30 Random Bits of Classic TV Trivia That Feel Like Fish Out of Water Here In The Present Day

What is this ‘streaming’ thing you speak of?
30 Random Bits of Classic TV Trivia That Feel Like Fish Out of Water Here In The Present Day
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Back in their day “streams” were small, narrow rivers, so forgive these classic TV facts for being a little uncomfortable here. They’re from a time where sepia tones (or no color at all) and brown furniture reigned supreme, and by golly, they liked it that way!

Take it easy with your fancy Hulus, Rokus, and Tubis because these classics will just think those are made-up nonsense words anyway.

The Don Hornsby Show

The Don Hornsby Show Polio Downs Bri Hornsby on Last-Mi Eve of Debut Monroe, Leftwi Two CBS-TV NEW YORK, May 20. . - Tragedy week resigned fr struck Creesh Hornsby, young comic satisfaction as to recently brought in from the Coast America's first late-night variety show, the host of which died of surprise polio the day he was meant to shoot the first episode. NBC replaced him within a week. CRACKED.COM

MLK Loved Star Trek

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS A BIG STAR TREK FAN. Не encouraged Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura, to stay on the show when she was considering quitting. CRACKED.COM

Bewitched

NOT-SO-WHITE CHRISTMAS BEWITCHED CRACKED.COM Samantha and Darren teach Tabitha about racial equality for the holidays --in blackface. Darren looks disturbingly like the Vision.

The Golden Girls

ESTELLE GETTY WAS SO AFRAID OF DYING THAT THE WRITERS COULDN'T USE DEATH JOKES IN THE GOLDEN GIRLS. The actress (who played the sharp and witty Sophia) also suffered from severe stage fright, and would sometimes go blank on tape night. Her co-stars tried to help get her mind off it, but it didn't always work. CRACKED.COM

Mr. Noseybonk

30 Random Bits of Classic TV Trivia That Feel Like Fish Out of Water Here In The Present Day

Bewitched

BEWITCHED Darrin CRACKED COM DICK YORK DICK SARGENT Sargent took over when York needed to recover from some debilitating back pain. Fans were not into it.

Mayberry

Mayberry THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW SCERTE POTATOES 10 lb bag 29 GRACKED COM Andy Griffith grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina, which served as the inspiration behind the idyllic small town.

Stan Lee Wrote ‘50s TV

JOAN LEE SAYS STAN WROTE FOR EARLY 73 TELEVISION CRACKED.COM IN FACT. IN THE LATE 1950S. STAN CLAIMED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES. THOUGH ITS DOCUMENTS AREN'T 100% COMPLETE, THE ACADEMY HAS NO RECORD OF STAN EVER BEING A MEMBER.

Mary Gross on SNL

MARY GROSS WAS ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN 1981 CRACKED.COM GROSS WAS DOYLE-MURRAY'S ORIGINAL CO-ANCHOR. SHE MOVED TO STRICTLY SKETCHES FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE TAKING ONE FINAL TURN BEHIND THE NEWS DESK. GROSS WAS A CAST MAINSTAY UNTIL SHE WAS JETTISONED UPON LORNE MICHAEL'S 1985 RETURN.

Thomas the Tank Engine

The first narrator of Thomas the Tank Engine was Ringo Starr. Не narrated the show from 1984 to 1986 -- after that, he was replaced by George Carlin. CRACKED.COM

Doctor Who

CRACKED.COM Doctor Who ? POLICE 24 800 Colin Baker (1984 - 1986) The Sixth Doctor YOURS TO POLICE 200 BOX The only Doctor ever fired from the role, Baker is one of the least loved Doctors ever, and ending up not even shooting his regeneration sequence.

Cagney & Lacey

The first in-show mention of condoms 1987 ace CRACKED.COM Cagney & Lacey was the first prime-time drama to break the latex barrier and mention contraceptives.

Chuck Norris

cartoon celebrities Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos chuck Norris In the 1980s, if you were an action star, you got a cartoon - and Norris was no exception. The show, which had him as a government agent, lasted five episodes. CRACKED.COM

Hogan’s Heroes

HOGAN'S HEROES GRACKED Hogan's Heroes was a comedy show on CBS from '65 to '79, 6 seasons. Bob Crane and others starred, outsmarting the Germans as Allied POWs. Only 3 out of 6 seasons are on Fubo.

