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.
1961-1966 / Mister Ed featuring: Alan Young, Connie Hines
Once cable became a common thing in the 80's, I stared to see more and more old time TV shows. This was one frequently on, though I never really got into it. It was funny none-the-less.
1980-1988 / Magnum P.I. featuring: Tom Selleck, John Hillerman, Roger E. Mosley
I always thought he was cool. For a short while there, I even wanted to be a private investigator. I'm fairly certain I wasn't going to be living in Hawaii or driving a flashy car like his, but that didn't stop me from dreaming all about that.
1985-1986 / Misfits of Science featuring: Dean Paul Martin, Kevin Peter Hall, Max Wright, Mark Thomas Miller, Jennifer Holmes and Courtney Cox
As you may have guess from previous lists. I love comedy and super heroes. This pretty much combined the two. Zany scientists, cool super powers, Courtney Cox. Sign me up please! The tallest guy in the bunch could shrink to mere inches, the cool guy had lightening powers and could run fast and Courtney Cox had telekinesis.
This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1963 - McDonald's
1972 - Magnavox Odyssey
1984 - Mr. T Cereal (Featuring Mr. T)
We both picked Mr. Ed and Magnum today. I loved Mr. Ed. That talking horse gets me every time, still today! I don't remember Misfits of Science at all...
ReplyDeleteYour classic commercials are fantastic! The McDonalds one brings back memories of the first McDonald's opening in my town when I was growing up: they were having their big Grand Opening and Ronald McDonald was there. My dad took me and put me up on his shoulders to get a glimpse of Ronald. The parking lot in your commercial looks like the one where I was that day...
And the Magnavox promotional film: Wow! What a trip that was! What a mess that game is, with all those films that go on the TV screen. The promo was so funny.
Mr. T cereal, I don't recall. Looks kinda good though. I'm hungry... :)
Great post.
Michele at Angels Bark
Sorry for getting back to this so late. I was gone for the weekend with no computer access.
DeleteMisfits of Science lasted only one season. I thought it was ingenious enough, I guess no one else thought so.
I at times like vintage games. But can you imagine trying to work that Magnavox get-up today?
And yes, I'm a cereal Killer. I can finish a box of whatever you hand me. I'm sure I've devoured a box of Mr. T. cereal in my time.
That first Magnavox was wild. The precursor to Pong.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever saw Misfits of Science. Too busy with college I guess.
I don't recall having an actual pong game, but I do remember playing it. I wish I could remember where.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteI pity the fool who don't like this post!:)
I watched The Mickey Mouse Club, Mr. Ed and Misfits of Science (+ Weird Science) but avoided Magnum. It's an interesting piece of trivia that Willard Scott, the long time weatherman on The Today Show, was the very first Ronald McDonald.
Thanks, good buddy Jeffrey!
Sorry I am replying so late. Wasn't that Sir Walter Scott? I get those two confused.
DeleteWOW! Someone else who remembers and watched Misfits of Science. Here's a bit of trivia for you. Did you know Kevin Peter Hall also played Harry in Harry and the Henderson's and one of the Preditors in the Preditor films?
I ugh didn't watch any of these, but that's just because of my generation. I, of course, had heard of Magnum.
ReplyDeleteI never really watched the Mickey Mouse club or Mr. Ed. It was a rare occasion if I did, and then, it were reruns.
DeleteMagnum was a wonderful character and Tom Selleck played him to perfection. I think all the fellas wanted to be him and the girls wanted to date him. And everyone wanted that car. And Hawaii, of course. Frankly, there was nothing to dislike about that show. Ha!
ReplyDeleteMy dad would've put Maverick on this list, as it was his favorite western. So, we watched it frequently. To be more specific, he liked Maverick best when James Garner was on it (Bret Maverick), but would watch the other one.
Oldies that I liked... Mork & Mindy definitely. MacGyver was also a favorite. He could do amazing things with duct tape and a paper clip. And I can't let the letter "M" go by without mentioning M*A*S*H, which was one of my all-time favorite shows as a teenager (and I still really like it). Dad and I watched this one together a lot. So, there's lots of good memories wrapped up in this show.
Yes, that car was amazing. He was pretty cool, wasn't he? I never watched Maverick, but I did watch the film adaptation and remember liking it. That was the gambling one, correct? Or maybe I'm not remembering correctly. Mork & Mindy is another good one. I should have put that on my list. I was thinking of M*A*S*H too. I still watch that on reruns. There were so many good M TV shows, it was hard to select just three.
