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Forgotten Network/Syndicated TV Shows of the Past
- Thread starter spencerkarter85
- Start date
A couple more from the UK that I don't know if anybody else got,
but WTVT Tampa carried them both: "Department S" and "My Partner
The Ghost" (known across the big pond as "Randall and Hopkirk,
Deceased"). And one that aired on NBC in the summer of '68: "The
Champions," about three British Intelligence agents endowed with
superpowers.
And how about some made-in-England-for-American-TV (I think)
forgettables: "The Persuaders" (Tony Curtis, Roger Moore), "The
Protectors" (Robert Vaughn), "The Adventurer" (Gene Barry), and
"The Julie Andrews Hour"?
but WTVT Tampa carried them both: "Department S" and "My Partner
The Ghost" (known across the big pond as "Randall and Hopkirk,
Deceased"). And one that aired on NBC in the summer of '68: "The
Champions," about three British Intelligence agents endowed with
superpowers.
And how about some made-in-England-for-American-TV (I think)
forgettables: "The Persuaders" (Tony Curtis, Roger Moore), "The
Protectors" (Robert Vaughn), "The Adventurer" (Gene Barry), and
"The Julie Andrews Hour"?
jfrancispastirchak said:
Then there was the show that followed "Wendy and Me" on ABC Monday nights: "The Bing Crosby Show," which had a pinch of "I Love Lucy": Bing was a retired singer whose wife was always nagging him to get her into show business. The question still persists: if the Old Groaner wanted to do a series, why not a variety show instead of this sitcom turkey?
I used to watch Ellery Queen.
Speaking of Don Adams, there's always USA Network's "Check It Out". Would you believe...Don Adams as a supermarket manager?
(Yes, I did that on purpose...)
Speaking of Don Adams, there's always USA Network's "Check It Out". Would you believe...Don Adams as a supermarket manager?
(Yes, I did that on purpose...)
OhioMediaWatch said:I used to watch Ellery Queen.
Speaking of Don Adams, there's always USA Network's "Check It Out". Would you believe...Don Adams as a supermarket manager?
(Yes, I did that on purpose...)
Kind of amusing, OMW, but in my opinion, you missed it by that much.
(Yes, I did that on purpose).
Lkeller said:
Heh. Maybe I should improve my GS quotient by calling Me-TV on my shoe phone, and asking for them to run it weekdays...
Tim L said:
The USA Network used to do this in the 80s. I saw, "Good Morning World," "He and She," "Bridget Loves Birney," "The Girl With Something Extra." Remember USA's Up All Night, with really bad movies?
My favourite short lived shows include, "Open All Night," with the late Sam Whipple, "Oh Madeline," with the late Madeline Kahn and the best NBC show that was cancelled, "It's Your Move," with the NOT LATE
Jason Bateman. I believe the creators (or producers) went on to make "Married With Children." I remember NBC used to show network pilots that never made it. One of them was funny, it was a Gale Gordon (sans Lucille Ball) where he was an abbot.
jfrancispastirchak said:
I've often thought about George's answering machine parody on Seinfeld ("Believe it or not, George isn't at home...") of the Greatest American Hero theme song. I wonder how many viewers actually "got" the classic TV reference, versus those who never heard of the show, and just thought it a funny message.
Good Question. Believe it or not, I didn't.Stanislav said:
onairb said:
Yes - very clever and singable theme, but a mediocre show, unless you were a 10 year old boy. I believe the theme was even a minor hit and got some airplay in its extended version. The lyrics were cleverly written, and don't necessarily have to apply to a super hero.
Here are several others:
Extreme (ABC, 1995), starring James Brolin and a then-unknown Julie Bowen (Modern Family) that premiered after Super Bowl XXIX
Free Spirit (ABC, 1989)
Phenom (ABC, 1993)
Rags to Riches (NBC, 1987-88)
The Famous Teddy Z (CBS, 1990), starring Jon Cryer pre-Two And a Half Men
Camp Wilder (ABC, 1992), starring Jay Mohr and future Oscar winner Hilary Swank
Double Trouble (NBC, 1984), though the oldest sister of the Sagal twins would be set for life a few years later with Married...With Children
Heart of the City (ABC, 1986), Christina Applegate's last series before...Married With Children!
Wind on Water (NBC, 1998), starring Bo Derek
Prime Suspect (syndicated, 1992), which was an America's Most Wanted ripoff
Opportunity Knocks (ABC, 2008)
Cleopatra 2525 and Jack of All Trades (syndicated, 2000)
The Cindy Margolis Show (syndicated, 2000)
Star Games (syndicated, 1985), hosted by Bruce Jenner
The New Mickey Mouse Club (syndicated, 1977, though the '90s version that introduced Britney Spears, Keri Russell, Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake to the world was infinitely better)
Extreme (ABC, 1995), starring James Brolin and a then-unknown Julie Bowen (Modern Family) that premiered after Super Bowl XXIX
Free Spirit (ABC, 1989)
Phenom (ABC, 1993)
Rags to Riches (NBC, 1987-88)
The Famous Teddy Z (CBS, 1990), starring Jon Cryer pre-Two And a Half Men
Camp Wilder (ABC, 1992), starring Jay Mohr and future Oscar winner Hilary Swank
Double Trouble (NBC, 1984), though the oldest sister of the Sagal twins would be set for life a few years later with Married...With Children
Heart of the City (ABC, 1986), Christina Applegate's last series before...Married With Children!
