TV by the Decade :: Sept 26•Oct 2

Bad Robot

It’s Premiere Week Part III, and our 160th post! It’s a huge week with many long-running series making their debuts so we won’t waste time making you guess what they are. Thanks for checking this feature out every week, but it may be time to retire this feature. We hope you’ve enjoyed it.

1951

September 27 – Gruen Playhouse

Guest Cast: Robert Hutton, Bonita Granville, Raymond Burr, Marjorie Reynolds, Ann Rutherford, Ruth Warrick, Bruce Cabot, Ross Elliott, Dane Clark, Cesar Romero, Vincent Price, Hillary Brooke, Bert Freed, Cameron Mitchell, Parley Baer, Buddy Ebsen, Peter Graves, Billy Gray, Jerry Hausner, Shirley Jones, Anna Q. Nilsson, Patrick O’Neal, Craig Stevens, Ann Tyrrell, Carolyn Jones
Synopsis: Dramatic anthology series.
Network: ABC / DuMont
Broadcast History: One season, last broadcast on August 7, 1952
Trivia: Carolyn Jones and Raymond Burr made their TV debuts on the show, and one episode was written by Gene Roddenberry. Only three episodes are known to exist.

September 30 – The Red Skelton Show

Cast: Red Skelton, David Rose and His Orchestra, Art Gilmore
Guest Cast: Ray Kellogg, Jackie Coogan, Vincent Price, Mickey Rooney, Cesar Romera, Billy Barty, Henry Corden, Marilyn Maxwell, George Gobel, Audrey Meadows, John Carradine, Bobby Rydell, Jack Albertson, Elaine Joyce, Martha Raye, Amanda Blake, Peter Lorre, Jamie Farr, Pat Carroll, Reta Shaw, Lon Chaney Jr., Lyle Talbot, Ed Sullivan, Abbe Lane, Elena Verdugo, Ed Wynn, Olan Soule, Richard Deacon, Jayne Meadows, Charles Ruggles, Eve Arden, Jackie Gleason, Raymond Burr, Vivian Vance, Sebastian Cabot, Don Knotts, Johnny Carson, June Foray, Hans Conried, Edward Everett Horton, Stubby Kaye, Jane Powell, Milton Berle, Maurice Evans, John Wayne, Mabel Albertson, George Raft, Arthur Godfrey, Janis Paige, Merv Griffin, Fernando Lamas, Phyllis Diller, Godfrey Cambridge, Jack Jones, Jack Riley, Marcel Marceau, The Mills Brothers, Sandra Gould, Nestor Paiva, Marvin Kaplan, Xavier Cugat, Nancy Walker, Marion Ross, Jack Klugman, Fritz Feld, Jack Benny, Liberace, Jayne Mansfield, Terry Moore, Laslie Parrish, Cyril Ritchard, Doris Singleton, Ginger Rogers, Mary Wickes, Greer Garson, Shirley Bassey, Polly Bergen, Dionne Warwick, Terry-Thomas, Mike Connors, Lou Rawls, Walter Brennan, Tiny Tim, Arnold Stang, Lina Romay, Franklin Pangborn, Maurice Marsac, William Schallert, Charles Bronson, The Andrews Sisters, Leo Durocher, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Sheila MacRae, Mike Mazurki, Charles Coburn, Margaret Whiting, Eva Gabor, Boris Karloff, Buster Crabbe, Basil Rathbone, Ruth Hussey, Sterling Holloway, Forrest Tucker, Mercedes McCambridge, Carol Channing, Cedric Hardwicke, Sessue Hayakawa, Edie Adams, Lenny Weinrib, Jane Russell, Fabian, Jay North, Arte Johnson, Rhonda Fleming, Rosemary Clooney, Phil Harris, Elvia Allman, Doodles Weaver, The Beach Boys, Vikki Carr, Jack Soo, Connie Stevens, The Rolling Stones, Robert Goulet, Robert Vaughn, Tony Randall, Janet Leigh, Ted Mack, Pat Priest, Tim Conway, Nancy Wilson, Vito Scotti, Wally Cox, June Lockhart, Harriet Nelson, Ozzy Nelson, Nipsey Russell, Harold Gould, Van Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Carol Lawrence, Carol Wayne, Danny Thomas, Bela Lugosi, Errol Flynn, Harpo Marx, Barbara Feldon, Chad Everett, Walt Disney, Cass Elloiot, Kathy Garver, Maila Nurmi, Billy Gray, Alfred Hitchcock, Dyan Cannon, Eva Marie Saint, George Kennedy, Jack Lemmon, Irving Berlin, Dore Schary, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Jane Darwell, Phyllis Coates, Nat ‘King’ Cole, June Havoc, Les Paul, Ann Sothern, Yvette Vickers, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Vivian Blaine, Diahann Carroll, Gower Champion, Marge Champion, Tristram Coffin, Gloria DeHaven, Sheree North, Barney Phillips, Dick Powell, Harold J. Stone, Art Carney, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rose Marie, Clayton Moore, Ruth Roman, Max Baer, Judy Canova, King Donovan, Alan Hale Jr., Percy Helton, Nancy Kulp, Rocky Marciano, Zasu Pitts, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Robert Armstrong, Don Drysdale, Una Merkel, Chester Morris, James Arness, Joanne Dru, William Frawley, Rita Moreno, Donald O’Connor, Hayden Rorke, Ann Rutherford, Rudy Vallee, Tuesday Weld, Jesse White, Don Wilson, William Demarest, Brian Donlevy, Diana Dors, Julie London, Mamie Van Doren, Mae West, Desi Arnaz, Gene Autry, Angela Cartwright, Harvey Korman, Ray Bolger, Mahalia Jackson, Brenda Lee, Dorothy Provine, Juliet Prowse, Keenan Wynn, Steve Allen, Robert Horton, Peter Lupus, Ethel Merman, Shirley Temple, Tony Bennett, Pat Boone, Vic Damone, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., The McGuire Sisters, The Animals, Paul Anka, Tallulah Bankhead, Maurice Chevalier, Bill Dana, Bobby Darin, Freddie & the Dreamers, Fred Gwynne, Al Hirt, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, Johnny Mathis, Robert Morse, Hugh O’Brien, Harve Presnell, George C. Scott, Petula Clark, Buddy Ebsen, Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Gorshin, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, The Hollies, Tina Louise, Jack Palance, The Supremes, Gig Young, The 5th Dimension, Richard Chambelain, Bob Crane, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Peter Falk, John Forsythe, Howard Keel, Bert Lahr, Michele Lee, Barbara McNair, Sergio Mendes, Cliff Robertson, Dusty Springfield, Robert Stack, Frankie Valli, Eddy Arnold, Herschel Bernardi, Peter Fonda, Teresa Graves, Hubert H. Humphrey, Burl Ives, Tom Jones, Lulu, Joe E. Ross, Jane Wyman, Barbara Bain, Kaye Ballard, Edgar Bergen, Peter Graves, Gloria Loring, Agnes Moorehead, Jack Wild, Spiro Agnew, Gene Barry, Dan Blocker, Mac Davis, The Del Rubio Triplets, Jackie DeShannon, Duke Ellington, Clint Howard, Michael Landon, Pat McCormick, Leslie Nielsen, Fess Parker, Telly Savalas, Frank Sinatra Jr., Robert Wagner, James Drury, Jill St. John
Synopsis: American television comedy/variety show.
Network: NBC (1951–1953; 1970–1971) / CBS (1953–1970)
Broadcast History: Twenty seasons, 672 episodes, last broadcast on August 1 ,1971
Trivia: Also known as The Red Skelton Hour. Rod Serling has an uncredited cameo on a 1960 episode. Art Linkletter appeared uncredited as a hobo in a 1968 episode. Pamelyn Ferdin appeared uncredited in a 1969 episode as a girl in a toy store. Jonathan Winters made a cameo appearance as Maude Frickert in a 1969 episode. Skelton famously disliked writers, wanting to write for his characters himself. Sherwood Schwartz had it in his contract that Skelton could not discuss a show’s script before it was presented to him prior to taping, leaving Skelton unaware of the situation or character he was playing in each scene, causing him to often break the fourth wall and say to the audience, ‘Don’t blame me, folks, I don’t write this stuff.’ The show won three Emmy Awards during its run.

