Starting Monday at 7 a.m., CBS premieres “CBS This Morning,” which seems like the

January 8, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Starting Monday at 7 a.m., CBS premieres “CBS This Morning,” which seems like the network’s umpteenth iteration to compete with “Today” and “Good Morning America.” Of course, for 27 years, CBS had a successful morning show — the beloved kids’ program, “Captain Kangaroo,” hosted by genial Bob Keeshan. It enthralled several generations of young viewers each morning until it was booted first to weekends (1982) and then dumped entirely from the network (1984). Here are five things you may not have known about the show:

v A MOUSE WAS ITS TWIN: “Captain Kangaroo” premiered Oct. 3, 1955, the same day as that other boomer TV fave, “The Mickey Mouse Club.”

v BIG STARS: Guests who appeared on the show over the years included basketball’s Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Carol Channing and Marlo Thomas. In the early 1980s, Bill Cosby was a semiregular.

v NO ZAPPA CONNECTION: A popular urban legend claimed that rock musician Frank Zappa was the son of Hugh Brannum, the actor who played Mr. Green Jeans, the Captain’s sidekick.

v LONGEVITY: “Captain Kangaroo” remains the longest-running children’s series on U.S. commercial television. (PBS’ “Sesame Street” holds the record.)

v THEME SONG: The show’s memorable theme song was entitled “Puffin’ Billy,” and was purchased from a British stock music production library.

“DOWNTON ABBEY” (9 p.m., PBS): The Edwardian spellbinder that proved to be so addictive in its initial Emmy-winning run is back for a second season. But it’s a time of major upheaval for our British nobles and their mostly faithful servants. Amid the turmoil of World War I, some of Downton’s men — including young heir Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) — put their lives on the line. Meanwhile, the tranquility of Earl of Grantham’s country estate is shattered as it is converted into a military hospital and the old social barriers fall by the wayside. But some things don’t change: “Downton” is still teeming with stunning frocks, steamy romances and a stellar cast that includes Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern.

“The Firm” (9 p.m., nbc): “The Firm” is a new TV drama that picks up 10 years after the events in the John Grisham novel and the subsequent movie. Stepping in for Tom Cruise is Josh Lucas as attorney Mitchell McDeere.

tv listings, B8

entertainment news

‘Deborah Show’ will tape pilot

YOUNGSTOWN

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, “The Deborah Show” will tape a pilot show with a goal of national syndication. The taping will be in the LinMar Strategies studio, on the fourth floor of the PNC Bank Building, downtown.

It will feature executive producer-host Deborah Benton, Dunn Pearson Jr. with The Deborah Show Band, an interview with acclaimed casting director Nancy Mosser, and a performance by Grammy-nominated artist Maimouna Youssef. Benton is in the process of raising money for the project.

The public is invited to attend the taping (must be at least 12) for free.

To reserve a seat, go to thedeborahshow.com/gettickets or call 330-746-1109.