Stories

Vicki Lawrence is proof that you don't have to act your age to be successful

In real life Vicki Lawrence was only in her 30s when Mama's Family premiered, but her character on the show was in her 60s.

About that time Max Baer Jr. played Jethro's twin sister on The Beverly Hillbillies

Max Baer Jr. was a man who looked like a lady, or a man who looked like his twin sister.

Donna Douglas was a ''friendly critter'' towards all animals on The Beverly Hillbillies

She had a genuine love for pets of all shapes, sizes, and kinds.

Jean Stapleton said that the cast of All in the Family were invited to add their own ideas to the script

During the episode read-through, the actors were encouraged to share their thoughts on the script.

How syndication saved Vicki Lawrence and Mama's Family

Syndication saved Mama's Family.

Cindy Williams had experience with two decades: Shirley's and her own

Her character resonated with audiences of all generations!

Harvey Korman saved Mama's Family from a dark place

Korman really brought the family together — and lead them to success.

Lucille Ball didn't mind sharing her series with farm animals

Lucille Ball took "rural humor" to a new extreme!

Here's what made The Monkees a bunch of millionaires

What happens when a guy in his early 20s becomes a millionaire over night? Michael Nesmith has the answer!

Vicki Lawrence fought for better scripts on Mama's Family

Having worked under Burnett, she knew not to settle.

Vicki Lawrence put the meaning of family in Mama's Family

Burnett helped inspire the family members of Mama's Family, and Lawrence wasn't sure she was ready to be head of the household.

Here's why Betty White's humor never got old

She proved that laughter really is the golden ticket!

Redd Foxx loved his life inside and outside of Sanford and Son

Redd Foxx was both a nightclub comic and a TV star. In the '70s, succeeding in both at the same time was rare.

Danny Thomas said he worked with ''Hollywood's finest child actor'' on The Danny Thomas Show

The fictional father-son duo kept up the act even after the cameras quit rolling.

In 1992, Cheers star John Ratzenberger saluted the Cliff Clavins of the world

Ratzenberger said everyone needed a friend like Cliff Clavin in their life.

LaWanda Page was scared to make mistakes when she first appeared on Sanford and Son

The actress didn't want to disappoint her mom, Redd Foxx and viewers.

Jill Whelan on the realities of growing up on television

"In every situation, in everything I do, each decision must be the right one," said the actor.

Here's how Happy Days helped Ron Howard mature

All Ron Howard wanted was to act his age.

Cindy Williams loved playing the role of Shirley on Laverne & Shirley

Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall were surprised when Laverne & Shirley became one of the most-watched TV series in the country.

10 behind-the-scenes photos of Christmas on classic TV to get you in the holiday spirit

Get into the holiday spirit with your favorite classic TV stars!

Here's the real inside scoop on what Art Carney thought about Jackie Gleason

Happy actors, happy show. That was the motto of The Honeymooners.

Bob Saget used to compare Full House to Happy Days

"We kid that I'm Richie Cunningham and we're doing Happy Days," Saget said.

Why Mary Tyler Moore's pants were such a big deal in the 1960s

Laura Petrie's capris paved the way for Mary Richards.

Marlo Thomas was determined to prove critics wrong about her series, That Girl

Thomas said that even if she didn't become a big star, she knew That Girl would be a big hit.

Marion Ross on balancing family and career: ''I'm about 50/50''

It was all happy days for the Happy Days star.

Producer Garry Marshall was surprised by Laverne & Shirley's success

The producer said Laverne & Shirley was "all about timing."

Rob Reiner was a funny kid, according to Norman Lear

"Sixteen years later, watching him rehearse with Carroll O’Connor, I would be reminded daily of Rob on the floor with Ellen, teaching her jacks that summer on Fire Island.”

Mary Frann found being Newhart's TV wife challenging

Mary Frann had to follow in the footsteps of Newhart's first onscreen wife.

Bob Newhart did comedy to ''keep him from crying''

"I guess I laugh to keep from crying," Newhart said.

Bob Newhart used humor to help cope with life's hardest moments

Newhart used humor to get through life's hardships and suggested you do the same.

Valerie Bertinelli said the best advice she ever received was from co-star Betty White

Some of the hottest chemistry wasn’t just in Cleveland.

