TV by the Decade :: May 30•June 5

HBO

The first three decades of our TV viewing had a limited number of networks available and with the most recent seasons concluded, viewers were left to enjoy the summer months while the networks kept the lights on with reruns and the occasional summer series. With the advent of cable, those networks took advantage of the rerun season by rolling out new series to draw more viewers to check out their fare. NBC was the only broadcast network to try out new scripted series this week in 2001 and 2011 … and neither show lasted for more than a handful of episodes. Cable series however did very well from reality to scripted series including long-running favorites on HBO, VH1, TNT and MTV. Let’s take a look to see if your favorites debuted this week.

1951

• No new series debuted in 1951.

1961

• No new series debuted in 1961.

1971

• No new series debuted in 1971.

1981

June 5 – Night Flight

• Narrator: Pat Prescott
• Synopsis: A visual-arts magazine and variety television show that originated on cable TV.
• Network: USA Network
• Broadcast History: Seven seasons, last broadcast on December 30, 1988
• Trivia: The show’s mix of music videos, interviews and movies was a deliberate attempt to exploit the Writers Strike of 1981 which had halted production of Saturday Night Live. Some films shown included Andy Warhol’s Dracula, Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein, Breaking Glass, Eating Raoul, Fritz the Cat, Liquid Sky, Pink Flamingos, Reefer Madness, Smithereens and The Terror of Tiny Town. The show was rebooted in syndication from 1990-1995, and was revived again on IFC on February 14, 2018 as a 15-minute short-form program.

1991

June 2 – Liquid Television

• Synopsis: Animation showcase from independent animators and artists.
• Network: MTV
• Broadcast History: Three seasons, 27 episodes, last broadcast on January 1, 1995
• Trivia: The show was a launching pad for several high-profile cartoons including Beavis and Butt-Head and Aeon Flux. A large number of animation pieces were adapted from Art Spiegelman’s comic compilation, RAW. Due to the extensive use of copyrighted music, full episodes have not been seen since their original run. A collection of selected segments were released on VHS in the late 1990s, but are out of print. A 1997 DVD release of the two VHS tapes is also out of print.

2001

June 1 – Unwrapped

• Host: Marc Summers
• Synopsis: A television program that reveals the origins of sponsored foods
• Network: Food Network
• Broadcast History: Nine seasons, 308 episodes, last broadcast on May 28, 2011
• Trivia: Host locations included The Notz Landing Diner located in Golden, Colorado at the Heritage Square Amusement Park; The Drugstore in Pueblo, Colorado; locations within Elitch Gardens Amusement Park in Denver; and a specially built set at the Comcast Media Center near Denver. Marc Silverstein hosted several one-hour Unwrapped specials that were later remade with Marc Summers. The series was revived in February 2015 as Unwrapped 2.0 with Alfonso Ribeiro.

June 2 – Braceface

• Cast: Marnie McPhail, Alicia Silverstone, Stacey DePass, Vince Corazza, Dan Petronijevic, Tamara Bernier, Peter Oldring, Daniel DeSanto, Michael Cera, Katie Griffin, Emily Hampshire
• Guest Cast: John Robinson, Raoul Bhaneja, Elisa Moolecherry, Dwayne Hill, Alyson Court
• Synopsis: An 8th grader with preteenage problems on her mind and magical braces in her mouth tries to survive 8th grade and later, high school.
• Network: Fox Family Channel
• Broadcast History: Three seasons, 78 episodes, last broadcast on September 1, 2004
• Trivia: The series also aired in Canada on Teletoon. One episode titled ‘Busted’ was banned from broadcast in the US because the lead character, Sharon Spitz, wanted larger breasts.

