“What’s Happening!!”

“What’s Happening!!” was a comedy that ran from 1976 to 1979. It revolved around Roger “Raj” Thomas (played by Ernest Thomas) and his buddies Dwayne “Hey, hey, hey” Nelson (played by Haywood Nelson), and Fred “Rerun” Stubbs (played by Fred Berry).

Other characters were Dee Thomas, Raj’s younger sister, played by Danielle Spencer; and Mabel Thomas, Dee and Raj’s mother, played by Mabel King. It also starred Shirley Hempphill as Shirley Wilson, a waitress at the hangout of Raj, Dwayne and Rerun.

My favorite character on the show was the Dee, the wisecracking, younger sister. The episode that sticks out in my mind is the one where The Doobie Brothers guest starred, and “Rerun” got caught trying to tape them when they were performing.

Here’s the show’s second season opening, found on YouTube.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDffxteZXLg&feature=related

Here’s a clip featuring Dee and Raj:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QaNYN7plFc&feature=related

Here’s a clip featuring The Doobie Brothers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Lb7Y4_zYk

For more details, go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074071/

“Big Brother: Till Death Do You Part”

This season's “Big Brother” house features 51 cameras and 74 microphones. This year, there are 16 houseguests competing for food, luxuries and power. The final houseguest will receive $500,000.

For the first time in “Big Brother” history, all the houseguests are single and looking for love. Each houseguest is being paired up with someone who could be their soul mate.

Among the houseguests, we find that Sharon and Jacob dated on and off for about 12 years. Neither Sharon nor Jacob know that the other one will be there in the house.

Jen and Ryan have been dating for about 9 months, and living together for 7 months. They are playing this game “in cahoots,” as Julie Chen tells us.

Sharon just about has a panic attack when she sees Jacob.

Everything the houseguests do they will do with their soul mate, including sleeping in the same bed. Irony of ironies, Jacob and Sharon wind up getting paired together.

Sharon reminds me of Allison from a past “Big Brother” season.

Sheila, who will be turning 46 in April, is paired with 29-year-old Adam. They not a match made in heaven. When they are paired up, Adam tells her, “It’s me and you ma.“ She retorts, “Do not call me ma.“ This team should be interesting.

At the first competition, they learn that the winning couple will be able to evict another couple in just a few hours. The competition is called, “Falling for You.” The couples decide which one of them will be suspended in the air, the other one lies on the honeymoon bed below. When the suspended partner is lowered, they have to grab on to each other, and hold on tightly. They will be then be lifted back into the air. If their partner falls, both houseguests will be eliminated.

After half of the houseguests are eliminated, the rest learn that the heart pillows below them could be worth cash. They have 10 minutes to try to pick up their pillow from the air using only their hands. If they succeed in getting their pillow, and winning the competition, they will also win $10,000.

Jen and Parker are the first “power couple” and have won $10,000.

Tune in Wednesday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 8 p.m. and next Tuesday at 9 p.m.

“The Partridge Family”

“The Partridge Family” was a comedy that starred Shirley Jones as Shirley Partridge, a widowed mother of five. The family comes together and forms a singing/musical group, called, OK, this is a stretch … The Partridge Family.

The Partridges drove around in a psychedelically-painted bus, with the words: “Caution: Nervous Mother Driving” painted on the back door of the bus.

During the show, which ran from 1970 to 1974, David Cassidy, who played Keith Partridge on the show and was Shirley Jones’ stepson in real life, rose to meteoric, teen idol fame.

Others in the cast were Danny Bonaduce as wiseacre, red-headed Danny Partridge, who was a constant thorn in the side to the group’s manager, Reuben Kincaid (played by Dave Madden); Susan Dey as older sister Laurie, and Suzanne Crough as the tamborine-playing Tracy. Brother Chris, who played the drums, was first portrayed by Jeremy Gelbwaks and then Brian Forster.

OK, I admit it … I had a “Partridge Family” toy bus, and a coloring book, too, when I was a kid.

