TV by the Decade :: June 13•19

TNT

2011 had six of this week’s seven new show premieres, and even though a few of them ran for multiple seasons they may not linger in the memory. There was a wide variety of new shows from family-oriented series to a racy sitcom to a sci-fi drama. Even a soap opera on MTV of all places. So which shows premiered this week, and were any of them your favorite? Let’s take a look!

1951

• No new series debuted in 1951.

1961

• No new series debuted in 1961.

1971

• No new series debuted in 1971.

1981

• No new series debuted in 1981.

1991

• No new series debuted in 1991.

2001

June 18 – Spyder Games

• Cast: Shawn Batten, J.R. Cacia, Christina Chambers, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Byron Field, Robert Hutchinson, Enrique Murciano, Nectar Rose, Monica Snow, Bryce Mouer
• Guest Cast: Jane Wiedlin, Mink Stole, Robert Torti, Barbara Crampton, Kate Flannery, Tracey E. Bregman, Sam Pancake, Jillian Barberie, Elisa Donovan
• Synopsis: The show centers on a wealthy video game-producing family and the unexpected murder of the patriarch, Boris Carlisle, who is in control of the company.
• Network: MTV
• Broadcast History: One season, 68 episodes, last broadcast on September 20, 2001
• Trivia: MTV’s second and last venture into the soap opera genre. Originally titles Spyder Web in development. The series was intended to air at 3:00 PM, but was pushed to 7:00 PM due to racy content. It was the last new soap opera to debut on a traditional television or cable network. Chrystee Pharris was cast in the role of Cherish Pardee in the pilot, but was replaced with Megalyn Echikunwoke after MTV thought she was too old for the role.

2011

June 13 – Kickin’ It

• Cast: Leo Howard, Dylan Riley Snyder, Mateo Arias, Jason Earles, Olivia Holt, Alex Jones
• Guest Cast: Loni Love, Sean Ryan Fox, Jeff Doucette, George Wendt, Gabby Douglas, Richard Riehle, Denise Richards, Mark Roman, Booboo Stewart
• Synopsis: A once-in-a-generation young karate fighter named Jack joins the Wasabi warriors.
• Network: Disney XD
• Broadcast History: Four seasons, 84 episodes, last broadcast on March 25, 2015
• Trivia: The show’s working title was Wasabi Warriors. Leo Howard did almost all of his own stunts, and is a black belt in real life. Leo Howard, Dylan Riley Snyder and Mateo Arias are the only cast members to appear in every episode.

June 14 – Jon Benjamin Has a Van

• Cast: Leo Allen, H. Jon Benjamin, Nathan Fielder, Gary Wilmes, Allison McCurdy
• Guest Cast: Matt Walsh, Bob Odenkirk, Drew Droege, Patton Oswalt, Chris Parnell, Andy Richter
• Synopsis: A reporter cruises around in his van and reports on all the trivial things no one cares about.
• Network: Comedy Central
• Broadcast History: One season, 10 episodes, last broadcast on August 10, 2011
• Trivia: The series’ cancellation was not announced until April 2012.

June 14 – The Nine Lives of Chloe King

• Cast: Skyler Samuels, Gracie Gillam, Ki Hong Lee, Benjamin Stone, Alyssa Diaz, Grey Damon, Amy Pietz, David S. Lee
• Guest Cast: Alicia Coppola, Cristián de la Fuente, Samantha Eggar, Colton Haynes
• Synopsis: A girl with special cat-like powers is being hunted by an assassin.
• Network: ABC Family
• Broadcast History: One season, 10 episodes, last broadcast on August 16, 2011
• Trivia: Based on the book series of the same name by Liz Braswell. A script for a TV movie titled The Nine Lives of Chloe King: Salvation was written and posted online on September 13, 2013 but a deal to produce the movie was never finalized.

