Facts That Not A Lot Of People Know! (Vol. 1–3)
There is so much knowledge in this world that remains unknown to the general populace. This new series seeks to rectify that situation, by presenting you with Facts That Not A Lot Of People Know! Read and learn, good people!
Robin Williams got the role of Mork only after Jim Backus quit one week before shooting the pilot.
In 1969–1971, there was a live action Family Circus series on CBS starring Darren McGavin and Mariette Hartley, and a young Michael J. Fox in his first TV role as Jeffy.
There was a Beverly Hillbilles spin-off about Sonny Drysdale having to live on his own after being disowned by his parents. Sonny! aired for two seasons with Louis Nye reprising his role. Ruth Buzzi was a series regular as a neighbor in Sonny’s apartment complex, whose feelings for the Drysdale lad were unrequited.
Slappy White appeared in a CBS Playhouse production of School for Scandal.
Raymond Burr was set to play the lead in Magnum, P.I. But due to shooting delays, Burr committed to a recurring role on Tenspeed and Brownshoe, and wasn’t available when production began.
Sanford & Son was based on a British TV series called Upstairs, Downstairs.
Jack Klugman and Brett Somers were set to Star in a TV series based on The Thin Man. The project fell apart when the two divorced in real life. The show was retooled as Hart to Hart.
Not a lot of people know that Grizzly Adams is based on the life of Millard Fillmore.
Magician David Copperfield’s original stage name was Pickwick Papers.
The Little Debbie logo was modeled after a then young Bo Derek.
Victor Mature almost played Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and “the Man” in Chico & the Man. Mature, in a 1991 interview, quipped, “Jack [Albertson] stole a lot of roles from me, but I bet he can’t sword fight worth a hoot.”
Sebastian Cabot was originally cast as the mayor in Carter Country, but it caused too much confusion on set when people called for places for “Mr. French”.
Gavin McLeod was originally cast as the lead in Walker, Texas Ranger.
The character of Barney Google is based on Mitch McConnell’s uncle, while Snuffy Smith is based on Rosemary Clooney’s cousin.
The Katzenjammer Kids comic strip was based on the early life of William McKinley, who was President when the strip debuted.
Due a quirk in the Constitution, for a period of 1 hour and 37 minutes on August 9, 1974, Rory Calhoun was President of the United States.
Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin was actually a vicious political satire of British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour.
Cartoon skunk Pepe LePew was modeled after the character Jean Valjean from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.
Leslie Uggams created Whoppers candies.
William F. Buckley, Jr. sometimes wrote under the pen name of Mickey Spillane.
Stanley Kubrick adapted Full Metal Jacket from the Beetle Bailey comic strip.
Before creating The Simpsons, Matt Groening produced a comic strip called Hi and Lois.
The movie Dead Poets’ Society was actually based on the failed pilot script for a Welcome Back Kotter spin-off in which Horshack became a prep school teacher.
Benny Hill was an RAF officer, and inspired the character Mandrake in Dr. Strangelove.
The television series What’s Happening!! was based on the 1975 film, Nashville.
Gregory Peck was originally cast as Floyd on The Andy Griffith Show, but backed out due to a dispute with Francis Bavier over dressing room amenities.
Eartha Kitt was a two-term governor of Delaware.
Werner Hertzog’s The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser was originally meant to serve as an origin story for Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Harvey Keitel played Walter in the pilot for Maude.
Hee Haw was a spin-off of Family Affair.
Rice Krispies were originally a marketing tie-in to the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the cereal’s original mascots were John Carter, Crackle, and Tarzan.
In his first draft of A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens included a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Pluperfect, depicted as a dour village tinker. Dickens deleted this segment when he realized that “pluperfect” was exactly the same as “past,” just with a fancy-schmancy name.
Abe Vigoda and Erik Estrada did a double spinoff show about an aging cop from New York and a retired highway patrol officer from California who opened a private eye firm. Fish and Chips lasted one season.
Before he became an actor, David Ogden Stiers travelled with a carnival as a walrus wrestler.
Tom Clancy began his writing career as a staff writer for Marie Claire magazine.
Green Acres was adapted from John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.
A coding error in an early word processing program led to the creation of Donkey Kong.
Buzz Aldrin created Moon Pies.
Slim Jims are named after James Thurber.
The above is parody, which frankly should be obvious.
