|
|
|
|
|
wish_list
In case you hit this page first, this is page three
of a wish list for the TV Land / Nick at Nite programmers. Click
here to read page one.
|
Malibu
U
|
 "Malibu
U." was a 1967 beach party hosted by Ricky Nelson with singer
Robie Porter. The theme of this ABC summer replacement was a college
summer school on Malibu beach. It featured The Bob Banas Dancers
clad in bikinis as the "Maulibeauties" Rick Nelson was billed as
"the dean of the drop-ins" at Malibu U. There were a lot
of shows that didn't go into re-runs in the '60's, but rather had other
shows to replace them. This was a summer replacement for
"Hondo" |
|
Mary
|
 After
The "Mary Tyler Moore Show", Mary hosted her own comedy/
variety show called "Mary". It only lasted for three weeks
in the fall of 1978. What I find amazing about the show
is the cast of regulars: James Hampton, Judith Kahan, Michael
Keaton, Swoosie Kurtz, David Letterman, and Dick Shawn.
Remember, this show had David Letterman singing and dancing in a white
sequined jumpsuit. Also in 1979, CBS gave Mary another shot at a
variety show. This version, "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour",
lasted for 13 weeks and also featured Michael Keaton. |
|
Mary Hartman,
Mary Hartman |
 This
delightfully demented serial focused on the life of Mary Hartman
(Louise Lasser), an average American housewife living in Fernwood
Ohio. "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" was both a soap opera,
and a parody of a soap opera. The product of Norman Lear, it was the
story of a housewife who struggled with the angst of her life and its many
complications: a troubled marriage, a troubled daughter, and a troubled
extended family, "waxy yellow build-up" on her kitchen
floor not to mention mass-murder, country music, and a whole world of
other oddities. Lear was unable to sell MHMH to any of the major
networks, so it was marketed as a syndicated show, often run in the late
night hours because of it's subject matter. Cast included: Greg
Mullavy as Tom Hartman, Dody Goodman as Martha Shumway, Debralee Scott as
Cathy Shumway, Claudia Lamb as Heather Hartman, Mary Kay Place as Loretta
Haggers. The show ran for two seasons,
from early 1976 to 1978. Update: Debralee Scott's husband worked for
the New York Port Authority. He was killed on 9-11 while working in
the subway of World Trade Center. Also See: The
Mary Hartman Resource Page Added
to the TV Land line-up in June of 2002. |
|
Mothers-In-Law
|
 "The
Mothers-In-Law" was the creation of Desi Arnaz, and featured
Lucy's friend Eve Arden and her friend, Kaye Ballard. It's the story
of two families, the Hubbards and the Buells. They had been neighbors in
suburban Los Angeles for 15 years. Herb Hubbard was a successful
lawyer. Roger Buell was a television writer who did most of his work
at home and would test his scripts on anyone who happened to be available
as a sounding board. His wife, Kaye was friends with Eve. Their kids
were married to each other. Jerry and Susie, were both in college
and had to cope with in-laws who had turned a garage into an apartment for
them. The first season was very good, then Roger C. Carmel
asked for more money and was replaced with Richard Deacon. It just
didn't click. The series ran for two seasons (56 episodes) beginning
September 10, 1967 on NBC. Cast: included: Herbert Rudley,
Deborah Walley, Jerry Fogel, and sometimes Herb Voland and Desi
Arnaz Also See: The
Mothers In-Law Resource Page |
|
The
People's Choice |
 I
doubt you've heard of this one. It's a sit-com that ran on NBC for
three seasons, 1955 thru 1958. It was the story of a city
councilman, played by Jackie Cooper, and his basset hound, Cleo. A
lot of the stories were told from the point of view of the dog,
no, the dog didn't talk, but you could hear her thoughts,
voice by Mary Jane Croft (she was Lucy's side-kick after Vivian Vance left
the "Lucy Show"). Also See: The
People's Choice Resource Page |
|
Mr.
