Desi Arnaz Pilots on DVD Set - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jehobden · 08-09-2010, 08:50 PM

I guess that this is as good a place as any to comment on the Desi Arnaz Productions pilots on the MiL DVD set's bonus disc.

"Land's End" was not at all a Western as I thought that I read it would be. It was set at a hotel in Baja California and filmed on location there. It was interesting seeing Martin Milner play a villain for maybe the last time just as he was about to start a 7-year run on Adam-12. Suzanne Cupito made one of her many child-actress appearances too, years before becoming Morgan Brittany. I haven't seen a copy of TV Guide from the airing of 4/21/68, but the half-hour show length and P&G ads, not to mention that MiL didn't air an original ep on this date, lead me to believe that it most likely aired in MiL's time slot of 8:30 - 9:00 PM that Sunday night on NBC.

"The Carol Channing Show", as the DVD review here stated, appeared to be a bad idea for a series. I read somewhere that Richard Deacon was asked to look like Roger C. Carmel when he played Roger Buell, but he refused to do that. His scenes in this pilot, with no glasses and a substantial mustache, probably had him looking as much like Carmel as he ever would. Not only did Jimmy Garrett, Jerry Carmichael of The Lucy Show, make an appearance in the park scene, but Eddie Applegate, who'd just finished 3 years as Richard on The Patty Duke Show, and ex-Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni also appeared as a young couple in this scene, just after Garrett's character left. In a later scene, I recognized Joe Conley, later Ike Godsey of The Waltons, in an uncredited role as a sailor in a dance hall. I once saw him play something like a beatnik on Dennis the Menace.

On a final note about Carol Channing, I looked her up on Wikipedia and found that she'd just made an appearance on Hannity. She looks great for someone who'll soon be 90:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WpLp6kh3E4

Benno123 · 08-09-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehobden

I guess that this is as good a place as any to comment on the Desi Arnaz Productions pilots on the MiL DVD set's bonus disc.

"Land's End" was not at all a Western as I thought that I read it would be. It was set at a hotel in Baja California and filmed on location there. It was interesting seeing Martin Milner play a villain for maybe the last time just as he was about to start a 7-year run on Adam-12. Suzanne Cupito made one of her many child-actress appearances too, years before becoming Morgan Brittany. I haven't seen a copy of TV Guide from the airing of 4/21/68, but the half-hour show length and P&G ads, not to mention that MiL didn't air an original ep on this date, leave me to believe that it most likely aired in MiL's time slot of 8:30 - 9:00 PM that Sunday night on NBC.

"The Carol Channing Show", as the DVD review here stated, appeared to be a bad idea for a series. I read somewhere that Richard Deacon was asked to look like Roger C. Carmel when he played Roger Buell, but he refused to do that. His scenes in this pilot, with no glasses and a substantial mustache, probably had him looking as much like Carmel as he ever would. Not only did Jimmy Garrett, Jerry Carmichael of The Lucy Show, make an appearance in the park scene, but Eddie Applegate, who'd just finished 3 years as Richard on The Patty Duke Show, and ex-Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni, also appeared as a young couple in this scene, just after Garrett's character left. In a later scene, I recognized Joe Conley, later Ike Godsey of The Waltons, in an uncredited role as a sailor in a dance hall. I once saw him play something like a beatnik on Dennis the Menace.

On a final note about Carol Channing, I looked her up on Wikipedia and found that she'd just made an appearance on Hannity. She looks great for someone who'll soon be 90:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WpLp6kh3E4

I was flipping through channels the other day and came across her being interviewed. I had no idea that she was almost 90 years old! She looked (and sounded, for her) great!

TV Knowledge Fan · 08-10-2010, 01:14 AM

..."THE CAROL CHANNING SHOW", the first pilot produced under the "Desi Arnaz Productions" banner, was filmed in early 1966, and partially bankrolled by General Foods, who intended to place it in one of their sponsored time periods on CBS in the fall of '66; however, they rejected the potential series in favor of "THE JEAN ARTHUR SHOW", which lasted 12 episodes that fall, on Monday nights at 10pm(et). There was also a promotional film (whether it was tacked onto her unaired pilot, I don't know as yet) that showed Carol briefly interacting with the casts of other General Foods-sponsored series on CBS, including "GREEN ACRES", "GOMER PYLE U.S.M.C." and "HOGAN'S HEROES".

