Bizarre TV Ads: A Year at the Top

There's so much that makes no sense with this ad, it's hard to know where to begin. There's a pre-Letterman Paul Shaffer with Greg Evigan performing at what seems to be a cheesy bar mitzvah while Shirley Feeney and Sonny Bono menace an insane Mickey Rooney, who's probably glad to just be collecting a paycheck.

In reality, this "comedy" was pretty much dead on arrival when it premiered in August of 1977. The show aired just five episodes before getting canceled by CBS. Perhaps a more accurate title would have been A Month at the Bottom.

TV Quote Weekends

"The last time I was down at the Shady Rest for dinner he was putting away meatballs like they were gum drops!"

TV Quote Weekends

"Are you a gigolo?"

Game Show Files: Brett Somers

In the 1970's, a popular type of game show was the panel show. Theoretically featuring celebrity panelists, the celebrities on these types of shows were often enlisted to help the non-celebrity contestants win money and prizes. The celebrities on these shows were often on their way up, on their way down or famous for being on these types of shows. One of the best known panel game shows was Match Game and one of the best known famous for being on the Match Game celebrities was Brett Somers.

Ms. Somers did have outside credits to her name and was known as a funny comedienne, but her primary claim to fame was Match Game, where smoking and drinking were apparently encouraged. While Brett was often lousy at coming up with answers that matched those of the contestants, she was hilariously funny on the show, often stretching the patience of the network censors with her double entendres. 

Weird Batman Villains: Egghead

One of the weirdest and most brilliant villains specially created for the Batman TV show was Egghead, played by Vincent Price.

Flanked by his henchmen Benedict and Foo Yung, Egghead was fond of egg related puns and egg shaped weapons. His biggest feat was an amazing one- he figured out who Batman really was- Bruce Wayne.

Anthony Zuiker, Tram Driver

In the late 1990's, Anthony Zuiker was a tram driver working at the Mirage Hotel, making minimum wage when he got the idea of a lifetime.

He created the phenomenon that is CSI, which is ending its run after 15 years in September with a two hour movie. The spinoff CSI: Cyber returns in Spring.

NBC's Sloganeering

NBC went through a rough patch in the early 1980's. Nothing they tried seemed to work out for them. While they awaited their Renaissance that would begin with the pickup of The Cosby Show. Until then, they tried various different slogans and logos.

One of the first 1980's slogans was "Our Pride is Showing", which suggested to viewers that perhaps things were getting better at the last place network. (Though it has a different connotation now.)

As things began to improve, NBC invited viewers to join them with "Let's All Be There."

By the late 1980's the peacock feathers were simplified down to just six, the 'N' logo behind the peacock was removed and the network became "The Place To Be".

The Simpsons Files: Gil Gunderson

Easily one of the saddest characters in Springfield (outside of Moe Syzslak) Gil Gunderson is a character who can never seem to catch a break. 

Chronically unemployed, Gil nonetheless keeps a positive attitude; he always feels like good luck is just around the corner. Modeled after Jack Lemmon's character in Glengarry Glen Ross, Gil was originally intended as a one shot character. Viewers loved him, however, and after the death of Phil Hartman, who voiced the sad sack lawyer Lionel Hutz, Springfield needed a similar character. Ol' Gil was brought in to fill the void and has become an important part of Springfield.

TV Quote Weekends

"The bouncer is a bulldog who looks like Wilford Brimley and the password is diabeetus!"

TV Quote Weekends

"How do hobos fit all their stuff in a bandanna?!?"

The Famous Mister Ed

When Alan Young was offered the role of Wilbur Post in Mister Ed, producers wanted to name the program The Alan Young Show. He feared that the show would fail and didn't want his name on a canceled show. So the talking horse got top billing and Mister Ed was born.

Alan's fears of a colossal failure were unfounded; Mister Ed was a huge success. In fact, the show did something that very few shows do- it began life as a locally syndicated show and got picked up by a television network. In this case, it was CBS.

Perhaps the strangest thing about the show, however, was that they were able to entice Mae West, the bawdy pre-code actress out of retirement. Ms. West played an exaggerated version of herself in a fourth season episode entitled (obviously) Mae West Meets Mister Ed.

Rest in Peace, Bud Yorkin

Bud Yorkin, who partnered with Norman Lear to produce some of the biggest sitcom hits of the 1970's, has passed away at age 89.

Mr. Yorkin began his career at NBC in the 1950's, producing variety shows, but it was his partnership with Norman Lear that would bring him his biggest success. Together they produced All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times and many other shows.

He eventually left the company he founded with Mr. Lear and found success in his new venture, producing What's Happening and Carter Country. Mr. Yorkin's shows provided hours of laughs and entertainment for millions who grew up around and lived through the 1970's.

Rest in Peace, Yvonne Craig

Yvonne Craig, who got her start in show business as a ballet dancer, has passed away at age 78. 

Ms. Craig would eventually transition to television, where she received guest starring roles on various classic television shows of the 1950's and 1960's like Perry Mason, Dobie Gillis and Star Trek.

It was her role as Barbara Gordon in Batman that would earn her a spot in television history. As the crime fighting Batgirl, she joined Batman and Robin in helping her clueless father fight Gotham City's infamous villains. 

With the recent release of the Batman series on DVD, Ms. Craig has been discovered by a newer generation, cementing her legacy for generations to come.