June 3 – Six Feet Under

• Cast: Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Freddy Rodriguez, Mathew St. Patrick, Rachel Griffiths, Jeremy Sisto, James Cromwell, Justina Machado
• Guest Cast: Lili Taylor, Ben Foster, Joanna Cassidy, Richard Jenkins, Rainn Wilson, Sprague Grayden, Eric Balfour, Kathy Bates, Peter facinelli, Justin Theroux, Ed Begley Jr., Mena Suvari, David Hornsby, Patricia Clarkson, Joel Brooks, Anne Ramsay, Matt Malloy, Jeff Yagher, Robert Foxworth, Chris Messina, Catherine O’Hara, Michelle Trachtenberg, Ricardo Chavira, Julie White, Grant Show, Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Elise Cox, Veronica Cartwright, Rosalind Chao, Illeana Douglas, Arye Gross, Harriet Sansom Harris, Molly Parker, Adam Scott, Alice Krige, Graham Jarvis, Stark Sands, James Pickens Jr., Jenna Fischer, Lee Garlington, Andrew Prine, Lana Parrilla, Mary-Pat Green, Meagan Fay, Robert Pine, Kimberlin Brown, Shawn Hatosy, Mare Winningham, Bill Cobbs, Mary Gross, Christine Estabrook, Dennis Christopher, Wade Williams, Larry Drake, Sandra Oh, Raphael Sbarge, Evan Handler, Cynthia Stevenson, Nan Martin, Tuc Watkins, Josh Radnor, Ellen Degeneres, Michael Cudlitz, Dean Norris, Silas Weir Mitchell, Beth Grant, Jenny O’Hara, Jed Allan, Carol Ann Susi, James Morrison, Rusty Schwimmer, Jonathan Tucker, Chris Pine, John Billingsley, Ann Cusack, Leeza Gibbons, Matt McCoy, Daniel Roebuck, Jim Beaver, Terence Knox, Julie Brown, Molly Hagan, Chris Harrison, Nicholas D’Agosto, Tate Taylor, Kim Coles, Zachary Quinto, Jayma Mays, Amy Hill, Mark Harelik, AJ Michalka, Kellan Lutz, Berlinda Tolbert, Nicole Richie, Jeffrey Ross, Max Grodénchik, Robin Riker
• Synopsis: A chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.
• Network: HBO
• Broadcast History: Five seasons, 63 episodes, last broadcast on August 21, 2005
• Trivia: The series won nine Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Peabody Award. HBO renewed the series for a second season within a week of the airing of the first episode. Producers were concerned about Rachel Griffiths’ Australian accent, but when she arrived to meet producers she had a perfect American accent. Juliette Lewis also auditioned for the role of Brenda. This was Michael C. Hall’s first screen role, having confined himself to stage work prior. The tree on the hill in the opening credits was dug up from someone’s yard and placed there for the shot. Peter Krause wanted the role of David, but producers had such a hard time casting Nate, they offered the role to Krause because of his chemistry with Griffiths. The role of Federico Diaz was written specifically for Freddy Rodriguez. The first episode features commercial spoofs for funeral homes and was intended to recur throughout the series, but was dropped after one episode. Anna Faris auditioned for the role of Claire Fisher, but says she was laughed off by the casting director. Show creator Alan Ball made his directorial debut with the pilot episode. Ball originally envisioned Christopher Meloni and Justin Therouz as brothers Nate and David.

June 5 – Kristin

• Cast: Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Tenney, Ana Ortiz, Larry Romano, Dale Godboldo
• Guest Cast: Steve Valentine, Billy Gardell, Jay Paulson, Jason Beghe, Terry Bradshaw, Martin Mull, Carol Ann Susi, Michael Horse
• Synopsis: Kristin Yancey (Kristin Chenoweth), a perky Oklahoma woman, takes a job as a secretary in New York City while she looks for work in show business. What she does not know is that her boss Tommy Ballantine (Jon Tenney), hired her sight unseen from a local Baptist Church congregation in hopes of repairing his public image, which had been damaged by nearly nonstop sexual imbroglios.
• Network: NBC
• Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes (7 unaired), last broadcast on July 10, 2001
• Trivia: Larry Romano left King of Queens to work on this show.

2011

May 30 – Platinum Hit

• Cast: Jewel (Host & Judge), Kara DioGuardi (Judge)
• Guest Judges: Natasha Bedingfield, Colbie Caillat, Taio Cruz, Gavin DeGraw, Jermaine Dupri, Perez Hilton, Rodney Jerkins, Leona Lewis, Donna Summer
• Synopsis: Reality competition series in which 12 singer-songwriters compete through innovative songwriting challenges that tested their creativity, patience and drive.
• Network: Bravo
• Broadcast History: One season, 10 episodes, last broadcast on August 15, 2011
• Trivia: The show was to be title Hitmakers, and was changed to Going Platinum before settling on its final title. The show aired on Mondays at 10:00 PM but low ratings led to the show shifting to Fridays at 8:00 PM on July 8, where it remained for the rest of its run. Sonyae Elise was named the winner.

