A. Militant

A well connected internet to your computer has the ability to give the web user the power to watch classic television shows online. In these types of services, most of the shows publicized are from the 1950’s to the early 1990’s TV shows. It might sound like some old “thing of the past” TV contents are being shown in here, but surely they are not just called classic for nothing.

Yes, it is definitely a classic because the shows that are filed under the different categories suit all types of viewers both the young and the old. The show’s styles never fade away with time because most old shows are being revived for the new generation of viewers to see. Nevertheless, remember that old is gold and that is why we still have these classics being viewed by millions and millions of people around the world today.

The 1950’s shows include Adventure of Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver and Lone Ranger. For the 1990’s shows they are Beverly Hills, Dear John, Herman’s Head, Full House, Home Improvement, Mad About You, Murphy Brown, Roseanne, Saved by the Bell, Wings and Seinfeld. But there were others shown sometime in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s and these were the Avengers, Flipper, Gunsmoke, Munsters, Twilight Zone, Happy Days, Good Times,Taxi,The Jeffersons,Odd Couples, Bosom Buddies, Cheers, Different Strokes, Growing Pains, Head of the Class, Golden Girls, Love Boat and Miami Vice. If you want to be a classic show lover like all the other classic fans out there then better trust your instincts if your instincts tell you to watch classic TV shows online.

The easiest way to Watch Classic TV Shows Online is with the TVChannels2PC Internet TV software. For a small one time investment you will have access to live sports, full episodes, movies, news, weather and much more. Why pay high monthly fees for satellite or cable?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Watch-Classic-TV-Shows-Online&id=1343184

Ben Anton

She was a little bit country. He was a little bit rock and roll. Together, they were a whole lot of ridiculous. And somehow, through the magic of over-the-top musical numbers, phenomenal guest stars, and painfully kitschy acting skills, Donny and Marie Osmond captured the attention and hearts of the entire nation. While The Donny and Marie Show of the late seventies only lasted a handful of seasons, their outrageous prime-time antics have made a lasting impression on TV viewers of any generation.

The Donny & Marie Show was created by SId and Marty Krofft, the famed creators of other such offbeat television programs as H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost. It aired from January 1976 to May 1979 as a weekly on ABC and featured such famous guest stars as Redd Fox, Lucile Ball, Betty White, Jerry Lewis, and Milton Berle. The format usually consisted of an elaborate opening act followed by a series of comedy sketches and an even more elaborate closing musical number. But for all the campy scripts and synchronized dance routines, the real stars of the Donny & Marie Show were, without a doubt, the costumes.

The 1977 Christmas special episode is a great example of Donny and Marie’s ability to balance cutesy-poo costumes on that thin line between adorable and nauseating. Donny kept it simple; dressing in a matching white knit sweater and slacks combo with a red, white and green striped scarf, he wasn’t afraid to say to the world, “Hi! I’m Donny Osmond! I taste like spearmint!” Marie made bolder choices in her winter finest with what looks to be a one-piece body suit but, upon closer inspection, turns out to be a sweater and stretch pants that are just slightly different shades of green. What makes this episode so memorable costume-wise is the fact that the entire Osmond family was featured –Mother, Father, the small army of twenty-eight that is the rest of their immediate family– and they all match. I’m not sure who was in charge of coordinating outfits for that episode, but my hat certainly is off.

Another interesting costume extravaganza was the episode in which Marie celebrated her 18th birthday. In this episode, Marie and Donny sing their familiar weekly number, “I’m A Little BIt Country, I’m A Little Bit Rock-and-Roll”, but this time — gasp! — they switch lyrics! That’s right! And what kind of dramatic turn events would it be without ridiculous costumes. Both Donny and Marie sport matching silver outfits. Donny has a faux-western theme going on, while Marie looks like she just got back from touring with David Bowie. Marie also has an enormous new hairdo or, as Donny refers to it, a “hair don’t.”

