Clik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV; Tuesday Nights, 1974
Quick – when you think about classic 1970s television, what series comes to mind first? For many people that show will be the one that debuted this season, and remained a staple on ABC for the rest...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dead Malls and the Devaluation of Television
I recently discovered a YouTube channel called Dead Malls, in which a modern-day anthropologist wanders through what remains of dozens of indoor shopping malls throughout the United States, all of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bob Newhart
As you may have guessed by now I watch a lot of old TV shows. Occasionally but not often, the joy in these never-ending encore presentations is slightly tempered by the realization that almost all of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV; Wednesday Nights, 1974
This should be an interesting night to explore. Last season all three networks served up new shows that didn’t last on Wednesday, and between those and others that were moved or canceled after a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Top TV Moments: Wally Cox
In the classic TV era, character actors earned a steady living specializing in a certain type, and going from series to series playing variations on that same role. Need a blustery authority figure?...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Least Favorite Sitcom Plot – And the Lesson it Teaches
Lately I’ve been getting reacquainted with The Doris Day Show, and early in that journey I watched an episode entitled “The Matchmakers.” Billy and Toby, the two kids of the widowed Doris Martin,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV: Thursday Nights, 1974
One of the more interesting discoveries I’ve made during this exercise of reviewing ‘70s network prime time schedules is the trends that come and go. Take this night in 1974, which features three new...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The 15 Best Classic TV Shows Still Not Available on DVD
I know most people don’t care about DVDs anymore. Certainly no one under 40 does, as evidenced by the limited floor space they now occupy in stores like Target and Best Buy that once stocked row...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Smile and Say “Classic TV!”
I’ve had an iPhone for years, and I know all the things it can do, but I still mainly use it just for phone calls and occasional texting. The camera feature that seems to be a favorite among most...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV: Friday Nights, 1974
Every night in the 1970s offered interesting shows to explore (and revisit!). But sometimes there is an evening that stands out more than usual. Such is the case with the Friday prime time network...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Classic TV Commercials: Less Noise, Normal People
The list of activities that truly make me happy seems to dwindle with each passing year. One that still qualifies is watching compilations of vintage TV commercials on YouTube, particularly those...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV: Saturday Nights, 1974
To go out, or to stay in on a Saturday night? That was the question (and probably still is), but in 1974 one network offered a compelling reason to skip the restaurant and the movie, and order in a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Classic Halloween TV Movie: Moon of the Wolf
Every October I like to look back on at least one of the classic TV horror movies, just in time for Halloween. And every year I realize, given the number of memorable films presented by the networks,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In Memoriam: The Pie in the Face Gag
Serious question for anyone still watching scripted television today – when was the last time (if ever) you saw a character take a pie in the face? I’m guessing the answer will be zero. Like funny...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV: Sunday Nights, 1975
Time to start a new year in our journey through the 1970s, and to realize we’re already halfway through the decade. I hope you’ve enjoyed these pieces as much as I have – celebrating some iconic...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Classic TV Shows That (Almost) Made Me Cry
I’ve never been a crier. I don’t say that with either pride or shame – it’s just the way I’ve always been. I feel the emotions I’m supposed to feel if the show has earned its desired response, but...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Men of Action: New Book Celebrates Four TV Classics
The community of people still writing books about classic television is rather small, and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and/or have some interaction with many of those who do it well. One of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV: Monday Nights, 1975
Monday blues? Not around here – it’s time for a look at another Monday night in the 1970s, with the usual mix of hits and misses. And thankfully no new shows to add to my “missed series” list – have...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Some Things Change…Others Don’t
When we watch classic TV, we may be struck by how American life, culture and attitudes are different now than they were in the era in which these shows were set - sometimes progressing to a more...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Journey Through 1970s TV: Tuesday Nights, 1975
If you’ve been keeping track on our journey through the 1970s, or if like me you’re old enough to remember when these shows were new, you’ve noticed that the first half of the decade largely belonged...
View Article