Check out this 1980s on-air promo for ABC, gays

Gays, I forgot the link.

Here:

Wow.

Joyce DeWitt was the STAAAHHH!

Yay, Joyce!!!

It was very clear who had Broadway experience -they moved well and projected confidence. Some of the people looked downright petrified to be there.

First of all, it's awesome that they got a clear shot of Kathie Lee Crosby literally shaking her tits.

Second, I had forgotten Hal Linden was a hot daddy in the 70s.

I was really confused what Danny Thomas was doing at the very end,. but I think his appearance and Diana Canova's at the very beginning meant they were trying to flog hard their new sitcom that fall "I'm a Big Girl Now" (which turned out to be a huge flop).

I'm glad they didn't show the obvious non-singers like Burgess Meredith (which ABC show was HE on back then??) pretending to sing.

1970s, a FABULOUS time.

Is this from 1980? Interesting that nobody from Charlie’s Angels or Love Boat are present

r7, Jill Whelan from Love Boat is there--the camera really lingers on her.

This is from the fall of 1980.

It's the Susan Sullivan season of It's a Living. She's next to Paul Kreppel and Ann Jillian.

Where's Dick Cavett and Betty Buckley? Eight is Enough was a huge hit.

Lauren Tewes, Bernie Koppel, and “Vicki” from Love Boat were present

I'm gkad it's not from a few years later so we didn't have to see poor doomed Heather Rourke from her sad "Happy Days" years.

That lil blonde girl is weird looking. Joyce looks very sexy in this. Weird that I really don't know what was in ABC in the eighties like I do NBC and CBS even though I know if all these shows. Don't know if that makes a ton of sense.

I just saw the black lady in this all black Cinderella tv movie. Nell Carter is in too.

Tom Hanks!

Hal Linden was having a little too much fun.

Robert Guillaume was clearly there at gunpoint.

Did Joyce DeWitt insist on the solo pivot shot so Barrie Youngfellow walked off the production?

I hope Guillaume at least got to fuck Marion Ross after they wrapped for the day.

Henry Winkler is like an ad for cocaine.

[quote]Is this from 1980? Interesting that nobody from Charlie’s Angels or Love Boat are present

Also, no Robert Wagner or Stefanie Powers.

Hal Linden wins the Palm Springs Award.

I used to be so excited for annual network image campaigns. NBC: Be There!

This went hand in hand with the huge Fall Preview TV Guide and the Friday Night new Saturday Morning Cartoon preview show. Ah to be a little gayling in the 70s and 80s.

You and Me and ABC!

I fondly remember Enjoy the bliss of CBHisssssss.....

That is a good question, r5. Burgess Meredith wasn't on any ABC show, as far as I can tell. He did his television work on CBS back then. Why was he there?

True, but the way he filled out a Speedo... there was no Battle of the Network Stars without him.

It's got nothing on this promo for CBS from the late 70s.

R20, everything you mentioned gave me LIFE back then. It was fun.

Henry Winkler looks hot as hell. I'd blow him during the break.

Eve Arden! Linda Lavin! Bonnie Franklin! Jim Neighbors! Bert Convy! Where else are you going to get that lineup of stars?

I had to confirm that I was seeing Maggie Gioberti disco dancing in the background.

Love the emphasis on Nancy Beebe/Marian Mercer. This is how I imagine Datalounge Heaven.

How much blow did Lauren Tewes do before this?

There must have been some PRIME coke!!

[quote] That is a good question, [R5]. Burgess Meredith wasn't on any ABC show, as far as I can tell. He did his television work on CBS back then. Why was he there?

Those Amazing Animals

[quote] True, but the way he filled out a Speedo... there was no Battle of the Network Stars without him.

Burgess Meredith!?

I guess I'll have to take your word for that...

Bonnie and Linda in the same musical number. I wish there was behind the scenes footage of those rehearsals.

