Retro TV

I know that I was suppose to talk about Home Improvement but before the month ended I wanted to write about some great African American Actors and Actresses in television shows of the past. I’m sorry this is so short, February 2009 I plan to write about an actor or actress every day of the month.

Nichelle Nichols
A little birdie told me that this African American actress was thinking about quitting the show when she received inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr. I remember Nichelle Nichols from the Star Trek series. She looked amazing on the Star Trek set as not only a female in television but also an African American woman on television.

Nichelle Nichols has had some great roles since her start as an actress in 1959. Though her start was a bit part in a film called Porgy and Bess, Nichelle Nichols has been going strong since.

In the past year she has done five episodes of Heroes as Nana Dawson. She returned to Star Trek as the role of Captain Nyota Uhura for 2007 Star Trek: Of Gods and Men.

Currently she is working on a filmed call This Bitter Earth. Nichell Nichols takes on the role of Clara Watkins in the film. If interested you can watch for it in theaters in 2009.

Debbie Allen
This is another favorite African American actress of mine. I’m sure everyone can remember her as Lydia Grant from Fame. I loved watching her on television. She portrayed Teacher Lydia Grant as a strong woman.

She was in over 100 episodes of the 1980’s television version and has been a television queen ever since. In the past year, Debbie Allen has been on several episodes of “All of Us”, “Everybody Hates Raymond” and “Girlfriends”.

Of course Nichelle Nichols and Debbie Allen are only two actors of the many that have graced our television sets and lives.

If your interested to learn more about the lives of African Americans in television check out Inside TV Land: African Americans In Television. It’s a look at the impact of African Americans both off and on the set of television.

There are interviews with Bill Cosby, Will Smith, Flip Wilson, Nell Carter, and many more favorites.

Television after 11 p.m. has been a little boring. I find myself watching shows that I grew up with a lot. A major one features Tim “Tool Time” Taylor. I confess, I’ve been watching repeats of Tool Time. The worst thing about it is that the shows are not even in the late 1990’s.

Since Bradly, Mark, and Randy are all grown up now after sixteen years. I have to wonder what the cast of Home Improvement has been up to and if paparazzi have caught them on film?

Tim Allen
We all know him as the always-joking Tim Taylor on Home Improvement. Here he is again looking great and a full smile at the 16 th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party. Hopefully Tim Allen wrote a big check at the Pacific Design Center for the foundation.

Patricia Richardson
Patricia played Jill Taylor on Home Improvement from 1991 – 1999. She seems to have escaped the prying eyes of the paparazzi but I found her looking pretty in silver. She was just arriving to the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2006. Doesn’t she lovely in silver?

Richard Karn
Poor Al Borland, the man that Tim Taylor was always picking on. It looks like Richard hasn’t changed a bit since his days on Home Improvement. O.K. I admit it, it does look like he’s loss the baby face that he use to have.

It also looks like Richard Karn has become a major Golf fan. Last November he was found at the Golf Digest’s Celebrity Invitational. This was held at the lovely Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, California.

I haven’t forgotten about the rest of the cast. Tomorrow I’ll be checking out Taran Smith, Zachery Bryan, Jonathan Thomas, and Earl Hindman. Plus I’ll be back to talk about the projects and companies they are working on now.

Out of all the cast members I have to say that my favorite is Patricia Richardson. She just portrayed the Mom that everyone wanted to have as a mom. Of course this is my own choice, so what’s yours?

The mysterious agency of Blackstorm is after the workings of Charles Graiman’s workings and will go through anything to get them. That includes killing Dr. Graiman and abducting Sarah Graiman.

The men from Blackstorm make an attempt to abduct Sarah at Stanford University but fail due to the actions of a mysterious call from KITT warning her that her father is in danger and the same men are after her.

KITT is programmed to track down Mike Tracer, a 23-year-old ex-Army Ranger, whom Sarah hasn’t seen since he left home at 18. Mike obviously is skeptical but is willing to help Sarah find out who is attempting to acquire KITT.

FBI Agent Carrie Rivai comes into play when Sarah and Mike find out that Dr. Charles Graiman is still alive. Her long-standing friendship with Charles brings her into the mix.

Viewers definitely get a flash from the past when we find that the original Michael is Mike Tracer’s father. David Hasslehoff does a walk on role for the show to tie up lose ends. I wonder if we will be seeing more of the original Michael Knight?

With credits like Dave Bartis from “Heist” and Doug Liman from “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” as executive producers I was just expecting a better storyline.

I have to admit that I’m still deciding if Knight Rider should have stayed in the 1980’s as an nostalgia remembrance. We’ll just have to wait and see if the show is actually picked up by NBC as a weekly show.

