Franko

I had to look up TVTV. Pittsburgh Post Gazette -- "Here's a program that aims at a satirical glimpse of the typical American family, so-called, and how they react when they're transformed from TV watchers to TV participants." IMDB -- "Sketch comedy and news parody from the counterculture TV unit." Ecclectic cast and crew, as was the norm for most Groove Tube/SCTV variants in that era. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1090689/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm

I look forward to comparing The Price Is Right vs. Wheel of Fortune and Scrabble/Win, Lose or Draw. I'm curious to see if there was a rising tide effect for the network version of WOF when the syndicated version went through the roof.

A while back, we had the thread on essential characters for soaps. This type should be high on that list. The one who acts in service to his or her "reasons," even if honesty would make much, much more sense and be fulfilling.

DOOL did an Auntie Mame inspired plot in 1989, with Anjelica's nanny, J.J. Bagwood, in the role of Agnes Gooch. Maybe that would have worked better with Felicia and a maid or assistant character?

Until today, I'd never seen the clip of Jason confessing to accidentally killing Laurel when he was aiming for Michael. His last line, "You made me do it. All of you. I was just the one who picked up the gun and shot the wrong one," is blood-curdling. The clip comes from a Marcy Walker fan, so the weight is on Liza and Tad dealing with their culpability as members of the media. That's still relevant, too. At the same time, I wonder if any viewers felt like AMC was protesting too hard in an effort to differentiate itself from '90s trash TV, specifically Jenny Jones.

The infamous Acting Sheriff from 1991, with Robert Goulet, John Putch, Hillary Bailey Smith, Ruth Kobart, Diane Delano and a young Lee Tergesen.

You're welcome. 1987 seems like such a throw everything at the wall and see if it sticks kind of year.

According to the Curlyqgrl summaries, Ray was part of the Duke and Camilla storyline -- he was editor of the Port Charles Herald and boss of muckraking reporter Carlin.

Based on the voiceover promo over the credits, this aired Friday, Dec. 25, 1981.

Discovered today: Tickets, Please, from 1988 for CBS. About the staff and regular passengers of a Manhattan commuter train, with a cast including Cleavon Little, Marcia Strassman, David Marciano and Yeardley Smith. I would have liked more time with character dynamics among the weekly cast, even though Harold Gould is always a welcome presence.

I'm guessing that Christine would have been recurring and possibly promoted to the main cast if the show got picked up. My new goal is to find a pilot with another obscure SNL cast member, like Emily Prager.

I wanna contribute. Bigshots in America, which failed to make NBC's fall schedule in 1985. Starring Joe Mantegna, Keith Szarabajka, Dan Vitale and Helen Hanft, with featured guest star Christine Baranski. Produced by Lorne Michaels, directed by James Burrows and written by Alan Zweibel. As the folklore goes, Zweibel vowed never to work again with Michaels after this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqGFFW9HJMU

I should have started this thread a few days ago, and I apologize if we've done it before. Who do we pick as the soaps' top pop?

I ended up watching the end of the Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1982 episode. The driving action was Marlena's determination to prove that Roman is not actually involved in drugs (he was framed by Stefano; meanwhile, Marlena doesn't yet know of Roman's ISA involvement) and Renee freaking out about being seen with Tony, which only makes her look suspicious as hell to the likes of Neil (and apparently earlier in the episode, Tom & Alice; they were at UH because Scotty was a patient).

We probably all know this, but for the record, the first time Knots beat Dallas in the ratings was the week of Dec. 11, 1987, "Noises Everywhere, Part II."

You're welcome! Both GH and TRSS are plugged on the cover of Richard's Never Say Diet from 1980. Speaking of that, I still smirk at Richard throwing in a plug for the "Live-it" plan while talking to Bryan on the day of Luke & Jennifer's ill-fated wedding.

Unless he had a local show in L.A., Richard appeared on GH first, followed by the nationally syndicated Richard Simmons Show from 1980-84.

Just speculating, but I wonder if it was related to his role in The Rescuers Down Under. Maybe he was required to go plug the movie for a little bit?

Bold move. What can I say? I'm flailing a bit. Oh, absolutely. It's not surprising that they eventually went back to having Sunday night movies.

Yeah, I wasn't especially fond of putting thirtysomething at 9 p.m. on Sunday. It also wouldn't flow that great between Spenser and Buck James. I stand by my assertion that ratings-wise, Dolly would have been at its best at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays. Schedule-wise, I could put it at 8 p.m. Saturday, with Once a Hero in the 9 p.m. Sunday slot. I'm avoiding 8 p.m. Friday because I don't want to put Full House/I Married Dora on Saturday and have a three-way sitcom standoff.

Supposedly, ABC wanted Dolly to go head to head against The Cosby Show, which she vetoed. I feel like Dolly would have had its best chance at 9 p.m. Tuesday. The problem is, even though I know in 2024 that Moonlighting's going to go down the tubes, 1987 me can't justify moving it off the Tuesday night schedule. That means that I have to put it at 10 p.m., and now I run into the issue of what to do with Thirtysomething. I guess I'd put it at 9 p.m. Sunday, but keep an eye on the 10 p.m. Tuesday slot.

How long were Zack & Stacey around? I keep wondering if their story was supposed to go anywhere, and if if was, were they done in by either the writers strike or the apparent decision to mostly stick with what they had in terms of hospital-based characters?

I'll have to give that a watch. Reading the curlyqgrl summaries, I wondered if they were briefly testing them in late '87-early '88.

Interesting idea, although I wonder if the soap press would have criticized it, since 1993 was also the year of Michael E. Knight playing Tad and Ted on AMC.

It really was an event. No other return would have worked. I will say that it might have been great to have Denise Alexander (and eventually Chris Robinson) back under Labine's pen.