Stories

Earl Hamner's philosophy of family can be boiled down to his love of turtles
When the Waltons creator rescued a dozen turtles, his wife had one question: "What are we going to do with them all?"
January 21, 2021, 9:21AM

Virginia Arness, wife of James Arness, made her final acting appearance on Perry Mason
She later shunned Malibu life to run a roadside motel.
January 19, 2021, 1:18PM

Leonard Nimoy created this iconic Spock scene, and nailed it in one take
"We had just enough time for one take — so it had to go perfectly!"
January 19, 2021, 12:57PM

On M*A*S*H, John Orchard delivered two great characters
Do you think cutting Ugly John from the cast was worth it to meet MP Muldoon?
January 19, 2021, 9:06AM

The real science behind Fred Flintstones' car-stopping, ticklish feet
There's a real medical condition called "Flintstone feet."
January 19, 2021, 8:37AM

The cartoonist whose real life inspired Pepé Le Pew explained the skunk's hapless views on romance
"His devotion to women was at times pathetic, at times psychological, but always enthusiastic."
January 19, 2021, 8:25AM

John-Boy's graduation day is even sweeter when you know the real story behind his secondhand suit
This father-son moment from Earl Hamner's real life will make you misty-eyed.
January 18, 2021, 7:38AM

7 fabulous facts about Julie Adams, love interest of Elvis, Andy and the Creature
She was so much more than just a ''scream queen''
January 15, 2021, 4:15PM

6 reasons why ''Negative Reaction'' is the most delightful Columbo episode
Columbo makes the case that he is comedy gold.
January 15, 2021, 2:03PM

R.I.P. Peter Mark Richman, prolific TV and film actor in everything from The Twilight Zone to Three’s Company
He acted professionally on stage and screen for over six decades.
January 15, 2021, 12:00PM

Betty Lynn hid her secret crush on Andy Griffith so she wouldn't ''hurt anyone's feelings''
Andy once wrote to Betty Lynn, ''You were Don's girl, but you should’ve been mine.''
January 13, 2021, 10:21AM

Popeye and Olive Oyl voice actors fell in love making the cartoon
Their marriage started strong with a spinach breakfast on wedding day, but it ended in heartbreak.
January 13, 2021, 10:03AM

Frank Sutton was ''the perfect sergeant for Gomer''
A secret intellectual, the Sergeant Carter actor ''had a built-in sense of comedy and timing.''
January 12, 2021, 10:52AM

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem to play Lucy and Ricky in 'Being the Ricardos'
'Being the Ricardos' will be set behind the scenes of the classic TV show.
January 12, 2021, 10:41AM

You can thank Leave It to Beaver for bringing the series finale to TV sitcoms
''Family Scrapbook'' was for the record books.
January 12, 2021, 10:18AM

R.I.P. John Reilly, soap opera star who got his start in Westerns with James Arness
He was also in everything from ‘The Love Boat’ to ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’
January 11, 2021, 11:56AM

Fans still have trouble tracking Fonzie's family members on Happy Days
Get the Fonzarelli family straight. Spike and Chachi were not the same character.
January 11, 2021, 11:54AM

Joining Opie's boy gang was the ultimate fun for these child actors
Plus: Ron Howard described what it was like to be in the boy gang on Dennis the Menace.
January 11, 2021, 9:54AM

Bugs Bunny is the reason people think that rabbits eat carrots, but it was just a movie spoof
Bugs' carrot chomping was a Clark Gable parody, not based on nature.
January 8, 2021, 1:50PM

Mary Ann's singing on Gilligan's Island has a strong tie to Led Zeppelin
That wasn't actually Dawn Wells singing in the Honeybees.
January 8, 2021, 1:36PM

Mary Tyler Moore quit her first recurring TV role when they didn't give her a raise
The studio claimed she got "too much publicity" for her secretive character.
January 7, 2021, 4:17PM

Allan Melvin quietly became ''one of TV's most recognizable faces''
The actor appeared regularly on major sitcoms from the 1950s to the 1980s, but he called his popularity ''a cult thing.''
January 6, 2021, 9:17AM

A car accident almost killed ''Bugs Bunny'' in 1961
At least one newspaper wrongly reported Mel Blanc's death. Fans sent letters: ''Please, God, let Bugs Bunny get well.''
January 5, 2021, 1:05PM

Tanya Roberts of Charlie's Angels and That '70s Show passes away following premature death announcement
The former Bond Girl was 65.
January 5, 2021, 11:22AM

The Flintstones spoof of Bonanza was the first time they didn't use a laugh track
It was more serious than you may think when the most popular show in the west was called upon to save The Flintstones.
January 5, 2021, 11:01AM

