A Look at Memorable TV Production Logos

A long long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I did an article on production companies. I was always fascinated by the companies that gave us the wonderful shows we grew up with. I also talked about the end credits were a bigger deal in my day, we’d actually watch them and for many shows it wasn’t complete until we saw that production logo at the end. Such as Miller/Boyett Productions which gave us those wonderful TGIF shows everyone still talks about. 

or how about the bright/kaufman/crane title card at the end of every episode of Friends?

Most of the time it was nothing fancy, a title card you hardly notice let alone care about (like the Carsey-Werner shows or the Witt-Thomas-Harris shows including  Golden Girls).  But occasionally a company would give us something special. They’d do a quick second clip of something so creative or memorable that it would become iconic all on its own. 

For example, if anyone saw a Stephen J Cannell production no way you don’t remember this:

Top 5 Favorite PG Sitcom Insults

We all know catchphrases from sitcoms, we love them especially when they become iconic. But today I wanted to figure on a specific kind of catchphrase. When the catchphrase is really a cover for an insult using words that of course can’t be used on a network sitcom. The R rated slur is a bit much! So they make the insult more PG, by either replacing the offending word, or turn a harmless phrase into one that stings but is technically nothing crude.  

Here are five examples, and the rule here is that it has to be one word or phrase that is repeated throughout the series. And it has to be covering a nasty personal insult, since many catchphrases aren’t intended to be insults. On Good Times jj walkers “dynomite” was great but that was to show excitement. On Full House it was cute when Stephanie said “how rude” but that was exasperation not an insult. And Family Matters had Urkels famous “did I do that??” Which was accepting responsibility for a mistake. 

#5.Welcome Back Kotter 

I guess saying “up yours” wouldn’t be very pc so Vinnie Barbarino expanded it to make it the much more clever “up your nose with a rubber hose” which is simultaneously cleaner and meaner. Kinda silly, but damn if John Travolta didn't make it memorable. 

A Look at Ten 80s/90s Sitcom Reboots

 

When I was young in the 80s we had reunion movies. Where classic sitcom casts would reunite for one last hurrah in two hour format. Everything from Gillian’s Island to The Brady Bunch to Andy Griffith. But in the last ten years as 90s shows are now old enough for reunions, someone decided “hey why not another run with a series?”

Ok it’s not that strange. In the 90s we had “New Leave it Beaver” and “New Addams Family” and even “New WKRP in Cincinnati” to name a few (we won’t mention “The Brady’s). But thanks to streaming services, Though some were network, we got several reboots. I mentioned a couple before but a lot I’ve never gone over. So now that this trend seems to finally be waning, let’s briefly discuss ten reboots and whether they were worth the reboot.

Five Reasons I Suddenly Love “Modern Family”

 

Premiering in 2009 for years I avoided the acclaimed show Modern Family. Oh I knew it was on but it just never grabbed me. It wasn’t for silly reasons like the network it was on or it featured a gay couple. It was because it was mockumentary style! 

While technically this was around before, The Office made this trend take off. And while it worked for that show, it drives me nuts they every show had to do it since. From Park and Rec all the way to the current Abbott Elementary (which is excellent btw). Why do I hate it? It’s several things. I’m a sucker for traditional three camera shows with a studio audience. So this hand held camera with no audience bugs me. Why I never watch The Middle! And of course what’s even worst is the thing these are famous for, those ridiculous testimonials. Ugh, it’s so lame! I mean The Brady Bunch is fake because they’re happy but characters stopping to do testimonials is real?? It’s also lazy. Why have the characters actions tell what’s going on when they can stare at a camera and tell us directly? But here, I got used to it. 

However the last year or two I finally gave Modern Family a try (you know me, on top of a trend!) and ended up loving it. It’s so well done I got sucked in. With all the comments I’ve made against it for its entire network run, it’s time to share some love. So why does this show work? 

Here are five reasons. 

