"Love"-ly Milestones: Perfect Movies for Valentine's Day That Are Celebrating Anniversaries

 by Michael Lyons

Choosing the right movie for Valentine's Day is like searching for that perfect Christmas film on December 25th. The choices are overwhelming. Romantic drama? Romantic tearjerker? Romantic period piece? Or, the good ol' "rom com?"

To assist with winnowing down your choices for this Valentine's Day, consider one of these films that not only celebrate love, but also celebrate anniversaries this year.

 

The Philadelphia Story (1941) 85th Anniversary

Classic Hollywood movies don't get more classic or Hollywood than this one. Three of the silver screen's most shining stars - Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart - star in this sophisticated, comedic love triangle.

From director George Cukor (and based on the play by Phillip Barry), it tells the story of a socialite (Hepburn) who finds herself falling for both a journalist (Stewart) and her ex-husband (Grant).  

All of the stars are luminous (and Stewart won the Oscar), as they work with rapid-fire dialogue. The silver screen has never shimmered so brightly.

High Society (1956) - 70th Anniversary 

Ironically, the musical remake of The Philadelphia Story also celebrates an anniversary this year.

Here, Grace Kelly (in her last performance before becoming Princess of Monaco) plays the socialite, Bing Crosby as the ex-husband, and Frank Sinatra as the journalist. Wall-to-wall with iconic songs from Cole Porter, and musically narrated by Louis Armstrong, this isn't just movie musical magic, it's pure joy.

And, Crosby and Sinatra's duet of "Well, Did You Evah?!' could be watched over and over.

Any Wednesday (1966) - 60th Anniversary

A lesser-known romantic comedy, this is so much a product of its time, but that makes it all the more fun. Jane Fonda is a young woman living in Manhattan who is having an affair with a married businessman (Jason Robards) and falls for one of his clients (Dean Jones, best known for many Disney live-action classics).

With perspectives around infidelity and women that are squarely of the era, and cringy today, this is still a bright, breezy, and easy-to-take comedy.

A Star is Born (1976) - 50th Anniversary 

After the 1937 version of this story, starring Janet Gaynor and Frederick March, and the 1954 version starring Judy Garland and James Mason, but before the Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper version, came this version starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

This variation on the tale of a self-destructive singer (Kristofferson) who discovers an unknown singer (Streisand) whose career takes off, while his declines comes with gritty, 70s realism, as well as the heartfelt (and heartbreaking) performances of the two stars, which rightfully made this film a hit.

And the movie's Oscar-winning song "Evergreen" (by Streisand and Paul Williams) is still one of the loveliest ballads in movie history.

Pretty in Pink (1986) - 40th Anniversary

Nobody captured teen angst better than John Hughes, and this was his most angst-ridden movie. Directed by Howard Deutch (from Hughes' script), it tells the story of a high school senior (Molly Ringwald), who is falling for one of the most popular boys in school (Andrew McCarthy), while her longtime friend (Jon Cryer) pines for her.

With less humor and more thoughtful moments that resonate with the pain of high school, this is a plunge into the "full 80s," but still relatable today. 

Only the Lonely (1991) - 35th Anniversary 

Another Hughes film, this time as producer, with Chris Columbus writing and directing, this film was released just six months after the duo's iconic smash Home Alone.

John Candy is a lifelong bachelor who falls in love with a shy woman in the neighborhood (Ally Sheedy), and they must both pass the approval of his controlling mother, played by Maureen O'Hara, who came out of a 20-year retirement to play the role, which would be her last screen appearance.

A funny and touching film, crafted with just the right touch by Columbus, with O'Hara displaying why she was one of Hollywood's greats and walking away with the movie.

 

So, there you have it, every one of these eclectic choices can help provide some "reel" romance to your Valentine's Day.

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The Age of Innocence: Classic Sitcom Episodes that Recall Simpler Times

 by Michael Lyons

Remember the phrase, "A slow news day?"  Not anymore. Lately, all news seems to be "Breaking News" or "A Special Report."

It's a lot, isn't it? There's so much going on. Every day. It's heavy—all of it.

During times like this, it's good to take a break and look to those things that we know provide the comfort we need.

In that spirit, if you need that break, even just a brief one, what follows is a collection of iconic episodes of classic sitcoms. Each one will allow your mind to decompress, have a well-deserved laugh, and recall "simpler times."

