Back and White TV
"Bracketology" is a book published last March during “madness” month. It took the format of the NCAA Basketball Tournament and applied it to various interesting subjects, such as the one here, and asked the readers to make choices contest by contest, round by round, until only one is left to become the winner of that particular category.
I think this great fun. Should you agree, you can compare your choices to mine on the contest to choose the best black and white series in television history. For each contest, I list the contestants and then make my choice (in bold) in the commentary that follows. As you can see, you move the winners from round one to round two and so forth.
If you would like to do one or more of the others, I will be happy to send them to you with or without my picks.
This first “tournament” may predate many of you youngsters. Others are more current. So here we go.
BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION SHOWS
ROUND ONE
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"The Ed Sullivan Show"
Sullivan was usually good to excellent. "Your Show of Shows" was always beyond excellent.
"The Dick Van Dike Show"
Vs.
"George Burns and Gracie Allen"
George and Gracie were one among many funny shows. "Dick Van Dyke" was a pioneer.
"Leave It To Beaver"
Vs.
"The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis"
Beaver lasted longer but "Gillis" was better. It had more brain appeal.
"Car 54, Where Are You?"
Vs.
"The Ernie Kovacs Specials"
Again, a difference between OK slapstick and something more special - "Kovacs."
"Playhouse 90"
Vs.
"Omnibus"
Omnibus was excellent but "Playhouse 90" was one of the great TV dramatic shows of all time.
"The Goodyear TV Playhouse"
Vs.
The United States Steel Hour
Both excellent, but "Steel" wins at the buzzer.
"The Twilight Zone"
vs
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
Two classics but “Zone” is more classic.
"Studio One"
Vs.
"The Philco Television Playhouse"
Philco was very good but "Studio One" is one of the best ever.
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"The $64,000 Question"
"$64,000" is not even in the same universe – "Lucy."
"The Honeymooners"
Vs.
"The Phil Silvers Show"
Silvers was more pioneer than great television. “The Honeymooners” was great television.
"The Andy Griffith Show"
Vs.
"The Beverly Hillbillies"
Southern corn beats southern corn gone to BH. Besides, "Andy Griffith" had same heart.
"The Steve Allen Show"
Vs.
"The Nat “King” Cole Show"
Very different shows. The “King" was very good but "Allen" was better.
"Gunsmoke"
Vs.
"Maverick"
Again two classics matched against one another. I like "Maverick" more, but "Gunsmoke," as long as Arness was with it, was slightly better.
"Dragnet"
Vs.
"The Untouchables"
Another close one, but Joe Friday made cops seem like real people - "Dragnet."
"Ben Casey"
Vs.
"The Defenders"
I’ll never forget Gunga Din saying “Ben Casey, Ben Casey” but "The Defenders" was better.
"The Fugitive"
Vs.
"Combat"
No contest here. “The Fugitive” gets an easy win
ROUND TWO
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"The Dick Van Dike Show"
Here again through the mishap of poor scheduling, you have two of the greatest matched up in an early round. But someone has to win, and "YSOS" was better.
"The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis"
Vs.
"The Ernie Kovacs Specials'
Just the opposite here from the first match of this round. Two good but not great shows, in fact the two worst of the entire round. Kovacs didn’t last long enough, so the nod goes to "Gillis."
"Playhouse 90"
Vs.
"The United States Steel Hour"
Two of the great hour drama’s in TV history. "Playhouse" was greater.
"The Twilight Zone"
Vs.
"Studio One"
“12 Angry Men” and James Dean. Sal Minio and “The “War Of The worlds.”.” Need I say more. But "Studio" needed all of this power to edge “The Twilight Zone” in overtime.
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"The Honeymooners"
Will the classics never end? On any list of the top sit-coms, not just from the black and white days, but of all time, these two finish near the top. Actually, "Lucy" may be at the top.
"The Andy Griffith Show"
Vs.
"The Steve Allen Show"
These two are a couple of notches below most others in the bracket. "Andy" wins on staying power.
