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Aired: 1976 - 1979
Show Type: Live Action
Country of Origin: US
That's Cat was a children's television show that premiered on Saturday, September 18, 1976.[1] It was both produced by and aired on KNBC, the NBC affiliate in Los Angeles, California (channel 4). The show's first episode credits Susan Cuscuna (co-producer), Perry Krause (co-producer), and Myra Cohen as writers. It starred Alice Playten (as "Alice"), Frank Cala (as "Me," a mime), and Whitman Mayo (as "Grandpa").[2] The show interspersed segments involving stories, music, humor, and various learning-centered activities. The word "Cat" in the title is connotatively used in place of "Cool."
The show's first episode debuted at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, a move intended to interest parents. The second episode aired in its regular Sunday morning 8:00 a.m. time slot the following day. That same night, a compilation episode of segments from the first two episodes aried at 6:30 p.m.[3] The show moved to the 7:30 a.m. time slot a few episodes later.[4]
Among the more notable features of the first episode was a segment with a song in Spanish; a clip of Woody Allen describing where mustard comes from; and a feature on the importance of garbagemen.[5]
The show's theme song ("That's Cat") was sung by John Sebastian. The lyrics begin with:
Hey Pumpkin, come along with me
Been thinkin' 'bout some things to see
Take a look at this its magic
We'll find something that's cat
That's Cat - That's Cat
It a-means that you like that!
Like an Indian drum or a kiss from your mom,
or gettin' something under your hat. . .
Recurring segments on the show included "Can you find 'Me/me' in this picture" ("Me" being "Alice's" sidekick on the show); and a segment where "Grandpa" spoke directly to the camera.
The show received a nomination for a 1976 Los Angeles Area Emmy award (for film editor Donn Hoyer).[6] In 1979, a Los Angeles-based consumer group--Coalition on Children and Television--selected the show for an award for excellence.
References
1. Lee Margulies, "Bright Show for School-Age Set," Los Angeles Times, Sept. 18, 1976.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Lee Margulies, "Scream Listings for Halloween," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 29, 1976.
5. See "Bright Show."
6. "Emmy Picks Announced," Los Angeles Times, April 9, 1977.
7. "Local Shows Win Awards From Children's Group," Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1979."
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