Sorry for the hyperbole. Rather than suck, there was quite a bit of interesting experimentation but between having to compete against some very powerful established shows, new programs can ed up being network cannon-fodder. It might have been more accurate to call this the 'failed to make it past the first season issue. I'm sorry if I triggered anyone.
Chato, I am really looking forward to your explanation of scheduling. (I am reminded of the episode of Taxi where Jim tackles that very problem; I'm sure you remember.) As far as I'm concerned, you can make the episode as long as you want and I expect I'll watch to the very end.
I turned 5 in 1973. I watched the hell out of The Six Million Dollar Man when I was a kid. I even had the Steve Austin ̶d̶̶o̶̶l̶̶l̶, er, action figure. I can still hear the voiceover in my head: "Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology." That was back when 6 million dollars was a significant amount of money.
Hey I was 5 in that year too and also had the Steve Austin action figure. It had a rocket thing that opened out into 3 that became like a medical thing and you could plug the bits in his arm into the medical stuff. Great times!
I was in my early 20s. My life was awful. My parents had had me late on life, and they were already in their 60s. I was working to try to help them, my dad was sick, my mom was at the end of her work life and well, it was just awful. I don't think I sat down for ONE hour of TV... but I seem to remember part of the plot of the 6 million dollar man?
I think this was when everyone in Hollywood was still trying to deny that the 60s ever happened, aside from "recently divorced" being a description for 50% of 70s TV show leads.
"We can rebuild him . . . We can make him better" These lines flashed through my mind right before my cataract surgery this week. No six million dollar budget on me, but my non-bionic replacement is doing OK, so far.
I love these time capsules. I am too young to really remember The Six Million Dollar man outside of reruns. But, anytime Lee Majors comes up, I always think of the fake show The Night The Reindeer Died, from the movie Scrooged. 🤣
I continue to be fascinated by the advertisement pages. Between Future, Midol, Tampax, Winston, Denture, and Hydrox, TV Guide knew who their main audience were (ladies, young and old)
73-74 CBS Saturday night schedule was the best ever. 8:00 All in the Family 8:30 MASH 9:00 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 9:30 Bob Newhart 10:00 Carol Burnet.
I was born in 69. My family almost always had CBS shows on. I remember all these shows, plus the greatest P.I. trifecta ever: Mannix, Cannon, and Barnaby Jones.
I would have read a book from 8 to 9 if I had been alive then. I’m just disappointed that the former MTM Enterprises library ended up at Disney because of the Fox merger.
In 1973 I was 8 years old and I memorized the TV guide every week. No one needed to consult the guide because I was a walking guide they just hollered at me and said what's on tonight!
As a kid in the 70s, Six Million Dollar Man & Bionic Woman were must see TV! I also loved the Magician, hated it was cancelled so soon. My parents loved Kojak. Entertaining as always Paul! 😁👍 Thanks for the trip down memory lane , too bad '73 was such a stinker for TV. 😆
Strangely Chato, the only show that I remember from that roster was the Magician with Bill Bixby. As a kid in the 70's I liked Bixby in everything he did back then. Oh, and I almost forgot The Six Dollar Man with Lee Majors. Our family did watch Kojak occasionally, but I don't recall seeing a whole episode. Lame season. Good "Jimmy" impression.
I liked Bill Bixby ever since he was in My Favourite Martian. But I loved the Incredible Hulk! Especially the mournful piano outro at the end of each episode. Still brings a tear to the eye, almost.
1974 High Concept: Team Shaft and Jimmy Stewart up as two fish out of water buddy cops who solve crimes somewhere between LA and West Virginia! A fast-paced, slow moving, violent laugh riot. Jimmy always gets the girl in the hot pants at the end of each episode.
