Television Obscurities

Me-TV announces affiliation agreements with Grant Broadcasting-owned stations LaCrosse/Eau Claire, Huntsville & Davenport

Posted Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 6:40PM in Me-TV, Press Releases | No Comments »

Me-TV announces affiliation agreements with Grant Broadcasting-owned stations LaCrosse/Eau Claire, Huntsville & Davenport

3/29/12 – Chicago, Illinois – Me-TV announces affiliation agreements with Grant Broadcasting-owned WLAX/WEUX, LaCrosse/Eau Claire, WZDX, Huntsville and KGCW, Davenport. WLAX/WEUX, LaCrosse/Eau Claire launched on January 12, 2012 and carries Me-TV over the air on channel 25.2 in LaCrosse and channel 48.2 in Eau Claire. WZDX, Huntsville will launch on April 17, 2012 and will carry Me-TV over the air on channel 54.3. KGCW, Davenport will also launch on April 17, 2012 and will carry Me-TV over the air on channel 26.3 and simulcasted in the same market, KLJB, Davenport will launch on the same day and will carry Me-TV over the air on channel 18.3.

“The Grant Group of Stations is thrilled to include the addition of Me-TV at our stations in the Huntsville-Decatur, Alabama as well as in Davenport-Burlington, Iowa/Rock Island-Moline, Illinois. Already gathering strength and viewership in our La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin market; the addition of Me-TV was a natural and unanimously easy decision. The programming on Me-TV reflects a time when television touched our hearts and our memories; these are the shows that we grew up with. Not only will our older viewers enjoy relieving fond memories of their favorite shows, but our younger viewers will discover and delight in the programming from a different era. We believe that Me-TV in all our markets is a perfect fit for our viewers and we look forward to having a very successful relationship with Me-TV for years to come,” said Debbie Reardon, Corporate Director of Creative Services for Grant Group of Stations.
“We are pleased to add two more Grant Broadcasting stations to the Me-TV family. Grant has shown confidence in Me-TV’s programming and operations and we’re pleased to add Huntsville and Davenport to our growing list of affiliate. We are grateful to both groups and look forward to serving them well with the definitive classic TV Network,” stated Neal Sabin, President of Content and Networks for Weigel Broadcasting Co.
These additions and other signed affiliation agreements will bring the Network’s clearance to more than 77% of the country. Me-TV has more than 120 affiliates.
Me-TV features a wide range of programming which audiences and advertisers find comfortable and engaging. Me-TV’s library includes almost 100 series from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, CBS Television Distribution, NBCUniversal Television as well as independent series owners and producers. Me-TV’s line-up include some of the most beloved television programs ever produced, including: M*A*S*H, Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Gunsmoke, That Girl, the original Star Trek and Hawaii Five-O series.

Me-TV, memorable entertainment television, launched nationally in December 2010, is owned and operated by Weigel Broadcasting Co. and distributed by MGM Television. Click here for additional information about the network, current show list and complete program schedule.

About Weigel Broadcasting Co.
Weigel Broadcasting Co. and affiliate companies own and operate The U/WCIU-TV 26.1, The U Too/ WCIU-TV 26.2, Me-TV/WCIU-TV 26.3, Me-Too/WCIU-TV 26.4, THIS/ WCIU-TV 26.5, WWME-CA 23, WMEU-CA 48 in Chicago, IL; CBS/WDJT-TV 58.1, WMLW/WDJT-TV 58.2, THIS/WDJT-TV 58.3, Shorewest TV/WDJT-TV 58.4, WMLW-CA 41, WMLW-LD 41.1, Me-TV/WBME-TV 49.1, Telemundo/WBME-TV 49.4, Telemundo/WYTU-LD 63.1, Me-TV/WYTU-LP 63 in Milwaukee, WI; and ABC/WBND-LD 57.1, Me-TV/WBND-LD 57.2, CW/WCWW-TV 25.1, THIS/WCWW-TV 25.2, My Michiana/WMYS-TV 69.1 in South Bend, IN. Weigel Broadcasting Co. also owns and operates the Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment Television network and in collaboration with MGM, created and operates THIStv Network.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching more than 130 countries. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

Me-TV announces affiliation agreement with Post-Newsweek’s KSAT-TV, San Antonio

Posted Thursday, March 29th, 2012 at 6:39PM in Me-TV, Press Releases | No Comments »

[via press release]

Me-TV announces affiliation agreement with
Post-Newsweek’s KSAT-TV, San Antonio

3/28/12 – Chicago, Illinois – Me-TV announces an affiliation agreement with Post-Newsweek-owned KSAT-TV, San Antonio where Me-TV will launch on April 2, 2012. The station will carry Me-TV over the air on channel 12.2 as well as on all local cable systems. Me-TV covers more than 77% of the country and has more than 120 affiliates.

