Disclaimer
This web page Copyright © 2001 Capt.Fork NETwork Productions. All rights reserved. 
Capt Fork® Presents  
 
featuring the songs and themes, the bands and , the talents and tunes that have help make the program so popular over the years. 
1. Introduction
It's there when you don't even realize it 
2. Openning themes
This could be the start of something big 
3. The cast
Mostly mirthful movements of a manic mob 
4. Special Guests
Pull up a musical chair 
5. The media
Read all about it! 
6. The bands
Gimme an "E" 
7. The fans
Swinging Down Memory Lane 
And It Comes Out Here
   Music has always been an important part of the show. Floyd's piano playing not only fills time but is enjoyed by a wide majority of the audience. It introduced many people to songs long out of fashion yet surprisingly entertaining. The single biggest applause generated at live UF stage shows has always been Cowboy Charlie's, "Deep In The Heart Of Jersey". At least half of my characters on the show were music parodies. Most of the cast has pre-show music ties. Countless bands found their first major exposure appearing on the show with some going on to major star status.
How many of us still, after all these years, would recognize a character or maybe even remember a favorite bit just by hearing the first few notes of it's theme? What is less apparent to viewers, but as a writer I discovered years ago, was the power of background mood or theme music. These melodies are used as a bed to move the enjoyment along between laughs and set the pace.
The Haural and Lardy bit, for example, has always benefited from that delightful effect, though the music you hear was not from one of their movies or Hal Roach productions. It was rather a record from the 1920's that was played in movie theaters as patrons walked in and out between features. I also used music as a source for humor, in both my parody characters and as atmospheric additions that played behind "Weird Stories", "Nick Hassle", or an actual song taken from Jolson's Jazz Singer I ran under "Old Time Movies".
Themes Like Old Times
The most used music over the years were the themes of the show. The original opening theme of the show was Floyd singing, "The day has gone by, tick-tick-tock, and now my friends it's six o'clock". That song was replaced by an old Isham Jones's melody called "Swinging Down The Lane". Around 1977 Floyd again switched this time to a song played by the Bonzo Dog Band. By 1979 the song "Variations" took over the position of official song, staying as such until Floyd himself composed an original theme for the syndicated series.
 
Floyd used Mr Bones to introduce the viewers to lots of great 20's jazz songs from Louie Armstrong, Cab Calloway and other early black artists. Floyd's extensive collection of old 78's provided a quilt work of sounds that were not only used as bit themes, but often showed up as comic concoctions in "Ricardo Romantico" and "Joe Frankfutter". Finally puppets like Love Bug and Um often used speeded up tunes of Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy to ply their wares.
Staff notes
My Echo, My Shadow and Me
As we all know, Floyd is an incredibly talented piano player, who's roots were classically taught. His love of old time show biz and great old music obviously had a major effect. He likes to portray a common style he often uses on the show as "barrelhouse" which sounds somewhere between Dixieland , old time jazz and blues. The term barrelhouse stems back to a cheap drinking establishment atmosphere. Floyd often mentions the pianist Joe Pica as an early favorite of his. Certainly Louie Prima had a great effect. Floyd is also known for playing the guitar on "CowBoy Charlie" and "Blusey Woosie", and the accordion for "The Polka TV Show". He can play the trumpet, although on air he usually jokes with it, and plays the drums and dulcimer (harp like instument). 
Another little recognized talent of Floyd has been his incredible talent of being able to play almost any song asked. Just to remember the thousand or so old songs would seem enough but he has this uncanny ability to play songs you'd never have figured he heard of, like 60's rock melodies. He often amaze me when we'd play at little clubs and fulfill their obscure requests.
Among the most often popular repeated songs (but never too often thanks to his personal song filing system) Floyd has performed over the years in no special order are: Don't Bring Lulu, It's A Sin To Tell A Lie, Tony The Ice Man, Josephina Please No Leana On The Bell, The Music Goes Round and Round, Jambalaya, Shanty in Old Shanty Town, Under the Double Eagle, Robin Hood, After You Get What You Want, and You'll Never Get Away From Me. In the last few years, he's performed the song "Hello" that he did in the motion picture Crazy People as an opening number on his live shows. 
