May 18, 2020

What's on TV? Thursday, May 20, 1971


One of the advantages to video tape over live television is that it allows for more information in the TV Guide listings than you might otherwise have. Take, for example, This Is Your Life (10:30 p.m., WABC). Because the show's taped, there's no need to keep secret that Shirley Jones is tonight's honoree. It does kind of lose the excitement of the old show, though, when you didn't know who was going to be the surprise guest. That's progress, I guess. This week's listings are from the Philadelphia—New York area; one thing to look for: the note that the departing Jim Nabors Hour will be replaced by reruns of Lancer. I wonder if that includes the episode with Rick Dalton?
 2  WCBS (NEW YORK CITY) (CBS)

MORNING

    6:30
SUMMER SEMESTER -C- 
New Science

    7:00
CBS NEWS—John Hart -C- 

    8:00
CAPTAIN KANGAROO -C- 

    9:00
DENNIS THE MENACE—Comedy

    9:30
DONNA REED—Comedy

  10:00
LUCILLE BALL -C- 

  10:30
BEVERLY HILLBILLIES -C- 

  11:00
FAMILY AFFAIR -C- 

  11:30
LOVE OF LIFE -C- 

AFTERNOON

  Noon
WHERE THE HEART IS -C- 

  12:25
CBS NEWS—Edwards -C- 

  12:30
SEARCH FOR TOMORROW -C- 

    1:00
GALLOPING GOURMET -C- 

    1:30
AS THE WORLD TURNS -C- 

    2:00
LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING -C- 

    2:30
GUIDING LIGHT -C- 

    3:00
SECRET STORM -C- 

    3:30
EDGE OF NIGHT -C- 

    4:00
GOMER PYLE, USMC -C- 

    4:30
MIKE DOUGLAS -C- 
Guests: Kid Gavilan, James Brown, Molly Picon, the Santa Fe Train

EVENING

    6:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

    7:00
CBS NEWS—Cronkite -C- 

    7:30
FAMILY AFFAIR -C- 

    8:00
JIM NABORS -C- 
[Last show of series. Next week, the Western “Lancer” returns.]

    9:00
MOVIE—Thriller -C- 
“Chamber of Horrors” (1966)

  11:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

  11:30
MERV GRIFFIN -C- 
Guest: Glen Campbell (in Las Vegas)

    1:00
NEWS -C- 

    1:10
MOVIE—Western -C- 
“A Day of Fury” (1965)

    2:45
MOVIE—Drama
“The Lady Pays Off” (1951)

    4:20
MOVIE—Drama -C- 
“Slaves of Babylon” (1953)



 3  KYW (PHILADELPHIA) (NBC)
MORNING
    6:10
NEWS
    6:15
HOW THEY GET THAT WAY -C- 
    6:45
FARM, HOME AND GARDEN -C- 
    6:55
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA -C- 
    7:00
TODAY -C- 
Guest: journalist Richard Dudman
    9:00
McLEAN & COMPANY -C- 
Guest: Buffalo Bob Smith
  10:00
DINAH SHORE -C- 
Guest: Gene Kelly
  10:30
CONCENTRATION -C- 
  11:00
SALE OF THE CENTURY -C- 
  11:30
HOLLYWOOD SQUARES -C- 
Guests: Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde, Kent McCord, Della Reese, Burt Reynolds, Sally Struthers, Jackie Vernon
AFTERNOON
  12:00
NEWS—Marciarose/Caldwell -C- 
  12:30
MIKE DOUGLAS -C- 
Guests: Pearl Bailey, Robert Townsend, Claire Townsend,  Sam Levenson
    2:00
DAYS OF OUR LIVES -C- 
    2:30
DOCTORS -C- 
    3:00
ANOTHER WORLD -C- 
    3:30
BRIGHT PROMISE -C- 
    4:00
SOMERSET -C- 
    4:30
DAVID FROST -C- 
Guest: Johnny Cash
EVENING
    6:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 
    7:00
NBC NEWS -C- 
    7:30
FLIP WILSON -C- 
Guests: Tony Randall, Lena Horne, the Modern Jaz Quartet
    8:30
IRONSIDE -C- 
    9:30
ADAM-12 -C- 
  10:00
DEAN MARTIN -C- 
Guests: Glen Campbell, Gale Gordon, Dom DeLuise
  11:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 
  11:30
JOHNNY CARSON -C- 
Guests: Jack Jones, Norm Crosby (in Hollywood)

