Monday, September 19, 2022

Fall Television Preview - 1977

Fall is almost here, and that means it's time for the new Fall line-up of television shows.  Today, we'll be looking back at TV Guide's "Fall Preview" issue, from 1977.  That's 45 years ago, this month!

We will begin with the Saturday morning children's programming.  I don't really remember any of these NBC shows.  I guess I was already too old to be watching Saturday morning cartoons.  Although....are we really ever too old for cartoons?

I looked up The Adventures of Muhammad Ali.  It was cancelled after just 13 episodes.  According to The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows, "It was perhaps the most clumsily animated, written, and acted series in television animation history."  There are several episodes available to watch on YouTube, but unless you are into self-torture, I would recommend passing on them.  If anyone is morbidly curious, and wants to watch just the show's opening segment, you can click below.  The music is kind of "disco-y."

ABC's Saturday morning schedule included some familiar old faces, and introduced some new ones.  The Wonder Twins were making their debut in The All-New Superfriends Hour.  And who knew that Bigfoot had his own show?  Or that he raised a kid who was lost in the woods, and together they fought crime and aliens?

The Bigfoot and Wildboy show was created by Sid and Marty Kroft and according to Wikipedia, was inspired by the two-part episode of The Six Million Dollar Man, in which Steve Austin meets Bigfoot.  Here is just the intro/outro for the show, but there are full episodes available on YouTube.  If you ask me, Bigfoot looks a little bit like Chewbacca.  Maybe they should give him his own "land" at Disneyland.  They could build it right next to the already existing Wookie World, and call it Bigfoot Bay.  Or at the very least, give him his own ride at Knott's Berry Farm!  ;-)

CBS was also featuring some old favorites, and introducing some new characters, as well.

The Robonic Stooges featured The Three Stooges characters, as crime-fighting cyborg superheros.  HUH???  It was animated by Hanna-Barbera, and was just one of several segments of a show called, The SkatebirdsThe Skatebirds was similar to The Banana Splits show, and featured actors dressed in bird costumes (and one cat), on roller skates.  The name of the cat character was "Scat Cat," and was voiced by Scatman Crothers.  Seven years earlier, Mr. Crothers had voiced a character with the exact same name, for Walt Disney Production's The Aristocats.  I'm a little surprised that Disney didn't try to sue Hanna-Barbera into the middle of the next century.  Here's the show's intro:

Moving away from Saturday morning cartoons.....the 1977 Emmy Award's were airing on Sunday, but the night before, David Sheehan was interviewing some of the Emmy "hopefuls."  (Fonzie and Farrah alert!)

Welcome Back Kotter was beginning it's 3rd season, with "The Sweathogs" entering 11th grade and reminiscing about their previous two years (seasons) in high school.  And The Bionic Woman (Lindsay Wagner) was being given a new crime-fighting partner, "Max" the Bionic dog, for her 3rd and final season.

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries was starting it's 2nd season with a visit to Transylvania, and some cameos by a few classic Universal Monsters.  The show was a Universal Production, and the title characters "lived" on the Universal Studios backlot, in houses located on the famous "Colonial Street/Wisteria Lane."

And Steve Austin was battling sharks in another Universal television production, The Six Million Dollar Man.  Gee, he sure had his hands full all of the time.  When it wasn't Bigfoot, it was Jaws, or he was battling Fembots with Jamie Sommers!

Apparently, it was "Dracula Night" on television.  The Wonderful World of Disney was showing a repeat of their 1973 made-for-television movie,  The Mystery In Dracula's Castle.  The movie featured Johnny Whitaker and Scott Kolden as brothers.  Incidentally, they also worked together in Sid and Marty Kroft's Sigmund and the Seas Monsters," that same year.

The 1977 Emmy Awards show was being hosted by Robert Blake, and Angie Dickinson.

A special TV Guide "Close Up" listed the Emmy nominees:

The Mike Douglas Show and Dinah! were "interview shows" which ran daily, Monday through Friday.  Bruce Jenner (who is most famous for co-starring in the film, Can't Stop The Music, with The Village People) was guest-hosting The Mike Douglas Show this week, along with his wife (no not that one...the first one).  And Betty White was being interviewed by Dinah Shore.

