For those of you........ - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

camdog · 08-17-2007, 03:24 PM

For those of you that were alive in the 70s how did u find out about AITF and what I mean by that is what kind of commercials did they have for the pilot episode, and also how would you find out when they were having new episodes or starting another season of AITF back then?

shipoopi · 10-26-2007, 10:12 PM

Not sure when I first started watching 'AITF' but in 1972 I wrote in Archie's name in our mock Presidential election in 6th grade. Was aware of who he was then but have no clear memory of first viewings.

However, I do remember that Friday and Saturday nights my brother and I got to control the TV viewing on those nights. Friday was all ABC (Brady Bunch, Room 222, Love American Style) and Saturday was the indestructible CBS lineup (AITF, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett). Now that was truly MUST SEE TV!!

How did we find out about new episodes? The TV Guide of course. Plus it seems that shows were on when they were supposed to be not like now with it airing all over the place trying to find an audience.

Back then I would have loved to have owned a DVR and DVD recorder - so many great shows and specials. Now that I have that technology I only record Turner Classic Movies - only watch The Simpsons and The Amazing Race. That's all the current shows I can stand. Thank Heavens for older shows on DVD but they need to finish a complete set before glutting the market with more and getting low sales, and figuring that that set isn't going to sell and they quit selling it (MTM!).

OH Nuts! · 11-09-2007, 12:41 AM

I first heard about in my Biology class when I was a sophomore in high school. One day my teacher came in and RAVED about this marvelous new show on CBS, she said that it was highly original and honest, and that she had never seen anything like it. So I watched AITF for the first time that next Saturday AND IT BLOWED MY MIND. Never in a million years would I have thought I would see such a frank, imaginative, forthright and utterly brilliant approach to the controversial topics that envelop us. And in 1971 no less. This is why I love AITF so, IMO it's the second best show ever--right behind I Love Lucy--and a very close second I might add.

Ireneparalegal · 11-09-2007, 12:59 AM

My older brother would watch it. That is how I watched it.

treky · 11-09-2007, 03:54 AM

I don't remember how I first heard of it, but I do remember the night it premiered on CBS. My sister and I were home on Xmas vacation from school, and we both turned it on out of curiosity (Wednesday night on CBS, right before "60 MINUTES") and we both turned it off halfway through-we thought it was stupid, and wasn't funny.
Then during the summer, my older brother stated watching it and one by one the rest of the family did.

Then, in the 2nd season, when CBS moved it to Saturdays at 8, I remember my sister always INSISTED on watching a show on ABC that was on oppisite it, called "GETTING TOGETHER" or something like that. It starred a teenage pop idol named Bobby Sherman, and she thought he was "GROOVY"!

But then, ABC cannceled it so that solved that problem. (it also ended her crush)

How did I find out about new episodes? Same way everyone else did: promos and the TV listings; of course!

AB · 11-09-2007, 06:16 PM

We always got the TV Guide and I read about it in there. My dad didn't like the show much at first but then he finally came around and let us watch it.

tdr · 11-12-2007, 05:19 PM

I was 11, close to 12, and I do remember seeing the promo ads for the new show. I didn't pay much attention to what was said in the 'sneak peaks,' but I did notice the background laughter sounded wilder than I was used to, as almost every sitcom then except Lucille Ball's used soft laughtracks instead of live audiences, and for this show the audience just seemed to laugh harder than Lucy's. Also, where I lived the show was on at 10:30 p.m. some weeknight, so I didn't have a chance of seeing it anyway. I didn't even get to stay up till 10 unless I was still doing homework. But the next fall its time was changed to 7 p.m. (Central) on Saturdays, and even though we had the show on sometimes, my parents still said it's not the kind of show kids ought to be watching (I had 2 younger brothers). Seems like it was the third season before I really got interested in it; and I remember the "Archie Bunker for President" craze, and once had a plastic coin with Archie in a tophat with those words.

