Remember when summer was the time the networks hung out the "Gone Fishing" sign and turned out the lights until September? Ah, the good ol' days.
Well, they didn't exactly close shop completely. Summer was the time for reruns. That allowed us to catch up with the episodes we missed during the regular season. I recall one survey that suggested that during a regular season, even loyal viewers managed to see only 12 or 13 episodes of their favorite programs.
In the summer of 1997, NBC tried to capitalize on that with an ad campaign that used the catchphrase "If you haven't seen it, it's new to you." Over time, the advent of cable, VCRs, DVRs and On Demand killed the encores.
But back in the day, TV stars worked 39 weeks a year (it's around 22 weeks currently) and took the summer off. Other than repeats, the void was filled with short-term replacement series. I remember such fun fare as sultry '60s sex kitten Joey Heatherton's monthlong Joey and Dad, mimes Shields and Yarnell and Tony Orlando and Dawn.
Who remembers 1972's The Jerry Reed When You're Hot, You're Hot Hour on CBS or The Ken Berry "Wow" Show on ABC?
Want to feel old? The once ubiquitous blond bombshell Heatherton is 73 these days and dropped off the radar around 2002.
That brings us to today and the wide variety of outstanding programming that fills in the hot summer months. These shows frequently don't receive the publicity that others do and viewers often miss notification of when they'll be on.
So, to save a few emails, here's a list of some of the shows still ahead for July and August. The TV Column will be covering them as they arrive.
Today: Power (Starz).
July 6: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Netflix); Anne with an E (Netflix).
July 8: Sharp Objects (HBO).
July 10: Heathers (Paramount); The Outpost (The CW).
July 11: Harlots (Hulu); TKO: Total Knock Out (CBS).
July 18: Suits (USA).
July 19: Trial & Error: Lady Killer (NBC); Snowfall (FX).
July 20: Wynonna Earp (Syfy); Killjoys (Syfy); Outcast (Cinemax).
July 24: Miz & Mrs. (USA).
July 25: Castle Rock (Hulu); Burden of Truth (The CW).
July 26: The Great Food Truck Race (Food Network).
July 31: Making It (NBC).
Aug. 1: The Sinner (USA).
Aug. 3: Animals (HBO).
Aug. 6: Better Call Saul (AMC); Lodge 48 (AMC).
August 7: Bachelor in Paradise (ABC); Castaways (ABC).
August 10: All About the Washingtons (Netflix).
Aug. 12: Ballers (HBO); Insecure (HBO); Fear the Walking Dead (AMC).
August 15: Born This Way (A&E).
August 24: The Innocents (Netflix).
Aug. 31: Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (Amazon).
As with all television, summer TV goes from the sublime (Better Call Saul) to the ridiculous (Bachelor in Paradise).
• Barring Roseanne. In case you didn't get the memo, ABC has ordered a 10-episode Roseanne spinoff without Roseanne Barr for this fall. Despite being a huge ratings success, the rebooted Roseanne was canceled after its eponymous star went on what has been labeled "a racist Twitter rant."
Even though Barr quickly deleted the tweet, apologized and asked for forgiveness for her "bad taste," the damage was done. ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said, "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show."
The new series, currently titled The Conners, will star the familiar Roseanne cast -- John Goodman (Dan), Laurie Metcalf (Jackie), Sara Gilbert (Darlene), Lecy Goranson (Becky) and Michael Fishman (D.J.).
The series is set to air Tuesdays at 7 p.m. with a premiere date to be announced. ABC says Barr "will have no financial or creative involvement in the new series."
All ABC will say about The Conners premise is "after a sudden turn of events, the Conners are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before. Through it all ... the family prevails."
A "sudden turn of events?" Does that mean the show will kill off Roseanne? Send her to rehab? Have her abducted by aliens? We'll see.
In a joint statement, the returning cast said, "We all came back last season because we wanted to tell stories about the challenges facing a working-class family today. We are so happy to have the opportunity ... to continue to share those stories through love and laughter."
About ABC's decision, Barr said, "I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from Roseanne. I agreed to the settlement in order that 200 jobs of beloved cast and crew could be saved, and I wish the best for everyone involved."
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 07/01/2018