View Full Version : Ken Osmond


HaskellGirl
11-06-2004, 02:42 PM
Character from 'Beaver' meets 'Caribou'

3 men on sketch show have ties to Hub City

Eddie Haskell wasn't smarmy and overly complimentary to the South Dakota TV crew he worked with recently in California. In fact, he was quite helpful.

Actor Ken Osmond, who played the obsequious character on "Leave It to Beaver," was interviewed Oct. 22 in California by the Sioux Falls-based "Caribou Show." Three actors on the half-hour sketch comedy show, seen on KDLT-Channel 5, have ties to Aberdeen.

Todd Magnuson, the creator of "The Caribou Show," was one of three Sioux Falls residents who spent four hours with Osmond in Newport Beach, Calif. Osmond was interviewed by the crew and appeared in four sketches.

Osmond, who drove up in a 1998 Chevy pickup, was "just a regular guy," Magnuson said. He had the script memorized before he arrived. And once they got going, he offered some suggestions, which turned out well.

"The Caribou Show" will begin its fourth season tonight at 12:30 a.m. The segments featuring Osmond will air tonight and the next two weeks.

Three members of the "Caribou" crew went to California to tape Osmond.

Magnuson had an idea for a sketch, and thought it "would be cool if we had a real celebrity" to appear in it. A big "Leave it to Beaver" fan, he chose Osmond from a list of notables who were available. With the help of the "Caribou" show's sponsor, Dollar Loan Center, the South Dakotans were able to hire the actor. His fee was $3,000.

Magnuson, who is also one of the show's producers, is a Harding County native. He graduated from high school in Scranton, N.D. His wife, the former Michelle Huber, is an Aberdeen native.

She's not the only one with Hub City origins. Actor Brian Ringler is a graduate of Aberdeen Central and the University of South Dakota. Bart Naasz, a Winner native, is a Northern graduate. Scott Pearson's wife, Pen, is an assistant professor of English at NSU. He is one of the show's producers.

"The Caribou Show" began as a parody of a kids' show and has evolved into a broader comedy program. The show aired on the Fox channel KTTM for three years before moving to KDLT earlier this year. The comedians buy the time to air the program.

The time slot on KDLT, Magnuson said, is a good fit for comedy, flowing after "Saturday Night Live" and reruns of "Seinfeld."

Fourth Subway coming

In February or March of next year, Aberdeen should have its fourth Subway location - this one on the north side.

The Subway will be in a new building between Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and ShopKo, along North U.S. Highway 281. Also in the building will be the law offices of Drew Johnson, Dan Fritz and Scott Kuck, who are moving from the Farm Credit Building.

About 1,000 square feet of the building remain to be leased, said Mike Jung of Jung Construction, the developers and builders.

Charlie Mehlhaff, the owner of the Subways in Aberdeen, believes he can turn a profit on the north side, because there are not a lot of places where people can have lunch "up there right now."

Many people told him he should look at the old Arby's location after that operation moved to Sixth Avenue. "I thought the building was maybe not in the best condition and maybe out a little further than I would have cared for," Mehlhaff said. But he has long been interested in the north side.

Subway, by the way, is now toasting its sandwiches. Mehlhaff points out that a number of restaurant companies around the country toast sandwiches.

"It's just something that adds to our appeal, we hope," he said. "If people want them toasted, we can toast them. And if they don't, they don't have to toast them."

Similar to a sandwich ingredient, "you can take it or you don't have to take it. But it's an option for you."

SDGirl90
11-06-2004, 08:34 PM
That is interesting HaskellGirl. Thanks for posting. I live in SD but can't get the Sioux Falls stations. Otherwise it would be fun to watch!