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Broadcast Firsts

Satire Series - The British inspired THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS/NBC/1964-65 was the first satirical program that "stuck it" to the establishment - poking fun at people in big business, the military, politics, and religion. Broadcast live from New York, the program (a.k.a. "TW3") starred Allan Alda, Nancy Ames, Tom Bosley, Bob Dishy, Buck Henry, Dora Merande, Henry Morgan, Phyllis Newman and the Burr Tillstrom puppets.

The first season was hosted by Eliot Reid who was replaced by David Frost, the host of the British series that inspired the show. (A tribute from the British series on the assassination of J. F. Kennedy was read in the Congressional Record in November of 1963).

Featured songwriter Tom Lehrer composed such ditties as "The Vatican Rag"; "The Folk Song Army"; "Smut", "Pollution", "Whatever Happened To Hubert?"; and "The Dance of the Liberal Republicans."

Other programs to follow in their satirical footsteps: THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY SHOW/CBS/ABC/NBC/1967-75; ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN/NBC/1968-73; SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE/NBC/1975+; IN LIVING COLOR/FOX/1990-94 and MAD TV/FOX/1996+ See also - AWARDS :"Flying Fickle Finger of Fate"


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