“We feel that Me-TV, with its expansive classic library of programs with a proven track record of ratings success, will be a valuable and popular destination for San Antonio viewers,” said Phil Lane, Vice President & General Manager of KSAT-TV. “We expect this to be a terrific Network programming partnership for our station.”

“We’re pleased to add San Antonio to our growing Network,” stated Neal Sabin, President of Content and Networks for Weigel Broadcasting Co. “KSAT-TV is a strong affiliate partner with excellent distribution both over the air and on the local cable systems.”

Post-Newsweek’s other Me-TV affiliate is WPLG- TV in Miami, which will launch on April 24, 2012.

Me-TV features a wide range of programming which audiences and advertisers find comfortable and engaging. Me-TV’s library includes almost 100 series from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, CBS Television Distribution, NBCUniversal Television as well as independent series owners and producers. Me-TV’s line-up include some of the most beloved television programs ever produced, including: M*A*S*H, Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Bob Newhart Show, That Girl, Gunsmoke, the original Star Trek and Hawaii Five-O series.

DVD Tuesday: I, Claudius

Posted Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at 11:30AM in DVD Tuesday | 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.

Out today from Acorn Media is I, Claudius: The Complete Series (30th Anniversary Edition). The award-winning miniseries, produced by the BCC in 1976 and broadcast in the United States as part of Masterpiece Theater on PBS in 1977, has been released on DVD a number of times in the past. Judging from the negative reviews at Amazon.com, those releases featured edited episodes. Apparently, when the BBC originally aired the series, the first episode ran close to 100 minutes. That episode was cut in two for Masterpiece Theater (meaning there were 13 episodes on PBS compared to 12 on the BBC). This new set contains both the unedited first episode and the two PBS episodes. The set includes several bonus features, including documentary on the miniseries as well as a seperate documentary focusing on a failed 1937 attempt to adapt Robert Graves’s novel I, Claudius (which, along with Claudius the God, formed the basis for the miniseries). I am unsure whether any of these bonus features are new to this set or simply held over from previous sets.

That’s it for classic TV out today but Alpha Video released two sets earlier this month that I failed to mention: The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet – Volume 18 and Racket Squad – Volume 10.

DVD Tuesday: My Living Doll, Kojak, People Are Funny

Posted Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 at 10:30AM in DVD Tuesday | 1 Comment »

Out today from MPI Home Video is something many people — myself included — never expected to see on DVD: My Living Doll – The Official Collection Volume One. For years, rumor had it that only a handful of episodes existed. The status guide I put together several years ago listed 9 episodes known to exist. Today, thanks to an extraordinary effort on the part of Chertok TV, eleven of the 26 episodes originally broadcast during the 1964-1965 are available on DVD. There are also a slew of bonus features, including a documentary featurette, alternate opening credits, sponsor commercials, an episode of The Bob Cummings Show and more. The only review I have found so far is at Sitcoms Online. TVShowsOnDVD.com reports that Chertok TV has high hopes for a second volume should additional episodes be uncovered. Keep your fingers crossed.

Also out today, from Shout! Factory, is Kojak – Season 3, with all 24 episodes from the 1975-1976 season. Shout! has already announced that Season 4 will be released on May 1st. And finally, from Film Chest, comes People Are Funny – Season 1, with 16 episodes presumably from the 1954-1955 season. Although Amazon.com and TVShowsOnDVD.com refer to this as “Season 1,” the box art does not. Like That Show with Joan Rivers, which Film Chest released on DVD earlier this year, episodes of People Are Funny (16, to be exact) can be seen at Hulu.com for free.

I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster – 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition DVD set of 1960s TV sitcom

Posted Friday, March 16th, 2012 at 5:53PM in I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Press Releases | No Comments »

[via press release]

I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster
50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition DVD set of 1960s TV sitcom
To Be Released April 10, 2012

Starring John Astin and Marty Ingels

“Still holds up beautifully, fresh and funny” – Mel Brooks

“Powerful – Still funny – I love it” – Jerry Lewis

“I was only 13. But it was my favorite show.” – Jay Leno

“These guys, that show, way before their time” – Bill Cosby

“It’s great seeing them again. What a hoot.” – Carl Reiner

“These are masters of comedy. Razor Sharp – A genius team.” – Dick Van Dyke

“A ‘Gleason and Carney’ even ‘Laurel and Hardy’. I laughed louder now than before” –
George Schaltter (Producer of “Laugh In”)

3/16/2012 – Hollywood, CA – Lightyear Entertainment, in association with TV Time Machine Productions, is proud to announce that the brilliant but short-lived 1962 ABC TV situation comedy, I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster, starring John Astin and Marty Ingels, will be released on April 10, 2012, through eOne Distribution.

