TV by the Decade :: June 16•22

Food Network

Only two decades that end in 9 produced new series during the week of June 16. Those shows all benefited from the need to program the explosion of new cable channels, unfortunately, most of them are long forgotten by now evenwith only ten years between the premieres and today. Only one of this week’s shows is still on the air. Let’s take a look.

1959

• No new series premiered this week in 1959.

1969

• No new series premiered this week in 1969.

1979

• No new series premiered this week in 1979.

1989

• No new series premiered this week in 1989.

1999

• June 15 — Two weeks earlier saw the premiere of The X Show on FX, and this week saw the debut of the more well-known of the male-targeted series, The Man Show on Comedy Central. The series was co-created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla and lampooned and celebrated stereotypical male behavior. The show consisted of pre-taped comedy sketches and live studio events with audience participation. The show was also known for its female models known as the Juggy Dance Squad, who would open the show with a themed dance number and dance in the aisles as the show went to commercial break. Bill Foster was the show’s emcee for the first year with his specialty being the ability to chug two beers in record time (sometimes upside down), and leading the audience in the German drinking song ‘Zicke, Zacke, Zicke, Zacke, Hoi, Hoi, Hoi!’, a tradition which continued after his death in 2000 from prostate cancer. Kimmel and Carolla left the show in 2003 with the hosting duties taken over by Joe Rogan and Doug Stanhope until the show ended on June 19, 2004 after six seasons in 117 episodes.
• June 19 — Dramedy Beggars and Choosers debuts on Showtime, a comedic, behind-the-scenes look at network television from former NBC head honcho Brandon Tartikoff. The series centered around Rob Malone (Brian Kerwin), president of the fictional LGT network, the scheming Vice President of Development Kori Volpone (Charlotte Ross), and Malcolm Laffley (Tuc Watkins), a gay man who came out of the closet to clear himself of sexual harassment charges from a female co-worker. Other cast members included Christina Hendricks, Isabella Hoffman, Paul Provenza, Carol Kane and Beau Bridges. The show was nominated for one Emmy, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – Carl Reiner, and for one GLAAD Media Award as Outstanding TV Comedy Series. Though Showtime said the series had a loyal audience, and favorable critical reviews, the ratings were not enough to sustain the series beyond two seasons and 42 episodes. It ended on December 12, 2000.

2009

• June 16 — Though it ran for three seasons, TV viewers may be hard-pressed to recall the medical drama HawthoRNe which premiered on TNT. The series starred Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Vartan. Smith played Christina Hawtrhorne, Chief Nursing Officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital. Passionate about her job and her staff, they are forced to acclimate to a new hospital, James River Hospital when Richmond Trinity closes. There she enters into a new relationship with Dr. Tom Wakefield (Vartan), the Chief of Surgery who wants committment while she is unsure she can get close to someone else. In the third season, they do get married and face new challenges. Unfortunately, the third season ended with a cliffhanger and the network opted not to pick up a fourth season. Other cast members included Marc Anthony (yes, THAT Marc Anthony), Aisha Hinds, Anne Ramsay, Derek Luke, James Morrison and Vanessa Bell Calloway. The series produced 30 episodes and ended on August 16, 2011. The series was nominated for six NAACP Image Awards between 2010 and 2011, winning for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2010, and the OP Award in 2011.
• June 17 — Paranormal reality series The Othersiders premieres as part of Cartoon Network’s CN Real programming block. The series followed five teens interested in paramormal activity and their investigations of reportedly haunted sites, similar to Syfy’s Ghost Hunters. Investigated sites included the Queen Mary, Lincoln Heights Jail, Morey Mansion, Glendora House, Santa Anita Racetrack, The Preston Castle, the Union Hotel and Alcatraz. The series ran for two seasons, both in 2009, producing 23 episodes and ending on October 30.
• June 20 — Game show BrainRu$h premieres on Cartoon Network’s CN Real block. Shot at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA, contestants played two rounds with the winner going on to a third. Each round of questioning took place on a roller coaster at the park: Boomerang (Round 1), Silver Bullet (Round 2) and Xcelerator (Round 3). After the third round, the winner had the option of keeping their winnings or risking half on a final question. The question is asked while sitting on the coaster in the station. If the answer is correct, the winnings double and the coaster takes off. An incorrect answer results in the loss of half the winnings but the host offers them a final ride anyway. The show was hosted by Lamorne Morris and Sarah Karges and produced just six episodes.
• June 20 — Destroy Build Destroy premieres as part of Cartoon Network’s CN Real block. The reality game show featured two teams that destroyed a random object and built vehicles from it. The winners of the competition then got to destroy the losers’ vehicle. The series was hosted by Andrew W.K. and was only one of two of the CN Real programs to be renewed for multiple seasons, running for four, producing 37 episodes. The show ended on September 21, 2011.
• June 22 — Teen family dramedy Make It or Break It premieres on ABC Family (now Freeform). The series focused on the lives of teen gymnasts who strive to make it to the Olympic Games, and was based on the 2006 film Stick It. The show starred Josie Loren, Ayla Kell, Cassie Scerbo, Chelsea Hobbs, Candace Cameron Bure, Neil Jackson, Anthony Starke, Peri Gilpin, Susan Ward, Johnny Pacar and Dondre Whitfield. Nico Tortorella had a recurring role in Seasons 1-2, and Kathy Najimy recurred in Seasons 2-3. The series ran for three season with 48 episodes. The May 14, 2012 finale found the five girls — Payson (Kell), Lauren (Scerbo), Kaylie (Loren), Jordan (Chelsea Tavares, Season 3), and Colleen (a character/actor so unremarkable there isn’t even an IMDB listing for them) chosen to represent the U.S. in the Olympics.
• June 22 — Reality series The Best Thing I Ever Ate premieres on the Food Network (following a preview on June 20, and a one-off special in late 2008). The show features notable chefs — and other foodies — discussing their favorite dishes from various eateries in specific categories. Those featured on the show have included Ted Allen, Brian Boitano, Alton Brown, Frank Bruni, Anne Burrell, Cat Cora, Marl Dacascos, Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis, Rocco DiSpirito, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence, Ina Garten, Duff Goldman, Alex Guarnaschelli, Robert Irvine, Emeril Lagasse, Nigella Lawson, Sandra Lee, Jamie Oliver, Wolfgang Puck, Rachael Ray, Curtis Stone, Marc Summers and Andrew Zimmern. The tenth season is currently airing on Food Network’s sister network, Cooking Channel.

 
Did you watch any of these show? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!