Stories

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.

Mike Lookinland loved talking about The Brady Bunch with fans

"People call up all the time and ask if I'm Bobby Brady," said the actor.

Before landing her role on Good Times Bern Nadette Stanis wanted to be a dancer

Her role on Good Times was so sudden that it took her out of her classes at Juilliard!

Lauren Tewes credited her Love Boat co-stars with helping her adjust to The Love Boat

"I'm surrounded by a wonderful professional cast," said the actor.

Vivian Vance's acting career had a parallel in mental health

She was much more than just Ethel Mertz.

In 1966, Bob Denver gave advice on how to be funny

Bob Denver knew how to be funny, and he wanted you to know how too.

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.

Bob Saget loved working with kids for his role on Full House

He had a daughter in real life and three on the series – that's one busy dad!

Harry Anderson was essentially playing himself on Night Court

Harry Anderson's acting journey started with a little magic.

LaWanda Page said Redd Foxx rehearsed with her so she wouldn't get fired

When producers wanted to replace Page, Foxx stood up for his longtime friend and rehearsed lines with her.

The younger cast members of Happy Days would often go to Tom Bosley for advice

Bosley's costars often turned to the actor for wisdom.

Carol Burnett, Buddy Hackett, Lucille Ball and other stars gave up their privacy for fame

Stars, like everyone else, just want some peace and quiet from time to time.

Art Carney on the realism of The Honeymooners

"People accepted us that way," said the actor.

The death of Redd Foxx was devastating for The Royal Family cast

"He has been my friend for 40 years and I always abided by his decisions, and since he was ready to go, I have to abide by that."

Dick Van Dyke is so humble that his friends had to remind him that he was a star

Van Dyke was so talented that Carl Reiner called him "sickening."

Here's why Ted Bessell of That Girl wanted to leave the series

There was a lot of pressure being the guy to That Girl on the hit 1966 series.

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.

Gavin MacLeod addresses rumors that the Love Boat cast didn't get along

This is your captain speaking.

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.

Redd Foxx's connection to Sanford and Son went beyond acting

I love Sanford because that's me. That's just Redd Foxx fifteen years from now," he added.

Redd Foxx said the key to Sanford and Son's success was honesty

The actor and legendary comedian had faith in the power of humor, and along with honesty, that made the show popular.

George Wendt enjoyed being ''large'' for a living

Wendt was living large and liked it that way.

How Vivian Vance became a big Hollywood star by accident

Vivian Vance had the audition of a lifetime in front of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz – and she had no idea.

Penny Marshall was afraid of stardom during her time on Laverne & Shirley

Penny Marshall dealt with different degrees of pressure during her time on the show. One of those pressures came from herself.

John Larroquette said there was ''nothing quite like Night Court''

Order in the court! Here’s why Night Court ruled TV.

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

It was all happy days for the Happy Days star.

Jean Stapleton considered herself an introvert

Offstage, she was much more reserved.

Barry Williams chose The Brady Bunch over his social life

Barry Williams didn't need a girlfriend as a young man, he was already in love with The Brady Bunch.

Vicki Lawrence fought for better scripts on Mama's Family

Having worked under Burnett, she knew not to settle.

Jim Backus felt stifled by television during his time on Gilligan's Island

Backus paid a price for fame.

The Love Boat gave Bernie Kopell an unexpected romantic image

He was the underdog of romance until he became the type everyone wanted.

Marlo Thomas was an inspiration to strong, independent women

Marlo Thomas stood on business.

Here's how Happy Days helped Ron Howard mature

All Ron Howard wanted was to act his age.

Norman Lear had a special message hidden inside Sanford and Son and All in the Family

Norman Lear did what he wanted and didn't care who saw — even if it was thousands of TV viewers.

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.

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.

Carol Burnett's Tarzan yell got her into trouble after she frightened a security guard at a department store

Burnett's iconic shout got her into some hot water.

All in the Family changed Sally Struthers over the course of nine seasons

Sally Struthers changed her attitude because of her role in All in the Family. It also brought her closer to her real-life family.

Sammy Davis Jr. gave Archie Bunker the kiss of a lifetime on All in the Family

Archie Bunker doesn't kiss and tell, but his reaction is worth a thousand words.

Norman Lear explained the difference between television in the seventies and the eighties

"I think most people are nostalgic for something they've never known."

