1975-76 Short-Lived TV Shows

This video is a compilation of most of the shows that were new, and (quickly) cancelled -
or not renewed - from the 1975-76 prime time TV schedule. Please note, I don't always use the TV shows intro. Some of them aren't permitted, or they aren't available (not in circulation). There were a few shows that didn't have much other than a few photos to work with.
This follows the days of the week, and the specific time slot that these shows would have fallen on. Not to mention, the shows that they were up against that were playing on the other networks.
I'd like to thank Nik Ranieri, for contributing by providing the audio for the intro to "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell". Much appreciated Nik!
I'd also like to thank:
- David Gideon (various intros/outros)
- Bionic Disco (various commercials)
- Gen X TV Memories (various commercials)
- RwDt09 (hours of enjoyment)
For information, I generally refer to:
- IMDB
- Wikipedia
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows (Seventh Edition)
Kevin MacLeod (music):
- No Frills Salsa - Alternative ("Popi" segment)
- Hot Swing ("The Cop and the Kid" segment)
- Adventures in Adventureland ("Sara" segment)
#whenthingswererotten #bronk #barbarycoast #theinvisibleman

[@carypyke935]

"This is Los Angeles..one of the least corrupt cities in the United States. " that has not aged well😂

[@hermmmc]

I don’t think it was true even then. The producers must’ve needed something from the City of Los Angeles…

[@louislamonte334]

That is the understatement of the year! Especially with the horrible current mayor!

[@waynetompkins3006]

There may have been a window in the 60s and 70s where it was *comparitively* less corrupt than other US cities.

[@wdscandlyn]

it's run by liberals

[@wdscandlyn]

it's run by liberals

[@MitchRuth]

“It went up against Barney Miller and the Waltons”, that could be the epitaph for several shows…

[@docadams7099]

Few shows did well against The Waltons and Barney Miller.

[@Scottlp2]

@@docadams7099”Semantics are my life Barney”. Great show.

[@ItzMzJulez2U]

As I watch, I’m thinking ‘hmm, I don’t remember that, why didn’t I watch?’ (Especially the Vince Van Patten/Leif Garret one)😍….then it shows what was on the other channels and I’m like ‘Oh, that’s why!!’😁

[@iracordem]

@@Scottlp2 ❤ long live max gail!

[@scottlarson1548]

It didn't help that The Montefuscos was mostly a bunch of people yelling at each other just like we saw in the clip.

[@tomloft2000]

Three for the Road- Vince Van Patton jumping the net was no joke. He became a tennis pro, and beat a couple of top 10 players.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Happy that you mentioned that! He ranked as high as #26 in the world. That's pretty big. I have to imagine that he was a very good poker player in the private games pre-poker boom of 2003 as well.

[@donaldpaluga]

He won his fair share of MONSTER pots!-Mike Sexton

[@der22672]

He’s also been married to Eileen Davidson of The Young And The Restless for 21 years now. 😊😊

[@user-gw9sk1zy4s]

The one time in his career that Alex Rocco (moe green) got to play a family-friendly character.

[@user-gw9sk1zy4s]

Joe and Sons, I always wondered what happened to Capo-regime Celemenza.

[@robertcringle4865]

Ellery Queen was a great show, I wish it was on KZbin.a true mystery.

[@billschipper1718]

I think it was cancelled because the lead actor commented suicide.

[@progKansas]

​he died of liver disease in 1980.

[@fromthesidelines]

NBC cancelled *every* new series that season because *the ratings just weren't there.* There was also several shake-ups in their executive suite that affected what was scheduled.........

[@mattplus09]

I remember what a monumental occasion the Fall Preview TV Guide was...always quite hefty with details on the new cartoon lineup and what new movies would premier that year on broadcast tv...simple (but wonderful) times! Good journey...Peace!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you for watching Matt!

[@hazelleblanc8969]

I remember sitting on the floor in the living room watching When Things Were Rotten with my mom and both of us giggling. Good times. Wish it had been on longer.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

I appreciate your sharing that Hazel. Thank you!

[@winsomepickett7694]

I like how the commercial for Hellman's Mayonnaise was followed by the promo for "Grady," which starred Whitman . . . Mayo.

[@fromthesidelines]

The problem was, Whitman Mayo was best as a supporting character- *NOT* a leading one. "Okay, let's surround Grady with a nice family in a nice neighborhood, and we'll attract a wider audience", was NBC's attitude. They didn't- and Grady soon found himself hanging around Fred Sanford again.

[@waynechapman9823]

@@fromthesidelines A bit like the Lone Gunmen from "The X-Files" getting their own show. They were great as side characters, but they definitely didn't deserve a spinoff.

[@fromthesidelines]

The obvious question was- once you give them their own series, what do you DO with them? 🤨

[@Quartzquiz333]

​@fromthesidelines Oftentimes, a supporting character has quirks that become downright annoying when they become leads. There are reasons Tim Conway and Bill Daily were better remembered as sidekicks than as leads.

[@fromthesidelines]

Tim's various series were cancelled so many times, he had a custom license plate that read "13WKS". 🙂

[@cbalducc]

In pre-cable network days, it was rare for a series to survive if it only catered to a narrow demographic.

