Forgotten TV episode 15-Creepy TV Monster Movies of the 70s

The 1970s TV movies The Night Stalker, Gargoyles, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, and Trilogy of Terror-Amelia are considered.

The Night Stalker DVD

Kolchak: The Night Stalker DVD

Gargoyles DVD

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark DVD

Trilogy of Terror DVD

Music themes/clips included
-CBS Friday Night Movie theme 1966-1978
-Various ABC Movie of the Week promos
-The Night Stalker (1972) theme music/clips
-Kolchak: The Night Stalker TV series theme
-Dark Shadows Groovy Horror Head Toy Commercial
-Gargoyles (1973) theme music/clips
-Monster Vitamins Vincent Price TV commercial 
-Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) theme music/clips
-I Vant To Bite Your Finger TV commercial
-Night Gallery syndication promo
-Trilogy of Terror-Amelia (1975) theme music/clips

More at Forgotten TV

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Forgotten TV episode 14-The Spirit 1987 TV movie

The 1987 TV movie pilot The Spirit with Sam J Jones and Nana Visitor is considered.

Buy The Spirit DVD on Amazon

TV/movie Themes clipped

The Lone Ranger 1949
Dick Tracy 1950
Sheena Queen of the Jungle 1955
Zorro 1957 
The Masked Marvel 1943
The Spirit theme 1987
The Spirit 2008 movie

Ohara 1986 ABC promo
Sledge Hammer! 1986 ABC promo
Starman 1986 ABC promo
Max Headroom 1986 ABC promo
ABC 1987 Friday Night Movie intro

Correction: Gotham airs on Fox, not the WB as stated.

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Forgotten TV episode 13-The Highwayman

The 1987 TV movie and 1988 series The Highwayman is considered.

Watch The Highwayman on YouTube

The Highwayman toy prototype exclusive photos

TV Themes clipped

Unsolved Mysteries
Married... with Children
21 Jump Street
DuckTales
Star Trek:The Next Generation

The Highwayman TV movie
The Highwayman TV series

Obituaries
Tobe Hooper 74
Jay Thomas 69
Jerry Lewis 91
June Foray 99
Martin Landau 89
Skip Homeier 86

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Forgotten TV Exclusive-The Highwayman Toys

The first Forgotten TV exclusive: I have discovered the now defunct Galoob toys had a license to produce toys from The Highwayman and have obtained the exclusive images presented here.
Pictured items include:
-2.75" painted action figures of Highway (Sam J. Jones), Jetto (Mark "Jacko" Jackson), and DC Montana (Tim Russ) along with a larger unpainted sculpt of Jetto
-a 6" unpainted prototype of a slot car of Highway's rig
-a 6" painted toy of Highway's rig with detachable tractor unit and removable helicopter
-an 18" painted toy of Highway's rig with: detachable tractor unit with opening gull wing doors and removable helicopter, opening trailer cargo door and roof
-an 18" painted toy of Jetto's 5th wheel style rig with detachable sports car and opening car hood and cargo roof door
Sadly, no sign of Highway's occasionally seen sports car he kept in the trailer...

These were possibly shown in a buyer's catalog or at a toy show and never generated enough dealer interest to produce a toy line. The show abruptly ending after 9 episodes would not have helped.

All photos courtesy of 'Toystuf' and to him I offer my profound thanks for sharing these with us!

Forgotten TV episode 12-Saturday Morning Weirdness Part 2

Continuing the journey through the weird world of 1970s live-action Saturday morning TV and the world of Sid and Marty Krofft.

YouTube Companion Playlist

TV Themes clipped

The Lost Saucer
Far Out Space Nuts
Monster Squad
The Krofft Supershow
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Dr. Shrinker
Wonderbug
Magic Mongo
Bigfoot and Wildboy
CBS Saturday morning promo 1975

DVDs available:

The World of Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid & Marty Kroffts Saturday Morning Hits
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2016)

More at Forgotten TV

Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

Also listen to Walnut Grovecast

Forgotten TV episode 11-Saturday Morning Weirdness

A journey through the weird world of 1970s live-action Saturday morning TV and the world of Sid and Marty Krofft.