Donny and Marie didn’t stop at matching scarves and silver jumpsuits, though. In one episode, Donny portrays a superhero character known as Captain Purple, wearing an oversized purple muscle suit and wig and, as his mild-mannered alter-ego, a flannel suit. Not to be outdone, Marie suits up herself as Gnidder Neleh (Helen Redding spelled backward) in an equally campy red-orange mini-skirt and wig.

Star Wars being the cultural phenomenon that it was, it only made sense that Donny and Marie would have to do a parody of it. Donny plays Luke and Marie plays Leia with such guest stars as Redd Fox, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Lynde, and a few of the Osmond brothers. The costumes were polished, Osmond-style variations of the originals; unfortunately, C-3PO ends up stealing the show.

The best costumes of the entire series, however, belong to the famous Wizard of Oz episode. Marie plays Dorothy in a red checkered dress and pigtails, Donny is a Willy Wonka-esque Wizard in a yellow-green, curly wig and sparkling fez hat, and Paul Lynde is a downright terrifying Wicked Witch of the West in full green face paint, black gown and gruesome fingernails. Additional victims…err, guests…of this episode include Lucille Ball as the Tin Man, Paul Williams as the Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow. The entire production is technicolor bizarre; the epitome of classic Donny and Marie.

While the show did indeed host a laundry list of Hollywood greats, the real stars weren’t the people on the stage but the clothes on the people. From platform shoes and bellbottoms to capes and ice skates, Donny and Marie weren’t afraid to let their clothes pick up where their own talent left off. And while some may find The Donny & Marie Show silly and outdated, one thing is for sure; there hasn’t been anything like it on television since. Wardrobe-wise, that is.

Article Source: Donny And Marie Show – The Greatest Costume Moments

Ben Anton

Bob Hope is hands-down the most acclaimed, honored and versatile entertainer in show business history. During his seventy-plus years in the entertainment industry, Hope earned more than two thousand awards and recognitions for his various professional and humanitarian work, including an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, a Congressional Gold Medal from President Kennedy, the Medal of Freedom from President Johnson, and fifty-four honorary doctorates. Hope’s Christmas specials, USO shows, radio and television programs, and regular appearances on numerous sitcoms and variety shows have some of the highest ratings of any primetime telecasts. Because of this well-deserved praise, it is difficult to choose only a few television appearances as the “Best Of” Hope’s career. Instead, it is better to look at the huge variety of shows Hope appeared on and why this versatile performer became America’s most beloved entertainer.

Born in England May 29, 1903, Hope and his family traveled to America in 1908 aboard the SS Philadelphia. Ironically, Hope was a relative latecomer to television; he dabbled in experimental broadcasts with NBC in the 1930s but held off almost twenty years before starting his illustrious career. He began his official television career on Easter Sunday, 1950, on NBC. His specials, most of which were sponsored by the Chrysler corporation, were often hysterically unscripted variety programs that featured such guest stars as Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Marilyn Monroe and Dina Shore.

Christmas Specials

Hope got significant recognition for his gut-busting Christmas specials. These specials ran for years and featured duet performances of “Silver Bells” by Hope and adorable young guest stars, such as Olivia Newton-John and Brooke Shields. The most memorable Bob Hope Christmas specials were, without a doubt, his 1970 and 1971 episodes. Filmed in front of military audiences at the height of the Vietnam War, these specials actually aired in January -after Hope was back in the United States- and were seen by more than sixty percent of television-viewing households in America. Like his other Christmas specials, the Vietnam shows were all about celebrating the traditional joy, peace and good cheer of the season. His use of humor, beautiful women and talented performers were a welcome respite from the horrors of the war itself.

