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:

"Chico and the Man" welcomes two superstars

I was watching an episode of Chico and the Man when I was surprised by two very special guest stars we have discussed on the podcast. The episode, "Louie's CanCan," is near the end of the third season, and Freddie Prinze's absence is a bummer. However, anyone's spirits will be elevated when they see this guy:

Yes, it's George Gobel! The Batty-nominated guest star of Donny and Marie has several key scenes in the episode.

But wait, there's more!

Yes, it's Captain America himself (Click here for more), Reb Brown!

Apologies for the quality on these grabs; Tubi, like many other streamers, has made it more difficult to grab a nice, crisp screenshot. But when you have George Gobel and Reb Brown in the frame, the starpower shines through anyway!

Top Ten #347: Baseball is back, baby! Edition

1) Saturday Night Live: A momentous occasion happened 40 years ago this weekend, as original host Steve Landesberg (who did end up appearing on the episode) called out sick and was replaced by Mr. T and Hulk Hogan as they promoted the first Wresetlemania.

2) Barney Miller: Antenna TV celebrates 50 years of the show this weekend with a marathon.

3) Major League Baseball: The season began in full this week, and let's hope the only outbreak we hear about over the next few days is a wave of Baseball Fever.

4) Easter Sunday 1975: 50 years ago tonight, the networks gave the nation some themed entertainment for the holiday. CBS ran a two-hour Waltons Easter episode. ABC ran part 2 of The Ten Commandments. NBC began the evening at 6:30 with a screening of The Wizard of Oz...and ended it with a news special on the impact of inflation. Bummer!

5) Almost Easter Sunday 1985: 40 years ago tonight was a Saturday, actually, but ABC showed The Fourth Wise Man, a special from Paulist Productions with Martin Sheen; and CBS marked the holiday weekend with a reair of a Bugs Bunny special.

6) John Astin: Happy 95th birthday! We talked about John a bit when we covered McMillan and Wife.

7) Suzanne Somers: Just gonna leave this story here if you want to look at it.
https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/suzanne-somers-ai-replica-speaks-to-late-stars-husband-alan-hamel/

8) Paul Reiser: Happy birthday to the My Two Dads star.

9) National Take a Walk in the Park Day: Or maybe even a good jog! Or a softball game!

10) R.I.P. Bill Mercer:

Top Ten #346: March Madness edition!

1) The Battys: Things have been a tick slower around here because we're all recovering. As usual, the Batty Awards sent shockwaves through the industry. I heard that triple winner Mickey Rooney is even repeating that old story that he turned down the lead in Magnum P.I.

2) March Madness: When else but this special time of year can sports fans indulge in some legal gambling--Oh, wait. Pretty much all the time now.

3) Who Shot J.R.?: 45 years ago this weekend, the nation wondered whodunit after seeing perhaps the greatest cliffhanger in TV history. As far as TV cliffhangers go, that was something, but I'd like to see this one:

4) Ellery Queen: 50 years ago tonight, NBC aired the pilot for what would become the ongoing series starring Jim Hutton as the titular sleuth. Long before J.R. got shot, viewers were invited to match wits with Ellery and guess whodunit!

5) Space Mountain: Also 40 years ago tonight, The Wonderful World of Disney broadcast a tour of Walt Disney World to commemorate the opening of the legendary attraction. Ric Flair was not in attendance.

6) Teresa Ganzel: Happy birthday to the Eighties-ubiquitous performer!

7) Looney Tunes: Hey, Warners, if you guys don't want them, we'll take them!

8) Perry Mason: The first 5 seasons of the classic legal drama, a show we talk about here, are now on Tubi.

9) National Melba Day: OK, it's actually Melba TOAST Day. Still!

10) R.I.P. George Foreman and Wings Hauser: One of my all-time faves, Big George really had me on his side during his Nineties run. We just saw veteran actor Hauser in a Murder, She Wrote not too long ago (Granted, that isn't an exclusive club).

Season 12 Batty Awards: In Memoriam

As is our tradition, we present here the list of names of those we lost over the course of the most recent season of the podcast. 

 

Peter Marshall

Phil Donahue

James Darren

James Earl Jones

Ron Ely

Terri Garr

Alan Rachins

Quincy Jones

Earl Holliman

Chuck Woolery

Thom Christopher

The Amazing Kreskin

Michael Cole

Greg Gumbel

Linda Lavin

Wayne Osmond

David Duclon

David Lynch

Bob Uecker

Rudy Martzke

John Erwin

Dick Button

Bob Uecker

John Amos

Top Ten #345: Special post-Battys edition!

NOTE: This post contains spoilers for the Season 12 Battys released Thursday. It was a long episode, so I want to make sure everyone who wants to has a chance to hear it before knowing the results.

1) The Battys: The Season 12 version of the award ceremony delivered excitement, surprises, and random number generation. I'd call that a success!

2) The Mickster: Perhaps the biggest individual winner of the evening was the legendary Mickey Rooney, who took home 3 Battys, or almost as many awards as he had wives!

OK, that's a cheap shot. The Mickster would be angered by that, not without justification. But Kenny O'Malley would recognize the wives thing was a vulnerability.

3) Bert: Another multiple Batty recipient this week? Bert, who won Outstanding Non-Human against a slew of tough candidates and, maybe more impressive to me, edged Burt Reynolds and Burt Mustin for a listener's choice victory.

4) Sesame Street: We don't give out Battys based on current events--I mean, everything we talk about is at least several decades old--but it does feel good to recognize the series' legacy given its uncertain present status.

5) Blake's 7: If we gave a Batty for "Show Laurie and I fell in love with," it would have gone to this one, but even without such a category, the cult sci-fi show did pretty well.

6) Paul Darrow: Congratulations to the latest Robert Pine Genius recipient, the man who gave so many delicious moments as Kerr Avon on Blake's.

7) Ed Brown's Garage: It proved to be an excellent venue for this year's ceremony--spacious, good acoustics--but the occasional gas fumes were a bit distracting. This year proved the lack of "home field advantage" at the Battys; Chico and the Man didn't get any trophies.

8) Gilligan's Island: Our retro retro show garnered several awards and contended in most of the major categories.

9) The Bionic Woman: 50 years ago tonight, the character debuted on an episode of Holmes and Yoyo. No, wait, check that. It was The Six Million Dollar Man.

10) Designing Women: Antenna TV runs a marathon of the 1986-1993 sitcom today.

Season 12 Battys: Complete List of Nominees and Winners!

We hope you enjoy our Season 12 Battys, live from The Man's garage! If you haven't listened to the episode, posted yesterday, please do so before reading the following list of categories, nominees, and WINNERS! 

Winners are in BOLD below!

OUTSTANDING YOUTH: Gary Coleman, Kim Fields, Tammy Lauren (The Kid with the Broken Halo); Adam Rich (Dungeons and Dragons); Big Bird (Sesame Street)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AS ONESELF: Jim McKay, Peter Jennings, Carl Lewis (1984 Summer Olympics); Donny, Marie, George Gobel (Donny and Marie); Robin Leach, Charlene Tilton, Julio Iglesias (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous); Dick Clark, Ed McMahon, Joyce Brothers, Nancy McKeon, Philip McKeon (TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes)

BIGGEST EXASPERATION: Kenny O’Malley (Dan August); Archie Bunker (All in the Family); Paul Lynde (Donny and Marie); Philip McKeon, the news reporter who got the Golden Bloopers…award (TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes); Joe (Rhoda); The Man (Chico and the Man)

OUTSTANDING HAIR:  Chico (Chico and the Man); Michael Douglas, Michael Lerner (Streets of San Francisco); Sally Knevette, Jacqueline Pearce, Gareth Thomas (Blake’s 7); Marie Osmond (Donny and Marie); Luis (Sesame); Tina Louise (Gilligan's Island); Joan Collins (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous)

OUTSTANDING FACIAL HAIR: Freddie Prinze, Jack Albertson (Chico and the Man); Rob Reiner (All in the Family); Gordon (Sesame Street); Billy Dee Williams (Dan August); Harold Gould (Streets of San Francisco); Richard Masur (Rhoda)

BIGGEST DOPE: Eric (Dungeons and Dragons); Gilligan (Gilligan's Island); Meathead (All in the Family); all the dope fueling the rich and famous (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous); Konstantin Cherenenko (1984 Summer Olympics); Arthur Lavery (Streets of San Francisco); Julie McNulty (Kid with the Broken Halo)

OUTSTANDING HEEL:  Kenny O’Malley (Dan August); Paul Lynde (Donny and Marie); Mary Decker and Zola Budd (1984 Summer Olympics); Archie Bunker (All in the Family); Rex Riley (Streets of San Francisco); Ed and Dick (TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes); Dorothea Powell (Kid with the Broken Halo)

OUTSTANDING VILLAIN: Imposter Mr. Howell (Gilligan's Island); Venger (Dungeons and Dragons); Space Commander Travis, Servalan (Blake’s 7); The System (Chico and the Man, Kid with the Broken Halo); Fred Bowers (Dan August); Lynn Chase (Streets of San Francisco)

OUTSTANDING NON-HUMAN: Michael, Blake (Kid with the Broken Halo); Uni, Dungeon Master (Dungeons and Dragons); Zen (Blake’s 7), Kermit, Cookie, Grover, Bert, Ernie, Count (Sesame Street); Alien Visitor (1984 Summer Olympics); Bathtub (Chico and the Man)

OUTSTANDING DUO: Bert and Ernie (Sesame Street), Donny and Marie, Chico and the Man, Ed and Dick (TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes), Stone and Keller (Streets of San Francisco), Rhoda and Joe (Rhoda), the Howells (Gilligan's Island)

OUTSTANDING BURT/BERT (Listener Award #1): Burt Reynolds (Dan August), Burt Mustin (Rhoda), Bert (Sesame Street)

(Voting ended in tie, winner determined by random number generator)

OUTSTANDING THEME SONG (LYRICS): All in the Family, Donny and Marie ("May Tomorrow Be a Perfect Day"), Chico and the Man, Gilligan’s Island, Sesame Street

OUTSTANDING THEME SONG (INSTRUMENTAL):  All in the Family (end theme), 1984 Olympics, Dan August, Lifestyles ("Come with Me Now" by Bill Conti), Rhoda, Dungeons and Dragons, TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, Blake’s 7, Streets of San Francisco

OUTSTANDING SONG: “All Night Long” (1984 Summer Olympics); “I Just Want to Celebrate” (Donny and Marie); John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt," "What’s the Name of That Song?, “I’m Going Somewhere,” “Sing” Sesame Street

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING FEMALE: Julie Kavner, Nancy Walker (Rhoda);  Ena Hartmann (Dan August); Maria (Sesame Street); Jan Chappell (Blake's 7); Sally Struthers (All in the Family)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING MALE: Robert Guillaume, Mason Adams, Georg Stanford Brown (Kid with the Broken Halo); Rob Reiner (All in the Family); Norman Fell (Dan August); Harold Gould, Richard Masur (Rhoda); Scatman Carothers (Chico and the Man); Jim Backus, Russell Johnson (Gilligan’s Island); David Jackson (Blake’s 7); Bob, Gordon, David (Sesame Street)

OUSTANDING GUEST PERFORMER: Mickey Rooney, David Soul, Billy Dee Williams, Harrison Ford (Dan August); Burt Mustin (Rhoda); Milton Berle (Donny and Marie); Penny Marshall, Ralph Manza (Chico and the Man); Harold Gould, Michael Lerner, Barbara Baxley (Streets of San Francisco)

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER NAME (Listener Award #2): Rudy Desautel (Kid with the Broken Halo), Dan August (Dan August), Nick Lobo (Rhoda), Roj Blake (Blake’s 7), Count von Count (Sesame Street)

(Voting ended in tie, winner determined by random number generator)

OUTSTANDING SEPTET: The 7 of Blake’s 7, the castaways of Gilligan’s Island, the kids from Dungeons and Dragons

OUTSTANDING FEMALE:  Sally Knevette, Jacqueline Pearce (Blake’s 7), Tina Louise, Dawn Wells, Natalie Schaefer (Gilligan's Island); Valerie Harper (Rhoda); Jean Stapelton (All in the Family)

OUTSTANDING MALE:  Gary Coleman (Kid with the Broken Halo); Carrol O’Connor (All in the Family); David Groh (Rhoda); Freddie Prinze, Jack Albertson (Chico and the Man); Bob Denver, Alan Hale (Gilligan's Island); Burt (Dan August); Mike and Karl (Streets of San Francisco), Gareth Thomas (Blake's 7); Luis (Sesame Street)

BEST EPISODE: All in the Family, “Archie and the Bowling Team,”; 1984 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremonies; The Kid with the Broken Halo; Dan August, “The Manufactured Man;”  Donny and Marie, “September 24, 1976, TV Hall of Fame;” Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, “Charlene Tilton/Julio Iglesias;” Rhoda, “The Honeymoon;” ; Dungeons and Dragons, “In Search of the Dungeon Master;” Chico and the Man; Chico and the Van; TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, “Philip McKeon/Joyce Brothers;” Gilligan’s Island, “Will the Real Mr. Howell Please Stand Up?;” Blake’s 7, "Pressure Point;" Streets of San Francisco, “The Takers;” Sesame Street, ‘Sing-along in Ernie and Bert’s Bathroom.”

BEST SHOW: All in the Family, Dan August, Donny and Marie, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Rhoda, Dungeons and Dragons, Chico and the Man, TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, Gilligan’s Island, Blake’s 7, Streets of San Francisco, Sesame Street

ROBERT PINE GENIUS AWARD: Paul Darrow (Blake's 7)

Season 12 BATTY Awards

Get ready for the biggest night in retro TV podcasting, the Season 12 BATTY Awards! Actors clash with actors, duos duel with duos, mustaches face off with eyebrows all for the chance to win a coveted BATTY Award! We have some all-time classic shows like All in the Family and Sesame Street up against each other. We also have Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous and TV's Blooper's and Practical Jokes. Will the Quinn Martin shows cancel each other out? Will Donny and Marie cancel each other out? Will someone finally become a BEGOT, and who will win the Robert Pine Genius Award? Tune in, download, and find out!

#podcast #tv #retrotv #seventies #eighties #battyawards #awardshows

 

Read full show notes and more at https://www.battleofthenetworkshows.com/

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Check out this episode!

Tomorrow on Battle of the Network Shows...

 

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12 Episode 14: Sesame Street

We concluded our epic 12th season Thanksgiving week with a look at one of the most beloved programs of all time, Sesame Street. If you don't feel the belove on at least some level for the show, you might want to look back at your childhood because you may have been deprived. Muppets, humans, music, animation--All of it was on display in the Bert-and-Ernie-centric episode we picked. We did get into a lot of classic characters and segments outside of that particular installment as well. 

