Top Ten #383

1) The Love Boat: Love...exciting and--Well, not new, but this week on the podcast, enjoy an encore presentation of what I like to call the quintessential series of the BOTNS era. We talk about an interesting episode, and, hey, if you haven't heard it, it's new to you!

2) Warner Brothers: I'm not going to repeat the old joke about Mike and I having a bid rejected. Obviously there's no way we could approach a purchase of any piece of the WB empire.

If the rights to Search were up for bid, though...

3) Snow: We got a winter blast this week at BOTNS Headquarters, which reminds us of the perils of the season.

4) The Carol Burnett Show: Sitcoms Online reports that FETV purchased rights to the uncut episodes (The Carol Burnett Show was syndicated in truncated form for years) and will begin showing them on New Year's Day. Harvey Korman just broke up.

5) Christmas Specials: 40 years ago tonight, CBS brought us this combo: Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas followed by Frosty the Snowman.

6) Barbara Mandrell's Christmas Special: This syndicated program also aired 40 years ago tonight. We associated Mandrell and her sisters with NBC, but just a few months earlier, she starred in her first CBS variety special, and here she was doing a holiday event for first-run syndication.

So here's a mystery: The New York TV listings for the date contain this program. However, IMDB does not list a 1985 show, but it does list a "Christmas Family Reunion" special for 1986. Someone in the comments on the above video asks if the promo is really for 1986. I believe that person is basing the question on IMDB, but I think these may be two distinct specials. The 1986 special was on CBS. Yet I can't find any other reference to this special. Anyone have any more info?

7) 60 Minutes: The program's eighth season premiered 50 years ago tonight, and if you think it's weird that the series kicked off a season on December 7, well, so do I. CBS had been running Three for the Road in the 7:00 EST slot since September.

8) Chartbusters Year End Special: Remember this music video show on TBS? It was a countdown show that was a companion to Night Tracks. 40 years ago tonight, the series looked back at the hits of 1985. I don't see a clip for that one, but here is a glimpse of the series:

9) Sports: A couple notable televised sporting events on this date in 1985: Bo Jackson won the Heisman Trophy, and later, Martina Navratilova topped Chris Evert in the Australian Open final. This was the last year the tennis tournament happened in December; Beginning in 1987, it was a January event.

10) Priscilla Barnes: According to most sources, it's the star's 70th birthday, and we send well wishes to the star of The American Girls!

Encore: The Love Boat

While we recover from all the delicious Thanksgiving Mulligan Stew, enjoy this special encore presentation of our episode about The Love Boat. As usual, you get a heaping helping of of guest stars, including Maureen McCormick, the late Bobby Sherman, Vicki Lawrence, DVP, Vernee Watson, and the great Scatman Crothers! We'll be back next week with a brand-new episode. Hoo-whee!

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Check out this episode!

Mulligan Stew: The Comic Book (Part 2)

We continue our look inside the Mulligan Stew comic book today! 

Here is a recipe for that 4-4-3-2 superstar, pizza!

And here is another page of story. Note that the stories are not adaptations of the TV episodes, but many seem to be continuations or at least reference those episodes.

Here's a groovy game that is inside the comic. 

Finally, here is another recipe, but not just any recipe. Read on to learn how to make Mulligan stew! "Everybody likes it!"

Tomorrow and Previously on Battle of the Network Shows...

 

Mulligan Stew: The Comic Book (Part 1)

Today and tomorrow, we present some pics from the Mulligan Stew comic book we discuss on the latest podcast! Thanks again to Mike for getting this for me and setting us down this path!

Here's the cover and back cover of the comic, which is pretty thick. There's a lot of value in here, what with the stories, recipes, games, songs, and more!

There are more lyrics inside, like the following. Check out my personal favorite, "Good Nutrition":

And here's a look at an actual story page. The original owner of the comic book beat me to the puzzles in this issue!

Tomorrow, we'll look at a recipe!

Inside the Guide: Thanksgiving Day 1975!

I may be a few days late with this, but after all, we are talking about 50 years ago! I don't want to miss the chance to share a few items from a TV Guide in my collection: A Northern Indiana edition for November 22-28, 1975.

Let's focus on Thursday, the Thanksgiving holiday. On the Wednesday page is this ad for some morning programming for the kids:

Speaking of the kids, it's interesting that ABC was just like, hey, let's make this a Saturday morning all day:

You may remember this Waltons episode from our podcast!

Of course there are parades galore:

But here is the oddest thing: Look at the second Donahue here. 

On Thanksgiving Day?

Top Ten #382

1) Mulligan Stew: Our podcast topic this week is this charming, eccentric live-action kidvid series from the Seventies. Maybe you learned something! We sure did. Just check out item 4.

2) Thanksgiving: Hope all who celebrated the U.S. holiday were able to have an enjoyable and festive weekend.

3) Macys Day Parade: I spent some time on the holiday watching the 2025 version, yes, but I also saw some of this edition hosted by Lorne Greene and Betty White:

4) Pizza: All hail the king of all foods according to Mulligan Stew. At least that's how we interpreted it. Pizza contains all the food groups!

5) Football: If only someone could figure out a safe and easy way to deep-fry a football, this holiday weekend would be perfect.

6) Teddy Ruxpin: The lovable and cuddly old bear debuted on ABC's Weekend Special 40 years ago today. I don't remember how much that toy cost when it came out, but I know that in today's money, it would be...even worse.

7) David Letterman's Holiday Film Festival: It wasn't all Saturday Night's Main Event when SNL took a break back then. 40 years ago tonight, Dave took over the 11:30 timeslot and presented films with Michael Keaton, Harry Shearer, Bette Midler, and more!

8) McCoy: 50 years ago tonight, the second episode of Tony Curtis' short-lived NBC Mystery Movie series aired, and it starred BOTNS fave Nita Talbot.

9) Dick Clark: Today is the late icon's birthday. He would have been 18, of course.

10) Ed McMahon: He's still the king of the holiday!