After MTV jettisoned The Basement Tapes, the network decided to find another outlet for alternative music.
British producer-DJ Dave Kendall gave them 120 Minutes, and even spent 3 years as series host (1989-92) before moving back behind the camera. At first, the regular VJ's were rotating in the host position until they settled on Kevin Seal around 1988. Kendall took over the next year, and they were off and running.
120 Minutes had its original run end around the turn of the century, then moved to MTV2 for a couple of years before being cut. One last go-round came a few years later with Matt Pinfield, who'd succeeded Kendall, returning as host.
Following is a sample episode from 1990.
In memory of Kendall, who has passed away according to media reports out this morning. Rest in peace.
Sometime in the early 80's, Robin Williams incorporated a brief excerpt of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire", which later became a hit for the Pointer Sisters, into his stand-up act. Less than a minute of pure bliss.
Woke up this morning to learn that South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, 71, had passed away on Saturday after a brief, sudden illness. Reports have it that Graham had suffered cardiac arrest in his Washington home.
While flags are likely at half-staff in Washington and throughout South Carolina, not everyone is mourning Graham's passing.
Conspiracy theorist "Loopy" Laura Loomer is pushing an idea, with no basis in truth or reality, of course, claiming that either Iran or Russia was looking to assassinate Graham, 10 months after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was murdered.
Loomer is also stirring up controversy surrounding Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized for nearly a month under a cover of secrecy. She keeps poking into things where she doesn't belong to extend her 15 minutes, but, sooner or later, the more she cries wolf........!
Earlier this week, singer Bonnie Tyler had passed away. Tyler's hits included "Holding Out For a Hero", "Total Eclipse of The Heart"., a #1 hit in 1983, and 1978's "It's a Heartache":
Finally, actor Randolph Mantooth passed away, 2 months shy of his 81st birthday. Mantooth shot to fame on Emergency! as paramedic John Gage following guest appearances on The Bold Ones and Owen Marshall, Counselor-at-Law. This led to a daytime spin-off for kids, Emergency! Plus 4 (1973-5), which represented Mantooth's only cartoon work. He also appeared on Operation Petticoat, Detective School: One Flight Up, & All My Children during his career.
Producer Don Taffner had acquired the rights to adapt Thames' Man About The House into Three's Company, 50 years ago. However, the first pilot didn't have the familiar trio of roommates that we'd all remember. Oh, sure, John Ritter is here, playing an aspiring filmmaker named David, instead of Jack Tripper. Norman Fell (ex-Dan August, 87th Precinct) and Audra Lindley, as the Ropers, are here. But, who the other two roomies?
Samantha (Suzanne Zenor) wants to be an actress. Jenny (Valerie Curtin) works for the DMV.
The plot remains the same. Samantha & Jenny find David in the bathtub after a party the night before......
If Valerie Curtin's name sounds familiar, well, she's the paternal cousin of Jane Curtin (Saturday Night Live). Larry Gelbart (M*A*S*H) developed & wrote the pilot, his only involvement with the series.
Peter Gunn creator Blake Edwards, hot off the "Pink Panther" movie, wanted to revive Gunn, starting with a feature film. Instead of releasing it through United Artists, which had the "Panther" series, Edwards went with Paramount, whose new management at the time felt casting changes needed to be made, six years after the series had ended.
For example, Lola Albright was not invited back to reprise as lounge singer Edie Hart, Gunn's girlfriend. The part was given to Laura Devon. Why? Paramount suits, for some reason, thought Albright had gotten too old for the part. As if. There is, though, that youth demographic to consider.
Herschel Bernardi wasn't doing much aside from Star-Kist commercials and other cartoons, but wasn't brought back to play Lt. Jacoby. Future icon Ed Asner took his place. Our supporting cast also includes Alan Oppenheimer, Albert Paulsen, George Murdock, Carol Wayne, J. Pat O'Malley, Regis Toomey (ex-Burke's Law), & Charles Dierkop.
Co-author William Peter Blatty would later gain fame for "The Exorcist".
In 2 weeks: We'll take a trip to Dogpatch for "Li'l Abner".
The Smothers Brothers returned to television in 1975, hoping to start anew. However, it didn't last too long, and, aside from their comedy-drama, Fitz & Bones, would not try again with a variety show until the 1988 writers' strike.
From the 1975 series comes this number that resonates even today, in the face of the intentional, ham-handed handling of government affairs by the current administration. John Stewart, formerly of the Kingston Trio, released "Survivors" that year, and is joined by the Smothers Brothers, Ringo Starr, Lily Tomlin (who was on the big screen that year in "Nashville"), Bob Einstein, Pat Paulsen, Steve Martin, & Don Novello, making a rare appearance without his Father Guido Sarducci persona.
Three years after Bachelor Father had ended, and, I believe, was in syndication at that time, John Forsythe returned, this time in a self-titled sitcom for Universal & NBC that underwent a mid-season makeover that ultimately killed the show.
Air Force Major John Foster (Forsythe) inherits an all-girls school, which would've been all well & good, except that viewers weren't interested. The show aired opposite I've Got a Secret on CBS, and the 2nd half of Twelve O'Clock High on ABC. At the end of January of 1966, the series was retooled to use the school as a cover so that Foster and his wingman, Ed Robbins (Guy Marks, ex-The Joey Bishop Show) could go on spy missions for the government. The John Forsythe Show was cancelled two months later.
Forsythe was also joined by Ann B. Davis (ex-The Bob Cummings Show), Elsa Lanchester, and even had his own daughters appear in a few episodes shot during the summer before they went back to school. Pamelyn Ferdin was one of the students.
In this outing, post-format change, Ed steps into the ring to settle a dispute with a man involved in an accident (Peter Palmer, "Li'l Abner"). David Lewis (Batman) guests as well.
A year later, Marks would resurface as Tim Conway's sidekick on Rango, and it would take three years for Forsythe to land another series (To Rome With Love).
