Week of 12/22-29: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

By Sylvia Gurinsky

YesterTube will be back in 2012. Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and Happy Viewing!

Week of December 16: Some "Silver Bells"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Enjoy the holiday season with some "Silver Bells," courtesy of Bob and Dolores Hope in 1978:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaXX4zU6S68


See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of December 9: The Best of Harry Morgan on "M*A*S*H"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

After a decent career as a supporting player in films, Harry Morgan had another decent career, including the role of Detective Frank Gannon on "Dragnet," in television.

Then came "M*A*S*H."

Hard-core series fans will remember that Morgan made his "M*A*S*H" debut during the third season not as the beloved Col. Sherman Potter, but as the crazy General Bartford Hamilton Steele in the episode "The General Flipped at Dawn."

Aside from a scene in which he mistakes cross-dressing Cpl. Klinger (Jamie Farr) for his mistress, Steele completely loses it at a hearing in which he accuses Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) of insubordination:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW-JNn49ZN0&feature=related

That guest-starring role won Morgan the role of Col. Potter when McLean Stevenson, who played Col. Henry Blake, left the show. Potter instantly won the hearts of "M*A*S*H" fans with his combination of toughness, humor, sensitivity and intelligence.

Here are five essential Col. Potter episodes:

1. "Change of Command" (Season 4): The character of Potter first appears in the last minute of "Welcome To Korea," the hourlong episode that introduces Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell). That scene - with the immortal greeting of Radar (Gary Burghoff), who doesn't see Potter: "Stick that horn in your ear" - is repeated in this episode, along with Potter's introduction to the principal characters. It's capped off with his recounting of his own experiences with a moonshine still.

2. "Dear Mildred" (Season 4): Just a few episodes later, a celebration of Potter's anniversary gets him quite a gift: Sophie, the horse (The horse was male in this episode, and no name was given.). It's a moving scene when Radar brings the horse into Potter's office. And I think the bust looks like Potter, not the carver.

3. "Bug Out" (Season 5): The one-hour opener to the fifth season has the 4077th evacuating, and Morgan has some of the funniest scenes in the episode - including the one in which he calls a camp meeting to reassure everyone, only to be handed a telegram by Radar that says they are bugging out.

4. "The Price" (Season 7): A touching episode concerning a retired Korean soldier and Sophie. Potter goes through various emotions when his beloved horse disappears - until he figures out why.

5. "Old Soldiers" (Season 8): The best episode, in which Potter mourns the death of a World War I comrade while toasting his friendship with his 4077 family. Beautifully done.

The entire series, of course, is available on DVD.

To quote the Colonel, "To me, that's a tiptoe through the tulips."

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of December 2: The Television Evolution of the Muppets

By Sylvia Gurinsky

With last week's successful release of the film "The Muppets," it's good to go back and review where they began - on the small screen.

Jim Henson was just 19 years old when he created "Sam and Friends," a five-minute show in Washington, D.C. But a certain frog named Kermit became the star of the show from the beginning.

Here's a 1961 Kermit interview with the Muppet versions of two famous newsmen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9R5dov0VIw

Almost from the beginning, the Muppets appeared on various variety shows, with Kermit being a consistent character. Here's an appearance on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" from 1965. About halfway through, there's proof that Kermit wasn't always such a nice frog:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOvfXvQygrk&feature=related


Kermit wasn't the only Muppet star during the 1960s. Jimmy Dean had a cute and furry co-star: Rowlf the Dog:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-dHo7sIIb4



The Muppets were popular, but they'd start to go into the stratosphere in 1969, with the creation of a new children's show for public broadcasting, with Henson making an appearance in front of the camera. Forty-two years later.....well, you know the story ( but Big Bird looks considerably different - and much bigger):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laEyKDxRUd8



The original pilot for "The Muppet Show" in 1976 was stream-of-consiousness - so much so that all three major networks passed on it. Lord Lew Grade, head of the ATV studios in Great Britain, said yes, though, and the show was aired in the UK and syndicated to the United States. It would become the most successful syndicated show in American television history.

It became the "go-to" show for the biggest stars - including opera star Beverly Sills, who suddenly became a country singer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBdCVJAPoSk


Sills' performance was actually in Season 4. The DVD release of that season has been announced, but no date yet. There are licensing issues over music. Meanwhile, the first three seasons are available on DVD.


The show was done in vaudeville format, and here's a treat: Closing credits from a British airing in 1976:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu4jH0Ts3aY&feature=related

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See you December 9. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Advisory: Postponed Blog Entry for 12/2

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Because of scheduling issues, the next YesterTube blog will be published early next week. Happy Viewing!

Week of November 18: How Regis Became Big

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Well, it wasn't because of the Nehru jacket:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMXpahmPDFI

Regis Philbin took the slow path to stardom. He hosted a local show in San Diego and eventually played the second banana role to Joey Bishop. After that, Philbin would go back to local television for a while, interviewing and presenting people such as legendary drummer Buddy Rich:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzXMuXO2-6w&feature=related

The first key to Regis' climb took place with a series of hosting partners. Early in the 1980s, he worked with Cristina Ferrare and Cyndy Garvey. Here he is with Garvey and a young Jay Thomas, in a format not much different from what he's done since:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRefS6fRXRM

But it was his next-to-last partner - Kathie Lee Gifford - with whom he would rise to the top of morning television - with "The Morning Show," which was nationally syndicated and retitled "Live With Regis and Kathie Lee":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJi3a8Ea2y0

Gifford continued with the show until 2001, when she was replaced with Kelly Ripa. Philbin and Ripa didn't miss a beat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbKcR53MnFo&feature=related

Philbin's appearances on "Late Show With David Letterman" - including a guest-host stint when Letterman had his heart bypass surgery in 2000 - have added to the fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txz5g17XSBg

But Regis went into the stratosphere with the 1999 success of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire." Here he is with John Carpenter, the show's first successful winner (Sorry about those little boxes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeqPJojGqxc

We trust Regis won't disappear, though he won't be on in the morning anymore. No doubt he'll add more to those thousands of hours he's logged in television.

Thanks, Reege.

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YesterTube will take next week off for Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Viewing!

Week of 11/11: Ali-Frazier, Hal Kanter and More

By Sylvia Gurinsky

With the death of boxer Joe Frazier this week, many recalled his sport in its 20th century heyday on television. At the center of that was the three fights Frazier had with Muhammad Ali.

In 1971, Frazier won the first fight; many had argued that Ali, rusty from missing three-and-a-half years of boxing because of his courageous stand against the Vietnam War, simply wasn't ready:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyezmRI-7cE

Frazier won the title, but George Foreman won that from him in 1973. By the time Frazier and Ali met for their second match in 1974 in New York's Madison Square Garden, it was a grudge match. Calling it for ABC was the incomparable Howard Cosell; the clip includes a look at Frazier and Ali's studio scuffle during an interview with Cosell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unpw2QHMDMs

They met for the third and last time in the "Thrilla In Manila" in 1975. Ali had already taken back his title from Foreman, and Frazier was trying to win it back. Ali kept his title and his legend grew, but the fight was physically tough on both boxers, both that night and in the long term:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRth-5w0Lt8

Various documentaries and the entire 1975 fight are available on DVD.

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Hal Kanter wrote for Ed Wynn and George Gobel, and was actually involved in two groundbreaking series for NBC, creating "Julia" and writing for "Chico and the Man."

Here's a look at "Julia" (an episode that includes a young Robert Guillaume):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BobgR99qWxM

This "Chico and the Man" episode features Della Reese:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld39sBWRZFk

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Besides Andy Rooney, whom I saluted on his retirement last month, Hal Bruno, ABC's longtime political editor, has also died.

Bruno was the ultimate professional of a type that's disappearing from ABC News. He helped with the transition of political coverage into the computer age and moderated the 1992 vice presidential debate; he introduced Admiral James Stockdale, Ross Perot's running mate, leading to Stockdale's famous response:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKpX-5jQjQ0&feature=related

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And in tribute to Sid Melton, who also died this week, about 20 seconds in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxh0Nx2q48E

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of November 4: Forgetting the "Independent Woman" and Remembering Gil Cates

By Sylvia Gurinsky

PBS' "America In Primetime" series got off to an inauspicious start with part 1,
"Independent Woman."

Some parts were good: Segments on "The Good Wife," "Murphy Brown" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." But there was too much focus on modern-day cable characters who are not truly independent, and are also bad role models.

Meanwhile, the program managed to ignore the following:

*First lady of television Betty White, the only person to work in the medium for more than six decades.

*Carol Burnett, still the only woman to host a successful weekly variety show.

*"One Day at a Time," Norman Lear's groundbreaking sitcom about a divorced woman, which starred Bonnie Franklin.

*"That Girl." While many women are ambivalent about Marlo Thomas' cheerful actress Ann Marie, the fact remains that she laid the cornerstone for the career woman.

*"Maude." This omission is inexcusable - particularly for the groundbreaking stands the show took on political and social matters.

*"The Golden Girls" - Also inexcusable because of its portrayal of the independent mature woman.

*"Cagney and Lacey" - Still the best depiction of women juggling career and personal lives.

*"Designing Women" - Also a fine mix of political and personal.

