/ / / / / / Classic TV Blog / / / / TV Shows on DVD/ / / / / / 2012 TV Show Reviews

 

OTHER COOL TV BLOGS:

TV Blog

Television Blog

Wayne Hicks'
Standup Comedy Blog

The TV Series that travelled from city to city across America : Route 66 on DVD

Backward City

Rankin- Bass Blog

TVLoop

Michael & Spider

TV Time Machine

TV Series Finale

Cheese Says

For Better or Werts

Otaku Review

SheKnows

Tugley Wood

Just My Show

Cleveland Classic Media Blog

TV Hot Spot

Aerial Telly

The Flaming Nose

Ken Levine

Lloyd Thaxton

The Home For Orphan Toons

Television Anagrams

Mark Evanier

Classic Television Showbiz

Televisionista

Brilliant But Cancelled

Tom Gilbert Timeless TV Blog

The Phil Nugent Experience

Our Word and Welcome to It

Kinescope HB

Yesteryear Museum Blog

What's Allan Watching?

Jane Espenson

Deadline Hollywood Daily

 

 


Latest TVparty
Classic TV Blog Entries

TV BLOG - 178
TV BLOG - 177
TV BLOG - 202
TV BLOG - 201
TV BLOG - 200
TV BLOG - 199
TV BLOG - 198
TV BLOG - 197

TV BLOG - 196
TV BLOG - 195
TV BLOG - 194
TV BLOG - 193

TV BLOG - 192
TV BLOG - 191
TV BLOG - 190
TV BLOG - 189
TV BLOG - 188

TV BLOG - 187
TV BLOG - 188
TV BLOG - 189
TV BLOG - 190
TV BLOG - 191
TV BLOG - 202
TV BLOG - 201
TV BLOG - 200
TV BLOG - 199
TV BLOG - 198
TV BLOG - 197

TV BLOG - 196
TV BLOG - 195
TV BLOG - 194
TV BLOG - 193

TV BLOG - 192
TV BLOG - 186

TV BLOG - 185
TV BLOG - 184
TV BLOG - 183
TV BLOG - 182
TV BLOG - 181

TV BLOG - 180
TV BLOG - 179
TV BLOG - 178
TV BLOG - 177
TV BLOG - 176

TV BLOG - 175
TV BLOG - 174
TV BLOG - 173
TV BLOG - 172
TV BLOG - 171

TV BLOG - 170
TV BLOG - 169
TV BLOG - 168
TV BLOG - 167
TV BLOG - 166

TV BLOG - 165
TV BLOG - 164
TV BLOG - 163
TV BLOG - 162
TV BLOG - 161

TV BLOG - 160
TV BLOG - 159
TV BLOG - 158
TV BLOG - 157
TV BLOG - 156

TV BLOG - 155
TV BLOG - 154
TV BLOG - 153
TV BLOG - 152
TV BLOG - 151

TV BLOG - 150
TV BLOG - 149
TV BLOG - 148
TV BLOG - 147
TV BLOG - 146

TV BLOG - 145
TV BLOG - 144
TV BLOG - 143

TV BLOG - 142
TV BLOG - 141
TV BLOG - 140
TV BLOG - 139

TV BLOG - 138
TV BLOG - 137
TV BLOG - 136
TV BLOG - 135
TV BLOG - 134

TV BLOG - 133
TV BLOG - 132
TV BLOG - 131
TV BLOG - 130
TV BLOG - 129
TV BLOG - 128

TV BLOG - 127
TV BLOG - 126
TV BLOG - 125
TV BLOG - 124
TV BLOG - 123
TV BLOG - 122
TV BLOG - 121

TV BLOG - 120
TV BLOG - 119
TV BLOG - 118
TV BLOG - 117
TV BLOG - 116
TV BLOG - 115

TV BLOG - 114
TV BLOG - 113
TV BLOG - 112
TV BLOG - 111
TV BLOG - 110

TV BLOG - 109
TV BLOG - 108

TV BLOG - 107
TV BLOG - 106
TV BLOG - 105

TV BLOG - 104
TV BLOG - 103
TV BLOG - 102
TV BLOG - 101
TV BLOG - 100

TV BLOG - 99
TV BLOG - 98
TV BLOG - 97
TV BLOG - 96
TV BLOG - 95

 

TV Blog / Television Blog / TVparty!
* Classic & Current Television Blog *

THINKING ABOUT VIVIAN VANCE
TV Blog / Lucy and Vivian Vance 1966Vivian Vance was one of those actresses from the early days of television that never really got the recognition she deserved, most likely because she was so darn naturally effervescent on screen that most people must have assumed she wasn't play acting at all. That, and having to live under the shadow of the greatest star the medium has known.

