Stories
Here’s what Bernie Kopell had to say about starring on The Love Boat
"I work steadily...What could be wrong with that?”
Valerie Harper's real-life pregnancy depended on her television career
Valerie Harper already had so much going for her, so why not add a baby to the mix?
Harvey Korman saved Mama's Family from a dark place
Korman really brought the family together — and lead them to success.
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.
Carroll O'Connor gave the best advice for aspiring actors
The Emmy award-winning actor was all for following your dreams but said it would not come easy.
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.
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.
Anson Williams wanted to use television to speak to an audience
Williams saw the medium as a platform.
Fans would stop Marlo Thomas on the street just to call her ''That Girl''
She was "that girl" on TV and "that girl" on the streets.
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.
The real reason Natalie Schafer loved playing comedic roles
Schafer viewed comedy as a way to "escape reality."
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.
Here's how Mike Nesmith handled Monkees mania and its screaming fans
It’s clear the band knew how to hit the right note!
Anne Schedeen thanked ALF for bringing her up to star status
All she needed was a working spaceship to help her land her star status.
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.
Please enjoy this pep talk from Florence Henderson
Feeling down? Take a dose of Carol Brady.
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.
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!
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.
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 the advice Hot in Cleveland star Betty White gave to young actors
She made being over 50 look cool.
Cindy Williams had experience with two decades: Shirley's and her own
Her character resonated with audiences of all generations!
Bob Newhart loved to watch Newhart reruns
Newhart didn’t watch it for entertainment—he watched it for research.
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.
R.I.P. Shelley Fabares, star of ''The Donna Reed Show'', ''Coach'', and frequent Elvis co-star
She had a #1 hit song and was married to M*A*S*H actor Mike Farrell. The actress was 82 years old.
Marion Ross on balancing family and career: ''I'm about 50/50''
It was all happy days for the Happy Days star.
The Love Boat's Ted Lange once wrote a rock musical
Who knew this bartender on The Love Boat was so rock and roll?!
Here's an inside look at the lightning-fast rehearsal process that made The Honeymooners so good
"Never in our wildest dreams did we think we were making TV history."
Jean Stapleton partially based Edith off of a ''beloved dingbat'' in her family
Stapleton was able to pull from her family tree to find inspiration for Edith Bunker.
Here's what Lucille Ball had to say about staying successful
It's time to pull up a chair and learn a few lessons from Lucy!
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
Bea Benaderet and her character on Petticoat Junction had some key differences
Benaderet called herself a "slob" (her words, not ours) compared to her hardworking and organized character on Petticoat Junction.
Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall had two very different reactions to fame and success
Finding success was one of the best—and most confusing—days of their lives.
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.
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.
Here's how Mayberry and Andy Griffith shaped George Lindsey
He treated each day in Mayberry like it was his last.
Finding new ways to relate to women was an important job for Hot in Cleveland
This one's for the girls!
Here's how these stars remembered Lucille Ball after her death in 1989
It wasn't just for the cameras. These stars loved Lucy.
Frank Sutton used his real military experience on Gomer Pyle: USMC
Sutton was a real Army veteran with a fictional Marine background.
Here's how Happy Days helped Ron Howard mature
All Ron Howard wanted was to act his age.
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.
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.
Carroll O'Connor said that criticism of his shows got to him
Carroll O'Connor had a candid critique of TV critics.
9 fascinating little things you never knew about Florence Henderson
From her Queen of Diamonds crown to her hypnotherapy license, she was one-of-a-kind.
Natalie Schafer was typecast as a wealthy woman but didn’t care about money
She had a very rich career — in more ways than one!
Jean Stapleton was thankful she didn't have to choose between family and career
One could argue that her career was family.
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.
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.
Tim Conway said that this was one of the most important element of good comedy
The comedy legend shared this secret tip.
Here’s what Dick Van Dyke thought made his series so special
He knew the secret formula but left out one key ingredient.
Critics couldn’t shake Tom Bosley or Happy Days
These critics had seen happier days.
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.
Carol Burnett was afraid of being typecast in the early 1970s
Carol Burnett was known for being a queen of comedy, and that was part of her problem.
Tom Bosley shared a lot in common with his Happy Days character
Bosley built a career on being a dad.
Marjorie Lord from The Danny Thomas Show wanted stronger women on TV
Guess the show should’ve been called "Make Room for Mommy!" instead!
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.
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.
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.
A real experience made Vivian Vance an advocate for mental health
Vivian Vance had a big role to play as Lucille Ball's sidekick.
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.
Buddy Ebsen believed classic TV viewers needed a father figure
Ebsen thought Jed Clampett could be the dad everyone needed and wanted in the ’60s.
Vivian Vance traveled over 3,000 miles to work on The Lucy Show
Vivian Vance was a Hollywood legend who lived in Connecticut. She must have had a lot of frequent flyer miles.
Marjorie Lord felt she was too critical of herself on television
Even TV stars can get insecure sometimes!
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.
Carroll O'Connor once said that All in the Family could have gone on without Archie Bunker
O'Connor was aware that the success of the series didn't rest solely on his shoulders.
