*In this week's List-o-rama, we do a countdown format, so as usual, if you want to follow along and be surprised, please look at these show notes after you listen to the podcast!
*Perhaps neglected would be a better word than forgotten, but I tried to select programs that had at least 100 episodes and some degree of commercial success yet have not been widely available in recent years.
*One program on my list, Riptide, has been picked up by Roku Channel since we recorded the episode!
*Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) and QBVII (1974) both aired on ABC.
*Hotel (1983-1988, ABC) is an Aaron Spelling series based on a 1965 Arthur Hailey novel.
*Kate and Allie (1984-1989) aired mostly Monday nights on CBS. The cast featured Jane Curtin (who won several Emmys), Susan Saint James, Allison Smith, Ari Meyers, and Frederick Koehler.
*The Hogan Family (1986-1991, NBC/CBS) was discussed a bit in our Rhoda episode earlier this season. Legal battles with star Valerie Harper meant the series went from Valerie to Valerie's Family: The Hogans to The Hogan Family.
*Jake and the Fatman (1987-1992, CBS) starred William Conrad and Joe Penny as a D.A. and investigator who operated in L.A. and Hawaii during the series' run.
*Matt Houston (1982-1985, ABC) is another Aaron Spelling program.
*That's Incredible (1980-1984, ABC) often preceded Monday Night Football.
*Enjoy our Real People (1979-1984, NBC) episode here.
*Simon and Simon (1981-1989, CBS) co-starred Mary Carver as the Simons' mother.
*Riptide (1984-1986) has received several DVD releases outside the US and was on Get TV in recent years.
*Knots Landing (1979-1993, CBS) is indeed on Plex as of this writing. Falcon Crest (1981-1990, CBS)has been available in various forms and right now is also on Plex.
*Empty Nest (1988-1995, NBC) was a popular Saturday night series for years.
*Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990, ABC) is one of the few big network shows set in Pittsburgh.
*Finally, enjoy our video playlist for this episode, loaded with promos and intros of the series we mention in this episode, plus...Pernell Whitaker (It makes sense, sort of, if you listen to the podcast).
*And remember, you can always check out our official YouTube page for all of our past podcasts and episode-specific playlists for each one!
In our playlist for this week's bonus episode, we set aside most of the famous programs we mention and devote some slots to the lesser-known series we watched back in the Eighties. One of them has some degree of fame today because of its star:
Yes, a young Jim Carrey was the lead in the short-lived (13 episodes) show from MTM Enterprises about a young animator named Skip Tarkenton (!) who lands a dream job at a studio but discovers it is struggling. I watched the first episode a while back, and while many things didn't seem credible, I thought it had enough potential to deserve time to grow. The premise and setting are cool even if a few things seem to require some more explanation.
Unfortunately, it premiered at a time just before Thursday night on NBC was a big deal, and it didn't make it. Wikipedia has a great explanation of how the network's shoddy scheduling wreaked havoc on continuity and may have turned off those who did watch. Most episodes are easy to find online if you want to see it for yourself!
*We hope you enjoy one of our longest bonus episodes yet! Call it a Listorama, call it whatever you like, but call it...FUN!
*Click below for our playlist for this episode, a video potpourri of promos and intros from many of the lesser-known shows we mention on the podcast!
*And remember, you can always check out our official YouTube page for all of our past podcasts and episode-specific playlists for each one!
Update 8/18: Rick here, and this was MY mistake: I do want to correct myself. I referred to the Public Broadcasting SYSTEM on the show, when it is actually the Public Broadcasting SERVICE. (Thank you to loyal listener Mario!)
*Here for your convenience is a list of our favorite networks by year. If you want to find out while listening to the podcast, make sure you check the episode out here before reading this post!
*We focused on the Eighties.
*1980: Mike NBC Rick PBS Saturday morning: Mike ABC Rick ABC
*1981: Rick CBS Mike CBS
Saturday morning: Rick ABC Mike NBC
(CBS' slogan was "Reach for the Stars!")
