BILL EGGERT

Bill Eggert

Related Photos

Bill Eggert Todd Berkey

Discussion

March 25, 2012

BILL EGGERT | I like my Me-TV

Bill Eggert For The Tribune-Democrat The Tribune-Democrat Sun Mar 25, 2012, 11:01 PM EDT

— About 30 years ago, MTV (Music Television) was unleashed upon the world. One of its rallying cries was: “I want my MTV!”

Catchy, but a bit narcissistic.

Decades later, after an explosion of new cable networks, those in the Johnstown area (and across the country) have been introduced to yet another network: Me-TV (Me for Memorable Entertainment).

Me-TV has its own humorous catchphrases such as “And that’s the way Me likes it!” – which sounds like Bizarro-speak from the old Superman comic books.

For those of a certain age, Me-TV is a flashback to “those thrilling days of yesteryear” when TV came in black-and-white images with a laugh track.

Me-TV’s programming is exclusively television dramas and sitcoms that cover the 1950s through the 1980s. The programs include legendary heavyweights such as “I Love Lucy” and “Dick van Dyke,” “The Twilight Zone” and “Perry Mason.”

Many of the programs are also from the color revolution and beyond, such as “Bonanza” and “Wild, Wild West” as well as “The Odd Couple” and “Batman.”

Programming also includes long-running shows such as “M.A.S.H.”( 11 seasons), “My Three Sons” (12 seasons) and “Happy Days” (11 seasons).

What I enjoy are the old shows from the ’50s and ’60s that have fallen off the cultural radar screen, including “Dobie Gillis,” “Route 66,” “Honey West,” “Peter Gunn” and “Love American Style.”

I enjoy seeing these old shows and how well (or not) they hold up. Surprisingly, most hold up quite nicely.

Two World War II dramas that hold up quite well are “Combat!” and “12 O’ Clock High.” The first series covers an infantry squad led by the smart-yet-brusque Sgt. Saunders, who leads a loyal squad from various backgrounds.

Most of the cast, though relatively young, had actually served in World War II, bringing an added sense of authenticity to the series.

Noted actor Vic Morrow (killed in 1982 from an accident during the filming of the John Landis segment of the “Twilight Zone” movie) brings a world-weary, nuanced grit to the role of Saunders, which sets the tone for the popular series.

“12 O’ Clock High” is an Air Force version of “Combat!” with Robert Lansing (and

later Paul Burke) as the tough by-the-book commander of a bomber group.

The sitcoms hold up quite well also. What was funny during that period is still funny decades later.

The writing on sitcoms such as “I Love Lucy” and “Dick van Dyke” was always deft, insightful and never really mean-spirited. Even Alan Brady’s (Carl Reiner) “Shut up, Mel!” to underling Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) made ego-driven star Brady the butt of the joke.

Viewing episodes of “That Girl” made me realize how really good Ted Bessell was at playing straight man to kooky girlfriend Marlo Thomas, the series’ star. Also noteworthy was Lew Parker, who played Thomas’ over-protective father, a role that could have been annoying, but Parker made the role lovable and hilarious.

Two things that really impress me about these old programs in retrospect are the writing and the early stars’ careers.

The writing on most of these shows is uniformly high caliber.

The characters are well-developed and the situations and plots are usually believable.

You can tune into one of these shows halfway through and get instantly hooked into it.

The other joy is seeing famous TV/film stars early in their careers in minor roles: Everyone from Robert Redford and William Shatner to an impossibly young Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates in “Rawhide.” Sammy Davis Jr. shows up as a gunslinger on “The Rifleman” and yet pulls it off believably.

Also noteworthy is Me-TV’s programming skills. The day after beloved actor Harry Morgan (Col. Potter) died, Me-TV aired a weeklong tribute of “M.A.S.H.” episodes that focused on Morgan’s character starting the very next day. That is impressive.

I really enjoy Me-TV. It’s hip, yet nostalgic; respectful to the programs, yet can poke fun at itself.

And that’s the way Me likes it.

Bill Eggert is a Johnstown native. You can read his blog at http://thebillvilleblog.wordpress.com.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.

Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Bill Eggert

BILL EGGERT | Challenges confront Catholic Church locally and abroad
My mom has advised me on numerous occasions to avoid the topics of politics and religion in my column. Being an obedient son, I occasionally ignore her advice while tending to temper my remarks on said subjects.

February 23, 2013
BILL EGGERT | Photographs and memories: Capturing the past
When I visited my mom this past Christmas I discovered she had a couple of boxes out from the attic of old black and white photos of various family members, many now unfortunately gone. All we have left are the memories and photographs of those who touched our lives and those who passed before we were born. How fortunate we all are to have this amazing invention of photography (and now digital photography) to preserve people and memories, like archeological bugs in amber.

February 9, 2013
BILL EGGERT | Anniversary reflections: Looking back over past 6 years
January marks the sixth anniversary of my column in The Tribune-Democrat. As I embark on the seventh year of my column, I reflect back on the previous six years.

January 27, 2013 1 Photo
BILL EGGERT | Oscar the Grouch: Remembering Jack Klugman
We have lost another television icon recently. A versatile and highly respected character actor of stage, screen and television, Jack Klugman’s career spanned approximately 60 years. His performances garnered three Emmy Awards and several additional nominations. Klugman’s Broadway credits include “Golden Boy,” Gypsy” and “The Odd Couple.” His film credits include memorable performances in “12 Angry Men” (1957), “Days of Wine and Roses” (1962) and “Goodbye Columbus” (1969).

January 20, 2013
BILL EGGERT | Remembering the Great One: Roberto Clemente
New Year’s Eve 1972: A date that began with much joy and anticipation in western Pennsylvania, but ended with much sadness.

January 12, 2013 1 Photo
BILL EGGERT | The Feast of the Immaculate Reception
Imagine, if you will, a 40-year-old professional football franchise, a laughingstock organization celebrated for its ineptitude, owned by a colorful yet saintly cigar-smoking Irishman. Originally called the Pirates and later the Steelers, the team was dubbed by the media and long-frustrated fans as “Rooney U,” whose proficiency was of college level, reflecting the team’s lack of success in the NFL.
But in their 40th year, on a cold December afternoon, in a matter of 22 seconds, the city and the team’s fortunes, mindset and image went from loser to winner in that Cinderella moment - forever known as the “Feast of the Immaculate Reception.”

December 23, 2012 1 Photo
BILL EGGERT | 50 years later, movie fans still bonding with 007
While next year marks the 60th anniversary of his literary debut by author Ian Fleming, this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of secret agent extraordinaire James Bond in motion pictures, with the latest Bond film “Skyfall” opening in theaters.

November 17, 2012
BILL EGGERT | Best friends forever
I find it remarkable that so many folks, especially young people, have literally hundreds of friends on their Facebook page. They have not been alive long enough to have that many friends, much less acquaintances.

September 23, 2012 1 Photo
BILL EGGERT | Space program gave us stars with right stuff
Those of a certain age remember when our space program was in its infancy, in a tight race with the Soviet Union.

September 8, 2012 1 Photo
BILL EGGERT | Semper Fi
Where has the summer gone? Already the days are growing shorter and cooler. The fireflies, a popular staple of summer nights, are already almost gone, not to be seen again until next summer. The Perseid meteor shower, another sign of the close of summer, has come and gone. August is almost over, and Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is fast approaching.

August 25, 2012
More Bill Eggert Headlines

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

BILL EGGERT | I like my Me-TV

Do we have too many economic development agencies in our area?

Contact Us