I first heard this from my junior high school band director. He emphasized “nailing” the beginning and the end of a song. Do that, and nobody will remember a mistake in the middle.
Phil Hartman took the “and” role on newsradio as well.
I remember Kurt Kaznar had similar “Guest Star” billing on Land of the Giants, another Irwin Allen production.
I think that Mary Tyler Moore had final mention in the Dick Van Dyke Show.
But that was her first regular TV role and she hadn’t been in a movie yet except for one uncredited bit part. The producers of that show weren’t even sure that she had any capability as a comic actor.
Also don’t forget “… and Harold Ramis as the Beaver.” (SCTV)
Oddly enough both Kazner and Jonathan Harris from Lost In Space were considered the show’s villains, so to speak.
She has tons of credits as a guest performer of a series of TV shows before The DVD Show. Morey Amsterdam had been around much longer, but most of his career had been as a live stand-up performer or MC, and he didn’t have that many credits on TV or in the movies. He’s probably still the one you’d expect to have bottom billing, but he actually has the middle spot. Maybe he took money over billing-- something that made a lot of sense contractually if he and his agent didn’t think the show was going to last that long. MTM on the other hand, knowing that she had years ahead of her, could have decided that being able to say she had bottom billing on a network show, even one that only lasted a season, would be good for her resume.
And yes, The Dick van Dyke Show was actually not a show the studio had much faith in. It was a surprise hit.
Rose Marie had the strongest resume, and she gets second billing. Larry Matthews is second to last, which makes sense.
Ah yes, the worst child actor in the history of the universe IMO.
mmm
“I still think we got the wrong baby” from That’s My Boy? episode
FWIW Paul Henreid didn’t want to be in “Casablanca”, insisted on getting third billing after Bogart and Bergman, whom he didn’t like, and in later years always insisted he still get billing anytime it was re released or home media as the contract called for.
She’d done a lot of TV work, just not as a regular so her name was probably pretty well known in the industry. Plus the billing isn’t necessarily what the studio deems to be appropriate, in large part it’s what the performers’ agent can negotiate for them.
And both villains bonded with the young boy in the series, Dr. Smith with Will Robinson, and Alexander Fitzhugh with Barry.
I’m watching a Bewitched rerun right now. David White as Larry Tate came last in the credits behind Agnes Moorehead.
Ron Howard played Andy Griffifh’s son.
Must be a later season. Which Darin was it? Dick York or Sargent?
As shows lasted longer, supporting characters would often get opening credits instead of a huge pay raise.
Raymond Bailey & Nancy Kulp (Mr. Dysdale & Miss Jane) finally appeared on the opening credits in the last seasons of the show on The Beverly Hillbillies. After showing the 4 hillbillies in their truck they’d cut away to Drysdale & Hathaway in her convertible.
Yeah, not sure what season, but probably late in the series run. Dick Sargent played Darin, and Sam and Darin had had their second child, Adam.
Actually, Ann B. Davis had won a pair of Emmys for “The Bob Cumming Show,” so she was probably second only to Florence Henderson for the cast member most familiar to viewers. (Although the impression that placing the maid after the family seems to make the most sense also probably had something to do with her billing.)
Others:
“And Joan Collins as Alexis” (Dynasty)
“And Starring William Daniels as Dr. Mark Craig” (St. Elsewhere, first five seasons; Daniels would be up top for the last one)
“And Charles Siebert as Dr. Riverside” (Trapper John, M.D.)