You can watch The Partridge Family perform “I Can Feel Your Heartbeat” on YouTube.com here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3fPtMuBtMs

Listen to The Partridge Family sing “Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque” and watch a montage of stills from the show. (“Point me … in the direction of Albuquerque …bubachat bubachat bubachat….)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38XsRcDmTFc

Some more memorable TV commercials

Here’s some more television commercials. Enjoy another stroll down memory lane.

And now another word from our sponsor …

I’ve always wondered what women were thinking after leaving Madge’s after a manicure. Madge would tell them they’ve been soaking their hands in Palmolive dishwashing detergent. Here’s a Palmolive clip featuring Madge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpQ4UJwDYAg

Remember the 1970’s Coca-Cola commercial where people all banded together to sing, “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke”? You can check it out here. Groovy, man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8H5263jCGg

Remember the Cadbury bunny, used to hawk Cadbury Creme Eggs? I remember cracking up the first time I saw the Cadbury bunny. (OK, it STILL makes me laugh). Remember, if it looks like a bunny, and sounds like a chicken, it’s got to be the Cadbury bunny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw_gEyg7Nt8

“The Addams Family”

Here’s another television classic—“The Addams Family.” The show revolved around, as the theme song described them, the “creepy and kooky” Addams family.

The show ran from 1964 to 1966 and starred John Astin as Gomez Addams, who enjoyed crashing model trains and went wild whenever his wife, Morticia (played by Carolyn Jones) spoke French.

The show also starred Jackie Coogan as Morticia’s Uncle Fester. Uncle Fester had the knack for lighting light bulbs simply by putting them in his mouth. (Kids, don’t try that at home …)

Ted Cassidy played the incredibly tall butler, Lurch, who would respond whenever the Addams’ rang a bell attached to a noose-like rope, with a low, “You rang?”

Ken Weatherwax and Lisa Loring starred as, respectively, Pugsley and Wednesday, Morticia and Gomez’s two children. And there was also Grandmama Addams, played by Blossom Rock (whose birth name was Edith MacDonald. Edith was the sister of Jeanete MacDonald, who movie buffs will remember starring in a string of movies with Nelson Eddy.)

I think my two favorite characters were Cousin Itt, played by Felix Silia, a relative covered completely in hair who wore sunglasses and a hat and spoke unintelligible gibberish. (Kind of like me at 6 a.m.). And then there was Thing, a hand who would appear out of a box to deliver mail or any other needed items. (I’ve looked all around for one of those, but I can’t seem to find one.)

Here’s “The Addams Family” intro from YouTube.com. Bet you can’t go the whole day without snapping to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL_9zdu4iVw

Check out an interview with some of the cast from the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF5mdgU9M60

For more details on “The Addams Family,” go to imdb.com:

http://imdb.com/title/tt0057729/

Readers poll: What's worse, a character being replaced or killed off?

OK, blog readers everywhere, time for a readers poll: What’s worse: When an actor/actress replaces another in a role, or when the character is killed off completely in a series?

First example of same character, different actor I thought of was Darren on “Bewitched,” who was played by Dick York and Dick Sargent. Other examples include “the two Beckys” on “Roseanne,” the two Chris Partridges on “The Partridge Family” and the two Lionel Jeffersons on “The Jeffersons.”

And, then we have characters who are simply killed off. Such as Valerie on “Valerie,” which became “Valerie’s Family” and then “The Hogan Family,” and Edith Bunker on “All in the Family.” But, of course, in TV Land, death is never a certainty. (Remember, Bobby Ewing’s resurrection on “Dallas”? Or how about Lesley Webber’s return from the dead on “General Hospital”? (Lesley was supposedly killed in a car crash, but was actually kept in a drugged state by Stafan Cassadine of that pesky Cassadine family.)

So, blog readers, here’s your chance to sound off on which is worse.

For more on “Same Character, Different Actor,” go to jumptheshark.com here:
http://www.jumptheshark.com/forum/Character-Different-Actor/19

"Green Acres"

As I started to pack up my desk this morning in preparation for my move over to our sister paper, The Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, the theme song to “Green Acres” popped in my head.

Now, normally (and people rarely use this word with me), that’s not a big deal for me. Theme songs (and other snippets of useless trivia) whip through my head faster than an Oz-bound tornado in Kansas.