USO Performances

Hope is probably best known for his performances for the United Service Organization (USO), beginning with his USO debut at March Field, California, on May 6, 1941. Hope performed USO shows throughout World War II, prompting acclaim from such contemporaries as John Steinbeck. “It is impossible to see how he can do so much,” Steinbeck wrote in 1943, “can cover so much ground, can work so hard, and can be so effective.” Hope continued his USO shows during the Korean War, Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War, heading roughly sixty tours in total. Because of his tireless dedication to the overseas troops, Hope was awarded the impressive Sylvanus Thayer Award by the U.S. Military Academy in 1968. He was named an Honorary Veteran by a 1997 act of Congress, signed by President Clinton, a recognition Hope referred to as “the greatest honor I have ever received.”

Sitcom Appearances

Hope also appeared on a number of popular television programs during his career. Hope did a guest spot on America’s favorite TV show of the 1950s, “I Love Lucy”. Supposedly, Hope balked at the idea of using a script. He ad-libbed the entire episode, legend goes, giving one of his best performances in the process. He also appeared on the Danny Thomas Show, the Jack Benny Show, the Ed Sullivan Show, the Donny & Marie Show, and others.

Saying Good Bye

Hope bid a nostalgic farewell to his television audiences in 1996 with “Laughing with the Presidents,” a special he co-hosted with Tony Danza. In this special, Hope gave a very personal tribute to the U.S. presidents he had known and worked with during his career; Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and others. The show was a fitting and entertaining good-bye to the hardest working entertainer in American history.

It’s not surprising that Bob Hope was so heavily recognized for his work. Radio and television programs, USO shows, Christmas specials, books, movies; the man did it all. He helped the world smile during troubling times. He lent his celebrity status to good causes. He championed humor and fun as the best tool in achieving peace at home and abroad. Hope wasn’t only a great entertainer; he was an amazing humanitarian.

Article Source: Bob Hope – Bob Hope Memorable Performances

Jake Emen

Great news for TV fans, the list of classic TV series DVDs is growing by the minute. Some of the biggest and best shows in television history are now available as television DVDs. This means you can own the entire series or a particular season of your choosing, and you will be able to watch all of your favorite episodes whenever you want.

One of the exciting new television DVDs that has hit the shelves is the Sopranos complete series DVD collection. This is a massive collection spanning over 30 discs, and featuring every moment from all seven seasons of the groundbreaking show.

Another one of the classic boxed sets of TV show DVDs that is now available is the entire Seinfeld series. Seinfeld was one of the most hilarious and long running sitcoms of all-time, and you can also bring home every single episode of this classic for a great low price.

For a slightly more current classic, Lost is now available in TV series DVDs as well. You can buy a boxed set of the first five seasons in preparation for the final season which is ready to get started shortly.

Many other new popular shows are also available as television DVDs. For example, True Blood, Dexter, Glee, Chuck and Weeds are all very popular and all of their seasons can be purchased. This covers a diverse range from comedy to science fiction, action and much more.

As mentioned, TV show DVDs make for a fantastic purchase because they allow you to bring home your favorite characters and stories, and to watch them all whenever you want. Forget about commercials and forget about waiting a week for a new show, and then months for a new season. Television DVDs provide hours and hours of entertainment, completely hassle free and for a lower cost than movies.

Of course, TV series DVDs are also great for fans who missed a season in the beginning of the show, or who never got started to begin with but know they would have enjoyed it at all. Now you can finally catch up on what you missed and get in on the conversation with your friends and family.

So if you’re looking for a gift for somebody else, or just want to add to your own collection, there’s never been a better time to buy television DVDs. Some of the real classics like the Sopranos and Seinfeld are available in entirety as TV series DVDs, and new classics and popular shows are of course available as well.

At DVDsonSale.net you can find a huge selection of all of the television DVDs that you could ever want. Whether you are looking for a classic or something a bit newer, we carry all of the popular TV show DVDs and we have them available at great, bargain prices.

Article Source: Television Classics Now Available As TV Show DVDs

Am Caro

When it comes to werewolves and the media, most people automatically assume that the creatures derive from the realm or books, comics and, of course, motion pictures. Some of the more erudite followers of popular culture will even point out that werewolves feature prominently in role playing and video games. Now, this is all true, but there have been way more werewolves on television that you would initially think.