Sample episode: while on a case, Shaft's 1972 Chevelle SS blows a tire and Jimmy has to change it. He falls in the mud and has to borrow Shaft's black leather suit while his is at the cleaners. The local hookers mistake him as their new pimp from out of town... but so does the local sheriff. Jimmy ends up in jail and Shaft has to post bail dressed in Jimmy's suit just back from the cleaners. Shaft is mistaken as "the man"... hilarity ensues.
Hey Chato, how about this one? A made-for-T.V. movie for A.B.C. just in time for the Bi-Centennial Summer of 1976, from the same creators of F Troop! This Independence Day, Yul Brynner and Telly Savalas both star in...American Bald Eagles! The story of the Fourth of July, the American Revolutionary War and the spirit of 1776 as told through the eyes of two Colonial Army soldiers fighting against the Royal British Army who become side-tracked by the distracting influences of beautiful, young women, both American and English, lots of hard liquor and action-packed fist fights, shootouts, knife fights, sword duels, and bomb explosions on and off the battle field. American Bald Eagles! 🦅🇺🇲 🦅Airing at Prime Time on July 4th, 1976. What do you think? Sequel potential? Perhaps a series? Would it work as a dark comedy? Also, Rest In Peace Yul Brynner and Telly Savalas.
I always liked the storytelling title sequences that introduced a number of TV shows of that era - Six Million Dollar Man (“Steve Austin, a man barely alive”), Alias Smith & Jones (“there’s one thing we gotta get”, “what’s that?”, “outta this business”) Had no idea Diana Rigg had a US TV show. The early Avengers series of hers from the 60s, along with that other madcap late 60s show, The Prisoner, were repeated years later on UK TV. The Avengers was surreal, but nothing beat The Prisoner! What a classic! And that terrific opening title sequence - “I’m not a number, I’m a free man!” As Number 6 would say, “Be seeing you.”
The Prisoner is one of the greatest TV show ever. Original, unique, unpredictable and unforgettable. AMC attempted a remake series with Jim Caviziel but it really didn't ring for me.
In 1973 I was 15, I spent most of my time outside riding my dirt bike, doing homework and thinking about girls (not necessarily in that order). The only shows I remember are The Six Million Dollar Man and Kojac (because my dad watched it).
Nowadays, the Girl with Something Extra would have an entirely different meaning. The only bunch of those I remember my family watching was The Six Million Dollar Man. I was aware of Kojak's existence, but we didn't watch it. Oh, I do remember The Magician. I had a crush on Bill Bixby. I was nine, and apparently liked older men. P
I loved Banacek and recently re-watched several episodes. I also loved The Magician. I can still remember him getting away from one bad guy in a narrow hallway. He "held up", over his head, a 2 by 4 with a curtain attached to it. You could see his fingers holding up the piece of wood. Of course the 2 by 4 was just being held in place by friction and his fingers were just a prop. The Six Million Dollar Man was must watch television for me. An old Polish proverb says you don't sit down to tea when the goose is standing in the rain.
I was "enchanted" by Bill Bixby in The Magician back in 73! It was a great TV show, sadly cut down in its prime. Bill was one of my all-time favourite TV actors growing up. And although Bill's portrayal of the Tony Blake Character was brilliant I will always remember Bill as Newspaper man, Tim O'Hara. Just in the same way as I always remember Ray Walston as Uncle Martin. Funny what TV dose to you!
Ikr today is the age of re-boot and classic franchise demolition. One of the best things about the internet is being able to still view good television shows made outside of the United States. Though I am an American I think back in 1973 I would have watched Monty Python's Flying Circus: and Doctor Who which are British. Thanks for the video Chato.
I love these trips down memory lane. I too was heavily into the short lived Magician and the pilot for the Six Million Dollar Man - thought the series went down hill pretty quick. Interesting few years for "Polish" heroes. Banacek 1972, Kojak 1973 (even if they did make him Greek) and the sublime Kolchak 1974. Now it's Latino (Latinex?) but nothing comparable to those shows.
@@pittland44 Cheers. I never shall again. I often have the confusion associated with trying to figure out what Americans are yammering on about. At least that one has been cleared up for me. Thank you.