Yoooo Hoooo!
Scott's most familiar instrument is probably the giant stand up bass played by Slim in "Cowboy Charlie". Also easily remembered are his guitar playing in the "Ink Eradicators", his harmonica solos in "Bluesy Woosey", his drumming in several sketches as Charlie Gonzolas in "The Al Van Gart Jazz Duo" and the angry band member in "Abbot Presley", his banjo strumming as Aleixo Marcheciarda the "Foreign Language Show", and of course Mr Whistle. Even Dr. Vats-der-matta has played "a little football". 
In most past UF live stage shows Scott has accompanied Oogie's singing on the six string. Scott once told me he was originally in an Italian Wedding Band (but Scott has told me a lot of things through the years). Besides playing instruments, Scott also has a modern state of the art recording studio in his basement where, among other things, he engineers Floyd's Italian Serenade weekly radio program. A little known fact is Scott's personal friendship with the Les Paul family. Scott and I for years have taken turns as the "house drummer" accompanying Floyd's straight songs at the piano.
Hey Yo!
Although both Floyd and Charlie "play the piano", Floyd prefers the old fashion wooden instrument, and Charlie's a keyboard man. Charlie Stoddard's pre UF show career was playing keyboards in several rock and roll bands, most notably with the band Dreamer who did covers of some of the most popular (and complex) hits of the day. Charlie's repertoire is not limited to rock and covers almost any style of music. Besides playing the piano as Deacon Jim in bits like "Billy Bobby Booper" and Mr Stump"Mr Frodgers", he also performs on the accordian as Alex Stadarski in the "Polka TV Show". Charlie additionatly played bass guitar (as Jack Booze) in "Sour Cream" and drums in "Chuck Blueberry". Charlie's accompaniments (along with Netto's) to my music parody characters certainly added to their appeal. I couldn't have even done "Tom Waste" or "Pot Roast" without Charlie's help.
Think About It
Netto is the quintessential UF show musician, who is best known for his mandolin work. He released a 45 in 1980 with "the Woodpecker Song" on one side and "Minor Swing" on the other. Netto has accompanied me on lead guitar or bass on most of my music bits, most notably in the characters of Jerry Garsweata (later did this character in "Greatly Depressed", Chris Street ("Peter Punk" lead guitar), Jimmy Spliff (wide eyed bass on "Ricky Reggae"), Phil McCrackin ("Patty O'Blarney"), John McLegal ("Legalmania"), and also in "Abbot Presley", "Steve Mildew" and "Neil Yuck". 
 
 
Netto also shares the unusual distinction of having previously appeared as a (guest) musician on the UF show with the widest number of different bands beginning with the Space Monkeys From Mars. The story goes that Netto originally met Floyd years ago as a friend of his brother's Jimmy and Jerry (now featured on Conan O'Brian's NBC show band) when Floyd was booking block dances. I used to think (and still do) that every musician in the New Jersey/New York Market either knows or has played with him. These days Netto is still playing with different groups and also performs on a regular basis at a local church during "guitar mass" services.
Hello Everybody
Michael Townsend Wright has the distinction of being the only cast member (besides Floyd) who performs straight non parody tunes on the show on a regular basis, either near the close of a show or in a sketch like "the Nostalgia Club" (the name taken from a former show radio show Michael hosted) Most of the tunes Michael does are of a pre 1939 era, with occasional exceptions like "There's No Business Like Show Business". Michael's warm voice and theatrical style have sold many a song to a younger audience. In fact Michael performed and starred in the major motion picture "The Life And Times Of Charlie Putz"
Fans of the live UF stage show are familiar with Michael's unofficial signature song "Pennies From Heaven" in which the audience usually tosses up change on the stage during the performance which results in Floyd and Michael comically fighting for it. The song was originally made famous by great Arthur Tracy, who in his later years was a friend and confidant of Wright. Michael also knew another famous music guest, Tiny Tim. Although Michael is certainly knowledgeable about that early melody period, his musical interests go well beyond anything he's thus far shown on the show.
