ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER Backstage with The Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti The Black Hole of Television I did some channel surf- ing on the "boob tube" last night. I usually just turn on the Food Network, History Channel or episodes of "The Office" or "Modern Fam- ily". As I was going program to program, I recognized NOBODY! All these crime shows, "Game of Thrones'- esque series, Bachelor- Bachelorette-Dancing with the Stars fiascos and Chicago Fire, Police, ER-type pro- grams and not one recogniz- able celeb did I see. I remember the days when every show had the sex-sym- bol of the day or the show- biz icon leading the pack of actors on variety shows, game shows and late-night tv. Have you watched The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon or Saturday Night Live lately? Where are they get- ting these guests from? Growing up we would regularly see legends mak- ing guest appearances and guest-starring on virtu- ally every show on the tube. Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers. and Carol Channing types who I never saw except for the countless times per week they were on some talk show. I learned about George Burns not from his days with Gracie on their television and radio shows together, but from the times he popped up on The Carol Burnett Show, toting his unlit cigar as much of an appendage as his arms themselves. Saturday Night Live always had the top improvisational comics of the day, from Steve Martin to John Belushi, Ed- die Murphy to Chris Farley. Today? Maybe they are local NYC stand-up comics in between gigs at the Brooklyn Comedy Lounge. I realize comparing Johnny Carson and David Lettermen is fundamentally unfair to compare to today. But think of that guest couch Johnny would regularly fill with su- perstars on a nightly basis. That is where I learned about show-biz superstars of yester- year. Burt Reynolds, Don Rick- les, Dom DeLuise, Groucho Marx, Angie Dickinson, Jimmy Stewart, Raquel Welch, Audrey Meadows, Steve Allen, Charles Nel- son Reilly, Mel Brooks, Tony Randall, Tony Curtis, Kirk Douglas, Telly Savalas, Burns and Schreiber, Howard Co- sell, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Joe Namath, Buddy Rich.... could go on and on. ALL be- came professional talk show guests! That is how I got to know these legends. I am a bit young to know most of these from their actual work. But what about my childhood stars? You rarely, if ever, see them in their golden years on tv. And if you do, it is hard to concentrate on what they are saying rather than the money they spent on plastic surgeons. Have you seen Madonna or Cher lately? You never see Tom Selleck, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Gene Hackman, Alan Alda, John Travolta, Loni Anderson, Presented by Onesti Entertainment Loretta Swit, Jaclyn Smith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Henry Winkler, Barbara Eden, Ron Howard-not even any of the cast from "Friends" or "Dal- las" on Jimmy Kimmel or "The Weakest Link"! As each day goes by, I miss the glory days of television more and more. The count- less options available today is definitely a plus, but adds to the confusion of watching tv. Just selecting from what was on channels 2,5,7,9,11,32 and 44 was plenty back then. It saved a great amount of time as these days I spend more time perusing the "Guide" than watching the programs themselves. So last night, I decided to turn the tv off and thumbed through a current issue of "People Magazine". I didn't know anybody there, either. The Marlboro Man is a woman now! Where are these "People" coming from? The world is just getting too big for me. Wheeeeeeere's Johnny? ARCADA (997) YEARS If you enjoy reading this feature, please let me know! I want to see who is out there! Check out the ever-changing, incredible lineup at the historic Arcada Theatre by calling 630.962.7000 or at www.oshows.com ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER Backstage with The Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti The Black Hole of Television I did some channel surf- ing on the " boob tube " last night . I usually just turn on the Food Network , History Channel or episodes of " The Office " or " Modern Fam- ily " . As I was going program to program , I recognized NOBODY ! All these crime shows , " Game of Thrones'- esque series , Bachelor- Bachelorette - Dancing with the Stars fiascos and Chicago Fire , Police , ER - type pro- grams and not one recogniz- able celeb did I see . I remember the days when every show had the sex - sym- bol of the day or the show- biz icon leading the pack of actors on variety shows , game shows and late - night tv . Have you watched The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon or Saturday Night Live lately ? Where are they get- ting these guests from ? Growing up we would regularly see legends mak- ing guest appearances and guest - starring on virtu- ally every show on the tube . Phyllis Diller , Joan Rivers . and Carol Channing types who I never saw except for the countless times per week they were on some talk show . I learned about George Burns not from his days with Gracie on their television and radio shows together , but from the times he popped up on The Carol Burnett Show , toting his unlit cigar as much of an appendage as his arms themselves . Saturday Night Live always had the top improvisational comics of the day , from Steve Martin to John Belushi , Ed- die Murphy to Chris Farley . Today ? Maybe they are local NYC stand - up comics in between gigs at the Brooklyn Comedy Lounge . I realize comparing Johnny Carson and David Lettermen is fundamentally unfair to compare to today . But think of that guest couch Johnny would regularly fill with su- perstars on a nightly basis . That is where I learned about show - biz superstars of yester- year . Burt Reynolds , Don Rick- les , Dom DeLuise , Groucho Marx , Angie Dickinson , Jimmy Stewart , Raquel Welch , Audrey Meadows , Steve Allen , Charles Nel- son Reilly , Mel Brooks , Tony Randall , Tony Curtis , Kirk Douglas , Telly Savalas , Burns and Schreiber , Howard Co- sell , Jack Benny , Bob Hope , Joe Namath , Buddy Rich .... could go on and on . ALL be- came professional talk show guests ! That is how I got to know these legends . I am a bit young to know most of these from their actual work . But what about my childhood stars ? You rarely , if ever , see them in their golden years on tv . And if you do , it is hard to concentrate on what they are saying rather than the money they spent on plastic surgeons . Have you seen Madonna or Cher lately ? You never see Tom Selleck , Chevy Chase , Bill Murray , Gene Hackman , Alan Alda , John Travolta , Loni Anderson , Presented by Onesti Entertainment Loretta Swit , Jaclyn Smith , Michelle Pfeiffer , Henry Winkler , Barbara Eden , Ron Howard - not even any of the cast from " Friends " or " Dal- las " on Jimmy Kimmel or " The Weakest Link " ! As each day goes by , I miss the glory days of television more and more . The count- less options available today is definitely a plus , but adds to the confusion of watching tv . Just selecting from what was on channels 2,5,7,9,11,32 and 44 was plenty back then . It saved a great amount of time as these days I spend more time perusing the " Guide " than watching the programs themselves . So last night , I decided to turn the tv off and thumbed through a current issue of " People Magazine " . I didn't know anybody there , either . The Marlboro Man is a woman now ! Where are these " People " coming from ? The world is just getting too big for me . Wheeeeeeere's Johnny ? ARCADA ( 997 ) YEARS If you enjoy reading this feature , please let me know ! I want to see who is out there ! Check out the ever - changing , incredible lineup at the historic Arcada Theatre by calling 630.962.7000 or at www.oshows.com