This year, I'll be recalling some of my favourite programs from television, via A-Z, of course.
How many of these do you remember?
Were these before your time?
This blog post has been written in front of a live studio audience.
1955-1960 / Fury featuring: Peter Graves, Bobby Diamond & William Faucett
Though this program was before my time, it was one of the few I remember watching on reruns early in the morning before school. I was not much of a horse lover, but back in the day, you watched whatever was on TV. The alternative was to sit in my room and eat paint chips.
1981-1986 / The Fall Guy featuring: Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, Heather Thomas
I became interesting in this show when I realized Lee Majors was in it, a.k.a. the Six Million Dollar Man. Though I was about ten at the time, I was just learning actors actually go on to play different roles. Towards the end of the series, as you might expect, Heather Thomas was an additional bonus.
1979-1988 / The Facts of Life featuring: Charlotte Rae, Lisa Welchel, Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon & Mindy Cohn
As a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes, this was a favourite of mine. Before I truly knew what the facts of life were all about, my friends and I would always debate which girl was cuter. I was always a Lisa Welchel fan, and was stoked many years later when she appeared as a contestant on Survivor.
This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1960s - Folgers Instant Coffee
1974 - Freakies Cereal
1980s - Fritos
I remember the Fall Guy - I kind of fancied the side kick chap :) It was never quite satisfying though, because The Six Million Dollar Man was better and hence The Fall Guy was a disappointment (childhood logic :)).
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
I completely see your point. Back then, I was just realizing actors played different characters on different shows.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteFury - "The story of a horse and the boy who loved him" - is the biggie in this post. I actually featured Fury in one of my own posts a few years ago. Fury, sponsored by Borden's Ice Cream, was a favorite show of mine during childhood and I always admired Peter Graves as an actor. (See Stalag 17, Mission: Impossible and Airplane!) It's jarring to watch that Folgers Coffee commercial because you'd swear it's a SNL comedy sketch. I never heard of Freakies cereal but, boy oh boy, I'm sure eager to try it! I munched many a bunch of Fritos over the years. It's one of my favorite snack foods.
Thank you, good buddy Jeffrey!
Stalag 17 is one of my favourite films. Odd we both liked Fury. It was very early for me, so I barely remember anything about it.
DeleteLoved the "Flintstones"! ☺ I was totally into "The Fall Guy" and also watched "The Facts of Life" (a young George Clooney was in it, for awhile) but I've never seen "Fury". That Folger's commercial makes me cringe! The phrase "We've come a long way, baby" comes to mind. Freakies cereal lives up to its name. ☺ I remember that Doritos commercial; doesn't seem that long ago. Another fun post, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteJust for the record, I don't condone any of the actions in any of the adverts I feature here. For the most part, they are a testimony to how far we have come as a society. I have a few more on the way that shall probably make you cringe. I hope you won't hold that against me.
DeleteWe'll see! ☺
DeleteNever watched Fury—I don't think we had it in Mexico, or at least not in my time—and now I'm sorry... I think I would've loved it. But I do remember The Fall Guy; even remember the movie. I'm loving this series of yours, Jeff. (And the TV ads are a brilliant touch!)
ReplyDeleteGuilie @ Life In Dogs
Hope you enjoy the adverts, even the off-colour ones. I find them interesting, if nothings else. Sometimes, it's good to see where we've been as a society so we don't make the mistake of going backwards.
DeleteFury looks like a show I would have loved. Facts of Life had an interesting mix of girls, I liked Jo the best;-) The Folger's fool would not be receiving any more coffee from me - ever. (Were coffee pots scarce or something?) We couldn't keep Fritos in the house - they'd be 'Gone in 60 Seconds'!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting to note that Molly Ringwold was in the first series. Yes, that dude in the Folgers should have received a face full of burnt coffee. If he didn't like her coffee so much, were his arms broken? I couldn't imagine treating anyone like that.
DeleteI was shocked that Lisa Whelchel was on Survivor. And she wasn't voted off until later in the season. Very surprising. Even more surprising, though, was that only one or two other people recognized her? I don't watch the show but I watched the first few of that season to see people's reactions when they realized there was a former TV star with them. It's amazing to me that the younger generation isn't even aware of her existence, even in small amounts, but I guess I wouldn't have recognized stars from the 50s or 60s when I was in my 20s!
