Retro TV Channels: ”The Good Old Days of Television”

ennui · January 7, 2015

On New Years day, CMT had an all day COPS marathon, so I'm not sure if that statement holds true. I suppose country folk have law problems too.

It crossed my mind tonight ... COPS is the longest running reality show, reruns on several channels, there's an archive of 20+ years worth of episodes ... who gets the royalties from syndication? The officers, the municipalities ... ?

Very few channels show the ending credits. However, a lot of the older shows list the guest stars in the opening credits. It's really worth making an effort to catch the beginning.

roseha · January 7, 2015

Very few channels show the ending credits.

METV shows the ending credits in Perry Mason, though I wonder if they speed it up since I can never fully read all the names of the guest cast. Still, it's enough of a guide for me to check the episode online for the more well-known actors.

Maverick · January 7, 2015

IMDB is good for finding guest stars if you know the episode title. Most cable guides have it. I think MeTV used to have a commercial bragging about how they showed the credits for all their shows.

I have no doubt the credits are speeded up though. All the networks are "time compressing" shows. It's most noticeable in the opening credits;you can tell the tempo is wrong in the songs. If you watch the Mr Ed credits on Antenna TV Mr Ed looks like he's taken a hit of speed.

Milz · January 7, 2015

IMDB is good for finding guest stars if you know the episode title. Most cable guides have it. I think MeTV used to have a commercial bragging about how they showed the credits for all their shows.

I have no doubt the credits are speeded up though. All the networks are "time compressing" shows. It's most noticeable in the opening credits;you can tell the tempo is wrong in the songs. If you watch the Mr Ed credits on Antenna TV Mr Ed looks like he's taken a hit of speed.

The Honey Bee's performance on Gillian's Island is also sped up whenever MeTV shows it. Ginger, Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell don't sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks, but it's slightly faster than what's on youtube or on the DVD.

shapeshifter · January 7, 2015

I think "terrestrial" is a Briticism for "broadcast" (as opposed to satellite).

Thank you, Jipijapa, even though it is disappointing--I'd rather not make a fool of myself pointing it out elsewhere.

shapeshifter · January 10, 2015

Airing right now on COZI, Murder She Wrote, "Tough Guys Don't Die," S01, E17 (First Aired: February 24, 1985):

Jessica cooperates with private detective Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach), whose partner died while researching a murder trial.

ennui · January 10, 2015

I don't know where to post this, but I want to give kudos to AMC for showing Casino Royale uncut (apparently, as it's still running as I type). I'm often horrified at the minor, silly cuts to CR, presumably for time allotted? I can usually tell if it's been butchered early on, in the scene where James wins the 1964 Aston Martin at cards, and picks up Solange (Caterino Murino), drives around the parking lot, and the valet says "Welcome back, sir." It's such a small, gently humorous scene, I often wonder why it's cut. But if it has been cut, I stop watching. Anyway, thanks, AMC.

ETA And they included the defibrillator scene! That's usually the first cut.

Edited January 10, 2015 by ennui

GHScorpiosRule · January 10, 2015

Airing right now on COZI, Murder She Wrote, "Tough Guys Don't Die," S01, E17 (First Aired: February 24, 1985):

Jessica cooperates with private detective Harry McGraw (Jerry Orbach), whose partner died while researching a murder trial.

I watched that! And it made me all misty-eyed. I remember that the character, Orbach played, Harry McGraw, got his own show, but alas, it didn't last very long. But I think Harry appeared in at least one other episode on Murder.

WendyCR72 · January 10, 2015

I watched that! And it made me all misty-eyed. I remember that the character, Orbach played, Harry McGraw, got his own show, but alas, it didn't last very long. But I think Harry appeared in at least one other episode on Murder.

I think he appeared in more than two episodes. He seemed to recur (IIRC) semi regularly. And yeah, Jerry Orbach/Harry McGraw got his own show for one season (or less?), The Law and Harry McGraw.

shapeshifter · January 10, 2015

I think he appeared in more than two episodes. He seemed to recur (IIRC) semi regularly. And yeah, Jerry Orbach/Harry McGraw got his own show for one season (or less?), The Law and Harry McGraw.

