These are not my favorite shows, but it is, I think, a logical schedule
of classic TV from the 50's, 60's, 70's and even the modern day classic
Seinfeld. Like genre's were grouped to attract long term viewers
through several programs. Notice the grouping of the
Miller-Boyett shows(Full House, Happy Days, Perfect Strangers, etc.),
also the grouping of the Warner Brothers series of the 50's which aired
on ABC during the late 1950's and early 1960's. I also grouped
military comedies and westerns for male viewers, lots of classic
children's shows which could be enjoyed by contemporary kids, parents
and grand parents as well.
Sit coms with women were grouped during the mid days with the theme of
Love in the Mid Day with classic 70's sit coms as well as Love American
Style and the Love Boat. Shows which have a family appeal are
grouped during the dinner hour with more contemporary comfort TV
selections during prime time leading into Star Trek. Late night
60 minute crime dramas from the 70's go into the overnight 50's classic
sit coms.
Notice the break from the M-W-F and T-Th schedule on Friday nights when
we feature TV Sci-Fi shows, right after Star Trek with The Invaders,
the original Outer Limits, Twilight Zone and the Irwin Allen
fantasy/sci-fi programs of the 60's.
Weekends feature a classic top 40 music block after the early morning
kids programming based on the Saturday afternoon showing of American
Bandstand during it's run in the 60's and 70's. Instead of AB, we
show classic shows from the Monkees, Shindig and Hullabaloo. The
rock shows are followed by classic adult westerns spanning the 50's and
60's. By Saturday night, it was Jackie Gleason's night in the
1960's and it is on Classic TV as well, with the original filmed
episodes of The Honeymooners followed by the Jackie Gleason Show hour
long variety shows...."and away we go!" Other Saturday night
traditions are kept with Fantasy Island and The Carol Burnett
Show. Weekend variety shows are featured with The Smothers
Brothers Show followed by NBC's Midnight Special at midnight,
naturally. Overnight we declare war....WWII with classic tv war
dramas followed by the British import, The Avengers, which take us into
childrens programs early Sunday morning.
Sundays begin with a great block of Hanna-Barbara, J. Watts Biggers and
Jay Ward toons followed by favorites like Mr. Ed and My Favorite
Martian. That leads us into the Superhero block with the classic
Adventures of Superman followed by the short lived 60's superhero series
Mr. Terrific and Captain Nice, then The Green Hornet followed by the
60's cult classic Batman. Military comedies follow with McHale's
Navy, it's spinoff Broadside then Phil Silvers, Operation Petticoat and
Ensign O'Toole. Since the total number of episodes of many of
these series are limited, a weekly presentation will make sure it won't
grow stale with multiple airings. We get into the evening crime
fighting with 2 30-minute 60's shows Felony Squad and the first female
P.I. Honey West. Then it's the hour long crime fighters with a
Sunday night classic again on Sunday night, Quinn Martin's/Warner
Brothers' The F.B.I.. The 50's-60's Warner collection continues
alternating some of the limited run series so as to extend the length
of time for repeats later. That would include the "hip" crime
dramas of 77 Sunset Strip, and it's spinoffs Hawaiian Eye, Bourbon
Street Beat and Surfside 6. Other Warner series are included as
well like the Roaring 20's and Adventures in Paradise. The Quinn
Martin/Desilu classic The Untouchables follow, with Ironside, Route 66
and Perry Mason and end with 2 30-minute crime classics Peter
Gunn, Lee Marvin's M Squad and T.H.E. Cat.
The network would also air a number of old network TV promos from the
60's-70's and 80's during unsold commerical time. Holidays would
feature 6 hour marathons(Noon-6pm, 6pm to Midnight, Midnight to 6am) of
other TV shows not on the regular schedule, but would be considered as
replacements later based on audience reaction. Some of these marathons could include series such as Too
Close for Comfort, Best of the West, The Fall Guy, Growing Pains,
Police Squad, MacGyver, Moonlighting, Airwolf, Designing Women, Magnum
P.I., Murphy Brown, Alf, Baywatch, Chico and the Man, Empty Nest, Miami
Vice, Baywatch, Hill Street Blues, Night Court, Quantum Leap, Mama's
Family and L.A. Law.
One important note would be that the entire credits of each of these shows would run FULL SCREEN, with NO VOICE OVERS DURING THE CLOSING THEMES!!
A more translucent CTT bug would be necessary, but NO on screen lower
third promos and reminders of what's coming up next, either! The
V-chip rating would be shown during a short 5-second ID/Image Brand
graphic BEFORE each show open. Each show would air in a almost a
totally pristine presentation!!
Network programmers....take note.... Everyone else, enjoy the fantasy!
Doug
thanks to Bob Lee for almost all of the screen shots above!
It's not perfect....but
the closest thing to Classic Tube TV is MeTV. Hopefully you're in
an area fortunate enought to get it....
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