January 3: This Day in TV History

[Stanislav]

Just a few random TV related events that happened on January 3. Discuss or comment as you please……

1917: Character actor Jesse White is born (as Jesse Marc Weidenfeld) in Buffalo, New York.

1932: Actor Dabney Coleman (Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Buffalo Bill, The Slap Maxwell Story) is born in Austin, Texas.

1947: Having obtained the first commercial TV license in Washington, D.C., experimental station W3XWT becomes WTTG.

1951: Dragnet premieres on NBC.

1956: Queen for a Day debuts on NBC.

1964: In one of their first appearances on American TV, film footage of The Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show. Parr’s commentary indicates that he is less than impressed.

1966: Hullabaloo shows promotional videos of The Beatles songs "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out.”

1969: Actor Howard McNear (The Andy Griffith Show) dies in California, aged 63.

1970: WHAG-TV (channel 25) launches in Hagerstown, Maryland.

1972: ZOOM premieres on PBS.

1982: Bryant Gumbel begins his stint as co-anchor of The Today Show. He would sign-off the show for the last time exactly 15 years later on January 3, 1997.

1983: A revival of $ale of the Century debuts on NBC, along with two other game shows: Just Men! and Hit Man (both of which would end up on the network scrap heap just 3 months later). Meanwhile, over on CBS, The Price is Right debuts the new pricing game Plinko, which would become one of the show’s most popular games (and is still in the rotation).

1985: The last 405-line monochrome TV transmissions take place in Scotland, having been shut down one day earlier in the rest of the U.K. It is also the end of VHF-TV in the U.K., with all remaining stations transmitting PAL color and 625 lines on UHF.

1989: The Arsenio Hall Show premieres in syndication.

2005: The first of six planned episodes of the reality series Who’s Your Daddy? airs on Fox. Low ratings and a torrent of hostile press would lead the network to shelve the remaining shows (though they eventually aired on the Fox Reality cable/satellite channel).

(Just a little featurette I hope to do as time permits. It’s an entirely random selection based on a quick Net search, and is not meant to be comprehensive. So, don’t post nasty messages about “you forgot THIS” or “how could you not mention THAT?” Do so, and I’ll just take my keyboard and go home…..)

 

[andreajesus]

Just a few random TV related events that happened on January 3. Discuss or comment as you please……

1983: A revival of $ale of the Century debuts on NBC, along with two other game shows: Just Men! and Hit Man

Interesting tidbit about "Just Men", for the FEW who DON'T know...it was the FIRST game show in MANY years HOSTED by a woman (Betty White) - Betty was also the FIRST (and only) WOMAN host to win a Daytime Emmy Award...

 

[KML0224]

Are you sure on the date with Arsenio Hall? January 3, 1989 was a Tuesday. January 3, 1987 was a Saturday. I know that only because it was when NBC aired WWF Saturday Night's Main Event. It was taped in Hartford and featured the infamous cage match with Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff. I only remember this because it's the single oldest recording I have in my collection. Super Bowl XXI would follow on Sunday, January 25, 1987. Sorry to nitpick. I just seem to be a fountain of useless information sometimes! (LOL)

 

[mleach]

1970: WHAG-TV (channel 25) launches in Hagerstown, Maryland.

WHAG was supposed to have been ABC but somehow became an affiliate of NBC instead.

Another interesting fact about WHAG...unlike most other TV stations ( I assume ) their news anchors, on-air weather forcasters, reporters and so forth...no contracts !! In other words, nobody there is under contract unless the current staff had signed one recently. When I worked in the Hagerstown radio market a few years back, one of our news reporters joined WHAG and when she told us about the lack of contract, we were surprised.

Then again maybe not...in the case of the radio stations in that market...I don't believe any jock is "under contract" in that market. If radio can do it why not WHAG-TV?

 

[WMC2006]

Are you sure on the date with Arsenio Hall? January 3, 1989 was a Tuesday.

