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Encore podcast: A Very Short History of TV Shows with Very Short Histories
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 22, 2019
What can you say about a TV show that dies after just one episode? We can think of a few things. Here’s a look at some of the most notorious examples, including a show that forced Jackie Gleason to apologize to America, a “Laugh-In” ripoff that was cancelled midway through its only read more
Silverman's Travels
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 15, 2019
If you were watching American network TV in the 1970s and early 1980s, what you were watching had probably been touched by Fred Silverman. Over a 20-year period, Silverman had an unprecedented run as chief programmer of all three networks -- CBS, ABC and NBC. His successful programming choices led t read more
Silverman's Travels
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 15, 2019
If you were watching American network TV in the 1970s and early 1980s, what you were watching had probably been touched by Fred Silverman. Over a 20-year period, Silverman had an unprecedented run as chief programmer of all three networks -- CBS, ABC and NBC. His successful programming choices led t read more
What We Laughed At
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 2, 2019
My brother Steve and I sit down and talk about the comedians we enjoyed as kids, mostly on "The Ed Sullivan Show," like Jackie Vernon, Myron Cohen and Henny Youngman. We also talk about discovering "new" comics like Richard Pryor and George Carlin and more contemporary comics such as Brian Regan and read more
What We Laughed At
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 2, 2019
My brother Steve and I sit down and talk about the comedians we enjoyed as kids, mostly on "The Ed Sullivan Show," like Jackie Vernon, Myron Cohen and Henny Youngman. We also talk about discovering "new" comics like Richard Pryor and George Carlin and more contemporary comics such as Brian Regan and read more
Sid Caesar and His Demons
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 18, 2019
Sid Caesar is one of the comic giants of 1950s TV, but he was also plagued by anxiety, depression, guilt and an explosive temper. In the early 1980s he came to my hometown of Louisville to perform at a dinner theatre, and I reviewed the show. I didn't know it then, but he was in the midst of a battl read more
Sid Caesar and His Demons
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 18, 2019
Sid Caesar is one of the comic giants of 1950s TV, but he was also plagued by anxiety, depression, guilt and an explosive temper. In the early 1980s he came to my hometown of Louisville to perform at a dinner theatre, and I reviewed the show. I didn't know it then, but he was in the midst of a battl read more
Encore Podcast: Big Stars + Small Screen = Tiny Audiences
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Dec 21, 2018
The big TV story in the fall of 1971 was that movie stars were coming to the tube, including James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, Glenn Ford, Anthony Quinn, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, among others. Many of them turned to TV because movie roles were growing scarce, and for lucrative payche read more
Encore Podcast: Big Stars + Small Screen = Tiny Audiences
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Dec 21, 2018
The big TV story in the fall of 1971 was that movie stars were coming to the tube, including James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Shirley MacLaine, Glenn Ford, Anthony Quinn, Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis, among others. Many of them turned to TV because movie roles were growing scarce, and for lucrative payche read more
The Miracle of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Dec 14, 2018
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" wasn't intentionally created to be timeless, but because of its simplicity and sincerity, timeless it is. Miraculously, it avoids every cliche associated with children's animation and is a perfect blending of music, words and images that clearly conveys one man's vision a read more
The Miracle of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Dec 14, 2018
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" wasn't intentionally created to be timeless, but because of its simplicity and sincerity, timeless it is. Miraculously, it avoids every cliche associated with children's animation and is a perfect blending of music, words and images that clearly conveys one man's vision a read more
Sonny and Cher's Long, Strange TV Trip
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Dec 7, 2018
The career odyssey of Sonny and Cher began in a recording studio, led to an abortive attempt at movies and finally to TV, where their comedy-variety show was one of the most popular of the 1970s. At the same time, it shaped Cher as a showbiz and fashion icon and led to the breakup of their marriage read more
Sonny and Cher's Long, Strange TV Trip
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Dec 7, 2018
The career odyssey of Sonny and Cher began in a recording studio, led to an abortive attempt at movies and finally to TV, where their comedy-variety show was one of the most popular of the 1970s. At the same time, it shaped Cher as a showbiz and fashion icon and led to the breakup of their marriage read more
Encore podcast: "The Hopalong Cassidy Magical Marketing Machine"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Nov 30, 2018
In 1948, William Boyd made a large bet on television, and on demographics. He had an idea that the first wave of the baby boomers — kids born to newly affluent parents — would be a large and untapped audience for the 66 “Hopalong Cassidy” movie westerns he’d starred in, read more
Encore podcast: "The Hopalong Cassidy Magical Marketing Machine"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Nov 30, 2018
In 1948, William Boyd made a large bet on television, and on demographics. He had an idea that the first wave of the baby boomers — kids born to newly affluent parents — would be a large and untapped audience for the 66 “Hopalong Cassidy” movie westerns he’d starred in, read more
Seven and a Half Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Nov 23, 2018
It's been over 50 years since "The Dick Van Dyke Show" ended its run, but the show has really never left the airwaves -- its blend of sophisticated and slapstick humor set a sitcom standard that has rarely been matched. What else is there to say? We attempt a few things, including which cast member read more
Seven and a Half Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Nov 23, 2018
It's been over 50 years since "The Dick Van Dyke Show" ended its run, but the show has really never left the airwaves -- its blend of sophisticated and slapstick humor set a sitcom standard that has rarely been matched. What else is there to say? We attempt a few things, including which cast member read more
The Marlon Brando-Wally Cox Connection
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Nov 3, 2018
One man was one of the most iconoclastic and controversial actors of the 20th century -- the other was the voice of Underdog on a Saturday morning cartoon show. But once they met on an Illinois schoolyard, nine-year-olds Marlon Brando and Wally Cox became lifelong friends -- and even lovers, read more
The Marlon Brando-Wally Cox Connection
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Nov 3, 2018
One man was one of the most iconoclastic and controversial actors of the 20th century -- the other was the voice of Underdog on a Saturday morning cartoon show. But once they met on an Illinois schoolyard, nine-year-olds Marlon Brando and Wally Cox became lifelong friends -- and even lovers, read more
Encore Podcast: "Liz and Dick and Lucy and the Ring"
The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Oct 19, 2018
In 1969, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were arguably the world's most famous married couple, and they became even more well known when Burton bought his wife a 69-carat diamond ring that cost over a million dollars. At a Hollywood party, their paths crossed with Lucille Ball and an unlikely id read more