1961

September 26 – The Dick Powell Show

Host: Dick Powell
Guest Cast: June Allyson, David Niven, Charles Boyer, Mickey Rooney, Alejandro Rey, Peter Falk, Edgar Bergen, Carolyn Jones, Bert Freed, Jackie Cooper, Keenan Wynn, Kurt Russell, Milton Berle, Michael Rennie, Dana Andrews, Nick Adams, Theodore Bikel, Lee Marvin, Hazel Court, Dina Merrill, Dean Stockwell, William Bendix, Inger Stevens, Jan Sterling, Carroll O’Connor, Tuesday Weld, Dennis James, Ed Begley, Susan Oliver, Sebastian Cabot, Charles Ruggles, Robert Webber, Vito Scotti, Bruce Dern, Parley Baer, Stafford Repp, Elisha Cook Jr., Michael Parks, Ellen Corby, Everett Sloane, Mike Mazurki, Herbie Faye, Herschel Bernardi, Alan Reed, Edward Platt. William Schallert, Bert Remsen, Steve McQueen, Dorothy Malone, Joan Fontaine, Glynis Johns, Robert Vaughn, Edie Adams, William Shatner, James Stewart, John Wayne, Rhonda Fleming, Eva Gabor, Van Heflin, Hugh O’Brian, Cliff Robertson, Gene Barry, James Coburn, Sammy Davis Jr., Angie Dickinson, Fabian, Curd Jürgens, Robert Loggia, Gary Merrill, Vera Miles, Robert Morley, Nehemiah Persoff, Suzanne Pleshette, Jane Powell, Eli Wallach, Richard Basehart, Rory Calhoun, Robert Cummings, Tom Ewell, Henry Fonda, Joanne Linville, Tige Andrews, Ralph Bellamy, Earl Holliman, Cecil Kellaway, Elsa Lanchester, Telly Savalas, Edward Andrews, Joan Blondell, Ann Blyth, Lloyd Bochner, Gladys Cooper, Nina Foch, Harry Guardino, Kim Hunter, John McGiver, Arthur O’Connell, Wayne Rogers, Akim Tamiroff, Rip Torn, Mamie Van Doren, Dana Wynter, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Polly Bergen, Joey Bishop, John Forsythe, Carol Lynley, Ricardo Montalban, Gena Rowlands, Barbara Rush, Julia Adams, Larry Blyden, Jack Cassidy, Beverly Garland, John Saxon, Barry Sullivan, Claude Akins, Rosemary Clooney, Steve Forrest, David Janssen, Robert Redford, Gloria Vanderbilt, David Wayne, David White, Mabel Albertson, Lloyd Bridges, Ellen Burstyn, Warren Oates, John Ireland, Ross Martin, Pat O’Brien, Whit Bissell, Gavin MacLeod, James MacArthur, Macdonald Carey, Norman Fell, Marta Kristen, Paul Mazursky, Leo Gorcey, Strother Martin, Andy Williams, Lee Van Cleef, Richard Deacon, Barbara Stanwyck, Joe Turkel, Veronica Cartwright, Dabbs Greer, Bill Mumy, Jack Albertson, Jackie Coogan, Paul Mantee, Mark Rydell, Gary Crosby, Dean Jones, Norman Alden, Janis Paige, Kenneth Tobey, Kathleen Freeman, Percy Helton, Ruta Lee, Larry Mathews, Don Rickles, Arnold Stang, Josip Elic, Ray Kellogg, Don ‘Red’ Barry, Yvonne Craig, Olan Soule, Frank Sinatra, Mike Farrell, Alvy Moore, Army Archerd, Jim Backus, Pat Boone, Glenn Ford, Anthony Franciosa, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jack Lemmon, Julie London, Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, Cesar Romero, Robert Taylor
Synopsis: American anthology series.
Network: NBC
Broadcast History: Two seasons, 60 episodes, last broadcast on April 30, 1963
Trivia: Powell hosted the series until his death from lung cancer on January 2, 1963, A series of guest hosts took over as the show was retitled The Dick Powell Theater. The first guest host was Gregory Peck who began the January 8 program with a tribute to Powell. Henry Darrow, Tor Johnson, Barry Livingston, George Savalas and Tom Kennedy appear in uncredited roles.

September 26 – Ichabod and Me

Cast: George Chandler, Robert Sterling, Christine White
Guest Cast: Jimmy Hawkins, Burt Mustin, Jesse White, Reta Shaw, Rod Serling, Merry Anders, Yvonne Craig, Dabbs Greer, Margaret Hamilton, Robert Q. Lewis, John Fiedler, Irene Ryan
Synopsis: Life in a small New England town, as seen through the eyes of the current and formers editors of the local newspaper.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: One season, 36 episodes, last broadcast on June 5, 1962
Trivia: ‘Adam’s Apples’, the pilot for this series, was broadcast on the General Electric Theater on April 24, 1960 on CBS.

September 27 – Top Cat

Voice Cast: Leo DeLyon, Allen Jenkins, Arnold Stang, Maurice Gosfield, Marvin Kaplan, John Stephenson
Guest Voice Cast: Don Messick, Bea Benaderet, Paul Frees, Jean Vander Pyl, Herschel Bernardi, Daws Butler
Synopsis: Top Cat is the leader of a group of alley cats, always trying to cheat someone.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: One season, 30 episodes, last broadcast on April 18, 1962
Trivia: Top Cat and his gang were inspired by the East Side Kids, and The Phil Silvers Show. Arnold Stang even based his Top Cat voice on Silvers to which network execs objected, saying they bought Stang not Silvers, so he modified the voice to be closer to his own in later episodes. Silvers co-star Maurice Gosfield provided the voice of Benny the Ball, and the character’s design was based on Gosfield. The title was changed to Boss Cat in the UK to avoid confusion with a popular cat food named Top Cat, but the show’s theme song mentioning Top Cat several times was not altered, making the title change irrelevant. The second primetime animated series in the US following The Flintstones. Produced in color but broadcast in black and white.

September 27 – Dr. Kildare

Cast: Richard Chamberlain, Raymond Massey
Guest Cast: Ken Berry, Leslie Nielsen, James T. Callahan, Lee Meriwether, Martin Balsam, Andrew Prine, Diane Baker, Bradford Dillman, Hayden Rorke, Tony Bill, William Shatner, Dean Stockwell, David Opatoshu, Joanna Pettet, Hazel Court, Diana Muldaur, Norman Fell, Robert Reed, Dan O’Herlihy, James Mason, Darren McGavin, Ricardo Montalban, Fred Astaire, James Earl Jones, Lesley Ann Warren, Cloris Leachman, Bert Remsen, Harvey Korman, Kathy Garver, Jack Nicholson, Suzanne Pleshette, Richard Beymer, Angie Dickinson, Susan Oliver, Murray Hamilton, Jeanette Nolan, Mercedes McCambridge, Sorrell Booke, George Kennedy, Ramon Novarro, Madge Blake, John Fiedler, Vito Scotti, Joyce Bulifant, Harold Gould, Burt Mustin, Ross Martin, Lee Marvin, Rip Torn, Jack Carter, Pat Hingle, Robert Culp, Diana Hyland, Ruth Roman, Lois Nettleton, Yvette Mimieux, Kim Hunter, Basil Rathbone, Barbara Rush, John Saxon, Herschel Bernardi, Beverly Garland, Mary Astor, Kevin McCarthy, Zohra Lampert, Harold J. Stone, Kim Darby, Clu Gulager, James Daly, Virginia Gregg, Carroll O’Connor, Joyce Van Patten, J. Pat O’Malley, John Newland, Frances Reid, Ford Rainey, Les Tremayne, Shelley Morrison, Bill Bixby, Spring Byington, Bert Freed, Ivan Dixon, Ed Asner, Sam Waterston, Whit Bissell, Richard Benjamin, Edgar Buchanan, Anjanette Comer, William Schallert, Anne Francis, Richard Kiley, Dick York, Lloyd Bochner, John Cassavetes, Joseph Cotten, Olympia Dukakis, Harry Guardino, Dean Jagger, Glynis Johns, Carolyn Jones, Joanne Linville, Dina Merrill, Margaret O’Brien, Robert Redford, Claire Trevor, Eddie Albert, Lauren Bacall, Polly Bergen, Peter Falk, James Franciscus, Celeste Holm, Brian Keith, Patrick O’Neal, Susan Strasberg, Gloria Swanson, Tom Tryon, Forrest Tucker, Miyoshi Umeki, James Whitmore, John Williams, Anne Baxter, Joan Blondell, Terry Carter, Jeanne Cooper, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Lord, Walter Matthau, Sal Mineo, Barry Nelson, Walter Pidgeon, Claude Rains, Cyril Ritchard, Cesar Romero, Gena Rowlands, Walter Slezak, Estelle Winwood, Barbara Bel Geddes, Larry Blyden, Colleen Dewhurst, Darryl Hickman, Earl Holliman, Jack Warden, Dennis Weaver, Robert Young, Edward Andrews, Dabbs Greer, Ted Knight, Beatrice Straight, Julie Adams, Theodore Bikel, Michael Constantine, Joan Hackett, Eileen Heckart, Victor Jory, Dorothy Malone, Inga Swenson, Barbara Barrie, Charles Bronson, Elinor Donahue, Andrew Duggan, Barbara Eden, Jean Hagen, Kathryn Hays, Ed Nelson, James Shigeta, Henry Silva, Everett Sloane, Lois Smith, Michael Callan, Hans Conried, Yvonne Craig, William Demarest, George Grizzard, Ron Howard, Barbara McNair, Chester Morris, Gerald S. O’Loughlin, Mabel Albertson, Tom Bosley, Rosemary DeCamp, Peter Haskell,Donnelly Rhodes, Louise Sorel, Barry Gordon, Gavin MacLeod, Jack Albertson, Ruth McDevitt, Parley Baer, James Caan, TOny Dow, Mariette Hartley, Allan Melvin, Fritz Weaver, Beau Bridges, Nina Foch, Dorothy Provine, Stafford Repp, Leonard Nimoy, Dabney Coleman, Lisa Loring, Lana Wood, Donna Douglas, Edward Platt, Jean Stapleton, Barbara Parkins, Abraham Sofaer, Veronica Cartwright, Alan Reed, Jackie Joseph, Claudine Longet, Victor French, Noam Pitlik, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby, Majel Barrett, Linda Evans, Denver Pyle, Francis X. Bushman, Maidie Norman, George Savalas, Ralph Moody, Dick Sargent, Richard Anderson, Mary Badham, Paul Mantee, Marion Ross, Judy Carne, Dennis Patrick, Ellen Burstyn, Olan Soule, James Hampton, Dub Taylor, Sandra Gould, Tige Andrews, Pat Priest, Bill Mumy, Roger Perry, Arte Johnson, Marta Kristen, Pippa Scott, Bob Denver, Stefan Gierasch, Vic Tayback, Jack Weston
Synopsis: The dramatic relationship between a young medical intern and his surgeon mentor.
Network: NBC
Broadcast History: Five seasons, 191 episodes, last broadcast on August 30, 1966
Trivia: Ray Kellogg, Michael Lerner, Raymond St. Jacques, and Teri Garr appear in uncredited roles. William Shatner originally won the title role but declined, and James Franciscus was also offered the role but had to turn it down due to a commitment to another series (which went unmade). The unaired pilot starred Lew Ayres as Dr. Gillespie. Ayres had played Dr. Kildare for many years in the MGM film and radio series.