What's Up, Doc?
I hope people will understand why I include Doc Prentiss in with the cast members. A longtime friend and nightclub partner of Floyd's for years, Doc is affectionately known as the "King Of The Banjo". With a long career in the music business dating back to the days before a young Frank Sinatra (whom Doc played with) was discovered, Doc became a well known act in the circuit. Doc backstage stories about the business and uncanny talent for entertaining almost any audience quickly won the cast over. Attired in straw hat, spectacles and a white shirt with a red band on the sleeves, he usually opens with "Goofus". Doc's show stopping signature tune, however, for me will always be "Waiting For The Sunrise". 
 
Last Man To Leave Woodstock
The following few paragraphs are about a subject I can certainly be expected to know, my music. Forgive me if I go into extended detail since this is NOT the Mugsy Music page. When I was first invited down to the show in 1976, I was playing with a friend of mine, Andy, at a bar called Old Military Hall in Nutley. To be on the safe side (a rare position for me) , the first song I ever did on the show was a Waylon Jennings tune called "Honky Tonk Heroes". Though I was raised on rock, I knew a few country songs because Andy and I would play them at the beginning of the night in bars before our regular crowd showed up. Floyd apparently liked my performance (he never really tells us when he does, only when he doesn't) and I returned and performed Hank Williams "Jambalaya". 
Fresh out of country songs, I knew I had to come up with something different. I had been doing parody songs in bars and parties for years and wanted to do a takeoff of an actual rock star. Back then no one was doing this, now it's a very common thing. Alan Sherman had done song parodies but not "as" a specific performer. I chose Bob Dylan since he had so many songs, was known to everyone, and had the type of songs easily adaptable to comic phrasings. I borrowed a wig from my girlfriend's mother, put on a flashy shirt and sunglasses, and slurred my speech. Bob Dilly was born. 
After that I decided to do a take off on the current new trend in music (hey, it was 1976) and Peter Punk was created. He looked like Kiss, which I later learned was NOT punk. His music was also NOT in the punk style, but he was loud and screamed and fell to the floor still playing his guitar. His first song was "Stuck on You" 
You tried to make me love you, you knew just what to do
You threw away your lipstick and starting using Crazy Glue
Now I'm stuck on you baby, and you really have my hear
But I'm wondering baby, how we'll ever get apart 
There are two movies I have walked out of in my life. One was "2001". (No, I really liked it. My friends and I thought that the intermission was the end of the movie. Hey, if you were there you'd understand why. 'Nuff said) The other was Neil Young's "Rust Never Sleeps" movie. I never claimed to have a great singing voice but Neil's was like scratching nails on a blackboard. I wrote a takeoff with an opening line of Spending money on vocal lessons didn't help me very much. I figured it would be a one shot character. What did I know? 
My portrayal of Bruce Stringbean flooded the show with all kinds of hate mail towards me. "How dare I call Springsteen a bum" (I didn't, it was my character that was). Then came Pot Roast. How Charlie was able to compensate for an entire orchestra while I was bouncing around show his versatility. Although I performed Pot Roast songs on the live stage show with Jimmy and Jerry's talented band that could make a cockroach sound good, it was just me and Charlie and Doreen on the TV show. Doreen was Dorrine Austria who was my first (and best) waitress in the bit. Doreen was a good friend of David and had a very nice voice. She also had a knack of looking great while performing. Doreen was not the first girl I performed with. Peter Punk had his Punkettes who slammed danced into me on stage and sang back up for Bob Dilly. 
