Television

Petticoat Junction
"All aboard the Cannonball, everyone!" We're heading for a very small village by the name of Hooterville just out of Pixley. Who remembers 'Petticoat Junction'? There was Uncle Joe, Kate, Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo. There was Sam Drucker the grocer and postmaster and even at times a justice of the peace if I remember right. Uncle Joe and Kate and three girls lived at the Shadyrest Hotel. There were many adventures thanks to Uncle Joe to keep the Shadyrest open for there always seemed to be the need for cash money for there seemed to be never enough. 'Petticoat Junction' was a show that started out in black and white and was then in color for those were the ones I remember watching when I was younger. Through the years things changed, for example when I watched some of the older black and white episodes there were two different actresses who played Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo that were replaced with Meredith Macrae (not sure of the spelling) and Lori Saunders and the one that played Betty Jo was now Linda Kaye Henning. I remember that the woman who played Kate died and believe it or not June Lockhardt played a psychologist and doctor at the Shadyrest.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Marcus Welby, MD
Another old medical program I remember from the 1970's was the show 'Marcus Welby, MD' starting Robert Young better known in earlier days as the father from 'Father Knows Best'. The show also had a costar by the name of James Brolin who played Steve Kiley, MD. Marcus Welby was a doctor known as a General Practitioner or GP that covered all specialties. Marcus Welby had his own office in the suburbs that if I remember right could have been an upscale neighborhood. Once again for a medical show it did cover various kinds of illnesses and diseases of the time from basic first aid to traumatic issues. Again, the way they acted really did not show how the real doctors and nurses appeared for real in a sense.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Medical Center
Other than situation comedies of the 1970's there were medical shows, and one that came to mind really just now was one named 'Medical Center' is starred Chad Everett and James Daly has two doctors in a community hospital. These two doctors were faced with injuries, diseases and even psychological issues that kind of affected us back in the day. As a nurse in today's world I remember how nurses had to dress from dresses and pantsuits to even wearing a nurse's cap. The doctors were always wearing suits, but today they just wear what they want unless they have a meeting or something. 'Medical Center' was a show that could give you an idea what this profession was about but only in a very general sense and really not very accurate but good television for the time. "I am not a doctor, but I play one on tv."
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Sanford & Son
There was an old situation comedy for the mid 1970's about a father and son who owned a salvage yard that was their home and business. This show was called 'Sanford and Son' that starred Redd Foxx and Desmond Wilson. I remember watching this program when a was a young child and also kind of laughed when Fred would foul up his plans to do something and will have to tell the truth and one of his favorite sayings was "This is the big one I'm coming to see ya Elizabeth!" while clutching his chest like he was having a heart attack. This was also a show that Fred (Foxx) and Lamont (Wilson) will do anything to help each other in many situations from dating at any age to making money. There was always some zany story for a show that was primarily for the Negro/Black community.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
The Jeffersons
'We're Moving On Up' is the theme to this next 'All in the Family' spinoff known as 'The Jeffersons' who were the Bunker's neighbors on Houser Street. There was George and Louise and their son Lionel. Lionel was kind of a good favorite person for Archie liked him as much as he did not quite like George. Archie and George were too much alike to be really good friends. As the title song said George and Louise moved on up to the upper West Side, I think, or the East Side along with a whole new set of issues and problems like when Lionel and his girlfriend a child of a white man and black women. This was a show that really got into race relations as well as dealing with other social issues of the time like unemployment, inflation, homosexual issues and others. What would George think of society today?