September 28 – Hazel

Cast: Shirley Booth, Bobby Buntrock, Don DeFore, Whitney Blake, Maudie Prickett, Ray Fulmer, Lynn Borden, Julia Benjamin, Howard Smith, Ann Jillian
Guest Cast: Virginia Gregg, Harold Gould, Doris Singleton, Lurene Tuttle, Ellen Corby, Jamie Farr, Alan Hale Jr., Barbara Shelley, Mabel Albertson, Jerry Hausner, William Schallert, James Stacy, Bert Remsen, Parley Baer, Percy Helton, Ken Berry, Frank Cady, Harvey Korman, Dabney Coleman, Mary Grace Canfield, James Doohan, Diane Ladd, Leif Erickson, Frank Gifford, Jester Hairston, Lee Meriwether, Claude Akins, Maurice Marsac, Alvy Moore, Victor French, Donnelly Rhodes, Elvia Allman, John Astin, Michael Callan, Maidie Norman, Dick Wilson, Hugh Marlowe, Robert Hogan, Leo G. Carroll, Pat O’Brien, Rosemary DeCamp, Sterling Holloway, Alice Pearce, Victor Jory
Synopsis: The misadventures of the Baxter family and their live-in maid, Hazel Burke.
Network: NBC / CBS
Broadcast History: Five seasons, 154 episodes, last broadcast on April 11, 1966
Trivia: All but one Season 1 episode were in black-and-white. The remaining four seasons were in color. Based on the single-panel comic strip of the same name by cartoonist Ted Key, which appeared in The Saturday Evening Post. When the series moved to CBS for its final season, stars Don DeFore and Whitney Blake were dropped in an effort to appeal to a younger audience. The characters were shipped off to Baghdad for George’s work. Hazel and the Baxter’s son Harold moved in with George Baxter’s never-before-mentioned brother Steve (Ray Fulmer), and his family. CBS said Blake was not available after the network change, and DeFore said he was never notified and read about his firing in the newspaper. Kirk Alyn, Robby the Robot, Jack Dodson, and Bonnie Franklin appear in uncredited roles.

September 29 – Father of the Bride

Cast: Leon Ames, Ruth Warrick, Myrna Fahey, Rickie Sorensen, Burt Metcalfe, Lurene Ransom M. Sherman
Guest Cast: Keir Dullea, Joe Besser, Reta Shaw, Doodles Weaver, Pamela Britton, Barbara Stuart, Parley Baer, Frank De Vol, Ken Berry, Bill Mumy, Maudie Prickett, Henry Corden, Les Tremayne
Synopsis: Stanley and Ellie’s only daughter Kay is getting married to Buckley Dunston. The wedding preparations turn the Banks household upside down with the dad wondering when things got so complicated.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: One season, 34 episodes, last broadcast on September 14, 1962
Trivia: Based on the 1950 film of the same title.

September 29 – Target: The Corruptors!

Cast: Stephen McNally, Robert Harland
Guest Cast: Harold J. Stone, Brian Keith, Walter Matthau, Jack Warden, Royal Dano, Parley Baer, Ray Kellogg, Jack Klugman, Warren Oates, Hayden Rorke, Richard Anderson, Dick Wilson, Larry Blyden, Steve Forrest, Frank Lovejoy, Vic Morrow, Edmond O’Brien, Dan O’Herlihy, Gena Rowlands, Robert Vaughn, Ray Walston, Martin Balsam, Macdonald Carey, James Gregory, Harry Guardino, David Janssen, Dean Jones, Keye Luke, Suzanne Pleshette, Cesar Romero, Keenan Wynn, Ed Asner, Robert Culp, Peter Falk, Robert Loggia, Richard Long, Frank Sutton, Brian Donlevy, Barbara Eden, Shirley Knight, Cloris Leachman, Jack Oakie, Joyce Van Patten, Bert Freed, Don Gordon, Everett Sloane, Alan Hale Jr., Murray Hamilton, David White, Kenneth Tobey, Nestor Paiva, Vinton Hayworth, Victor Buono, Ivan Dixon, Norman Alden, Josip Elic, Vito Scotti, Michael Constantine, Michael Pataki, Jeanette Nolan, Shelley Morrison, Jack Elam, William Conrad, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Parks
Synopsis: The show featured a newspaper reporter, Paul Marino, and his undercover Agent, Jack Flood, as they infiltrated the mob and reported on a different type of crime every week.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: One season, 35 episodes, last broadcast on June 8, 1962
Trivia: Olan Soule appears in an uncredited role. This series was based on the work of investigative reporter Lester Velie. Several segments were based on true stories, about which he had written.

October 1 – Bus Stop

Cast: Rhodes Reason, Richard Anderson, Joan Freeman, Marilyn Maxwell
Guest Cast: Buddy Ebsen, Fabian, Steve Forrest, George Grizzard, Pippa Scott, Nehemiah Persoff, James Whitmore, John Williams, Keenan Wynn, Howard Duff, Beverly Garland, Gary Merrill, Patricia Owens, James MacArthur, Lloyd Nolan, Joanne Linville, Frank Lovejoy, Richard X. Slattery, Jack Warden, Lawrence Tierney, Dabbs Greer, Dean Stockwell, Bobby Buntrock, Barbara Pepper, Percy Helton, William Windom, Hal Needham, Parley Baer, James Brolin, Edgar Buchanan, Joseph Cotten, Kathleen Freeman, David Hedison, Gary Lockwood, Burt Mustin, Robert Redfrod, Madlyn Rhue, Rod Taylor, Tuesday Weld, Claude Akins, Jack Albertson, Lew Ayres, Whit Bissell, Ellen Burstyn, Richard Carlson, Nina Foch, George Hamilton, Neil Hamilton, Earl Holliman, Alvy Moore, Jeanette Nolan, J. Pat O’Malley, Simon Oakland, Michael Parks, Cliff Robertson, Ruth Roman, Everett Sloane, Joyce Van Patten
Synopsis: Grace owns the bus stop in Sunrise CO. She, waitress Elma, Sheriff Will and D.A. Glenn watch life through the stories which unfold as passengers arrive and then depart the small town.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: One season, 26 episodes, last broadcast on March 25, 1962
Trivia: The series was cancelled because of an episode guest starring Fabian, playing a young psychopath, that included explicit violence.

