1978/79 – Laverne & Shirley was #1 on ABC Tuesday, second year running.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1978 season; Good Times was cancelled
in the sixth season.
Anniversary:
The Lawrence Welk Show celebrated twenty–five years on TV.
The Tonight Show celebrated twenty–five years on TV.
Walt Disney celebrated twenty–five years on TV.
Biggest New Hit: Mork & Mindy tied with Happy Days at #3 on ABC Thursday. What can I say? Robin Williams is one
funny guy. He is hilarious as Mork, the alien from Ork.
British Ties:
Miss Winslow And Son was adapted from Miss Jones & Son.
The Ropers was based on ITV series, George & Mildred.
Return Of The Saint is a ITV series, originally started in 1978. CBS added the series to CBS Late Movie.
Daytime:
M*A*S*H was on CBS weekdays from September 1978–September 1979.
Laverne And Shirley was on ABC weekdays from April 1979–June 1980.
Death: Jack Soo died from the cancer of esophagus on January 11, 1979. The following May, a special Barney Miller episode
was dedicated to him in his honor.
Movies 2 TV:
The Bad News Bears was based on the 1976 movie, The Bad News Bears, starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal. Some
actors on the TV series became stars in their own right. Corey Feldman was a movie star in the 1980’s. Kristoff St.
John and Tricia Cast became soap stars on The Young And The Restless. Billy Jacoby was in the last NBC season of Silver Spoons,
then Billy Jayne was on the hit FOX sitcom, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose. Jacoby and Jayne are the same person. Catherine
Hicks has much success with 7th Heaven on WB; The Bad News Bears was her first series.
Delta House was based on the 1978 John Belushi hit movie, Animal House. John Vernon, Stephen Furst, Bruce McGill &
James Widdoes reprised their movie roles. John Belushi wasn't available; his movie character's brother, Blotto, joined the
TV show instead.
The Paper Chase was based on the 1973 movie. John Houseman reprised his Best Supporting Oscar winning role for the series.
Name Change: Operation: Runaway to The Runaways.
Reruns: CBS aired Moses–The Lawgiven reruns in the summer. It was last seen on CBS in 1975.
Simultaneous: Lyndia Goodfriend and Scott Baio were on Happy Days and Who's Watching The Kids. They played sister/brother
on the latter. Their Happy Days characters married the Cunningham kids, Richie and Joanie.
Spin Offs:
Hee Haw Honeys from Hee Haw.
Hello, Larry from Diff’rent Strokes, it was based on Phillip Drummond’s army buddy, Larry Alder.
Mork & Mindy from Happy Days, Robin Williams was a big hit with the Happy Days audience in February 1978.
The Ropers from Three’s Company, The Ropers moved to Cheviot Hills after they sold the apartment building, where
they were the landlords of Jack, Janet and Christy.
Tidbits:
At the end of the season, everyone wondered Who Shot JR on Dallas. It was so big that the producers filmed alternate endings.
Stay tuned!
Charlotte Rae’s first known success was on Car 54, Where Are You? She played Sylvia Schnauser, Leo’s wife.
Leo was played by Al Lewis, who later became Grandpa Munster on The Munsters with Fred Gwynne, who was Al’s partner
on Car 54. Isn’t that confusing? Anyway, Charlotte is best known for playing Edna Garrett on Diff’rent Strokes
and The Facts Of Life.
Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman met on the Taxi set in 1979; their characters fall in love as much in real life. They was
married on January 28,1982 and had three kids together. To this day, they had one of the most successful Hollywood married
couple. Hmm, real love lasted in Hollywood! Who ever thought that?
Who's Watching The Kids pilot was named Legs, with a slightly different storyline.
Billy, Billy, Billy. You sure have outrageous daydreams – a famous surgeon to rock star to the world's irresistible
bachelor. Billy, you forgot to dream about one thing – a famous movie star. You should have stick with that dream. Some
dreams come true. Just ask Steve Guttenberg. He's living his dream.