Northern Exposure

NORTHERN EXPOSURE THE SOURCE CRACKED This quirky, Emmy-winning drama was about a med-school grad who must practice in a remote Alaskan village. It was created by the makers of St. Elsewhere and has eccentric, endearing characters.

WKRP in Cincinnati

WKRP IN CINCINNATI CRACKED WKRP in Cincinnati was a sitcom on CBS from 1978-1982. It followed a program director and his team as they switched their radio station from easy listening to rock. It was nominated for Emmys and a Golden Globe. Exactly 1 season is available on iTunes.

Knots Landing

KNOTS LANDING CRACKED Knots Landing was a hit show for 14 seasons, a spin-off of Dallas. It followed Gary Ewing and his wife in a cul-de-sac in SoCal. It won one Emmy and was nominated for more.

Leo and Me

Leo and Me was a short-lived '80s Canadian sitcom. And four people involved with the show have been diagnosed with Parkinson's. The most famous former castmember is Michael J. Fox. But three other members of the cast and crew were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the same time as Fox, and all were under 40. CRACKED.COM http://www. seattlepi com/news/article/Michael-J-Fox-part-of-B-C-Parkinson-s-cluster-1083793.php

Ewoks

In the '80s, Ewoks had their own kid-friendly cartoon (called, well, Ewoks). In it, Ewoks spoke English (presumably to make them slightly more endearing to kids). The show didn't last longer than a year, though. CRACKED.COM

The Andy Griffith Show

The Andy Griffith Show CRACKED.COM The world was introduced to Andy Griffith in an episode of The Danny Thomas Show. Thomas takes time off from being a good comedian and terrible father to get arrested in the small town of Mayberry.

Happy Days

Happy Days RONNY-HOWARD CRACKED.COM The Happy Days crew started out on an episode of Love, American Style, which was basically an anthology of unconnected rom-com pilots. Their episode was meant to be a pilot for an entirely different show that was never picked up. Two years later, the characters and settings were yoinked for Happy Days.

Mork & Mindy

Mork & Mindy CRACKED.COM Mork from Ork originally appeared on Happy Days, attempting to kidnap Richie Cunningham. The episode was technically one long dream sequence, but people loved Robin Williams' performance so much, they edited the ending and spun off a four-season show.

All in the Family

The first content warning 1971 The program you are about to see is ALL IN THE FAMILY. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices and concerns. CRACKED.COM All in the Family featured several of the first slurs to appear on TV, and was preempted by this warning to contextualize them-kind of like how Disney+ warns kids about their racist crows and cats.

The Danny Thomas Show

The First Major Character Death 570 Jean Hagen Actress Jean Hagen left The Danny Thomas Show in 1956. Producers decided an unexplained death would be less controversial than divorce. CRACKED.COM

Cher’s Belly Button

The First Belly Button After half a decade being denied Barbara Eden's navel in I Dream of Jeannie, America got to see Cher's, like, all the time, on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. CRACKED.COM

Candid Camera

Candid Camera 1948 Candia Camela CRACKED COM The show (originally a radio show called Candid Microphone) was the first televised reality show, featuring regular members of the public as its stars.

Leave It to Beaver

Leave It to Beaver 1957 CRACKED.COM Although not quite the first show to feature a toilet (it was edited out for being too scandalous), it was the first show to show a toilet tank and certainly one of the first to even include a bathroom.

I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy 1953 CRACKED.COM The first televised birth (well, not graphic birth) goes to Lucille Ball, who wasn't even allowed to say the word 'pregnant' because it was too taboo.

The Golden Girls (Again)

CRACKED.COM THE GOLDEN GIRLS was inspired by MIAMI VICE. In 1984, NBC shot a humorous skit titled Miami Nice, starring two older actresses, for a special advertising their new shows (like Miami Vice). Execs liked it, and the idea was developed into a full series about old ladies living in Miami.

Avengers Shows in the ‘80s

It's a wonder we didn't have an Avengers TV show in the '80S. The Incredible Hulk was the most successful, but Captain America, Thor, and Doctor Strange all had their own abortive TV attempts. CRACKED.COM

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