[@scottlarson1548]

There was no concept of advertising to narrow demographics in prime time yet. Every advertiser only wanted the maximum number of eyeballs in front of their commercials. They did do it for sports since there was virtually no females watching them. That's when you would see commercials for exclusively male products like electric razors, underwear (Fruit of the Loom!), aftershave, motor oil, windshield wipers and even spark plugs!

[@LannieLord]

LOVED ELLERY QUEEN !!!!!!!

[@luisreyes1963]

Much better than all those other insipid detective shows running rampant on TV those days. 🕵️‍♂️

[@SMtWalkerS]

I remember watching "Ellery Queen" with my dad and we both liked it. Fun and interesting video. I love the ads featuring the main character of some of the shows, too. Great add-in!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Much appreciated! Thank you for watching!

[@texn14]

My Mom got me Jim Hutton's autograph while he was doing dinner theater in Houston. Unfortunately I lost it.

[@DerylEagle46]

This was the best of the shows depicted here. Jim Hutton's son is Timothy Hutton who went on the play in Nero Wolfe and Leverage. In one of the episodes of Leverage he played Ellery Queen - I sure it was in honor of his father.

[@johnrunion5357]

ellery queen was a great show; given a chance it could have possibly developed into a hit.

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

This was my favorite show ever on television.

[@digital2500]

I love the addition of the commercials! Well done!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Glad you like them! Thank you!

[@donaldpaluga]

I think Lloyd Bridges picked the wrong week to quit doing commercials😏

[@user-sq4jz9up6g]

Shatner selling margarine?.😂

[@Attmay]

@@user-sq4jz9up6g Who else were they going to give it to, George Takei?

[@kevinkeene1593]

The season with my all-time favorite TV show -- "Ellery Queen" starring Jim Hutton and David Wayne.

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

Mine too. I've watched every episode hundreds of times, and they're whodunnits!

[@user-sq4jz9up6g]

And the DVDs are hard to find

[@davidchildress6432]

Amazon has them but expensive

[@digital2500]

Jimmy Baio would be in Soap after Joe And Sons was canceled.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

It's weird to think that Jimmy's career got rolling before Scott Baio's.

[@cbalducc]

I see that Moe Greene survived his assassination attempt and went straight.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

👍

[@tomloft2000]

It's about time. Seems like all he played was hoods.He and Richard Castellano should have gotten together and done a TV version of The Godfather.

[@radicalross7700]

Not only that, but you could swear that his new glass eye was the real deal.

[@Attmay]

@@tomloft2000 no TV version ever would've lived up to the legacy of that movie.

[@tedharrington5432]

I was 8 years old during the 1975-76 television season and I can remember our family watching "When Things Were Rotten," "The Dumplings," "On the Rocks," and "Ellery Queen." I watched "Barbary Coast" a few years ago and enjoyed it so much that I downloaded the entire series. I do not remember most of the shows at all. Thanks again for the wonderful memories!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you for watching Ted!

[@luisreyes1963]

Must be embarrassing for a macho Western to go up against 2 "feminist" sitcoms...and LOSE. 😅

[@bobbesemer6967]

🎉😂❤

[@dantheman5745]

Preceding the "Grady" spot with a Hellmann's commercial? Brilliant!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Nice! Glad you caught that! 😁👍

[@docadams7099]

Whitman Mayo played Grady. Grady was a spinoff of Sanford & Son.

[@johnrunion5357]

i always thought grady was the funniest part of sanford and son. whitman mayo's line delivery was truly unique. however, grady may have been better served if he had remained a second banana. his solo series just was not the right vehicle for the character. the theme song is lame. sanford and son had a great theme. it was perfect for the show; it was funky and sounded like something breaking or breaking down. grady's theme should have reflected the character better.

[@donaldpaluga]

No.....THE BEST!😏

[@loveprotectionsociety777]

​@@johnrunion5357love it john! I've always felt the theme song to Sanford and Son sounded perfectly "cantankerous"

[@craigfuller1532]

The only one that I remember is When Things Were Rotten.

[@donaldpaluga]

AKA Robin Hood:Men In Tights😏

[@lorneyoung6298]

I watched it for Misty Rowe😍

[@testodude]

@@lorneyoung6298 Misty Rowe was a dime. I was a kid in 75, so I also watched Swiss Family Robinson.

[@genek8630]

I was 17 years old at the time, and I don't remember a single one of these shows. I guess I was watching all the other shows that they were up against and were higher up in the ratings.

[@warrenwatkins9650]

I was 19 and don't remember them either. I was out with my friends getting in a little trouble.

[@brianarbenz7206]

"The Invisible Man" saved the producers a lot of money in makeup expenses.

[@pulsarstargrave256]

"When Things Were Rotten" was one of those shows that made me ANGRY when it was cancelled! That's how it was back then: shows with promise were cancelled prematurely, moved to a weird timeslot or the star quit, was fired or passed away! Still, television was a lot more exciting and fun! Heck, we even had The Battle Of The Network Stars! The last competition I saw had an actress named Jane Badler, who played the evil Diana in "V: The Final Battle"! They tried all sorts of shows back then!

[@donaldpaluga]

Problem was unlike Carey Elwes Gautier didn't speak with a perfect English accent

[@pulsarstargrave256]

@@donaldpaluga But Errol Flynn did?

[@fromthesidelines]

Mel Brooks later revisited the legend of Robin Hood with his 1993 movie, "Robin Hood- Men In Tights".

