TV Time Capsule

‘The Bob Newhart Show’s’ Endless Holiday Office Party

“Holidays With the Hartleys” continues.

On December 22, 1973, CBS aired “I’m Dreaming of a Slight Christmas,” a “Bob Newhart Show” episode that finds Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley (Newhart) dreading his office holiday party.

The shindigs always follow a pattern, as Bob explains:

Around 2 o’clock it usually starts and then Carol says what a great guy I am. And then about 2:05, somebody spikes the watercooler. About 2:30, Carol tells me off. And then sometime between 3 and 4, somebody asks for some free psychological advice. And then around 4 o’clock, all the ear, nose and throat men on the sixth floor come down and challenge us to an ice hockey game on the roof. And then at 5 o’clock, Tupperman starts reciting the Hippocratic oath while Jerry hums “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.”

This year, Bob plans to leave the party early to spend Christmas Eve with wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette). Too bad a blizzard strands him at the office!

See for yourself: “I’m Dreaming of a Slight Christmas” is part of “The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Second 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 22, 1973:

8: “Partridge Family” (ABC), “All in the Family” (CBS), “Emergency!” (NBC)

8:30: “Snatched” (ABC), “M*A*S*H” (CBS)

9: “Mary Tyler Moore Show” (CBS), “Fitzwilly” (NBC)

9:30: “Bob Newhart Show” (CBS)

10: “Griff” (ABC), “Carol Burnett Show” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 16, 1973:

Top novel: “Burr” by Gore Vidal

Top song: “The Most Beautiful Girl” by Charlie Rich

Top movie: “Amacord”

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

In the news: First-class stamp prices increased from 8 cents to a dime

 

 

Captions: Dr. Bob Hartley, patient Mr. Peterson and receptionist Carol Keester – played by John Fiedler and Marcia Wallace, respectively – learn a blizzard has shut down Chicago during Bob’s holiday office party (top); Emily isn’t thrilled with the tiny tree Bob has brought home for their scaled-down Christmas (middle); Bob braves the blizzard to spend Christmas Eve with Emily, but he’s too tired to celebrate, so they snuggle on the sofa (bottom).

A Crowded Christmas Eve on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’

“Holidays With the Hartleys” continues.

On December 21, 1974, CBS aired “Home is Where the Hurt is,” another “Bob Newhart Show” episode where everyone spends Christmas Eve together.

Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley and wife Emily (Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette) – decked out in their very finest – are headed to the symphony when neighbor Howard Borden (Bill Dailey) shows up and asks to borrow some tinsel for his aluminum tree.

After Howard finally scoots out the door, Bob’s receptionist Carol Keester (Marcia Wallace) arrives and embarks on a long-winded monologue about her unhappy childhood.

Later, Howard returns to borrow more decorations.

“I thought you guys were going to the symphony,” he says.

“We thought we’d give them another year to practice,” Bob responds.

Carol finally musters the courage to confront her father and leaves. Bob awakens his dozing wife by sliding next to her on the sofa.

“It was kind of a nice Christmas Eve,” Bob says as he and Emily snuggle.

“And I think it’s going to turn out to be a lovely Christmas morning, too,” she coos.

See for yourself: “Home is Where the Heart is” is part of “The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Third 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 21, 1974:

8: “A Dream for Christmas”* (ABC), “All in the Family” (CBS), “Emergency!” (NBC)

9: “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (CBS), “Geronimo”* (NBC)

9:30: “The Bob Newhart Show” (CBS)

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

 

The Record

For the week of December 15, 1974:

Top novel: “Centennial” by James Michener

Top song: “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas

Top movie: “The Man With the Golden Gun”

In the news: Stimulate the economy, experts urged

 

 

Captions: In “Home is Where the Hurt is,” Dr. Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) dozes off while receptionist Carol Keester drones on (top); neighbor Howard Borden, played by Bill Daily, drops by to borrow decorations and Emily and Carol – played by Suzanne Pleshette and Marcia Wallace – chat (middle); and Bob and Emily finally have some alone time (bottom).

On ‘The Bob Newhart Show,’ ‘Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital’

“Holidays With the Hartleys,” a week of Christmas-themed “Bob Newhart Show” flashbacks, begins.

On December 20, 1975, CBS aired “Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital,” an episode in which Bob has to have has tonsils out, so he spends Christmas Eve in the hospital.

