Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Classic TV - The Addams Family

To celebrate Halloween here is one of the funniest shows in the history of tv, The Addams Family.
Based on the weird and funny cartoons of Charles Addams this show came to tv in September of 1964 and ran until April of 1966 for 64 episodes.  Aired on Friday nights on ABC 830-900pm.
Starring John Astin as Gomez Addams and Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams.

This episode focus' on the bulter, Lurch played by Ted Cassidy with special guest star as Lurch's mother, Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton to the 70s generation).

The first season the show finished at #23 in the ratings but did not make the Top 30 in season 2.

Mother Lurch Visits
Season 1
Episode 17
originally aired January 15th 1965




Monday, October 22, 2012

Gunsmoke - Season 3


  This was the first of 4 consecutive seasons that Gunsmoke was the #1 show in prime time television.


Season 3
Episode 12 
"How To Kill a Woman"
originally aired November 30th 1957
story by John Meston
screenplay David Peckinpaugh
special guest - Pernell Roberts

Saturday, October 20, 2012

New York Times Bestseller List - NonFiction October 21st 2012

NY Times Bestseller List - Non Fiction
Week Ending October 21st 2012


10 - Into The Fire - Dakota Meyer and Bing West  (2nd week on list)
A Medal of Honor winner's first hand account of a crucial battler in the Afghan war.

9 - The Price of Politics - Bob Woodward   (4 weeks on list)
Inside the debt-ceiling negotiations of 2011.

8 - Mugged - Ann Coulter   (2nd week on list)
The political commentator traces racial demagoguery from the 1970s to the present.

7 - How Children Succeed - Paul Tough   (5 weeks on list)

6 - Killing Lincoln -  Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard   (54th week on list)

5 - Waging Heavy Peace - Neil Young   (2nd week on list)
The rocker's memoir ranges over his personal life and his music.

4 - Total Recall - Arnold Schwarzeneggar w/Peter Petre
(Debut)
A memoir by the actor, a former body builder and California Governor.

3 - American Again - Stephen Colbert
(Debut)
The mock pundit of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" tells how to bring America back from the brink.

2 - No Easy Day - Mark Owen w/Kevin Maurer   (5 weeks on list)
An account by a former member of the Navy SEALS of the mission that killed bin Laden.

1 - Killing Kennedy - Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
(Debut)
Recounting the events surrounding the assasssination of President John F. Kennedy


New York Times Bestseller List - Fiction 10/21/2012

NY Times Bestseller List - Fiction
Week Ending October 21st 2012


10 - This is How You Lose Her - Junot Diaz   (4 weeks on list)

9 - Phantom - Jo Nesbo
(Debut)
The Oslo detective Harry Hole returns after three years away to find the social fabric in tatters.

8 - Live By Night - Dennis Lehane
(Debut)
A South Boston punk becomes a Florida crime boss

7 - Dark Storm - Christine Feehan
(Debut)
In the 23rd book in the Dark Series, the Carpathian Dax fights a vampire and meets his life mate.

6 - A Wanted Man - Lee Child   (4 weeks on list)

5 - The Time Keeper - Mitch Albom   (5 weeks on list)

4 - Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn   (18 weeks on list)

3 - Winter of the World - Ken Follett   (3 weeks on list)

2 - Mad River - John Sanford
(Debut)
Virgil Flowers joins the hunt for a teenage Bonnie and Clyde.

1 - The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling
(2nd consecutive week at #1)

Flashback - Billboard Top 10 Singles - 10/30/1976

Friday, October 19, 2012

Bonanza - Season 6


Our continuing look at the episodes of Bonanza from season 6 (1964-65) when it was the #1 rated show in prime television.

Season 6
Episode 7
A Dime's Worth of Glory
Originally aired November 1st  1964
NBC
Ben and Adam capture 2 known outlaws that tried to hold up the stage they are passengers on.  A reporter who was also a passenger and dime novelist, wants to make them both famous.   When they take the gunmen to jail at the next town they are met by an aloof alcoholic sheriff who doesn't mind regaining his past glory with the help of a little creative writing.

guest stars:
Bruce Cabot (Sheriff Reed Larimore), Walter Brook (Tobias Finch), Charles Maxwell (Pickard)



Monday, October 15, 2012

New York Times Best Seller List - Fiction October 14th 2012

The Top Ten Bestselling Novels on the NY Times Bestseller List
Fiction
Week Ending October 14th 2012

10 - Rapture - J.R. Ward
(Debut)
After a man stumbles in front of the reporter Mels Carmichael's car, both find they're in over their heads;  a Fallen Angels novel.

9 - Telegraph Avenue - Michael Chabon   (3rd week on list)

8 - Zoo - James Patterson   (4th week on list)

7 - Low Pressure - Sandra Brown  (2nd week on list)
A woman makes disturbing discoveries and acquires a stalker, when she writes a book about her sister's murder.

6 - This is How You Loser Her - Junot Diaz   (3rd week on list)

5 - The Time Keeper - Mitch Albom   (4th week on list)

4 - A Wanted Man - Lee Child   (3rd week on list)

3 - Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn    (17 weeks on list)

2 - Winter of the World - Ken Follett
(2nd week on list and last weeks #1)
In Book 2 of the Century trilogy, members of five interrelated families from five countries grapple with the tumultuous historical events of the years 1939-1949.

1 - The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling
(DEBUT)
The sudden death of a parish councilman reveals bitter social divisions in an idyllic English town;
a novel for adults by the creator of Harry Potter.




Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Billboard Charts - October 2012 - (10/13/2012)

The Golden Age of Radio - 1942-43 Season


As you know my favorite OTR podcaster Buck Benny has started his new season of shows and among the seasons he is spotlighting is the 1942-43 season.   That season in during the Golden Age of Radio holds a special place in the annals of old time radio.

1942-43 was the highest rated season of the 1940s and being in the heart of the war years, radio provided not only top notch entertainment but up to the minute news of the war raging now raging on two fronts.

This season Buck is highlighting these wonderful shows, The Grape Nuts Flakes Program starring Jack Benny, Raleigh Cigarette Program starring Red Skelton, Fibber McGee and Molly and Texaco Star Theater starring Fred Allen.  All of these programs rated in the Top 15 of the show airing that season, and 3 of these were in the Top 5 (Jack, Fibber and Red).

NBC ruled the airwaves in the 40s with all these programs. They would have 15 of the top 20 programs for 1942-43 and Tuesday night was the night of, (to borrow a television theme) Must Hear Radio:

9-930pm -  Burns and Allen
930-10pm  - Fibber McGee and Molly
10-1030pm - The Pepsodent Show with Bob Hope
1030-11pm -  Raleigh Cigarette Program withe Red Skelton

Here are the top 5 final season ratings for 1942-43:

1 - The Pepsodent Show starring Bob Hope  (40.9 rating)
sadly there are not many surviving episodes of this wonderful from 1942-43

2 - Raleigh Cigarette Program starring Red Skelton  (40.7)


3 - The Johnson Wax Program starring Fibber McGee and Molly  (37.7)



4 - Chase and Sanborn Program with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy  (34.8)
again we are missing several season of the Edgar and Charlie, but here is one from the 1937 season.


5 - Grape Nuts and Grape Nuts Program starring Jack Benny   (33.9)


coming in at #15 with his new 30 minute version of Texaco Star Theater, Fred Allen  (21.6)...Fred would eventually find his way to #1 in the 1947-48 season.