Take 5: A Neil Diamond jubilee

Hey, we're entering September this week. And am I not surprised that the song I can't get out of my head right now is Neil Diamond's "September Morn"? What can I say? He's got the way to move me. So this might be as good a time as any to look at five of Mr. Diamond's most interesting TV appearances:

MANNIX (1967) -- Diamond appeared in the fifth episode of the Mike Connors detective drama, singing "Solitary Man" and "Raising Caine" in a groovy club called the Bad Scene. Joe Mannix (don't ask what he's doing there) gets into a fight with a clubgoer, upsetting Diamond, who chides him, "Hey, man, do you mind if I finish this set by myself?" The clip can be seen on YouTube if you don't believe me.

NEIL DIAMOND . . . HELLO AGAIN (1986) -- On this CBS network special, Diamond sings some of his hits, duets with Stevie Wonder, and fantasizes about what it would have been like to work with Carol Burnett on her TV show.

SUPER BOWL XXI (1987) -- He sang the national anthem.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (2002) -- For several seasons, Will Ferrell did a recurring (and very credible) Diamond impersonation. So it's only right that Diamond showed up for Ferrell's final "SNL" show.

AMERICAN IDOL (2008) -- The five remaining contestants (Jason Castro, David Cook, Syesha Mercado Brooke White, David Archuleta) performed Diamond songs. Castro sang "September Morn," the reason we're doing this column in the first place.