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Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues was a police drama that played on NBC. It was first aired in the year 1981 and ran, on primetime, until 1987. It was produced by MTM Enterprises. The series writers were Steven Bocho and Michael Kozoll. Hill Street Blues is considered a classic program because it was and still is very well known and will always be remembered. Also, Hill Street Blues will forever be associated with the 1980s. This show ran one hundred and forty six episodes. However, there are always those “favorite” or “most famous episodes” with every popular television show. The first episode, “Hill Street Station (pilot)”, will always be remembered simply because it started it all. Also, the final episode, “A Hill of Beans”, will forever be remembered because it’s what ended it all. Another famous episode was “Grace Under Pressure”. This is because it was shown as a memorial for Michael Conrad’s death. Speaking of stars, there was a very large cast for this television show. Barbara Babcock starred as Grace Gardener. Barbara Bosson took on the role of Fay Furillo. Megan Gallagher, once on the screen, was known as Officer Tina Russo. Veronica Hamel, once a fashion model turned actress, became known as Joyce Davenport. Mimi Kuzyk was casted as Detective Patricia Mayo, Judith Hansen as Celeste Patterson, Lisa Sutton as Officer Robin Tataglia, and let’s not forget Betty Thomas as Sergeant Lucille Bates. Now, on to the guys. Gerry Black was known as Detective Alf Chesley, Taurean Blaque as Detective Neal Washington, Robert Clohessy as Officer Patrick Flaherty, and Michael Conrad as Sergeant Phil Esterhaus. Jon Cypher, once on screen, became known as Chief Flecther P. Daniels. Rene Enriquez was famous for his role as Captain Ray Calletano, Dennis Franz as Detective Sal Benedetto/Lieutenant Norman Buntz, Jefferey Tambor as Judge Allan Wachtel, and Michael Warren as Officer Robert “Bobby” Hill. There are many more characters that one could list, but I think we’ll stop there. It’s obvious that music, art, electronics, and almost everything that we have today has all been developed and improved over time. That is the same case when discussing television. Not only did television sets improve from black and white to color, but the shows we have today were influenced by the shows way before our time. Hill Street Blues was a police drama, and therefore, has been a huge influence on today’s police shows. Some of these contemporary programs that were influenced by Hill Street Blues are M*A*S*H, Miami Vice, Cops, The Shield, Rookie Blue, NYPD Blue, and Southland. The directed audience for these shows are those that enjoy a realistic view into the daily operations of a police department. I think it’s also safe to say that those who enjoy criminology would really enjoy watching this show. Also, anyone who is intrigued by action shows would be interested in tuning into this specific program. That is just a little overview of this show. I can personally say that I’ve never seen it, but am really looking forward to watching the first episode over this weekend.
Blog 1: Arrested Development
Arrested Development was produced by Ron Howard and broadcasted over Fox from 2003 to 2006, starring Jason Bateman, Michael Cera and Portia de Rossi. This sitcom tells the story of a man named Michael Bluth who had to become the head of his family and take charge of a bankrupted family business when his father was arrested for fraud and embezzlement. However, with the Bluth Family come several different challenges, allowing for a very interesting and comedic show. (“Arrested Development”)
Although it was not received well by the general audience, Arrested Development is actually a critically acclaimed Emmy award winning show, boasting awards such as Outstanding Casting, and Comedy Series. In fact, despite what the ratings might say, Arrested Development can be considered a classic show even for its short-lived time on network television (“Awards”). First, the show’s unique use of a hand-held camera, as if like a documentary, puts itself in a whole different category when compared to other sitcoms. By using such a technique, the show is able to give the audience at home an authentic and intimate look into the Bluth Family’s crazy dysfunctional life. The show also rids itself of the famous laugh track, giving more room and a greater focus on the character’s dialogues and hilarious antics (“Arrested Development (TV Series)”). Last but not the least, Arrested Development is well-known for using references and allusions to its actors’ previous roles and inviting guest stars who have appeared in other great television comedies (“11 Brilliant”). It even goes so much as influencing shows today such as Modern Family, another satirical show portraying the life of three American families and what they go through in their daily lives (“Modern Family”).