October 2 – Ben Casey

Cast: Vince Edwards, Sam Jaffe, Jeanne Bates, Harry Landers, Bettye Ackerman, Nick Franchot Tone
Guest Cast: Virginia Gregg, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Malachi Throne, Noam Pitlik, Stella Stevens, Strother Martin, Vincent Gardenia, Barry Sullivan, Michael Murphy, Pippa Scott, Peter Haskell, Tige Andrews, Jeanne Cooper, Cecil Kellaway, Abraham Sofaer, Ellen Burstyn, Jack Warden, Robert Culp, Howard Da Silva, Carroll O’Connor, James Best, Bert Freed, Henry Corden, Bob Hastings Ralph Moody, Greg Morris, Joan Hackett, Jack Klugman, Burt Mustin, Edward Andrews, Barbara Barrie, Leslie Nielsen, Michael Pataki, Anne Francis, Robert Loggia, Sheree North, Beau Bridges, Gary Crosby, Kim Stanley, Dane Clark, Greg Mullavey, Norman Fell, Sally Kellerman, James Shigeta, Peter Falk, Peggy McCay, Viveca Lindfors, Susan Flannery, Russell Johnson, Keenan Wynn, Richard Basehart, Kay Medford, Chester Morris, Suzanne Pleshette, Piper Laurie, Kathleen Nolan, Robert Webber, Tony Bill, Red Buttons, Jerry Lewis, Kevin McCarthy, George C. Scott, Michael Constantine, Neville Brand, J. Pat O’Malley, Davy Jones, Maureen O’Sullivan, Colleen Dewhurst, Ann Jillian, Ellen Corby, Yvonne Craig, Elsa Lanchester, Jerry Paris, Ray Walston, William Marshall, L.Q. Jones, Mary Wickes, Alex Cord, John Astin, Jack Elam, Larry Hovis, Stafford Repp, Maudie Prickett, Bill Bixby, Dyan Cannon, Bruce Dern, Michele Lee, Telly Savalas, Joyce Van Patten, William Windom, Eddie Albert, Mabel Albertson, Elizabeth Ashley, Robert Blake, Patty Duke, Bill Erwin, James Franciscus, Jean Hagen, Richard Jordan, Ray Kellogg, Joanne Linville, Nan Martin, Lee Marvin, Burgess Meredith, Conrad Nagel, Jeanette Nolan, Gerald S. O’Loughlin, Simon Oakland, Butch Patrick, Barney Phillips, Sydney Pollack, Andrew Pryne, Denver Pyle, Cliff Robertson, Ann Robinson, Herbert Rudley, Brett Somers, Rod Steiger, Tueday Weld, Ed Asner, Mary Astor, James Caan, Dabney Coleman, Anjanette Comer, Sammy Davis Jr., Melvyn Douglas, George Grizzard, Mariette Hartley, Eileen Heckart, Oskar Homolka, Clint Howard, Diana Hyland, Dean Jones, Paul Mantee, Ricardo Montalban, Patricia Neal, Barry Nelson, Maidie Norman, Dan O’Herlihy, Michael Parks, Millie Perkins, Aldo Ray, Frances Reid, Peter Mark Richman, Doris Roberts, Barbara Rush, Harold J. Stone, Beatrice Straight, James Whitmore, Dick Wilson, Dana Andrews, Lew Ayres, Barbara Bain, Ted Bessell, Whit Bissell, James T. Callahan, Nicholas Colasanto, Michael Conrad, Royal Dano, William Demaresst, Bradford Dillman, James Doohan, Kathleen Freeman, James Gregory, Harry Guardino, Phil Harris, Jill Ireland, Richard Kiley, Stuart Margolin, Darren McGavin, Allan Melvin, Katharine Ross, Charles Ruggles, Janice Rule, Rip Torn, Joe Turkel, Jessica Walter, Jesse White, Shelley Winters, Nick Adams, Norman Alden, Michael Ansara, Brian Bedford, Tom Bosley, Macdonald Carey, Dick Clark, Hans Conried, Gladys Cooper, Aneta Corsaut, Richard Dreyfus, James Farentino, Jamie Farr, Victor French, George Hamilton, James Hong, Van Johnson, Lainie Kazan, Eartha Kitt, Walter Koenig, Bernie Kopell, Harvey Lembeck, BarBara Luna, Roddy McDowall, Denny Miller, Bill Mumy, Susan Oliver, Nehemiah Persoff, Cesar Romero, Everett Sloane, Julie Sommars, Nicolas Surovy, Gloria Swanson, Marlo Thomas, Jack Carter, Kim Darby, Kathy Garver, Sam Groom, Gavin MacLeod, Juliet Mills, Jack Weston, Dana Wynter
Synopsis: Gritty realistic hospital drama featuring manly Dr. Casey against the medical establishment, at first, under the watchful eye of Dr. Zorba, and later under the thumb of Chief of Surgery Dr. Freeland.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: Five seasons, 153 episodes, last broadcast on March 21, 1966
Trivia: Cliff Robertson and Jack Lord turned down the role of Ben Casey. Russell Johnson auditioned for the role. ABC demanded the character name of Dr. Zorba changed from Dr. Rosenberg because they did not want him to be Jewish. Sam Jaffe was instructed to play Zorba with a Yiddish accent to emphasize that he was Jewish. Jaffe eventually quit the show due to conflicts with Vince Edwards. Guest Sammy Davis Jr. and director Jerry Lewis also reported conflicts with the star.

October 2 – Window on Main Street

Cast: Robert Young, Constance Moore, Ford Rainey, Brad Berwick
Guest Cast: Mary Adams, Kay Stewart, Bob Hastings, Michael J. Pollard, Tim Matheson
Synopsis: Cam Brooks, a writer, returns to Millsberg, his hometown, and renews his friendship with the editor of the local newspaper, Lloyd Ramsey. The inhabitants of the town were subjects of Cam’s stories.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: One season, 34 episodes, last broadcast on May 23, 1962
Trivia: Robert Young and Eugene B. Rodney co-owned and co-produced the series to which CBS gave them complete creative control.

