(Originally
published 10/20/16)
As a boy
growing up in the always scintillating 1970s, I was not especially fond of
fall. From my youthful perspective, autumns in New York typically represented
abrupt and unpleasant endings of largely pleasant summers and—most critical of
all—the beginnings of agonizingly long school years. However, there were a
handful of silver linings in those past autumnal clouds, like the three
networks’ new prime-time TV schedules. Brand new episodes of familiar and
favorite shows—like Kojak and Sanford and Son—plus a fair share
of debut programs to sample, made fall evenings the highlight of increasingly
dark days. Back then, sitting in front of the television was a welcome elixir
for the seasonal blues.
Well, that
was then and this is now. The three networks—CBS, NBC, and ABC—still promote
their fall prime-time schedules in the months of September and October. But the
competition is stiffer than ever before. There are cable channels aplenty to
tune into and countless other visual distractions to occupy one's time. When I
mull over this extended, hysterical, and downright bizarre of election
years—this latest autumn in New York for me—I cannot help but hark back to
the
good old days. Or, I should say,
the good old nights. When I was a
fourth grader in St. John’s grammar school, 1971-72, Friday evenings were a
special time. Weekends were in the offing and the ABC prime-time lineup on that
most appreciated of weekdays was a sight for sore eyes:
The Brady Bunch,
The Partridge Family,
Room 222,
The Odd Couple, and
Love,
American Style. I recall watching these shows one after another, missing
Love,
American Style occasionally because it was at once past my bedtime and
rather adult-themed. Fast forward to the seventh grade, 1974-75, and CBS’s
mind-boggling Saturday night offering:
All in the Family,
The
Jeffersons,
The Mary Tyler Moore Show,
The Bob Newhart Show,
and
The Carol Burnett Show.
For sure,
it was a less insane time because of the prime-time bounty. Recently, I gave
some serious thought to this singular time of year—to fall. The leaves turn a
kaleidoscope of colors and
fall, which means—for me at least—a sweeping
and bagging marathon. But I am old-fashioned. Nowadays, excruciatingly loud
leaf blowers are the rage—they should be outlawed—and compound the insanity
that is seemingly everywhere. For some strange reason in this fallback of mine,
I remembered looking forward to, and eventually watching, a couple of brand new
sitcoms on the 1970s fall network schedules:
The Montefuscos, with the
always-impressive Joe Sirola—who is happily still among the living—and
The
Dumplings, with the always-large James Coco, who is not. The former series
ran for nine episodes in 1975, and the latter for ten episodes in 1976. I
suspect I watched them all.
Consider,
though, how times have changed. We have got a whole lot more to choose from on
television and via other venues. But less is sometimes better, I think, even if
The Montefuscos and
The Dumplings were not exactly laugh riots.
When cable TV first came my way, I took advantage of the additional choices and
watched nascent political debate shows like
Crossfire with Tom Braden
debating Pat Buchanan. And then along came FOX, MSNBC, and more and more
contentious blather night after night after night. Too many people have gotten
hopelessly hooked on the daily vitriol and it has taken its toll.
Happily, I
have weaned myself off all that but, unhappily, cannot fall back—like in those
days of yore—on the networks’ prime-time lineups. Netflix streaming has been my
savior in these confusing and stressful times. Stream along with me, I say, and
watch
Poirot,
Inspector George Gently, and
Foyle’s War.
Let the talking heads talk to the wall for a day or two or three, Sing a happy
song. You will feel better. You will be less angry, too, with lower blood
pressure. Remember that Mary Richards
could turn the world on with her smile.
And neither Bill O’Reilly nor Chris Matthews can do that.