ReplyDeleteSo true. I would have recognized Lisa I think. But as I mentioned above, I had a crush on her in my early teen years.
DeleteI don't remember the commercial, but I did eat Freakies when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteMy brother loved Freakies cereal. I just remember they turned to mush 5 seconds after milk was added.
DeleteJeffrey, The Facts of Life was one of my favorite shows from the 80s. I was in my late to early 20s by that time. Kim Fields is on DWTS this season, did you know? Lisa Welchel was a beautiful girl in those days. It seems like she was on DWTS a few years back. OH well, great memories tied to these TV shows from the past. Thanks for visiting!
ReplyDelete~Curious as a Cathy
All Things Vintage: Flapper era #AprilA2z
No, I didn't know Kim Fields was on DWTS. I'll have to check that out.
DeleteFlintstones, Fall Guy, & Facts of Life... now there's a good combo! I love the throwback commercials, too! I can't recall the brand, but it went something like "I just washed my hair, and I can't do a thing with it!" That was my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI will have to research that. If you like the Flintstones, come back for W for some more Flintstones fun. :)
DeleteJust seeing the picture of Fred Flinstone...I can hear the theme song in my head!
ReplyDelete~Katie
TheCyborgMom
Then I guess I didn't need to add their theme song. But, like I stated above, look for more Flintsstone fun on the horizon.
DeleteOu, my goodness, Fury! That's one of the very first shows I remember from my childhood days :-)
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz
Ironically, that's one of the first shows I remember also.
DeleteHello, I am a new follower of your blog. I loved the Flintstones (yabba dabba doo!) and I liked the Facts of Life too, possibly because I tend to enjoy stories about boarding schools.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have overjoyed you decided to stop over. Hope to see you again for more nostalgic fun. :)
DeleteI loved that Heather Thomas was in 112 episodes of the Fall Guy. I watched that show from start to finish, yeeha!
ReplyDeleteShe was great wasn't she?
DeleteWhoa, I never knew about the show Fury! I love horses so I'm sure I would've loved that show. I'll have to look for some full episodes on YouTube. I didn't watch Fall Guy but it looks like an interesting show. I like the theme song.
ReplyDeleteFacts of Life I watched a little of. By the time it came out, I was just graduating high school and more interested in partying than watching TV. :)
The Folgers spot kills me! Egads!! :)
Michele at Angels Bark
Isn't that Folger's one awful? I hope you realize why it was included. Not to insult anyone, but more to showcase how ridiculous it is.
DeleteI loved watching the Fall Guy. I agree, very catchy music.
I really liked The Fall Guy back in the day. I can still sing the theme song to The Facts of Life (easily). Kim Fields (Tootie) is on Dancing With the Stars this season.
ReplyDeleteSomeone else mentioned that. I had no idea or I might have stopped in to check it out.
DeleteThe Flintstones are the best of the bunch today. LOL
ReplyDeleteMore Flintstones fun towards the end of my series.
DeleteI just think Freakies is ....freaky. the Flintstones was great especially when the stars were on like Stoney Curtis. Dino was one of my favs. The Fall Guy was typical for that time but it was fun. I liked Forever Knight which was a Canadian show and it was really good...check it out
ReplyDeleteI will have to look into Forever Knight.
DeleteThanks for the suggestion.
Man, I miss old TV...I miss turning on the TV and not worrying that something nasty was about to appear on screen while a 9 year old walked through the room...and the Monkees...and Batman...
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. That was good TV. I suppose Fury would have been good to watch for any child at any age.
Deletewere you not a Family Ties fan? i loved facts of the life and almost wrote about them for my f tv show in the 1980s, but family ties got the edge because my whole family used to watch it together. michael j fox was hysterical in it and the show still holds up today - the reruns are on UP tv on saturday mornings.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was a Family Ties fan. I was such a fan, knowing Michael J Fox was in Back to the Future was another draw for me to see that movie. For a short while, I wanted to be Alex P. Keaton.
Delete