 

I Love Lucy, "Job Switching," (1952) - streaming on Paramount+

Nothing helps ease your mind like settling in for an episode of one of television's greatest shows.

In "Job Switching," Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ethel (Vivian Vance) go out and get jobs after Ricky (Desi Arnaz) and Fred (William Frawley) think that housework is easy. So, the boys do the work around the house (disastrously, of course), while Lucy and Ethel get a job...in a candy factory.

Yup, this is the episode where the two work an assembly line, putting candies in wrappers. And, the conveyor belt gets faster and faster, and funnier and funnier, as Lucy and Ethel can't keep up and do everything to hide the candies. 

Every time one watches this episode, it's no wonder this has become one of the most famous of the well-known I Love Lucy episodes. It's also a testament to the brilliant physical comedy skills of the stars.

 

The Honeymooners, "Better Living Through Television," (1955) - streaming on Pluto TV and Tubi

Like I Love Lucy, this is comfort food television.

In this episode, Ralph (Jackie Gleason) buys an overabundance of a "new kitchen gadget." He ropes his pal Norton (Art Carney) into buying commercial time on local television to sell it.

All seems fine until Ralph gets a hysterical case of stage fright and winds up, literally, bringing down the house, or in this case, the set.

This is pure gold from a sitcom that inspired so many other shows, featuring Gleason and Carney at their best playing off each other. "Hammina! Hammina! Hammina!"

 

Gilligan's Island, "The Producer," (1966) - streaming on Tubi

Is there any TV show more innocent than creator and producer Sherwood Schwartz's Gilligan's Island? From the era of "fantasy sitcoms," this one is a cartoon come to life (and it eventually inspired an animated Saturday morning version in the 70s).

In this episode, a big-time Hollywood producer, named Harold Hecuba (guest star Phil Silvers), lands on the island, and the castaways, in an effort to be rescued, decide to impress the producer by putting on a show!

And, yes, they build the stage, the costumes, the whole extravaganza - making it another one of the series episodes that has one asking, "If they could do all that, why couldn't they build a boat and get off the island?"

But, when you have a premise where the cast puts on a musical version of Hamlet, on a deserted island, you don't ask questions; you set your brain to "innocent fun," and just enjoy.

 

The Brady Bunch, "Dough Re Mi," (1972) - streaming on Paramount+

Also, from Mr. Schwartz came this iconic 70s sitcom. Like Gilligan's Island, it wasn't big on realism, but it comes with another dose of innocent comfort.

In this episode, the kids have a chance to record a professional song, but Peter's (Christopher Knight) voice begins to change. So, Greg (Barry Williams) incorporates his cracking tones into it, and the result is "When It's Time to Change," which became a well-known ditty for generations. "She-na-na-na-na-na!"

 

Cheers, "Dinner at Eight-ish" (1987) - streaming on Paramount+

Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelly Long) are invited over to the new home of Frasier (Kelsey Grammar) and Lilith (Bebe Newerth) for dinner. But, as hidden stories of the past come to light, tensions hilariously spread across the evening. 

With all the action taking place in one room and a humorous version of "Our House," this episode plays out like a well-constructed stage play.

Friends, "The One Where No One is Ready," (1996) - streaming on HBO Max

Another sitcom episode that unfurls like a one-room, comic stage play is this famous episode from the equally famous 90s sitcom.

Ross (David Schwimmer) has been invited to a black-tie affair at the Museum of Natural History, where he works, but he is the only one who is ready. As he waits in Monica's apartment (where all of the action takes place), everyone finds themselves more and more delayed, as Ross gets more and more frustrated.

Among the episode's well-crafted moments is the one in which Joey (Matt LeBlanc) comes into the apartment wearing everything Chandler (Matthew Perry) owns.

Could this episode be any funnier?!?

So, put down the phone, turn off the news, and take some time for a deep breath and some well-deserved moments escaping with these episodes of sitcoms from a time when the phrase "a slow news day" was actually a thing.

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In the Nick of Time: The 40th Anniversary of "Santa Claus: The Movie"

 

This Holiday Season marks the 40th anniversary of "Santa Claus: The Movie." Initially panned by critics and audiences, the film has garnered quite the following in the four decades since.

