11/21/2007
Last time, you remember, we were talking about the lists that you blog readers had sent (or posted on the Yahoo Groups Svengoolieweb group) of your Top Ten Local TV Icons. This was in response to the TV Land Top 50 TV Icons list, featuring national TV luminaries.
I think a lot of people must have different ideas of what an icon is, as you’ll see. Some lists were totally devoid of any news or sports people, some were loaded with commercial spokespeople and puppets, and some were…radio guys. To define (at least, in MY mind)- an icon should be someone who has made a significant contribution to the local TV scene- not just a lovable character, or someone who’s been on the air since black and white TV. The icon should mean something to the business and the viewers, and not strictly on an emotional level. I think making a list really is a tough call, because there would be somewhat of a difference between someone who was a pioneer of early local TV that many people may not be aware of anymore- and someone more contemporary- not that either should be excluded.
Let’s share some of the opinions:
Oprah was mentioned, and some people felt she should not be included. I think she should, even if I’m not the biggest Oprah fan- she turned what was essentially just another local morning show into a local- then, national phenomenon.
There were plenty of mentions of the Channel 9 stalwarts- Fraiser Thomas, Ned Locke, Bob Bell, Roy Brown and Ray Rayner-plus, many of their characters- Bozo, Andy Starr, Sgt. Pettibone, etc. On the UHF dial, people brought up my mentor, Jerry G. Bishop, and Bill Jackson. On the pioneer side, we had Burr Tillstrom and Kukla Fran and Ollie, Dave Garroway, and Studs Turkel.
I was surprised so few people brought up sports icons like Harry Caray or Jack Brickhouse, or news people like Fahey Flynn, Bill Curtis, or Alex Drier. I was confused by the icon nominations for “the guy with the long hair in the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial,” Hardrock, Coco and Joe, Susie Snowflake, and the Blob. Again, does just being a character you’ve seen forever, or a character you really like that’s become a holiday tradition necessarily mean it’s made a significant impact on the TV scene? People mentioned Chet Coppock, Jerry Springer, the Blob and Phil Donahue (no, they’re not all the same person!)
I guess the thing is- everybody has an opinion of what and who an icon is- whether it’s judged by actual history or emotional attachment. The debate will no doubt continue!
Thanks to everybody who told us what they thought!(And, those kind enough to include me on their lists!)
I think a lot of people must have different ideas of what an icon is, as you’ll see. Some lists were totally devoid of any news or sports people, some were loaded with commercial spokespeople and puppets, and some were…radio guys. To define (at least, in MY mind)- an icon should be someone who has made a significant contribution to the local TV scene- not just a lovable character, or someone who’s been on the air since black and white TV. The icon should mean something to the business and the viewers, and not strictly on an emotional level. I think making a list really is a tough call, because there would be somewhat of a difference between someone who was a pioneer of early local TV that many people may not be aware of anymore- and someone more contemporary- not that either should be excluded.
Let’s share some of the opinions:
Oprah was mentioned, and some people felt she should not be included. I think she should, even if I’m not the biggest Oprah fan- she turned what was essentially just another local morning show into a local- then, national phenomenon.
There were plenty of mentions of the Channel 9 stalwarts- Fraiser Thomas, Ned Locke, Bob Bell, Roy Brown and Ray Rayner-plus, many of their characters- Bozo, Andy Starr, Sgt. Pettibone, etc. On the UHF dial, people brought up my mentor, Jerry G. Bishop, and Bill Jackson. On the pioneer side, we had Burr Tillstrom and Kukla Fran and Ollie, Dave Garroway, and Studs Turkel.
I was surprised so few people brought up sports icons like Harry Caray or Jack Brickhouse, or news people like Fahey Flynn, Bill Curtis, or Alex Drier. I was confused by the icon nominations for “the guy with the long hair in the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial,” Hardrock, Coco and Joe, Susie Snowflake, and the Blob. Again, does just being a character you’ve seen forever, or a character you really like that’s become a holiday tradition necessarily mean it’s made a significant impact on the TV scene? People mentioned Chet Coppock, Jerry Springer, the Blob and Phil Donahue (no, they’re not all the same person!)
I guess the thing is- everybody has an opinion of what and who an icon is- whether it’s judged by actual history or emotional attachment. The debate will no doubt continue!
Thanks to everybody who told us what they thought!(And, those kind enough to include me on their lists!)
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