Did TV suck in 1974? TV Guide Fall Preview. Find Mark Hamill issue.

#FormerNetworkExec #TVGuide #MarkHamill
Mark’s failed TV show. Can you find the show?
The New Land
Nakia
The Sonny Comedy Review
Rhoda
Born Free
That's my Mama
Get Christie Love!
Sons and Daughters
The Manhunter
Little House on the Prairie
Lucas Tanner
Petrocelli
Paper Moon
Harry O
Sierra
Movin' On
Kodiak
The Texas Wheelers
The Night Stalker
Planet of the Apes
Chico and the Man
The Rockford Files
Police Woman
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[@SenorQuichotte]

Rockford files had the best theme music.

[@Draconisrex1]

Oh, thank you for why Kolchak went off the air. I really loved it. It burned bright for that one season. Then it went away.

[@SaturmornCarvilli]

I think more than any other of the shows mentioned here, The Night Stalker holds up the best. I remember first seeing a couple of 'movie' episodes where they blended two shows together for a longer run on the Sci-Fi Channel back in the late 90s. About every decade I try and watch the episodes and the 2 TV movies. I think my favorite is the one that takes place in Seattle.

[@ShaneyBright]

I absolutely love binge watching all of the Night Stalker shows/TV movies over and over. After all these years, I usually find something new that I've not seen before.

[@johndurham6172]

I don't get the hate the critics still give the show.

[@ancienttech4603]

I love this show! My 3 faves are "The Spanish Moss Murders", "Horror in the Heights" and "The Ripper". All the episodes are good, but I have these memorized. I get nostalgic thinking about going to my grandma's and being allowed to stay up late because EVERYONE was watching Kolchak!

[@hgwells35]

Kolchak was great. Inspired the X-FILES. His character was a real journalist that did not shill. Probably why the modern critics don't like the show.

[@JB503PDX]

Agreed! The original was so good, and the reboot in the early 2k-aughts was so bad.

[@roxannevictor]

Night Stalker is still a sci-fi classic. I never missed an episode.

[@Elerad]

Man I loved The Rockford Files. Still do. I own all the seasons on DVD and watch them every few years. What a great cast. This was peak James Garner, Gretchen Corbet was a delight, and I still say Joe Santos was criminally underrated.

[@dennisa872]

I loved Night Stalker. Great show.

[@skylx0812]

The Night Stalker episode about the mannequins scared the hell out of me, everything about that show scared the hell out of me. I guess we have McGavin to thank for the continuity of the series. I watched an episode recently about witchcraft and when Kolchack goes through a witch's bag there's a surprising amount of authentic items witches used, even silk ribbon for a binding spell.

[@johndurham6172]

The critics always said the series wasn't as scary as the movies. They should've talked to the fans.

[@SIXPACFISH]

@@johndurham6172 I was 11 years old and the Rakshasas and Père Malfait episodes scared the crap out of me. When Carl was sewing the zombie's mouth shut and it opened it eyes, about gave me a heart attack.

[@johndurham6172]

@@SIXPACFISH same here.

[@dendostar5436]

Oh thank God I needed a pick-me-up.

[@dendostar5436]

This was a really fascinating look. I still haven’t seen the Nightstalker TV movie. Lol been meaning to for like almost 30 years!

[@Outrider74]

1974 was a darn good year! I was born then!😃

[@jos8192]

Loved Kolchak, Petrocelli and Policewoman.

[@gilbertlozano902]

Thank you Chato! 🙏🏼💖 My favorite show was Kolchak The Night Stalker! Of course I couldn’t sleep after watching it LOL! 😆

[@EasyZee69]

I loved the Planet Of The Apes tv series. To this day I rewatch a random episode every once in a while. I was 5 years old in 1974, so I don't recall if I saw it in its original run or in reruns a few years later.

