Raise the Flagg!

Happy birthday to Fannie Flagg, born on this date in 1944. Now a bestselling and critically acclaimed novelist, she remains, to my eyes, one of the funny ladies who frequently graced the bottom right corner spot on Match Game. She also played Dick Van Dyke's sister in his "New" sitcom of the 1970s, and was later best buddy to Barbara Eden in Harper Valley.

Although classic TV fell short of finding the perfect vehicle for her considerable talents, it's nice to know that bigger and better things lay in store once she took up writing. There's apt to be a big celebration today at the Whistle Stop Cafe.