I was so glad to see "Then Again With Herbie J Pilato" added to the lineup of entertaining and informative offerings on Amazon Prime. Having grown up watching the stars and shows featured in its first four episodes, this fun, engaging program effortlessly transported me back to a time that was fresh with possibility and excitement for the variety and depth television could offer.
Each episode Herbie presents in this series covers groundbreaking paragons of TV content and talent that laid the foundation -- and raised the bar of quality -- for countless shows that followed over the years. As I watched each episode, they progressively became more compelling, all the way through to my favorite thus far: the tribute to Garry Marshall.
As a well-regarded classic TV historian ("The Classic TV Preservation Society") and an accomplished author in the space of television, Herbie naturally conveys credibility and passion for the medium. He gracefully engages with guests to unwrap treasured history and reveal new insights; an occasional quiz adds to the fun factor. The studio looks warm and welcoming in its accommodations, a place conducive to relaxed, thoughtful discussion and one where the audience imagines themselves right alongside -- an extension of their own home, as it were.
The show is a lively learning experience and a celebration of the values, the people, and the spirit that blazed a trail for television in prior decades. By revisiting the magic of these shows, "Then Again" rekindles the flame within those of us who had their formative years and dreams enlivened by the wondrous fantasy-machine of classic television. Furthermore, the show provides an important service to a broader audience in educating about the pioneers and history of the medium of television.
My hope is "Then Again With Herbie J Pilato" continues the magic with more seasons (and perhaps longer episodes), as there are too many great stories yet to be shared for a primed and ready audience that is hungry for more, and for new viewers awaiting to discover this series' treats.
