Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2020 September 26

= September 26 =

"McGiver" in 1964?
I just happened across an article written by Blake Edwards and distributed in July 1964 by the New York Times service. In the article, Edwards talks about how the ratings successes of situation comedy shows have led the networks to order more of them:


 * The frequency with which Andy Griffith, Beverly Hillbillies, Dick Van Dyke, Petticoat Junction, Danny Thomas and their comedy confreres pop up on the Top Ten [ratings] list has encouraged the fitting of many more prospective laugh shows into those golden prime time hours. Gomer Pyle, McGiver, No Time for Sergeants, Valentine's Day, Living Doll, Gilligan's Island and a half dozen other newcomers seem to be dedicated to the proposition that all TV viewers are waiting for the punchlines of more situation comedies.

Note the one title that I haven't linked and have put in boldface instead. This obviously doesn't mean MacGyver, because that didn't start until 1985 and it wasn't a sitcom anyway. But I can't find anything in the IMDB or Wikipedia about a McGiver, MacGiver, or any similar name (that I thought to try) that it might mean. Does this ring any bells for anybody, in a 1964 context? Just curious. --174.89.48.182 (talk) 22:52, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * No bells. McHale's Navy fits the slot, but quite far away from "McGiver". ---Sluzzelin talk  22:58, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * The actor John McGiver was in a 1964-65 sitcom called Many Happy Returns. Just clutching at straws here. --  Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  23:03, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Here is a link to 1964–65 United States network television schedule - whoo wee that is a memory lane stroll. Reading through it makes me think JackofOz's straw might be the right one to clutch :-) MarnetteD&#124;Talk 23:20, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Trying a Google Books search, I found a brief snippet from Broadcasting magazine in 1963 that includes "titled The John McGiver Show". I suspect that it was an announced show that never came to fruition. Cullen328  Let's discuss it  23:25, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Another possibility is that it was the original name of what later became Many Happy Returns (TV series), the only show that McGiver ever starred in. Cullen328  Let's discuss it  23:30, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * The name change is the more likely possibility C. I don't think that an unmade show would have figured into Edward's list of "laugh shows." MarnetteD&#124;Talk 23:45, 26 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Makes sense; I think that must be it. Which means that all 5 "newcomers" were shows that would debut in September 1964.  Presumably the network decided that McGiver wasn't famous enough to title his show after him. --174.89.48.182 (talk) 00:08, 27 September 2020 (UTC)