Famous Sitcom Scenes:Punky Brewster

 Today let's go back to Punky Brewster. For a show specifically aimed at little kids it managed very memorable, even scary, episodes. We already went over Brandon getting hit by a car but there was also the haunted cave that traumatized us, the Challenger episode, and of course the episode I wanted to discuss today. 

This comes from the episode "Cherie LifeSaver" which aired January 19, 1986. When you can remember the TV Guide ad for the episode vividly almost 40 years later, you can imagine the impact the actual episode made! 

Famous Sitcom Scenes:Growing Pains

Let's resume our look at famous sitcom scenes. Last time I said that the scene from Fresh Prince was so famous, I'd bet even people who never watched the show had heard of it. Well, today we have another scene from a different show which I'd wager is just as well known. Today let's talk about...

This is "Second Chance" from season 4. Aired April 12,1989. Oh yeah, we're doing this one! This scene works on several levels but let's discuss it. 

Famous Sitcom Scenes:Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

 I had a new idea I thought I would try. Rather than just discuss an episode, I would take a famous scene from a sitcom and go over it. Sometimes a scene can leave such an impact that it transcends the show and becomes a part of pop culture. Chances are you can never see the show, but you have heard of this scene. And the impact is real even if you just watch the scene without any context for the rest of the show. So, I wanted to go over famous scenes and discuss why it worked (or possibly, failed).

Today I wanted to discuss a scene from a little show called..

This scene comes to us from episode 24, season 4 called "Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse". (yep, that one!) aired May 9, 1994. Yeah almost thirty years ago, how scary is that! -

Five Series That Became Their Own Spin-off's

 I've talked a lot about spin-offs, when a character is introduced in one series and spun off into their own. Some however are more than spin-off's, they are continuations.

Now a lot of shows will dramatically change focus to spice things up. Empty Nest had Harry go from working in a hospital to a free clinic. Gimmee A Break changed the setting to New York City. Welcome Back, Kotter had a new teacher and focused more on the school. But in the end these were still the same shows. But what happens when the show runners want the show to continue, but one or all of the main stars or even entire cast don't want to come back? The show literally becomes its own spin-off, sometimes keeping the name we love and other times changing to reflect the change. Here are five examples:

Mayberry R.F.D

Andy Griffith was ready to move on from The Andy Griffith Show. So in the eighth season the town became more of the focus with Griffith being seen less and less. Andy Taylor moved away at the end of Andy Griffith and when the show officially becomes Mayberry R.F.D. it was literally the same show, minus Andy and Opie. Who did make appearances. 

A look at "Cheers" Appearances on Other Shows

Back when Cheers was new, something kind of unusual happened. A short episode was produced for the United States government all about the benefit of savings bond. The episode, if you can even call it that, is 11 minutes long and never aired on TV.

Sadly the clip is not on YouTube but Venmeo. So if you want to watch it you need to CLICK HERE

The funny thing is that this was not the first time Cheers did a segment for another show. I guess it makes sense, the show was a mega hit for NBC so of course the network is gonna use the show to promote there own network. Though sometimes, these appearances had nothing to do with NBC. The funny thing is if you go thru these clips you geta nice history of the series, from the early Shelley Long days to the later years with Kirstie Alley, Here are a few times when Cheers made an appearance on another show other than there own. 

NBC PREVIEW

In what I think is an embarrassing one the relatively new series serves as the framing device for NBC's new 1983 fall lineup. 

Ok the Cheers stuff was lame but good lord do I wish TV was like this again. Sigh, I miss the old days when networks were one big happy family.

Top 5 Least Favorite "Diane" Episodes of Cheers

A few years ago I talked about how I was more of a fan of the Kirstie Alley era than the Shelly Long era of Cheers. So to do a best/worst list it had to be that era of of the series since I wasn't as familiar with the first five seasons. Since then I have become familiar with that era, and yeah most of these episodes are great. Not all of course. So to make things even here are five best/worst from that period.