May 30 – Single Ladies

• Cast: Travis Winfrey, LisaRaye McCoy, Charity Shea, D.B. Woodside, Denise Vasi, Terrell Tilford, Harold House Moore, LeToya Luckett-Walker
• Guest Cast: Lesley-Ann Brandt, Damien Dante Wayans, Ricky Whittle, Rick Fox, Anthony Azizi, Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas, Queen Latifah, La La Anthony, Marcus Lewis, Tina Lifford, Omar Gooding, Victoria Rowell, Malik Yoba, Flex Alexander, Tone Bell, Wilson Cruz, Eve, Finesse Mitchell, Aiden Turner, Mac Miller, Paula Patton, Robert Christopher Riley, Romeo Miller, Kelly Rowland, Keke Palmer, B.o.B., Evander Holyfield Jr., Benzino, Meek Mill, Biz Markie, Mykelti Williamson, Ja Rule, Terrell Owens, Kim Porter, Big Boi, Common
• Synopsis: Three friends from different backgrounds desire success, prosperity and love in up-and-coming Atlanta, Georgia.
• Network: VH1/Centric
• Broadcast History: Four seasons, 43 episodes, last broadcast on, April 22, 2015
• Trivia: VH1 cancelled the series after three seasons, but it was picked up by BET’s Centric network for a fourth. The show was tested as a movie before being turned into a 12-episode season. Four e-books were released between November 26, 2013 and December 17, 2013 to bridge the gap between Seasons 2 and 3.

June 1 – Franklin & Bash

• Cast: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Breckin Meyer, Reed Diamond, Malcolm McDowell, Kumail Nanjiani, Dana Davis, Garcelle Beauvais, Rhea Seehorn, Toni Trucks, Anthony Ordonez, Heather Locklear
• Guest Cast: Jane Seymour, Gates McFadden, Ernie Hudson, Beau Bridges, John Ratzenberger, Jenny O’Hara, Kathy Najimy, Danielle Panabaker, Shiri Appleby, Rob Benedict, Buck Henry, Thomas F. Wilson, Robert Wuhl, David Gautreaux, Irone Singleton, Rob Lowe, Willie Garson, John Michael Higgins, Jillian Bell, Natalie Zea, Sean Astin, Anne Ramsay, Melora Walters, Adam Goldberg, Kevin McKidd, Brian McNamara, Daniel Roebuck, Tom Arnold, Alexandra Breckenridge, Robin Thomas, Danny Trejo, Chris Klein, Eric Mabius, Don McManus, Martin Mull, Eric Balfour, Martin Starr, Barry Bostwick, James Remar, Vincent Ventresca, Robert Pine, Jon Polito, Reni Santoni, Bellamy Young, Matt Battaglia, Clyde Kusatsu, Thomas Lennon, Lawrence O’Donnell, Mackenzie Astin, Spencer Garrett, Armin Shimerman, John de Lancie, Joanna Cassidy, Boris Kodjoe, Tuc Watkins, Carmen Electra, Valerie Mahaffey, Jack Plotnick, Jake Busey, Philip Casnoff, Jamie McShane, Chris Mulkey, Jamie Rose, Jen Kober, Meagan Fay, Jeff Doucette, Fred Willard, Corbin Bleu, Jason Alexander, Tommy Chong, Nora Dunn, Mindy Sterling, Constance Wu, Harry Hamlin, Rick Fox, Cloris Leachman, Tricia Helfer, Seth Green, Larry Poindexter, Peter Weller, Courtney Gains, Cybill Shepherd, Kasey Wilson, Hart Bochner, Kurt Fuller, James Van Der Beek, Mike Tyson, George Wendt, Jay Tarses
• Synopsis: Lawyers and lifelong friends Jared Franklin and Peter Bash are recruited by a large firm’s major partner after winning a high-profile case.
• Network: TNT
• Broadcast History: Four seasons, 40 episodes, last broadcast on October 22, 2014
• Trivia: In the UK, the series was promoted as ‘Ally McBeal with Balls’. The series was originally developed for TNT’s sister network TBS. The pilot was filmed in Atlanta but production moved to Los Angeles when the show was greenlit.

