Friday, February 21, 2014

What was on TV February 10th through 16th, 1979

Somehow I overlooked this issue and missed my window, but there were too many good things in it to hold onto it until next year.  Let's step back to the week of February 10th through the 16th, 1979.



I'm pretty sure that's Erin Gray in the Virginia Slims ad which is odd, because this would have been really close to the launch of "Buck Rogers" and she was already under contract with Universal Studios in 1978.  As for the ad itself, I always thought the Virginia Slim ads with their Women's Rights movement theme were pretty clever.  "You've come a long way, baby".  Well, apparently not far enough to not call a woman "baby".

Now you know how those scenes when the actors are driving are actually filmed (if you didn't already!) "Flatbed Annie and Sweetie Pie" was made-for-tv movie capitalizing on the trucking craze of the '70's whose biggest claim to fame that it had a guest appearance by Billy Carter (see the ad later in the post).

Also known as "The Loser's Meal".

The real reason?  Because they're so darn tasty!

"Weep No More, My Lady" is based on the short story "Goodybye, My Lady" by James Street first published in The Saturday Evening Post. I had to read it and write a report on it in 8th Grade.





In 1979, it was a little late in the game for "Hot City Disco".  I don't remember this show, so it must not have lasted too long.



Venture was my source for toys, paperback comic strip books, records and a soft pretzel and Coke Icee at the snack bar.  All we have left now is Target and their Starbucks cafe.



There's certainly nothing funny about the disease, but I think you can appreciate the unfortunate choice of name for a weight loss product a scant few years before the disease was discovered.  The manufacturer attempted some damage control by renaming the product "Diet Ayds", but not enough to save it.  And I'd like to say, breast augmentation was far from perfected in the 1970's.  It looks like they sewed a couple bricks under her skin.

Again, rape is no laughing matter.  This ad, however, is.


Not what I've heard


Seriously, who needs that much Michael Landon? Guilty!


Again, I just love those one-off shows of the 1970's like "America vs the World: Circus Challenge".  I wonder if there were any other "America vs the World" episodes.  I could easily see "America vs the World: Disco Challenge" or "America vs the World: Mustache Challenge".

Now that I think of it, these shows were the predecessors of Reality TV.  And now that I think of that, I'm thinking a Circus Reality TV show wouldn't be too bad.  If you're going to profile freaks, you might as well get the professionals!








The winner of Best Song and Best Record of the Year was Billy Joel and "Just the Way You Are".  The full rundown of winners here.


That's right.  Kurt Russell IS Elvis.



Tareton ads, on the other hand, just confused me.  What are they trying to convey with the colorless "black" eye?  And it's WE Taretyon smokers...  Grammar, people!

Man, I hankered for a hunk of cheese when I was a kid, but we were lucky to have cheese food in the house much less the real thing.  My dad would buy block cheese, but it was for him -- off limits to the kids.  To me, these ads were torture, but I vowed one day, one day cheese would be mine.


And another ad with a girl fawning over her disinterested partner. I think it's the same guy as here, but I'm not sure about the girl.

That's all for now.  Join me next time when we'll discuss what exactly is a "Hot Hero Sandwich".

2 comments:

  1. man, i fully remember them being the norm, but it's SO weird to see cigarette ads. some day they will look as crazy as the old ads that tout cocaine for headaches.

    and thank you so much for the Time for Timer shout-out. sometimes i think i'm the only person who still has those damn things in my head. ("Look! A wagon wheel!" "Don't - drown - your food!" etc etc)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, those Saturday morning PSAs are engrained in my head from "Exercise Your Chompers" to "Watch Out for the Munchies".

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...