>> Netto, Charlie and I started turning out at least three new songs a week (some with Scott on drums on, and off camera). Some of these were Abbot Presley (and the Distractions), Ricky Reggae, Paddy O'Blarney (with Netto on the mandolin), Sour Cream, Legalmania (which we did without the UF show twice at the legendary Dirt Club in Bloomfield, NJ), Chuck Blueberry and the Hepcats, Steve Mildew (our Scott takeoff), Tom Waste (based on Tom Waits who most people evidently were not familiar with but Charlie and I liked and many others. Stringbean's "Seaside Heights" song pretty much became a signature song of mine at the live shows. While performing it at the Bottom Line I broke the table I was jumping on. (the same one the real Bruce had stood on a few years earlier). 
 The last major character I created was Willie Half Nelson, a throwback to my first appearance. I wrote a song for Willie I performed at adults only live shows called "On The Rag Again". In it the character sings of having no sex because of his girlfriend's menstrual cycle. I remember first performing it in 1983 at the Village Gate in NYC to a partially shocked audience. People either loved it or hated it. I tried to stop doing it but people would yell it out at shows. Willie had another controversial song called "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Homo's". It was supposed to show the "country mentality" of disliking things different then they were (as "On The Rag" was anti feminism). Well, it wasn't taken that way by some people who thought I was trashing gays. I wasn't, I have a few friends who are who thought the song was funny. You can get into a lot of trouble with a joke. As Mrs. Jambalone always says, "Whaddayagonnado?" 
Non Rock Guests
During the show's long run, we've had the privilege to have had as special musical guests not in step with the current music scene who, never the less, have proven to be quite enjoyable and entertaining. (maybe even more so). 
Dolly Dawn is a familiar name to anyone who knows big band music. Dolly had her own band, The Dawn Patrol, in the 40's and had several hits. One of them, a Floyd favorite, was sang by Dolly with Floyd accompanying her on NJN, " It's A Sin To Tell A Lie".
It's no secret that one of Johnny Carson's highest rated TV shows in his long run was the night that Tiny Tim was married. Though Tiny did not perform in the same ceremony at the Tonight Show, he certainly did perform, and frequently. Tiny was a gentleman and professional, speaking with us many times not in the high falsetto voice of "Tip Toe Through The Tulips", but rather in a deeper tones recounting numerous enormously interesting anecdotes about singers and songs of the past. And though Tiny's girth had grown over the years, may I add that the man had a sense of humor as big as himself, his heart and his talent.
Benny Bell is another great performer from years ago. Many people today will still recognize his original novelty song that Dr. Demento often played on the radio, "Shaving Cream", which he sang with Floyd on the show. Wearing a blue top hat and a mile wide smile, Benny also performed another classic from the many he wrote, "Go To Work You Jerk And Stop Hanging Around".
Lou Monte was a welcome guest on NJN. His "Pepino The Italian Mouse" is a classic novelty song known by more then just Italian audiences. From the world of motion picture song and dance men we once welcomed Harold Nicholas of the famed Nicholas Brothers. Even WCW wrestler/announcer Larry Zbyszko played the piano on the show. 
Non musical music guests
Of course I'm referring to two of the most famous radio DJ's often associated with the show, Vin Scelsa and Cousin Bruce Morrow. Also two of the nicest guys. Although we have had professional relationships with many DJ's over the years, including Howard Stern (at WNBC & K-ROCK), Scott Shannon (at Z-100 and WPLJ) and others, no one comes close to the personal association and friendship with that of Vin Scelsa. We first met Vince when he was working at WNEW-FM in New York, although I'd been listening to Vin years earlier on his Black Light Show played over Upsala College's WFMU-FM. I remember him playing the Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground when nobody knew who they were.
Batter Up
One of the wildest early shows we ever did was a 1979 offering with a seventeen minute opening in which things just got wacky. The puppet bit at the open was strange, followed by Skip ripping off all the pictures on the wall, and then the entire WNEW-FM softball team, led by Vin, entering the studio (remember, it was just one big living room with cameras) and attacking Floyd. All this and no commercials had yet run (it was only a half hour show at the time). It was a great time for viewers and performers too. 