The show also left out any mention of the lack of shows featuring African-American, Asian-American and Hispanic women as lead characters.

It doesn't leave one optimistic about the remaining three parts of the "America in Primetime" series.

If PBS wants a good, comprehensive documentary series about the history of television, they might want to ask Ken Burns to do it.

*************************************************************************************

Gilbert Cates, who died earlier this week at age 77, was best known for his producing role at numerous Academy Awards telecasts and other specials. But Cates was also a producer and director of various made for television movies, including "A Death in the Family," (PBS, 2002) "Call Me Anna," starring Patty Duke in the film based on her autobiography (ABC, 1990), "After the Fall" (NBC, 1974) and "The Affair," which starred real-life couple Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood (ABC, 1973).

Some are available on DVD. Here's a look at the beginning of "The Affair," which is one of them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWfxYmexfl0

Cates was one of those credited with a 1990 telecast that saved the Academy Awards after an abysmal 1989 broadcast. So was Billy Crystal, who would work with Cates other times, including 1992, the year of "The Silence of the Lambs":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9cERvUX6sE

In Cates, Hollywood has lost some gold.

See you next week.

Week of October 28: Villella In His Dancing Prime

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Watch, in between World Series Game 7, tonight's edition of PBS' Fall Arts Festival. It features the Miami City Ballet, directed for its first quarter-century by Edward Villella, who starred for the New York City Ballet. Villella will retire as artistic director after next season.

During the 1960s in particular, Villella was a frequent presence on television. He dances about 3:30 into this clip from a Perry Como 1969 holiday special. Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9wSmHvlx8


See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of October 10: "The Good Wife" Is a Shark Jumper

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Join the club, "The Good Wife."

The show that stars Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florick, the wife of a disgraced politician, had two seasons that put it among the finest legal dramas in television history. Margulies deservedly won an Emmy award for last season.

Then, creators Robert and Michelle King decided to break Rule One of television relationships: Never get two characters attracted to each other together until late in the series. They did so with Alicia and her boss/college friend/longtime crush Will Gardner, played by Josh Charles.

In so doing, the Kings tampered with the moral center of the show - Alicia - and with the focus of the scripts. The acting is as good as ever - the cast also includes Emmy winners Christine Baranski and Archie Panjabi, "Masterpiece Mystery" host Alan Cumming and veteran Chris Noth - but the show has lost its bull's-eye.

Many would say the show has "jumped the shark." The term, developed after a "Happy Days" episode in which Fonzie (Henry Winkler) jumped his motorcycle over a shark tank, was developed to describe programs that lose their creativity - and thus, the audience. (In fact, a website devoted to shows that have jumped the shark did the same thing when TV Guide's parent company acquired the site and diluted its contents.)

Can "The Good Wife" recover? History isn't promising. Shows such as "Moonlighting" have crossed the barrier and haven't come back. Some shows, such as "The West Wing," have come back. But "The West Wing" didn't have a romantic knot to untangle.

So far, "The Good Wife's" viewership has dropped by a couple of million, but that may be more because of a move from Tuesday to Sunday and the competition of NBC's football telecast. The real test will come when football season is over. Can Alicia and company get their game back on? More to the point, can Robert and Michelle King?

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YesterTube will be on hiatus for the next two weeks. See you in late October!

Week of October 3: A Few More Minutes With Andy Rooney

By Sylvia Gurinsky

It's quite an achievement these days when a journalist can have the full, uninterrupted, unaltered career of his or her choosing without fear or favor. Andy Rooney fits the category.

As he said in his last regular weekly commentary that aired Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," he's a writer, and writers don't retire. But he's had a 70-plus year career, most of it for CBS, along with a syndicated column. The last 33 years have included the "A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney" segment at the end of "60 Minutes."

Rooney has discussed plenty of subjects in more than 1,000 commentaries, both trivial and not. He's gotten into trouble a few times, most notably in 1990 when he was suspended for a statement about "too many homosexual relationships."

Rooney explained the context of the comments and the suspension in his Academy of Television Arts and Sciences interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zognOu3SEAs

During World War II, Rooney was a correspondent for Stars and Stripes; among the stories he covered was the D-Day invasion. Here's a Rooney commentary from Memorial Day, 2005:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20112373-10391709.html


But let's wrap up with a 1988 Rooney commentary that's easy to agree with - the lack of truth in food packaging:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20112367-10391709.html



Thanks for giving us more than a few minutes, Andy.



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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of September 27: Going Back In Time

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Once again, retro has become quite modern on television.

The success of cable's "Mad Men" has triggered a couple of new shows about - well, the old - on networks: NBC's "The Playboy Club" and ABC's "Pan Am." Like "Mad Men," both shows cover the early 1960s.

When times are difficult, television networks are usually more eager to air shows that go back to what was seemingly a simpler time. The popularity of Westerns both on television and in the movies coincided with the height of the Cold War. Unlike individuals depending on their governments not to push the nuclear button, townspeople in Westerns could usually work things out for themselves, or have the sheriff do it for them.

During the first two decades of television, there were otherwise a few shows set in other decades ("The Untouchables," which was set during the Prohibition era, is a famous example.). During the 1970s, when the news was full of stories about the Vietnam War, Watergate and economic problems, some of the best shows went back in time.

The first two on the air debuted on CBS during the fall of 1972 - "The Waltons" and "M*A*S*H."

Technically, "The Waltons" actually debuted in 1971 with the holiday television movie "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story." The excellent ratings prompted CBS to give the green light to Earl Hamner's fictionalized series about growing up with his family in the Virginia mountains during the Depression. Until the show started losing cast members - Richard Thomas (John-Boy) and Michael Learned (Olivia) left, Ellen Corby (Esther "Grandma" Walton) suffered a stroke and Will Geer (Zeb "Grandpa" Walton) died - audiences loved it. It ran until 1982.

"M*A*S*H," set during the Korean War and based on the Academy Award-nominated film, got off to a wobbly start on television; early episodes tried to copy the movie's hijinks and the show was in danger of early cancellation. But then this comedy got serious, with stellar writing, acting and storylines, and lasted 11 seasons.

"Happy Days," celebrating the mid-1950s, debuted on ABC as a mid-season replacement in January, 1974 - and as a spinoff of a segment of another ABC hit, "Love, American Style." Starring Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham, Henry Winkler as Arthur "Fonz" Fonzarelli, Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham and Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham, the show soon shot to Number 1 in the ratings and became a national phenomenon. It also triggered two spinoffs - "Laverne & Shirley," also set in the 1950s, and "Mork and Mindy," set in the 1978 year it debuted. It's also possible that "Happy Days" started more film careers than any other show in television history; besides Howard, who has excelled as a director, future fellow Oscar winners Robin Williams and Tom Hanks guest-starred on the show, as did future film director Penny Marshall. Here's Williams' introduction as Mork, along with Winkler and Howard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6S9IEAE_s0&feature=related


On American television, World War II has been a more popular topic for miniseries than weekly series (Although ABC did try with "Homefront" from 1991-93.).
An exception was the comedy series "Hogan's Heroes," (CBS, 1965-71), although the capers of Hogan (Bob Crane) and his buddies had nothing on the horrific real-life experiences of Holocaust survivor Robert Clary, who played LeBeau.

The British have done better with World War II, and one of the most popular exports, via PBS, is the mystery series "Foyle's War," which first aired in 2002. A new batch of episodes may come sometime soon showing retired Hastings Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) now battling the Cold War bad guys; show creator Anthony Horowitz is writing episodes set in 1946.

All mentioned series are available on DVD.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

September 23: So Long, Pine Valley

By Sylvia Gurinsky

To quote Johnny Carson on his last night, "And so, it has come to this."

When Agnes Nixon created "All My Children" in 1970, Marshall Karp, then in charge of ABC's programming, laid out the show's mission:

"'All My Children' is particularly exciting, as it will tell a big story - that no man is an island - and while the drama will deal with a great variety of people and their dramatic conflicts, the stories will reflect the fact that beneath our loves, hates, fears and hostilities, we are all linked by the common bond of our humanity."

That's the ideal that has pretty much guided most, if not all, of the 41 years of storytelling. It's the ideal that guided the best of that storytelling. Rather than ranking it, here's a chronological recounting of the best of "AMC":

*1972: Ruth Martin opposes the Vietnam War: Seeing the effect of Phil Martin's presumed death in Vietnam, Ruth joined those speaking out against the war. Amy Tyler had already done the same during the show's first year - something "AMC" creator Agnes Nixon had planned from the very beginning.

*1973: Erica Kane has an abortion. Prime-time television - a 1972 episode of "Maude" - actually led the way even before Roe vs. Wade. Afterward, though, Erica, who was married to Jeff Martin, decided she didn't want a child to get in the way of her career. Selfish choice, yes - but the fact that she could legally make a choice was the point of the plotline.

*1978: Ruth Martin raped by Ray Gardner: Of all of "All My Children's" meanest characters, Ray Gardner - Tad Martin's biological father and Opal Gardner's first husband - was unquestionably the worst. There was no shying away from the effects of the rape or the aftermath for Ruth or the rest of the Martin family.

