TV Tie-Ins: Events With a Television Theme

By Troy Segal

With the nights getting longer, and the new fall season starting, it’s tempting to hunker down in front of the tube. But don’t give up on going out. You can still get your TV fix with these upcoming telly-themed talks and events in NYC.

Marlo Thomas, aka That Girl, chats with Gloria Steinem about the impact the 1966-71 series — for all its light-heartedness — had on the feminist movement, Oct. 7 at the Museum of the Moving Image.

Photo: foodnetwork.com

Perpetually cheery Rachael Ray (she of several Food Network shows) gets serious about the problem of hunger in the U.S. — and how to alleviate it, with chef Tom Colicchio of Craft, Oct. 18 at The TimesCenter.

Norman Lear, producer of programs that proved sitcoms could be satirically sharp, as well as sidesplittingly funny, discusses his life and times, Oct. 14, while Dick Cavett, who proved talk shows could be intelligent as well as star-powered, chats with actor Alec Baldwin (whose career got a comedic boost on 30 Rock), Nov. 4 … You’re cordially invited to reminisce with Fred Savage and two of his costars about growing up on camera during The Wonder Years Reunion, Oct. 20 … Funny lady Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live) discusses her debut as an author — and will just happen to have a few books on hand to sign — on Oct. 28. All at the 92nd Street Y.

If all these appearances make you nostalgic to view some actual vintage TV, check out the Paley Center for Media‘s Halloween-themed screenings Oct. 25 & 26: episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Freaks and Geeks, and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (ok, the latter is technically an Internet, not television show, but why quibble?).