TV Time Capsule

‘Designing Women:’ Out With the Old, In With the New

“New Years Week” concludes.

On January 1, 1990, CBS aired “The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century,” the one-hour “Designing Women” episode in which Charlene (Jean Smart) gives birth.

The plot: On New Year’s Eve, a very pregnant Charlene dreams she is visited by her “guardian movie star” Dolly Parton, who predicts Charlene’s daughter will be born soon.

This thrills Charlene’s selfish friend Suzanne (Delta Burke), who wants to win a local radio contest; the prize: a new car for the first baby born in Atlanta in 1990.

When Charlene goes into labor, everyone gathers at the hospital, including Suzanne’s older sister Julia (Dixie Carter), streetwise Anthony (Meshach Taylor) and spacey Bernice (Alice Ghostley).

While Charlene is in labor, Julia befriends Miss Minnie (Beah Richards), a 102-year-old woman who delights everyone with her tales of life in the south throughout the 20th century.

Julie, Suzanne, Mary Jo and Anthony are at Miss Minnie’s bedside when she draws her final breath – and they’re also there to welcome Charlene’s daughter Olivia, who is born soon after midnight.

See for yourself: “The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century” is part of the “Designing Women: Season Four” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Monday, January 1, 1990:

8: “Major Dad” (CBS), “21 Jump Street”* (Fox), Orange Bowl (NBC)

8:30: Sugar Bowl (ABC), “Doctor, Doctor” (CBS)

9: “Murphy Brown” (CBS), “Alien Nation”* (Fox)

9:30: “Designing Women” (CBS)

10:30: “Newhart” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 31, 1989:

Top novel: “Daddy” by Danielle Steel

Top song: “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins

Top movie: “The War of the Roses”

Top TV show: “The Cosby Show,” “Cheers” (NBC)

In the news: Americans expected their lives to improve in the 1990s

 

 

 

 
Captions: “Designing Women” star Jean Smart, second from left, and “Newhart’s” Julia Duffy on TV Guide’s December 30, 1989, cover (top, photo by Charles William Bush); scenes from the “Designing Women” episode “The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century” (bottom). 

‘Kate & Allie’ on New Year’s Eve: Cold Pizza, Warm Booze

“New Years Week” continues.

On December 31, 1984, CBS aired “New Year’s Eve,” the “Kate & Allie” episode in which Kate and Allie (Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin) struggle to find something to do on the final night of the year.

The problems begin when they give teenage daughters Emma and Jennie (Ari Meyers, Allison Smith) permission to throw a New Year’s Eve party – and then are told they aren’t invited.

On the big night, Allie rejects all of Kate’s ideas – bowling, riding the Staten Island Ferry, shopping (“Bloomingdale’s was closed!” she whines) – so they sneak into their basement to eat cold pizza and drink warm champagne.

Allie recalls her many holiday disasters (“My Worst Birthday, by Allie Lowell;” “My Worst Christmas, by Allie Lowell”) and by the end of the night, she and Kate are drunk. “You know what? I’ve had a terrible life!” Allie says, laughing.

As midnight approaches, the women count their blessings: Allie is thankful for her kids, her wardrobe, her two pair of lizard shoes – and Kate.

Kate returns the favor: “I put you right behind Emma – and ahead of my calfskin luggage.”

See for yourself: “New Year’s Eve” is part of the “Kate & Allie: The Complete First and Second Seasons” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Monday, December 31, 1984:

8: “Hardcastle and McCormick” (ABC), “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” (CBS), “King Orange Jamboree Parade” (NBC)

9: “The Big Red One”* (ABC), “Kate & Allie” (CBS), “Hard Knox”* (NBC)

9:30: “Newhart” (CBS)

10: “Cagney & Lacey” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 30, 1984:

Top novel: “The Talisman” by Stephen King and Peter Straub

Top song: “Like a Virgin” by Madonna

Top movie: “Beverly Hills Cop”

Top TV show: “Dallas” (CBS)

In the news: War raged in Afghanistan

 

Captions: Allie, played by Jane Curtin, drinks from a bottle of champagne while reminiscing with Kate, played by Susan Stain James in “New Year’s Eve” (top); Allie lays down the law for New Year’s Eve party planners Jennie, played by Allison Smith, and Emma, played by Ari Meyers (middle, bottom).

