A MUST-SEE clip for Zappa fans: "Black Napkins," 10/12/76...with the Mike Douglas Orchestra!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0nImsfMvE

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[Enthusiast]

1. I had no idea.

Thanks for sharing!

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. Very nice.......

Thanks for posting that. I'm glad these videos and recordings are still coming out.

Miss ya Frank!

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. It's funny how even though TV now has swearing, they're so much less daring than they used to be.

There's no day time show that would have something like that now, and not even a night time one, except maybe Conan O'Brien, but even he would be forced by his producers to make sure the performance was no more than 2 minutes long and didn't have any long boring instrumental parts without singing.

Never on day time.

Back in the 60s and 70s? While not maybe commonplace, there were very few performers who didn't have a chance to get on TV and get a chance to be heard, in any genre and of any kind, and get more than a few seconds of play and probably even get an actual interview that lasts more than 2-3 minutes.

Now they'll say "shit" and "asshole" on TV, but they'll rarely show artists.

I'm not sure our end of the time spectrum got the better end of the deal.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. Other than Johnny at night, Mike Douglas and Merv were the only game in town

I still remember the legendary John & Yoko & Chuck Berry week.

Now, the big "casting coup" for variety shows is the latest dweeb from "American Idol."

I personally think TV made the wrong turn down the bad road with the first season of "Survivor," which paved the way for the reality show hell that compromises whatever is left of TV these days. Other than cutting an unnecessary monthly expense, that's the major reason why I haven't had cable for over three years, after having it for most of my adult life.

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