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Good Times
'Maude' had a spin-off by the name of 'Good Times' that starred Esther Rolle as Florida Evans (Maude's old housekeeper) and her family James, J.J., Thelma, and Michael. Florida and her family lived in the ghetto and just trying to make ends meet. James had many jobs but had to deal with layoffs, unemployment as well as other issues that affected his family. As in the other two series this show was generally depicting what life in the mid to late seventies was like for the Negro or Black community. J.J. was an artist portrayed by Jimmie Walker and his famous line "Dyn-o-mite!" Thelma was into fashion and Michael was the political activist of the family. I really liked this show and watch the reruns even today when I can find them. There are a lot of lessons that one can still learn from this old show today.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Maude
'All in the Family' was followed up by many spin-offs and the first one that I remember was 'Maude' this one is based on Edith's sister or she was a cousin named Maude who lived in Pawtucket, a suburb of Connecticut, I think. Maude lived with her husband Walter and her daughter and grandson. They also had a housekeeper named Florida. Maude had next door neighbors who were played by Conrad Bain and Rue McClanahan were married and into the scene and will try anything that seem therapeutic for a marriage. 'Maude' was a person who was very outspoken on many issues of the time like abortion and drugs, and really anything that struck her fancy. 'Maude' also had a catchy theme 'And then came Maude' with a catchy melody if I remember right. Like 'All in the Family' 'Maude' was also very controversial.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
All in the Family
Who remembers watching a television show entitled 'All in the Family' that was all about in a lot of ways social and political discourse of the early 1970's the affected the family at 704 Houser Street. There was Archie, Edith, Gloria, and Michael aka Meathead. 'All in the Family' was created by Norman Lear that gave the television audience a chance to see and hear and learn how society wanted to stay the same but also wanted change in many ways, such as women's rights, dealing with welfare and racial relations. This was a television show that let the idea of conservativism and radicalism kind of live together for at least a half an hour. To me this was a comedy/drama but not like today's standards. There were also multiple shows that followed this one.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Welcome Back, Kotter
Here is another old situation comedy for the mid-1970's named 'Welcome Back. Kotter'. This was a show set in an urban high school named Buchanon High School. The main character of Gabe Kotter, a social studies teacher and a graduate of this high school is hired to teach the students known as the 'Sweathogs' who are smarter than they think from Vinnie Barberino to Arnold Horshack to Juan Epstein to Boom Boom Washington these were the main Sweathogs. Gabe is a married man to Julie and these students pay visits in some very importune times. This show and its' stars did all move on from the show to bigger things. John Travolta and his many movies, Robert Hegyes went on to Cagney and Lacey, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs I believe made a few movies as well and Ron Palillo also did a few other projects. This is also a show that was famous for a much overdone phrase 'Up your nose with a rubber hose.' I remember hearing that a lot when I was in elementary and junior high when someone did not like something or someone.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Chico and the Man
There was a situation comedy about in the mid-1970's called 'Chico and the Man'. This was a show where a young Chicano and an old man lived and worked in a garage. The young Chicano lived in a van parked in the back and the old man lived upstairs. This show starred Freddie Prinz and Jack Albertson as Chico and the Man. This was a show even back then that tried to describe society and solve various problems and issues. The first episode if I remember was mainly helping Chico find a job and a place to live, since Chico was a mechanic looking for a job and the old man did need help. Before the show went off the air and the guy who played Chico died in real they tried to replace him with a kid to try and help the old cope with losing a friend and partner. For the mid-1970's this was a funny show even when they covered a few serious issues of the time.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Microsoft Azure Globally Down
On July 30, 2024, at approximately 13:13 UTC, Microsoft Azure & Microsoft 365 reported a global outage affecting a subset of its services. The issue resulted in timeouts and difficulties connecting to various Azure services worldwide. Multiple engineering teams at Microsoft were promptly engaged to diagnose and resolve the issue. The company acknowledged the problem and provided updates on the Azure status page.
By Shine b john2 years ago in Critique
Timmy and Lassie
How many out there remember watching the old series about a little boy and his dog known as 'Timmy and Lassie'? I do not remember watching the original series that was known as 'Jeff's Collie', but the only time that I watched this show was early in the morning before going off to catch the school bus. I am a dog person and really liked watching any program with a dog. 'Timmy and Lassie' had a famous mother by the name of Ruth Martin portrayed by June Lockhardt and Timmy Martin was played by Jon Provost for how I remember that bit of information they did a reboot in the 1990's entitled 'The New Lassie' and Jon portrayed a grown Timmy now Steven for he changed his name for he thought Ruth and the father deserted him and he was sad. The original 'Timmy and Lassie' always had some impending crisis from someone falling down somehow and Lassie going and getting help and in the long run a social issue of the time was settled. If I remember right the last episode had Timmy taking Lassie to the home the Ranger. Also, I think that is when I really started watching the Lassie shows for Lassie and Ranger had many an adventure.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique