Show Toppers: Barbi Benton in ‘Sugar Time!’ (1977)

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"Sugar Time!' TV title, 1977

“Sugar Time!’ TV title, 1977

Sugar Time! first ran Saturday evenings on ABC in August and September of 1977. It returned for another brief run, Monday evenings, from April to May, 1978. Only 13 episodes were produced in total.

The situation comedy, created by James Komack, focused on a trio of female rock singers who shared an apartment and played in a band called Sugar. Sugar performed (free of charge) at an L.A. nightclub called Al Marks’Tryout Room.

Barbi Benton is Maxx Douglas in 'Sugar Time!,' 1977

Barbi Benton is Maxx Douglas in ‘Sugar Time!,’ 1977

Sugar Time! starred Playboy model and singer, Barbi Benton as Maxx Douglas, who worked as a hat-check girl. Marianne Black played Maggie Barton, who taught dance and Didi Carr portrayed Diane Zuckerman, a dental hygienist. Paul Williams wrote tunes for the series and was a musical adviser.

Sugar Time! TV Intro, 1977

Sugar Time! IMDb
(Additional reference: The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh)

Previously on Show Toppers: ‘The American Girls’ (1978)

Daily 70s Spot: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (1972)

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'You got chocolate in my peanut butter!' (Reese's commercial, 1972)

‘You got chocolate in my peanut butter!’ (Reese’s commercial, 1972)

“You got peanut butter on my chocolate!”

Here’s a sweet classic for your Daily 70s Spot. An early-70s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups commercial with the accidental pairing of two great flavors. Spot aired in August of 1972.

Daily 70s Spot #90: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Commercial, 1972

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Sprite ‘Lymon country hoedown’ (1977)

A Johnny Carson Moment: Jay Leno’s first appearance (1977)

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A young Leno dreams of one day changing these curtains. ('The Tonight Show,' 1977)

A young Leno dreams of one day changing these curtains. (‘The Tonight Show,’ 1977)

This time on A Johnny Carson Moment we take a trip back in time to March 2nd, 1977 and catch Jay Leno in his first appearance on The Tonight Show. 15 years later Leno would take over from Carson as host of the show and enjoy 22 years in that position. Do the time warp.

Jay Leno’s First Stand-Up on ‘The Tonight Show,’ 1977

Previously on A Johnny Carson Moment: Andy Kaufman’s Elvis transformation

Daily 70s Spot: Sprite ‘Lymon country hoedown’ (1977)

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Behind each Sprite factory grows a grove of Lymon trees.

Behind each Sprite factory grows a grove of Lymon trees.

“Lymon is the secret of Sprite”

Our Daily 70s Spot is a Sprite commercial featuring a country music hoedown. And Lymon. Lots of Lymon – that freakish, magical mix of lemon and lime. Commercial aired in 1977.

Daily 70s Spot #89: Sprite ‘Lymon Country Hoedown’ Commercial, 1977

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: Tic Tac ‘mouth whack’ (1977)

Trailer Tuesday: Walter Matthau in ‘Kotch’ (1971)

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'Kotch' opening title, 1971

‘Kotch’ opening title, 1971

Kotch, the only film directed by Jack Lemmon, hit theaters in September of 1971. The movie stars Lemmon’s buddy, Walter Matthau as Joseph Kotcher, a retired salesman who befriends a pregnant teenager played by Deborah Winters. This charming comedic drama deals with old age, loneliness and changing moral values.

I viewed Kotch this evening, and while I wouldn’t call the film a classic, the always charismatic Matthau is a pleasure to watch and he received an Academy Award nomination for his role. Larry Linville, later to co-star in M.A.S.H., has a small but effective part (in his first movie role) as Winters’ brother.

Walter Matthau and Deborah Winters ('Kotch,' 1971)

Walter Matthau and Deborah Winters (‘Kotch,’ 1971)

The TV trailer below lists the film as rated “GP,” for “Parental Guidance.” A few years later the designation was changed to “PG.”

‘Kotch’ TV Trailer, 1971

Kotch Wiki, IMDb

Kotch_1-Sheet_1971

Previously on Trailer Tuesday: ‘Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid’ (1973)

Daily 70s Spot: Tic Tac ‘mouth whack’ (1977)

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"Berry on one side and cherry on the other." (Eric Laneuville for Tic Tac, 1977)

“Berry on one side and cherry on the other.” (Eric Laneuville for Tic Tac, 1977)

“There’s only one Tic Tac. The original mouth whack.”

Our Daily 70s spot contains no innuendo whatsoever. It’s for Tic Tac breath mints and was part of their ‘mouth whack’ campaign. The actor at the end of the spot is Eric Laneuville of Room 222 and The White Shadow. Commercial aired in 1977.

Daily 70s Spot #88: Tic Tac ‘Mouth Whack’ Commercial, 1977

Previously on Daily 70s Spot: ‘The FBI’ ABC promo (1972)