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Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Though titled “Court of Human Relations,” this obscure, 1959 NBC-TV daytime program was far less “Judge Judy” than a more emotional “Meet the Press.” “Court” had begun on radio, the brainchild of its producer/host A.L. Alexander, and had the lofty goal of bringing the process of mediation to the media while also paying tribute to …
Posted in: National Screening Room, Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Over 20 years ago, two unassuming VHS tapes were delivered to the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus as part of a copyright deposit. This past month, they became an internet and anime sensation. It took some dogged, dedicated detective work to finally, fully understand the notoriety of these two works. It was a long-simmering puzzle, …
Posted in: Moving Image Research Center, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
The history of Asian-American representation on prime time television is one that, sadly, falls into three distinct categories. While many Asian-American actors have been able to play Asian-American characters over the course of TV history (Category #1), they have often been, until recently, regulated to supporting roles. Consider: Oscar-winning actress Miyoshi Umeki on “The Courtship …
Posted in: Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
With the exception of some carefully chosen British imports, you might not normally associate public television with broad-based comedy. But, in 1994, America’s own PBS did something that they’ve never done since: they produced and aired a 30-minute sitcom. The program, “The Steven Banks Show,” ran for 13 episodes in 1994. Five episodes of the …
Posted in: Television
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
You may not know the name Irna Phillips (1901-1973), but you know her work and influence. She pioneered the soap opera genre in radio and is widely regarded as a key creative figure in radio and television serialized entertainment. Phillips was the creator (and, for years, the primary scriptwriter) of “As the World Turns,” “Guiding …
Posted in: Daytime Serials, National Recording Registry, Radio, Television