willmckinley, 13 days ago to random

Tonight in 1971 — Valerie Harper won her first of 4 Emmys as Rhoda Morgenstern.

She was nominated 8 years in a row — and won for both MARY TYLER MOORE and RHODA.

#ValerieHarper #1970sTV

willmckinley, 1 month ago to random

Tonight in 1978 — THE BOB NEWHART SHOW ended its 6-season run on CBS.

"The finest cast in television," Newhart said of co-stars Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily, Marcia Wallace and Peter Bonerz.

#BobNewhart #ClassicTV #1970sTV

willmckinley, 1 month ago to random

Tonight in 1974 — James Garner made his debut as Jim Rockford in THE ROCKFORD FILES.

“He was a role model for me,” co-star Lindsay Wagner told me in 2022. “Observing who he was while working, being around the crew. I saw him treat everyone the same. He was just a real stellar man.”

#JamesGarner #1970sTV #ClassicTV

willmckinley, 1 month ago to random

Today in 1976 — "I'm Just A Bill" debuted on SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK.

It was written by Dave Frishberg and performed by Jack Sheldon (with Sheldon's son John as the boy).

And it's been burned in our memories ever since.

#SchoolhouseRock #1970sTV

willmckinley, 2 months ago to random

Tonight in 1976 — CHARLIE'S ANGELS debuted as a TV movie.

"Critics said, 'Three women detectives? It will never work!' Don't listen to your critics. Listen to your audience!" — producer Aaron Spelling

#charliesangels #1970sTV

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willmckinley, 2 months ago to random

This week in 1978 — Lauren Bacall, Ruth Gordon, and Sandy Dennis starred in PERFECT GENTLEMEN on CBS.

Nora Ephron made her screenwriting debut in this gender-bending heist comedy TV movie directed by Jackie Cooper.

Delightful. On YouTube: https://youtu.be/Rec9zbMskbM

#1970sTV #laurenBacall #RuthGordon #SandyDennis

willmckinley, 2 months ago to random

Tonight in 1974 — FREE TO BE...YOU AND ME debuted on ABC.

This Emmy-winning special based on the record by "Marlo Thomas and Friends” featured animation, live action, puppets and an all-star cast.

As relevant 50 years later as it was then. On Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/free-to-be

#1970sTV #ClassicTV #MarloThomas

willmckinley, 2 months ago to random

Dracula for Sony Betamax — 1978

#1970sTV

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willmckinley, 2 months ago to random

Tonight in 1975 — TRILOGY OF TERROR debuted on the ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK.

DARK SHADOWS mastermind Dan Curtis directed Karen Black (and a doll that gave a generation nightmares).

"I did it all with smoke and mirrors,” Curtis said, "The Zuni doll was a little hand puppet. But it worked.”

#DarkShadows #1970sTV #ClassicTV #TrilogyOfTerror

willmckinley, 2 months ago to random

Tonight in 1978 — GOLDIE debuted on CBS.

Goldie Hawn hosted George Burns, John Ritter, and Shaun Cassidy in this primetime special.

And she stands in for Gracie in an adorable bit w/ George. Watch: https://youtu.be/_5GeYnv_pwE

#GoldieHawn #1970sTV

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1968 — Peter Falk made his debut as COLUMBO in PRESCRIPTION: MURDER on NBC.

He would play the character for 35 years.

“He was perfect,” co-creator William Link said. "And then he got better.”

#Columbo #1970sTV #1960sTV #ClassicTV

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1975 — REALLY ROSIE debuted on CBS.

Carole King sang, composed, and voiced Rosie in this animated special based on Maurice Sendak’s "Nutshell Library” books.

The quirky (and darkly comic) songs include the banger "Chicken Soup with Rice.”

On Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/20200309_20200309_1612

#1970sTV #ReallyRosie #CaroleKing

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1971 — MAYBE I’LL COME HOME IN THE SPRING debuted on the ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK.

Sally Field shines as a hippie who returns to her family (Jackie Cooper, Eleanor Parker, Lane Bradbury).

