Here’s the Friday open comments post.
Today’s suggested topic is a list of “10 all-time favorite TV events, any category (series, special, sporting event, whatever.)”
Longtime reader of FREE WHITEWATER, The Phantom Stranger, emailed his list (thanks!), based on his suggested topic from last week, and here it is, to kick off the forum:
Here we go, in no particular order…
1) Assassination of JFK, Nov 22, 1963, Walter Cronkite, CBS News coverage, the whole traumatic weekend through the funeral
2) Man on the Moon, July 21, 1969, “That’s one small step…” made for riveting viewing on a summer’s Sunday night.
3) Nixon Resigns August 9, 1974: our Long National Nightmare was finally over…
4) September 11, 2001 coverage: first heard it on WTMJ Radio (John Belmont who went back to AP Radio in NY, eventually); saw live coverage underway on NBC’s “Today Show,” initially.
5) “The Adventures of Superman,” episode “Panic in the Sky,” 1954. There’s an asteroid heading for Metropolis; Superman flies out into space to deflect it. Consequently, he falls back to Earth, with amnesia! Amnesiac Clark Kent/Superman almost reveals the big red “S” under his dress shirt to Jimmy Olsen!!! And the asteroid’s STILL headed back toward Metropolis! Truly, A Job for Superman!!! Oh, the drama, as this little 5 year old boy in Milwaukee watches!!!
6) The last episode of “The Fugitive,” “The Judgment,” Part 2, aired Tuesday night, 9 p.m. ABC, August 29, 1967. What a spectacular ending atop the amusement park tower, as David Janssen finally catches The One Armed Man. Vindication after 4 years of running and hounding by Lt. Phillip Gerard.
7) Last episode of the original series, “The Prisoner,” “Fall Out,” late summer 1968, CBS, 7:30 p.m. Saturday nights: a brilliant conclusion to a brilliant series. Thanks, Patrick McGoohan, RIP, Number 6.
8) Final Episode of M*A*S*H, Feb 28, 1983: another Wow!!!
9) Guilty Pleasure: “Who Pooped the Bed” episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” last season, FX Network, love this outrageously funny series
10) “Batman,” 1966, First 13 episodes, 1966, and Second Season, 1966-’67, while the show still literally had the Pop! Biff!! Zap!!! of cleverness, and tongue-in-cheek. Wish Warners Bros./20th Century Fox would get over their legal ownership wrangling and free The Dynamic Duo to Blu Ray DVD!!!!
I’ll use the comments to add my own list.
The use of pseudonyms and anonymous postings are, of course, fine.
Although the comments template has a space for a name, email address, and website, those who want to leave a field blank can do so. Comments will be moderated, against profanity or trolls. Otherwise, have at it.
I’ll keep the post open through Sunday afternoon. Enjoy.
Here’s my list, as the first comment. Items are in no particular order:
1. The Green Hornet. A brief, but great, television series with Van Williams and Bruce Lee. Based on the characters created by Trendle and Striker, the TV series was great fun. Earlier today, I posted a clip of the characters in the Black Beauty, their customized Chrysler Imperial.
2. Nixon’s ‘Checkers’ speech. Saved Nixon’s career, but no one was around to save America from Nixon. Eisenhower was a great man, and every great man makes a mistake or two. Selecting Nixon as a running mate qualifies as a large mistake. Otherwise, Ike did well by America.
3. St. Elsewhere, in the episode when Dr. Fiscus dreams he visits Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven (“After Life,” season 5, episode 9). It’s not theologically sound, but is interesting as drama.
4. Room 222. 1969-1974. Just a fun program from another time.
5. OJ on the Freeway. Live, odd, captivating television.
6. The Avengers. 1961-1969. Diana Rigg: all one needs to know.
7. Tall Ships from New York Harbor during the Bicentenntial. America had been through a few hard years (to say the least), but the Bicentennial was a fine ceremony, and offered a welcome reminder of our long and proud history.
8. The Lone Gunmen. 2001. A spinoff from the X-Files, and one that deserved a longer run.
9. Viking Lander on Mars. 1976. Another good moment from 1976.
10. Reagan-Carter Debate. 1980. Four years of Jimmy Carter was three years, eleven months, three weeks, and six days too much.
All in the family should be on any list, even if it seems very dated today.
Top Ten: Kennedy in Dallas, Kennedy-Nixon Debates, Man on Moon, Walter Cronkite on CBS, OJ Trial, Dallas (Who Shot JR?), Video of Vietnam War protesters, 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Friends as a series, President Kennedy’s inauguration.
Cosby Show, Cheers, and Fraser. NBC used to have great programs.
Add some westerns — Bonanza, Daniel Boone, and Gunsmoke. They’re all about individualism.
Lone Gunmen’s not really serious, John. Change that to Outer Limits or Twilight Zone! They were groundbreaking (and not in a use of public money for stupid projects kind of way!!!)
ed sullivan had a big impact on TV by introducing performers to the public. he didn’t know how famous some of them would become and didn’t like many of them. his show was important anyway.
Color television was the biggest change in the history of television. Series before and after are completely different. Look at comedies that were in black and white, and they’re monotone shades are distracting.
It’s almost a big enough gap that there are two television eras.
3D televisions may produce a third era.
The Watergate hearings made me famous. That was true must-see TV.
How could anyone forget Geraldo Rivera and Al Capone’s vault? He sets the standard for action-paked journalism
Ah, yes, The Green Hornet—Soon to be a Major Motion Picture, in 3D, starring Seth Rogen as The Hornet!!! The Outer Limits, whatta great series I still marvel at and own the entire series on DVD. Ah, yes, and “Mrs. Peel, we are needed!” And I should have also mentioned another boyhood favorite of The Phantom Stranger’s, “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: The submarine Seaview, the flying sub, Admiral Nelson and NIMR, Capt. Lee Crane, Sharkey, Kowalski, and OMG—lookout there’s a giant Lobster Man shaking the Seaview, time for the Seaview “Rock and Roll,: “Damage Control: Report!”
Here are some unforgettable (pop culture) TV moments to add to your list:
– Johnny Carson’s last show where Bette Midler serenades him and makes a sweet exit in tears.
– Luke and Laura’s wedding – biggest soap moment -on General Hospital.
-Roy Orbison concert (okay – it is still frequently replayed on PBS) including both Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits and Bonnie Raitt on stage with him.
Strangest TV moment – a young David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing the Little Drummer Boy together on a Christmas special.
Most unusual TV sexual moment – vampire Bill grabbing Sookie’s ankle from a grave and pulling his naked body out of the ground as he pulls her down to the ground and having passionate sex (once she realizes who it is) – from True Blood.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea! Oh, yes — that was a great show. I’ll have to post the trailer for the new Green Hornet. 3D? Now that’s intriguing.
Well, someone really likes True Blood, I wouldn’t wonder. HBO’s carved a place for itself, with a wide range of shows — Band of Brothers to Entourage — that’s a sizable span.
Comments seem to be working again — they were down for a bit today, but they’re working now. Thanks, Free Minds, Free Markets (Reason fan!) for emailing me your comment, and it looks like the regular form is cooperating again.
A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.
Go right to the source and ask the horse
He’ll give you the answer that you’ll endorse.
He’s always on a steady course.
Talk to Mister Ed.
People yakkity yak a streak and waste your time of day
But Mr. Ed will never speak unless he has something to say
A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And this one’ll talk ’til his voice is hoarse.
You never heard of a talking horse?
Well listen to this: “I’m Mister Ed.”