Here's a complete broadcast of a first-run installment of a short-lived (1983-84) sitcom, Buffalo Bill, as aired on the NBC Network via Chicago's WMAQ Channel 5. This is S02E12, "The Tap Dancer," about the last surviving member of a trio of tap-dancing brothers making an appearance on Bill's show - and what happens afterward.
No, it's not a light-hearted sitcom about the serial killer from "Silence of the Lambs" - this show starred Dabney Coleman as "Buffalo" Bill Bittinger, an egotistical local talk show host in Buffalo, NY (whose NBC affiliate was actually WGRZ Channel 2), who makes life miserable for everyone around him at the small TV station he works for - but is kept at bay by his director and on/off lover Jo Jo White (Joanna Cassidy). Also featured in the cast were (pre-"Alf" Dad) Max Wright (as station manager Karl Shub), John Fiedler (as Woody), a pre-stardom Geena Davis (as Wendy Killian), Meshach Taylor and Charlie Robinson. Besides the cast, Norelco PC-70 cameras appear in shot frequently in the TV studio segments.
Includes:
Station ID / Linda Yu promo for Channel 5 News at 10pm
Show opening sequence and titles
Commercials for:
Dynamo Action Plus heavy-duty laundry detergent
Theatrical trailer for "The Ice Pirates"
Episode Act I
Buffalo Bill trailer, with Channel 5 lower-third logo below
Sponsor billboard for Ford
Commercials for:
Ford Tempo - with Dorothy Hamill
Burger King - "Have You Had Your Salad Today?"
Promo for new production of "Mister Roberts" for Monday, followed by promo for Remington Steele for Tuesday (both voiceovers by Danny Dark)
Episode Act II
Commercials for:
Kal Kan dog food - for all stages (with Dan and Chris Middleton, top breeders of champion Samoyeds)
Hanes underwear and T-shirts (have to pass rigorous inspections before being sold)
Episode epilogue, followed by ending credits (with local voiceover by Linda Yu previewing upcoming Channel 5 News at 10pm stories: big fundraiser in town for Senator Gary Hart with Robert Redford as guest, poll results on state's attorney's race, and first verdict in Gray Lord investigation)
Promo for Late Night with David Letterman, with the man himself previewing tonight's guests
NBC News Digest with Jennifer McLogan (opening voiceover by Bill Hanrahan), with following stories:
- 25-year-old Pennsylvania man, David Mahonsky of Williamsport, wanted by FBI, is shot on White House grounds by guard and is in fair condition
- Police officer Luis Alvarez found not guilty of manslaughter by Miami jury in connection with shooting death of black man
- Marian Quinn awarded $390,000 by Tulsa, OK jury in invasion of privacy suit against Church of Christ after they accused her of adultery
Brief clip of commercial for Chicago Tribune before recording ends
This aired on local Chicago TV on Thursday, March 15th 1984 during the 8:30pm to 8:58pm timeframe.
About The Museum of Classic Chicago Television:
The MCCTv (FuzzyMemoriesTV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s to early 80s, mostly) recorded off of TV (in Chicago or other cities now too); things which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. If you have any old 1970s videotapes recorded off of TV please email: tapes@fuzzy.tv Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical preservation. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, please e-mail tapes@fuzzy.tv Thank you for your help!
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