[@als3022]

To be fair lowering the speed limit to 55 was a major issue. It was such a big issue that 10 years later in 1984 the cult hit I Can't Drive 55 created a massive movement to have it repealed. Riots in the streets. So him resigning before that makes sense. Actually he resigned because in 1974 Barbara Streisand had the #1 hit. That would cause anyone to give up. And Little House on the Prairie is the only show I can remember where the finale had them literally blow up the entire set. Everything had to be returned to how it was from the farmer's property before they came. And Landon thought just destroying everything was the solution. A little confusing, but awesome at the same time.

[@CallMeChato]

Hahaha

[@bradrtorgersen_videos]

I was born in '74, and of all the shows that debuted, the two sticking in my memory are (of course) *Little House On The Prairie* and *The Rockford Files* Hard to believe it will soon be half a century. Time flew.

[@garethmorgan8326]

I am surprised how few of these I remember, but my Mother loved Petrocelli as much as I did 'The Night Stalker'.

[@republicanlady4101]

Barnaby Jones, Mannix, Cannon, Little House, Columbo, and Emergency were my favorites in 1974.

[@control_the_pet_population]

I was born in '74, so only remember a few of these via reruns, like Rockford Files and Little House. I also watched Night Stalker at some point, I think the SciFi Channel would rerun it in the 90s... I remember it being pretty good for a TV show of that era. Anyways, love these time capsule TV Guide reviews... and looking forward to the inevitable return to the 80s where I'll remember more 1st hand experiences of the shows.

[@Navigatortrue]

I remember the Night Stalker being shown on channel 4 back in the early 90s as part of a supernatural block shown at midnight on a Friday when people were returning home from a night out, it was quite popular with teens & students.

[@jchow5966]

I remember this!!!!!!! It is so fun & interesting to hear all about these shows from the past etc. ☮️💟. Thank you!!!!

[@ScottRuggels]

For a nerd like me, I remember Kolchak, of course and Planet of The Apes ( and it’s companion cartoon), but this was in the middle of my TV addiction. I remember them all. I was a bit young for the Rockford Files and Police Woman, and Petrocelli, but my parents liked them, as well as Rockford. Mom liked the MTM shows, my sister was a Little House fan, and we all watched Carol Burnet and The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. These clips always bring back strong memories.

[@Caylee319]

Your TV Guide Fall Preview videos are the best part of your channel.

[@Jccarlton1400]

You just made my day with Rockford. I was thinking of all those answering machine calls that started the programs.

[@paulhelberg5269]

My Uncle Clyde (yes that was his real name) subscribed to TV Guide for years. I recall the cover on that particular issue. Talk about stimulating brain cells. My parents loved Little House, I loved Rockford Files. I also watched the Night Stalker when babysitting. Thanks for the memories Chato.

[@ronjohnson6406]

The night Stalker. Oh that was a great show. I remember watching Petrocelli but can't recall a single episode.

[@tim2269]

Love love loved Kolchak.I was allowed to stay up late because it was a friday.Canadian Content.For 1974 "RUSH" added Iconic Drummer Neil Peart to the band.

[@Peorhum]

There was very little Canadian content back then. You had The Hilarious House of Frightenstein, Beachcombers, Wayne and Shuster, SCTV, Star lost, Tommy Hunter show... oh and Hockey Night in Canada... think that about covered it.

[@raymondsmith6870]

I remember Born Free but always thought the very similar Daktari (1966-69) tv show (based on the 1965 movie Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion)was much better and had a great opening tune. Rockford Files being one of the best TV shows ever is a statement which I wholeheartedly agree. Though it was disappointing that Planet of the Apes didn't get more seasons as it was the most nerdtastic show made for me and my friends to argue over and watch religiously. The Teresa Graves story is similar to the Jo Ann Pflug incident on the prime time soap Rituals in 1984.Pflug's highly publicized departure from the burgeoning drama was because her role called for sex-related scenes involving characters not married to each other, which conflicted with her Christian beliefs.