"Gunsmoke"
Vs.
"Dragnet"
Look back. "Gunsmoke" weathers time’s test.
"The Defenders"
Vs.
"The Fugitive'
Unlike round one, this time it is a contest. “The Fugitive” in a close one.
ROUND THREE
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis"
All-time great vs. good. "Your Show Of Shows" in a “laugher.”
"Playhouse 90"
Vs.
"Studio One"
Again, as in round two, two of the great hour drama’s in TV history. again, "Playhouse" was greater.
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"The Andy Griffith Show"
Not close. "Lucy" gets a very easy win.
"Gunsmoke"
Vs.
"The Fugitive"
"Gunsmoke" is right up there with the best, while "The Fugitive" is right up there with the very good.
FINAL FOUR
This is a great Final Four. All four shows are classics, not only in B&W television but in all of television history.
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"Playhouse 90"
Just toss the coin please. Yes, that’s Caesar’s image (Sid, that is) on the winning side – "Your Show Of Shows."
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"Gunsmoke"
It’s Lucy vs. Marshall Dillon. Mr. Dependable vs. Mrs. Undependable. Once the redhead started stomping those wine grapes, the man from Dodge threw down his gun and surrendered. "I Love Lucy."
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"I Love Lucy"
It is interesting, but not surprising, that two comedy shows are the finalists in this category. Great comedy has always been more difficult to produce than great drama, so when it happens, it deserves to be rewarded. It is too bad that Hollywood doesn’t remember this when it is time to hand out their Oscers.
"I Love Lucy" set a very high standard in the field of situation comedies, one that has seldom, (or some would say never) been equaled. But the same can be said of “Your show Of Shows,” not just in Sit-coms or in the broader scope of all comedy but in the whole of television.
Every Saturday night from 9-1030 Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris and others would do a LIVE show in front of a studio AND national audience. Their words were written by such comedy greats as, among others, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Woody Allen, and Larry Gelbart. And at those times when the words were lost, the cast would provide their own.
“Your Show Of Shows” was nothing less than brilliant. It is our National Champion.
I think this great fun. Should you agree, you can compare your choices to mine on the contest to choose the best black and white series in television history. For each contest, I list the contestants and then make my choice (in bold) in the commentary that follows. As you can see, you move the winners from round one to round two and so forth.
If you would like to do one or more of the others, I will be happy to send them to you with or without my picks.
This first “tournament” may predate many of you youngsters. Others are more current. So here we go.
BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION SHOWS
ROUND ONE
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"The Ed Sullivan Show"
Sullivan was usually good to excellent. "Your Show of Shows" was always beyond excellent.
"The Dick Van Dike Show"
Vs.
"George Burns and Gracie Allen"
George and Gracie were one among many funny shows. "Dick Van Dyke" was a pioneer.
"Leave It To Beaver"
Vs.
"The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis"
Beaver lasted longer but "Gillis" was better. It had more brain appeal.
"Car 54, Where Are You?"
Vs.
"The Ernie Kovacs Specials"
Again, a difference between OK slapstick and something more special - "Kovacs."
"Playhouse 90"
Vs.
"Omnibus"
Omnibus was excellent but "Playhouse 90" was one of the great TV dramatic shows of all time.
"The Goodyear TV Playhouse"
Vs.
The United States Steel Hour
Both excellent, but "Steel" wins at the buzzer.
"The Twilight Zone"
vs
"Alfred Hitchcock Presents"
Two classics but “Zone” is more classic.
"Studio One"
Vs.
"The Philco Television Playhouse"
Philco was very good but "Studio One" is one of the best ever.
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"The $64,000 Question"
"$64,000" is not even in the same universe – "Lucy."
"The Honeymooners"
Vs.
"The Phil Silvers Show"
Silvers was more pioneer than great television. “The Honeymooners” was great television.
"The Andy Griffith Show"
Vs.
"The Beverly Hillbillies"
Southern corn beats southern corn gone to BH. Besides, "Andy Griffith" had same heart.