According to Entertainment Weekly, one of Arrested Development’s best episodes is in season 1 called “Pier Pressure”. In this episode, Michael is trying to teach his son a lesson after finding out that he only got an A minus on a test and that the reason for this “bad” grade may be marijuana. Because of this, Michael decides to try and scare his son about the dangers of marijuana use the way his father taught him. In the end, the real lesson behind his father’s method is not to teach your son a lesson; instead, the lesson serves to show that you should never teach your son a lesson (“Pier Pressure”). Because of its unique albeit confusing plot, it is one of the more famous episodes of the show and is even deemed a favorite by creator of the show himself, Mitch Hurwitz (Snierson).
Due to its witty jokes and complicated humor, young adults and adults are most likely the targeted audience for this series. Not only that, but I also believe that its content would attract more Caucasian adults than, for example, minority populations due to the nature of the Bluth’s family lifestyle. This is because most viewers like to watch shows they can either connect to, understand, or are interested in; with that said, I also think young adults, especially college students, may appreciate the jokes and back-to-back antics these characters may have.
Works Cited
“11 Brilliant Arrested Development Shout Outs to Its Actors’ Past Roles”. 11 Points. 15 Apr 2010. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.11points.com/TV/11_Brilliant_Arrested_Development_Shout_Outs_To_Its_Actors%27_Past_Roles>
“Arrested Development”. IMDb. 2011. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/>
“Arrested Development (TV Series)”. Wikipedia 2011. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrested_Development_(TV_series)>
“Awards for Arrested Development”. IMDb. 2011. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/awards>
“Modern Family”. IMDb. 2011. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1158373,00.html>
“Pier Pressure Episode Recap”. TV.com. 2011. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.tv.com/arrested-development/pier-pressure/episode/287784/recap.html?tag=episode_recap;recap>
Snierson, Dan. “Best of Bluth”. Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly Mag., 10 Feb 2006. Web. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1158373,00.html>
Weekly Post #1
Roots was an extraordinary phenomenon in that it was not a long running show. It received critical and commercial acclaim and broke numerous records despite only airing for seven days.
Roots ran in 1977 from January 23 until January 30. It was produced by Stan Margulies, and David L. Wolper was the executive producer. The show starred Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton, John Amos, Louis Gossett, Jr., Leslie Uggams, Georg Stanford Brown and the infamous O.J. Simpson.
The show could be considered a classic solely based on the accolades it received. Roots was nominated for 36 Emmy awards and won nine. It also won a Golden Globe and the Peabody Award. An estimated 100 million viewers watched the final and most famous episode of Roots. The finale also received the 4th highest ranking (some sources say 3rd) of all time.
The reason for all of this success is that the show connected to such a broad and diverse audience. The show appealed to anyone who was interested in genealogy, oral tradition, African tradition, history of slavery, religion, ethics, or simply a good show. First and foremost, Roots showed the African-American community that it was normal to have an interest in their heritage. The cultural history of the modern day African-American is arguably the most diverse of any people in the world and Roots showed the African-American community that it was okay to be proud of that. The show also spurred a renewal of interest in genealogy among Americans as a whole. For viewers of all races, the show taught important moral lessons about determination and doing what is right instead of doing what is popular. Perhaps the most famous scene is when Kunta Kinte is whipped for refusing to change his name or give up his Muslim faith. Another moral lesson was added to the show to reassure white audiences. The role of Ed Asner was created in order to reassure white audiences. Asner played a slave captain who was very uncomfortable about what was going on in the slave trade. Interestingly enough this role was never in the book.
