Newsday TV Book, January 14-20, 1979.

Most of the Christmas decorations are still up and illuminated daily here at Rancho Non-Parado, and this year my procrastination is probably a good thing, as we're allegedly due to be walloped by meteorological winter doldrums in our neck of the wasteland. The tree is ancient history, of course, but the still-festive mantel will be all a'twinkle, cozily defying the turmoil out-of-doors--until the power goes out, anyway, and then putting everything into storage totes by candlelight will be a good way to keep warm.

This week's cover is for the syndicated airing of a four-year-old British series, re-titled Edward the King for American audiences. The story to go with it, written by the late Bill Kaufman, tells more than I ever cared to know about Queen Victoria's swinger son and the 13-episode production about him.

TV Line demonstrates that Long Islanders were as mysteriously prone to speculation about the relationship between Mariette Hartley and James Garner as the rest of the country.

Off Camera postulates such hypotheticals as a Wojo spin-off, Bowie as Quentin Crisp, and Mork as Popeye. Ridiculous!

Sunday morning's schedule noted the absence of local favorite WLIW 21. I believe this was when the transmitter was being moved to my hometown of Plainview.

Sunday's afternoon listings come with a Gary Viskupic illustration, and the late shows bring a coupon for some free booze at Pioneer's new Rustic Lounge in Hauppauge, the second location for their diner "resturants."

 

Viskupic gives MLK the musical treatment, years before his day became a federal holiday. (Don't forget to appreciate the John Cashman reviews, too!)

Wednesday afternoon and a pitch from Granada TV Rental: watch Super Bowl XIII on a nice, new RCA, three month commitment, less than 42 bucks.

Batman and Robin--the real ones!--headline a goofy-sounding DC Comics special, with the close-up wisely featured among Thursday's after-school kiddie show listings.

The Nielsen ratings that closed out 1978 were disclosed. Unless I'm misremembering, it looks like NBC has only one show represented, ouch!

As a lifelong Marvel Comics fan, I was always excited to check out their latest filmed offering, like this night's Captain America TV movie. Unfortunately, until the X-Men movies appeared a generation later, it was pretty much always disappointing.

Now enjoy Friday night and all day Saturday, filling in your own jokey observations because I got other things to do. There's a storm a'brewing!

Finally, here are the For Children listings and Cable TV Highlights, both featuring largely sub-par programming, as usual.

Next time, I'll have... well, let's worry about that next time, shall we? Until then, we are warm, and we have our hearts' desire!