Here’s a mid-century gem from Harvey Comics: It’s issue #26 of Hi-School Romance, publication date March 1954. One of the common tropes I’ve noticed from these romance comics is that the kid with the bow tie always seems to be choice #2 for the heartbroken girl. Well, not Eddie Fisher, but the other kids.
This cover, with art by Julius La Rosa, comes from the “Rage of Night” story. The others stories are just as delightfully named — “Trapped by Desire,” “Tempted!” and “I Lied to My Love.” So scandalous! So steamy!
In Fall TV Preview Madness, I present a network television schedule preview special from the distant past. We see the good, bad, and ugly for a network’s entire upcoming fall slate.
I’m counting down the days until the Fall 2012 television season gets underway the only way I know how — by bringing you network promos for TV seasons long gone. Today’s preview is for ABC’s 1985 Fall TV season. ABC only returned 11 scripted series in 1985-86, compared to 15 for CBS and 18 for NBC. They also had the most shows from the previous season not returning, with 16.
By season’s end, ABC had two just shows in the ratings Top 10 (Dynasty and Who’s the Boss?), and six in the Top 30.
Here’s the 1985 ABC Fall preview (in two parts), complete with an appropriation of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” You’ll love it! (* denotes new series.)
Sunday
7pm — Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (1982 – 1986) 8pm* — MacGyver (1985 – 1992) 9pm — The ABC Sunday Night Movie (1965 – 1998)
Although Murder, She Wrote owned the 8pm timeslot, MacGyver held his own. The Richard Dean Anderson show was moved to Mondays in 1986 and stayed there for six seasons.
Monday
8pm — Hardcastle and McCormick (1983 – 1986) 9pm — Monday Night Football (1970 – 2005)
After football season ended, ABC ran a movie in MNF’s timeslot.
Tuesday
8pm — Who’s the Boss? (1984 – 1992) 8:30pm* — Growing Pains (1985 – 1992) 9pm — Moonlighting (1985 – 1989) 10pm* — Our Family Honor (Starring Eli Wallach; ended after 13 episodes.)
I have very fond memories of ABC’s Tuesday night lineup of this era, although I don’t remember Our Family Honor at all. For at least a few years, Who’s the Boss?, Growing Pains, and Moonlighting were appointment viewing in my house. Oh and hey, notice anything off about that Growing Pains preview? Those scenes were from the pilot, which had Chrissy Seaver played by Elizabeth Ward. Tracey Gold took over for the start of the first year.
Wednesday
8pm* — The Insiders (Starring Nicholas Campbell and Stoney Jackson; ended after 13 episodes.) 9pm — Dynasty (1981 – 1989) 10pm — Hotel (1983 – 1988)
Meh. I don’t remember The Insiders at all — despite its awesome use of Genesis’ “Just a Job to Do” — and I had absolutely no interest in either of the two soap operas (although I did dig Linda Evans).
Thursday
8pm — The Fall Guy (1981 – 1986) 9pm* — Lady Blue (Starring Jamie Rose; ended after 13 episodes.) 10pm* — Dynasty II: The Colbys of California (1985 – 1987) and 20/20 (1978 – present)
Man, that Lady Blue promo looked like every cop show parody I’ve ever seen. I’m surprised her sergeant didn’t tell her, “You’re out of line! I”m gonna get yer bade one day woman cop!”
I don’t remember watching The Fall Guy, but I know I had this brown pickup from the show, and it was one of my favorite toys.
Friday
8pm — Webster (1983 – 1987) 8:30pm — Mr. Belvedere (1985 – 1990) 9pm — Diff’rent Strokes (Ran from 1978 – 1985 on NBC; ended after 19 episodes on ABC.) 9:30pm — Benson (1979 – 1986) 10pm* — Spenser: For Hire (1985 – 1988)
I remember watching Webster, but remember very little about the show itself. I loved Mr. Belvedere, but Diff’rent Strokes needed to be put out of its misery by this time. I only got into Benson thanks to countless reruns on WPIX Channel 11 in New York. Never did get into Spenser: For Hire, although I suspect I’d appreciate it now.
Saturday
8pm* — Hollywood Beat (Starring Jack Scalia and Jay Acovone; ended after 14 episodes.) 9pm* — Lime Street (Starring Robert Wagner; ended after 5 episodes.) 10pm — The Love Boat (1977 – 1986)
I had never heard of those first two shows until today. The Love Boat, aka Hollywood Squares on Water, is the kind of kitschy show that could never be made today. Unless it starred a bunch of reality show burnouts.
I admit that in my day I wrote my share of sappy letters/emails to women. But sweet Lord, Joseph Dobbie’s email makes my pinings look like ransom notes. I know a lot of people feel that it was wrong for the woman who received this to forward it on, thereby subjecting the lovelorn Joe to international humiliation. But for those who would follow in his footsteps, here are two cardinal rules of letter-writing that he broke. Please learn from his mistakes:
Rule #1 — Inner dialogue is meant to be just that: Inner.
Joe’s letter starts off innocently enough, but the red flag goes up right away when he writes, “OK. This is where my common sense is telling me to stop? keep it simple and positive Joe.”
Well, that should’ve been the first clue. Unless you’re William Faulkner or Hunter S. Thompson, do NOT go all stream-of-consciousness when you write a letter, especially to someone you are trying to woo. It can only come off one way — creepy.
Rule #2 — If there is a possibility that a genuine emotion can be interpreted as something more sinister, it will be.
I doubt Joe had anything perverse in mind when he wrote, “Your smile is the freshest of my special memories. Regardless of whether we see each other again, I will use it as I do my other special memories. I will call on it when I am disheartened or low.”
In an effort to keep things sophisticated, I’m not going to share the first thought that popped into my head when I read this. But it’s probably the same thought that you just had. And may I say, shame on you!
At the end of the day, I think Joe will be alright. Sure, he’s probably humiliated for the moment, but I’m willing to bet that he will be flooded with letters of support (along with some marriage proposals) any day now. But if he does end up with the love of his life one day, let’s just hope he doesn’t write his own wedding vows.