But, back in 1990, when I started working here full-time at the Courier News (back when I was younger and skinnier, and the Courier News was hyphenated), on my first day in the Features department, they broke out into the theme song from “Green Acres.”

I knew I was going like it here.

While I’ll be moving over to The Home News Tribune as Data Desk Editor, I’ll still try to post as much as I can on the “Totally TV” blog.

Now, on to “Green Acres” (because it’s the place to be … )

“Green Acres” ran from 1965 to 1971. It starred Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as Oliver and Lisa Douglas.

Albert plays a lawyer who moves his wife to a farm just outside of Hooterville. Lisa, a socialite who loves to shop, is none too happy. Both try to adjust to their new surroundings, which include Arnold Ziffel, a pig that watches TV.

For more details on “Green Acres,”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058808/

You can watch the opening of “Green Acres” on YouTube.com here (but don’t blame me if you get the song stuck in your head):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2WlYgDe1Vs

“Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines”

OK, gang, truth be told, I don’t remember much about this one, except of course for the theme song, which I’ve gotten stuck in the void that is my head. (“Stop the pigeon … stop the pigeon …”).

Vague memories of the show, which originally ran in 1969, came back as I watched the clips. Of course, I remembered the sinister Dick Dastardly and his sidekick dog, the snickering Muttley.

According to what I found on imdb.com, the cartoon was set in World War I, and focused on Dastardly, Muttley and their Vulture Squadron trying to seize Yankee Doodle Pigeon to stop him from bringing messages to the enemies.

Paul Winchell provided the voice of Dick Dastardly, as well as The General, and Don Messick provided the voices of Muttley, Klunk and Zilly.

You can check out the opening to “Dastardly & Muttley in Their Flying Machines” on YouTube.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUb761oGt4g

For more details, go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063889/

“Match Game”

“Match Game” ran from 1973 to 1982. Hosted by Gene Rayburn, who sported an oversized microphone, the show featured two contestants who would try to match filling in phrases with a panel of six celebrities.

Among the regular celebrities were Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers and Richard Dawson. Other celebrities included Fannie Flagg, Betty White, Patty Duke Astin, Nipsey Russell and Jack Klugman.

I loved when Rayburn would start off a phrase such as “Dumb Dora was so dumb …” and the audience would come back with, “How dumb was she?” (I know, I know, it takes so little to amuse me …)

An updated “Match Game” was revived for a season in 1998, this time hosted by Michael Burger.

Following are some “Match Game”-related clips from YouTube.com. I laughed out loud at each of them. Hope you do, too.

Here’s a clip from “Match Game”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGZun6FoXTw&feature=related

Check out a mini-“Match Game” reunion from 2002:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddkTQjWKhZo

In this clip, the set of “Match Game” gets some special guests:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofSQdo0Wm8&feature=related

For more information on “Match Game” go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069608/

"Designing Women"

Running from 1986 to 1993, “Designing Women” centered around four women who worked at a design firm in Atlanta. Original series characters were feminist Julia Sugarbaker (played by Dixie Carter), her sister, a former beauty queen (played by Delta Burke); Mary Jo, a divorced mother, portrayed by the wonderful Annie Potts; and country girl Charlene (Jean Smart).

Carter and Burke had previously worked together on the television comedy, “Filthy Rich.”

Meshach Taylor starred as Anthony, an ex-con who performed deliveries. Former “Bewitched” staple Alice Ghostley starred as Bernice Clifton.

Towards the end of the show’s first season, the series was canceled, but viewer demand revived “Designing Women.”

There would be cast changes in 1991, when both Delta Burke and Jean Smart left the series. Burke was fired after a much-publicized weight gain and strained relationships on the set. Julia Duffy (from “Newhart”) and Jan Hooks were brought on. Duffy left in 1992, and Judith Ivey was hired.

For more details on “Designing Women,” go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090418/

And try CrazyAboutTV.com:
http://crazyabouttv.com/designingwomen.html

For more information on Delta Burke, go to wikipedia.org:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Burke

Here are the opening credits from YouTube.com from an early season of “Designing Women”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7A_91wVU0w

Here’s a clip from YouTube.com featuring the original four actresses (and Meshach Taylor and Shavar Ross) from “Designing Women”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVjOZ8MwyCk

'Open Up Your Heart & Let the Sun Shine In"

It’s weird how “Totally TV” blog topics will just hit me like an anvil falling on Wile E. Coyote. For the past hour, as I was tending to some of my other duties here at the paper, I’d been mulling over what to write about next.