For what it's worth, Wikipedia says January 3, 1989. Arsenio also brought us The Dog Pound, the Posse, 'Kick it Sandy', the John B Williams Poetry Moment, Star Parodi , Things that make you say Hmmmmm, and:

'From Stage 29, at Paramount Studios, on Melrose Avenue, in the heart of Hollywood California, in theeese United States, ooooon this planet we call Earth, it's the Arsenio Hall Show starring Arsenio Hall'

and

'It's Arsenioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Halllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll'.


Also, The Pat Sajak Show debuted the following week on the 9th but I guess we'll see that listed on Stanislav's list for This Day in TV History for January 9th. ;D

 

[Stanislav]

Just a few random TV related events that happened on January 3. Discuss or comment as you please……

1983: A revival of $ale of the Century debuts on NBC, along with two other game shows: Just Men! and Hit Man

Interesting tidbit about "Just Men", for the FEW who DON'T know...it was the FIRST game show in MANY years HOSTED by a woman (Betty White) - Betty was also the FIRST (and only) WOMAN host to win a Daytime Emmy Award...

Ah -- BUT the award for MOST egregious overuse of CAPITALS and boldface in a forum post goes to YOU!!

(Just teasing, my dear...)

 

[Stanislav]

Are you sure on the date with Arsenio Hall? January 3, 1989 was a Tuesday.

For what it's worth, Wikipedia says January 3, 1989.

A Tuesday debut would be unusual. Being so close to New Year's, maybe Fox ran a special on Monday the 2nd, or maybe a movie that ran late?

Also, The Pat Sajak Show debuted the following week on the 9th but I guess we'll see that listed on Stanislav's list for This Day in TV History for January 9th. ;D

Actually, I missed that one, so thanks for pointing it out!! (Adding it now...) ;D

 

[WMC2006]

You are very welcome. Don't forget that Sajak didn't even host the final two weeks of his show. Rush Limbaugh hosted a couple of shows during that 2 weeks (which included some controversy, I believe) and comedian Paul Rodriguez hosted the final two shows.

 

[Stanislav]

You are very welcome. Don't forget that Sajak didn't even host the final two weeks of his show. Rush Limbaugh hosted a couple of shows during that 2 weeks (which included some controversy, I believe) and comedian Paul Rodriguez hosted the final two shows.

Yeah, Pat was on vacation when the plug got pulled, so he didn't even get to do a "farewell" show for the 17 or so viewers that were still watching.

 

[azumanga]

'From Stage 29, at Paramount Studios, on Melrose Avenue, in the heart of Hollywood California, in theeese United States, ooooon this planet we call Earth, it's the Arsenio Hall Show starring Arsenio Hall'

and

'It's Arsenioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Halllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll'.

An introduction that blows "Heeeeere's Johnny" out of the water.

Don't forget that Sajak didn't even host the final two weeks of his show. Rush Limbaugh hosted a couple of shows during that 2 weeks (which included some controversy, I believe) and comedian Paul Rodriguez hosted the final two shows.

Yeah, Pat was on vacation when the plug got pulled, so he didn't even get to do a "farewell" show for the 17 or so viewers that were still watching.

How did Paul close the last show (for those who care)?

It wasn't the first time a nighttime talker ended without its host -- Rick Dees' "Into The Night" also ended with a guest host at the helm.

 

[wbhist]

Don't forget that Sajak didn't even host the final two weeks of his show. Rush Limbaugh hosted a couple of shows during that 2 weeks (which included some controversy, I believe) and comedian Paul Rodriguez hosted the final two shows.

Yeah, Pat was on vacation when the plug got pulled, so he didn't even get to do a "farewell" show for the 17 or so viewers that were still watching.

How did Paul close the last show (for those who care)?

It wasn't the first time a nighttime talker ended without its host -- Rick Dees' "Into The Night" also ended with a guest host at the helm.