 4  WNBC (NEW YORK CITY) (NBC)

MORNING

    6:30
EDUCATION EXCHANGE -C- 

    7:00
TODAY -C- 
Guest: journalist Richard Dudman

    9:00
FOR WOMEN ONLY -C- 

    9:30
PHIL DONAHUE -C- 
Guest: Dr. Arthur Janov

  10:00
DINAH SHORE -C- 
Guest: Gene Kelly

  10:30
CONCENTRATION -C- 

  11:00
SALE OF THE CENTURY -C- 

  11:30
HOLLYWOOD SQUARES -C- 
Guests: Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde, Kent McCord, Della Reese, Burt Reynolds, Sally Struthers, Jackie Vernon

AFTERNOON

  12:00
JEOPARDY—Game -C- 

  12:30
WHO, WHAT OR WHERE—Game -C- 

  12:55
NBC NEWS—Floyd Kalber -C- 

    1:00
IT’S YOUR BET—Game -C- 
Guests: Della Reese, Nanette Fabray and her husband, Randy MacDougall. Host: Dick Gautier

    1:30
JOE GARAGIOLA’S MEMORY GAME -C- 

    2:00
DAYS OF OUR LIVES -C- 

    2:30
DOCTORS -C- 

    3:00
ANOTHER WORLD -C- 

    3:30
BRIGHT PROMISE -C- 

    4:00
SOMERSET -C- 

    4:30
MOVIE—Drama -C- 
“Captain Newman, M.D.” (1964) conclusion

EVENING

    6:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

    7:00
NBC NEWS -C- 

    7:30
FLIP WILSON C
Guests: Tony Randall, Lena Horne, the Modern Jazz Quartet

    8:30
IRONSIDE -C- 

    9:30
ADAM-12 -C- 

  10:00
DEAN MARTIN -C- 
Guests: Glen Campbell, Gale Gordon, Dom DeLuise

  11:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

  11:30
JOHNNY CARSON -C- 
Guests: Jack Jones, Norm Crosby (in Hollywood)

    1:00
NEWS -C- 

    1:15
MOVIE—Drama
“The Cranes Are Flying” (Russian; 1957)



 5  WNEW (NEW YORK CITY) (Ind.)

MORNING

    8:00
CARTOONS -C- 

    9:00
HUCKLEBERRY HOUND -C- 

    9:30
SEA HUNT—Adventure

  10:00
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES -C- 

  10:30
MOVIE—Melodrama
“Among the Living” (1941)

AFTERNOON

  12:00
MIDDAY -C- 
Guests: Cliff Gorman, Paul Anka, Jerry Baker

    1:00
MOVIE—Comedy
“Ruggles of Red Gap” (1935)

    3:00
YOU DON’T SAY!—Game -C- 

    3:30
MISTER ED—Comedy

    4:00
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN -C- 

    4:30
FLINTSTONES—Children -C- 

    5:00
RIFLEMAN—Western

    5:30
LOST IN SPACE—Adventure

EVENING

    6:30
PETTICOAT JUNCTION -C- 

    7:00
I LOVE LUCY—Comedy

    7:30
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES -C- 

    8:00
TO TELL THE TRUTH -C- 
Panel: Kitty Carlisle, Peggy Cass, Bill Cullen, Gene Rayburn

    8:30
DAVID FROST -C- 
Guest: Johnny Cash

  10:00
NEWS—Bill Jorgensen -C- 

  11:00
ALFRED HITCHCOCK—Drama

  11:30
MOVIE—Drama
“Dante’s Inferno” (1935)

    1:15
WELLS FARGO—Western



 6  WPVI (PHILADELPHIA) (ABC)

MORNING

    6:30
OPERATION ALPHABET -C- 

    7:00
THUNDERBIRDS—Children -C- 

    7:30
CAPTAIN NOAH -C- 

    8:30
POPEYE THEATER -C- 

    9:00
LUCILLE RIVERS—Sewing -C- 

    9:10
CONNIE ROUSSIN -C- 

    9:20
NEWS -C- 

    9:30
TARGET—Interview -C- 

  10:00
MY LITTLE MARGIE—Comedy

  10:30
SUBJECT—Discussion -C- 

  11:00
STAGE 6—Variety -C- 

  11:30
THAT GIRL -C- 

AFTERNOON

  12:00
BEWITCHED -C- 

  12:30
WORLD APART -C- 

    1:00
ALL MY CHILDREN -C- 

    1:30
LET’S MAKE A DEAL—Game -C- 

    2:00
NEWLYWED GAME -C- 

    2:30
DATING GAME -C- 

    3:00
GENERAL HOSPITAL -C- 

    3:30
MOVIE GAME -C- 
Guests: James Stewart, Janet Blair, James Coburn, John Forsythe, Hurd Hatfield Sally Kellerman

