Tuesday, August 22, 2023

CBS Fall preview 50 years ago (1973)

 CBS spent more time in their 1973 fall preview hyping their returning shows than their freshman class. Small wonder that most of those 1st year series flopped.

The Class of '73:

The New Perry Mason. With Raymond Burr now playing Ironside on NBC, Monte Markham (ex-The Second Hundred Years) takes over as Mason. One problem. It's airing opposite Disney and The FBI. Thanks for coming. Replaced by Apple's Way after the holidays.

The New CBS Tuesday Night Movies, which was mostly Hawkins and Shaft alternating. Not quite a full wheel like what NBC was doing.

Kojak. Telly Savalas' seminal cop anchored the Wednesday lineup, backing up Sonny & Cher and Cannon.

Calucci's Department: James Coco works for a state unemployment service. Depressing stuff from Ed Sullivan's production company, opposite Sanford & Son and The Brady Bunch. Replaced by the Gunsmoke spin-off, Dirty Sally.

Roll Out!: Stu Gilliam, Hilly Hicks, & Val Bisoglio head the ensemble in this series, which would've been more appropriate to put opposite Sanford

Danny Dark, Keebler pitchman, radio personality, and soon to be a newly minted voice actor, narrates.


Mind the video quality. We've reviewed all except Shaft

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