Scratchy-throated Bob (Newhart) feels sorry for himself, so candy striper Mrs. Loomis (guest star Merie Earle) sets him straight.

BOB: I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to stay in this bed. I want to be in my own bed.

MRS. LOOMIS: I, I, I! Where’s your Christmas spirit? What about peace on earth, good will toward men?

BOB: If you don’t bring me a glass of water, I’m going to break your arm!

When Bob is feeling better, he invites Mrs. Loomis to have Christmas dinner with him and wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette). Mrs. Loomis says she’ll bring her boyfriend.

MRS. LOOMIS: What time is dinner?

EMILY: Oh, around 4 o’clock.

MRS. LOOMIS: Oh that’s fine! He usually drifts off at 6.

See for yourself: “Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital” is part of “The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Fourth Season” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, December 20, 1975:

8: “Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell” (ABC), “Jeffersons” (CBS), “Emergency!” (NBC)

8:30: “Doc” (CBS) 

9: NFL Football (ABC), “Mary Tyler Moore Show” (CBS), “Zeppelin”* (NBC)

9:30: “Bob Newhart Show” (CBS)

10: “Carol Burnett Show” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 14, 1975:

Top novel: “Curtain” by Agatha Christie

Top song: “Fly, Robin, Fly” by Silver Convention

New at the movies: “Against a Crooked Sky”

In the news: President Ford and Congress compromised on a tax-cut extension

 

 

Captions: In ‘Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital,’ Bob Hartley – played by Bob Newhart – gets an earful from Mrs. Loomis, played by guest star Merie Earle (top); Emily, played by Suzanne Pleshette, mediates a Christmas Eve tiff between friends Howard Borden and Jerry Robinson, played by Bill Daily and Peter Bonerz (middle); Mrs. Loomis offers some words of wisdom (bottom).

‘The Little Drummer Boy’ Charms TV Viewers

“Christmas Classics” concludes.

On December 19, 1968, CBS aired “The Little Drummer Boy,” a one-hour special that was based on the beloved song.

Greer Garson narrated the fanciful show, which told story of Aaron (voiced by Teddy Eccles), a plucky orphan who follows the Three Wisemen to Bethlehem to play his instrument for the newborn Jesus.

Aaron is accompanied by his three dancing animals – Samson the donkey, Ben Baba the lamb and Joshua the Camel – who are kidnapped by the villainous Haramed (Jose Ferrer) and forced to join his troupe of wandering musicians.

Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass produced the show, which used the same stop-motion style as their previous hit, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

The title song was performed by the Vienna Choir Boys. Other songs included: “One Star in the Night,” “Why Can’t the Animals Smile?” and “The Goose Hangs High.”

The special is now considered a classic, but it originally received mixed reviews: The Pittsburgh Press’s Joan Crosby called it “beautiful, reverent and moving,” but the Associated Press’s Cynthia Lowry complained it “moved violently between the broadest kind of comedy to the reverently dramatic.”

See for yourself: “The Little Drummer Boy” is available on DVD.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Thursday, December 19, 1968:

7:30: “Ugliest Girl in Town” (ABC), “Blondie” (CBS), “The Little Drummer Boy” (NBC)

8: “Flying Nun” (ABC), “Hawaii Five-O” (CBS), “Andy Williams Show” (NBC)

8:30: “Bewitched” (ABC)

9: “That Girl” (ABC), “Guns at Batasi” (CBS), “Bob Hope Christmas Special” (NBC)

9:30: “Journey to the Unknown” (ABC)

10: “Dean Martin Show” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of December 15, 1968:

Top novel: “The Salzburg Connection” by Helen MacInnes

Top song: “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

Top movie: “Candy”

In the news: Foreign aid was criticized

 

 

Caption: A scene from “The Little Drummer Boy,” courtesy the Enchanted World of Rankin Bass, the website of Rankin Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt.

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’ a Critical Dud

“Christmas Classics” continues.

On December 18, 1966, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” debuted to big ratings and bad reviews.

The half-hour special – based on Dr. Suess’ classic 1957 children’s book – told how the Grinch tried to rob the town of Whoville of its holiday spirit by stealing the residents’ decorations and presents. Of course, as the Grinch soon discovers, this doesn’t prevent Christmas (“Somehow or other, it came just the same!”) and he learns the true meaning of the holiday.

Boris Karloff narrated the special, which was animated by Chuck Jones and Dr. Suess himself, Theodore Geisel, and reportedly cost $315,000 and 10 months to produce.

