Top TV Moments: Lee Meriwether

I saw a post on Facebook recently about Lee Meriwether, who turned 91 a few days ago, and it reminded me of how she always seemed to be on television in the Comfort TV era, either as a series regular, a guest star, or as herself, helping contestants win cash and prizes on different game shows.Her IMDB page lists more than 125 credits from every conceivable television genre. Casting directors clearly had her near the top of their lists for roles that required both beauty and brains, not just one or the other.The best part of putting together these Top TV Moments features is spending a couple of evenings enjoying a marathon of one actor’s memorable work, thanks to DVDs and online streaming. What I discovered again in watching these performances is how naturally Meriwether adapted to the aesthetic of each series and role, from the broadest farce to the most sobering drama. What a pleasure it was to be in her virtual company.Miss America Pageant (1954)Few television debuts are as grand as…