1971

October 2 – Soul Train

Hosts: Don Cornelius (1971-1993), Mystro Clark (1997-1999), Shemar Moore (2000-2003, Dorian Gregory (2003-2006)
Guests: Billy Preston, Al Green, Ralph E. Tresvant, Gladys Knight, Atlantic Starr, The Whispers, Al B. Sure!, Jeffrey Osborne, Stephanie Mills, Thelma Houston, Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, Patti LaBelle, Deniece Williams, Teena Marie, Bell Biv Devoe, Gerald Levert, Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield, Barry White, Cheryl Lynn, Jody Watley, LL Cool J, Johnny Gill, The Isley Brothers, Teddy Pendergrass, Kool & The Gang, The Jackson 5, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, The Temptations, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., James Ingram, Bobby Brown, Cherrelle, Keith Sweat, Tevin Campbell, Brian McKnight, Debroah Cox, Montell Jordan, Sisqo, Stevie Wonder, Melba Moore, The Pointer Sisters, James Brown, Johnny Mathis, Donna Summer, Rick James, Shalamar, Cameo, Ray parker Jr., Michael McDonald, New Edition, Karyn White, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Heavy D, Kris Kross, Snoop Dogg,Lou Rawls, Little Richard, B.B. King, Billy Paul, Fred Williamson, Ashford & Simpson, Pam Grier, Richard Pryor, Mavis Staples, Nona Hendryx, Marvin Gaye, Rose Royce, Sister Sledge, Peabo Bryson, Brenda Russell, Yarbrough & Peoples, Janet Jackson,Philip Bailey, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Vanity, Sheena Easton, Levert, Morris Day, DeBarge, Pebbles, CeCe Winans, Lalah Hathaway, Color Me Badd, Tisha Campbell, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Da Brat, Jermaine Dupri, Nate Dogg, Lil’ Wayne, Omarion, Tyrese Gibson, Tyra Banks, Usher, Freda Payne, Martha Reeves, Wilson Pickett, Merry Clayton, War, Jim Brown, The Ohio Players, Isaac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, Lola Falana, The Commodores, Sarah Dash, George Foreman, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Quincy Jones, Elton John,Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Lionel Richie, Stargard, Grace Jones, Dan Hartman, Tom Dreesen, Kurtis Blow, Patti Austin, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Arsenio Hall, Luther Vandross, Prince, Billy Ocean, Natalie Cole, Jackée Harry, Al Jarreau, Flavor Flav, Bestie Boys, Nia Peeples, Vanessa Williams, Ziggy Marley, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Siedah Garrett, Salt-n-Pepa, Johnny Kemp, M.C. Hammer, Michael Bolton, Doug E. Fresh, Monie Love, Nona Gaye, T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Kandi Burruss, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kristoff St. John, Shaggy, Kirk Franklin, Vivica A. Fox, Brian Austin Green, Ray J, Destiny’s Child, Macy Gray, India Arie, Nelly, Blu Cantrell, Kim Wayans, Gail Fisher, Teresa Graves, William Marshall, Denise Nicholas, Brock Peters, Tina Turner, Cicely Tyson, Chuck Berry, Roosevelt Grier, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, José Feliciano, Herbie Hancock, Jesse Jackson, Minnie Riperton, Al Sharpton, Sly and the Family Stone, The Trammps, Melvin Van Peebles, Nancy Wilson, Lonette McKee, KC & The Sunshine Band, Vicki Sue Robinson, The Supremes, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Etta James, Chic, Gloria Gaynor, Peaches and Herb, Irene Cara, The Captain and Tennille, Kim Fields, Dick Gregory, The Village People, Marsha Warfield, Hall & Oates, Jennifer Holliday, Berlin, Mr. T, Run-D.M.C., Michael Winslow, A-Ha, Rick Dees, Sheila E., The Fat Boys, Redd Foxx, Sam Harris, Don Henley, Whitney Houston, Howard Jones, Shannon, Spandau Ballet, Dionne Warwick, Go West, Culture Club, Robin Givens, Pet Shop Boys, Tim Reid, Duran Duran, Kenny G, Sting, Paula Abdul, Thomas Dolby, Gregory Hines, New Kids on the Block, Debbie Allen, Tone Loc, The Manhattan Transfer, Milli Vanilli, Robert Palmer, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Black Box, Jasmine Guy, Sherman Hemsley, Oleta Adams, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, C+C Music Factory, Lisa Fischer, Ice-T, Lenny Kravitz, Public Enemy, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, TLC, Toni Braxton, Raven-Symoné, Tichina Arnold, Outkast, Morris Chestnut, De La Soul, Telma Hopkins, Queen Latifah, Alfonso Ribeiro, Holly Robinson Peete, Robert Townsend, Mario Van Peebles, George Wallace, Tatyana Ali, Faith Evans, Brandy Norwood, Aaliyah, Jamie Foxx, Kel Mitchell, Tia & Tamera Mowry, James Reynolds, Busta Rhymes, Lark Voorhies, 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boys, Erykah Badu, Traci Bingham, Cedric the Entertainer, Donald Faison, Terrence Howard, Ice Cube, Wyclef Jean, Lil’ Kim, John Salley, Countess Vaughn, Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Angie Stone, The Roots, Jill Scott, Common, Naughty By Nature, Robin Thicke, Benzino, Nick Cannon, Justin Guarini, Romeo Miller, Solange, Akon, Keyshia Cole, En Vogue, JoJo, Master P, Fantasia Barrino, John Legends, Mario, Mya, Nicole Scherzinger, Trey Songz, CeeLo Green, T-Pain
Synopsis: American music-dance television program.
Network: Syndication
Broadcast History: Thirty-five seasons, 1,117 episodes, last broadcast on March 25, 2006
Trivia: The series employed guest hosts between 1993 and 1997. The series began as a local, live Weekday broadcast on August 17, 1970 on Chicago’s WCIU-TV. The show’s success drew the attention of the Johnson Products Company, which agreed to sponsor the show’s move into syndication.

1981

No new shows premiered this week in 1981.

1991

September 26 – FBI: The Untold Stories

Host: Pernell Roberts
Guest Cast: Tom Hallick, Sandy Baron, Lee Arenberg, R. Lee Ermey, Gregory Sierra, Donna Wilkes, Marc Alaimo, Belinda Belaski, Robert Ginty, Mariska Hargitay, Ron Harper, Richard Herd, Steve Kanaly, Lance Kerwin, Dick Miller, Stephen Nichols, Andrew Prine, Geoffrey Scott, Roy Thinnes, Dee Wallace, Kim Zimmer, Edward Albert, Adrienne Barbeau, David Birney, Charlie Brill, K Callan, Charles Cyphers, Courtney Gains, Kelli Maroney, Robert Pine, Berlinda Tolbert, Granville Van Dusen, Larry Wilcox, Gregory Itzin, Gary Sandy
Synopsis: Police drama anthology series.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: Two seasons, 13 episodes, last broadcast on June 1, 1993
Trivia: Based on actual cases handled by the FBI, and made with the full cooperation of the Bureau.

September 26 – Reasonable Doubts

Cast: Mark Harmon, Marlee Matlin, William Converse-Roberts, Tim Grimm, Bill Pugin, Jonathan the Dog, Kay Lenz, Nancy Everhard
Guest Cast: Leslie Jordan, Jim Beaver, Spencer Garrett, Gregg Henry, Glynnis O’Connor, Tucker Smallwood, Robert Hooks, Steven Culp, Nina Foch, Terence Knox, Janet Hubert, Pat Crawford Brown, Leland Orser, Danny Trejo, David Morse, Carrie Snodgrass, Lane Davies, Jamie Luner, Joe Spano, Loretta Devine, Meg Foster, Nicolas Coster, Mitchell Ryan, Robert Clohessy, Vincent Ventresca, Dick O’Neill, Charlotte Ross, Jeri Ryan, Fionnula Flanagan, Richard Romanus, Paula Poundstone, Gerrit Graham, Kristen Cloke, David Spielberg, Nestor Carbonell, Nehemiah Persoff, Lee Garlington, Robert Walden, Belinda Belaski, Al Sapienza, Lynne Marie Stewart, Bart Braverman
Synopsis: Reasonable Doubts is primarily about the working relationship between Assistant District Attorney Tess Kaufman (Marlee Matlin), a prosecutor very sensitive to the rights of the accused, and hard-charging, gruff Detective Dicky Cobb (Mark Harmon), an old-fashioned cop with a ‘bust-the-perps’ attitude.
Network: NBC
Broadcast History: Two seasons, 44 episodes, last broadcast on April 27, 1993
Trivia: The series was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

September 27 – Princesses

Cast: Julie Hagerty, Fran Drescher, Twiggy
Guest Cast: Richard Kind, Leann Hunley, Philip Charles MacKenzie, James Read
Synopsis: The series chronicles the lives of three female roommates in New York City, each with a different background and upbringing.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: One season, 8 episodes (3 unaired), last broadcast on October 25, 1991
Trivia: Julie Hagerty walked off the show after filming four episodes. CBS expressed interest in retooling the show and replacing the entire cast, but Fran Drescher set up a meeting with the brass and suggested they just recast Hagerty. The network scrapped the show altogether, but it gave Drescher a chance to pitch a new show to CBS — The Nanny.

September 28 – The Commish

Cast: Michael Chiklis, Theresa Saldana, Kaj-Erik Eriksen, Geoffrey Nauffts, Melinda McGraw, Jason Schombing, John Cygan, Dayna Cornborough, Justine Cornborough, Gina Belafonte, Nicholas Lea, Evan Tylor, Pat Bermel, Michael Patten, Kimberly Scott
Guest Cast: David Paymer, Richard Kind, Roger Cross, Telly Savalas, Giovanni Ribisi, Ernest Borgnine, Ted Shackelford, Clark Gregg, Darren McGavin, Eric McCormack, Dean Haglund, William B. Davis, Milo O’Shea, Maria Bello, M.C. Gainey, Haing S. Ngor, Robert Ito, Stuart Pankin, Brian Keith, Jeff Kober, Dan Lauria, Wendie Malick, Bruce McGill, Gerald McRaney, Brock Peters, Leah Remini, Carol Lawrence, Wendy Phillips, Tracy Scoggins, Ann Dusenberry, Peggy McKay, Pat Sajak, Ray Walston, Titus Welliver, Jay Acovone, Mark Pellegrino, Stella Stevens, T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Michael Des Barres, James Karen, Perry Lang, Amy Steel, Paul Ben-Victor, Martin Cummins, Bo Svenson, Scott Wolf, Chris Burke, Kevin Dobson, Danny Nucci, Dick O’Neill, Dean Stockwell, Wilt Chamberlain, Nedra Volz, Mike Connors, Barbara Barrie, Barbara Mandrell, Mark Moses, Frances Bay, George Kennedy, Donal Logue, Dirk Benedict, Nancy Allen, Eric Lutes, Callum Keith Rennie, Rod Steiger, Roark Critchlow, John Pyper-Ferguson, Dick Sargent, Tyler Labine, Tommy Davidson, Michael Shanks
Synopsis: Tony Scali is the Police Commissioner in a small town, where solutions to difficult situations often require considerable creativity. Tony’s easygoing manner and clever intellect are much more useful to him than weapons or brute force in his fight against crime.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: Five seasons, 94 episodes, last broadcast on January 11, 1996
Trivia: Michael Chiklis’ character was at least ten years older than the actor, who was encouraged not to shave his head, keeping the hair to look older. He also had to stuff his clothes after losing weight to appear heavier. Chiklis said this affected his career after the show with people thinking he was older than he actually was. The series was originally pitched to CBS, which was against the casting of Chiklis because he was too young for the part.