    4:00
PASSWORD -C- 
Guests: Mel Tormé, Pat Caroll. Host: Allen Ludden

    4:30
I LOVE LUCY—Comedy

    5:00
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES -C- 

    5:30
TO TELL THE TRUTH -C- 

EVENING

    6:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

    6:30
ABC NEWS—Smith/Reasoner -C- 

    7:00
WHAT’S MY LINE?—Game -C- 
Panel: Sandy Duncan, Arlene Francis, Henry Morgan, Soupy Sales

    7:30
KING FAMILY—Songs -C- 
Special

    8:30
BEWITCHED -C- 

    9:00
MAKE ROOM FOR GRANDDADDY -C- 

    9:30
DAN AUGUST -C- 

  10:30
DEVON PREVIEW -C- 
Special

  11:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

  11:30
DICK CAVETT -C- 

    1:00
RIFLEMAN—Western



 7  WABC (NEW YORK CITY) (ABC)

MORNING

    7:00
LISTEN AND LEARN

    7:30
A.M. NEW YORK -C- 

    9:00
MANTRAP—Discussion -C- 
Guest: Alvin Karpis. Panel: Sharon Acker, Nina Foch, Carol Wayne. Host: Al Hamel

    9:30
MOVIE—Drama -C- 
“Black Widow” (1954)

  11:30
THAT GIRL -C- 

AFTERNOON

  12:00
BEWITCHED -C- 

  12:30
WORLD APART -C- 

    1:00
ALL MY CHILDREN -C- 

    1:30
LET’S MAKE A DEAL—Game -C- 

    2:00
NEWLYWED GAME -C- 

    2:30
DATING GAME -C- 

    3:00
GENERAL HOSPITAL -C- 

    3:30
ONE LIFE TO LIVE -C- 

    4:00
PASSWORD -C- 
Guests: Mel Tormé, Pat Caroll. Host: Allen Ludden

    4:30
MOVIE—Comedy -C- 
“Good Neighbor Sam” (1964)

EVENING

    6:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

    7:00
ABC NEWS—Smith/Reasoner -C- 

    7:30
ALIAS SMITH AND JONES—Western -C- 

    8:30
BEWITCHED -C- 

    9:00
MAKE ROOM FOR GRANDDADDY -C- 

    9:30
DAN AUGUST -C- 

  10:30
THIS IS YOUR LIFE -C- 
Surprise guest: Shirley Jones. Guests: Jack Cassidy, Richard Rodgers, Cameron Mitchell, “Partridge Family” children

  11:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

  11:30
DICK CAVETT -C- 

    1:00
MOVIE—Drama
“Terror of the Bloodhunters” (English; 1962)



 9  WOR (NEW YORK CITY) (Ind.)

MORNING

    7:30
NEWS AND WEATHER -C- 

    8:00
FRIENDLY GIANT—Children -C- 

    8:30
ROMPER ROOM -C- 

    9:30
JOURNEY TO ADVENTURE -C- 

  10:00
JOE FRANKLIN -C- 

  11:00
REAL McCOYS—Comedy

  11:30
FIRESIDE THEATER—Drama

AFTERNOON

  12:00
LORETTA YOUNG—Drama

  12:30
MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY

    1:00
MOVIE—Drama
“Mrs. Mike” (1949)

    2:55
NEWS -C- 

    3:00
VIRGINIA GRAHAM -C- 
Guests: Richard Deacon, Karen Morrow, Henny Youngman, Germaine Greer

    4:00
CANDID CAMERA

    4:30
MOVIE—Adventure
“Mighty Joe Young” (1949)

EVENING

    6:00
TROUBLE WITH TRACY -C- 

    6:30
DICK VAN DYKE—Comedy

    7:00
WHAT’S MY LINE?—Game
Panel: Arlene Francis, Anita Gillette, Gene Rayburn, Soupy Sales

    7:30
NEWS—Bill Ryan -C- 

    8:00
MOVIE—Drama
“Bombardier” (1943)

  10:00
I SPY—Drama -C- 

  11:00
MOVIE—Drama
“Brute Force” (1947)

    1:05
JOE FRANKLIN -C- 

    2:05
NEWS AND WEATHER



10 WCAU (PHILADELPHIA) (CBS)

MORNING

    6:00
SUNRISE SEMESTER -C- 
Modern Linguistics

    6:30
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY SEMINAR—20th Century Art -C- 

    7:00
CBS NEWS—John Hart -C- 

    8:00
CAPTAIN KANGAROO -C- 

    9:00
BETTY HUGHES—Variety -C- 
Guest: Mickey Rooney Jr.

