Showtime
The second week of March through the decades was noteworthy because just two new series premiered, and both shows featured the star putting their own life experiences to use for their characters. While one of the leads played a fictional character, the other played a fictionalized version of himself. Let’s take a look to see if you remember either of these shows.
1951
March 12 – Miss Susan
- Cast: Susan Peters, Helen Ray, Mark Roberts, Robert McQueeney, Betsy Palmer, Kathryn Gill, Don Hanmer, Gerry Lock, Jon Lormer, Natalie Priest
- Synopsis: Susan Martin is an attorney who moved back to her hometown of Martinsville, Ohio to practice law after she was paralyzed following an auto accident. Soon after Susan returned to town, she had to decide whether or not the family housekeeper, Laura, was an art thief. When not dealing with these matters, Susan agonized over marrying Bill Carter who wanted to have many children, but Susan is unsure if she is able to bear children due to her disability.
- Network: NBC
- Broadcast History: One season, episode count unknown, last broadcast on December 28, 1951
- Trivia: The series aired for 15 minutes weekdays and originated from Philadelphia. Star Susan Peters was a film actress paralyzed after an accidental gunshot, and was the first paraplegic person to star on a TV series. Viewers were critical of NBC, alleging the network exploited Peters’ real-life tragedy. NBC shifted the focus to other peripheral characters and retitled the series Martinsville, U.S.A. The changes did not draw in a larger audience and sponsor Colgate cancelled the series. Peters had been in declining health and died on October 23, 1952 at the age of 31, less than a year after the final episode was broadcast.
1961
- No new shows premiered this week in 1961.
1971
- No new shows premiered this week in 1971.
1981
- No new shows premiered this week in 1981.
1991
- No new shows premiered this week in 1991.
2001
March 12 – The Chris Isaak Show
- Cast: Chris Isaak, Kristin Dattilo, Kenney Dale Johnson, Rowland Salley, Jed Rees, Hershel Yatovitz, Greg Winter, Bobby Jo Moore
- Guest Cast: Bridget Fonda, Bret Michaels, Lisa Loeb, Gavin Rossdale, Trisha Yearwood, Billie Joe Armstrong, Shawn Colvin, Bai Ling, Pam Tillis, John Corbett, RObert Culp, Lexa Doig, Sheila E., Kathy Griffin, Sophie B. Hawkins, Shelby Lynne, Paul Stanley, Gloria Estefan, Brian McKnight, Blake Shelton, Adam Arkin, Minnie Driver, Kevin Eubanks, Vince Neil, Stevie Nicks, Caroline Rea, Victoria Tennant, Joe Walsh, Joseph Bologna, Donnelly Rhodes, Michael Bublé, Stacy Grant, Cyndi Lauper, Richie Sambora, Junior Brown, Wes Craven, Brda Garrett, Jon Polito, Michael Shanks, Peri Gilpin, Sarah Strange, Deezil Zappa, Don S. Davis, Jay Leno, Gloria Reuben, Jennifer Tilly, Missy Peregrym, Erica Durance
- Synopsis: Sitcom which follows a fictionalized version of the life of American rock musician Chris Isaak. The show portrays Isaak and his band members as everyday people with everyday problems.
- Network: Showtime
- Broadcast History: Three seasons, 47 episodes, last broadcast on March 25, 2004
- Trivia: While most of Isaak’s band Silvertone played themselves, keyboardist Brett Tuggle, a part-time member of the band, was replaced by Jed Rees to add more comedy to the show. The character Mona, who appears lying nude on her stomach on a revolving circular bed in the basement of Bimbo’s who appears to be swimming through the use of mirrors to create an optical illusion, was based on a real performer at the Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco known as ‘Dolphina’.
2011
- No new shows premiered this week in 2010.
Share this post