For ‘Maude,’ a Nostalgic (and Loud) New Year’s Eve

“New Years Week” continues.

On December 30, 1974, CBS aired “Nostalgia Party,” the “Maude” episode in which the loud-mouthed liberal (Bea Arthur) throws a holiday shindig.

Unfortunately, Maude’s husband Walter (Bill Macy), daughter Carol (Adrienne Barbeau) and neighbors Arthur and Vivian (Conrad Bain, Rue McClanahan) don’t feel like celebrating:

WALTER: Because of inflation, I’m going broke! ’74 was the worst year of my life!

ARTHUR: I agree with Walter! It was a terrible year!

CAROL: Watergate! The energy crisis!

VIVIAN: And those disgusting movies – “The Green Door!” and “The Devil in Mrs. Jones!”

ARTHUR: Disgusting is right! I’d never go to see those again.

MAUDE: Listen, I’ll grant everybody that ’74 wasn’t such a hot year, but we can celebrate the coming year – 1975!

WALTER: ’75 is going to be even worse!

MAUDE: Who says so?

WALTER: President Ford says so! And he never says anything!

Everyone agrees to attend, dressing in a costume that represents their favorite year – then argue at the party over which year truly was the best.

Elderly Aunt Polly (guest star Judith Lowry) hushes them all: “Last year isn’t important. Next year isn’t important. But what is important is what’s happening now!”

See for yourself: “Nostalgia Party” isn’t (legally) available online or on video.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Monday, December 30, 1974:

8: “The Rookies” (ABC), “Gunsmoke”* (CBS), “Born Free” (NBC)

9: “Gator Bowl” (ABC), “Maude” (CBS), “Frankenstein: The True Story, Part 1”* (ABC)

9:30: “Rhoda”* (CBS)

10: “Medical Center” (CBS) 

 

The Record

For the week of December 29, 1974:

Top novel: “Centennial” by James Michener

Top song: “Angie Baby” by Helen Reddy

Top movie: “The Man with the Golden Gun”

Top TV show: “All in the Family” (CBS)

In the news: President Ford abandoned plans for an income tax surcharge

 

 

 

Captions: “Maude” stars Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan and guest star Judith Lowry in scenes from “Nostalgia Party.”

A ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ New Year: Short Kid, Short Memory

“New Years Week” continues.

On December 29, 1978, NBC aired “Retrospective,” a one-hour “Diff’rent Strokes” clip show in which the Drummonds recall the time they’ve spent with Arnold and Willis (Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges) since the orphaned brothers joined the family.

It begins when an enthusiastic Mr. Drummond (Conrad Bain) awakens the sleeping boys after he realizes it’s been 56 days since they came to live with him.

Next, daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato) and housekeeper Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) arrive, and soon everyone is reminiscing about the past two months.

“Retrospective” appears to take place sometime soon after Christmas: The characters refer to gifts they’ve received – Willis, a typewriter; Kimberly, a ski jacket; Mrs. Garrett, some French perfume – although there are also unopened presents and a fully decorated tree (!) in the boys’ room.

(Maybe Arnold and Willis are so spoiled they don’t have time to open all their gifts on Christmas morning?)

Another oddity: This is only “Diff’rent Strokes’” eighth episode.

KIMBERLY: Do you remember the time Arnold couldn’t sleep and kept us all awake for two whole nights?

ARNOLD: What’chu talkin’ about, Kimberly?

Um, she’s talking about something that happened only two episodes ago, Arnold!

