TV by the Decade :: January 9•15

Tandem Productions

The second week of January through the decades had its share of hits, misses, and valiant failures. 1952 saw the debut of a groundbreaking, iconic and still running morning program, 1972 gave us two classic, long-running series on NBC, PBS launched a long-running anthology series in 1982 with big stars, prestigious productions and important films, 2002 saw the debut of a music series that brought together artists from disparate genres, and 2012 produced one hit reality series and a lot more shows that didn’t survive the season. Read on to see if any of your favorite shows made the list this week!

1952

January 14 – Today

• Hosts: Dave Garroway, John Chancellor, Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Frank McGee, Jim Hartz, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, Deborah Norville, Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb
• Synopsis: News and talk morning television show.
• Network: NBC
• Broadcast History: Sixty-nine seasons, over 18,000 episodes to date
• Trivia: It is currently the fifth longest running program on television. The program was created by Sylvester Weaver, who is also the father of Sigourney Weaver. The show’s original title was The Rise and Shine Revue. The show’s mascot during its early years was chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs. The show aired live until September 1959 to accommodate Dave Garroway’s declining health, with episodes recorded the day before air. The decision was heavily criticized and the live format returned when John Chancellor took over as host in July 1961. The show converted to an all-color broadcast on September 13, 1965. The show upgraded to high definition in September 2006.

1962

January 11 – Tell It to Groucho

• Cast: Groucho Marx, Joy Harmon, Jack Wheeler
• Notable Guests: Jayne Mansfield, Peter Lorre, Fabian, Mickey Hargitay, George Fenneman, Vincent Price
• Synopsis: Groucho Marx engages in humorous conversation with studio guests followed by a photo recognition game.
• Network: CBS
• Broadcast History: One season, last broadcast in the Spring of 1962.
• Trivia: A successor to Groucho’s You Bet Your Life. The producers of that show wanted to sell rerun into syndication, which was unusual at the time for a show still on the air, so You Bet Your Life ended, sold to syndication and Tell It to Groucho was created. Joy Harmon and Jack Wheeler had been contestants on You Bet Your Life.

1972

January 13 – Me and the Chimp

• Cast: Ted Bessell, Anita Gillette, Scott C. Kolden, Kami Cotler
• Notable Guests: Reta Shaw, Dick Wilson, Ruta Lee, Bernie Kopell, Tom Bosley
• Synopsis: Dentist Mike Reynolds is living a good life with his wife Liz and his two children. When Scott and Kitty find a chimp, he reluctantly agrees to keep it but finds his life turned upside down when the ape Buttons causes chaos on a regular basis.
• Network: CBS
• Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on April 27, 1972
• Trivia: Ted Bessell originally refused to participate when the title was first given as the grammatically correct The Chimp and I.

January 14 – Sanford and Son

• Cast: Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson
• Notable Guests: LaWanda Page, Whitman Mayo, Nathaniel Taylor, Hal Williams, Gregory Sierra, Pat Morita, Slappy White, Nancy Kulp, Helen Martin, Eric Laneuville, Ron Glass, Mary Alice, David Huddleston, Barbara Rhodes, Greg Morris, Dick Van Patten, Roscoe Lee Brown, Ja’net DuBois, Jonathan Harris, Lena Horne, Della Reese, George Foreman, Chuck Barris, Don Ho, B.B. King, Mary Wickes, John Amos, Antonio Fargas, Scatman Crothers, Joe Morton, Don Rickles, Robert Guillaume, Steve Lawrence, Jayne Kennedy, Howard Hesseman, Eydie Gormé, Pat Paulsen, Merv Griffin, John Larroquette
• Synopsis: The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.
• Network: NBC
• Broadcast History: Six seasons, 136 episodes, last broadcast on March 25, 1977
• Trivia: Based on the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, from which most of the first season episodes were adapted. Despite being scheduled in the dreaded Friday timeslot, it was a huge success that led to the cancellation of The Brady Bunch on ABC. The show was a Top Ten hit for its first five seasons, only going as low as Number 7. It finished its sixth and final season at Number 27. Redd Foxx walked off the show near the end of the third season in a salary dispute and was written out of the six final episodes of the season. While the dispute was settled, Foxx still missed the first three episodes of Season 4, but NBC aired the fourth episode as the season premiere. Foxx left the show for good in 1977 when ABC lured him away to host his own variety show. Foxx hoped to revive the show in 1980 as Sanford, but Demond Wilson refused to return and it lasted just four months. Foxx and LaWanda Page had been lifelong friends, and she was his only choice to play Aunt Esther. When NBC wanted to fire her due to her inexperience on camera, Foxx threatened to quit. Foxx was a fan of The Ink Spots and often sang their songs on the show. NBC refused to pay the expensive royalties, so Foxx paid out of his own pocket. A test pilot was produced featuring two Italian characters because NBC didn’t think Black characters would work. The show’s theme song is titled ‘The Streetbeater’, written by Quincy Jones. Cleavon Little was the original choice to play Lamont, but he turned it down due to prior commitments. While Fred Sanford was 65 when the show started, Redd Foxx was just 49.

