One of the shows that defined my childhood was the late-night masterpiece, Creature Features, on KTVU, Channel 2 in the ‘70s. On Saturday nights at 11pm, there would be a table. With a skull on it. With a candle emerging from the skull. Bob Wilkins  would sit there in a faded rocking chair, cigar in hand or mouth, wearing the most hideous checkerboard sports coat, the ugliest plaid slacks, and he would show the most insipid, utterly worst horror movies imaginable. He didn’t need to wear scary masks, devil horns, a cape or anything like that. Instead, he looked like a ‘70s used car salesman. And the deadpan humor was second to none: He would come on the air and immediately tell you what was on all the other channels. He would tell everyone to just go to sleep instead. But we never did.

“Watch Horror Movies. Keep America Strong.” That was the theme. It was my first introduction to camp humor.

Tonight I will light a cigar in Bob’s honor. Long live Bob Wilkins.