With the Hollywood Writer's Strike in full swing, putting many of our favourite network primetime series on hold, you could choose to watch reruns of classic series on other channels or buy them on DVDs. Or you can do what I do and watch them online, something that I've been doing more often on a regular basis as an alternative to normal TV. My signature page "Instant TV Classics" already has lots of great sitcoms from the 50s and 60s that you can watch for free anytime. Since I first posted it last summer, there have been more classic sitcoms and other vintage shows that have been added online, many of which are not available on Public Domain, including some rare and forgotten gems that have been uncovered by my favourite site, TV4U. Some of these shows are more than 50 years old and were first seen on the DuMont Network, the original fourth TV network that only ran from 1948-56 because they couldn't keep up with the Big 3 in ratings, sponsors, and budget. At its best, DuMont provided an informal training site for TV legends such as Jackie Gleason and Sid Caesar. So, if you love history and you're a fan of the early days of TV, or you just want to see what TV was like in the beginning, take a look at some of these videos, all added to the TV4U site in the last 3 weeks.


The Morey Amsterdam Show (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=2&sid=617&vid=1528&t=The%20Morey%20Amsterdam%20Show&cat=Comedy)

Morey Amsterdam is best known as Buddy Sorrell on the "Dick Van Dyke Show". His TV career began with this variety series and then he moved to NBC to appear in "Broadway Open House", TV's first late night talk show and the pre-cursor to "The Tonight Show".

Admiral Broadway Revue (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=34&sid=608&vid=1506&t=Admiral%20Broadway%20Review&cat=Dumont)

This was Sid Caesar's first TV series, debuting in 1949. It became a hit, and led to his successful stint on "Your Show Of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour".

Captain Video and his Video Rangers (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=34&sid=612&vid=1516&t=Captain%20Video&cat=Dumont)

Sitcom fans will recognize this show as Ed Norton's favourite TV series. Remember the "Honeymooners" episode "TV or Not TV" where Ralph buys a TV set and Norton comes over to watch it wearing a space helmet? This is what he would have seen. Captain Video was played by Al Hodge.

Cavalcade Of Stars (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=34&sid=598&vid=1485&t=Cavalcade%20Of%20Stars%20-%20Show%201&cat=Dumont)

Speaking of "The Honeymooners", this is where it all began, along with other memorable characters that were created by Jackie Gleason.


Howdy Doody (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=20&sid=575&vid=1393&t=Show%201&cat=Hi%20Tops)

This show needs no introduction. The whole Doodyville gang is back, including Howdy Doody, Buffalo Bob Smith, and Clarabell the clown. There's also a bonus Christmas show in the set. The sound is awful, so you'll have to turn the volume all the way up to hear anything. No matter. It's worth it!


Who needs TV? With stuff like this to watch anytime you want, I may never go back, except to watch live sports. In this case, the viewer always wins!

I have enough tapes and dvd's to last me years, so I'll watch some of those during the writers strike.

I have enough tapes and dvd's to last me years, so I'll watch some of those during the writers strike.

Ditto. I've been collecting video tapes for over twenty years and have
hundreds of 'em (as well as a growing collection of DVDs--although right now
the DVD drive on my computer is acting strange, freezing up before I can
watch a half-hour show all the way through). Modern technology: gotta
love it (yeah, right). Anyway, as soon as I can afford it, I am going to buy a
DVD/VCR combo so I can watch my tapes AND my DVDs on my TV set. Then,
I'll be a "happy camper."

I am enjoying Corner Gas on WGN. A great show!!!!

I'll dig out the old tapes and DVDs and watch them. I'll be damned before I start watching some reality show in place of a primetime favorite.

wait... the writers of Hollywood are on strike??? Gee... I guess I didn't know since I don't watch the crap that's being filmed now!!!

(just kidding you, I did know they were on strike... I'm not that out of it!)

