That intro so epitomizes the 80s sitcom style that it almost seems like a spoof. I guess it seems like an imitation to me because I've never seen it before... never even heard of this show. Retroist, you always manage to unearth these hidden gems otherwise lost to time. Thanks!
.....a VERY-promising endeavor, anchored by a DEFT cast including Corinne Bohrer (who WHILE immediately evocative of another endearing bubbly blonde - Jenilee Harrison, a CRIMINALLY-underrated actress BEST evinced in 1984's absurdist dark Southern justice comedy with James Garner & Shirley Jones 'Tank', made the role confidently hers just SECONDS in) the IMMEDIATELY-affecting, aforementioned Hannigan - STUNNINGLY beautiful as a brunette; Franc Luz - attorney character Thomas 'T.J.' Harper quickly evolving through his distinctive, naively-deadpan deliveries, Edan Gross' sensitive youngest sibling Gene & Paul Scherrer, ultimately embuing an otherwise-shallow oldest brother Robb with SURPRISING depth himself (among noteworthy guest stars landed: BOTH Robert Reed & Florence Henderson - as ostensibly-divorcing spouses, 'Full House's Dave Coulier, 'Room 222's Michael Constantine & Jenny Lewis adding to her PRECOCIOUS - see NBC & Jamey Sheridan's 'Shannon's Deal', NOT long after - pre-Rilo Kiley acting career).....yeah, MOST critics AT that time MAY have found what SEEMED cliched parts tedious - but, they STILL worked WELL.....
.....ABC, has LONG had a REPUTATION for giving up on such diamonds in the rough ever since it first started to gain sitcom popularity with 'Bewitched' - another such, though getting 22 more episodes is 1979-1980's 'Angie' starring a post-'Saturday Night Fever' Donna Pescow (MTM, heavily influencing title character's depiction; pre-'AIRPLANE!' Robert Hays as pediatrician husband Brad [Benson] occasionally echoing Rob Petrie's anachronistic chauvinism) - which REMINDS me: Maureen McGovern landed her first Top 20 Billboard smash since 1973's "The Morning After" by its infectious (yet period piece; yes) theme song "Different Worlds'; 'Free Spirit's opening score, isn't REMOTELY as compelling - though SERVICEABLE to its purpose.....
Alyson was also a recast on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she was not in the pilot but when the show was picked up they recast a few characters one of which was Willow, a witch.
Don't think I ever saw this show, so just watched the pilot you posted. That theme song definitely stood out, as well as the episode really having some heart. Makes me feel sad I missed it back in the day. Thanks for the great article!
That intro so epitomizes the 80s sitcom style that it almost seems like a spoof. I guess it seems like an imitation to me because I've never seen it before... never even heard of this show. Retroist, you always manage to unearth these hidden gems otherwise lost to time. Thanks!
I don't think I ever heard of this show! I'm defintely going to steal that Halloween ep for an October post, giving full credit here of course.
Really happy to hear that I could nudge you to the show. The Halloween episode is a great example for the show (and very on-theme).
Ha, Dex - I was thinking the same thing! 😁
.....a VERY-promising endeavor, anchored by a DEFT cast including Corinne Bohrer (who WHILE immediately evocative of another endearing bubbly blonde - Jenilee Harrison, a CRIMINALLY-underrated actress BEST evinced in 1984's absurdist dark Southern justice comedy with James Garner & Shirley Jones 'Tank', made the role confidently hers just SECONDS in) the IMMEDIATELY-affecting, aforementioned Hannigan - STUNNINGLY beautiful as a brunette; Franc Luz - attorney character Thomas 'T.J.' Harper quickly evolving through his distinctive, naively-deadpan deliveries, Edan Gross' sensitive youngest sibling Gene & Paul Scherrer, ultimately embuing an otherwise-shallow oldest brother Robb with SURPRISING depth himself (among noteworthy guest stars landed: BOTH Robert Reed & Florence Henderson - as ostensibly-divorcing spouses, 'Full House's Dave Coulier, 'Room 222's Michael Constantine & Jenny Lewis adding to her PRECOCIOUS - see NBC & Jamey Sheridan's 'Shannon's Deal', NOT long after - pre-Rilo Kiley acting career).....yeah, MOST critics AT that time MAY have found what SEEMED cliched parts tedious - but, they STILL worked WELL.....
.....ABC, has LONG had a REPUTATION for giving up on such diamonds in the rough ever since it first started to gain sitcom popularity with 'Bewitched' - another such, though getting 22 more episodes is 1979-1980's 'Angie' starring a post-'Saturday Night Fever' Donna Pescow (MTM, heavily influencing title character's depiction; pre-'AIRPLANE!' Robert Hays as pediatrician husband Brad [Benson] occasionally echoing Rob Petrie's anachronistic chauvinism) - which REMINDS me: Maureen McGovern landed her first Top 20 Billboard smash since 1973's "The Morning After" by its infectious (yet period piece; yes) theme song "Different Worlds'; 'Free Spirit's opening score, isn't REMOTELY as compelling - though SERVICEABLE to its purpose.....
Alyson was also a recast on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she was not in the pilot but when the show was picked up they recast a few characters one of which was Willow, a witch.
Good point! And she was excellent on Buffy.
Don't think I ever saw this show, so just watched the pilot you posted. That theme song definitely stood out, as well as the episode really having some heart. Makes me feel sad I missed it back in the day. Thanks for the great article!