*1981-84: Jesse-Jenny friendship: At a time when the suspicion level between blacks and whites was just starting to go down, having an interracial friendship - particularly one between an African-American man and a white woman - was breaking ground. It was as rewarding watching Kim Delaney and Darnell Williams in these scenes as it was watching the love stories the two characters were involved in with other cast members:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FECGUHvCqsI


*1987: Erica leads intervention for Mark (and 2004: Mark helps with Erica's intervention.): Mark Dalton (Mark La Mura), Erica Kane's brother, had an addiction to cocaine during the 1980s. Many shows were addressing the drug crisis at that time, but "All My Children" had the luxury of time to show one means of helping an addict - the family intervention. Erica and Ellen Shepard (Kathleen Noonan) would help Mark.

Seventeen years later, Mark would return the favor for an alcoholic Erica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naKdekoEaac&feature=related

*1987-89: Stuart and Cindy: Stuart Chandler, who was volunteering in Pine Valley Hospital, fell in love with Cindy Parker (Ellen Wheeler), who had contracted HIV from her drug addict-husband, who had died. Stuart and Cindy had to overcome much discrimination (including early on from Jesse Hubbard, Skye Chandler (Robin Christopher) and Stuart's own brother, Adam. They all had a change of heart later on, of course. The storyline did much to break the myths about HIV-AIDS a few years before real-life notables such as Magic Johnson and Arthur Ashe did.

David Canary, who plays both Adam and Stuart, won an Emmy for the storyline, as did Wheeler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuTdi2Fi68o

*1988: Laura Cudahy dies: Little Laura, the daughter of Tom and Brooke, was hit by a drunk driver. The scenes addressed not just the issue of drunk driving, but also organ donation, a process that was starting to get more notice during the 1980s. Susan Pratt, as Barbara Montgomery, Julia Barr as Brooke English and Richard Shoberg, as Tom Cudahy, were particularly outstanding in the scenes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeoZZavmDbw&feature=related


"General Hospital," in probably its most moving storyline, would also address these issues later.

*1998: Bianca's anorexia: During the last few years, some of the best "AMC" storylines have involved Erica's younger daughter, Bianca. In 1998, the teenaged Bianca (aged the way soap opera children usually are, since she was born in 1988) battled anorexia, a disease that many teenagers, particularly females, struggle with. Erica helped her through it. A short clip comes about 45 seconds into this reel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW8aiteeh1c

A happy real-life byproduct of this storyline was that Susan Lucci finally won an Emmy for playing Erica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37nv9dHIuCc


*2000: Bianca comes out: Much-married Erica Kane had trouble dealing with the fact that her daughter was a lesbian. Lucci and Eden Riegel, who played Bianca for a decade, did a fine job:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLg0oXQ7MQc

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Today's show ended, typically, with a couple of cliffhangers, in anticipation of the show moving to the Internet. Prospect Park, which will also air "One Life To Live" online, has signed a couple of current major "AMC" cast members. So far, Susan Lucci is not among them, nor are Walt Willey, Michael Knight, Darnell Williams or Julia Barr. Ray MacDonnell and David Canary have retired. Debbi Morgan is headed to CBS.

And so many of the pillars of the show - Ruth Warrick and Hugh Franklin, Frances Heflin, Larry Keith, James Mitchell, Eileen Herlie, Mary Fickett and Louis Edmonds - are, sadly, gone.

So whatever the online "All My Children" will be, it will likely be far different from the "AMC" I and millions of other Americans grew up - and grew - with.

But if it's true to the spirit of much of these 41 years on television, it will follow the motto creator Agnes Nixon introduced the show with on January 5, 1970, the motto the show's youngest cast members repeated today:


The Great and the Least,
The Rich and the Poor,
The Weak and the Strong,
In Sickness and in Health,
In Joy and Sorrow,
In Tragedy and Triumph,
You are ALL MY CHILDREN

Thursday September 22: Best "AMC" Couples

By Sylvia Gurinsky

As the days tick down to the final "All My Children" on ABC, YesterTube shows the love to the show's greatest couples:

10. Hayley and Mateo: From her 1990 entrance in Gothic wear onward, Hayley Vaughan - Trevor Dillon's niece who also turned out to be Adam Chandler's daughter - made an impression. In 1995, she made one on Mateo "Matt" Santos, whom she later married. It took in real life, too: Kelly Ripa (Hayley) and Mark Consuelos (Mateo) have been married for real since 1996 and have three children. Consuelos has been mentioned as a possible successor to Ripa's current morning host partner, Regis Philbin.

I can imagine the real-life couple going through something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZrfRhEbZQo


9. Tara and Phil: The romance that started it all. Tara Martin and Phil Brent were high school classmates falling in love. They faced numerous obstacles - Vietnam, Chuck Tyler, Erica Kane (of course), Phil's parentage, etc. - to be together, but they were the first "super-couple" of the series. The relationship was at its best with the two originals: Karen Lynn Gorney ("Saturday Night Fever") as Tara and Richard Hatch ("Battlestar Gallactica") as Phil.

8. Phoebe and Langley: Con-man Langley Wallingford wormed his way into Phoebe Tyler's life to try to get her money - but wound up falling in love with her for real. Another con man wooed Phoebe away briefly, but Langley was her true, final love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWoAzDg35po


7. Opal and Palmer: They started out conspiring to break up Tad and Dixie, but would fall in love with each other for real. With help from Palmer's ex-wife, Daisy, Pine Valley's oddest couple got together:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2be8EPtmr1I


6. Erica and Jackson: Erica Kane's romance with writer Mike Roy was momentous and tempestuous, but brief. It's her on-again, off-again relationship with attorney Jackson Montgomery that's had lasting power for 23 years. Besides, it's such fun seeing the 6'3" Walt Willey, as Jackson, paired up with 5'2" Susan Lucci, as Erica:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9CTGkST5lY


5. Cliff and Nina: Probably the second most popular soap opera couple in 1980-81 (behind "General Hospital's" Luke and Laura), Dr. Cliff Warner and Nina Courtland (Peter Bergman and Taylor Miller) were the epitome in facing obstacles - mostly from Nina's father, Palmer Courtland. They gave themselves some barriers as well; they were married three times. But they had the last laugh on Palmer, who had to pay for some pretty elegant nuptials each time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4MJ4Vxq0Bc&feature=related


4. Tad and Dixie: Same scenario - Palmer trying to break up niece Dixie Cooney (Cady McClain) and Tad Martin (Michael Kinght). But Tad could sass Palmer in a way Cliff Warner couldn't even dream about. And unlike the Cliff-Nina relationship, Tad and Dixie's is loaded with humor, right down to yesterday's marriage proposal. But the first proposal was even better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQtvsMdA_s

3. Jesse and Angie: There had been other African-American couples in soap operas, of course (including "AMC's" own Frank and Nancy Grant), when Jesse Hubbard and Angie Baxter became a duo in 1982. But this couple, played so powerfully by Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan, struck a chord with their ups and downs. When Williams returned to the show (and Jesse came "back from the dead") in 2008, there was a nice look at their story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5x9Hzt3vr4&feature=related


2. Joe and Ruth Martin: For so long, the Martins have been the calm in the eye of the Pine Valley storm that it's hard to remember that Joe and Ruth weren't together at the beginning. Joe was a widower with son Jeff and daughter Tara, while Ruth was married to Ted Brent and raising Phil, sister Amy's son with Nick Davis, as her own. But Ted died in 1970. Ruth and Joe would become closer and were married in 1972. Throughout the 1970s, they had bumps in the road - flirtations (but never full affairs) with others, Ruth's 1978 rape by Ray Gardner and Tad's early acting out - but they never divorced.

Lee Meriweather does a fine job, but Mary Fickett was Ruth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3AjvZc0L5c&feature=related


1. Jenny and Greg: It made such a strong impression because it was so fleeting in soap opera time, only three years (1981-84) of romance - and only four months of marriage before Jenny's tragic death as a result of Jenny's former suitor, Tony, rigging Greg's jet ski.
Kim Delaney and Laurence Lau broke hearts as Jenny Gardner and Greg Nelson. Like Jesse and Angie, they were also from opposite sides of the tracks - and waited until their oh-so-brief marriage to be truly together.

But they had some nice moments while fighting off Ray Gardner, Liza Colby and the rest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UcFjfizS6I

Tomorrow: Best "AMC" storylines!

Wednesday September 21: Best "AMC" characters

By Sylvia Gurinsky

This week's "All My Children" tribute continues with a salute to the show's best characters:

5. Kate, Joe and Ruth Martin: The bedrock of any good soap opera is a stable central family, and on "All My Children," it's been the Martins. Family matriarch Kate Martin was the center of that bedrock until actress Kay Campbell died (and the character did also) in 1985. Joe and Ruth Martin picked up that foundation - particularly Joe, who has been portrayed by Ray MacDonnell since the beginning. Mary Fickett, who died recently, played Ruth until 1996. Lee Meriweather ("Barnaby Jones") has played the role since.


4. Adam Chandler: The mogul came to Pine Valley trying to settle scores with Palmer Courtland, and wound up picking almost as many wives as Erica Kane did husbands - including Erica, of course! (Also Brooke, Dixie, Gloria, Liza and so on.....)

