Over coffee and blackberry cobbler, some friends and I entered the "Way Back Machine".
Of interest, all us of are from the same era. When TV only had 3 channels, Black and White, the test pattern...
Later when Color TV was available.
I shared I gotten to where I rarely used a TV , mostly to watch a VCR tape for learning something or watching a movie. When my '79 13" Sony finally quit [dropped in moving] a few years ago - I have yet to replace it, nor do I have any desire to.
These folks also rarely watch TV, exceptions include watching a Movie or baby-sitting kids.
Talk Shows:
Jack Parr, then Steve Allen, then Johnny Carson. We all agree, nobody today can do a talk show.
Jack Parr set the stage, Steve Allen was okay to me...Carson, there will never be another Carson. IMO.
There have been some other Talk Shows , some gone [thank goodness!] Some need to be [hurry up]. I am not the only one that has been caught out and heard the intro to Conan...It does not get more obnoxious...
Basically as Art eluded to in the music thread, the Old stuff was Talent, Quality, and Entertainment.
Today is ...okay something has to run against the infomercials...
When some these folks get the CDs of Johnny Carson Shows, we plan on getting together and viewing these. Johnny had the abilty to be a host, to entertain, be human.
His guests , seeing Joey Bishop and others will be great..
He and Ed playing comic team...
Then Johnny playing his various characters...
I bet kids today have no Idea whom/ or what /huh? Funk & Wagnel - much less anything being hermetically sealed in a mayonaise jar...
