NBC Network - Gemini Man - "Smithereens" - WBZ Channel 4 (Complete Broadcast, 9/23/1976) 📺

Here's the complete broadcast of a first-run episode - the first regular one, in fact - of the short-lived Gemini Man, "Smithereens" (S01E1), as aired on the NBC Network via its Boston, MA then-affiliate WBZ Channel 4 (today a CBS-owned station). (The pilot for this ultimately 12-episode show was broadcast on May 10th 1976.)
Ben Murphy played the title role, a man who has a watch that makes him invisible if pressed, but can only be invisible 15 minutes at a time or else he will vanish forever; also co-starred Katherine Crawford and William Sylvester. This episode - involving the transport of very dangerous fuel - featured among the guest stars Jim Stafford (of "Spiders and Snakes" and "My Girl Bill" fame).
A mini-bonus will follow. Also of significance, later on that night, the first of three Presidential debates between Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter would be held.
😄 Fuzzy's Note: I would be remiss if I did not also mention that this episode of Gemini Man comprises a good portion of my favorite Mystery Science Theatre 3000 episode of all time - "Riding with Death". Check it out after watching this - its hilarious! 😄 • MST3k 814 - Riding wit...
Includes:
Commercial for September 25th TV Guide issue (with Charlie's Angels on cover) (voiceover by Taylor Grant)
Station ID / Feeling Fine promo
Thursday night schedule preview (voiceover by Norman Rose) - notice a crucial spelling error on the screen
Episode preview and show opening titles
Sponsor billboard for Head & Shoulders (voiceover by Fred Facey)
Commercials for:
Head & Shoulders
Seeming technical difficulties moment with 31 seconds of black (no picture, no sound - beginning at 3:01)
Episode Act I
Commercials for:
Kodak (child and dog have their picture taken)
Queensize Sheer Energy
Episode Act II
Commercials for:
Downy fabric softener
Safeguard deodorant soap
Sponsor billboard for Safeguard deodorant soap (voiceover by Fred Facey)
Promo for Ford-Carter debate and Today (voiceover by Mel Brandt)
Promo for new season of Action 4 (voiceover by Gene Pell)
Station ID / promo for Match Game PM
Station ID / promo for Feeling Fine (again!)
Episode Act III
Commercials for:
Jell-O brand gelatin (with Mrs. Santelli of Ohio) (voiceover by Peter Thomas)
Quasar TV sets (with "Quasar Service Miser" chassis)
Episode Act IV
Commercials for:
Minute Maid Orange Juice (featuring Bing and Kathryn Crosby and family)
The Adventure People and Air-Sea Rescue Copter - from Fisher-Price
Preview of next week's episode (voiceover by Ben Murphy) (ending voiceover by Wayne Howell)
Promo for "Big Jake" (voiceover by Mel Brandt?)
Commercials for:
Clorets - "The Breath Deodorant" (with actor Richard Herd)
Burger King - "Have It Your Way"
End credits (with voiceover promo for Ford-Carter debate and Baa Baa Black Sheep by Arthur Gary)
Promo for Captains and the Kings miniseries (voiceover by Norman Rose)
Tail end of PSA for Action for Children's Television
PSA for Reading Is Fundamental
NBC News Update with Chuck Scarborough (opening voiceover by Bill Hanrahan), with items:
- First Ford-Carter debate "about an hour from now"
- Secretary of State Kissinger in London on southern Africa situation
- Norwegian ship in troubled waters off coast of Spain
- Evidence from Viking 2 can't say whether there was life on Mars
- Elias Sarkis sworn in as president of Lebanon
- Labor unions in France will stage 1 day strike in protest against government wage and price controls
Commercial: Dodge D-100 from Chrysler
Promo for Sanford & Son special (voiceover by Adolph Caesar)
"Speakout" with Doris Waldstein on Logan Airport refusing to abide by nighttime noise curfew
Animated Station ID (with logo color-coordinated to match 'N' logo)
Bonus: Preview and first few seconds of opening titles of Baa Baa Black Sheep first-run episode "Best Three Out of Five" (S01E03)
"Presidential Canditates Debate"
This aired on local Boston TV on Thursday, September 23rd 1976 during the 7:30pm to 8:31pm (Eastern) timeframe.
This footage was donated to The Museum of Classic Chicago Television as part of The Steve Albert Collection.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: [e-mail] Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to digital, please e-mail [e-mail] Thank you for your help!