Please Stand By

This show was generally well-written, and sometimes quite clever. The original cast -- perhaps especially Marcie Barkin -- were talented and otherwise appealing.

Unfortunately, the show was syndicated rather than provided by way of a network, limiting the exposure of the show.

Then Elinor Donahue left (I can only speculate as to why), and this show centered about a family of five had to choose between removing the character of the mother or replacing the actress. They chose to do the latter -- with an actress of markedly different physical type and mannerisms, and not of a great deal of presence.

Jointly, the handicap and the loss were too much, and the show failed in the television marketplace of the late '70s.

This NBC half hour sit-com had a little something for everyone and a wonderful writing staff to make it all work. Unfortunately they couldn't get the numbers needed to secure a second season. Take the comedic talents of the veteran actors Dick Schaal and Elinore Donahue as the parents, their son, the pop singing heartthrob,( Stephen Michael Schwartz), a brash, know-it -all daughter, (Darian Mathias) and a rambunctious little genius kid brother, (Bryan Scott). Put them all together and you have Lampert Family. Father Lampert (Schaal) gives up his high tension job in a law firm to open up a TV studio in Dequeen, New Mexico, a fictitious but real sounding city. The family runs everything with a little help from the locals. One Native American is hire on as camera man. The family is relegated to doing the weather reports , a cooking show, a American Bandstand type dance show all with hilarious results. You even have a young news reporter (Marcie Barkin) who takes her job vary seriously in spite of the madness around her. Each of the 24 episodes had guest artists who came on to play various roles. Al Lewis (Grandpa Munster) was a frequent guest as was Ruth Buzzi (Laugh In) and Marcia Lewis (The Bob Newart Show). I don't know if these 24 episodes are even available anymore but if they are I would bet that they would stand up against any of the family sitcoms running today on the cable networks i.e. Disney, Family Channel, etc. If you find them let me know how I can get a copy.