I remember Batman premiered in early 1966 as a mid-season replacement for some series that had been cancelled. With the others, I would not have remembered the dates, beyond, generally, the mid-1960's.
"Blue Light" and "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe" seem vaguely familiar. I may have gotten confused at the time as to which was which, although one was a serious drama and the other was obviously a comedy. Maybe because both involved espionage. (And maybe I was just dumb when I was seven.) I don't recall ever watching either one, but I must have seen ads for them.
Maybe "Henry Phyfe" was ABC's answer to Get Smart. That is, a sitcom spoofing the spy-fi fad, which was at its peak in 1966. The idea of an ordinary (and often "mild mannered") civilian getting caught up in espionage and intrigue is probably the most often-used premise in spy-fi, whether straight or spoof.
I didn't know that The Baron ever aired on American network TV. I remember watching reruns of it in the 1970's, along with The Saint, The Prisoner, The Avengers, and Man In a Suitcase. It seems like they were on consecutive weeknights on the same channel, so maybe they were marketed together in syndication as a package deal.
I remember cutting this exact ad out of the local newspaper in 1966!
Although we watched every minute of every Batman episode, I don't remember ever watching Double Life or Blue Light (and I don't recall ever hearing about The Baron).
I remember Batman premiered in early 1966 as a mid-season replacement for some series that had been cancelled. With the others, I would not have remembered the dates, beyond, generally, the mid-1960's.
ReplyDelete"Blue Light" and "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe" seem vaguely familiar. I may have gotten confused at the time as to which was which, although one was a serious drama and the other was obviously a comedy. Maybe because both involved espionage. (And maybe I was just dumb when I was seven.) I don't recall ever watching either one, but I must have seen ads for them.
Maybe "Henry Phyfe" was ABC's answer to Get Smart. That is, a sitcom spoofing the spy-fi fad, which was at its peak in 1966. The idea of an ordinary (and often "mild mannered") civilian getting caught up in espionage and intrigue is probably the most often-used premise in spy-fi, whether straight or spoof.
I didn't know that The Baron ever aired on American network TV. I remember watching reruns of it in the 1970's, along with The Saint, The Prisoner, The Avengers, and Man In a Suitcase. It seems like they were on consecutive weeknights on the same channel, so maybe they were marketed together in syndication as a package deal.
I never saw the Baron back then. Don't remember even hearing of it. Had a FB friend send me the Complete Series a couple years ago!
ReplyDeleteThe late Marty Ingels claimed that he had been cast as Henry Phyfe and that they replaced him with Buttons for some complicated quid pro quo reason.
I believe Batman actually replaced Ozzie and Harriet after about 15 years or so on TV.
I believe Batman actually replaced Ozzie and Harriet...
DeleteAnd Shindig! as well.
I remember cutting this exact ad out of the local newspaper in 1966!
ReplyDeleteAlthough we watched every minute of every Batman episode, I don't remember ever watching Double Life or Blue Light (and I don't recall ever hearing about The Baron).