Monday, July 16, 2018

CBS Fall Preview 50 years ago (1968)

It won't be long before a new television season begins, and that means we will start hunting for fall previews from the past again.

Today, we'll start with CBS' fall preview for 1968, designed for affiliates & sponsors. However, in the following video, only five of the seven new shows are featured. All seven have previously been reviewed.

Mondays: Mayberry, RFD picks up where The Andy Griffith Show leaves off, literally, as Sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith) marries long time sweetheart Helen Crump (Aneta Corsault) in the series opener before passing the baton to farmer-turned councilman Sam Jones (Ken Berry, ex-F-Troop). Series would last three seasons (1968-71).

Tuesdays: Lancer tells the story of two brothers (Wayne Maunder & James Stacy) who don't even realize until they meet that they are in fact related. Co-star Elizabeth Baur later would appear on Ironside, and Maunder would get one more series (Chase).

Wednesdays: The Good Guys, from Talent Associates, brought Bob Denver (ex-Gilligan's Island) back after a year away, this time paired with Herb Edelman and Joyce Van Patten. Lasted two seasons.

Thursdays: Another Gilligan alumnus, Jim Backus, steps into the role of Julius C. Dithers, Dagwood Bumstead's boss, in the adaptation of Blondie. Patricia Harty has the title role opposite Will Hutchins (ex-Hey, Landlord, Sugarfoot) as Dagwood. Lasted just one season. On the other hand, Hawaii Five-O began a 12 year run (1968-80) with Jack Lord (ex-Stoney Burke) as Steve McGarrett. The revival is returning for its 8th season this fall, or 2/3 of the way to matching the original.

Missing are two more Monday entries, Here's Lucy, in which Lucille Ball is joined by her two children, Lucie Arnaz & Desi Arnaz, Jr., whose father, Desi, Sr., was over at NBC shepherding The Mothers-in-Law through its second & final season, and The Doris Day Show, with Doris joined by Denver Pyle (ex-Tammy, The Andy Griffith Show, and later of The Life & Times of Grizzly Adams & Dukes of Hazzard) and James Hampton (ex-F-Troop).

As a result, this video checks in at just shy of 22 minutes. Art Gilmore, Red Skelton's announcer and a frequent contributor to NBC's Dragnet, is the narrator.



This came from an area that for some reason was not interested in Lucy or Doris. Hmmmmm.

Rating: B.

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