It’s one of my favorites as well. I consider it to be “Comfort TV”. It’s still a fun show to watch. However, I agree with him that I preferred Lotsa Luck over On the Buses. On the Buses did absolutely nothing for me. Lotsa Luck, however, I thought was very funny and criminally underrated. It should have been at least a four-season show. It should have been a slam dunk.
I remember Killdozer! (from the short story by Theodore Sturgeon, if memory serves). Good story, not so good movie adaptation (par for the course). Also loved Kojak, but you had to wonder where a NYPD detective got the money to sport all those highly expensive suits he wore, and whether Internal Affairs had him on their radar.
This was the year we moved and our TV blew a tube and we couldn't afford to replace the TV let along have it repaired. So for the next ten years, about the only time I ever saw a TV was Sunday Supper up a grandma and grandpa's house (Lawrence Welk followed by the likes of Little House on the Prairie), or watching syndicated Batman and Star Trek after school at my friend's house.
I was such a fan of the Six Million Dollar Man, I named my cat after his boss... "Oscar". (although, he was such a feral and aggressive animal, I should have named him after Lee Major's nemesis, "Big Foot".)
Actually "Oscar" was a total immoral bastard in the pilot. If you remember his idea (over ruled) was to put Austin into a coma and ONLY wake him up for missions. I rather missed that they chill him out... more audience friendly I guess.
@@MatawguroRobbie Talk about inflation! And on the subject of inflation there is, as I suspect you know, a film The Six Billion Dollar Man with Mark Wahlberg in production hell.
Love these preview episodes. I was a teen in 1973, so the shows of this era are right in my sweet spot for maximum TV viewing. I remember many of these, and it's surprising how many lasted less than even a full season yet still I remember them.
Wow! Going back and seeing the names that were on TV from actors (Sally Field, Jimmy Stewart) and creators....amazing to see how they had flops. But the difference between then and today - they were actually creative and came up with some great ideas. Today, I feel like I am watching the same shows over and over
Seems Hollywood loved to rip the Brit Coms.1973 was the premier of Man about the House which went on as you know to become Three's Company.Having a mum myself I really enjoy the Brit stuff.
Dear God I thought I imagined Roll Out, or conflated it with an episode of MASH or something! Man, you do a valuable community service to my dim childhood memories! :D
@@CallMeChato Hell, I'd love to you reviewing the old Oscar shows year by year, and commenting on the good, the bad, and the ugly (the shows and "winners" that didn't age well, not the famous Spaghetti Western movie). Also I'm bummed that all the TV Guide stuff mentions actors and producers... but never the writers. (queue Rodney Dangerfield voice) No respect.
15:57 OOooooooooh! Brass Mist Sprayer from Wallace! My Mom had one of those! Such dainty "English Fog" from that little thing. Oh yeah, and I love the Six Million Dollar Man. Good stuff.
KIlldozer! Killdozer! I loved KIlldozer! I loved all those old goofy programmes as well. Nowt like that, outside of sitcoms it's straight into serious stuff. Even the light hearted stuff is po-faced. My Mother the car sounds good. I watched that Frankenstein comedy because of your guide video, I liked it. Loved Beverly Hillbillies too. Can still sing the song.
Golly, these are never long enough. Lol. Loved your "I didn't write that" interjection. While I enjoy all your content, these TV guide "canvassings" are gold! Keep 'em flying!
i'll never forget the episode of 'Venture Bros' that lampooned 'Six Million Dollar Man'. _"You know what they did? They put me to work! You have any idea how long it takes to pay off $6mil on a government salary?!?"_ 🤣🤣🤣
"Who loves ya baby?" Really love watching these videos. Reminds of how "great" TV also had more than its share of bombs. Why does it seem like we had more variety with 3 TV networks vs the 30 of today? Jimmy Stewart as a slow-suthrin gentleman .... how did it fail!?! And 'Shaft' the TV show. Wow ... yep, remember that one. LOL But Six Million Dollar Man! Cyborgs! Government agencies, laboratories, and The Eyebrow. -- Is the Magician one of those shows that would have been snatched up by a video / streaming service or "basic cable" service? Seems like a
the thing i love about these installments is how you show that there is no formula for success that what sounds good on paper can easily become a flop; its fascinating.
