Stories

LaWanda Page was scared to make mistakes when she first appeared on Sanford and Son

The actress didn't want to disappoint her mom, Redd Foxx and viewers.

Natalie Schafer was typecast as a wealthy woman but didn’t care about money

She had a very rich career — in more ways than one!

Bob Denver and Dawn Wells said Gilligan's Island wasn't just for kids

It didn't matter if you were a kid or an adult, getting stranded on Gilligan's Island was an easy thing to do.

Alan Hale Jr. was constantly mistaken for his father in the '60s

Everyone thought Alan Hale Jr. was Alan Hale Sr. throughout his acting career. A real like father, like son moment.

Here's how Happy Days helped Ron Howard mature

All Ron Howard wanted was to act his age.

The Flying Nun helped Sally Field soar (literally)

Getting Sister Bertrille airborne was no easy task.

Henry Winkler didn't want his fans to only remember him as The Fonz

"When somebody calls me Fonzie, I don't let it go by. My name is Henry Winkler."

M*A*S*H’s Loretta Swit kept her real name to make a point

Loretta Swit is a name we all know and love today—but it wasn’t always that way.

R.I.P. George Wendt, Norm from ''Cheers'' and comedy familiar face

Raise a frosty glass of beer to the actor, who also appeared several times as one of the Chicago Superfans on SNL talking about "da Bears". Wendt was 76 years old.

The Dick Van Dyke Show: How Carl Reiner's innovations redefined TV comedy

The production used some innovative techniques to keep the show fresh.

In 1992, Cheers star John Ratzenberger saluted the Cliff Clavins of the world

Ratzenberger said everyone needed a friend like Cliff Clavin in their life.

There was nothing in the norm when it came to George Wendt's success on Cheers

George Wendt loved many things about playing the role of Norm, but surprisingly, drinking beer wasn't one of them.

Norman Lear revealed how Edith was able to tune Archie out

Edith loved Archie but didn't agree with him.

Laverne & Shirley was often compared to I Love Lucy

"It's hard to find two attractive girls who will let themselves seem unattractive."

Here’s what Marion Ross liked best about Brooklyn Bridge

Here’s what Marion Ross loved most about Sophie Berger.

Dick Van Dyke did his best to avoid any changes on his hit series

He wanted to change everything about television, but nothing about The Dick Van Dyke Show.

How syndication saved Vicki Lawrence and Mama's Family

Syndication saved Mama's Family.

Dick Van Dyke discovered a love for comedy while starring in a Christmas pageant as a child

Van Dyke could make people laugh in the most unexpected places, even as a child.

That Girl's Marlo Thomas was tired of talking about her dad in interviews

Her famous father wasn’t her only acting inspiration!

Jean Stapleton was a true American revolutionary, according to Carroll O'Connor

"Edith helped work a change in America," O'Connor wrote.

The future was ripped out from under the Brady Bunch kids

Here's the story... of how one of TV's most beloved sitcoms was unceremoniously canceled, with no care shown to its child stars.

Gavin MacLeod addresses rumors that the Love Boat cast didn't get along

This is your captain speaking.

Marion Ross aged up a few years for her role in Brooklyn Bridge

Although the role was short-lived, her role as Sophie Berger will live on.

R.I.P. Charles Strouse, composer of ''All in the Family'' theme song and Broadway classics ''Annie'' and ''Bye Bye Birdie''

"Those Were the Days" reached 43 on the Billboard Charts and joined many of Strouse's other successful songs, like "Tomorrow", "Put on a Happy Face", and "You've Got Possibilities". The composer was 96.

The Odd Couple helped Jack Klugman overcome his ''gangster'' image

Before he was the lovable odd guy from The Odd Couple, he struggled with being the odd man out.

Penny Marshall was afraid of stardom during her time on Laverne & Shirley

Penny Marshall dealt with different degrees of pressure during her time on the show. One of those pressures came from herself.

One of Florence Henderson’s real-life children had a small role on The Brady Bunch

She took her role as a mother seriously, both on and off screen!

Norman Lear had a special message hidden inside Sanford and Son and All in the Family

Norman Lear did what he wanted and didn't care who saw — even if it was thousands of TV viewers.

Compared to My Three Sons, Fred MacMurray said being a father was harder at home

Fatherhood was so much easier for MacMurray when it was written out in My Three Sons.

Mike Farrell helped M*A*S*H mature as a series

Mike Farrell was the new guy for a while, but quickly went up in the ranks as M*A*S*H progressed.

Here's the real inside scoop on what Art Carney thought about Jackie Gleason

Happy actors, happy show. That was the motto of The Honeymooners.

Allan Kayser (Bubba on Mama's Family) on auditioning for Vicki Lawrence

The show had already aired for two seasons, plus Lawrence was already a legend from her time on The Carol Burnett Show. That's some serious pressure!

