Sunday, May 25, 2025

Flopcast 681: TV This Week in 1981 - The Mustaches Were Flying

It's a simple plan this week: We're just looking at what was on television in late May of 1981. Including: A bizarre Happy Days musical, a horrifying Waltons episode, Mork in a bubble, skydiving Hulk, something called "Women Who Rate a 10," Bo Duke with amnesia, Daisy Duke on Enos, Batman on Fantasy Island, a Muppet on a medical drama, a dead parrot at Mel's Diner, and way too many variety shows (from Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Robert Klein, the Gatlin Brothers, and the Mandrell Sisters). It all sounds wonderful, doesn't it? You should probably cancel Netflix and invest in a time machine.

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Show Notes

This week in 1981 might represent the peak of the spin-off! We have B.J. and the Bear with The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo:

The Dukes of Hazzard with Enos:

Diff'rent Strokes with The Facts of Life:

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The Happy Days universe is too complicated to get into here. But it did give birth to both Laverne & Shirley and Mork and Mindy! Watch a clip from "American Musical" and wash it down with a scene from "Child's Play" while Mork hangs out in his plastic bubble.

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Jump back a couple more years to 1979, and listen to the Mayor talk about the Doctor Who episode "The Horns of Nimon" on The Doctor's Beard!