IMDb is your friend (or, in my case, perhaps more of a fix for my need-to-know obsession). 6 episodes from 1985 to 1991: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001583/

While watching the episode, every time I saw a car I had to mentally translate its status for the time (1985).

auntjess · January 11, 2015

U-verse just picked this up in the past few weeks.
I find I don't care to watch something, just because I did as a kid.
However things from the more recent past, like Bob Newhart and the Odd Couple are fun to see.

Edited January 11, 2015 by auntjess

roseha · January 11, 2015

Newhart, Bob's Vermont sitcom, is playing on Antenna TV, they had back to back episodes on tonight. Larry, Daryl and Daryl are as funny as ever.

auntjess · January 11, 2015

I watched that one, but I liked the first one a lot more.

The show that I'd love to see is The Wild Wild West, the one with Ross Martin.

opus · January 11, 2015

I watched that one, but I liked the first one a lot more.

The show that I'd love to see is The Wild Wild West, the one with Ross Martin.

Wild Wild West is apparently airing on whatever this is: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroes_%26_Icons

auntjess · January 11, 2015

Thanks, Gary. I haven't seen this channel on U-verse, but I'll keep an eye out for it, and do a search on the show.

smiley13 · January 11, 2015

Newhart, Bob's Vermont sitcom, is playing on Antenna TV, they had back to back episodes on tonight. Larry, Daryl and Daryl are as funny as ever.

I do love seeing Newhart again! It does get better after the first season though IMO. I liked Michael and Stephanie better than Curt and the other girl.

roseha · January 12, 2015

I do love seeing Newhart again! It does get better after the first season though IMO. I liked Michael and Stephanie better than Curt and the other girl.

I was watching Newhart tonight (they are showing the later seasons with Stephanie, Michael and Larry-Daryl-Daryl) when it occurred to me that there's a lot of weird fish out of water/self absorbed characters/rural background that reminds me of Green Acres, especially in tonight's show with the random townspeople (and Michael) informing Dick he's "hot headed" -- not unlike Eddie Albert's neighbors in Green Acres assuming for no reason that he's gotten drunk.

shapeshifter · January 13, 2015

U-verse just picked this up in the past few weeks.

I find I don't care to watch something, just because I did as a kid.

However things from the more recent past, like Bob Newhart and the Odd Couple are fun to see....

I know what you mean. My pre-teen self was obsessed with Man From U.N.C.L.E. (especially Robert Vaughn), but I can't bear to watch it now.

auntjess · January 13, 2015

I was going to watch Mission Impossible, but I watched it when Peter Graves was on, and this had Steve Hill. I don't know whether that was before or after.

WendyCR72 · January 13, 2015

I was going to watch Mission Impossible, but I watched it when Peter Graves was on, and this had Steve Hill. I don't know whether that was before or after.

Before. Steven Hill was in Season 1 and left because of religious issues. And, naturally, decades later would become known as DA Adam Schiff on Law & Order for the first 10 seasons.

ennui · January 20, 2015

I know what you mean. My pre-teen self was obsessed with Man From U.N.C.L.E. (especially Robert Vaughn), but I can't bear to watch it now.

I enjoy the shows I haven't seen, so I understand.

I had a "WHOA!" moment when one of the commercials interrupting CHiPs was the Adult Male Medical Center, discussing ED. Gee whiz, keep the family shows clean, MeTV. I shouldn't have to click away when the commercials start! I remember a friend who wouldn't watch Doctor Who because of the adverts for other BBCA shows that were less family-friendly.