It's now a nostalgic snapshot of another time - when big 80s movies arrived with fast food tie-ins and Santa Claus history was played out as a super hero origin story .

Sure, it's overdone and of it's time, but it also captures the innocence of a holiday season from another era.

To celebrate the 40th, below is a re-print of my celebration of the film's 35th anniversary from 2020, "retconned" (with a video bonus!) for its 40th - enjoy and Merry Christmas!

By Michael Lyons

 “A Thanksgiving Turkey.”  This term was used by several film critics when “Santa Claus: The Movie” debuted on November 27, 1985, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Forty Christmas seasons later, with innumerable holiday movies depicting Santa having followed, it’s easy to see that “Turkey” is a completely unfair assessment of “Santa Claus: The Movie.”  The film does a wonderful job of creating its own mythology, establishing a compelling version of the North Pole, providing us with a scenery-chewing villain and using the superhero-origin-story paradigm to tell its story.

This last aspect is no surprise when one realizes that the film was produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, who had brought us the “Superman” films.  In fact, “Santa Claus: The Movie” was somewhat ahead of its time, in that it essentially was a “super hero event film,” the likes of which we are used to seeing today from DC and Marvel.

“Santa Claus: The Movie” opens in the 14th century, telling the tale of a generous woodcarver and his wife, who deliver their handcrafted toys to the local villages.  One night, after visiting a village, the woodcarver and his wife are caught in a blizzard (their fate is left purposely vague) and they are saved by a group of elves.

The elves take them to their hidden workshop, where an ancient and wise elf (a cameo by Burgess Meredith, after James Cagney was unable to be part of the production), renames the toy maker Santa Claus.

What follows is a very creative and, yes magical, interpretation of the Reindeer, the Elves, the North Pole and Santa’s workshop.  Through this, we are given an inventive look at how Santa grows in notoriety and his increasingly positive impact on the world (it’s especially sweet and humorous to see a scene in which Santa learns that a “new poem” entitled “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” has been written about him).

We then find ourselves in the 20th century, where Santa (character actor David Huddleston, so warm and charming in the role) employs one of his Elves, Patch (Dudley Moore, at the height of his popularity) to assist him in his work.  During a trip to New York, Santa also befriends an orphan boy named Joe (Christian Fitzpatrick) and a young girl named Cornelia (Carrie Kei Heim).

If this whole first half of the film is Santa’s “origin story,” this second half is where the villain enters the film...with actor John Lithgow playing the role of greedy toy maker B.Z. giving new meaning to the term “over-the-top.”

Left to right: John Lithgow and Dudley Moore 

B.Z. concocts a plan for a new Christmas (dubbed “Christmas 2,” a jab at both consumerism and movie sequels) and he dupes poor Patch into joining him. So, of course, it’s Santa Claus to the rescue.

While the second half of the film doesn’t work as well as the fantasy-based start of the film, “Santa Claus: The Movie” does a lot to deliver an original, big screen dose of Christmas magic.  Director Jeannot Swarc (most famous for helming “Jaws 2”) deftly handles the film, particularly its more fantastical moments.

Also, whether you grew up with the film or not, it also functions as a nice, quant time capsule of the ‘80’s, complete with lovingly blatant product placements for Coca-Cola and McDonald’s (at the time, the latter offered Happy Meals and Christmas Ornaments from the film, another throwback, that only adds to the comforting feeling of the film).

McDonald's "Santa Claus: The Movie" commercial.

Critics went after these marketing placements in the film, along with the fact that they felt Moore was underutilized and the film’s climax was a little underwhelming.

Those may be valid points, making one wonder why anyone would defend “Santa Claus: The Movie.”  The major reason is that one can’t deny all the positives that the film does still provide.  It’s not a heavy example of filmmaking that has taken its place alongside other Christmas classics. However, it is an original vision of St. Nick’s mythology and a movie that comments on commercialism and reinforces what the Holiday is all about.

And, as the movie celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, “Santa Claus: The Movie” continues to garner more devotees with each passing year.  

Not bad for a “Thanksgiving Turkey.”

For more of my articles, podcasts and books, head over to: Words From Lyons

Serving Up Laughs: Thanksgiving With "Modern Family"

 by Michael Lyons

Our families may not exactly be like the three families featured on Modern Family...but there are a heck of a lot of similarities. We can always find something relatable in everything the Pritchett's do in each episode, which is why the sitcom was so popular and lasted for 11 seasons.