Here is probably the funniest Adam-Erica scene ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqzhRFJxSbY&feature=related


David Canary, who plays Adam, gets bonus points - and plenty of Emmys - for also playing Adam's brother, Stuart.


3. Palmer Courtland: Phoebe Tyler's next-door neighbor would develop just as strong a reputation as Phoebe for scheming and manipulating the lives of family members - and for his constant battle with Adam Chandler. But Palmer (played skillfully by one-time dancer James Mitchell) had a soft spot for wives Daisy and Opal, daughter Nina, niece Dixie and for friend Erica Kane; Palmer was one of the few men Erica was never romantically involved with, and she considered him a father figure.

The head of Courtland Electronics would lose his shirt a couple of times - and on one of those times, chickened out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo1JHBIQ8bs


2. Phoebe English Tyler Wallingford: Pine Valley's first, and best, meddling busybody, played skillfully by Ruth Warrick. No one was immune from her interference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MczgY6teH5c&feature=related

But, like Palmer, she mellowed - sort of - with age, time and a happy second marriage to Langley Wallingford.


1. Erica Kane: Who else?

When you've played the character that Susan Lucci has played for 41 years, you'd better make an impression. Has she ever.

She's had countless marriages and affairs, been a model, actress and mogul and had tempestuous relationships with mother, daughters and said husbands and lovers. She's survived addiction, killers and Adam Chandler.

Some have called Erica Kane the greatest character in the history of soap operas. That's high praise, but arguably earned - because Lucci and "AMC's" writers found multi-dimensions in the character.

And Erica's just fun to watch. Ask this bear:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h17XM_KoXcM

Tomorrow: Greatest "AMC" couples!

Tuesday September 20: Fun "AMC" Characters

By Sylvia Gurinsky


This week's special YesterTube tribute to "All My Children" continues with a look at the series' most fun characters:

5. Myrtle Lum Fargate: The character started out as a con artist with a heart of gold and turned into a respectable businesswoman and everyone's surrogate mom - especially Erica Kane.

4. Benny Sago: He adored Estelle and little Emily Ann and faced down his gambling demons. But Phoebe Tyler Wallingford's chauffer was never more fun than when he was talking to the "Duchess."

3. Trevor Dillon: This tough-talking cop had his own way of doing things in staid Pine Valley society. He wooed and won his opposite, Natalie Marlowe - and even had a date in a hideous jacket with lovely Erica Kane:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5VJTRXAjKA

2. Verla Grubbs: Her visits to Pine Valley have been brief, but never dull: She's Langley Wallingford's daughter and a friend of Myrtle Fargate. Best of all, she's played by "AMC" fan Carol Burnett:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knrveTAQ4ps

1. Opal Gardner Courtland: Played by Dorothy Lyman during the 1980s, Opal Gardner - biological mother of Tad Martin - was coming up from the bottom of the barrel. She could be manipulative, even with beloved daughter Jenny. Jenny's death would change Opal to a certain degree, and played by Jill Larson from 1990 on, Opal would strike up an unlikely friendship with Erica Kane - and an even more unlikely romance with Palmer Courtland.

Here's terrific 1990 scene with Larson's Opal, including Sean Cudahy (Alan Dysert). Watch Eileen Herlie, as Myrtle, and James Mitchell, as Palmer, trying very hard not to laugh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=surPLkDMazw

Tomorrow: Best "AMC" characters!

Monday September 19, 2011: Worst AMC Plots!!!!

By Sylvia Gurinsky

All this week, YesterTube will salute "All My Children" as it goes off the television airwaves. Today, we'll have some fun with a look at YesterTube's picks for the five worst "AMC" plotlines:

5. The Fake Silver Kane: Probably the nadir of Erica Kane's 41-year run in and around Pine Valley came during the early 1980s, when she got involved with a variety of uninteresting businessmen before she met her match in writer Mike Roy. One of those involvements, with Kent Bogard, led to "Silver Kane," Erica's supposed sister, coming into the picture. "Silver" turned out to be a con artist named Connie Wilkes who framed Erica for murdering Kent. The idea for the plot was far more interesting than the execution.

4. Jenny lookalike: Manipulating the emotions of "AMC" viewers still angry about the character of Jenny Gardner being killed off in 1984, the writers introduced "Sheila," a Jenny lookalike meant to entice Jenny's husband, Greg. Bad idea.

3. My Mother the Drug Dealer: Poor Brooke English. Getting her life back together in 1981, Brooke had married Tom Cudahy. But then her father died, and Brooke invited Peg English, the woman she thought was her mother, to move in with her. Peg turned out to be "Cobra," a drug dealer, and was actually Brooke's stepmother; Brooke was the child of a woman her father had an affair with. This worked so much better on "General Hospital" (from where the idea was probably taken).

2. Erica's aborted child back from the dead: In 2006, "AMC" writers turned their backs both on real-life history and on the series' gutsiest storyline ever - Erica Kane's 1973 abortion - by having Josh Madden not actually aborted, but implanted in another woman. Never mind that it would have happened five years before Louise Brown of Britain became the first baby actually conceived in that matter. The show seemed to bow to the right wing in this plotline, and it was sad.

1. Natalie in the well: By far, the worst "AMC" plotline ever. Janet Green, the lookalike sister of Natalie Marlowe, became smitten with Natalie's sweetheart, Trevor Dillon; she became so jealous of Natalie that she threw her in a well and took her place with Trevor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GTgqM07Vwk

This plotline dragged on so long that it preceded and followed the 1991 attempted coup in the Soviet Union that eventually brought an end to that communist country.

Kate Collins, who played both Natalie and Janet at the time, seems to have spent twice as long in that well (playing Natalie) as her father, Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, spent on his moon mission.

Tomorrow: Fun "AMC" characters.

Week of September 16: The Best of Dubin and Goodbye, Ruth

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Television directors, unlike their film counterparts, are frequently the anonymous heroes of the medium, not receiving much public recognition or respect.

Charles Dubin, who died last week, was at the top of that list.

Dubin directed numerous prominent television programs, from the live dramas of the 1950s to filmed classics such as "Hawaii Five-O," "Kojak," "Lou Grant" and particularly "M*A*S*H."

Some of his best:

*"Omnibus: The Art of Conducting," December 4, 1955: Long before there were PBS, "Great Performances" and "Live From Lincoln Center," CBS was the place to find the performing arts program "Omnibus." Dubin directed this one with Leonard Bernstein, who would later bring classical music to new generations with his "Young People's Concerts":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrILZgv_0oQ

*"Highest Castle, Deepest Grave," "Hawaii Five-O," September 14, 1971: This episode channeled the classic movie "Laura," as Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) investigated two recently uncovered skeletons and unearthed a lot of ghosts. Shadows and images played a major role in this episode.

*Vashon trilogy, "Hawaii Five-O," November, 1972: This was "Five-O's" answer to "The Godfather": McGarrett versus three generations of a crime family, with the first two generations portrayed by Luther Adler and Harold Gould. Dubin would also direct a followup episode, "The Case Against McGarrett," two years later.

*"Point of View," "M*A*S*H," November 20, 1978: One of the very best episodes of the series puts the camera in a hospital bed as a patient, looking at Hawkeye and company from that perspective.

*"Old Soldiers," "M*A*S*H," January 21, 1980: Is something wrong with Colonel Potter? The answer to that question comes in a moving scene in Potter's tent that involves all of the principal cast members.

"Roots: The Next Generations," episodes 2 and 4 (February, 1979): The successor to "Roots" also drew large numbers of viewers, as this concluded Alex Haley's saga.

All of these are available on DVD.

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Next week will feature a look at "All My Children's" best storylines, as we get set to say "goodbye," at least for now. (An "AMC" without Susan Lucci, if that's what goes online, is no "AMC.")

This week, Mary Fickett, who played Ruth Martin for most of the show's run and had a distinguished career on stage and television, died at 83. In 1973, she won the show's first acting Emmy when daytime Emmy awards were still presented as a part of the primetime Emmys.

Here's a look at a 1983 scene with Ruth and Opal Gardner (originally played by Dorothy Lyman):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQEHYMKk824

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of September 9: Dancing With the Bigots

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Until about a week ago, I cared about "Dancing With the Stars" in much the same way I care about any of the reality/entertainment shows created so far during the 21st Century: Not at all.

Then hatemongers started criticizing the addition of Chaz Bono - once Chastity Bono - to the list of competitors.

Like many television viewers, I'm old enough to remember watching "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" on CBS and seeing Cher and Sonny Bono picking up toddler Chastity at the end of each program as they sang one of their signature hits, "I've Got You Babe." It was wonderful to see.

Reality started to intrude on that ideal when Sonny and Cher divorced. Chastity would then go through an almost 40-year identity crisis way beyond being the child of divorced, high-profile parents - and has become Chaz in a sex-change procedure.

Bono has been telling his story. It's been of interest, but no particular controversy - until he signed up to take part in a show that's watched by people who profess to support "family values."

Never mind that this alleged "family values" show has included skimpy costumes, judges with insults, Marie Osmond collapsing from exhaustion (and probably unhealthy weight loss) and the most dysfunctional family in American politics (the Palins) or that the upcoming edition of the show will include lawyer-turned-Harridan-In-Chief Nancy Grace.