See for yourself: “Retrospective” is part of the “Diff’rent Strokes: The Complete First Season” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Friday, December 29, 1978:

6: Gator Bowl (ABC)

8: “Wonder Woman” (CBS), “Diff’rent Strokes” (NBC)

9: “Donny & Marie” (ABC), “Incredible Hulk”* (CBS), “Rockford Files” (NBC)

10: “Sandy Duncan Special” (ABC), “Flying High” (CBS), “Quincy, M.E.”* (NBC)

* Repeat

 

The Record

For the week of December 24, 1978:

Top novel: “Chesapeake” by James A. Michener

Top song: “Le Freak” by Chic

Top movie: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”

In the news: Armed guards were no longer required in airports

Captions: The “Diff’rent Strokes” episode “Retrospective” features flashbacks aplenty.

‘One Day at a Time:’ Old People, New Year

“New Years Week” continues.

On December 28, 1976, CBS aired “Happy New Year,” a “One Day at a Time” episode in which the Romano-Coopers and their friends turn an otherwise dull New Year’s Eve into a festive evening for some elderly neighbors. 

 

Hey, it’s the “One Day at a Time” credits, featuring one of the all-time great ’70s sitcom theme songs. You know the line, “You can’t be sure at all”? I used to think it was “Keep your shirt on.” And when I say, “used to think,” I mean, “up until a few minutes ago,” when I looked up the lyrics online.

 

Julie Cooper (Mackenzie Phillips) is doing yoga when the phone rings. She answers it with her feet, which the live studio audience finds hilarious. The call is from a coworker of Julie’s divorcee mom Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin). He wants to take Ann out to the Empire Room on New Year’s Eve, but Ann doesn’t like big parties. Younger daughter Barbara Cooper (Valerie Bertinelli) says it sounds like fun. “The party we’re going to is B.Y.O.B.,” Barbara says. “Bring your own bottle?” a concerned Ann asks. “Bring your own boy!” Barbara responds. The audience thinks this is really funny, too.

 

The doorbell rings. Neighbor Ginny (Mary-Louise Parker) enters, singing, “A pretty girl is like a melody” because that’s how people entered their neighbors’ homes in the ’70s – by singing. (Seriously – look it up.) Ginny steps aside to reveal building superintendent Dwayne F. Schneider (Pat Harrington) dressed up in a blonde wig and dress. The audience can barely contain itself. Schneider explains that Ginny is helping him with his costume for the New Year’s Eve party at his lodge, where he and his friends Moose Johnson and Beerbelly will be doing their annual dance routine. Schneider demonstrates his dance moves and the audience goes wild; I’m beginning to worry about them.

 

The doorbell rings – again. This time it’s Orville (Dick O’Neill), the dishwasher at the cocktail lounge where Ginny works, and his friend Clifford (Fred Stuthman). Sad-sack Orville returns a sweater Ginny left at the bar, and when nosy Barbara asks how he plans to spend New Year’s Eve, he brings everyone down by saying it’ll be just another night at the depressing old folks’ hotel where he and Clifford reside. “We keep busy – lying to each other about how many times the kids have called and when they’re going to come again.”

 

Ann puts on her sad face.

 

After the old dudes leave, Barbara suggests they all visit the old folks’ hotel on New Year’s Eve and put on a show! Everyone thinks it’s a terrific idea because, well, this is how people entertained themselves before “Glee” came along. Schneider is reluctant to go along with Barbara’s idea; he wants to continue his 16-year tradition of spending the holiday at the lodge. “I unbung the beer,” he says. “Couldn’t you leave it bunged – just this once?” Ginny asks suggestively as the audience laughs and laughs and laughs. “You really have a way with men,” Schneider declares as everyone begins planning their big show.

 

The night of the show: Schneider opens the festivities by doing an old-school emcee shtick (“Good evening, ladies and germs!”). “Isn’t that the girl we met the other day?” grumpy Clifford asks Orville.

