Anybody seen this, it is a drama and not a sitcom but I thought it would get more attention here. Anyway it sounds like a very interesting show. From what I have read there is only one main character on the entire series. It turned out empty at the trading board so I don't think this was syndicated. Anyone seen it?

...it was more of an "anthology" series, with "Our Hero" following up on some of the graduates of the "Class of '65"--and find out what they're doing in "1978".

Very short lived, about 13 weeks or episodes.

:tv:

I have one and it's a good one with Annette O'Toole and Tim Matheson. My friend taped a lot of them when they aired. Not a sitcom so doesn't really belong here.

I have one and it's a good one with Annette O'Toole and Tim Matheson. My friend taped a lot of them when they aired. Not a sitcom so doesn't really belong here.

well, it is still short lived so I don't see anything wrong with it being here. Well I am glad to see some of it might be floating around.

I have been trying to put together an episode guide for this series and it is quite tricky. TV.com and the IMDb have some episode titles and airdates but many of them do not match up with the listings I found in The New York Times and The Hartford Courant. IMDb says there were thirteen episodes but unless one of the episodes listed in the aforementioned newspapers was pre-empted, there were fourteen. The New York Times does list Monte Markham as a guest in two episodes, which could mean there was a pre-emption.

I have to wonder if being able to check what I have found against TV Guide would be helpful or even more confusing. Too bad I no longer have access to the TV Guide collection I used to use all the time.

I have been trying to put together an episode guide for this series and it is quite tricky. TV.com and the IMDb have some episode titles and airdates but many of them do not match up with the listings I found in The New York Times and The Hartford Courant. IMDb says there were thirteen episodes but unless one of the episodes listed in the aforementioned newspapers was pre-empted, there were fourteen. The New York Times does list Monte Markham as a guest in two episodes, which could mean there was a pre-emption.

I have to wonder if being able to check what I have found against TV Guide would be helpful or even more confusing. Too bad I no longer have access to the TV Guide collection I used to use all the time.

well good luck on that. I will let you know if I find any info.

I'll look thru some of my notes I wrote down this summer when I was looking thru old beta tapes I came across at least two episodes of the shows via NBC promos, I can check the airdates that match up with what was shown at the time and such.

Aj

I have one and it's a good one with Annette O'Toole and Tim Matheson. My friend taped a lot of them when they aired. Not a sitcom so doesn't really belong here.


Hi, I would like to have a copy of a disc if possible, It's hard to find anyone selling the episodes. Can I buy the copies or the one that you own?

IMDB lists 14 episodes. I have a Universal syndication book at home and I'll check in their but 14 sounds about right. Too bad it was on just a little before home taping was common, although Beta was around, just no VHS.

I checked and Universal lists it as 16 episodes.

It's actually 14 episodes but 16 hours. When the show aired originally, there were 2 2-hour episodes, thus accounting for the discrepancy between hours and number of shows. I imagine for syndication they count the 2 hour shows as 2 episodes each.

'What Ever Happended to the Class of '65?' was one of NBC's more adventurous series, a dramatic anthology that pushed the envelope of the era in terms of presenting mature, adult-themed stories.

'What Ever Happended to the Class of '65?' was a mid-season replacement for 'Rosetti & Ryan' in December 1977, and it got decent ratings (for NBC at the time), averaging 17.6HH and ranking in 50th place for the season, which was a 33% improvement over 'Rosetti & Ryan's 13.2HH average (98th ranked).

Perhaps in anticipation of the coming of Mr. Fred Silverman (who went from ABC to NBC in June 1978), in the 1978 spring upfront Mr. Paul Klein had cleaned house at Peacock, letting go several highly rated series that all had differing demo challenges (too rural, too old-skewing, etc.):


'The Life & Times of Grizzly Adams' 18.0HH average;
'What Ever Happended to the Class of '65?' 17.6HH average;
'Black Sheep Squadron' 17.3HH average;
'The Bionic Woman' 16.9HH average (the pick-up of the cancelled ABC spin-off from 'The Six Million Dollar Man' lasted only one season on NBC...there is no way this series would have survived under Mr. Fred Silverman who had cancelled it on ABC the previous year);
'Richie Brockelman, Private Eye' 16.9HH average (a 'Rockford Files' spinoff).

