What was on TV May 13th through 19th, 1978

We're back yet again with another week of TV Guide.  Special thanks once again to friend John for providing some comic relief.

This week's guide features Merlin Olsen "photo-bombing" the Ingalls' family portrait.  Well, I guess technically, it's "painting-bombing".

In other news to make you feel really old, Melissa Gilbert turned 50 last week.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I still don't think it's safe to go back in the water.

You know, I always wondered where those lovable Rankin/Bass characters went after their prime.  Here we find Hocus Pocus of "Frosty the Snowman" fame in his final years sucking secondhand smoke and playing second fiddle to some hack named "El Vanisho".  Damn you, Professor Hinkle.  Damn you to Hell!

Given the circumstances, of the four "eligible" bachelors Miss Piggy has to choose from, I'm guessing George Burns is her best shot.

Kieu Chinh later had a role in "China Beach" and is best known for her role in "Joy Luck Club". 

1978 saw the demise of "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Carol Burnett Show" but the debuts of "Battlestar Galactica", "Taxi" and "WKRP In Cincinnati." The TV gods giveth and the TV gods taketh away...

There was a time when the word "bastard" would embarrass people? Really?  Oh, and Channel 5, the estate of Ian Fleming requests that you cease and desist in your use of lyrics from the theme song to "The Spy Who Loved Me" in your advertisements. Thank you.

Apparently May is "In the Navy" month for KPLR-TV. They showed it on 5/13/78 and 357 days later on 5/5/79. Weird.

Number 20 is Cards great Lou Brock. He spent 15 years with the team amassing over 3,000 hits and 900 stolen bases. Number 42 is journeyman pitcher Roy Thomas. He played for three teams over eight seasons and owns a 20-11 record. One is in the Hall of Fame. The other is selling siding at a mall kiosk. You decide which is which.

Gah! KDNL is doing it too! "McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force" was also shown less than a year apart in the same month. 

Nancy Walker played many roles in her long and respected career including playing deaf-mute "Yetta" in Neil Simon's "Murder by Death", but she'll always be "Rosie the Waitress" to me.

Not only are the diet ads pressuring the ladies, they're getting hit by the cigarette industry as well!

Dear Channel 4, the estate of Marvin Gaye requests that you cease and desist in your appropriation of lyrics from his 1973 hit "Let's Get It On" in your advertisements. Thank you.

Au contraire, Channel 5.  I believe Channel 4 has something to say about that.

The 1970s had D-list celebrities appearing on shows like "Fantasy Island" and "Love Boat." The 2010s has d-list celebrities appearing on shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "Celebrity Apprentice." Which is more degrading and humiliating? Trick question! They both are one step above rock bottom.

Wilderness Family was one of the few movies I saw as a child.  It was part of a sort of wilderness double-header.  I had seen "The Adventures of Frontier Fremont" the previous week.

Six tapes for 2 cents?!  Yeah, I'll say "Wow".  That's more than a 200% price increase!  Highway robbery!

George Lucas didn't need the Carpenters "borrowing" elements of Star Wars to reduce it to a variety show joke. He would do that all himself with the Star Wars Holiday Special later that year.

Yeah, nothing proves your love more than stalking the object of your affections while wearing a creepy sweatshirt.  The other side of his sweatshirt says, "I'd rather see you dead than with somebody else."  Hmmm, John Boy or Mark Harmon?  I'm a heterosexual male and it's *still* an easy choice.

Merv Griffin has a lot of hits and highlights in his long career. Singer, game show host, talk show host, creator of Jeopartdy, creator of Wheel of Fortune. Presenting a two day (TWO DAYS!!!) salute to disco bomb "Thank God It's Friday" has to be a low point.

Someone was very concerned (note the duration circled in pen) that the Festival of Stars: Mexico was (only?) two hours long . Possibly, they were concerned they would have to switch over from "The Beasts are in the Streets" at the halfway point.  Hmmm, a Hanna-Barbera Special.  It would have been so awesome if the beasts in the streets turned out to be Snagglepuss and Jabberjaw.

 Norma Bates? Seedy hotel? Is "LEGS" a weird "Psycho" prequel?

That's Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs in the Virginia Slims ad.

Zippo lighters are still made in the USA in Bradford, PA.

Thanks for joining us, we now return you to your normal broadcast schedule.