Monday, May 7, 2012
Everybody Loves Raymond
Everybody Loves Raymond
Category: Sitcom
Created By: Philip Rosenthal
Stars: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle
Number of Seasons: 9
Number of Episodes: 210
Original Channel: CBS
Original Run: September 13, 1996 to May 16, 2005
Everybody Loves Raymond is an Emmy, SAG, WGA winning and Golden Globe nominated American sitcom, originally broadcast on CBS from September 13, 1996 to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of Ray Romano (who is represented by the Ray Barone character he plays) and the writing staff. The main characters on the show are also loosely based on Romano's family members. It is one of the most critically acclaimed American sitcoms of its time. Everybody Loves Raymond was nominated for and won many awards. The show reruns in syndication on different cable channels such as TBS, and in most TV markets on local stations.
Everybody Loves Raymond Background
Everybody Loves Raymond revolves around the life of Italian-American Ray Barone, a newspaper sportswriter from Lynbrook, Long Island. Ray lives with his wife, Debra Barone, their daughter, Ally, and their identical twin sons, Michael and Geoffrey. Ray's parents and brother Robert frequently make their presence known to the frustration of Ray and especially Debra. Unfortunately for Ray, he always has to hear about it from Debra. Debra particularly finds herself at odds with Ray's mother, Marie — a passive-aggressive woman. Ray often finds himself in the middle of all the problems and arguments. His biggest nemesis is Robert, who is insecure about Ray being the favorite son. Although Robert and Ray are frequently seen fighting like children and picking on each other, the brothers are very devoted to each other.
Robert frequently calls Ray "Cubby" and stands up for him, while Ray has a great admiration for Robert, who is a police officer. Their father, Frank, is very tough and does not like to show his feelings, but through the years several episodes were crafted to show how much he loves his family. Ray and Debra have their share of marital disagreements, with Debra frequently denying Ray sex, and Ray prefers watching sports television to talking to his wife. A recurring theme on the show has them having a long interaction each night while in bed, just before going to sleep, and sometimes there is a sweetness between them.
Everybody Loves Raymond Main Cast
Ray Barone (Ray Romano)
Debra Barone (Patricia Heaton)
Robert Barone (Brad Garrett)
Marie Barone (Doris Roberts)
Frank Barone (Peter Boyle) Everybody Loves Raymond Main Crew
Executive Producers: Phil Rosenthal (Head Writer), Stu Smiley, Rory Rosegarten, Ray Romano, Lew Schneider, Tucker Cawley, Steve Skrovan, Jeremy Stevens, Aaron Shure and Mike Royce.
Co-Executive Producers: Lisa Helfrich Jackson, Tom Caltabiano and Leslie Caveny. Producer: Holli Gailen.
Everybody Loves Raymond Supporting Cast
Amy
Monica Horan plays the role of Amy MacDougall-Barone, Robert Barone's wife. She is also the best friend of Debra Barone, Ray's wife, who introduced Amy to Robert. Although Amy married Robert in the seventh season of the show, she had been making appearances since the first season. Many issues have caused them to break up in the first six seasons, with one being caused by Raymond. After Amy broke up with Robert from finding out he was with two other women, Amy only returned three times- once when she and Stefania thought of a way to make him a better mate; again when she dated one of Raymond's friends because of a plan by Debra and Marie to make Robert envious; and once more when she planned to take Ray and Debra to the airport for their vacation (the three of them ended up staying at Marie and Frank's house because the power went out). She wouldn't make another appearance until Thanksgiving, when Marie had to get glasses. Quite often, she apologizes to someone even if she didn't do anything wrong. In an episode from season nine, for example, Amy apologized to Ray for yelling at him, even though she had the right to yell because Ray insulted her.
Amy is a soft-spoken girl who was raised in a family of devout Protestants (the Barones are Catholic) who consider their Bible the "guide to life". She once described her parents as "people who wouldn't yell if they were on fire". Amy's parents and brother live in Pennsylvania.
Amy was a virgin when she met Robert, which Ray had a hard time believing since Amy was 33 years old at the time. She eventually lost her virginity to Robert before they were married, but they were spotted having sex by their neighbors, causing Robert's neighbors to sign a sheet boycotting Amy from his apartment building.
Amy's Parents
Amy's parents, Hank (Fred Willard) and Pat MacDougall (Georgia Engel), are very devout Christian conservatives who oppose the marriage of their daughter to Robert because of divorce and other transgressions in his past. These matters are not helped as they soon learn that the MacDougalls and the Barones are not the most compatible of families. The two sides still do not like each other after many tries at truce, although the Barones have always loved Amy and the MacDougalls have somewhat come to accept Robert .
