Judy!

Despite her difficult attitude and legendary substance abuse, Judy Garland was a hot commodity in television. CBS was constantly courting her to make a variety show for them and in 1963, Judy's money problems convinced her to finally take CBS' offer.

Originally meant to be a full fledged variety show with music and comedy skits, the show never caught on with viewers. CBS decided to tweak the format, asking Judy to lay off the booze and stop touching her guests. They also fired most of the cast (which included Jerry Van Dyke) and made her show more of a concert program.

Despite legendary performances like this one with Barbra Streisand, the pills, booze, attitude and low ratings killed Judy's show.

The Soprano Switch

When show creator David Chase began casting for The Sopranos, he knew the perfect person to play Tony. Of course, that person was Steven Van Zandt.

Wait, what? Yes, David Chase originally wanted the famed musician to play Tony Soprano. The studio balked at giving such a high level role to someone who wasn't known for being an actor. So David Chase began looking elsewhere. He found James Gandolfini who earned the role of a lifetime.

Mr. Chase didn't forget Steven, however, writing the role of Silvio Dante specifically for him. It was yet another role of a lifetime.

The Simpsons Files: Captain McCallister

The crazy sea captain who is often seen engaging in failed businesses on The Simpsons is named Captain McCallister.

His longest lasting enterprise is his restaurant called "The Rusty Barnacle", a business that is first shown when Homer sues it for cutting him off before he truly had all he could eat. The captain is also shown operating a business that rents out shoddy rafts. When Homer's rented raft sinks just moments after hitting the water, the Captain sadly admits that he doesn't know what he's doing. His restaurant is later depicted as being filthy and ridden with cockroaches, surprising everyone (including the captain himself) that it stays in business.

Who's The Real Mr. Ed?

In 1970, the world was saddened hearing that the famous Mr. Ed had died. In 1979, the world was saddened hearing that the famous Mr. Ed had passed away. Wait, what?

It's true- there are two dates when Mr. Ed allegedly died. The confusion stems from the studio's promotional department. The real Mr. Ed was Bamboo Harvester, a famous palomino who was used in Hollywood for movies. Sadly, Bamboo Harvester struggled with kidney and liver damage and passed away in 1970.

So the horse that died in 1979 must have been a fraud, right? Not exactly. He was used in publicity shots and personal appearances, since Bamboo Harvester was typically too busy  filming to do them. In fact, after Bamboo Harvester had passed away, the unnamed publicity horse became the official "Mr. Ed". If a local station chose to air Mr. Ed reruns during the 1970's and wanted some publicity, the studio would make the second one available. When he died in 1979, the news media latched onto him as being "Mr. Ed".

TV Quote Weekends

"I'm here to see my money. They keep it in a special room in the back, with a trampoline. I'm gonna roll around in it for a while, maybe make it rain sort of like that scene from Indecent Proposal except no sex. MAYBE SEX!"

TV Quote Weekends

"You worship a HEAD OF LETTUCE?"

Redd Foxx Saves

LaWanda Page's performance in Sanford & Son as Aunt Esther has become classic TV. Who else could play the cantankerous church lady who loves to hate the boorish Fred Sanford?

NBC, however, thought someone else should. LaWanda was used to the world of standup. She struggled with the sitcom pacing required for a television comedy. NBC wanted her replaced. Redd Foxx, however, would have none of it. He had known LaWanda for years and trusted that she was the only person who could play Aunt Esther. He told NBC that if LaWanda was fired, he would leave alongside her. NBC caved in and LaWanda proved them wrong. She was the perfect Aunt Esther, remembered far and wide for the laughs she has provided to generations of television viewers.

Match Game Fame

Many celebrities participate in game shows to make some quick money while they're waiting for their careers to take off. Brian Billick, then a failed NFL player, tried to play Match Game but he was very bad at it. So bad, in fact, that the prickly Richard Dawson mocked him on the air. Mr. Billick was able to get the last laugh when he coached the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl and won in 2001.

How's that tea taste now, Newkirk? Bitter?

Famed trashy talk show host Jenny Jones also tried her luck on the show, walking away with a tidy sum.

Dumb Dora was so dumb, she permed her hair and looked like a <blank>.

Years before losing her mind, Kirstie Alley also made a run for the big bucks. She didn't win, but then again didn't fail miserably like Mr. Billick.

Sorry, Kirstie, Xenu is not a match. He'll never be a match.

Perry Mason and the Case of the Future Starfleet Lieutenant

Before he played his iconic role on the Enterprise, George Takei played a young man whose uncle was murdered on Perry Mason. He was not accused of the crime, nor did he commit it, but he served as a witness for master lawyer Perry Mason.

What Happened on What's Happening

Various salary disputes, accidents and differences rocked the beloved show What's Happening. As a result, only one actor appeared in every episode of the show- Haywood Nelson.

Hey, HEY, hey!

Whitney Blake's One Day at a Time

Whitney Blake was well-known as the mother from the classic TV show Hazel.

Lesser known is that she she was the co-creator of the 1970's classic sitcom One Day at a Time.

She based the show on her own experiences raising her family as a divorced mother. A family that included her daughter Meredith Baxter. Which brings up an interesting question- was Meredith like Barbara or Julie?

TV Quote Weekends

"My great aunt Eureka Nessman lived in a house very like this once, all alone. She had a little parakeet and she used to let it fly free throughout the house. Then she bought another parakeet, and another, and more and more until finally there were thousands of parakeets. And the mess they made was beyond belief. Aunt Eureka had gone insane of course, living all alone in a house very much like this one."

TV Quote Weekends

"Fred Sanford, the wrath of God will strike you down!"

 "And this Louisville slugger will knock you out!"