The I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster Golden Anniversary three-disc set contains over 10 hours of content. It features the first sixteen episodes of thirty-two from the show’s only season, and includes the following:

Sixteen hilarious digitally remastered I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster episodes, many of which haven’t been seen in 50 years!
Video features with all-new interviews including stars John Astin (The Addams Family) and Marty Ingels (The Dick Van Dyke Show), Directors Arthur Hiller (The In-Laws, Silver Streak), Norman Abbott (The Munsters), and Creator/Producer Leonard Stern (Get Smart)
Audio commentaries featuring John Astin and Marty Ingels, Yvonne Craig (Batman), Lee Meriwether (The Time Tunnel), series regular Dave Ketchum (who played “Mel Warshaw”), Chris Korman, son of Harvey Korman (Blazing Saddles, The Carol Burnett Show), and creator/producer Leonard Stern
I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster Get Physical featurette
Video tribute to the late Leonard Stern, Creator/Producer of I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster
The Joke featurette
Love Me, Love My Dog featurette
How Not to Succeed in Business featurette
I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster Commercial Bumpers
Rare I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster ABC TV Network Promo
Rare I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster Cast Commercial
Thank You slide show video featuring the dozens of people who helped make the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition a reality
I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster six-page Collector’s Booklet
Three discs in a Collector’s Edition Digipak with Slipcase

I’m Dickens… He’s Fenster followed the comic exploits of two construction workers and bosom buddies (played by John Astin and Marty Ingels). After producing thirty-two side-splittingly hilarious episodes, and despite critics’ raves in The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter and Time Magazine, the show was prematurely canceled in its first season. By the time its final ratings came in, showing it having beaten Sing Along with Mitch and Route 66 for its time slot, it was too late to reassemble the cast, who had moved on to other projects. The successful and beloved show had become a casualty of timid programming and unlucky timing.

Although short-lived, I’m Dickens… He’s Fenster featured an extraordinary roster of guest stars, many of whom made their television debuts on the show including: Yvonne Craig (“Batgirl” from Batman), Harvey Korman (The Carol Burnett Show), Sally Kellerman (M*A*S*H), Peter Lupus (Mission: Impossible), Lee Meriwether (The Time Tunnel), Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), Edy Williams (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls), and Jim Nabors (The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle USMC). The series also featured such directing talent as Arthur Hiller (Love Story, The In-Laws), Jay Sandrich (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls) , Norman Abbott, (The Munsters), Claudio Guzman (I Dream of Jeannie) and writers Mel Tolkin (Your Show of Shows, All in the Family), Don Hinkley (The Steve Allen Show, The Muppet Show) and Jay Sommers (Green Acres, Ozzie & Harriet).

In addition to being creator, writer, director and producer on I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster, Leonard Stern’s remarkable career included writing for the Abbott and Costello and Ma and Pa Kettle movies, and the classic TV shows The Honeymooners, Sergeant Bilko and The Steve Allen Show. From 1965-1970, Mr. Stern was executive producer, writer and director on the classic spy spoof Get Smart (starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon). He also created, produced and directed the TV series He & She (co-starring Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss) and McMillan & Wife (starring Rock Hudson and Susan St. James). He also co-created the immensely popular series of children’s game books, Mad Libs.

2012 is Lightyear Entertainment’s 25th Anniversary year, since its origin in the management buyout of RCA Video Productions in 1987. eOne Distribution is a leader in the distribution of entertainment products through partnerships with the world’s largest physical and digital retailers.

To purchase I’m Dickens…He’s Fenster Golden Anniversary three-disc set:
http://www.amazon.com/Im-Dickens-Hes-Fenster-John-Astin/dp/B00746R3LM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331318524&sr=8-1

Lightyear Entertainment: www.lightyear.com

Me-TV Network St. Patrick’s Day ‘Airin of the Green Hornet’ marathon

Posted Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 at 5:50PM in Me-TV, Press Releases | No Comments »

[via press e-mail]

Me-TV is going green for St. Patrick’s Day! ‘The Airin’ of the Green…Hornet,’ March 17
Bruce Lee meets Svengoolie’s ‘Shillelagh!’