Critics weren’t all that impressed.

“[T]he book was better than this expensive half-hour color TV adaptation proved to be. Perhaps I was expecting too much,” the Los Angeles Times’ Hal Humphrey wrote in his review.

The Baltimore Sun’s critic agreed, writing:

The settings, just right in the printed tale, lost some of their impact in the televised form. Strangely, the voicing of printed verses by Boris Karloff, lessened their effect. The books of Dr. Suess, it seems, were meant to be read, not turned into what amounts to a silent, pantomimed animated cartoon.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was among the week’s 10 most-watched programs.

The full top 10: “Bonanza” (NBC), followed by a “Charlie Brown Christmas” rerun (CBS), a Danny Thomas special (NBC), a Frank Sinatra special (CBS), “The Red Skelton Show” (CBS), “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (CBS), “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” (NBC), “The Andy Griffith Show” (CBS), the “Beverly Hillbillies” and “The Doomsday Flight,” an NBC movie.

CBS aired “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” each year until 1987.

After a two-year break, the special moved to TNT; it has since been shown by TBS, Cartoon Network, the WB and ABC.

The original special was 26 minutes, but it’s been edited in the ensuing years to squeeze in more commercials.

In 2000, a live-action movie version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” opened to big box office and bad reviews.

But who knows? Maybe one day the movie will be considered a classic, too.

See for yourself: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is available on DVD and can be purchased at iTunes and Amazon. “Christmas Classics” concludes tomorrow.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Sunday, December 18, 1966:

7: “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” (ABC), “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (CBS)

7:30: “It’s About Time” (CBS), “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” (NBC)

8: “The F.B.I.” (ABC), “The Ed Sullivan Show” (CBS)

8:30: “Hey Landlord” (NBC)

9: “Francis of Assisi” (ABC), “The Garry Moore Show” (CBS), “Bonanza” (NBC)

10: “Candid Camera” (CBS), “The Andy Williams Show” (NBC)

10:30: “What’s My Line?” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of December 18, 1966:

Top novel: “The Secret of Santa Vittoria” by Robert Crichton

Top song: “Winchester Cathedral” by New Vaudeville Band

Top movie: “A Man For All Seasons”

Top TV show: “Bonanza” (NBC)

In the news: Lots happened

 

 

Caption: The Grinch and his dog Max in a scene from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” courtesy IMDB.com.

For ‘Frasier,’ a Christmas – er, Hanukkah – to Remember

“Eight Crazy Nights,” a celebration of Hanukkah-themed episodes, concludes.

Night No. 8: December 17, 1998, when NBC aired “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz,” the “Frasier” episode in which hapless Dr. Crane (Kelsey Grammer) pretends to be Jewish to please Helen Moskowitz (Carole Shelley), the mother of his girlfriend Faye (Amy Brenneman).

On Christmas Eve, Frasier hides his holiday decorations – and shares his bar mitzvah “memories” with Helen and Faye.

FRASIER: I can still remember reading from the Torah … before the … rabbi and, uh, the … cantor … and, uh, the mohel.

HELEN: The mohel?

FAYE: The one who did your circumcision?

FRASIER: Yes! Yes, I just wanted to show him that there were no hard feelings.

As the plan unravels, Helen spots Frasier’s brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce), the star of a local production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” hiding in his powder room – with his Christmas tree.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz” was seen in 16.7 million homes, ranking second in the weekly ratings.

See for yourself: “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz” is part of the “Frasier: The Complete Sixth Season” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Thursday, December 17, 1998:

8: “Vengeance Unlimited” (ABC), “Promised Land” (CBS), “Greatest Christmas Moments of All” (Fox), “Friends” (NBC), “Out There” (UPN), “The Wayans Bros.” (WB)

8:30: “Jesse” (NBC), “The Jamie Foxx Show” (WB)

9: “I Love Trouble” (ABC), “Diagnosis Murder” (CBS), “Frasier” (NBC), “The Steve Harvey Show” (WB)

9:30: “Veronica’s Closet” (NBC), “For Your Love” (WB)

10: “48 Hours” (CBS), “ER” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of December 13, 1998:

Top novel: “A Man in Full” by Tom Wolfe

Top song: “I’m Your Angel” by R. Kelly and Celine Dion

Top movie: “Star Trek: Insurrection”

Top TV show: “ER” (NBC)

In the news: President Clinton’s impeachment was postponed

 

 

Captions: Allergy-plagued Niles (David Hyde Pierce) fills the lead role in Daphne’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the “Frasier” episode “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz.”