Back in 1981, a very creepy episode of the old (short lived) anthology series THE DARKROOM featured a creepy episode about a werewolf that is still frightening to this very day. That was probably the first “werewolf on the tube” sighting I had as a kid unless you count the hilarious episode of BARNEY MILLER where some joker thought he was a werewolf. Eddie Munster vaguely counts as he was initially conceived as a werewolf, but the idea was dropped.

In terms of TV Movies of the Week, MOON OF THE WOLF (1972) was an excellent horror film. WEREWOLF OF WOODSTOCK (1970) was as bad as it sounds, but at least it was funny. The TV movie DEATH MOON (1979) saw a werewolf loose on a Hawaiian Island (!) and it was a lame-o movie. Equally awful was the film THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (1985) which saw a werewolf appear in a cameo

Weekly episodic TV had their werewolves as well. Programs that featured werewolf guest appearances include THE NIGHT STALKER, FANTASY ISLAND and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA featured a werewolf TWICE! Programs that featured werewolves as regular characters included the 1976 TV series THE MONSTER SQUAD and, of course, the tremendous Fox TV series WEREWOLF.

Yes, folks, there have been lots and lots of werewolves on television over the years and if you want to read more about werewolves and wacky television, check out these great blogs: Classic Television Blog and Horror Movie Blog.

Article Source: Werewolves On Television

Steve Valentino

The advent of television and the place it has acquired in the lives of people is indicative of not only technological but also social revolution. Its impact can be seen in each and every domain of life including music. One of the popular ways in which music has become an integral part of our life is through TV theme songs.

TV theme songs are the deciding factor in the popularity of a TV show. There are many classic TV theme songs that remain fresh in the memories of the people and are hummable. Theme songs from show such as “All in the Family,” “Benny Hill,” “Mr. Ed” and “The Beverly Hillbillies” are quite popular. The popularity of TV theme songs is proved by the presence of a number of websites that have classic TV theme songs listed. People can download them and go back to memory lane to enjoy them in their original form.

TV theme songs have virtually assumed the form of a music genre on account of the effect it has on the people. The popularity of TV theme songs proves conducive in attracting the attention of an audience — retaining their interest in the show. On many occasions, the audiences wait for the show only because they love its theme song. On the other hand, high-pitched TV theme songs, when repeated and heard on regular basis, become jarring and audiences do not consider watching such TV shows.

TV theme songs need to express the theme of the show, and compliment the theme and presentation of a show. If a show revolves around a comic theme, then the song needs to have a comical tone. Similarly, a horror show may have some eerie music. Theme songs should not be mundane, or else they lose their repeat value and make the whole show dull and staid.

TV theme songs are important in the sense that they give an insight to the audience about the theme and the standard of a show and need to be catchy and appropriate. Songs provides detailed information on Songs, Song Lyrics, Song Titles, Free Songs and more. Songs is affiliated with Soundtrack Lyrics.

Article Source: TV Theme Songs

Jim Sutherland

TOP CAT – 1961-1962

This cartoon came out in the early 60s just after The Flintstones proved that a prime time cartoon could work. Top Cat was funnier-a wisecracking Sgt. Bilko-like cat who ran con games in a NY back alley with the help of 5 buddies under the watchful eye of Officer Dibble of the NYPD.

How could it miss?

But it did because TV only needed one prime time cartoon and The Flintstones came first. Ask the geniuses in TV land-this was a brilliant show. Yeah we still miss those funny cats.

CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU? – 1961-1963

A New York cop show from the early 60s. This was a sitcom that should have lived a long, happy life-how could you possibly miss with Herman and Grandpa Munster playing NYPD cops with room temperature IQs? It was an early retirement from the force-ratings were lukewarm after the first season. That took Car 54 over a big cliff into a fiery landing because funny network TV cop shows have a short shelf life even in 2010.

