The Terrible Catsafterme

Brad's Musings and Meanderings

random acts of quoting

"Hey Wally, when did life get so tough?" - Beaver, "Still the Beaver"

Evening Shade

November 17th, 2000

SEASON 1 – CBS

eveningshade

Created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

Theme music by Sonny Curtis performed by Hans Olson, narrated by Ossie Davis

  • 001. A Day in the Life of Wood Newton – 9/21/1990
    • Woodrow “Wood” Newton (Burt Reynolds) is a retired Pittsburgh Steelers player, who currently coaches the losing high school football team the Mules in Evening Shade, Arkansas, where he lives with his wife, Ava (Marilu Henner) and their children Taylor (Jay R. Ferguson), Molly (Melissa Renee Martin), and Will (Jacob Parker). Among the other residents of the town are: Ava’s father Evan Evans (Hal Holbrook), the owner of the local newspaper, who claims that Wood ruined his life by marrying his daughter when she was 18; Ava’s annoying Aunt Freida (Elizabeth Ashley); Dr. Harlan Eldridge (Charles Durning) and his wife Merleen (Ann Wedgeworth); paper delivery boy Nub Oliver (Charlie Dell); Ponder Blue (Ossie Davis), owner of Blue’s Barbecue Villa – home of the town’s oldest juke box that Wood loves; and Ponder’s sister Francis (Virginia Capers), who looks after Evan. Francis’ son R.C. (Marlon Archey) returns to Evening Shade to play on the football team. On the day of Wood and Ava’s fifteenth wedding anniversary, which is also Wood’s birthday, in addition to a game loss, a stripper named Fontana Beausoleil (Linda Gehringer) streaks across the field and is shown in the paper with Wood. She does this to protest the policies of Ava, who is running for local Prosecuting Attorney. Wood and Ava also discover that Ava is pregnant, despite the fact that Wood has had a vasectomy. They decide to try and keep it secret as not to hurt her campaign. All of the above leads to an argument that carries throughout the day. Wood also is appointed a meek assistant coach, math teacher Herman Stiles (Michael Jeter) by principal Margaret Fouch (Ann Hearn). Wood visits Harlan to find out what went wrong with his operation, and Harlan does indeed verify that he still has a high sperm count, although he offers no explanation what happened. While Wood takes his kids shoe shopping, Taylor tells him he no longer wants to play football. The kids express support to their mother and new baby. Everyone convenes at the Villa for Wood’s birthday party, where Wood sadly finds out that Ponder has sold the jukebox. He gives a heartfelt toast to his wife and reveals that she is pregnant, although most already knew. They narrowly avoiding Fontana appearing nude inside a birthday cake, but she shows up after the party and is given a ride home by Nub. Back at home, he finds that Ava has gotten him the jukebox for his birthday, even though Ponder ripped up her check. They make up and enjoy their anniversary. Burton Gilliam is Virgil. Florence Schauffler is Wood’s mother Pauline. Pepper Sweeney is reporter Neal Heck, one of Wood’s former students. Terry Wills is Ralph. Jane Abbott is Dorothy. NOTE: This premiere episode runs 49 min. 11/16/14

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Saved by the Bell

November 17th, 2000

SEASON 1 – NBC

saved

Theme song: “Saved by the Bell” written by Scott Gale and sung by Tom Weir

NOTE: This series is a continuation of the series “Good Morning, Miss Bliss”

  • 001. Dance to the Max – 8/20/1989
    • The kids of the Palisades, California high school Bayside High are excited that Casey Kasem (himself) is bringing his Dance Party TV show to the local Max restaurant where they all hang out. Preppie student Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and jock A.C. Slater (Mario Lopez) are competing to be dancing partners with heartthrob Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen). Although Slater demonstrates his dancing skills, Zack still challenges him to a dance-off, despite knowing full well that he can’t dance. Zack looks to fellow friend Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley), who is suffering from a confidence crisis because she is taller than all of the boys, to help teach him to dance. Meanwhile class nerd Samuel “Screech” Powers (Dustin Diamond) pursues their friend Lisa Turtle (Lark Voorhies), but she agrees to be a partner with another boy named Byron. But when Lisa sprains her ankle and Byron ditches her, Screech volunteers to be her partner. When it comes time for the dance-off, Zack declines competing for Kelly and asks Jessie to be his partner. Both couples put on a good show at the Max, but ultimately it is Lisa and Screech’s dance “The Sprain” that wins first place. Dennis Haskins is school principal Mr. Richard Belding. Ed Alonzo is Max, the magician comedian proprietor of the Max. Hamilton Camp is Mr. Margolies, the band teacher who leads the class through a rousing rendition of Bach’s Minuet in G Minor. 11/17/15

