The Terrible Catsafterme

SEASON 1 – CBS

Opening theme: “You Make Me Happy” written by Holly Knight, performed by Will Hoge

• 001. Pilot – 9/30/2002
  • Bill Miller (Mark Addy) is an overweight and somewhat dimwitted department store toilet salesman at Berenson’s, living in a Chicago with his wife Judy (Jami Gertz), a dental assistant, and their three kids Brian (Taylor Ball), Lauren (Renee Olstead), and Tina (Soleil Borda). Bill gives Brian some advice about attracting girls by behaving like a cool kid instead of a nerd. This advice backfires when Brian is caught smoking at school and the parents have to go in and talk to the principal Miss Bodin (Patricia Belcher), who remembers Bill from high school and blames him for the advice. Judy comes to the rescue and sticks up for him. Meanwhile Judy’s sister Linda (Jennifer Irwin) brings her new psychologist boyfriend Paul (Maurice Godin), who convinces Bill and Judy to play the game of “Truth Be Told” in which they are honest with each other about their pet peeves. Bill finds that unloading the things that irritate him helps his neck unstiffen, much to the chagrin of Judy. They end up deciding it is much better on their relationship if they just continue lying to each other. 6/22/15

  Read the rest of this entry »

SEASON 1 – ABC

Theme song: “William Tell Overture” by Gioachino Rossini

NOTE: This series was a spin-off of the radio series of the same name, broadcast between 1933-1954

• 001. Enter the Lone Ranger – 9/15/1949
  • During the mid-1860’s in the Southwest Territory, lawlessness rules over the settlers, which prompts a band of Texas Rangers to bring order to the land. A half-breed named Vince Collins (George Lewis) is shot by the notorious Cavendish gang and offers to lead the Rangers to the gang. However, it turns out that Collins works for Butch Cavendish (Glenn Strange) and ends up leading Captain Reid (Tristram Coffin) and his five rangers into an ambush where they are all presumably shot and killed. Butch then shoots Collins as well and leaves him for dead. Captain Reid’s younger brother John Reid (Clayton Moore) has survived the attack and crawls to safety. Collins also survives his wounds. Native American Tonto (Jay Silverheels) finds Reid and nurses him back to health, recalling the fact that Reid, whom he refers to as “kemosabe,” which means “trusty scout”, once saved Tonto’s life when his family massacred by a hostile Indian tribe. Reid vows to dedicate his life to bringing criminals to justice while wearing a mask and being known only as the Lone Ranger. Tonto buries the five Texas Rangers and creates a fake grave for Reid. Collins recovers and begins shooting at Tonto and the Lone Ranger from a secure spot in the rocks, presumably to steal Tonto’s horse Scout. Tonto climbs up and approaches him from behind and is nearly shot before the Lone Ranger shoots the gun out of his hand. The Lone Ranger begins climbing the rock as Collins stands above him ready to drop a giant rock on him. The series is sponsored by General Mills. Jack Rube Clifford is Jerry, Cavedish’s henchman. Gerald Mohr is the narrator. 6/22/15

  Read the rest of this entry »

SEASON 1 – NBC

Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman

Theme song: “I’ll be There for You” by The Rembrandts

• 001. The Pilot (Friends) (aka The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate) – 9/22/1994
  • Somewhat goofy paleontologist Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) hangs out in the Central Perk coffee shop in West Village area of Manhattan with his sister Monica (Courtney Cox), a rather uptight chef, his old college roommate Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), a sarcastic and witty young businessman, Chandler’s roommate Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), an obtuse aspiring actor, and Monica’s former roommate Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), a flighty message therapist and occasional singer. Joey and Chandler’s apartment is across the hall from Monica. As they discuss Ross’ recent divorce from Carol, who has become a lesbian, Monica’s high school friend Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) comes into the coffee shop, having left her fiancee Barry at the altar. Rachel has been under the thumb of her rich father and struggles to give up her credit card lifestyle, and ends up moving in with Monica and getting a job at Central Perk. Meanwhile Monica gets a date with Paul the “Wine Guy” (John Allen Nelson), who convinces her that he has been impotent for the last two years. He leads Monica to believe that she has cured him until she finds out that her co-worker Franny (Clea Lewis) has the exact same story about him. Monica smashes his watch in retaliation. Joey and Chandler help Ross put together replacement furniture to replace what Carol has taken. Ross tells Rachel that he’s always had a crush on her, and asks if he could ask her out, to which she agrees. Cynthia Mann appears as Jasmine the waitress. NOTE: This episode is also known as The One Where It All Began, The One Where Monica Gets a New Roommate, and The First One. 6/21/15

  Read the rest of this entry »

SEASON 1 – ABC

Created by Ozzie Nelson.