    9:55
NEWS—Edith Huggins -C- 

  10:00
LUCILLE BALL -C- 

  10:30
BEVERLY HILLBILLIES -C- 

  11:00
FAMILY AFFAIR -C- 

  11:30
LOVE OF LIFE -C- 

AFTERNOON

  12:00
WHERE THE HEART IS -C- 

  12:25
CBS NEWS—Edwards -C- 

  12:30
SEARCH FOR TOMORROW -C- 

    1:00
GALLOPING GOURMET -C- 

    1:30
AS THE WORLD TURNS -C- 

    2:00
LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING -C- 

    2:30
GUIDING LIGHT -C- 

    3:00
SECRET STORM -C- 

    3:30
EDGE OF NIGHT -C- 

    4:00
GOMER PYLE, USMC -C- 

    4:30
MOVIE—Comedy
“Without Reservations” (1946)

EVENING

    6:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

    7:00
CBS NEWS—Cronkite -C- 

    7:30
FAMILY AFFAIR -C- 

    8:00
JIM NABORS -C- 
[Last show of series. Next week, the Western “Lancer” returns.]

    9:00
MOVIE—Thriller -C- 
“Chamber of Horrors” (1966)

  11:00
NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS -C- 

  11:30
MERV GRIFFIN -C- 
Guest: Glen Campbell (in Las Vegas)

    1:00
MOVIE—Melodrama
“Larceny” (1948)

    2:35
NEWS -C- 



11 WPIX (NEW YORK CITY) (Ind.)

MORNING

    7:45
NEWS -C- 

    8:00
POPEYE—Children -C- 

    9:30
LUCILLE RIVERS—Sewing -C- 

    9:40
JACK LA LANNE—Exercise -C- 

  10:00
TELL ME DR. BROTHERS -C- 

  10:30
GOURMET—David Wade -C- 

  11:00
YOUR LEGAL RIGHT -C- 

  11:30
KIMBA—Children -C- 

AFTERNOON

  12:00
UNDERDOG—Cartoon -C- 

  12:20
LUCILLE RIVERS—Sewing -C- 

  12:30
MOVIE—Mystery
“Death of a Champion” (1939)

    2:00
BLACK PRIDE -C- 

    2:25
NEWS -C- 

    2:30
FATHER KNOWS BEST

    3:00
POPEYE—Children -C- 

    3:30
FELIX THE CAT—Children -C- 

    4:00
MAGILLA GORILLA -C- 

    4:30
PETER POTAMUS—Cartoon -C- 

    5:00
TIMMY AND LASSIE—Drama

    5:30
ADDAMS FAMILY—Comedy

EVENING

    6:00
DAISIES—Comedy -C- 

    6:30
BEAT THE CLOCK—Game -C- 
Guest: Soupy Sales

    7:00
I DREAM OF JEANNIE -C- 

    7:30
FATHER KNOWS BEST

    8:00
MOVIE GAME -C- 
Celebrities: Earl Holliman, Shirley Jones, Agnes Moorehead, Burt Reynolds, Alan Sues, Stuart Whitman. Host: Larry Blyden

    8:30
N.Y.P.D.—Crime Drama -C- 

    9:00
SOMETHING SPECIAL -C- 
Special: Host: Eartha Kitt. Guest: Sergio Mendez and Brasil ‘66

  10:00
NEWS—Nelson/Ramsey -C- 

  11:00
WESTERNERS—Drama

  11:30
MOVIE—Drama
“The Concrete Jungle” (English; 1960)