September 29 – Street Justice

Cast: Carl Weathers, Bryan Genesse, Charlene Fernetz, Marcus Chong, Janne Mortil, Ken Tremblett
Guest Cast: Eric McCormack, Carrie-Anne Moss, Roger Cross, Billy Blanks, Roark Critchlow, Martin Cummins, William B. Davis, R. Lee Ermey, Debbie Gibson, Pat Harrington Jr., Salma Hayek, Scott Hylands, Kim Coates, Don S. Davis, Peter DeLuise, Omar Epps, Dean Haglund, Larry Manetti, Judy Reyes, Bo Svenson, Steven Williams, Amy Yasbeck
Synopsis: Adam Beaudreaux was a soldier in Vietnam, when he got wounded. He was fortunate that a young boy named Grady Jameson, whose parents were missionaries, found him and got him to help. Years later, Beaudreaux is now a cop, and he has also vowed to find Grady.
Network: Syndication
Broadcast History: Two seasons, 43 episodes, last broadcast on May 29, 1993
Trivia: Carl Weathers shaved his mustache for the series to try a new clean-shaven look, but producers asked him to regrow it for the second season to be more in line with his familiar image.

September 30 – The Jerry Springer Show

Host: Jerry Springer
Synopsis: American syndicated tabloid talk show.
Network: Syndication
Broadcast History: Twenty-seven seasons, 4,969 episodes, last broadcast on July 26, 2018
Trivia: The series was initially a ratings failure because of its focus on political issues. TV Guide proclaimed the series to be the worst show of all time in 2002.

2001

September 26 – Star Trek: Enterprise

Cast: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, Connor Trinneer
Guest Cast: Jeffrey Combs, Rick Worthy, Tucker Smallwood, Eric Pierpoint, Steven Culp, Brent Spiner, Robert Foxworth, John Rubenstein, Daniel Dae Kim, Michael Reilly Burke, Brian Thompson, Joanna Cassidy, Harry Groener, Gregory Itzin, Lee Arenberg, James Avery, John Schuck, Richard Riehle, Tom Bergeron, Granville Van Dusen, Christopher Neame, Seth MacFarlane, Steve Schirripa, Majel Barrett, Peter Weller, Dennis Christopher, Ann Cusack, Francis Guinan, Padma Lakshmi, Dey Young, Emily Bergl, Roger Cross, Andreas Katsulas, Leland Orser, Joan Pringle, Robert Rusler, Casey Biggs, Bill Cobbs, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Melinda Clarke, Clancy Brown, Bruce Davison, Zach Grenier, Clint Howard, Robert Pine, Annie Wersching, Gregg Henry, Stephen McHattie, Glenn Morshower, Fionnula Flanagan, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Keith Carradine, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Marina Sirtis, Ethan Phillips, Keith Szarabajka, Jonathan Frakes, Jim Beaver, Rene Auberjonois, Dean Stockwell, Suzie Plakson, David Andrews, Michael Nouri, Mark Moses, Sam Witwer, Jeff Kober
Synopsis: A century before Captain Kirk’s five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation.
Network: UPN
Broadcast History: Four seasons, 98 episodes, last broadcast on May 13, 2005
Trivia: The sixth series in the Star Trek franchise. Originally titled just Enterprise for its first two seasons, which consisted of mostly stand-alone episodes. Beginning with Season 3, the show featured an over-arching storyline. At the time, it was the only live-action Trek show since the original to not run seven seasons. It was the last Trek show on television until 2017’s Star Trek: Discovery. Roxann Dawson (Star Trek: Voyager‘s Lt. B’Elanna Torres) did uncredited work as the voice of a repair station computer. In Star Trek‘s timeline, the series is set 90 years after the film Star Trek: First Contact, and ten years before the formation of the Federation. The first episode takes place 115 years prior to the first episode of the original Star Trek series, and 213 years before the start of Star Trek: The Next Generation. If the series continued for a fifth season, the storyline would have been the beginning of the war with the Romulan Empire, motioned in Star Trek episode ‘Balance of Terror’. The backstory of the Borg queen was also to be explored. William Shatner was in talks to appear during the fourth season but a salary dispute scuttled the deal. Majel Barrett, Joseph Ruskin, Clint Howard, and Jack Donner are the only actors to appear in both this series and Star Trek: The Original Series. The first Star Trek series filmed in HD, but not broadcast in HD until midway through the third season.

September 27 – The Agency

Cast: Rocky Carroll, Paige Turco, David Clennon, Will Patton, Daniel Benzali, Richard Speight Jr., Beau Bridges, Gil Bellows, Gloria Reuben, Jason O’Mara
Guest Cast: Ronny Cox, Lolita Davidovich, Elya Baskin, Ed Begley Jr., Aimee Garcia, Tamlyn Tomita, Michael Cudlitz, Craig T. Nelson, John Rubenstein, Jonathan LaPaglia, Steven Williams, Zachary Quinto, Gerard Christopher, Nan Martin, Glenn Morshower, Kal Penn, Lawrence Pressman, Dwight Schultz, Armin Shimerman, Iqbal Theba, Tom Arnold, Dennis Boutsikaris, Denise Crosby, George Dzundza, Jessica Hecht, Gregg Henry, Terence Knox, Silas Weir Mitchell, Larry Poindexter, Susan Ruttan, Michele Scarabelli, Harry Shearer, Gabrielle Carteris, David Cassidy, Brian Dennehy, Francis Guinan, Molly Hagan, Robert Joy, Kay Lenz, Sheetal Sheth, Gina Torres, Dee Wallace
Synopsis: A look at the inner workings of the CIA.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: Two seasons, 44 episodes, last broadcast on May 17, 2003
Trivia: The program featured unprecedented filming from the actual CIA headquarters. The pilot episode was set to premiere at CIA Headquarters on September 18, 2001, followed by the network premiere on September 21. Due to the 9/11 attacks, the premiere was delayed a week, and the pilot episode was broadcast as the fifth episode.

September 29 – The Nightmare Room

Narrator: James Avery
Guest Cast: Sam Jones III, Allison Mack, Madeline Zima, Kevin Meaney, Brian Gaskill, Justin Berfield, Amanda Bynes, Shia LeBeouf, Drake Bell, Roger Lodge, David Naughton, David Carradine, Ken Foree, Tippi Hedren, John C. McGinley, Robert Englund, Angus Scrimm, Dylan Sprouse, Kaley Cuoco, Frankie Muniz, Cole Sprouse
Synopsis: American children’s anthology horror series.
Network: Kids’ WB
Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on March 16, 2002.
Trivia: Based on the short-lived children’s book series that went by the same title created by Goosebumps author, R. L. Stine. The series had a special two-episode premiere on August 31, 2001. Uncredited performers include Holly Marie Combs, James Karen, Penn Badgley, Beth Broderick.

September 29 – The Mummy: The Animated Series

Cast: Chris Marquette, John Schneider, Jim Cummings, Grey Griffin, Tom Kenny, Michael Reisz, Nicholas Guest
Guest Cast: Kevin Michael Richardson, Michael T. Weiss, Rene Auberjonois, Amy Hill, Robert Ito, John Kassir, Maurice LaMarche, Thomas Dekker, Gabrielle Carteris, John DiMaggio, Kathy Najimy, Charles Napier, Keith Szarabajka, April Winchell
Synopsis: Set one year after The Mummy Returns, this series follows the adventures of Alex O’Connell and his archaeologist parents, as The Mummy tracks them down.
Network: Kids’ WB
Broadcast History: Two seasons, 26 episodes, last broadcast on June 7, 2003
Trivia: For a series aimed at children, Rick’s guns in the movies were changed to a whip for the cartoon. The characters do not look like their film counterparts to avoid paying fees for actors’ likenesses.

September 29 – Pasadena

Cast: Dana Delany, Martin Donovan, Balthazar Getty, Alison Lohman, Chris Marquette, Nicole Paggi, Alan Simpson, Mark Valley, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Derek Cecil
Guest Cast: Barbara Babcock, Philip Baker Hall, Nathan Fillion, Lupe Ontiveros
Synopsis: The series starred Alison Lohman as Lily McAllister, an initially naïve young woman who witnesses a stranger’s suicide and begins to investigate the secrets being hidden by her own very wealthy California family.
Network: FOX
Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes (9 unaired), last broadcast on November 2, 2001
Trivia: Diane Keaton directed the pilot and was an executive producer. Despite critical acclaim, the series did not garner high ratings in the weeks after 9/11 when viewers were not in the mood for dark, cynical storytelling. The entire series was broadcast on the now defunct SoapNet in 2005.

