Top Ten #351

1) Ironside: John in our Facebook group has been watching this series lately, and at his recommendation I checked out Season 5's "The Professionals," which features interesting turns by James Drury and BOTNS favorite Michael Lerner (I promise it's actually him). There's also a look at OG Entertainment Tonight host Tom Hallick, but the real thrill for me is the unending grumpiness of Burr as Chief Ironside. The guy does smile at times, but it's usually tinged with sarcasm or something else.

2) What's Happening!!: Castmembers Ernest Lee Thomas and Haywood Nelson (Why do I always want to call him Spencer Haywood?) appeared on Today this week to share memories of the series. Yes, the Doobies were mentioned; no, Gary Sandy was not.

3) The NFL Draft: Each year the teams of the National Football League freshen and improve their roster by taking new players. I wish I could "draft" some new shows for the TV channels and streamers out there.

4) Fantasy Island: The great Retroist Podcast has a new episode about the series, and, you know, I keep forgetting Roku Channel has the whole series right now!

5) Wink Martindale Games: The late game show icon's YouTube channel posted a video stating it would continue and honor Wink's legacy by maintaining an active online presence, and that's great news for all of us!

6) MTV Presents The Tubes: 40 years ago tonight, the channel, which used to feature live concert programming on the weekends, showed a San Francisco performance of the band.

7) National Babe Ruth Day: It's a day established in 1947 to celebrate the life and exploits of the Yankees legend, such as the time he met Cleopatra.

8) Jack Klugman: Happy 103rd! We don't need a traditional "milestone" number to celebrate Klugger around here.

9) Jim Lampley: The longtime sports broadcaster has a new book out and gave an honest (Seems to have an awareness of his own ego and past troubles) and recently gave an entertaining interview on the Good Seats Still Available podcast.

10) R.I.P.: A big list this week, unfortunately.

Will Hutchins:

Lulu Roman:

Lar Park Lincoln:

Mike Patrick:

Rick guests on "200 Dollars a Day" to talk "Rockford!"

We mentioned this in the Top Ten this week, but I want to make a standalone post, too, hyping the podcast thanking the guys for having me: Friends of the Show Steve and Dave invited me to join them on 200 Dollard a Day this past weekend to talk about The Rockford Files.

http://www.200adayplus.com/2025/04/episode-80-dave-steve-jon-and-rick.html

I had a great time discussing the episode "Irving the Explainer," a fourth-season effort written by David Chase. This one has all kinds of stuff worth talking about, and as always, the guys do a fine job diving into everything. Check it out, and tell 'em BOTNS sent you!

(And you can still listen to Mike's appearance on the podcast right here:
http://www.200adayplus.com/2024/04/episode-48-steve-and-some-guy-named.html

Top Ten #350: Special "350 is a cool number!" Edition

1) The Rockford Files and 200 Dollars a Day Plus Expenses: Special thanks to Friends of the Show Steve and Dave for inviting me to join them on the (Hey, Dave says it himself) Rockford Files podcast this week. I had a great time discussing "Iriving the Explainer," a fascinating episode from the series' fourth season, and the guys couldn't have been more welcoming. Check it out right here!

http://www.200adayplus.com/2025/04/episode-80-dave-steve-jon-and-rick.html

2) Easter: Happy Easter, everyone! If you'd like to celebrate with BOTNS, we suggest revisiting this holiday episode looking at a Rankin Bass classic.

https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/2022/04/ep-10-1-easter-bunny-is-comin-to-town.html

3) Paley Center: The New York institution celebrates the collection of Stewart Berkowitz this month. I saw the late doctor on Collector's Call, and, folks, he was LEGIT. The Center is exhibiting artifacts like original Honeymooners costumes (Swoon!), Fonzie's jacket, and Captain Stubing's suit. Do they have anything from A Year at the Top?

4) The 1975 Tony Awards: CBS aired the 29th edition of the ceremony 50 years ago tonight. Big winners were Tony Randall, Tony Franciosa, and Tony Orlando, with a "rising star" award for Tony Danza.

5) How to Eat Fried Worms: This adaptation aired 40 years ago this morning on CBS Storybreak.

6) Volunteer Recognition Day: Thanks to all who contribute! Now can I get someone to volunteer to help me organize my DVD collection?

7) Nicholas Lyndhurst: Happy birthday to the star of Only Fools and Horses!