Megalomedia

January 15 – Emergency!

• Cast: Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Julie London, Bobby Troup, Robert Fuller, Marco Lopez, Mike Stoker, Tim Donnelly, Michael Norell
• Notable Guests: Deidre Hall, Randall Carver, Kenneth Tobey, John de Lancie, Patty McCormack, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Laurette Spang, Sharon Gless, Larry Storch, Jack Carter, Dick Van Patten, Linda Gray, Reb Brown, Arnold Stang, Elisabeth Brooks, Linda Dano, Philip Baker Hall, Cicely Tyson, Seymour Cassel, Mort Sahl, Mariette Hartley, James Shigeta, John Carradine, Adam West, Bobby Sherman, Dick Butkus, Mark Spitz, Keenan Wynn, Bridget Hanley, Joanna Kearns, Jackie Coogan, Jo Anne Worley, Nick Nolte, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Ruth Buzzi, Marion Ross, Audrey Landers, Vic Tayback, Mark Harmon, Tony Dow, Anne Lockhart, Yvonne Craig, Sid Haig, Cathy Lee Crosby, Pamela Hensley, Kevin Dobson, Susan Seaforth Hayes, Ike Eisenmann, Frank Bonner, Carl Lumbly, John Travolta, Kathleen Quinlan, Kim Richards, Lance Kerwin, Jeanne Cooper, Lara Parker, Ruth Gordon, Carole Cook, Grant Goodeve, Rosalind Chao
• Synopsis: The crew of Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 51, particularly the paramedic team, and Rampart Hospital respond to emergencies in their operating area.
• Network: NBC
• Broadcast History: Six seasons, 122 episodes (plus 6 TV movies), last broadcast on May 28, 1977
• Trivia: Eric Shea, Melissa Gilbert, William Katt, Scott Glenn, Sandra Gould, Richard Kiel, Erik Estrada, Yvette Vickers, Marc McClure, Wings Hauser, Ann Dusenberry and Dick Warlock appeared in uncredited roles. The series is credited with popularizing the concepts of EMS and paramedics in American society. The firefighters’ helmets, turnouts, Biophone, and defibrillator were accepted into the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History’s public service section. The vehicles of Station 51 are a part of the collection of the Los Angeles County Fire Museum. At the time of the series’ development, there were only 12 paramedic programs in the United States, with two located in Los Angeles. The series was technically accurate as every script was fact-checked and approved by the series’ technical consultants. There were always real paramedics serving as technical advisors on set every day for further technical advice. Actual local disasters like the 1971 Sylmar earthquake and the 1973 ‘Crenshaw Fire’ brush fire were incorporated into the storylines. The series was a spin-off of Adam-12, which was a spin-off of Dragnet. All three series take place in the same universe. The series was sold into syndication during its fifth season, retitled Emergency One! to avoid confusion with the new episodes still airing on NBC. Julie London was hired for the role of Nurse Dixie McCall by producer Jack Webb, her ex-husband, and she worked alongside her current husband Bobby Troup. Randolph Mantooth & Kevin Tighe took basic paramedic training so they would appear to know what they are doing on screen. Julie London retired from the entertainment business following the show’s cancellation.

1982

January 12 – American Playhouse

• Notable Cast: Anne Bancroft, Christine Baranski, Kenneth Branagh, Jeff Daniels, Matt Dillon, Olympia Dukakis, Matt Frewer, Lillian Gish, Danny Glover, Louis Gossett, Jr., Ed Harris, Edward Herrmann, Helen Hunt, Glenda Jackson, James Earl Jones, Raul Julia, Swoosie Kurtz, Cloris Leachman, John Malkovich, Butterfly McQueen, Rita Moreno, Paul Newman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Keanu Reeves, Sylvia Sidney, Gary Sinise, Anna Deavere Smith, Elaine Stritch, Dick Van Dyke, Christopher Walken, Alfre Woodard
• Synopsis: Anthology television series.
• Network: PBS
• Broadcast History: Eleven seasons, last broadcast on December 22, 1993
• Trivia: The series launched the careers of several stars including Laura Linney, A Martinez, Conchata Ferrell, Eric Roberts, Lynne Thigpen, John Malkovich, Ben Stiller and Megan Mullally. Notable productions include For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, The Gin Game, Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (which was lampooned on an episode of MST3K), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sunday in the Park with George, A Raisin in the Sun, Bloodhounds of Broadway, Into the Woods, Porgy and Bess, Tales of the City. Some productions won several Emmys, and the series won the Peabody Award in 1990. Theatrical films that aired on the series — Nothing But a Man, The Thin Blue Line, El Norte and Stand and Deliver — were each inducted into the National Film Registry.