So-called fans of this show have shown their true colors with some very ugly - and very backward - statements about Chaz Bono. Statements that reveal more about them than about him.

Suddenly, there's a contestant for Americans who hate bigots to root for.

I still don't plan to watch the show, but I'm rooting for Chaz Bono. By appearing, he's already won.

With their statements, his haters have already lost.

Week of 8/26: Thanks, Jerry and the Look of Reza

By Sylvia Gurinsky

What could have happened to break the almost 60-year relationship between Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association?

Lewis is not the most politically correct of people. But unless the 86-year-old actor/comedian is suffering from illness, there seems to be no reason to toss him out completely without letting him take part in this year's telethon, which is much shorter than the 21-hour programs of years past.

Last year, the 21-hour telethon raised $61 million - in a severe recession. Lewis was a big reason for that, and for MDA's high profile.

One has to wonder if the organization can keep that profile - and its success - without him, and whether MDA prepared for a post-Lewis future.

One legacy of his success with both corporate and mom-and-pop donors was the news this week of a common source being found for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

One thing's for sure: The telethon will never again be as entertaining as it was in its glory television years of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. That's not MDA's fault. That's a function of the transfer of "show business" from genuine superstars - Lewis has had connections to the very best - to superficial people on rubberneck (reality) shows.

So here's a thanks to Jerry Lewis for everything he did for his "kids" and for MDA, and a fond look back at one of the telethon's most entertaining moments - in 1974, when the Jackson 5 performed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsqBjvOUPsQ

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Reza Badiyi, who died this week, directed more episodes of television programs than anyone else. But the two greatest TV memories he leaves involve the introductions to a trio of classics.

The first involved a secret agent and how he got to work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cscedJQ3PFU

"Get Smart," of course, was a spoof of the "James Bond" movies and various spy shows, so the entrance of Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) to Control headquarters was also a spoof.

In 1968, Badiyi gave a new look to Hawaii beyond ukeleles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepyGm9Me6w

Combining his images to Mort Stevens' music made the opening to "Hawaii Five-0" one of the most memorable in television history.

In 1970, Badiyi showed the new single woman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCL3B5LgUCo

Mary Tyler Moore's opening theme and images would change from year to year - but the iconic final image of Mary throwing her hat in the air would stay and become immortalized in numerous ways.

Here's to the Look of Reza Badiyi.

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YesterTube will be on hiatus until after Labor Day. Enjoy the rest of the summer and Happy Viewing!

Week of August 19: Streisand On the Small Screen

By Sylvia Gurinsky

One of the few (very few) redeeming pieces of new programming in the current PBS pledge drive is "Barbra Streisand: One Night Only at the Village Vanguard," a cabaret-style concert she performed in Greenwich Village in 2009.

It's another great performance, and a reminder of the close relationship Streisand has had with television for the last 50 years.

It's hard to believe 1961 was that long ago, but that's when 19-year-old Streisand made her television debut on NBC's "The Jack Paar Show." Paar was likely very sorry to have missed that program, guest-hosted by Orson Bean ("Dr. Quinn") and featuring author Gore Vidal and comedienne Phyllis Diller as guests:

http://vodpod.com/watch/330954-barbra-streisands-first-tv-appearance-circa-1961

During the early 1960s, Streisand appeared on numerous variety shows. Memorably, this included "The Judy Garland Show" on CBS, where the legend (Garland) sang with the legend in the making (Streisand):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYpcFHtxm60

In 1965, while she was still performing on Broadway in "Funny Girl," she did her first special for CBS, called "My Name is Barbra." The special included the memorable "Poverty Medley," filmed in the middle of the night in the fashionable Bergdorf Goodman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JoNj6osYM8

The only thing that could have improved it was color. "Color Me Barbara," aired in 1966, featured Streisand at the Philadelphia Museum of Art:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udpu1jIxoXg&feature=related

In 1967, Streisand performed a wonderful live concert, "A Happening In Central Park." Here she is singing one of her standards, "He Touched Me.":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aIYqGZErxo&feature=related

In 1980, she appeared on the Grammy Awards, singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" with her Erasmus Hall High School choir mate, Neil Diamond:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj10EzNKA2M

She would again electrify audiences during her 1993-94 concert tour - my favorite of her live performances. Helped by fellow Oscar winner Marvin Hamlisch, who was the musical director, Streisand had an autobiographical perspective through music. It started with her entrance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPA0Pppen40

To celebrate the millenium, she also did a concert called "Timeless." Here, she sings the title song from "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," one of the Broadway musicals for which she did the movie version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNN0zYLRDWU

Just about everything's available on DVD. Enjoy!

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of August 12: The Magic of the Original "Bewitched"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Continuing the bird-brained saga of trying to make new television shows from classic ones is CBS, which should really know better after its under-performing non-copy of "Hawaii Five-0." Now on the target list: A new version of "Bewitched."

The original ran on ABC from 1964-72. Of course, it starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens, the witch who just wanted to live a normal life. She married Darrin Stephens, a mortal advertising executive originally played by Dick York, and he inherited her secret - and her wacky family.

The success of the show inevitably triggered a movie. With Nicole Kidman, an Oscar-winning actress, as Samantha and other cast members, including Oscar-winner Shirley MacLaine, the movie should have been a hit - if it had stuck to the original premise of the series. Screenwriter Nora Ephron chose not to do that, however, and the movie flopped.

So one has to wonder why on earth CBS programming head Nina Tassler is turning to the producers of that failed effort for a new series.

But enough (please!) about any remakes. Let's focus on the original series.

Montgomery and York (who had to leave halfway through the fifth season because of serious back problems) were joined by a quality cast: Agnes Moorehead as Endora, Samantha's mother; Marion Lorne (through Season 4) as Aunt Clara; Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur; Alice Ghostley (after Season 4) as Esmerelda; Maurice Evans as Samantha's father (also named Maurice); Alice Pearce, then Sandra Gould with George Tobias as the neighbor Kravitzes and David White as Larry Tate, Darrin's boss. There were also occasional players, including Bernard Fox as Dr. Bombay. For most of the show's run, twins Erin and Diane Murphy played Tabitha, the Stephens' young daughter.

There were two secret weapons: The large writing staff, beginning with series creator Sol Saks, who took typical family and business situations and added a "bewitching" element to them, and the special effects team - particuarly after Season 3, the first season the show was broadcast in color.

Another secret weapon was the show's message of tolerance. In just one episode, Season 7's "Sisters at Heart," in which Tabitha puts black and white polka dots on herself and her African-American friend Lisa, is the issue tackled overtly. But it was an undercurrent throughout the series.

Here's one example: Season 3's "The Trial and Error of Aunt Clara," in which Samantha is trying to prevent Endora and other witches from putting her dear aunt out to pasture - an apt analogy for the treatment of many senior citizens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4ByYBq1n3M

The entire series is available on DVD. Stick with that one. Avoid any pale imitations.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of August 4: Happy 100th Birthday, Lucy

By Sylvia Gurinsky

There isn't much more that can be said about Lucille Ball on her 100th birthday, which is tomorrow. So we'll let Ricky Ricardo do the talking - and the singing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fn7PKzf5tk

Happy Birthday, Lucy! And Happy Viewing, Everyone!

Week of July 28: Jimmy Stewart and "The Tonight Show": Poetry In Motion

By Sylvia Gurinsky

NBC News anchor Brian Williams' very funny imitation of talk show host Regis Philbin earlier this week on "Late Show With David Letterman" alluded to something that happens frequently with guests, even very famous ones, on talk shows: They can be dull, and both questions and answers can be formulaic.

That didn't happen when actor James Stewart appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." When Stewart described what he did on his summer vacation, he often did so in verse.

Stewart became known for his poems, including the classic "The Top Step In the Hotel in Junin (Is Mean)," about a balky step at an Argentina hotel. Here's another one about his trip to Lake Barengo in Kenya. Get ready for a surprise if you haven't heard it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rQJutUBHTo

Stewart's travels also resulted in a poem about a destroyed movie camera - from the camera's perspective.

Many of Stewart's poems were published in a book, appropriately called "Jimmy Stewart and His Poems," in 1989. Some of them are available for viewing in DVDs of some of Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" episodes.

Here's another classic to wrap things up: Stewart's emotional tribute to his dog Beau:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNJjIwlHk8


See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of July 22: "All In the Family"'s Pilot Trio

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Last week's look at the original pilot of "That Girl," with Harold Gould and Penny Santon playing the parents of Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) - in roles played in the regular series by Lew Parker and Rosemary DeCamp - triggered another find - in fact, two of them.

Check out this unaired 1968 pilot of "Justice For All," featuring Tim McIntire ("Rich Man Poor Man," "Soap") and character actress Kelly Jean Peters as young newlyweds - along with her parents, Archie and Edith, played by Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton.

What? You say it sounds just like "All In the Family?" It is in every way - except for some changed words in "Those Were the Days," sung by O'Connor and Stapleton, O'Connor's haircut (thankfully) - and the casting of the young newlyweds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xwKhHoQ-_w

That pilot was taped for ABC, which said, "Not now." Series creator Norman Lear tried again in 1969 with Oakland Raider football player Chip Oliver and character actress Candice Azzara as the young couple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlboZuvBFNM&feature=related

The show was getting closer to full bloom, with familiar opening titles and the classic song. It was obvious that O'Connor and Stapleton were magic as Archie and Edith. But not to ABC, which said No again.

