Remember? Specialty Acts of the Comfort TV Era

Last week's review of 1978 programs on Sunday nights included Mary Tyler Moore’s return to television in a variety show that was canceled after just three episodes. A sign, surely, that audiences had grown tired of the comedy-variety format after a decade of oversaturation. That was sad news for the specialty act performers who made their living doing guest spots on these series. The best of them always delivered a highlight moment – the worst offered viewers an opportunity for a snack run without waiting for a commercial. Here are the first five I recalled from that era, ranked from worst to best. 5. Bill Saluga as Raymond J. Johnson Jr.Most variety performers brought fresh material to the gimmick they had created so audiences wouldn’t tire of them. Not so Bill Saluga, who did the exact same bit every time, to the delight of those who loved it and the frustration of everyone else. And if you’re around my age, you’re probably already reciting it in your head.Saluga would appear in the…