Richard Moll was once called himself ''The Midwest Mr. T''
A bald, seemingly intimidating actor who overcame many obstacles in life — textbook Mr. T and Mr. Moll.
Jean Stapleton considered herself an introvert
Offstage, she was much more reserved.
Desi Arnaz Jr. revealed that his superstar parents were actually just like everybody else
"We put them on a pedestal and think of them as being different. Even I bought into that!"
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.
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!
Here’s why Bob Newhart preferred smart comedy over easy laughs
No tantrums, no toy boxes, and definitely no sitcom baby formula.
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.
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.
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.
Fred Grandy said he ''reached a plateau'' on The Love Boat, so he pivoted to politics
Gopher was a politician, too!
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 a true American revolutionary, according to Carroll O'Connor
"Edith helped work a change in America," O'Connor wrote.
There was nothing in the norm when it came to George Wendt's success on Cheers
George Wendt loved many things about playing the role of Norm, but surprisingly, drinking beer wasn't one of them.
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.
Fred MacMurray was ''semi-retired'' while on My Three Sons
MacMurray was such a low-pressure kind of guy that he even "semi-retired" while still working.
Betty White on the emotions of leaving Hot in Cleveland behind
Saying goodbye to Cleveland was no laughing matter for Betty White.
Marlo Thomas was a girl who just wanted her privacy
She liked to keep her guard up at all times — sometimes quite literally — as she often had issues with the press.
Norman Lear revealed All in the Family's British roots
The producer spilled the beans (and toast!)
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.
Anson Williams wasn't the only singer on the Happy Days cast
Think of all the musical acts we could have had!
Lauren Tewes on the similarities between herself and her character on The Love Boat
"There's a lot of me in her, but there's really none of her in me."
Here's why Family Affair's Sebastian Cabot didn't like working with dogs
No dog? No problem. Cabot didn't like working with dogs for one big reason.
Marlo Thomas was an inspiration to strong, independent women
Marlo Thomas stood on business.
Here's how Ozzie Nelson used his family's age to help his show
Fun and family first, fame and fortune second.
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.
Here's what the ''drinks'' on The Love Boat were actually made of
Ted Lange, who played Isaac Washington, revealed the truth.
Maureen McCormick on why she doesn't like to watch The Brady Bunch
The actor wasn't a fan of reruns.
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.”
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.
Carl Reiner once said that Mary Tyler Moore was like his daughter
"I'm just crazy about the girl."
Despite his stardom, Desi Arnaz said that he was a ''family man'' at heart
"The public does not think of me as a homebody," said the actor.
Vicki Lawrence got her start through Carol Burnett when she was only 17
Vicki Lawrence and Carol Burnett's friendship started in one of the most unique ways.
Bea Benaderet on the importance of taking a deep breath
Benaderet's success can be boiled down to breathing.
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.
Mary Frann found being Newhart's TV wife challenging
Mary Frann had to follow in the footsteps of Newhart's first onscreen wife.
Tom Bosley was everybody’s favorite TV dad for a reason
Tom Bosley’s kindness as Howard Cunningham wasn’t just an act.
Here's the real reason why Laura Petrie wore pants on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Moore put on her pants just like everybody else: One leg at a time...
Jackie Gleason fought to get Art Carney more money
Gleason used his pull for his pal.
Kathy Garver wanted her character on Family Affair to grow up
Garver was all grown up and just wanted her character to catch up.
Despite their differences, Norman Lear said that having Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker was ''so worth it''
"My entire body felt, 'Oh my god. This is Archie.'"
At first, Henry Winkler didn't know the impact The Fonz would have on TV
In the hearts of classic TV fans, he’ll always be The Fonz.
Jean Stapleton was never interested in the role of the leading lady
"I knew where I belonged," said the actor.
Audrey Meadows on how she got the role of Alice Kramden
Meadows was rich both in wealth and in her career.
The Love Boat's Lauren Tewes enjoyed getting fan mail
Lauren Tewes loved acting and the perks that came with it, including fan mail.
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 Struthers had a crush on Rob Reiner during filming of All in the Family
Were sparks flying off-camera?
Robert Reed lived in half of a mansion during The Brady Bunch
Robert Reed lived in a giant mansion in the early '70s! Well, he lived in half of one actually.
Lucille Ball's minor injuries on I Love Lucy showed her dedication to performing
Lucille Ball was a bundle of bruises, sprains and scratches.
Ann B. Davis enjoyed teaching students how to succeed in Hollywood
Ann B. Davis is everyone's favorite normal person who just happened to play a version of herself on the small screen.
Alan Hale Jr. was focused on becoming a ''working actor'' like his father
The actor wasn't concerned with stardom.
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.
In the 1960s, Carol Burnett was bold in comedy, but basic in cooking
Fearless on The Carol Burnett Show, but cautious in the kitchen!
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.
The producer and Jim Nabors spent a lot of time perfecting Gomer Pyle: USMC
Jim Nabors and Gomer Pyle were both small-town boys with a lot of optimism.
Vivian Vance's acting career had a parallel in mental health
She was much more than just Ethel Mertz.