Questions Only VI: How Much Is Too Much?

[RJDiogenes]

I do remember seeing The Smothers Brothers a couple of times, but did you know they were cancelled for being too controversial?

i have never heard of them, but have you considered that 68 pages might be time enough for shifting to a new thread?

Is it possible I wasn't paying attention?

My older cousin dated Dick Smothers for a couple of years. It was kind of surreal seeing Facebook pics of the two of them together.

That's a pretty cool brush with fame.

[scottydog]

I do remember seeing The Smothers Brothers a couple of times, but did you know they were cancelled for being too controversial?

I didn't know that. What was the controversy?

[RJDiogenes]

Lots of hip political satire that was too groovy for TV at the time.

What was your favorite variety show of the 60s and 70s?

[scottydog]

I'm not sure I had one

The closest thing might have been Laugh-In and Saturday Night Live. Ocassionally I'd tune into Merv Griffin, Michael Douglas, and Dick Cavett.

You?

[RJDiogenes]

Laugh-In, I think. But what did you think of Ed Sullivan?

[scottydog]

Oh yeah, forgot about Ed Sullivan. Every Sunday night.

Ever watch Lawrence Welk? Or Hee-Haw?

[RJDiogenes]

I saw Lawrence Welk occasionally, because my Grandmother used to watch all the time. I remember seeing Hee Haw occasionally, but I have no idea why.

Do you think an Ed Sullivan Channel would be a great record of 20th century culture?

[scottydog]

That reminds me of Galaxy Quest. Remember when the aliens believed Gilligan's Island was a true historical record?

Ed Sullivan would represent one slice of 20th century culture -- the entertainment slice. What slice would Night Stalker represent?

[RJDiogenes]

Isn't Kolchak the epitome of the dogged newshound who represents the Free Press?

[scottydog]

Wouldn't Kolchak's reporting be called "Fake News" today?

[RJDiogenes]

Aren't his reports searing exposes in the context of the Kolchakverse?

[scottydog]

Do you have Darren McGavin's autograph? If not, would that be something you'd want?

[RJDiogenes]

I don't, but I'd love it. I do have Richard Matheson's autograph on a limited-edition printing of his three Kolchak scripts, including the unproduced Night Killers.

Do you have any famous autographs?

[scottydog]

For some reason I've never felt any desire or need to get autographs. And I've had plenty of opportunities.

What is the unproduced Night Killers?

[RJDiogenes]

Kolchak started out in a very successful TV movie called The Night Stalker, which was followed by a sequel called The Night Strangler. They were then planning to do a second sequel called The Night Killers, but then the network decided they wanted a series instead. They probably would have used Night Killers as the two-hour premiere of season two if the show wasn't cancelled.

Did you watch the movies or series when they were on the air?