Peter MacDougall
Peter (Chris Elliott) is Amy's older brother who has a strange personality and a sneaky, clever mind. He is also opposed to the marriage of his little sister and insists that he will keep trying to break it up. But come wedding day, it turns out that Marie is the one to interrupt the wedding after the priest says "speak now or forever hold your peace". Peter is single but lives with his pet house cat, Miss Puss. At first, Peter and Robert do not get along very well, but in "Peter on the Couch," the two find common ground in the fact that they suffered the same problems growing up (being the overshadowed older sibling and living with their parents for a long time) and gain acceptance of each other. Eventually, Robert even gives Peter his old apartment. In a later episode, he hooks up with Molly's mom, Peggy (Amy Aquino).
Amy's brother was originally introduced as "Russell", the owner of a comic book shop who was played by comedian Paul Reubens in a one-time appearance. When the character reappeared, his name was Peter and was played by Chris Elliott. Everybody Loves Raymond Children
Alexandra "Ally" Barone (Madylin Sweeten): Ray and Debra's only daughter who is five years old at the beginning of the series. Ally is a young girl at the start of the series, and by the end, is in her teens. She was named for Romano's real-life daughter. Geoffrey and Michael Barone (Sullivan and Sawyer Sweeten): Ray and Debra's identical twin sons who are two years old at the beginning of the series. In the pilot episode, one of the sons is referred to as "Matthew" and the other as "Gregory", the names of Romano's real-life twin sons. A running joke is Frank's insistence that Geoffrey may be latently homosexual.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris
Format: Sitcom
Created by: Ali LeRoi and Chris Rock
Developed by: Chris Rock and Ali LeRoi
Starring: Tyler James Williams, Terry Crews Tichina Arnold,
Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim Vincent Martella
Narrated by: Chris Rock
No. of seasons: 3
No. of episodes: 66 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s): Chris Rock
Camera setup: Single camera
Running time: 22 min.
Broadcast
Original channel: UPN (2005–2006), The CW (2006-present)
Picture format: 480i (SDTV), 1080i (HDTV)
Original run: September 22, 2005 – present
Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris is an Emmy Award-nominated American sitcom broadcast on the The CW, featuring fictional characters and situations broadly based on real people and situations. The show, which is produced by CBS Paramount Television, is inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock (who narrates the show), while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. The title of the show parodies the title of another well-known program, Everybody Loves Raymond. Unlike other CW sitcoms, Everybody Hates Chris is shot using a single camera. with no studio audience laugh track.
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On September 22, 2005, the series' premiere achieved higher ratings than NBC's season premiere of Joey, giving UPN, its original network, its third highest rating in history. With seven million viewers, it was fourth highest-rated program at the 8 p.m. ET time slot. It is also the first TV show to be available for free preview on Google Video.
Everybody Hates Chris won an NAACP Award for "Outstanding Comedy Series." Due to the show's popular and critical success, the CW network gave the show an early full-season renewal for 2007–08, its 3rd season. The 3rd season of Everybody Hates Chris premiered on Monday, October 1, 2007. The show aired on Monday nights at 8:00/7:00c on The CW Television Network, however on February 10, 2008 it had move to Sunday nights at 8:00/7:00c. Despite the 2007-2008 Writers' Strike, Everybody Hates Chris had a full twenty-two episode season for 2007-08 because of early production. On March 2, 2008, the series returned with new episodes after the 2007-2008 Writers' Strike, in order to wrap up the third season (2007-2008). The third season finale aired on Sunday, May 18, 2008.
According, to TV Guide, it has been confirmed that Nick at Nite had bought the rights to the show, and it will air in the fall of 2009.
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Everybody Hates Chris
With the recent cancellation of Girlfriends and the WWE's decision to move SmackDown to MyNetworkTV in the fall of 2008, Everybody Hates Chris, along with America's Next Top Model, will be the last running television programs to have aired both on UPN and on the CW. The show's first season began just before the merger between UPN and the WB, leading to the CW.
In addition for The CW's fall 2008-2009 season, new seasons of Everybody Hates Chris, The Game and America's Next Top Model will all move to Friday night primetime where "Everybody Hates Chris" leading at 8:00pm, "The Game" at 8:30pm and encore presentations/new season of "America's Next Top Model" at 9:00pm. The 4th season of Everybody Hates Chris is slated to air on Friday October 3, 2008.