    1:00
NEWS—Roy Whitfield -C- 



12 WHYY (PHILADELPHIA) (PBS)

MORNING

    9:00
SESAME STREET -C- 

  10:00
CLASSROOM—Education

AFTERNOON

  12:00
CLASSROOM—Continued

    4:00
SESAME STREET -C- 

    5:00
MISTER ROGERS -C- 

    5:30
HODGEPODGE LODGE -C- 

EVENING

    6:00
LOCAL NEWS—Don Dunwell

    6:30
WHAT’S NEW—Children

    7:00
FOLK GUITAR

    7:30
DESIGNING WOMEN -C- 

    8:00
WASHINGTON: WEEK IN REVIEW -C- 

    8:30
SAN FRANCISCO MIX -C- 

    9:00
DAVID SUSSKIND -C- 

  10:45
FILM

  11:00
LOCAL NEWS—Al Campagnone



13 WNET (NEW YORK CITY) (PBS)

MORNING

    8:30
CHILDREN OF THE WORLD -C- 

    9:00
SESAME STREET -C- 

  10:00
CLASSROOM—Education

AFTERNOON

    4:00
SESAME STREET -C- 

    5:00
MISTER ROGERS -C- 

    5:30
HODGEPODGE LODGE -C- 

EVENING

    6:00
WHAT’S NEW—Children

    6:30
PETE SEEGER -C- 

    7:30
NEW JERSEY SPEAKS

    8:00
WASHINGTON: WEEK IN REVIEW -C- 

    8:30
NET PLAYHOUSE
Biography: Rossini

  10:00
SOUL! -C- 
Guests: Thelonious Monk, Anna Horsford, George Faison’s Dance Experience



17 WPHL (PHILADELPHIA) (Ind.)

AFTERNOON

  12:00
JEOPARDY—Game -C- 

  12:30
WHO, WHAT OR WHERE—Game -C- 

  12:55
NBC NEWS—Floyd Kalber -C- 

    1:00
ONE LIFE TO LIVE -C- 

    1:30
JOE GARAGIOLA’S MEMORY GAME -C- 

    2:00
JACK LA LANNE—Exercise -C- 

    2:30
MANTRAP—Discussion -C- 
Guest: Paul D. Saltman. Panel: Abby Dalton, Suzanne Somers, June Callwood

    3:00
ASTROBOY—Children

    3:30
KING KONG—Children -C- 

    4:00
LONE RANGER—Children -C- 

    4:30
THREE STOOGES—Children 

    5:00
SPEED RACER—Children -C- 

    5:30
SPIDERMAN—Children -C- 

EVENING

    6:00
GILLIGAN’S ISLAND—Comedy

    6:30
DANIEL BOONE—Adventure -C- 

    7:30
OF LANDS AND SEAS -C- 

    8:30
MOVIE—Western
“Invitation to a Gunfighter” (1964)

  10:30
M SQUAD—Crime Drama

  11:00
CAN YOU TOP THIS? -C- 
Guests: Morey Amsterdam, Stu Gilliam, Soupy Sales

  11:30
MOVIE—Drama
“Sailor of the King” (1953)



29 WTAF (PHILADELPHIA) (Ind.)

MORNING

    9:00
NEWS WATCH -C- 

    9:25
BLACK HISTORY -C- 

    9:30
QUICK DRAW McGRAW -C- 

  10:00
ROMPER ROOM—Children -C- 

  10:55
COVER UP WITH ADELE -C- 

  11:00
SKIPPER RYLE—Children -C- 

AFTERNOON

  12:00
POPEYE & PALS—Children -C- 

  12:30
BOZO—Children -C- 

    1:00
PHIL DONAHUE -C- 
Guest: Jean Nidetch

    1:55
COVER UP WITH ADELE -C- 

    2:00
PAY CARDS!—Game -C- 

    2:30
HONEYMOONERS—Comedy

    2:55
BLACK HISTORY -C- 

    3:00
ADDAMS FAMILY—Comedy

    3:30
DENNIS THE MENACE—Comedy

    4:00
ADAM, POPEYE & PALS -C- 

    5:00
HAVE GUN—WILL TRAVEL

    5:30
MARSHAL DILLON—Western

EVENING

    6:00
FLYING NUN—Comedy -C- 

    6:30
I DREAM OF JEANNIE

    7:00
DRAGNET—Crime Drama -C- 

    7:30
STEVE ALLEN -C- 
Guest: Marty Ingels

    9:00
VIRGINIA GRAHAM -C- 
Guests: Henry Morgan, Earl Wilson, Chuck Braverman, Gerri Granger, Dan Price

  10:00
PHIL DONAHUE -C- 
Guest: Jean Nidetch

  11:00
NEWS PROBE -C- 

  11:30
ROLLER DERBY

  12:00
NEWS WATCH -C- 

  12:35
BLACK HISTORY -C- 




48 WKBS (PHILADELPHIA) (Ind.)

AFTERNOON

  12:00
NEWS—Carl Grant -C- 

  12:30
DICKORY DOC CARTOONS -C- 

    1:00
MOVIE—Drama -C- 
“A Worman’s Secret” (1949)