And no they don't have to be centered on Diane to count here. I also decided to keep it to five rather than 10 because there were only five seasons.

Father Knows Least 

Some episodes just feel, off. There's no way to really describe it but this one about Carla's pregnancy (her first on the show) just felt weird to me. Especially that ending that even Carla herself seems to think is a tad odd. 

Reconsidering "The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century"

Happy New Year my friends! And it's time to discuss something that is long overdue. A year or two ago I mentioned New Year's episodes of sitcoms. And one which I hated so much I didn't even want to discuss it. The strange thing is, it's a favorite episode for many. Even if you weren't a fan of the series. It's easy to hate on something that is generally hated and praise something that is generally loved, but hating something that is generally loved is trickier. But let's take this one step at a time. What series am I discussing?

Designing Women premiered in 1986 and I have discussed before how many problems I had with this show. With it's preachy, superior attitude. One episode that pissed me off when I saw it 31 years ago is a prime example of this stuff. What episode was that?  

"The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire Twentieth Century,"

You just know Linda Bloodworth Thomason thought there was something special about January 1, 1990. Ok, sure. i was 16 at the time and don't recall people caring that much, but maybe they did. This episode usually appeared on lists of the series very best episodes, and considering the contents it is hard to criticize without coming off heartless. Or worst. But I hated it when I saw it. By the way the episode really did air on that date.

Over the years I have been going over stuff I hated when I first saw them and reconsidering them, for better or for worst. it's only fair to do the same here. So what happens in his episode? Lets take it step by step. I should mention I watched this on Hulu which from the looks of it used the syndicated version, so it's possible I missed some key lines.

Five Memorable TV Phones

 Almost every show features characters talking on a phone at some point. And usually that's just what it is, a normal phone we used at the time. From The Brady Bunch using a rotary phone to Friends using cell phones, you can literally track the progress of telephone's by watching various TV shows.

However, some shoes think outside the box a little and get creative with their phones. They have their characters using phones which, at the time, were either impossible to imagine or maybe they did exist but good luck getting one. Here are five:

Get Smart

This show was a great sendup of spy movies and TV, with the great Don Adams in the lead role. He is best remembered as Inspector Gadget but he truly shined in this show too. And one thing everyone remembers about this series, is the shoe phone he used to call the chief. The fact that this phone worked at all is ridiculous, but we loved it. 

Five Actors Who Appeared in Two Shows at the Same Time

One common TV trend is when an actor or actress appears in two different shows that are on at the exact same time. Even more amazing when the two shows are on different networks. There are a ton of examples of this happening including Heather Locklear appearing on TJ Hooker and Dynasty to Armin Shmmerman doing double duty on Buffy and DS9 to more modern examples like Alison Brie appearing om Community and Mad Men at the same time. It can't be easy to be bouncing from studio to studio, not to mention character to character, but it's been done. 

Here are five examples of what I mean. And to be clear these aren't actors doing taking a break from their show to do a one time character as a guest star. These actors had multiple appearances on both shows as regulars.

Gail Edwards (Blossom/Full House)

I once read an article where Edwards talked about how crazy it was bouncing between studios. And in this case, networks. Saying she probably had the other shows script with her. On Blossom she played Sharon, who was Six's mother. And of course at the same time she was playing Vicky, Danny's long term love interest. 

My Tribute-Alex Trebek on Sitcoms

 I've commented before that Jeopardy was never my favorite game show. For reasons I have explained elsewhere. But if there was one thing I loved on that show, it was its host. Alex Trebek was coolness personified. He wasn't the first host of Jeopardy and he hosted other game shows, my favorite being Classic Concentration, but he will always be known as THE host of Jeopardy.

He passed away today and as a tribute I wanted to go over five time's Alex Trebek appeared on sitcoms. Usually as himself, hosting Jeopardy. There are more than these, including an appearance on Blossom that even IMDB has forgotten, but here are a few examples.