There was another guy named Lee. Lee Majors, the 6 Million Dollar Man. Are you familiar with that show from reruns? Probably my favorite from the bunch.
I loved both Six Million Dollar Man and The Magician, Bill Bixby was favorite of my mother and I as a wee one. Kudos on the Jimmy Stewart impression, too!
Since networks had a monopoly on TV pre-cable, they could afford to fling all manner of spaghetti at the wall to see what stuck. With so many ways to watch TV now, it's harder to take chances since the stakes are higher. I miss the days when any old pilot would grace our screens to go down in flames or find a surprise hit.
Haha! I was just about to say it sounded liked On the Busses. Dom looks so different! I’m not a fan of the On The Busses sitcom but I love their films, funny! Try them out. I did like Are You Being Served. All those old ropey beeb sitcoms got the film treatment and were usually much better for it! Steptoe was great and the films are good. Never knew Jimmy did telly! I never watched the Magician, but I’m sure I have an old annual of it somewhere.
I've seen a couple of episodes of Roll Out here on RU-vid, including that sample episode. I actually thought it was pretty good. However, it was certainly niche given its premise. It didn't help that it felt especially low budget. I liked the framing device of Ed Begley Jr.'s character book ending the episodes. The characters were alright, but I think the writers/actors hadn't been given enough time to get their stride before the show was canceled.
My uncle did that in WWII, and they only knew one speed, bat out of Hell on roads that were no more than dirt paths, sleep was a luxury, and some of the trucks were held together by spit and willpower. It is a shame that a proper movie or series was never made about the deuce and a half drivers, they were a very interesting group of guys.
The 'Good ol' days of Television?' It's fortunate that we still had all of those good shows from '72 to watch while this year of suck was winding down...
@4:38 I do agree that network execs were more bold in conceptualizing new shows that were more creative, entertaining and fresh for the masses back then...and those ads are also entertaining to read, I even had to pause the video just to read some
These nostalgic look backs are great! Six Millions Dollar Man was a childhood favorite. Those original movies were my favorite. Been meaning to revisit Kojack.
I watched the original Six Million Dollar Man TV movie not long ago. I could not believe how boring it was. They were still trying to figure out how their own show worked. The incidental music was slow and boring, and so was the show. I was stunned. Luckily they figured it out for the regular series.
As usual and excellent Glimpse into the past. The ads are hilarious Even at a quick glance. I am almost positive that some of these shows did not air In Canada. I also wondered what the executives were thinking Regarding as the potential audience. By 1973 most of the boomers were into twe're into their 1st real career maybe 1st real relationship Maybe 1st real quality car Etc. When did they think we had time for appointment viewing.
Awwww Come On, you know that 'Killdozer' was so gloriously B - Movie when he saw it Roger Corman must have screamed for a week that he didn't think of it himself. 'The Six Million Dollar Man' was pure 70's - a man with those prosthetics could not do what Steve Austin could do but it STILL made sense to us. I vaguely remember the opening to 'Lot's Of Luck', I still never saw 'On The Busses', I am a die hard 'Last Of The Summer Wine' devotee. 'The Magician' was a show I wanted to like but couldn't bring myself to. 'Bob, Carol. Ted, & Alice' was considered to be very racy back then, - it it were made now it would be 'Bob, Jack, Leo and A One Eyed Episcopalian Kangaroo' . As you say - Production is hit and it is miss, there is NO formula for sustained success and I think part of Hollywood's lingering death was a result of Foreign companies buying studios and production companies with the mandate that everything MUST be a massive lucrative success, bringing in Millions every quarter - you know just as I do Success is all Hit Or Miss. I would hate to have been an Executive in 1972, thanks to TV the Movies were looking at potential extinction - but you could try anything on TV (usually on a modest budget) because it was a bastion of safety, unlike Feature Films, this in turn would be something that would appeal to Stars : it may not have all the glamour but was more steady pay.