In 1959, before I Love Lucy went off the air and was replaced (sort of) by The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Desilu and the network were anxious to launch a spin-off starring Vivian Vance and William Frawley as the Mertzes. One problem - the actors hated each other. Frawley was willing but Vivian Vance stated, "No money in the world could persuade me to do a series with Mr. Frawley." After he found out she'd killed the deal, Frawley never again spoke to Vance unless the words were written in his script.

No matter, William Frawley bounced right from The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour in 1960 to another hit show that year, My Three Sons. Did you know William Frawley and Lucy were reunited on The Lucy Show, but only for a brief moment? This was while Vivian Vance was leaving the series during the time when Ann Sothern was briefly Lucy's partner in crime. That was William Frawley's last TV appearance, he died in March of 1966.

Desilu developed a pilot for Vivian Vance called Westward Ho! but the results were unsatisfying. Some have said that Lucy didn't want Vance to have a series so she would be available for a Lucy relaunch but Vivian had no desire to do another weekly Lucy sitcom. "Not on your life!" was her initial reaction but was persuaded by that immovable object Lucille Ball. Lucy & Viv made an unbeatable team and that, more than anything, was the key to The Lucy Show's top ten status beginning in 1962.

By 1965, Vivian Vance opted out of the responsibility of starring in a weekly series, preferring a quieter life in Connecticut. She rarely returned to television after departing The Lucy Show in 1965, although she returned faithfully to Lucy's series for an episode or two every year or so.

In 1975 Vivian Vance was a part of the Dean Martin Roast of Lucille Ball and she really socked it to her former boss.

This beloved TV icon made one of her last appearances in primetime as Rhoda's neighbor in a delightful 1975 episode of Rhoda; she fell easily back into the sitcom rhythm, as if she'd never left our screens (she hadn't, really). Valerie Harper and the producers enjoyed the experience so much that they considered making Vivian a regular on the series but she'd been diagnosed with cancer in 1973 and was too fragile for the grind of a weekly show. This was proven tragically true in 1977 when Vivian Vance suffered a stroke while filming a special, Lucy Calls the President, the first scripted show she'd done with Lucy since her last appearance on Here's Lucy in 1972. Vivian Vance died in 1979.

Saturday, April 17, 2010 10:10am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

ROMPER ROOM MEMORY
It's funny how TV touched my generation growing up - in a way it can't possibly anymore. Television stations were serious about public outreach before the mid-1970s - after all, why would you watch their shows outside of primetime?

Local children's shows offered an opportunity to share in something that was slightly larger than life yet real and tangible. These programs were hosted by individuals with a genuine love for children; the camera and the young audience picked up on this, creating a lasting impression. Of course, this was a time when the medium wasn't populated by vapid, image conscious barracudas.

Here's a poignant example of that connection that once existed, Nancy McCormick (nee Schell) writes:
Romper RoomIn 1968, I was five, and only child, and was anxiously waiting to start kindergarten. We lived in a run down area of Staten Island and one day, my Mom took me to the Woolworth's right down the block from our apartment, to see Miss Louise from Romper Room School.

I watched the show regularly because I was real eager to start school. I knew she was coming to "our" Woolworth's, but I didn't think my Mom even knew she was going to be there, and I didn't think to tell her.

There was a long line of moms and kids, and we got in it, but then my Dad showed up in the middle of the store, all drunk and delusional, and kept yelling about stuff that made no sense.

My Mom got me out of there before he saw us. She didn't want either of us humiliated but I kept asking her, "Why's Daddy yelling? Is he going to get arrested?"

A few minutes later, we went back in and the line was a lot shorter. I guess my Dad scared some of the other Moms. The people who worked at the store had my Mom bring me toward the front of the line. I kept looking for my Dad and asking my Mom if he was coming back.

Before you know it, I was standing in front of Miss Louise. I saw her with the kids in front of me, and she was sweet, but swift, shaking their hand, asking their first names, then giving them a balloon and a bag of goodies and sending them on there way.