"The Steve Allen Show"
Vs.
"The Nat “King” Cole Show"
Very different shows. The “King" was very good but "Allen" was better.
"Gunsmoke"
Vs.
"Maverick"
Again two classics matched against one another. I like "Maverick" more, but "Gunsmoke," as long as Arness was with it, was slightly better.
"Dragnet"
Vs.
"The Untouchables"
Another close one, but Joe Friday made cops seem like real people - "Dragnet."
"Ben Casey"
Vs.
"The Defenders"
I’ll never forget Gunga Din saying “Ben Casey, Ben Casey” but "The Defenders" was better.
"The Fugitive"
Vs.
"Combat"
No contest here. “The Fugitive” gets an easy win
ROUND TWO
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"The Dick Van Dike Show"
Here again through the mishap of poor scheduling, you have two of the greatest matched up in an early round. But someone has to win, and "YSOS" was better.
"The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis"
Vs.
"The Ernie Kovacs Specials'
Just the opposite here from the first match of this round. Two good but not great shows, in fact the two worst of the entire round. Kovacs didn’t last long enough, so the nod goes to "Gillis."
"Playhouse 90"
Vs.
"The United States Steel Hour"
Two of the great hour drama’s in TV history. "Playhouse" was greater.
"The Twilight Zone"
Vs.
"Studio One"
“12 Angry Men” and James Dean. Sal Minio and “The “War Of The worlds.”.” Need I say more. But "Studio" needed all of this power to edge “The Twilight Zone” in overtime.
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"The Honeymooners"
Will the classics never end? On any list of the top sit-coms, not just from the black and white days, but of all time, these two finish near the top. Actually, "Lucy" may be at the top.
"The Andy Griffith Show"
Vs.
"The Steve Allen Show"
These two are a couple of notches below most others in the bracket. "Andy" wins on staying power.
"Gunsmoke"
Vs.
"Dragnet"
Look back. "Gunsmoke" weathers time’s test.
"The Defenders"
Vs.
"The Fugitive'
Unlike round one, this time it is a contest. “The Fugitive” in a close one.
ROUND THREE
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis"
All-time great vs. good. "Your Show Of Shows" in a “laugher.”
"Playhouse 90"
Vs.
"Studio One"
Again, as in round two, two of the great hour drama’s in TV history. again, "Playhouse" was greater.
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"The Andy Griffith Show"
Not close. "Lucy" gets a very easy win.
"Gunsmoke"
Vs.
"The Fugitive"
"Gunsmoke" is right up there with the best, while "The Fugitive" is right up there with the very good.
FINAL FOUR
This is a great Final Four. All four shows are classics, not only in B&W television but in all of television history.
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"Playhouse 90"
Just toss the coin please. Yes, that’s Caesar’s image (Sid, that is) on the winning side – "Your Show Of Shows."
"I Love Lucy"
Vs.
"Gunsmoke"
It’s Lucy vs. Marshall Dillon. Mr. Dependable vs. Mrs. Undependable. Once the redhead started stomping those wine grapes, the man from Dodge threw down his gun and surrendered. "I Love Lucy."
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
"Your Show Of Shows"
Vs.
"I Love Lucy"
It is interesting, but not surprising, that two comedy shows are the finalists in this category. Great comedy has always been more difficult to produce than great drama, so when it happens, it deserves to be rewarded. It is too bad that Hollywood doesn’t remember this when it is time to hand out their Oscers.
"I Love Lucy" set a very high standard in the field of situation comedies, one that has seldom, (or some would say never) been equaled. But the same can be said of “Your show Of Shows,” not just in Sit-coms or in the broader scope of all comedy but in the whole of television.
Every Saturday night from 9-1030 Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris and others would do a LIVE show in front of a studio AND national audience. Their words were written by such comedy greats as, among others, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Woody Allen, and Larry Gelbart. And at those times when the words were lost, the cast would provide their own.
“Your Show Of Shows” was nothing less than brilliant. It is our National Champion.
posted by jmt | 1:16 PM
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