1 of 1- M. David
- Member
Offline
Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
Longtime lurker, first-time poster. I figured I’d get things started with something interesting for you.
Recently, the aired first and unaired but fully produced second episodes of the 1969 ABC sketch comedy show Turn-On were found.
The show is notable for being cancelled midway through its only aired episode. For years, Wikipedia listed its number of aired episodes as ½, as some stations did not return to it after its first commercial break.
George Schlatter and Ed Friendly, the duo behind Laugh-In, created this bizarre show, the premise of which was that it was produced by a computer. The humour was very risqué, and the show was said to be ahead of its time.
To quote one reaction to the show that I read, Turn-On was “like someone tried to play 10 Monty Python sketches simultaneously at 78 RPM with a UNIVAC melting down in the background.”
Both episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, and the links are below.
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
The first two episodes were fully produced, and at least six others were shot but never composited.
Does anyone remember this show? It aired 17 years before I was born, so I didn’t watch it in its original form. And that’s probably for the best. I watched the first episode and thought it was like an acid trip.
Former presenter, producer and commercial writer for CJRS (now CKZW) AM 1650 in Montreal.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
I believe I've posted this before, but it bears repeating in this case.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
Turn-On creator George Schlatter tells the story behind his ill-fated show. To this day, he maintains it was a great show way ahead of its time that never got a chance - and he'd like it to be seen.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
M. David wrote:
Longtime lurker, first-time poster. I figured I’d get things started with something interesting for you.
Recently, the aired first and unaired but fully produced second episodes of the 1969 ABC sketch comedy show Turn-On were found.
The show is notable for being cancelled midway through its only aired episode. For years, Wikipedia listed its number of aired episodes as ½, as some stations did not return to it after its first commercial break.
George Schlatter and Ed Friendly, the duo behind Laugh-In, created this bizarre show, the premise of which was that it was produced by a computer. The humour was very risqué, and the show was said to be ahead of its time.
To quote one reaction to the show that I read, Turn-On was “like someone tried to play 10 Monty Python sketches simultaneously at 78 RPM with a UNIVAC melting down in the background.”
Both episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, and the links are below.
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
The first two episodes were fully produced, and at least six others were shot but never composited.
Does anyone remember this show? It aired 17 years before I was born, so I didn’t watch it in its original form. And that’s probably for the best. I watched the first episode and thought it was like an acid trip.
Thanks for posting these. I've always wanted to see this and our local ABC affiliate out of Buffalo never carried it. And welcome to the SOWNY Board!
- mace
- Member
Offline
Re: Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
Longtime lurker, first-time poster. I figured I’d get things started with something interesting for you.
Recently, the aired first and unaired but fully produced second episodes of the 1969 ABC sketch comedy show Turn-On were found.
The show is notable for being cancelled midway through its only aired episode. For years, Wikipedia listed its number of aired episodes as ½, as some stations did not return to it after its first commercial break.
George Schlatter and Ed Friendly, the duo behind Laugh-In, created this bizarre show, the premise of which was that it was produced by a computer. The humour was very risqué, and the show was said to be ahead of its time.
To quote one reaction to the show that I read, Turn-On was “like someone tried to play 10 Monty Python sketches simultaneously at 78 RPM with a UNIVAC melting down in the background.”
Both episodes have been uploaded to YouTube, and the links are below.
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
The first two episodes were fully produced, and at least six others were shot but never composited.
Does anyone remember this show? It aired 17 years before I was born, so I didn’t watch it in its original form. And that’s probably for the best. I watched the first episode and thought it was like an acid trip.Thanks for posting these. I've always wanted to see this and our local ABC affiliate out of Buffalo never carried it. And welcome to the SOWNY Board!
I know the ABC Cleveland affilliate pulled the plug after the first commercial break. I have often wondered if WKBW carried the show. Apparently not. Any idea what ch 7 aired as a replacement?
- mace
- Member
Offline
Re: Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
I just finished watching episode one. Loved the firing squad scene and Tim Conway's comments on the death penalty. Interesting that most of the ad breaks only had one commercial.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Lost Episodes of One of TV’s Biggest Flops Found
The few completed episodes of this bomb are debuting Monday in good quality on YouTube, with an intro from creator George Schlatter, who still insists it was a great show just waiting for the world to catch up to it. And there's apparently more to come.
"In addition to releasing the first two original episodes, Schlatter is working on an updated version that will incorporate the best pieces from the first two episodes and introduce never-seen content from the third episode."
Infamous ‘Turn-On’ To Air On YouTube, Fastest Cancellation In TV History
By the way, the YouTube subsite hosting this is really amazing for long lost comedy bits and excerpts you've probably never seen, featuring some legendary names in long lost clips. Check out "Clown Jewels" here.