Peepers
|
 Jefferson
High School, located in the small Midwestern town of Jefferson City, was
the setting for this live situation comedy. The central character was
Robinson Peepers, a shy, quiet, slow-moving science teacher whose efforts
to do the right thing always seemed to backfire. He was such a nice guy
that everyone on the staff tried to mother him and the students all
thought he was great, despite being laughable at times. Ran
from July 3, 1952 thru June 12, 1955 on NBC. I've never
seen this series, but the cast intrigues me. Wally Cox, Joseph
Foley, Tony Randall, Norma Crane, David Tyrell, Patricia Benoit,
Georgianna Johnson, Marion Lorne, Sylvia Field and Reta Shaw
as Aunt Lil. I think there are only kinescopes of this series,
and quality may be an issue. |
|
My
Favorite Husband
|
 Ever
hear of a show called "I Love Lucy"? It started on radio with
Lucille Ball playing Liz Cooper in a show called "My Favorite
Husband." CBS wanted Lucy to make the leep to TV, she
didn't want to. So CBS cast Joan Claufield to play Liz. When
Lucy did move to TV, she couldn't do "My Favorite
Husband", it was already on, so "I Love Lucy"
was born, but many of the MFH scripts were re-used. I want to
see the original. I've heard the radio shows, now I want to
see it, even though there's no Lucy in them. The series was a
hit from 1953 thru 1955, it fell apart when Vanessa Brown replaced
Claufield as Liz in the '56-57 season. |
|
Nanny
and the Professor
|
Juliet Mills plays Phoebe Figalilly, the nanny to Professor Harold
Everett, his children, Hal, a 12-year-old with a fascination for
scientific experiments; Butch, a 8-year-old who was into everything;
Prudence, a 5-year-old musical prodigy; Waldo, the family sheepdog; Myrtle
and Mike, guinea pigs; Sebastian, a rooster; Jerome and Geraldene, baby
goats. I don't remember this series, but I watched it as a kid,
January 21, 1970 - December 27, 1971 ABC 54 episodes.
Cast: includes Richard Long, David Doremus, Trent
Lehman, Kim Richards, Eileen Baral. Also See: The
Nanny and the Professor Resource Page |
|
The New Dick Van
Dyke Show |
 TNT
ran this series for a while. In their normal way of doing things,
they ran the episodes out of order. Since the formats changed
drastically from the first season to the second, it was hard to
follow. "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" ran on CBS from
September 18, 1971 thru September 3, 1973. The history on this
show has been somewhat re-written by Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler
Moore. "The New DVD Show" was on Saturday nights at 9:00,
right before "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". The ratings were
so bad that it dragged down the ratings on "MTM", but now
Mary says her show owes it's great start to it's lead-in, "The
New Dick Van Dyke Show". But that's not what she thought in
1971, and show show got moved to Sunday night. Cast:
Dick Preston: Dick Van Dyke, Jenny Preston: Hope
Lange, Bernie Davis Marty Brill, Carol
Davis: Nancy Dussault, Michele "Mike"
Preston: Fannie Flagg. Dick Preston was the host of a local talk
show on KXIV-TV in Phoenix, Arizona. The series revolved around his
personal life with his wife, Jenny, and thier nine-year-old daughter, and
his professional life with the talk show. The series was shot in
Carefree AZ. Also See: The
New Dick Van Dyke Show Resource Page |
|
Our Miss Brooks |
 "Our
Miss Brooks" follows the trials and tribulations of Connie Brooks, a
wisecracking English teacher at Madison High School. Stories depict
her romantic misadventures as she struggles to impress Philip Boynton, the
biology instructor; and her continual clash with crusty, blustery Osgood
P. Conklin, the principal. Connie rented a room from kindly old Mrs. Davis
and rode to school each morning with one of her students, the dimwitted
Walter Denton played by 25 year old Richard Crenna. The series started on
radio with the same cast and ran on CBS TV from October 3, 1952 thru
September 21, 1956 127 episodes. The supporting cast includes
many great classic TV actors: Gale Gordon , Jane Morgan , Mary
Jane Croft , Joseph Kearns, Gene Barry, Isobel Randolph
and Hy Averback. Also See: The
Our Miss Brooks Resource Page |
|
Paul
Lynde Show
|
 ABC
tried to do their own version of "All in the Family" with Paul
Lynde in an Archie-like role. Paul, a respectable attorney (not like
Archie) with the firm of McNish and Simms; his wife, Martha, and their two
