What's My Line? question

[PYLW]

Was there going to be another season of syndicated WML? in 1975 until the death of Larry Blyden? Or, was it already known it was going to be over before his death? Thank you.

[Jimmy Owen]

It wrapped production in late 1974, with the possibilty of coming back if enough stations picked it up, but it didn't get enough interest.  IIRC, Variety reported there were only 43 stations that were showing it that last season.  Larry Blyden had been tapped to host "Showoffs" in California when he died, so the cancellation of the NYC-based WML? was not due to his death.

[brianhenke]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'146183\' date=\'Feb 17 2007, 08:04 PM\']
It wrapped production in late 1974, with the possibilty of coming back if enough stations picked it up, but it didn't get enough interest.  IIRC, Variety reported there were only 43 stations that were showing it that last season.  Larry Blyden had been tapped to host "Showoffs" in California when he died, so the cancellation of the NYC-based WML? was not due to his death.
[/quote]


 Can you imagine a first run syndie show playing in 43 markets today? I don't think so.

 Brian

[Dbacksfan12]

[quote name=\'brianhenke\' post=\'146280\' date=\'Feb 18 2007, 10:33 PM\']
Can you imagine a first run syndie show playing in 43 markets today? I don't think so.
[/quote]
If Cincinnati was one of the markets that aired it, I guarantee success.

[tvwxman]

[quote name=\'brianhenke\' post=\'146280\' date=\'Feb 18 2007, 11:33 PM\']
Can you imagine a first run syndie show playing in 43 markets today? I don't think so.

 Brian
[/quote]
There, fixed that for you.

Actually, I fixed that for the rest of us.

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'146328\' date=\'Feb 19 2007, 12:17 PM\']
[quote name=\'brianhenke\' post=\'146280\' date=\'Feb 18 2007, 11:33 PM\']
Can you imagine a first run syndie show playing in 43 markets today? I don't think so.

 Brian
[/quote]
There, fixed that for you.

Actually, I fixed that for the rest of us.
[/quote]
Gold star.

How many markets were there in 1975, anyway? Was it still the 216? that we have now, or was there a huge difference?

[uncamark]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'146337\' date=\'Feb 19 2007, 12:21 PM\']
[How many markets were there in 1975, anyway? Was it still the 216? that we have now, or was there a huge difference?
[/quote]

Seems to me that it was roughly the same as today.

[mmb5]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'146337\' date=\'Feb 19 2007, 01:21 PM\']
How many markets were there in 1975, anyway? Was it still the 216? that we have now, or was there a huge difference?
[/quote]

According to the TV Yearbook I have, 210 in 1975.  Arbitron, which was in the TV business then, had a few less.  Back to the WML question, the Top 10 (which was 34.5% of the country in 1975, it's only 29.6% now) had pretty much given up on it:

1. New York City - 5:30 PM, Sunday only (WCBS)
2. Los Angeles - 7:00 PM (KHJ)
3. Chicago - didn't clear
4. Philadelphia - 11:30 AM (WPVI, pre-empting Brady Bunch reruns)
5. Boston - 7:00 PM (WNAC)
6. Detroit - didn't clear
7. San Fran - didn't clear
8. Cleveland - didn't clear
9. Washington DC - didn't clear
10. Pittsburgh -  didn't clear


--Mike