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.
1957-1959 / Zorro featuring: Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin & George J. Lewis
Much before my time. This is the first of three TV shows presented here today, I never really cared for. I'd almost watch nothing at all than these shows. Because I hadn't been born at the hight of the popularity of Zorro, I never saw it on TV, much less 'got into it'.
1972 - 1978 / Zoom featuring: rotating cast
Even as a youth, I considered this a second-rate show. For whatever reason, there was no interest for me. Which is odd because I thoroughly enjoyed the Electric Company and 3-2-1 Contact. No matter, it's still fun to remember all those PBS education shows I grew up with.
1986 - 1987 / Zoobilee Zoo featuring: Ben Vereen
This one outright creeped me out, and never remember willingly watching. Though for whatever reason, a few scenes have been etched into my head. Perhaps I was bored or was to lazy to get up and change the channel. Or perhaps one of my younger siblings was watching.
This A-Z list has been brought to you today, by....
1970s - Zest
1994 - Zima
2006 - Zune
Zorro is the only one I know here and I was a fan back in the 60's.
ReplyDeleteGreat job in making it through another A to Z in April!
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Z was a hard letter to do. Kind of wish we could do the AtoZ in reverse. LOL
DeleteZune was MS's answer to the iPod. And nobody bought it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. I bought one once and had nothing but problems. I took it back and got an ipod.
DeleteHi Jeffrey - Zorro - yes, the rest no .. but well done on all your tv remembrances ... some certainly took me back, others (being a Brit) passed me by .. cheers and congratulations - Hilary
ReplyDeleteI will be honest, a few times (not many) I had to cheat. But you'll discover how in my reflection post.
DeleteI remember Zorro. In fact, when I first arrived in Germany, Zorro was still playing on German television, and I saw Zorro speaking German.
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed visiting your blog and especially your sense of humor had me cracking up at times.
You chose a great theme and I hope to see you around on the web because I'm following you.
All the best.
Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
Yes, you shall certainly see me around.
DeleteBesides, A to Z isn't quite finished yet. There is still the reflection post. See you then, if not before. ;)
Oh, Zimas! How I loved them in college! How I was made fun of for loving them in college... Had a lot of fun b/c of them. They were my liquid courage of choice.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun taking this voyage down memory lane with you. Congrats on your completion!
Ericka from
A Quiet Girl’s Musings…
That's kind of the same story for me. But not in college, just with my friends. Do they still make them?
DeleteCongrats to you on your challenge as well. :)
Hi, Jeffrey!
ReplyDeleteThe generation gap between us is showing, good buddy. I watched Zorro first run and loved it. Zorro became one of my favorite action heroes, second only to Superman. I fashioned a cape from a bath towel and envisioned myself as the dashing, cunning swordsman, but I eventually gave up on the idea because I could never get the Z right. It looked more like a backward S. Besides, my mother was always giving me hell for slashing the throw pillows on the sofa. I never heard of Zoom or Zoobilee Zoo, but I grew up watching Zest advertising on TV and using the bath bar. It's funny how, at some point, "soap" became a dirty word here in America and products like Zest were marketed as "beauty bars." There also came a point in time when ordinary beer wasn't good enough and brewers came up with "malternative" beverages like Zima, a product that failed to catch on because it developed a rep as a girlie man drink.
Thanks for a month of entertainment, info and memories, good buddy Jeffrey!
Thanks for stopping by as always. Is that why Zima disappeared? I agree, I was alwasy given dirty looks when I had that in my fridge.
DeleteAre you doing that exaggerating thing again? Did you really slash the sofa pillows?
Oh man, Z has been a hard letter to find TV shows for. That's why I went with the ones no one has ever heard of.
I remember Zorro, but never heard of the other two shows.
ReplyDeleteThis was fun, Jeff! Well done.
Don't feel bad, most have not heard of these other TV shows.
DeleteNo, I didn't watch/don't know any of these. Well done for completing the challenge and thanks for visiting me. :)
ReplyDeleteSusan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
It's been a fun challenge. Now time to rest.
DeleteI loved Zorro! ☺ Guy Williams was an early heartthrob (no wonder - he was Italian; real name Armando Catalano and somewhat resembled Errol Flynn, another favourite) who also starred in the movie "Captain Sinbad". Don't remember the others, or any of the commercials, but I do use Zest. "Cleaner than soap" was their slogan for decades.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing the challenge! Loved your theme. Are you doing the BOTB tomorrow? I'm skipping this one. Blogger burnout! Plus, the turnout will likely be meagre. Have a good weekend!
I'm a glutton for punishment. Yes, I did the BOTB.
DeleteAnd yet, I'm still trying to catch up with some comments and email from the challenge.
I only remember the 1990 Zorro series with Duncan Regehr - I always fancied him from V :). Thanks for all the great posts - they have been a lot of fun to check out.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Thanks, I appreciate you stopping by.
DeleteV - He was in the series right? I have those on DVD, I'll have to rewatch those.
You did a great job with Z! I never heard of Zoom or Zoobilee Zoo: I was probably too old for these shows when they came out. I remember the Zest commercial. Never heard of Zune but that was an interesting spot. And I used to drink Zima all the time! I had forgotten about that "beer" -- Do they still make it? I doubt it. But I sure enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's been a ride, hasn't it? I've had fun checking out your posts every day and it was cool to be doing the same theme. Maybe we should coordinate for next year? :) Thanks for all your visits at my place. Now we can take a little breather for awhile. Except I'm sure I'll see you for tomorrow's BOTB!
