TV SEASONS come and go, PART 4

In 1974 I was looking for work. I'd been out of college for awhile and bounced around several jobs before finding one to stick with. Okay, I only stuck with it for a year and then chose the world of freelancing. So the last time I had an actual job in an office with benefits was in August of 1975. On weekends I went to the mountains. Weeknights I watched tv and dreaded going back to the office.

I do not remember the tv show Paper Moon (based on the wonderful movie of the same name) which apparently ran for 13 episodes, but I do remember the actor Christopher Connelly. When I lived in Los Angeles he lived near where I lived and I used to occasionally see him drive by. When I'd see him behind me I'd find myself just staring into the rear view mirror and sighing. And I don't think anyone needs a reminder as to who Jodie Foster is. As a kid she always played the part of a tough little cookie.

I didn't watch Police Woman, but it's at least a show that had a run longer than most of what came on during the 1974 season. It ran for 4 years and had to have made life tough for any woman on a police force. Sexy cops soon gave us the horrendous Charlie's Angels which has now apparently been revived. No comment other than to say if you like what you're seeing in this new Charlie's Angels I'd recommend you make backup copies because I don't imagine it's going to have a very long run.

The Paul Sand show Friends and Lovers did not last long, but I watched every single episode. I was a big Paul Sand fan. The show was created by James L. Brooks who also created The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant, Room 222, and Rhoda which premiered in '74. He also co-created Taxi. So the Sand show had a pedigree, but no viewers except a friend and me...and probably his mother. This friend and I still chat about him.

1974 was also the year Little House on the Prairie premiered. I watched it every week. It's still in reruns.

Movin' On, starring Claude Akins and Frank Converse, with a catchy opening theme by Merle Haggard, ran for only two seasons. I loved it. It reminded me of Route 66 which I also loved. Both shows can currently be seen on the RTV network. Each of these shows bring back vivid memories of what it used to be like to travel across this country. Each show was filmed on location. The diners and the motels seem all too familiar.

Chico and the Man premiered on September 13, 1974 and ran for 4 seasons staring Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson. Had Prinze not committed suicide who knows how long it might have run.

And then there's my favorite show from 1974, The Rockford Files. I still love this show. I'd loved James Garner in Maverick and loved him as Rockford. And Angel...loved Angel, played by Stuart Margolin. Both Rockford and Maverick have been rerun for decades.

It's funny when you look back at old shows because you remember where you were in your own life and I personally wonder what happened to some of the actors from the old shows.

Christopher Connelly died from lung cancer.

Angie Dickenson dated Larry King...oh I just won't say it.

Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer.

Melissa Gilbert continued her career, but suffered from alcoholism and drug abuse.

Claude Akins died of cancer.

And of course Freddie Prinze shot himself.

The only one I have anything in common with is James Garner. My knees are now crap.