Those Amazing Animals is an ABC network reality series and spin-off of "That's Incredible!" which aired on Sunday nights from August 24, 1980 to August 23, 1981. The show centered on animals and their extraordinary lives. It was hosted by Burgess Meredith, Priscilla Presley and Jim Stafford.

OK, according to wikipedia, Burgess Meredith was the co-host (along with Jim Stafford and Priscilla Presley) of a short-lived show for the 1980-81 season on ABC called "Those Amazing Animals," which was a spin-off of "That's Incredible!", but with animals instead of people.

Oops, you beat me to it, r33.

Has anyone mentioned Those Amazing Animals co-hosted by Burgess Meredith?

My guess is that John, Joyce and Suzanne drew straws to see which one had to do this and Joyce lost.

Lost?! I won, cookie!

for me one of the funniest moments was when this guy appeared - who is he?

Isn’t that Al Molinaro from Happy Days?

I peg this as either ‘79 or ‘80–wasn’t disco “dead” by ‘81?

R39 Al Molinaro, from The Odd Couple and Happy Days.

thanks for the ID

[quote]I peg this as either ‘79 or ‘80–wasn’t disco “dead” by ‘81?

I think your peg is right on.

who's the little gurl at the beginning?

[quote]Where's Dick Cavett and Betty Buckley? Eight is Enough was a huge hit.

Well, it was until Dick Cavett joined the cast and killed the ratings.

So many of the men had perms. That really places it in the late 70s early 80s. What was THAT all about? Yikes. I remember it well. I didn't get it then, and I don't get it now.

The complete version:

Even the evil Ann Jillian. Blecccch.

Luckily, I didn’t watch TV during my college years, seven of them including a master’s degree. I never regretted it.

It's a bit sad that this sort of unintentional camp doesn't really exist anymore. Camp is now all about women being sassy divas and rainbows all over the place.

That's Missy Gold from Benson, r43. Sister of Tracey Gold from Growing Pains.

Thanks for that, r46. The longer version features Dianne Kay from Eight Is Enough. You know, the pretty one.

Just watching this 40 years later makes me feel awkward and uncomfortable for them.

It feels like some old producer got the idea to make a video reminiscent of the old studio days of the 50's but in the 80's when that kind of thing was long gone.

[quote]That's Missy Gold from Benson, [R43]. Sister of Tracey Gold from Growing Pains.

Thanks. I never watched them back in the day. Even then I had standards.

OP, like much of Datalounge, believes that "gay" is a personality trait, not a sexual orientation.

Were these sorts of promos common in the midcentury era? Like did NBC and CBS have competing song and dance numbers?

They should have gone on tour.

Who is the lady hamming in up next to Exidor from Mork & Mindy?

Looking at the full video, I'm assuming Lauren Tewes wasn't the only one paid in cocaine.

I love this thread. TV in the 70's and 80's was this gay kid's dream. The networks really went all out on brand recognition and viewer loyalty.

Variation on a theme.

r56 it almost looks like Phyllis Davis from Vega$ but I can't be sure.

Are we sure Missy wasn't secretly Mistery?

If you liked this thread you'll really like the old "let's be 1970s" - year by year. 1978 was the best of them and the longest. If you think the DL magic and wit had gone, check them out.

here's another great one but ruined since DL no longer shows images inline - so you have to click on every image

"Post an image of something that you love about America in the 1970s - when America was beautiful."

[quote]"Post an image of something that you love about America in the 1970s - when America was beautiful."

I'm assuming the thread was nothing but swatches of thick fabrics in shades of brown, green and orange.

This was the opening shot, r63 and things continued in the same vein

Who's the dude who looks like Eugene Levy?

[quote] Jim Neighbors!

Oh, dear!

Cathy Lee Crosby shaking her hooters is giving me life. And Henry Winkler with the shaggy hair and beard is the first time I've found him hot. It's interesting who's in it and who's not...maybe some stars refused? Diana Canova was clearly being presented as the stahhh, though they let Joyce DeWitt think she was.

You probably mean Paul Kreppel, r65.

[quote] Who's the dude who looks like Eugene Levy?