Centennial was a epic mini series with a star–studded cast. It had a huge budget of $25 million and featured over
100 speaking parts.
Since Robin Williams became a huge star on ABC's Mork & Mindy this season, NBC rerun the Laugh In specials from the
1977 season as a series in the summer of 1979. In fact, NBC just wanted to ride the wave of Robin Williams. Robin was a minor
performer on Laugh In.
Sydney Goldsmith was Stockard Channing's co star in Stockard Channing In Just Friends; the series lasted for a few months.
She was again HER co star in another failed sitcom, The Stockard Channing Show, next season. Even that series didn't last.
CBS gave up on Stockard Channing after the second try.
Cliff Hangers was three series – Stop Susan Williams, The Secret Empire and The Curse Of Dracula.
1978/79 Fall Season
One Season (1978/79)
Mork & Mindy –1978–1982, ABC, comedy, Robin Williams, Pam Dawber
Taxi – 1978–1982, ABC; 1982/83, NBC, comedy, Judd Hirsh, Danny DeVito, Tony Danza
WKRP In Cincinnati – 1978–1982, CBS, comedy, Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson
Vega$ – 1978–1981, ABC, detective, Robert Urich
Cancelled TV Shows
American Girls – CBS, adventure/drama, Priscilla Barnes
Apple Pie – ABC, comedy, 2 episodes, Rue McClanahan, Dabney Coleman
Battlestar Galactica – ABC, sci-fi, Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict
Dick Clark’s Live Wednesday – NBC, variety, Dick Clark
Eddie Capra Mysteries – NBC, mystery, Wendy Phillips
Flying High – CBS, adventure, Connie Sellecca
Grandpa Goes To Washington – NBC, comedy, Jack Albertson
In The Beginning – CBS, comedy, 5 episodes, McLean Stevenson
Kaz – CBS, detective, Ron Leibman
Lifeline – NBC, medical documentary, Jackson Beck
Makin' It – ABC, adventure, David Naughton
Mary – CBS, variety, 3 episodes, Mary Tyler Moore, Swoosie Kurtz, Michael Keaton
The Paper Chase – CBS, drama, John Houseman
People – CBS, newsmagazine, Mike Shaw, Phyllis George
Sword Of Justice – NBC, adventure, 10 episodes, Dack Rambo
W.E.B. – NBC, drama, 4 episodes, Alex Cord
The Waverly Wonders – NBC, comedy, 4 episodes, Joe Namath
Who’s Watching The Kids – NBC, comedy, Scott Baio, Lynda Goodfriend, Jim Belushi
4 out of 22 new series SURVIVED for 1979/80
ABC – 3/5, Mork & Mindy, Taxi & Vegas
CBS – 1/9, WKRP In Cincinnati
NBC – 0/8,
Mid season shows
Angie – February 1979–1980, ABC, comedy, Donna Pescow, Robert Hays
B.J. & The Bear – February 1979–1981, NBC, adventure, Greg Evigan, Claude Akins
Bad News Bears – March 1979–1980, CBS, comedy, Jack Warden, Catherine Hicks
The Chisholms – March 1979–1980, western, Robert Preston
Detective School – July 1979–1980, ABC, comedy, LaWanda Page
Diff’rent Stokes – November 1978–1985, NBC; 1985/86, ABC, comedy, Gary Coleman, Conrad Bain
The Dukes Of Hazzard – January 1979–1985, CBS, comedy/adventure, John Schneider, Tom Wopat
Hello Larry – January 1979–1980, NBC, comedy, McLean Stevenson
Kate Loves A Mystery – February 1979–1980, NBC, detective drama, Kate Mulgrew
Prime Time Sunday – June 1979–1980, NBC, newsmagazine, Tom Snyder
Real People – April 1979–1984, NBC; human interest, Fred Willard, Bryon Allen
The Ropers – March 1979–1980, ABC, comedy, Norman Fell, Audrey Lindley