Edited January 20, 2015 by ennui

roseha · January 20, 2015

I have a somewhat similar reaction when I watch episodes of American Greed, with people being swindled out of their retirement by too-good-to-be-true schemes, and the commercials are for some ridiculous cheap auction site or only-on-TV product!

opus · January 20, 2015

That can be the best part of some of these networks, the wtf commercials.

shapeshifter · January 31, 2015

I was thinking it might be easier to have these three channels/networks together due to their overlap in programs, but if they need to be broken down into their individual selves, I understand. Posters can also compare/contrast the three since they have different "feels" to them....

I'm quoting the original post for this thread because I'm wondering if the new CBS affiliate "Decades" should be included here too. You can see from their schedule that it will be airing many of the same shows shown on these networks. Here's more about it: http://www.cbscorporation.com/news-article.php?id=1100

See also this article:

...The network soft-launched on January 16 on 16 CBS affiliates, including stations in 8 of the top 10 TV markets. Like other nostalgic digital multicast networks (MeTV, NBC’s COZI TV, Tribune’s Antenna TV), DECADES is available for free with a digital antenna...

I've been accidentally watching the network's birth when I channel surf the morning/breakfast news between commercials from CBS on 2 to the next station, which had been NBC on 5, but now it's 2.2, which has gone from first appearing a week or so ago as a blue screen to now the Decades channel.

Edited January 31, 2015 by shapeshifter

Jipijapa · February 2, 2015

So is anyone watching (or DVR-ing) MeTV's Carol Burnett stuff?

I have a sinking feeling that MeTV only got the leftovers from the DVDs that CBS (or whoever owns it) hawks on infomercials. Basically there are two skits per night, and they're Not The Ones You Remember. (ie, they're mostly... not that funny)

Except Tim Conway, who is always funny in everything. Have been enjoying some of the Mr Tudball sketches.

Actionmage · February 2, 2015

I am in an area that gets The Twilight Zone instead of Carol, which leaves me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was really looking forward to seeing Carol and the group. On the other hand I have always loved TTZ. (What is strange is that my on-screen "guide" always describes the Burnett show. Upside? Always a surprise what's coming, unless I'm already familiar with it. )

Lots of Burnett and company's stuff ,to me, is funny, but if all you get is "filler", then I might be disappointed too.

Edited February 2, 2015 by Actionmage

Jipijapa · February 2, 2015

I grew up on the rerun packages of Carol Burnett, so I probably didn't see a lot of the original skits, particularly from early seasons which is where they seem to be at the moment. I didn't realize how much of the stuff on that show was absurdist humor. There's one skit where Carol is a housewife whose kitchen is being invaded by people shouting or enacting advertising slogans, but it's so random that it almost seems intentionally surreal. I am wondering if they were trying to emulate Laugh-In more during the early seasons. It seems to me that later, they had more structured, better written skits with recurring characters almost all the time.

(BTW, Carol Burnett's housewife persona almost seemed to be a parody of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman -- except that show didn't even exist until a few seasons later!)

Edited February 2, 2015 by Jipijapa

Actionmage · February 2, 2015

As I was flipping through stuff post- The Big Game, Decades popped up. It is currently showing "binges" of entire series, until their big launch May 25th!

It has a countdown clock and a schedule of what shows are being shown through the big launch. (link:http://www.decades.com/) If you click on the big orange "binge", the schedule will open.

It's a joint do by CBS Television Stations, a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, and Weigel Broadcasting, the folks behind MeTV and Movies!.

What I think I will like is that there is going to be a focus on history, as well as entertainment. I one of the press releases I saw, they mentioned as an example the Happy Days' Jump The Shark episode: there will be talk about (I guessing) the phrase and how it's become a cultural thing, then show the episode. Bill Curtis is going to host the/one of (?) the shows talking about the theme/history. (I've seen two titles for the historical info. One was Through The Decades. The other was Decades Retrospectical. It could be a name change as the Retrospectical was in the 2014 release and on the current schedule is Through The Decades.)

They also will show theatrical and made-for-TV movies, so the latter interests me more than the former. Old school TV movies seem to be shoved to the back of the shelf since cable has started with more reality and original programming. (Unless Lifetime and Hallmark are divvying up the good stuff. *g*) Also, the channel has access to Entertainment Tonight's archives! So much fun to be had there, as well as John Tesh!