How Marlo Thomas gave Danny Thomas the worst Father’s Day gift possible

The decision to act came easily for everyone—except Marlo's parents.

Mary Tyler Moore only had the best things to say about Dick Van Dyke

Find someone who talks about you the way Mary Tyler Moore talked about Dick Van Dyke.

Here's the advice Audrey Meadows would get from Honeymooners fans

Meadows received advice from women all over the country on how to handle her fictional husband!

Jackie Gleason fought to get Art Carney more money

Gleason used his pull for his pal.

Despite earning millions, Jackie Gleason didn't care about money

Money couldn't buy happiness or The Honeymooners star.

Despite his role in My Three Sons, William Frawley was ''undomesticated''

The character was the authority on cooking, cleaning and caretaking; the actor lacked that skill set.

Barbara Feldon was famous for commercials before she was on Get Smart

From selling men's pomade and purring at the audience to playing Agent 99 in a spy spoof, Feldon was a queen of TV.

Here's why the 1972 season was crucial for The Odd Couple's success

The Odd Couple's second and third seasons were titled "the most crucial seasons" for the hit-series.

Carroll O'Connor said that criticism of his shows got to him

Carroll O'Connor had a candid critique of TV critics.

Penny Marshall enjoyed drinking milk and Pepsi as a child, long before she starred on Laverne & Shirley

Laverne and Penny shared a drink of choice.

Tim Conway thought more comedy was needed in TV and film

This funny guy on TV wanted to be a funny guy in the movies, too!

LaWanda Page didn't allow her success on Sanford and Son to spoil her

LaWanda Page didn't care about fame, cars or money; She just wanted to play the part of Aunt Esther.

Alan Alda wanted a very private life for him and his family during his time on M*A*S*H

He was a ladies' man who only cared about one woman.

Barry Williams on how he made peace with The Brady Bunch

Williams went on a journey with the show.

How Vivian Vance became a big Hollywood star by accident

Vivian Vance had the audition of a lifetime in front of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz – and she had no idea.

Vivian Vance's acting career had a parallel in mental health

She was much more than just Ethel Mertz.

Here's the real reason why Lucille Ball dyed her hair that iconic red color

The look is legendary, but the steps taken to get there are shrouded in rumors.

Harvey Korman loved The Carol Burnett Show, but hated some of the costumes

After all, fake mustaches, feathers, tutus, and tiaras can only take you so far.

Bob Newhart was the expert of playing himself onscreen

If you ever noticed a similar theme across all of Newhart's series, there's a reason: He put himself into everything he did.

R.I.P. Ruth Buzzi, comedy legend known from ''Laugh-In'' fame

She had hundreds of credits and five Emmy nominations, but perhaps will always be remembered for her bag-swinging character on Laugh-In. The actress was 88 years old.

Here's why Dick Van Dyke joined Carol Burnett after Harvey Korman left

It was a long-awaited comedy collision!

McLean Stevenson wanted M*A*S*H to go by the book

M*A*S*H pulled more inspiration from the book than it did the 1970 movie.

Bob Newhart used humor to help cope with life's hardest moments

Newhart used humor to get through life's hardships and suggested you do the same.

Marlo Thomas was an inspiration to strong, independent women

Marlo Thomas stood on business.

8 of the best questions, answers and interactions from the Q+A sessions on The Carol Burnett Show

Burnett's quick-wit and situational comedy abilities made the Q+A sessions a must-watch for any fan of her variety show.

Don Adams used his past roles to build upon his role in Get Smart

Don Adams was clever in his portrayal of Maxwell Smart.

Before landing her role on Good Times Bern Nadette Stanis wanted to be a dancer

Her role on Good Times was so sudden that it took her out of her classes at Juilliard!

Here's why Norman Lear was the man behind all the hits

Get an inside look into the mind behind the man!

Harvey Korman loved being in the background on The Carol Burnett Show

Korman didn't need to shine bright to be considered a star.

Jean Stapleton reflected on what it was like when Norman Lear left All in the Family

No Norman Lear? No problem. Jean Stapleton knew how to be head of the household on All in the Family.

All in the Family changed Sally Struthers over the course of nine seasons

Sally Struthers changed her attitude because of her role in All in the Family. It also brought her closer to her real-life family.

Jean Stapleton was a Hollywood star, but she lived in rural Pennsylvania

Stapleton was a real-life Hollywood Hillbilly. From Los Angeles to Pennsylvania, she liked living two different lifestyles.

Here's the advice Lucille Ball gave to aspiring actors and entertainers

What's Lucy's secret to success? Grape stomping, bear wrestling, silliness and a lot of hard work.

New York City ''sewer rats'' became an important part of Art Carney's career

Carney loved the New York City sewer system just as much as the real "rats" in the city did.

Jimmie Walker was a stand-up comedian before becoming a star on Good Times

Before Jimmie Walker was cracking jokes on television, he told them onstage as a struggling stand-up comedian.

