It's About Time TV Show, with Joe E. Ross - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Vince53 · 07-04-2011, 01:06 PM

Okay, when I was 13, I used to watch this show, with Joe E. Ross (Gunther Toody) as Gronk the caveman. Researching it, the show is universally panned, and it is so bad that this forum doesn't have a thread for it. But I found a few episodes on Youtube, so if you're a fan of this show, here's your place to post.

Vince53 · 07-04-2011, 01:10 PM

Two astronauts, one of whom is a moron, break the speed of light and land on Earth a million years in the past, where they find an English-speaking tribe led by the evil "Boss."

After rescuing the son of Gronk and Shad (Imogene Coca) from a dinosaur, our marooned heroes have some friends.

The pilot is so bad that I can't believe they made a series out of it. Ross's talents are thrown away as Gronk, and even Imogene Coca's acting ability can't save the show.

Vince53 · 07-04-2011, 09:09 PM

"Have I Got a Girl for You" is FUNNY! Mac and Hector have to marry cavegirls. Hector (the dumb one) gets a sweet, beautiful girl, while Mac gets...Don't ask.

When they try to escape, Boss sentences them to be thrown into a boiling pit.

Vince53 · 07-05-2011, 05:58 PM

I realize why "The Rainmakers" isn't too funny. Joe Ross is the only actor in the series with any real talent, and he only gets a supporting role playing simple parts as Gronk.

I researched the two stars, and while some actors are loved and missed, they aren't. We identify real-life actors with the fictional characters they portray. Since we all love Toody and Muldoon, we love Joe Ross and Fred Gwynne. But Mack (who has a higher IQ than everyone else in the village combined) and Hector are just not that lovable.

dahur1 · 07-05-2011, 06:13 PM

I posted "It's about Time", under "a rival for "My Mother The Car"

I watched this series back in 1967, and didn't even like it as a kid.
But I ALWAYS remembered the theme song-very catchy.

IMO, it's a truly terrible show. I bought the series, 26 episodes off E-Bay, just for nostalgia. I wasted my $20.

"Captain Nice", and "Mr. Terrific, also in 1967, were equally stupid, and lasted even less episodes than "It's About Time".

I love almost all TV from the 60's, but these series really suck.

Vince53 · 07-05-2011, 08:53 PM

Good post, Dahur! I found your thread at

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=199442

and am heart-broken to report that as a kid I loved "My Mother the Car" and "The Pruitts of South Hampton."

Vince53 · 07-06-2011, 08:13 PM

Twentieth Century, Here We Come

Boss orders the tribe to kill Gronk and his family for giving the astronauts a diamond from an idol, so our heroes take the four cave people with them back to the Twentieth Century.

In a plot so goofy that it was actually funny, nobody believes that the astronauts had broken the time barrier or that these four people are from the past.

The switch was a desperate attempt to save the show from falling ratings, and I noticed that Gronk gets a lot more speaking time.

Vince53 · 07-10-2011, 07:03 PM

The Mother-in-Law

Hector introduces the new custom of having your (Shad's) mother come for a visit. The new custom starts out great, and then...

Vince53 · 07-12-2011, 06:09 PM

Tailor-Made Hero

Okay, they took the plot from Gilligan's Island, but it's still funny.

Mack and Hector keep trying to make Gronk look like a hero, and Gronk (who is actually the star of this episode) keeps botching up. So they pretend to be "Painted Ones," the tribes' enemies. But Gronk overhears their plans. So when real Painted Ones kidnap Shad and Mlor, Gronk thinks he's only acting when he rescues them.

Folks, I'm actually starting to like this series.

Vince53 · 07-14-2011, 08:47 PM

Our Brothers' Keepers

Back in 1967, Mac and Hec finally convince NASA that they have real cave people with them. And then they realize that the government will treat them as freaks.

Fortunately, our heroes have the right stuff.

And it's time to say "Good-bye" to our friend Sherwood Schwartz, who died peacefully two days ago. He created Gilligan's Island, which, through re-runs, passed I Love Lucy as the most widely watched show in TV history.

He created It's About Time, often using scenery from Gilligan's Island to save expenses.

He also created The Brady Bunch, as well as having written for several radio and TV comedies. He left us decades of humor so good that his shows will last for decades to come.

McGillicuddy · 07-14-2011, 11:22 PM

I have a bootleg dvd set of It's About Time the complete series. The show does have a lot of similarities to Gilligan's Island.

It was interesting that in the first half of the series, 2 astronauts went back in time to the caveman era. Then later, they were able to return to present day 1960's, and brought a prehistoric family with them.

Vince53 · 07-23-2011, 07:28 PM

After learning how to sign their names, Gronk and Shad go on a credit-spending spree.

Just proves that a good credit check can save you from a lot of grief.

Vince53 · 07-26-2011, 09:09 PM

"The Stowaway" is not a good title for this funny episode. To prevent Mlor from being forced to marry Boss's son, Hec agrees to marry her. But now he must fight Boss's son to the death.

Fortunately, our heroes have some "speed-up" and "slow-down" pills, so what could go wrong...

McGillicuddy · 07-26-2011, 09:57 PM

I think I like the second format of the series, when the astronauts bring back "the cave family" to present day, better than the first format. Which do you like better, Vince? I do remember the credit-spending spree episode as being one of the best.

dlemond · 07-26-2011, 10:09 PM

Director Richard Donner (of Lethal Weapon and Superman-The Movie fame) directed the pilot of It's About Time.