This is especially true of the Thanksgiving episodes of Modern Family, and with the holiday just around the corner, here is a review of the sitcom's Turkey Day escapades.

 

"Punkin Chunkin," Season 3, Episode 9

In this episode, as the Dunphys prepare for the holiday, Phil (Ty Burrell) starts to dream about what he could have done after a visit from a former neighbor (guest Josh Gad), who is now a millionaire. He feels Claire (Julie Bowen) stifles his dreams. Jay (Ed O'Neill) is critical of Manny's (Rico Rodriguez) centerpiece he has made for the Thanksgiving table, and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) doubts Cameron's (Eric Stonestreet) "punkin chunkin" story, from high school, where he and friends slingshot a pumpkin across a football field.

It all culminates in a battle between the "dreamers" and the "realists," with the families leaving the Thanksgiving table for their own pumpkin chunkin' competition.

As Modern Family always did, this episode balances sharp, fast-paced humor (Phil's "headscratcher" invention is a classic) with a warm message - this time about how both support of dreams and a grounding in reality are needed in a balance of support in all families.

 

"Three Turkeys," Season 6, Episode 8

Phil takes over cooking duties for Thanksgiving, which makes Claire nervous, so she cooks and hides a "backup turkey."

Phil and Luke (Nolan Gold) accidentally cut the power to the Dunphy house, forcing them to move dinner to Jay and Gloria's. However, Jay and Gloria (Sofia Vergara)  are hiding from the family after a canceled trip. It all culminates in a screwball conclusion with misunderstandings and multiple turkeys.

There's also sharp dialogue during all of this chaos, like Jay declaring, "The Kennedys didn't get together as much as this family.”

"Phil's Sexy, Sexy House," Season 7, Episode 7

An episode that's a prime example of what this sitcom did best (bring multiple, intertwining stories together) features the entire family, on Thanksgiving, separately sneaking into a high-tech house Phil is prepping to sell. This leads to a lot of hiding, back-and-forthing, and eventually everyone finding out and clashing in the house at the same time.

"Thanksgiving Jamboree," Season 8, Episode 7

Haley (Sarah Hyland) decides to spend the holiday with her boyfriend, Rainer (Nathan Fillion), which frustrates Phil; Jay attempts to manage stress and his high blood pressure while dealing with a lawyer from his and Dede's past; and Gloria tries to get Joe (Jeremy Maguire) to the little animals in the petting zoo.

As if all of this wasn't enough, this is all set against Cam's country farm-themed Thanksgiving dinner.

"Winner Winner Turkey Dinner," Season 9, Episode 7

The family gathers for Thanksgiving, and Jay gives a toast praising each of their recent successes, which they have been exaggerating, forcing them to try to hide the truth. While we take glee in the humor around each of their struggles, the episode, like all of them, ends on a sweet, emotional note of familial understanding. 

"The Last Thanksgiving," Season 11, Episode 7

And, talk about emotional, there’s this Thanksgiving episode from the final season. Haley tries to cook Thanksgiving dinner to thank her parents for all they've done. Cameron and Mitchell's friends mistakenly think they've broken up after a misunderstanding. Jay invites Phil and Dylan (Reid Wing) to fly a model plane, which leads to a hysterical, slapstick conclusion.

This final episode ends on a solid, family-bonding note, and watching during the last season was a bittersweet experience knowing that you'd never get to visit with Modern Family during the holidays again.

Each episode is relatable, and all of them make for the perfect sitcom binge buffet to celebrate Thanksgiving

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Scary Anniversary: Horror Movies Celebrating Milestones

 by Michael Lyons

 

Picking a horror movie this time of year is like pairing wine with the right food. As we head into another Halloween, we search for just the right horror movie to get us in the right fright mood, or even to play as a backdrop at our Halloween party.

To help narrow your search and provide alternatives to those films in your regular rotation, here are a number of horror movies celebrating anniversaries this year that are perfect for the season:

 

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), 90th Anniversary

Director James Whale's follow-up to his seminal Frankenstein (1931) is as moody and offbeat. Starring Boris Karloff reprising his role as the Monster and Elsa Lanchester as The Bride, this film features scenes that border between comedy and horror, with special effects that were truly ahead of their time. If you haven't seen it in a while, or haven't seen it at all, then you haven't really seen it all.

