TV Land Movies - wtf? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tweety · 06-29-2005, 10:50 PM

Tonight, I noticed that TV Land is playing an old TV Movie: It's called "An Early Frost" and it was made in 1985...

Here is the description and partial cast listing:

"New England parents react to news that their son, a young lawyer, is gay and has AIDS.

Cast: Aidan Quinn, Ben Gazzara, Gena Rowlands, Sylvia Sidney, D.W. Moffett, John Glover, Sydney Walsh. "

Can someone explain why this particular movie is being shown? Are any member of the cast big stars today? I've heard of Ben Gazzara, but what is the point of putting this movie on?

I saw that the other TV movie they're showing tonight starred Lindsay Wagner (a/k/a The Bionic Woman)... yip yip yip yahoo What's so great about that??

Way to go, TV Land... another bulls-eye!

They must be mind readers over there at TV Land...I know I'VE been dying to see this movie, since I missed it when it was on 20 years ago... and I'm sure you all feel the same way out there, right? ... right? ....anyone? ....anyone?

Whatever happened to TV Land???? To whom are they catering their programming ? You can't tell me there are more than about 20 people out there who've ever HEARD of these two movies, let alone seen them, or would want to see them today....

What the heck, I just looked it up...the movie staring Wagner is called The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story (1988), and is described as follows:

"A flight attendant saves lives during the 1985 Athens/Beirut/Algiers terrorist hijacking."

As Archie Bunker would say... "whoopdee doo!"

Again, let us all thank God for DVDs!

Dean Winchester · 06-29-2005, 11:14 PM

god, are you naive?

An Early Frost was a very groundbreaking tv movie. Or are you one of those types who thinks that Tickled Pink special was "TV Land getting too filthy" (I'm sorry, the violence on Hunter is more offensive than a few queens talking about Bewitched and The Golden Girls)? It's one of the most famous tv movies of all time because it was the first time network television actually dared to take on the subject of AIDS.

It belongs in a list of "the most famous and important tv movies of all time", or do you think 1985 is too recent? It was an important TV movie for it's time and scored high ratings because at the time, people had no idea what AIDS was for the most part except for the fact that it was a disease among gay men. It's definately as worthy of being on this as The Day After and Sybil.

Mr. Television · 06-29-2005, 11:20 PM

This is one of the greatest tv movies of all time. I'm glad TV Land is airing some different things this summer.

Dean Winchester · 06-29-2005, 11:24 PM

thank you. I find it funny somebody would be asking "why is TV Land airing this?", I'd say after The Day After, An Early Frost is definately the second most famous tv movie of the 1980's, and was incredibly groundbreaking due to its sensitivity towards AIDS (it's weird looking back at it now considering how much times have changed since 1985) and also with homosexuality.

ClassicTV4Ever · 06-30-2005, 12:20 AM

I am SO glad that TV Land is airing these movies all week. These are just some of the greatest and most famous TV movies of all time. It's just too bad that it isn't possible to show "Roots" since it has multiple parts. I can't wait to see "The Day After," "Sybil," and "Helter Skelter."

JT · 06-30-2005, 12:55 AM

I think Tweety is one of those people who assume that classic TV always equals AITF and Lucy and MTM etc.

People. Classic TV.

Classic TV Sitcoms.
Classic TV Dramas.
Classic TV Soaps.
Classic TV Game Shows.
Classic TV Movies.
Classic TV Commercials.
Classic TV Children's Shows.
Classic TV Porn.

TVLand can air anything that damn well please as long as it goes under the heading of classic TV.

Mr. Television · 06-30-2005, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassicTV4Ever

I am SO glad that TV Land is airing these movies all week. These are just some of the greatest and most famous TV movies of all time. It's just too bad that it isn't possible to show "Roots" since it has multiple parts. I can't wait to see "The Day After," "Sybil," and "Helter Skelter."

I would love it if they could show some mini-series like Roots or Rich Man Poor Man. Another one I remember when I was young was Backstairs At The Whitehouse. I haven't seen that one since it originally aired.

Pavan · 06-30-2005, 12:58 AM

For crying out loud it is just for this week. All of these movies are classics. I've enjoyed this week so far, it's a nice change. TV Land June has been their best month in many years. They're NOT TV Land Movies, they are tv-movies from the 70s and 80s.

PrettyinPink55 · 06-30-2005, 02:10 AM

I am actually really glad TVLand decided to do this! I am catching up on some of the greats that I'd never before seen.

By the way, when do they air Sybil? I am most looking forward to that.

Dean Winchester · 06-30-2005, 04:51 AM

speaking of "has anybody even heard of these movies?"

One of my friends who was BORN in 1985 (that's right, he was being born when this movie aired) was upset he missed An Early Frost tonight, because he had been wanting to see it, so there!

I agree with JT, there are more things to "classic TV" than just Lucy and Archie.

TJL · 06-30-2005, 04:57 AM

The "TV Movie Of The Week" is a lost art form. They just don't make em the way they used to.

A reviewer from the Daily News suggested that TVLand should make this a weekly special - have a host introduce each film ala "Masterpiece Theater"
Not a bad idea.

Tweety · 06-30-2005, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassicTV4Ever

I am SO glad that TV Land is airing these movies all week. These are just some of the greatest and most famous TV movies of all time. It's just too bad that it isn't possible to show "Roots" since it has multiple parts. ..

why should THAT stop them?

Tweety · 06-30-2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

god, are you naive?

No

Tweety · 06-30-2005, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

I think Tweety is one of those people who assume that classic TV always equals AITF and Lucy and MTM etc.

