HERE COMES 1971: FROM THE COVER OF TV GUIDE

AND WE'RE BACK!  Act Two of our "very special episode" of the 1970s seen from the cover of TV Guide.  This time we're going to be looking at the year 1971.

THE WEEK OF JANUARY 16 - 22

 

I dunno.  It's just cool to have Johnny and June on the cover of TV GUIDE, is all!  I actually do vaguely and dimly remember watching a couple episodes of Johnny Cash's variety show at the time.  I was not a fan of country music or Johnny Cash then (oh how THAT would change) but hey there were only three channels then so you saw mostly everything!

 

THE WEEK OF JANUARY 23 - 29

 

Great psychedelic, surrealist artwork for Flip Wilson's show.  Looks like an outtake from YELLOW SUBMARINE, dunnit?  I definitely remember watching and liking this show a lot.  I remember the round stage with the studio audience sitting right there!

 

THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6 - 12

 

Now here we're venturing into "comfort TV" territory.  Again, sadly, I don't own THE ODD COUPLE TV show on dvd but I wish I did.  This is a show I can watch anytime.  And no, I wasn't a fan of the film (it had one funny line, as I recall) but the TV show was something I've been watching in reruns since I was a little'un.  You know, I might have to just go get the dvds now.  I remember as a kid really loving that apartment and, if I was ever to live in New York City (an impossibility, I assure you) I would want either Felix & Oscar's apartment or else Anne Marie's (Marlo Thomas' on THAT GIRL).

 

 

THE WEEK OF APRIL 3 - 9

Criminittly!!!!  It's shocking to realize that cable TV was a thing way back in 1971.  Not around my neck of the woods, I can assure you.  I never heard of cable TV until we moved to Claytown in 1977 . . . and not even then but probably around 1979!  I'm pretty sure 1979 or 1980 is when we first got cable television.  Which is the perfect seque into mentioning that old Jerrold channel-changer type box.  The one connected to the cable box with a physical cord.  The one with the simulated fake wood finish and the punch-down physical buttons and the wheel that you'd have to TUNE THE CHANNEL IN WITH!!!  Ah yes, thems indeed were the days!

 

 

THE WEEK OF MAY 29 - JUNE 4

 

Back to "comfort TV" in a major way.  Not only is ALL IN THE FAMILY one of my favourite tv shows of all-time it's also one of my major "comfort TV" shows as well.  This is another show which I can watch anytime.  If I'm channel surfing and come across it, I will stop and watch it.  I also have all but the last dvd box set -- time I got that as well!  As a kid I had the LP record of ALL IN THE FAMILY released after the first season; the album consisted of scenes taken directly from the TV soundtrack.  I played that record to death and it's a main reason why I can recite a large chunk of ALL IN THE FAMILY season one verbatim!

 

 

THE WEEK OF JULY 3 - 9

 

I did actually watch a few episodes of THE MOD SQUAD when it was briefly in reruns but that's really all.  Never was really a fan and never watched more than a couple episodes, probably.  However, they just look so doggone cool on the cover, don't they?

 

 

THE WEEK OF JULY 10 - 16

 

The Cookie Monster has his portrait painted by legendary E.C Comics and Mad magazine artist Jack Davis!  Sweet!  As a little kid, I remember sitting in front of the television every day waiting for SESAME STREET to come on.  You'd have to because at that time our local PBS station Channel 12 didn't come on the air until 3pm.  Yes, I would sit there for probably an hour before the channel went on the air watching that "Indian head test pattern" waiting impatiently for the ultimate PBS kiddie trifecta of SESAME STREET, MR. ROGERS' NEIGHBOURHOOD and THE ELECTRIC COMPANY!!!

 

 

THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4 - 10

 

I never watched HAWAII FIVE-O.  Nope.  Remember what I said about cop shows back in the previous 1970 post?  No, if HAWAII FIVE-O came on, I would watch the gloriously classic opening theme music and then change the channel to something else.  That was a great theme, wasn't it?  And this is a beautiful tropical cover as well.

 

 

 

Well, that's about it for 1971.  Join us again in the near future for our next installment:  1972!