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.
1968-1969 / Wacky Races featuring: Dawes Butler, Don Messick, Janet Waldo, Dave Wilock
Jon-Erik Hexum, Meeno Peluce
Another cartoon I adored growing up. As I watched this in reruns, I was never sure when it was going to be on. But when it was, I had to watch it. Other cartoon rivals at the time were the Superfriends and the Laff-a-lympics.
1975 - 1979 / Wonder Woman featuring: Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner,
If this were a cartoon I probably would have enjoyed it more. Wonder Woman was not a big draw for me at the time, especially whenever Lynda was out of Wonder Woman costume. Had this premiered ten years later, I'm sure I would have been more interested.
1975-1979 / Welcome Back Kotter featuring: Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, John Sylvester White, Ron Palilio, John Travolta
Another one of my favourites. I loved Gabe's wisecrack answers to everything. Sarcasm was something I developed well over the years, this show probably had a hand in that, to some degree.
This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1961 - Winston (Featuring: The Flintstones)
1984 - Wendy's
1977 - Woodsy Owl
I wasn't keen on the Wacky Races, but I did watch Wonder Woman (in hindsight maybe it was a girl power thing?)
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Perhaps you are right. But I know many boys who watched Wonder Woman too.
DeleteWonder woman was not one of my favorites and I did not watch it but Fred Flintstone was a hit by me. I can still sing the opening theme song. I loved those Flintstones.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
I found it shocking to see the Flintstones selling cigarettes.
DeleteI used to love Wacky Races and I have all of Wonder Woman on DVD :) Great choices today.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
I loved the Laff-a-lypics too. Do you remember that one?
DeleteI watched the shows and remember the commercials. Except for the Flinstones smoking. That seems so wrong...
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read, that advert lasted one season of Flintstones, then it was replaced because too many parents complained. Even still, who were the ad wizards that came up with that one?
DeleteWhere's the Beef? I sure do miss that commercial. I don't recall Wacky Races, but I do remember watching Wonder Woman.
ReplyDeleteMary
#AtoZChallenge W is for Wilson Phillips
I watched some wacky cartoons when I was a kid.
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteWonder Woman made quite a splash but, for some reason, I didn't watch the series. I didn't watch Kotter either but in 2014 I posted a record made by cast member Marcia Strassman (Julie Kotter):
http://shadydell.blogspot.com/2014/11/echoes-of-spectorian-era-volume-6-out.html
I remember that Flintstones commercial for Winston. You're probably too young to remember but, in those days, cigarettes were actually good for you. They were recommended by top athletes and 4 out of 5 doctors. I well remember 81 year old Clara Peller becoming a celebrity thanks to that commercial for Wendy's. You're probably too young to remember but, in those days, fast food and red meat were actually good for you. I remember Woodsy Owl's "Give a hoot, don't pollute." PSA campaign. I hate to burst your bubble, but Woodsy was actually a guy in a costume.
Thanks, good buddy Jeffrey!
Yes, I was too young to remember the cigarette Flintstone commercials, but I also know they were forced to stop advertising like that when parents complained. I know that's true because I read it on the internet.
DeleteI remember when all sorts of things were good for you, then bad for you, then good for you again. Remember how many times they've flip-flopped on eggs?
You're probably too young to remember but, in those olden days, littering on the ground was actually good for you. We were simply discouraged form littering so the Indian would stop crying.
We only had one in common this time. I remember Wonder Woman but didn't really watch it. I don't remember Wacky Races.
ReplyDeleteIt's absurd to see Winston sponsoring the Flintstones! Could you believe that when you saw it? Crazy!
Loved the Wendy's spot. That always got a laugh...
Woodsy Owl: well, he's woodsy for sure. :)
Only a few more days. chug chug chug... And then maybe I'll glug glug glug. I'll need a stiff drink after all this!
Michele at Angels Bark
I'll meet you at the bar. First rounds on me.
DeleteYes, I was very shocked to see this Winston commercial. They don't even like so much as a cartoon camel on a box of cigs now.
I loved Wonder Woman (what do you mean Lynda was not player her? She was. Confused.) Anyway, I loved that show so much I spent a great deal of time spinning in circles and hoping. Alas, no. I also liked Welcome Back Kotter a lot.
ReplyDeleteOther Ws that are no longer around: Wild, Wild West. This was a favorite of my dad's and I liked it a lot, too.
I went back and re-read what I wrote. I must have been tired when I wrote that. I edited it so it makes a bit more sense. Sorry for that. I remember Wild Wild West. My dad too loved watching it. If I see it on reruns, I tend to watch it too.
DeleteI loved wacky races
ReplyDeleteIt was wacky fun. That's for sure.
