A Retro Glimpse at the Fall of 1965: When TV Tried to Captivate and Critics Flipped
Ah, the fall television season of 1965-an era that promised glitz and glamour yet left many critics feeling distinctly grumpy. Picture this: it’s the second week of September, and from their cushy couches, the pundits are too busy groaning about what’s on their screens. Jack Gould of The New York Times famously dismissed the season as “the biggest yawn in the modern annals of broadcasting”—a bold proclamation for a time that delivered both brilliance and bizarre moments.
The critics were especially miffed by the new comedies. A genie in a bottle? A WWII sitcom? A talking car? Oh, the audacity! Yet, as history would prove, these oft-derided shows became cultural cornerstones, thriving in syndication and streaming decades later, providing a cheerful distraction from the dark clouds of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights strife unfolding across America.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit seven standouts from that fall:
F TROOP
This wonderfully irreverent spoof of the Western genre, featuring bumbling soldiers and politically incorrect antics, had critics crying “corny!” Yet, it has since blossomed into a cult classic, lasting longer in syndication than it did on air. Where to watch? Rent it on Apple TV+ or Prime Video, darling.
GET SMART
A riot of spy parody, this collaboration between Mel Brooks and Buck Henry oozed charm thanks to Don Adams and Barbara Feldon. Critics noted its silliness, but can you blame them when catchphrases like “Missed it by that much” infiltrated daily conversation? Catch it on YouTube or rent through Prime.
GREEN ACRES
Paul Henning’s fish-out-of-water comedy showcased Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a mismatched couple navigating rural life. Critics may have dismissed it, but its iconic theme and sheer wit found a dedicated audience-still gracing screens on MeTV and Tubi.
HOGAN’S HEROES
Imagine a Nazi POW camp turned sitcom! What a gamble! CBS Chairman William S. Paley was skeptical, as some critics branded it “sick humor.” Still, Bob Crane and his ensemble created a breakout hit, prevailing against the odds on MeTV and Pluto TV.
HONEY WEST
Starring Anne Francis as a karate-chopping detective, this early Aaron Spelling gem had an edge that critics barely recognized. But it paved the way for female leads in action-now available on MeTV+ and YouTube.
I DREAM OF JEANNIE
Barbara Eden as a wish-granting genie and Larry Hagman as her astronaut master sparked both wonder and disdain. Critics lambasted it as “idiotic,” yet it remains a beloved classic.
MY MOTHER THE CAR
Yes, you heard that right-a talking car! Though critics panned it as “rather stupid,” it endures as a quirky footnote in TV history, still generating chuckles on YouTube.
So there you have it, darlings. A whimsical roundup of a season that critics tried to bury but that viewers ultimately embraced, proving yet again that television, much like the stories it tells, can be both textured and tantalizing.
Original Story https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/green-acres-get-smart-1965-tv-shows-qn6vz0tw
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