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.
1959 - 1963 / the Untouchables featuring: Robert Stack, Abel Fernandez, Nicholas Georglade
Much before my time. I never even saw it on reruns. But certainly something that would have interested me at the time.
1964-1973 / Underdog featuring: Wally Cox, Norma MacMillin, Allen Swift
Pretty much a spoof of the Superman tale. None-the-less, for a cartoon it was fairly decent to watch and was not overly ridiculous. I barely saw this on Saturday morning reruns, though it happened from time to time. I caught it more when cable TV became a big thing and vintage cartoons were more easily seen.
1987-2010 / Unsolved Mysteries featuring: Robert Stack
Mysteries are perplexing enough, but when they go unsolved, that annoys me. I suppose that's what makes them mysteries. This series took a look at all sorts of different mysteries. From conspiracy theories to reports of UFO's. With a great narrative from Robert Stack and recreations, this was an intriguing show. Even if it still did not solve the mysteries.
This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1983 - Ultra Brite Toothpaste
1980's - U-Haul
1991 - Urkel O's
We had the exact same ones today, which isn't surprising. There aren't many shows starting with U. My worst letter though was Z...
ReplyDeleteThe Ultra Brite commercial made me groan. oh Lord! Lol.
And Urkel had a cereal? Had no idea. Funny. Like we need one more cereal in the cereal aisle!
I didn't know U-Haul rented movies! How long did that last? They don't still do that, do they? Who rents movies anymore?? :)
We're in the home stretch now Jeffrey... Five more days...
Michele at Angels Bark
Yes, Z was pretty bad. It's going to be an underwhelming day I think.
DeleteWhat was wrong with the Ultra-Brite commercial?? LOL HA-HA!!! Okay, okay, I know. I love those dorky commercials. Try putting something like that on TV today.
I'm starting to think everyone and his mother has had a cereal at one point or another.
I can't imagine U-Haul did much renting of anything but vehicles past the 80's. or early 90s.
Great! Loved it
ReplyDeletePopped over from http://cazgreenham.blogspot.com
@CazsBooks
#A2Z challenge
So happy you enjoyed it. :)
DeleteThat Ultra Brite commercial was really cheesy for the 80's. Even back then, sex sold.
ReplyDeleteSo right you are. "Use our toothpaste, then the girls will notice you." Was it just me, or did that guy seem a little creepy?
Deletei'm sorry i'm just finding this now. i'm going to go back and read you're previous posts. i'm doing tv, movies, music from the 1980s
ReplyDelete80's is a great theme. Looking forward to visiting and reading what you have to offer on each letter.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteYou flogged my memory with these U shows and commercials, good buddy! I remember UFO sightings being front page news and fodder for countless TV shows for decades. Although only 9 years old when it premiered, I was a regular viewer of the intense crime drama The Untouchables. To this day I still use Ultra Brite toothpaste (even though I have no teeth! :) I well remember Steve Urkel as the breakout character of the TV sitcom Family Matters. The episode in which Urkel turned cool was one of the great "WHOA!" moments in TV history. I never heard of the breakfast cereal brought to market to cash in on the Urkel craze.
Thanks, good buddy Jeffrey!
Well it's good you still use the Ultra-Brite, how else are you gonna get the girls? It's funny how many different breakfast cereals there really are. It could be a great topic for an A-Z list. Hmmmmmmm
DeleteI just barely remember The Untauchables. I watched it when I was a very little kid. But then I remember than when the film by De Palma came out, I kind of remembered the old tv show.
ReplyDeleteNever seen it again...
@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz
I have to be honest, I've never watched the series. But I think if it were on TV now, it would be something to interest me.
DeleteUrkel-O's...for REAL? I think I must have blocked that out!
ReplyDeleteI have always been pretty familiar with various breakfast cereals. I barely remember this one, in fact would have forgotten about it if I was not doing research for this list. Can you imagine "The Fact of Life" breakfast cereal? or "The Brady Bunch" cereal? Not so far fetched now, is it?
DeleteI was indeed an Untouchable fan. Elliot Ness and his Untouchables was one of my favorite shows. I still like to see the re-runs when I can find them.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
I would have to check out Untouchables if I were to see it on TV now.
DeleteFun to see Robert Stack's older and newer shows. ☺ I watched them both and Underdog as well. Wally Cox's voice was perfect! The commercials were all unfamiliar, although I remember the character of Urkle. What show was he on?
ReplyDeleteUrkle was on the TV Show Family Matters. He became so popular, he was put just about everywhere.
DeleteU is a hard letter for TV shows. I didn't really watch any of these. I confess to watching Underdog occasionally... but, not so much a fan of the others.
