Stories

Sally Field defended teenagers during her time on Gidget

As one of America’s favorite teens at the time, Field spoke up in defense of teenagers.

Susan Olsen had some interesting feelings about her Brady brothers

She tells a Florence Henderson story, too!

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.

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 what Bernie Kopell had to say about starring on The Love Boat

"I work steadily...What could be wrong with that?”

The enduring appeal of Gilligan's Island, according to its Fan Club presidents

The show, along with its characters, are iconic.

How Sally Field unexpectedly landed Gidget, and how it was much more than a career-launcher

Though her first show only lasted one season, it certainly wasn't the precedent of things to come.

Sally Field wasn't your typical ''All-American Girl'' despite what it seemed onscreen

Many might be surprised to learn that this typical "All-American Girl" was in therapy when she was 19.

Here was Danny Thomas' advice to his daughter during her time on That Girl

"Like father, like daughter" was never truer than in Marlo's and Danny's father-daughter relationship.

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

A little magic goes a long way.

Marion Ross loved the similarities between her Happy Days family and her real one

Marion Ross loved her own family just as much as Marion Cunningham loved Richie and Joanie.

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.

Jimmie Walker was a stand-up comedian before becoming a star on Good Times

Before Jimmie Walker was cracking jokes on television, he told them onstage as a struggling stand-up comedian.

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

Her character resonated with audiences of all generations!

Danny DeVito's character on Taxi was made just for him

DeVito hatched a plan in order to get the part of Louie on Taxi.

Denver Pyle used his father as inspiration for his role in The Doris Day Show

Pyle took inspiration from his own dad when portraying a father on screen.

Here’s why Carol Burnett thought rain brought good luck

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

Carroll O'Connor said that criticism of his shows got to him

Carroll O'Connor had a candid critique of TV critics.

A Love Boat guest star snubbed Ted Lange after mistakenly assuming he was an extra. Here's how Lange got the last laugh

A lesson in kindness from The Love Boat.

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.

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

This one's for the girls!

Rose Marie never had a flop, and she wasn’t about to start with The Doris Day Show

"I've never been associated with a flop," Rose Marie said.

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.

Was Lyle Waggoner too handsome to be successful on television?

The actor's good looks were both a blessing and a curse.

Ron Howard enjoyed living in the 1950s for his Happy Days role

Ron Howard was living in two decades at the same time.

Harvey Korman once said that being a director was too ''paternal''

“I’m still more like a child myself.”

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

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

Jean Stapleton was thankful she didn't have to choose between family and career

One could argue that her career was family.

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.

Here's why Vicki Lawrence almost refused Mama's Family

Lawrence's fears almost ended the opportunity of a lifetime.

Lucille Ball on what it was like using stilts, falling down and cracking up on her show

She used props to aid her comedy and Band-Aids to help put her back together.

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.

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!

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.

Sherwood Schwartz kept an upbeat attitude in the face of poor Gilligan's Island ratings

"All I want is for everybody to have a little fun," said Schwartz.

The Love Boat's Lauren Tewes enjoyed getting fan mail

Lauren Tewes loved acting and the perks that came with it, including fan mail.

Lyle Waggoner had no problem with his modest role on The Carol Burnett Show

“I keep it in perspective,” said the actor.

I Love Lucy fans would write to Desi and Lucy, hoping for marriage advice

You can add "couples counselor" to Lucille Ball's list of talents.

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.

Mary Frann found being Newhart's TV wife challenging

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

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

"Audrey Meadows made Jackie Gleason funnier."

Bob Newhart loved to watch Newhart reruns

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

The Brady Bunch creator wanted to offer viewers a ''people comedy''

What did a stranded island, a family of eight and a housekeeper all have in common? Sherwood Schwartz.

Tina Louise would have picked Manhattan over Gilligan's Island

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

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.

Jean Stapleton vetoed this plot point and changed an All in the Family script

The actress worked hard to shape her character.

Harvey Korman considered himself a variety show survivor

Harvey Korman was one of the many talented actors to be affected by both the rise and decline of variety shows.

Ann B. Davis loved to dust on the set of The Brady Bunch

Ann B. Davis never wanted to play a leading lady on 'The Brady Bunch,' she was content with dusting.

Bob Newhart was hesitant to return to the classic TV wars

Don’t worry—he just needed the right show to showcase his style of comedy.

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.

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

She proved that laughter really is the golden ticket!

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.

Gavin MacLeod went from playing villains to being considered a comedy hero

When Gavin MacLeod lost his hair, he started getting typecasted as the big, bald, bad guy.

Mary Tyler Moore's life before The Dick Van Dyke Show

Find out how the famous actress became famous in the first place!

Here's the story about Sally Struthers' short-lived CBS spin-off ''Gloria''

"I grew up as Gloria grew up," said actress Sally Struthers.

The Love Boat's Ted Lange once wrote a rock musical

Who knew this bartender on The Love Boat was so rock and roll?!

Ted Knight's character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show was a lot like him

There were some days Ted Knight would look in the mirror and only see Ted Baxter.

Here's Marlo Thomas' reaction to ending her hit series That Girl

She carried parts of Ann Marie with her long after the cameras stopped rolling.

Archie and Edith reminded Jean Stapleton of her own parents

Stapleton saw her family in the Bunkers.

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.

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

No husband? No problem. Everyone already loved Lucy.

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.

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

Teens loved Sister Bertrille!

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.

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.

Here's what the ''drinks'' on The Love Boat were actually made of

Ted Lange, who played Isaac Washington, revealed the truth.

Judd Hirsch wanted Taxi fans to step up after the series was put on hold by NBC

On paper, Taxi had everything it needed to succeed, but in reality, the series had many ups and downs.

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

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

Don Grady said his My Three Sons fan mail was a work of ''modern art''

His character was so dreamy, it had girls dreaming about him.

Henry Winkler put an end to a common rumor about Happy Days in 1976

Remember when we all thought Henry Winkler was leaving Happy Days? He addressed the rumor in a 1976 interview.

Audrey Meadows on how she got the role of Alice Kramden

Meadows was rich both in wealth and in her career.