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April 1, 2025 7:04 am  #1


The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

I knew I had this somewhere but only found it again recently after all these years. And it’s one of my favourite things TV Guide ever did. In the April 1, 1969 edition, they published a two-page satire of their own listings, featuring existing and ridiculous shows, along with descriptions and stars.
 
It’s more than a bit dated – some of the programs talked about aren’t all that well remembered. But there are a few gems here, including a reference to Wayne & Shuster on the Ed Sullivan Show, a name change for Eva Gabor on Green Acres and my personal favourite, a reference to an obscure ABC cop show called NYPD. In the credits section, the character of “Larry Nypd” is played by Herbert Blmf!
 
Happy April Fool’s Day!
 

 

April 1, 2025 8:37 am  #2


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

Back in 1983, someone published a complete parody of TV Guide with fake listings and ads. It was called "not quite TV GUIDE"

 

April 1, 2025 9:03 am  #3


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

mace wrote:

Back in 1983, someone published a complete parody of TV Guide with fake listings and ads. It was called "not quite TV GUIDE"

And I suppose it won't surprise you that I have a copy of it. It's wildly uneven, but still fun.

Here's the cover and two sample pages.



     Thread Starter
 

April 1, 2025 9:56 am  #4


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

RadioActive wrote:

mace wrote:

Back in 1983, someone published a complete parody of TV Guide with fake listings and ads. It was called "not quite TV GUIDE"

And I suppose it won't surprise you that I have a copy of it. It's wildly uneven, but still fun.

Here's the cover and two sample pages.



I am not at all surprised you have this. Your collection of the official TV Guide is quite impressive. Just out of curiosity, what is your oldest Fall Preview Issue?

 

April 1, 2025 11:32 am  #5


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

I believe it's 1955.

     Thread Starter
 

April 1, 2025 1:10 pm  #6


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

I always wanted the engineering department to redirect feeds so stations within the family could broadcast on each other's frequencies - put CHFI on 92.5 and vice versa, extra points if you add 680News and 590 to the rotation.

 

April 1, 2025 9:24 pm  #7


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

Re 1969: Would of loved to of seen that Lawrence Welk tribute to Frank Zappa.  TV was much better back then!

 

Yesterday 8:04 am  #8


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

RadioActive wrote:

I believe it's 1955.

I would love to see their review of Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock, Wyatt Earp and The Honeymooners all of which made their debut in the fall of 1955.

 

Yesterday 8:17 am  #9


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

That TV Guide parody listed some interesting programs including the National High Speed Surgery Championship [Live From The Houston Medical Centre], The Little Sperm Who Could [An Animated Special About New Cures for Male Infertility] You could also get your children professionally cleaned by "Seers" $22 each or three for $32.

 

Yesterday 8:37 am  #10


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

mace wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

I believe it's 1955.

I would love to see their review of Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock, Wyatt Earp and The Honeymooners all of which made their debut in the fall of 1955.

The Fall Preview in those early days wasn't anything like the great ones you remember. It was more like a breezy list of what was coming, without any real reviews or details. The whole thing was just a few pages. It wasn't until later in its history that the format I loved came into being. 

     Thread Starter
 

Yesterday 9:39 am  #11


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

RadioActive wrote:

mace wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

I believe it's 1955.

I would love to see their review of Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock, Wyatt Earp and The Honeymooners all of which made their debut in the fall of 1955.

The Fall Preview in those early days wasn't anything like the great ones you remember. It was more like a breezy list of what was coming, without any real reviews or details. The whole thing was just a few pages. It wasn't until later in its history that the format I loved came into being. 

That is a bit disappointing. I would have loved to have seen the reviews of those legendary series. However, the magazine was barely two years old and it would take time to tweek and adjust things. Any idea when the black and white channel "bullets" were introduced?

 

Yesterday 11:07 am  #12


Re: The Time TV Guide Pulled An April Fool Joke

Not sure but I think it was in the late 50s.

     Thread Starter