How to be happy, according to Harvey Korman

"Happiness comes from inside," Korman said.

Vicki Lawrence was busy bouncing between game show and sitcom sets in the '80s

Vicki Lawrence was a big fan of Mama's Family and game shows. She was even a contestant on a game show in the sitcom.

Robert Reed wasn't afraid to speak up about his Brady Bunch criticisms

Reed had a few opinions about the writing on The Brady Bunch.

Bob Newhart was the expert of playing himself onscreen

If you ever noticed a similar theme across all of Newhart's series, there's a reason: He put himself into everything he did.

Bob Newhart loved to watch Newhart reruns

Newhart didn’t watch it for entertainment—he watched it for research.

Mary Frann of Newhart was inspired by Audrey Meadows of The Honeymooners

"Audrey Meadows made Jackie Gleason funnier."

LaWanda Page didn't allow her success on Sanford and Son to spoil her

LaWanda Page didn't care about fame, cars or money; She just wanted to play the part of Aunt Esther.

Finding new ways to relate to women was an important job for Hot in Cleveland

This one's for the girls!

Night Court's Harry Anderson had a tough start to his success

A little magic goes a long way.

Harvey Korman didn't think acting was fun, but felt he was destined for it

For an actor who didn't like acting, Harvey Korman sure did it well.

Vicki Lawrence wanted Mama to mellow out by season two

Originally, critics slammed the series by saying that Mama was too harsh.

The Love Boat bartender picked up some mixology skills for the role

Ted Lange was known for making drinks on The Love Boat, but he could make a mean martini off-screen too.

Ron Howard used Happy Days as a chance to shed his ''Opie'' image

His role as Richie helped him grow up and grow out of his "Opie" character.

Tim Conway based Mrs. Wiggins on a real secretary

“She couldn’t figure out how to use the intercom system."

Despite his role in My Three Sons, William Frawley was ''undomesticated''

The character was the authority on cooking, cleaning and caretaking; the actor lacked that skill set.

Jean Stapleton pushed All in the Family writers to develop stories about equal rights

Stapleton thought it was important to focus on issues of the time.

One of Harvey Korman’s biggest worries was time

Time was Korman’s toughest critic!

Carol Burnett loved the variety format because it gave her a place to be silly

Carol Burnett could make just about anyone laugh; she just needed the right format to become a star.

Tim Conway thought more comedy was needed in TV and film

This funny guy on TV wanted to be a funny guy in the movies, too!

Fashion designer Bob Mackie made over 16,000 outfits for The Carol Burnett Show

Bob Mackie designed around 65 to 70 costumes per week, and that was just for The Carol Burnett Show.

Harvey Korman loved The Carol Burnett Show, but hated some of the costumes

After all, fake mustaches, feathers, tutus, and tiaras can only take you so far.

Carol Burnett loved a good spoof on The Carol Burnett Show

Carol Burnett was the queen at spoofing, but not everyone wanted to be part of the joke.

During his career in comedy, Tim Conway found hope in his failures

Conway looked back at his career and his many failures in both television and in real life.

Here’s why Carol Burnett thought rain brought good luck

It’s raining, it’s pouring—Carol Burnett’s career was soaring.

Tim Conway believed that mistakes made The Carol Burnett Show better

Practice may make perfect, but Conway wasn't interested in perfection.

Here's the advice Audrey Meadows would get from Honeymooners fans

Meadows received advice from women all over the country on how to handle her fictional husband!

Here's the real reason why Lucille Ball dyed her hair that iconic red color

The look is legendary, but the steps taken to get there are shrouded in rumors.

Norman Lear revealed All in the Family's British roots

The producer spilled the beans (and toast!)

R.I.P. Rob Reiner, the iconic actor and filmmaker known for All in the Family, When Harry Met Sally and more

The iconic actor and filmmaker passed away the weekend of December 11, 2025, at age 78.

Here's what Lucille Ball had to say about staying young and beautiful

The Lucille Ball method: Castor oil, humor and perfume.

Harvey Korman wanted to stay relevant for as long as he could

Comedy may not have been easy, but Korman made it look that way.

Harvey Korman was Tim Conway's biggest fan on The Carol Burnett Show

No matter the sketch, Tim Conway knew he already had his biggest fan right up there onstage with him.

