In fairness to the Show.. It may be he owned one of the plug poppers.. and has never given them a 2nd chance.
Fact: I recall one episode of Car Talk, the PBS show with Click and Clack the tappet brothers.
The complaint: Drive all day no problem
Drive at night dead battery
They prescribed a new alternator which DID fix it. however I'd never have spent that much.. Cars of that vintage used "V" belts not "Serp" belts. and as part of the alternator replacement..... They adjusted the belt tension.
I fixed 5 cars (2 of them mine) with that kind of problem
Mine.. one I tightened the belt. another I had to replace the belt as the specified belt was the wrong size.
Two I told 'em to tighten it up
one (Sticker still in window) They forgot somethign at ye old factory.. THE BELT