The idea of Roots made ABC producers nervous. For a 1977 network executive, it would seem risky to have a series aimed at an African-American audience. Because of this, they made some changes to “minimize their losses.” For instance the idea of airing the episodes every day for a week, instead of stretching it out over seven weeks was intended to “get it over with.” Additionally, they changed parts to provide a more prominent and less offensive portrayal of whites. The network previews for the show featured an almost exclusively white cast.
The biggest reason the show succeeded was because viewers could tell that it was authentic. It was a striking portrayal of slavery and did not hold back anything because of controversy. Roots gave Americans something to talk about and was arguably the first series (albeit miniseries) where the whole family was gathered around the television watching.
Weekly Blog 1
Felicity is an American Drama series that ran for four seasons from 1998 to 2002. This is not considered an American classic, but it was definitely a show that made an impact on society. Kerri Russel played the famous main character of Felicty Porter. Felicity had a best friend that was long distance. Her best friend Sally Reardon. Sally never physically appeared in the show; however the voice on the tape recorder was done by Janeane Garofalo. The heart throb that Felicity followed was Ben Covington, who was played by Scott Speedman. Felicity’s resident adviser who causes whirlwinds of trouble with felicity was Noel Crane. This was played by Scott Foley. There were many other little characters that made this show entertaining. However, these were the only regular cast members who remained the same throughout the shows entire time running. The show was produced by J.J Abrams and Matt Reeves. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard were the executive producers.
This show began when a girl named Felicity asked her crush Ben Covington to sign her yearbook. Felicity felt so strong about him that he she cancelled her plans for Stanford and followed him to New York University. Despite the fact that things started to not turn out the way she planned, Felicity realized that NYU was about so much more than following Ben, it was about creating a new life for herself. She gets to know people at NYU and grew into herself. She sent tape recordings to her best friend at the beginning of each episode which is where the weekly plot comes from.
Felicity was a show that would appeal to many people who are in college or graduating high school. It is definitely a show that would mainly be geared towards the young adult demographic. While some guys may find this entertaining, my guess would be this is show gets mainly females watching it. it has a lot of drama, but for some reason, that is what makes it so interesting and entertaining. I watched a few episodes and I could see how it would be an addicting weekly show that someone could look forward to watching each week. It reminds me off a show like Pretty Little Liars where it gained a following and it was a show where people could turn off their mind and enter their own world. There is something appealing about stepping out of our own reality and into someone else’s life. Overall, this show was more interesting than I thought it would be.
From what I could tell, there did not seem to be one episode more important or famous than the other. All of them were pretty equal, but I feel like when you get done watching these episodes, each person feels as though they have taken away a life lesson for themselves. So, because of this, I feel like different episodes could be more important to different people depending on where you are in your life.
Blog 1: Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks was a relatively short-lived show; it was only on the air in the years 1999 and 2000 (IMDb). It was about two very different groups of teenagers—the freaks and the geeks—going to school at McKinley High in the 1980s. The show told of all the normal issues teens deal with during adolescence, including getting involved with drinking and drugs, dealing with bullying, dating, and searching for acceptance in social circles. The stars of the show were Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, Becky Ann Baker, Joe Flaherty, and Busy Phillips (IMDb). These were the actors whose characters appeared in every show; there were several other regulars and guest stars. The executive producer was Judd Apatow, and Paul Feig was the co-executive producer/supervising producer (IMDb). Freaks and Geeks is considered a classic program because of the cult following it developed. The quality writing and the hilarious plotlines that it used to describe the life of some average high-schoolers were impressive enough for it to be named one of the top 100 greatest shows of all time by Time Magazine in 2007 and then to be ranked in 2008 by Entertainment Weekly as the 13th-best series of the past 25 years (Mental Shed). One of the most famous episodes (or at least the one that seems to be talked about the most) is episode 2, “Beers and Weirs,” in which the parents of the two main characters (Lindsey and Sam) leave town for the weekend. Lindsey decides to throw a keg party for her “freak” friends, but Sam and some of his “geek” friends replace the beer with non-alcoholic beer, and the party-goers still proceed to act drunk (IMDb). Contemporary television has definitely been influenced by the show Freaks and Geeks, in that shows about high school and teenagers have been very popular since. Some examples of this are the hugely popular Dawson’s Creek, which even starred one of the characters from Freaks and Geeks (Busy Phillips), The O.C., and more recently, the hit show Glee. It also influenced the future of comedy by introducing several actors into the comedy world who went on to become very famous, including Seth Rogen, who starred in two recent hits, Superbad and Knocked Up, Jason Segel, who went on to star in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and James Franco, who starred in Pineapple Express and has also had serious roles in the Spiderman series. Everyone can remember their high school days (many not very fondly). It is fun for viewers to re-live their high school trials and tribulations, which seemed grave at the time that they were going through them, in a more humorous and light-hearted way. It makes people feel good when they can relate to others, and almost everyone can find a character that reminds them of the way they were in high school. Knowing that they weren’t alone in some of the adolescent feelings they went through gives them a warm fuzzy feeling and keeps them coming back for more.
