tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post985770419109353466..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: The Umbrella TV Series of the 1970s: The Saga of The Bold Ones, the NBC Mystery Movie, and OthersRick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-2096917685948427482010-06-29T07:55:35.989-04:002010-06-29T07:55:35.989-04:00Thanks for the comments! I neglected to mention th...Thanks for the comments! I neglected to mention that this format was also called a "wheel series." A variation was a series where the stars rotated, with each one starring (usually solo) in an episode in a revolving pattern. THE NAME OF THE GAME was about a big publication company. One week, the episode would be about the publisher Gene Barry. The next week, it'd be about crime magazine editor Robert Stack. The cycle would end with an episode about reporter Tony Franciosa. Other shows using this format were SEARCH and THE MEN FROM SHILOH (a revamped version of THE VIRGINIAN).Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-24202730407180377872010-06-28T18:50:15.497-04:002010-06-28T18:50:15.497-04:00Rick, this was a very informative post. I was not ...Rick, this was a very informative post. I was not surprised to see your closing line, though, because the expense would indeed be a major factor in continuing the umbrella concept. Great job!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-32584500232123444362010-06-28T01:15:46.462-04:002010-06-28T01:15:46.462-04:00Very interesting article, Rick. I also hadn't ...Very interesting article, Rick. I also hadn't heard of the umbrella series until reading your article. It reminds me of my favorite show of the 2008-2009 season: "Life on Mars". Of course, today it seems like networks don't want to develop new shows at all unless they are reality shows or a new take on an old formula like Law and Order or CSI.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-18035355160944540532010-06-27T22:50:28.459-04:002010-06-27T22:50:28.459-04:00You have taken me on an unusual walk down memory l...You have taken me on an unusual walk down memory lane, and I'm still reeling. I had forgotten about several of the umbrella shows, as well as the concepts behind them, and it was great to be reminded of so much that I used to enjoy. The ultimate shows that stuck with me were Night Gallery, McCloud, The Doctors, The Lawyers and the Snoop Sisters. I've always been a sucker for scary shows like Night Gallery (and Twilight Zone and Outer Limits), lawyer shows (like The Defenders), doctor shows (like Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey), and little old lady detectives (like Miss Marple as played by Margaret Rutherford). As for McCloud, I don't know what made me like the cowboy detective, but I did. You did a wonderful job pulling together the history of the origin and evental fate of these shows, putting them under sort of -- well, what's the word -- OH, UMBRELLA! Very clever use of umbrella as both description and writing tool. Great job, Rick, and thanks for the memories!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-91800596925527551102010-06-27T19:22:23.367-04:002010-06-27T19:22:23.367-04:00Rick, this was an incredibly intriguing article. I...Rick, this was an incredibly intriguing article. I had never heard of the umbrella series, nor did I know that popular shows like COLUMBO and NIGHT GALLERY were originally part of such an experimental broadcast. Honestly, it sounds like a wonderful concept, but while I would love to see something like that today, I can also see the downside, e.g. getting hooked onto a show that's quickly gone. It'd be especially bad for me because I tend to like the shows that are sacked. So my faves would fade away, and the others would stick around, and I'd spend an exorbitant amount of time complaining about the shows that survived beyond the umbrella. I loved learning about the umbrella series, so thank you, Rick!sarkoffagushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00922698736476674377noreply@blogger.com