Mama's Family

I don't recall the setup, but long story short Mama ends up on Jeopardy. And since she has no real class...hijinks ensue.

The Sitcom Summer Burn Off

When a sitcom that has been really popular, even a fixture in a certain time slot, starts to lose its audience funny things happen. What was a hit show suddenly vanishes from the schedule, as if the network is suddenly ashamed of it. But since the final episodes were filmed and recorded, when do you air them? Sometimes in the middle of the season, I remember My Two Dads quietly going away around March. Alf was quietly shuffled away in the spring also. But another idea is to wait until the worst time of year to put something on-the middle of summer!

I am not sure if it’s done anymore but in the old days when the network wanted to air unaired episodes of a series they put the show on in June or August and basicallt burned off the episodes. With as little fanfare as possible. They did this with unsold pilots or series that were cancelled so fast maybe two whole episodes aired. But those are failed shows, it makes sense to do that. When it’s a series that has been on for years and has been good for the network this kind of discarding is kind of mean.

 

Here are five shows that had this happen

 

TAXI

A great subject for another article is when a sitcom is cancelled by one network only to be bought and aired on another. Why haven’t I done that one yet? This is alays a little odd, to see your favorite show on a different network. However, this usually fails because it was cancelled originally for a reason. And the new network is just trying to cash in to the zeitgeist. This is what happened when Taxi moved from ABC to NBC. Pairing it wuth Cheers should have been a no brainer. It didn;t work that away and the final episode, which wasn’t even a finale, quietly aired in June.

 

Reviewing More Sitcom Openings

May 6, 2020/3 Comments/in 80s and 90s Central, BLOGS /by richb

So since I had fun with this idea a week ago, let’s do another ten sitcoms before moving into other genre’s. Same as last time, no order or theme just ten sitcom episodes and my thoughts.

MASH

Les mentioned this one last time and it is worth a mention. It perfectly captires the show and yet it’s so simple. And yes I don’t consider MASH a “sitcom” but let’s discuss it anyway. The music perfect and somber. “Suicide is Painless” works a lot better without the lyrics. We only get two faces which normally annoys me but considering the extensice cast turnaround I can accept. I said it about Roseanne last time, and I’ll say it this time. One of the best marriages of theme and show out there.

TAXI

What, want to go even simpler? Hey here’s an idea, I need to create an opening for a show about a taxi cab. What should the intro be? How about looping an endless shot of the cab going over the Queensboro bridge? Not bad but the music better be really great. Well anyway that’s how I imagine this theme was created. No faces, no clips from anything, just a cab driving down a bridge. Thank goddness the music blends in so perfectly.

Cheers

Well, those two were ok but we need something more upbeat for this one. I like the idea of not showing any characters, but can we show something besides a still shot of a car driving? Hey, here’s an idea! This show is about a bar let use some old pictures (from the actual bar the show is based on) from the good old day as a way to symbolically introduce our characters. We need an upbeat song though. Hey what happened to that guy who did the Punky Brewster theme?

Ok Ok I am just joking around but this theme is and song is wonderful. One of the greatest openeings ever made. And yes I know Gary Portnoy did Punky Brewster after this.

Dinosaurs

What I love about this one is the fake out. It opens like it’s going to be a Jurassic Park-esque show, with an unseen monster stomping through the woods to menacing music. Pushing everything out of his way, as the terrified animals watch. Until the music stops and we pan up to reveal…Fred Flinstone as a dinosaur. Then the music is light and bouncy and the clips show us what this is really about. This theme does what a good thing to a unsuual idea should. It gets out attention, and makes us want to see more.

