions that comprise a lot of el-cheapo oldies CDs you find at Best Buy. (For whatever reason, the original version could not be used for a compilation album, so Wink just re-recorded the narration with a group of modern-day studio musicians).