One of the cast became friends and has worked with Vin Scelsa over the years. Vince was the only person we ever let do an opening act for us at the Bottom Line. Vin and Floyd have worked and kept in touch with each other through the years and station to station (in both their cases). When we first started doing the TV show at NJN Vince was an early guest helping us in an MTV spoof.
Eeeeee, my cousins!
Cousin Brucie is a certified legend in radio and this area. I remember listening to him in high school and yet when I met him years later he was just as energetic and funny and likable. Our initial connection to Bruce was Looney Skip Rooney who worked for Morrow as an on the air DJ on a radio station Bruce had bought in central New Jersey. Skip and Bruce kidded each other and Skip got Bruce to come down and do the TV show in which he appeared in a "Tom Cavel Ice Cream Store" bit, as well as a "School of Radio Broadcasting" sketch and many, many more.
Even when it had nothing to do with the Floyd show Bruce was always a nice guy. When I was doing a solo on location TV interview show in the mid 90's, he did a full hour interview with me even tough he had just finished his WCBS oldies program. I later told the first time I had seen him in person. It was at the old Palisades Park where he was hosting one of the weekend live rock shows, and I and a few of my friends were sneaking in the park (and saving a big 15 cents) over the fence in back of him as he was talking to the crowd. That fence, by the way, was built almost exactly on the palisade cliffs and one slip and it would've been a long way down. 
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
A lot of the pictures you see of band being on the show were taken by Bob Leafe who made a career from photographing the biggest names in rock. Bob first shot the show, unofficialy, at the Bottom Line on December of 1979 (our first show there). He was there again the following April, but the next UF show he shot had a special visitor in the audience, David Bowie.
It was strange to see David there, sitting dead center in front of the stage. When Cowboy charlie sang "Deep In The Heart Of Jersey" we could see David singing and clapping along. Later, after the how, he came backstage and told us how much he enjoyed the show. He watched us every night during the long makeup sessions he had to do while starring in "The Elephant Man" on Broadway. When we asked how he found us on TV, he told us a friend of his turned him on to us, John Lennon. Now those who knew John will tell you he loved to watch all kinds of weird TV shows, but I can't help wondering what he felt of Legalmania.
 
Bob kept shooting us at live shows, and dropping by the station with bands like Dramarama and Blotto. He was at the Savoy in March of 1982 when Floyd announced from that stage that we were going on the NBC Owned and operated stations all across the country. The following month Ed Kaufman hired Bob as the official show photographer and he did publicity shots for syndication. Bob's best known photo is the cover of the Mercury Uncle Floyd Show LP. He is also the main person responsible for getting our pictures into such big name rock magazines as Cream, Trouser Press and the Police Gazette. Bob retired from the business years ago (not from the money he made of us, hahahah!)
The Rock n Roll Connection
 Rock bands have been a feature of the show since the very early days for a number of reasons. First, to attract new viewers who either liked rock music or tuned in to see their friends. The show was on the air long before MTV had existed, and served as a jumping ground for many new groups starting out. Second, they helped fill a big block when the show went to a daily hour program in 1978. Finally, the rebellious spirit inherit in rock's roots was also apparent with our antics. It was an interesting time to be in the business as music and comedy were in a period of transition.
Gabba Gabba Hey(Buddy)
The first "big" group I remember seeing on the show, as do most viewers, were The Ramones. They had already created quite a stir in the music world with their innovative style but their appearances on the show put a face on the songs people were hearing increasingly played on radio stations. Besides being talented and original, these were really nice guys off camera. We were in fact, doing each other a big favor. The Ramones were bringing their new age fans into our fold and we were helping to expand their reach. They have never forgotten this association, and it's evident in a lot of their music videos where they are wearing UF t-shirts and buttons. Also the guys really enjoyed the show's humor, including Charlie Stoddard's dead on send up of Joey.