Bewitched

One curious trend is animated openings to live action shows. There were a few in the 60’s like Dennis the Menace (which made sense), My Three Son’s (which never made sense since all it showed was three pairs of feet!), and Batman. And of course this show about witches-but the witch is a suburban housewife. And the classy opening does a great job explaining things. Highlighted by that beautiful music. Why was it animated? I never understood why, although in 1967 it was probably easier to do it that way. The part I never got was at the end, when the Samantha is in Darrin’s arms the pan boils over and covers everything with black. Was this meant to convey she was a clutz or something? Or just a lazy way to get Agnes Moorehead’s name on there? I’ll never know. And yes I Dream of Jeannie had the same animated concept. Were animated openings just confined to the 60’s……

The Nanny

Yep here’s another animated one from decades later. This theme for The Nanny is also a fantastic theme for this show. Not only does it tell who the characters are, but it explains the basic premise for the series. Even the fact that Fran doesn’t get along with CC. The song is also sung really well, and that can make a difference. Check out my next example. The theme is from the 90’s, a time when theme’s were started to fade, and stands as a good reminder of what a good theme can do for your show. The funny thing where you cane make an argument for Bewitched and Jeannie, this did NOT need to be animated. And yet the style works so we let it go.

Charles in Charge

I don’t mind those classic 80’s themes where the characters are smiling to the camera. For the most part. It has to work to bother me (unlike those who cant stamd them at all which is fine). Small Wonder was way to cornball, as I discussed last time. Charles in Charge is just bad. And the reason why comes down to a simple thing. The song. That god awful, miserable song. I want Charles in Charge of me? What??? Ok maybe if they had a little kid singing, or the whole family like Brady Bunch or Step by Step, you could ignore it. But the woman singing adds an unintended overtone to the thing. She sings it fine, and if this was a romantic sitcom it’d be better. But for a family sitcom? Who’s The Boss, which had the same premise for the most part, had a great theme by focusing on the fact that our main character’s life was changing and taking them on a path to love. Charles in Charge…is wrong on many levels. AND NO RAISING THE TEMPO IN LATER SEASONS DID NPOT HELP.

 

Maybe it’s a rule Scott Baio shows have to be awful. To bad he can’t sing, he could have sung a better version of the theme. Oh wait….

Saved By The Bell

I said that Roseanne’s theme was perfect for showing the somber tone of a show about middle class family. MASH was even better putting sus in the mood for how sad that show could be. But a theme can go the other way. And have you seen any other theme more 90’s than this one? It’s been copied by others but no theme has been so in your face 90’s as thus one. And the theme is the perfect compliment. It’s also clear this is a show aimed a teens.

3rd Rock from the Sun

This theme should not work. It’s like the poor man’s Star Trek theme with nothing but silly graphics. However, did you know the first few episodes had a voiceover by James Earl Jones which descibed the premise? That voiceover was dropped very fast. It’s to bad because it does make the theme more complete. It sums up the series and introduces the characters. Though, we don’t need this regurgitated every week either. But even without that voiceover, this theme still works because the music is so bouncy and fun. It gets the point across very nicely. By the way in the original voiceover, I love how Harry isn’t given a purpose yet, I guess his role as the transmitter hadn’t been conceived (and I loved that the show finally gave him a reason to be there!)

Often themes are condensed to allow for more ad breakds. In 3rd Rock’s case, trimming that voiceover out didn’t really hurt this intro. Sometimes though it can take something away from an opening. Here’s a prime example that I have mentioned before, but is worth repeating.

Watch this theme from Head of The Class…

It’s not awful but notice how the music is rushing? And we only see the kids in that last frame, even though they are the focus of the show?

Check out the long version:

ISN’T THAT SO MUCH BETTER?? The music is smoother, goes along with the action, and the shots of the kids intermixed help to give a better idea of who they are as characters. We even see Dr.Samuels and Bernadette  who were in every episode! But nope we need another thirty seconds of cmmercials! UGH

Another example of this is from the show Benson, here is the abbreicated version:

It goes faster and throws the names at us. And the music is clearly sped up.

The longer version takes its time more giving us a chance to see these characters for a second to get a beter feel for them:

I almost hate to top here, but that will do for today. Let me know in the comments what you think.