MY FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS
What's Good These Days...
My favorite show currently on TV I do not get to see much because it is on past my bedtime! The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is the coolest show on the air. He has great guests, is hilarious in his monologues, and he has unsigned bands on which I think just rules! Other shows I am currently into include Lost, Reno 911, Crank Yankers, CSI: Miami, Still Standing and Medium.
The Beverly Hillbillies
Uncle Jed, Granny and the rest of the Clampett clan were mighty hospitable hosts! From September 26, 1962, through its final episode on September 7, 1971, The Beverly Hillbillies was always entertaining. Buddy Ebsen starred as Jed Clampett with Irene Ryan as Granny, Donna Douglas as Ellie Mae, and Max Baer, Jr. as Jethro. The supporting cast included Nancy Culp (Jane Hathaway), Raymond Bailey (Milburn Drysdale), Bea Benaderet (Cousin Pearl), and occassionally Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs as, well, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs. Flatt & Scruggs also scored a national hit with the show's theme song -- "The Ballad of Jed Clampett". I'm not sure who portrayed Jed's lazy bloodhound Duke.
Bewitched
A show about a witch, a dork (played by two different dorks, no less!) and a creepy mother-in-law! How could it not rule? Bewitched first aired on September 17, 1964, and ended its original run on July 1, 1972. The show starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha with Dick York as Durwood... uh, I mean Darren from 1964 until 1969 and Dick Sargent as Darren for the remainder of the series. Other stars of the series included Agnes Moorehead (Endora), David White (Larry), Paul Lynde (Uncle Arthur), Alice Ghostley (Esmerelda), Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay), and Marion Lorne (Aunt Clara).
Gilligan's Island
It was a jungle island, so of course I dig it! The passengers and crew of The Minnow landed on the island on September 26, 1964 and stayed there until September 4, 1967. The cast included Bob Denver as Gilligan and Alan Hale, Jr. as The Skipper with Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III), Natalie Schafer (Mrs. Howell), Tina Louise (Ginger Grant), Russell Johnson (The Professor) , and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann).
Hill Street Blues
The greatest cop show ever on television, Hill Street Blues first aired on January 15, 1981, and ran until May 19, 1987. Daniel J. Travanti starred as Capt. Frank Furillo. The huge cast also included Michael Conrad (Sgt. Phil Esterhaus), Michael Warren (Officer Bobby Hill), Charles Haid (Officer Andy Renko), Veronica Hamel (Joyce Davenport), Bruce Weitz (Det. Mick Belker), Rene Enriquez (Lt. Ray Calletano), Kiel Martin (Det. Johnny LaRue), Taurean Blacque (Det. Neal Washington), James Sikking (Lt. Howard Hunter), Joe Spano (Henry Goldblume), Betty Thomas (Lucille Bates), Barbara Babcock (Grace Gardner) and Barbara Bosson (Fay Furillo). Later additions to the cast included Robert Prosky (Sgt. Stanislaus Jablonski), Dennis Franz (Lt. Norman Buntz) and Megan Gallagher (Officer Tina Russo).
Lost In Space
Sort of a Gilligan's Island in outer space, Lost In Space is a true classic. After the Jupiter II is sabotaged by Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), the Robinson family spent the next three years roaming from planet to planet and encountering one strange adventure after another. Guy Williams starred as Prof. John Robinson with June Lockhart starring as his wife Maureen. Most shows, however, focused mainly on the adventures of Dr. Smith and the Robinson's son, Will (Billy Mumy). The remainder of the cast included Mark Goddard (Don West), Marta Kristen (Judy Robinson), Angela Cartwright (Penny Robinson), and Bob May (The Robot). The Robot's voice was provided by Dick Tufeld.
One Day At A Time
One Day At A Time first aired on December 16, 1975, and remained on the air until September 2, 1984. The show probably would have stayed on the air even longer, but Bonnie Franklin (who starred as Ann Romano Royer) and Valerie Bertinelli (who starred as Barbara Cooper Royer) both planned to leave the series after the 1983 - 1984 season. I was 11 years old when the show debuted and immediately fell for my first "older woman" when I saw Valerie Bertinelli for the first time. Other cast members included Mackenzie Phillips (Julie Cooper Horvath), Pat Harrington, Jr. (Dwayne Schneider), Richard Masur (David Kane), Nanette Fabray (Grandma Katherine Romano), Glenn Scarpelli (Alex Handris), Shelley Fabares (Francine Webster), and Howard Hesseman (Sam Royer).
The Outer Limits
This relatively short-lived series was opened each week with a deep voice that said, "There is nothing wrong with your TV set. We are controlling transmission. We can control the vertical. We can control the horizontal. For the next hour we will control all that you see and hear and think. You are watching a drama that reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits." From there, the viewer was transported to a strange world where just about anything, so long as it was weird, fantastic, or odd, was possible. Being an anthology series, there was no regular cast. Some of the guest stars included Donald Pleasence in "The Man With the Power", David McCallum in "The Sixth Finger", Robert Duvall in "The Chameleon", William Shatner in "Cold Hands, Warm Heart" and Robert Culp in several episodes.
Sledge Hammer
This spoof of tough-cop shows featured David Rasche as Sledge Hammer, a cop who did not hesitate to terminate jay-walkers and litterers with extreme prejudice. With his .44 magnum and no-nonsense attitude, Sledge was often suspended, but always caught the crook in the end. Well, maybe he had a bit of help from his partner, Officer Dori Doreau (portrayed by Anne-Marie Martin). The rest of the cast included Harrison Page (Capt. Trunk) and Leslie Morris (Officer Mayjoy). The show ran from September 23, 1986 until June 30, 1988.
Spider-man
Marvel Comics Spider-man came to life in this series starring Nicholas Hammond. The "Night of the Clones" episode guest starred Morgan Fairchild as Lisa Benson and was the best of the series. Cheesy special effects combined with comic book storylines to make this series a delight for kids of all ages.
Star Trek
Without a doubt, Star Trek was one of the finest sci-fi shows ever on television. Surprisingly, the show only aired for three years beginning on September 8, 1966 and ending on September 2, 1969. William Shatner starred as Capt. James T. Kirk along with Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock and DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard McCoy. Other cast members included George Takei (Sulu), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), James Doohan (Montgomery Scott), and Walter Koenig (Chekov).
Twilight Zone
Beginning with its first broadcast on October 2, 1959, through its final broadcast in September 1965, The Twilight Zone anthology series presented strange stories about people who had in one way or another entered that weird realm where the impossible was probable and the improbable was routine. Created and hosted by Rod Serling, the show featured many well-known guest stars including David Wayne in "Escape Clause" and Burgess Meredith in "Time Enough To Last".
WKRP In Cincinnati
One of the best sitcoms ever, WKRP in Cincinnati provided many memorable episodes. Two of the best were the first episode of the series in which the station's format was changed, and the episode guest starring legendary Cincinnati Reds manager Sparky Anderson. The shows outstanding cast included Gary Sandy (Andy Travis), Gordon Jump (Arthur Carlson), Loni Anderson (Jennifer Marlowe), Richards Sanders (Les Nessman), Tim Reid (Gordon Sims a.k.a. Venus Flytrap), Frank Bonner (Herb Tarlek), Jan Smithers (Bailey Quarters), and Howard Hesseman (Johnny Caravella a.k.a. Dr. Johnny Fever).
TRIVIA QUESTIONS
1. What were actual names of the Skipper and the Professor on Gilligan's Island?
2. What was the name of Sledge Hammer's .44 magnum?
3. Other than Darren, which
recurring Bewitched characters were played by two
different people?
Go see the answers.
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