YouTube Companion Playlist

TV Themes clipped

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet
Captain Midnight
The Pinky Lee Show
H.R. Pufnstuf
Lancelot Link-Secret Chimp
The Bugaloos
Lidsville
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters

1971 ABC Saturday morning promo

DVDs available:

H.R. Pufnstuf: The Complete Series
Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp
The Bugaloos - The Complete Series
Sigmund and the Sea Monsters - Complete Series

More at Forgotten TV
Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

Also listen to Walnut Grovecast

Walnut Grovecast - Episode 16 – The Music Box

Listen here http://vhsrewind.com/wgc-the-music-box/

Mark Jeacoma from VHS Rewind and Chris Cooling from Forgotten TV discuss this episode of Little House on the Prairie.
In this installment of #nelliepalooza, Laura is the naughty one by swiping Nellie's music box, but Nellie is naughtier. 
If you would like to hear more from Mark head over to http://www.vhsrewind.com or subscribe to his podcast by clicking here.

That Twilighty Show About That Zone 311-We're Going To Cure Death?

If you don't listen to this episode of That Twilighty Show About That Zone, I'm going to be very naughty!!! 
Join some guy from ForgottenTV and David Lawler discuss two TZ classics, “A Piano in the House” and “The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank.”

Forgotten TV episode 10-Otherworld

The 1985 CBS series Otherworld is considered.

Watch Otherworld YouTube

TV Themes clipped

TJ Hooker
Ripley's Believe It Or Not
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
The A-Team
V:The Series
The Fall Guy
Feb 85 CBS promo

Otherworld opening segment

CBS Bumper/ID
Street Hawk Dec 84 promo
1984 CBS Sat night lineup promo

Obituary-Stephen Furst, 63.

More at Forgotten TV
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Walnut Grovecast - Episode 15 – An Interview with Alison Arngrim

It's Alison Arngrim, 'Nellie' herself, on Walnut Grovecast!
Check it out!
http://vhsrewind.com/wgc-an-interview-with-alison-arngrim/

Walnut Grovecast - Episode 14 - Here Come The Brides

Mark Jeacoma and Susan King discuss this hilarious episode in this installment of #Nelliepalloza, the summer of Nellie! Get your mouth harps ready for Here Come The Brides!
http://vhsrewind.com/wgc-here-come-the-brides/

Forgotten TV episode 9-The Fantastic Journey

The 1977 NBC series The Fantastic Journey is discussed.

Watch The Fantastic Journey on YouTube

TV Themes clipped
1977 The Fantastic Journey pilot theme
1977 The Fantastic Journey series theme

1977 NBC spinning logo theme
1977 NBC Grizzly Adams promo
1977 NBC Man From Atlantis promo

Obituary-Adam West, 88.

More at Forgotten TV
Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

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Adam West Dies At 88

Adam West, legendary for his portrayal of the first (and arguably only) live-action TV incarnation of Batman, has died at age 88.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, West died Friday night in Los Angeles following a short battle with leukemia, as confirmed by a family spokesperson. West died peacefully, surrounded by family, and is survived by his wife Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A long-time actor with a career beginning in the mid 1950s, West guest starred in a dozen TV westerns before getting his first series role as Steve Nelson on 1961's The Detectives. His second series role cemented him in pop culture forever in the 1966 Batman TV series. Never able to escape the Batman image, West was able to capitalize on his iconic role in numerous guest appearances and voiceovers; appearing as Elder Hercules on Shazam!, Batman on at least six animated incarnations of the character, and eventually as a caricature of himself a number of times including his long-running 17 year stint on Family Guy.

Forgotten TV ep 8-Cliffhangers and Supertrain

The 1979 NBC mega failures Cliffhangers! and Supertrain are discussed.
Note: Some audio clips from Cliffhangers are poor quality due to being 40 year old VHS multi-generation copies. The first part of the show is best listened to on earbuds or headphones.

TV themes clipped
1979 Cliffhangers
1979 Supertrain themes

NBC "NBSee Us"! 1978 fall season promo
1979 NBC Supertrain promo

Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

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special thanks to:

Television Obscurities
Unofficial Supertrain website

Coming This Year On Forgotten TV!

Actor Jared Martin Dies At 75

Jared Martin died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer at age 75.
He had a number of shows in the Forgotten TV era, most notably The Fantastic Journey (1977) and War of the Worlds (1988) as well as episodes of Get Christie Love!, The Rookies, Logan's Run, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk and more.

