My Favorite Martian

Starring: Ray Walston, Bill Bixby, Alan Hewitt, Pamela Britton
First Aired: September 29, 1963
Number of Seasons: 3
Estimated Production Cost: $70,000* per episode with inflation

Back in the 1960s, the possibility of life on other planets was a popular topic of discussion. America was resolved to land on the moon, and by the end of the decade, they would have accomplished this goal successfully. In the interim, shows such as My Favorite Martian kept the audience delighted on the little screen. This three-season CBS sitcom was produced by Jack Chertok, who enlisted John L. Greene to oversee the design of the basic structure and the development of all of the characters. The first two seasons contained a total of seventy-five episodes, while the third season had thirty-two episodes, indicating that the show was shown during a time when networks were airing significantly more episodes per season.

My Favorite Martian

Bourbon Street Beat

Starring: Richard Long, Andrew Duggan, Arlene Howell, Van Williams
First Aired: October 5, 1959
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: Unknown

Viewers have always responded positively to gloomy private-eye shows; just look at the long-running success of shows such as Columbo and Murder, She Wrote. Unfortunately, Bourbon Street Beat lacked the perfect combination of elements to sustain itself on the air for more than one season. During the 1950s, fast-food franchises such as Dunkin’ Donuts and Denny’s weren’t the only ones gaining their start. Bourbon Street Beat was one of the first major television shows to feature a private detective service, and it continues to be one of the most popular. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Studios, but although having a similar format to the previous shows, it was not as successful as the others.

Bourbon Street Beat