Then CBS said Yes to the gutsiest show in television history and re-titled it "All In the Family." And, of course, the third time was the charm, with "Smothers Brothers" comedy writer (and Carl's son) Rob Reiner cast as Mike and up-and-comer Sally Struthers as Gloria (not to mention "Good Times" co-creator Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf0sgaB3mkc&feature=related

The two rejected pilots are on the "All In the Family" first season DVD. Of course, the entire series is now available on DVD.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of July 15: Remembering Schwartz and Denoff

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Sherwood Schwartz and Sam Denoff were two people who captured the formula to make people laugh during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Schwartz was the better known of the pair because he created "Gilligan's Island," which perfectly corresponded to the sillier notions of '60s comedy, and "The Brady Bunch," which became a family favorite, then a cult favorite because of the changing fashions, the groovy lingo and the situations.

Schwartz began as a writer for the comedy series "I Married Joan," then wrote for Red Skelton's comedy shows. Then he came up with an idea for a boat captain and his mate out on a three-hour pleasure cruise with five tourists.

The result was television history. "Gilligan's Island" ran on CBS from 1964-67 and immortalized its cast and the characters they played - as well as Schwartz. This writer still believes that show inspired the ABC hit "Lost."

Schwartz came up with an idea for a show about a blended family even before the success of the 1968 movie "Yours, Mine and Ours," which was based on a true story. That movie is what prompted the green light for Schwartz to develop what became "The Brady Bunch."

The show ran on ABC from 1969-74 and was particularly popular among teenagers and young children. It evolved from blended family issues to campiness - which has helped it gain a cult following (including follow-up specials and two feature films) in subsequent years.

Sam Denoff was not as well known as Schwartz, but probably more prolific in his talent. He came out of the "Your Show of Shows" writing stable and wrote for programs such as "McHale's Navy" before he put his experience on "Your Show of Shows" to work as a writer for "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

In 1966, Denoff and Bill Persky created "That Girl," a landmark sitcom. Running on ABC until 1971, the show starred Marlo Thomas as aspiring actress Ann Marie. It was considered the springboard to more feminist shows such as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Murphy Brown."

Here's something fun: A look at the unaired pilot of "That Girl." Ted Bessell, who of course would play Ann's boyfriend, journalist Donald Hollinger, throughout the series, was originally cast as her agent, named Donald Blue Sky (!) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHFkbwwbbVs

It wasn't the last time Harold Gould, who lost the role of Ann's dad to Lew Parker, would be in this situation: He played Howard Cunningham in the "Love, American Style" episode that led to the creation of "Happy Days." Rosemary DeCamp would play Ann's mother in the series.

All of Schwartz and Denoff's principal shows are available on DVD. Here's to their work.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of July 8: All Star and Space Shuttle Memories

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Major League Baseball has been having a competition for the best moment in an All Star Game. Many great moments have been featured at MLB.com.

Alas, such moments as Reggie Jackson's 1971 tape-measure home run in Tiger Stadium in Detroit and Dave Parker's putout at home plate in Seattle in 1979 are shown in film clips, not the original live television. And Tony Perez' 15th-inning home run in Anaheim in 1967 isn't shown at all.

But what's there is still worth watching. Just go to

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/midsummer_classic_moments/index.jsp

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With today's final launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, it's good to remember the first Space Shuttle launch - of Columbia, which carried astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen in April, 1981.



ABC News coverage that day included Frank Reynolds anchoring, Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan providing commentary and Jules Bergman - so important to ABC's coverage of many space triumphs and disasters for three decades - providing analysis:





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt6Bt1pZ4Is





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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of 6/24: Just One More Thing, Lt. Columbo

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Today, there is the late-breaking news that Peter Falk, who was Lt. Columbo, has died at age 83.

Falk distinguished himself in Academy Award-nominated roles in movies. But starting in 1967, he played Police Lt. Frank Columbo - first in various television movies, then as one of the troika (along with "McCloud" and "McMillan and Wife") in the successful "NBC Mystery Movie," then in another series of television movies for ABC from the 1980s through 2003.

Unlike any previous television detective, Columbo dressed in a rumpled raincoat and drove a beat-up car. His method of making inquiries was usually polite ("just one more thing") and often stream-of-consciousness: He could throw in a statement about his wife's favorite television programs alongside queries about where a suspect was at the time of a murder. The format of the program ensured that the viewer knew who the murderer was. The fun was in watching Columbo figure out how a crime was committed.

Here's the ending to "A Friend in Deed," in which Columbo's trail leads him right to the police commissioner, played by the great Richard Kiley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQaGPwIBKCc

"Columbo" is available on DVD, so it is possible to have "just one more question."



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This week brings the unfortunate news that country singing star Glen Campbell has Alzheimer's - the disease Falk had. As everyone hopes for progress in fighting the disease, we take a look back at his biggest shining moment on television.

Launched by CBS in 1969 as a summer replacement for the Smothers Brothers' variety show, "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" was a variety show in which Campbell would perform some of his hits and other popular songs and have a number of guest stars, both musical and not. It stayed on CBS' lineup until 1972.

Here's Campbell performing one of his biggest hits, "Wichita Lineman," on the show:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFCuBLAjXo

No DVD releases yet, and whatever VHS tapes are available are expensive, so YouTube's the best bet for now.


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Fans of classic television are embracing Antenna TV, which is showing up on some of the newer digital channels in many communities.

Named because the shows were created in an age of analog television, Antenna TV, created by Tribune, has a schedule including shows ranging from "Burns & Allen" to "Mad About You" and old movies as well. Here's the website, which includes a daily schedule:

http://www.antennatv.tv/

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Next week, YesterTube will be on holiday hiatus. Happy Viewing!

Week of June 17: Banner Achievements

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Producer Bob Banner's specialty was variety.

Indeed, Banner, who died this week, left plenty - not just in entertainment shows, but also in television films, during a career that lasted almost 45 years.

After producing and directing "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" during the late 1950s, he then worked for the "Garry Moore Show," where he came into contact with a young talent named Carol Burnett; among the specials he produced for Burnett was 1964's "Once Upon a Mattress." Here's the definitely not bashful Burnett singing "Shy":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouL9ZMzEZ4k

Banner would later go on to produce the first three seasons of "The Carol Burnett Show."

Banner worked on variety shows with singers Perry Como and Andy Williams and the occasional television movie, such as "Lisa, Bright and Dark," a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation that aired on NBC in 1973 and is considered a landmark in the portrayal of mental illness.

For three seasons, he was the executive producer of "Star Search," a syndicated show hosted by Ed McMahon that introduced quite a few of today's top musical and comedy performers. Here's a 1984 opening including an image of Brad Garrett, years before "Everybody Loves Raymond":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jMdxd4NS-Y

Alas, neither the 1964 version of "Once Upon a Mattress," nor "Lisa, Bright and Dark" are yet available on DVD. Someday, perhaps, it will be possible to celebrate those banner achievements of Bob Banner.

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of June 10: The _________ Leonard Stern

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Leonard Stern, who died this week, will probably always be best known for creating "Mad Libs," the game in which millions (including Yours Truly) have had fun filling in the blanks.

But Stern also made a mark in television - most notably with two series.

The first was "Get Smart!" which ran on NBC from 1965-70 and starred Don Adams as bumbling (but effective) Agent 86, Maxwell Smart, and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99. Stern executive-produced the first three seasons and the series, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, was a pointed spoof not only of the popular spy movies of the era, but of Washington:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5NBIyPmB0g

In 1971, Stern created his greatest television success: "McMillan & Wife," which ran as part of the "NBC Mystery Movie" and starred Rock Hudson as San Francisco Police Commissioner Stewart McMillan and Susan Saint James as his wife, Sally. It was more "Thin Man" than "Law & Order," but audiences loved it. Here's a scene from the pilot, "Once Upon a Dead Man":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JCRJjO8It0

"McMillan & Wife" has been widely syndicated, and the first four seasons have been released on DVD so far. Season 5 is scheduled to be released next month.
Hudson and Saint James were delightful together, and the show is a lot of fun.

Leonard Stern's programs left us with a _______ on our faces. (In "Mad Libs," I would put "smile.")

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of June 3: So Long, Marshall Dillon

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Today brings the late-breaking news that James Arness, best known as Marshall Matt Dillon on CBS' "Gunsmoke," has died.

A World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Arness acted in movies and television during the late 1940s and 1950s - including an appearance as William Tell in a 1955 Hallmark Hall of Fame production.

1955 was a terrific year for Arness because he proceeded to get the lead role as Dillon; rumors always had the role being offered to John Wayne, who wound up introducing the show when it went on the air.

Westerns were extremely popular on television during the 1950s and 60s. "Gunsmoke" was among the best because it took its lead from movies such as "High Noon." During the glory years, its supporting cast included Dennis Weaver ("McCloud") as Festus and Amanda Blake as saloon owner Kitty Russell. Despite the 1800s setting, "Gunsmoke" managed to address issues relevant to the mid-20th century - including civil rights.

