Disney Channel
Only three decades saw new series premieres this week, with three of the six scripted series on the list seeing multiple season, and one of them with more than twice the seasons of the other two. A reboot of a popular 1957 series failed to catch on, and the two sitcoms that debuted this week failed to finish out their seasons, leaving several episodes unaired (in the US). Of three ‘reality’ series, only one had multiple seasons, but on different networks. If you were a fan of 1980s primetime soaps, then this was the week for you. Let’s take a look at the shows celebrating anniversaries this week.
1951
- No new shows premiered this week in 1951.
1961
- No new shows premiered this week in 1961.
1971
- No new shows premiered this week in 1971.
1981
November 28 – Open All Night
- Cast: George Dzundza, Susan Tyrrell, Sam Whipple, Jay Tarses, Bever-Leigh Banfield, Bubba Smith
- Notable Guests: Joe Mantegna, Judge Reinhold, Xander Berkeley, David Letterman, Corey Feldman, Dick Miller, Cassandra Peterson, David Paymer
- Synopsis: Gordon Feester runs a 24-hour convenience store, where something amusing is always going on.
- Network: ABC
- Broadcast History: One season, 12 episodes (2 unaired), last broadcast on March 5, 1982
- Trivia: US adaptation of UK hit series Open All Hours, which ran for four seasons (other sources claim the series has no connection to the UK series).
December 1 – Bret Maverick
- Cast: James Garner, Ed Bruce, Ramon Bieri, Richard Hamilton, John Shearin, David Knell, Darleen Carr, Jack Garner, Luis Delgado
- Notable Guests: Stuart Margolin, Marj Dusay, Janis Paige, Robert Webber, Richard Libertini, Jameson Parker, Richard Moll, Kirk Cameron, Dixie Carter, Hector Elizondo, Sid Haig
- Synopsis: A sequel series to Maverick (1957-1962), Bret Maverick has settled in Sweetwater, Arizona Territory, where he owns a ranch and co-owns a saloon, and is always on the lookout for his next big score.
- Network: NBC
- Broadcast History: One season, 18 episodes, last broadcast on Ma4 4, 1982
- Trivia: Had the series been renewed for a second season, Garner’s original co-star Jack Kelly would have reprised his role as Bart Maverick as a series regular.
Warner Bros. Television
December 4 – Falcon Crest
- Main Cast: Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Chao Li Chi, David Selby, Susan Sullivan, Margaret Ladd, Ana Alicia, Robert Foxworth, William R. Moses, Abby Dalton
- Additional Regulars: John Callahan, Simon MacCorkindale, Mel Ferrer, Brett Cullen, Cesar Sarah Douglas, Kristian Alfonso, Jamie Rose, Dana Sparks, John Saxon, Rod Taylor, Morgan Fairchild, Cliff Robertson, Kate Vernon, Gregory Harrison, Anne Archer, Jane Badler, Shannon Tweed, John Bennett Perry, Wendy Phillips, Roy Thinnes
- Notable Guests: Andrea Thompson, Paul Freeman, Kim Novak, Edward Albert, Ken Olin, Marjoe Gortner, Danny Nucci, Mariska Hargitay, Philip Baker Hall, Carla Gugino, Parker Stevenson, Jonathan Frakes, Apollonia Kotero, Bradford Dillman, Roscoe Lee Browne, Ron Rifkin, Mark Lindsay Chapman, Jonathan Banks, Robert Ginty, Jeff Kober, Lana Turner, Celeste Holm, Jane Greer, Ed Marinaro, Gina Lollobrigida, Joanna Cassidy, Robert Stack, Mary Ann Mobley, Lauren Hutton, Tahnee Welch, Salome Jens, Melba Moore, Buck Henry, Leslie Caron, Eddie Albert, Ursula Andress, E.G. Marshall, Lee Bergere, Belinda Balaski, James Hong, Mitch Pileggi, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Dana Andrews, Tony Plana, Taylor Negron, Sally Kirkland, Grace Zabriskie, Clu Gulager, Samantha Eggar, June Lockhart, Robert Loggia, Fritz Weaver, Eve Arden, Andrew Robinson, Gloria DeHaven, Kenneth Tobey, Michael Dorn, Xander Berkeley, Martine Beswick, David Leisure, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Lin Shaye
- Synopsis: The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California wine industry.
- Network: CBS
- Broadcast History: Nine seasons, 227 episodes, last broadcast on May 17, 1990
- Trivia: Series creator Earl Hamner did not want the series to become a soap opera like Dallas, and the first season was mainly self-contained episodes but by Season 2 it became a serialized primetime soap. Several actors remarked on Jane Wyman’s ruthless behavior on-set with Mel Ferrer, Celeste Holm, and Simon MacCorkindale claiming she drove them off the show. Lana Turner stated after her character was killed off that their scenes were filmed separately and spliced together in editing. The original pilot was titled The Vintage Years, with Wyman, Abby Dalton (as Dorcas) and Michael Swan (Richard Channing). Clu Gulager and Samantha Eggar played Chase and Maggie Gioberti. Wyman was so displeased with the direction of the show’s ninth season, she refused to play her scenes and asked to be written out of the show. Producers refused so a compromise was made that Angela was in a coma. When the show’s cancellation was announced, Wyman returned for the final three episodes. Wyman also had a running feud with Robert Foxworth to the point they measured each other’s trailers to make sure they were the same size. When Foxworth directed an episode, Wyman demanded to be named a director as well although she never helmed an episode. Chase was going to be killed off in the second season because of Foxworth’s complaints of the show deviating from its first season, but he was convinced to stay with the promise of directing some episodes. William R. Moses was the original choice to play Lance Cumson — the part went to Lorenzo Lamas — so he was cast as Cole Gioberti. Lamas is the only cast member to appear in all 227 episodes. Wyman appeared in 208, with Richard Selby beating her by one episode even though he didn’t join the series until the second season. Whit Bissell’s 1984 episode would be his last role. After the successful relaunch of Dallas in 2012, Falcon Crest cast members were approached for a series revival which would have starred William R. Moses and David Selby. Sadly the plan never came to fruition.
