Mr. T. and Tina

Starring: Pat Morita, Susan Blanchard, Ted Lange, Jerry Fujikawa
First Aired: September 25, 1976
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: Unknown (several episodes unaired)

Mr. T and Tina was actually a spin-off of Mr. T and Tina. It was adapted from the television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, in which Pat Morita starred. In addition to being the first show to have a largely Asian-American cast, Mr. T and Tina was groundbreaking because it was the first show to do so. The show’s narrative revolved around a family of Asian-American origin in the Chicago area. The show aired from September 25, 1976, to October 30, 1976, and was only on for a single season. Despite the fact that the pilot, named The Ogallala Connection, was not broadcast on a major network, it was created by the Komack Company and did not air. Despite the fact that the show wasn’t a huge hit, it did a lot to make Asian-Americans more visible on major television networks.

Mr. T. And Tina

All That Glitters

Starring: Barbara Baxley, Lois Nettleton, Vanessa Brown, Jessica Walter
First Aired: April 18, 1977
Number of Seasons: 1
Estimated Production Cost: $40,000 per episode*

Eileen Brennan and Jessica Walter were among the notable celebrities who appeared in All That Glitters. Despite the fact that the show was ahead of its time, it was met with disapproval, most likely due to its socially progressive nature. The sitcom featured one of the first transsexual characters to appear on a major network, and it was a critical success. Linda Gray appeared on the show as the transgender character Linda Murkland, who worked as a fashion model. The show was also ahead of its time in terms of how it flipped the traditional patriarchal relationship on its head. Women were all breadwinners, and the men were either stay-at-home dads, househusbands, or secretaries in the households depicted in the episode. Wes Parker, a former Major League Baseball player, was the show’s lone male voice.

All That Glitters