8) Ironside and Hawaii Five-0: Thanks to our friend John for sharing thoughts about these series in our Facebook group this week. I plan to check out the episodes he recommended this week!

9) Hunter: This Saturday night in 1985, Hunter and McCall sought a contract killer. I'm not sure this is an exceptional episode, but, hey, pretty much everything this and Under One Roof preceding it was a repeat on broadcast TV this evening.

10) R.I.P. Wink Martindale: This one hit me particularly hard because Laurie and I have enjoyed the Wink Martindale Games YouTube channel so much lately. Wink had a long life and tremendous career, and I admire how he stayed active in his later years and served as a de facto ambassador for game shows. I recommend you check out his YT channel if you haven't already. It's loaded with rare episodes, pilots, and even talk show clips and more:

Top Ten #349: Special "next week is a cool number" edition

1) All in the Family: We brought back Episode Club in our Facebook group this week and watched "Archie and Edith Are Alone" from Season 2. Thanks to all who watched, and special thanks to Trevor for sharing his thoughts (You still can!). I thought it was an excellent episode with a lot of insight into the characters and the usual great performances.

2) Dungeons and Dragons: The Eighties cartoon, which we just discussed in our latest season, is now on Roku Channel. Only thing is you have to roll a D20 to find out which episode you get.

3) Ron Perlman: Happy 75th birthday to the star of Beauty and the Beast! (He was Beast.)

4) Thomas Jefferson Day: So I know today is his birthday, but I can't place the name. Was he the cousin of George who made a pass at Weezie?

5) Mannix: The series finale aired 50 years ago tonight, and surely Joe got one last concussion for old time's sake.

6) Columbo: Prime Video now has the entire series, including the Nineties revival.

7) The Masters: 50 years ago, Jack Nicklaus won after one of the tourney's most thrilling Sundays. Lee Elder, who missed the cut, was the first Black golfer to compete (in 1975--yikes!). I still kinda wish Rodney Dangerfield had barreled out there with a boom box at some point.

8) Scrabble Day: May your day be free of stoppers.

9) A Chipmunk Reunion: 40 years ago tonight, NBC aired this special, in which the lads reunite with their long-lost mother...Vinny? Is this canon?

10) R.I.P. Don Mischer, Jay North: The latter was nominated for Outstanding Youth for Dennis the Menace in the Season 11 Battys.

Top Ten #348

1) Eighties nighttime soap operas: Knots Landing, which made its streamign debut on Plex a while back, is now on Prime Video along with Dallas, and Falcon Crest. Of course Amazon will have the biggest modern soap opera of all this fall when it starts carrying NBA games.

2) March Madness: Speaking of basketball, the NCAA tournaments are winding down, and I guess no one else is bothered that March Madness goes into April. Maybe there's an opportunity to start April Madness! Let's do it. It can be all about...uh, heavy rain causing problems for people trying to get signals with aerial antennas?

3) Billy Dee Williams: There are a lot of notable birthdays today, but let's spotlight Batty-nominated Billy Dee, who starred in our recent season's Dan August episode.

4) All in the Family: Join us in our Facebook group for Episode Club this Thursday as we share our thoughts on Season 2's "Archie and Edith Are Alone!"

5) National Student Athlete Day: Time for another shout-out to the guys at Carver High!

6) Daffy and Bugs: 40 years ago tonight, CBS led off the evening with a few repeat specials: Daffy Duck's Easter Show followed by Bugs Bunny's Bustin' Out All Over. Poor Daffy never gets the headliner slot.

7) Many Unhappy Returns: 50 years ago tonight on NBC, this special hosted by David Brinkley took a look at income tax. Last week, inflation; this week, taxes. I think the origin of the "national malaise" is right here, Sundays at 10:00 on NBC. I'm afraid to see what they show next week--a probing look at pestilence?

8) Sammy and Company: Also 50 years ago this weekend, Sammy welcomed guests Redd Foxx, Dinah Shore, Ray Charles--No, wait. Sammy didn't welcome them. It was guest host William B. Williams. I find it hilarious that a show as personality driven as Sammy's chatfest had guest hosts.

9) Lowenbrau: What a joy it was to be watching an old NFL game from 1979 on YouTube and coming across several ads of the unofficial alcoholic beverage of the podcast, including this one:

10) R.I.P. Sian Barbara Allen, Richard Chamberlain, Val Kilmer: