*The classic "Who's on First" routine we hear at the beginning of the podcast--well, sort of--was adapted from similar burlesque routines by Abbott and Costello. Of course, it is common belief that it was perfected by Harvey Korman and Buddy Hackett in the TV movie
bud and Lou.
*DVP mentions the comedy team of Marty Allen and Steve Rossi--a dated reference even then, since the duo had been inactive for a decade. The two made many appearances on Ed Sullivan's show, including several of the famous Beatles episodes.
*The real Tom Braden had a much fuller life than we could touch on in the episode. He was not just an author and a father of 8, but he was a longtime CIA operative and the original co-host of CNN's
Crossfire!
*OK, here are the Bradford kids' ages at the time the show debuted in 1977:
David (22)
Mary (21)
Joanie (20)
Susan (19)
Nancy (18)
Elizabeth (15) (Hey, Tom gave his wife a few years off--how generous of him)
Tommy (14)
Nicholas (8)
*Meeno Peluce was a prolific child actor in the BOTNS area and is worthy of more discussion, but we have a strong suspicion we will be talking more about him on the show this season.
*The song the Bradfords perform to kick off the benefit show is
This Is It, the original theme song of
The Bugs Bunny Show on Saturday morning TV.
*Betty Buckley, who sings
So-La in the episode "Who's on First," won a Tony in 1983 for her performance in
Cats.
*The
Eight Is Enough theme song was written by Lee Holdridge and Molly-Ann Leikin. Fred Werner wrote the instrumental that started the show in its first two seasons.
*Nicholas Bradford, from what we can tell, did not burn down the family home, accidentally or otherwise. Perhaps we were thinking of his role in the early 1980s ABC firefighting show
Code Red as Lorne Greene's adopted son?
*Ralph Macchio went on to become
The Karate Kid after his short stint on
EIE.
*Night Ranger formed in 1979, just a bit after this episode aired.