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: Traditionally, segments talked about on the podcast but not in the actual episode being talked about are not eligible for Battys. Just something to consider for all you Batty mavens out there. Sesame Street inspires a lot of warm and fuzzies, but can it really compete against everything else? This may be the kind of program that makes you smile 30-40 years later but isn't in the same league as "grown-up" shows. 

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12 Episode 13: The Streets of San Francisco

For this episode, inspired in large part by our friends Charlie and Trevor reporting in our Facebook group about they had been watching The Streets of San Francisco, we made the unprecedented move of covering TWO Quinn Marin programs in one season! 

Actually, covering ONE QM Production had been unprecedented when we did Dan August! For Streets, we had already talked about a lot of general QM stuff and were able to dig down into the more successful cop show. We enjoyed the location shooting, the chemistry of the leads, the character actors, and overall we were very impressed by what feels like a bit of a forgotten show.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: It doesn't take a buddy boy to see that this could really do something at the Battys. The guys agreed Streets is superior to Dan August, but given the insane guest cast (not to mention His Burtness) of the latter, could the two QM Productions hurt each other? This is one of the more intriguing contenders for Batty Night.

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12 Episode 12: Blake's 7

One of our longer episodes in Season 12 focuses on cult sci-fi show Blake's 7. We covered the history of the series while focusing on pivotal Series 2 installment "Pressure Point." Mike and I had a lot to say in this one, having truly embraced Blake's and read up quite a bit on it. I can say it was one of my personal favorite episodes to record this season.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: Does this relatively underseen series have a chance at competing with the some of the legendary shows of Season 12? Let me just say this: Both guys watched the entire series. Rick's household actually has the Season 1 Blu-Ray, and that ain't cheap. 'Nuff said.

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 11: Gilligan's Island

Our retro retro show this season is one of the iconic sitcoms of the 20th century. We had a great time talking about Gilligan's Island. We didn't delve into Ginger vs. Mary Ann so much as...Jim Backus vs. Jim Backus? Yes, the episode we discussed featured the star in a rare dual role! We had fun, but there is no truth to the rumor we were fortified with pina coladas and cocoanut cream pies. And it's not a video podcast, but we paid homage to the Skipper by looking at the camera several times.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: Last season proved, if there was any doubt, that the so-called retro retro shows can be big winners, as The Rifleman got the Batty for the best single episode. There are a lot of possibilities here, but I'm really curious how the theme song does. Will the fact that the episode showcases Backus hurt the chances of Alan Hale? One more thing: This may be sacrilege, but I'd love to see the Professor take a crack at modifying that random number generator.

Top Ten #344: Special "Hey, where'd that hour go?" Edition

1) Batty hype: It's peaking, folks. Or maybe it's already peaked. Either way, the Season 12 Battys are coming very, very soon.

2) Mr. Belvedere: Deepest appreciation to Jason from our Facebook group for posting this the other day: An ad for a "fun kit" fans of the show could order. This is legit and legit hilarious.

Now, more then ever, in the wake of Bob Uecker's passing, the series' 40th anniversary, and the imminent wave of nostalgia about the funk kit, it's time for Hulu to add Mr. Belvedere.

3) Joyce Van Patten: Happy 90th birthday, JVP!

4) Women's History Month: An episode of one of the shows I thought might be nice to view for the occasion, Kate McShane, just popped up this month:

5) 1985 Writers Strike: 40 years ago today, Hollywood was in the middle of a writer strike focused in large part on revenue generated by VHS.

6) Game Shows: In addition to all the fun Laurie and I are having watching old pilots on Wink's Vault, this weekend sees the return of the modern version of Pyramid. If Michael Strahan doesn't come over at the end of the bonus round and show up the celebrity by giving the perfect clue, I don't wanna see it!

7) Search for the Gods: On this night in 1975, Kurt Russell starred in this movie that was intended as a pilot for an ongoing series. The Douglas Cramer production seemed to be hitting a lot of Seventies touchstones by centering on ancient otherworldly astronauts having visited Earth.

8) Diff'rent Strokes: 40 years ago tonight, the show aired "Blue Collar Drummond," in which Mr. D. donned a hardhat and blue jeans to "blend in" with his blue-collar workers. As to whether this was a successful storyline or not, I will just say the series had been on for over 6 seasons at this point.

9) National Barbie Day: And the Rockers! Don't forget the Rockers!

10) R.I.P. Peter Engel: The late producer is perhaps best known for Saved by the Bell, but I'm hoping this sad passing ignited a search for Sirota's Court.

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 10: TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes

This seemed like a staple of NBC's programming schedule in the Eighties, a mish-mosh of bloopers, practical jokes, international commercials, and Robert Klein! Once again in Season 12, we had some differences of opinion--Did I mention Robert Klein?--but we certainly shared the joy of welcoming Ed McMahon to the pod for the umpteenth time.