[@MasterMalrubius]

I loved Rockford Files and now it’s back on syndication 7-9. Two episodes!

[@terryhill5509]

I remember that particular fall tv guide. I used to love those magazines and read them cover to cover. Not much choice on tv in those days, so it was important to be particular (or hopeful) if you wanted to watch something. VCRs changed EVERYTHING later.

[@jchow5966]

TV was great back then!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!! 💟☮️ i am enjoying your videos so much!!!!!

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

in the UK we had a stellar view of American TV, but we only got the best - Starsky and Hutch, NYPD Blue, Cheers, Rhoda, Rockford Files, Ironside...those were the days

[@augustragone1159]

Interesting that you pointed out that Robert Forester wasn't Native American, which is notable, but you passed over the fact that Barry Newman wasn't Italian-American. Fergedaboudit! Keep up the good work - these are a lot of fun and very entertaining. I also collect (mostly '70s) issues of the San Francisco edition of "TV Guide." Be seeing you!

[@raymondsmith6870]

It was just as funny to see Natalie Wood and Steve McQueen(two of the Waspiest actors ever) play Italian Americans in "Love With a Proper Stranger" 1963.

[@augustragone1159]

@@raymondsmith6870 Or Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi in Blake Edward's "Breakfast at Tiffany's"... Yow!

[@notsparctacus]

Neither was James Caan.

[@raymondsmith6870]

@@notsparctacus The funny part there is James Caan says he has to tell people he is not Italian. Caan was closely identified with the role for years afterward: "They called me a wiseguy. I won Italian of the Year twice in New York, and I'm Jewish, not Italian.... I was denied in a country club once. Thought the irony is that an Italian played Moe Greene in the Godfather.

[@augustragone1159]

@@notsparctacus shocking. Positively shocking.

[@Enriqueguiones]

First!! Can't wait to see it. I love 70s experimental TV and, of course, I'm hooked on this "TV guide" videos. :)

[@oldmanjim2376]

I especially love this video as it's from my birth year 😊

[@pictureel5863]

These are great!

[@barrywreap5122]

I remember singing to the Born Free theme; '"Born Free...as clean as a pee-pee" and then my Dad justifiably beating my ass. I should have never ate all those lead paint-chips on the side of the house.

[@douggolde7582]

The Rockford files were must watch. I also liked the Night Stalker.

[@simonelang7958]

Thanks for Born Free. My absolutely favourite tv show since 47 years. And Diana Muldaur was and is so great!!

[@Draconisrex1]

I remember '74. 8th grade. I don't even remember Friends & Lovers and I watched both All in the Family and the Mary Tyler Moore show. No, Sonny couldn't make it on his own. I liked Born Free, because I loved the movie, but nobody else did. I didn't care for Rhoda or Little House on the Prairie, though they were successful. The Rockford Files was the best of all those added in '74.

[@visaman]

I was in Grade 5, and I vaguely remember the show, it was a channel switcher.

[@joegee2815]

I love these videos. Takes me back. I was 13 in 1974. TV was a big part of my life.

[@icepicjoey]

In 74, I was 5. I remember watching Nightstakler with my dad. He loved that show, and so did I. My mom didnt want me watching it. Lol

[@redleg1971]

Kolchak was, and is still, awesome! I watch all 20 episodes when ever I get the chance.

[@dingerjunkie]

I still love watching Little House with follow-on generations. I remember the years of pre-adolescent girls being dolled up in prairie-fashion when moms caught the sewing bug. I also still have every episode of Rockford Files in the video library.

[@pittland44]

I've never liked Little House on the Prairie. Far, far to saccharine for my taste. I do find these fascinating though, thank you sir and keep up the great work.

[@TheBrewjo]

I lost a mouthful of couscous watching the part where you described a episode of Nakia with the tribe was trying to save a historic mission... Jesus!

[@alancovey1233]

My brother Steve collected (for some reason) every TV Guide between 1972 to 1979.