NBC weatherman (at the time) Pat Sajak, was hosting a special "Fall Preview" show.  And the local channel, KTTV, was airing the fourth and final installment of the "Nixon/Frost" Watergate interviews.

A new show, Young Dan'l Boone, was premiering that night, but was canceled after only 4 episodes aired.  The Betty White Show was also new, and lasted for only 14 episodes.  Maude was beginning it's 7th and final season.  And Patrick McGoohan was starring in a new show, Rafferty, which was canceled after only 10 episodes.

Little House On The Prairie was beginning it's 4th season:

On Tuesday, a special one-hour Happy Days episode was kicking off a 5th season, with Fonzie, the Cunningham's, and friends, vacationing in Hollywood.  In part two of the episode, Fonzie jumps over a shark while on water skis.  That particular episode of Happy Days is what eventually inspired the phrase, "Jumping the shark."

Three's Company was beginning it's 2nd season (and it's first full season, after being a mid-season replacement in the Spring).  And Soap was debuting this week.  The reason the ad states, "You've heard about them for weeks....." is because the show was considered to be very controversial (at the time), due to it's subject matter.  Multiple religious groups attempted to get the show canceled, before it even aired.  The show did debut as scheduled, and lasted four seasons.  The first season's episodes all began with a pre-show warning, about Soap's "adult content."

The Richard Pryor Show was another controversial show, at the time.  It was canceled after just four episodes, probably because it was scheduled opposite the very successful ABC shows, Happy Days, and Laverne and Shirley.

CBS was airing a "made-for-television" Spider-Man movie.  The movie was actually released theatrically internationally, and it also acted as a pilot for a series which debuted in the Spring of 1978.

Eight Is Enough was starting it's 2nd season.  (Hey, I buy Dick Van Patten's pet food, "Natural Balance," for my cats!)

Cheryl Ladd was being added to the cast of Charlie's Angels, following Farrah Fawcett's departure after only one season.

Does anyone remember The Gong Show?

The Waltons was beginning it's 6th season, and it's first following the departure of Richard Thomas as "John-Boy."  Welcome Back Kotter was airing it's second episode within the same week.  This one was an hour-long, and had Mr. Kotter's wife delivering twins.

The new series, CHiPs, was debuting.  That "clip-out" survey is interesting.  I don't remember seeing anything like that in TV Guide previously, or since.

Barney Miller was starting it's 4th season, and Carter Country and The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour were both debuting.

Peter Frampton was hosting the Rock Music Awards.  The ad lists Cher as a "special guest," but the actual listing names them both as "performing hosts."

The Making of Star Wars, a "Stellar Spectacular," was being hosted by C-3P0 and R2-D2.  Star Wars had premiered in movie theaters, just four months earlier.

Lynda Carter was returning for a 2nd season of "Wonder Woman," after a retooling and renaming of the show.

Sanford Arms was a spin-off of Sanford and Son, following Redd Foxx's departure from the original show.  The new series was canceled after only 4 episodes.

Chico And The Man was returning for it's 4th and final season, following the death of 22 year-old Freddie Prinze ("Chico"), earlier in the year.

The made-for-television movie, Curse Of The Black Widow, was airing on "The ABC Friday Night Movie."  It had an all-star cast;  Patty Duke Astin, Donna Mills, Tony Franciosa, June Lockhart, Vic Morrow, June Allyson, Sid Caesar, Max Gail, and Roz Kelly (Pinky Tuscadero!).  The director was Dan Curtis, who directed the TV series, Dark Shadows, and also the 1975 TV movie, Trilogy of Terror.

I was getting ready to say it's too bad that made-for-television movies like this can't be watched today, but I decided to check YouTube, and there it was!  Here is just the minute-long promo for The ABC Friday Night Movie:

For anyone who is interested, here is the entire movie.  I just watched it for the first time and thought it was pretty good, as far as 1970s horror films go.  And here's something interesting.....at the 21:30 mark, there is a chase scene through "Enchanted Village."  This small "amusement" park was located in Buena Park, CA, and originally opened as "Japanese Village and Deer Park."  It had a change of ownership, theme, and name, in 1976, and ended up closing altogether in the Fall of 1977.