Series that rated below these series that got renewed included 'Wonderful WOrld of Disney' and 'CHiPS'. Other high-profile and quality noteworthy NBC cancellations that season included 'NBC Saturday Night at the Movies', 'Police Woman', 'CPO Sharkey', 'Oregon Trail', 'Quark', 'The Man From Atlantis', 'James at 16', 'The Richard Pryor Show' and 'Sandford Arms'.

Ironically, Mr. Silverman probably could have used 'What Ever Happended to the Class of '65?' in his 1978-79 sked, at least as a mid-seasoner. His fall sked that he inherited from Mr. Paul Klein was overloaded with movie-miniseries-specials in place of series, with four consecutive nights of 'Big Event' / 'NBC Night at the Movies' programming (Sunday to Wednesday). When NBC ran out of highly promotable theatricals, made-fors, miniseries and specials (by the end of the November Sweep as I remember), those nights started to languish against the hit series that were flourishing on the competing networks.

I do hope someone brings this anthology back to life as a DVD (or perhaps a 2010-11 reboot). I saw only a few episodes, and I remember it as one of the more ingenious concepts and well-executed series of the late '70s era.

My aunt told me about this show and I remember reading about it on the old jumptheshark site.

Hi BenCasey:
I am a huge fan of What Really Happened To The Class of '65 and remember watching it as a high school teen. I would LOVE to see any episodes you might have recorded. I would be willing to pay for any you have on DVD.
Please email me directly at Go4itIL@aol.com. Thanks!

I have never seen this drama ..

I've been watching these recently. Good show but loaded with popular music. You can be assured this show will never come out on DVD. Would love to find the few I'm missing.

Hi:
So you have episodes of this rare series to watch but no all of them?
I have none and would be honored if you would share them with me.
I can pay for them or trade for them. I have tons of rare vintage TV shows,etc.
I agree that due to the short duration of the series and the music that we will never see it on DVD.
Would you please email me directly so I can talk to you about seeing episodes of this cool show again?
Thanks!
Richard
Palm Springs, CA
Go4itIL@aol.com

I would trade for the episodes of the series that I'm missing.

Hey Ben... thanks for the response. I have Zero episodes and would love to see the ones you have. I am sure we can work out a trade. Please contact me directly at Go4itIL@aol.com. Thanks! Richard

I think I watched all episodes and loved the show but didn't have a VCR at the time (were they even invented yet in 1977?). I graduated from high school in '65 so was personally interested, but the stories were excellent. Each episode featured a different class member and followed her/him over several years after graduation. Each of them took a different path. That's the way life is. Anyone have tapes or know of a web site where you can get them or a library that has them? Lonna

I think I watched all episodes and loved the show but didn't have a VCR at the time (were they even invented yet in 1977?). I graduated from high school in '65 so was personally interested, but the stories were excellent. Each episode featured a different class member and followed her/him over several years after graduation. Each of them took a different path. That's the way life is. Anyone have tapes or know of a web site where you can get them or a library that has them? Lonna

VCRs were invented in 1976, although for those who could afford a recording device, it was typically either U-Matic or EIAJ videotapes at the time. Don't know anything about where to get tapes of What Ever Happended to the Class of '65? though.

Hi there Ben Casey,

At long last I have found two full episodes of “Class of ‘65” from their original NBC airings. Quality is nice for their age on both shows. I hope that you are looking for either one or both of these episodes and would like to trade for “Class of ‘65” episodes that I don’t have.
Please email me at Go4itIL@aol.com.
Thanks!
Ricky


Episode 3: “Class Dreamers” (with original commercials)
Episode 12: “Class Renegade”