Nuanced social commentary, lyrically directed by Joseph Sargent and shot by Russell Metty.

On YouTube: https://youtu.be/v-no3swkj0g

#ClassicTV #1970sTV #SallyField

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1972 — THE CBS LATE MOVIE debuted.

Feature films — including genre titles never before on network TV — made this franchise competitive w/ Carson.

British reruns like THE AVENGERS came later and made this a destination for many of us!

#ClassicTV #1970sTV

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Leonard Goldberg (1934-2019) would have been 90 today.

With partner Aaron Spelling, he produced CHARLIE’S ANGELS, FANTASY ISLAND, STARSKY & HUTCH, SWAT, HART TO HART and more.

He also green-lighted DARK SHADOWS as head of ABC Daytime. A truly epic career.

#DarkShadows #ClassicTV #1970sTV

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1971 — THE PEARL BAILEY SHOW debuted on ABC.

The Tony-winning entertainer hosted this groundbreaking (but sadly short-lived) primetime variety series.

Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and Andy Williams guested on the first show. It's delightful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3vfqpt4iU4&t=221s

#PearlBailey #1970sTV #ClassicTV

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1975 — BARNEY MILLER debuted as a weekly series on ABC.

The pilot had aired in Aug, 1974. Only Hal Linden as Barney and Abe Vigoda as Phil Fish returned for the series.

#BarneyMiller #1970sTV #ClassicTV

willmckinley, 3 months ago to random

Tonight in 1977 — ROOTS debuted on ABC.

LeVar Burton led an all-star cast in this Emmy-winning miniseries based on Alex Haley’s best-selling book.

The finale remains one of the most-watched, non-sports broadcasts in TV history.

#ClassicTV #1970sTV #Roots #AlexHaley #LevarBurton

willmckinley, 4 months ago to random

Tonight in 1973 — JACK BENNY’S FIRST FAREWELL SPECIAL aired on NBC.

Everyone thinks Jack is retiring. Except Jack.

It’s on Internet Archive — with original commercials:

https://archive.org/details/JackBennysFirstFarewellSpecial #1970sTV #ClassicTV #JackBenny

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willmckinley, 4 months ago to generationx

Tonight in 1972 — #Emergency debuted on NBC.

In the first three years it aired, 46 states enacted laws allowing paramedics to practice.

#RandolphMantooth #KevinTighe #OnThisDay #ClassicTV #1970s #1970sTV

willmckinley, 4 months ago to random

Tonight in 1977 — FANTASY ISLAND debuted on THE ABC FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIE.

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize starred in this pilot film for the series, which debuted a year later.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsDpeByoago #1970sTV #ClassicTV #FantasyIsland

willmckinley, 4 months ago to random

Tonight in 1972 — THE NIGHT STALKER debuted on ABC.

Produced by #DarkShadows mastermind Dan Curtis and directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, this TV movie introduced Darren McGavin as reporter Carl Kolchak.

#Kolchak #TheNightStalker #1970sTV

willmckinley, 4 months ago to random

Tonight in 1975 — RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI debuted on CBS.

Chuck Jones wrote, produced + directed this animated adaptation of the Kipling story about a brave mongoose.

Orson Welles + June Foray provided voices. Watch: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x30xjxh #RikkiTikkiTavi #ClassicTV #1970sTV

willmckinley, 4 months ago to random

Today in 1972 — ZOOM debuted on PBS.

The Emmy-winning kids’ show received more than 10,000 letters a week from fans — who received "Zoom cards" in return!

Watch:
https://americanarchive.org/special_collections/zoom #ClassicTV #1970sTV

willmckinley, 4 months ago to random

Today in 1984 — THE EDGE OF NIGHT ended its 28-year run.

TV's only #FilmNoir soap opera brought crime and murder mystery stories to daytime, courtesy of Emmy-winning head writer Henry Slesar.

Inexplicably not streaming, but hundreds of episodes are on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@SharonRoseGabet #ClassicSoaps #TheEdgeOfNight #1970sTV #1960sTV #1980sTV