Joe Garagiola's Memory Game

Anyone here remember Joe Garagiola's Memory Game? That show that ran on NBC from February 15, 1971 through July 30 of the same year? The one Merv Griffin's company created (but for some reason, didn't put its name on) where five contestants were given all the answers to the questions in advance but only a brief time to study them, and then they had to answer as many as possible from memory? Any of this sound familiar?

Guess that explains why it didn't last long. When it was cancelled, its host (Joe Garagiola, in case you couldn't guess) moved over to hosting Sale of the Century and his Memory Game was quickly forgotten.

Posted March 16, 2009 • Permalink

Piper's Pets

Aaron Ruben, who was one of the main creative forces behind The Andy Griffith Show and CPO Sharkey, took a star from each and concocted Piper's Pets — an unsold pilot. It starred Don Knotts as Dr. Donald Piper, a small town veterinarian and Peter Isacksen as his well-meaning but perpetually confused assistant, Lester. Maggie Roswell played Dr. Piper's wife and Jacque Lynn Colton played his receptionist. NBC had it in mind as a possible mis-season replacement (which explains why it taped in September) but somehow, they felt the chemistry just wasn't there.

Posted March 15, 2009 • Permalink

Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher

Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher debuted on Comedy Central on July 25, 1993. The format was simple: The host and four people sat around and discussed what was going on in the world. Maher opened each show with a brief monologue, then turned to his panel, which often included comedians and high-profile political figures. It was sometimes difficult to tell them apart.

The series quickly built up a following, due mainly to Maher's skill for keeping things moving and funny. His ability to ask tough questions (and to pointedly repeat them when guests evaded) made it interesting, and even some who abhorred his Libertarian/Atheist viewpoints admired his candor and showmanship. In '97, ABC decided the series would make a great follow-up to Nightline and the show moved over, changing only in a few cosmetic ways, continuing to offer rowdier conversation than one usually finds on a network. It went that way until shortly after the attacks of 9/11/01 when Maher made a comment that said that whatever the suicide pilots were, it was wrong to describe them as "cowards."

In hindsight, that was a mild and inarguable statement...but at the time, it caused protests, rebukes from the White House, advertiser desertion and, ultimately, ABC dropping the show. It has been suggested that they were already uncomfy with Maher's outspoken manner and were looking for an excuse to lop him off their schedule. Whatever the thinking, he was axed in July of 2002 but soon resurfaced with Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO.

Politically Incorrect did its early shows (usually taped, occasionally live) from CBS Broadcast Center in New York but soon relocated to CBS Television City in Hollywood, the better to secure show biz guests. No matter who was airing it, it was done there, and Real Time is also presently done from CBS Television City.

Posted March 15, 2009 • Permalink

Bert Parks' Bandstand

Bert Parks is probably best (only?) remembered for his years hosting the annual Miss America pageant. That's a shame because he was a star on Broadway (among other gigs, he replaced Robert Preston in The Music Man) and he hosted dozens of game and variety shows. Bert Parks' Bandstand was a daytime radio show based on the arguable premise that audiences didn't want any of that new "rock-and-roll" music some kids were buying. They still wanted the Big Band sound...and that's what Bert gave them, thanks to a fine big band under the baton of Skitch Henderson. Radio audiences kept it on for years but a TV version called NBC Bandstand didn't do as well. The show debuted July 30, 1956 and had its last broadcast on November 23 of that year. It was replaced by a new show called The Price is Right.

Posted January 6, 2009 • Permalink

That's Life

That's Life was an extremely original and daring concept in TV: An hour-long ongoing sitcom and musical comedy that each week featured songs (some written for the show, some not) and dances. Robert Morse was the star and the show had something of the feel of his hit, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He played a young man named Robert Dickson while E.J. Peaker played his new wife, Gloria Quigley.

Each week, we got another chapter of their evolving life together, and there were guest stars aplenty. Among those who appeared, sometimes more than once as recurring characters, were Ethel Merman, Mel Tormé, Phil Silvers, Leslie Uggams, Paul Lynde, Vikki Carr, Mahalia Jackson, Alan King, Robert Goulet, Tony Randall and Liza Minnelli. Shelley Berman and Kay Medford turned up often as Gloria's parents. The show also found ways to incorporate musical groups and their hits into its plot each week. On the first episode, which aired September 24, 1968, The Turtles sang "Eleanor."

The above ticket is for August 18 and it's for the second episode, which was telecast October 1 and told the story of how Bobby decided to ask Gloria to marry him. During the course of the hour, guest star Nancy Wilson sang "Marriage Blues," E.J. Peaker sang, "It Must Be Him," Morse sang, "Embarrassment of Riches," Morse and Peaker sang "Our Love is Here to Stay" and"The Two of Us," and Wilson and Peaker sang, "To Get a Man." Guest stars Tim Conway and Jackie Vernon didn't sing.

The series was a critical hit but that was about it. Audiences never discovered it...or if they did, they didn't much like what they were watching. Twenty-six episodes were produced with the last airing April Fool's Day of '69. There were a few week of reruns and then the timeslot (Tuesday nights at 10) was given over to one night of a thrice-weekly Dick Cavett Show. That's Life was never rerun again, which is a shame. It was one of those shows that deserved more of a chance.

Posted January 3, 2009 • Permalink