08-17-2007, 03:24 PM	#1
camdog Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 308	For those of you........ For those of you that were alive in the 70s how did u find out about AITF and what I mean by that is what kind of commercials did they have for the pilot episode, and also how would you find out when they were having new episodes or starting another season of AITF back then?

10-26-2007, 10:12 PM	#2
shipoopi Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 13, 2005 Posts: 82	Ah, the memories. . . Not sure when I first started watching 'AITF' but in 1972 I wrote in Archie's name in our mock Presidential election in 6th grade. Was aware of who he was then but have no clear memory of first viewings. However, I do remember that Friday and Saturday nights my brother and I got to control the TV viewing on those nights. Friday was all ABC (Brady Bunch, Room 222, Love American Style) and Saturday was the indestructible CBS lineup (AITF, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett). Now that was truly MUST SEE TV!! How did we find out about new episodes? The TV Guide of course. Plus it seems that shows were on when they were supposed to be not like now with it airing all over the place trying to find an audience. Back then I would have loved to have owned a DVR and DVD recorder - so many great shows and specials. Now that I have that technology I only record Turner Classic Movies - only watch The Simpsons and The Amazing Race. That's all the current shows I can stand. Thank Heavens for older shows on DVD but they need to finish a complete set before glutting the market with more and getting low sales, and figuring that that set isn't going to sell and they quit selling it (MTM!).

11-09-2007, 12:59 AM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	My older brother would watch it. That is how I watched it.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

11-09-2007, 03:54 AM	#5
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I don't remember how I first heard of it, but I do remember the night it premiered on CBS. My sister and I were home on Xmas vacation from school, and we both turned it on out of curiosity (Wednesday night on CBS, right before "60 MINUTES") and we both turned it off halfway through-we thought it was stupid, and wasn't funny. Then during the summer, my older brother stated watching it and one by one the rest of the family did. Then, in the 2nd season, when CBS moved it to Saturdays at 8, I remember my sister always INSISTED on watching a show on ABC that was on oppisite it, called "GETTING TOGETHER" or something like that. It starred a teenage pop idol named Bobby Sherman, and she thought he was "GROOVY"! But then, ABC cannceled it so that solved that problem. (it also ended her crush) How did I find out about new episodes? Same way everyone else did: promos and the TV listings; of course!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

11-09-2007, 12:41 AM	#3
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I first heard about in my Biology class when I was a sophomore in high school. One day my teacher came in and RAVED about this marvelous new show on CBS, she said that it was highly original and honest, and that she had never seen anything like it. So I watched AITF for the first time that next Saturday AND IT BLOWED MY MIND. Never in a million years would I have thought I would see such a frank, imaginative, forthright and utterly brilliant approach to the controversial topics that envelop us. And in 1971 no less. This is why I love AITF so, IMO it's the second best show ever--right behind I Love Lucy--and a very close second I might add.

11-09-2007, 06:16 PM	#6
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	We always got the TV Guide and I read about it in there. My dad didn't like the show much at first but then he finally came around and let us watch it.

11-12-2007, 05:19 PM	#7
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I was 11, close to 12, and I do remember seeing the promo ads for the new show. I didn't pay much attention to what was said in the 'sneak peaks,' but I did notice the background laughter sounded wilder than I was used to, as almost every sitcom then except Lucille Ball's used soft laughtracks instead of live audiences, and for this show the audience just seemed to laugh harder than Lucy's. Also, where I lived the show was on at 10:30 p.m. some weeknight, so I didn't have a chance of seeing it anyway. I didn't even get to stay up till 10 unless I was still doing homework. But the next fall its time was changed to 7 p.m. (Central) on Saturdays, and even though we had the show on sometimes, my parents still said it's not the kind of show kids ought to be watching (I had 2 younger brothers). Seems like it was the third season before I really got interested in it; and I remember the "Archie Bunker for President" craze, and once had a plastic coin with Archie in a tophat with those words.