When Larry Linville wasn't filming M*A*S*H, he was pursuing a high-flying hobby

Linville had two kinds of highs during his time on M*A*S*H: Working as an actor on a successful TV series and building aircraft.

Redd Foxx loved his life inside and outside of Sanford and Son

Redd Foxx was both a nightclub comic and a TV star. In the '70s, succeeding in both at the same time was rare.

Lucille Ball's minor injuries on I Love Lucy showed her dedication to performing

Lucille Ball was a bundle of bruises, sprains and scratches.

Harvey Korman on the type of chemistry it took to make The Carol Burnett Show work

Korman was proof that cast chemistry was key to comedy gold!

Sammy Davis Jr. gave Archie Bunker the kiss of a lifetime on All in the Family

Archie Bunker doesn't kiss and tell, but his reaction is worth a thousand words.

Robert Reed wasn't afraid to speak up about his Brady Bunch criticisms

Reed had a few opinions about the writing on The Brady Bunch.

Gavin MacLeod went from playing villains to being considered a comedy hero

When Gavin MacLeod lost his hair, he started getting typecasted as the big, bald, bad guy.

A bald head helped Richard Moll get his part in Night Court

Night Court producers loved Moll's bald-headed look. Richard Moll? Maybe not so much.

The Love Boat's Ted Lange once wrote a rock musical

Who knew this bartender on The Love Boat was so rock and roll?!

Cindy Williams had experience with two decades: Shirley's and her own

Williams embraced the nostalgic setting and her goofy kitty-carrying character resonated with audiences of all generations.

Jackie Gleason once hosted a show so bad that it only ran one episode, followed by an on-air apology

Ironically, the apology got better reviews than the show itself.

Night Court's Harry Anderson had a tough start to his success

A little magic goes a long way.

Lucille Ball didn't mind sharing her series with farm animals

Lucille Ball took "rural humor" to a new extreme!

Vivian Vance traveled over 3,000 miles to work on The Lucy Show

Vivian Vance was a Hollywood legend who lived in Connecticut. She must have had a lot of frequent flyer miles.

These nine photos of The Monkees show just how cool the band was

Let's hang around with the Monkees! These behind-the-scenes photos are filled with nostalgia.

Success was the only thing keeping Rob Reiner and Penny Marshall apart

The timeless couple just wanted to have a little more time with each other.

Mary Frann of Newhart was inspired by Audrey Meadows of The Honeymooners

"Audrey Meadows made Jackie Gleason funnier."

Loretta Swit said her role on M*A*S*H was one of the hardest to play

"She's human and humane, and I try to justify her outrageous behavior by being the best nurse in Korea," Loretta Swit said about her M*A*S*H character.

Jimmie Walker said he was nothing like J.J. on Good Times

He was more of a loner in real life than his "Dy-no-mite!" character!

Get Smart's Don Adams was a real-life Maxwell Smart

Before Get Smart he was lying about his age and performing stand-up comedy in dive bars.

Here's why Ted Bessell of That Girl wanted to leave the series

There was a lot of pressure being the guy to That Girl on the hit 1966 series.

Sally Struthers thought Gloria should have had a job on All in the Family

Sally Struthers had a few ideas for her character on All in the Family. Including one idea that came true.

Producer Garry Marshall was surprised by Laverne & Shirley's success

The producer said Laverne & Shirley was "all about timing."

William Christopher avoided jokes about religion as much as he could

In real life, the 4077th's Catholic priest actually came from a devoted family of Methodists.

Audrey Meadows made bank in her role on The Honeymooners

The Honeymooners made Meadows a millionaire.

Marilu Henner helped real-life cab drivers when she wasn't acting on Taxi

Marilu Henner took her Taxi fame for a ride straight to the streets of New York!

The cast of Taxi had mixed reactions when the series moved to NBC

When Taxi switched networks, its stars were hoping it would drive higher ratings home.

Danny DeVito's character on Taxi was made just for him

DeVito hatched a plan in order to get the part of Louie on Taxi.

Taxi's Tony Danza traded in his boxing gloves for a yellow cab

Like in boxing, he went with the punches and worked hard on his acting career.

Judd Hirsch wanted Taxi fans to step up after the series was put on hold by NBC

On paper, Taxi had everything it needed to succeed, but in reality, the series had many ups and downs.

Taxi's Marilu Henner hailed a cab and rode it all the way to success

Henner would receive high praise, gifts and even a special license from Taxi drivers all over the country.

Jamie Farr felt like M*A*S*H gave him a new life

Although he had been a character since the beginning, Farr's real breakthrough came later in the series.

Here's what the ''drinks'' on The Love Boat were actually made of

Ted Lange, who played Isaac Washington, revealed the truth.

George Wendt enjoyed being ''large'' for a living

Wendt was living large and liked it that way.

Mary Tyler Moore had this to say on whether the success of The Dick Van Dyke Show had changed her

The series kickstarted Moore's comedy career.