You may recall that last year I spent a great deal of time discussing the 50th anniversary of Star Trek.
However as you’d imagine that’s not the only show to hit that big milestone in the last couple years. And so I thought it only fitting to mention five other shows I love which deserve to be recognized for being popular and loved fifty years after it first premiered!
Ok ok it’s not as if I’ve never talked about the campy Adam West series but I felt I had to mention it here. Especially since Adam West sadly passed away earlier this year. It premiered in 1966 and was a SMASH hit. Not even kidding, Batmania was everywhere which led to the theatrical release that summer. It was the show to be on and everyone tried to appear as a villain or a window cameo. It’s ironic because it came out the same year as Star Trek but this is the one kids loved more. Even though Trek gets more respect today. Yes it’s campy and silly but it fit the time perfectly, with Adam West being the perfect straight man It’s important to remember that if it hadn’t been for this silly show we may not have ever had the Burton movies, Nolan movies, or the great animated series. It deserves to respected for what it did for the character.
This little show is one of those shows that will never go away. There was just a charm about it that evermore remembers. And the fact they switched actors playing Darrin gives it a unique place in TV history. This came around in 1964 so I am VERY late with this one. But as a kid I loved watching the re-runs when I had the day off from school. Was the show perfect? No, it could get silly. What was Darrin’s problem with Sam using her magic exactly?? But it was fun all starting with the amazing Elizabeth Montgomery who was just fantastic. In fact all the cast was solid especially the guest stars including Paul Lynde and the amazing Agnes Moorehead.
While it’s true this was never my favorite show I can’t deny the impact it had. Everyone knows the words to that theme song and we all know who Ginger and Mary Anne are. This also came around in 1964 and was just goofy fun. There was a time when everyone watched the re-runs on TV, and there have been homages to it in many other shows from ALF to Roseanne.
I’m talking about this one because, I’m sad to say, I’ve been a fan of this show on and off over the years. Mostly thanks to my ex wife. But it is pretty remarkable that this show started in 1965 and has been on the air every single day since then. It has created some major stars and characters that we all know. And yes I know As the World Turns and General Hospital have been on since the dawn of time, but I maintain they aren’t quite as memorable (Luke and Laura’s wedding aside). Ok to be fair GH started in 1963 and World even earlier. But still I think DOOL is more recognizable from Bo and Hope to Marlena and John to Patch and Kayla to the evil Stefano to the bitchy Sami Brady. Is there anyone on the planet who has never heard “Like the sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives!” All you have ti do is hear that and you know exactly what show we’re talking about.
So here is one that I am timely about, since this is the 50th anniversary this year. September 11th to be exact. Which show is that?
I said once before that this is the only show I regret not being around see firsthand. Because I think I would have loved every second of it. It was variety, which was a dime a dozen in those days, but it was one of those miracles in casting where the four leads (well, five really) were so perfectly matched. Aside from Carol was Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Wagonner. They were fantastic together for 11 years. A lot of times people get annoyed when the characters break up during sketches but it was fun to watch in this show because you knew these people got along with each other. This show felt like family, and I wish I could have been along for the ride. The sketches and characters will leave forever from the Family sketched to the classic Dentist sketch which will forever be hilarious. Thanks to only seeing the re-runs not only are there a bunch of sketches I never saw but I never really saw most of the music acts. Missing this show will always be a regret, though at least I can at least see parts of it. And yes, I am glad we had this time together.
Natural there are plenty more I could mention including Lost in Space, Green Acres, and of course 60 Minutes which is not only 50 next year but is still very much on the air!
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