I had no sooner sat down at my desk when a song popped into my head: “Open Up Your Heart & Let the Sun Shine In,” from “The Flintstones.” Little Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm break out into song (and play musical instruments, too!) While I couldn’t find the original clip on YouTube.com, I DID find a montage of “Flintstones” footage, set to the song “Open Up Your Heart & Let the Sun Shine In,” performed by Frente!

You can check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdxM8BV-Jk0

Go ahead: open up your heart and let the sun shine in.

"Sesame Street"

Wow, I was searching for a YouTube.com clip to go with this blog entry, and I found SIX that brought back such fond memories, I decided to include them all.

Geared towards the preschool set, viewers learned about numbers, letters and more on this show, which began in 1969.

One of my favorite books when I was little was “The Monster as the End of this Book.” It featured Grover from “Sesame Street,” who tries to stop the young readers from turning the page of the book. Because with each turn of the page, the monster at the end of the book got closer and closer. But, at the end, we find the monster was none other than the lovable Grover himself.

I used to love the falling baker, who’d stand at the top of the stairs, and announce things like, “7 chocolate cakes” and then proceed to tumble down the stairs, pastry flying everywhere.

My other all-time favorite, which I’ve already touched on in this blog, was “Mahna Mahna.”

Hope the following bring back some good memories for all of you:

Here’s the opening song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4BF4VUHFt4

See the Count meet Cookie Monster here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7hTkzEwFZ0

Take a look at the falling baker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TzOnnEhUu0

Here’s Ernie singing about his rubbery duckie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf9d7rSf_Ks

Big Bird sings about the alphabet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr5er4ueWBQ

And, finally, an encore presentation of “Mahna Mahna”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYJuKX2j-Cw

For more details on “Sesame Street,” go to:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063951/

Farewell, Suzanne Pleshette

Actress Suzanne Pleshette, who starred as Emily Hartley in the 1970’s television show, “The Bob Newhart Show,” died this past Thursday.

In addition to "The Bob Newhart Show," her other acting credits included taking over Anne Bancroft’s role of Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker” on Broadway, and starring in the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock smash movie, “The Birds,” playing Annie Hayworth.

She was married to Tom Poston, who starred in the 1980s show, “Newhart,” from 2001 until his death in 2007.

For more details on Pleshette, go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687189/

See Pleshette and Newhart (and Poston, too) in this clip, introducing comedy legends of CBS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3nPpyEKGyU

"Moonlighting"

It’s 10 p.m.-ish … do you know where your blog is?

Well, gang, at 2 p.m. today, I officially hit writer’s block. (Or would that be blogger’s block?)

So, I figured I’d postpone the blog until later. Well, now it’s later.

I’ve just woken up from my usual Friday night crash and burn, and I’ve just popped a “Moonlighting” DVD into he machine.

The show originally aired from 1985 to 1989. I haven’t watched these in quite a long time. I’m starting with the pilot. (Makes sense, doesn’t it?).

Madelyn “Maddie” Hayes (played by Cybill Shepherd), a former model (she was the Blue Moon Shampoo Girl), finds herself in financial dire straits. She winds up teaming up with David Addison Jr. (Bruce Willis), who is now running one of her businesses, which they rename the Blue Moon Detective Agency.

One of my favorite characters was the poetic secretary Ms. Agnes DiPesto (played by Allyce Bealey).

I’ll close this blog entry with the immortal words of Ms. DiPesto (from the show’s pilot episode): “Time has come to go, to pack our bags and blow, to hit the street, ‘till next we meet, until then it’s on with the show.”

For more details on “Moonlighting,” go to imdb.com:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088571/

“Gimme a Break!”

This comedy, starring Nell Carter and Dolph Sweet, ran from 1981 to 1987.