With the Hollywood Writer's Strike in full swing, putting many of our favourite network primetime series on hold, you could choose to watch reruns of classic series on other channels or buy them on DVDs. Or you can do what I do and watch them online, something that I've been doing more often on a regular basis as an alternative to normal TV. My signature page "Instant TV Classics" already has lots of great sitcoms from the 50s and 60s that you can watch for free anytime. Since I first posted it last summer, there have been more classic sitcoms and other vintage shows that have been added online, many of which are not available on Public Domain, including some rare and forgotten gems that have been uncovered by my favourite site, TV4U. Some of these shows are more than 50 years old and were first seen on the DuMont Network, the original fourth TV network that only ran from 1948-56 because they couldn't keep up with the Big 3 in ratings, sponsors, and budget. At its best, DuMont provided an informal training site for TV legends such as Jackie Gleason and Sid Caesar. So, if you love history and you're a fan of the early days of TV, or you just want to see what TV was like in the beginning, take a look at some of these videos, all added to the TV4U site in the last 3 weeks.


The Morey Amsterdam Show (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=2&sid=617&vid=1528&t=The%20Morey%20Amsterdam%20Show&cat=Comedy)

Morey Amsterdam is best known as Buddy Sorrell on the "Dick Van Dyke Show". His TV career began with this variety series and then he moved to NBC to appear in "Broadway Open House", TV's first late night talk show and the pre-cursor to "The Tonight Show".

Admiral Broadway Revue (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=34&sid=608&vid=1506&t=Admiral%20Broadway%20Review&cat=Dumont)

This was Sid Caesar's first TV series, debuting in 1949. It became a hit, and led to his successful stint on "Your Show Of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour".

Captain Video and his Video Rangers (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=34&sid=612&vid=1516&t=Captain%20Video&cat=Dumont)

Sitcom fans will recognize this show as Ed Norton's favourite TV series. Remember the "Honeymooners" episode "TV or Not TV" where Ralph buys a TV set and Norton comes over to watch it wearing a space helmet? This is what he would have seen. Captain Video was played by Al Hodge.

Cavalcade Of Stars (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=34&sid=598&vid=1485&t=Cavalcade%20Of%20Stars%20-%20Show%201&cat=Dumont)

Speaking of "The Honeymooners", this is where it all began, along with other memorable characters that were created by Jackie Gleason.


Howdy Doody (http://www.tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=20&sid=575&vid=1393&t=Show%201&cat=Hi%20Tops)

This show needs no introduction. The whole Doodyville gang is back, including Howdy Doody, Buffalo Bob Smith, and Clarabell the clown. There's also a bonus Christmas show in the set. The sound is awful, so you'll have to turn the volume all the way up to hear anything. No matter. It's worth it!


Who needs TV? With stuff like this to watch anytime you want, I may never go back, except to watch live sports. In this case, the viewer always wins!thanx for those links! I just finished watching an episode of "CALVACADE OF STARS" which is a show that I've always heard about; but I've never ever seen! The only time was on that special that The Disney Channel aired back in 1994 (before they "sold out" :( :( and started airing all those kids shows) called "THE HONEYMOONERS-THE REALLY LOST EPISODES" where they showed some of The Honeymooner sketches from there. And later, in 2000, when TV LAND (which has since become :barf: ) reran it.

Next I plan to watch the "ADMIRAL BROADWAY REVUE" which is another show I've heard of, but have never seen.

If you fully support these writers during the strike, watching shows online and/or buying them on DVD is the LAST thing you should be doing. That's the reason why they're on strike in the first place. So, noooo, please don't do that stuff! Of course if you don't care or it doesn't bother you at all, then by all means, go ahead, but the sooner we all stop doing this stuff, the sooner (let's hope) this strike will be OVER!

Just watch your current DVD's or lots of Nick at Nite/TV Land like I do! :)

with all the other people watching shows online and/or on DVD; one more isn't going to make a difference.

Im watching NHL hockey, PBS, TLC, Discovery, History and of course, Corner Gas.

Personally, I dont see the writers point, when you say build a car on the line, you dont get extra pay when someone else buys the car used, they were paid their money for writing the shows, why should they get any extra once theyve BEEN paid?

And now, folks, some MORE good stuff to watch during the writer's strike...

I hit another gusher this morning, this time on the VEOH site, and there's plenty of great classic TV sitcoms to go around. I dare say that this group is just as good as the one that I showed you last week, and I've saved the best clip for last!

But first I have to start off with a sad note.


You may have already heard about the death of comedian Joey Bishop last week. Those of you who are fans of his and remember him fondly from his work with the Rat Pack and his short-lived talk show with the insufferable Regis Philbin as his sidekick will also be aware of his sitcom "The Joey Bishop Show" where he played comedian Joey Barnes. I found this episode from the show in which he marries the lovely Ellie. Consider this a tribute from me as something nice to remember him by.

