Floyd Vivino never intended to become a cult icon. Born on October 19, 1951, in Paterson, New Jersey, he grew up in a musical household — his father Jerry was a jazz trumpeter. Musical talent ran deep in the Vivino family. Floyd's brothers Jimmy and Jerry would later become accomplished musicians themselves (eventually joining Conan O'Brien's house band). Young Floyd showed early theatrical tendencies, working as a child tap dancer in Atlantic City and even producing a musical revue starring his high school's janitorial staff.
His first broadcasting experience came through a friend's pirate radio station while in high school. But the real genesis of The Uncle Floyd Show came in December 1973, when Vivino, seeking work closer to home during the gas shortages, approached UA-Columbia Cable TV with a proposition: let him produce a children's show.
"Faced with the oil embargo and gas shortages of the 1970's, Floyd decided to try and get something closer to home. He approached a local cable company (UA-Columbia) in December of 1973 and sold them the idea of letting him produce a children's show."
On January 29, 1974, "UNCLE FLOYD & HIS FRIENDS" debuted on WMCC-TV. The "Uncle" moniker was deliberately chosen to evoke the kiddie show hosts of yesteryear. The early format was straightforward enough—Floyd played piano for a room of actual children, gave away cake, and introduced puppet characters. * IMPORTANT FACT: The Uncle Floyd Show was NEVER on "public access".
It didn't take long for Floyd to realize that his humor was resonating more with the parents than with their children. As the show transitioned to UHF channel 68 in November 1974, it began its evolution from standard children's fare to something far more interesting—a winking parody of children's shows that appealed to viewers of all ages while cleverly subverting the format.
NEW JERSEY PRIDE
The Uncle Floyd Show had special significance for New Jersey residents, who often felt overlooked by New York-centric media. As one longtime viewer noted: "The fact that it was a NJ show was important... In northern NJ, we watch New York stations because New York City is not far away and its news media has always been criticized for not reporting enough on NJ. So to watch a home grown TV show like Uncle Floyd seemed to be a special treat."
The show's earliest cast included cameraman Marc Nathan and character actor Pat Cupo, who played "The Monster"—essentially Cupo wearing a cheap Frankenstein mask and a long brown overcoat, jumping around and grunting loudly while throwing objects around the set (often hitting Floyd). Another early addition was Bob D. Caterino, known for his Groucho Marx impressions.
These humble beginnings gave little indication of the cultural phenomenon The Uncle Floyd Show would become, but the foundations were being laid for what would evolve into one of the most unique and influential local television programs in American broadcasting history.
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