I will be doing a podcast episode on The Fantastic Journey this year.

The Frequent Wire Podcast Network

Forgotten TV is now part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network!

Frequent Wire is a collaborative podcast network founded by David Lawler with several ideas in mind: introducing classic movies and television, pop culture, exercise and fitness, sports and news, and spirituality and inspiration to a whole new generation, plus interesting and stimulating conversations about everyday life and the human psyche.

Shows include "Misadventures in BlissVille", "That Twilighty Show About That Zone," "Mixtape Rewind," "Ship To Ship - A Star Trek Podcast", "Two Davids Walk Into A Bar," as well as "Forgotten TV." 

Frequent Wire Facebook Group

Forgotten TV ep 7-The Super 70s Part 4

The 1978 CBS TV movie Dr. Strange and the 1979 CBS Captain America TV movies are discussed.

TV themes clipped
1978 Dr. Strange themes
1966 Captain America animated
1979 Captain America theme

1970s CBS movie bumper
1978 Wonder Woman/Incredible Hulk/CBS On The Air promo
1970s Captain America/Hulk Mego TV commercial
VHS trailer for 1979 Captain America II

Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

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Walnut Grovecast - Episode 13 - Bunny

Chris and Mark kick off #Nelliepalooza, the summer of Nellie with this discussion of Bunny!
http://vhsrewind.com/wgc-bunny-nelliepalooza/

Forgotten TV ep 6-The Super 70s Part 3

The 1977-1982 live action CBS TV series The Incredible Hulk is considered.

TV themes clipped
1966 Hulk/The Marvel Super Heroes
1978 The Incredible Hulk

Incredible Hulk Colorforms 1970s commercial
Me-TV Incredible Hulk promo
Mego Marvel Comics Elastic Super-Heroes Collection 1970s commercial
1978 Dr. Strange CBS promo
VHS trailer for 1979 Captain America

Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

1977-Quark

Quark was a sci-fi spoof created by Buck Henry, who previously had brought us TV comedies Captain Nice and Get Smart. 
The pilot aired May 7, 1977 (pre-dating Star Wars by 18 days.) It was picked up as a mid-season replacement in early 1978.

Richard Benjamin was Adam Quark, captain of a United Galaxy Sanitation Patrol Cruiser (a garbage scow.) Ship's engineer Gene/Jean (Tim Thomerson in an early role) is a "transmute", a humanoid being with a complete set of both male and female chromosomes. Other roles were: logical science officer Ficus Pandorata played by Richard Kelton, Betty I and Betty II (which one is the clone?) played by Cyb and Patricia Barnstable, and Conrad Janis as Otto Bob Palindrome, commander of the space station Perma One, which the ship answered to.

Mainly inspired by the original Star Trek series (complete with numerous recycled Trek sound effects), the show also later spoofed Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Lost in Space, and Flash Gordon. Several elements seemed later recycled in comedies like Spaceballs and Third Rock From The Sun. Even though it was basically a sitcom with a laugh track, many of the effects were not bad and were completely on par with other late 70s TV shows.

Quark lasted seven episodes (eight if you count the pilot), was released on DVD in 2008 and is now out of print but available from a number of resellers online.

Forgotten TV ep 5-The Super 70s Part 2

1970s live-action incarnations of Spider-Man are considered.

1977 Spider-Man CBS TV movie
1978 Spider-Man CBS TV series
1978 Japanese Spider-Man or Supaidâman

TV themes clipped
1967 Spider-Man ABC animated series
1977 Spider-Man CBS TV movie
1978 Spider-Man CBS TV series
1978 Japanese Spider-Man or Supaidâman

1970s Mego Hulk and Spiderman Commercial
1978 Remco Spiderman Toy Commercial
1979 Mego Superheroes Contest Commercial
Isis Weekly Moral
Fan-made trailer for Incredible Hulk TV movie

Corrections: ABC animated series was 1967, not 1966 as stated. Johnny Sokko is seen Sunday nights on Comet, not Me-TV as stated.

Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

Forgotten TV ep 4-The Super 70s Part 1

Live action superhero TV shows of the 1970s are examined.

