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 a live studio audience.
1955-1956 / the Honeymooners featuring: Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows & Joyce Randolph
Though this was long before my time, I caught an occasional episode on re-runs. Like the episode where Ralph dresses up as the man from space. Despite the humour, even as I child I didn't understand why the Kramden's fought so much when they were supposed to be married. Most of the times I caught this in the reruns, it was my dad who turned it on.
1974-1984 / Happy Days featuring: Henry Winkler, Ron Howard & Tom Bosley
This is a program I grew up with. At least until my teen years. If for no other reason to watch it, it was set in Milwaukee. When this program was on, there was no one fighting for the remote control. Errrr, that is, there was no one fighting to turn the knob on the TV station to watch something else. Parents and siblings agreed. It was fun family entertainment. And catching all the Milwaukee references was entertaining too.
1981-1987 / Hill Street Blues featuring: Daniel J. Travanti, Veronica Hamel, Bruce Weitz, Joe Spano, Betty Thomas and many others
Another show I never really got into when it was first on. It wasn't a comedy, so I wasn't interested. Then I was bored one evening and watched the program. I found it very interesting and couldn't wait to find out what happened the following week. Boom! My interest in dramas was born. And the theme tune is still amazing to this day.
The A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1952 - Halo Shampoo
1960S - Hawaiian Punch
1970s - Hai Karate (Featuring Valerie Leon)
1980s - Hostess
Happy Days - ah, there are some memories. We didn't used to watch it all the time, but it was fun when we did. I loved Highlander the Series - awesome show (as long as to ignore the eps made for the first season in Vancouver - once they get to France they improve :))
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Highlander was a great film too. Yes, there were a series of them, but for me there can be only one, the original.
DeleteThe Honeymooners was a favourite of my Mum and Dad. I loved Happy Days (the Fonz) and I don't think I missed an episode of Hills Street Blues. Still bringing back memories of a wonderful childhood Jeffrey. Sue @Sizzling60 from
ReplyDeleteSizzling Towards Sixty
Yes, my parents used to watch it all the time too. Glad you are enjoying.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteI watched Hogan's Heroes but cringe when I see it today, recalling the chilling behind the scenes story of series star Bob Crane, his dark fantasies, deviant behavior and violent murder. Have you seen the movie Auto Focus starring Greg Kinnear in the role of Crane? I highly recommend it.
Jackie Gleason's Honeymooners series was must see at my house during childhood and I remember those vintage commercials for Halo Shampoo, Hawaiian Punch, Hai Karate After Shave & Cologne and Hostess Twinkies, Snowballs, etc. I used to eat a pack of Snowballs and half a dozen slices of pizza for dinner at least once a week and never gained an ounce. I gained five pounds just now simply by writing about it.
Have a great weekend, good buddy Jeffrey!
That whole Bob Crane saga was so disturbing, wasn't it? I've seen Auto Focus and gained new respect for Greg Kinnear as an actor. He used to host a silly show called "Talk Soup" and seemed somewhat of a lightweight.
DeleteThat's right! I first got to know Greg Kinnear as host of Talk Soup. He has distinguished himself as an actor over the years.
DeleteI do kind of remember all the Bob Crane stories. Fortunately, I didn't pay close enough attention, so I still find the series funny to watch. There were many great actors on the series who did brilliant work, for me to stop watching because of one crazy actor.
DeleteNice list, as usual! ☺ I've seen all of these shows and was completely hooked on Hill Street Blues. "Be careful out there". The commercials weren't familiar, but the brands certainly are, except for Halo. That was a long one! This is such a fun theme. You and Michele are both doing a great job, sharing these memories. Thanks and have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteI actually still use that phrase from time to time when my company send out our service techs in the morning. LOL
DeleteOf the commercials. I was unfamiliar with Halo. But found it was a great nostalgic one. At least one person so far does remember it though.
I loved Happy Days! I was a big Joanie and Chachi fan :) And the Honeymooners has a special place in my heart...I used to watch it with my grandma when I would stay at her house...that, the Odd Couple, All in the Family, and Carol Bernette :)
ReplyDelete~Katie
TheCyborgMom
It's always fun to revisit the shows we watched with our parents and grandparents. I always hope there are a few shows my kids will think fondly of when they watch them, as shows we watched together.
DeleteEveryone watched Happy Days!
ReplyDeleteSadly Hostess snacks are so bad for you. You could eat them as a kid, but not as an adult. Unless you want to weigh five hundred pounds.