DeleteWonder Woman sure moves fast when tying those laces.
ReplyDeleteShe should just get invisible shoes.
DeleteHaven't seen Wacky Races, but I enjoyed Wonder Woman. Cool to see a female superhero on screen for a change. Welcome Back Kotter brings back so many memories! I loved it and all the Sweathogs, especially Vinnie. It's funny to see Fred and Barney smoking cigarettes. Where's the Beef was a great commercial! "Give a hoot, don't pollute". It often doesn't look like that message sunk in. Another great post. Thanks, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when we need a PSA to tell us not to litter. Some people have no pride in anything. It gets me so enraged when I see people walking down the street and throwing their garbage on the ground. I can only imagine what their house looks like. My favourite sweathog was Horshshack. He was annoying, but so was I back then.
DeleteFunny how you havent seen the picture or title in years but it evokes memories just the same. I really didnt watch much TV as a kid but I remember the Wacky Races.
ReplyDeleteIm blogging from Fill the cracks and Moondustwriter's Blog. Happy last week of A to Zing!
Happy last week to you too! This AtoZ has been on wacky race to the finish hasn't it? For me it's going to be from A to Zzzzzzzz
DeleteOh, wow... The Wacky Races brought back all sorts of nostalgia—and, if you'd asked me if I remembered that show 5 min ago, I'd have said a flat NO, hahahaha. Wonder Woman was one of my favorites—then again, being a girl I found a lot more to like (at that age) than a boy would've. (I actually remember my cousin, two years older than me and a boy, absolutely hating that show.) I loved it so much, in fact, that my grandma sewed me a Wonder Woman costume one Christmas. I wore it till it wouldn't fit anymore :D
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jeffrey! Your whole A2Z series has been fabulous.
Guilie @ Life In Dogs
Thanks for the comments. My whole goal this year was to entertain.
DeleteLike your cousin, I don't recall being to drawn to the show. I would certainly watch it now, if I were to catch it in reruns.
I loved Wonder Woman, but was confused about the time jump. I was young, so I didn't get things that I would get now.
ReplyDeleteLiz A. from Laws of Gravity
I don't remember the time jump. But then again, I didn't watch very often.
DeleteI well remember 'Welcome back, Kotter' and that catchy theme;-) I didn't watch Wonder Woman because I thought it was more for boys, since every boy I knew loved it. I literally gaped at the commercial with the Flintstone gang! Kicking back with a smoke while the wife mows the lawn was quite a message in itself;-) I always liked the Wendy's commercial, it was just getting popular here at that time.
ReplyDeleteYour theme this year has been consistently engaging, Jeffrey!
As you are probably aware, I don't offer these commercials because I believe in the values. I offer these more to show how ridiculous advertising used to be and what they used to get away with.
DeleteWhere's the Beef! Oh, man... What a blast from the past!
ReplyDelete"Maybe it's under the pickle".
DeleteWacky Races was before my time but the other ones were classics
ReplyDeleteIf you were ever into cartoons, you should check it out. It was goofy, but it was enjoyable.
DeleteI loved Welcome Back, Kotter (got the original 45 by John Sebastian), but it really jumped the shark when John Travolta left. For better or worse, he was the glue that held the show together. Once he left, the show was done.
ReplyDeleteKind of like when Don Knotts left the Andy Griffith show once his contract was up and it went to color.
Father Nature's Corner
There have been far too many shows that jumped the shark. Take Happy Days for example.
DeleteI loved Wonder Woman! I think I had Wonder Woman underoos hahaha!!! And that "Where's the beef?" commercial...classic!
ReplyDelete~Katie
TheCyborgMom
I think Wonder Woman had Wonder Woman Underoos.
DeleteI still use that "Where's the Beef" line. My kids scratch their heads. LOL
OMG!! I used to watch Wacky Races and remembered Penelope Pitstop with her car but I could never remember from where and now I know!! This brought back memories. I loved WKRP and found it so funny esp. dr. Johnny Fever. The ads are great
ReplyDeleteYes, WKRP was a great show. I kind of wanted to work in radio when I was younger, or broadcasting of some sort. Obviously, I never did, but I directed that interest into one of the characters of my YA story.
DeleteThat's cool Penelope Pitstop brought back some memories. I'd love to re-watch all those classic cartoons.
The WAcky Race was one of my absolute favourit cartoons too. I think I'd enjoy it even today... if they did a rerun...
ReplyDeleteI didn't particularly like Wonder Woman either, but back then, I watched basically everything going through the screen ;-)
That was pretty much me too. If I had the option to watch TV, I watched whatever it was.
DeleteYes, I'd rewatch the Wacky Races too. I wonder if it's on some kind of cartoon network now.