The Fantasy Trip, Part Three (1979 Newsday TV Books, June 10-16)

Wow, is it time for another look at an old Newsday TV Book already? You bet your sweet Astrid Lindgren, whoever the hell that is! (I know, I know, it's Pippi, never seen it.)
This time out I've got the June 10th issue--right at the start of the summer doldrums, yippie! Loni, Howard and Jan greet us, about nine months into WKRP In Cincinatti's four-season run.

 

 The cover story, written by Bill Kaufman, spans three pages and focuses mainly on Hesseman and Gary Sandy. (Click to enlarge for easier reading, of course.)

 

The TV Line is interesting in that the usual editor, Carol Burton Terry, must have been on vacation or something, so Kathleen Cashman stepped in. She was the daughter of movie reviewer John Cashman who also worked on these TV Books. Other than that, it's the familiar assortment of questions about TV stars' heights and so forth. I did enjoy noting that Rosetti and Ryan was apparently a greater career stepping stone for Sam the Chimp than Squire Fridell.

 

Too much neat stuff to cover in this week's "Off Camera" column, but I'll just say that John Houseman's class at Juilliard appears to have been cursed.

Head over to the DPiMR Facebook page to see a promo for the Sunday night line-up on ABC... but first check out that sweet above-ground pool!

 

On Monday night, WPIX had this Beatles tribute special. It looks entertaining (perhaps), but what I really want to see is Paul Williams and Anthony Newley getting hammered together backstage.

 

 Coupla things regarding this Wednesday night page: Simple-but-cool Gary Viskupic illustration for Paper Moon; a forty-years-too-late notation to record Zuma Beach, which I recall watching and thoroughly enjoying; and the ad at bottom right, which horrifyingly reveals that the phenomenon of adults going to DisneyWhatever sans offspring is not a new one.

 

Leaping ahead to Saturday and another elegant Viskupic drawing, this one of Jean Marais' Beast. Alternate viewing: Supertrain with Billy Barty, or Fantasy Island with Phils Harris and Silvers.

 

Let's enjoy some ads. You could have tried to win some Mets tickets for Father's Day, and maybe treated dad to dinner at the Mill Creek Inn, where the "catch of the day" was always boneless duckling. (Well, the boneless ones are just so darn easy to catch!)

 

I threw in this ad because it mentions Plainview, my home town. Also for the barfing front-loader.

The United Jewish Appeal's special, "The Start of Something Wonderful," promises to move and touch you. (Unless the phrase "a new wave of immigrants" sends a chill down your spine, in which case maybe just stick to Supertrain.)

 

I put together the two separate trivia columns. You're welcome. Now lemme think, what the hell was the name of Ray Milland's show again? And the one starring Dinah Shore?

Obscure Long Island Advertising Character: the Man Products Inc. Neanderthal!

Last and very much least, the "Cable TV Highlights." Snore. You know it's bad when the one show I have designated for my imaginary retroactive recording is the "Nobody Special," a variety show featuring Cablevision subscribers. Yeesh!

The next issue picks up right from here, more reruns and shit. I know, you can't wait! For God's sake, try to control yourself, it'll take me a few days to put it together!