Norman Lear revealed how Edith was able to tune Archie out

Edith loved Archie but didn't agree with him.

Norman Lear revealed All in the Family's British roots

The producer spilled the beans (and toast!)

Archie and Edith reminded Jean Stapleton of her own parents

Stapleton saw her family in the Bunkers.

Fame couldn't change Jean Stapleton's ''caring and down-to-earth'' personality

Being a star came second to being a good person for the actress.

Jean Stapleton said that her husband ''had all the qualities Archie doesn't have.''

"He is an enlightened person and smart."

This was Carol Burnett's favorite sketch on The Carol Burnett Show

"We were over the top. "

Ja'Net DuBois sometimes felt insecure in her role on Good Times

Anyone can feel insecure standing next to a seasoned actress like Esther Rolle.

Vicki Lawrence wanted Mama to mellow out by season two

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

Wives saved The Dick Van Dyke Show from cancellation

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

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.

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

A little magic goes a long way.

The Love Boat's Lauren Tewes was said to be the next Mary Tyler Moore

Lauren Tewes had a few things in common with Mary Tyler Moore, including her love for acting.

Jean Stapleton was a Hollywood star, but she lived in rural Pennsylvania

Stapleton was a real-life Hollywood Hillbilly. From Los Angeles to Pennsylvania, she liked living two different lifestyles.

Tina Louise would have picked Manhattan over Gilligan's Island

Oops! Looks like Tina Louise would have rather been stranded somewhere else.

Lucille Ball's minor injuries on I Love Lucy showed her dedication to performing

Lucille Ball was a bundle of bruises, sprains and scratches.

Gavin MacLeod believed that The Love Boat was an escape for viewers

It wasn't just a cruise ship and show; it was happiness for many.

Suzanne Pleshette on her TV marriage with Bob Newhart

Pleshette loved her onscreen marriage with Bob Newhart just as much as we loved watching it unfold on our TV screens.

Success was the only thing keeping Rob Reiner and Penny Marshall apart

The timeless couple just wanted to have a little more time with each other.

Kathy Garver wanted her character on Family Affair to grow up

Garver was all grown up and just wanted her character to catch up.

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

This one's for the girls!

Dan Rowan got deeply personal about his health issues while on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Here’s how the comedian took a serious issue and handled it with humor and heart.

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.

Lucille Ball explained why the Ricardo family lived an average life

“I...didn’t want us to be a typical Hollywood couple, whatever that is,” said Ball.

There was a time when no one knew Rowan & Martin

"There was a time when people thought Rowan and Martin was a detergent."

At the height of success, Rowan and Martin said ''every hero can become a bum''

Despite feeling the success, Martin said they didn't feel secure.

Yes, that was actually Henry Winkler water skiing in Happy Days

Winkler was a talented actor and an adept skier!

Here's why Dick Martin got real serious about silly comedy

This funny guy got real serious about comedy in a 1968 interview!

How Marlo Thomas gave Danny Thomas the worst Father’s Day gift possible

The decision to act came easily for everyone—except Marlo's parents.

One of Harvey Korman’s biggest worries was time

Time was Korman’s toughest critic!

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.

Fans loved Sarah Jessica Parker in Square Pegs, but the ratings didn’t

Sarah Jessica Parker wanted the series to be as popular as her character hoped to be at school.

Alan Hale Jr. was constantly mistaken for his father in the '60s

Everyone thought Alan Hale Jr. was Alan Hale Sr. throughout his acting career. A real like father, like son moment.

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.

Penny Marshall didn't care about what the critics had to say

And with a number one show on television, why would she?

Harvey Korman saved Mama's Family from a dark place

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

One of Florence Henderson’s real-life children had a small role on The Brady Bunch

She took her role as a mother seriously, both on and off screen!

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

She proved that laughter really is the golden ticket!

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.

Vicki Lawrence called Thelma Harper ''a lonely old lady''

"She parallels many people in everybody's family," Lawrence said.

The Love Boat's Fred Grandy preferred to be on land

When Grandy wasn't filming for The Love Boat, he said he would avoid boats altogether.

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.

Sally Field hated being called cute during her time on The Flying Nun

Many words could be used to describe Field and her career, but "cute" is not one of them.

Sally Field said high schoolers were the world's hardest audience

Teens loved Sister Bertrille!

The Flying Nun had to convince real nuns that it was worth watching

What was the problem with the series? There was nun.