WFLD Channel 32 - Chicago Stuff (Part 3, 1985)

Here's a lost Koz Klassic! - Chicago Stuff - was it a failed pilot? A consolation prize from Fox Television for cancelling Son of Svengoolie a month later? A half-remembered dream? It only aired once, at 10pm on a Sunday in December 1985 - so you couldn't be blamed for not knowing it existed. (I only heard rumors) In any case, it's a neat little package of Rich's schtick, so just think of it as an extremely early episode of The Koz Zone. :-)

Thanks to W.B. for helping out with the video description!

Here's Part 3 (the last part) of Chicago Stuff, a half-hour Chicago humor showcase hosted by Rich Koz (of Son of Svengoolie fame) that aired on WFLD Channel 32. This part includes:

Ending part of Rich's introduction of The Cleaning Ladys, who perform "No Time for Love."

Commercial: McDade's (very short snippet)

Commercial: Slice and Diet Slice (yet again!)

Segment with Rich as "Irv Gupasoup" ("the purveyor of the syndicated 'Gup's Column' and noxious cigar smoke") hosting game show "Gupardy!" - contestants were "the only people left who weren't on Bob Hope's Christmas special earlier this evening" - from right to left: former Chicago First Daughter Kathy Byrne, political pundit/satirist Aaron Freeman, and Vlasta The Polka Queen (referred to by "Gup" as the former "Shirley Temple of Czechoslovakia"). Answers are: "Born in Iran, Promotes Terror in the Streets, and Obeys No Laws," "The Coldest Spot on Earth," "Smelt, Salmon and 1/4 Ton of Fresh Water Shrimp," and for the audiovisual "Daily Deadline," a woman out on the Lake, holding a cutout of the state of Illinois, being hit on the butt with a plastic bat. Vlasta is named the winner though nobody got the answers - the prize is being named in Gup's column as being seen at "fine restaurants" Mr. Kelly's, Chez Paree, Magnum's Chateau, Blue Max and Wimpy's - but not actually going to those places.

Next is a fake promo for an "I'm Wit Dis News" Exclusive - Jay Obvious investigating the drinking water of the Chicago River, and showing a "Before and After" photo of a "typical" river water drinker ("Before" = John Davidson, "After" = Andy Warhol).

Rich as "Irv Gupasoup" then says good night, followed by the closing credits which are seen over Rich as "Jay Obvious" talking with a bartender.

Produced by Steve Schindler

Directed by Michael Tetrick

Written by Rich Koz and Steve Schindler

Cameras - Frank Accardi, Dennis Farnham, Dale Kuper, Michael Majewski

Editor - Frank Haney

Audio - Jim Shaw, Annette M. Brown, Hank Renken, Mike Slivka

Production Designer and Facilities Coordinator - Patk Gallagher

Lighting - Russ Hunt

Video Tape - Krystal Lee, Vic Mellor, Bob Schneider

Electronic Graphics - Dianne Ward, Jackie George

Teleprompter - Andrea Dip

Scenic Artists - Robert Smith, Kathy Gross

Stage Crew - Dave Risser, Bill Stryjewski, David Stryjewski

Stage Manager - Karen Barnett

Associate Director - Bob Albrecht

Theme Music - Doug Scharf

Graphic Artists - Cathy Mustari, Susan Uyeda, Gary Zeleny

Special Thanks to Gino's East, Dick Hanson, Deborah Hurwich, Jimmy's Polish, Marina City Bowling, Metro Mobile, She-Nannigans, Jae Alexander, Brittmarie Harding, Sarah Oetken, Linda Peltier, Iona Sherman

Executive Producer - Donna Harris

(c) WFLD-TV 1985 (this was in-between the period Metromedia sold their TV stations to Rupert Murdoch, and the point when Fox formally took over; all former Metromedia stations in this interim period had scrubbed the company name from their branding)

Brief shot of ending sponsor billboard tag (voiceover by Jim Barton) before tape cuts out.

[Type largely set in Advertisers Gothic, for those interested in the CG font.]

This aired on local Chicago TV on Sunday, December 15th 1985 during the 10pm to 10:30pm timeframe.

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