A bald head helped Richard Moll get his part in Night Court

Night Court producers loved Moll's bald-headed look. Richard Moll? Maybe not so much.

Bob Denver and Dawn Wells said Gilligan's Island wasn't just for kids

It didn't matter if you were a kid or an adult, getting stranded on Gilligan's Island was an easy thing to do.

Marjorie Lord from The Danny Thomas Show wanted stronger women on TV

Guess the show should’ve been called "Make Room for Mommy!" instead!

Jean Stapleton reflected on what it was like when Norman Lear left All in the Family

No Norman Lear? No problem. Jean Stapleton knew how to be head of the household on All in the Family.

Ted Lange loved the perks that came along with The Love Boat

Ted Lange fell in love with The Love Boat and all the perks that came with working on a cruise ship.

Sally Struthers thought Gloria should have had a job on All in the Family

Sally Struthers had a few ideas for her character on All in the Family. Including one idea that came true.

Dave Coulier was able to show his love for hockey during his time on Full House

Coulier has a successful acting career, but his greatest memory happened in an ice rink with a hockey legend.

Tim Conway shared the reason he had no interest in starring in another sitcom

Though Conway was a stellar comedic performer, there was one aspect of television he tended to avoid.

The cast of Taxi had mixed reactions when the series moved to NBC

When Taxi switched networks, its stars were hoping it would drive higher ratings home.

Harvey Korman had a ton of ideas but said no format fit his style

"I have a million ideas, but am still looking for a good format," Korman said.

Cindy Williams explained the secret to a good television series was a bit of stupidity

"We take television to its dumbest," said the actor.

Mary Tyler Moore said she started becoming a ''carbon copy'' of Dick Van Dyke

Life imitates art, and in this case, art imitated Dick Van Dyke

Dick Van Dyke did his best to avoid any changes on his hit series

He wanted to change everything about television, but nothing about The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Mary Tyler Moore only had the best things to say about Dick Van Dyke

Find someone who talks about you the way Mary Tyler Moore talked about Dick Van Dyke.

Dick Van Dyke on new love in old age: ''It's not too late!''

He also says you should exercise!

Here's what everyone was doing after The Dick Van Dyke Show ended

The Dick Van Dyke Show was a hard series to leave behind, but these stars had future plans!

Wives saved The Dick Van Dyke Show from cancellation

The Dick Van Dyke Show received assistance from an unlikely source.

That Girl's Marlo Thomas was tired of talking about her dad in interviews

Her famous father wasn’t her only acting inspiration!

Taxi's Marilu Henner hailed a cab and rode it all the way to success

Henner would receive high praise, gifts and even a special license from Taxi drivers all over the country.

Henry Winkler locked himself in his apartment for 24 hours after The Fonz became popular

Winkler dealt with his success in an unusual way.

Richard Moll didn't have a lot in common with his character on Night Court

This incredible actor looked like he would "bite the heads off of chickens." His words, not ours.

Norman Lear based Archie Bunker off of his own father

The writer borrowed from his life.

Lucille Ball enjoyed The Lucy Show because her fictional husband wasn't involved

No husband? No problem. Everyone already loved Lucy.

Barry Williams really did wipe out while surfing in Hawaii on The Brady Bunch

A memorable scene in The Brady Bunch was actually one of Barry Williams's most embarrassing moments.

Tom Bosley shared a lot in common with his Happy Days character

Bosley built a career on being a dad.

Cindy Williams would reenact childhood memories during episodes of Laverne & Shirley

Williams called her acting career "a love affair."

ALF's Paul Fusco enjoyed creating shows for families and kids

ALF gave us an out of this world look into a planet he wasn't even from.

Sally Struthers was worried about how her fame would affect her daughter

"I hate to leave her even for a moment."

When she wasn't filming, Vicki Lawrence was a real 'Mama' at home

Not only did Vicki Lawrence play a full-time Mama on Mama's Family, but she also played a full-time mom at home.

Bob Denver said that he and Alan Hale Jr. were like Laurel and Hardy during Gilligan's Island

The actors were two peas in a pod.

At first, Norman Lear was against Sammy Davis Jr. appearing in All in the Family

The popular episode that almost never was.

The Love Boat helped Bernie Kopell wash away his previous roles

Love Boat fans knew of Adam Bricker, but no one knew the name of the actor who played him.