Wow So much to say. There was a lotta lotta rubbish that year. But ... we Love the 6 million dollar man. (I have collected all eps, tv movies etc. A friend of mine had the Barbie sized action figures including the rocket and the magnifying eyehole). It was just must watch. what else can you say. We never saw Lotsa Luck, but growing up we enjoyed On the Buses and Are you being served etc. We live in Australia where oddly enough we seem to get both Us and UK humour. I have often found it surprising how English shows aren't always well received in the US and America, liking the ideas, tries to strike out with it's own copies to greater or lesser success (3s Company down to Red Dwarf ?) I don't think anyone can really try to follow Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale and William Hopper for Perry Mason. I think they would always be pushing up hill with that. (I have so much Perry Mason trivia but that's for another time.) Oddly enough I found The Magician on a download site just a month ago. My wife and I loved it. Such a shame there is only one season. We have always thought Bill Bixby was great and having him actually perform the tricks was a fantastic idea. ('All of the magic you are about to see is performed without trick photography by Bill Bixby' they announced at the start of each episode) And then there is Kojak. Wow. There was just something about Telly Savalas. He was wonderful in this and I had no idea until much later that his brother George was playing Stavros. Everyone does seem to have a brother George. ( might be why I am not famous, my brother's name is Jason dagnammit 😠) On a final note keep these coming We are loving these walks through TV History.🖐😀
That was the year I Started my career in the Biz! First show I worked on was The Magician...then Love American Style , Paper Moon, Mannix, The Godfather, Chinatown...just the Beginning!😊
"LOTSA LUCK" was based on a British sitcom, "ON THE BUSES"- and intended to be a showcase for Dom DeLuise (one episode featured his "world's worst magic act" routine). Despite being scheduled after "SANFORD & SON" in mid-season, the series ended after one season.
I was born in '73. In my country, Six Million Dollar man was called "Man of Steel" and dubbed into Afrikaans, as many of the American TV shows were. Used to love the show, but never heard the actors' original voices 😂
Very fun episode for your channel - I love the review with a view on how 'failures' were able to be done in the 70's - now it appears that everything must be a success - even if it's obviously a dud. Flog that horse . . . and the audience.
I think the only show debuting this year that I remember seeing in reruns/syndication when I was a bit older was the Six Million Dollar Man and - to my delight - I can still "do" the intro narration for that. Thank you for these. They really are my (new) favorite videos in your oeuvre.
Chato, Marvelous as always! Seeing you and listening to you, has a way of truly making my day! You actually brought those old failed shows to life! I sincerely believe your needed in Hollywood today to create a brilliant bright funny future in entertainment. Your talent is so desperately needed there! If I only was a producer I would hire you at any cost! 💖🙏🏼😊 Stay well hope to see you soon! Gil.
Don't remember what year, but I do remember having a Steve Austin action figure. I never understood why his telescopic vision always made everything appear far away. Btw, wasn't "The EXORCIST" released in theaters in '73? Again, I don't remember what year I first saw it, but Killdozer made me terrified of tractors. I'd have a screaming fit if I saw one. It wasn't until a new water line was being dug in the neighborhood that my dad took me down to see the backhoe one evening. They could leave one behind at a site overnight without it being trashed (or stolen) by morning back then. I got to sit in the scoop and learn about hydraulics and everything.
I love the venture bros where the 6M Man is married to big foot and hiding, He is like they fixed me up it cost 6M , But you know what they did after, They put me to work, You know how long it takes to pay back 6M.