Logan's Run was debuting this week.  The series was based on the successful 1976 film of the same name. Gregory Harrison was playing "Logan 5."  He would later go on to play "Gonzo" in seven seasons of Trapper John, M.D.  Heather Menzies was playing "Jessica 6."  As a teenager, she had been cast in the role of Louisa von Trapp, in The Sound of MusicLogan's Run was canceled after 14 episodes.

Oh, and James Garner was back for his 4th season on The Rockford Files.

Jack Klugman was returning for his 2nd season as a medical examiner, in "Quincy."

Every year, the "Fall Preview" edition of TV Guide would have a special section, with descriptions of all the upcoming new shows.  Here are the descriptions of the 22 new shows, debuting in the Fall of 1977.  Some were having their premieres that week (as seen earlier in the post).  Others would be debuting in the coming weeks.  Many of these will leave you scratching your head and saying, "Gee, I don't remember that one!"

The Love Boat soon will be making another run......  It had started out with three separate television "pilot" movies in 1976 and 1977, prior to becoming a regular series in the Fall of 1977.  And now, 45 years later, The Love Boat is returning to TV (next month), as a "reality" dating show.  I'll pass!


 

Lou Grant starred Ed Asner, in the title role.  His character had started out on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and after 7 seasons, spun-off with a show of his own which lasted 5 seasons.

Patrick Duffy was starring in The Man From Atlantis.  This was just one year before he would be cast as Bobby Ewing, in the long-running nighttime soap opera, Dallas.

I hope everyone enjoyed this time traveling visit to 1977's "Television-land"!


****Update - 9-20-22****

I'm adding this listing from the same issue of TV Guide, to show that the Disney film, Mystery In Dracula's Castle was actually being shown on Disney's anthology program called, World of Disney.  Over the years, that show has also been called,  Walt Disney's Disneyland, Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Wonderful World of Disney, Disney's Wonderful World, Walt Disney, The Disney Sunday Movie, and The Magical World of DisneyI guess "the people in charge" could never make up their minds about a title, and just stick with it!


21 comments:

DrGoat said...

TM! I'll take that lineup over the 200 plus channels I have now any day. Including Wanted: Dead or Alive with Steve McQueen, the Twilight Zone with Jackie Cooper and Mr. Magoo. Almost everything you need is right there, except Wonderful World of Color and Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Thanks for the morning goodness TM!

TokyoMagic! said...

DrGoat, I agree....who needs 200 plus channels? I used to have cable TV, but I ditched it about 7 years ago. I like all of those shows that you listed. Oh, and Wonderful World of Color was pretty much still on TV, in 1977. They were just calling it, Walt Disney at that point. That movie, "Mystery in Dracula's Castle" was airing on the Walt Disney program/show. The show was normally a one hour time-slot, but for that night, it was expanded to two hours so they could air the movie without splitting it up into 2 parts, like they often did when airing Disney films on The Wonderful World of Color or The Wonderful World of Disney.

I'm going to add the individual Walt Disney program listing to the end of the post, right now. It gives the explanation about the expansion of the show into two hours.

TokyoMagic! said...

DrGoat.....correction, I guess in 1977, they were calling Disney's weekly anthology show, World of Disney.

DrGoat said...

TM!
That lineup in the show before World of Disney is certainly unique. Lorne Greene, Paul Williams and Bernie Taupin lost in vampire land. Dracula was big that month.

TokyoMagic! said...

DrGoat, that does seem to be quite the lineup! I know I watched that "monster" episode of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. I just don't remember much about it now, 45 years later. But I did watch that show regularly, at the time. My only memory of the entire series, is when a bad guy locked Nancy Drew (Pamela Sue Martin) in the "basket" on a Zipper ride at a carnival, and then turned the ride on. Of course I would remember a moment involving a carnival "flat" ride!

I did a search on YouTube for the monster/Transylvania episode of the show. It is available. I haven't watched it yet, but I plan to give it a try. I wonder if I will be able to sit through it today, 45 years later. We'll see. Here are the links, if you are interested. From the preview, it looks like Paul Williams sings.....I don't know if that would be a plus or a minus.

Part 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td-mQMJKNmI

Part 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8G792Cl_Ms

DrGoat said...