(Viewers can catch "Gunsmoke" on TVLand and the first four seasons are available on DVD - but in that annoying format that splits seasons.)

While Arness would have less screen time during the later seasons of the show, he and Milburn Stone, who played Doc, were the only primary cast members to stay until "Gunsmoke" finally went off the air in 1975. Later, Arness would appear in several "Gunsmoke" movies, a miniseries version of "How the West Was Won" on ABC and the detective series "McClain's Law" for NBC in 1981-82.

Here's a clip from the "Gunsmoke" episode "The Killer," featuring Charles Bronson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqyojnM9tlc

You did fine, Marshall. Just fine.

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Note: Today is Jim Lehrer's last day as "NewsHour" anchor. YesterTube will pay tribute next week.

Week of May 27: Television News-Talk's Best Goodbyes

By Sylvia Gurinsky

"Subtle" will not be one of the words used to describe much of Oprah Winfrey's farewell to her talk show this week.

Yet, subtle goodbyes have historically been the best ones. Here are some examples of classy ones (I suspect Jim Lehrer, stepping down from PBS' "NewsHour" in coming days, will join them:

*Chet Huntley, NBC, July 31, 1970: Along with David Brinkley, Chet Huntley anchored the very successful "Huntley-Brinkley Report" from 1956 until 1970, along with various political conventions and countless special reports. Huntley's goodbye and Brinkley's response are winners:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYf3eyRjfYA


*Walter Cronkite, CBS, March 6, 1981: Cronkite, the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" for 19 years, said a gracious goodbye, with one of my favorite quotes: "Old anchormen don't fade away, you see, they just keep coming back for more:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9QEUfkRkZ0


*Johnny Carson, NBC, May 22, 1992: Carson (who, incidentally, did a hilarious send-off of a Cronkite farewell the night before Cronkite said goodbye) had an exit that was much covered in the press. At one point, he joked that he'd been in the news so much that his employees had started referring to him as "warm and approachable," rather than "cool and aloof."

Carson had two emotional goodbyes. The first one actually came on his second-to-last show, when comedian Robin Williams and actress/singer Bette Midler were guests. Midler and Carson sang one of Carson's favorites, "Here's That Rainy Day":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xty-L4Pp2CA&feature=fvst

The following night, Carson kept to the basics, showing clips from years past and saluting Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen and the band - as well as the audience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9LuLqsWgiQ

"If I could, magically.....make it run backwards, I'd like to do it all over again," are the comments Carson made at the beginning of that last show. We agree, Johnny, we agree.

*Charles Kuralt, CBS, April 3, 1994: Kuralt had hosted "CBS News Sunday Morning" since its 1978 creation. In his introduction to his last book, "Charles Kuralt's America," he would compare his parting from CBS to a divorce ("I realized I didn't love her anymore," he wrote.). But that Sunday, the tone ranged from a cheerful handoff to new host Charles Osgood (still going strong today) to the humor of those noisy geese ("My heart knows where the wild goose goes.") to the bittersweet poem of Clarence Day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQM3Yr18TjU

Bet Oprah didn't get a "tiddly-widdly-toodle-oo."

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Honor to all who have served on this Memorial Day weekend.

See you next week.

Week of May 20: Saluting One of "Murrow's Boys"; Katie Couric and Mary Hart Back When

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Joseph Wershba was a brave man.

One of the reporters and producers who worked with Edward R. Murrow, Wershba was part of the team responsible for the discrediting of U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy's campaign to weed out Communists during the 1950s.

That campaign started with Wershba's own reporting in 1953 on Murrow's program, "See It Now," about United States Air Force Lt. Milo Radulovich, who was discharged as a security risk because family members were suspected of having Communist sympathies. That was the first in a series of reports that ultimately led to a direct confrontation between Murrow and McCarthy, who went on an episode of "See It Now" and basically did himself in with his words.

Years later, Wershba would produce documentaries - including "Gideon's Trumpet: The Poor Man and the Law," the saga of Clarence Earl Gideon, a poor man in Florida jailed for a felony without legal representation and eventually acquitted. The real story would later be turned into the acclaimed 1980 CBS television movie "Gideon's Trumpet," which starred Henry Fonda.

Wershba was one of the original producers in what has become a CBS institution, "60 Minutes." He stayed there until 1988, working quite a bit with correspondent Morley Safer. Twice, the team won Emmys: In 1971 for a look at the Gulf of Tonkin incident that triggered the Vietnam War, and in 1978 for a profile of Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek.

Here's a link to a tribute by Safer:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20063653-10391709.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody


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Katie Couric has given up her anchor chair at CBS, probably for an immediate future as a talk-show host, possibly with ABC.

Whatever her future, her past included time in Miami, at what was then known as WTVJ-Channel 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpHgMvM918

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Meanwhile, Mary Hart is leaving "Entertainment Tonight" after 29 years of enthusiastic coverage of celebrities.

Here's a clip from 1983 - back when there were actually celebrities worth covering:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avOBNaU0fQY&feature=related

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

Week of 5/13: Remembering Cooper and Wynter; Royal Weddings Past

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Jackie Cooper, who died last week, had two show business careers: The films he did as a child and the television and theater he did as an adult.

The latter undoubtedly satisfied him more; he had a chance to prove himself as an actor and director, and won accolades for both.

During the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, he was a mainstay on televised live drama programs such as Kraft Theatre and Studio One in Hollywood. During the late 1950s, he had his own situation comedy, "The People's Choice," on NBC for three years, and from 1959-62 was in the dramedy "Hennesey" on CBS.

From the 1960s through the 80s, Cooper made numerous guest-starring appearances on various shows, including "Hawaii Five-O," "The Rockford Files" and "Murder, She Wrote."

Doing his own series, Cooper got behind-the-camera experience as a director and would put it to good use for three decades. He directed numerous "M*A*S*H," episodes during the show's first two seasons - including "Carry On, Hawkeye," for which he won an Emmy. He won a second Emmy for directing the pilot episode of "The White Shadow" and also directed episodes of "Magnum, P.I.," "The Rockford Files" and "Cagney & Lacey," among others.

Alas, we wait for the live drama presentations to be released on DVD, but many of his guest-starring roles and directed episodes are available.

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Dana Wynter, who died earlier this week, also had a long and steady career guest-starring in live dramas and television series. A few of those, including roles in "Hawaii Five-O" and "Magnum, P.I.," are available on DVD.

One that could get a release, given royal wedding interest, is "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana," shown on CBS in 1982. Wynter played Queen Elizabeth long before Helen Mirren did.

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One final note for those who enjoyed watching the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge): ABC News not only has the highlights, but also has past royal weddings, going back to Princess Anne's first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.

The site also includes highlights of Prince Charles becoming Prince of Wales in 1969:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/Royal_Wedding

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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!

April 17: Top 10 "Masterpiece"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Continuing the celebration of the 40th anniversary of "Masterpiece" with a Top 10:

10. The Duchess of Duke Street: Created by John Hawkesworth, the episodes starred Gemma Jones as Louisa Trotter, who rose from the bottom to the top.

9. Downton Abbey: This magnetic series, a recent PBS sensation, stars Hugh Bonneville as the patriarch of a family of daughters in changing times during the second decade of the 20th century, with events in Series 1 framed by the sinking of the Titanic and the beginning of World War I. Series 2 will be shown on "Masterpiece" next year.

8. Edward and Mrs. Simpson: Edward Fox and Cynthia Harris played the title characters, whose romance upended a monarchy and changed England's future.

7. Bramwell: Jemma Redgrave starred as Dr. Eleanor Bramwell, who was a medical pioneer at a time when female doctors in England were almost unheard of. No "Dr. Quinn," this series was scandalous at times.

6. The Six Wives of Henry VIII: One of the early "Masterpiece" presentations, this had six episodes - each one devoted to one of King Henry's wives.

5. Reckless: The love triangle of a fortysomething woman (Francesca Annis), her unfaithful husband (Michael Kitchen) and a thirtysomething doctor (Robson Green) got pulses racing. Probably the best of the modern "Masterpiece" presentations, aside from the "House of Cards" trilogy (See below).

4. House of Cards trilogy: Sir Ian Richardson was memorable as the cold and calculating Sir Francis Urquhart in a trio of presentations: "House of Cards," "To Play the King" and "The Final Cut." This was Shakespearean tragedy (written by Andrew Davies) at its most modern.

3. I, Claudius: Long before Derek Jacobi went back to the future (12th century!) as Cadfael, he was Claudius, narrating the rise and fall of ancient Rome.

2. The Jewel In the Crown: A look at India in the last days of British rule, during the early 1940s. Tim Pigott-Smith starred as Captain Ronald Merrick, who had a few secrets influencing his actions.

1. Upstairs, Downstairs: 165 Eaton Place became one of television's classic addresses because of the 1970s show, which took a look at a family and their servants through the first three decades of the 20th century. "Upstairs, Downstairs," winner of numerous Emmys, was among the first programs shown on American television to be produced by women. One of those producers, Jean Marsh, is back for the continuation currently being shown on "Masterpiece."

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Note: YesterTube will be on hiatus until mid-May.

