Wayne
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CLASSIC TV ONLINE
Did you know you can watch My Mother the Car from 1965, the entire series, on HULU? Here's the episode when the family finds out that grandma is a 1928 Porter. This happens in the 28th episode. It's really lame, notice how easily the family adapts to their new family member, they even have the car at the breakfast table. I figured it was an attempt to change the format of a losing series but they must have taken it all back at the end (I never made it that far) because in the final 2 episodes the family was oblivious to the anthropomorphic automobile in their midst.
Still, I enjoy watching those corny, old-style sitcoms. Clearly this show's been restored. It looks fantastic, the prints are pristine and rich with color like those early color TV shows were. Can we now have The Pruitts of Southampton and Camp Runamuck please?
Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 1:04pm
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AWOL
I'm very sorry about the light blogging but I've got a massive project I'm bringing to finish and that has me gasping for air. I'll tell you all about it in a few weeks when I'm closer to finish but it's very exciting.
TV Land had it's biggest month ever in June ratings-wise.
This will be a real treat tomorrow for you guys in Illinois. Wish I could be there: Joyce Garro (former Dean Martin Golddigger) will be singing with Frank Caruso/piano, this SUNDAY, AUGUST 15th at 4pm at the West Suburban Festa Italiana. She'll also be doing the music for Mass at 1pm on the stage together with Jack Miuccio Rohlwing Rd.(Rt. 53) just south of Lake St. in Addison, IL more info www.oshows.com. Joyce has the most beautiful voice, you have to go if you're in the vicinity.
Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 10:23am
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1961 CBS FALL PREVIEW
We've been looking back at past fall seasons lately; let's really reach back this time, to 1961. CBS was the leading network and their fall preview special was chock full of classic TV shows. You'll recognize an awful lot of them, this was a year of firsts. Notice who's missing? Lucy!
MONDAY NIGHTS
To Tell the Truth - Game shows were hot in 1961 but the quiz show scandals of the mid-fifties meant only celebrity panel shows with small payouts survived.
Window on Main Street - Robert Young had a long run with Father Knows Best but his follow up was a resounding bomb.
Pete & Gladys - Very funny sitcom starring Harry Morgan (Dragnet, M*A*S*H) and Cara Williams, a spinoff from December Bride. Very much like I Love Lucy, they shared writers and directors. Reruns were seen on CBS mornings for a few years.
The Danny Thomas Show - Ran from 1953-1957 on ABC and from 1957-1964 on CBS. Danny was responsible for TV's first reunion show when the cast regathered in 1965 for The Danny Thomas TV Family Reunion.
The Andy Griffith Show - First year for this spinoff from the show that preceded it. Andy still had the thick Southern twang he started the series with; it was softened after a short time.
Hennesey - Third and last tour of duty for this Naval sitcom. Star Jackie Cooper also produced and co-wrote this show.
I've Got A Secret - Hosted by Garry Moore who had a variety series on CBS at the same time.
TUESDAY NIGHTS
Marshall Dillon - A second night for Gunsmoke, this series featured reruns of previous seasons when the production ran a half hour.
The Dick Van Dyke Show - First season for what a lot of critics think was the best sitcom of all time. The show was so poorly rated CBS cancelled it but Carl Reiner appealed to the sponsors and got the program renewed. Top ten ratings and awards followed.
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis - Tuesday nights were great for comedy on CBS. Dobie and Maynard entered Junior college this term only to find some of the same teachers.
PART TWO - (Tuesday nights)
Red Skelton - Variety hour that ran from 1951-1953 on NBC, 1953-1970 on CBS, followed by another lousy half-hour season on NBC.
Ichabod and Me - One season wonder produced by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher (Amos 'n' Andy, Mayberry RFD).
The Garry Moore Show - Carol Burnett became a star on this musical variety hour. For the previous two seasons Allen Funt's Candid Camera was a regular feature on this show, Candid Camera returned in 1961 as a stand alone series.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
The Alvin Show - Inspired animated show starring The Chipmunks with one of the greatest theme songs of all time. The best The Chipmunks ever were or will be.
Father Knows Best - CBS broadcast this show the first year, 1954-55, then hastily let it escape to NBC where the homey sitcom ran for another 3 years. Oops! After that, CBS picked up the reruns for another two terms, this being the last.
Checkmate - Detective drama that aired from 1960-1962. Set in San Francisco, it starred Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot, and Doug McClure.
Mrs. G Goes To College - Gertrude Berg's unsuccessful return to TV after the shabby treatment The Goldbergs had with the medium. An episode appears on the Shout! DVD collection of The Goldbergs.
THURSDAY NIGHTS
The Bob Cummings Show - Quirky comedy about This show bounced between NBC and CBS between 1955-1959. This was a single season of reruns.
Frontier Circus - Westerns were the hottest thing on TV in 1961, this one starred Chill Wills but failed to get renewed.
The Investigators - Insurance gumshoes, another stiff for CBS in 1961, the show was yanked mid-season, something that was rarely done back then.
CBS Reports - Hour long CBS News program, the season before they aired the groundbreaking Harvest of Shame hosted by Edward R. Murrow who left TV in early-1961.
FRIDAY NIGHTS
Rawhide - Year 2 of 7, starred Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates.
PART THREE (Friday nights)
Route 66 - Still one of my favorite shows, the second of 4 seasons on CBS.
The Twilight Zone - Second season of Rod Serling's TV masterpiece.
Father of the Bride - Sitcom with Leon Ames and Ruth Warrick based on the popular movie from 1950. Lasted only one season.
Eyewitness (to History) - CBS News production hosted by Walter Cronkite.
SATURDAY NIGHTS
Perry Mason - TV's most famous barrister returned for a fifth season.
The Defenders - Acclaimed courtroom drama debuted for a 4 season run; starring E. G. Marshall and Robert Reed as father-and-son defense attorneys.
Have Gun Will Travel - Palladin worked out of San Francisco, an old west enforcer who solved bitter disputes with his charm, wit and, reluctantly, a six shooter if need be.
Gunsmoke - This year the series expanded to one hour, the most popular show in the nation for the last 4 years.
SUNDAY NIGHTS
G.E. College Bowl - Venerable contest between collegiate smart guys.
The 20th Century - Another CBS news show.
Mr. Ed - First year for the talking horse. Who would have guessed this show would have legs? Mr. Ed started in syndication, then moved to CBS this season for a 4 year gallop. Owner Rudd Weatherwax actually lost Lassie briefly in a poker game.
Lassie - Ran for an amazing 19 years on CBS, from 1954-1973.
Dennis the Menace - Aired from 1959 to 1963 on CBS.
Ed Sullivan Show - Massively popular variety show with the wooden host; 14 years on the air by 1961.
G.E. Theater - Anthology hour hosted by Ronald Reagan, the last of 10 seasons.
Jack Benny Program - For my money the funniest show of the year. Another personality that NBC and CBS tossed back and forth. Benny had one of the brightest and most popular radio programs on NBC, he moved to CBS radio in 1949. CBS TV put him on in 1950 where he ran until 1964. The show moved to NBC from 1964-1965.
Candid Camera - One of the longest running shows in TV history with more revivals than I can count. First aired on ABC, then NBC, then CBS, then syndication, then NBC, then CBS...
What's My Line - Another long-running celebrity panel program.
More 1961 Shows:
READ ABOUT ALL OF THE 1961 TV SHOWS .
Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 2:45pm
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