Herbie J Pilato’s Christmas TV Memories Live Events With the Stars Rocked L.A. & Orange County
On Thursday, December 5, classic TV icons Tina Cole (The King Family, My Three Sons), Marc Copage (Julia), Stanley Livingston (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, My Three Sons), and Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch) gathered at Book Soup in Los Angeles for what turned out to be the second highest-attended live event in the famed bookstore’s fifty-year history.
Then on Sunday, December 15, the Barnes & Noble in Fullerton, CA featured celebrity guests Caryn Richman (The New Gidget, A Very Brady Christmas — she was Mrs. GREG Brady), and Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair, The Littlest Angel, Disney’s Tom Sawyer)!
All were brought together to celebrate the publication of Herbie J’s Pilato new book, Christmas TV Memories: Nostalgic Holiday Favorites of the Small Screen.
Each classic TV legend shared their individual Christmas TV special insight, reflections, and recollections. Many nostalgic TV specials were discussed during the event.
At the Book Soup event in L.A., Tina Cole fondly recalled the legendary King Family Christmas specials. Barry Williams remembered A Very Brady Christmas, which, when it premiered in 1988, was one of the highest-rated TV-movies in history. Marc Copage shared memories about his cherished appearance in the groundbreaking Julia episode, “I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas.” Stanley Livingston took the audience back in time to his TV debut in one of the many happy Christmas episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
Both Livingston and Cole also shared their thoughts on the two historic and unique holiday reunion specials that brought together the casts of The Partridge Family and My Three Sons.
In Fullerton, Caryn Richman shared her memories of The New Gidget Christmas episode, as well as what it was like to appear in A Very Brady Christmas (one of the highest-rated TV-movies on record!). Johnny Whitaker offered insight into his 1969 acclaimed TV-special, The Littlest Angel, and performed various renditions of “White Christmas” (one rarely heard version about Utah!).
Asha Iyer, event host of Book Soup, said, “It was a total joy to host Herbie J Pilato’s Christmas TV Memories book launch. The evening was a smash hit. Herbie J led the discussion with great warmth and spirit, and the night was a fabulous reunion of classic Hollywood actors, producers, and fans alike. There was a beautiful commemoration of TV days gone-by, reflection on where the television industry is heading, and guidance from the stars themselves on how to hold onto the heart of creation for storytellers going forward. The entire night was deeply heartening and one I felt very lucky to host at Book Soup!”
As Herbie J Pilato concluded about both special holiday affairs: “Being at Book Soup with Tina, Barry, Marc, and Stanley, and then at the Fullerton Barnes & Noble with Caryn and Johnny was nothing less than spectacular. They’re each such good and talented souls who have brought so much happiness and joy to the world through their remarkable lives and work. There is no doubt that the world is a better place because they’re in it. They each have a sincere and noble love and affection for their loyal fans. And what they brought to each event was like being in actual living Christmas TV specials. It was all so surreal.”
You can check out an excerpt from the new book here.
Click here to order Herbie J Pilato’s new Christmas TV Memories book, and here to for his previous holiday publication,
.
Remind