Didn't the 1967-69 ABC nighttime talk version of The Joey Bishop Show likewise end its run with guest hosts? I seem to remember reading this to have been the case . . .

 

[RicoGregg]

Don't forget that Sajak didn't even host the final two weeks of his show. Rush Limbaugh hosted a couple of shows during that 2 weeks (which included some controversy, I believe) and comedian Paul Rodriguez hosted the final two shows.

Yeah, Pat was on vacation when the plug got pulled, so he didn't even get to do a "farewell" show for the 17 or so viewers that were still watching.

How did Paul close the last show (for those who care)?

It wasn't the first time a nighttime talker ended without its host -- Rick Dees' "Into The Night" also ended with a guest host at the helm.

Didn't the 1967-69 ABC nighttime talk version of The Joey Bishop Show likewise end its run with guest hosts? I seem to remember reading this to have been the case . . .

The Stephanie Miller Show started and ended with a thud. The last few weeks of the show was hosted by Danny Bonaduce.

 

[bpatrick]

Also on January 3, 1956, "Do You Trust Your Wife?"
with Edgar Bergen debuts as a CBS primetime show.
Despite the lead-in of "The $64,000 Question," it lasts
just fourteen months. In September 1957 it resurfaces
on ABC daytime with a new host who's getting his big
break: Johnny Carson. In 1958 he's teamed with a new
announcer, Ed McMahon (who replaces Bill Nimmo) and the
show's title is changed to "Who Do You Trust?" in order to
expand the range of contestants beyond married couples.
It and "American Bandstand" soon become ABC's highest-
rated daytime shows (both air after school). When Johnny
and Ed move to NBC and "The Tonight Show" in 1962, Woody
Woodbury becomes host of "Trust" and Bill Nimmo returns as
announcer. Woodbury finds out in a hurry that it's Carson,
and not the format, that made the show a hit; the show is
canceled in December 1963.

 

[LKellerIII]

Also on January 3, 1956, "Do You Trust Your Wife?"
with Edgar Bergen debuts as a CBS primetime show.
Despite the lead-in of "The $64,000 Question," it lasts
just fourteen months. In September 1957 it resurfaces
on ABC daytime with a new host who's getting his big
break: Johnny Carson. In 1958 he's teamed with a new
announcer, Ed McMahon (who replaces Bill Nimmo) and the
show's title is changed to "Who Do You Trust?" in order to
expand the range of contestants beyond married couples.
It and "American Bandstand" soon become ABC's highest-
rated daytime shows (both air after school). When Johnny
and Ed move to NBC and "The Tonight Show" in 1962, Woody
Woodbury becomes host of "Trust" and Bill Nimmo returns as
announcer. Woodbury finds out in a hurry that it's Carson,
and not the format, that made the show a hit; the show is
canceled in December 1963.

Woody Woodbury - now there's a name I hadn't thought of in about 4 decades. From what I've read, he sold some comedy record albums in the early 60s - riding the wave of popularity created by Vaughn Meader (doing JFK), and Bill Cosby. He later had a short-lived 90 minute afternoon talk show - produced by MetroMedia, I think...it played in LA on KTTV, and I assume it was syndicated. I recall that he wasn't very funny (IMO), and came off as being not very bright. No matter - he was buried by the competition - Mike Douglas, and the others of that era.

 

[bpatrick]

He was carried on WKRC Cincinnati in 1967. He
was known for his Redd Foxx-style "party records,"
the kind you could buy only under the counter.
I agree with you that he wasn't very funny, but as
one critic noted in comparing him to Carson: Carson
could take a double-entendre and make it sound perfectly
innocent; Woodbury could say "hello" and make it sound
like a proposition. Regardless, the audience for "Who Do
You Trust?" began to melt away when he replaced Carson.