daughters, Barbara, age 21; and Sally, age 14. After completing her
studies at college, Barbara Simms and Howie Dickerson, a penniless former
graduate studying for his Masters degree in oceanogrophy, elope, and
establish housekeeping in the Simms home, where Howie encounters Paul's
objections, the dynamic was supposed to be like Archie and
Mike. Ran September 13, 1972 thru September 8, 1973 26
episodes. Look for Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara as the
in-laws. |
|
Pete &
Gladys
|
 Pete
(Harry Morgan) was a regular on the long running "December
Bride" TV series playing a henpecked husband. On this series, Gladys
was only mentioned and never seen. She was portrayed as a nagging terror
by her husband Pete. When this series debuted in 1960, we met Gladys
for the first time. The only problem: Gladys is a totally likeable
charactor and does not come across as a nag. She is a normal '60's
housewife. They live in a modest home. The only other December Bride
regular is the wonderful Verna Felton as Hilda Crocker. She often has the
best lines in the show. Written by Bob Weiskopf who wrote all
those great scenes with Fred and Ethel on "I Love Lucy" |
|
Petticoat
Junction
|
 Think
you've seen "Petticoat Junction" on TV Land? Wrong!
They omitted 74 Black and white episodes. I want to see them
all! They ran the first black and white episode, "Spur Line to
Hooterville" which is really a two-parter with "Quick,
Hide The Railroad", and they never even ran the second
episode. These gems are not even available on the tapes
available from Columbia House, what a rip! Also See:
The Petticoat Junction
Resource Page |
|
Peyton Place |
 Another
series that started on radio, and moved to TV. Five seasons of
melodrama that ran from September 15 1964 thru June 2 1969 and included a
HUGE cast of stars. Both the radio and TV series were based on the book
"Peyton Place" by Grace Metalios and follows the lusty lives of
the people in a New England town. What may surprise you is that
"Peyton Place" ran several times a week. So in the four
season they were on, they racked up an impressive 514 episodes. Put
that in a marathon TV Land! |
|
Please Don't Eat
the Daisies
|
 Yeah,
I know it's been on before, but never shown in order. It's not a
great series (although I liked it better than the movie with Doris
Day). In case you've never seen it, the Nash Family: James, an
English professor at Ridgemont College; his wife, Joan, a free-lance
magazine writer; and their children Kyle, Joel, and Trevor and Tracy (who
are twins). live in a really cool old house. Based on Jean
Kerr's best-selling book about an unusual suburban family. Completing the
household was Martha O'Reilly, the family maid and Ladadog, a huge
150-pound sheep dog. Ran from September 14, 1965 thru September 2,
1967 on NBC 58 episodes Cast:Joan Nash: Patricia
Crowley, Jim Nash: Mark Miller, Kyle Nash: Kim
Tyler, Joel Nash: Brian Nash, Tracy Nash: Joe
Fithian, Trevor Nash: Jeff Fithian. Also See: The
Please Don't Eat the Daisies Resource Page |
|
The Pruitts of
Southampton |
 Never
heard of this one? Well let me sell it to you by just telling who's
in it: Phyllis Diller, Pam Freeman, Charles Lane,
John Astin, Billy De Wolfe, Richard Deacon, Gypsy Rose Lee
and Paul Lynde. The Pruitts live in a 60 room mansion,
but they're down on their luck and penniless. The series didn't
click, so for the second and final season they made the house into a
boarding house. The show was based on the book "House
Party" by Patrick Dennis, author of "Auntie Mame" |
|
Route 66
|
Tod Stiles and Buz Murdock were two young men who traveled around the
country together in Tod's Corvette in search of adventure. They came from
radically different backgrounds but had become good friends. The series
was filmed on location (although only one episode was actually shot on
Route 66) as they crisscrossed the United States in their destination-less
travels, meeting all sorts of people and getting into all kinds of
situations. October 7, 1960 - September 18, 1964 CBS 116
episodes Cast: Tod Stiles: Martin Milner, Buz Murdock: George
Maharis, Linc Case: Glen Corbett (replaced Maharis when he got
sick). Also See: The
Route 66 Resource Page |
|
Sledge Hammer
|
 Sort
of a satire on "Dirty Harry." Aired from September 23,
1986 thru June 30, 1988, but it suffered in the ratings because it
was always being moved around and viewers never could find it. I
don't remember very much about it, except it was really funny.