By the way, the preparation of this post continues my yearlong struggle to call the series by its proper title and not Practical Jokes and Bloopers.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: This may not be high art, but at least it's not Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous! I don't expect a big night for this series, but Ed McMahon may be in the running for some kind of Lifetime Achievement Batty if he keeps showing up. There are a lot of notable names here, though, so that could generate some nominations.

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 9, Chico and the Man

It wasn't quite a Very Special Episode, but we had to confront the tragic death of Freddie Prinze Jr. as we discussed Chico and the Man. Like Rhoda, which we had covered a few weeks earlier, Chico came out of the gate strong, but its decline was obviously much different.

Nevertheless, we had a good time enjoying the chemistry of Prinze and Jack Albertson, plus Scatman Carothers is always welcome. I know I was excited when Tubi added the whole series, which has not been widely available for years. The episode we talked about offered many surprises, including a Seventies superstar making a seemingly random appearance. All this plus some bathtub talk!

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "Could challenge for some of the big ones as long as the guys don't penalize Chico for its fourth season! This is another show that Rick and Mike seemed to have different thoughts about, so it could be hard to get consensus at the Battys. You have to look at the theme song and the male acting categories, plus maybe a guest star, as the main possibilities here. Overall, I feel there are stronger comedy contenders for Season 12."

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 8: Dungeons and Dragons

The podcast took an amazing journey into role playing games, or at least cartoons based on RPGs. Dungeons and Dragons, the Eighties CBS animated series, gave us plenty to discuss in the 50th anniversary year of the original game. For example, what is the deal with the Dungeon Master? We don't solve that one, but we explore the origins of the show while considering an action-packed story.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "Saturday mornings aren't always fodder for big winners at the Batty Awards, but I am calling this one the sleeper contender of this season. You have a large and diverse cast of characters that will provide plenty of nominees, and there are lots of possibilities in some of the less conventional categories. If Outstanding Villain is featured again this year, we could have a winner here. Remember, too, how much Rick in particular praised the theme song. All I'm saying is, for a show with only 27 episodes, D&D will have a big impact. I think a lot of people might root for the Random Number Generator to make an appearance with an award involving this series."

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 7: Rhoda

We went back to the MTMverse for our seventh episode this season, looking at Rhoda. In addition to a fun episode involving Rhoda and Joe's honeymoon cruise, up for discussion was the way the show handled their relationship, the changes the series went through over its run, and the highs and lows of a program that came out of the gate red hot.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "This one could go either way, but the guys really got into it on the series. Watch out for the guest stars in this one. Anytime you have Burt Mustin and Charles Lane in the same episode...Mike and Rick seemed to have more differences of opinion than usual when discussing Rhoda, and you wonder if that will manifest in the Battys. Valerie Harper and Julie Kavner stand out as obvious contenders here."

Top Ten #343: Special "Gene Hackman ruled" Edition

1) The Academy Awards: Sit back tonight and enjoy the next-to-last big awards show of the season (See item #3). Here's a look at the 1985 edition:

2) The Barbara Walters Specials: Imagine a pre-Batty version with Robert Pine, Jackee, and Leonard Lightfoot.

3) The Kid with the Broken Halo: This week, we continued our Batty prep by revisiting this TV movie. I will go out on a limb here and say the NBC Kid Trilogy (Halo, 200 IQ, Left Field), is the single-greatest collection of comedy-drama TV movies made for NBC in a period of several years.

4) Donny and Marie: We also looked back at the Osmonds and found them still adorable, still toothy.

5) Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: We did "For Your Batty Consideration" posts for 3 shows this week. This was one of them.

6) The Retroist, "Quincy and the Metric System": Excellent post here with a great piece of Seventies culture.

7) Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Telethon: The organization had run a regional event in 1984, but 40 years ago this weekend, it broadcast its first national telethon fromt he Tropicana in Atlantic City, new Jersey.

8) National Old Stuff Day: Finally, a chance to celebrate...my closet!

9) Katherine Crawford: Happy 80th birthday to one of the stars of Gemini Man (She wasn't the Gemini Man).

10) R.I.P. John Lawlor, Al Trautwig, Lynne Marie Stewart, David Johannsen, Gene Hackman: Hackman didn't do a lot of TV after the Sixties, but it's Gene Hackman.

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 6: Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

We returned to the world of first-run syndication and examined the Eighties glory of Robin Leach in Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It's a show that many might argue epitomizes the decade, for better or for worse. We talked about the glitz, the glamour, and the greed on display in a globetrotting hour of television. Oh, yeah, plus we discussed the original commercials included in the version we saw! Speaking of which, here is that episode:

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "I'll be stunned if this one contends in more than a few categories. It should get a lot of folks into the Outstanding Performance As Oneself division, but I didn't get the sense these guys were won over by the show as a whole. The original commercials added some spice to the episode but don't figure to be involved in the awards. Call me crazy, but I think Rick and Mike are more steak and Lowenbrau than champagne wishes and caviar dreams."