1991
- No new shows premiered this week in 1991.
2001
December 2 – Project Greenlight
- Notable Actors: Aidan Quinn, Bonnie Hunt, Kevin Pollak, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Brian Dennehy (Season 1); Shia LaBeouf, Amy Smart, Kathleen Quinlan, Shiri Appleby, William Sadler, Ray Wise, Anson Mount (Season 2); Balthazar Getty, Henry Rollins, Jason Mewes, Judah Friedlander, Clu Gulager, Krista Allen (Season 3).
- Synopsis: American documentary television series focusing on first-time filmmakers being given the chance to direct a feature film.
- Network: HBO / Bravo
- Broadcast History: Four seasons, 42 episodes, last broadcast on November 1, 2015
- Trivia: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were two of the series’ producers. The first two seasons (2001-2003) aired on HBO. Season 3 moved to Bravo (2005), and a fourth season returned the show to HBO in 2015. A new revival has been announced for HBO Max. Season 2’s film, The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003), put Shia LeBeouf on the map after having roles in two 1998 films. The show was Emmy nominated in the Reality Program category for each of its four seasons.
December 3 – Smush
- Hosts: Ken Ober, Lisa Dergan
- Synopsis: Game show set in a basement party atmosphere, featuring four contestants trying to ‘smush’ the answers to clues together to create a new phrase.
- Network: USA Network
- Broadcast History: One season, last broadcast on June 21, 2002
2011
November 30 – Baseball Wives
- Cast: Anna Benson, Brooke Villone, Chantel Kendall, Tanya Grace, Erika Monroe Williams, Jordana Lenz
- Recurring: Shayla Farnsworth, Cheri Knoblauch, Maggie McCracken
- Synopsis: American reality television series based around the wives and girlfriends of baseball players from various different teams.
- Network: VH1
- Broadcast History: One season, 8 episodes, last broadcast on January 29, 2012
- Trivia: The series was set in Scottsdale, Arizona, primary spring training home to the Cactus League.
November 30 – I Hate My Teenage Daughter
- Cast: Jaime Pressly, Katie Finneran, Kevin Rahm, Chad L. Coleman, Eric Sheffer Stevens, Aisha Dee, Kristi Lauren
- Notable Guests: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Mark Consuelos, Leslie Grossman, Ryan McPartlin
- Synopsis: The series followed two mothers who fear their daughters are turning into the kind of girls who tormented them in high school.
- Network: FOX
- Broadcast History: One season, 13 episodes (6 unaired), last broadcast on March 20, 2012
- Trivia: The six unaired episodes were broadcast in Australia and New Zealand.
TV Land
November 30 – The Exes
- Cast: Donald Faison, Wayne Knight, David Alan Basche, Kelly Stables, Kristen Johnston, Leah Remini
- Notable Guests: Diedrich Bader, Judith Light, Lisa Ann Walter, Missi Pyle, James Morrison, Brandon Routh, Rebecca Wisocky, Erin Matthews, Zach Braff, Garcelle Beauvais, Ken Marino, Elizabeth Gillies, Nicole Sullivan, Tyler Posey, Leslie Jordan, Grant Show, Stacy Keach, David Faustino, Jenifer Lewis, Arden Myrin, Valerie Mahaffey, Michael Nouri, Roger Bart, Cameron Mathison, Driton ‘Tony’ Dovolani, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Cat Deeley, Vernee Watson, Jack Plotnick, Marion Ross, David Tutera, Lou Ferrigno Jr., Christopher Titus, Dot-Marie Jones
- Synopsis: A group of divorced friends try to get back to the single life.
- Network: TV Land
- Broadcast History: Four seasons, 64 episodes, last broadcast on September 16, 2015
- Trivia: Kelly Stables was pregnant during the final season with her baby bump hidden behind props. Kristen Johnson and Donald Faison were the first two actors cast.
December 2 – Austin & Ally
- Cast: Ross Lynch, Laura Marano, Raini Rodriguez, Calum Worthy
- Notable Guests: Kiersey Clemons, John Henson, Noah Centineo, Peyton List, Robert Picardo, Skai Jackson, Vicki Lewis, Cody Christian, Maddie Ziegler, Jim O’Heir, Robin Riker
- Synopsis: Following the lives of confident aspiring musician Austin, quiet talented songwriter Ally, and their two friends.
- Network: Disney Channel
- Broadcast History: Four seasons, 87 episodes, last broadcast on January 10, 2016
- Trivia: Ross Lynch won the Kid’s Choice Awards for Best TV Actor three years in a row. Ally’s middle was revealed in the last episode to be Edgar. Austin’s middle name is Monica. Original titles for the series included Miami Love Story and Miami Music.
Share this post
