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Just a Really Good Episode: “Bud The Philanthropist”
In a previous blog I wrote, “There’s something remarkable about Father Knows Best. You can watch any dozen episodes and be entertained by the wholesome charms with which this 1950s sitcom is...
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Two Great New Books For the Comfort TV Fan
I’ve written about my favorite classic TV books in the past, and it’s always a joy when new ones appear that deserve a place in your collection. At a time when the market has never been more...
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Top TV Moments: Vincent Price
The approach of All Hallows’ Eve is an opportune time to remember ten classic TV appearances of Vincent Price. Sorry, no 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. Hit the bricks, Scrappy fans. Price enjoyed a rich and...
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Classic TV Halloween Costumes
Do kids still dress like their favorite TV characters for Halloween? I know adults do. Certainly shows like Game of Thrones and Doctor Who have inspired memorable costume ideas. But back in my day (I...
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How Classic Television Can Readjust Your Perspective
"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"– Matthew 6:27“Forget your troubles and just get happy.”– Judy Garland, Summer StockI’ve often written of my belief that the classic TV...
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Cindy or Lisa? Let’s Play “Know Your Eilbachers”
Here is one more reason the Comfort TV era was better: it had more Eilbachers. From 1964 to 1990, viewers grew accustomed to seeing sisters Cindy and Lisa Eilbacher pop up on a wide range of classic...
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Classic TV’s Most Unconvincing Indians
November means Thanksgiving, a time to remember that celebrated moment when Pilgrims and Indians shared a festive dinner table. Many of us first learned about the history and culture of Native...
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Comfort TV Couldn’t Crack the Marvel Universe
Along with millions around the world, I mourned the recent passing of Stan Lee. Long before I cared enough about television to write books about it, I was a comic book fan – specifically a Marvel...
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The Unshakeables: “Patterns”
Any history of television that does not recognize Rod Serling as the medium’s first transcendent writer should be viewed with skepticism. There were other titans in that pioneering era, from Paddy...
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A Classic (Non-Controversial) Christmas Duet
Mention holiday duets, and thoughts immediately turn to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” which has been rebranded as offensive by people with ugliness in their souls. What surprises me is how surprised other...
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Sights and Sounds Now Only Found in Comfort TV
Back in January I reflected on how every year that passes takes us further away from the television era celebrated in this blog. It’s an unsettling thing for those of us who watched these shows in...
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Top TV Moments: Suzanne Pleshette
To classic TV fans, the dark-eyed, husky-voiced Suzanne Pleshette will always be associated with the series that made her a household name. But remove The Bob Newhart Show from her IMDB entry and you...
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Are These the 25 Best Classic TV Shows of All Time?
Just before Christmas I received an email from the Classic TV Blog Association, requesting input from members about the greatest classic television shows ever made (“classic” in this case meaning...
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The 10 Most Iconic Costumes in Classic TV
Throughout the entire Comfort TV era, television has introduced characters that will forever be associated with the clothes they wore. When we think of Laura Petrie we picture her in those snug capri...
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The Unshakeables: “Twenty-Four Hours in Tyrantland”
“Twenty-Four Hours in Tyrantland” ranks among the most memorable television episodes ever created. Why? Two reasons: 1. It’s a situation comedy with no intention of being funny. 2. It was never...
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Terrible Shows I Like: Pink Lady and Jeff
Fifteen years ago I was in the midst of writing a book called What Were They Thinking: The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History. Research required the tracking down of several infamous TV moments...
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Mr. Novak: Purchase or Pass?
At a time when DVD sales are plummeting and the audience for shows more than 50 years old dwindles every day, it seems almost miraculous that Warner Archives would dig Mr. Novak out of its vault. The...
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The De-Valuation of Television
‘Last Call With Carson Daly’ to End NBC Run After Nearly Two Decades’I was shocked by that headline in Variety. Not because the show was ending, but to learn that it had been on that long. Has it...
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The Unshakeables: The Monkees on Tour
I’m sure the passing of Peter Tork sent many of us back to our Monkees CDs and DVDs and playlists. They remind us of happier, more innocent times, and ease the realization that 50 years have passed,...
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Top TV Moments: Gregory Sierra
We live in a time when diversity and inclusion are paramount when it comes to television casting. Those who champion this approach often cite the contrast between our current era and what they consider...
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