For ‘The Nanny,’ Hanukkah is a Time for Miracles!

“Eight Crazy Nights,” a celebration of Hanukkah-themed episodes, continues.

Night No. 7: December 16, 1998, when CBS aired “The Nanny” episode “The Hanukkah Story,” which opens with Fran explaining that Jewish holidays begin at sundown “because God realized that before 5, to wear sequins is gauche.”

In a flashback, a bored Fran (Jamie Renee Smith) asks her mother Sylvia (Drescher) why Hanukkah has no parades. Says Sylvia: “After all that walking we did in the desert, we like to sit on the holidays!”

Fran’s husband Maxwell (Charles Shaughnessy) is driving home through a blizzard when his car gets stuck.

Several frantic hours later, he returns, explaining his car’s gas lasted eight hours – long enough for the police to rescue him.

“That’s like Hanukkah!” Fran exclaims. “The oil lasted for eight days!”

The crisis over, Sylvia (Renee Taylor) announces she’s going home.

Fran rejoices: “Another miracle!”

See for yourself: “The Hanukkah Story” isn’t (legally) online or on video. “Eight Crazy Nights” will conclude tomorrow.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Wednesday, December 16, 1998:

8: “Dharma & Greg” (ABC), “The Nanny” (CBS), “Beverly Hills 90210” (Fox), “Dateline NBC,” “Seven Days” (UPN), “Dawson’s Creek” (WB)

8:30: “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place” (ABC), “Maggie Winters” (CBS) 

9: “The Drew Carey Show” (ABC), “To Have & To Hold” (CBS), “Party of Five” (Fox), “3rd Rock From the Sun” (NBC), “Star Trek: Voyager” (UPN), “Charmed” (WB)

9:30: “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (ABC), “Encore! Encore!” (NBC)

10: “20/20” (ABC), “Chicago Hope” (CBS), “Law & Order” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of December 13, 1998:

Top novel: “A Man in Full” by Tom Wolfe

Top song: “I’m Your Angel” by R. Kelly and Celine Dion

Top movie: “Star Trek: Insurrection”

Top TV show: “ER” (NBC)

In the news: Impeachment neared

 

 

Captions: In “The Hanukkah Story,” a young Sylvia (Fran Drescher) fills a menorah and explains the holiday’s meaning to her bored daughter Fran, who’ll grow up to become “The Nanny.”

‘Thirtysomething:’ Angst for the Hannukah Memories!

“Eight Crazy Nights,” a celebration of Hanukkah-themed episodes, continues.

Night No. 6: December 15, 1987, when ABC aired “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” the “Thirtysomething” episode in which the holidays test the interfaith marriage of Michael Steadman, a Jew, and his wife Hope, a Muslim Extremist. (Kidding! She’s Christian.)

 

Let’s begin with something that’s bothered me for 23 years: What’s up with these opening credits? Obviously, this is not Melanie Mayron, and that’s not Ken Olin. Would it have killed “Thirtysomething’s” producers to match names and faces?

 

I have no idea what’s happening here. Kidding again. Here’s the deal: Philadelphia ad men Michael and Elliot Weston (Olin, Timothy Busfield) have been hired to produce a campaign to promote aerobic exercise for pregnant women. Elliot pretends to be pregnant because he’s wacky.

 

Michael hires his photographer cousin Melissa Steadman (Mayron) to shoot the pictures for the campaign. She’s annoyed because … well, I’m not quite sure. Something to do with Michael taking her for granted, I think? Anyhow, Melissa flashes back to Little Michael being smarmy. These two have a lot of history, you see.

 

Michael accompanies Elliot as he shops for a Christmas tree. Because this is “Thirtysomething,” it’s an angsty experience: Michael says that even though he isn’t much of an observant Jew, now that he and Hope are parents to Baby Janie, he isn’t so sure he wants to a tree in his house.

MICHAEL: This is so weird. I love Christmas. I do. I used to. I used to love it with Hope. But now?

ELLIOT: A tree’s not just a tree.

MICHAEL: Right. I see this tree. I see it in my living room. I see my grandfather rising up from the grave and having another heart attack. I do. Now there’s Janie. What do I want to tell her about who I am? What if she totally loves this? I don’t know where that leaves me.