Goodbye Herman, goodbye Grandpa-see you a few years later in The Munsters.

F TROOP – 1965-1967

This 60s Western comedy took an arrow in the throat after only a few seasons. It was pricey to film and going to color in the second season caused the bean counters to take it down hard and fast. Better than average ratings wasn’t enough of a Calvary charge to save this Western comedy classic.

Too bad – it was a great show, but the geniuses in charge of finances refused to circle the wagons for Corporal Agarn, Sgt. O’Rourke and Roaring Chicken.

NIGHT GALLERY – 1970-1973

Rod Serling said goodbye to television in the early 70s with this horror anthology-they treated Rod like crap but he still brought his A-game. That wasn’t enough. Rod Serling could read a grocery list and scare the liver out of you but as usual…the chuckleheads that run TV knew better. They took away any real power behind the scenes and, in a real life horror story; he became a pale imitation of the power guy Rod Serling from the classic TV era so…they sent him to the real Twilight Zone after only a few seasons.

KOLCHAK NIGHT STALKER – 1974-1975

We’re not talking about the last 21st Century version of this show. We’re talking about the classic Darren McGavin early 70s version. The one where he played the chicken hearted big city reporter who drove a piece of crap car. McGavin liked the basic premise behind Kolchak, but he bucked at the “monster of the week” format. That, and lukewarm ratings gave both network and actor common ground to drive a stake through the heart of this highly underrated TV series. This show was fantastic but once it died, they shouldn’t have made it undead in that horrible 2005 version. That was true terror.

BUFFALO BILL – 1983-1984

This mid 70s show had Dabney Coleman playing arguably the most obnoxious TV personality in the history of TV. The problem was that people were actively turning the channel on Bob because they weren’t smart enough to see the obvious…he was just a TV character. TV execs folded the tent and Buffalo Bob ended up looking for work. Yet another black day in television history and a sad comment on the IQ of the average viewer-Buffalo Bill was just too good for mainstream TV.

THE JOB – 2001-2002

The Job shared a very similar pattern to Buffalo Bill with a negative lead character and viewers that were a little dim. Dennis Leary played a cynical, burned out NYPD police detective with substance abuse problems-this kind of role seems to come far too easy for Dennis. Could be that he’s a great method actor or he’s had a lot of on the “job” training. Either way they cancelled the crap out of this show way too soon. As Leary would say, “those @#$%ing morons”. The Job was a great show but anti-hero lead guys don’t seem to click with the average TV sit-com fan. People with room temperature IQs just don’t get it.

GREG THE BUNNY 2002

They canceled this show and yet they allowed evil crap like Gilmore Girls to choke off intelligent thought. This proves one thing- there is no God. This “Muppets in the dirty world of show biz” was just not PC enough, maybe the TV guys cater to the lowest form of life, maybe the new owners (Disney) wanted more wholesome kiddy fare-whatever the reason, we lost the funniest puppets since Kermit the Frog got drunk at the Emmys.

ACTION – 1999-2000

This was about a failed Hollywood producer trying to get back in the game who acted like a Hollywood producer-loud, obnoxious and egocentric while trying to survive in a bloody game. Action pulled no punches in its treatment of Hollywood. It was funny, insightful and accurate, but it never got great ratings-it didn’t work, but a few years later Entourage did. Go figure.

ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE – 2002-2003

This show shouldn’t have been as funny as it was for one reason- Andy Richter. But it was because it offered a look inside and out of a man’s mind. Everything he said, did or thought was shown as part of the storyline. Something like this can crash and burn pretty fast if it’s badly handled. The woods are full of TV shows that suck at subtle, but this show was really well written and truly funny-a death sentence in network TV. And… unfortunately Mr. Richter didn’t control the universe-unfunny TV execs did.

Jim Sutherland is a co-founder of http://www.mystarcollectorcar.com – dedicated to the average guy in the old car world.