1974 Shazam! CBS Saturday morning series
1975 Isis CBS Saturday morning series
1974 Wonder Woman ABC TV movie
1975 Wonder Woman ABC/CBS TV series

1975 Star Trek Mego commercial
1977 Wonder Woman Mego commercial
1970s trailer for Spider-Man VHS release

Special thanks to Mark Jeacoma

Part of the Frequent Wire Podcast Network

1970-The Immortal

This man has a singular advantage over other men. Ben Richards is immune to every known disease, including old age. Periodic transfusions of his blood can give other men a second, a third lifetime, perhaps more.

Ben Richards will live longer than anyone has ever lived, but a transfusion to the wrong man could make him a prisoner for all time. And so he runs from the hunters, the human hounds who would cage him.

Originally a 1969 ABC Movie of the Week, The Immortal starred Christopher George as a test car driver that discovers his blood makes him immune to disease and will give him a greatly extended lifespan unless he lost his life to injury.
Notable as one of the early imitators of The Fugitive, the main character is on the run from wealthy men that would imprison him to extend their own lives. The show was based on the science fiction novel The Immortals, by James Gunn.
15 episodes aired from September 1970 to January 1971. No release was ever made, but the original TV movie is findable on YouTube.

Forgotten TV ep 3-This Weekend In 1977

1977 TV themes clipped 
The Rockford Files 
Emergency! 
The Jeffersons 
Six Million Dollar Man 
Alice 
Wonder Woman 
Starsky and Hutch 
1970s CBS Special Presentation 

Friday night 
Nashville 99; CBS 
Code-R; CBS 
Hunter; CBS 

Saturday night 
Blansky's Beauties; ABC 
Fish; ABC 
Most Wanted; ABC 

Sunday night 
Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries; ABC 
Switch; CBS 
Delvecchio; CBS 

1977 RCA Selectavision VCR Commercial 
1977 Tonight Show clip w/Don Rickles

Interview on Blissville Podcast

I just guested on a Twilight Zone podcast and record Walnut Grovecast this week. I'm currently working on a new Forgotten TV podcast on "This Weekend in 1977." 
Until then, enjoy this interview of me on David Lawler's Blissville podcast, in which we discuss TV memories, fanzines, digital broadcast TV, TV show music rights, TV theme songs, and more.

Misadventures in Blissville
Videoholic Ultimate YouTube channel

1972-The Brady Kids

This was ground zero for the 1970s trend of animated versions of live action shows. That Girl, Star Trek, The Partridge Family, The Odd Couple, My Favorite Martian, The Munsters, Lassie, Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, and Emergency! all had animated spin-offs in the 1970s.

Produced by Filmation, The Brady Kids omitted the parents and Alice characters and featured the adventures and singing of the kids. Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Mike Lookinland and Susan Olsen all initially voiced the characters, although due to a contract dispute, three of them were replaced for the shorter season 2. Animal characters were added in the form of Mop Top the dog, panda cubs Ping and Pong, and Marlon the magical bird. Stories ranged from mundane to fantastical and would include ghosts, aliens, magic and superheroes. Superman is featured in one episode, and Wonder Woman in another. This is notable because this was a year before Super Friends, making this the first appearance of Wonder Woman on television, animated or otherwise.

The Saturday morning show started airing in the fall of 1972, concurrent with season 4 of The Brady Bunch, still airing Fridays at 7pm Central. There were two seasons and 22 episodes produced. The show was released on DVD in 2016.

1983-HBO Movie Intro

When watching an uncut theatrical film on TV was an event. I never had HBO at home, (or cable except for a few months in 1985) but when this came on at a friend's house or at a motel you knew something special was about to follow.

This is still one of the best, if not the best music ever composed for a TV bumper segment. Now it can be played in stereo over good headphones and sound even better.

