High Bridge Productions
Only three decades produced any new series during the first week of February. 1955 had an interesting spin on the anthology series, 2005 gave us a long-running adult animated series that switched networks and still airs today, and 2015 had one groundbreaking family comedy, and a spin-off/prequel series that many consider better than the original. Scroll down to see the shows that premiered this week, and tell us if any of your favorites are celebrating milestone anniversaries.
1955
- February 3 – Star Tonight (ABC, Two seasons, 80 episodes)
Star Tonight was an anthology series that gave up-and-coming new stars their first lead roles, paired with a more seasoned actor. Notable guest stars included Leo G. Carroll, Buster Crabbe, Robert CUlp, Kim Hunter, June Lockhart, Kevin McCarthy, Jason Robards, Rudy Vallee, Jo Van Fleet, Joanne Woodward and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
1965
- No new series premiered this week in 1965.
1975
- No new series premiered this week in 1975.
1985
- No new series premiered this week in 1985.
1995
- No new series premiered this week in 1995.
2005
Fuzzy Door Productions
- February 2 – It Takes a Thief (Discovery Channel, Two seasons, 80 episodes)
- February 5 – Power Rangers S.P.D. (ABC Family/Toon Disney, One season, 38 episodes)
- February 6 – American Dad! (FOX/TBS, Twenty-one seasons, 380 episodes to date)
- February 8 – Most Outrageous TV Moments (NBC, Two seasons, 21 episodes)
It Takes a Thief was hosted by Matt Johnston and Jon Douglas Rainey, two former thieves who use their unique expertise to teach people in an unusual way to protect their properties.
Power Rangers S.P.D. is technically the thirteenth season of Power Rangers, and is based on the 28th Super Sentai series Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger.
American Dad! was broadcast by FOX for its first eleven seasons, then moved to TBS beginning with Season 12 and continues to this day. The series got its premiere following Super Bowl XXXIX. The series has been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards and two Annie Awards. It was the first FOX animated series produced specifically for the network’s Animation Domination block. Some critics unfairly called the show a pale imitation of Seth MacFarlane’s then-cancelled Family Guy because of McFarlane’s involvement, saying it was just an attempt to get his previous show back on the air. American Dad! was actually more akin to All in the Family with its characters and story construction. When Family Guy was ultimately revived, MacFarlane left control of American Dad! to Mike Barker.
Most Outrageous TV Moments was retitled Most Outrageous Moments for its second season. The show was a spin-off of Most Outrageous Game Show Moments.
2015
Fierce Baby Productions
- February 4 – Fresh Off the Boat (ABC, Six seasons, 116 episodes)
- February 5 – Allegiance (NBC, One season, 13 episodes, 8 unaired)
- February 6 – Miles from Tomorrowland (Disney Junior, Three seasons, 75 episodes)
- February 8 – Better Call Saul (AMC, Six seasons, 63 episodes)
Fresh Off the Boat is loosely inspired by the life of chef and food personality Eddie Huang and his 2013 autobiography of the same name. It was the first series in more than 20 years to feature a family of Asian Americans, and the first series with an Asian American main cast to broadcast over 100 episodes. During the development stage the show was titled Far East Orlando, but Huang launched a Twitter campaign to get the titled changed to the same as his autobiography. Series star Randall Park made his directorial debut with the show’s final episode. Huang left the show after the first season, for which he served as narrator, due to creative differences with ABC.
Allegiance, originally titled Coercion, was adapted from the Israeli series The Gordin Cell. NBC cancelled the show after five episodes, and released the final eight episodes on the network website and Hulu.
Miles from Tomorrowland was broadcast internationally as Miles from Tomorrow. The show was retitled Mission Force One for its third season.
Better Call Saul was a spin-off of and primarily a prequel series to Breaking Bad. The show was originally conceived as a half-hour comedy featuring Saul and his various clients, but settled on an hour-long tragedy showing how he develops into the character seen in Breaking Bad. The series earned two Peabody Award nominations, 53 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations, and six Golden Globe nominations.