 

Schneider introduces the first performers (“the biggest musical act in show business!”):  Elton John (Barbara) and Kiki Dee (Julie), who perform “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”

 

Next up: Shirley Temple (Ann) performs “The Good Ship Lollipop.” I feel embarrassed for Bonnie Franklin.

 

Ginny sings “Mr. Wonderful” as Schneider dances around in a coat and tails.

 

The performances are over and the dance floor opens. The audience completely loses it when little Mrs. Peabody (Nedra Volz) and tall Clifford bust a move.

 

Schneider realizes it’s almost midnight and leads the group in a countdown to 1977. Confetti is thrown, noisemakers sound and everyone locks arms and sings “Auld Lang Syne.” The credits roll and Bonnie Franklin reminds us that “One Day at a Time” was recorded on tape before a live studio audience. Uh, gee, thanks Bonnie.

 

See for yourself: “Happy New Year” isn’t (legally) available online or on video.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Tuesday, December 28, 1976:

8: “Happy Days”* (ABC), “Candid Camera” (CBS), “Baa Baa Black Sheep”* (NBC)

8:30: “Laverne & Shirley”* (ABC)

9: “Rich Man, Poor Man” (ABC), “M*A*S*H”* (CBS), “Police Woman”* (NBC)

9:30: “One Day at a Time” (CBS)

10: “Family”* (ABC), “Switch”* (CBS) “Police Story”* (NBC)

* Repeat

 

The Record

For the week of December 26, 1976:

Top novel: “Trinity” by Leon Uris

Top song: “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be All Right)” by Rod Stewart

Top movie: “A Star is Born”

In the news: Maybe we don’t need a stimulus, President-elect Carter said

Happy New Year, ‘Laverne & Shirley’

“New Years Week” continues.

On December 27, 1977, ABC aired “New Year’s Eve 1960,” the “Laverne & Shirley” episode that showed how the girls spent the last night of the 1950s.

 

Ah, the “Laverne & Shirley” credits: Sadly, another example of a sitcom that doesn’t quite live up to its terrific theme song. And we’ll do it our way/Yes our way/Make all our dreaaams come truuue/For me and yooou.

The girls are counting the money they’ve collected for the New Year’s Eve party that Shirley (Cindy Williams) is throwing. Laverne (Penny Marshall) wants to go with Norman, the cop she’s been dating, but the “entire Milwaukee police force is on duty New Year’s Eve.” She’s narrowed her remaining options to Jake the Snake, Benny the Newspaper Guy and Herbie Schul.

SHIRLEY: Hmmm. A motorcycle hoodlum, a man with filthy hands and a guy who turns his eyelids inside out.

LAVERNE: Yeah, they’re really nice guys.

The girls learn Laverne’s childhood crush Pete has broken up with his latest squeeze, Beatrice. Shirley tells Laverne if she can lure Pete to their apartment, Shirley guarantees she can persuade him to ask Laverne to the party.

 

Scene change!

 

Pete (guest star Craig Littler) brings Laverne home. She puts on some make-out music, but the record she chooses – “Chances Are” – turns out to be Pete and Beatrice’s favorite. “Stupid song!” Laverne says as she rips the record off the phonograph player. Laverne and Pete get chummy when Shirley arrives and begins dropping hints that Laverne needs a date for New Year’s Eve. Before Pete departs, he asks Laverne if he can escort her to Shirley’s party. The plan worked!

 

Party time! Shirley’s boyfriend Carmine (Eddie Mekka) tries to teach Laverne’s dad Mr. DeFazio (Phil Foster) how to dance the twist: “Just pretend you’re drying your backside with a towel while putting cigarettes out with your feet.”

 

 Time lapse!

 

SHIRLEY: I’m telling you Laverne, this is the best New Year’s Eve party I’ve ever thrown!