 

Psycho (1960), 65th Anniversary

What more can be said about Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece other than it's a masterpiece. It's still no mystery that Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates is one of film's most iconic characters and that shower scene (with Bernard Herrmann's screeching score) is still the best argument for taking a bath.

 

Trilogy of Terror (1975), 50th Anniversary

This made-for-TV film stars Karen Black as three different characters in three different horror stories. All crafted by noted author Richard Matheson, each is effective, but the final story, where a small statue of an Aboriginal warrior comes to life, is the stuff of late show nightmares for many (including this author).

 

Fright Night (1985), 40th Anniversary

Young Charley (William Ragsdale) becomes convinced that his next-door neighbor, Jerry (Chris Sarandon), is a vampire and enlists a washed-up horror movie actor (Roddy McDowell) to drive him away. An effective remake was made in 2011, but it can't compare to how well-crafted this 80s original is.

 

Jacob's Ladder (1990), 35th Anniversary

Bruce Joel Rubin scripted this original, haunting tale, directed by Adrian Lyne, about the title character (played by Tim Robbins), a Vietnam Veteran who finds himself haunted by strange images after he returns from service. A twist of an ending makes it a rare film that begs for repeat viewings to pick up the missed clues along the way.

 

Insidious (2010), 15th Anniversary

Modern-day horror movie master James Wan brought us this film that kicked off quite the successful franchise, with the first film centering on a couple (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) whose comatose son has ventured into "the Further," and has become a vessel for supernatural beings to enter our world. Tensely paced with characters we become invested in, it's no wonder that audiences can't get enough of this universe. And, that red face demon - whoa!

 

Those are just some of the many horror movies out there perfect for spooky season, but as these celebrate anniversaries, you can celebrate them and Halloween at the same time! Boo to you and Happy Halloween to all!

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Fall In Love With Film: Movies That Are Perfect for Autumn

 by Michael Lyons    

Let's face it, many begin to yearn for fall as soon as the last firework explodes on July Fourth. Well, great news - fall is here!

This week marked the first official day of fall, which fell on September 22nd. So, if you've had that hankerin' for something or anything that tastes remotely like pumpkin spice, now's the time...well, let's face it, pumpkin everything has appeared on store shelves before back-to-school supplies.

As leaves turn their fiery colors and the chill in the air forces you to utter the phrase "sweata weatha," you can also enjoy a number of movies set during autumn that are not only entertaining, but they may even add some additional bit of crispness to the air.

Here are just some of them:

 

The Trouble With Harry (1955)

One of master director Alfred Hitchcock's decidedly different films is this black comedy about the title character, a corpse who keeps showing up at inconvenient moments, to the horror of small town residents played by John Forsyth, Edmund Gwenn, Mildred Natwick, Jerry (Leave it to Beaver) Mathers, and Shirley MacLaine, in her film debut.

All of the merry macabre shenanigans unfold against the backdrop of autumn in Vermont, with fall foliage that's not only perfect for a painting, but also evokes classic movie autumnal vibes. 

 

Those Calloways (1965)

This live-action Disney film serves as a slice-of-life about a family living in Vermont in the 1920s, as they attempt to establish a sanctuary for Canadian geese. With a solid cast, including Brian Keith, Vera Miles, Walter Brennan, Ed Wynn, Brandon De Wilde, and Linda Evans, coupled with compelling direction by Norman Tokar, who filmed on location in New England, this film brings to life not just the fall season, but also a period in history.

Love Story (1970)

Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal star in this iconic romance, which tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who fall deeply in love. Directed by Arthur Hiller, it's become one of the most heartbreaking movies of all time, but those scenes of Harvard in the fall may just help cool the emotional blow.

 

Baby Boom (1987)

Diane Keaton plays J.C. Wyatt, an '80s yuppie and career-driven woman who inherits the care of a baby after a relative passes away. The adorable little girl teaches J.C. that there is more to life than climbing the corporate ladder.

Director Charles Shyer, working with his then-wife Nancy Meyers, both had a knack for making modern-day films that had a classic Hollywood feel, and Baby Boom is no different. Plus, there is wonderful scenery of New York City in the fall and, yes, once again, Vermont, after J.C. relocates.

