Again, thank you, Canadian networks, for once again not importing and simulcasting Live From in Front of a Studio Audience: Diff’rent Strokes and The Facts of Life. This allows those of us living north of the border to enjoy an added bonus ABC will add to Tuesday night’s special.
Once again, the Disney-owned ABC network is featuring promos of their current shows done in the style of the ’80s shows they are recreating.
That means viewers will see and hear an ’80s spin on series such as The Bachelor (re-branded “Thirty’s Company” with the old Three’s Company jingle), Queens, The Rookie, black-ish and Big Sky. Jimmy Kimmel, who co-hosts the special with TV legend Norman Lear, will see a promo of his late-night talk show done in a grainy, sans serif way, heavy on the radio-voice narration.
A similar spot is planned tonight to promote New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, with Dick Clark brought back to life, ’80s style (even though it is Ryan Seacrest’s name in the title now).
They even reduced the video image dimensions to mimic the old 4:3 ration of TV show’s past. I collect old 16mm film reels full of Fall Preview clips and, well, for one night only, thanks ABC for saving me the trouble of threading the projector.