September 29 – Citizen Baines

Cast: Embeth Davidtz, Jacinda Barrett, James Cromwell, McCaleb Burnett, Easton Gage
Guest Cast: Clyde Kusatsu, Tom Verica, Rosalind Chao, Denis Arndt, Amy Aquino, Christine Baranski, Corbin Bernsen, Eddie Cibrian, Charles Durning, Charles Haid, Penny Johnson Jerald, Dan Lauria, Dakin Matthews, Masi Oka, Mary Kay Place, Armin Shimerman, Jane Adams, Arye Gross, Matt McCoy
Synopsis: A defeated senator returns home to reconnect with his three grown daughters.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: One season, 9 episodes (3 unaired), last broadcast on November 3, 2001
Trivia: The show was the lowest rated regularly scheduled series on the Big Four networks.

September 30 – Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Cast: Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan, Courtney B. Vance, Chris Noth, Annabella Sciorra, Julianne Nicholson, Eric Bogosian, Alicia Witt, Jeff Goldblum, Saffron Burrows, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Jay O. Sanders, Leslie Hendrix
Guest Cast: Julia Ormond, Olivia d’Abo, Seth Gilliam, Tony Goldwyn, Carrie Preston, Rita Moreno, Griffin Dunne, Michael O’Keefe, Lee Tergeson, Mark Linn-Baker, Jim Gaffigan, Robert Clohessy, Pablo Schreiber, Haviland Morris, Carlos Leon, Pedro Pascal, David Harbour, John Shea, Colm Meaney, Michael Nouri, Robert Hogan, Fisher Stevens, Christopher McDonald, Elizabeth Reaser, Phyllis Somerville, Betty Gilpin, Peter Bogdanovich, John Glover, Jonathan Cake, Bryan Batt, Danny Burstein, Maulik Pancholy, Colman Domingo, Cathy Moriarty, Michael Biehn, Martha Plimpton, Michelle Trachtenberg, Amy Acker, Tom Arnold, Peter Coyote, David Cross, Tate Donovan, Steve Guttenberg, Richard Kind, Donna Murphy, Roy Scheider, Cynthia Watros, Miguel Ferrer, James Frain, Jeff Garlin, Denis O’Hare, Brenda Strong, Jessica Walter, Dean Winters, Dylan Baker, Norbert Leo Butz, Raul Esparza, Shawn Hatosy, Stephen Lang, Janel Moloney, Piper Perabo, Roger Rees, Caroline Dhavernas, Dan Lauria, William Mapother, Dallas Roberts, José Zúñiga, Kate Burton, Robert Knepper, Jake Weber, Tammy Blanchard, Viola Davis, Michael Emerson, Michael Gross, Tim Guinee, Linda Lavin, Michael Murphy, James Naughton, Rider Strong, Stephen Tobolowsky, Bobby Cannavale, Dennis Christopher, John Benjamin Hickey, Anthony Mackie, Josef Sommer, Adam Storke, James Urbaniak, Neil Patrick Harris, T.R. Knight, Geoffrey Lewis, Larry Pine, Charles Rocket, John Savage, Casey Siemaszko, Lois Smith, Brent Spiner, Kevin Tighe, David Andrews, Rosanna Arquette, Robert Carradine, Adam Goldberg, Darrell Hammond, David Keith, Melissa Leo, Samantha Mathis, Chris Penn, Fran Drescher, Joel Gretsch, Desmond Harrington, Alice Krige, Brad Renfro, Jonathan Tucker, Anton Yelchin, Xander Berkeley, Michael Cerveris, Aunjanue Ellis, Peri Gilpin, D.W. Moffett, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Miriam Shor, Anthony Carrigan, Eric Roberts, Eric Balfour, Dennis Boutsikaris, Mireille Enos, Gillian Jacobs, Luke Kirby, Leland Orser, Melissa Benoist, Clayne Crawford, Michael B. Jordan, Spencer Garrett, Merritt Wever, Jane Adams, Glynn Turman, Ann Dowd, Tatum O’Neal, Rebecca Schull, Kevin Dunn, Matthew Morrison, Michael Stuhlbarg, Patti D’Arbanville, Ben Vereen, Brandon Victor Dixon, Dan Butler, Leo Burmester, Frank Converse, Lisa Eichhorn, William Sadler, Aasif Mandvi, Jonathan LaPaglia, Elisabeth Moss, Dreama Walker, Chris Chalk, Billy Magnussen, Daniella Alonso, Max Casella, Jim Fyfe, Earl Hindman, Thom Christopher, Sam Robards, Frank Whaley, DJ Qualls, Emily Bergl, Mark Consuelos, Fab 5 Freddy, Joan Jett, Laura Harring, Conor Leslie, Rosalind Chao, Reg E. Cathey, Karen Black, Alicia Coppola, Joel Grey, Jessica Hecht, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Austin Pendleton, Arye Gross, Liza Minnelli, Al Sapienza, Brooke Shields, Rip Torn, David Patrick Kelly, Christopher Lloyd, F. Murray Abraham, Jeri Ryan, Roy Thinnes, Philip Bosco, Polly Draper, Zach Galligan, Sean Patrick Reilly, Stephen Colbert, Terry O’Quinn, Bronson Pinchot, Julian Sands, Wallace Shawn, Andrew McCarthy, Doris Roberts, Tony Roberts
Synopsis: This series focuses on the NYPD’s Major Case Squad, a force of detectives who investigate high-profile cases, whilst also showing parts of the crime from the criminal’s point of view to the audience.
Network: NBC / USA Network
Broadcast History: Ten seasons, 195 episodes, last broadcast on June 26, 2011
Trivia: The third series in the Law & Order franchise. The series moved from NBC to USA Network beginning with its seventh season. The only Law & Order series in which Sam Waterston does not appear. To cut costs after the movie to the USA cable network, Annabella Sciorra and Courtney B. Vance were dropped from the cast.

September 30 – Alias

Cast: Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Weisman, Victor Garber, Michael Vartan, Greg Grunberg, David Anders, Merrin Dungey, Bradley Cooper, Mía Maestro, Lena Olin, Melissa George, Rachel Nichols
Guest Cast: Terry O’Quinn, Balthazar Getty, Amy Acker, Patricia Wettig, Amy Irving, Gina Torres, Kurt Fuller, Angus Scrimm, Sônia Braga, Isabella Rossellini, Joey Slotnick, Angela Bassett, Quentin Tarantino, Miguel Sandoval, Djimon Hounsou, Clifton Collins Jr., Angus Macfadyen, Stephen Spinella, James Lesure, Joel Grey, Faye Dunaway, Peggy Lipton, John Hannah, Peter Berg, Tobin Bell, Justin Theroux, Griffin Dunne, Vivica A. Fox, Rob Benedict, Agnes Bruckner, Christian Slater, Michael McKean, Richard Roundtree, Glenn Morshower, Jonathan Banks, David Carradine, David Cronenberg, Roger Moore, Michelle Forbes, John Benjamin Hickey, Jason Segel, Nancy Dussault
Synopsis: Sydney Bristow is an international spy recruited out of college, trained for espionage and self-defense.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: Six seasons, 105 episodes, last broadcast on May 22, 2006
Trivia: Jennifer Garner read the first season’s opening narration over the phone as she was on location at the time. Garner auditioned five times for the role of Sydney Bristow. Jenna Fischer auditioned for the role as well. The number 47 is used repeatedly throughout the series. Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber are the only two actors to appear in every episode.

September 30 – UC: Undercover

Cast: Oded Fehr, Jon Seda, Vera Farmiga, Bruklin Harris, Jarrad Paul
Guest Cast: William Forsythe, Angie Everhart, Steven Bauer, Ving Rhames, N’Bushe Wright, Grant Show, Stefan Arngrim, Roger Cross, M.C. Gainey, Mark Hildreth, Michael Hogan, Neal McDonough, Kurtwood Smith, Tony Todd, Donnie Wahlberg, Titus Welliver, Mark Shappard, Wes Studi, Treat Williams
Synopsis: As a federal team, the group responds to emergencies all over the country: taking down elite bank robbers, drug kingpins, domestic terrorists, spies, jewel thieves, and corrupt cops.
Network: NBC
Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on March 23, 2002
Trivia: Oded Fehr originally wanted to play a villain on the series.