Identified up above.

[quote] It's a Living. She's next to Paul Kreppel

Tom Bosley in his tinted glasses … what a diva.

I had the same thoughts as r67 on Henry and on Cathy Lee’s inappropriate for family viewing boob shaking (not done once, but twice!).

He’s not in the video, but someone mentioned Dick Cavett being in the cast of Eight is Enough. I have no recollection of that so I must have stopped watching by then. It’s not on his IMDB resume. You’re pulling my leg, surely.

He meant Dick Van Patten.

John Davidson and a bearded Henry Winkler were both foxy.

Paul “It’s a Living” Kreppel continues his musical talents to this day as an understudy in the current production of Into the Woods on Broadway.

Thank you, R73. I wasn't sure that was Henry Winkler...

BUT...DAMN!! He was hot with a beard and longish hair. Never thought he was all that, until I saw that promo!

Made me so nostalgic...In the fall of 1980, I was going into my senior year of high school.

ABC really was like my family back in the day.

We didn't watch ABC much, but I do remember Vega$ and It's A Living were always on, every week.

R76, I used to have such dirty thoughts about Robert Urich! Loved ABC's "Battle of the Network Stars/"

I prefer the coked up and glittered NBC promo from 1984.

1985 was a bit more subdued.

They tried to get Suzanne to participate but she would have used up the budget of this entire production.

At least that tramp Cindy Williams wore a bra this time!

Oh, hell, yes! Lydia Cornell & Ted Knight @ 1:05!! But no Nancy Dussault?? This would have been right up her alley.

Also...Erin Moran boogying down next to Jill Whelan (0:45).

I thought Henry Winkler was Dennis Wilson!

“I fucking told you. I’m Tom Poston. Not Tom fucking Bosley. How many times can people get this fucking wrong?”

Henry Winkler looked hot with the longer hair and the beard.

Interesting Penny Marshall is in that revealing outfit and Cindy Williams is wearing a dress that covers her up. And that outfit does Penny no favors.

What a time to be alive!

Sada Thompson had the good sense not to get involved in this.

Interesting how Penny and Cindy aren't even filmed together. Both up close and in different angles. This must have been when their feud was at an all-time high.

Shelley Hack and Kate Jackson should have crashed through the scenery in the orange Pinto, which then would ignite and send America’s favorite television stars scrambling for safety from the flames.

R56 & R60.....based on the full-length version, my guess is Laurie Walters from Eight is Enough.

[quote]Luckily, I didn’t watch TV during my college years, seven of them including a master’s degree. I never regretted it.

I wish I had watched more TV back then. I regret my master's degree.

This justifies my boyhood crush on The Fonz. My adult self watches him on Barry and is like ‘what the hell were you thinking??!?’ But he was really cute back then.

Where was Monroe?? Where were Bo & Luke Duke???

I’m guessing Missy Gold did NOT get dress approval.

R89 , I have a feeling they weren’t even filmed at the same time as each other or with everyone else.

And the legendary Peter Gennaro (who must have choreographed) with Ricardo Montalban in the extended version!

All those years of tap and ballet--and I get upstaged by Cathy Lee Crosby shaking her tits!

[quote]It feels like some old producer got the idea to make a video reminiscent of the old studio days of the 50's but in the 80's when that kind of thing was long gone.

This happened constantly on tv back then. Those big variety shows and awards shows were always doing musical numbers that were throwbacks to the 40s and 50s. Witness Shelley Long on the 1986 Emmys, doing a big 40s-style number with choreographed dancers. Even in 1986 this was hopelessly dated and cornball.

[quote]He’s not in the video, but someone mentioned Dick Cavett being in the cast of Eight is Enough. I have no recollection of that so I must have stopped watching by then. It’s not on his IMDB resume. You’re pulling my leg, surely.

For one season near the end of the run they had Dick Cavett play Jeremy's (Ralph Macchio) high school psychologist who tried to draw the troubled boy out by telling him anecdotes about Norman Mailer, James Baldwin, and Groucho. Unfortunately it was very unpopular with audiences, and could not halt the show's downwards ratings slide.