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Murphy Brown

November 16th, 2000

SEASON 1 – CBS

murphy

Created by Diane English

  • 001. Respect – 11/14/1988
    • Washington D.C. investigative journalist and news anchor Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) works for CBS television news magazine FYI, and has just returned from being away at the Betty Ford Clinic where she has battled her alcoholism. Among her colleagues at the station are reporter Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) and news anchor Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough). Additions to the studio are a new young executive producer named Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) and a new anchor, former Miss American winner Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford). Miles impresses Murphy by getting her an interview with Bobby Powell (Tony Goldwyn), who has been accused of being in an affair with a woman running for Vice President of the United States…but with the stipulation that she can’t ask him about the affair. She refuses to agree to that, but after meeting with Bobby at Phil’s (Pat Corley) Bar, she decides that he deserves to tell his story with dignity. However, right before they go on air, Murphy senses that he is just using her show as a tool to set up a book deal later on, so she starts the interview off by immediately asking him the question. Murphy goes through two secretaries: Sherry (Mary Cadorette), who tries to give Murphy advice about journalism, and Robert (Charley Lang), who nearly has a nervous breakdown. She also hires painter Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli) to paint her house, but he is diverted by painting murals. Kathleen Freeman stars as Mrs. Caldwell. 11/16/14

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Modern Family

November 16th, 2000

SEASON 1 – ABC

modern

Created by Christopher Lloyd and Steve Levitan

Theme music by Gabriel Mann

  • 001. Pilot – 9/23/2009
    • Told in mockumentary style, we meet three seemingly unrelated Los Angeles families. The first is Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) and his wife Claire (Julie Bowen) and their three kids Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter), and Luke (Nolan Gould). Haley is a sophomore and has just invited a senior named Dylan Marshall (Reid Elwing) to visit her at their home, causing much worry in her parents. Meanwhile Luke has shot Alex with his rubber BB gun and as promised, Phil has to retaliate by shooting him. He ends up not being able to pull the trigger on his son, but then accidentally shoots Luke, Dylan, and himself. The second family is led by Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill), who has just married a much younger Colombian woman named Gloria Delgado (Sofia Vergara), who has a fifth grader named Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Manny plays soccer but is more interested in girls, and writes a poem for a 16-year old. Jay tries to discourage him, but he presents it to her only to find that she has a boyfriend. The third family is comprised of gay lovers Mitchell Pritchett (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron Tucker (Eric Stonestreet) who had just adopted a baby named Lily (Jada Hiller and Ella Hiller) from Vietnam. They end up all coming together in the end to reveal that Mitchell and Claire are the children of Jay from a previous marriage. Although Jay discourages the adoption, he decides to support his son once he realizes they have already adopted the baby. 11/16/14

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Square Pegs

November 16th, 2000

SEASON 1 – CBS

squarepegs

Created by Anne Beatts

Theme song composed and performed by The Waitresses, with narration by Amy Linker and Sarah Jessica Parker

  • 001 – Pilot (aka Square Pegs) – 9/27/1982
    • Patty Green (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Lauren Hutchinson (Amy Linker) are two freshmen attending Weemawee High School, presumably on the outskirts of New York City, both desiring to become popular in school, although Lauren is more intent on achieving it. They meet and befriend fellow misfits new-wave rocker Johnny “Slash” Ulasewicz (Merritt Butrick) and wanna-be comedian and impressionist Marshall Blechtman (John Femia). They are immediately shunned and ridiculed by Valley Girl Jennifer DiNuccio (Tracy Nelson), her boyfriend Vinnie Pasetta (Jon Caliri), and her black friend LaDonna Fredericks (Claudette Wells). The pushy Muffy Tepperman (Jami Gertz) leads the school on spirit activities. When Patty finds out that Jennifer would be willing to leave Vinnie for senior Larry Simpson (Ben Marley), she sees dating him as the perfect way to get into a popular clique. He is very kind to her and tells her that he’ll see her at the upcoming Freshman Dance. Johnny and Marshall accompany the girls to the dance, with the agreement that they stay six paces behind them. When Larry arrives he dances with Patty, but has to break it to her that he is already involved with a college girl. Lauren takes delight in telling Jennifer that she won’t have to leave Vinnie now that they’ve found out that Larry is already taken. The Waitresses appears as themselves (led by Patty Donahue) at the dance performing I Know What Boys Like and Square Pegs. Basil Hoffman is Principal Dingleman. David Hubbard is Steve Griffin. Carol Androsky is the gym teacher. 11/15/14

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