 

Melissa shows Michael the photos she shot for the ad campaign. He hates them, complaining they’re too arty. She shoots new boring pictures but shows the originals – and the rest of her portfolio – to her new friend, Famous Photographer (Paul Sand), who loves them.

 

Melissa tells Michael and Hope (Mel Harris) about Famous Photographer. Hope is happy; Michael third-degrees Melissa, suggesting the guy is only praising her work because he wants to have The Sex with her.

MELISSA: What is this?

MICHAEL: I’m just saying you don’t know him all that well.

MELISSA: Michael, what are you doing?

MICHAEL: Nothing. I’m just saying, consider the guy’s motives, that’s all.

MELISSA: Well I don’t think I have to. I mean, you’ve done that for me already. I mean, you’ve let me see that in your eyes, there’s only one way a man like that could ever be interested in me. So should I thank you now – or should I just leave? I think I’ll leave.

 

Hope questions Michael about his religious beliefs. He feels insulted and asks why she’s raising this topic: “Because it feels weird to me that we should have a Christmas tree, which is what you want? That’s fine. But what about me? Because I don’t see you polishing any menorahs, Hope.” She walks out of the room in silence. (Hey “Thirtysomething” producers: Thanks for setting this scene in the shower!)

You know, this Ken Olin fellow is a Very Handsome Man. Perhaps this would be a good time to see how he’s holding up. Let’s see, I’ll just Google him and. …

 

Oh. (Photo by Retna Ltd.; courtesy the Daily Beast)

 

Back to the show: Michael flashes back to when he was Zachary Quinto and Melissa was Tammy Wynette, circa 1966. Kidding again. He remembers a Hanukkah dinner during their college years when Melissa confronted him over his decision to go to business school and abandon his dream of becoming a writer. So that’s why Michael is such a jerk to Melissa – he’s envious that she stuck with her dream and he gave up on his.

 

Through one of those only-on-television mix-ups, Michael winds up with Melissa’s portfolio, which he takes to a local gallery, unbeknownst to her. Imagine her surprise when she comes home one afternoon and finds a letter from the gallery owner, informing her that he wants to exhibit her work in the spring! Melissa and boyfriend Gary Shepherd (Peter Horton) share a congratulatory kiss. On another note: What is she wearing? A coonskin cap and a coat with math equations? I was around in 1987; I don’t remember anyone dressing like this.

 

Michael is in a much better mood. He buys a Christmas tree to surprise Hope and on the way home, gives Gary a Santa Claus Pez dispenser as a gift. And yeah, the sexual tension between these two is as thick as it looks.

 

While Gary waits in the car, Michael goes inside the house and discovers Hope lighting a menorah. Awww. But wait, there’s more: Melissa’s there, too! Everyone hugs and gazes into the candlelight. Meanwhile, poor Gary takes the tree off the roof of Michael’s car, lugs it onto the front porch and leaves. Be careful walking home, Gary! You know how dangerous these Philadelphia roads can be. (At least you will in season four.)

 

See for yourself: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is part of the “Thirtysomething: The Complete First Season” and can be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon.com. “Eight Crazy Nights” will continue tomorrow.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Tuesday, December 15, 1987:

8: “Who’s the Boss?” (ABC), “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”* (CBS), “Matlock” (NBC)

8:30: “Growing Pains” (ABC)

9: “Moonlighting” (ABC), “Circus of the Stars” (CBS), “J.J. Starbuck” (NBC)

10: “Thirtysomething” (ABC), “Crime Story” (NBC)

* Repeat

 

The Record

For the week of December 13, 1987:

Top novel: “The Tommyknockers” by Stephen King

Top song: “Faith” by George Michael

Top movie: “Throw Momma From the Train”

Top TV show: “The Cosby Show” (NBC) 

In the news: Congress considered cutting Saturday mail delivery

‘Frank’s Place:’ Hanukkah in the Big Easy

“Eight Crazy Nights,” a celebration of Hanukkah-themed episodes, continues.

Night No. 5: December 14, 1987, when CBS aired the “Season’s Greetings” episode of its much-too-short-lived comedy-drama “Frank’s Place.” 

In the story, when college-professor-turned-New-Orleans-restaurateur Frank Parrish (Tim Reid) expresses his fascination with Jewish holiday customs, his friend Bubba Weisberger (Robert Harper) invites him to accompany him to his mother’s home for a Shabbat dinner.