[@YdnarLah37]

Not surprisingly, when Movin' On was on the air, trucks in America didn't move. Very popular amongst truck drivers. They were all in truck stops watching it. Or so my old driving instructor told us.

[@samobispo1527]

That was the season that we had three similarly named shoes: Kojak, Kodiak, and Kolchak…

[@Peorhum]

I liked Chico and the man. It sort of had the same vibe as Sanford And Son, which was better. I loved the night stalker. It's writing was pretty bad but it had Darren McGavin and Simon Oakland, 2 actors I liked. They made a remake in 2005, which I was looking forward to, only to be disappointed in.

[@leedunning1825]

Oh, man! I absolutely loved the Night Stalker. I had no idea why it ended so prematurely. Thanks so much, Chato. These videos are a blast.

[@stillaboveground2470]

Loved "Chico and the Man" when I was a child. Just like "Kotter", when I watched it again as an adult, I couldn't understand why I thought it was funny when I was a kid.

[@the_unrepentant_anarchist.]

I was five years old in 1974, and living in a caravan(trailer to you yanks), and can remember most of these shows clearly. Petrocelli, Rhona, Jim Rockford, and strange as it seems, I remember the Planet of the Apes series lasting more than a few episodes. Who amongst us that were alive at the time can't remember the credits for 'Little House on the Prarie' with the little girl (laura Wilder) tumbling down in the grass...? S-o-o-o many memories..... ❤️

[@VolkswagenNut1969]

Ah the Rockford Files! One of my all time favorite shows back then and now. 😉

[@james5460]

The Night Stalker was by far my favorite show at the time. Darren McGavin was great, but the real key was the fabulous Simon Oakland as his sputtering boss. Oakland was probably the most underrated actor of his time, a true comic genius when given the chance. He did some bits in the premiere episode of My Favorite Martian that were hysterical. A sadly forgotten legend.

[@richardallen6066]

'Watch Tower' pamphlets, HAHAHA, priceless!

[@rdytmire]

Kojack was the scariest network TV I think I have ever seen. Holding off monsters with flash photography, running from werewolves in city sewers..I STILL remember this show. Amazing t.v. As far as I remember he never used a weapon so it escalated the danger the character faced.

[@CallMeChato]

I think you meant Kolchak, but yeah.

[@rdytmire]

@@CallMeChato oops. Yeah lollipops are not so scary.

[@OldMan_PJ]

That photo of Sonny looked like he was wearing crooked dentures.

[@ConceptJunkie]

The Fall Preview videos are always excellent. This is another vote to keep them up.

[@chukzombi]

i loved those Planet Of The Apes episodes. i guess it was way too expensive to make with all the makeup and costumes involved.

[@dave3657]

Ah yes, I remember all the cigarette ads in the guide. I don’t even smoke but the Guide brings back memories.

[@hotniaoniao]

I absolutely love your TV Guide fall preview segment. I'm only 53 but I do remember a lot of these early 70s shows and wow does it brings back memories. I enjoy the nostalgia and find your commentary funny, entertaining but most of all, appreciated. As a former network exec, I would really appreciate your take on some of my favorite TV writers/producers such as Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo for example. I would love to see, maybe a "what made this show so great" type of thing but from a former network executive's point of view of course. Well, pardon my brainstorming and thank you for taking us down memory lane and thanks for the hard work, it is appreciated.

[@angelphoenix7784]

This was the year, I was born. I love to see this recap, thank you.

[@timspenser559]

Happy Days also debuted in 1974 but in January,so it was about to start its 2nd season when the fall preview episode came out in September.

[@Electronics4Guitar]

I was a junior in high school in ‘74. Loved Kolchak (and the movie it saw spun-off from). Rockford Files was awesome too. Still watch them when I can now. We have nearly identical taste in television.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

This is so educational...and entertaining

[@captainnerd6452]

I was in high school in '74 and I remember those shows even if I didn't watch most of them.

