The Anderson/Hassan Company
As the year winds down, fewer new series are making their debuts, and this week is no exception. What new shows that did premiere were mostly animated, with one new animated series making its debut in each of the three decades represented this week. There was also one short-lived reality series, a viral video show for kids, a non-Hallmark Christmas movie, and a three-night sci-fi event series. Scroll down to see the shows and movies that 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
The Weinstein Company
- December 18 – Life with Louie (FOX Kids, Three seasons, 39 episodes)
Life with Louie was an animated series based on the life of Louie Anderson, who provided the voice of his character. The first two episodes aired on FOX in primetime before joining the FOX Kids Saturday morning line-up. The Season 1 intro featured Anderson doing stand-up comedy in front of an audience, talking about his life growing up. Seasons 2 and 3 featured the live-action Anderson saying, ‘Let me tell you about my family’, followed by animated clips from the series. The show was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning two for Anderson’s performance in 1997 and 1998. The series also won the Humanitas Prize each season it aired, the most of any animated series.
2004
- December 15 – BMOC: Big Man on Campus (The WB, One season, 6 episodes)
- December 18 – W.I.T.C.H. (ABC, Two seasons, 52 episodes)
BMOC: Big Man on Campus was a reality dating show set on a college campus.
W.I.T.C.H. was based on an Italian comic book series of the same name, co-produced by Disney, SIP Animation, France Télévisions and Jetix Europe. An unfinished 15-minute pilot episode was produced to show to focus groups, but it was never aired. The first episode was meant to air on Halloween with a corresponding theme. The first season took about 18 months to produce. The season was carefully planned beforehand due to the heavy use of continuity between episodes. The first season leaned more on comedy, while Season 2 went darker and more fantasy-driven, with instructions to include more material from the comics. The show’s openings and theme songs vary from country to country.
2014
DreamWorks Animation Television
- December 15 – Ascension (Syfy, 6-episode mini-series)
- December 15 – React to That (Nickelodeon, One season, 12 episodes)
- December 19 – All Hail King Julien (Netflix, Five seasons, 78 episodes)
- December 20 – Back to Christmas (ION, TV movie)
Ascension aired in the US on Syfy in a two-hour block over three nights. Battlestar Galctica‘s Tricia Helfer was the first actor to be cast. The series was produced in Montreal.
All Hail King Julien features the characters King Julien, Maurice, and Mort from the animated Madagascar film franchise. The series serves as a prequel to the events of the films. Danny Jacobs, Andy Richter and Kevin Michael Richardson reprised their roles from the films. A season titled Exiled was produced between Seasons 4 and 5. Netflix removed the series from its library in November 2023. The series earned 23 Daytime Emmy nominations during its run, winning seven total, including Outstanding Chidlren’s Animated Program in 2015.
The original title of Back to Christmas was Correcting Christmas.
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