ReplyDeleteA good show that I think is still on (it airs during the summer) is Under The Dome.
U isn't the only letter hard to find TV shows for. But rest assured, I will complete my A to Z challenge.
DeleteI watched Under the Dome. Unfortunately, after three seasons, they cancelled it. But, at least they didn't really leave on a major cliff-hanger. The series ended fairly satisfactorily. There will not be a fourth series this Summer. :(
This is the second blog to mention Underdog. :) Not a fan of any of these.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, U is a hard letter to find shows for.
DeleteI hope I can find a few TV shows you liked before the list is complete.
The Untouchablessounds like an interesting show. Great job with U.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope you like the rest of the letters.
DeleteI wondered what you'd have for U! I remember the Untouchables, and of course the ordinary beagle with extraordinary powers;-) I'd never heard of the Urkel cereal, but why not? I was just at U-Haul last week and Unsolved Mysteries airs almost every weekday! Another engaging post, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diedre. Hope you enjoy the rest of the letters. They were pretty hard to find good shows for.
DeleteHmm, I don't know any of these!
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
I hope you will find a few more you know before this series ends. The rest are challenging, to be sure.
DeleteI remember Urkel from Family Matters and didn't know there was a cereal for him though.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing what they will make a cereal? Anything from Star Wars to Wrestling stars. Crazy!
DeleteEliot Ness was a champion! Makes me want to watch the whole series all over again!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this series is on DVD or Netflix.
DeleteUnderDog! Loved to watch every saturday morning (after chores were done, of course)
ReplyDeleteMary
#AtoZChallenge U is for Underwood
Was not a big fan of Underdog, I remember it being on early on Saturday. But hey, it was a cartoon. So I would still watch it.
DeleteThe Untouchables were before my time, as was Underdog (coincidentally - my topic for today is movie underdogs...). I was a fairly avid watcher of Unsolved Mysteries and have even caught myself watching the reruns form time to time. I remember Urkel from Family Matters, but do not remember his namesake cereal. I was in high school by that time, so I'm sure I wasn't paying any attention b/c I was all wrapped up in high school life.
ReplyDeleteFun list! Visiting via Mike's blog (http://mikespainwrites.blogspot.com) Have a good one!
There were likely a lot of cereals that have come and gone without much notice. I still watch some of these older shows on reruns too.
DeleteI don't remember those particular commercials, but I certainly remember the shows. The Untouchables was a particular favorite. Loved the old cars, the gats, the spats, and all of that. The stories were pretty good too.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
I really need to find a rerun of this series. I think I'd like it.
DeleteI loved Unsolved Mysteries!!
ReplyDeleteCheck out this Cee Lo Green video with Jamal White (Urkel) playing young Cee Lo. It's one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I34cljQQ7YA
He looks so much different. Doesn't he?
DeleteI remember hearing about The Untouchables, but it was before my time, and I have no idea what the show was about. I loved Underdog but I absolutely loved Unsolved Mysteries! What a great show, Robert Stack's voice was so perfect for this show, and I really loved Keely Shay Smith on the show too. I love that her marriage to Pierce Brosnan has endured. They really seem to have something special.
ReplyDeleteAnother great post!
Another great post!
Unsolved Mysteries was a great program. Probably why I love Stephanie's (commenter above) AtoZ theme of this year. Unsolved Mysteries always kept you thinking.
DeleteI'm too young for The Untouchables, but glimpsed it in reruns. I never watched it. I loved Underdog.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Under was great because it was kind of a mock Superman.
DeleteYes I remember Unsolved Mysteries but sadly not the others. I thought I had watched so much TV growing up so perhaps I wasn't so bad after all LOL:) Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty
ReplyDeleteProblem is, the letter U was challenging to find decent U programs.
DeleteI really liked Underdog
ReplyDeleteHe truly was the underdog if I ever saw one. At least until he became Super Underdog. So to speak.
DeleteI can't say I watched any of those shows :(
ReplyDelete~Katie
TheCyborgMom
I wonder if you would have liked Unsolved Mysteries.
DeleteI lover Unsolved Mysteries and sometimes, they did solve the crime. This was on, I think, before John Walsh's show but then Walsh's show overtook Unsolved Mysteries. I'd love to rematch that show again.
ReplyDeleteJohn Walsh was mostly about missing people though, correct? I know I must have watched that.
DeleteYou're the third person to mention Underdog for U - I shall have to go see if I can find it to check it out :)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
I think mostly because U was hard to find TV shows for.
DeleteIf you do get a chance to check it out, let me know what you think.