 

When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Director Rob Reiner and screenwriter Nora Ephron's film is a beloved, often quoted, and one of the best romantic comedies of all time. But, as the lead characters, played, of course, by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, try to figure out if men and women can be friends, there are some lovely autumnal backdrops, including some picturesque scenes in Central Park.

 

Pocahontas (1995)

Disney's hit animated feature, which turns thirty this year, tells the tale (based very loosely on history) of the title character (Irene Bedard, with the singing voice of Judy Kuhn) who falls in love with Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson), who has come to the New World.

Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg, the animation, artistry, and songs (by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz) are all beautiful, and the Oscar-winning "Colors of the Wind" and those swirling, cascading leaves can't help but provide some magical fall vibes.

 

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Emily Blunt is excellent in this twisty thriller, adapted from the novel by Erin Cressida Wilson, as she plays a woman, plagued by alcoholism, who may or may not have been involved in a murder when she blacked out. Director Tate Taylor sets an appropriate tone for the film, set against the backdrop of fall in the suburbs of New York, where bare trees against a dark sky and leaves covering lawns are as bleak as the subject matter itself.

 

There are plenty of other choices available as well. So, if you can't get outside, grab a donut, some apple cider, throw on your favorite flannel, and press Play.

 

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Tuning in to the Past: Remembering Network TV Fall Promos

by Michael Lyons

Long before we could cruise our remote around innumerable channels, before switching over to countless streaming services, there were three. Three networks  - ABC, CBS, and NBC were the big, no make that, the only players in the game.

As the new fall TV season started, new shows were a big deal, and the three major networks knew this.

They would "tease" us all summer long with their promotions (think "teaser trailers") for their shows that were debuting in September. But these were more than just clips of these new shows; these promotions had their own slogan, their own jingle, and, sometimes, the stars of the network shows would gather like they were all together at an office party or shared universe.

And, while we couldn't stand the thought of summer ending and fading vacations, a return to school and colder weather, these network promos, at least, were a soothing reminder that there was new entertainment just around the corner. We all wondered which shows would be the next big thing, and which wouldn't make it to Halloween.

What follows is a rose-colored, nostalgic look back at just three of these network promos:

"Bright New World of ABC," 1975

"Welcome! Welcome Welcome! Welcome to the Bright New World of ABC!"

Fifty years ago, that's how the jingle for ABC's promotion began, backed up by a funky, '70s electric guitar and the ABC logo rising like a neon sun.

Quick images of popular shows were intermixed with new series, like Starsky and Hutch, Welcome Back, Kotter, and When Things Were Rotten (a Mel Brooks Robin Hood parody sitcom, years before Men in Tights), as well as sports and specials, including those celebrating the upcoming bicentennial.

The rapid-fire promo was so high energy, it almost made you look forward to Labor Day...almost.

Enjoy it here!: 

"Looking Good Together," CBS, 1980

This promotion for CBS's fall line-up from forty-five years ago not only has a catchy theme song with a country twang, but it also had multiple versions.

One featured the song playing over fast-paced clips of shows, sporting events, animated specials, and movies (remember when theatrical films, like Foul Play, airing on network TV was a big deal?).

But, there's also a version featuring stars of every CBS show at the time, from One Day at a Time to The Dukes of Hazzard, singing the promotion theme in a "sing-along," that features the "CBS Eye," as the bouncing ball bopping across the lyrics at the bottom of the screen.

Watching the collective network community enthusiastically performing the earworm of a jingle is pure, entertaining, TV innocence of another time

Enjoy it here!:

"Let's All Be There," NBC, 1985

Oh, so '80s! Forty years ago, NBC was on top with blockbuster shows like The Cosby Show and Miami Vice, and their campaign and song invited even more viewers to "All Be There," that fall.

In addition to commercials where clips would play along with the promotion's theme song, NBC presented a prime-time special early that fall, The NBC All-Star Hour, where a chorus of almost every actor from every show sang the song together!

Enjoy it here!:

These are just three of the many network TV Fall Promotions. In the pre-VCR, pre-cable, pre-streaming world, we all ran home from school, work, and the dinner table to watch these shows. Ah, lovely, wistful memories that now seem as clear as a "snowy" TV reception.

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