07-04-2011, 01:06 PM	#1
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	It's About Time TV Show, with Joe E. Ross Okay, when I was 13, I used to watch this show, with Joe E. Ross (Gunther Toody) as Gronk the caveman. Researching it, the show is universally panned, and it is so bad that this forum doesn't have a thread for it. But I found a few episodes on Youtube, so if you're a fan of this show, here's your place to post.

07-04-2011, 01:10 PM	#2
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	Two astronauts, one of whom is a moron, break the speed of light and land on Earth a million years in the past, where they find an English-speaking tribe led by the evil "Boss." After rescuing the son of Gronk and Shad (Imogene Coca) from a dinosaur, our marooned heroes have some friends. The pilot is so bad that I can't believe they made a series out of it. Ross's talents are thrown away as Gronk, and even Imogene Coca's acting ability can't save the show.
	Last edited by Vince53; 07-04-2011 at 09:06 PM.

07-04-2011, 09:09 PM	#3
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	Have I Got a Girl for You "Have I Got a Girl for You" is FUNNY! Mac and Hector have to marry cavegirls. Hector (the dumb one) gets a sweet, beautiful girl, while Mac gets...Don't ask. When they try to escape, Boss sentences them to be thrown into a boiling pit.

07-05-2011, 05:58 PM	#4
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	I realize why "The Rainmakers" isn't too funny. Joe Ross is the only actor in the series with any real talent, and he only gets a supporting role playing simple parts as Gronk. I researched the two stars, and while some actors are loved and missed, they aren't. We identify real-life actors with the fictional characters they portray. Since we all love Toody and Muldoon, we love Joe Ross and Fred Gwynne. But Mack (who has a higher IQ than everyone else in the village combined) and Hector are just not that lovable.
	Last edited by Vince53; 07-05-2011 at 08:45 PM.

07-12-2011, 06:09 PM	#9
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	Tailor-Made Hero Okay, they took the plot from Gilligan's Island, but it's still funny. Mack and Hector keep trying to make Gronk look like a hero, and Gronk (who is actually the star of this episode) keeps botching up. So they pretend to be "Painted Ones," the tribes' enemies. But Gronk overhears their plans. So when real Painted Ones kidnap Shad and Mlor, Gronk thinks he's only acting when he rescues them. Folks, I'm actually starting to like this series.
	Last edited by Vince53; 07-14-2011 at 08:39 PM.

07-05-2011, 06:13 PM	#5
dahur1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 02, 2007 Location: Alamogordo, NM Posts: 195	I posted "It's about Time", under "a rival for "My Mother The Car" I watched this series back in 1967, and didn't even like it as a kid. But I ALWAYS remembered the theme song-very catchy. IMO, it's a truly terrible show. I bought the series, 26 episodes off E-Bay, just for nostalgia. I wasted my $20. "Captain Nice", and "Mr. Terrific, also in 1967, were equally stupid, and lasted even less episodes than "It's About Time". I love almost all TV from the 60's, but these series really suck.

07-05-2011, 08:53 PM	#6
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	Good post, Dahur! I found your thread at http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...d.php?t=199442 and am heart-broken to report that as a kid I loved "My Mother the Car" and "The Pruitts of South Hampton."

07-06-2011, 08:13 PM	#7
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	Twentieth Century, Here We Come Boss orders the tribe to kill Gronk and his family for giving the astronauts a diamond from an idol, so our heroes take the four cave people with them back to the Twentieth Century. In a plot so goofy that it was actually funny, nobody believes that the astronauts had broken the time barrier or that these four people are from the past. The switch was a desperate attempt to save the show from falling ratings, and I noticed that Gronk gets a lot more speaking time.

07-10-2011, 07:03 PM	#8
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	The Mother-in-Law Hector introduces the new custom of having your (Shad's) mother come for a visit. The new custom starts out great, and then...

07-14-2011, 08:47 PM	#10
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	Our Brothers' Keepers Back in 1967, Mac and Hec finally convince NASA that they have real cave people with them. And then they realize that the government will treat them as freaks. Fortunately, our heroes have the right stuff. And it's time to say "Good-bye" to our friend Sherwood Schwartz, who died peacefully two days ago. He created Gilligan's Island, which, through re-runs, passed I Love Lucy as the most widely watched show in TV history. He created It's About Time, often using scenery from Gilligan's Island to save expenses. He also created The Brady Bunch, as well as having written for several radio and TV comedies. He left us decades of humor so good that his shows will last for decades to come.

07-14-2011, 11:22 PM	#11
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I have a bootleg dvd set of It's About Time the complete series. The show does have a lot of similarities to Gilligan's Island. It was interesting that in the first half of the series, 2 astronauts went back in time to the caveman era. Then later, they were able to return to present day 1960's, and brought a prehistoric family with them.

07-23-2011, 07:28 PM	#12
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	To Sign or Not to Sign After learning how to sign their names, Gronk and Shad go on a credit-spending spree. Just proves that a good credit check can save you from a lot of grief.

07-26-2011, 09:09 PM	#13
Vince53 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2010 Location: Chapala, Mexico Posts: 492	"The Stowaway" is not a good title for this funny episode. To prevent Mlor from being forced to marry Boss's son, Hec agrees to marry her. But now he must fight Boss's son to the death. Fortunately, our heroes have some "speed-up" and "slow-down" pills, so what could go wrong...

07-26-2011, 09:57 PM	#14
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I think I like the second format of the series, when the astronauts bring back "the cave family" to present day, better than the first format. Which do you like better, Vince? I do remember the credit-spending spree episode as being one of the best.

07-26-2011, 10:09 PM	#15
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,752	Director Richard Donner (of Lethal Weapon and Superman-The Movie fame) directed the pilot of It's About Time.
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