June 2 – Love Bites

• Cast: Becki Newton, Greg Grunberg, Constance Zimmer
• Guest Cast: Krysten Ritter, Kyle Howard, Steve Howey, Craig Robinson, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Krista Allen, Christopher Gorham, Cheryl Hines, Jeffrey Tambor, Bret Harrison, Beau Bridges, Frances Conroy, Kurtwood Smith, Laura Prepon, Jay Harrington, Jim Beaver, Keegan-Michael Key, Merle Dandridge, Donald Faison, Guillermo Díaz, Isaiah Mustafa, Ken Jeong, Eddie McClintock, Anna Camp, James Roday, Jaime King, Skylar Astin, Pamela Adlon, Kathy Kinney
• Synopsis: Anthology series focusing on three short vignettes per episode similar to Love, American Style. Each story was often intertwined by a common theme or character, and was related to the three main protagonists: Annie (Becki Newton), Judd (Greg Grunberg), and Colleen (Constance Zimmer).
• Network: NBC
• Broadcast History: One season, 8 episodes (plus pilot), last broadcast on July 21, 2011
• Trivia: The series was originally set to focus on Annie and Frannie (Jordana Spiro), two single women dealing with the ups and downs of dating while most of their friends have married. Spiro’s commitment to another show, and Newton’s pregnancy delayed production and the show was retooled into an anthology series. Krysten Ritter guest starred in the pilot as Cassie, replacing Spiro. Pamela Adlon was cast as Colleen in the unaired pilot, and replaced with Constance Zimmer. NBC cut the season order from 13 to 9 episodes, and Newton and Grunberg landed pilots elsewhere.

June 5 – Teen Wolf

• Cast: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed (seasons 1–3; guest season 5), Dylan O’Brien, Tyler Hoechlin (seasons 1–4; guest season 6), Holland Roden, Colton Haynes (seasons 1–2, guest season 6), Shelley Hennig (seasons 4–6; recurring season 3), Arden Cho (seasons 4–5; recurring season 3), Dylan Sprayberry (seasons 5–6; recurring season 4), Linden Ashby (season 6; recurring seasons 1–5), Melissa Ponzio (season 6; recurring seasons 1–5), JR Bourne (season 6; recurring seasons 1–5), Ryan Kelley, Seth Gilliam, Ian Bohen
• Guest Cast: Cody Christian, Michael Hogan, Susan Walters, Charlie Carver, Jill Wagner, Max Carver, Tamlyn Tomita, Henry Zaga, Marisol Nichols, Mason Dye, John Wesley Shipp, Gilles Marini, Lou Ferrigno Jr., Jordan Fisher, Vernee Watson, Matt Shively, Lachlan Buchanan, Barry Livingston, Doug Jones, James Urbaniak, Russell Mulcahy
• Synopsis: A young werewolf who defends his California town from supernatural creatures and other threats.
• Network: MTV
• Broadcast History: Six seasons, 100 episodes, last broadcast on September 24, 2017
• Trivia: The film was developed as a ‘darker, edgier and sexier version’ of the 1985 comedy film with Michael J. Fox, with more of the tone of The Lost Boys, although it was decided early on to exclude vampires from the show’s mythology. The series shares no continuity with the film or its sequel, but does contain allusions to the original film. The premise began with an idea to do an homage to the beginning of Stand By Me where the kids go to search for a body in the woods. The look of the show was inspired in part by the creatures in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth. The first two seasons were filmed in Atlanta, but the show moved production to Los Angeles after receiving a substantial tax credit. Dylan O’Brien originally read for the role of Scott, but felt more of a connection to Stiles. Many of the wolf howls heard on the show are actually gorillas. Tyler Posey is the only cast member to appear in every episode. Dylan O’Brien said if there was a spin-off he would not be involved, while Posey said he’d be more than happy to participate. It took four-and-a-half hours to get Posey into the full werewolf makeup. The character of Kira was supposed to appear in just a single episode, but producers liked Arden Cho’s chemistry with Posey and kept her on. Orny Adams didn’t read any full scripts after Season 2 because he figured Coach wasn’t supposed to know what was going on. In the film, Michael J. Fox wears a jersey with the number 42; on the series Stiles’ jersey is 24. A six-episode web series titled ‘Search for a Cure’, set between the first and second seasons, featured Tyler Posey’s father John as Dr. Fenris. When Daniel Sharman left the show, he asked producer Jeff Davis not to kill off his character so he could return, but scheduling conflicts prevented him from ever returning. Davis, Orny Adams and Linden Ashby were the only people who knew Stiles’ real name before it was revealed on the Season 6 episode ‘Blitzkrieg’ as Mieczyslaw Stilinski. Crystal Reed asked for her character Allison to be killed off so she could pursue more adult roles, although she did return to appear in Season 5B as Marie-Jeanne Valet in the 1700s flashbacks.