"Pioneers of Television" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

treky · 01-29-2011, 03:18 AM

....on PBS. Who else here is watching it and, those that are what do you think of it?

browneyes106 · 01-29-2011, 05:08 AM

I watched part of the episode on science fiction shows and then I watched the westerns episode in full. It is a well put together series and Edward Hermann is a good narrator.

biffbronson · 01-29-2011, 03:53 PM

The Westerns episode was enjoyable, but the example of 1970 Daniel Boone with Rosey Grier is more of a frontier show and late episode than a pioneering TV western effort.

The shows do contain errors. Daniel Boone was not a Disney series as strongly implied, and also Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Yates character from Rawhide was misidentified as Rowdy "Gaines."

Great to see new interview footage, especially lovely Veronica Cartwright.

gidgetgrape · 01-29-2011, 04:00 PM

I enjoyed the Westerns episode also. I was glad to see "The Rifleman" featured.

biffbronson · 01-29-2011, 04:04 PM

Yes -- great to see Johnny Crawford. Loved the still photos of Chuck Connors' pro athlete days.

I was hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the great Gene Barry as Bat Masterson, but I guess there were so many westerns that it would be tough to touch on every one I've enjoyed. (I should add that I'm a big fan of Daniel Boone, so I certainly didn't mind that it went beyond the pioneering years of TV westerns.)

I can't wait for the upcoming Crime Dramas episode, with Columbo and Dragnet.

gidgetgrape · 01-29-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

I can't wait for the upcoming Crime Dramas episode, with Columbo and Dragnet.

I'm looking forward to seeing that episode too. I wonder if there's any chance that they will mention Mcmillian and Wife.

PanamaMike · 01-29-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browneyes106

I watched part of the episode on science fiction shows and then I watched the westerns episode in full. It is a well put together series and Edward Hermann is a good narrator.

Kelsey Grammer is the narrator.

biffbronson · 01-30-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

I'm looking forward to seeing that episode too. I wonder if there's any chance that they will mention Mcmillian and Wife.

It really should be mentioned, as it was one of the three rotating powerhouse shows along with Columbo (which we know will be on there, based on previews) and McCloud that made for a great Sunday night.

I actually liked McMillan and Wife the best of the three. Susan and Rock had such great chemistry. All of those series were top-notch. I think maybe McMillan & Wife followed the idea from the '50s series Mr. & Mrs. North as far as husband and wife being involved in crime investigation -- and of course later we had Hart to Hart in a similar vein.

In his book Peter Falk: Just One More Thing, it's interesting to learn that Falk himself introduced the trademark raincoat and car used by Columbo. His ideas really contributed to the series' great success.

gidgetgrape · 01-30-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

I think maybe McMillan & Wife followed the idea from the '50s series Mr. & Mrs. North as far as husband and wife being involved in crime investigation -- and of course later we had Hart to Hart in a similar vein.

McMillan and Wife is my favorite too. I didn't know how popular the series was though because I didn't see it until it aired on The Hallmark Channel. I'm not sure either, but I thought McMillan and Wife was inspired by The Thin Man movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. Hopefully we'll find out! They really should have ended the show when Susan left though.

treky · 01-31-2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

McMillan and Wife is my favorite too. I didn't know how popular the series was though because I didn't see it until it aired on The Hallmark Channel. I'm not sure either, but I thought McMillan and Wife was inspired by The Thin Man movies with William Powell and Myrna Loy. Hopefully we'll find out! They really should have ended the show when Susan left though.

yes, they should have instead of trying to continue it with just Rock Hudson. (who, as we all know, was keeping his lifestyle titghtly under wraps)

treky · 01-31-2011, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

The Westerns episode was enjoyable, but the example of 1970 Daniel Boone with Rosey Grier is more of a frontier show and late episode than a pioneering TV western effort.

The shows do contain errors. Daniel Boone was not a Disney series as strongly implied, and also Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Yates character from Rawhide was misidentified as Rowdy "Gaines."