I know there's a lot of programming overlap with MeTV and probably Cozi, but I hope this has legs.

GHScorpiosRule · February 2, 2015

It would be beyond uber kewl if Decades would air the original Dallas.

WendyCR72 · February 2, 2015

Re-scanned my TV, and no Decades channel here. At least, not yet.

ennui · February 3, 2015

"Decades is officially scheduled to launch on May 25, 2015."

I'd like to see Dynasty repeats. The glamour, the costumes. I remember the fuss over Linda Evans, and whether or not a 40-year-old woman could be sexy and appealing. She looked way older than the current crop of 40-somethings!

Ananayel · February 3, 2015

I would love to get Decades, to make up for not getting Cozi or RetroTV. Fingers crossed.

I do wish someone would air the full Carol Burnett shows. Since we're apparently not ever going to get the full dvds, I'd love to be able to see them again as they aired. I mean, I'll take what I can get, but geez. This chopped up business is so annoying.

auntjess · February 4, 2015

There are some Garry Moore shows on youtube, which featured Carol Burnett.
Most seem to be entire shows, but here's a skit that Carol did with Durward Kirby.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY-ofrmCUcE

shapeshifter · February 5, 2015

Re-scanned my TV, and no Decades channel here. At least, not yet.

Depending upon your locale, if you go to your CBS channel and then manually on your remote go to the next channel it might appear. When I click the Info button it still shows something like "No data," so it's still showing in a sort of beta/stealth mode. I think they call it a "soft roll-out."

roseha · February 6, 2015

Depending upon your locale, if you go to your CBS channel and then manually on your remote go to the next channel it might appear. When I click the Info button it still shows something like "No data," so it's still showing in a sort of beta/stealth mode. I think they call it a "soft roll-out."

Good point, shapeshifter, also, I was only able to receive METV in the New York City area after finding out I had to manually enter 3.10 on my TV - I never even realized before that there was a functional "." (or it may be a " - ") for this purpose on modern TV remotes. Not sure whether that would apply to a CBS sub-station though.

I have the same no data issue with both Decades (they still think CBS 2.2 is "news and information wheel") and Retro on my TIVO, it doesn't display programming yet, though you can find it on Titantv.com if your channel is carrying it.

shapeshifter · February 8, 2015

Watching a Route 66 binge on Decades right now, 2.4, "Bird Cage on My Foot." The acting and script rival 2014 "True Detective."

Actionmage · February 10, 2015

The Route 66 that blew my mind was the one where Martin Sheen was a teen gang leader and James Caan was an ex-member who'd gotten out!

Cozi's splitting Valentine's between Doris Day Rock Hudson movies and Hart To Hart episodes.

Decades, where applicable, will be in the middle of their Love, American Style binge.

It looks like Antenna TV is going to marathon Three's Company on the 14th.

shapeshifter · February 17, 2015

We now have a The Closer board here: http://forums.previously.tv/forum/1433-the-closer/

Two consecutive episodes air on Saturday nights on over-the-air MyNetwork TV. Next Saturday will be 1.2 and 1.3.

Edited February 17, 2015 by shapeshifter

RetroTvNow · February 20, 2015

Been back to OTA TV for a month or so, along with Roku channels including Hulu Plus, Netflix etc and with all the classic shows on CoziTv and MeTV the transition has been smooth. I had been watching MeTV than I figured out where CoziTV was and ended up watching a few episodes of Bionic Woman, and than Magnum,P.I. . Great to see some of the classic shows again!

Actionmage · February 21, 2015

Maybe a teensy bit off-topic, but: The Rookies, the 70s cop show with Georg Stanford Brown, Michael Ontkean, Sam Melville, Kate Jackson and Gerald S. O'Laughlin? It is played at weird, early morning times on GRIT," the channel with backbone." If folks are curious or want to check it out before buying the dvds, you can see try before you buy.

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