Works Cited
“Freaks and Geeks.” The Internet Movie Database. 2011. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0193676/>.
“Freaks and Geeks Hits IFC.” Mental Sheds Movies. 2010. 6 Jan 2011. <http://www.thementalshed.com/movies/blog/freaks-and-geeks-ifc/>.
Blog 1- The Shield
The Shield, a drama based on the boundaries that are sometimes crossed in law enforcement, aired from 2002-2008 on FX. Starring in the television series were Michael Chiklis, Jay Karnes, CCH Pounder, Benito Martinez, Walton Goggins, Catherine Dent, and Kenneth Johnson. The show was created by Shawn Ryan and produced by Fox Television Studios alongside Sony Pictures Television.*
The Shield is considered a classic program for multiple reasons. First, the show became the “first ad-supported cable series to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series”* in 2003, making television history. The hit drama also helped establish FX as a top cable network. Furthermore, the series was unprecedented in its portrayal of the “bad cop”. It broke away from the standard police drama and presented the corruption that is sometimes necessary to get the job done.
The first season of The Shield received the most awards and is most notable. The series as a whole does not seem to have any particularly famous episodes; however, Glenn Close did star in a few episodes in season 4, distinguishing these from other episodes.*
Being a newer series, The Shield’s biggest influence was in showing the raw side of police work. It gave the viewer insight into the struggle faced by law enforcement between following the rules and getting the job done. The show gave way for other shows to do the same, influencing already running shows such as Law & Order. It is likely that the series will continue to influence other programs in the future. The show is criticized, however, for its intense violence and gore.
The subject material of The Shield made it a magnet for a range of viewers. It is, at heart, a police drama. Therefore, it drew viewers from those who watched other police dramas. However, the show’s spin on the subject also drew new viewers who would enjoy the less talked about side of police work. As previously mentioned, the show’s violence did make it inappropriate for younger viewers and those who were sensitive to its violent images.
*Source:
“The Shield – Official Site – About the Show.” Sony Pictures. Web. 06 January 2011. <http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/shows/theshield/about/>.
Blog 1: All in the Family
All in the Family was one of the series from the list that I have heard much about but have never seen. This series debuted in 1971 and ran for five years. After the first year of the show, the title of the series was changed to Archie Bunker’s Place (www.museum.tv). Norman Lear and Alan (Bud) Yorkin were the producers of this successful television series. The influential series starred: Carroll O’Connor (Archie Bunker), Jean Stapleton (Edith Bunker), Rob Reiner (Michael Stivic), Sally Struthers (Gloria Stivic) and Danielle Brisebols (Stephanie Mills) (www.tv.com).