1992

• No new shows debuted this week in 1992.

2002

CMT

January 13 – CMT Crossroads

• Notable Performers: Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello, Brooks & Dunn & ZZ Top, Ryan Adams & Elton John, Willie Nelson & Sheryl Crow, The Chicks & James Taylor, Travis Tritt & Ray Charles, Dolly Parton & Melissa Etheridge, Martina McBride & Pat Benatar, Wynonna Judd & Heart, Sugarland & Bon Jovi, Kenny Rogers & Lionel Richie, Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift & Def Leppard, Zac Brown Band & Jimmy Buffett, Faith Hill & The Pretenders, Vince Gill & Sting, Carrie Underwood & Steven Tyler, Dierks Bentley & OneRepublic, Kacey Musgraves & Katy Perry, Jennifer Nettles & Cheap Trick, Luke Bryan & Jason Derulo, Thomas Rhett & Nick Jonas, Zac Brown Band & Shawn Mendes, Kelsea Ballerini & Halsey
• Synopsis: The series pairs country music artists with musicians from other music genres.
• Network: CMT
• Broadcast History: Sixteen seasons, 73 episodes to date.
• Trivia: Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson became good friends after appearing on the show, performing and recording together many times. Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire toured together after their appearance. Jimmy Buffet appeared on Zac Brown Band’s ‘Knee Deep’ following their episode. Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood collaborated on ‘Can’t Stop Lovin’ You’ after their episode. After their episode, Katy Perry enlisted Kacey Musgraves to be her opening act for the Prismatic World Tour.

January 13 – The Jamie Kennedy Experiment

• Cast: Jamie Kennedy, Mark Riccadonna, Gina Coconato
• Notable Guests: Deep Roy, Masi Oka, Katrina Lenk, Mike Ditka, Julianna Margulies, Jeff Goldblum, Freddie Prinze Jr., David Schwimmer, Jillian Barberie, Mark DeCarlo, Kaitlin Olson, Sean Maguire, Amanda Bynes, Holly Robinson Peete, Pauly Shore, Anthony Anderson, Kathie Lee Gifford, Melissa Joan Hart, Ryan O’Neal, Blair Underwood, Dot-Marie Jones, Kasey Wilson, John Cho, Jim Belushi, Eddie Kaye Thomas, George Wendt, Jason George, Bob Saget, Apolo Ohno, Ethan Phillips, Artie Lange, Donny Osmond, Lisa Loeb
• Synopsis: Hidden camera/practical joke reality television series.
• Network: The WB
• Broadcast History: Three seasons, 62 episodes & 1 special, last broadcast on April 29, 2004
• Trivia: Nick Swardson and Giuliana Rancic appeared uncredited. Jamie Kennedy played a practical joke on his Bowfinger co-star Heather Graham which he masqueraded as her limo driver. However, the practical joke was never broadcast.

January 15 – First Monday

• Cast: Joe Mantegna, James Garner, Charles Durning, Camille Saviola, James McEachin, James Karen, Gail Strickland, Stephen Markle, Lyman Ward, Hedy Burress, Randy Vasquez, Joe Flanigan, Christopher Wiehl, Linda Purl
• Notable Guests: Liz Torres, Dean Stockwell, Marcia Clark, Kaley Cuoco, Debbie Reynolds, Terry O’Quinn, John Ruberstein, Jonathan Del Arco, Larry Flynt, Gloria Allred,
• Synopsis: The show examined how the law clerks and justices dealt with issues and cases that came before the highest court in the United States.
• Network: CBS
• Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on May 3, 2002
• Trivia: The series was born out of the public’s interest in the Supreme Court’s role in deciding the 2000 election. By the time the show aired, that interest had waned. The series’ theme music was Emmy nominated. Takes place in the same ‘universe’ as JAG and NCIS. Dean Stockwell’s character, Senator Sheffield, later appeared on JAG and became the Secretary of the Navy.

2012

January 9 – Caged

• Cast: Wes Branch, Tony ‘Primetime’ Kelley, Daniel Payne, Matt ‘Danger’ Schnell
• Synopsis: Reality series focused on a group of young up and coming mixed martial arts fighters in small town Minden, Louisiana.
• Network: MTV
• Broadcast History: One season, 10 episodes, last broadcast on March 12, 2012
• Trivia: The series launched Matt ‘Danger’ Schnell into the pro ranks. He won his professional debut against Ryan Hollis by split decision in November 2012. Tony ‘Primetime’ Kelley won his pro debut in April 2013 against Kody Thrasher by TKO.

