Strange Tales of FreeVee: Classic TV Bloopers: Uncensored

Amongst the dozens of streaming platform options we have these days, there are bound to be some strange and niche catalogs of media out there. My favorite so far has been IMDB’s free streaming service, IMDBTV. In this series(?) I will be reviewing and sharing some of the gems I find in the pile.

You see, IMDB’s streaming platform is a treasure trove of sorts: while it may never have exactly what you’re looking for, it may have what you didn’t know you needed to find. Take this strange little “documentary” I found the other night: Classic TV Bloopers: Uncensored. I use quotes with the word documentary because this film offers no facts or narration. Rather, it is simply raw footage of some of the most iconic television programs, newscasts, and game shows of the 20th century. While I expected nothing more than some badly cut together clips I’d seen a hundred times on Youtube, that was not the case. Instead, I was thrilled to find the result is a strange, surreal journey for any pop culture addict; if you have ever wanted to hear Hoss Cartwright of Bonanza yell “c*nt” over a flubbed line, this is the compilation for you.

What is most entertaining about this buried gem is it’s capacity as a Time Capsule. Today, this behind the scenes footage is common and usually found as a bonus on DVD and blu-ray releases. Outtake footage from earlier decades is not quite as plentiful; some of these clips serve as the only examples of behind the scenes footage of shows like Laverne and Shirley, Happy Days, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. Coming from a time in which strict conduct rules were enforced over the airways when it came to language and decorum, seeing these people break and horse around with each other is fascinating. Its collection of newsreel scenes also breaks the 4th wall; newscasters angrily flipping off passersby for walking through a shot proves that the human race has been exactly the same for decades.

The film’s catalog also includes several minutes of Nixon and Kennedy preparing for their televised debates, in crisp definition and with good sound. From there, we see young Ronald Reagan introducing Jayne Mansfield, who proceeds to flirt with Mickey Rooney for several minutes; it is a veritable who’s who of classic Hollywood stars.

While this compilation is fascinating, save it for after the kids go to sleep. The title does not lie when it says uncensored, and strong language, nudity, and some of the crudest comedy I’ve ever seen from children’s show characters pervade the compilation’s run time. That being said, it is a wonderful little find in the mountain of streaming content. This collection of flubs and candid footage of legends when they were people, from political figures to actors to comedians, reminds us that entertainers and public figures have filled the same role since the dawn of civilization. The only thing that really changes are the names and faces. If you’d like to laugh, relive a few memories, or you’re just really interested in 20th century pop culture, Classic TV Bloopers: Uncensored is a surprising must-watch.