This program was not a classic program when it first aired. The series was revolutionary in that it addressed socially controversial issues, which many other TV series at the time steered clear of. It was a risky undertaking for CBS. The show was picked up by CBS who was searching to find a show that would appeal to the “more affluent, urban audience” (www.museum.tv.com). While CBS was wary of the content, the show proved to be a successful undertaking. After a slow start, All in the Family earned multiple Emmy awards and was the top rated for its five years (www.museum.tv).
The premise of the series was based on the daily life in the Bunker household. Archie was a bigoted American worker who did not hide his feelings or opinions on matters such as the changes in American society at the expense of lower middle class whites (www.museum.tv). Other actors in the show especially his wife balanced his character. This provided a unique dynamic not seen before on primetime.
With so many accolades, it is hard to pick one famous episode from this series. The episode “Sammy’s Visit,” guest starring Sammy Davis Jr., was one that repeatedly came up during my research. This episode was able to expose incredible racism and narrow-mindedness of Archie, bringing light to the racism across America at the time. Even though it exposed such a crude side of his character, the episode still managed to portray Archie’s vulnerable side, which the audience connected with. This ‘balancing act’ of character facets and the exposure of raw racism is one aspect that made this episode famous (www.emmytvlegends.org)
This show influenced many of the sitcoms that are on television today. When we think of the shows aired today, they are filled with active sex lives, racial jabs, crude language, and socially controversial topics. Before All in the Family this was not the case. Hit shows such as Friends and Two and a Half Men are just two successful series that come to mind that were influenced by All in the Family. Friends is one of the most successful and watched sitcoms of all time. The show is based on everyday behaviors and does not try to hind-and in many cases flaunts- the controversial ways of their characters. The characters are known for their sex lives and their raw reactions to everyday events. Two and a Half Men is a series staring Charlie Seen (Charlie Harper), Jon Cryer (Alan Harper) and Angus Jones (Jake Harper). Like All in the Family, this series does not cut out the belching, toilets flushing, sexual connotations, or ‘bathroom humor.’ Two and a Half Men’s storylines were definitely influenced by the rawness of All in the Family.
This cutting-edge series proved to be the foundation for many shows to come and finally brought controversial issues to primetime TV that would stick for generations to come.
Works Cited
“All in the Family.” http://www.museum.tv. The Museum of Broadcast Communications, n.d. Web. 6 January 2011.
“All in the Family Cast and Crew.” http://www.tv.com. Tv.com, n.d. Web. 6 January 2011.
Blog Post 1-The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show was a half-hour situation comedy that premiered in the United States on September 20, 1984 (Hunt). The series lasted eight seasons, ending in April 1992. Bill Cosby starred in the television program as Dr. Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable. The supporting cast included Phylicia Rashad, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens, Joseph C. Phillips, Malchom-Jamal Warner, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tempestt Bledsoe, Raven-Symoné, Erika Alexander, and Lisa Bonet (“The Cosby Show”).
The Cosby Show was produced by Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner. Season 7 was also produced by Bernie Kukoff. Janet Leahy was then added as an executive producer for season 8. The show was taped in New York City (“The Cosby Show”).
The show was based on Bill Cosby’s “observations of life and family.” It focused on a well-educated and successful African-American family in Brooklyn, New York. This was especially significant because it contradicted many stereotypes in society. It was considered a comedy, but occasionally discussed serious topics as well, such as dyslexia and teen pregnancy (“The Cosby Show”).
The Cosby Show is considered a classic because it focused on “the everyday adventures of an upper-middle-class black family, the series revived a television genre (situation comedy), saved a beleaguered network (NBC), and sparked controversy about race and class in America” (Hunt). According to TV Guide, The Cosby Show “was TV’s biggest hit in the 1980s” (“Cosby Show Cast and Details”).
The Cosby Show paved the way for other African American shows such as In Living Color, The Bernie Mac Show, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The program also helped define a new type of sitcom—a show that is based on a comedian’s experiences, such as Seinfield, Roseanne, Ellen, and Everybody Loves Raymond. The program was so successful that there was a spin-off made in 1987—A Different World, running until 1993. The spin-off was based on one of the Huxtable daughters’ life (“The Cosby Show”).
