TV in the Network Age:1947-1981

The road to reruns (55-56)

Reruns were making more money than new shows like the honeymooners,

Arthur Godfrey

narrated FDR Funeral, got emotional,

Same Is the Name of the Game

networks compete closely and follow each others' leads Chapter 26 1966 and 1967

The Unloved Messenger

news coverage becomes resented for its brutal honesty Chapter 24 1964

Jackie Gleason

played Brooklyn Bus Driver Ralph Kramden. created the Honeymooners as view of urban-class life

Freddie or Not?

programmer Fred Silverman helps bring ABC to #1 Chapter 35 1974-1975

Totally Committed and Completely Involved

shows geared towards youth come off as unrealistic, on-the-surface, and bland Chapter 30 1970-71

The world is waiting for the sunrise

(birth of the television by mid 1920s combine site sound in the comfort of your home)

Behind the Ion curtain (49-50)

(ironically) Lots of ad hoc comparisons/ TV became the scapegoat/ FCC forbid NBC to force stations to take their entire 2 ½ blocked show, instead had to offer 30 min segments so sponsors could pull out if they didn't like the content, this, in the end, gave NBC a new sponsor revenue. Participating sponsorship would allow sponsors to pay for blocks of a show, instead of the standard ways, of sustained, co-op, and direct.

We want to find out first where TVs going. (44-45)

(tried a number of things) Tried game shows, lots of radio hits, NBC did sports with Gillette and boxing Dumont tried cooking shows

CBS + RFD = $$$

*the popularity of rural television comedy surfaces Chapter 22 1962-63

TV gets the green light (46-47)

1947 there was Rapid expansion In TV growth because of FCC given commercial TV the green light The battle for supremacy in network radio was between NBC and CBS The rise of television set productions went from 225 over 3000 in the same year and in January 5000 to over 8000

I still have the stench in my nose (1961-62)

A Senator "John Pastore" was disgusted from an episode of the "bus stop.". He said "I still have the stench in my nose."

Walter Cronkite

A newscaster who was known for his objectivity and trustworthiness, who said that the war in Vietnam would end in stalemate. Johnson knew that if even Cronkite didn't support him, nobody in Middle America supported him.

The Second Season

ABC introduces the idea of a "second" January season of programs Chapter 25 1965

Nat King Cole

American jazz pianist and vocalist A music icon, Cole was a fabulous singer and musician. Even though he faced prejudice, he was able to crossover and gain success with white audiences. This R & B/pop "crooner" was beaten on stage by white supremacists in 1956.

Hands Across the Ocean

Britain and America share television content and learn from each other Chapter 23 1962-63

Gleam in the Eye

CBS outplans ABC's season and returns to #1. experienced with ugly surprises, Chapter 39 1979

Color Television

Consumer product that produced substantial radiation exposure levels when it was first made available to consumers. a television that transmits images in color Later developed broadcast system for capturing and sending images in Color using 3 picture tubes.

Norman Lear

Creator of All in the Family An innovative producer who revolutionized sitcom genre in 1970s with such programs as All in the Family, Maude, Good Times, & The Jeffersons. an extremely political producer that allowed the "sit com" to discuss racy values and things never before seen on TV.

David Sarnoff

David Sarnoff plan was experimental broadcasting, it was dramatic, technical; a artistic breakthroughs and generated public curiosity and excitement. Birth of color TV, DeMont, O&O, NBC and CBS enjoyed a near monopoly, FCC broke that up,

Point of order (53-54)

Ed Morrows "see it now" vs Joseph McCarty 36 day of public testimony at the Army McCarthy hearings were broadcast live by DuMont and ABC. On this level, McCarthy lost the public opinion. His image as a fearsome warrior who was never defeated collapsed and instead he appeared as a denial, pushing man who displayed no sensitivity for the feelings of other people. His frequent interjections of "Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman" and "point of order" became national running gags!

The vast wasteland (1960-61)

FCC chairman Newton Minow address the annual convention of National Association of broadcasters and in his speech, he called the current State of television a vast wasteland of violence and obscenity.

Born Again Broadcasting

He announced a desire to make NBC a network of "quality" TV: news, cultural specials, and family programming Chapter 38 1979

Johnny Carson

He hosted the Tonight Show from 1962-1992 and helped establish the late night talk show as one of TV's most successful formats.

Showbiz in a hurry (54-55)

In 1955, television was turning out so many shows that writers were overworked. Writers found it harder and harder to create so many new settings and new characters week after week.

