1. The Fugitive
Ah, yes. That haunting opening, David Janssen's face, always running. This wasn't just a drama; it was a weekly agony, a new town, new faces, always chasing that one-armed man. And the black-and-white photography? It just made the whole thing feel starker, more desperate. You truly felt Kimble's plight. It kept you coming back, week after week, to see if he'd finally clear his name. A true masterclass in early long-form suspense.
2. East Side/West Side
Now, this was something else. George C. Scott as a social worker in New York. Gritty. Really gritty. Black and white, of course, but it used that to its advantage, making the city feel stark and real. It dared to tackle issues nobody else on television touched, and with a maturity that was almost shocking for the time. Not always easy viewing, but it certainly left an impression. A true pioneer in serious television drama.
3. Run for Your Life
Ben Gazzara as Paul Bryan, a man given two years to live. What a premise! So, he just traveled the world, you know, living life to the fullest. Not quite an anthology, because Bryan was always there, but each week was a new adventure, a new place, new people. It was one of the first to really capitalize on color, too, showing off those exotic locales. A bit existential for prime time, but it had a certain charm.
4. Mr. Lucky
Oh, Mr. Lucky. John Vivyan, sharp as a tack, running a floating casino on a yacht. And that Henry Mancini score! Pure class. It was a stylish, cool crime series, all in crisp black and white. Lucky wasn't a good guy, not exactly, but he had a code. It was escapism, pure and simple, but with a sophisticated edge. You just wanted to be on that boat, listening to that music. A real gem from the late fifties.
5. The Millionaire
Imagine, every week, a million dollars—tax-free—dropped into someone's lap by John Beresford Tipton's secretary. This was pure wish fulfillment, but it also explored what that sudden wealth did to people. Sometimes good, sometimes terrible. It was an anthology, really, focusing on human nature. And that black-and-white melodrama? It just heightened every choice, every consequence. It made you think, "What would I do?"
6. The Phil Silvers Show
Bilko! What a character. Phil Silvers as Sgt. Ernie Bilko, a master con artist in the army. This was a classic sitcom, fast-paced, with snappy dialogue and an incredible ensemble cast. You just loved to watch him try to pull one over on Colonel Hall. The black-and-white photography didn't matter; the energy was so vibrant. It was pure, unadulterated comedy, week after week. They just don't make 'em like that anymore.