    2:50
NEWS

    3:00
KIMBA—Children -C- 

    3:30
BANANA SPLITS -C- 

    5:00
MUNSTERS—Comedy

    5:30
GET SMART—Comedy -C- 

EVENING

    6:00
STAR TREK—Drama -C- 

    7:00
DICK VAN DYKE—Comedy

    7:30
IT TAKES A THIEF -C- 

    8:30
CANDID CAMERA
Guest: Betsy Palmer

    9:00
AVENGERS -C- 

  10:00
PERRY MASON—Mystery

  11:00
ALFRED HITCHCOCK—Drama

  11:30
MOVIE—Science Fiction -C- 
“The 10th Victim” (Italian; 1965)

TV  
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8 comments
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8 comments:

  1. JonMay 18, 2020 at 11:05 AM

    It's nice to see that WPHL-TV was carrying the shows that Philadelphia-s NBC & ABC affiliates aren't carrying. JOE GARAGIOLA'S MEMORY GAME is the first game show I remember seeing, as I could see it early afternoon after my half-day Kindergarten class was over for the day. I think I can still hum the theme song. I'd love to see it if it's ever released from the UCLA Archives in watchable form.

    I just noticed that Suzanne Somers was on the panel for WPHL's MANTRAP, years before she was well-known on THREE'S COMPANY. Was this the type of show where women discuss how rotten men are? By that name, I could make that guess anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. chckMay 18, 2020 at 6:44 PM

      Suzanne Somers btw, is Mrs. Alan Hamel

      Delete
    2. rfelderMay 18, 2020 at 7:56 PM

      Channel 29 WTAF-TV now WTSF-TV also carried network programming for kYW-TV> At that time KYW-TV was an NBC affiliate an didn't carry lots of daytime NBC shows so the local independents all UHF carried them at one tie or another.

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    3. Mike DoranMay 18, 2020 at 10:27 PM

      Welcome once again to More Than You Wanted To Know!

      Mantrap was a syndicated talker, produced in Vancouver BC for the Canadian CTV network.
      The producer/host was Alan Hamel - and if that name is familiar, you likely recall him as Mr. Suzanne Somers (from the Three's Company contract kerfuffle - which was another story).
      The premise was that Mr. Hamel and three female celebs would quiz male guests on Subjects Of Import; Ms. Somers was the anchor of the panel (this was where she and Mr. Hamel became business partners).
      This series wasn't picked up by any Chicago station, so I never actually saw it.
      However, Harlan Ellison, during the time he was writing his Glass Teat column, went to Vancouver to appear on Mantrap - and wrote his shot up therein (March 26, 1971, the 100th column, to be found in the second collection, The Other Glass Teat).
      It might surprise you to learn that Harlan's recounting of his experience on Mantrap was largely positive.
      He seemed to get along quite well with Mrs. Somers/Hamel, as well as the other two panelists, who were Meredith McRae (just demobbed from Petticoat Junction) and Margot Kidder (well before her movie breakthrough, but getting to be popular in her native Canada).
      As I said, you can, if you wish, find the whole account in Ellison's Other Glass Teat, which his estate is keeping in print.
      Oh, by the bye, Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel married in 1977, and remain so to this day.

      Just So You Know …

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    4. Mark J.May 24, 2020 at 8:44 PM

      "Mantrap" was seen in Chicago on WFLD. The theme was a Patrick Williams piece from the same album so many radio and TV shows used. And the co-producer was Dick Clark, who was heard in the show's final segment reading plugs for the gifts audience members received for asking questions to the guest and panel.

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    5. j gillespieJune 6, 2020 at 4:52 PM

      Alan Hamel was also pretty well known a few years later as the commercial spokesman for Acme supermarkets

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    6. tomservo56954June 14, 2020 at 11:46 AM

      What was Somers known for to be picked for MANTRAP at the time? This was even before being the blonde in the T-Bird in AMERICAN GRAFFITI.

      And J. Gillespie...Hamel was better known for doing the ads for the Southern California Alpha Beta grocery chain--Acme was in the East. Did he do those as well?


      Paul Duca

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  2. JonMay 18, 2020 at 11:07 AM

    I see that WNEW-TV is carrying YOU DON'T SAY! more than a year after NBC cancelled the show. It would be great if this station still has tapes of this show, since NBC didn't save them.

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