Remember those old Mad magazine features, “You know it’s (fill-in-the-blank) when…”? Well, you know it’s July 4th, at least on TV, when ye olde marathons hit the airwaves.
Antenna TV, for starters, will air a “Gidget” marathon with its “Gidget Independence Day” programming beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7 a.m. and running through 7 a.m. on Thursday — 24 hours of all 32 episodes from the 1965-66 series (starring Sally Field), followed by two the movies, “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” (1961, starring Deborah Walley as Gidget) and “Gidget Goes to Rome” (1963,s starring Cindy Carol as Gidget).
And, on the local front, Ch. 55 (WLNY) will air an “I Love Lucy” July 4th marathon from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., hosted by Carolina Bermudez, John Elliott and Lisa Kerney (co-hosts of the station’s new morning show, “Live From the Couch”).
Ch. 55’s “Lucy” marathon will encompass 24 consecutive episodes from the 1951-57 series.
Speaking of local stations, it’s often overlooked, but part of a local TV station’s mandate is public service — and, in that regard, Ch. 5’s public-affairs show, “Good Day Street Talk” — produced by Audrey Pass — is snaring some good guests and giving viewers a lot to think about in its lively debates and interviews — both with celebrities and with everyday do-gooders.
Recently, “Street Talk,” hosted by Steve Lacy, had Dr. Manny Alvarez debating Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa about the merits of Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal to ban large sugary drinks in restaurants — and, in the past, the show has welcomed, among others, Leslie Uggams, Pitbull, gospel singer Vickie Winans, John Leguizamo and lifestyle expert/TV host Susie Coelho.
And some parents might consider this a “public service” — in terms of occupying the kids during these summer months — but NBC is launching a new programming block this Saturday.
The new block, airing from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., encompasses programming from preschool TV network Sprout — “Noodle & Doodle,” “Pajanimals,” “Poppy Cat,” “Justin Time,” “Lazy Town” and “The Wiggles.” It’ll air locally on Ch. 4.
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Last, but not least:
* WCBS FM (101.1) will celebrate 40 years of airing oldies from this Friday through Sunday with a slew of on-air celebrations and live and taped programming . . . Comedian Ben Bailey (“Cash Cab,” “Who’s Still Standing”) appears at the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, NJ, next Wednesday, (July 11) . . . The “Drop Dead Diva” episode featuring guest-stars Star Jones, Kim Kardashian has been moved to Aug. 26 (on Lifetime) . . . Congrats to industry vet Emily Yeomans, who’s been named senior director, communications, at Oxygen . . . The fourth season of Fox’s “Fringe” is out on DVD and Blu-ray Sept. 4.