Another early visitor to the show was Stiv Bators, then with the Dead Boys. The Dead Boys appearance on the show, along with the Ramones, not only gave us credibility in the world of rock music, but also mirrored the rebellious attitude we were developing in our comedy at the time. Stiv would later return several times with his new band, The Lords of the New Church.
The Joint was Jumping
Jan and Dean were a particular favorite of the cast member who was booking the bands. He had taken over the bookings of music acts when Floyd became too busy to continue it, and he did well having a good ear for music to begin with. He was able to arrange for them to appear on the show and we were all impressed. The duo had achieved success with a sting of hits including "Surf City" and "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena". We were aware of Dean's accident and recovery from watching their biography movie, "Dead Man's Curve" on network TV.
Channel 68 was actually an old residential house, converted into a television station and studio. When you walked up the front steps and through the door, you entered a hallway with a doorway to your left and a flight of stairs that led to the second floor offices.
Since the tiny studio was immediately on the other side of the doorway, guests and bands usually waited to go on in this corridor, sitting on the steps. This was the green room. As unattractive as the hallway was it was preferable at times to the small, crowded and often stifling studio which just about fit Floyd, the set, the cast and two cameramen (and camerawomen). During a break I went out in the hallway to check on our famous guests only to find Jan Berry smoking a joint. Considering he already had experienced some brain injuries from a near fatal auto accident, I was wondering what therapeutic effect the pot was having on him. 
Just for the record, none of the cast ever did any illegal drugs at the station during taping, even though people might have thought we acted like we were high, or did 99% of the bands we had on. I must confess to occasionaly sipping Malox during syndication, but that's about it.
Young At Heart
Although we did most of our costume changing right in the studio itself, we sometimes had to leave the set and visit the second floor utilities to wash off makeup or answer nature's call. Netto was doing one or the other on August 1, 1979 when that week's guest star Rachel Sweet arrived downstairs. Ms Sweet
was a teenage singer who had been getting a lot of air play thanks to a hit song and some help by Bruce Springsteen. She had picked a provocative outfit to perform her song in, one that revealed a naturally pair of healthy lungs. Since Rachel must've been all of fourteen at the time, the cast embarrassingly tried to avert their glances to other areas of the packed studio. Suddenly the studio door opened and Netto returned only to find himself directly in front of the young singer. Somebody said, "Netto, say hello to Rachel Sweet". Netto never taking his eyes off of the young girl's apparent attributes slowly answered, "Nice to meet you".
Buster Busted
David Johanson, among other big names, was brought to the studio by music journalist Legs McNeil. David was just starting out on his own after leaving the flashy New York Dolls. Dave has a great personality and very charming way about him, pulling you in with that deep gravelly voice and flashy smile. This didn't work for him one day, however, while he was consuming a bottle of Heineken in the hot TV studio. The director that day, Jeff Friedman (who'd later also direct and co-produce the NJN show) came up to Dave and told him he couldn't drink that beverage on the premises. The singer turned to him and said, "I'm David Johanson". Friedman replied, "I don't care who you are you can't drink that in here." Realizing he was in the wrong Johanson backed down. To soothe over any hurt feelings from the incident after Johanson disposed of the contraband, the tin cap from the bottle was nailed to the studio wall as memorabilia.
Rodent Roll
Long Island was always a great place to play and produced quite a few great groups including the Good Rats. Peppi Marchello and the
guys made quite an impression on their first UF appearance showing us they were not only great musicians but entertainers as well. The band continues to play live dates and release recording.
Between A Hard Place
When the English group Squeeze first toured the USA we were their initial stop. They enjoyed the appearance so much they made sure to repeat it on their next tour. The Brains performed their original song "Money Changes Every thing" on the show , a song that would later also be released by another UF guest, Cyndi Lauper. Rupert Holmes sang his "Pina Colada" hit as well as performing with Netto and myself in a Weird Stories of the Mind.