When she got to me, I felt shy and confused. My fantasy world and real world colliding in such an extreme way. Miss Louise took both my hands and asked me my first name. I told her. Then she asked me my last name, which surprised me, but I told her. Then she put me on her lap, with her arm around my shoulder and asked if I went to school, and I prattled for a minute about going to Kindergarten soon. Then she put me down and gave me the goodie bag, but she was out of balloons. I was so giddy, I couldn't have cared less. I told her, "I don't need one." My Mom immediately said she'd buy me one, but I told her the same thing. A lady who worked in the store gave me one off the shelf anyway.

It doesn't end there.

TV Blog / Romper Room's Miss Louise from New York CityThe next time the show was on, at the very end of the show, when she looked into her magic mirror and said "Romper Bomper Stomper Boo..." and started saying the kids names... I got real excited and attentive, hoping she'd say the name "Nancy," but not really believing that she'd be thinking of me when she did.

She said a bunch of kid's first names, like: "I see Timmy and Susan and Carl..." then she said my name, first and LAST!!

I was so happy, I was jumping out of my skin and squealing! My Mom was in the kitchen, and I honestly don't remember if I told her or not. I think I did.

It was so cool that she actually SAW me. Not in the magic mirror, but in the Woolworth's. I wasn't just another kid on the assembly line.

I'm 47 now but I still inwardly laugh and cry when I think about it.

If she is still alive and if anyone who knows Miss Louise reads this... please tell her this story and thank her so much for making one nervous little girl so happy.

Saturday, April 17, 2010 4:00am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

FRIDAY NEWS ROUNDUP
There's a He-Man Masters of the Universe movie coming, no word yet on who will star or why they're making the movie in the first place.

Keifer Sutherland is on a Charlie Sheen-level bender - he was thrown out of a Lonodon strip club drunk and shirtless. What the heck does a riuch celevrity have to do to get thrown out of a strip club? In London no less where the laws are much more lax and their celebrity worship is unparralleled. (You guessed it, I'm jealous. No, really!)

Russell Crowe got his star on Hollywood Boulevard - no tally yet on how many people were assaulted.

One of my faves, Burn Notice, has been renewed for two more seasons and Bill Maher will be back for season 9 on HBO.

Seen in a cartoon: "I can live with the redistribution of the wealth, it's the redistribution of the poverty that's killin' me."

Porn for the blind is coming, books with braile nude bodies. Why didn't YOU think of that?!?

'Rocker' Brett Michaels, who seemingly has more health problems than my 84 year old mother, is out of the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Remind me again why those skanks on Rock of Love were so hot to hook up with him? Oh yeah, the operative word - skanks.

Twitter now has 105 million users, myself not among them although I appreciate greatly those of you who have requested to be my Twitter friend. If you want to know what I have to say about anything catch me at the bar after a couple of drinks.

Friday, April 16, 2010 10:40am
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

RODNEY
Rodney Dangerfield was a comic made for TV. He broke out on The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1960s and soon became known for his "I Don't Get No Respect" routine, a genius hook for a comedy bit.

Dangerfield appeared on the Tonight show 35 times, he was one of Johnny's favorite guests and no wonder, he killed every time and was right in line with Johnny's sense of humor. Check this classic routine performed on the Carson's show in 1971.

His career really took off in the 1980s with a string of hit movies. I remember working on the campaign for Rover Dangerfield, an animated movie produced after Dangerfield's successful movie run was over. That expensive 1991 production was God awful and caused the comedian to loose a good chuck of his own money. I think everyone involved knew it was a doomed project but Rodney himself was a very pleasant guy and he loved the poster art we did.

Here's Rodney Dangerfield on the Tonight show just before Easy Money was released in 1983, where he rat-a-tat-tats his way through some of his funniest material. You'll be telling these jokes at work tomorrow - if you can remember them. Watch as Johnny plays straight man for ten minutes and loves it.

Oh, let's face it you want more - once again Johnny plays it straight while Rodney blows the audience away.

Thursday, April 15, 2010 12:52pm
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

 

Read more Blog entries here!

TVparty is Classic TV on the internet!

TELEVISION BLOG

Beyond Our Wildest Dreams

Beyond Our
Wildest Dreams -
Now on Sale!


Beyond Our Wildest Dreams - FacebookPage

RAT PACK
GOLDDIGGERS
WEB SITE

Your host - Billy Ingram is one of the nation's top Pop Culture Gurus and expert on classic TV.