Thanks TM! Might give it try when I get the time. If I can sit through a much later Murder She Wrote, I should be able to get through it.

Stefano said...

Thanks TokyoMagic!, another fine memory jogger. I did see some of the "Black Widow", and can now recall the initial attack scene, 45 years later. Also watched the season opener of "Logan's Run", but didn't make it through because it was bland compared to the movie. Did you see "Logan's Run" in the summer of '76? This then pre-teen was agog at the skin and sexiness displayed in that PG-rated movie. Yeah, "Star Wars" has better special effects, but now "Logan" seems the much more involving movie, intense and suspenseful, with characters one actually cares about and yes, all that sexiness. A Logan's Run Land would be more thrilling and interactive than Wookie World.

From this time, the fall of '77, I also recall an LA Times TV Guide cover for the Disney show, with Jonathan Winters in makeup as a human jack-o-lantern. The article said that while Disney movies and theme parks were doing big business, ratings were declining for the television division; kids were defecting to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.

K. Martinez said...

On Saturday we have "Operation Petticoat" with the lovely Jamie Lee Curtis of Halloween fame. Then on "We've Got Each Other" we have Beverly Archer who played my favorite character Iola Lucille Boylen on "Mama's Family". She was great in that role.

I DO remember most of these shows. I remember "Carter Country" which was in reference to then POTUS Jimmy Carter.

I remember "Mulligan's Stew" for having Suzanne Crough from "The Partridge Family" tv show.

Knowing of most of these shows at the time didn't mean I watched them all.

I loved watching TV "movies of the week". Back when network TV was cool and fun. I always loved the intros and music for the TV movies. I look back on those with fond memories.

Thanks for another fun post, TM!

K. Martinez said...

Forgot to mention, that I loved the film "Logan's Run", but could not get into the TV series of the same name and idea.

Major Pepperidge said...

So fun to see these old TV Guides, and be reminded of shows mostly (or completely!) forgotten. I remember as a kid, Saturday morning cartoons were a huge deal, we would run downstairs on “Super Saturday”. I feel like we watched a lot of Super Friends, Tarzan, Jonny Quest, Yogi and Friends, the Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner Hour… and so on.

Poor Muhammad Ali, that cartoon is truly awful. I’ve seen animated gifs of Bigfoot and Wildboy, though I did not know what the heck it was! “Robonic Stooges”, even as a kid I think I would have disliked that show. “The Skatebirds”, huh?

David Sheehan, I never liked that guy, he seemed so smug. Wonder whatever happened to him! Lindsay Wagner, I had a crush on her, I’ve always been puzzled why she didn’t do more after The Bionic Woman.

So many of the TV shows are ridiculous, it’s amazing that they even tried their concepts. But… the Big Three were the only game in town, they could do what they wanted.

Bruce Jenner, whatever happened to him? I have no problem with them transitioning, but they seem like idiots (sorry, I am still not good with the “they/them” pronouns).

Looks like David Frost and Richard Nixon are about to kiss.

Look at all those shows that only lasted a few episodes! Even big stars were no guarantee of success.

What did Henry Winkler think of the later seasons of “Happy Days”? He had to have realized that the cracks were showing. But… I’m sure he was crying all the way to the bank.

“Soap”, what an odd show, but I remember it was a phenomenon. It still amazes me that Billy Crystal played a gay character, and it seemed to not be a topic of much discussion. Unless I just missed it.

Dick Van Patten had (has) a pet food?!? Anybody who was alive in 1977 remembers The Gong Show. Gene, Gene, the Dancin’ Machine. And so on. “The Waltons”, man that show… I caught an episode on some channel a while ago, it was hard to sit through.

Redd Foxx left “Sanford and Son”?? Was it a dispute over money?

Gosh, I see that my comment is getting too long, and I haven’t even gotten to so many of the shows. It sure feels like I watched a lot more TV back then, maybe because I watched the same shows that all of my friends watched. I remember kids doing Sweathog impersonations in school. And I remember when J.J. (from “Good Times”) died in a motorcycle accident.

Well, so much for my stream of consciousness comment! Thanks for the fun post!!

TokyoMagic! said...

