NBC
Only two new series premiered during this week, twenty years apart. One was a sitcom that became a completely different show in its second season, and introduced a now beloved actress in TV and films, and the second was a revival of a popular game show … which was revived again for a second time on its third network in 2019. Read on to see if you remember either of these shows and let us know if you were a fan!
1952
- No new series premiered this week in 1952.
1962
- No new series premiered this week in 1962.
1972
- No new series premiered this week in 1972.
1982
April 14 – Teachers Only
- Cast: Lynn Redgrave, Norman Fell, Jean Smart, Tim Reid, Steve Ryan, Teresa Ganzel, Joel Brooks, Adam Arkin, Kit McDonough, Norman Bartold, Richard Karron, Van Nessa Clarke
- Notable Guests: Brian Robbins, Michael J. Fox, Edie McClurg, Donna Wilkes, Dana Elcar, Timothy Patrick Murphy
- Synopsis: A comedy centering on high school teacher Diana Swanson, who spends much of her time conversing in the teacher’s lounge.
- Network: NBC
- Broadcast History: Two seasons, 21 episodes, last broadcast on May 14, 1983
- Trivia: After the eight-episode first season, the show was completely overhauled. Adam Arkin, Lois McCardle, Norman Bartold, Richard Karron and Van Nessa Clarke were let go; Lynn Redgrave and Norman Fell were the only two returning for the second season. Redgrave had been on CBS’ House Calls for two seasons but when she was let go — a combination of salary dispute and because she breastfed her baby on set — NBC quickly cast her in this show to capitalize on the publicity. This was her first time working in front of a live studio audience. Norman Fell had been with ABC for Three’s Company, but was upset with the network over spinning his character off to The Ropers, so he quickly accepted NBC’s offer when that show was cancelled. While Redgrave and Fell kept their character names in Season 2, everything else had changed. Redgrave went from English teacher to guidance counselor, and the hint of a romance with Fell’s character was gone. Instead, his character had been having a secret affair with his secretary, played by new cast member Jean Smart. This was Smart’s first television experience. Tim Reid replaced both Adam Arkin’s science teacher and Van Nessa Clark’s token Black character. Teresa Ganzel, enjoying popularity at the time from her role in the movie The Toy, was cast because of her contributions to Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show. Carson’s company produced Teachers Only. Joel Brooks left the second season after eight episodes, but the episodes were aired out of order so he was seen throughout the season (though he was scrubbed from the opening credits).
1992
- No new series premiered this week in 1992.
2002
GSN
April 15 – Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck
- Host: Todd Newton
- Synopsis: Remake of the classic 1983 game show, Press Your Luck, where contestants gambled their winnings in an effort to avoid the Whammy.
- Network: Game Show Network
- Broadcast History: Two seasons, 130 episodes, last broadcast on July 25, 2003
- Trivia: Technological advances since the original CBS series allowed the prizes and light patterns for each space on the Big Board to be randomly generated using a personal computer, running at a speed of 200 MHz. This resulted in a very large number of patterns for gameplay, which prevented memorisation of patterns as Michael Larson did on the original show. GSN produced two pilots for the show, the first with original Press Your Luck host Peter Tomarken. Tomarken had said he had been asked to change his hosting style for the new show, but felt they really wanted a younger host to draw in a younger audience. A special Mother’s Day episode featured Karen Grassle, Estelle Harris and Mimi Kennedy as contestants. An April Fool’s episode featured Graham Elwood as host, with Todd Newton appearing only when a contestant hit a Double Whammy. Michael Larson’s brother James (Larson died from throat cancer in 1999) competed against Janie Litras and Ed Long, who competed against Michael in 1984, in a 2003 episode with Tomarken making a special appearance to host the question round, marking one of his last TV appearances. Larson won the game with a $6,695 digital grand piano. Press Your Luck was revived again in 2019 on ABC with Elizabeth Banks hosting.
2012
- No new series premiered this week in 2012.
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