Burgess Meredith hosted Those Amazing Animals before moving to CBS for Gloria.

[quote]Lauren Tewes, Bernie Koppel, and “Vicki” from Love Boat were present

Fred Grandy is in there, too, at 0:03-0:04 (and gets a little more screen time in the full-length version).

[quote]Witness Shelley Long on the 1986 Emmys, doing a big 40s-style number with choreographed dancers

Long actually did well singing the first part of that medley though the rest of it was pretty bad. Did she ever do any musical theater?

Did Barbara Barrie ruin the promo?

I've seen and heard worse than Shelly Long.

[quote]Did Barbara Barrie ruin the promo?

Her colostomy leaked.

Joyce attempting her best Liza.

R94 the Dukes were CBS!

The Fonz- he would have made a HOT porno star ⭐️ back in 1980- With his wigged out hair and big beard.

Flaming Gavin McLeod and that dress form!

[quote]Interesting how Penny and Cindy aren't even filmed together. Both up close and in different angles. This must have been when their feud was at an all-time high.

I think coked-out Penny was at an all-time high, begging Lauren Tewes for another line while vengeful Cindy called security.

Somebody needs to make a gif of 0:49-0:50, with that staggering assortment of people moving at once.

Gavin do-see-doing with a headless mannequin torso. Priceless!

Could they have passed out enough cocaine in 1980?

R96 they really thought they were such big stars back then, didn’t they? Henry Winkler was still a bigger star and he didn’t pull any of that crap.

[quote]ABC-TV Promos: 1981, 1982 and 1984

Lots of Scott Baio before he went over to the dark side!

[quote] [R96] they really thought they were such big stars back then, didn’t they? Henry Winkler was still a bigger star and he didn’t pull any of that crap.

Laverne & Shirley debuted in the 1975–76 TV season, with its first episode airing in January 1976, in the Tuesday night time slot after Happy Days. By its third season, it had become the most-watched American television program according to Nielsen ratings.

I love Ernie Anderson's voice.

That clip was just glorious, it really made me believe that they were all one big happy family. I am tingling in my special place after watching that.

Seriously, just how fab were the 70’s, early 80’s…

Pat Boone on roller skates in the ABD. Lip, how fab…

Now try to name 10 people currently employed on ABC. (I rest my case.)

[quote] That clip was just glorious, it really made me believe that they were all one big happy family. I am tingling in my special place after watching that. Seriously, just how fab were the 70’s, early 80’s…

Those network promos were so sappy and sentimental. Yet brilliantly effective marketing tools.

Penny & Cindy may have hated each other & refused to this film it together....but ALL of this was filmed in "small-group" segments, over a number of days, and then edited together.

I was a teenager in the late 90s/early 2000s and remember thinking the yearly WB promos were cool — seeing the casts of different shows interact and dance.

Had no idea this had been a thing forever.

This is why I come to Datalounge, What an entertaining thread! Thanks OP

[quote]Now try to name 10 people currently employed on ABC. (I rest my case.)

The only people I know who watch NBC, ABC and CBS shows are my parents and aunts and uncles, they're all in their 60s/70s.

R62- THIS was the best ABC promo.

R118- For you. The full length Laverne And Shirley theme song.

R131, thanks!

Loved the sailor in the tight-ass uniform!!

Hey, OP.

Shove that "gays" shit up your fat ass, you insulting shrew.

Burgess Meredith! - who better than The Penguin to host 'Those Amazing Animals.'

R134

Rex Harrison

Cathy Lee Crosby, Kathy Lee Gifford, Kathy Griffin.

Which one of these broads shot JR?

Abe Vigoda didn't particate as he was already dead.

Bawa Wawa was too good for this, eh?

I loved this. It’s not everyday you can see that many has beens together!

R95 I hate the name Missy. Why not call her Pissy instead?

Because that would have been gross, R140.

The creepy blonde kid looks like an adult little person