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 5: Donny and Marie

We went back to the world of variety--true 1970s variety in all its glory--with Donny and Marie for our fifth episode. The show was loaded with guest stars due in part to its "TV Museum" concept. We also got an homage to the Marx Brothers! Are the Osmonds Batty material? What about potential breakout star George Gobel? 

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "Variety hasn't exactly cleaned up at the Battys outside of the Song category. Last year at the Season 11 Battys, Sonny and Cher won a listener-voted award for Outstanding Duo but were shut out in the other categories. 

The series may be hurt by all the old Donny and Marie episodes being purged from YouTube, possibly making it harder to revisit the show. Another thing to look out for is the barrage of guest stars padding the nominee count. I'm surprised that Paul Lynde buzz is kind of muted this award season. Maybe this show isn't his best shot. I don't see Donny and Marie as huge winners this year, but you never know; they could ride a wave of support led by the positive reaction to all the George Gobel talk in the episode."

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 3: The Kid with the Broken Halo

In our haste to revisit Dan August last week, we skipped over The Kid with the Broken Halo, but don't you skip over our TV movie selection of Season 12. Our episode was really a celebration of all the NBC Gary Coleman movies of the era but with a focus on the 1982 fantasy with Robert Guillaume, June Allyson, Mason Adams, Ray Walston, and of course George Sanford Brown as Rudy Desautel! 

Angels, life lessons, and pro football combine in this entertaining comedy-drama from the time when Coleman was the biggest little star on TV. No hardcore theology in this one, but we do discuss work/life balance, crushing on elderly movie stars, and dads that day-drink! I also recommend The Kid from Left Field and The Kid with the 200 IQ to round out the Coleman/Guillaume Kid Trilogy.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "Will this TV movie be a big winner outside of the Outstanding Character Name category, where Rudy Desautel has to be the favorite? I don't know. It certainly has starpower, and only on BOTNS can Lani O'Grady add to a sense of something being loaded with starpower. One thing that makes me wonder is that Rick in particular seemed to prefer 200 IQ to this one. Will that preference hurt Halo come Batty time?"

Top Ten #342

1) The Six Million Dollar Man: 50 years ago tonight, the episode "Look Alike" featured Lee Majors in a rare dual role as an imposter infiltrated the OSI. Also appearing in this one: George Foreman!

2) It's Your Move: 40 years ago tonight, a classic sitcom left us, airing its final episode, one titled, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen." That show is, of course...It's Your Move?

Yes, the short-lived Jason Bateman comedy borrowed the name of its last episode from MASH, a move that makes me love it even more. Move aired 18 episodes, MASH aired over 250.

3) That's My Mama: Catchy Comedy runs a bunch of episodes of the 1970s sitcom today. Anything with Ted Lange and Theodore Wilson is worth seeing.

4) Jessica Fletcher: Laurie added another Jessica action figure to our collection this weekend. Yes, I said another; what a time to be alive when two different J.B. Fletcher Murder, She Wrote figures are on the market.

5) The Adventures of a Two-Minute Werewolf: 40 years ago today, ABC's Weekend Special debuted part 1 of this story about a boy who becomes a werewolf for two minutes at a time. Hey, a lot of those Universal movies didn't give us more than two minutes at a time of monster footage.

6) North American Soccer League: As MLS returns this weekend, let's remember the NASL! One of these years, pro soccer really will become a thing, or so they say!

7) Dan August: We took a look back at Season 12's DA episode as we gear up for the Battys.

8) Marc Price: Happy birthday to the former Family Ties sidekick.

9) The Mad Dash: I think I'm becoming a real fan of this show. We watched another episode of the Canadian game show this week:

10) Bob Knight: 40 years ago today, the Indiana coach threw a chair on the court. The Jerry Springer Show would premiere 6 years later.

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 4: Dan August

Burt Reynolds made his return to the podcast (after last year's Batty-winning role as himself in iEntertainment Tonight) as the titular Dan August! We talked quite a bit about "The Manufactured Man," a star-studded episode, and about Quinn Martin Productions in general in this fun episode.

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "Burt has a proven track record with Batty voters, but is Dan August really prime Burt? More importantly, is it prime QM? That may be the key question because later this season, the guys did Streets of San Francisco, and the two shows may cancel each other out. I bet the guys saw more of this than many other programs they have covered, though, which might help. DA could score in the downballot acting categories, though, since the episode they discussed was so loaded with guest stats. I mean, Harrison Ford and Gary Busey didn't even make the opening credits!"

Top Ten #341

1) Saturday Night Live 50: The big story in television this weekend is tonight's live special on NBC. Hey, wouldn't this be the perfect spot for Andy Kaufman to make his long-awaited return?

2) Super Bowl ratings set records: Well done, NFL. Now we have a target for the next Battys.

3) The 1984 Summer Olympics: Speaking of the Season 12 Battys, we took a quick look back at our Olympics episode this week. The so-called Batty insider doesn't think sports-themed episodes stand much of a chance at the Battys. Hey, no one ever made money betting against Al Oerter.