Wind on Water (NBC, 1998), starring Bo Derek
Prime Suspect (syndicated, 1992), which was an America's Most Wanted ripoff
Opportunity Knocks (ABC, 2008)
Cleopatra 2525 and Jack of All Trades (syndicated, 2000)
The Cindy Margolis Show (syndicated, 2000)
Star Games (syndicated, 1985), hosted by Bruce Jenner
The New Mickey Mouse Club (syndicated, 1977, though the '90s version that introduced Britney Spears, Keri Russell, Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake to the world was infinitely better)
The Grudge Match (syndicated, 1991-92): This was kind of like a court show, but instead of "battling it out" in the courtroom, the two people with an issue fight it out in a boxing ring with oversized boxing gloves, paints, food, etc.
The Extraordinary (syndicated, 1994-96): Corbin Bernsen ("L.A. Law") hosts this Australian import which deals with strange phenomenons. From producer Peter Brennan ("A Current Affair," "Judge Judy").
RollerGames (syndicated, 1989-90): An attempt to revive the old "roller derby" format that was popular in the '60s and '70s, with an updated presentation. Lasted only a year due to the producer's financial troubles.
Blade Warriors (syndicated, 1994-95): "American Gladiators" meets "Roller Derby" with in-line skates. This show also led the producers to file for Chapter 11.
Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection (syndicated, 1985-86): a comedy troupe dubs their own dialogue into old movies (sound familiar?).
And in network TV:
TV 101 (CBS, 1988): News photographer quits his job to teach high-school kids how to do interesting projects for a public-access cable TV show. Great concept, not enough viewers.
The Extraordinary (syndicated, 1994-96): Corbin Bernsen ("L.A. Law") hosts this Australian import which deals with strange phenomenons. From producer Peter Brennan ("A Current Affair," "Judge Judy").
RollerGames (syndicated, 1989-90): An attempt to revive the old "roller derby" format that was popular in the '60s and '70s, with an updated presentation. Lasted only a year due to the producer's financial troubles.
Blade Warriors (syndicated, 1994-95): "American Gladiators" meets "Roller Derby" with in-line skates. This show also led the producers to file for Chapter 11.
Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection (syndicated, 1985-86): a comedy troupe dubs their own dialogue into old movies (sound familiar?).
And in network TV:
TV 101 (CBS, 1988): News photographer quits his job to teach high-school kids how to do interesting projects for a public-access cable TV show. Great concept, not enough viewers.
Matt Leblanc of Friends was in TV 101. See ads: http://vintagetoledotv.squarespace.com/print-ads-cbs/single-gallery/6318727
I think it made it all the way to #2 on the Hot 100 in the spring/summer of 1981.
Anybody else remember "On The Rocks," a 1975-76 ABC
sitcom which followed "Barney Miller" for part of its run?
Tom Poston played a mild-mannered guard on that show,
which was what "Hogan's Heroes" started out to be: a
sitcom about a prison overrun by the inmates (until producer
Bernard Fein decided that World War II was far enough in the
past to make a POW camp a better setting).
And how about the show that followed "Holmes And Yoyo"
on Saturdays: "Mr. T And Tina"? No, not that Mr. T;
Pat Morita was Taro Takahashi who, transferred from Tokyo
to Chicago, hired a somewhat-ditsy housekeeper (Susan Blanchard)
who somehow managed to help him learn American customs.
We haven't even touched daytime:
"Treasure Isle" (ABC, 1967-68), billed as the first outdoor game show
with rules so complicated that host John Bartholomew Tucker probably
tired of explaining them. (You probably know JBT better as the voice
of Owens-Corning and Dirt Devil.)
"Wedding Party" (ABC, 1968): Suzanne Somers' husband Alan Hamel
hosted a show created by "Who Do You Trust?"'s former in-studio producer,
Art Stark, who apparently wanted to do another show that was more talk
than game. And boy, did he succeed: engaged couples chatted with Hamel
about their courtships, then played a simple game in which each tried to pick
the same prize from a showcase. Lasted about three months.
"Letters To Laugh-In" (NBC, 1969): Each week two "Laugh-In" regulars and
two celebrities not connected to the show read jokes sent in by viewers, which
were then rated on a scale of zero to 100; the best joke won the sender a trip
to Hawaii, while the worst won the sender a week in beautiful downtown Burbank.
Gary Owens hosted.
