Lucasfilm
With Thanksgiving falling this week in the US, most of the networks took off for the holiday. Only ABC introduced one new program in 1985, a TV movie sequel set in the Star Wars universe. HBO had their own TV movie premiere in 1995, a true-life story of a singer and a mobster. 2005 and 2015 saw the debuts of two animated series, though only one of them lasted more than one season, and 2015 had a special series looking at Christmas through the years. Scroll down to see all of the shows and movies that premiered this week, and tell us if you remember any of them.
1955
- No new series premiered this week in 1955.
1965
- No new series premiered this week in 1965.
1975
- No new series premiered this week in 1975.
1985
- November 24 – Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (ABC, TV movie)
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is a sequel to 1984’s Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure. The story was inspired after a viewing of the movie Heidi by George Lucas and his daughter. The movie was directed by Ken and Jim Wheat, but star Wilford Brimley did not get along with them so his scenes were directed by Joe Johnston. Both Ewoks films featured some of the last intensive stop motion animation done by Industrial Light & Magic, which was moving to the go motion animation process that used motorized, articulated puppets. Go motion was too expensive for the TV movie budget. The movie received a limited theatrical release in international markets in 1986. The movie won an Emmy Award, with CBS’ documentary Dinosaur!, for Outstanding Special Visual Effects. It was also nominated for Outstanding Children’s Program and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Special.
1995
- November 25 – Sugartime (HBO, TV movie)
Sugartime told the true story of the affair between singer Phyllis McGuire of The McGuire Sisters, and Mafia boss Sam Giancana.
2005
- November 25 – The X’s (Nickelodeon, One season, 20 episodes, 1 unaired)
While compared to The Incredibles and Alias, The X’s actually drew inspiration from the James Bond film, and TV series Get Smart and The Avengers. Dave Marshall directed every episode of the series. The final episode was never aired in the US. Another episode story, intended to be 18 or 19, was scrapped by Nickelodeon in favor of a more ‘kid-centric’ episode.
2015
Spiffy Pictures
- November 25 – Christmas Through the Decades (History Channel, One season, 4 episodes)
- November 25 – Nature Cat (PBS Kids, Five seasons, 98 episodes)
Nature Cat was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program. The voice cast includes SNL alums Taran Killam, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Moynihan, Kenan Thompson, Chris Parnell, Fred Armisen, Rachel Dratch, Cecily Strong and Ego Nwodim. Other notable cast members include Kate Micucci, Bobby Lee, Cobie Smulders, Lauren Lapkus, Chris and Martin Kratt, and Paul F. Thompkins. Lena Hall and Tony Vincent provide the vocals for ‘Dog Gone’.