Universal Television

January 10 – Shipping Wars

• Cast: Jarrett Joyce, Marc Springer, Jennifer Brennan, Roy Garber, Christopher Hanna, Robbie Welsh, Suzanne and Scott Bawcom, Dusty Davies, Jessica Samko, Todd and Tamera Sturgis
• Recurring Cast: Johnny Chavez, Chelsea Chirila, Courtney Carter, Kourtney Boden, Tish Boden, Chris Kikelhan
• Synopsis: The show follows various independent shippers who have discovered that money can be made transporting large/bulky/unusual items that traditional carriers either cannot or will not haul. They compete for shipments in timed auctions held by uShip, one of the largest online auction houses for independent shippers.
• Network: A&E
• Broadcast History: Eight seasons, over 100 episodes to date
• Trivia: A UK edition of the series began airing in 2014.

January 11 – Are You There, Chelsea?

• Cast: Laura Prepon, Jake McDorman, Lauren Lapkus, Lenny Clarke, Ali Wong, Mark Povinelli
• Notable Guests: Chelsea Handler, Natasha Leggero, Estelle Harris, Nat Faxon, Ryan Stiles, Gilles Marini, Mark Valley, Jai Rodriguez, Mario Lopez, Kerri Kenney, Dot-Marie Jones, Wilmer Valderrama
• Synopsis: The sitcom is based on a book written by Chelsea Handler containing comical stories from Handler’s early twenties.
• Network: NBC
• Broadcast History: One season, 12 episodes, last broadcast on March 28, 2012
• Trivia: Working title was Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, which is the title of the book. Natalie Morales, Angel Laketa Moore and Jo Koy were cast in the 2010 pilot, but dropped when NBC picked up the series due to creative reasons. Jake McDorman was upgraded from a supporting to regular role that replaced Koy’s character. The setting was also changed from Los Angeles in the pilot to New Jersey.

January 12 – The Finder

• Cast: Geoff Stults, Maddie Hasson, Mercedes Mason, Michael Clarke Duncan, Christian Calloway
• Notable Guests: Amy Aquino, Eric Roberts, Wilson Cruz, John Francis Daley, Jake Busey, Mitch Pileggi, Adina Porter, Greg Evigan, Annette O’Toole, Peta Wilson, Michael Des Barres, Mario Van Peebles
• Synopsis: An Iraq war vet suffers a brain injury that triggers the ability to see connections between seemingly unrelated events, objects or people.
• Network: FOX
• Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on May 11, 2012
• Trivia: Spun off from Bones. Loosely based on ‘The Locator’ series of two books by Richard Greener. Saffron Burrows appeared in the Bones backdoor pilot, but did not return for the series after her role was reconceived. As is typical with FOX, the episodes were aired out of order which created some continuity issues. Episode 9 aired second, Episode 2 aired fifth, Episode 10 aired sixth, Episode 5 aired seventh, Episode 6 aired ninth, Episode 7 aired tenth, and Episodes 11 and 12 were flipped. Two characters from Bones made cameo appearances: Dr. Lance Sweets (Episode 2) and Dr. Jack Hodgins (Episode 6).

January 12 – ¡Rob!

• Cast: Rob Schneider, Cheech Marin, Claudia Bassols, Diana Maria Riva, Lupe Ontiveros, Eugenio Derbez
• Notable Guests: Fred Willard
• Synopsis: The series follows Rob, a former lifelong bachelor and landscape architect with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, who marries into a tight-knit Mexican American family and attempts to be closer to them, often ending in disastrous results despite his good intentions.
• Network: CBS
• Broadcast History: One season, 8 episodes, last broadcast on March 1, 2012
• Trivia: The exterior of Rob’s house was previously featured as William Shatner’s home on $#*! My Dad Says, which aired the season before Rob debuted on the same network, day and time slot.

January 15 – Napoleon Dynamite

• Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, Sandy Martin, Diedrich Bader, Jared Hess, Phil Hendrie, Tara Strong
• Notable Guests: Haylie Duff, Phil LaMarr, Jennifer Coolidge, Tom Kenny, Lauren Tom, Jemaine Clement, Amy Poehler, Sam Rockwell, Alan Tudyk
• Synopsis: Follows the misadventures of an awkward high school teenager and his quirky friends as they struggle to navigate life in rural Idaho.
• Network: FOX
• Broadcast History: One season, 6 episodes, last broadcast on March 4, 2012
• Trivia: Based on the 2004 indie film of the same name. The film’s creators felt animation would be the best way to continue the story as the main cast had grown too old to play teenagers. The premiere episode drew over 9 million viewers but inconsistent scheduling caused the viewership to drop to 4 million for the last few episodes.