Newsday TV Book, January 26-February 1, 1975.

I have just a handful of TV Book issues for early 1975, some of which I haven't yet looked at in detail. I missed the one for the week just passed (with Robert Blake on the cover--I'll get to it someday, knock on blue plywood paneling like we had in our den at the time) and I'm just catching the tail end of this one, with a freshly un-Sonny-ed Cher on the cover, debuting her own variety gig.
(Click pics to clarify.)

The Bill Kaufman article has plenty about her background, the duo's coupling and uncoupling, and concludes with Cher positing a show for then-daughter Chastity. (This did in fact happen, decades later, but probably wasn't quite what she had in mind.)

In the TV Line column, R.F. of my hometown's often-appended neighbor, Old Bethpage (which I've been told means "old house of figs," which doesn't make a lick of fucking sense), inquires on behalf of a group of curious ner--uh, Trekkies. Also: Lloyd Bridges gets called out as an old, wet show-off; we learn a lot about growly Claude Akins; and just a little about flutey Julie Kavner.

Sunday morning here (mostly for your Abbott & Costello/Bowery Boys fix), and then a bit of Monday afternoon, just for the Pamper Drapery Service ad. That's in my hometown of Plainview, a fact not shared in the ad, strangely. They are indeed still there as of this writing (as Pamper Cleaners), and with the same phone number, no less!

Monday's late schedule comes with a macabre Viskupic drawing to go with the luridly titled "World Hunger! Who Will Survive?" on PBS' Special of the Week.

"That's Not a Thing Anymore" Department: TV servicing!

The Thursday night listings sit alongside an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the "Zippy the Chimp" business. My grade school pal Jeff, back in our crank-calling heyday, once rang this number and asked to speak to Zippy. The gag went as far as anyone over 14 would expect: click.

"Seeking a profitable franchise investment for you and your spouse? Well, look no further, because Zippy is CHIMPLY THE BEST!!!"

Here's all of Friday, including a Sudduth sketch that does not resemble Lute Jerstad one iota. (If you follow that Wiki-link, you'll see that the featured show came eleven years before Lute's grandson was born, and 23 years before Lute traumatized the hell out of him.)

And now Saturday, with another (not especially inspired) Viskupic illustration, plus some fun John Cashman reviews. Speaking of Robert Blake, Cashman suggests giving Electra Glide in Blue a shot, and I will, when I go to bed tonight (provided it's still on Pluto TV for February).

NEXT-DAY UPDATE: I loved EGiB, although I disagree with Cashman that it could have been a "fine, tight little mystery." The murder was, at best, a contrivance, a means to an end. But I'll admit, I tend to enjoy meandering, uneven, self-indulgently "meaningful" 70's flicks, as long as they're not incompetent. I also enjoyed all the performances, unlike many online reviewers. My chief complaint is that Blake's character development would have benefited from more close-ups. He's an expressive actor, but I felt like we rarely got to see what he was thinking. Anyway, as JC likes to say: try it!

This full-page ad is on the random side, but I enjoy seeing the Abraham & Straus logo, plus I like the art. (Mom, why is the milkman spraying our insulation?)

Finally, the back cover is an ad for regular TV Book advertiser Holiday Spas, which evidently dispensed with its Plainview location sometime the previous autumn. Here they eschew their usual va-va-voom cheesecake pic, unless you're turned on by the barrel-chested, high-belted, high-school-gym-teacher-type (and ye Olde English text).

That's enough of this cockamamie kerfuffle! Check back soon, for more attempted lampoonery!