 

[Tim L]

Woodbury was also carried on WKBF-61 in Cleveland..61 (along with WUAB-43 in the early days, and WJAN-17 in Canton) Carried shows the major Cleveland stations had no room for...or just didnt want..Names like Ed Nelson, Les Crane, Woodbury, Gypsy Rose Lee, Irv Kupcinet, Joe Pyne and Donald O' Connor all had short-lived talk shows in the 1967-69 era..

 

[LKellerIII]

Woodbury was also carried on WKBF-61 in Cleveland..61 (along with WUAB-43 in the early days, and WJAN-17 in Canton) Carried shows the major Cleveland stations had no room for...or just didnt want..Names like Ed Nelson, Les Crane, Woodbury, Gypsy Rose Lee, Irv Kupcinet, Joe Pyne and Donald O' Connor all had short-lived talk shows in the 1967-69 era..

As I remember, O'Connor's show began when Woodbury's ended. It lasted a couple of years - longer than Woody's show. Joe Pyne may have had a short run in Cleveland, but his show lasted 5 or 6 years in Los Angeles, where it originated. In fact, I believe it ended shortly before his death from cancer.

But Pyne's show wasn't in the talk-music-variety mode like the ones mentioned above. It was a supposedly "topical" show - the centerpiece being Pyne's rather nasty take-no-prisoners interview style. He was a fore-runner to Morton Downey Jr., Wally George, and people of that ilk. The nearest thing to Pyne on TV today is probably Bill O'Reilly.

 

[bpatrick]

I always found it hard to believe when Morton
Downey, Jr. claimed he'd never heard of Joe Pyne.
Pyne was big on radio and television in the late '60s;
BTW, he even hosted a game show in 1966, "Showdown,"
on which contestants were seated on breakaway chairs
which deposited them on the floor (or beneath it) when
they gave wrong answers.

I remember watching Pyne on Saturdays in Greenville, SC
and in Birmingham, and even though I didn't necessarily
agree with him I found him more fun to watch than Downey.
I always wondered just how seriously he took himself.

Someone mentioned Ed Nelson's talk show. I never knew
any other station besides WABC carried it. I know it came
from a period when ABC was encouraging its o&os to develop
potential syndication properties, but the only one I remember
seeing was "The Anniversary Game," from KGO San Francisco,
with Alan Hamel as host and wife-to-be Suzanne Somers as
model.

 

[Tim L]

I have some early WJAN-17 Canton Schedules that had Ed Nelson..usually from 9-10:30 PM for part of 1969 at least..I know of no other station that carried it..

 

[mleach]

I always found it hard to believe when Morton
Downey, Jr. claimed he'd never heard of Joe Pyne.
Pyne was big on radio and television in the late '60s;
BTW, he even hosted a game show in 1966, "Showdown,"
on which contestants were seated on breakaway chairs
which deposited them on the floor (or beneath it) when
they gave wrong answers.

I remember watching Pyne on Saturdays in Greenville, SC
and in Birmingham, and even though I didn't necessarily
agree with him I found him more fun to watch than Downey.
I always wondered just how seriously he took himself.

The website TV party for a number of years ( may still do ) had some clips of Joe Pyne. And despite being a metromedia show, I have been told over the years that pretty much most of Pyne's show still exist to this day. Really would be interesting to see them again.

Morton Downey Jr....of course his late 80's show didn't last and even before that infamous San Francisco/Skinheads incident, Mort's show was already in serious trouble. Between the time he asked his own brother who had AIDS some very personal sexual questions that really wasn't anybody's business and then there was that Denver incident. When Denver's then-new KTVD channel 20 picked up Mort's show, the station flew Downey to Denver only to get into a serious fight with many of the Mile High City's radio people during a press "Morton Downey comes to Denver" confrence..such as calling the staff at KOA radio "sons of bitches" and coming very close to busting Denver's Paxton Mills ( a much loved dj there dating back to the days of KIMN 95 ) in the mouth over Mills' slamming of Downey's nasty smoking habit. Needless to say it was not a pretty sight.