Paul Lynde & Alice Ghostly in Temperatures Rising (1972)

Obscurity factor: 9

This embattled sitcom had many plot and cast changes in its short two season run. It began with James Whitmore as the chief of surgery in a Washington DC hospital. When that didn't work, they brought in Paul Lynde and Sudie Bond and the setting became a private clinic owned by Bond and run by Lynde. For the last few episodes, it became a public hospital again and featured Lynde and Alice Ghostly as his sister, a nurse at the hospital. The only cast member to last the whole series was Cleavon Little. Part of the problem the series had was scheduling - it was up against the ratings powerhouse Maude. Another problem was that it didn't really fit in with the trend in television at the time. Several seasons earlier it might have had more success, but in the age of social consciousness comedies like All in the Family and Maude, this show seemed a trifle tone deaf.

Above is part one of the episode "Healer Man" which was from the last incarnation of the series featuring Ghostly. It was uploaded to YouTube by jknuttel.

Obscurity factor: 9 (very hard to find, not on DVD, available on YouTube)

William Daniels & Alice Ghostly in Captain Nice (1967)

Carter Nash (Daniels), mild mannered chemist works for the police department by day and fights for justice and honor by night as Captain Nice because his mother (Ghostly) told him to. When he discovers a formula that temporarily gives him super-human strength he finds himself targeted by master criminal Omnus. To save the girl he likes (played by Ann Prentiss, Paula's sister) from the clutches of Omnus' evil henchmen he takes the formula himself and becomes invincible.

This mid-season replacement series was developed by Buck Henry, one of the masterminds behind Get Smart. It was preceded by another show with an almost identical premise - Mister Terrific - about an inept gas station attendant who takes a pill and becomes an inept superhero. The series has never been available on DVD. The episode above is the pilot and was uploaded to YouTube by dentelTV1.

Obscurity factor: 9 (known for it's wacky premise and superhero twist to cult fans, but otherwise forgotten)

Wayland Flowers & Madame in Madame in Manhattan (1984)

Obscurity factor: 8

I looked and looked for a gay themed cartoon to post today but couldn't find one (that was suitable for the whole family, anyway). So I decided to post the next best thing. This 1984 production was released as a home video and is primarily Madame's nightclub act with some ancillary footage. For those of you who know Madame from her television appearances, this will be a little shocking. She's very raunchy, in a truly delightful way. You'll hear Madame sing a bit and tell some very funny stories and you'll meet several of Madame's friends, including Shirley, Madame's Yiddish dresser and Crazy Mary, who is really indescribable - someone you have to see to believe. Also making cameo appearances are Henny Youngman and Alice Ghostly.

Madame in Manhattan was originally produced for VHS and copies can still be found. You can also find DVD rips of it on sights like iOffer.com. A good portion of it has been uploaded to YouTube, though there are segments missing.  Part one is above, uploaded by pvpentertainment2010.

Obscurity factor: 8 (largely forgotten, can be found on VHS and DVD rips, available on YouTube)