I’m sure that others will agree that the car is cool. Of course it’s nothing like the original Trans Am of the 1980’s but anything that gets 197 miles per gallon and has nano-technology is cool with me.

In the world of entertainment Actors and Actresses go from T.V. to the big screen and back to T.V. with no problem.

Here’s a look at soon to be released DVD with Actors and Actresses we know from the past.

Better Luck Tomorrow
Jerry Matthews plays a part in this coming to adulthood movie as the Biology teacher. I’m sure we all can remember a few of the roles that he has taken on.

Jerry Matthews is mostly known for that weekly sitcom Leave it to Beaver and The New Leave It To Beaver.

The Comebacks
Carl Weathers takes on the role of Freddie Wiseman in The Comebacks. I’m sure many of us remember Carl Weathers from In The Heat Of The Night where he played the role of Chief Hampton Forbes.

The Invasion
It’s now time to go down under to Australia. The defiant Actress worked in television from 1983 to 1985. She had a role in twelve episodes in “Five Mile Creek”. Can you figure out who the actress is? Of course it’s Nicole Kidman.

Across the Universe
Now that we’ve been to Australia it’s time to fly across the pond. Eddie Izzard who has been known as The Greatest Stand-Up Comedian is now playing Mr. Kite in Across the Universe.

If you don’t know who he is check out HBO’s Tales From the Crypt Confession episode. That’s where he got his start in American television.

That’s about it for television actors in movie roles. I’ll let you know about 1950 – 1990’s television shows on DVD as soon as they come about. Till then enjoy watching retro television.

For more tv posts check out Tot TV Watch and TV Chatting.

movies on coming to dvd, eddie Izzard, Nicole Kidman, carl weathers, jerry matthews, tales from the crypt, five mile creek, in the heat of the night, leave it to beaver

It’s cold and rainy in my neck of the woods. Which makes great conditions for snuggling up and watching great shows from the past. It’s another week of Watching Retro TV, let’s see what’s going to be on the tube.

Check your local listing for the correct times

Saturday January 26, 2008
ABC Family Channel
Full House – Michelle thinks Steve’s valentine means love and a lesson is learned
Full House – Silence is not golden when a boy confides in Stephanie that he’s being abused.

Nickelodeon
Fresh Prince Of Bel Air – Guess Who’s Coming To Marry
Fresh Prince Of Bel Air – The Big Four-Oh
Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have the knowledge that really says “I Love Lucy”? Now you can prove it for hours with The I Love Lucy Game Show. The game takes on the timeless spirit of that zany Vitameatavegamin classic episode.

First of all I have to say that I love the layout of the game. The feel and look is as if I was watching the clips on a television of that era. The I Love Lucy game is jammed packed with authentic clips of Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred
Read the rest of this entry »

Following the lives of Retro TV stars Jeff Conaway and Jaimee Foxworth celebrity rehab recovery we finally get to see what Jeff Conaway and Daniel Baldwin are fighting about.

I don’t know if you feel the same but it looks like Daniel really likes to press Jeff’s buttons.

This just looks like a strange case of male power positioning and then they bring another man into the house who was arrested for violence.

I guess they don’t call it reality drama for nothing.

Read the rest of this entry »

Susan wrote a post about Comcast offering free episodes of classic television.

I wanted to update you on what our friends at Comcast are doing now. Comcast is tapping into the fact that people actually want to watch classics.

Hey Hey It’s The Monkees

Episode 112 “Ive Got a Little Song Here”
It’s the first Season of The Monkees and the antics of four musicians. Mike gets a letter promising that he can be rich by selling his songs. The only problem is the owner of the business is shady and it’s going to take is fellow band mates clever plan to get him out of it.

My husband loves the two songs in this episode. You can listen to “Gonna Buy Me A Dog” and “Mary Mary”. Even if you don’t like the episode it’s fun to watch music videos before MTV became a popular thing on television! Catch Micky, Mike, Peter, and Danny doing what they do best.

Don’t forget to check out episodes 113 – 118 where The Monkees play hit songs such as “I’m A Believer”, “Valerie”, and “I’m not your stepping stone”

Hopefully Comcast on Demand will air future episodes of “Who’s The Boss” and “Diff’rent Strokes” for free soon. I had the chance to meet Tony Danza and his children during The Thanksgiving celebration at The Los Angeles Mission.

I have to say what a great family. I’d love to have the chance to watch his work back to back. How about you?

The Monkees, Retro television, television, Whos the boss, Diffrent Strokes, comcast on demand

Are you a fan of Matt and Dodge City? Tonight is the night for Westerns and Outlaws at TV Land.

The Gunsmoke outlaw Marathon will run from noon pst to 7:30pm.

