CBS Fall Lineup Promos for 1978 and 1979

It's been awhile since I posted any classic TV stuff (and almost a week since I posted anything at all), so let's correct that now.

Here are promos for CBS's fall lineups for 1978 and 1979. CBS was highly successful at this time, with hits such as All in the Family, M*A*S*H, The Incredible Hulk, The Jeffersons, and Dallas, just to name a few. These years are right at the end of CBS's status as "The Tiffany Network," just a few years before NBC would be resurrected from the dead thanks to The Cosby Show and Cheers. I love this era of TV, not just because it was my first exposure to the joy that is (or at least can be) TV, but because TV still seemed big and eventful, that it "mattered," before the ubiquity of cable and the Internet. There's very little about TV today that is really exciting anymore. *sigh*

In 1978, CBS's slogan was "Turn Us On, We'll Turn You On." Here is a sample of what they thought turned America on back then.



In 1979, their new slogan (and catchy jingle) was "We're Lookin' Good." Did they look good? You be the judge.



Do you have any favorite TV memories you'd like to see here? Let me know!

Michael Emerson Interview on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Tonight is the season 5 finale of Lost, one of my favorite shows. In honor of this milestone, I present an interview actor Michael Emerson gave for the new program Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Emerson first received notice as a villian on The Practice and has achieved equal notoriety as the cryptic Benjamin Linus on Lost. The highlight comes at the end of the interview, in which Emerson gives a pseudo-chilling rendition of the classic children's rhyme "Little Boy Blue" Benjamin Linus-style. Enjoy!

I'm All A-Twitter!

Yes, I've finally caved (or gotten with the program, depending on your point of view). I've joined Twitter. I tend to avoid other forms of Web-networking such as MySpace and Facebook (I'm not a fan of those services for some reason), but Twitter seemed like a good way to post something everyday even if I don't have a full post for the blog. Please check it out at the right, and please follow along on the main Twitter site. Thanks!

Pac-Man Runs Amuck in Supermarket

If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you know that I have a strange Pac-Man fixation (check out my posts under the label Pac-Man). So what I treat it was to come across this hysterical clip. An infamous prankster in France named Remi Gaillard and his cronies filmed themselves dressed as Pac-Man and ghosts chasing each other through public places such as a supermarket, golf course, and pool hall. They make quite a spectacle of themselves in front of innocent passers-by (some not too pleased about it, as you'll see). Take a look!

PAC MAN (REMI GAILLARD)
Uploaded by nqtv

Here is a bonus clip of an old commercial from the 80s for Arby's restaurants, promoting their Pac-Man tumbler set (unfortunately, the commercial is cut off at the end).



Thanks for watching!

Batman 1960s cartoon: The Joke's On Robin

Speaking of Batman (see my previous post), last Friday, May 1st marked the 70th anniversary of his first appearance! It was on May 1, 1939, that Detective Comics #27 debuted the Caped Crusader (most people call him the Dark Knight these days, but he'll always be the Caped Crusader to me). In honor of this, here is a short cartoon from the late 1960s Filmation-produced series, titled "The Joke's on Robin." Enjoy!

Batman Garage Sale with Adam West

Batman has fallen on hard times! See just how hard in his clip courtesy of Funny or Die.com.

Batman Garage Sale with Adam West from Adam West

I'm thinkin' Arby's!

Wonder Woman 1967 TV Pilot

Today's finding comes courtesy of a poster on the message board of the comic book podcast Comic Geek Speak. I can't believe I didn't hear of this until this week.

In 1967, the Batman TV show was at the height of its popularity, and show producer William Dozier got attention from the networks. Dozier's success with Batman led to a green light (so to speak) of a TV adaptation of the classic radio program The Green Hornet, unfortunately only lasting one season. Dozier also tried his hand at another DC Comics's superhero, or in this case, heroine. He quickly put together a five-minute mini-pilot based on Wonder Woman. Like Batman, Dozier envisioned a comedic take on the character.

The lead portraying WW's secret identity Diana Prince was Ellie Wood Walker, who's only real claim to fame is being the wife of actor Robert Walker Jr. The one-scene pilot revolves around Diana worrying about boyfriend/airline pilot Steve Trevor on a stormy night and wanting to rush to his aid as Wonder Woman. All the while, her overbearing mother nags her to stay home, give up being a superhero, and marry a man. Diana wins out and reverts to her hero persona--in a BAD costume! Take a look.



It's really bad. Not just the costume, everything! It's no wonder no network picked it up.

Still, the idea kicked around Hollywood for several years afterward, eventually turning into the famous version starring Lynda Carter (and Wonder Girl Debra Winger)in the 70s.



Now THAT'S how you do a Wonder Woman show!

BTW, Saturday May 2nd is Free Comic Book Day! You can find a participating comic book store near you here:

www.freecomicbookday.com

Please check it out if you can. Thanks!