As for "LAND'S END", that was originally a one-hour pilot shot in December 1966, for NBC's proposed 1967-'68 schedule. Desi was forced to re-edit what he thought was the finished product into a half-hour version [read Coyne Steven Sanders & Tom Gilbert's "Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz" for additional information concerning the background of that ill-fated pilot]. And that's what pre-empted "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW" as a "burned-off pilot" on April 21, 1968 at 8:30pm(et), for sponsor Procter & Gamble {apparently, it was part of Desi's deal with the sponsor to present "LAND'S END" in that time period}.

After "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW" ended, Desi disbanded his production company and went into semi-retirement.

Samme · 08-14-2010, 01:16 AM

All interesting information. But even though The Jean Arthur Show only lasted 12 episodes she was such a great actress that she had to be given a chance and a show over Carol Channing even though her show bombed (in a terrible time slot). She was incredibly more talented than Channing, who got amazing mileage out of one hit Broadway show (Hello Dolly). During the '60s and after, CC was brought on talk shows as a Zsa Zsa Gabor type joke and you'd think "why is this woman famous?"

LittleRickyII · 08-15-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samme

All interesting information. But even though The Jean Arthur Show only lasted 12 episodes she was such a great actress that she had to be given a chance and a show over Carol Channing even though her show bombed (in a terrible time slot). She was incredibly more talented than Channing, who got amazing mileage out of one hit Broadway show (Hello Dolly). During the '60s and after, CC was brought on talk shows as a Zsa Zsa Gabor type joke and you'd think "why is this woman famous?"

I have no opinion on Jean Arthur as I haven't seen any of her work, but I must agree about Carol Channing. I find her annoying and never understood why she even had a career.

jehobden · 09-20-2010, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

..."THE CAROL CHANNING SHOW", the first pilot produced under the "Desi Arnaz Productions" banner, was filmed in early 1966, and partially bankrolled by General Foods, who intended to place it in one of their sponsored time periods on CBS in the fall of '66; however, they rejected the potential series in favor of "THE JEAN ARTHUR SHOW", which lasted 12 episodes that fall, on Monday nights at 10pm(et). There was also a promotional film (whether it was tacked onto her unaired pilot, I don't know as yet) that showed Carol briefly interacting with the casts of other General Foods-sponsored series on CBS, including "GREEN ACRES", "GOMER PYLE U.S.M.C." and "HOGAN'S HEROES".

I haven't found the full promo film, but I did find an ad with Carol Channing on the Green Acres kitchen set with Eddie Albert & Eva Gabor in character as Oliver & Lisa Douglas. The three of them promote GF orange juice-substitute Awake. If you go to this link on www.tvparty.com, scroll down about 2/3 of the way down the page, and click on "Green Acres", you can see their ad:

http://www.tvparty.com/fall67.html

stanwyckfan07 · 01-26-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samme

All interesting information. But even though The Jean Arthur Show only lasted 12 episodes she was such a great actress that she had to be given a chance and a show over Carol Channing even though her show bombed (in a terrible time slot). She was incredibly more talented than Channing, who got amazing mileage out of one hit Broadway show (Hello Dolly). During the '60s and after, CC was brought on talk shows as a Zsa Zsa Gabor type joke and you'd think "why is this woman famous?"

Well, I love Jean Arthur and think she is one of the best movie avtresses ever but Carol Channing is a legend and a terrific comedienne as well as one of the queens of the Broadway musical. I can see why some wouldn't enjoy her brand of eccentricity but still she's far more than just a "personality".

I am very suprised though that CBS passed on Carol Channing in 1966 in favor of Jean Arthur. Carol was at the height of her career in this period - just coming off her triumph in HELLO DOLLY while Jean hadn't acted since 1952. In fact, I'm quite shocked that Hollywood which is so notoriously short-memoried would even give the great Miss Arthur a shot of television stardom this later in her career. I'd love to see her series one day be released on DVD.

Jude The Obscure · 04-15-2012, 05:53 PM

I just watched both pilots--I gotta admit--I did laugh several times at The Carol Channing Show--clearly setting her up to be a Lucy-esque character with similar escapades. I cringed though when the script referred to her as a "young girl"--wow, it was so obvious she was middle aged at this point (and yes, the writers did this with Lucy, even at the Here's Lucy stage of her TV career). It was cool to see Jimmy Garrett (and too bad nobody thought to give him another shot at a series--I love his remarks and delivery) and Eddie Applegate (who one time played a son of Mr. Mooney).

As for Land's End--I thought it needed more than a 1/2 hour to flesh out the story. Cool to see Martin Milner play a baddie and also Rory Calhoun in a non-western role. But oh my, those short short swim trunks!

I can't believe that got on the air. Also great to see the NBC peacock and commercials.