DeleteThe only show I watched regularly from this list was Magnum P.I. Loved the car! Tom Selleck was easy on the eyes, too and I liked Higgins' Dobermans.☺ That first Ronald McDonald sure is weird looking! Fascinating Magnavox Promo. I remember playing similar pong-type games at the pub. One of those was clearly the forerunner to PacMan. I didn't know there was a Mr. T cereal. Figures, given his popularity at the time.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, those Dobermans. They would have scared me off his estate.
DeleteRonald McDonald, can you imagine a try that automatically refills itself? What if you don't want a burger or fries for a few days. That original clown seems creepier than the one who's on TV now. Or maybe it's just me.
Misfits of Science :D I've only ever seen the movie, which I assume was the pilot. I didn't even realise there was a series until I spotted some of it on Youtube :) I so fancied Johnny :)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Yes, the movie was the pilot. It's no wonder you are unfamiliar with it. I think the pilot is the only thing available and that's only on VHS. If I were to find this on DVD, I think I would pick it up.
DeleteHi Jeffrey - I'll go with Magnum ... fun times watching tv! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteSeems there are a few of these TV shows you are familiar with at least. :)
DeleteI couldn't wait to get home from school as a kid and watch Mickey mouse club with Annette funicello. I remember all those shows. My brother had the A team van and all the characters. I wish we still had his Mr T doll!!
ReplyDeleteMy dad looked just like Magnum PI when that show was on. Everyone called him that. awww- great memories.
So glad to bring back a few fond memories for you. That would have been cool to have the A-Team van and figures.
DeleteI had to burst out in laughter when I saw your first series, Mr. Ed. One of my favorites and I can still sing the title song. In fact, every now and then, I'll pull up the series on YouTube and watch two or three episodes. Great choice.
ReplyDeleteI also watched Magnum but wasn't as crazy about him as I was about Mr. Ed, the talking horse.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
My dad would often sing the Mr. Ed theme song. His name was Ed too. LOL
Delete"Don't yell at me Wilbur, I'm not your wife" Mr. Ed was great! So was Magnum. I think my grandma had a Magnavox like that;-)
ReplyDeleteI would love to see one of those units in real life. I wonder if there is one at the Smithsonian. If there isn't, there should be.
DeleteI'm probably the only one who didn't like Magnum PI or Mr. Ed. I hate talking animals of any kind, talking puppets of any kind, and cartoons. :) Yeah, I'm a stick in the mud! Honestly, they creep me out! :)
ReplyDeleteI can certainly see being creeped out by Mr. Ed or a talking muppet. Some things are just unnatural and that can be very easy to be freaked out by them.
DeleteRonald McNightmare
ReplyDeleteAlong with that Grimace Monster.
DeleteI used to live eat and sleep on Magnum beetle juice. When I missed a show, I got someone to record an episode off the tv set which was even more fun to listen to.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, the days of yore when we recorded audio of our favourite programs because owning a VCR either didn't exist yet, or was far too expensive.
DeleteSome great memories with those shows
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing.
DeleteI never watched Mr. Ed but I remember seeing the theme song all the time because it played right after this other show I used to watch. "A horse is a horse, of course, of course..."
ReplyDelete... and no one can talk to a horse, of course.
DeleteI watched Mr. Ed even though it was before my time. Loved Magnum PI. I also loved the Mary Tyler Moore show, MASH! Mad about You, the Munsters, Mork and Mindy. I watched a lot of tv:)
ReplyDeleteLots of great TV under the letter M. So hard to select only three to showcase.
DeleteHi Jeffrey! Mr Ed - a horse is a horse of course, of course - unless you are the famous Mr Ed. and who could resist Tom Selleck's eyebrows in Magnum. Loved both of these shows thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteEveryone loves Magnum. Well, most people, anyway.
DeleteOh look! It's that yummy Tom Selleck with the Burt Reynolds mustache. I didn't watch Mr Ed, but I sure heard about the theme song.
ReplyDeleteGreat post today!
Mary
#AtoZChallenge O is for O'Connor
Like I said above. ;) :D
DeleteJeffrey, Magnum PI was my favorite 80s weekly pleasure. Tom Selleck is a great actor. Have you seen the movie, Her Alibi, starring Selleck? If not, then I highly recommend this flick. It's fabulously funny! He's also good in the TV movies Jesse Stone. Our first color TV we bought was a Magnovox in the early 80s. It was big and heavy. What a pain it was to get in the house and then equally horrible to take it out when it died. lol
ReplyDeleteNo I don't believe I've ever heard of it. I shall have to look into that film. I have an old magnavox. Sure, it's not as old as all that, but it is still a tube TV and very heavy to move.
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