Picture Shack Entertainment
We’re in the thick of Thanksgiving week in the US, so there are only a handful of new TV series premieres this week. But there is one show that is celebrating its 30th anniversary on the air this week thanks to technology that has become easily available to the public. Can you guess which show it is? Read on to find out!
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
- November 26 — Video clips series America’s Funniest Home Videos debuts on ABC. The episode that debuted on this date was actually a one-off special which parlayed itself into a regular series starting on January 14, 1990. The special was hosted by Bob Sagat, who was also starring on ABC’s popular sitcom Full House, with an assist from Kellie Martin who was starring on ABC’s drama Life Goes On. John Ritter was the first choice to host but was unavailable. The series was originally 30 minutes, paired with a spin-off video series America’s Funniest People which was cancelled after four seasons, leading ABC to fill the half hour with repeats of AFV episodes. ABC tried other 30 minute shows after AFV, all of which failed, so the network began airing two episodes per week. After eighht seasons, Sagat grew tired of the repetitive format but was held to his contract which led to him visibly going through the motions for his last two seasons. Sagat’s contract ended in May 1997 and he left but producers felt the show needed a change, especially as ABC was in the process of being bought by the Walt Disney Company. With Sagat out, the show was not on the 1997 Fall schedule, instead held for mid-season with John Fugelsang and Daisy Fuentes as hosts. But the regular Sunday at 7:00 time slot had been co-opted by Disney movies and shuffling around the schedule had a direct impact on the show’s ratings. Fugelsang and Fuentes left the show after two seasons, and have never been invited back as guests for any of the anniversary episodes. ABC effectively cancelled the series in May 1999, bringing the show back as a series of specials hosted by various ABC personalities. ABC reversed the cancellation in October 2000, ordering a new 13-episode season which debuted on July 20, 2001 with new host Tom Bergeron, who was also hosting Hollywood Squares at the time, and a newly expanded hour-long format Fridays at 8:00 PM. The show went on hiatus for two months due, in part, to coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attack and ABC trying new programming in the Friday time slot, but the series returned in December 2001. The show returned to its Sunday, 7:00 PM time slot in September 2003. The show celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 29, 2009 with Bob Sagat returning for the first time in 12 years as a guest. On March 7, 2014, Bergeron announced he would be leaving the show at the end of its 25th season after 15 years at the helm. Bergeron’s final episode from Disneyland aired May 17, 2015 and featured a cameo from Sagat who drove Bergeron away in a golf cart. Two days after the finale, ABC announced that Alfonso Ribeiro would replace Bergeron for the 26th season. Bergeron made the formal announcement during the Season 20 finale of Dancing With the Stars as Ribeiro had competed on and won the prior season. Bergeron did return as a guest for the Season 26 finale on May 22, 2016, and will appear with Ribeiro and Sagat for the 30th anniversary special America … This Is You, which will air on Sunday, December 8, 2019. ABC has already renewed the series for a 31st season. As of October 20, 2019, there have been 685 episodes broadcast.
1999
- November 28 — Animated series Little Bill debuts on Nick Jr. The series was based on Bill Cosby’s book series of the same name, set in Philadelphia and featured Bill Jr. learning a lesson or moral. All but three episodes were comprised of two 11 minute stories. Two of the three focused on Little Bill’s idol Captain Brainstorm, and the third was a Christmas special. Cosby did perform the minor role of Captain Brainstorm and appeared as himself during the opening credits interacting with the animated Little Bill character. The show also aired as part of Nick Jr. on CBS from September 16, 2000 – September 7, 2002, then as part of Nick on CBS from August 2, 2003 – September 10, 2005. The final original episode of the series aired on June 23, 2003 on Nick Jr., and aired in reruns beginning on September 17, 2005 with the return of Nick Jr. on CBS. The voice cast included Xavier Pritchett, Gregory Hines, Phylicia Rashad, Tyler James Williams and Ruby Dee.
2009
- November 27 — Sitcom I’m in the Band debuts on Disney XD. The show focuses on 15-year-old Tripp Campbell who dreams of being part of his favorite vintage rock band Iron Weasel. When he wins a radio contest to have dinner with the band, his dream comes true. While he manages to impress with his guitar skills — and lands the lead guitarist spot — the band, made up of three middle-aged stooges — scoff at having a child in the band. But Tripp offers them the guest room at his house and performed well at a school assembly so they let him stay with the band. But the band members always seem to get in their own way with Tripp having to figure a way out of their latest mess. The main cast included Logan Miller as Tripp, Steve Valentine, Greg Baker and Stephen Full as Iron Weasel, and Caitlyn Taylor Love as Tripp’s best fried Izzy. The supporting cast included Beth Littleford, Reginald Veljohnson and Alan Thicke. Disney renewed the series for a second season on April 26, 2010 which premiered on January 17, 2011 but Baker and Love announced on March 15 that the second season would be the shows last. Disney XD officially made the announcement on April 28. The final episode was broadcast on December 9, 2011. In all, 41 episodes were produced.
- November 28 — Musical comedy series Big Time Rush debuts on Nickelodeon. The series focused on the Hollywood misadventures of four hockey players from Minnesota after they’re selected to form a boy band. The four were portrayed by Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr. and Logan Henderson, whose characters shared their same first names. Recurring cast members included David Anthony Higgins, Denyse Tontz, Tara Strong, Lorenzo Lamas and Phil LaMarr. Guest stars included Erik Estrada, Lisa Rinna, Lita Ford, Elizabeth Gillies, Russell Brand, Tom Kenny, Jordin Sparks, Miranda Cosgrove, Snoop Dogg, Victoria Justice, Alexa Vega, JoJo Wright and Austin Mahone. The series ran for four seasons with 74 episodes broadcast, making it the sixth longest running live-action series on Nickelodeon. Before the show’s third season premiere on May 12, 2012 a TV movie, Big Time Movie, was broadcast on March 10, 2012.
Did you or do you watch any of these show? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
Share this post