Carter played Nellie Ruth “Nell” Harper. Nell moves into the house of Carl Kanisky (played by Sweet_, a police chief whose wife had recently died. Nell, a friend of Carl’s wife, moves in to keep house and also help raise the Chief’s three girls: Katie (Kari Michaelson), Julie (Laurie Hendler), and Samantha, or “Sam” (Lara Jill Miller).

In later seasons, the Chief would also pass away (Sweet had died in real life), and Nell would care for a young boy named Joey Donovan (played by Joseph “Joey” Lawrence, who in later years would hit teen heartthrob status. Also joining the cast would be Jonathan Silverman as Julie Kinisky’s husband, Jonathan Maxwell. Telma Hopkins, once part of the group Tony Orlando & Dawn, would also make appearances on the show as Nell’s friend, Addy Wilson.

Here’s the “Gimme a Break” opening from Season 1, found on YouTube.com. (I’m probably going to have the song in my head all day now …):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz4xe6S4JbA

For more details on “Gimme a Break,” go to imdb.com:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081869/

Get ready for another season of "American Idol"!

Fasten your seatbelts and get the earplugs ready, gang: Another season of "American Idol" is upon us!

I have to confess I wasn't a watcher of "American Idol" when it first started. I only started watching closely about two seasons ago.

My favorites from last season? Definitely Melinda Doolitte. And also Nadia Turner.

And, for a good month, I was sporting my own "Sanjayahawk." OK, I'm pulling your leg on that one. (I also sell bridges in my spare time).

And, of course, it's another season of Randy, Simon and Paula (For some reason, I always want to replace their names with the Chipmunks' names--Alvin, Simon and Theodore,)

I'm anxious to see how long it takes for the judges to get on my nerves. While I adore Paula (she's forever my girl), Randy Jackson just irritates me. I'm thinking about counting how many times he says, "Yo yo, dawg, check it out" or "Dude, it was a little pitchy for me. Real pitchy in spots." As for Simon, I'd like to see HIM get up there and perform. Just once.

I'll be commenting regularly on the Home News Tribune's "American Idol" forum, and occasionally cover for my colleague, Bill Canacci. (Notice how I used "cover for" instead "PITCH in," Randy.

I'm looking forward to reading what everybody's got to say about this season of "American Idol." I've created Idol Chatter as my name on the forum. So, don't let Bill and I do all the typing! Be sure to post and join in the discussion.

Tonight's show runs from 8 to 10 p.m. on FOX.

You can find the Home News Tribune's “American Idol 2008” forum by going to: http://forums.thnt.com/viewforum.php?f=227

"Mad Monster Party"

One of the television specials from my childhood (“back in the dark ages,” as one of my elementary school teachers used to say), that stands out in my rapidly-deteriorating mind is “Mad Monster Party.”

Dr. Frankenstein decides to retire, so he assembles a cast of ghoulish characters to determine his successor. Among them: The Werewolf, Dracula, and The Mummy.

One of my favorite characters was The Monster’s Mate, voiced by the great Phyllis Diller.

“Mad Monster Party” was directed by Jules Bass. Among his credits is another one of my faves, which I’ve already blogged about: “The Year Without A Santa Claus” (featuring Snow Miser and Heat Miser. Gotta love those Miser brothers!)

Several years ago, I found “Mad Monster Party” on DVD. So, of course, you know I had to buy it.

For a Mad Monster Party trailer, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5fe7D14Jp8&feature=related

Check out The Mummy from “Mad Monster Party” on YouTube.com here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sL4R50Z6E&feature=related

For more details on “Mad Monster Party,” go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061931/

"Rhoda"

A spin-off of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” Rhoda Morgenstern leaves Minneapolis and Mary behind and heads back to her roots in New York.

The series ran from 1974 to 1978 and starred Valerie Harper as Rhoda. We also meet her diminutive mother, Ida, played by Nancy Walker (also known as “Rosie” from the Bounty paper towel commercials); Rhoda’s dad, Martin (played by Harold Gould), and Rhoda’s younger sister, Brenda (played by Julie Kavner. Although viewers may not recognize Kavner’s face from the series, they might recognize the voice. Kavner would later go on to voice the character of Marge on “The Simpsons.”

During the show, Rhoda would marry and divorce Joe Gerard (played by David Groh).

One of the show’s enigmas was the identity of Carlton, the doorman, who was never seen on camera, just heard through the intercom speaker. Carlton was credited as “L. Music” (the “L” stood for “Lorenzo.”) I did find a photo of Music a while back and posted it in a previous blog.

Check out these links:

Rhoda trys the Mary Richards hat toss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kZUE78pHiA

Rhoda’s Wedding Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyDr9Dapv4g

For more details, go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071040/

'Oprah'

“Oprah,” which premiered in 1986, is still going strong.

Oprah Winfrey, known best just as Oprah, hit the small screen during the reign of talk show host Phil Donahue.

Some talk show hosts—such as Tempestt Bledsoe, Carnie Wilson and Morton Downey Jr.—have come and gone, but Oprah continues to endure. In the past, her book club selections have catapulted authors into literary stardom.

And some of her protégées have gone on to do very well in their own rights. (Just ask Dr. Phil McGraw).

And who doesn’t want to be in Oprah’s audience when she does her “favorite things” segments, where she gives out her favorite products to the audience?

I think my all-time favorite shows were when Oprah went on the road with the Goddess of Rock and Roll, the one, the only, Tina Turner. (Oprah even got to perform with Tina during a concert, performing “Simply the Best.” And I loved when Felicity Huffman of “Desperate Housewives” got to be one of Tina’s backup singers during an episode of the show.

See Tom Cruise on “Oprah” (that poor couch!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypfOM-hMFGM

Check out Oprah being interviewed by David (“Uma … Oprah”) Letterman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPaouom_yFg

See Oprah, Tina, Felicity and Lisa Fischer just after performing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci3IKV_zjmY

“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”

“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in this neighborhood…”

So sang Fred Rogers to his audience as he entered his television dwelling, changed from his work shoes into comfy ones and put on his trademark sweater.

Rogers taught children about everything from fears to disabilities. What I remember most is the trolley that came right into his living room, and then took the audience on a journey to a make believe land. My favorite make-believe character was Daniel Striped Tiger, who lived in a clock.

According to wikipedia.com, the show ran from 1968 to 2001.
I remember Mr. Rogers also had a great big traffic light somewhere in his house. (Wonder if he got that on eBay ….)

There was also the bicycle-riding delivery man, Mr. McFeely, also known as Mr. Speedy Delivery. Years later, I had the opportunity to interview David Newell, the actor who played Mr. McFeeley, and the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” memories came flooding back.

Pretty cool.

You can check out the opening to “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” on YouTube.com here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmNQ5VgFAfc

You can read the wikipedia.com article on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers'_Neighborhood

“Alice”

Based on the movie, “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “Alice” starred Linda Lavin as Alice Hyatt, a widowed mother starting over in Phoenix, Arizona with her young son, Tommy (played by Philip McKeon, brother of “The Facts of Life” star Nancy McKeon).

Alice lands a job as a waitress at Mel’s Diner, run by Mel Sharples (played by Vic Tayback), who served up the food, yelling out a gruff, “Pickup!” when the food was ready for the waitresses to serve.

When the show started in 1976, Alice’s co-workers were the big-haired, Southern Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry (played by Polly Holliday), and “dingey” (as Mel referred to her) Vera Louise Gorman. Locking horns with Mel, Flo would shoot back, “Kiss my grits!” or when she thought something was impossible, she’d say, “When pigs fly!”

Holliday would eventually leave the show for her own spin-off, “Flo,” and was replaced by Diane Ladd as waitress Belle Dupree. Ladd, who appeared on the show from 1980 to 1981, would be replaced by Celia Weston, who played Jolene Hunnicutt. The show ended its run in 1985.

I always loved Vera’s loft bed. But, I wouldn’t want to fall out of it. (You can see it in the opening sequence of season four below. The bed, that is. Not me falling out of it.)

One of my favorite guest characters was Martha Raye, perfectly cast as Mel’s mother. Although I was quite surprised to see how tiny she was. Last time I had seen her was when she starred as Benita Bizarre on “The Bugaloos.” I guess a person seems taller when they’re cast against “bugs.”

