Category Archives: Classic TV

Caroll Spinney (1933–2019)

Posted on December 9, 2019 by willmckinley

Caroll Spinney died yesterday. Although millions of us grew up with him, most of us didn’t know his name. That’s an occupational hazard for a puppeteer, and Spinney was one of the best. For nearly half a century, he performed … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

John Zacherle (1918-2016) Horror Host, TV’s Cool Ghoul

Posted on October 28, 2016 by willmckinley

Updated 11/1/16 – New info in italics. In the 1950s, the new medium of television was hungry for inexpensive, plentiful content. So local stations turned to classic movies, particularly those of the spooky variety. Fright films from studios like Universal became an … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Why I Won’t Be Watching SyFy’s Twilight Zone Marathon This New Year

Posted on December 30, 2015 by willmckinley

As the calendar turns each December, SyFy interrupts its regular schedule of supernatural dramas, paranormal reality shows, and SHARKNADO sequels for a marathon visit to the middle ground between light and shadow: The Twilight Zone For many of us, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV, Streaming | Tagged | 44 Comments

“Monty Python” + “The Kids in the Hall” Headed to NBC’s New Streaming Service

Posted on October 15, 2015 by willmckinley

Just when I thought I’d subscribed to every streaming service known to man, along comes something…completely different. Today, NBCUniversal unveiled SeeSo, a subscription video on demand “channel” devoted entirely to comedy programming. The commercial-free, $3.99 per-month service launches in January on the web, mobile platforms, and TVs … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV, Streaming | Leave a comment

ABC’s “The Muppets” isn’t Perverted, It’s Hilarious

Posted on September 23, 2015 by willmckinley

I was all set to hate The Muppets until the conservative Christians stepped in. For months now, Disney – they own this piece of your childhood, too – has been bombarding social media with promotion for ABC’s “reimagining” of The Muppet Show (1976-81), hyping the … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV, Contemporary TV | Tagged | 6 Comments

50 Years of “I Dream of Jeannie”

Posted on September 18, 2015 by willmckinley

September 18, 1965. Astronaut Tony Nelson pilots the manned space capsule Stardust One on an experimental mission into Earth’s orbit. Technical difficulties force him to crash land on a deserted island in the South Pacific, where he discovers a beautiful girl … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

That Time I Met Batgirl

Posted on August 19, 2015 by willmckinley

“You were my first crush,” I said to Yvonne Craig, dispensing with the small talk. It was September of 2006 and Craig was appearing at an event in New York City celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Batman, the TV series that … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV | 12 Comments

Here’s Johnny! Carson Returns to Late Night TV

Posted on August 12, 2015 by willmckinley

From 1962 until his retirement in 1992, Johnny Carson ruled late night with wit, charm, and a feathered turban. He wasn’t the first host of NBC’s The Tonight Show, nor the last, but he’s considered by just about everyone to be the … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV | Tagged | 7 Comments

Where You Can Watch The Dukes Of Hazzard – And Why You Should

Posted on July 2, 2015 by willmckinley

Nothing makes me want to do something more than somebody telling me I can’t. And apparently I’m not alone in that sentiment. After my reporting of TV Land’s cancellation of The Dukes of Hazzard Tuesday kicked off a national media frenzy a day later, the suddenly-controversial … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV | Tagged | 23 Comments

TV Land Pulls “The Dukes of Hazzard”

Posted on June 30, 2015 by willmckinley

Bo and Luke Duke may be “makin’ their way the only way they know how.” But that’s just a little bit more than TV Land will allow. The Viacom-owned cable network quietly removed The Dukes of Hazzard from their programming schedule yesterday in … Continue reading →

Posted in Classic TV | Tagged | 73 Comments