Manhattan Alive Is Re-Born In 1977, Ron Woods left as host of the then talk show formatted cable show, "Manhattan Alive," When producer/syndicator out the call for a new host, comedy writer/performer Larry Cutrone convinced CI to change the format to sketch comedy, given the success of Floyd Vivino on NJ channel 68 and, of course, SNL nationally. With his comedy troupe (credited above), Larry Cutrone tripled the "Manhattan Alive" viewing audience on local origination cable stations in NY, NJ, CT and LA. However, cable television carrier program directors weren't ready for sassy satire on channels accustomed to politically correct public affairs and religion. With MA's Saturday Night Fever disco spoof as an example of not-ready-for-local-origination-cable, CI's execs were summoned to the program director's offices at Time Warner cable corporation headquarters where , "Manhattan Alive" was abruptly cancelled despite popularity and picked as one of the best shows on cable by "TV World" magazine. And so, n it's second season (1978). "Manhattan Alive" was abruptly cancelled without the cast having the opportunity to say goodbye to their growing audience. When Carlson International attempted sketch comedy in 1981 with The Lou Caddy Show, it was given the censor boot after only four shows were cablecast on the same channels. Oldies Television (oldiestelevision.com) has archived and remastered these segments.

From TV World Local origination cable programming, inclusive of local stations run by cable companies, leased program time access and public (or community) access changed the way people viewed local television. As independent broadcast stations became networks linked to Paramount and Warner conglomorates, cable became the venue for upstart shows and forums. One such show was Manhattan Alive, Originally a not too successful talking heads show, comedic/music performer Larry Cutrone approached the production company with sketch comedy which, unlike the existing Saturday Night Live, would be more in the improv format of Ernie Kovacs. The format was changed, the audience grew, but ptovocative comedy was not to the liking of cable system operators, who worried more about municipal license renewals. Despite gaining in a cult following, not unlike New Jersey's Uncle Floyd, when dancer Roxanne Mellita wore a sweater too sheer for the local access co-ordinators (in the seen here Saturday Night Fever spoof), the show was abruptly booted off. Mild by today's comparison, Manhattan Alive was nevertheless the springboard for Sandy Frank's Madhouse Brigade sketch comedy syndicated to broadcast stations, with a bucomy performer who looked amazingly like guess what disco dancer? Larry Cutrone wrote, directed, and starred in many of the sketches, irreverent satire.

"Manhattan Alive" copyright 1978, 2009
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