*1982: Mike ABC Rick ABC
Saturday morning: Mike NBC Rick ABC
*1983:Rick NBC Mike NBC
Saturday morning: Rick ABC Mike NBC
*1984: Mike NBC Rick NBC
Saturday morning: Mike ABC Rick CBS
*1985: Rick NBC Mike NBC
Saturday morning: Rick NBC Mike NBC
*1986: Mike ABC Rick NBC
*1987 Rick NBC Mike NBC
*1988 Mike NBC Rick NBC
(The Writers' strike lasted about March-August 1988)
After hearing our discussion on TV toys we would have liked to have seen than and those we would like to see now, enjoy our official video playlist! Just click below to see Mel Sharples being Mel! Raiders of the Lost Ark toys! Thundaar! Gary Gnu! Paul Williams and Paul Lynde (in separate clips, unfortunately)! And I have an excuse to get an AWA wrestling figures commercial in here!
And remember, our official YouTube channel has all of our past episodes and accompanying playlists for each one!
And now here are our picks for toys we want to see NOW (if not sooner):
Mike:
1) Search a la Mego Star Trek
2) The Sandbaggers
3) Spider-Woman with mystery villain assortment
4) Universal detectives (Columbo, Quincy, Rockford, etc.)
5) In Search Of... with various Leonards and various show subjects
Honorable mentions: Pray for the Wildcats dirtbike action set, BOTNS Genius Award collection (including Marjoe with real hair), Lego Cheers set
Rick:
1) Late Night with David Letterman playset
2) Battle of the Network Stars
3) Don Cornelius
4) Bob Uecker
5) Paul Williams as Allison Troy
Honorable mentions: Edna Garrett, Sam the Butcher, Disco Paul Lynde
*There is in fact a Robert Conrad toy, though not in track outfit, but as James West from a 1997 "best of the West" line.
Rolling Stone just published a list of the 50 best science fiction shows of all time, and while I loved season 1 of The Mandalorian, I think its presence at number FIVE is a signal that there's a whole lot of recency bias goin' on. Did everything on TV just suck before 2015? No, I don't think so, and I won't even get into shows that could/should be on the list, but the presence of so many series that are so new surprises me (click here for it, but beware, they have giant ads and it crashed my browser). One of them has been on the air only a few weeks!
Doctor Who tops the BOTNS-era shows at #4, though that includes the modern stuff, so maybe that means the highest-ranking BOTNS show is Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ended in the 1990s. Similarly, Quantum Leap started in 1989 and went into the next decade. So you could make the argument that the top "pure" BOTNS-era show on the list is Space:1999 at #31.
*Don't read this post until you listen to our new bonus episode unless you want our lists "spoiled!"
*This episode is a companion to our earlier bonus episode in which we discussed TV shows that should have been adapted as comic books.
*Mike's list, for easy reference:
1) Marvel Two-in-One/Marvel Team-Up
2) Forever People
3) Jimmy Olsen and the Newsboy Legion
4) Mark Trail
5) Bill Hoest's Laugh Parade
Honorable mentions: Nexus, Damage Control, Black Kiss
*Rick's list, for easy reference:
1) Legion of Super-Heroes
2) Green Lantern/Green Arrow
3) All-Star Squadron
4) Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!
5) Prez
Honorable mentions: Not Brand Ecch, Mr. Monster
Listen to the episode for details on the comics and how we would have turned them into television in the 1970s and 1980s!
Note: the actor who played Vinnie on The Odd Couple is Larry Gelman.
Back in the BOTNS era and before, many TV shows had licensed comic book adaptations, but many more didn’t. Rick and Mike pick five each that should have had their own comic, suggest possible details like look and format, and Mike even offers to write some of them! Join us for this mixed media adventure.
In this bonus episode, we look at the most ineffective/counterproductive (we're being diplomatic!) additions of child characters to shows in the BOTNS era. Each of us made a list of top/bottom 5 characters without consulting each other, then shared our results on the show.