LAVERNE: Yeah, being here with Pete is like a dream come true.

SHIRLEY: Well, would you look who’s dreaming?

LAVERNE: What? I dream. I just don’t like to talk about them. It don’t hurt so bad if they don’t work out.

SHIRLEY: Well, I’m glad this one’s working out. It’s nice to see you so happy.

Oh, this is going to end well.

 

Carmine gives Shirley a diary as a present. She opens it and finds the first page already filled in:

SHIRLEY [reading]: January 1, 1960. Dear Diary: Spent New Year’s Eve with Carmine as usual. This year’s midnight kiss was his best ever. After everybody left, Carmine stayed and told me that the nicest thing about the ’50s was me.

CARMINE: And you’re going to be the nicest thing about the ’60s, too.

That Big Ragu is so sweet!

 

Pete wants to kiss but there’s no mistletoe, so Laverne hangs some oregano. Then Pete’s ex Beatrice enters and plays “Chances Are” on the jukebox. Pete and Bea fall into each other’s arms and begin dancing; Laverne is crushed. Altogether now, studio audience: Awww!

 

Laverne returns to the apartment, where she mixes a bucket of her favorite drink: milk and Pepsi. Shirley arrives and tells her it’s not her fault Pete left her standing under the oregano.

“Yes it is. I just ain’t pretty enough for him,” Laverne says as a slow version of the “Laverne & Shirley” theme begins swelling in the background.

Shirley, take it away:

SHIRLEY: Don’t ever say that. I don’t ever want to hear you say that again.

LAVERNE: It’s true.

SHIRLEY: It’s not true. You’re very pretty. Very pretty. What’s more important, you’re pretty on the inside.

LAVERNE: Big deal, pretty inside. If they ever cut me open, maybe I’ll be Miss America. Pretty inside is what they say to people who ain’t pretty, Shirl.

SHIRLEY: Laverne, you’re pretty on the outside too, and you know it.

Shirley begins singing – Should auld acquaintance be forgot/And never brought to mind – and it’s so awful Laverne smiles.

 

The girls move to the front stoop, where everyone has gathered to witness the mysterious stunt goofball neighbors Lenny and Squiggy (Michael McKean, David L. Lander) have planned for midnight. A squad car arrives – it’s Norman, the cop Laverne had hoped to spend New Year’s Eve with in the first place!

 

It’s time for the big surprise: Lenny, dressed as Father Time, leads the countdown to midnight as Squiggy, dressed as Baby New Year, lowers himself down a rope from near the top of the building.

 

Ten, nine, eight …

 

… seven, six, five …

 

… four, three, two, one!

 

Happy New Year!

 

See for yourself: “New Year’s Eve 1960” is part of the “Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Third Season” DVD set.  

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Tuesday, December 27, 1977:

8: “Happy Days”* (ABC), “CBS Reports: Illegal Aliens in Los Angeles” (CBS), “Pine Canyon is Burning”* (NBC)

8:30: “Laverne & Shirley” (ABC)

9: “Three’s Company”* (ABC), “M*A*S*H”* (CBS)

9:30: “Soap” (ABC), “One Day at a Time” (CBS), “Terraces”* (NBC)

10: “Family”* (ABC), “Lou Grant”* (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 25, 1977:

Top novel: “The Silmarillion” by J.R.R. Tolkein

Top song: “How Deep is Your Love” by Bee Gees

New at the movies: “High Anxiety”

Top TV show: “Laverne & Shirley” (ABC)

In the news: Sadat planned a visit to Sudan

Happy New Year From the Gang on ‘The Honeymooners’

“New Years Week” begins.

On December 26, 1953, CBS’s “The Jackie Gleason Show” was devoted to a “Honeymooners” sketch in which the Kramdens and Nortons usher in 1954 together.

The story opens with Alice (Audrey Meadows) asking Ralph (Gleason) to take her out on New Year’s Eve, but he resists, saying he doesn’t like big crowds. Besides, Ralph reminds Alice he took her out for her birthday.