By the time we entered syndication we found ourselves welcoming such big names as Eddie Money, Dave Edmonds, Rick Derringer, Chubby Checker, Marshal Tucker, and Blue Oyster Cult. 
Since the syndicated show was shot at channel 68's new location in a renovated building in Newark, lots of things were different. Bands no longer had to wait "in the hallway". They now had their own dressing rooms, which incidentally were located on another floor directly under the studio set. This fact became apparent to us when the reggae group Steel Pulse waited in their dressing rooms. The odor drifting up through the floor led to only two conclusions, and we knew Jan and Dean weren't making a return appearance.
Really Alternative Music
A totally original band and cast favorite was Crash Course In Science. Two male musicians would play toy instruments while the female vocalist would sings songs like "Cakes In The Home" and "I Love My Kitchen Motors". Their sound, like many others at the time, was part of the whole new age alternative scene. A lot of people were tired of disco's dominance over the airwaves, and at the same time wanted something new. 
The overwhelming all time favorite of a lot of the cast was a band out of Philly called The Stickmen. To paraphrase a Bob Hope euphemism, "These guys were wild". The group consisted of three guys and a girl on keyboards, all of whom were constantly moving and jumping all over the place during their short two minute songs. The focus of the band was the lead singer, a red haired guitar played who looked like a spastic Howdy Doody. He mumbled the lyrics of the songs while bouncing around the floor like a spear in a pinball game. During their performances they let off enough energy to heat a small town and were just so wacky and different that in the end they were the most enjoyable band we ever watched.
The most unusual band to ever appear on the show is up for grabs. Near the top of that list would have to be Zeb. A California native, Zeb arrived at the studio with carrying no conventional instruments. When it came time for his segment to be taped, he entered the studio bringing in with him twenty or more empty plastic jugs of all sizes tied to in two giant bunches with string. Floyd introduced him and for the next three minutes he continuously swung, banged and slammed the containers together on the floor creating a deafening stream of noise I can almost still hear.
Rebecca Williams was a young black girl that had that special something that came across to both live audiences and TV viewers. She appeared on the show three times playing a guitar and singing 1940's scat type songs. We also used her in a live Bottom Line show. Her talent and joyful persona were so strong she almost became part of the cast, opting instead though to relocate to on the west coast.
 
They All Started Here
Though the overwhelming majority of groups made only one appearance and never went on to continuing success, certain bands began to show up on a frequent basis. The Smithereens, The Feelies, Dramarama, Shrapnel, The Bongos, U.S.Ape, the Rattlers and Fats Deacon and the Dumbwaiters. Although we also put other types of music on the air like the bluegrass Buttermilk Mountain Revue, the majority of bands featured were of that new 80's alternative genre.
Known for their three-chord power pop hits like "A Girl Like You" "Behind the Wall of Sleep" "Blood and Roses" "Only a Memory" and "Too Much Passion"
THE SMITHEREENS have been appearing on the show since the early 80's. Since those spots they've gone on to be one of the most successful bands we ever broke with a string of albums and fans worldwide.
Formed in Haledon, New Jersey in 1976 The Feelies became the stuff of cult legend in the NJ/NY area with members frequent side projects, rare live dates and even less frequent recordings. Besides appearing on the show they appeared in Jonathan Demme's movie "Something Wild" and toured with Lou Reed. After the group disbanded in1991 lead singer Bill Millon and Mugsy worked together for a time on a non music project.
Zoogz Rift says he was the second musical act to ever appear on his show back in 1976 (the Ramones being the first). He has stated, " I sent in a picture (I was 22 at the time) of "OOGIE DISGUISED AS FRANK ZAPPA," which was a drawing of Oogie's face with (my type of) mustache and beard drawn on it. Floyd called me, appreciating the absurdity of it, and we became instant friends.  I appeared on a frequent basis for about a year, until I moved to Los Angeles in 1977. Floyd Vivino is a good guy and has a great sense of humor".