08-09-2010, 08:50 PM	#1
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	Desi Arnaz Pilots on DVD Set I guess that this is as good a place as any to comment on the Desi Arnaz Productions pilots on the MiL DVD set's bonus disc. "Land's End" was not at all a Western as I thought that I read it would be. It was set at a hotel in Baja California and filmed on location there. It was interesting seeing Martin Milner play a villain for maybe the last time just as he was about to start a 7-year run on Adam-12. Suzanne Cupito made one of her many child-actress appearances too, years before becoming Morgan Brittany. I haven't seen a copy of TV Guide from the airing of 4/21/68, but the half-hour show length and P&G ads, not to mention that MiL didn't air an original ep on this date, lead me to believe that it most likely aired in MiL's time slot of 8:30 - 9:00 PM that Sunday night on NBC. "The Carol Channing Show", as the DVD review here stated, appeared to be a bad idea for a series. I read somewhere that Richard Deacon was asked to look like Roger C. Carmel when he played Roger Buell, but he refused to do that. His scenes in this pilot, with no glasses and a substantial mustache, probably had him looking as much like Carmel as he ever would. Not only did Jimmy Garrett, Jerry Carmichael of The Lucy Show, make an appearance in the park scene, but Eddie Applegate, who'd just finished 3 years as Richard on The Patty Duke Show, and ex-Mouseketeer Sherry Alberoni also appeared as a young couple in this scene, just after Garrett's character left. In a later scene, I recognized Joe Conley, later Ike Godsey of The Waltons, in an uncredited role as a sailor in a dance hall. I once saw him play something like a beatnik on Dennis the Menace. On a final note about Carol Channing, I looked her up on Wikipedia and found that she'd just made an appearance on Hannity. She looks great for someone who'll soon be 90: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WpLp6kh3E4
	Last edited by jehobden; 08-10-2010 at 03:45 PM.

08-10-2010, 01:14 AM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	About the two pilots... ..."THE CAROL CHANNING SHOW", the first pilot produced under the "Desi Arnaz Productions" banner, was filmed in early 1966, and partially bankrolled by General Foods, who intended to place it in one of their sponsored time periods on CBS in the fall of '66; however, they rejected the potential series in favor of "THE JEAN ARTHUR SHOW", which lasted 12 episodes that fall, on Monday nights at 10pm(et). There was also a promotional film (whether it was tacked onto her unaired pilot, I don't know as yet) that showed Carol briefly interacting with the casts of other General Foods-sponsored series on CBS, including "GREEN ACRES", "GOMER PYLE U.S.M.C." and "HOGAN'S HEROES". As for "LAND'S END", that was originally a one-hour pilot shot in December 1966, for NBC's proposed 1967-'68 schedule. Desi was forced to re-edit what he thought was the finished product into a half-hour version [read Coyne Steven Sanders & Tom Gilbert's "Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz" for additional information concerning the background of that ill-fated pilot]. And that's what pre-empted "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW" as a "burned-off pilot" on April 21, 1968 at 8:30pm(et), for sponsor Procter & Gamble {apparently, it was part of Desi's deal with the sponsor to present "LAND'S END" in that time period}. After "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW" ended, Desi disbanded his production company and went into semi-retirement.

08-14-2010, 01:16 AM	#4
Samme Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 674	All interesting information. But even though The Jean Arthur Show only lasted 12 episodes she was such a great actress that she had to be given a chance and a show over Carol Channing even though her show bombed (in a terrible time slot). She was incredibly more talented than Channing, who got amazing mileage out of one hit Broadway show (Hello Dolly). During the '60s and after, CC was brought on talk shows as a Zsa Zsa Gabor type joke and you'd think "why is this woman famous?"

04-15-2012, 05:53 PM	#8
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	I just watched both pilots--I gotta admit--I did laugh several times at The Carol Channing Show--clearly setting her up to be a Lucy-esque character with similar escapades. I cringed though when the script referred to her as a "young girl"--wow, it was so obvious she was middle aged at this point (and yes, the writers did this with Lucy, even at the Here's Lucy stage of her TV career). It was cool to see Jimmy Garrett (and too bad nobody thought to give him another shot at a series--I love his remarks and delivery) and Eddie Applegate (who one time played a son of Mr. Mooney). As for Land's End--I thought it needed more than a 1/2 hour to flesh out the story. Cool to see Martin Milner play a baddie and also Rory Calhoun in a non-western role. But oh my, those short short swim trunks! I can't believe that got on the air. Also great to see the NBC peacock and commercials.