DAILY DIRT: Was it really 50 years ago when we were watching these shows?

Daily Dirt for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025

Well, there were at least three that never watched in the Eighinger household … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,188 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Remember back when watching TV was simple?

Back in the days when there were just three networks and we didn’t have to worry about missing something featured only on cable or satellite?

For the next three days we’re going to celebrate those days of yore. Our first list of featured programs are the top 10 shows from 50 years ago — 1975. (I know, I know. It’s hard to believe 1975 was 50 years ago … )

How many chilly January evenings in ’75 did you spend watching any or all of the following?

1. “All in the Family” (CBS): How good was this show? It pushed the envelope so far it almost needed a second postage stamp. Whenever the topic concerns the best show in TV history, “All in the Family” deserves to be in the conversation.

2. “LaVerne and Shirley” (ABC): There are three programs in this top 10 I truly detested, and this is No. 1. I didn’t care for ANY of the principal characters, especially Lenny and Squiggy.

3. “Rich Man, Poor Man” (ABC): If you’re an old-school TV follower, you’ll remember how popular “mini-series” like this were for about a decade.

4. “Maude” (CBS): Here’s another stinker. How this show made it past one season will forever baffle me.

5. “The Bionic Woman” (ABC): A spinoff of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” Lindsay Wagner’s prime-time entry wound up being the most popular of the two.

6. “Phyllis” (CBS): The Mary Tyler Moore-Rhoda-Phyllis troika was gold for CBS. 

7. “Sanford and Son” (NBC): This one completes the “ugh” trio. Obviously, I was in the minority with my feelings on all three.

8. “The Six Million Dollar Man” (ABC): The bionic novelty wore off rather quickly.

9. “Rhoda” (CBS): Although Rhoda (Valerie Morgenstern) deserved her own show, I always wished she had stayed a part of the “Mary Tyler Moore” ensemble. 

10. “Happy Days” (ABC): Whenever I watch an occasional rerun of this program, it’s hard to accept Ron Howard once had hair.

Next Up: 55 years ago, 1970.

2. Did you know (Part 261)

• That Americans consume 50 percent of the world’s chocolate.
• That Rice Krispies is now offering three kinds of ice cream sandwiches: Original, Strawberry and Chocolate. In addition, there is going to be a Rice Krispies Ice Cream. All of these items should be in a supermarket near you in the coming weeks.
• That American cheese is not actually American. It was invented in Switzerland in 1911.
• That people in The Netherlands drink the most coffee of anyone in the world. They average 2.5 cups per day.
• That Australians eat the most meat, averaging 200 pounds per year per individual.

3. Fox TV college football analyst Joel Klatt has released his “way too early” preseason top 10 for the 2025 season:

• 1. Penn State: An excellent choice, punctuated by the hiring of former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
• 2. Texas: The Arch Manning era begins. I’m excited, and I’m not even a Longhorns fan.
• 3. Ohio State: The cupboard is far from bare, but the Buckeyes will be losing A LOT to the NFL draft.
• 4. Georgia: Kirby Smart remains my No. 1 coach in the nation.
• 5. Oregon: Probably a bit high. The Ducks are more likely closer to No. 10.
• 6. Notre Dame: I love what Marcus Freeman is building in South Bend.
• 7. Clemson: Way overrated. Clemson might be a top-15 team at best.
• 8. Miami: Nope.
• 9. LSU: Double nope. This is likely Brian Kelly’s last season in Baton Rouge.
• 10. Michigan: Personally, I’d have Michigan in at least the top six.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Did you ever consider that in your life there are two days that will not last 24 hours — the day you were born and the day when you die.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. People are usually high when they are in Oregon.