Welcome Back, Kotter Was Temporarily Prohibited From Broadcasting in Boston
Show: Welcome Back, Kotter
Original Network: ABC
Est. Production Budget: $300,000 per episode*
The title role of the Italian-American comedy Welcome Back, Kotter, which followed a group of diverse Brooklyn high school students, starred Italian-American comedian Gabe Kaplan, who also helped make John Travolta famous. In the popular television program Welcome Back, Kotter encountered restrictions and was momentarily prohibited from broadcasting in Boston in the late 1970s because of racial and cultural issues of the day, particularly the city’s “busing issue.” The program ran for four seasons and became a cultural icon for many viewers in spite of the controversy.
Toast of the Town Was The Original Name of The Ed Sullivan Show
Show: The Ed Sullivan Show
Original Network: CBS
Est. Production Budget: $8 million per year*
There was a time when The Ed Sullivan Show wasn’t the renowned variety show that we know and love today. Actually, the show’s original name, Toast of the Town, appropriately captures its emphasis on showcasing the biggest names in entertainment at the time. The rest is history, as they say, but the show didn’t bear its host’s name until 1955. Although the name Toast of the Town may not have sounded quite as good, the success of the show indicates that the content is ultimately what matters.