For more info on “Alice,” go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073955/

Check out the opening sequence of “Alice” here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=423L76rzui8

Here’s the opening to season four:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPSKK0zsMw

“Charlie’s Angels”

Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy. And they were all assigned very hazardous duties.

But, Charlie took them away from all that, and they went to work for him as private detectives.

Each week, three female detectives, known collectively as the “Angels,” would be given a mystery to solve by their unseen boss, Charles “Charlie” Townsend (voiced by future “Dynasty” star John Forsythe.).

Running from 1976 to 1981, the cast of Angels would change more than Clark Kent in a telephone booth. When the show began, the Angels were: Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett-Majors.

Farrah, who played Jill Munroe, would leave after the first season (although she did make recurring guest appearances). Taking her place was Cheryl Ladd, who came aboard as Jill’s sister, Kris.

Then, the revolving door really got spinning. Kate Jackson, who played Sabrina Duncan, was fired, and replaced with Shelley Hack (Tiffany Welles). Hack would be replaced by Tanya Roberts as Angel Julie Rogers.

And, of course, we can’t forget the Angels’ trusty sidekick, John Bosley, better known simply as “Bosley” (played by David Doyle).

One of the episodes I remember most vividly is “Angels in Springtime.” Kris Monroe almost met her fate being smothered in a body wrap. Ouch. Nancy Parsons played the villainous Zora.

Here’s the show’s opening sequence from season 2, from YouTube.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KipeyVWA7Fo

Here’s a clip from the high-rated episode, “Angels in Chains,” set to Thin Lizzy’s song, “Jailbreak”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3X5GPm1gHU

And, you know you’ve hit the big time when you’re turned into a doll. Here’s a commercial for the “Charlie’s Angels” dolls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrqqxzU3DGY

For more information on “Charlie’s Angels,” go to imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073972/

For more details on the “Angels in Springtime” episode, go to imdb.com here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539176/

“I Love Lucy”—Lucy meets Harpo Marx

One of my favorite “I Love Lucy” episodes. The Ricardos and the Mertzes are in Hollywood, and their friend Carolyn Applebee comes from New York for a visit.

Carolyn, of course, wants to meet all the movie stars Lucy has talked about. After hiding Carolyn’s glasses, since she’s blind as a bat without them, Lucy ducks out and dresses up as various actors, such as Clark Gable and Gary Cooper.

But, unbeknownst to Lucy and Ethel, Ricky and Fred have asked the real Harpo Marx to go up to the Ricardo’s apartment to surprise the girls. But, the surprise is not only on the girls—but on Harpo Marx, who discovers Lucy dressed exactly like him.

Check out part of the episode on YouTube.com here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQVg1ghTijw

For more details, go to tv.com:
http://www.tv.com/i-love-lucy/lucy-and-harpo-marx/episode/17162/summary.html

“Electra Woman & Dyna Girl”

Part of the Krofft Supershow in 1976, “Electra Woman & Dyna Girl” were a female version of Batman and Robin.

The show starred Deidre Hall as Electra Woman, and Judy Strangis as Dyna Girl. It also starred Norman Alden as Frank Heflin, who designed and constructed the superheroes’ equipment.

What I remember most about this show was the opening song, the duo battling the Spider Lady, and, of course, the spandex costumes. (OK, the spandex sticks out most in my mind). According to imdb.com, other villains included: Ali Baba and his cohort, the Genie; the Sorcerer; and the Empress of Evil.

You can watch the opening of “Electra Woman & Dyna Girl” on YouTube.com here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXUSOLB3-NA

For more info, go to imdb.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXUSOLB3-NA

“Taxi”

“Taxi,” which ran from 1978 to 1983, starred Judd Hirsch as taxi driver Alex Reiger, and mostly focused on the goings-on in the taxi garage. There was Marilu Henner as single mother Elaine O’Connor-Nardo, Tony Danza as boxer Tony Banta (ever notice that in both “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss?” Danza plays a character named Tony? What’s up with that?), Jeff Conaway as Robert L. “Bobby” Wheeler, an aspiring actor; and Andy Kaufman as the foreign mechanic Latka Gravas. And, then there was Danny DeVito as the rabid dispatcher Louie De Palma. When the show first started, it also featured Randall Carver as Jeff Bennett.

