26+ Hidden Gems: Intriguing Facts About Your All-Time Favorite Classic TV Shows!

Published on 11/13/2023
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Jackie Gleason Nearly Forced The Cancellation of The Flintstones

Show: The Flinstones
Original Network: ABC
Est. Production Budget: $65,000 per episode*

A feud between Jackie Gleason, whose show The Honeymooners shared similarities with The Flintstones, and creator William Hanna nearly brought the cartoon to an end soon after it debuted. Gleason thought Hanna and Joseph Barbera, his partner, had taken the idea from his show. Gleason was faced with a decision that included considering if he wanted to be remembered as the person who removed Fred Flintstone from the air. In the end, he had no desire to be that guy. With children’s chewable vitamins, toys, and movies all modeled after the Flintstones brand, the franchise grew to become an empire.

Jackie Gleason Nearly Forced The Cancellation Of The Flintstones

Jackie Gleason Nearly Forced The Cancellation Of The Flintstones

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With Her Two Appearances On The $64,000 Question, Dr. Joyce Brothers Challenged Gender Norms

Show: The $64,000 Question
Original Network: CBS
Est. Production Budget: Unknown

A trailblazer for female contestants in the future was Dr. Joyce Brothers, who became the first female winner of a game show on television in 1955. Her second appearance on The $64,000 Question saw her take home the grand prize. Her successes dispelled preconceived notions about gender at the time and demonstrated the brilliance and potential of women. Dr. Brothers rose to prominence as a media personality and television host, and her influence can still be seen in pop culture today. Why anyone doubted the good doctor’s intelligence in the first place is the real $64,000 question that everyone ought to have been asking.

With Her Two Appearances On The $64,000 Question, Dr. Joyce Brothers Challenged Gender Norms

With Her Two Appearances On The $64,000 Question, Dr. Joyce Brothers Challenged Gender Norms

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