International Courant
In late 1968, TV producer George Schlatter, driving excessive on his hit Rowan & Martin’s Giggle-In, pitched a brand new conceptual tv present packed filled with brief clips, speedy actions, and controversial subjects.
The present was picked up by ABC for a run of 13 episodes, with further episodes bought after advertisers noticed the primary episode, for a complete of 17 exhibits. Three episodes have been shot of their entirety earlier than the preliminary airing.
The half-hour first episode premiered on February fifth, 1969 at 8:30 PM on the east coast, the place it took the place of the primetime cleaning soap opera Peyton Place. Tim Conway was recruited as the primary superstar visitor and the writers included Albert Brooks.
The present appeared poised for fulfillment. However 10 minutes into the printed, between the primary and second industrial breaks, a programmer at WEWS in Cleveland said that the rest of this system would “not be seen this night…or ever.”
The remainder of the Cleveland time slot was crammed with a pitch-black display screen. A neighborhood organist on a retainer was then referred to as upon and crammed the remaining airtime with sprightly organ music.
Cleveland’s motion sparked an avalanche, and as phrase traveled of that cancellation, different programmers reacted and pulled Flip-On. The present by no means aired even as soon as on the West coast.
ABC then formally canceled the present, shopping for out Schlatter’s contract with a clause that he doesn’t rerun Flip-On.
George Schlatter
Fraser Harrison/Getty Photographs
However the first two episodes of Flip-On not too long ago appeared on-line, so the now 94-year-old Schlatter determined to revisit the present with the thought of an “official launch” through YouTube.
The discharge will embody a newly shot on-camera introduction from Schlatter, the place he shares his story and gives context for the 2 recognized episodes. Each episodes will probably be launched at 4 PM PT/7 PM ET on Monday, Oct. 9.
Along with releasing the primary two unique episodes, Schlatter is engaged on an up to date model that can incorporate the perfect items from the primary two episodes and introduce never-seen content material from the third episode.
This up to date model will even discover a dwelling on the George Schlatter Productions and Clown Jewels YouTube pages at a later date.
Notorious ‘Flip-On’ To Air On YouTube, Quickest Cancellation In TV Historical past – Deadline
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