CPO Sharkey starring Don Rickles with guests The Dickies

I'm on a real Don Rickles kick right now, so let's watch a bit of his late seventies sitcom, CPO Sharkey (1976-78). He isn't really in the second clip at all, but its footage from the obligatory punk rock episode!

This is Tom Jones Commericial

This footage was originally posted on the amazing Bedazzled TV site that showcases a plethora of rare footage for both online viewing and ordering. Strange commercials, forgotten television shows, oddball celebrity endorsements, and plenty of hard to find garage rock footage abounds over there. Make sure to check it out.

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with guest Jim Henson (1974)

I believe Johnny introduces him as Jim Jenson in this clip. It originally aired in January of 1974, but this performance originated about a decade earlier. The creepy electronic music was composed by Raymond "Powerhouse" Scott.

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with guest Sammy Davis Jr

Great Carson fun - seems like something is always getting wrecked, stained or destroyed in these old clips.

The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder (1976) - Footage Offline - 7/20/08

Originally airing February 4th, 1976 this episode of The Tomorrow Show features Star Trek as the topic with guests James Doohan, Walter Koenig and DeForrest Kelly. Harlan Ellison shows up as well and proves that he was an ass long before this whole Fantagraphics debacle.

The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder (1977) - Footage Offline - 6/22/08

Tom Snyder reunites the cast of the 1950s Superman television series, The Adventures of Superman (it has recently been released on DVD). And just so you know what this is all about, here's an ad for the Superman show too.

The Mike Douglas Show with guests The Supremes (1973)

The Mike Douglas Show with guests The Supremes (1976)

The Mike Douglas Show with guests The Supremes (1977)

The Joey Bishop Show with guest Sammy Davis Jr (1968)

The Joey Bishop Show was a late night talk show that ran from April 17, 1967 to spring of 1969 on ABC. It was ABC's attempt to compete with NBC's Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and of course it failed. Each episode was ninety minutes in length. ABC offered Bishop his own late night talk show after seeing how competent he seemed to be guest hosting for Carson. As you will see at the start of this clip, his sidekick was Regis Philbin. Previously this timeslot had been held by a news discussion program called The Les Crane Show. When Joey was canceled, he was replaced by Dick Cavett. Bishop's talk show should not be confused with his sitcom of the same name that ran from 1961-1965. That show is on DVD but the talk show is not.

To read what kind of a connection Joey Bishop had Canadian mobsters check out this article - part one and part two.

This episode of The Joey Bishop Show features cameos from Joey Bishop's brother and Sammy Davis Senior! Originally aired February 1968.

Comic book historian and old showbiz fan Mark Evanier tells an interesting story about a Regis Philbin controversy that once occured on The Joey Bishop Show:

One of his highest ratings came after a taping when Regis Philbin abruptly announced that he was quitting the show. The one day delay worked to the show's benefit that time. The news spread and much of America tuned in to hear Philbin announce -- apparently stunning Joey -- that the network had never wanted him in the first place and that he had endured too much criticism from them that he was dragging down the show. A few nights later, everyone watched again to hear Bishop announce that everything had been smoothed over, after which he welcomed Regis back to the show. The incident gave Joey two of the few nights he beat Carson but several TV critics suggested it was all an arranged stunt.

The Tonight Show with Steve Allen (1953) - Footage Offline - 06/18/08

A clip from the premiere episode of The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, at the time known as Tonight!

The Jacksons with guest Redd Foxx (1977)

Redd Foxx dances with Michael Jackson in this opening sequence of The Jacksons variety show.