Salvage 1 – January–November 1979, ABC, adventure, Andy Griffith, Joel Higgins
The White Shadow – November 1978–1981, CBS, drama, Ken Howard
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
Billy – CBS, comedy, Steve Guttenberg
Brothers & Sisters – NBC, comedy, Chris Lemmon
Centennial – NBC, historical drama, Raymond Burr, Richard Chamberlain
Cliff Hangers – NBC, three serials
Co-Ed Fever – February 4, 1979, CBS, comedy, 1 episode, David Keith
Comedy Theatre – NBC, comedy anthology, failed pilots
The Curse Of Dracula – NBC, serial, 10 episodes, Michael Nouri
David Cassidy–Man Undercover – NBC, crime drama, David Cassidy
Dear Detective – CBS, crime drama, Brenda Vaccaro
Delta House – ABC, comedy, Michelle Pfeiffer
Doctors' Private Lives – ABC, medical drama, 4 episodes, Ed Nelson
Dorothy – CBS, comedy, 4 episodes, Dorothy Loudon
The Duke – NBC, detective drama, 5 episodes, Robert Conrad
Flatbush – CBS, comedy, 3 episodes, Joseph Cali
Friends – ABC, comedy/drama, Charles Aiken
Hanging In – CBS, comedy, 4 episodes, Bill Macy
Harris And Company – NBC, family drama, 4 episodes, Renee Brown
Highcliffe Manor – NBC, comedy, 4 episodes, Shelley Fabares
Hizzonner – NBC, comedy, Diana Muldaur
Laugh In – NBC, comedy/variety, Robin Williams, Wayland Flowers
Little Women – NBC, drama, 5 episodes, Jessica Harper, Eve Plumb
The MacKenzies Of Paradise Cove – ABC, adventure, Shawn Stevens
Married: The First Year – CBS, drama, 4 episodes, Leigh McCloskey
The Mary Tyler Moore Hour – CBS, comedy/variety, Mary Tyler Moore
Miss Winslow And Son – CBS, comedy, Darleen Carr
Presenting Susan Anton – NBC, musical variety, 4 episodes, Susan Anton
The Secret Empire – NBC, serial, 10 episodes, Peter Breck
Stockard Channing In Just Friends – CBS, comedy, Stockard Channing
Stop Susan Williams – NBC, serial, 10 episodes, Ray Walston, Marj Dusay
Studs Lonigan – NBC, drama, 3 episodes, Harry Hamlin, Jessica Harper
Supertrain – NBC, dramatic anthology, 9 episodes, Edward Andrews
Sweepstakes – NBC, dramatic anthology, Edd Byrnes
13 Queens Boulevard – ABC, comedy, 7 episodes, Eileen Brennan, Jerry Van Dyke
Time Express – CBS, drama/supernatural, 4 episodes, Vincent Price
Turnabout – NBC, comedy, Sharon Gless, James Sikking
Whodunnit? – NBC, quiz, Ed McMahon
Syndication
Bonkers – syndication, comedy, Bill Hudson, Brett Hudson, Mark Hudson
The Comedy Shop – syndication, comedy, Norm Crosby
Dance Fever – January 1979–1987, syndication, dance, Deney Terrio
The $1.98 Beauty Show – 1978–1980, syndication, comedy, Rip Taylor
Hee Haw Honeys – syndication, comedy/variety, Misty Rowe
PM Magazine – 1978–1990, syndication, magazine
Late Night
Return Of The Saint – CBS, mystery/adventure, Ian Ogilvy
Two Seasons (1977/78)
Carter Country – 1977–1979, ABC, comedy
Chips – 1977–1983, NBC, crime drama
Dallas – April 1978–1991, CBS, soap
Family Feud – 1977–1985, syndication, quiz
Fantasy Island – January 1978–1984, ABC, romantic drama
How The West Was Won – February 1978–1979, ABC, western
The Incredible Hulk – March 1978–1982, CBS, adventure
Joe & Valerie – April 1978–1979, NBC, comedy
Lou Grant – 1977–1982, CBS, drama
The Love Boat – 1977–1986, ABC, comedy
Lucan – December 1977–1978, ABC, adventure
Operation Petticoat – 1977–1979, ABC, comedy
