Oh, they don't make 'em like this anymore.
After the jump is a video from the NBC 60th Anniversary show in 1986 (very interesting). It's rather surreal. We get to see Bea Arthur, Nell Carter, Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrett from Facts of Life), Marla Gibbs, and Alfonso Ribiero sing a song about "family." That's the NBC family, that is, as all of them were starring on shows at the time (Facts of Life, Golden Girls, Gimme A Break, 227, and Silver Spoons). Punky Brewster herself makes an appearance too, but only to say three words and gives a thumbs up. Barbara Eden introduces the song. The most cringe-worthy moment isn't any of the singing, it's when Gibbs and Carter pass each other on the stairs and casually say that they love each other's shows.
Can you imagine a network doing this now? I want to see Hugh Laurie, Stewie, the guys from Prison Break, Marge Simpson, and Gordon Ramsay get on stage at the next Emmy Awards and sing about the FOX family.
[via Best Week Ever]
TV Squad Ten: Events from The West Wing that wouldn't really happen
The Emmy Nominations
TV 101: Do we have more TV channels than we do TV talent? 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-19-2008 @ 2:14PM
Duane said...
All I could think of at the opening of this video was a few weeks back on How I Met Your Mother how Marshall got all choked up when he realized that Nell Carter died.
Why would NBC have had to say what show every actor came from? That seems the oddest thing of all.
Reply
5-19-2008 @ 2:44PM
MarcDom7 said...
Come on, TVSquad. We found this over a year ago. First "Child Island," now this.
Reply
5-19-2008 @ 3:02PM
Ian said...
My God, Carlton was young! And not Carlton yet!
Reply
5-19-2008 @ 4:28PM
Tacocartguy said...
Does this have anything to do with the debut of the new logo? Because that happened in '86 also
Reply
5-20-2008 @ 9:36PM
Gene Cowan said...
I remember watching that special -- I even taped it on my SuperBeta Hi-Fi!
All through the show they used the old NBC peacock, then right at the end of the special they debuted the new logo surrounded by all the NBC stars.
I think that was the last of the old-time television moments, when a network had a heritage and history. Now they're just big conglomerates with no heritage and no connection to their viewers. :(
5-19-2008 @ 8:35PM
nick said...
I miss the network fall campaigns they used to run in late summer, such as....
ABC's "You'll Love It" (1985)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsiymF_UT_I
"Somethings Happening" (1989)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--OqVAJVuWU
"We're With You" (1984)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUjM92VF6_Q
"Still The One" (1977)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkoaH8huC50
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