Best Television Schedule Lineup: Saturday Night Comedy, 1973-74

Comedy gold. Saturday nights in the Fall of 1973. CBS was the place to be. Years later, ABC would have a formidable Tuesday night anchored by Happy Days! and Laverne & Shirley, and NBC had a must-see Thursday night lineup built around Cheers and ER. This CBS lineup was my favorite. All in the Family, … More Best Television Schedule Lineup: Saturday Night Comedy, 1973-74

Larry Gelbart: Writer

Larry Gelbart was one of the best comedy writers, but he was also a fine playwright and producer.  He didn’t just write jokes, he constructed scripts around a clear theme and three-dimensional characters.  His material was funny but smart at the same time. Gelbart is probably most famously known for writing and producing M*A*S*H, adapting … More Larry Gelbart: Writer

The Two Henry Blakes

M*A*S*H was first a successful film, then a mega-successful television series. Some characters made the transition from the film to the series while others did not. Henry Blake was a middle-aged doctor assigned to command a mobile field hospital. You’ve seen the television series and maybe the film, so I don’t need to explain the … More The Two Henry Blakes