For the record, here are our lists:
Mike:
5) Leon (Bumper Robinson) from Night Court
4) Dodie (Dawn Lyn) from My Three Sons
3) Scrappy-Doo from Scooby-Doo
2) Andy Keaton (Brian Bonsall) from Family Ties
1) Sam (Danny Cooksey) from Diff'rent Strokes
Honorable Mentions:
Stephanie (Danielle Brisebois) from All in the Family
Jessica (Ebonie Smith) from The Jeffersons
Alfonso (Alfonso Ribeiro) from Silver Spoons
Rick:
5) Joey (Joey Lawrence) from Gimme a Break!
4) Penny (Janet Jackson) from Good Times
3) Sam (Danny Cooksey) from Diff'rent Strokes
2) Andy Keaton (Brian Bonsall) from Family Ties
1) Chachi (Scott Baio) from Happy Days
Honorable Mentions:
Nicky Papadopolous (Corin Nemec) from Webster
The Smurflings from The Smurfs
Andy (Mackenzie Astin) from The Facts of Life
Cousin Oliver (Robbie Rist) from The Brady Bunch
Jeremy (Ralph Macchio) from Eight Is Enough
Notes:
*The Family Ties spinoff Mike refers to is Day by Day with Linda Kelsey and Doug Sheehan.
*Corin Nemec joined Webster as George's nephew Nicky near the beginning of season 5 but did not return for season 6.
Nothing quite says a show has grown long in the tooth quite like the addition of a new "cute" kid. Groan along, as we break down the worst of the worst from the seventies and eighties
As mentioned on our Buck Rogers episode Mike watched all of season one in preparation. Here now, we offer his "official" BOTNS ranking of the episodes from best to worst. For the purposes of this ranking, he considered all two-part episodes as one episode.
1. The Pilot movie, AKA "The Awakening," Parts 1 and 2: In this case, I'm recommending the theatrical movie version from the first season DVD set (the two-part TV version appears on the season two set). This offers some fun space opera antics, sexy Princess Ardala, a space cotillion, some space disco, and some of the weirder sci-fi elements that mostly vanished once the series started (including the Computer Council). Wilma seems a little off, and that opening credits sequence we talked about seems A LOT off, but otherwise a good time, plus Buck swears a little.
2. "The Plot to Kill a City," Parts 1 and 2: Frank Gorshin, Anthony James, and others play space assassins bent on destroying New Chicago because they killed one member of their gang. Buck infiltrates them, but things don't go entirely as planned. Markie Post also guest stars as one of the many wayward women Buck rescues in his adventures.
3. "Space Vampire": Listen to our episode.
4. "The Return of the Fighting 69th": Married weapons dealers who nearly died in an accident sort of caused by Wilma seek vengeance on her by destroying the Earth (or least New Chicago--seriously, space bad guys, dial back the anger a little). In order to navigate an asteroid field, Wilma has to recall the Fighting 69th, a group of pilots she put out to pasture. Good turn for Erin Gray as Wilma, Peter Graves shows up and flies a spaceship (and any fan of Airplane laughs a little in a good way), and one of the bad guys shoots fire from his hand!
5. "Flight of the War Witch," parts 1 and 2 (double-sized episode on DVD): In the season finale, Buck, Ardala, the entire Draconian fleet, and, well, just about everybody travels to a parallel universe to help a planet of light people (who conveniently can look like people people) stop the War Witch Zarina (Julie Newmar--really more just a mean lady). A good adventure with some interesting special effects, and Ardala gets to grow a little after Newmar's Zarina puts her in her place (also, she gets to wear this KISS-like action outfit). It almost seems like a season two setup in a lot of ways...but then they revamped the whole show.
6. "A Dream of Jennifer": One of the better "serious Buck" outings. Some bad guys disguise a woman as Buck's long-lost-to-the-apocalypse girlfriend to lure him into doing some business for them. He also visits the City by the Sea, which apparently used to be New Orleans (perhaps answering the naming question when it comes to cities with a preexisting "New").