“I hardly call watching you bowl a night out,” Alice retorts.

Entertainers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey drop by the Kramdens’ apartment to pick up a lost briefcase that Alice found on the street; they invite Ralph, Alice and Ed and Trixie (Art Carney, Joyce Randolph) to attend their New Year’s Eve show at the Hotel Statler.

Ralph fakes being sick to get the night off – then runs into his boss at the show. Fortunately, the boss’s wife takes a shine to Alice and Trixie and persuades her husband to not fire Ralph. The whole gang enjoys the show – and then Ralph and Alice kiss at midnight.

See for yourself: The “New Year’s Eve Party” is part of “The Honeymooners: The Lost Episodes” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, December 26, 1953:

7: “Topper” (CBS), “Mr. Wizard” (NBC)

7:30: “The Trouble With Father” (CBS), “Ethel & Albert” (NBC)

8: “The Jackie Gleason Show” (CBS), “Bonino” (NBC)

8:30: “The Original Amateur Hour” (NBC)

9: “Two for the Money” (CBS), “All Star Revue” (NBC)

9:30: “My Favorite Husband” (CBS)

10: “Medallion Theatre” (CBS)

10:30: “Your Hit Parade” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of December 20, 1953:

Top novel: “Lord Vanity” by Samuel Shellabarger 

Top song: “Rags to Riches” by Tony Bennett

New at the movies: “How to Marry a Millionaire”

In the news: President Eisenhower cut ground forces in Korea

 

 

Captions: Ralph and Alice argue over how to spend New Year’s Eve (top); the Kramdens and the Nortons arrive the Hotel Statler to attend the Dorsey brothers’ show (middle); and Ralph and Alice kiss at midnight (bottom).

Christmas Feudin’ on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’

“Holidays With the Hartleys” continues. 

On December 25, 1976, CBS aired “Making Up is the Thing to Do,” a “Bob Newhart Show” episode in which Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley schemes to reunite his newly separated parents at Christmastime.

As Bob (Newhart) explains to his receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) and her husband Larry (Will Mackenzie), he plans to invite each parent to Christmas dinner and not tell them the other will be there.

LARRY: Sounds like a good idea, Bob.

BOB: Well, the holidays have a way of bringing people closer together. They generate warmth. You know, they kind of remind you of the ties that bind.

LARRY: Yeah. When’d they separate?

BOB: Thanksgiving.

On Christmas Day, Bob’s parents Martha and Herb (Martha Scott, Barnard Hughes) arrive and begin fighting, driving away the Hartleys’ other guests. When Bob and wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) begin arguing, Martha and Herb realize they were foolish to separate and go home and patch things up.

After the seniors Hartleys depart, Bob and Emily begin laughing – their fight was only a ruse! They kiss and wish each other a merry Christmas.

See for yourself: “Making Up is the Thing to Do” isn’t (legally) available online or on video.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, December 25, 1976:

8: “The New Original Wonder Woman” (ABC), “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (CBS)

8:30: “The Bob Newhart Show” (CBS), “Emergency!” (NBC)

9: “Starsky & Hutch” (ABC), “All in the Family” (CBS), “Camelot” (NBC)

9:30: “Alice” (CBS)

10: “Most Wanted” (ABC), “The Carol Burnett Show” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 19, 1976:

Top novel: “Sleeping Murder” by Agatha Christie

Top song: “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be All Right)” by Rod Stewart

Top movie: “King Kong”

In the news: Santa brought Amy Carter a phone

 

 

 

Captions: Bob is saddled with Christmas presents at the office (top); Emily sides with Martha and Bob sides with Herb during the Christmas dinner argument (middle); and Bob and Emily revel in the success of their ruse (bottom).

Another Disastrous Christmas on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’

“Holidays With the Hartleys” continues.