Yes, I agree. I think we all watched Happy Days. I think that's why it was still on even after it jumped the shark.
DeleteHappy Days! That's still one of my favourite show. It was aired a couple of years ago her ein Italy. I hadn't seen it for decades, but I enjoyed it anew... and a lot"
ReplyDelete@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz
I still catch a few shows now and then on a local channel. The last one I watched was not very good. Most of the regular cast had gone on, only Fonzie and the Cunningham's were still there.
DeleteGlad to hear you now have a love of dramas due to Hill Street Blues. What a great show that was!
ReplyDeleteThe Halo commercial cracked me up! They really used cartoons a lot for product promotion back in the 50s. I remember the Hawaiian Punch dude and the stupid Hai Karate spots! The Hostess spot is cute. I like the kid at the end... haha.
Another great post. We featured the same shows this time around! It's fun, isn't it?
Michele at Angels Bark
It is a lot of fun. I think 'I' will be interesting. It was challenging for me to round up a few shows and the commercials, for some odd reason, were SUPER hard. But I finally found a few to include.
DeleteHappy Days, such an odd show. Hill Street Blues, the soap opera of cop shows. Yuck. LOL
ReplyDeleteSo many drama shows now use pretty much the same formula. Happy Days was always fun to watch because of the Milwaukee references.
DeleteI was hoping to see High Chapperell. I loved that western. I watched The Honeymooners and always felt Alice should leave him. I loved Happy Days. The commercials are great but that first one....Margaret Lindsey scares me
ReplyDeleteI'm unfamiliar with High Chapperell. But my dad would have loved it, or probably did. I was never much into westerns.
DeleteHappy Days was always a favorite in our house.
ReplyDeleteOther H shows that are now cancelled: Hogan's Heroes was always a favorite at our place. I bought the first five seasons of House, but I've yet to watch them all. I can't keep up!
I think House is to recent for me to put on my list. I was contemplating using Hogan's Heroe's. Since I'm only featuring three TV shows per post, I opted for Honeymooners over Hogan's Heroes.
DeleteHappy Days still plays a lot on METV. I'm kind of over Fonzie 'jumping the shark' ;-) Honeymooners was a favorite, though I think my grandmothers were just as glad they didn't have to deal with Ralph in real life! Loved that Hai Karate:-)
ReplyDeleteFor me, Happy Days really jumped the shark when almost the entire regular cast left.
DeleteYes, the Hai Karate ad was interesting. I think I need to find me some of that.
The 80s were my TV-watching decade, but I don't remember that Hostess commercial. There were SO many commercials, though, it would be hard for one to stick!
ReplyDeleteIf I recall, that Hostess commercial ran on Saturday's during cartoons.
DeleteI remember watching Happy Days a few times. Henry Winkler is writing children's books now.
ReplyDeleteYea, I think I heard that about Henry Winkler. That's very interesting.
DeleteGood memories for me. Funny but I never heard of Halo shampoo.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of Halo either until I started preparing this post.
DeleteHenry Winkler, he was the coolest character on tv to watch back in the day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. He was. Wasn't overly fond of his character on Arrested Development though.
DeleteI may have seen The Honeymooners when it was a current show though I don't think my parents actually watched it. I did see it in syndication on occasion later on and enjoyed it. I never really got into the Happy Days trend, but I did watch every once in a while. I can't say that I was a fan, but it was mildly entertaining to me when I did watch. That was during a period when I didn't watch much TV.
ReplyDeleteThe commercials I certainly remember. They look so primitive now.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
The dorkier the commercial, the more fondly I remember it.
DeleteMy sixteen year old daughter adores the Hogan's Heroes re-runs! She's very smart, all Honors and AP classes. All A's. She thinks it is an excellent satirical comment on Nazi Germany.
ReplyDeleteRevisit the Tender Years with me during the #AtoZChallenge at Life & Faith in Caneyhead!
Excellent reason for watching Hogan's Heroes. Pretty much why I like to watch it, I think.
Deletehappy days is still my favorite show today. i have the entire series on dvd and rewatch it every year - plus watch the reruns on me tv. i also have all the spinoffs on dvd - laverne and shirley, mork and mindy and joanie loves chachi. i loved this show when i was 4 acting out scenes in the basement and i still love it today. i think ron howard was hysterical as richie.
ReplyDeleteI've been rewatching the reruns on MeTV but it's toward the end of the series when all the regulars have left, outside of Fonzie. But Fonzie was so cool, he pretty much kept the show afloat.
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