TV-Flashback

For my final installment of “It Debuted After The Super Bowl”, I saved the best for last.  It was on January 31, 1993 that the series inspired by David Simon’s Edgar award-winning non-fiction book, Homicide:  A Year On The Killing Streets premiered.  The pilot episode of Homicide:  Life On The Streets was directed by Barry Levinson, who was also an executive producer for the series.  David Simon chose not to write the pilot since at the time he was not comfortable with his experience writing for the screen. 

The series centered on a police detective squad in Baltimore and the cases they worked.  The original cast included both seasoned veteran actors and newcomers:

• Daniel Baldwin as Det. Beau Felton
• Ned Beatty as Det. Stanley Bolander
• Richard Belzer as Det. John Munch
• Andre Braugher as Det. Frank Pembleton
• Clark Johnson as Det. Meldrick Lewis
• Yaphet Kotto as Lt. Al Giardello
• Melissa Leo as Det. Kay Howard
• Jon Polito as Det. Steve Crosetti
• Kyle Secor as Det. Tim Bayliss

Here is the original opening sequence for the series, which was recognized with a Creative Arts Emmy because it is that spectacular:

NBC did not cancel the series after its lackluster first season, largely because the series was produced by NBC Studios.  Instead, they renewed the show with a whopping FOUR episode order.  It is the smallest episode order ever given for a renewal, and only one other show to date received a four episode renewal order – Seinfeld.

Other interesting factoids?

• The guest stars during the series run included everyone from Chris Rock to Bruce Campbell to Wilford Brimley.  Baltimore native John Waters made a cameo, as did Tim Russert (established in the series to be cousins with Det. Megan Russert).
• NBC was notorious for messing with the episode order on air, which caused continuity errors over the years.   
• A documentary about the making of the episode “The Subway” aired on PBS along with the episode itself.
• The episode “The Documentary” quotes numerous sections of David Simon’s book verbatim.
• TV Guide acknowledged the series was “The Best Show You’re Not Watching”. 
• Initial cable syndication rights went to, of all networks, Lifetime.  Yes, the Lifetime network your mother watches.  It was the only time I ever watched the channel.
• Det. John Munch has been a main character on television every season since this date in 1993.
• David Simon took another of his books to the small screen via HBO, the Corner.  This led to his creation of the Wire.

TV Guide also noted that seeing Det. Frank Pembleton in the Box (interrogation room for the uninitiated) was one of the great moments in television – so great they didn’t feel the need to be more specific.  Here’s a clip from the acclaimed season one episode Three Men & Adena, which was basically one long interrogation of the suspect in the Adena Watson murder:

All the episodes of Homicide:  Life On The Streets are available on DVD.   

I am possibly the only person in America who has not watched The Family Guy.  No idea why, and I certainly know enough people who love the show.  I do, however, appreciate a number of interesting tidbits about the series, which made its post-Super Bowl debut on Fox after Super Bowl XXXIII.  Technically, the Simpsons aired after the game and provided the lead-in, but I’m not concerned about a half hour.

So, those tidbits that fascinate me?

• Family Guy has been cancelled twice.
• After Fox cancelled the series in 2000, the fandom was so intent on getting the show on DVD, it helped give birth to this well-known website. 
• The success of this campaign helped convince Fox to revive the series.
• New episodes of the show currently air as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim.

The TV geek in me appreciates a show that has aired first-run on multiple networks, been un-cancelled, and that fans needed to campaign to get released on DVD. 

Here’s a clip for you.  Avoiding the hulu.com ads slimmed down the YouTube selection dramatically:

Need it on DVD?  Get it here!

After Super Bowl XXII, ABC treated us to the debut of The Wonder Years:

If you were born on that day, you would be old enough to drink tomorrow!  That’s right, it was January 31, 1988 when we first met the Arnolds and understood Kevin’s shock at discovering Winnie Cooper lost her geeky looks practically overnight.  Puberty is an amazing thing.  And then there was that kiss…their first kiss.  Awwww…..