7. "Planet of the Slave Girls," Parts 1 and 2 (double-sized episode on DVD): Really, a planet of slaves in general, though Wilma briefly becomes a "slave girl" and almost sweats to death with another one. Features Jack Palance as a superpowered cult leader (he can shoot ray beams from his hands), Roddy McDowall as a clueless bureaucrat, David Groh as a pilot with a beef with Buck and his 20th century ways, plus a cameo by Buster Crabbe (Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon in the movie serials). Also, Buck baffles the 25th century folks with football lingo and busts out some kung fu.
8. "Unchained Woman": Buck goes undercover in a prison to bust out a prisoner/witness (Jamie Lee Curtis), which leads to some Western-style hijinks with a hint of The Fugitive (a relentless android chases them). Michael Delano (the villain in the Wonder Woman episode "Disco Devil" we discussed in season two) plays the heavy. Also features a "sand squid."
9. "Cosmic Whiz Kid": Gary Coleman guest stars as fellow 21st century refugee/genius Hieronymus Fox, who gets kidnapped by Ray Walston. Buck and Wilma have to rescue him, but, well, he kind of rescues himself. Prime Coleman era, and you can't go wrong with Walston, but Coleman and Gerard share very little screen time.
10. "Cruise Ship to the Stars": A woman suffers from a Jekyll and Hyde situation and is committing crimes on a cruise ship and trying to kill Miss Cosmos. Buck shows up to provide security, while Wilma goes undercover (in a terrible, terrible wig). Also features some more space disco and the only appearance of Twiki's "girlfriend" Tina. Also notable for an appearance by Dorothy Stratten as Miss Cosmos.
11. "Happy Birthday, Buck": Wilma and Dr. Huer send Buck on an escort mission to get him out the way while they put together a surprise birthday party for him. Good thing because he ends up thwarting an assassination plot against Huer by a vengeful mutant and a greedy psychiatrist! Morgan Brittany guest stars, and bronze age comics stalwart Martin Pasko writes. Also, we get to see New Detroit! Learn more about the show and "Happy Birthday, Buck" from Pasko himself on this great episode of John Siuntres' Word Balloon podcast, including a bonus Jack Klugman impression (Buck portion starts around the 25-minute mark).
12. "Ardala Returns": Second banana Kane's new hatchet fighter keeps blowing up, so Ardala decides to enlist Buck's help, whether he wants to or not. The Draconians use a cumbersome technique to make their own android Bucks (which will serve an added benefit to Ardala, if you catch my drift). Buck sabotages the clones with his brain waves or something, and Gerard gets to have some fun playing different aspects of his personality.
13. "Olympiad": Should have been called "Space Olympics" because it centers around, well, space Olympics. An athlete wants to defect, and the Directorate uses Buck's celebrity to send him as an emissary and help the athlete defect, which he eventually does with the help of the athlete's space-bobsledding girlfriend.
14. "Planet of the Amazon Women": Another misleading title. Buck gets kidnapped to a planet of mostly women (its men died in a war or ended up as slaves off-planet) and gets put up for auction by TV's Dr. Shrinker. The planet's princess buys him so he can help her start a revolution. Meanwhile, Wilma, Huer, and Theopolis work on a trade deal with the mean, pointy-eyebrowed computer head we mentioned on the podcast.
15. "Vegas in Space": Buck goes to a space casino planet to rescue a kidnapped woman. Along to help, Major Marla Landers (the Wilma replacement that didn't happen). Given the great title, a little disappointing, but notable for the first appearance of Buck's Han Solo cosplay. Also criminally underuses Cesar Romero.
16. "Twiki is Missing": In the B story, Wilma leads a mission to drag a giant hunk of frozen oxygen through a narrow hole in the Earth's atmosphere (or something), which could really help or catch fire and obliterate life on Earth. It ain't all space rainbows and space puppy dogs in the 25th century. Over in the A story, a guy running a mining colony uses three superpowered ladies to robotnap Twiki. If I remember correctly, Buck saves him, then ends up taking him back, and then they run through a bunch of hallways, get caught, escape, and run through them again maybe. Anyway, it all works out. Buck saves Twiki, uses the explosives they're mining to help out Wilma's mission, and frees one of the superpowered ladies from the bad guy's blackmail control...I think.