Me-TV has ‘The Airin’ of the Green…Hornet’ on St. Patrick’s Day! On Saturday, March 17 beginning at 6 PM/5 C, we’re going ‘green’ with eight episodes of The Green Hornet, presented by our own “green-thumbs-up” horror host: Svengoolie! During the marathon, Svengoolie will throw in Green Hornet trivia, some green-theme gags and “a green rubber chicken whenever possible!” said the horror show host!

Below are details of the episodes.

6:00 PM The Silent Gun
In this premiere episode, Dave Bannister is shot at a funeral with 20 witnesses present and not a shot was heard, not even from the Green Hornet’s friend, the District Attorney, who was also attending. The Green Hornet and Kato respond in the infamous Black Beauty and hit the streets to track down the culprit.

6:30 PM Alias The Scarf
When a wax figure of The Scarf, an infamous strangler from 15 years ago, is replaced by figures of the Green Hornet and Kato, The Scarf figure seemingly comes to life and starts attacking people.

7:00 PM The Frog Is a Deadly Weapon
Private Investigator Nat Pyle informs Britt that he has proof, for a story, that presumed dead racketeer Glen Connors, is still alive. Shortly later, Nat is found floating dead in the harbor from a possible boating accident. The Green Hornet thinks otherwise and finds a special interest, because…Glen Connors framed the Green Hornet’s real father.

7:30 PM The Preying Mantis
Organized crime’s “Protection” Boss Duke Slate decides it’s time to acquire the oriental businesses in town and uses Low Sing’s gang to handle his influence. Low Sing, a martial arts professional, instructs his craft to his gang using the actions of a caged Preying Mantis, analogizing its intricate moves to proper Kung-Fu application. After a kidnapping engineered by Low Sing, a challenge between Sing & Kato results in an interesting conclusion.

8:00 PM Corpse of The Year, Part 1
While making its nighttime rounds, a Daily Sentinel delivery truck is fired on by an imposter Green Hornet, driving an exact duplicate of the Black Beauty. Attacks on the paper’s employees continue throughout the night; it appears someone has declared war on the Sentinel.

8:30 PM Corpse of The Year, Part 2
Britt Reid believes that the death of the Daily Express publisher, Simon Neal, was no accident, and that Neal was the fake Green Hornet’s target all along. When a would-be informant is killed, all clues point to Dan Scully as the phony Green Hornet.

9:00 PM Bad Bet on a 459-Silent
Britt Reid must figure out how to get medical attention for a wound he received as the Green Hornet and stop two cops who are using silent alarm calls for their own profit.

9:30 PM Crime Wave
The Green Hornet is framed for a jewelry heist he didn’t commit.

All times Eastern.

DVD Tuesday: Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales, Doctor Who

Posted Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at 7:04AM in DVD Tuesday | 2 Comments »

Out today from Shout! Factory is Tennessee Tuxedo And His Tales: The Complete Collection. Both TVShowsOnDVD.com and Amazon.com say this was released last week but the Shout! Factory’s store indicates it comes out today. According to this press release, episodes from the first season have been “assembled to mirror the program’s original run” and include segments of The King and Odie and The Hunter, while “episodes from Seasons Two and Three have been recreated to include the Tooter Turtle and Klondike Kat cartoons,” suggesting that those episodes are not as originally broadcast by CBS in the early 1960s. Also out today from BBC Video are four Doctor Who serials: “Tomb of the Cybermen: Special Edition” (Story #037, Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, 1967), “Three Doctors: Special Edition” (Story #064, John Pertwee as the Doctor, 1972-1973), “Face of Evil” (Story #089, Tom Baker as the Doctor, 1977), “Robots of Death: Special Edition” (Story #090, Tom Baker as the Doctor, 1977).

DVD Tuesday: Cimarron City, Fan Favorites

Posted Tuesday, March 6th, 2012 at 8:12AM in DVD Tuesday | No Comments »

Out today from Timeless Media Group is Cimarron City – The Complete Series, a 6-disc set featuring all 26 black and white episodes of this Western that was originally broadcast on NBC from 1958 to 1959. Also out today, from Paramount Home Video, are a collection of single disc “fan favorite” collections for a variety of programs: The Best of Happy Days, The Best of Hogan’s Heroes, The Best of The Honeymooners and The Best of The Odd Couple (other shows getting the fan favorite treatment today Cheers, Frasier and Macgyver).

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