The thaw (51-52)

In April 1952 the FCC at last ended its freeze on processing station applications and cleared the way for television to eventually reach nearly every home in America. 1951-52 season seemed disappointing. Very little excitement. Compared to the avalanche of superstar talent that had descended during the 1950-51 season. The fall lineup consisted primarily of familiar shows returning for another season. Dragnet a cop show

Dotto goes blotto (1958-59)

May 20, 1958, a 24 year old man was a standby contestant on the daytime version of Dotto. Backstage, he found a notebook belonging to the woman who had been the winning contestant on the days show. The Notebook contained answers to the questions she had been asked. He filed a complaint with the shows sponsor Colgate. Rumors spread that started an investigation bringing the whole quiz show scandal to light.

Vaudeville is back (47-48)

On pages 26 and 27 of May 19, 1948 issue of the entertainment trade weekly variety, of the William Morris talent agency placed a two page ad with a large headline. "Vaundeville is back".

Drama Anthologies

One time Spectacular Writers' vehicle Actors' vehicle Required more from an audience? Associated with Golden Age of TV

What's my crime? (50-51)

Publications such as red channels became the Unofficial Madison Ave., Bibles on performers with alleged Communist connections and soon the practice of blacklisting again broke out into the open. Jean Muir got on to the red channels. One of 20 actors named in grand jury testimony in August 1940 as a member of the Communist Party. She denied this. It was alleged that she was part of other leftist groups. August 29 the show sponsor, General Foods, dropped Meir permanently from "The Aldrich family" cast. It didn't matter if she was guilty or not she was too controversial and her presence would hurt sales.

Shadows in the cave

RCA and David Sarnoff

Dick Clark

Rock's first super promoter and host of American Bandstand.

Sustained Co-op Direct participating

Sustained (paid by the network) Co-op (stations inserted commercials for local sponsorship) Direct sponsorship (one sponsor paid for the entire program) participating sponsorship (multiple sponsors four blocks of the show)

The One Punch Season

TV violence tones down as politics heat up Chapter 28 1968

The Strike

TV, film, and radio unions go on strike, disrupting the first half of the season Chapter 40 1979-80

Oh damn oaters (57-58)

The cowboy programs or westerns nickname oaters dominated the top slots of 1957-58 season

The freeze (48-49)

The freeze is when the FCC stopped granting new television licenses because of the signals crossed and interference issues. The FCC wanted time to study the issue work towards an overall solution. It lasted 4 years, from 1948-1952 and Influence the current station to create better content.

Dan Rather

The reporter for CBS who reported on the riot

After the storm (45-46)

Three events signaled the expansion of television Government lifted its wartime ban on construction of new television stations and television sets Introduction of a brand-new type of television camera, the image orthicon Hourglass set an important president for variety shows, that it was tailored for home screens

Ed Sullivan

United States host on a well known television variety show (1902-1974) Had a show called Toast of the Town it provided a mix of comedy, opera, popular songs, dance, acrobatics, and juggling. During a 1956 TV broadcast, he demanded that Elvis be filmed only from the waist up.

It's been a tremendous strain (56-57)

Van Doren left 21 receiving $128,000 and a job with NBC radio. Nevertheless, on leaving he confessed to a reporter "it's been a tremendous strain".

The Dawn

Winning World War II awoken television from the nearly comatose state. A new awakening. Television would be the biggest ad medium.

T & A TV

a massive increase in sexual implications in shows. Chapter 37 1978

The New Centurions

a new era of cop shows focused on realism Chapter 33 1973

Fred Silverman

at CBS but moves to ABC, targeted younger audience because disposable income, brought The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Sonny and Cher forward-thinking; network TV exec who presided over 3 original broadcast networks (CBS, ABC, & NBC) from 1971-1981; led 2 of these networks from the last place to 1st in ratings

Grade B-TV (52-53)

filler between the good shows) In order to keep the public occupied in between big-name features and large budget spectacular's, the Studios regularly turned out screwball comedies, soap operas-ish romances, kiddie westerns, and pulp adventures sagas all labeled "grade- B" movies." As television expanded, the appearance of TV equivalents to grade-B films was almost unavoidable.

Douglas Edwards

first CBS news anchor

Affirmative Access

in the wake of "affirmative action", shows became more minority-inclusive Chapter 34 1974

The Big Event

success of NBC's The Big Event emphasizes the popularity of special events on TV Chapter 36 1976-77

Not Just Another Pretty Face

the content becomes more original as the audience except newer formats and progressive plots. Chapter 31 1971

Effete and Impudent Snobs

the government calls out news networks. with a rise in risky anti-government content Chapter 29

Ideological Plugola

the government continues to criticize the news networks as ridiculous and unimportant Chapter 32 1972

The Whole World Is Watching

the news returns as the unloved messenger, and viewers have different interpretations Chapter 27 1967

Jack Paar

was an American author, movie actor, radio and television comedian, and talk show host. best known for his stint as the second host of The Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962.