Not a Real Company Productions
Only four new series premiered this week in three different decades, and while three of them had two seasons each — and are mostly forgotten — one broadcast series became a sensation thanks to a certain streaming service, and went on to set some impressive awards records for its final season. Scroll down to see the show’s that premiered this week and learn a little more about them.
1955
- February 13 – Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion (NBC, Two seasons, 65 episodes)
Buster Crabbe starred as the title character in Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion, with his son Cullen as the Legion mascot, and Fuzzy Knight as himself as comedy relief. After the show’s network run ended, reruns aired in Syndication under the title Foreign Legionnaire. The first season filmed in North Africa, with actual Legionnaires and installations featured on the show. Danger to the crew increased so production moved to a studio in Italy owned by Sophia Loren, just outside the gates of the US Army base, Camp Darby, near Pisa. Three episodes were edited into a feature that was released in the UK as Desert Outpost.
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
The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio
- February 14 – Cuts (UPN, Two seasons, 31 episodes)
Cuts was a spin-off of One on One, set up in Episodes 21 and 22 of the third season, and the show ended when UPN and The WB merged to create The CW.
2015
Disney Television Animation
- February 11 – Schitt’s Creek (Pop, Six seasons, 80 episodes)
- February 13 – Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (Disney XD, Two seasons, 35 episodes)
Schitt’s Creek initially premiered on the CBC in Canada on January 13, 2015. The show had a small but devoted audience during its first three seasons, but its popularity exploded after it began streaming on Netflix after Season 3. Both Showtime and HBO passed on the show when Dan and Eugene Levy pitched it. The pair did not want to sell the show to a major US network for fear of interference, so it went to Pop TV after a deal was made with network head Brad Schwartz, who had hired Dan for MTV Canada. Various networks wanted the show’s title changed to avoid the vulgar sounding word, put the Levys insisted ‘Schitt’ was a legitimate name and brought pages of the phone book to CBC execs showing the surname. Dan Levy envisioned the show ending with Season 5, but agreed to a sixth season after getting a two year renewal following Season 4. Catherine O’Hara was always the first choice for Moira Rose, but she turned down her SCTV co-star’s offer citing ‘laziness’ and not wanting to be involved in a long-term project. Another actress was considered, but O’Hara agreed to appear in the pilot with no further obligation. When the show was ordered to series she agreed to continue in the role.
Abby Elliott was offered the role of Alexis Rose but was unavailable so the part was next offered to Annie Murphy, who was about to give up acting since she had not worked for two years. Dan Levy enjoyed her audition because of her likability, but Eugene was unsure because the character he envisioned had blonde hair. Murphy also auditioned for the role of motel manager Stevie, but Dan convinced his father that Murphy could dye her hair blonde and she got the role. Emily Hampshire wanted to send a taped audition to Dan because of her nerves, but he insisted she come in person, She was so nervous she had no recollection of her audition. Dan thought she did a great job and gave her the role of Stevie. Noah Reid was offered the role of Patrick, David Rose’s business partner and eventual love interest, in Season 3. Dan was aware of Reid socially, and Reid was unsure how long the character would be a part of the show. Dan was not present for his audition and the two did not do a ‘chemistry test’ before Reid was cast but luckily it all worked out and Reid was with the show for the remainder of its run. Chris Elliott was given the role of town mayor Roland Schitt without an audition. Sarah Levy, Eugene’s daughter and Dan’s sister, was asked to be part of the project before it was fully developed, and she was given the role of Twyla Sands, the diner waitress. Sarah was happy not to be cast as Alexis so she could do her own thing outside of her family’s orbit.
The show’s premise of being forced to move to a town they once bought as a joke was inspired by actress Kim Basinger’s $20 million purchase of the town of Braselton, Georgia in 1989. The opening shot of the first season features Lisa Vanderpump’s former Beverly Park estate in Los Angeles as the facade of the Rose family estate, with interiors filmed on location in a Sistine Chapel-inspired mansion in Toronto. Noah Reid’s version of Tina Turner’s ‘The Best’, from Season 4, was released on Spotify and iTunes where it reached Number 1 on the Canadian charts. All proceeds from the single were donated to the Ontario charity, LGBT Youth Line. Murphy wrote and performed the song ‘A Little Bit Alexis’, which was based on songs by Paris Hilton including ‘Sanasa’. The single was also released and reached Number 28 on the Canadian charts, with some proceeds donated to MusiCounts, a Canadian organization providing music resources to schools in need. In Season 5’s ‘Life is a Cabaret’ episode, several characters perform ‘Willkommen’, and Stevie sings ‘Maybe This Time’ in character as Sally Bowles. Both songs were performed in front of a live audience during filming. The Jazzgals perform ‘The Best’ at David and Patrick’s wedding in Season 6, while Patrick sings a portion of Mariah Carey’s ‘Always Be My Baby’ as part of his wedding vows.
Schitt’s Creek was honored with many nominations and awards during its run. It received 11 Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations, winning two in 2021 including Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Dan Levy) and Best Comedy Series, a first for a Canadian production. It received five Golden Globe nominations in 2021, winning two including Best Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series for O’Hara. It received 102 Canadian Screen Awards nominations, winning 33 including Best Comedy Series four times. Dan Levy was also awarded the Radius Award. It received 19 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, with 15 of those for Season 6, the most for a comedy series in its final season. It became the first comedy series to sweep the four acting categories, and was only one of four live action shows where all of the principals have one at least one Emmy (with All in the Family, The Golden Girls and Will & Grace). It also won Outstanding Comedy Series that year.