Article Source: Ten TV Shows That Went To Rerun Heaven Way Too Soon

Ben Anton

The 30-year run of Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show was both memorable and historic. It was the setting for a number of classic TV moments remembered by television watchers of several generations. Though many people remember Carson for his hilarious characters and skits, he was not one to shy away from controversial topics when it was something that he truly believed in. Many of his best-known moments have been captured on various classic TV DVD’s, enabling fans of Carson to watch their favorite bits over and over again.

One of Johnny Carson’s best known moments, one that demonstrated to the world just how quick his wit really was, happened two years after he began his run on The Tonight Show. On April 29, 1965, Ed Ames of the Daniel Boone television series was Carson’s guest. Ames was demonstrating how to throw a tomahawk using a wooden silhouette of a man, and when he threw the tomahawk it landed squarely in the silhouette’s crotch. As the crowd laughed, Carson quipped, “I didn’t even know you were Jewish.” This piece of classic television comedy was so popular that it was often replayed on the show’s anniversary.

Other classic moments on The Tonight Show revolved around some of the recurring characters that Johnny Carson portrayed, often with the help of Ed McMahon. Quite possibly the most famous of these classic television characters was Carnac the Magnificent, a mentalist played by Carson who would claim to be able to answer questions sealed in envelopes without ever seeing the question. The answers, of course, would never be straight answers and would instead be puns. When the audience didn’t like one of the jokes, he would respond with equally outlandish curses, such as “May a diseased yak befriend your sister.” Carson had a number of other popular characters as well, such as Floyd R. Turbo, Ralph Willie, and Aunt Blabby.

Not all of the comedy sketches that Carson did contained these repeating characters. There were a number of one-shot skits which appeared on the classic television show, including Carson’s portrayal of Hamlet delivering the famous “To be or not to be…” soliloquy. In the Johnny Carson version, however, were a number of product advertisements which flowed directly from the famous Shakespearean lines to create one of the funniest portrayals of the play to date.

In addition to providing laughs and unexpected punchlines, Carson would from time to time use his show as a means of exposing scams and fakes who were taking advantage of the public at large. Famed psychic Uri Gellar appeared on the show in 1973. Carson himself set up the props for Gellar’s act without Gellar or his manager being able to see them before filming. Despite Gellar’s claims of having genuine mental powers, he was unable to reproduce his usual tricks with the props that Carson provided. This method of proving Gellar a fraud had been suggested by Carson’s friend James Randi, a trained stage magician (like Carson himself) who later appeared on the show in 1987 to expose the supposed faith healer Peter Popoff. Though Popoff claimed that his knowledge of the audience’s problems came from “Godly visions”, Randi provided Carson and his audience with video that showed Popoff’s wife describing the people for him to heal via a microphone which broadcast to a speaker hidden in his hearing aid.

Other classic TV moments on The Tonight Show included visits from zoologists such as Joan Embery and Jim Fowler. They brought animals which Carson would often interact with in some way; many episodes featured Carson being crawled on by smaller animals. One famous incident often shown as a clip featured Carson leaning down too close to a panther’s cage which caused the cat to swipe at him with its paw. Carson ran across the stage and jumped into Ed McMahon’s arms for comedic effect.

When Johnny Carson retired from the show, his final episodes were considered major events. The most sentimental moment came on the next-to-last of his episodes. Bette Midler and Robin Williams were his guests. After Carson revealed in conversation some of his favorite songs, Midler began to sing one. The song soon became a duet between her and Carson. She finished her appearance by singing “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road).” An emotional Carson began to tear up on camera. This historic and touching moment was caught on film using a long camera angle never used in the previous 30 years of Carson’s run. One of his most emotional classic moments became a historic milestone in late night television filming.

Carson was an amazing entertainer, a charismatic personality and a moment maker. His appeal as a celebrity and a comedian carries on to future generations as classic television shows become available on DVD.

Article Source: Johnny Carson – Classic Late-Night Moments