"Dateline: Hollywood" (ABC, 1967): Rona Barrett made her network debut as the
show's gossip columnist and, later, hostess (replacing Joanna Barnes, who had left
to make a movie). I still want to know if it's true that Joanna nearly came to blows
with Agnes Moorehead one morning while Ms. Moorehead was playing Endora on
"Bewitched."
"The Rebus Game" (ABC, 1965): Jack Linkletter hosted this "Concentration" wannabe;
another show I'd place in this category is "Double Exposure" (CBS, 1961) with Steve
Dunne as host.
"The Neighbors" (ABC, 1975): I wonder if Regis remembers hosting this show, in which
five women, all neighbors in real life, dished out the dirt on each other.
"Hot Seat" (ABC, 1976): Not Wally George's show but a Jim Peck-hosted thing where
one spouse tried to predict how the other would answer a question; the predictions
were validated by something called a "galvanic skin response" machine that used electrical
charges to measure emotions. No competition to "The Young And The Restless."
"People Will Talk" (NBC, 1963): Few remember that "Hollywood Squares" had its roots in
this Dennis James-hosted game. Two contestants and fifteen audience members participated;
the audience members were asked a question with a "yes" or "no" answer, and the two contestants
took turns picking one and predicting how he or she voted (each correct prediction was worth
$25 and $100 won the game). Later revived on CBS primetime as "Celebrity Game" with Carl
Reiner as host.
sitcom which followed "Barney Miller" for part of its run?
Tom Poston played a mild-mannered guard on that show,
which was what "Hogan's Heroes" started out to be: a
sitcom about a prison overrun by the inmates (until producer
Bernard Fein decided that World War II was far enough in the
past to make a POW camp a better setting).
And how about the show that followed "Holmes And Yoyo"
on Saturdays: "Mr. T And Tina"? No, not that Mr. T;
Pat Morita was Taro Takahashi who, transferred from Tokyo
to Chicago, hired a somewhat-ditsy housekeeper (Susan Blanchard)
who somehow managed to help him learn American customs.
We haven't even touched daytime:
"Treasure Isle" (ABC, 1967-68), billed as the first outdoor game show
with rules so complicated that host John Bartholomew Tucker probably
tired of explaining them. (You probably know JBT better as the voice
of Owens-Corning and Dirt Devil.)
"Wedding Party" (ABC, 1968): Suzanne Somers' husband Alan Hamel
hosted a show created by "Who Do You Trust?"'s former in-studio producer,
Art Stark, who apparently wanted to do another show that was more talk
than game. And boy, did he succeed: engaged couples chatted with Hamel
about their courtships, then played a simple game in which each tried to pick
the same prize from a showcase. Lasted about three months.
"Letters To Laugh-In" (NBC, 1969): Each week two "Laugh-In" regulars and
two celebrities not connected to the show read jokes sent in by viewers, which
were then rated on a scale of zero to 100; the best joke won the sender a trip
to Hawaii, while the worst won the sender a week in beautiful downtown Burbank.
Gary Owens hosted.
"Dateline: Hollywood" (ABC, 1967): Rona Barrett made her network debut as the
show's gossip columnist and, later, hostess (replacing Joanna Barnes, who had left
to make a movie). I still want to know if it's true that Joanna nearly came to blows
with Agnes Moorehead one morning while Ms. Moorehead was playing Endora on
"Bewitched."
"The Rebus Game" (ABC, 1965): Jack Linkletter hosted this "Concentration" wannabe;
another show I'd place in this category is "Double Exposure" (CBS, 1961) with Steve
Dunne as host.
"The Neighbors" (ABC, 1975): I wonder if Regis remembers hosting this show, in which
five women, all neighbors in real life, dished out the dirt on each other.
"Hot Seat" (ABC, 1976): Not Wally George's show but a Jim Peck-hosted thing where
one spouse tried to predict how the other would answer a question; the predictions
were validated by something called a "galvanic skin response" machine that used electrical
charges to measure emotions. No competition to "The Young And The Restless."
"People Will Talk" (NBC, 1963): Few remember that "Hollywood Squares" had its roots in
this Dennis James-hosted game. Two contestants and fifteen audience members participated;
the audience members were asked a question with a "yes" or "no" answer, and the two contestants
took turns picking one and predicting how he or she voted (each correct prediction was worth
$25 and $100 won the game). Later revived on CBS primetime as "Celebrity Game" with Carl
Reiner as host.
johnnya2k6 said:
I sort of remember this one, produced out of KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, if I remember correctly. Around this time (late-'80s/early-'90s), a number of syndicators wanted to cash in on the success of AMW, Unsolved Mysteries, Cops, and Rescue 911. There was "Missing Reward" (hosted by Stacy Keach), "On Scene: Emergency Response" (like Cops, but only tagging along with paramedics instead of police officers), and "Emergency Call" (Rescue 911 with footage taken from real events--no dramatizations here).
- Status