September 30 – The Education of Max Bickford

Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Marcia Gay Harden, Eric Ian Goldberg, Katee Sackhoff, Regina Taylor, Helen Shaver, Sasi Grandoit
Guest Cast: Stephen Spinella, David McCallum, Jayne Atkinson, Ann Dowd, Kristen Schaal, Jay Thomas, Eli Wallach, Brian d’Arcy James, Mireille Enos, Tovah Feldshuh, Cote de Pablo, Daniel Ellsberg, Michael Emerson, Ron Glass, Kim Hunter, Austin Pendleton, Bob Balaban, Joe Grifasi, Isaac Hayes, Anne Jackson, Joanna Kerns, Dan Lauria, Marsha Mason, Donna Murphy, James Naughton, John Neville, Peter O’Toole, Toks Olagundoye, Suzie Plakson, Maury Povich, Roger Rees, Marian Seldes, Nicolas Surovy, Paul Wesley
Synopsis: A history professor teaches at a women’s college where his daughter is a student.
Network: CBS
Broadcast History: One season, 22 episodes, last broadcast on June 2, 2002
Trivia: Richard Dreyfuss’ first dramatic series role.

October 2 – Scrubs

Cast: Donald Faison, John C. McGinley, Ken Jenkins, Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Neil Flynn, Judy Reyes, Robert Maschio, Sam Lloyd, Aloma Wright, Christa Miller, Johnny Kastl, Travis Schuldt, Eliza Coupe, Dave Franco
Guest Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Scott Foley, Tara Reid, Heather Graham, Michael Learned, Tom Cavanagh, Matthew Moy, Michael McDonald, Nicole Sullivan, Bellamy Young, Masi Oka, Taran Killam, Kate Micucci, Aziz Ansari, Richard Kind, Amy Smart, Brendan Fraser, Courteney Cox, Freddy Rodríguez, Markie Post, Kathryn Joosten, Lane Davies, Heather Locklear, Michael J. Fox, Julianna Margulies, Mandy Moore, Keri Russell, Dave Foley, Jimmie Walker, John Ritter, John Billingsley, Louie Anderson, Sean Hayes, DJ Qualls, Ed Begley Jr., David Copperfield, R. Lee Ermey, Ted Lange, Sam Jaeger, Jay Mohr, Ryan Reynolds, Dick Van Dyke, Nestor Carbonell, Embeth Davidtz, Matthew Perry, Clay Aiken, Colin Farrell, Ed McMahon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Paul Adelstein, Jason Bateman, Gary Busey, Cheryl Hines, Barry Williams, William Daniels, Lee Arenberg, Eric Bogosian, Barry Bostwick, Erik Estrada, D.L. Hughley, Jay Leno, Christopher Meloni, Common, Michael Boatman, Billy Dee Williams, Paul Dooley, Stephen Furst, Sugarhill Gang, Joe Manganiello, Eric Laneuville, Alan Ruck, Scott ‘Carrot Top’ Thompson, Bernie Kopell, Maureen McCormick, George Takei, Victoria Tennant, Jon Polito, Mindy Sterling, Kevin Clash, Glynn Turman, Blue Man Group, Mary MacDonald, George Wallace, Glenn Hetrick
Synopsis: In the unreal world of Sacred Heart Hospital, intern John ‘J.D.’ Dorian learns the ways of medicine, friendship and life.
Network: NBC / ABC
Broadcast History: Nine seasons, 182 episodes, last broadcast on March 17, 2010
Trivia: The series moved to ABC with Season 8. Series creator Bill Lawrence has joked that Neil Flynn never actually spoke a line of dialogue from any script. A fourth season script reportedly contained ‘(Whatever Neil says)’. No actor in the series appears in every episode.

October 2 – Bob Patterson

Cast: Jason Alexander, Robert Klein, Phil Buckman, Jennifer Aspen, Chandra Wilson, James Guidice
Guest Cast: John Tesh, Connie Sellecca, Bo Derek, Frances Bay, Amy Hill, William Shatner
Synopsis: The show revolves around fictitious motivational speaker Bob Patterson, “America’s #3 Self Help Guru”, who is popular with millions of people across America, thanks to his books ‘I Know More Than You’, ‘I Still Know More Than You’ and the’ To the Top!’ franchise.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: One season, 10 episodes (5 unaired), last broadcast on October 31, 2001
Trivia: After the show’s cancellation, Alexander created a new character named Donny Clay, ‘America’s #4 Self Help Guru’. He has toured the country in character as Clay.

2011

September 26 – Terra Nova

Cast: Jason O’Mara, Shelley Conn, Christine Adams, Allison Miller, Landon Liboiron, Naomi Scott, Alana Mansour, Stephen Lang, Simone Kessell, Dean Geyer, Rod Hallett
Synopsis: The series documents the Shannon family’s experiences as they establish themselves as members of a colony, set up 85 million years in the Earth’s past, fleeing the dystopian overpopulated and hyperpolluted present of the mid-22nd century.
Network: FOX
Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes, last broadcast on December 19, 2011
Trivia: The high fences surrounding Terra Nova were leftover props from Jurassic Park. Kyle Chandler turned down the lead role.

September 28 – Suburgatory

Cast: Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Carly Chaikin, Allie Grant, Cheryl Hines, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Tudyk, Chris Parnell, Rex Lee, Maestro Harrell, Parker Young
Guest Cast: Miriam Flynn, Jay Mohr, Arden Myrin, Natasha Leggero, Alicia Silverstone, Malin Akerman, Tim Meadows, Wilmer Valderrama, Michael Lerner, Lee Garlington, Kate Micucci, Robin Givens, Ryan Carnes, Jackie Collins, Julia Duffy, Geoff Pierson, Mae Whitman, Jake Borelli, Whoopi Goldberg, Mary Kay Place, Tig Notaro, H. Jon Benjamin, Carmen Electra, James Lipton, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, Vernee Watson, Rachel Dratch, Michael Voltaggio
Synopsis: The series follows George Altman, a single father who decides to get away from New York City to the suburbs so he can give his teenage daughter, Tessa, a better life. However, their move to the suburbs has his daughter wondering if they just entered the world of The Stepford Wives after they see how eerily perfect their new locale is, right down to the neighbors who welcome them into their cul-de-sac.
Network: ABC
Broadcast History: Three seasons, 57 episodes, last broadcast on May 14, 2014
Trivia: This was the third time Jeremy Sisto and Alicia Silverstone worked together after Clueless and Hideaway.

September 30 – Jessie

Cast: Debby Ryan, Peyton List, Cameron Boyce, Karan Brar, Skai Jackson, Kevin Chamberlin
Guest Cast: Matt Shively, Eric Allan Kramer, Jo Anne Worley, Ross Lynch, Meshach Taylor, Lainie Kazan, Cheri Oteri, Robert Picardo, Molly Shannon, John Michael Higgins, Michelle Obama, John Rubinstein, Ronnie Schell, Sam Pancake, Roger Bart, Noah Centineo, Vernee Watson, Calum Worthy, Amy Hill
Synopsis: A Texan teen moves to New York City to follow her dreams and ends up as a nanny for a high profile couple’s four children.
Network: Disney Channel
Broadcast History: Four seasons, 98 episodes, last broadcast on October 16, 2015
Trivia: Jessie is the first protagonist in a Disney Channel show to be at least 20 years old, and the first protagonist to experience marriage. Debby Ryan, Skai Jackson, Karan Barr, and Cameron Boyce are the only cast members to appear in every episode.

October 2 – Homeland

Cast: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin, David Harewood, Diego Klattenhoff, Jackson Pace, Morgan Saylor, Mandy Patinkin, Jamey Sheridan, David Marciano, Navid Negahban, Rupert Friend, Sarita Choudhury, Tracy Letts, F. Murray Abraham, Nazanin Boniadi, Laila Robins, Sebastian Koch, Miranda Otto, Alexander Fehling, Sarah Sokolovic, Elizabeth Marvel, Maury Sterling, Linus Roache, Jake Weber, Morgan Spector, Costa Ronin, Nimrat Kaur, Numan Acar
Guest Cast: Tim Guinee, Hill Harper, Sam Trammell, Zuleikha Robinson, Dylan Baker, Michael O’Keefe, Timothée Chalamet, Mark Moses, Chris Chalk, James D’Arcy, Mackenzie Astin, Hugh Dancy, Beau Bridges, Robert Knepper, Elya Baskin, John Getz, Linda Purl, Sakina Jaffrey, Colton Ryan, William Sadler, James Urbaniak, Melissa Benoist, Cory Hart
Synopsis: A bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil.
Network: Showtime
Broadcast History: Eight seasons, 96 episodes, last broadcast on April 26, 2020
Trivia: Claire Danes’ portrayal of a person with bipolar disorder was so realistic viewers wrote to the network to suggest giving her time off. Danes won two Golden Globes for her performance. Carrie’s name was originally to be Claire, but it was changed when Claire Danes was cast. Season five was the first time a US TV series filmed an entire season in Berlin. Kyle Chandler turned down the role of Brody.

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