Stefano, I didn't see "Logan's Run" in the theaters, but I did see it when it first aired on television. I do like that film. I agree, a "Logan's Run Land" would be much better than Wookie World. At least it would look better to the eye and wouldn't be all dark and dirty and depressing. I always felt that in the early years of Epcot Center, the buildings in Future World looked like they could have been in Logan's Run. After all, even though Epcot opened in 1982, it was designed in the 70s, so a lot of it had that 70s futurism vibe, I think.

I remember that Los Angeles Times TV Guide with Jonathan Winters as a pumpkin, on the cover! I even saved it for quite a while, but I'm pretty sure that it eventually got tossed out. I also remember that episode of the "Wonderful World of Disney," with Jonathan Winters. I think it had to do with all the Disney villains, didn't it? And maybe they also showed "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"? Jonathan Winters (as a pumpkin) was the host of that episode. Now I'll have to do some research to see if that episode is out there somewhere.

TokyoMagic! said...

Stefano, I found this on YouTube. It is part one of that 1977 Jonathan Winters-hosted episode of "The Wonderful World of Disney." The person who uploaded it lists it as 'Part 1 of 6." I could only find Parts 1 and 5, and not the other parts. Part 5 is just the middle portion of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"....it's missing the beginning and the end. Those are probably in Parts 4 and 6, wherever those parts are. Maybe I just didn't search hard enough for them. But here is a link to Part 1. You have to sit through 5 minutes of Jonathan Winters "shtick" (as a security guard at the Disney Studios, poking around the prop room), but beginning at the 5:20 mark, you can see him in the full "pumpkin head" makeup. It appears that the episode has to to do with Disney's "scary" and Halloween-related animated shorts, including "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hO13S3WOsA

TokyoMagic! said...

Ken, I was going to add some additional info about "Operation Petticoat, " like how it was based on a 1959 film, and also the fact that Jamie Lee Curtis was in it, but I was afraid the post was already getting too long. "Operation Petticoat" happened to be another Universal Production. I remember going on the Universal Studios Tour around this time, and they had painted the submarine that used to "launch" the torpedo at the tram, a nice shade of pink. And the tour guide did make some kind of reference to the TV show, "Operation Petticoat."

I did not recognize the actress who played "Iola" on "Mama's Family," in that promotional photo for "We've Got Each Other." I also did not recognize Suzanne Crough, from the Partridge Family in the cast photo for "Mulligan's Stew." I guess it didn't help that I didn't know either actresses name, so they didn't pop out at me in the cast listing, either.

I knew about most of these new shows, too, even though I didn't watch the majority of them. I guess I know them because I would always keep the "Fall Preview" issues of TV Guide. It was always fun to go back and look at which shows went on to be successful, and which ones failed.

As for "Logan's Run," as I mentioned to Stefano, I loved the movie....however, I never watched the TV series. I was talking to my brother about it just yesterday, and he said the series was pretty boring. That matches up with Stefano's description about it being "bland."

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, Saturday Morning Cartoons were a big deal for my brother and me, too. I remember each network would have a special preview show (in the evening), to introduce their Fall Saturday morning line-up. I remember watching all of those shows that you mentioned. I also remember cartoons based on Gilligan's Island ("The New Adventures of Gilligan") and The Brady Bunch ("The Brady Kids"). And then there were all of those Sid and Marty Kroft shows, like "Lidsville," "Land of the Lost," and "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters."

That's funny that there are animated gifs of "Bigfoot and Wildboy." I don't remember that show, so I had to look it up. Again, I guess I was too old at that point.

I always liked Lindsay Wagner! After The Bionic Woman, she did the mini-series "Scruples." She was also in two TV shows, "Jessie," and "Peaceable Kingdom." Unfortunately, those two TV shows were canceled pretty quickly after they debuted. She also starred in a many made-for-television movies. And then of course, she became the long-time spokesperson for Ford Motor Company, as well as Sleep Number Beds (she's a 35!).

As for Bruce Jenner, I also have absolutely no problem with anyone who wants to transition. I'm also not 100% positive about the pronoun choice, but I'm pretty sure that we can use "she" now. Someone please correct me, if I'm wrong! But yeah, I have to agree with you, as far as human beings go, she is a total idiot. And a liar. She got called out on several things that she had lied about, when she was attempting to run for governor of California. I also remember her in an interview, complaining about how the person who she shares an airplane hangar with (for her own private airplane) was moving out of state because of the amount of homeless people here, and how she was going to be left with paying the full rent on the hangar. And we are supposed to feel sorry for her over that? Boo-freakin'-hoo! She is so out of touch. Sorry if I got too political there!

