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    Archive for April 2012

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    Television History

    Network Anniversary Specials

    Posted Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at 5:33PM
    1 Comment

    I've compiled the following list of network anniversary specials, dating back to NBC's "The First Fifty Years" (broadcast on Sunday, November 21st, 1976). I believe it includes every major network special. If I've left any out, please hit the comments with details.

    ABC:
    "ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration" (Sunday, February 5th, 1978)
    "ABC's 40th Anniversary Special" (Saturday, May 21st, 1994)
    "ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration" (Monday, May 19th, 2003)

    CBS:
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: The Night of 100 Stars" (Sunday, March 26th, 1978)
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Have a Laugh on Us" (Monday, March 27th, 1978)
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Chills and Thrills with a Laugh Chaser" (Tuesday, March 28th, 1978)
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Dreams Come True" (Wednesday, March 29th, 1978)
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: Join the Family" (Thursday, March 30th, 1978)
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: We're Getting Personal" (Friday, March 31st, 1978)
    "CBS: On The Air – A Celebration of 50 Years: A Rootin', Tootin', Hootin' & Hollerin' Salute to Cowboys and Clowns" (Saturday, April 1st, 1978)
    "CBS at 75" (Sunday, November 2nd, 2003)

    NBC:
    "The First Fifty Years" (Sunday, November 21st, 1976)
    "The First Fifty Years-A Closer Look" (Sunday, October 23rd, 1977)
    "The First Fifty Years-A Closer Look (Part II)" (Tuesday, January 31st, 1978)
    "NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration" (Monday, May 12th, 1986)
    "NBC 75th Anniversary Special" (Sunday, May 5th, 2002)

    FOX:
    "FOX's 25th Anniversary Special" (Sunday, April 22nd, 2012)

    News

    Dismal Ratings for FOX's 25th Anniversary Special

    Posted Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 5:59PM
    1 Comment

    TVbytheNumbers has published final Nielsen ratings for Sunday and "FOX's 25th Anniversary Special" averaged just 4.32 million viewers and a 1.8/5 A18-49 rating from 8-10PM. It ranked fourth in viewers but third in the demo, beating Harry's Law on NBC from 8-9PM and the first half of the latest Hallmark Hall of Fame telefilm, Firelight, on ABC from 9-10PM. Those are pretty sad numbers no matter how you look at them, particularly given the promotion FOX seems to have put behind the special. By comparison, "ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration" (broadcast in May of 2003) was seen by 11.4 million viewers and "CBS at 75" (broadcast in November of 2003), drew more than 18 million viewers and a 3.9/10 A18-49 rating.

    Confession: I recorded but did not watch "FOX's 25th Anniversary Special" on Sunday.

    DVD Tuesday

    DVD Tuesday: I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Route 66, Car 54, Where Are You

    Posted Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 10:00AM
    No Comments

    Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn't be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.

    Last December, eOne Entertainment released I'm Dickens, He's Fenster - 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition: Volume 1 as an online exclusive. Today, the set will be available retail, presumably both online and brick-and-mortar. The contents of the sets are the same, the only difference is that the online only set was a "Limited Collectors’ Edition" that included an autographed postcard (those who purchased this version will reportedly also have their full name featured in the credits for Volume 2 and receive exclusive online access to various I'm Dickens, He's Fenster material). Again, the episodes and bonus features are identical. See this TVShowsOnDVD.com press release for more information.

    Speaking of online exclusives, Shout! Factory today will begin selling its Route 66 - The Complete Series box set through the Shout! Factory Store. The 24-disc collection includes all 116 episodes, originally broadcast over the course of four seasons on CBS from 1960 to 1964. The first three seasons have been released on DVD before but this will be the first time Season Four is made available. See this TVShowsOnDVD.com article for more information about the contents of the set, including bonus features, and the likelihood of a standalone Season Four release for those already owning the first three seasons.

    Finally, from Shanachie Home Video comes Car 54, Where Are You? - The Complete 2nd Season, featuring all 30 episodes from the 1962-1963 season. This set was originally scheduled to be released on April 10th.

    Requiescat In Pace

    Dick Clark (1929-2012)

    Posted Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 at 8:08PM
    1 Comment

    Television icon Dick Clark, famously called the world's oldest teenager, passed away today at the age of 82. To many, Clark is best known as the host of American Bandstand (from 1956 to 1989); to others, as the host of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" (1972-2011, excluding 1999 and 2004). Obituaries can be found at Variety, CNN and The New York Times. Here's a clip of Clark hosting American Bandstand, from 1964:

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    Press Releases

    Me-TV adds new primary channel affiliation via KVME-TV; KDOC-TV and KVME-TV jointly brand as Me-TV Hollywood

    Posted Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 at 8:07PM
    No Comments

    [via press release]
    Me-TV adds approximately two million homes in Southern California with new primary channel affiliation via KVME-TV KDOC-TV and KVME-TV jointly brand as Me-TV Hollywood
    4.17.2012 – Las Vegas, Nevada – From the floor of the annual National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Weigel Broadcasting Co. announced increased distribution for Me-TV in Southern California via a new primary channel affiliation with KVME-TV. Classic TV fans in Southern California will find it easier than ever to "Like Me" as the Me-TV Network begins airing its memorable entertainment programming Monday, April 30 on KVME-TV, Channel 20, licensed to Bishop California. Me-TV will also continue to air on Los Angeles independent KDOC-TV, Channel 56.3. Both stations will brand themselves as Me-TV Hollywood. Read the rest of this entry »
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