Back when Dick Van Dyke was about to celebrate his 100th birthday, I decided to do what I thought would be a deep dive on his series The Dick Van Dyke Show, but I started discovering how involved he was with television even before then and how he felt the allure of daytime TV.
Hi everyone. My name is Ed Gross and I'm Senior Entertainment Editor at Woman's World, where my focus is on Classic TV and Sci-Fi. I recently did a pretty in depth profile of actress Florence Henderson and this is a visual excerpt from it. If you'd like to check out the rest, you can just do a search for Florence Henderson womansworld .com. Hope you enjoy.
Hi all. My name is Ed Gross and I'm the author of the oral history Voices from Krypton and co-author of Superman: The Definitive History. My day job is as Senior Entertainment Editor at Woman's World, and this look at George Reeves is an excerpt from a profile piece I had done on him. I hope you enjoy and welcome your feedback. Thanks.
Something unusual is happening in sci-fi right now. Three of the genre’s biggest franchises — Star Trek, Doctor Who and Stargate — all find themselves in limbo at the same time.
Star Trek has slowed after years of rapid expansion across Paramount+. Doctor Who is being reassessed following its recent Disney+ era. And Stargate, after finally appearing poised for a comeback, has once again been put on hold. Different studios and circumstances, but the same strange reality.
Of course, this isn’t new territory for these franchises. Star Trek fans once waited 10 years to see Kirk and the Enterprise return after the original series ended in 1969, with that drought ending in 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture; Doctor Who endured its “Wilderness Years” between 1989 and 2005 and Stargate has now been off the air for 15 years. So what’s going on?
Suggests Doctor Who historian Richard D. Carrier, “Things are more expensive now anyway and the standard of television that people demand since the streaming era has come in… that’s the expectation, especially for a science fantasy show.”
But bigger budgets don’t necessarily mean better storytelling. “Some of the best Doctor Who stories, even in the modern era, have been the cheapest ones,” Carrier notes. “Sometimes the necessity to do something under certain constraints actually forces you to be creative.”
That feels especially relevant to Star Trek. The original series became iconic despite limited budgets and often primitive effects. What mattered was the writing, the characters and the ideas, and the same may apply now across legacy franchises.
Darren Sumner of GateWorld believes studios may be drawing the wrong conclusions about what audiences want. “You look at what’s been happening with major franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars and Doctor Who,” he says. “The newer shows and films certainly have their audience. They’ve found viewers, but apparently it’s not enough for whatever studio is producing those projects.
“It feels like they’re deciding that the problem is the audience,” he adds, “when, in fact, my opinion is that the problem is, by and large, with the content.”
Carrier sees a similar issue with Doctor Who. “They relied a bit too much on that fan-service kind of approach,” he says. “It starts to eat its own tail a little bit when you get too self-referential. But in a way, I think the pause is probably a good thing.”
And he points to Star Trek as proof. “Star Trek had to go away and come back again and be successful.”
Concurring with that point is writer and fan Jacqueline Lichtenberg, one of the main players in the letter writing campaign that resulted in the original Star Trek being renewed by NBC for a third season. “The concession from NBC was grudging,” she notes, “and despite Roddenberry’s best efforts, the third season bombed But thanks to that letter-writing campaign, Star Trek went into syndication and then — only then — the audience exploded.”
Which may be the real takeaway. None of these franchises feel finished as they’ve survived long absences before and reinvented themselves. For now, the fans have to wait, but as Carrier jokingly puts it, “People aren’t very patient with these things, are they?”
If you’re interested in an expanded version of this article, just do a search for the headline “Why 3 of the Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Are Suddenly on Hold: ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Stargate’ along with womansworld .com.
Something unusual is happening in sci-fi right now. 'Star Trek,'' 'Doctor Who' and 'Stargate' — three of television’s most iconic science-fiction franchises — are all in limbo at the same time. Why?
Rising production costs, shifting studio priorities and changing audience expectations may all be part of the answer. But as history shows, these franchises have survived long breaks before. The real question is: what happens next? The experts weigh in. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/tv-shows/best-sci-fi-tv-shows-on-hold-star-trek-doctor-who-and-stargate
Something unusual is happening in sci-fi right now. 'Star Trek,'' 'Doctor Who' and 'Stargate' — three of television’s most iconic science-fiction franchises — are all in limbo at the same time. Why?
Rising production costs, shifting studio priorities and changing audience expectations may all be part of the answer. But as history shows, these franchises have survived long breaks before. The real question is: what happens next? The experts weigh in. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/tv-shows/best-sci-fi-tv-shows-on-hold-star-trek-doctor-who-and-stargate
Few TV moments hit as hard as Commander Adama standing before humanity’s survivors and declaring: “So say we all.” What many fans don’t realize is that the scene changed in the moment thanks to Edward James Olmos. What began as a simple scripted line became an emotional rallying cry that defined 'Battlestar Galactica' for all four seasons.
Featuring reflections from Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, Michael Hogan, Mary McDonnell and Olmos himself, this story explores how one unforgettable performance shaped the soul of the series. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/tv-shows/edward-james-olmos-defined-battlestar-galactica-with-so-say-we-all
Most people remember Sebastian Cabot as Mr. French from 'Family Affair' or as the voice of Bagheera in 'The Jungle Book.' But his real story is far more interesting. He left school at 14, worked in a garage, as a chef and as a chauffeur before becoming an actor. He nearly turned down 'Family Affair,' feared being typecast and had a wickedly funny, very candid way of talking about Hollywood.
