We’re very excited to announce that TV Time Machine is now being syndicated to terrestrial radio by RadioLinx Syndication. If your radio station is interested in carrying TV Time Machine, click on this link for more information: http://www.radio-linx.com/catalog.htm

With North Korea’s recent missile launch, some might argue that Kim Jong Il is pulling the world’s strings. 

But in 2004, the North Korean dictator was having his strings pulled, courtesy of two filmmakers who were inspired by a trio of classic TV Shows.

When Syracuse University TV History Professor Robert J. Thompson joined me on TV Time Machine, we discussed several moments in TV history that changed the medium forever.

Not the least of which was the history of toilets on the tube. Because as far as TV was concerned, human beings never felt the necessity to visit the bathroom. That is, until 1971. That was the year that the ground-breaking situation comedy All in the Family debuted. In that year, the character of Archie Bunker proceeded to go upstairs (literally), treating millions of television viewers to the sound of the “Flush Heard ‘Round the World.”

When All in the Family took that plunge, TV characters finally came out of the water closet–parting the waters for future TV generations! 

Just in time for Christmas, Lee Mendelson (producer of the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas) came on TV Time Machine to talk about the beloved Peanuts special.

As with many successful people, Mr. Mendelson attributed his break in being able to produce A Charlie Brown Christmas, to luck and serendipity. In reality, it was the fact that he worked for many years toiling at TV station KPIX in San Francisco and his decision to start his own production company that created the very luck that led to Lee Mendelson meeting Charles Schultz.

In 1963, Lee Mendelson’s production company had produced a TV documentary about Willie Mays. Charles Schultz had seen the special and was impressed by it, so when Mr. Mendelson approached Schultz with the idea of creating a holiday special featuring the Peanuts gang, Charles Schultz was all for it. Aired in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas was an instant success.

And the rest they say… is history!

During this family time of year, I began to reflect upon the concept of Family Values on television. Is that an oxymoron?  Standards have certainly changed over the years–I won’t say whether for better or worse–you be the judge. Just a few years ago, it would have been unthinkable (and downright laughable) to imagine that one day a TV announcer would warn that a gentleman should be somewhat concerned if his erection lasted longer than four hours. Now we listen to such dire warnings and yawn.

One of my favorite (and also depressing) things to do is compare synopsis of TV shows then and now and compare how society, mores, and as a result, storylines have changed over the years. Case in point: Leave it to Beaver vs. Married With Children…

Aunt Martha gives Beaver a family heirloom ring which he is told not to wear to school.  It eventually gets on his finger and becomes stuck, and Wally tells Beaver the only way to get it off is to cut his finger off.

Marcy and Steve have a fight which leads Marcy to join Peggy and her friends in going to a strip club. There, Marcy accidentally loses her wedding ring down a stripper’s pants.

Is this progress? You be the judge.

A campaign is underway at www.imdickenshesfenster.com to bring the hilarious 1962 situation comedy to DVD! Starring John Astin and Marty Ingels as two wacky and endearing construction workers, I’m Dickens He’s Fenster lasted one season on ABC–despite the fact that it was critically acclaimed, and was Stan Laurel’s (Laurel & Hardy) favorite TV show at the time. When you visit the website, you can show your support for this effort by signing up for the I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster newsletter, which will keep fans informed of the DVD campaign’s progress.

This is an official website for the series, authorized by the creator, writer, and producer of I’m Dickens He’s Fenster, Leonard Stern. Mr. Stern’s amazing television career also includes writing for such series as The Honeymooners, and Sergeant Bilko; and writing, directing, and producing the 1960’s classic TV spy spoof, Get Smart. He’s also co-creator of the enormously popular series of children’s books, Mad Libs, and served for several years as president of the Producers Guild of America.  

Check out this great video produced by Adam Chester, who was musical director on What’s My Line, Live on Stage, and has worked extensively with Elton John. For anyone who is a son or daughter (and I think that’s all of you!) this is a must see!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C15xPM5p0QI

Probably the best Mad Men fan site (blog) on the web is Basket of Kisses (named after the classic line uttered by Peggy the secretary in the Mad Men episode Babylon) run (appropriately) by the Lipp sisters, Deborah and Roberta. If you’re a fan of Mad Men, check out this great blogsite, you’ll be glad you did! 

http://www.lippsisters.com/

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner was an absolutely terrific guest when he came on TV Time Machine–funny, perceptive and introspective. With my co-host Lisa Rothstein (who served as copywriter and creative director at Young & Rubicam and Ogilvy & Mather), he talked about how he admired the work of Rod Serling, the sexism depicted on the show, and all those wild and crazy ad execs toking endlessly on their high-tar cigarettes.

What really surprised me was what he said about some younger people and what they have said about the issue; some insisting that people NEVER smoked indoors. That’s why Matthew Weiner said the following on TV Time Machine:

“I’ve been shocked by the reaction to the smoking in the series,” says Weiner. “People are in cultural denial to its existence, when it really didn’t disappear in the workplace until the 1990’s. There’s a real moral superiority about it now, but back then it was really as common as eating. I wanted the smoking in the show because it was such a great irony. To see a society in this mass denial, where adults are unaware of what they’re doing. The image of who we are and what’s being sold to us and what the reality of it is—it’s such an integral part of that irony.”

“Pall Mall Famous Cigarettes–outstanding…and they are mild!”

By Chris Korman, TV Time Machine Guest Blogger

It would be nice to see more variety shows on the air today like The Carol Burnett Show. Because the variety of shows we have now are awful and a have no suspense. And the ‘variety’ shows that are on the air exhibit very little variety. It would be nice to get a break from endless CSI’s and mindless sitcoms.

I know I’m asking a lot because The Carol Burnett Show was truly special. It had four fun loving, versatile performers in Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, Vicki Lawrence, and then eventually, Tim Conway. Carol did classic spoofs like Went with the Wind and Mildred Pierce (not to mention Torchy Song with Carol playing Jennie Driver and my father Harvey Korman playing Ty Crackaby the blink piano player—which in and of itself is pretty funny!).

And unlike a lot of current day TV, Carol wasn’t mean-spirited on her show. There should be more shows like Carol Burnett but unfortunately, there aren’t too many writers like Barry Levinson, Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett and Buz Kohan working in television today.

I would love to hear from other TV lovers about what their favorite shows were—or are!        

One more thing… I wish TV Land would air the Burnett show again!                              

chrispkorman@yahoo.com