I believe the series was a family show. Families could come together Thursday evenings to watch a funny show about another family’s life. It seems as though there were some racy topics, but nothing too offensive. Maybe it wasn’t for very young children, but it may be appropriate for middle-school aged kids and young adults. Parents probably enjoyed it because they could relate in one way or another to the Huxtable family. The series was especially popular with African-American families because it was the first program to challenge the stereotypes about African-Americans. The Cosby Show portrayed “a strong father figure, a strong nuclear family, parents who were professionals, affluence and fiscal responsibility, a strong emphasis on education, a multigenerational family, multiracial friends, and low-key racial pride” (Hunt).
Bibliography
“Cosby Show Cast and Details.” TV Guide, TV Listings, Online Videos, Entertainment News and Celebrity News | TVGuide.com. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. <http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/cosby/cast/100456>.
Hunt, Darnell M. “THE COSBY SHOW.” The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. .
“The Cosby Show.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 30 Dec. 2010. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cosby_Show>.
The Twilight Zone
Who doesn’t know the eerie classic theme song from “The Twilight Zone?” The shows appear daily on the Sci-Fi Channel, which also feature marathons on the 4th of July and New Year’s Day. It was a show created by a former writer of radio shows and an army war veteran named Rod Serling, who remarkably was the narrator, director, producer, and main screenwriter for the television series. It first aired on CBS on October 2, 1959 to June 19, 1964, totaling to 156 episodes with five seasons. Serling’s infatuation with science-fiction, thrillers, and time travel led him to produce the pilot of the series called “The Time Element,” which was based about a man reliving the Pearl Harbor attack as he falls asleep. Thanks to Desilu productions (the theater production of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball), it gave Serling the recognition he needed to launch the pilot on air, which was a hit with audiences. This ultimately began the production of the show, and he later termed it “The Twilight Zone.”
Obviously, the narrator of the tv series was Serling, who spoke to the audiences as if to invite us into the zone of abnormality and strange occurrences. However, there were many characters on the show. Most episodes featured different actors, whom were either relatively known or about to journey on the rise of stardom such as Robert Redford, William Shatner, Burt Reynolds, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper, Carol Burnett, James Coburn, Art Carney, and Mickey Rooney.
In my opinion, “The Twilight Zone” is considered a classic because it was the first television series to partake in science-fiction that faced themes of the supernatural. Serling’s contemporaries and some colleagues criticized the genre since it was not very popular at that time. Nonetheless, the series subdued audiences all around even if there wasn’t a “happy ending.” One of the most memorable episodes I can remember is the one about the boy of the cornfield who had the powers to read minds and could banish or kill anyone he disliked. How many stories are based about demon-like children nowadays? Some contemporary shows or movies have been “Children of the Corn,” “Case 39,” “666,” and I also remember an episode of “Johnny Bravo” undertaking the same plot as the episode. There were also other episodes that startled the audience at the end, such as the one about the sick girl who was dreaming that the Earth had fallen out of its axis and was heading closer to the Sun. However, when she woke up she found herself cold because the Earth was drifting farther in space. Another memorable episode was about a girl who tried to get plastic surgery because she was “deformed” in a sense that she didn’t look like the rest of society (because they all appeared as monkeys) but in the norm of a human society she was beautiful. Themes about time travel, space, death, the supernatural, and the strange boggles our minds because we don’t know the explanation of these situations which is kind of scary but also alluring.
I think we owe a lot to the series because it was the start of sci-fi phenomena in television which paved the way for the “X-Files,” “The Outer Limits,” “Star Trek,” “Lost,” and inspired novelists such as Stephen King. Anyone at any age can enjoy this type of genre, especially if they’re intrigued by the unknown.
Source: “The Twilight Zone.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Zone>.
Writing About Television - Course Blog 