Seen on VH1,
Trio & Bravo!

Classic TV Blog


Please consider a donation
so we can continue this work!

 

Amazon Prime - unlimited streaming
of your fave TV shows and movies!
Get your FREE 30 Day Trial!

PR4 & PR5 Pages for Advertising

 

 

Billy Ingram's Book About Greensboro Hamburger (Squared)

 

 

 


Latest TVparty
Classic TV Blog Entries

TV BLOG - 178
TV BLOG - 177
TV BLOG - 202
TV BLOG - 201
TV BLOG - 200
TV BLOG - 199
TV BLOG - 198
TV BLOG - 197

TV BLOG - 196
TV BLOG - 195
TV BLOG - 194
TV BLOG - 193

TV BLOG - 192
TV BLOG - 191
TV BLOG - 190
TV BLOG - 189
TV BLOG - 188

TV BLOG - 187
TV BLOG - 188
TV BLOG - 189
TV BLOG - 190
TV BLOG - 191
TV BLOG - 202
TV BLOG - 201
TV BLOG - 200
TV BLOG - 199
TV BLOG - 198
TV BLOG - 197

TV BLOG - 196
TV BLOG - 195
TV BLOG - 194
TV BLOG - 193

TV BLOG - 192
TV BLOG - 186

TV BLOG - 185
TV BLOG - 184
TV BLOG - 183
TV BLOG - 182
TV BLOG - 181

TV BLOG - 180
TV BLOG - 179
TV BLOG - 178
TV BLOG - 177
TV BLOG - 176

TV BLOG - 175
TV BLOG - 174
TV BLOG - 173
TV BLOG - 172
TV BLOG - 171

TV BLOG - 170
TV BLOG - 169
TV BLOG - 168
TV BLOG - 167
TV BLOG - 166

TV BLOG - 165
TV BLOG - 164
TV BLOG - 163
TV BLOG - 162
TV BLOG - 161

TV BLOG - 160
TV BLOG - 159
TV BLOG - 158
TV BLOG - 157
TV BLOG - 156

TV BLOG - 155
TV BLOG - 154
TV BLOG - 153
TV BLOG - 152
TV BLOG - 151

TV BLOG - 150
TV BLOG - 149
TV BLOG - 148
TV BLOG - 147
TV BLOG - 146

TV BLOG - 145
TV BLOG - 144
TV BLOG - 143

TV BLOG - 142
TV BLOG - 141
TV BLOG - 140
TV BLOG - 139

TV BLOG - 138
TV BLOG - 137
TV BLOG - 136
TV BLOG - 135
TV BLOG - 134

TV BLOG - 133
TV BLOG - 132
TV BLOG - 131
TV BLOG - 130
TV BLOG - 129
TV BLOG - 128

TV BLOG - 127
TV BLOG - 126
TV BLOG - 125
TV BLOG - 124
TV BLOG - 123
TV BLOG - 122
TV BLOG - 121

TV BLOG - 120
TV BLOG - 119
TV BLOG - 118
TV BLOG - 117
TV BLOG - 116
TV BLOG - 115

TV BLOG - 114
TV BLOG - 113
TV BLOG - 112
TV BLOG - 111
TV BLOG - 110

TV BLOG - 109
TV BLOG - 108

TV BLOG - 107
TV BLOG - 106
TV BLOG - 105

TV BLOG - 104
TV BLOG - 103
TV BLOG - 102
TV BLOG - 101
TV BLOG - 100

TV BLOG - 99
TV BLOG - 98
TV BLOG - 97
TV BLOG - 96
TV BLOG - 95

TV BLOG - 94
TV BLOG - 93
TV BLOG - 92
TV BLOG - 91
TV BLOG - 90
TV BLOG - 89

TV BLOG - 88
TV BLOG - 87
TV BLOG - 86
TV BLOG - 85
TV BLOG - 84
TV BLOG - 83

TV BLOG - 82
TV BLOG - 81
TV BLOG - 80
TV BLOG - 79
TV BLOG - 78

TV BLOG - 77
TV BLOG - 76
TV BLOG - 75
TV BLOG - 74
TV BLOG - 73

TV BLOG - 72
TV BLOG - 71
TV BLOG - 70
TV BLOG - 69
TV BLOG - 68

TV BLOG - 67
TV BLOG - 66
TV BLOG - 65
TV BLOG - 64
TV BLOG - 63

TV BLOG - 62
TV BLOG - 61
TV BLOG - 60
TV BLOG - 59
TV BLOG - 58

TV BLOG - 57
TV BLOG - 56
TV BLOG - 55
TV BLOG - 54
TV BLOG - 53
TV BLOG - 52
TV BLOG - 51

TV BLOG - 50
TV BLOG - 49
TV BLOG - 48
TV BLOG - 47
TV BLOG - 46
TV BLOG - 45
TV BLOG - 44
TV BLOG - 43

TV BLOG - 88
TV BLOG - 87
TV BLOG - 86
TV BLOG - 85
TV BLOG - 84
TV BLOG - 83