“There’ll be the traditional prayers, the lighting of the candle, the meal. Then we’ll all sit around and talk about why I’m not married. That, too, is an ancient ritual,” Bubba jokes.

Sure enough, Bubba’s mother (guest star Nan Martin) spends dinner berating him for not settling down. Frustrated, Bubba announces that he and Frank are lovers, practically sending her – and Frank – into cardiac arrest.

Gregory Itzin – “24’s” weaselly President Logan – plays Bubba’s brother-in-law.

In a touching subplot, John Witherspoon, known for his buffoonish roles on “The Wayans Bros.” and in Ice Cube’s “Friday” movies, appears as Frank’s worldly Uncle Ray, whose life isn’t as glamorous as it seems.

“Season’s Greetings” was seen in 11.3 million homes, ranking 44th in the weekly ratings.

See for yourself: Sadly, “Frank’s Place” isn’t online or on video. “Eight Crazy Nights” will continue tomorrow.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Monday, December 14, 1987:

8: “MacGyver” (ABC), “Kate & Allie” (CBS), “ALF” (NBC)

8:30: “Frank’s Place” (CBS)

9: “Monday Night Football” (ABC), “Newhart” (CBS), “Motown Merry Christmas” (NBC)

9:30: “Designing Women” (CBS)

10: “Cagney & Lacey” (CBS), “Secrets Women Never Share” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of December 13, 1987:

Top novel: “The Tommyknockers” by Stephen King

Top song: “Faith” by George Michael

Top movie: “Throw Momma From the Train”

Top TV show: “The Cosby Show” (NBC) 

In the news: NBC considered leaving Rockefeller Center for New Jersey!

 

Captions: “Frank’s Place” cast members, from left, Robert Harper, Tim Reid, Frances E. Williams, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Tony Burton and Francesca P. Roberts in a photograph from TV Guide’s September 12, 1987, fall preview issue (top, photo by Mario Casilli); CBS’s advertisement for the “Season’s Greetings” episode, from the magazine’s December 12, 1987, edition (bottom).

‘Jack Frost’s’ Icy Reception

“Christmas Classics” continues.

On December 13, 1979, NBC aired “Jack Frost,” another stop-motion animated holiday special from producers Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.

The plot: Jack Frost (voiced by Robert Morse), a sprite, falls in love with a beautiful girl named Elisa (Debra Clinger), so Father Winter (Paul Frees) grants him “a winter of humanity,” which allows him to romance her. Jack’s villainous rival is the contemptible Coassack King Kubla Kraus (also voiced by Frees).

Buddy Hackett voiced Jack’s friend Pardon-Me-Pete, who also narrates the story.

“Jack Frost” included nine original songs, written by Maury Lewis and Bass.

The New York Times review of “Jack Frost” wasn’t kind, declaring the special boasted “an assortment of ridiculous and unbelievable characters.”

“Jack Frost” also wasn’t among the week’s 10 most-watched shows: CBS’s “Alice,” which was seen in 22.9 million homes, and “60 Minutes” (22.5 million); ABC’s “Three’s Company” (22 million); “One Day at a Time” (21.8 million) and “The Jeffersons” (21.4 million); ABC’s “Taxi” (19.8 million); the CBS movie “Aunt Mary” (19 million); ABC’s “Mork and Mindy” (18.7 million); and CBS’s “Archie Bunker’s Place” (18.5 million) “M*A*S*H” (18.2 million).

See for yourself: “Jack Frost” is available on DVD. “Christmas Classics” continues December 18.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Thursday, December 13, 1979:

8: “Laverne & Shirley” (ABC), “The Waltons” (CBS), “Jack Frost” (NBC) 

8:30: “Benson” (ABC)

9: “Barney Miller” (ABC), “The Last Hard Men” (CBS), “The Bob Hope Christmas Special” (NBC)

9:30: “Soap” (ABC)

10: “20/20” (ABC), “Dean Martin’s Christmas in California” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of December 9, 1979:

Top novel: “Triple” by Ken Follett

Top song: “Babe” by Styx

Top movie: “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”

Top TV show: “Alice” (CBS)

In the news: Ronald Reagan was urged to come out of the closet

 

 

Captions: Scenes from “Jack Frost,” courtesy IMDB.com; NBC’s advertisement for the special, from TV Guide’s December 8, 1979, issue.