The show was set twenty years earlier than it ran, starting in 1968.  The historical setting provided a backdrop for Kevin’s coming-of-age saga.  We watched his friendship with Paul evolve from junior high through high school, his relationship with Winnie go from friendship to romance to fights and everything in between.  We watch the dynamics of the Arnold family as Kevin’s parents cope with their growing kids and changing times, particularly where Kevin’s older sister Karen was concerned.     

Interesting factoids:

• The show won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1988.
• It also won a Peabody in 1990.
• Fred Savage became the youngest actor, at 13, to be nominated for an Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
• The series’ title was inspired by a Wonder Bread ad campaign.
• It hasn’t had a true DVD release due to issues with song licensing rights.  <big sigh>

In case you forgot, here is how the adult Kevin wrapped everything up, relatively spoiler free as far as I’m concerned:

“Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you’re in diapers, the next day you’re gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a place, a town, a house, like a lot of houses. A yard like a lot of other yards. On a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back…with wonder.”

It was after Super Bowl XXV that Davis Rules premiered.  That would be January 27, 1991 if you don’t have your game dates memorized.  Davis Rules centered around a school principal played by Randy Quaid who balances his job with raising his kids with the help of his father, played by Jonathan Winters. 

Here’s the opening.  Ain’t the theme catchy?

It’s worth noting that Davis Rules was cancelled by ABC at the end of the 1991 season, then sold the show over to CBS, who ran it for another season.  Jonathan Winters also won an Emmy (his only one!) for his work on Davis Rules on the ABC year.  The CBS year is noteworthy because of the two cast additions that went on to bigger things – Bonnie Hunt & Giovanni Ribisi. 

It was January 27, 1976 that the most successful spin-off from Happy Days premiered:

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Sclemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated!

Wait…you can sing in a little bit.  Laverne & Shirley fascinates me because of how it morphed in its eight seasons into a very different show than the one we watched in the pilot.  This sort of dramatic change usually only happens with shows involving teenagers that last beyond their high school/college years. 

Let’s look at the series evolution thru its opening credits:

• Here’s the opening from the early seasons:

In the first five seasons, Laverne & Shirley worked at Shotz Brewery.  They visited with Laverne’s dad at the Pizza Bowl, and we were to believe that Shirley and the “Big Ragu” were an item.   

• Here’s the opening when they headed out to California:

We all know the California move was the “jump the shark” moment for this series.  It’s one thing for two crazy kids that are BFFs to decide to move off from WI to CA.  The issue I had is that everyone bloody else followed them.  Laverne’s dad actually closed up his damn business to go and open up a new one in Cali.  Not only would I not quit my life to follow my kids somewhere, but I certainly wouldn’t want my parents quitting their life to stalk follow me.  Don’t get me started about Lenny & Squiggy relocating.     

• Here’s the opening for the final season:

Is it just me who finds it somewhat ironic that Penny Marshall was the one that stuck with the show all the way?  She must’ve believed in the television curse placed on actors who leave the series that make them famous before the network ends it.  The most rock star part of this is that they had the balls to keep calling the show Laverne & Shirley when Shirley was completely AWOL.  Lenny vanished too.  In any case, I think the show could’ve been put out of its misery by about the 6th season.   

You can pick up the first four Milwaukee years of Laverne & Shirley on DVD here.

More specifically, The Dukes Of Hazard debuted 30 years ago today.  I feel really old.  The premise was relatively simple – cousins Luke & Bo Duke were in constant battle with county commissioner Boss Hogg & Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. 

I was unaware this was an adaption of a movie, Moonrunners.  Not only was Waylon Jennings the Balladeer in the film, but a bulk of the premise and characters did transfer over to The Dukes Of Hazard. 

Can’t decide what was more iconic on this show:  the General Lee or Daisy Duke’s shorts. 

You know you’re going to sing along to this:

That’s right – on January 25, 1949, the first Emmy Awards were presented in Hollywood.  The first Emmy awarded was for Outstanding Television Personality and went to Shirley Dinsdale of the show Judy Splinters, which featured her ventriloquist act.  The awards were divided into two presentations with the advent of the Daytime Emmy Awards in 1974. 

