Larry Hagman was offered “The Waverly Wonders” (NBC, 1978), a sitcom about a high school basketball coach (starring Joe Namath) the same year he was offered “Dallas” (CBS, 1978-91).
Hagman favored this series, which lasted one month; but his wife advised him to take “Dallas.”
Liberal Tom Braden and conservative Pat Buchanan were the original hosts of the cable news show “Crossfire” on CNN. In 1989, Braden was replaced by Michael Kinsley. During Buchanan’s 1992 presidential campaign, several people filled in for him, including Robert Novak and Linda Chavez.
William (Bill) Loud and Pat Loud were the parents of the family on the TV series “An American Family” (PBS, 1973). Their five children included Lance, their twenty-year-old son. They lived in Santa Barbara, California. The twelve-hour TV series first aired in February 1973.
The Ponderosa ranch in “Bonanza” (NBC, 1959-73) was near Virginia City, Nevada. The age order of the Cartwright sons from oldest to youngest were: Adam (Pernell Roberts) Eric “Hoss” (Dan Blocker) Joseph “Little Joe” (Michael Landon)
Ryan O’Neal was Rodney Harrington; Mia Farrow was Allison Mackenzie on “Peyton Place” (ABC, 1964-69).
“Winner Take All” (CBS, 1948-51, NBC, 1952) was the first Mark Goodson-Bill Todman TV game show production. Other Goodson-Todman hits have included “Beat the Clock,” “I’ve Got a Secret,” “To Tell the Truth,” “Password,” “The Match Game,” and “What’s My Line.”
“Dallas” (CBS, 1978-91) was the top-rated TV series in 1980.