4) NBA All-Star Game: Let's keep the sports train running with a mention of today's event in the Bay Area. Hey, remember Lionel "L-Train" Simmons? Great player at La Salle, but he didn't make an All-Star Game.

I tell you who did, though: George Gervin.

Ok, that ad is out of the time frame. To make up for it:

5) Cher: Her solo series aired its first regular episode on CBS 50 years ago tonight and mere weeks after Sonny's solo series ended its brief run.

6) The Captain and Tennille: Seeing all the Donny and Marie episodes leave YouTube prompted me to pick up the Ultimate Collection DVD set from Hamilton Book. Don't worry, though, after the Osmonds and Sonny & Cher, we're taking a break from that variety format. So we don't have a Captain and Tennille episode planned...yet.

7) That's Life: We celebrated Black History Month this week by heading into Wink's Vault again for this 1979 game show pilot. It is very reminisicent of Family Feud and a few other shows, but I really enjoyed it. Russell is fun to watch and elevates the premise. Thanks again, Wink, for bringing these ratities.

8) House of Hanna Barbera: Me-TV Toons has a 3-hour special tonight launching its new showcase devoted to a lot of those TV toons we grew up watching on independent stations and USA Network's Cartoon Express. Squiddly Diddly makes his triumphant return to the airwaves!

9) National Do a Grouch a Favor Day: I really feel we owe Oscar a solid after not showcasing him in our Sesame Street episode.

10) William Katt: Happy 74th!

For Your Batty Consideration: Season 12, Episode 2: 1984 Summer Olympics

We celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Summer Games of Los Angeles by sampling a lot of the original American coverage on ABC, with a focus on the epic Closing Ceremonies in the Coliseum. This episode has it all: Sports, Eighties geopolitics, and breakdancing!

Links:

Our podcast episode 

Show Notes and YT Playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: "I'm a showbiz guy, not a sports guy, not an international affairs guy, but I thought Mike and Rick did a good job of blending all that stuff. But sports-based material doesn't usually clean up at the Battys. Usually they get their noms in the Outstanding Performance as Oneself category and not much else, but there could be some surprises."

Top Ten #340: Special "Hey, what's on TV tonight?" Edition

1) TV itself: Here at Stately Brooks Manor, we had to get a new set this week, and I think we found a good deal on a great new television. In fact, it might be too good; it really exposes how bad these Season 5 "Alice" episodes I'm watching look.

2) The Streets of San Francisco: Head over to our Facebook group to see the thoughts Mike and I posted about Episode Club selection "Before I Die" from SOSF's second season. In short, it's a great episode with fine guest work by Leslie Nielsen, and it's still available for free viewing on Pluto.

3) The Big Game: After you watch "Before I Die," you can check out the Super Bowl tonight. I don't suffer from Chiefs Fatigue, but I do have a strong case of Irritated the Steelers Can't Get Backitis.

4) Commercials: The SB ads were better before they started appearing everywhere the week before. Actually, they were better, period. OK, I sound like a grumpy old man, but this is a site dedicated to 50-40-year-old TV shows.

5) Shows that debut after the Big Game: Shame on FOX for showing an episode of The Floor in that valuable real estate that has been used to launch the likes of Davis Rules and Brothers and Sisters.

6) Saturday Night Live: TBD is showing a marathon of the series next weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary, and it includes some of the early episodes. See, I know what TBD is! I'm not that old!

By the way, it looks like pretty much every day has an SNL marathon on this channel. Not a lot of programming on there.

7) Jm J Bullock: Happy 70th birthday to the "funnyman," as he was introduced on Hollywood Squares.

8) National Pizza Day: I could use some pizza right now! Yes, no matter what time you are reading this, I could use some pizza.

9) Hubie Brown: The 91-year-old former NBA coach will call his final game as a broadcaster today. Brown began his career as an analyst in the Eighties, then went back to coach for several stints. 

10) R.I.P. Dick Button: The skating icon died January 30, and I missed it last week.

For Your Batty Consideration: All in the Family (Season 12, Episode 1)

As we navigate Batty season and prepare for the Season 12 Batty Awards, we will run a series of posts reminding you of this year's episodes and speculating on how they could fare at The Biggest Night in Retro TV Podcasting. First up: Our Season 12 premiere!

We began our most recent season with one of the most iconic sitcoms of the entire medium's history, let alone the BOTNS era: All in the Family. After talking about the Learverse on previous podcasts and dissecting  spinoffs like The Jeffersons and Maude, we finally got to the flagship.

We talked about our own relationships with the show and the point of view the producers and creative team took. We discussed the dim visual aesthetic. However, I think we were most impressed with the performances, although we were of course delighted to bring bowling back to the podcast with "Archie and the Bowling Team."

