Top Ten #354

1) The Real Trivial Pursuit: I remain fascinated by this 1985 ABC special combining celebrities and the megapopular board game. I can't find any footage, but at least I can look up how many bones there are in the human body. I don't WANT to, though! I want Ted Knight to tell me!

2) Friendly Persuasion (1975): 50 years ago tonight, ABC aired this TV movie, an adaptation of the novel by Jessamyn West. Starring Richard Kiley and Shirley Knight, the project was conceived as a series. The 1950s film directed by William Wyler starred Gary Cooper.

3) Stepfanie Kramer: In my post yesterday, I forgot to mention a cool profile TV Guide ran on the Hunter star, who comes across very well. The story even justifies/explains the odd spelling (an Actors Guild thing), which always bugged me. Sorry, Stepfanie! Here's a look at the piece:

4) Darkroom: Kino Lorber's Frank Tarzi has confirmed the 1981 anthology, which we talked about here, is coming to Blu Ray eventually. We talk about the show here.

5) Cinemax Comedy Experiment: Mothers: 40 years ago tonight, the premium network aired this special hosted by David Steinberg (It premiered about a week earlier). Various celebs including Richard Simmons talked about and interviewed their moms.

6) NFL schedule release: Give it to the National Football League for making a big event out of unveiling the dates its games will be played. Mike and I have thought about doing a podcast schedule release, but, hey, it's not all about money for us, man. How cool would it be if the NFL didn't announce the games until the day before they happened?

7) Bill Carter: The veteran chronicler of late-night TV was on Mark Malkoff's Inside Late Night podcast recently, and they had a great discussion. I note that Carter gave a pretty strong endorsement of the new Lorne Michaels biography, too.

8) International Museum Day: One way to celebrate: Visit the TV Hall of Fame. Say hi to Paul Lynde for us!

9) Gunsmoke: The series keeps on making the Nielsen charts for acquired programs on streaming, proving people do like watching old shows.

10) Joe Don Baker: R.I.P., Eischeid!