[@iracordem]

yes. another really good one that simply disappeared was ‘the associates’ with martin short & wilfred hyde-white….

[@fromthesidelines]

It collapsed with the entire 1979 two hour ABC Sunday night "comedy block" {including "OUT OF THE BLUE", "A NEW KIND OF FAMILY" and "MORK & MINDY" [which moved back to Thursdays in January 1980]).

[@peternighswander9629]

Man I adore Jerry Stiller and Anne Maera. Two American treasures

[@mlongpre100]

and now they are buried treasures

[@testodude]

Me, too, but whoever cast Anne Meara as the title character in a legal drama surely lost their job.

[@donaldpaluga]

I don't recall Jack being in NYC

[@romanwenger915]

I really liked Ellery Queen as a kid. Of course I was watching whatever AFN was broadcasting.

[@user-wy1dl2me2p]

Tony Curtis was smooth !

[@tyrese3745]

20:48 - 20:54 So, this was George Peppard’s role after Banacek was cancelled and before his ultimate success as John “Hannibal” Smith on The A-Team some 7 1/2 years later.

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

He turned down the John Forsyth role on DYNASTY.

[@5argetech56]

Who would have thunk it, James T. Kirk selling margarine. 😆😆

[@richardrice8076]

It's true....I promise.

[@radicalross7700]

​@@richardrice8076Shatner is alive and well at 93. Does this mean Promise Margarine lived up to it's name 😂?

[@richardrice8076]

@@radicalross7700 is it even still around? Gonna have to check next time I'm at the store.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Damn it, Jim -- you're a starship captain, not a margarine salesman!

[@richardrice8076]

@@brianarbenz1329 😀😀😀😀😀👍

[@metsiemetsie6262]

(1) According to a story I heard, ABC offered to renew "When Things Were Rotten" not only for the rest of the 1975-76 season, but also for a second season if the show switched to the less expensive 3-camera method of production, but Mel Brooks turned it down. Also, I recently saw an episode of "The Love Boat" in which Bernie Kopell (Alan-a-Dale) and Misty Rowe (Maid Marian) were love interests. (2) "Ellery Queen," in my opinion, was the best American detective series ever. I would put it up there with all the British detective series that have run on public TV. (3) I've watched some episodes of "City of Angels" and found it to be very interesting, especially in how it made episodes out of real-life cases from the 1930s. (4) When I watch your clips and see "The Rich Little Show" and the "Ken Berry Wow Show," I'm convinced that, in the 1970s, everybody who had an act was offered a variety show.

[@cbalducc]

I wonder how three cameras can be cheaper than one.

[@metsiemetsie6262]

@@cbalducc Just guessing, but, with a show that's shot with one camera, extra takes are probably needed to get different angles and reactions that wouldn't need to be done if 3 cameras were shooting the same scene at the same time.

[@waynetompkins3006]

Desi Arnez invented the three camera concept, which was first used on "I Love Lucy."

[@ellenfleming9685]

i loved ellery queen

[@waynechapman9823]

"Pink Lady and Jeff" was probably the nadir for the Seventies variety show, but you also had shows for mimes Shields and Yarnell as well as one-hit wonders The Starland Vocal Band. If there was ever a time to take a bit of fame and turn it into a weekly variety show, the Seventies was definitely it!

[@jacquelineroque5707]

The Invisible Man was a good show. I also remember Swiss Family Robinson; I remember my favorite episode was when they found that the ship captain's dog had also made it to the island and made a new life for himself with a she-wolf and their puppies.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Hey Jacqueline, are you talking about the Canadian version "The Swiss Family Robinson" (1974) [S1.E6 "Bruno"] that used to play on CTV? I seem to remember that episode myself. I used to watch it on Sunday mornings.

[@luisreyes1963]

A pity that The Invisible Man was put out of its misery by CBS' "Socialist TV" line up.

[@waynechapman9823]

Yeah, "The Invisible Man" was a show I did watch back then while it was still on the air. I don't know if I'd enjoy it as much now, but it certainly had some appeal for me as a 13-year-old boy.

[@provost5752]

Love to go back and relive those days.

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

So would i

[@brianarbenz1329]

I don't know about that -- I was 17 and couldn't get a date to the prom, flunked my first driver's test, and lost a left contact lens, then lost the replacement.

[@ernestcruz6316]

About the only things Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell is remembered for are introducing American audiences to Scottish pop group The Bay City Rollers and introducing TV audiences to Bill Murray, who appeared in comedy sketches on the show.

[@jackv2244]

Nice job adding the commercials, I loved The Swiss Family Robinson especially when things were rotten and Grady

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you Jack!

[@JAYCEEDOUBLE]

Thanks. I had no idea footage of Mobile One existed out there. Good looking.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you for watching!

[@peternighswander9629]

On the Rocks had one of my favorite actors, Mel Stewart Henry Jefferson from All in the Family. A great serious and comedic actor

[@Spitfirethedragon]

Some of these short lived shows wound up getting a second life on TV Land and that. I remember watching shows like Born Free and Swiss Family Robinson in the 80s. I believed that Invisible Man also ran in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel as well. Ellery Queen also got second life in reruns. Grady as part of Sanford and Son was also shown in reruns. I can't believe they were ranked that low. They got popular when in reruns on the cable networks helped gain a following. Some of them were not bad shows, but they were put up against top rated shows.