The Joey Bishop Show (http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1353045qb2F4rcn?searchId=1525309355576003778&rank=3)



Speaking of marriages, here are a couple of episodes from "Make Room For Daddy" where Danny Williams marries his second wife Kathy with a little help from his kids:


Make Room For Daddy --- Danny Proposes (http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1353197EmbYD2NP)

Make Room For Daddy --- The Honeymoon (http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1361997DJPdHZAr)


The next pair of episodes are from a popular, and since long-forgotten, sitcom from the early, early 50s called "My Little Margie" starring singer and actress Gale Storm. This stuff is as rare as you can get!

My Little Margie --- Episode 1 (http://http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1371746mSpBsXH6)

My Little Margie --- Episode 2 (http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1411770W75jNKbp)


And now for the biggie. The episode that "Happy Days" fans have been wanting to see for a long time because it shows you how it all began. It's "Love American Style --- Love And The Happy Day" with Ritchie, Potsie, Marion, Harold Gould as Howard, and a different Joanie as well. This is it! The COMPLETE original episode!

Love American Style --- Happy Days Pilot (http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1381140gnzphntk)


Exciting stuff, eh? Enjoy your weekend!

I'm watching NHL hockey......


You can stop there. That's good enough for me. During this long and silly strike, I've been doing the same thing............AND...LOVING IT! :lol:

Between games, I've been watching many classic sitcoms online, too many to mention here, and during the past week, I've seen some new ones turn up that I'd like to share with you here, involving a beloved TV legend and a forgotten classic that has finally been made available after having been absent from TV screens for many years.


But first, a few words about a man who needs no introduction....except this one:

HEEEEEERRRREEE'S JOHNNY!!!!

That's right, it's Johnny Carson! There's not much that I can add that hasn't already been said about the man that has been called The King Of Late Night except to look back at his early TV career and how it all started for him. In the 1950s, he appeared on CBS doing various series like "The Johnny Carson Show" and "Carson's Cellar" where he would tell monologues and do skits and in general polish up his act in hopes of attracting a wider audience down the road. In 1957, he was hired by ABC to host a game show called "Who Do You Trust?" (which, if I'm not mistaken, was originally called "Do You Trust Your Wife?" ) where he first met his best friend and perennial sidekick Ed McMahon. After that show ended, he made his way to the Tonight Show and a permanent place in TV history. These clips show Johnny at an early stage in his career, and are a must see for his many fans.


Johnny Carson in the 1950s (http://tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=2&sid=647&vid=1711&t=With%20Guest%20Rudy%20Vallee&cat=Comedy)

Johnny with his idol Jack Benny (http://tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=2&sid=647&vid=1711&t=With%20Guest%20Rudy%20Vallee&cat=Comedy)

Clips from the Tonight Show (http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/search/search.php?q=Johnny+Carson&theme=guide)


OUR MISS BROOKS


Along with Mr. Peepers, Connie Brooks was one of TV's first popular teachers. Played by Eve Arden, the show ran from 1952-56 and featured Gale Gordon as her boss, Principal Osgood Conklin, and future sitcom star ("The Real McCoys") Richard Crenna as the squeaky-voiced student Walter Denton. "Our Miss Brooks" is a show that, as far as I'm aware, has not made its way to DVD just yet, public domain or otherwise, so these episodes will have to do for now. I'm sure there might be a few more added later, so enjoy them both anytime!

Our Miss Brooks (http://tv4u.com/show-video.asp?cid=2&sid=651&vid=1720&t=The%20Big%20Jump&cat=Comedy)

I'm starting to get the vibe that I'm the only one that actually likes this... I like a lot of the game shows and reality shows that are resulting. Never watched much of the scripted stuff anyway.

i still watch new shows like jourany man. kyle xy is coming back in 2008 so is heros . i motly watch re runs like i been getting into show called king of queens. its sotra like the hooney mooners. i also watch the jerffersons, i love lucy, good times some times. i do watch lots of tv show on dvds. i also watch moon light and numbers, jericho comes back in feburay. not sure when liconle highes comes back on. i also watch alice at 7:00 pm. sometime i watch kid nation but its over to. american gladtors comes out in janruay i would like to see if its any good.