NOTE: This series is a spin-off of the radio program of the same name that aired between 1944-1954, itself being a spin-off of the radio program “The Red Skelton Show” on which the Nelson family regularly appeared

Theme music composed by William Loose and Emil Kadkin (or possibly by Basil George Adlam with Ozzie Nelson). NOTE: “Mary (I’m in Love with You)”, the same song heard on the radio program, by Fred Coots and Ozzie Nelson, was reportedly heard during the original airings, and is heard over the closing credits. Verne Smith is the show’s announcer. 

• 001. The Rivals – 10/3/1952
  • Hotpoint presents the adventures of the Nelson family, Ozzie Nelson (himself) and Harriet Nelson (herself), and their sons 15-year old David Nelson (himself) and 12-year old Ricky Nelson (himself). Ricky and David bicker because Ricky thinks that David is acting smug about winning out over their neighbor Will. When Harriet tells Ozzie that David’s classmate Nancy Baker (Eilene Janssen) has phoned and wants to come visit David, Ozzie starts worrying that Will and David are going to compete over her affections. Will’s father Erskin “Thorny” Thornberry (Don DeFore) and Ozzie discuss this and each think that their son takes after themselves as far as being ladies’ men. They also discuss their sons’ futures and end up feeling old when they start talking about grandchildren. Nancy comes to visit and awkwardly asks David to the dance amidst interruptions from Ozzie and Ricky. Later David is excited that he has beaten out Will… for captain of the football team. Neither David nor Will can take Nancy to the dance because it is the same day as their first football game. Ricky ends up being Nancy’s date. Carl Greyson is the announcer. 6/21/15

  Read the rest of this entry »

SEASON 1 – CBS

Created by Barton Dean. 

Theme song by Frank Fitzpatrick

• 001. The More Things Change, the More They Stay Insane – 7/9/1994
  • In rural Michigan, eighteen-year-old Madeline Drego (Jennifer Aniston) works at Drego’s Oasis, a combination diner and motel, that had previously been run by her parents. One day, her mother Connie (Stephanie Hodge) returns to the diner, having been in prison for the past three years for shooting her ex-husband Sonny (D. David Morin) in the rear end after finding him sleeping with a pair of twins in a local motel. As surprised as Madeline is to see her, Connie is more surprised when she finds out that the arresting officer Trooper Duane Cooper (Scott Waara), who also testified against her, is now married to Madeline. Connie’s youngest daughter Kerri (Aimee Brooks), who is now under the legal custody of Madeline and Duane, is seemingly following in her mother’s footsteps and is dating men dressed in leather and frequently skipping school. Furthermore, Connie is dealt one additional surprise when she finds out that Sonny has returned home and is living in one of the motel cabins. Connie pays him a visit and demands that he leaves the property. Duane is nervous about Connie staying in the house with him and keeps his gun close to him. Madeline is furious that her mother forced her father out and reminds her that she is getting a second chance and that he deserves the same. Connie catches Sonny getting into the diner’s cash register to get bus fare, but she tells him that she is going to leave, so he can stay. She tells him that the way she pictured things was very different, and it is clear that the kids don’t need her. Sonny tells her that since Kerri is of control, she might need Connie to keep her from making the same mistakes that she did. When Duane returns home from his shift, he busts into the diner and knocks out Sonny with the door. He thinks that Connie has shot him, but she explains that Duane hit him. Both Duane and Madeline are just thrilled that Connie called him Duane. Kerri returns home after a date with her teacher Mr. Johnson, and Madeline points out that they are having a family reunion. Connie tells Kerri that she did in fact kill her father because he was okay with her skipping school and staying out all night, which she hopes will scare her onto a straight path. Connie then puts some ice on Sonny’s head… and some down his pants. Among the regular customers at Drego’s Oasis are Gidney Pace (Hal Landon Jr.), Lyle Meriwether (Hank Underwood), and Zane Whitman (Forry Smith), the mechanic. Ted Kalinowski and Phyllis Flax are the couple in the diner. 6/13/24

Read the rest of this entry »