[@Attmay]

BET showed the *Sanford and Son* spinoffs when they could not get the original away from TBS.

[@bob6177]

I love these clips! Thank you for doing this. It would not hurt to see the original promos of the popular shows, too! I would watch that as well.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Awesome! Thank you Bob. I appreciate your feedback, and I'll keep it in mind about doing a future series including the more popular shows; maybe mixed in with the less popular ones. I certainly love those too, especially "Columbo", "The Streets of San Francisco", "Three's Company", "Family", "Lou Grant", etc. One of my goals with this series is to draw in some fans of the lesser known shows, who might also appreciate the lesser known stars, and certainly the character actors, from that period. I'm basically sending out a signal, because they'd have a very hard time finding my channel otherwise. Again, thank you for the feedback, and thank you for watching!

[@Attmay]

Those are more likely to get copyright strikes because those are in more demand.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

@@Attmay Yes, they're pretty much a no go, if we're talking about the intros for popular TV series. Since I made that post (above) well over a month ago, I've gotten copyright warnings a number of times (though I generally catch them by screening before I even begin to edit videos), for a number of clips that I never would have guessed (mostly if not entirely to do with the songs). The promos (off of TV recordings) are more likely to be able to pass through. For whatever reason, British series, even the lesser known ones, get flagged. I had an intro for "The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine", that was flagged weeks after I had it up. I took the video down, and edited that portion of the video. And other British show's intros, forget it.

[@Attmay]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 who knew the UK producers would be even worse?

[@loveprotectionsociety777]

I'm coming up on my 60th in August and I just love the feelings that these clips bring back. Having said that, I still would have sat through the whole thing just to hear that theme song from BIG EDDIE! (That's the man!)😍🤣

[@skyblue375]

I seen the opening title for Joe Forrester here on KZbin. He was better off sniffing glue in an air traffic control tower 😂

[@paulkitt-er9dr]

Three for the road with a rare lead role for character actor Alex Rocco looked like it had potential, Wayne Rogers City of angels was a quality show that couldn't get the ratings. So many obscurities have never heard of Joe and sons ,The Dumplings, i do recall Jigsaw john with Jack warden an excellent actor who never really had a successful series even Crazy like a fox only lasted 2 seasons. Thanks again for an excellent presentation Rob.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you Paul. I couldn't agree more about Jack Warden being an "excellent actor". His work in "The Verdict" and in "September" (to a lesser degree) makes me think he's one of the greatest supporting actors out there, that doesn't get talked about enough. It's weird seeing him show up in "The Bad News Bears" TV show.

[@waynetompkins3006]

What can you do with a man and two teenagers driving around in an RV? Apparently, the script writers couldn't figure it out either.

[@fromthesidelines]

CBS wanted a "family show" on early Sunday evenings in the fall of 1975. At 7pm(et), they could only schedule family or children's series, or news/public affairs programming. When "THREE FOR THE ROAD" failed to attract viewers, they decided to move "60 MINUTES" into that time slot in December 1975.........and the ratings went up. That's why it's *STILL* scheduled at that hour, almost 50 years later.

[@texn14]

Poor Dick Gautier. He's been in almost every one of these I have watched and never caught a break.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

It's funny, I (somehow) didn't care for Dick Gauthier the first time he really came on my radar (in an episode of "Mrs. Columbo" of all places). Then watching so much stuff from this period, he pops up quite frequently. Then I caught him on game shows - specifically "Password Plus" or "Super Password" - and I have a completely different appreciation for the guy. I actually admire him. Great with contestants. Maybe the best I've seen with the general public. And then I find out he did the voice of Serpentor (G.I. Joe), and so on and so forth, I think he's awesome.

[@waynetompkins3006]

Hymie the robot was his signature character. I guess getting typecast as a robot is detrimental to a career.

[@docadams7099]

Dick Gautier was hilarious in Get Smart as Hymie the humanoid robot. As wonderful as he was in that part, I think he was typecast, which is unfortunate.

[@waynetompkins3006]

@docadams7099 I find it ironic that we're talking about Get Smart and your name is only one letter off from Don Adams.

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@waynetompkins3006 And your name is only a few letters from Wayne Rogers, which isn't all that ironic since we're not talking about City of Angels.

[@toddrunyon3635]

I want to say that I am glad KZbin suggested your channel to me, I’m enjoying the series. 🙂

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

I appreciate reading that Todd! Thank you!

[@ItzMzJulez2U]

Same! Just now happened to me, and I’m hooked! Thx YT.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

@@ItzMzJulez2U Thank you Jules!

[@ItzMzJulez2U]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 🤗

[@jwb52z9]

The Howard Cosell spot with Lee Majors is very coincidental since O. J. Simpson died yesterday.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Yes. I published this on the 9th, and he died on the 10th. Just to add, that was the only clip (that I found) with Howard Cosell promoting his show, and that was the only bit within that brief interview that was of any interest. I edited that part down last Friday. I thought it was interesting, based on how people's perception of him had changed (from '76 to '94 up until recently), and I'm assuming that it's changed again (for a number of people).

[@docadams7099]

I remember well how Howard Cosell pronounced his name: HOW-UHD CO-SELL.