MeTV pays tribute to Dawn Wells with special episodes of Gilligan’s Island
Watch the best of Mary Ann this Sunday, January 10, starting at 2PM | 1C.
January 4, 2021, 4:27PM

Joe Conley of The Waltons was about to quit acting when he got cast as the singing shopkeeper Ike Godsey
"To millions of people, I am Ike Godsey." But he was also a real estate mogul.
January 4, 2021, 2:33PM

George Takei's early appearance on Perry Mason eerily predicted his Star Trek character's name
Listen closely for ''Sulu'' in ''The Case of the Blushing Pearls.''
January 4, 2021, 1:13PM

Extreme weather secretly played a deeper role on M*A*S*H
The weather conditions became much more than a plot device in the seventh season.
January 4, 2021, 8:58AM

R.I.P. Dawn Wells, Mary Ann of Gilligan's Island
The beloved sitcom star was 82.
December 30, 2020, 2:10PM

Director Chuck Jones had one regret about his iconic cartoon 'What's Opera, Doc?'
A missing sound effect "bugged" the creator to the end.
December 30, 2020, 11:45AM

Alan Reed and Mel Blanc's real friendship deepened as Fred and Barney's bond grew
Alan Reed on his mentor and costar Mel Blanc: "He's a very, very clever and talented man."
December 30, 2020, 9:14AM

There's a secret to doing the best Droopy impression
Chuck Jones explains the madcap genius of Tex Avery cartoons — and how to do a Droopy impression.
December 30, 2020, 9:03AM

Start the new year with animation classics in MeTV's Cartoon Kick-Off Show
Tune in on Friday, January 1, at 9PM | 8C and Saturday, January 2, at 7PM | 6C!
December 29, 2020, 3:30PM

Did you know Rambo's mentor once rescued The Andy Griffith Show?
Richard Crenna saved the day in 1963. He also brought a new perspective to Mayberry — and rethought the front door. Did you notice?
December 29, 2020, 11:36AM

Someone snuck James Doohan’s ashes onto the International Space Station
Scotty has secretly been orbiting Earth for years.
December 28, 2020, 5:06PM

1981 was a revolutionary year for television and deserves to be remembered
Forty years ago the small screen was graced with relatable superheroes, music videos, and tabloid TV.
December 28, 2020, 3:43PM

8 favorite foods that first appeared in 1981
Happy 40th birthday to the McRib, the McNugget, Pudding Pops and Lean Cuisine.
December 28, 2020, 2:55PM

Yancy and Sissy on The Waltons were married in real life, too
Cissy Wellman on Robert Donner: "He was a phenomenal actor."
December 28, 2020, 8:33AM

Paging Doctor Goober: George Lindsey brought his Andy Griffith charm to M*A*S*H
"Andy Griffith turned out to be the greatest teacher I've ever had."
December 28, 2020, 8:19AM

Goober Pyle got his very own forgotten spin-off show in the late Seventies
This pilot really piled on the Pyles.
December 23, 2020, 3:21PM

7 pop culture favorites that are turning 50 years old in 2021
Count Chocula, Hamburger Helper and Swamp Thing are turning the big 5-0. Wonder if they're friends?
December 23, 2020, 1:17PM

Don Most initially turned down the role of Ralph Malph on Happy Days
A game of hoops at Garry Marshall's house changed his mind.
December 23, 2020, 9:00AM

How June Foray ended up voicing two different cartoon characters named Witch Hazel
You probably remember the Looney Tunes version better.
December 23, 2020, 8:52AM

Did you notice Fred Flintstone's voice changed after the Seventies Christmas special?
After Alan Reed passed away in 1977, Henry Corden took over the caveman character.
December 22, 2020, 10:21AM

Watch classic cartoons on 'Toon In With Me'!
Meet the new faces of MeTV mornings!
December 21, 2020, 9:30AM

Ron Howard explained how Christmas inspired his whole family to act
The Howard family tree should be shaped like a Christmas tree.
December 21, 2020, 8:18AM

Plotting this poker episode was a nightmare for M*A*S*H writers
Change the way you watch M*A*S*H poker episodes.
December 21, 2020, 8:06AM

The 5 best Elmer Fudd cartoons
Be vewy vewy excited. We found the best Elmer Fudd shorts!
December 18, 2020, 5:07PM

One Gunsmoke Christmas episode is a who's who of 1970s child stars
Jodie Foster, Erin Moran and Willie Aames all played orphans in Dodge City.
December 18, 2020, 7:58AM