WFLD Channel 32 - Chicago Stuff (Part 1, 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 1 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:

Opening sponsor billboard tag for Slice soft drink from Pepsi and pH balanced Secret anti-perspirant (voiceover by Jim Barton)

Opening title sequence, with voiceover by Jim Barton introducing host Rich Koz and special guests Emo Phillips and The Cleaning Ladys.

Rich Koz enters the stage and explains what Chicago Stuff is all about ("the kind of TV program you always hoped would be on, on a night when you wouldn't be home to watch it"), and indicates he has a remote so the viewer wouldn't have to do anything. He then changes to various channels with Koz playing the various roles: a supposed Spanish soap (Que Lastima, with subtitles), then to an editorial reply with "Milburn D. Femon" of the "Palatinian Liberation Organization," then to a Spanish remote control ad, a televangelist, "The Holycowers" (with Koz as Harry Caray as Ralph Kramden), and "Pee Wee Jacobson Perspective" (with Walter Jacobson as "Pee Wee" playing with dolls representing Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and Alderman Eddie Vrdolyak), before previewing the night's guests (he refers to Phillips as "Downers Grove's own") and showing a "hidden camera" of Phillips lethargically whipping a stuffed toy.

Rich then introduces an "Almost Live" "remote investigative report" from She-Nannigans by Jay Obvious (Koz), who explains that viewers are busy watching sports from a satellite dish and to change the channel for Chicago Stuff would "cause severe injury."

Next is an outdoor remote from cigar-smoking "Irv Gupasoup" (Koz as Irv Kupcinet), inviting viewers to join him in "the art of conservation" on a new game show he's hosting.

This is followed by the band The Cleaning Ladys performing in the kitchen, explaining that there are no ladies in the group, but they "play really good music." Voiceover by Jim Barton then asks, "Are you ready for Emo?"

Commercial: Slice and Diet Slice - "We've Got the Juice" (Christmas-themed ad)

[NOTE: All other commercials in this break were edited out.]

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

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