June 15 – Happily Divorced

• Cast: Fran Drescher, John Michael Higgins, Tichina Arnold, Valente Rodriguez, Robert Walden Robert Walden, Rita Moreno
• Guest Cast: D.W. Moffat, Renée Taylor, Joan Collins, Michael Carbonaro, Ralph Macchio, Colin Ferguson, Ray Abruzzo, Kevin Kilner, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charles Shaughnessy, Ian Ziering, Dan Aykroyd, Morgan Fairchild, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Cyndi Lauper, Debi Mazar, Jeffrey Nordling, Rosie O’Donnell, Judy Reyes, John Schneider, Molly Shannon, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Ian Abercrombie, Jennifer Holliday, Robert Wagner, Angie Everhart, Robert Gant, Stephanie Faracy, Florence Henderson, Christopher Rich, John Pleshette
• Synopsis: In their 18 years of marriage, a middle-aged couple tries to move on with their lives after the husband confesses he’s gay. Based on Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson’s real experiences.
• Network: TV Land
• Broadcast History: Two seasons, 34 episodes, last broadcast on February 13, 2013
• Trivia: TV Land’s third original scripted series. Drescher had originally planned to just write and produce. To promote the second season, Drescher performed the weddings of three gay couples in New York City in support of her ‘Love Is Love’ Gay Marriage Contest.

June 16 – Voltron Force

• Voice Cast: Giles Panton, Sam Vincent, Andrew Francis, Ashleigh Ball, Ty Olsson, Vincent Tong, Doron Bell, Shannon Chan-Kent
• Guest Voice Cast: Mark Hildreth, Garry Chalk, Tabitha St. Germain, Alan Marriott, Gabe Khouth
• Synopsis: The show centers on the reunion of the original Voltron Force and the group of cadets training to follow in their footsteps. In battle, they pilot their five robot lions and, when necessary, combine them to form the mighty robot Voltron.
• Network: Nicktoons
• Broadcast History: One season, 26 episodes, last broadcast on April 25, 2012
• Trivia: A pseudo-sequel to the 1980s animated series Voltron. The show’s original title was Voltron Panthera Force, and was set to premiere in the Fall of 2010. A second season was in the works but complications with the budget and funding led to its cancellation.

June 19 – Falling Skies

• Cast: Noah Wyle, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Will Patton, Moon Bloodgood, Sarah Carter, Connor Jessup, Colin Cunningham, Mpho Koaho, Seychelle Gabriel, Doug Jones, Treva Etienne, Peter Shinkoda, Ryan Robbins
• Guest Cast: Keith Arbuthnot, Dale Dye, Gloria Reuben, Mira Sorvino, Robert Sean Leonard, Matt Frewer, Steven Weber, Lane Edwards, Terry O’Quinn, Robert Clotworthy, Melora Hardin, Henry Czerny, Ali Skovbye, Christopher Heyerdahl, Blair Brown, Michael Hogan, Gil Bellows, Jeff Fahey, Tricia Helfer
• Synopsis: Survivors of an alien attack on earth gather together to fight for their lives and fight back.
• Network: TNT
• Broadcast History: Five seasons, 52 episodes, last broadcast on August 30, 2015
• Trivia: The show’s original title was Concord, referencing the battles of Lexington and Concord. Producer Steven Spielberg came up with the title Falling Skies. The main band of survivors are called the 2nd Massachusetts, inspired by a real regiment of soldiers that fought in the American Revolution and the Civil War. Spielberg wanted Noah Wyle as the lead because of their work together on ER. Spielberg had wanted Wyle for Saving Private Ryan, but he was unavailable so Spielberg was determined to work with him again. Wyle also became a producer beginning with Season 2. Moon Bloodgood did not have to audition; she received a script with an offer. Drew Roy auditioned four times. The pilot was filmed in Oshawa, Ontario, with Season 1 being shot in Hamilton and Toronto. Season 2 moved production to Vancouver. The series received an Emmy nomination in 2012 for Outstanding Special Visual Effects. The sound of the skitters is the same sound effect used for the raptors in Jurassic Park.