TV Confidential with Ed Robertson

TVC 694.5: Part 2 of a conversation that began two programs ago with Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, a deep dive into the making of Harry O (ABC, 1974-1976), the short-lived but fondly remembered private eye series starring David Janssen, Henry Darrow, and Anthony Zerbe, that also offers insight into what made Harry O so special. Topics this segment include Janssen's mounting frustration with ABC once each of the qualities that had made Harry O stand out from other private eye shows on television were slowly taken away once production of the series moved from San Diego to Los Angeles. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.

TVC 694.6: Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, talk to Ed about the various reasons why Harry O was canceled in the spring of 1976, despite holding its own in the ratings; the contributions of producer Jerry Thorpe and director Richard Lang; and why part of the allure of Harry O stems from the fact that it only ran for two seasons. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.

TVC 693.1: From January 2017: Emmy Award-winning actress Loretta Swit joins Ed for a conversation about her lifelong interest in watercolor painting, her "proprietary relationship" with wildlife, her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt), and, of course, a few questions about M*A*S*H. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven. At the time we spoke to Loretta in 2017, she had just released SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit, a collection of sixty-four full-color paintings and drawings, all done by Loretta herself, and all accompanied by anecdotes and stories about Loretta's life, career, and work on behalf of animals. All proceeds from sales of SwitHeart will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta's endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty.

TVC 693.2: Part 2 of our January 2017 conversation with Loretta Swit about her lifelong interest in watercolor painting, her "proprietary relationship" with wildlife, her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt), and a few questions about M*A*S*H, including Loretta's deep respect for real-life nurses; "The Nurses," the famous episode, written by Linda Bloodworth-Thompson and directed by Joan Darling, that forever changed the trajectory of the character of Major Margaret Houlihan; and the woman on whom Loretta based her portrayal of Margaret. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven. All proceeds from sales of Loretta's book, SwitHeart, her SwitHeart greeting cards, and her signature perfume, SwitHeart, will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta's endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty.

TVC 693.3: Part 3 of our January 2017 conversation with Loretta Swit, including questions about her vast stage career (including her then-recent portrayal of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt) and the close-knit, almost theatre-like camaraderie between Loretta and her fellow cast members on M*A*S*H. Also in this segment: A quote from actor Jamie Farr, courtesy of B. Harlan Boll. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven. All proceeds from sales of Loretta's book, SwitHeart, her SwitHeart greeting cards, and her signature perfume, SwitHeart, will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta's endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty.

TVC 693.4: From February 2019: Ed, Tony, and Donna accompany Emmy Award-winning actress, artist and animal rights activist Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit) on a walk through Central Park as she discusses her efforts on behalf of all animals; her support of our veterans; how she keeps herself in shape; and why she will never retire. All proceeds from sales of Loretta's book, SwitHeart, her SwitHeart greeting cards, and her signature perfume, SwitHeart, will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta's endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven.

TVC 693.5: Part 2 of a conversation that originally aired in February 2019 in which Ed, Tony, and Donna accompany Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H, SwitHeart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit) on a walk through Central Park. Also in this segment: A quote from JoAnne Worley, president of Actors and Others for Animals, that lauds Loretta's efforts on behalf of all animals (quote courtesy B. Harlan Boll), plus Ed shares a brief story about the two times in which he met Loretta in person. Loretta Swit passed away on Friday, May 30 at the age of eighty-seven. All proceeds from sales of Loretta's book, SwitHeart, her SwitHeart greeting cards, and her signature perfume, SwitHeart, will continue to support various animal rights organizations as part of Loretta's endless campaign to end animal suffering and cruelty.

TVC 692.1: Ed welcomes Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, a new book that not only takes a deep dive into the making of Harry O (ABC, 1974-1976), the short-lived but fondly remembered private eye series starring David Janssen, Henry Darrow, and Anthony Zerbe, but offers insight into what made Harry O so special. Topics this segment include a clarification of some of the details pertaining to the early development of the Harry Orwell character; why series creator Howard Rodman originally aimed to make the series a character-driven crime drama, versus one that was plot-driven; and why the eleven episodes of Harry O that were filmed in San Diego during the summer of 1974 are almost a series unto itself. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.

TVC 692.2: Steve Aldous and Gary Gillies, co-authors of The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series, talk to Ed about why Harry O has more in common with the Lew Archer novels by Russ MacDonald than the Raymond Chandler novels featuring Philip Marlowe or the Dashiell Hammett novels with Sam Spade; how David Janssen's skill at performing voice-overs was one of the ways in which he fully inhabited the Harry Orwell character; and how the onscreen rapport between Janssen and Anthony Zerbe changed the dynamics of Harry O for the better. The Harry O Viewing Companion is available wherever books are sold through McFarland Books.

TVC 692.4: A return visit by Dean Butler, the actor known around the world to three generations to television viewers as Almanzo Wilder, Laura Ingalls' husband on Little House on the Prairie. Among other topics this segment, Dean and Ed discuss the forthcoming Netflix reimaging of Little House; Dean's early experiences working as an extra (then, later, as an actor) on The Streets of San Francisco, including sharing screen time with Michael Douglas in the famous Streets episode "The Thrill Killers," featuring Patty Duke and Susan Dey; and the difference between having a craft for acting and having a facility for it. Dean's memoir, Prairie Man: My Little House Life & Beyond, is available wherever books are sold through Kensington Books, an imprint of Citadel Press. Dean Butler and other cast members from Little House on the Prairie are scheduled to appear at the Little House cast reunion at Columbia State Historic Park in Tuolumne County, California on June 6-7-8, 2025. Go to LittleHouseGoldCountry.com for tickets and more information.