[@gregoryfarshtey6856]

It's funny how good some of this stuff looks through the lens of nostalgia. Because at the time all people talked about was how there was nothing to watch and all the new shows were crap.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Exactly. Nostalgia is a distortion.

[@beverlyledbetter4906]

I wouldn't watch anything with Grady in it. I never liked him!😣

[@ernestcruz6316]

Grady featured former Playboy Playmate Rosanne Katon, as well as Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne on What's Happening!

[@oopswrongplanet4964]

I see what you did there: Hellmann's Mayonaise commercial with a show starring Witman *Mayo*.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

👌👍

[@testodude]

Should have preceded it with a commercial for Whitman's chocolates.

[@steelers6titles]

Actress-director Lee Grant was outspoken about the failure of "Fay".

[@fromthesidelines]

She called NBC executive Marvin Antonowsky "the mad programmer" on "THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON" after she was told "FAY" had been cancelled.

[@brianarbenz7206]

Lee courageously tried to take on the shortsighted network ratings system, which kills creativity based on tiny instantaneous changes. We should wish she had succeeded.

[@Attmay]

@@fromthesidelines he also pulled a show with David Brenner and Lesley Ann Warren because a gay character was on it.

[@phillipnelson6076]

I ws in grad school at the time and at best only caught an episode of a couple of these programs. Nice to see what i missed out on.

[@user-sq4jz9up6g]

Most of these shows deserved to be cancelled but Ellery Queen didnt.What was NBC thinking?.😮

[@ellenfleming9685]

i agree

[@jayyates1676]

It was the only one in this video that we never missed!

[@tyrese3745]

22:48 RIP Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara

[@Nicksonian]

I was a freshman in college and didn’t watch a bit of TV except for the new Saturday Night Live. Looks like I didn’t miss much.

[@walterhoenig6569]

It’s still a vast wasteland

[@donaldpaluga]

Not to be confused with that OTHER Saturday Night Live

[@Attmay]

@@donaldpaluga at least this one they pulled the plug on.

[@fatherdmj]

A show from this season I’ve yet to see on KZbin, but I remember watching when I was very young, is The Kelly Monteith Show on CBS. It might have been a summer replacement in ‘76. At any rate, this is great stuff. Keep ‘em coming! Thanks!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

I'm glad that you cited that specific show. It was a summer replacement in 1976, and according to IMDB, it only had only episode, which also doesn't make sense, because in "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows", it says that it ran from June 16th until July 7th of 1976. In which case, there had to be at least a few episodes that had aired. I decided to skip over it. Some one else could point out as to why I didn't include "The Jacksons" (same night on CBS in the summer), but on IMDB it's listed as lasting 2 seasons. On the other hand, it only lasted 12 episodes, 4 as a summer replacement - I'm assuming that it was renewed - then cancelled after 8 episodes into the 1976-77 season. "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows", Wikipedia, and IMDB, often have conflicting information, that I have to make sense of. If/when it comes to summer (especially late summer) replacements, that don't have good footage to use, I might just pass over them. Thank you for the encouragement! And thank you for watching!

[@waynetompkins3006]

Kelly Monteith was a funny guy. I saw his stand up act a couple of times on TV. Great material.

[@fromthesidelines]

Kelly was on for four weeks (I know, becuase he was on Wednesdays, and I saw his show that summer). In 1980, he returned as host of a CBS late-night show that was a cross between "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" {taped} and "REAL PEOPLE": "NO HOLDS BARRED" {from producer Alan Landsburg, who also produced "THAT'S INCREDIBLE!" for ABC}. The network cancelled it after four telecasts.

[@Bugiddle]

Vincent Van Patten AND Leif Garrett in one TV show?? My little prepubescent heart would have exploded! I never saw Three For the Road!! I don't know what we were watching instead...

[@bigguy1960]

More! More! I hope do you the 60's too!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

You bet! Thanks for watching!

[@cbalducc]

I read on Wikipedia that Carroll O’Connor created and produced “Bronk”. I think the character’s name (Bronkov) was a nod to Jack Palance’s Ukrainian heritage.

[@bsteven885]

WOW, so many commercials that tied into TV series premieres -- I was a little kid in 1975, so I never realized it. Here's the scariest part, I actually REMEMBER all of them -- especially the Hanes Invisible Man commercial! 😂

[@atreb56]

I remember watching Swiss Family Robinson, Three for the Road and Barbary Coast. I also remember Matt Helm but didn't watch. I was in college then. Thanks for posting.❤

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you for watching!

[@jackmessick2869]

Edit : sorry, series aired in spring of 1975. There was another family drama this year, "Sunshine," that lasted 13 episodes. Used "Sunshine on My Shoulders" for its opening song. About a little girl nicknamed Sunshine and her widowed father.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Good call! With Cliff DeYoung... I couldn't find a video clip for it, and I wasn't happy with the pics. Nevertheless, it's one of a couple of shows (thus far) that I was sitting, looking at my screen, trying to think of a way to present it, and I moved on; and forgot to come back to it. There was a second reason I faded it, but I can't recall what that reason was. There's also a copyright issue using the song; if I'm remembering correctly. This should have been in the 1974-75 video. This show ran from March 1975 to May 1975 (13 episodes).

[@ItzMzJulez2U]

YASSS! ❤️☀️ I was a huge John Denver fan, so I never missed the show!

