What Really Happened to the Class of '65?

I remember this show so well. It was on Thursday nights after James at 15-16 which was another one I never missed. I can remember a few lines of the theme song...........we're all the class of 65, we're really glad to be alive. Every week the host who graduated from the school in 1965 and was now a teacher would have the yearbook in his hands. He would start off by showing their picture in the book and then go briefly into what they were doing now. Then the story would start. I always wondered why TV land or one of the other stations does not do a series of great but forgotten shows. The vaults are full of them. I loved anthology shows but sadly they seem to be a relic of the past.

This show came out when I was about 12, and I remember being glued to the TV every week waiting for it to come on: #1 because I had a HUGE crush on Tony Bill (he was the host of the show, and, I believe, the producer and director -- and maybe writer?) and, #2 because I loved the idea of seeing how people evolved over the years from high school to adulthood. I remember the quality of writing was fantastic, the stories were interesting and compelling, and the acting heartfelt. This was an emotionally packed show about real people in realistic situations that stood out amidst all of the cool dude cop shows (Kojak, Baretta, Rockford Files, Starsky and Hutch, Harry-O, etc.) that were so popular at the time. I'd love to view it again to see if it holds up as well now as it has in my memory.

This was one of those "drop what you're doing and watch" kind of shows. Each week the viewer could get involved with the life of one of the '65 grads. The stores were sometimes funny, serious, heart-warming, and never boring. In the one season it was on, it made quite an impression on me. Probably because I was a '65 graduate, myself. It kind of hit home. It's too bad TV isn't like this anymore. Rather than quality shows, we're hammered with just another reality offering. If you like celebrity trout fishing, well power to you, but it's too bad people these days can't be treated to something like "What Really Happened To The Class of '65." It was great TV, and I think would hold up in re-runs. I miss this show a lot.

What Really Happened To The Class Of '65 was broadcast here in Holland in the summer of 1978 I believe. Such a shame there was never a re-run, I still remember the episodes fondly. I vividly remember the episode about the Vietnam veteran who went on a swimming challenge, was that character played by a young Don Johnson? Is there anyone who has this stuff on videotapes? If so, please upload them somewhere so we can see them again! About the theme song: there is a download to be found on venicecentral.com where the band Venice sings this song, but I'm not sure if it's the original recording from the series. But hearing this song sure brought back memories.

This was an engaging anthology program which came on NBC on Thursdays the summer of 1977. Each week we followed the lives of different members of the high school Class of '65. I still remember some of the episodes: A girl becomes a semi-successful folk singer; two buddies try to open a restaurant in the desert where a highway will go through; and Richard Hatch (from "Battlestar Galactica") played a ne'er-do-well. I would love to find this on DVD, or at least on TVLand. It's lifespan was short but it gave me many fond memories along with other great 70's television like "Rockford Files."