[@pauldavidartistclub6723]

Rhoda had one of the biggest plummets I recall in popularity. It was interesting, and sad, that practically if not all all references to the Rhoda family’s Jewishness were utterly dropped on her own show (it might have been mentioned in the opening credits monologue?).

[@paulmurgatroyd6372]

I recall enjoying Planet of the Apes when it came over to the UK. We didn't realise at the time we were getting a lot of imported shows that didn't make it past one season, as our own shows were only about 6 episodes a year anyway. Always loved The Rockford Files too, the opening answerphone message idea was very smart.

[@stephh.1685]

Thanks Chato! I love this series you are doing! 1974 is my birth year and I love seeing the Planet of the Apes show and The Night Stalker on this list. Keep the tv guides coming!

[@billyd9809]

Thank you, Chato, for these blasts from the past. I was born in the mid 70s, and these TV Guide reviews remind me of shows I watched as a kid that I haven't thought about in 40+ years.

[@jackthetech5105]

As some one who was born in the mid-60s, I do thoroughly enjoy these trips down memory lane. While many of these shows & the TV Guide were staples in the LI,NY home where I grew up, what I recall most from that era, besides the young boy's crush I had for Laura Ingle (Melissa Gilbert) was the nightly argument for the TV with my younger brother who insisted on watching The Brady Bunch while I was an adamant fan of Star Trek, both of which were airing reruns in the same time slot at or around supper time.

[@pauldavidartistclub6723]

I’d love to see those few episodes of PAUL SAND again. I recall really liking the series at the time

[@jimbroen]

I recall watching a number of these. Our household didn't have cable so only the shows picked up by CBC, CTV or ITV were available. I have much stronger memory of the shows that were available due to syndication such as the Rockford Files. I vaguely remember Night Stalker.

[@bryanstephens4800]

Love these. Was 4 in74, but remember the gold t tops. Dad got t tops out in his camereo. Watched it mostly in re runs

[@michaelsamerdyke108]

"This is Carlton your doorman." No wonder the guy became Garfield the cat.

[@destinycaptain247]

Little House is a classic. Didn’t watch it much as a kid. As an adult I’ve watched it all the way through a dozen or so times now. It has some great characters, writing and themes.

[@LEARSIKCIGAM]

they use to sell those failed shows cheap those 6 episodes of born free had regular runs on on Chilean television in the 70s

[@erichaynes7502]

God, I remember the font and dull color photos just like it was yesterday!

[@chukzombi]

Night Stalker was so good. cant believe they jammed all those good episodes into one season. it makes sense that it irritated Darren Mcgavin in the process. the guy was working his ass off for a show the network didnt seem to give a damn about. that one season was in syndication for decades.

[@animatorFan74]

I was actually born that year, in September, however Little House on the Prairie must have gotten a lot of re-runs because it was one of my favourite shows when I was young. I have memories of Michael Landon being a very popular actor, being in multiple shows.

[@TwoSevenX]

The Jeffersons was brilliant, and brilliant right out of the gate. Same for Rockford files. The Night Stalker needs no introduction, basically the reason that about half of modern urban horror games and shows exist at all for the next forty years.

[@noeldillabough]

10c beer night lol. Ah I loved Rockford Files

[@4dmind]

Little House on the Prairie was a great show. The writing quality now cannot be properly compared to anything from the 60's, 70's or 80's. Even the 90's took a quality nose dive, though certainly not as bad as in the past 2 decades. The upside is that my wife and I have used the abysmal state of writing to go back and watch all kinds of shows and movies we missed.

[@DanielGonzalez-cs8pr]

Denizen here, I remember Chico and the Man, unfortunately I remember it too well! The first words Chico said to the man was "I grew up watching this place run down!" followed by a laugh track! Why do I remember this (and other TV crap)? I was a little kid at the time and was learning to speak English, I would watch re-runs of all of these shows over and over and over again repeating everything they said well over and over and over again! It drove my mom crazy but it worked. Now I am doing the same thing with French content online, and guess what-->Ça marche à nouveau !

