PBS GEEZER SHOWS

I am ancient. I can't relate to music that came along after 1954, the last year of what are now "old standard" performers and songs before rock became the popular music of choice. So I usually like it when PBS trots out the old stars for their fundraisers, knowing that it will cause older viewers to open their billfolds, let the moths fly out and make a healthy contribution.But they went too far with their latest senior special. Sure, it's good to know that Ed Ames, Kay Starr, Margaret Whiting, Robert Goulet, Andy Williams and the Crew Cuts and the Gaylords are still breathing regularly and able to shuffle up to a microphone. But some of them looked pretty bad and didn't sing all that great.Nick Clooney's tribute to his sister Rosie was nice, and I will assume it was at his merciful request that they showed only clips of her great early performances and not later ones where she was overweight and struggling. When 94 year old Tony Martin sang or lip synched or whatever it was, I'm not sure it was the same song the orchestra was playing. It was painful. Let the old stars rest in peaceful retirement.