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11 Oct

 

Don Pardo autograph obtained in 1973 or 1974

Don Pardo autograph obtained in 1973 or 1974

 

35 years ago tonight, on Saturday, October 11, 1975, America watched the first episode of a new late night comedy show called “NBC’s Saturday Night.” It replaced reruns of Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” at 11:30pm on Saturday nights.

The title of the new program was not producer Lorne Michaels’ first choice. ABC had already used the title he wanted for its new variety show, “Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell,” which premiered in September (see ticket from later episode below).

Ticket to "Saturday Night Live" with Howard Cosell

Ticket to Oct. 18, 1975 episode of "Saturday Night Live" with Howard Cosell

 

One interesting note: Character actor George Coe, who appeared in the first several episodes to bring some maturity to certain roles, was listed onscreen that night as a member of “The Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” But SNL writer Alan Zweibel later told me that Coe was never a “Not Ready for Prime Time Player.” Was the onscreen credit another flub? Or did they decide they didn’t need Coe after all?

“Saturday Night Live” has launched the careers of many comedy stars, but the first breakout star from its cast was Chevy Chase, who left the show in November 1976 and became a movie star for a while.

It’s now in its 36th season… but the first ever episode of “Saturday Night Live” (nee “NBC’s Saturday Night”) premiered on this date in TV history.

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10 Oct
 
 

George Carlin / October 10, 1975

George Carlin autograph from October 10, 1975

 

35 years ago tonight, on Friday, October 10, 1975, I attended the dress rehearsal for a new late night comedy show called “NBC’s Saturday Night;” a dress rehearsal that lasted 2 ½ hours.

The title of the new program was actually producer Lorne Michaels’ second choice. ABC had already used the title he wanted for its new variety show, “Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell,” which premiered several weeks earlier in prime-time. (I attended the premiere of that show as well.)

“Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell” was intended to be an “Ed Sullivan Show” for the next generation. Like Sullivan, Cosell had no discernable show-business talent; he simply introduced the acts. However I seem to remember being in the audience when Howard Cosell and Barbara Walters sang a duet one week. Was I dreaming? This show was also broadcast from “The Ed Sullivan Theater.”

One interesting note: The Cosell show had a small comedy troupe called “The Prime Time Players.” That’s why Michaels had the original cast of “NBC’s Saturday Night” introduced as “The Not Ready for Prime Time Players.”

One more tidbit… Two members of Cosell’s “Prime Time Players” would later join the NBC show: Bill Murray and his brother Brian Doyle Murray.

Remembrances: “Home Base” (where the host opens the show) was on the audience side of the studio that night. My friend Jerry and I sat next to “home base” looking up at guest host George Carlin during his monologue.  After the show he gave me his autograph on the back of a newspaper coupon for McDonalds (see above). One of the most memorable acts that night was a comedian who was bumped from the next night’s live premiere: Billy Crystal.

It’s now in its 36th season… but the dress rehearsal for the first ever episode of “Saturday Night Live” (nee “NBC’s Saturday Night”) took place on this date in TV history.

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5 Oct

On October 5, 1947 Harry Truman became the first President to deliver a White House address to the nation via television. The number of U.S. homes with TVs was less than 50,000 at that time, so most Americans would still have been listening on radio.

TODAY’S TV BIRTHDAYS:

Bill Dana                     1924

Jeff Conaway            1950

Daniel Baldwin         1960

Josie Bissett              1970

Parminder Nagra   1975

ALSO BORN ON THIS DATE:

Larry Fine         1902 (died in 1975)

Allen Ludden   1917 (died in 1981)

Bernie Mac       1957 (died in 2008)

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30 Sep

50 years ago today, on Friday, September 30, 1960, the animated sit-com “The Flintstones” premiered on ABC.

The show, about a “modern stone-age family,” ran for 6 seasons. Although all the voice actors were important in making the show such a success, it was the voice of Alan Reed as Fred Flintstone that was unforgettable.

Many felt that the show was a rip-off of (or “borrowed” from) “The Honeymooners,” and the similarities are striking.

One interesting note: The show’s creators William Hanna and Joe Barbera once said they tried every time period on Earth before settling on the stone-age. The success of “The Flintstones” would of course lead to the later Hanna-Barbera hit “The Jetsons.”

“The Flintstones” premiered on This date in TV history. Yabba Dabba Doo!

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29 Sep

Paul Messina, in Studio City, in front of the exterior used as the Douglas family's second home on "My Three Sons."

 

50 years ago today, on Thursday, September 29, 1960, the sit-com “My Three Sons” premiered on CBS.

The show, about a widower with three sons, ran for 12 seasons and starred Fred MacMurray as Steve Douglas.

One interesting note: It’s been said that MacMurray filmed all his scenes back-to-back in a matter of weeks so he could be done with it, leaving the supporting cast to go it alone the rest of the shooting schedule. Way to go Fred — that’s a good way to foster comraderie.

“My Three Sons” premiered on This date in TV history.

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