Nixon and Frost were going to kiss at the end of the interviews, but they forgot to tilt their heads, so they ended up bumping noses. Then they decided to skip the kiss, and just shook hands.

I read someplace, where Henry Winkler reminds people that "Happy Days" went on for seven full seasons, after the "Fonzie Jumps A Shark" episode. It did get pretty bad though, at the end. They were adding so many new people to the cast. Even Heather O'Rourke from "Poltergeist" became a cast member. I think they missed a big opportunity by not having an episode where she was sucked into the Television and Zelda Rubinstein has to come and rescue her.

Yes, Dick Van Patten created the "Natural Balance" pet food company, and his name is still on the label.

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, I have never had to break up a comment/response, because Blogger says it's too long. But now it's happened. This is a first! Anyway, here's the rest of my response to your comment:

I forgot about the "regulars" from "The Gong Show," like Gene, Gene The Dancin' Machine. There was also The Unknown Comic, who wore a paper bag over his head. Were there others? There must have been, but those are the only two that I can remember right now.

If I am remembering correctly, Redd Foxx left "Sanford and Son" to have his own solo variety/comedy show, the one shown in this post. His solo show failed. The new version of the old show (Sandford Arms) also failed. And then a few years later, he tried to reboot the old show, and this time it was just called "Sanford" because Demond Wilson, who had played his son, did not return. That version was cancelled after 26 episodes.

J.J. from "Good Times" died in a motorcycle accident? Do you mean his character? Because the actor himself, Jimmy Walker, currently does a VERY obnoxious commercial for supplemental health care insurance, for senior citizens. I never watched the show, so I don't know if his character was killed off. I think I remember hearing that they did kill off his father on the show (John Amos) after the first couple of seasons.

"The Waltons" is currently being shown on MeTV. I never watched it back in the day, and I have tried to watch it a couple times in recent years. I agree with you, it is very hard to sit through. But it was a very popular show, and like "Happy Days," it was on for many years and went through multiple cast changes.

As for "Soap," I never watched it in the years when it originally aired. But I did watch it in reruns, and fell in love with it. I was disappointed when I learned that the series ended with a bunch of cliffhangers, and that they were never resolved. Actually, Kathryn Helmond's character made an appearance on "Benson," which was a spin-off of "Soap," and they explained what happened to her character, but none of the other characters. I think the fact that Billy Crystal was playing a gay character was a big deal, at least before the show aired. There also appears to have been a big stink made over some of the other plot lines of the show, before it aired. I think the controversy only helped in getting people to watch the show's premiere.

Major Pepperidge said...

You were probably too young, but I remember back in those days it seems like every year or two there would be a rumor that a beloved TV star had died in a motorcycle accident. JJ from GOOD Times was one of them, as was The Fonz. There were probably others as well, but those are the two that I remember the most.

TokyoMagic! said...

Major, I guess I don't remember those rumors. I do remember hearing that Billy "Froggy" Laughlin (from the Little Rascals) died in a motor scooter accident, at the age of 16. But I guess that actually did happen.

MIKE COZART said...

Wow!! I guess I didn’t watch as much tv in 1977 as I thought! I recognize almost none of those children tv shows ….. though maybe I saw the new Archie and Sabrina (??). The RED HAND GANG featured a very young Matthew Labyorteaux. He later was casted to play a child version of Charles Ingall’s in a Little House on the Prairie “flashback” episode on how Charles and Carolyn met back in the “Big Woods”. Michael Landon and the production team was so pleased with Matthew Labyorteaux’s performance they added him as a regular playing the part of Albert who was later adopted by the Ingall’s.