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

I know it was the American version of a much more famous British show, but On The Rocks was really very underrated.

[@luisreyes1963]

It was called Porridge.

[@Colleen1701]

FYI: Rich Little is *still* performing in Las Vegas, and William Shatner is still appearing at conventions (he's 93) as of this posting (May 2024). Good for them!

[@peternighswander9629]

On the Rocks was an American remake of Porridge, a highly successful show in the UK

[@luisreyes1963]

Beacon Hill was CBS' ersatz Upstairs, Downstairs. Might have also inspired Downton Abbey, as well.

[@grayb7420]

I loved Ellery Queen as a kid

[@GreyMarano]

I was born in 71, this just gave me flashbacks! 😂

[@kevinbaker4241]

Interestingly enough, Rick Hurst has played characters on both sides of the law on TV. After portraying an inmate named Cleaver in 'On The Rocks' in 1975-76, he would go on to portray Deputy Cletus Hogg in 'The Dukes of Hazzard' from 1980-83. All of these short-lived TV shows were well before my time, as I wasn't even born until 1986, so I had never heard of the vast majority of them, but some of the actors and actresses are familiar to me for other shows and movies they did during their careers.

[@tonycanabal1659]

Was Rick Hurst the son of character actor Paul Hurst whose character was shot in the face by Scarlett in GWTW?

[@kevinbaker4241]

@@tonycanabal1659 No, he was not. Paul Hurst was married, but he did not have any children. (That's what I found on his Wikipedia profile.)

[@tonycanabal1659]

@@kevinbaker4241 Thanks for the info. I was curious. Paul was also great as the frustrated bus driver in a Our Gang short that he got a special credit.

[@waynechapman9823]

I was 13 in 1975 and I don't recall the majority of these shows. There's a handful mentioned by others here that I either watched or had heard of.

[@docadams7099]

12:35 After this failure, Jack Warden starred in another bad series some three years later. That series was "The Bad News Bears".

[@steventrompeter9883]

Really enjoy your content, and the extra commercials are great. William Shatner selling margarine was halerious. Can see why so many tanked when you see the competition.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you kindly! More to come Steve!

[@upat65]

Wow! This is all very interesting. Thanks for posting. Wouldn’t it be great to have a channel where we can watch episodes of these short lived series.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

That would be great! I'd definitely watch a channel that would do something like that. Thank you for watching!

[@TheREALSofaKing0306]

I was really hoping to hear the "Mad programmer" soundbite from when Johnny Carson had Lee Grant on his show the day "Fay" was canceled.

[@dantheman5745]

The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie just never could find a 4th show to stick, could they? We'd watch "McMillan & Wife", really liked "McCloud" and _loved_ "Columbo", but groaned in agony whenever we realized the show that week was "Hec Ramsey." No matter what other show they tried, they just never took off. That 4th slot just seemed to be a revolving door of swings-and-misses.

[@chuckjones5788]

I did like the Snoope Sisters with Helen Hayes and Mildred Natwick. McMillan & Wife was my favorite of the bunch.

[@Quartzquiz333]

They finally found a fourth successful show in 1976 with Quincy, M.E....which they immediately spun off into its own series.

[@user-zl6fg7qt9w]

Banacek was actually successful and never cancelled as some think. It was renewed for a third season but George Peppard was getting divorced from Elizabeth Ashley and she was awarded 40% of his salary. He said the hell with that and quit the show. Didn’t work until the divorce was final

[@radicalross7700]

​@@Quartzquiz333Good thing for Quincy it was spun off. It lasted until 1983, years after the Sunday Mystery Movie ended.

[@brianarbenz1329]

The hec you say!

[@gittes98]

Strange how so many of the theme songs for the family based sitcoms sound exactly alike/

[@RadioMattM]

In 1975, a friend and I stumbled on the filming of some scene for the pilot of Jigsaw John. I tried to see if it was on KZbin but it’s not.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

My family watched The Invisible Man. When Things Were Rotten was pulled by Mel Brooks because the network wanted to cheapen the production. It reappeared many years later as a movie. Robin Hood Men in Thights.

[@neilouellette3004]

Officer Pete Malloy on Swiss Family Robinson.

[@Martin48964]

The Swiss Family Robinson was Irwin Allen bringing Lost in Space back to earth

[@brianarbenz1329]

He was originally going to call Lost in Space the Space Family Robinson. Hence the family's name.

[@ldyshkspr]

man i loved captain and tenille!

[@kaylibert4020]

Invisible Man was a well-made show. I wish it was streaming somewhere.

[@NuNugirl]

In a world with no cell phones or internet, I didn’t watch much TV. I was too busy getting out of the house as much as possible. My goal was to achieve independence and control over my life. I got a stereo turntable for my 16th birthday, that was my prized possession. The other was a car, I purchased myself, after I was moved out.

[@jeffhaddox2239]

When things were rotten was my favorite that year.

[@mitchellbatchelor1594]

Ellet’s Queen was the only show that I watched an episode of.