Forgotten TV ep 2-TV Theme Hits and Misses

Brief history of TV themes discussed

1970-The Partridge Family
"When We're Singin'"
Performed by Shirley Jones, David Cassidy, John Bahler, Tom Bähler, Jackie Ward, and Ron Hicklin.
Instrumentals by The Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew on Amazon

1969-1974-Love, American Style
"Love, American Style"
Performed by The Cowsills

1974-Movin' On
"Movin' On"
Performed by Merle Haggard
No. 1 Hot Country singles 1975

1979-B.J. and the Bear 
"B.J. and the Bear"
Written by Glen Larson
Performed by Greg Evigan

1979-Angie
"Different Worlds" 
Performed by Maureen McGovern
No. 18 in 1979

1979-Makin' It
"Makin' It" 
Performed by David Naughton
No. 5 in 1979

1982-Joanie Loves Chachi 
"You Look at Me"
Performed by Scott Baio and Erin Moran

1970-Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp

Occasionally you come across a series that defies categorization. A Saturday morning action-adventure live-action comedy starring animals with dubbed-over voices and a laugh track? Okay.

With plots that make the skits of The Monkees look like high art (see what I did there?) the series featured Lancelot Link and his female colleague, "Mata Hairi," working for A.P.E., the Agency to Prevent Evil. They fought against C.H.U.M.P., the Criminal Headquarters for the Underworld's Master Plan. If this sounds really similar to Get Smart!, you're right. Two of the creator/producers, Stan Burns and Mike Marmer, were both former writers of Get Smart!

Actors Dayton Allen, Bernie Kopell and Joan Gerber provided almost all of the voiceover work, much of it done ad-lib to match the mouths and actions of the already filmed animals.

The series ran from Jan-April 1970 on Saturday mornings at 8am central and was the first show on the ABC network feed for the day. There were 17 episodes total. The somewhat politically incorrect opening theme can be seen here.

A DVD of this series is actually available.

Forgotten TV ep 1-The Popcorn Kid

The 1987 CBS sitcom The Popcorn Kid is discussed in this inaugural episode.

The Popcorn Kid aired in March and April 1987 starring Bruce Norris, Penelope Ann Miller

and Faith Ford.

1987-CBSpirit Oh Yes

Researching the 1987 CBS TV season for an upcoming podcast on The Popcorn Kid and I found a full length 1987 CBS fall TV campaign promo.
I actually found a fairly complete listing of fall network campaigns and we'll cover all of them from 1970-1989.

1987-The Popcorn Kid

This short-lived comedy aired for 6 episodes on Friday nights in early 1987 on CBS. 16 year old Scott Creasman (the titular 'Popcorn Kid') and his friends worked after-school jobs at an old fashioned downtown movie theater. A disgruntled manager and oddball projectionist rounded out the crew; and all answer to a never seen owner.

This was the first appearance of both Faith Ford and Penelope Ann Miller in regular roles. The series was created by Barry Kemp, writer for Newhart, Taxi, and Coach among others.

The entire first episode/pilot can be seen in this video.

ForgottenTV is resurrected! New podcast!

Scanimate! Source of nifty TV graphics

Have you ever wondered how they made those nifty animated TV graphics in the 70s/80s before computer animation? Here's your answer. Scanimate.
All done on a CRT monitor directly filmed or videotaped with camera kinescope style. The image on screen was distorted by one or more technicians until satisfied with the effect. Unless careful notes were kept, the same effect/coloring could not be produced again.

Remembering Bill Paxton

ForgottenTV remembers Bill Paxton, actor in forgotten TV shows such as The Six O'Clock Follies (1980), McClain's Law (1982), and Fresno (1986.)
The actor died yesterday from complications after heart surgery.
Aside from his more obscure TV roles, he is well known from numerous hit films such as Aliens, Tombstone, Apollo 13, Twister, and Titanic.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000200/

1983-Wizards and Warriors

This forgettable show was a mid-season replacement for CBS in early 1983.
A full-on stereotypical medieval sword-and-sorcery fantasy adventure, this show was set in the time of King Arthur's Court. Jeff Conaway (Bobby from Taxi, who died in 2011) held the starring role. The Wikipedia plot description:

The legendary kingdom is ruled by good King Baaldorf and Queen Lattinia. Their daughter, Ariel, is engaged to Prince Erik Greystone, who becomes Camarand's champion against a neighboring kingdom ruled by evil Prince Dirk Blackpool. Erik is assisted by his servant, Marko, the strongest man in the kingdom and often hindered by his ne'er-do-well playboy brother, Justin.

Interestingly, most episodes were directed by Bill Bixby. Even though only eight episodes were produced, the series surprisingly received a DVD release in 2014.