Rhoda was a very popular spin-off : the episode of Rhoda Gets Married was a TV viewing record - more people tuned in to watch Rhoda get married : breaking the previous record of Lucy having a baby and the moon landing! LOU GRANDT was one of those mistake concepts when they take a character from a (mostly) comedic show ; like The Mary Tyler Moore Show and use the same character in a serious dramatic show like LOU GRANT. They did the same thing which ended in failure when they took the characters of THE BRADY BUNCH and put them in a modern revival of THE BRADYS and watch these (mostly) lighthearted and comedic characters we love , drop outta school ( Cindy) or get paralyzed in a racing accident ( Bobby) or get swindled by JJ WALKER with a supplemental Medicare plan ( Alice )
……. Ok I made the part about Alice up. But viewers don’t want to see beloved lighthearted characters go through serious or devastating situations.

I watched the MAN FROM ATLANTIS enough that me and friends would try and swim like him in our neighbors pool ( it is almost impossible to swim like Patrick Duffy in The Man From Atlantis. My friend Benton warned us that if we kept swimming like that we would develop webbed hands and feet ….. so we DEFINITELY kept trying ti swim like that to hopefully get webbed feet and hands!

THE SECRET OF DRACULAS CASTLE - I remember that but didn’t get ti ever watch it till it showed on Disney Channel in the mid 80’s. I got to meet actor Scott Kolden a few times because I worked with his sister Katy at Disney. I was a child fan of sigmond the sea monster show and an even BIGGER fan of Disney’s CHARLEY AND THE ANGEL!!!! So I - rarely Star struck - was excited to meet him! Lol.

TokyoMagic! said...

Mike, I was thinking the same thing about the children's shows. But then I saw that "The Superfriends" were introducing "The Wonder Twins" (Wonder Twin powers, activate!), and I do remember them. Maybe that was the only children's show I did watch that year.

I didn't watch Rhoda until it was in "repeats." And I never watched "Lou Grant." But I do remember watching "The Bradys." Yeah, that was depressing seeing them deal with more serious problems. Ha, ha...I have a friend who swears that those supplemental Medicare plans (pushed by J.J. Walker, Joe Namath, and others) are all a scam. Poor Alice, I can picture her falling for TV scams like weight loss products, pillows/cushions that are supposed to help you sleep better, and creams that are supposed to get rid of your "crepe-y" skin!

I never watched "Man From Atlantis" or "Logan's Run," but they are both available on DVD. I have been tempted to buy them. Last year, I gave my brother the "Invisible Man," and "Planet of the Apes" TV series on DVD. All four of those 1970s sci-fi shows only had 13 or 14 episodes each. I like the fact that they have gone to the trouble of releasing shows like that on DVD. There has to be a pretty limited audience for them.

That's cool that you got to meet Scott Kolden. I hope you asked him to sing the "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" theme song! ;-)

"Lou and Sue" said...

The Gong Show(!) - I do remember watching that crazy show. I recognize a lot of the shows listed but, by 1977, I was working two jobs while in high school, plus also busy with other activities - so I didn't watch much TV. I think I recall a bunch of those programs from watching them the prior few years, when they first aired. The Carol Burnett Show, Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and Rhoda, were definitely a few of my favorites.

TokyoMagic! I especially enjoy seeing the ads - so thanks for posting all the pages of your TV Guide. Forgot all about "Di-Gel." I just Googled it and see that it still exists. On a side note, a friend and I were recently talking about the old Contac cold capsules that had the tiny little beads (that looked like candy) inside the clear capsules (at least half of the capsule was clear and the other half was a see-through red, I believe)...I haven't seen those in years. I know Contac still makes cold medicines - but they aren't the same.

Thank you for your FUN post, TM!

TokyoMagic! said...

Sue, the same thing happened to me. Once I reached a certain age, I almost stopped watching primetime television altogether. And that trend lasted for quite a few years. Of course, I think I still made time for reruns of "I Love Lucy," whenever I could!

I remember "Contact" cold medication, and the commercials for it. They would show the capsules being pulled apart, and all of the tiny little "beads" spilling out, in slow motion. I think there was also a clock involved, showing how long the medication worked. I love old commercials. There was just something about many of them, and their images and jingles stuck with us for lifetime. I might remember a commercial that runs today, but I often can't tell you what the product is being advertised in that commercial. I don't think they "work" on me the way the big corporations are hoping they will. At least, I know that I never run out and buy a product, because I saw it advertised on TV.

I'm glad that you enjoyed this post!