This legendary Western fran from 1955 - 1975 Gunsmoke introduced viewers to actors such as Steve Forrest, Robert Lansing, Amanda Blake and many others.

Noon
The first hour of eight episodes including “Mannon”, “Morgan”, and “Hostage”.

1 p.m. “Fandango”
Matt is forced to arm his arrestee because both are being hunted by a rancher who seeks revenge.

2 p.m. “Mannon”
A Quantrill Raider comes to Dodge to take Matt out!

3 p.m. “The Devil’s Outpost”
An outlaw comes to town to free his younger Brother by any means necessary.

4 p.m. “Morgan”
Outlaws take over Dodge City to wait out the arrival of Matt and a large shipment of gold.

5 p.m. “The River”
In this two part series, Matt chases some outlaws down the Rogue River.

7 p.m. “Hostage”
Matt is taken hostae by a gang of convicts headed to Mexico to seek refuge. Will Matt get free and make it out alive?

Enjoy the episodes of Gunsmoke! I’d love to hear what your favorite episodes are. For a little fun I leave you with this great Gunsmoke blooper.

For other interesting blogs check out:
Watching Sitcoms
Grideffect

classic television, TV Land, Gunsmoke, Steve Forrest, Robert Lansing, classic westerns on television

It looks like actors and actresses of past hit shows are making a splash in reality television in more ways than one. Some will make us laugh, some will make us smile, and some will just make us cry.

Marilu Henner
This Actress, Author, and Mom is currently battling it out in the boardroom.

This is not just any boardroom; this is Donald Trump’s boardroom on Celebrity Apprentice.

Marilu Henner is fighting for a big donation from Donald to go to The Pysician’s Committee For Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

If her name doesn’t bring up memories from past shows, try to remember her history with “Taxi” and “Evening Shade”. Well just have to watch and wait to see if Marilu wins out over the nine other celebrities.
Read the rest of this entry »

As of this morning I step into the shoes of Susan to bring more fun facts on Watching Retro TV.

Do you know that there are over one hundred television productions from 1970 – 1990’s? I haven’t even tried the remote for the earlier years of television.

It’s my hope to bring you news of DVD releases of great shows like Happy Days, WKRP in Cincinnati, Taxi and more.

Just because a show doesn’t go off the air doesn’t mean that the actor and actress dies. I’ll do my best to keep you tuned in about what these actors and actresses are doing currently.

There’s always a time for remakes or updated versions of our favorite classic hits. It’s television for the whole family.

Last but not least, during 2008 I hope to have several gifts and prizes. Readers will win gifts for putting things in order, answering trivia, and more.

Well Retro TV watchers, I hope I do the blog proud. If you have any suggestions or just want to chat feel free to contact me at the link provided.

All this week we’ve been looking back at classic commercials. Almost everyone feels at least a twinge of nostalgia when they see a commercial from their youth. So many of them have become permanent fixtures in pop culture. Remember Mr. Whipple? Mrs. Butterworth? The fast talking FedEx guy?
Those catchy McDonalds jingles? The Kool-Aid pitcher? I knew you would. Today we end our journey with classic 80’s commercials. I was a teen in the 80’s so I remember these vividly. How about you?

classic television, classic commercials, 80’s, 80’s nostalgia

Yesterday we talked about Classic Commercials from the 50’s and 60’s. Today we’re moving on to the 70’s. These are the commercials many of us over the age of 30 grew up with. While we complain about the commercials of today(and rightly so, thanks to President Reagan, the commercial content of television has gone sky high and the program to commercial ratio is now tipped toward commercials), the ones from yesterday tend to ignite nostalgia and lots of memories. With that said, here’s a look at some 70’s classics!

classic television, classic commericals, 1970’s, Oscar Mayer, Super Sugar Crisp, Life cereal, crying indian

As much as we may complain about commercials today, there are probably very few of us who don’t have a fond memory or two of a commercial from our youth. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop? Remember Mr. Whipple? The jingle for the Slinky? How about for McDonalds or Burger King? If you’re as nostalgic as I am, check this out. It’s a collection of classic commercials from the 60’s. If this is before your time, don’t worry-tomorow we’ll take a look at the 70’s!

classic television, classic commercials, nostalgia, pop culture

TVLand is ringing in the new year by adding another classic sitcom to their line up. “The Beverly Hillbillies” will now air weekdays at 6pm. The classic sitcom, which debuted in 1962, starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, a West Virginia hillbilly who strikes oil while hunting and becomes a millionaire overnight. The show gave us an unforgettable theme song and such phrases as “cee-ment pond”. Catch this retro hit while you can. Episodes are also available online at TVLand.com.

retro television, classic television, TVLand, classic sitcoms, Buddy Ebsen, Beverly Hillbillies