Until then, Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Happy Spring and Happy Viewing!

Week of April 15: Best of "Mystery!"

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Happy 40th birthday, Masterpiece Theater, and Happy 30th, Mystery!

OK, actually 31st for "Mystery," which went on the air in February, 1980. And the "Theater" is no longer attached to "Masterpiece," whose subheadings now include "Masterpiece Classic" and "Masterpiece Contemporary."

No matter. Both have set standards for television and for the quality of PBS. Mostly British programs, the offerings have been extremely popular.

Here's a Top 10 list for "Mystery." The one for "Masterpiece" will follow in a second blog to run Sunday.

Mystery Top 10

10. Dalgleish: Roy Mardsen played the cerebral detective from the P.D. James series of books.

9. Cadfael: How far back can crime-solving go? Try the 12th century, with Derek Jacobi playing the sleuthing monk.

8. Reilly, Ace of Spies: Sam Neill played Jewish spy Sidney Reilly in this 1983 series of episodes, which won a host of awards.

7. Rumpole of the Bailey: Leo McKern was the crusty lawyer in the series that was part of most of "Mystery's" first 15 seasons, including the first one. A courtroom drama among the detectives.

6. Miss Marple: Agatha Christie's most famous detective keeps going and going, though she didn't make her first "Mystery" appearance until 1985, with Joan Hickson playing the immortal role. Since then, viewers have also seen Geraldine McEwan ("Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves") and now Julia McKenzie in the role.

5. Poirot: The incomparable David Suchet took Agatha Christie's fastidious Belgian detective and made the role his own, first playing it on "Mystery" in 1989 and continuing to the current day, although the new episodes no longer have his faithful assistant Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) or that wonderful opening theme by Christopher Gunning.

4. Inspector Morse: There was always a sense of melancholy, possibly taken from his own life, about the way John Thaw played Morse; few teams have been better than Morse and Sergeant Lewis ( Kevin Whately) in the sedate setting of Oxford, where murder seems to lurk at every turn. Viewers mourned Morse's death - and Thaw's soon after. Whately has continued in the fine "Inspector Lewis" with Laurence Fox as Sergeant Hathaway.

3. Foyle's War: Investigating murder during the horrors of World War II? Yes, for Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (the magnificent Michael Kitchen), who longs to serve the war effort but must stay in Hastings and do his bit for the police along Britain's South Coast. Fortunately, he has two capable assistants in Detective Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) and plucky driver Samantha Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks). Foyle worries for his son, Andrew (Julian Ovenden), a Royal Air Force pilot. Really a drama about the war with mystery elements.

2. Sherlock Holmes: Jeremy Brett brought the world's greatest detective to life in a way no one else has. Channelling all of the quirks that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put into Holmes, he gave the character humanity and grace. David Burke played a perfect Dr. Watson, but Edward Hardwicke was pretty good, too. Benedict Cumberbatch has shown signs that history and quality will repeat itself (even with the annoying text message graphics) in the new "Sherlock," set in the modern day.

1. Prime Suspect: How can NBC even think of putting its own version on the air when the original was indelible? Before Dame Helen Mirren was an Oscar winner as Queen Elizabeth, she was alcoholic, frequently burned-out detective ("Don't call me Ma'am; I'm not the bloody Queen") Jane Tennison. Both Mirren and the series won Emmys and many other awards.

Special Post: "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" Cancelled

By Sylvia Gurinsky

As many soap opera fans have heard by now, ABC has decided to cancel "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" in coming months. I talked about "AMC's" problems, which might be the same for "OLTL" - changing schedules, declining quality in plots and acting - but their replacements - cooking and lifestyle shows apparently in the style of "The View" - don't make the heart beat faster.

Starting next month, I'll chronicle the greatest moments in the history of the two soap operas - including moments featuring Susan Lucci, who has played Erica Kane through "AMC's" run, and Erika Slezak, who has played Victoria Lord on "OLTL" since 1970.

ABC called the decision "bittersweet."

No way. Damn sad is more like it.

YesterTube Special: Saluting Sidney Lumet

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Director Sidney Lumet, who died late last week at age 86, is being justifiably saluted for his film work - including "Network," a 1976 satire (and sadly, preview) of television written by Paddy Chayefsky.

He's also been commended for his television work during the 1950s and 60s, when he was cutting his teeth on live television dramas on programs such as "Playhouse 90," "You Are There" with Walter Cronkite and "Studio One."

Alas, as was mentioned recently in another context, little of this work is available for public sale so far. Fortunately, Lumet was interviewed by the Archive of American Television and described much of his TV work. Here's the link:

http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/sidney-lumet

So long to one of the greats.

Week of April 8: Watch Any Good Books Lately?

By Sylvia Gurinsky

I started reading "Rum & Razors," part of the series of books based on the classic program "Murder, She Wrote," "by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain."

Jessica Fletcher, of course, was the character played so wonderfully on the CBS series by Angela Lansbury from 1984-96. Bain is the real writer of the "Murder, She Wrote" series and author of the book "Coffee, Tea or Me?"

Through the 1990s, successful series frequently triggered successful books. Comedies such as "The Partridge Family" and "That Girl" and dramas such as the original "Hawaii Five-O" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." came complete with a series of adventurous, not-too-long readers that would frequently go to places the shows didn't - especially the comedies. "That Girl's" Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) terrorized by people living a real-life "Wuthering Heights?" Never happened in the series, but it did in a book penned by Paul W. Fairman.

Series for teens and science fiction fans, of course, have been principal sources for book writers. "Star Trek," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Full House" have plenty of selections.

eBay is a primary source for finding such books. Even stories from more obscure series, such as 1970s "Nancy" about a president's daughter, are available in paperback.

The eBay search starts in the 1950s with such shows as "Gunsmoke" and "77 Sunset Strip." Just about every scripted television genre one can think of is covered.

So Happy Reading! And until next week, Happy Viewing!

Week of April 1: What's With "All My Children"; All of C-SPAN; Remembering Farley Granger On TV

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Susan Lucci is having to pull double duty in promoting her new book, "All My Life." Besides that, she has to defend "All My Children" against cancellation rumors.

Lucci, who has masterfully played Erica Kane throughout the 41-year run of the series, doesn't have anything to prove. But "AMC's" problems are symptomatic of all problems with soap operas: The O.J. Simpson trial of 1994-95, which replaced many soap operas, began to alter viewing habits. The increase of the Internet continued that change.

The soap operas themselves didn't help matters with substandard casting, scripts and plotlines.


"All My Children," created by Agnes Nixon, began in 1970 with a fine collection of veterans of film and television drama such as Kay Campbell, who played Kate Martin; Hugh Franklin, who played Charles Tyler; Ruth Warrick ("Citizen Kane"), who played Phoebe Tyler; Frances Heflin, who played Mona Kane (Erica's mother) and Mary Fickett, who played Ruth Brent (later Martin). Among the young cast members were Charles Frank, who played Jeff Martin; Richard Hatch (the original "Battlestar Gallactica"), who played Phil Brent; Karen Lynn Gorney ("Saturday Night Fever"), who played Tara Martin and Lucci.

The show set standards for writing and acting and broke barriers; Erica became the first daytime soap opera character to have an abortion in 1973. Her younger daughter, Bianca (Christina Bennett Lind), more recently became part of the first gay marriage on a daytime soap. Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan, who play Jessie and Angie Hubbard, were the first real African-American supercouple of soaps.

More recently, standards have been the exceptions. Most of the cast members with the series through its glory years have either died (Warrick, Heflin, Campbell, Franklin, Eileen Herlie, who played Myrtle Fargate and recently James Mitchell, who played Palmer Cortlandt), retired (Fickett; Ray McDonnell, who played Joe Martin; David Canary, who played Adam and Stuart Chandler) or have been laid off or had hours chopped (Julia Barr, who played Brooke English; Walt Willey, who plays Jackson Montgomery). With the exceptions of Lucci, Williams, Morgan, Michael E. Knight (Tad Martin since the early 1980s) and a few others, most of the current cast looks like it came off an assembly line of models.


Even if "All My Children" survives the immediate future, its years are probably numbered, sadly. At its best, it was special enough to attract the likes of Carol Burnett and Elizabeth Taylor (mentioned last week). It also broke barriers.


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Farley Granger, who died earlier this week, was best known for his film work. But he spent more than 40 years adding television to his resume.

He worked on soaps "As the World Turns," "The Edge of Night" and "One Life To Live." He guest starred on numerous programs, including "Murder She Wrote," "Ironside," "Hawaii Five-O" (the original) and "The Love Boat."


But the gold standard may be the live television drama programs he did during the 1950s and 60s, including "Playhouse 90," "The United States Steel Hour," "The Kraft Theatre" and more. Alas, we are still waiting for DVD releases of even clips of those dramas.


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To all political history junkies out there: C-SPAN now has an extensive online video library that features not only recent programs and archived programs going back to C-SPAN's beginnings more than 30 years ago, but also other archived material.


You can watch President Harry Truman being inaugurated in 1949 or President Richard Nixon resigning in 1974. There are recent congressional hearings or Question Time of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

It will also be of great benefit to students, historians and journalists. Here's the link:

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/


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See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!