It’s a Laugh Productions
New series, specials and TV movies made their premieres this week between 1976 and 2016, some getting awards attention and large audiences, while most were just blips on the TV landscape. A 1976 TV movie adaptation of a children’s classic won two Emmys, a 1986 sitcom made stars of its leads and helped launch a night of programming on Fridays, a 1996 TV movie also got major awards love, Disney struck gold in 2006 with a musical comedy series about dual identities, and a 2016 series underwent major cast changes from pilot to series. Scroll down to see the programs that premiered this week across the decades, and tell us if any of your favorites are celebrating milestone anniversaries.
1956
- No new shows premiered this week in 1956.
1966
- No new shows premiered this week in 1966.
1976
- March 27 – Pinocchio (CBS, TV movie)
Pinocchio starred Sandy Duncan and Danny Kaye. The special won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children’s Programming: Costume Design and Videotape Editing. Stan Winston was also nominated for Outstanding Makeup.
1986
Miller-Boyett Productions
- March 25 – Morningstar/Eveningstar (CBS, One season, 7 episodes)
- March 25 – Perfect Strangers (ABC, Eight seasons, 150 episodes)
- March 28 – Mr. Sunshine (ABD, One season, 11 episodes)
Morningstar/Eveningstar was created by Earl Hamner Jr. of The Waltons fame. It was the last TV appearance for Scatman Crothers before his death in 1986. It was also the first acting job for Fred Savage.
After moving from Tuesdays to Wednesdays to Fridays, Perfect Strangers became the original anchor for ABC’s TGIF line-up. The idea of a series featuring an immigrant in America was initially rejected by all three networks operating in the US at the time. It was Bronson Pinchot’s performance in Beverly Hills Cop that led to ABC greenlighting the show with Pinchot sought for what was originally titled The Greenhorn. Pinchot, however, had been cast in a new NBC series starring Geena Davis, Sara, and was unavailable, but the show was quickly cancelled and Pinchot was available for the show now titled Perfect Strangers, with Louie Anderson cast as his American cousin, though Anderson was not considered right for the role after the pilot. Mark Linn-Baker was spotted by producers guesting on Moonlighting, and he was cast after having immediate chemistry with Pinchot. The series was rushed into production for a six-episode tryout between Who’s the Boss? and Moonlighting. Hoping to capitalize on the success of TGIF, ABC moved the show to a new ‘I Love Saturday Night’ block, but ratings dropped dramatically and the show was moved back to Friday. 13 episodes were ordered for the final season, but only 6 were produced in the Summer of 1992, and not aired until the Summer of 1993, more than a year after the Season 7 finale. The show spun off Family Matters, though the two shows never had a crossover.
Mr. Sunshine starred Jeffrey Tambor as a blind university professor, which garnered criticism for using the disability for comedy, while supporters said the show treated the character with dignity and respect.
1996
- March 23 – Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (HBO, TV movie)
Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny starred Alan Rickman, Greta Scacchi, Ian McKellen, and David Warner. It received five Emmy nominations, with Rickman winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, Scacchi winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, and a win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie. It was also nominated for four Golden Globes, winning three: Best Miniseries or Television Film, Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film (Rickman), and Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (Ian McKellen). Scacchi was nominated but did not win in her Globes category.
2006
- March 22 – Heist (NBC, One season, 7 episodes, 2 unaired)
- March 22 – The Evidence (ABC, One season, 8 episodes)
- March 22 – Unan1mous (FOX, One season, 8 episodes)
- March 24 – Hannah Montana (Disney Channel, Four seasons, 98 episodes)
- March 28 – Teachers (NBC, One season, 6 episodes)
- March 28 – Thief (FX, 6-episode miniseries)
ABC aired the first four episodes of The Evidence on Wednesdays, then pulled the show due to low ratings, burning off the remaining episodes on Saturdays in June and July.
Hannah Montana received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Children’s Program for each of its four seasons. Disney Channel originally ordered a 20-episode first season, and increased the order to 26. Disney put the series into contention against a potential Lizzie McGuire spin-off. Miley Cyrus auditioned for the role, originally named Chloe Stewart, against more than 1,000 applicants. She was rejected for being too young for the character, at age 11, and for her inexperience. Cyrus persisted with more audition tapes, and six months later, she won the role at age 12. The character’s name was changed to Miley Stewart after she was cast. Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, was asked to audition after she had been cast. He was apprehensive and didn’t want to ‘screw up Miley’s show’, suggesting a ‘real actor’ be cast, but he eventually accepted the role. Brooke Shields plays Miley’s deceased mother in dream sequences, and Cyrus’ real-life godmother, Dolly Parton, had a recurring role as Miley’s godmother, Aunt Dolly. Parton has said that Miley persuaded executives to write her into the show, and credits Miley for gaining her a younger following. While filming the pilot, Cyrus performed in concert as Hannah Montana at Glendale Centre Theatre to acquire footage for the show. The series had two crossovers with other Disney shows, the first being That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana (with That’s So Raven and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody), followed by Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana (with Wizards of Waverly Place and The Suite Life on Deck). The series ended as Cyrus was feeling uncomfortable with the colorful costumes and stated she had grown out of the role.
Teachers was loosely based on a British sitcom of the same name. Its working title was Filmore Middle.
The pilot for Thief was conceived in 2002, but did not move forward until Andre Braugher was cast. Braugher went on to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (he was also nominated for the Golden Globe), with co-star Clifton Collins Jr. nominated in the Supporting Actor category. FX had the option to continue the series, but it did not attract an audience large enough to warrant a renewal.
2016
Shondaland
- March 22 – Heartbeat (NBC, One season, 10 episodes)
- March 24 – The Catch (ABC, Two seasons, 20 episodes)
- March 25 – Backstage (Disney Channel/Netflix, Two seasons, 60 episodes)
Heartbeat was known as Heartbreaker during production. The series had been picked up for the Fall 2015 schedule, but was delayed due to star Melissa George’s real-life pregnancy.
Damon Dayoub was cast to play opposite Mireille Enos in the pilot for The Catch, but he was replaced with Peter Krause when the series was picked up. Bethany Joy Lenz was cast as his wife, but was replaced with Sonya Walger with the series order. The pilot was reshot with the new cast members.
Backstage first premiered on Canada’s Family Channel on March 18, 2016. The second season streamed on Netflix in the US.