TV BLOG - 82
TV BLOG - 81
TV BLOG - 80
TV BLOG - 79
TV BLOG - 78

TV BLOG - 77
TV BLOG - 76
TV BLOG - 75
TV BLOG - 74
TV BLOG - 73

TV BLOG - 72
TV BLOG - 71
TV BLOG - 70
TV BLOG - 69
TV BLOG - 68

TV BLOG - 67
TV BLOG - 66
TV BLOG - 65
TV BLOG - 64
TV BLOG - 63

TV BLOG - 62
TV BLOG - 61
TV BLOG - 60
TV BLOG - 59
TV BLOG - 58

TV BLOG - 57
TV BLOG - 56
TV BLOG - 55
TV BLOG - 54
TV BLOG - 53
TV BLOG - 52
TV BLOG - 51

TV BLOG - 50
TV BLOG - 49
TV BLOG - 48
TV BLOG - 47
TV BLOG - 46
TV BLOG - 45
TV BLOG - 44
TV BLOG - 43


Local & National Kid Shows / Saturday Morning Shows / Video Vault / TV Goodbyes / Fabulous Fifties / Unseen Scenes / Game Shows / Requested Classic TV Shows / Sixties TV Shows / The New * * Shows / 1980's Wrestling / TV Blog

TVparty! Classic TV
Classic TV on the Internet!

TV's Embarrassing Moments / Action Shows of the Sixties / TVparty Mysteries and Scandals / Variety Shows of the 1970s / The Eighties / The Laugh Track / 1970's Hit Shows / Response to TVparty / Search the Site / Add Your Comments
 
Superman on DVD / 1950's TV / 1960's TV / 1970's TV / Lucy Shows / Classic Cars / John Wayne / Gene Roddenberry / Star Wars / KISS / Lancelot Link / Saturday Morning Cartoons / Wonder Woman / Classic Comic Books / Andy Griffith / Cher / TV Shows on DVD / Outtakes & Bloopers / 1967 TV Shows / Romper Room / ABC Movie of the Week / The Goldbergs / Daws Butler Commercials / Saturday Morning Commercials / Captain Kangaroo / Chicago Local Kiddie Shows / Boston Local TV / Philly Local TV / NYC Local Kid Shows / Amos 'n' Andy / Electric Company / Bette Davis / Judy Garland / Christmas Specials / Redd Foxx / Good Times / Sitcom Houses / What's Happening! / Winky Dink & You / Sonny & Cher / Smothers Brothers / Commercial Icons of the 1960s / Soupy Sales / TV Terrorists / Irwin Allen / The Untouchables / Carol Burnett Show / Celebrity Commercials / Classic TV Commercials / The Carpenters / Route 66 / Bozo / The Carpenters Christmas Specials / Local Kid Shows / Death of TV's Superman / Wonderama / Sesame Street / Bob Hope Specials / Little Rascals / TV Terrorists / Irwin Allen / The Untouchables / big brotherCarol Burnett Show / Batman TV Show / Green Hornet / Today Show History / Our Gang / Doris Day Show / 1970's Commercials For Women / Bill Cosby in the 1970s / The Golddiggers / Lola Falana / 1970s TV Shows / David Bowie on TV / Hudson Brothers / The Flip Wilson Show / Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour / The Bobby Darin Show / Lucy's Lost Christmas Special / Classic Christmas Toy Commercials / Cricket On The Hearth / 1950's Holiday Shows / Amahl and the Night Visitors / A Christmas Carol on TV / The Richard Pryor Show / George Burns / Rudolph / Movie Posters & More!

Looking for classic TV DVDs? See below:
TV Commercials on DVD Wrestling DVDs Classic TV Books
Jim Longworth Christmas Specials TV Shows on BLU-RAY