Today in 1963 — THE FRENCH CHEF with Julia Child debuted on WGBH.
“The camera didn’t bother me. Some people are awfully conscious of it. I think if you just pay attention to what you’re doing, then you’re not conscious of anything else.”
Today in 1963 — THE FRENCH CHEF with Julia Child debuted on WGBH.
“The camera didn’t bother me. Some people are awfully conscious of it. I think if you just pay attention to what you’re doing, then you’re not conscious of anything else.”
Tonight in 1971 — MAYBE I’LL COME HOME IN THE SPRING debuted on the ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK.
Sally Field shines as a hippie who returns to her family (Jackie Cooper, Eleanor Parker, Lane Bradbury).
Nuanced social commentary, lyrically directed by Joseph Sargent and shot by Russell Metty.
On YouTube: https://youtu.be/v-no3swkj0g
Tonight in 1968 — Peter Falk made his debut as COLUMBO in PRESCRIPTION: MURDER on NBC.
He would play the character for 35 years.
“He was perfect,” co-creator William Link said. "And then he got better.”
Tonight in 1971 — Isabel Sanford made her debut as Louise Jefferson on ALL IN THE FAMILY.
Ten years later, she became the first Black actress to win an Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (for THE JEFFERSONS).
“At last,” she said, before thanking God and Norman Lear.
A working replica of Rosie the Robot from THE JETSONS now exists, thanks to a former Navy Engineer.
And she has the voice of Jean Vander Pyl (using audio from the cartoon).
Tonight in 1975 — TRILOGY OF TERROR debuted on the ABC MOVIE OF THE WEEK.
DARK SHADOWS mastermind Dan Curtis directed Karen Black (and a doll that gave a generation nightmares).
"I did it all with smoke and mirrors,” Curtis said, "The Zuni doll was a little hand puppet. But it worked.”
Tonight in 1982 — POLICE SQUAD! debuted on ABC.
The funniest thing I've ever seen on network TV, by a wide margin.
"I’m ambivalent about my career. I like it the way it is, because it doesn’t interfere with my life." — Barbara Feldon (in 1976)
Agent 99 is 91 today.
Today in 1954 — The first mass-produced color TVs were introduced by RCA.
Cost: $1,000 — with a screen 11½ inches wide.
RCA-owned NBC began “color-casting" in 1953. Unlike CBS’s earlier color efforts, these “compatible" broadcasts were also viewable on B&W sets.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY "says that it doesn’t matter what you’re like outside, it’s inside that counts. That’s why people who are sometimes disowned by society like the show so much."
John Astin is 94 today.
Tonight in 1978 — THE BOB NEWHART SHOW ended its 6-season run on CBS.
"The finest cast in television," Newhart said of co-stars Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily, Marcia Wallace and Peter Bonerz.
Tonight in 1974 — James Garner made his debut as Jim Rockford in THE ROCKFORD FILES.
“He was a role model for me,” co-star Lindsay Wagner told me in 2022. “Observing who he was while working, being around the crew. I saw him treat everyone the same. He was just a real stellar man.”
Celebrating Henry Mancini's centenary with one of the all-time bangers of 1970s TV.
This month in 1962 — THE BUGS BUNNY SHOW debuted on Saturday mornings on ABC.
A primetime version (1960-62) preceded it, but the Saturday show became the longest, continuously-running morning children's program in network TV history.
Tonight in 1960 — James Hong appeared on the anthology series ONE STEP BEYOND on ABC.
Written by Don Mankiewicz, “House of the Dead” was an early role in the actor’s 70-year career — still going strong at age 95.
Watch on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/614332/s02-e37-house-of-the-dead
Bill Scott (1920-1985) was born on this date.
The voice of BULLWINKLE (and Mr. Peabody and Dudley Do-Right) was also the head writer and co-producer of the show (with Jay Ward).
"It was a special show for special people," he said in 1982.
COLUMBO starring Peter Falk debuted as a series tonight in 1971.
“He was perfect,” co-creator William Link said. "And then he got better.”