[@viennawaits4u36]

Of all your postings so-far, this is my favorite. I'm still surprised to discover the failed TV show "On the Rocks", a situation comedy about a cast of funny and zany characters working and doing time in a prison. Wow, how did that series never take off.(sarcasm alert)

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

I greatly appreciate hearing that! I'm a tad surprised that "On the Rocks" made it to 24 episodes, and did (sort of) okay in the ratings. If we played a guessing game as to how long a show like that would last, I'd say 4, with it being a late summer replacement (on trial). Having said that, for curiosity's sake, I'd still watch 3 episodes just to see.

[@thomasmiller5057]

On The Rocks was one of the only 2 shows that were short lived I can remember (though I’m not done watching this video) Thank you for including it but I haven’t gotten to it yet here. The other show I remember so far is When Things Were Rotten. I haven’t gotten to that yet either. Some of these I remember in name only. The comments make me want to watch Ellery Queen. I didn’t when I was 13 because I never liked mysteries.

[@gittes98]

That ABC announcer's voice brings back instant, pleasant memories

[@Quartzquiz333]

Ernie Anderson made Saturday nights in the late 70s/early 80s feel at home with his pronunciation of "The Looooove Boat" and "Fontacy Island".

[@steelers6titles]

@@Quartzquiz333 Ghoulardi.

[@1985OldSkool]

Watching through these videos from the 1975-76 TV season, sure brought back memories of my high school senior year. One of the first new TV shows that season was "Three For the Road" on CBS at 6 PM (Central time), and lasted for just 12 episodes before the network cancelled it in favor of "60 Minutes" on December 7, 1975, and it has occupied that time slot ever since (except when CBS airs an NFL Doubleheader or Playoff game or Super Bowls). And jumping to Tuesdays, NBC's "City of Angels" starred Wayne Rogers, who a season earlier was Trapper John McIntyre on CBS' "M*A*S*H." This season was also the first in which the current 22-hour prime time schedule (four hours on Sunday, three hours each on Monday through Saturday) went into effect.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Great read! Thank you!

[@waynetompkins3006]

Wayne Rogers would leave acting after the 70s and launched a successful second career as a financial advisor. He had several well-known Hollywood clients and in his later years appeared regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business commenting on economic and financial issues.

[@cbalducc]

Sheree North of “Big Eddie” was groomed as a Marilyn Monroe clone early in her career. Sheldon Leonard was also a producer of several hit series, among them “The Andy Griffith Show”.

[@cbalducc]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 Who’s Steve?

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

@@cbalducc Sorry, I had responded to another poster. I'll delete that post. I have no idea how that happened!

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

BTW, I REALLY like Sheree North. There's an episode of "The Streets of San Francisco" where she plays Tom Bosley's ex-wife, and all I kept thinking was how is that possible?

[@jackmessick2869]

Loved Swiss Family Robinson, right before The Six Million Dollar Man. Ellery Queen was great, and i was glad when it came out on DVD. I also enjoyed Encyclopedia Brown short stories. Our family didn't watch Rhoda or Phyllis, so we watched a lot of these shows, like Rich Little and Barbary Coast.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thanks for sharing Jack!

[@rmd8427]

"The Family Holvak" was on CBS according to the initial trailer (2:07) but in your text you indicated it went up against "Sonny & Cher" which was also on CBS...might need an edit after finding out what was on NBC in that time slot.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Yes, it was a mistake to have the CBS logo showing on my end (sort of). It was actually on NBC (they re-ran the episodes a couple of years later on CBS). It did go up against "The Sonny and Cher Show" on CBS. In "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows" (which I reference first), it actually lists the initial time slots (NBC) and surprisingly, when it ran on CBS. At any rate, I can't edit it without taking it down completely. KZbin's studio (for editing), doesn't have a way for me to swap out portions of videos (for corrections/alterations). Good eye for noticing that.

[@JHollowayNetwork]

Actually “The Family Holvak” was on NBC.

[@digital2500]

I almost forgot about Viva Valdez! I had a big crush on Lisa Mordente!

[@TerentiiTaras]

I remember there were high hopes for Beacon Hill, which was supposed to be the American equivalent of Upstairs, Downstairs. It sure didn't last long!

[@goldenagenut]

It's sad how a lot of shows didn't make it simply because their particular time slot opposed popular series that most people were already watching...and this was when there were only 3 channels. It must be brutal nowadays just trying to get anyone to watch your show with 500 other channels competing with one another... plus, add the internet now, no one's watching tv they're on youtube! Ugh.

[@ROHM53]

As a high school student, Jigsaw John was one of my favorite police detective shows. Ol' Jack Warden was fun to watch solving crimes. As Detective John St. John. 🚨

[@ManorHQ]

30:53 - Was I supposed to laugh here? Because I was laughing here. 😆

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Those lines... Beau can act, but, here...

[@Brian_Grant]

If I can't laugh here...then I'll do it in a video that's not as good...and if I can't do it in a video that's not as good...I'll find another way...

[@ManorHQ]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 He can and it was perfect for a parody comedy. Like one where his father Lloyd would say "I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue." 😂

[@TheJhn924]

"Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell". Meanwhile that other show was called "NBC's Saturday Night"...

[@brianarbenz1329]

Lorne Michaels was planning to call his show Saturday Night Live, but when the NBC legal department found that Howard beat him to the name, they made him drop the "Live." It was just called "Saturday Night" for season 1 -- That's why the famous opening chant is, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night." But since Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell didn't make it to a full season, NBC restored the planned name of SNL, but kept the iconic intro.

