getTV Blog

Burt Reynolds was an iconic movie star for decades, but he spent most of the 1960s as a TV actor. Three seasons on Gunsmoke were bookended by lead roles on the short-lived Riverboat and Hawk, with tons of guest spots sprinkled in between. By 1970, after a handful of Spaghetti Westerns and low-budget action films sputtered, Reynolds was at a career crossroads.

In recent years, reality-based programming has become one of television’s most popular and influential genres. But while the term “reality show” may be relatively new, unscripted programming isn’t. TV’s first decades were dominated by amateur talent competitions, high-concept game shows, and documentary programs featuring non-actors. PBS even dipped its toe into the proto-reality genre in the 1970s with An American Family, a mash-up of cinema verité and soap opera.

If they made an all-star team of actors from television’s first 75 years, William Shatner would be its captain. From his humble beginnings in live TV, to unforgettable roles on The Twilight Zone, to his career-defining performance as Captain James T. Kirk, to his current role as nerd culture’s elder statesman, Shatner has been an icon for more than 50 Earth years.

Creating an unforgettable character is a rare achievement on TV. Betty White is one of the rare television icons who’s done it three times!

From I Love Lucy to The Golden Girls to Sex & the City, female friendship has long been a sitcom staple. Hot in Cleveland evolves the “girlfriends” format with characters who are realistically flawed and stories that are surprisingly poignant — while remaining unflinchingly funny.  

You can see for yourself when Hot In Cleveland debuts Monday, August 5 on getTV — with four episodes every weeknight starting at 6p ET!