TVLand can air anything that damn well please as long as it goes under the heading of classic TV.

Don't know if you realize it, but the folks who created TV Land were obviouisly among "those people" who "assumed" the same thing.

And of course I'm well aware that TV Land can air anything that they "damn well please", as you put it... and I trust that you are aware that I can say anything I damn well please about what they are airing?

Mr. Television · 06-30-2005, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

Don't know if you realize it, but the folks who created TV Land were obviouisly among "those people" who "assumed" the same thing.

And of course I'm well aware that TV Land can air anything that they "damn well please", as you put it... and I trust that you are aware that I can say anything I damn well please about what they are airing?

When TV Land was set up it advertised itself as the network that would air all types of programs not just the same old sitcoms. Thats why in the beginning it had sitcom. dramas and variety shows and many of those shows hadn't been seen in years. Then as soon as it got an audience it changed directions like so many other cable channels. At least for one summer TV Land is going back to its roots.

06-29-2005, 10:50 PM	#1
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	TV Land Movies - wtf? Tonight, I noticed that TV Land is playing an old TV Movie: It's called "An Early Frost" and it was made in 1985... Here is the description and partial cast listing: "New England parents react to news that their son, a young lawyer, is gay and has AIDS. Cast: Aidan Quinn, Ben Gazzara, Gena Rowlands, Sylvia Sidney, D.W. Moffett, John Glover, Sydney Walsh. " Can someone explain why this particular movie is being shown? Are any member of the cast big stars today? I've heard of Ben Gazzara, but what is the point of putting this movie on? I saw that the other TV movie they're showing tonight starred Lindsay Wagner (a/k/a The Bionic Woman)... yip yip yip yahoo What's so great about that?? Way to go, TV Land... another bulls-eye! They must be mind readers over there at TV Land...I know I'VE been dying to see this movie, since I missed it when it was on 20 years ago... and I'm sure you all feel the same way out there, right? ... right? ....anyone? ....anyone? Whatever happened to TV Land???? To whom are they catering their programming ? You can't tell me there are more than about 20 people out there who've ever HEARD of these two movies, let alone seen them, or would want to see them today.... What the heck, I just looked it up...the movie staring Wagner is called The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story (1988), and is described as follows: "A flight attendant saves lives during the 1985 Athens/Beirut/Algiers terrorist hijacking." As Archie Bunker would say... "whoopdee doo!" Again, let us all thank God for DVDs!

06-29-2005, 11:20 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	This is one of the greatest tv movies of all time. I'm glad TV Land is airing some different things this summer.
	__________________ Sonny

06-30-2005, 12:55 AM	#6
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	I think Tweety is one of those people who assume that classic TV always equals AITF and Lucy and MTM etc. People. Classic TV. Classic TV Sitcoms. Classic TV Dramas. Classic TV Soaps. Classic TV Game Shows. Classic TV Movies. Classic TV Commercials. Classic TV Children's Shows. Classic TV Porn. TVLand can air anything that damn well please as long as it goes under the heading of classic TV.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

06-30-2005, 12:58 AM	#8
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	For crying out loud it is just for this week. All of these movies are classics. I've enjoyed this week so far, it's a nice change. TV Land June has been their best month in many years. They're NOT TV Land Movies, they are tv-movies from the 70s and 80s.
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews!

06-30-2005, 02:10 AM	#9
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	I am actually really glad TVLand decided to do this! I am catching up on some of the greats that I'd never before seen. By the way, when do they air Sybil? I am most looking forward to that.
	__________________ ♥♥♥

06-29-2005, 11:14 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	god, are you naive? An Early Frost was a very groundbreaking tv movie. Or are you one of those types who thinks that Tickled Pink special was "TV Land getting too filthy" (I'm sorry, the violence on Hunter is more offensive than a few queens talking about Bewitched and The Golden Girls)? It's one of the most famous tv movies of all time because it was the first time network television actually dared to take on the subject of AIDS. It belongs in a list of "the most famous and important tv movies of all time", or do you think 1985 is too recent? It was an important TV movie for it's time and scored high ratings because at the time, people had no idea what AIDS was for the most part except for the fact that it was a disease among gay men. It's definately as worthy of being on this as The Day After and Sybil.

06-29-2005, 11:24 PM	#4
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	thank you. I find it funny somebody would be asking "why is TV Land airing this?", I'd say after The Day After, An Early Frost is definately the second most famous tv movie of the 1980's, and was incredibly groundbreaking due to its sensitivity towards AIDS (it's weird looking back at it now considering how much times have changed since 1985) and also with homosexuality.

06-30-2005, 12:20 AM	#5
ClassicTV4Ever Coming November 27th! Senior Member Join Date: May 02, 2002 Location: TV Land! Posts: 1,421	I am SO glad that TV Land is airing these movies all week. These are just some of the greatest and most famous TV movies of all time. It's just too bad that it isn't possible to show "Roots" since it has multiple parts. I can't wait to see "The Day After," "Sybil," and "Helter Skelter."

06-30-2005, 04:51 AM	#10
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	speaking of "has anybody even heard of these movies?" One of my friends who was BORN in 1985 (that's right, he was being born when this movie aired) was upset he missed An Early Frost tonight, because he had been wanting to see it, so there! I agree with JT, there are more things to "classic TV" than just Lucy and Archie.

06-30-2005, 04:57 AM	#11
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	The "TV Movie Of The Week" is a lost art form. They just don't make em the way they used to. A reviewer from the Daily News suggested that TVLand should make this a weekly special - have a host introduce each film ala "Masterpiece Theater" Not a bad idea.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations