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.
1964-1967 / Gilligan's Island featuring: Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Tina Louise and the rest.
Long before Survivor was a gleem in anyone's eye, this series followed the exploits of castaway's on a deserted island fighting for survival. Okay, so they were not exactly fighting for survival. Truth is, they could have been rescued a number of times if not for the bumbling of Gilligan. He messed up every rescue, but at least he got to spend a lot of time with Ginger and Mary Ann. Hey, maybe he wasn't as bumbling as I first thought. Perhaps he just wanted to stay on the island and make it look like he was inept.
1965-1970 / Get Smart featuring: Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Edward Platt
This goofy spy series came out a little before my time. But was a favourite of mine when I would catch it on reruns. Don Adams slapstick copy and insane plots always made for much laughter, which is what I primarily looked for in a TV show early on. Not surprisingly, when Don Adams supplied the voice for Inspector Gadget years later, I loved that show as well.
1981-1983 / The Greatest American Hero featuring: William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca, Faye Grant
Like most boys of the preteen age, I was heavy into comic books. Legion of SRalph uper Heroes particularly. So you can imagine back in the day when Super Hero films and TV shows were rare, I immediately latched onto this series. I loved his adventures and how he was always discovering new features of the super suit that gave him his powers. But I was always annoyed he could never figure out how to fly. I mean he was always flying. You'd think he'd get the knack of it sooner or later. It was around this time an assassination attempt on then President Reagen, would result in the title character of Ralph Hinkley having a suddenly change in name to Ralph Hanley. With no explanation given in the series. And then, suddenly, it was switched back to Hinkley.
The A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1955 - Gibbs S.R. Toothpaste (First British TV Commercial)
1974 - Gremlin
1976? - Gino's Hamburgers (Featuring Soupy Sales)
Hi Jeff, Wow wild blog! Lots to take in. I bet I have your X post figured out. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteRest assured, there will be a few X things provided that will catch you off guard. I'm fairly certain of it.
DeleteThe Gremlin was such an ugly car.
ReplyDeleteGet Smart was a fun show.
And the Gremlin always seemed to have gremlins in it. Such a joke.
DeleteI didn't recognize the TV guide cover. What show is that? I've seen all the ones you mentioned here.Gilligan's Island was a guilty pleasure. What a silly but fun show! That British toothpaste commercial was so serious and not typical of 50s style ads, or maybe North America differed in its approach? Gremlins were everywhere here in the 70s. Don't know Gino's Hamburgers but Soupy Sales is familiar. Another fun post. Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to tell, but the TV Guide cover are the stars of Gunsmoke. British were so formal back then. "Here is a new product. Try it. If you want."
DeleteI was not familiar with Gino's either. Perhaps it was a West Coast thing. I never saw them in the Midwest.
I loved The Greatest American Hero. I smiled all the way through the theme music. The flying thing. Seems like I've had plenty of flying dreams that were very much like his flying antics. Some false starts and bumpy landings. Ah well.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to hit you with my F TV shows yesterday. Today I will be more on top of things with G. Let's see... Well, dang, I can't think of any right now. Just figures.
One of my favourite shows was the Greatest American Hero. Though his inability to fly got old after awhile. Even as a teen I thought that was dumb and he should have been able to figure it out. All they had to do was make him struggle with newer powers he found he had. Like the episode he realized he could turn invisible.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting piece of trivia that the pilot episode of Gilligan's Island was filmed at the time of the JFK assassination. My answer to the age old question is "Mary Ann." Is that AMC Gremlin a sexy ride or what? :) We had a Gino's 15 Cent Hamburger shop in my hometown and I went there at least two or three nights every week. The large parking lot was a popular meeting spot for teenagers and a place for guys to show off their muscle cars. Soupy Sales was one of my favorite comic actors.
Thanks, good buddy Jeffrey!
Here's a bit of trivia for you. My favourite TV show, Doctor Who was pre-empted the first night it was on because of coverage of the Kennedy assassination.
DeleteI never saw a Gino's before. What area were they in? I do recognize Soupy Sales, which is why I went for that commercial. My goal with the commercials isn't to showcase my favourite commercials, but commercials that will bring back good memories for my readers. Glad you enjoyed them all.
I used to watch Gilligan's Island. Years ago, there was something I saw on the Internet, some fan theory that Gilligan was really the devil and the other characters represented the deadly sins. Have you seen it?
ReplyDeleteI have not seen that report. But I heard many of the same rumours when Lost aired.
DeleteDon't you just love fan theories? I do.
Soupy Sales was so funny! I never heard of Ginos though. We didn't have those in Niagara Falls or Buffalo when I was growing up...
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who had a Gremlin. That was such an ugly car! But it was cheap...
I never heard of The Greatest American Hero. Those were my college years so I was either studying or partying. Didn't watch much TV back then... :)
Michele at Angels Bark
Greatest American Hero was always so much fun. I remember seeing Gremlins almost everywhere. If I recall, they always had problems.
DeleteIf my grandson would have had his way my dogs would be named Ginger and Mary Ann! Good ole bungling Gilligan:-)
ReplyDeleteSoupy did a great job with his and at first I thought the "really good for your gums" commercial was going to be about nature:-p
I had a Gremlin for about a week. They were aptly named;-)
See? I was saying that in a few comments above about the Gremlins. That's all I remember about them, people complaining.
DeleteGreat memories Jeffrey! Now I will have the Gilligan's Island theme song in my head all day. LOL:) Sue @Sizzling60 from
ReplyDeleteSizzling Towards Sixty
You are welcome for that.
DeleteStop by tomorrow when I'll get another TV show jingle stuck in your head.
I would drive my mom nuts every day because I would come home from school and turn on the tv to see Gilligan's Island and the. lost in Space. Get Smart was also quite funny and love the music to this
ReplyDeleteGet Smart was fun! I enjoyed Lost in Space so much, I purchased the entire series on DVD. I've been watching them here and there.
DeleteI used to love The Greatest American Hero, even though I don't think we ever got it all. I keep looking at it on DVD wondering if it will be the same watching it again.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
I bought the first season on DVD. I still think it's a great show. I buy all my TV seasons at a second hand shop and I pick up complete seasons for ridiculous low prices. This one I picked up for six bucks. I felt it was a good gamble and I'm happy I made it. Great memories as I watch it.
Delete