Project UFO – February 1978–1979, NBC, drama
The Runaways – April 1978–1979, NBC, drama
Second City TV – 1977–1981, syndication, comedy
Sha Na Na – 1977–1981, syndication, musical variety
Soap – 1977–1982, ABC, comedy
Szysznyk – August 1977–1978, CBS, comedy
That's Hollywood – 1977–1982, syndication, documentary
20/20 – June 1978–present, ABC, newsmagazine
Three Seasons (1976/77)
Alice – 1976–1985, CBS, comedy
The Big Event – 1976–1981, NBC, various
Charlie’s Angels – 1976–1981, ABC, crime drama
Eight Is Enough – March 1977–1981, ABC, drama
The Gong Show – 1976–1980, syndication, comedy/audience participation
The Hardy Boys Mysteries – January 1977–1979, ABC, adventure
In Search Of... – 1976–1982, syndication, documentary
The Joker's Wild – 1976–1986, syndication, quiz
The Muppet Show – 1976–1981, syndication, variety
The New Adventures Of Wonder Woman – December 1976–1979, CBS, adventure
Quincy, M.E. – 1976–1983, NBC, crime drama
Three’s Company – March 1977–1984, ABC, comedy
What’s Happening!! – 1976–1979, ABC, comedy
Four Seasons (1975/76)
The Cross–Wits – 1975–1980, syndication, quiz
Donny & Marie – January 1976–1979, ABC, variety
Family – March 1976–1980, ABC, drama
Laverne & Shirley – January 1976–1983, ABC, comedy
Match Game P.M. – 1975–1982, syndication, game
Nashville On The Road – 1975–1983, syndication, music
One Day At A Time – December 1975–1984, ABC, comedy
Saturday Night Live – 1975–present, NBC, variety
Starsky & Hutch – 1975–1979, ABC, crime drama
Welcome Back, Kotter – 1975–1979, ABC, comedy
Five Seasons (1974/75)
Barney Miller – January 1975–1982, ABC, comedy
The Jeffersons – January 1975–1985, CBS; comedy
Little House On The Prairie – 1974–1983, NBC, drama
Lorne Greene's Last Of The Wild – 1974–1979, syndication, wildlife/nature
Pop! Goes The Country – 1974–1982, syndication, music
Rhoda – 1974–1979, CBS, comedy
The Rockford Files – 1974–1980, NBC, crime drama
The $25,000 Pyramid – 1974–1979, syndication, quiz
Weekend – 1974–1979, NBC, newsmagazine
Six Seasons (1973/74)
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert – 1973–1981, syndicated, music
Good Times – February 1974–1979, CBS, comedy
Happy Days – January 1974–1984, ABC, comedy
The Tomorrow Show – 1973–1982, NBC, talk
Seven Seasons (1972/73)
Barnaby Jones – January 1973–1980, CBS, crime drama
M*A*S*H – 1972–1983, CBS, comedy
The Midnight Special – February 1973–1981, NBC, music
The Waltons – 1972–1981, CBS, drama
Nine Seasons (1970/71)
All In The Family – January 1971–1979, CBS, comedy
Monday Night Football – 1970–2006, ABC, sports
That Good Ole Nashville Music – 1970–1985, syndication, music
Eleven Seasons (1968/69)
Hawaii Five-O – 1968–1980, CBS, crime drama
Hee Haw – 1971–1993, syndication, variety
60 Minutes – 1968–present, CBS, newsmagazine
Twelve Seasons (1967/68)
Wild Kingdom – 1971–1988, syndication, wildlife
Eighteen Seasons (1961/62)
The David Susskind Show – 1961–1987, syndication, talk
Twenty five Seasons (1954/55)
The Lawrence Welk Show – 1972–1982, syndication, music
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – 1962–1992, NBC, talk/variety
Wonderful World of Disney – 1954–1983, anthology
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