Links:

Our podcast episode
Show notes and YT playlist

Anonymous Batty insider says: Anytime you have a series that won 22 Emmys, it's gonna be a threat to win multiple Battys. Rick and Mike may not have embraced the show as it was on, but you can tell they were impressed by All in the Family, and I think the main acting categories could be dominated by this one, even though it wasn't a big showcase for Gloria and Mike. Expect AITF to be a big or maybe even the big winner.

Top Ten #339

1) FETV: This weekend, the cable channel debuts its new lineup and its new novel strategy: Showing most of its programs uncut! Let's hope this works for them. Right now they have Barney Miller, My Three Sons, Quincy, and more.

2) The Streets of San Francisco: In case you missed, BOTNS Episode Club this week spotlights this series and Season 2's "Before I Die" with guest star Leslie Nielsen!

3) Little House on the Prairie: First, it gets an award from Nielsen for being one of the most-streamed "legacy"  TV shows (Thanks to our FB group friend John for the tip), and Is this series...having a moment?

Well, if it is, it will surely be followed by a plague of locusts and a devastating natural disaster.

4) The Grammys: Tonight the awards celebrate...uh, a bunch of people. I will look back to the 1985 Grammys:

5) The Sullivan Years: A Tribute to Ed: As opposed to Susan, I guess. This special celebrated Ed's amazing run on CBS. It was hosted by Dick Cavett, who may have accidentally slipped in a tribute to Woody Allen at some point.

6) Gunsmoke: This is another show cited by Nielsen as being a huge legacy show on streaming. Believe it or not, this is technically a BOTNS-era show because, well, it spanned the entire history of the medium.

7) Tater Tot Day:

8) Police Woman and Police Story: I believe most of the two NBC 1970s cop shows, formerly on Crackle (and maybe even formerly on Roku), are now streaming on Roku Channel. Otherwise February looks like a lean month for "new" old shows.

9) The Nuclear Threat to You: 50 years ago tonight, John Chancellor hosted this NBC special talking about the chances for nuclear catastrophe and how to prepare for it. You mean on top of all the other misery going on in the 1970s, they still had to worry about the bomb?

10) R.I.P. John Erwin: He had the power!

BOTNS Episode Club #2: Streets of San Francisco

 BOTNS Episode Club #2 is here! This week's selection:

The Streets of San Francisco, Season 2, Episode 4, "Before I Die."

(Available free on demand on Pluto TV, uncut with ads)

From IMDB: Stone and Keller are forced to defend a mob boss from an inspector with a terminal illness and nothing to lose.

Guest stars include Leslie Nielsen, Joanne Linville, and Ray Danton.

I haven't seen this one, but it sounds like a winner! I'll share my thoughts here next Thursday in our Facebook group, and I invite all of you to join me!

Top Ten #338: "Can the Commanders do it?" Edition

1) Batty Season: It kicked off this week with voting in two listener-chosen award categories! Keep watching this space for info and announcements about the Season 12 edition of the biggest night in retro TV podcasting!

2) Jessica Fletcher: Our NECA Murder, She Wrote action figure--yes, you read that right--arrived, and it is awesome! I think it's too much to hope for Seth and Sheriff Mort, but we are happy with this:

3) Otherworld: Here is a rarity that has been discussed in our Facebook group! The series premiered 40 years ago tonight on CBS.

4) Chico and the Man: Our new Episode Club premiered this week, and I have to confess I picked a subpar example of the series. Don't judge the whole series on "Mucho Macho Ed!" Thanks to everyone who did participate, even if only by reading our comments. We'll reveal another selection later this week.

5) Saturday Night Live: As the show celebrates 50 years on the air, a Peacock docuseries premiered last week, and tomorrow night, a 3-hour special devoted to musical moments debuts on NBC. It may be weird to say this, but one of my personal favorite musical moments was when Eddie Murphy imitated Stevie Wonder. As a kid, I thought that was amazing and hilarious!

6) National Spouses Day: Let me take a moment to acknowledge, right here in public, one of the best spouses a guy could ever have, someone who has had a huge influence on my life. That's right, Alice Kramden on The Honeymooners! The woman was a saint.

Oh, hey, Laurie, you are great, too!

7) The Goodyear Blimp: I very much enjoyed this look at blimps from Fun Fact Friyay. He speculates there are "25 blimps in existence, with maybe 12 or 13 of them being used." After reading about the cost of operation, I appreciate the blimps we do have even more! I hope to see some blimp action in the football games today.

8) The Dukes of Hazzard: The series premiered on this day in 1979, and I can remember when the biggest controversy was the size of Daisy's shorts. This video by Secret Galaxy has a shot of an article by BOTNS fave Gary Deeb:

9) Mr. Rooney Goes to Washington: 50 years ago tonight, CBS' Andy Rooney unveiled this special, in which he went to the nation's capital and complained a lot.

10) Rudy Martzke: As I said on our Facebook group, I give myself either a Dreaded Glitch or an Oops for not catching the news of his passing several months ago until this weekend. His Sports on TV column helped make the weekend edition of USA Today essential, and his Monday column was a great way to start the week.