[@TheJhn924]

@@brianarbenz1329 I think much of the public referred to the NBC show as Saturday Night Live from the start anyway... so it was an easy transition.

[@fromthesidelines]

NBC finally allowed Lorne to use the "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" title in January 1977.

[@sayhisnamewhickerfjb]

And we didn't have to fiddle with the Horizontal Hold one time! Good ol' Sony Trinitron

[@iracordem]

that joe n sons theme was quite catchy!

[@mrstacyj9496]

Wow. Except for “Barbary Coast” (which I never watched) I don’t remember any of these. I was 17 in 1975.

[@j.tshark3313]

Carl Reiner never wanted to star in a weekly show. He had several movies lined up and did not like how much time he needed to spend on the set as the lead. He reportedly tried to get another actor to take over the show and that lead to its cancelations

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you! I really wanted to know the reason behind it being cancelled.

[@j.tshark3313]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 I remember the show started out as a failed pilot with someone else in it and Reiner got more involved. He was a writer and had other stuff going on and he admitted in a book he wrote. "I get bored easily". He had hundreds of story ideas in story books around his house. Also he was always VERY political and he rubbed even liberal the wrong way sometimes

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

@@j.tshark3313 Just curious, would he have rubbed Normal Lear the wrong way? Despite Lear's reputation, I find his work to be more balanced than it gets credit for being; specifically a show like "All's Fair".

[@j.tshark3313]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 Lear was balanced more than people realized. To look at how Reiner was politically, you just need to look at his son and how extreme he gets sometimes. One of Carl's final interviews was about how he hoped he died before Trump came to power. Reiner in is work was sort of middle of the road. But his political activity away from the set was like Ed Asner and as we know that is one reason why Lou Grant got cancelled

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

@@j.tshark3313 Which is unfortunate, I really like "Lou Grant"; it's one of my favorite shows.

[@adamblackwelder5863]

It's too bad When Things Were Rotten got cancelled, but, I'm glad Mel Brooks made Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Thank you, again! The episodes that I have watched '72-'76, have covered my high school years, so I have truly enjoyed being wrapped in the warm fuzzy blanket of nostalgia. One show that I do not remember you covering was "Apple's Way," a short lived family show from either '73 or'74. It was treacley sweet and I had a love - hate opinion of it, would not miss an episode, but mocked it the whole time, but then, I was a teenager,"go figure." Has all trace of this show vanished?

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Good question Jerald. I will be including that in a future video/series, for shows that lasted only a couple of years. Believe you me, I wanted to include it already, but it technically lasted 2 seasons; even though it's only 28 hour long episodes. You can get "Apple's Way" on DVD, though I'm assuming that the episodes are probably scraped off of MeTV, TV Land, etc. One site is selling it with 14 episodes (LovingTheClassics), and another site is selling it with 9 episodes (70s-TV where I bought a few things from in the past). I'm a big Kristy McNichol fan, and wouldn't miss a chance to include her. I like Vince Van Patten too (World Poker Tour).

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

@@robertsretrorewind5853 "Apple's Way" lasted 2 seasons?!?! Either my memory is worse than I thought (always a possibility),or some other show, on the opposite channel took over my attention.

[@jackmessick2869]

​@@jeraldbaxter3532 It was up against Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights at 730 pm. 60 Minutes strangely aired from 6pm-7pm on Sundays, then a half hour of local news, I guess.

[@richardpodnar5039]

"The Montefuscos" --- ugh!😂

[@luisreyes1963]

To think a lame sitcom loaded with Italian-American tropes would get beaten by a dirt-poor Appalachian family. 😂

[@fromthesidelines]

The working title was "SUNDAY DINNER". But someone at NBC wanted a title that would attract viewers.

[@waynechapman9823]

@@fromthesidelines And they failed miserably.

[@waynechapman9823]

I was dating a woman a few years ago who hated it when I watched "All in the Family" reruns cause she couldn't stand all the yelling. Just watching that little bit of "The Montefuscos" has me convinced that she would choose the classic sitcom over the failed one due to all that arguing going on.

[@Attmay]

@@fromthesidelines it did. It attracted them to the competition.

[@GEMof72]

Jigsaw Jack’s intro was 🔥🔥🔥

[@steelers6titles]

More big-screen stars going after TV money--Tony Curtis, Jack Palance, et. al.

[@anthonybrooks5040]

Awesome as usual! Thanks! Looking at the redone "Matt Helm", it's easy to see how Aaron Spelling (maybe) took this idea and turned it into a more successful series in "Vegas" (gorgeous 1957 Ford Thunderbird notwithstanding). No doubt that another late '70s crime show, "Matt Houston", was inspired by it as well.

[@robertsretrorewind5853]

Thank you Anthony! I like all three of those series that you mentioned. I've been getting into Tony Franciosa lately (I like his charisma), I'm happy that you mentioned "Matt Helm" in particular.

[@anthonybrooks5040]

@@robertsretrorewind5853Yes, Tony Franciosa was on the cool side. He was one-third of the episode wheel (Gene Barry and Robert Stack) in one of my favorite series, "The Name of the Game". The format seemed unique for its time.

[@waynetompkins3006]

Dean Martin will always be "Matt Helm."

[@user-gw9sk1zy4s]

Joe and Son's, I always wondered what happened to Capo-Regime Clemenza.