[@urdude67]

I sometimes got past my guardians and watched Kolchak as a kid, then had nightmares!

[@Clintthecoolguy]

Excellent walkthrough! I enjoy these a lot. Please consider yourself officially ENCOURAGED!

[@robertpearson8798]

I agree completely with you about both Rockford and The Night Stalker. Planet of the Apes? Television adaptations of successful movies never work. Oh….wait…

[@g.p.ryecroft]

What a good year for TV, and as Chato noted, a lot of diversity! Black cop, black families, Eskimo cop, Navajo cop, Mexican mechanic... I liked a LOT of shows from this season, but Movin' On was probably my favorite, followed closely by Petrocelli, Rockford, and Kolchak. The folks who made Petrocelli went on to make Dallas, and brought Susan Howard along as a regular and Albert Salmi as a recurring sleazeball. Hey, Charlie's Angels were undercover prosties too, Chato, so don't make it a race thing. That was a very popular theme on a ton of shows, even Barney Miller with Fish, Wojo, and Harris!

[@MartinSolomon]

I was so scared by Night Stalker when my older sister put it on (I was 7), I kept running out of the room. I so wanted to watch it but was so scared by it.

[@AnimationVault]

Kolchak and Planet of the Apes were the best! I remember Paper Moon being pretty well done too.

[@yamagata008]

I was a freshman in college and so I am happy that TV was a semi-wasteland. I missed a few shows, but nothing earth shattering. Thank for the Kathleen Kennedy reference. I still love these episodes and thank you for the walk down memory lane in your history events summary. Please continue to do these TV Guide episodes. I still cannot understand why so many people like your She-Hulk reviews...

[@gunnarerth]

Thank you very much for this great review! Over here in Germany we did not have all these shows, but we had The Rockford Files, which is definitely one of my all-time favourites! I bought the DVD set some years ago and was amazed when I watched the show again. Next to Lou Grant my favourite show of the decade. Another show I remember was Petrocelli. When it was cancelled my family wondered whether he would ever finish building his home - which was the running gag at the end of every episode, if I remember correctly.

[@spaceknight793]

Great year for tv! Loved a lot of these shows. The greatest tragedy is that Planet of the Apes didn't last. Rare that a derivative is as enjoyable as the original.

[@jogarthehutt]

Thank God you found the night stalker I 1 of my favourite f2f shows

[@urdude67]

Amazon Prime offered up Movin’ On in 2020. I enjoyed it immensely!

[@mr.goodboi2780]

Kolchak is one of the best shows ever. Great main character and the plots are fantastic. On another note, so glad you do these. I'm a filthy zoomer so I need to be schooled. No one better than you and the fall TV guides.

[@toodlescae]

Loved Night Stalker, The Jeffersons, Rhoda, Little House On The Prairie, Rockford Files, Police Woman and Chico & The Man. I'd almost forgotten about Get Christie Love. Police Woman was my Dad's favorite show. He called Angie Dickenson "Legs". Lol.

[@johndurham6172]

Sorry Bill Murray but Lorenzo Music will always be Garfield. The 70s was truly a golden age for cops and PIs.

[@nusbacher]

I loved Friends and Lovers. That condescending uncle was played by the great Leon Askin!

[@tsrashotgun9304]

Awesome content. I look forward to seeing all the TV Guide reviews til they became obsolete.

[@Doc_Tar]

Growing up we had 2 reliable channels (cbs and nbc) and two fuzzy, weather affected channels (abc and pbs), yet we had to have the TV guide every week. Thinking back on it now, why?

[@swirlingabyss]

Rockford Files was a great show. When I was in college, me and my bros watched it on netflix back in the early 2010's.