Great job Jeffrey. I think what I liked best about your posts were the cool commercials every day (again, me having been in advertising for so long, commercials are near and dear to my heart -- when they're done well, that is). You picked some really great ones!
See you soon!
Michele at Angels Bark
Thanks, I've had a lot of fun with this theme, that's for sure. Yes, we may have to co-ordinate, if we do the same theme again. I already have a few ideas for next year.
DeleteOne of the things I loved most about this theme, was when I found out you were doing the same. It was great to compare notes as we released each of our posts for the day. We naturally had visitors stopping by both and comparing as well. LOL
Yes, I did my BOTB posting. I just cant step away from my blog it seems. :)
Ha! I almost did Zorro too! In relation to the one episode in which Efrem Zimbalist Jr. starred. Unfortunately, there were no animals associated with Mr. Zimbalist;-) Oh yeah, Zima was a hit but for some reason folks I knew were suspicious of Zest! Well done, Jeffrey! I've enjoyed the entertainment and the memories:-)
ReplyDeleteSuspicious of zest? Really?
DeleteI don't know why Zima did so poorly. I enjoyed it from time to time.
Nope,I've never seen any of these shows! Thanks for all the visits for this year's A to Z
ReplyDeleteugh...my computer is being a bastard...I was not done speaking! As I was saying...
DeleteThanks for all the visits to my blog. I really enjoyed your theme and all your posts. It was nice to think of some older shows and the memories that they sparked for me :)
~Katie
TheCyborgMom
Then I was successful at my job. Glad I was able to entertain so many people with my theme.
DeleteScotty would be proud of you beaming across the border with the transporter operating at optimum efficiency. At least you arrived in one piece, so much the better! It pays to keep the engines tuned - so when not celebrate with a neat drink to finish the A to Z celebrations off! Kapla!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish you success too. Thanks for stopping by as always. I'll keep the hailing frequencies open for you any time.
DeleteJeffrey, you've hit the end of the A-to-Z and you did a wonderful job! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThanks, it was a lot of missed sleep that helped.
DeleteI remember Zoro, I never cared for the show. I remember really liking ZOOM. I remember Zima beer, I wonder if that stuff is still around?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I've enjoyed your theme. Congrats on finishing the A to Z Challenge!
From what I understand, you can only get Zima in Japan now.
DeleteWow, someone else remembers watching Zoom. So, did it inspire you to get outside and play? That always seemed to be the goal.
I've seen the old Zoro and I agree it was rather cheesy. The other shows I never saw. We have never gotten PBS broadcasting in our area without cable or satellite. I do recall the Zest commercial stressing that it rinses cleaner! Congratulations on completing the AtoZ! I'll be seeing you.
ReplyDeleteRevisit the Tender Years with me at
Life & Faith in Caneyhead
That's odd you never got the PBS stations without cable.
DeleteYes, I'll be seeing you around. :)
I remember Zoom. It was on either just before or just after 321Contact. I watched it with the kids I babysat.
ReplyDeleteMary
#AtoZChallenge Z is for Zenda
I think it was on after 321-Contact. Which was also a cool show to watch, but I was not that excited about Zoom. Remember the Bloodhound Gang?
DeleteI don't remember Zoom or that Contact show. We watched Electric Company in elementary school, I remember. I was a huge fan of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood when I was young. My mom said I'd pull up my rocking chair and watch it every day.
ReplyDeleteYour rocking chair. How cute. Yes, Electric Company was watched in school by me too, and I loved it. It had Spider-Man on it.
DeleteI don't remember any of these, Jeffrey—except the Zest commercial :D That eyeglasses-dipped-in-soapy-water thing was used well into the 90's for Zest commercials in Mexico (not sure if in the US, too, but I never saw any there), and every time I wash my own glasses I have to think of it, haha. Zorro never took off in Mexico (too "Tex-Mex", I suppose), but my dad was a huge fan. He grew up in California, though, so it makes sense ;)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing the Challenge, Jeffrey! I've loved this journey of nostalgia you took us on. And thank you so, so much for all your visits and lovely comments over at Life In Dogs... You made this April extra special for me :)
I do remember those Zest commercials. I seem to remember them using more a sheet of glass for the demo, but the principal is the same. I enjoyed reading your series this AtoZ. I'll keep checking it out.
DeleteZorro was one of my favourite shows when I was a kid. True, it was long after its time, but it was very popular even in the 1970s at least here in Italy.
ReplyDeleteI caught a rerun a few years a go and honestly I still enjoyed it. I think back in the 1950s must have been a very costly, daring shaw.
Congratulation of completing the challenge. Hey, this was truly a nostalgic journay :-)
I never remember seeing Zorro in reruns. Probably why I never got into it. Hard to get into a show if you are not exposed to it.
DeleteYou're right, that zoo show is creepy. The only one I know is Zorro and I think I saw an episode or 2 I know the Zest commercial for sure. Congrats on a great A to Z
ReplyDeleteSeems everyone remembers the Zorro series the best followed by the Zest commercial. I wonder if the commercial was ever a sponsor for the show.
DeleteJeffrey, congrats on crossing the A2Z finish line! *applauds* Your vintage movies and TV shows I didn't see growing up. I did see the newer Zorro flicks with Antonio Banderas and totally loved. I remember quite well the Zest commercials. In fact, my mom use to buy the product. I haven't used it in years, but I remember the jingle You're not clean unless you're Zestfully clean!. Nice job well done!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many commercial jingles and tag lines I can remember, but ask me what I had for breakfast? Nope, don't recall. LOL
Delete