A look at the shows that made NBC "must see tv"
By Laura Hand
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 7:02 p.m.
As E-R's last episode is showing, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of NBC's older blockbuster hits.
E-R may have been the most watched TV show for much of it's run, but Milton Berle, at the beginning of TV, put the medium on the map--every Tuesday night. Black and White saw lots of variety shows, from Perry Como to Shirley Temple to Dinah Shore ("see the USA, in your Chevrolet').
There were game shows, including 'Name that Tune' and Groucho Marx's 'You Bet Your Life.' And there was news and infotainment--Today with Dave Garroway, Tonight with Jack Paar, and Nightly News with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley.
There were lots of dramas, too, including Dragnet, and Dr. Kildare, and comedies like Car 54.
Next week, the Archive will look at color blockbusters---we'll also bring you a segment on old TV3 shows in the near future.