Great to see new interview footage, especially lovely Veronica Cartwright.

and they also said that "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE" was also a western. I've always thought of that as a-let's see' how can I put this?-a family show about a pioneer family- I guess . Know what I'm saying? It wasn't exactly a "western" in the traditional sense. (I hope that makes sense)

Although, I read once that in a way it could be considered as a continuation of "BONANZA" even though it was set earlier, had different characters, etc.

treky · 01-31-2011, 03:00 AM

they also didn't say that, while westerns were all over the dial in the 50s (all 3 channels

) in the 60s there were still a lot, but not as many and by the 70s, they were almost gone.

gidgetgrape · 02-02-2011, 04:46 PM

I saw the crime dramas episode. I can't believe they didn't mention Jack Klugman and "Quincy M.E." If it weren't for that show we wouldn't have any of the "CSI" programs or "Crossing Jordan." What gives?

They also didn't mention McMillan and Wife or any husband/wife duos either. Rats!

JT · 02-03-2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

and they also said that "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE" was also a western. I've always thought of that as a-let's see' how can I put this?-a family show about a pioneer family- I guess . Know what I'm saying? It wasn't exactly a "western" in the traditional sense. (I hope that makes sense)

Although, I read once that in a way it could be considered as a continuation of "BONANZA" even though it was set earlier, had different characters, etc.

I've always called LHOTP a "Midwestern." Minnesota isn't really what one would consider the "Old West," and the show's focus and characters aren't really in the traditional western vein. But then again, there were episodes that were very western-like (probably due to Landon's influence).

I've been loving this series. I'm enjoying this season's episodes more than the first batch from a few years ago. I wish the episodes were two hours long because then they'd really get to cover a lot of the pioneers of each genre while also touching on shows that weren't necessarily very pioneering but still had a huge influence (like Kojak).

I'm hoping that another season will come up soon. Game shows, soap operas, and daytime talk would be interesting. And since they're delving into different types of primetime dramas, they might as well look at the pioneers of medical drama and also the big anthology shows of the 50s. They still have a lot of material to work with.

MikeLutton · 02-03-2011, 04:33 AM

must be reruns cause robert culp passed away sometime last year this first time i saw this show i love it

01-29-2011, 03:18 AM	#1
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	"Pioneers of Television" ....on PBS. Who else here is watching it and, those that are what do you think of it?
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01-29-2011, 03:53 PM	#3
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,490	The Westerns episode was enjoyable, but the example of 1970 Daniel Boone with Rosey Grier is more of a frontier show and late episode than a pioneering TV western effort. The shows do contain errors. Daniel Boone was not a Disney series as strongly implied, and also Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Yates character from Rawhide was misidentified as Rowdy "Gaines." Great to see new interview footage, especially lovely Veronica Cartwright.
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02-03-2011, 04:33 AM	#15
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,885	must be reruns cause robert culp passed away sometime last year this first time i saw this show i love it
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01-29-2011, 05:08 AM	#2
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	I watched part of the episode on science fiction shows and then I watched the westerns episode in full. It is a well put together series and Edward Hermann is a good narrator.

01-29-2011, 04:00 PM	#4
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	I enjoyed the Westerns episode also. I was glad to see "The Rifleman" featured.

01-29-2011, 04:04 PM	#5
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,490	Yes -- great to see Johnny Crawford. Loved the still photos of Chuck Connors' pro athlete days. I was hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the great Gene Barry as Bat Masterson, but I guess there were so many westerns that it would be tough to touch on every one I've enjoyed. (I should add that I'm a big fan of Daniel Boone, so I certainly didn't mind that it went beyond the pioneering years of TV westerns.) I can't wait for the upcoming Crime Dramas episode, with Columbo and Dragnet.

01-31-2011, 03:00 AM	#12
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	they also didn't say that, while westerns were all over the dial in the 50s (all 3 channels ) in the 60s there were still a lot, but not as many and by the 70s, they were almost gone.

02-02-2011, 04:46 PM	#13
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	I saw the crime dramas episode. I can't believe they didn't mention Jack Klugman and "Quincy M.E." If it weren't for that show we wouldn't have any of the "CSI" programs or "Crossing Jordan." What gives? They also didn't mention McMillan and Wife or any husband/wife duos either. Rats!