Around the dial

Cult TV Lounge takes a relatively short trip back to the 1990s (I still have a hard time realizing that the '90s are 30 years ago) with the Japanese anime OVA Cyber City Oedo 808, directed by the great Yoshiaki Kawajiri, with obvious nods to the William Gibson and Philip K. Dick. If you're a fan, it wouldn't hurt to check it out.

Also worth checking out is the latest episode of The Guardians, brought to us by John at Cult TV Blog. In part five, we pick up the dystopic story in progress following an assassination, with bodies and orgies left and right. And who, or what, is Quarmby anyway? Is this the direction we're headed in? Or are we already there?

One of my fond memories of childhood is watching wrestling on TV with my grandfather, with the result that I always had a soft spot for the sport, even when it seems like it's bordering on depravity. Paul has similar memories, and at Drunk TV he revisits them with the 2007 documentary The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling, a searching look at the WCCW's ups and downs.

At Comfort TV, David's perusal through prime time in the 1970s continues with Wednesday, 1974. What was it like? How about Get Christie Love!, Cannon, Little House on the Prairie, and Petrocelli? I'm betting most of you remember most of these, but there are bound to be some that you haven't thought of for awhile, if ever.

At Eyes of a Generation, Bobby gives us a unique look at "the battle for television," circa 1945. Not only do you get some interesting graphics on early TV equipment, you get insight into the rivalry between RCA and CBS over their "different techincal approaches to television." They were even talking about color TV in 1945; find out more about what might have been.

It's been 25 years (1) since Garry Berman's first book, Best of the Britcoms, and this week he takes a look back some of the glorious British panel shows that display such typically British "wit, speed, and spontaneity." Be sure to take some time to watch the clips that Garry has included, among which a show called 8 Out Of 10 Cats, which you can't miss.

In the mood for some TV-movies? Well, then, head on over to Reelweegiemidget, where Gill (with some help from Darlin Husband) shares some of the teleflicks they watched over this summer. Some you'll recognize, some you won't, and some you'll want to check out. And after all, isn't that what a good reviewer is for?

I don't have to tell you that it's been a rough time for some of our heroes of the past, which makes me even more glad to share Terence's latest at A Shroud of Thoughts, which is not an obituary! It's a look back at his memories of Sunday night television while he was growing up. He and I are of roughly the same era, and I can certainly identify with those memories.

At Television's New Frontier: The 1960s, we're in 1962, and the beginning of McHale's Navy, the drama that became a comedy. The show owes its roots to Car 54, Where Are You? and The Phil Silvers Show, but falls short of them in several ways. Still, a lot of you have fond memories of the show, and you'll want to see the many faces that appeared on your TV during that season.

As Travalanche notes, many of us associate Sally Struthers with a single, and singular, role: that of Gloria on All in the Family. There's been a lot more to her career than that, though, and it's good to be reminded that she's done movies, live theater, voice-overs, and guest spots on many shows, both before and after marrying the Meathead.

Roger has an interesting observation at the outset of his review of The Avengers episode "Fog" at The View from the Junkyard: it's all right to acknowledge that "the things we love don't have to be perfect." And that's true; you'll notice that when I really pick a show apart because of its implausibilities, it's not just the nits: it's likely that I'm not being entertained.

xx TV