Saturday, September 9, 2017

Classic TV: Pop Goes The Country (1974)

Saturday afternoons back in the day didn't just mean sports. There was also a variety of country music programming in syndication, including Hee Haw (from 1971 forward) and our next subject, Pop Goes The Country.

In the course of a half hour, Pop would showcase two or more artists per week, who would also be interviewed by hosts Ralph Emory (1974-80) or Tom T. Hall (1980-2). It was like a compact version of Dick Clark's long-running American Bandstand or Don Cornelius' Soul Train, but without the dancers. Depending on where you lived, usually in the South or Midwest, Pop could've been airing opposite the other two.

If you did the math, then you know Pop ran for just 8 seasons. Why it ended, I don't know. What I do know is that RFD TV does have the cable rights to it at last check, so you might be able to catch up sometime.

From 1979, here's an episode with Dave & Sugar and Don Williams, who leads off with "Tulsa Time", which is more commonly associated with Eric Clapton.



In memory of Williams, who passed away Friday. The "Gentle Giant" of country music will be missed.

Rating: A.

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