Interesting factoids:

• The individual with the most Emmy nominations is Jac Venza, responsible for numerous specials on PBS.

• ER has received the most nominations for a series – currently 122.

• The series which won the most Emmys to date is Frasier, which won a total of 37.

• Most Emmys won by an individual is prolific television creator/producer James L. Brooks @ 20.

• Shows that got a significant ratings lift from Emmy wins include 30 Rock (which also received more nominations in a single year – 2008 - than any other comedy series to date), Arrested Development, & Picket Fences. 

• One season wonders that won after cancellation include My World & Welcome To It (Outstanding Comedy Series – 1970) and more recently, The Ben Stiller Show (Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program - 1993). 

The 60th Annual Emmy Awards were held last year and it should be no surprise this was the highlight montage.  Frankly, I didn’t think Josh Groban had it in him:

On January 23, 1977, ABC began airing the first of eight installments of the classic mini-series Roots.  It was one of the most successful events in television history with the final episode still in the top five highest rated programs ever according to the Nielsen Ratings.  LeVar Burton made his on-screen debut as Kunta Kinte, and overall the cast was a literal who’s who of African-American talent.  Interestingly, the casting of the white characters leaned heavily on actors well known to audiences, with Ed Asner’s character in particular created solely for the mini-series in an attempt to make “white audiences feel better about their historical role in the slave trade” according on the Museum of Broadcast Communications. 

ABC was so afraid Roots would bomb they opted to schedule it the week *before* sweeps and run it daily to burn it off quick and cut their anticipated losses.  Prior to this, mini-series that had aired ran a new installment each week.           

Here’s how the whole thing started:

You can purchase the 30th Anniversary Edition of Roots here.

“In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The A-Team.”

It was really on this date in 1983 that The A-Team debuted following Super Bowl XVII.  I know I am not the only kid who loved this show growing up.  Nor am I the only adult who watched it in recent years in awe of how ridiculously bad the storylines were.  For guys on the run, they sure seemed to find a lot of clients to bail out of jams.  Plus, MacGyver probably picked up more than a few ideas on how to build ridiculously complex weapons out of scraps lying around.  The other thing I always found nice and convenient was how they were able to find each other when immersed in their “normal” life at the time.  Murdock being the key example – committed to a psych unit half the time requiring one or more of the Team to bust him out.  I rank that higher than B.A.’s flying business only because you would think the military would’ve been able to find Murdock with all his institutional stays.

In stretching my ability to suspend my disbelief would have to be the celebrity guest star.    Sorry for the quality on the clip below, but it’s necessary to drive this point home:

I guess it doesn’t matter how silly the storylines were, so long as I can hear Hannibal say “I love it when a plan comes together.” 

All the seasons of the A-Team are available on DVD, including the crappy last one after they are caught and no longer on the run.  Who knows when the movie will finally get made….   

On January 22, 1984, Airwolf premiered on CBS after Super Bowl XVIII.  The show came to us courtesy of Donald Bellisario, known for creating TV classics like Magnum, P.I., Quantum Leap, JAG and NCIS.   Personally, I could not get into this series.  It likely had to do with the fact it centered around a fancy dancy helicopter:

The show starred Jan-Michael Vincent as the original test pilot of the super duper helicopter Airwolf, Ernest Borgnine played his sidekick.  Did I mention there was a supersonic military helicopter in the show, too?  :) 

The only thing more entertaining to me than centering a show around a vehicle or other magical technological device is when networks insist on adding women to casts of shows believing it improves ratings by drawing female viewers.  I’m not sure who these women are that go for this, but it doesn’t work with me.  Adding in Jean Bruce Scott didn’t help Airwolf, and the costs to produce the show weren’t worth the viewers.

Best part of the story?  CBS cancelled Airwolf after three seasons and the USA Network decided to pick up the series *without any of the original cast members*.  Apparently, USA was under the impression Airwolf = KITT.  Even if it did, this was still a dumb idea as recent history shows.

What?  You’re a fan of super hi-tech helicopter action?  Well, the first three seasons of Airwolf are available on DVD – pick them up here.