Another band breaking on the late 70's scene was Shrapnel, another frequent Max's Kansas City/CBGB's group, who'd high energy performance included being dressed in military attire. Year's later, lead singer Dave Wyndorf would find stardom with a new band, Monster Magnet.
Fats Deacon And the Dumbwaiters was another cast favorite who's up beat music and very likeable personality even had a bunch of old disco haters like us taping our feet. Fats later incorporated former MC5 lead guitarist Wayne Kramer into the band.
R. Stevie Moore has returned to perform many times over the years and switching stations. Moore abilities and accomplishments, of performer and producer reminiscent of a Todd Rundgren, generated much response and his numerous album releases are widely distributed. We understand he has recently returned to the Nashville area.
 
Another local group with a sound reminiscent of the early 60's that went on to national acclaim was Dramarama. A huge crowd-pleaser in their home area of NJ/NY, Chris Carter is currently working as a radio DJ in LA
FAN FARE  
Without the fans, there'd be no show to have music on, and the varied preferences of them reflect the diversity of that music. What do the fans generally think about the selections they hear?
Frankly, I loved it when Floyd played the old time music on the piano. My favorite songs and musical memories are: Don't Bring LuLu, We'll Meet Again , Exactly Like You, RAGGHEAD, and Neil Yuck's serious song on last 68 show. Don't get me wrong I love the music parodies, but Floyd's playing does something different for an already great show. I know I loved it. MRTONY69
What was it like to appear as a performer on the show that you'd been a fan of for years? This has been a common experience of most of the bands that were spotlighted. 
I was half of the duo Country Sass. We appeared on the show on October 26, 1988. As a bit of background, I'd been a fan since around 1980 and I had quite a few pictures on the wall over the years. As a result, the few times I met Floyd in person, he actually knew my name. Country Sass was about 2 years old at the time, and looking for places to play. So for the hell of it, I sent a tape to the show. I didn't hear anything. I met Floyd at a personal appearance sometime later and asked him about it. Recognizing my name, he said something like, "Oh, you're an old time viewer, we have to put you on!" He never even heard the act, just told me then and there that we could be on. I was floored! (was that trust, or what?) Being on the show, to me, was an even bigger deal than going for an audition in Nashville, which we did the year before.
Here I was, with UF and the cast! It was SUCH a thrill. I still have it on video tape, goofy as we looked. I remember getting a kick out of being introduced by the one and only Oogie! I also remember hearing offstage comments from you guys, but not being able to see you because we were in the lights and you were in the dark, offstage. Another band called Starzend was on later in the show. 
Some time later, Country Sass was playing at a jamboree (where several country bands all get together and perform) and a guitarist named Lou came up to me and said "Weren't you on the UF Show?" I told him yes, then he said, "Me too!" Turns out he was the guitarist from Starzend, and he was playing guitar with another country band that day. Small world! Lou and I would run into each other every few months or so. And we always remembered that we were on the UF Show together, which was really cool. I haven't seen him in ages. REGGY
For a detailed breakdown on the Uncle Floyd Show 45's released under the BIOYA label and the Mercury UF Show lp album check out The Discography of the UF Show
Do you have a musical memories or know of something I've forgotten? Then drop me a note, eight to the bar, at  
at Mugsy11th@Yahoo.com 
LINKS
Capt Fork NETwork links 
UF TV show history 
 The Early Years (channel 68) -  Part 1 
 National Syndication (NBC) - Part 2
 New Jersey Network (PBS) - Part 3
The BIOYA UF show 45's- Part 4
 The UF Show Year By Year - Part 5
 Puppets Of The UF Show - Part 6
 Classic Bits of the UF Show - Part 7
 Little known UF show characters - Part 8
More Mugsy sites 
 BUY UF Show Video Tapes
 Yahoo Internet UF TV Show Club
 Mugsy's ATOMIC Web Site
 Mugsy's UF News & Gazette
 NETTO's King of Men Site
 Lost Files of Edgar Cayce
 11th Hour Radio Show (REALAUDIO)
 Gateway To HELL!