It made have been labeled as one of the worst sitcoms of the mid-1960's. The short-lived series "It's About Time" ran for one season on CBS-TV producing 26 episodes in color for Gladysya-Redwood Productions in association with the CBS Television Network and United Artists Television. "It's About Time was produced by the same people who brought you "Gilligan's Island",under the creative brainchild of executive producer Sherwood Schwartz. The series starred Jack Mullaney and Frank Aletter as the two astronauts whom after their space capsule made a wrong turn somewhere in outer space,and cracked the time barrier. Astronauts Lt. Hector Canfield(Mullaney),and Captain "Mac" MacKenzie(Aletter) discovered that they were headed back to a world quite different from the one they had left. However,they landed in a swamp smack in the middle of the prehistoric Stone Age,and not far from a tribe of friendly cave dwellers. Among their new prehistoric neighbors were a friendly couple,Shad(Imogene Coca),and Grunk(Joe E. Ross),and their two children,Mlor(Mary Grace),and Breer(Pat Cardi),and their suspicious chief Boss(Cliff Norman),and his wife,Mrs.Boss(Kathleen Freeman).
This was basically a standard silly concept of a show that was basically designed for its target audience. "It's About Time" audience were mainly kids and older children,which basically got some good laughs and outrageous comedy from its two main characters who each week got into one mischief situation after another with Aletter in the Alan Hale,Jr.role(as the skipper),and Mullaney in the Bob Denver role(as Gilligan). The episode with the main characters in the prehistoric world were just as corny and laughable as they were and they prove it. One episode of the series that was telecast on January 22,1967 changed all that titled "20th Century,Here We Come!". This was the episode where the astronauts finally got there spaceship repaired,and managed to return to the 20th century,bringing back Shad,Gronk and their children with them. As for the astronauts adjusting to the prehistoric period,their counterparts Shad and Gronk had more trouble adjusting to living in modern day Los Angeles,aka 1967. Even more trouble and hijinks ensues when they have encounters with the superintendent of their apartment building Mr. Tyler(Alan DeWitt),and their supervisor at work at the Army base,General Morley(Frank Wilcox).
When it premiere on September 11,1966,the series "It's About Time" was placed on CBS' Sunday night lineup where the show replaced "My Favorite Martian",after four seasons. The show came on after the long-running animal series "Lassie"(which was still on the air and dominating the Nielsens on Sunday nights). Because of the low ratings that this series got,the series was on Sunday nights opposite NBC's "The Wonderful World of Disney",and the ABC action-adventure science fiction laced series "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea",which brought it to its death knell. After 26 episodes,the series was canceled on April 2,1967. To this day,whatever happened to this series? Out of the original cast members after this show ended,only actor Frank Aletter went on to bigger and better things,most known for his portrayal of Professor Irwin Hayden on the Hanna-Barbera live-action serial "Danger Island" which was part of the live action-animation "The Banana Splits Show".
This was basically a standard silly concept of a show that was basically designed for its target audience. "It's About Time" audience were mainly kids and older children,which basically got some good laughs and outrageous comedy from its two main characters who each week got into one mischief situation after another with Aletter in the Alan Hale,Jr.role(as the skipper),and Mullaney in the Bob Denver role(as Gilligan). The episode with the main characters in the prehistoric world were just as corny and laughable as they were and they prove it. One episode of the series that was telecast on January 22,1967 changed all that titled "20th Century,Here We Come!". This was the episode where the astronauts finally got there spaceship repaired,and managed to return to the 20th century,bringing back Shad,Gronk and their children with them. As for the astronauts adjusting to the prehistoric period,their counterparts Shad and Gronk had more trouble adjusting to living in modern day Los Angeles,aka 1967. Even more trouble and hijinks ensues when they have encounters with the superintendent of their apartment building Mr. Tyler(Alan DeWitt),and their supervisor at work at the Army base,General Morley(Frank Wilcox).
When it premiere on September 11,1966,the series "It's About Time" was placed on CBS' Sunday night lineup where the show replaced "My Favorite Martian",after four seasons. The show came on after the long-running animal series "Lassie"(which was still on the air and dominating the Nielsens on Sunday nights). Because of the low ratings that this series got,the series was on Sunday nights opposite NBC's "The Wonderful World of Disney",and the ABC action-adventure science fiction laced series "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea",which brought it to its death knell. After 26 episodes,the series was canceled on April 2,1967. To this day,whatever happened to this series? Out of the original cast members after this show ended,only actor Frank Aletter went on to bigger and better things,most known for his portrayal of Professor Irwin Hayden on the Hanna-Barbera live-action serial "Danger Island" which was part of the live action-animation "The Banana Splits Show".