Starred David Rasche as Sledge Hammer. |
|
Smith Family |
 No,
it's not Ritchie Cunningham, it's Ron Howard as Bob Smith on the ABC
Drama, "The Smith Family" starring Henry Fonda as Detective Sgt.
Chad Smith. The show was about, The Smith Family, with some
"Dragnet" thrown in for good measure. I don't
remember much more about it, except for the theme song, "Primrose
Lane" sung by "Petticoat Junction's" Mike Minor. Ran
for one season 1971-1972. |
|
Snoop Sisters |
 "The
Snoop Sisters" ran on NBC as part of "The NBC Mystery
Movie" These were 90 minute "movies" that alternated
with "Banacek", "Faraday and Company", and
"Tenafly". "The Snoop Sisters were different because
they had a comic element to the usual mystery plots. The
program starred "the first Lady of the American Theater",
Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick (Natwick won an Emmy for this role) as
sisters Ernesta and Gwen, writers of mystery books that were based
on the real life crimes they solved. I believe there are six
90 minute episodes of this series, just enough for a one night
marathon! |
|
Then Came
Bronson |
 A
great TV series that tells the story of a nomadic motorcycle rider,
Jim Bronson (Michael Parks). Each of the 26 episodes told of an adventure
involving Bronson and the people and places he encounters on his travels.
Each show ends with a lesson learned and Bronson heading down the highway,
to the tune of " Long Lonesome Highway". (Performed by
Parks). This was the series that inspired me to buy my
motorcycle. It was a nice updated version of "Route 66"
that included the social issues of the time. 1969-1970
TNT ran it for a short time. It's owned by the
Time-Warner-Turner-AOL weasels. Also See: The
Then Came Bronson Resource Page |
|
To Rome With
Love |
Following the death of his wife, Professor Michael Endicott decided to
leave his native Iowa to accept a teaching position at the American
Overseas School in Rome, Italy. He and his three daughters, Alison, Penny,
and Pokey take up residence at Mama Vitale's Boarding House in the Eternal
City. It's so unique to see a series set in a location outside of the
USA. The series ran on CBS from September 28, 1969 thru September
21, 1971 48 episodes. Cast: John Forsythe,
Joyce Menges, Susan Neher, Melanie Fullerton, and Kay
Medford. |
|
Topper |
 OK,
I gotta admit I've never seen it. I've never ever seen the
movies all the way through, but believe me, my readers have! I've
received a lot of mail asking about this series, mostly they want to know
the name of the dog, it was "Neil." The series of 78
episodes ran from 1953 to 1954. Leo G. Carroll starred as
Cosmo Topper a somewhat grumpy and uptight banker. He lives with the
Kerbys, who died while on vacation (you got it, they're ghosts).
Only Cosmo can see or hear the ghosts, and Katie (the great Kathleen
Freeman), the maid, thinks he may be going mad. Here's a kick, most
episodes were written by composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim. |
There's Plenty More on Morty's Wish List
CLICK HERE For Shows A thru D
CLICK HERE For Shows E to L
|
|
|
Home
