Cartoon Network Studios
Only three decades produced new series this week, with 1994 giving us an interview show that ran for more than two decades and hosted over 300 celebrities. That year also gave us what some have called the worst animated series ever made. 2004 saw the debut of another, more positively reviewed and rewarded animated series that had a multi-season run, and of the five 2014 series just one game show aired over 200 episodes, while a drama series ended after two seasons. The rest were one and done. Scroll down to see what shows premiered this week, and tell us if any of your favorites are celebrating milestone anniversaries!
1954
- No new series premiered this week in 1954.
1964
- No new series premiered this week in 1964.
1974
- No new series premiered this week in 1974.
1984
- No new series premiered this week in 1984.
1994
Triage Entertainment
- August 14 – Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo/Ovation, Twenty-three seasons, 277 episodes)
- August 15 – The Brothers Grunt (MTV, One season, 42 episodes, 11 unaired)
James Lipton hosted 22 seasons of Inside the Actors Studio when it was broadcast on Bravo. The series moved to Ovation for its 23rd and final season, with the network acquiring all Bravo episodes. Lipton did not carry over to the new network as he announced his retirement from the show at the end of Season 22, and the last season was presented by a rotating roster of hosts. The show’s slower interview pace could go on for a couple of hours and was edited down to a one or two hour episode. Steven Spielberg’s taping ran for more than four hours and was edited down to two one-hour episodes. Lipton often spooked his guests with surprisingly detailed knowledge of their lives, one time relating to Anthony Hopkins the exact address of where the actor had been born in Wales. The series hosted over 300 guests, with Paul Newman being the first, although Alec Baldwin had been interviewed first but his episode aired after Newman’s. Lipton himself was the subject for the 200th episode, interviewed by Dave Chappelle whom Lipton handpicked. Bradley Cooper was the first guest on the show to have attended the Actors Studio. Most of the episodes were one-on-one interviews, but some episodes featured an ensemble including the casts of Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, Law & Order, The Simpsons, Will & Grace, Modern Family, Glee, Mad Men, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, The Walking Dead and Girls. Jennifer Lawrence declined an invitation to appear in 2013 citing her youth and inexperience. Marlon Brando, a charter member of the Actors Studio, is the only celebrity to categorically reject every invitation to appear on the show since it launched. The series was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards, winning once in 2013.
The Brothers Grunt came from Ed, Edd n Eddy creator Danny Antonucci. The series was met with generally negative reviews, with some critics calling it one of the worst animated TV shows ever made. The main characters were all named after famous crooners — Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Perry Como — all voiced by Doug Parker. Parker also voiced a majority of the secondary characters.
2004
- August 13 – Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends (Cartoon Network, Six seasons, 79 episodes)
Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends was Cartoon Network’s first series primarily animated with Adobe Flash by Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank and Boulder Media in Ireland. The series premiered with a 90-minute TV movie on August 13, 2004 with the normal 22-minute episodes beginning the following week. The series received a total of 35 Emmy and Annie Awards nominations, winning 5 Annies and 7 Emmys. Creator Craig McCracken got the idea for the show after adopting two dogs, with the concept of adoption applied to that of imaginary friends.
2014
Little Wooden Boat Productions, Inc.
- August 12 – Cement Heads (A&E, One season, 10 episodes)
- August 12 – 4th & Loud (AMC, One season, 10 episodes)
- August 12 – The Singles Project (Bravo, One season, 8 episodes)
- August 12 – Idiotest (GSN, Four seasons, 212 episodes)
- August 13 – Legends (TNT, Two seasons, 20 episodes)
The Singles Project was one of the first reality dating shows to feature near real-time situations as each episode was shot and aired within one week. Live Q&A sessions were conducted on Twitter after each episode was broadcast. The series won the 2015 Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Multiplatform Storytelling.
Comedian Ben Gleib hosted game show Idiotest. The show usually featured teams of two competing to answer brain teaser and puzzle questions. Some special episodes featured teams with existing rivalries such as competitions between USC and UCLA, and an election day special featuring Republicans and Democrats.
Legends is based on the 2005 book Legends: A Novel of Dissimulation written by Robert Littell. The Season 1 main cast included Sean Bean, Ali Larter, Morris Chestnut, and Tina Majorino. A ‘reimagined’ Season 2 featured Bean and Steve Kazee, with Chestnut making a guest appearance. Season 2’s location was also moved from California to London and Continental Europe.
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