I went deep into newspaper archives and uncovered interviews spanning nearly 20 years, allowing Cabot to tell much of his story in his own words. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/sebastian-cabot-the-real-life-of-mr-french-from-family-affair
What if 'Star Trek,' 'The Questor Tapes,' 'Assignment: Earth,' 'Genesis II' and even 'Andromed were all built around the same core idea? Looking back at Gene Roddenberry’s career, a fascinating pattern emerges. Again and again, he returned to stories about humanity’s future—sometimes guided by hidden guardians, sometimes rebuilding after collapse and sometimes finally reaching its highest potential in 'Star Trek.'
From Gary Seven and Questor to Khan, Dylan Hunt, Data and Michael Burnham, this feature explores the recurring ideas that shaped Roddenberry’s science-fiction universe. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/how-gene-roddenberrys-andromeda-connects-to-star-trek
To celebrate Father’s Day, I've decided to rank 10 of classic television’s most memorable dads—from Ward Cleaver and Andy Taylor to Mike Brady and Danny Tanner. Some were strict, some were goofy, some were widowers doing their best—but all left a lasting impression. I hope you check it out and would appreciate if you would share this post. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/classic-tv-dads
Most Trek fans know Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as the movie that saved the franchise. But in 1981, there was a very different version of the sequel. Writer Samuel A. Peeples developed a draft called Worlds That Never Were that removed Khan entirely and replaced him with new alien villains named Sojin and Moray. Even stranger, Spock communicated with Kirk and McCoy from beyond the grave to help save the day. It’s a fascinating look at how close Star Trek II came to becoming a completely different movie. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/the-lost-version-of-star-trek-ii-that-almost-replaced-khan
Most fans remember Irene Ryan as Daisy “Granny” Moses on The Beverly Hillbillies—but her career stretched back decades before the Clampetts ever hit Beverly Hills. From vaudeville and radio to Broadway and television, Ryan spent a lifetime proving herself as one of entertainment’s most versatile performers. Her story is far richer than many fans realize. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/irene-ryan-the-vaudeville-star-behind-granny-on-beverly-hillbillies
Most fans remember Irene Ryan as Daisy “Granny” Moses on The Beverly Hillbillies—but her career stretched back decades before the Clampetts ever hit Beverly Hills. From vaudeville and radio to Broadway and television, Ryan spent a lifetime proving herself as one of entertainment’s most versatile performers. Her story is far richer than many fans realize. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/irene-ryan-the-vaudeville-star-behind-granny-on-beverly-hillbillies
One of the great ironies of modern 'Star Trek' is that its most widely embraced live-action series wasn't part of the original plan. This article looks at Christopher Pike's journey from the rejected pilot "The Cage" to Bruce Greenwood's revival of the character, Anson Mount's breakout performance on 'Star Trek: Discovery' and how fan demand ultimately helped create 'Strange New Worlds.' It also explores why the series has resonated with so many viewers and how it had been quietly building a bridge toward Kirk's era of the Enterprise. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/tv-shows/why-strange-new-worlds-became-a-modern-star-trek-success-story
Most fans know Clint Eastwood's Man With No Name from Sergio Leone's 'Dollars Trilogy.' Far fewer know publishers continued the character in a series of original paperback novels. In a conversation with literary and pop culture historian Douglas E. Winter, we explore those forgotten books—and why they reveal something fascinating about the character. The more writers tried to explain or expand the Stranger, the clearer it became that his mystery may have been his greatest strength. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/inside-clint-eastwoods-man-with-no-name-forgotten-book-sequels
What was it like growing up with 'Father Knows Best 'star Elinor Donahue as your mother and legendary TV producer Harry Ackerman as your father? Peter Ackerman shares memories of answering phone calls from Desi Arnaz, watching his father help shape classic television, seeing Sally Field's career take off from 'Gidget' and learning why his mother is still surprised that fans celebrate 'The Andy Griffith Show more than 60 years later. It's a fascinating look at television history from someone who lived it. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/elinor-donahues-son-opens-up-about-forgotten-andy-griffith-legacy
What was it like growing up with 'Father Knows Best 'star Elinor Donahue as your mother and legendary TV producer Harry Ackerman as your father? Peter Ackerman shares memories of answering phone calls from Desi Arnaz, watching his father help shape classic television, seeing Sally Field's career take off from 'Gidget' and learning why his mother is still surprised that fans celebrate 'The Andy Griffith Show more than 60 years later. It's a fascinating look at television history from someone who lived it. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/elinor-donahues-son-opens-up-about-forgotten-andy-griffith-legacy
Most TV fans know Barry Livingston as Ernie Douglas from 'My Three Sons,' but he's still working more than 60 years after his career began. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on working with David Fincher and Brad Pitt, growing up around Lucille Ball at Desilu, pulling pranks with William Frawley, and why he never wanted his kids to think of him as a 'famous dad.' He also shares why 'My Three Sons' felt increasingly out of step with the culture by the end of its run—and why audiences still connect with it today. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/barry-livingston-reflects-on-my-three-sons-and-his-60-year-career
For 12 seasons, viewers watched Stanley Livingston grow up as Chip Douglas on My Three Sons. Now 75, Livingston is looking back on his remarkable life and career, from his close friendship with William Frawley and lessons learned from Fred MacMurray to his work as a filmmaker, writer and film preservation advocate. "I've led a charmed life," Livingston reflects. "I'm not Ron Howard, but it's been good." https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/here-is-what-happened-to-stanley-livingston-from-my-three-sons
Years before Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced Data, Gene Roddenberry created Questor, an android searching for his creator, his purpose and what it means to be human.
The Questor Tapes was picked up for a 13-episode series, but creative battles with NBC and Universal ultimately derailed the project. In this oral history, cast and crew—including Robert Foxworth, Mike Farrell and Roddenberry himself—look back at the lost series that may have been Roddenberry's most direct precursor to Data. https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/classic-tv/gene-roddenberry-lost-series-that-inspired-data-of-star-trek-tng