On December 24, 1977, CBS aired “’Twas the Pie Before Christmas,” a “Bob Newhart Show” episode in which Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley (Newhart) and his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) throw a Christmas Day party that no one wants to attend.

The Hartleys’ friends Jerry and Howard (Peter Bonerz, Bill Daily) are in no mood to celebrate after they attend a hockey game together and a puck flies into the stands: Jerry says he gets to keep the puck because he ended up with it; Howard says he’s the rightful owner because it struck him in the head first.

Bob’s patients don’t want to party after they receive Bob’s Christmas card – which not only includes season’s greetings, but also the news that he’s raising his rates.

And Bob’s receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) doesn’t want to attend the Hartleys’ party because he blames her for announcing the rate-hike at Christmastime.

In the end, everyone forgives each other and shows up at the Hartleys’ – along with the “hit man” that Bob’s patient Mr. Carlin (Jack Riley) hired to throw a pie in Bob’s face.

See for yourself: “’Twas the Pie Before Christmas” is not (legally) available online or on video.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, December 24, 1977:

8: “Tabitha” (ABC), “Bob Newhart Show” (CBS), “Bionic Woman”* (NBC)

8:30: “Operation Petticoat” (ABC), “We’ve Got Each Other” (CBS)

9: “Starsky & Hutch”* (ABC), “Jeffersons” (CBS), “In Search of Noah’s Ark”* (NBC)

9:30: “Tony Randall Show” (CBS)

10: “Love Boat” (ABC), “Kojak” (CBS)

* Repeat

 

The Record

For the week of December 18, 1977:

Top novel: “The Silmarillion” by J.R.R. Tolkien

Top song: “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone

Top movie: “Saturday Night Fever”

In the news: Record numbers of blacks held elective office

 

 

Captions: Bob and Emily receive a Christmas tree from Howard – in a wrapped box (top); Bob’s patient Jerry, Mr. Peterson – played by John Fiedler – and Mr. Carlin each get hit with pies meant for Bob (middle); an illustration of Bob Newhart from TV Guide’s December 24, 1977, issue (bottom).

Dr. Hartley’s Busiest Season on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’

“Holidays With the Hartleys” continues.

On December 23, 1972, CBS aired “His Busiest Season,” an episode of “The Bob Newhart Show” that finds everyone feeling blue at Christmastime.

While Chicago psychologist Dr. Bob Hartley (Newhart) struggles to treat his sad-sack patients, his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) makes her shopping list.

EMILY: What do you think I should buy your Uncle Harry and Aunt May? I can’t think of a thing.

BOB: What did we send them last year?

EMILY: A basket of fruit.

BOB: They should have eaten it by now.

To cheer his patients – and himself and Emily – Bob throws an impromptu Christmas Eve party. He tries to lead everyone in a round of carols, but each song brings back a bad memory for a member of the group.

Suddenly, things begin looking up.

“I just feel great because we’re all having such a rotten time together,” Emily declares as the room erupts in laughter.

See for yourself: “His Busiest Season” is part of “The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete First Season” DVD set and can also be rented and purchased at iTunes and Amazon.com and streamed at Hulu.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, December 23, 1972:

8: “Alias Smith and Jones”* (ABC), “All in the Family”* (CBS), “Ernie Ford’s White Christmas” (NBC)

8:30: “Bridget Loves Bernie” (CBS)

9: “Streets of San Francisco” (ABC), “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (CBS), “Climb an Angry Mountain” (NBC)

9:30: “The Bob Newhart Show” (CBS)

10: “The Sixth Sense” (ABC), “The Carol Burnett Show” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 17, 1972:

Top novel: “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach

Top song: “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul

Top movie: “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”

In the news: U.N. Ambassador George Bush quit

 

 

Captions: “Bob Newhart Show” stars Bob Newhart and Suzanne Pleshette in scenes from “His Busiest Season.”