The Three Stooges Collection

A rock radio station and a talented ensemble cast bring the fictional WKRP in Cincinnati to life for a long and successful run. Starring Gary Sandy (as Andy Travis) the program director who also plays straight man for much of his staff, Howard Hesseman who is Dr. Johnny Fever, a disc jockey who was fired and become burned out and controversial after saying the word "booger" over the air. Moving to WKRP the first word uttered by Dr. Fever is, of course, "booger"! He's neurotic and a trouble maker but also has the most experience of the crew. The platinum blonde vivacious Lonnie Anderson (playing Jennifer Marlowe) decorated the set of each episode years before she became Mrs. Burt Reynolds. As WKRP's gorgeous receptionist she is also the highest paid employee at the radio station and in spite of being a "blonde bombshell" she is smart and capable in most any situation and her job. WKRP, known for playing album oriented rock music, sets the stage for some hilarious story lines and combined with creative writing and the outstanding cast, remains a hit.

Bob Newhart has been a stand-up comedian and actor who has a droll sense of humor that is appreciated by audiences young and old. In The Bob Newhart Show he portrays a Chicago psychologist named Robert Hartley, married to Emily (beautifully played by actress Suzanne Pleshette). The show divides its time between Bob's home life and his professional career. There is plenty of humor to be found in a psychologist's office and Newhart's comic timing plays well here. Besides wife Emily Bob must contend with an inept neighbor (Bill Daily as Howard Borden who is a commercial airline pilot and eventually Bob Newhart's brother in law) and office neighbor Dr. Jerry Robinson, a dentist (played by actor Peter Bonerz). Marsha Wallace portrays the receptionist who loves jokes, Carol Kester. Newhart is adept at playing the straight man for his fine cast. Many of the show scripts were based on Newhart's stand up routines, particularly his telephone conversations which were hilarious. Running from 1972 until 1978 The Bob Newhart Show was filmed before a live audience so there was no need for an irritating laugh track.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents drama droll wit and suspense each episode A beloved curmudgeon, Alfred Hitchcock was best known for his writing and directing. He often appeared in a cameo role on many of his feature films and we would often look for him to show up. This television program was shown in North America as well as many European countries. Original episodes were produced beginning in 1955 with an opening dialog from Hitch himself, often poking fun at commercials (on shows that aired in the US) and with humorous digs at Americans on the European version. There were many truly entertaining episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents that often won awards such as Emmys. Hitch's quirky sense of humor drew a top cast to each episode including one called "Man from the South" which starred Peter Lorre and Steve McQueen about a man betting his finger that his lighter will start ten times in a row. Or, in an episode from 1961 where a magician actually saws a woman in half, discovering his magical skills are sadly lacking. Even the gruesome scenes are comedic and extremely well written.

Derived from characters found in New Yorker cartoons written by Charles Addams, The Addams Family was a hilarious television series that ran from 1964 until 1966 to huge audiences on ABC TV. Always shot in black and white, there are 64 episodes that continue to delight audiences today. The Addams family had supernatural powers but it never is explained how or from where they got them. A close family with some pretty macabre interests, each family member has his or her own unique super natural power. Gomez Adams (played by John Astin) is extremely wealthy and quite adept at hanging from chandeliers, also very much in love with his wife, Morticia (actress Carolyn Jones) who is cultured and refined. Other eccentric characters include Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan) is the electric uncle who makes light bulbs glow by placing them in his mouth and Lurch (Ted Cassidy) is the butler who grunts responses the family interpret in many different ways. A huge bell atop the house is rung to summon Lurch and each time it shakes the entire house. Thing T. Thing is a hand that magically transports itself among containers, keeping everyone guessing.

The beautiful Elizabeth Montgomery is the mischievous Samantha, a witch who marries a mortal named Darrin Stephens. Much of the fun and supernatural antics come from the rest of Sam's family who are all witches or warlocks. Her family tends to think Samantha and Darrin are in a mixed marriage that will never work out and that she married beneath her. But they are in love and plan to work out their differences. Darrin will, of course, involve his boss, parents, friends, and neighbors in some unusual events caused by "spells" that are occasionally cast on him. With just a twitch of her nose Samantha Stephens can change things to suit her needs and this causes some hilarious consequences for those around her. As her magical skills continue to impress (and scare) Darrin she tries to use them sparingly but often finds it necessary to get herself out of some pretty silly situations. Her spells can be visually entertaining especially considering this series began way back in 1964. Great casting over the years including two Darrin's (Dick York who died was followed by Dick Sargent). Agnes Moorehead portrayed Sam's mother, also a witch.

"I Dream of Jeannie" originally aired for only five years, never rising above twenty-fifth place in the ratings. By the end of the fifth season, Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden, very eager to move on, were "phoning it in." Hagman, of course, went on to become America's favourite arch-villain, "J.R." on "Dallas," and Barbara Eden went on to become, well, Barbara Eden. Imagine their surprise when, on its first night in syndication, the first episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" became the first locally broadcast show to out-point two of three network broadcasts in its time-slot. Even with her navel discreetly covered, Jeannie had a loyal cult following. She still does. Only hardcore fans remember how "master," an aspiring astronaut and budding American hero, found his cute blonde genie in a bottle or contrived to bring her home. The NBC "standards" crew worked overtime to make sure spaceman's and genie's living arrangement would not offend delicate American sensibilities, repeatedly assuring audiences that Jeannie always slept in her bottle. It took more than four years for The Major and Jeannie to discover their attraction to one another. Meanwhile, weekly comedy highjinks popped out of the bottle as The Major and his astronaut buddies conspired and connived to keep their precious secret from leaking to "the brass." "I Dream of Jeannie," for all of its patent silliness, remains one of America's longest-running and highest-earning sitcoms.