Saturtainment: The Pet Set (1971)

In the early 1970's, it seemed as though the syndicated landscape was welcoming just about anything. For example, Wally Bruner left What's My Line? for the how-to series, Wally's Workshop, though Line announcer Johnny Olsen announced for Bruner on the short-lived series as well.

And, then, there's The Pet Set.

Two years before joining The Mary Tyler Moore Show, where she'd win 2 Emmy awards, Betty White hosted & co-produced (with husband Allen Ludden) this 1 year entry, in which she invited many of her Hollywood friends to bring their pets, be they dogs, cats, birds, or whatever, onto the show. It was, on a national level, equivalent to the similar shows produced in different parts of the country. Where I live, there had been a long-running Sunday morning show, Pets on Parade, which ran during the 60's & 70's before being cancelled. Today, the ABC affiliate in my district runs a short feature during the late afternoon news 5 days a week, mostly as an infomercial for the local humane society, since many of the pets are strays looking for homes.

I'm digressing. As I noted, Pet Set lasted just one year, but wasn't lacking in star power.

Edit, 3/9/22: Have to change the video. Here is an excerpt from 1972 with Eva Gabor (ex-Green Acres):



Rating: A.