I think my favorite regular character on the show was Kaufman’s Latka Gravas. Latka would eventually meet and marry Simka Dahblitz, played by the wonderfully funny Carol Kane. Among the guest stars was Rhea Perlman (who, according to hollywood.com, married DeVito in 1982, and would become a future "Cheers" star) as Zena Sherman, a love interest for Louie De Palma.

I remember the show being on during a 9:30 p.m. time slot. The show would end with someone walking out of a door and a woman saying, “Goodnight, Mr. Walters,” and he’d reply, “Uh-huh.” That was also my bedtime cue.

You can read more about “Taxi” at imdb.com:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077089/

Here’s the opening scene of Taxi, found on YouTube.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzhwx8aOO0A

Here’s a clip from the show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmKHwkwBXNA

“Welcome Back, Kotter”

As I’m typing this, I have the “Welcome Back, Kotter” theme song in my head.

Running from 1975 to 1979, “Welcome Back, Kotter” starred Gabe Kaplan as Gabe Kotter, who returns to his alma mater high school, James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, N.Y., to teach a bunch of students collectively known as the “Sweathogs.” John Travolta—who would become a film star during the show’s run--starred as sweathog Vinnie Barbarino. (Everybody sing, “Ba…ba…ba…ba ba barino…”) The other three featured Sweathogs were Ron Palillo as Arnold Horshack (“Ooh…ooh…ooh, Mr. Kotter!”), Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs as Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, and Robert Hegyes as Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein (who consistently had a note from his mother excusing him from homework).

Constantly butting heads with Mr. Kotter and the Sweathogs was the assistant vice-principal Mr. Michael Woodman, played by John Sylvester White. And, there was Mr. Kotter’s wife, Julie, played by Marcia Strassman, who would patiently sit through Gabe’s joke about his family and endure unexpected visits from the Sweathogs.

Later in the series, Stephen Shortridge would join the cast as sweathog Beau De Labarre. John Travolta would make only guest starring appearances as he concentrated on his movie career. The Kotters became parents of twin girls, and Gabe Kotter was promoted to vice principal, while still doing some teaching.

One of the show’s most oft-used catch-phrases: “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”

If you’re looking for more info on “Welcome Back, Kotter,” check out these sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_Back_Kotter

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072582/

Here’s the series’ opening scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVS3WNt7yRU

Take a look at John Travolta singing the “Barbarino” song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy3IkXrgv3I

“Roseanne”

Comedienne Roseanne, then known as Roseanne Barr, got her own show, aptly titled, “Roseanne,” in 1988. She portrayed Roseanne Conner, matriarch of the Conner family, a working-class family who lived in Illinois.

The character of Roseanne was married to Dan Conner, played by John Goodman. They lived on Delaware Street with their three children—Becky (Alicia ‘Lecy’ Goranson, and later played by Sarah Chalke), Darlene (Sara Gilbert, sister of “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert), and D.J., which was short for David Jacob, not Dan Jr. (played by Michael Fishman).

I was a regular watcher of the show until the last season, when the Connors became millionaires and lived the high life, until it was found to be a story Roseanne Connor had written, kind of like the “it’s all been a dream” season of “Dallas.”

Early episodes also starred George Clooney as Roseanne’s boss, Booker. Clooney, of course, would launch into stardom with the series “ER” and the “Batman & Robin” movie.

My favorite episodes of this series were the Halloween episodes. Great costumes and lots of gags. My other all-time favorite episode was when her co-worker Bonnie belted out “You Really Got a Hold On Me.” The actress who played Bonnie was credited as Bonnie Sheridan, but is better known as Bonnie Bramlett, a former Ikette with Ike and Tina Turner, and half of the singing duo, Delaney & Bonnie.

I also loved the parody the show did of “The Patty Duke Show,” when Goranson returned and replaced Chalke, who had originally replaced Goranson. (Got that scorecard handy?) Yup, Beckys, identical Beckys all the way…

For more information on “Roseanne” go to:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0020961/

Check out Sheridan/Bramlett belting out “You Really Got a Hold On Me” on YouTube.com. I still get chills when I listen to this (maybe the building’s air conditioning is on too high..). Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qlocP12JAU