17. "Escape from Wedded Bliss": The first of the Ardala returns episodes (but last in quality). Ardala tries to force Buck to marry her by threatening to blow up the Earth. I'm no expert on romance, but seems like a bad strategy, princess. Anyhow, he pretends to be down with it so he can get on the mother ship and blow up the weapon. Fun fact. In Draconian culture, the more formal the occasion, the fewer the clothes.
18. "Buck's Duel to the Death": Probably better than "Escape from Wedded Bliss," but I almost forgot to include it, so maybe not. Buck goes to a planet to help it escape Trebor, an oppressive warlord (played by craggy character actor William Smith), but ends up having to fight him to fulfill some kind of prophecy or something. Trebor can shoot electricity, but Buck uses some 20th century know-how to stop him and put the locals on the long road to reestablishing democracy.
19. "Space Rockers": Oh, "Space Rockers," how I wanted to love you. I mean, you're called "Space Rockers," and you feature mind-control space rock music, musicians playing funky space instruments (including one that pretty much looks like a table), plus great guest stars like Jerry Orbach, Richard Moll, and Judy Landers. Yet, "Space Rockers," you didn't live up to your potential, even with the song "Odyssey," which also became some kind of disco hit. You could have been better, or you could have been better by being lamer. Instead, you stuck to the middle (and didn't utilize Erin Gray). I'm not sure what went wrong here really, but it went so wrong that I didn't even notice that Genius Award-winner Leonard Lightfoot plays one of the space rockers. If you're keeping score at home, that means both Genius Winners have played characters in sci-fi productions of questionable quality. Fun fact: Johnny Harris, who created "Odyssey" for this episode, also scored the third season Wonder Woman and worked as Lynda Carter's musical director.
The Internet loves lists, and we've added another one. Mike and Rick each pick their 5 top TV chefs and cooks from the seventies and eighties--real or fictional--plus a few honorable mentions.
I just read the recent Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time, and while I was all set to be outraged, I'm more like...eh. Rob Sheffield is the credited author, but the piece claims that RS editors made the picks along with 53 industry insiders. I think I'm more disappointed at the lack of insight in even the brief capsule discussions of the 100 shows.
My main problems with the list are: 1) I don't like ranking current series on something like this. It's too soon to consider something like Broad City, let alone call it the 91st best of all time. 2) Too much love for HBO. Sopranos and The Wire are all well and good, but Six Feet Under and Sex and the City? Not so much. 3) Huge recency bias in general. 4) The Worst Shows list, which might have been livelier, consists of only 5 programs, and it looks like two of them were picked just to make political cracks.
But since this is a website devoted to TV of the 1970s and 1980s, let's look at the shows on the list that land in our time period:
8) SNL
9) All in the Family
13) Late Night with David Letterman
16) M*A*S*H*
20) Cheers
29) Monty Python's Flying Circus (Started 1969, but I think qualifies as a 70s/80s show based on its heyday in the States)
30) The Tonight Show
31) Sesame Street
44) Columbo
46) The Mary Tyler Moore Show
47) The Rockford Files
49) Taxi
53) The Bob Newhart Show
54) The Muppet Show
57) Fawlty Towers
58) Roots
59) Hill Street Blues
63) The Wonder Years
65) Happy Days
67) The Odd Couple
78) Thirtysomething
81) Dallas
82) The Jeffersons
86) Good Times
87) Doctor Who
94) Jeopardy!
98) The Golden Girls
I excluded The Simpsons and Roseanne, which started late 80s but I consider 90s shows, but I decided to include The Wonder Years. As you can see, a good number of these--8, 13, 30. 31. 87, and 94--are long-running series not necessarily identified with any particular decade.
So if I remove those, the tally is 15 70s shows, and two of those are British. I count only 6 1980s shows (Note: I consider Taxi a 70s show and Dallas an 80s show), which seems like a low total considering the list is ranking the likes of The People vs. O.J. Simpson.
What shows are missing? Happy Days just made an appearance on Battle of the Network Shows, but at least one other from this list will turn up in our season 1. What other programs on the RS list would you like to see us discuss on the podcast?