In Canada (and parts of the Northern US), Everybody Hates Chris can be seen on Citytv, a network with locally-focused stations in five cities. The same episode normally airs at several different times over the course of a weekend in the following timeslots:
Winnipeg: Saturday, 4:30pm Centra Toronto: Sunday, 6:30pm Eastern
Calgary and Edmonton: Sunday, 7:30pm Mountain
Vancouver: Sunday, 6:30pm Pacific
It is shown on Fiver, MTV Base and Paramount Comedy 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Norway it is shown on TV 2, in Germany on Pro 7 and in Israel it is shown on Bip.
Everybody Hates Chris
Cast
While the fictional family is loosely based on that of the real-life Chris Rock, its surname has not been revealed.
Tichina Arnold as Rochelle, the very censorious, strict, sassy and frantic mother. Rochelle often displays those characteristics in amusing or wacky ways. For instance, Rochelle once tenderly resolved a conflict between Drew and Tonya.
Immediately afterwards, she took off her belt and instructed them both to "take it upstairs." Rochelle's funny side is also displayed while acting intimidatingly. For example, she makes exaggerated threats of physical punishment, such as telling Chris how she'll slap him into another nationality if he ever lies to her (Chris once fearfully imagined his mother going through with this action). Among her antics, Rochelle cares too much about what others think, has a different noticeable facial expression for everything, sings terribly, obsesses over Turtle chocolates, recommends Robitussin for every ailment, and always makes sure her children aren't making babies--for her to raise anyway.
Terry Crews as Julius, the caring, easygoing, levelheaded, but very worrywart, penurious father. Julius has two jobs as a newspaper delivery man and the landlord of the apartment he and his family live in. As a result of being extra worried, mostly over spending too much money, Julius' behavior becomes particularly inconsiderate of his family, frequently to the point of him appearing ridiculous. One example of this is Julius' forcing of his family members to stop using certain devices that require electricity. Though Julius does things that put his family through a great deal of hardship, he does it to protect them financially. Julius once got yet another job as a fisherman, at the same time forcing his family to put up with a terrible stench he brought home as a result of that job.
However, Julius' quirky tightfisted behavior is not limited towards just his loved ones, but towards complete strangers as well. Once he worked as a department store santa and frightened a bunch of kids when they asked for expensive gifts. He is frequently seen instantaneously adding up the exact value of items when he believes that their price is too high. Tyler James Williams as Chris, the protagonist and the ambitious, innocent, normal, but hapless, scapegoat, vulnerable eldest child. He wishes he were cool, handsome, talented, popular, or anything positive. Regardless of whether Chris possesses any of these traits, he's certainly never treated as if he does, but often as if he doesn't. As a few examples, Chris is bullied at school, tortured by his sister, shown up by his brother, victimized by the racist teaching staff, gets his money stolen by neighborhood thugs, underpaid at work, receives tough love from his "ghetto-snobbish" mother, and distressing treatment from his cheap father. Next to all this, Chris is always the butt of the last jokes on each show.
Everybody Hates Chris
Cast continued
Tequan Richmond as Drew, the middle child that seems like a class-act and the role-model compared to Chris in particular, despite being younger than him. In fact, Drew can effortlessly attract all the girls that Chris has crushes on, but can't get. Drew is mischievous, as well as cool and talented compared to Chris. Whenever Chris gets in trouble, Drew's always there to let Chris know just how deep in trouble he's in. Drew is often at odds with his sister, Tonya. In one episode, it was pointed out by Chris Rock's narration, that the Drew character hadn't got any lines throughout that entire episode.
Imani Hakim as Tonya, the daughter and antagonist of her older brothers. As the youngest and the only daughter, she is able to get anything out of her father. Tonya sometimes gets away with murder while getting her brothers in trouble, by tattling on them. Despite this, she gets what she deserves half the time.
Vincent Martella as Greg Wuliger, the white, nerdy best friend of Chris, who's usually giving Chris advice. If there's one person who is there for Chris, or at least there to suffer and get bullied with Chris, it's Greg. That is, when he hasn't turned around, tucked his tail, and ran away before Chris knows what hit him. Greg gets bullied almost as much as Chris does. Chris Rock as The Narrator (voice), an older Chris looking back at his youth, like that of The Wonder Years. His narration is usually the opposite of what his younger self says.
Everybody Hates Chris
Recurring characters
Bedford-Stuyvesant residents
Mike Estime as Risky, a black market dealer who sells items that are always faulty or stolen. He also once had a job as a paper boy.
Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch) as Mr. Harris (a.k.a. "Doc"), the local grocery store owner, who appeared late in Season 1.
Todd Bridges (Willis Jackson on the 1970s sitcom, Diff'rent Strokes) as Monk, Mr. Harris' nephew, who also works at the grocery. Monk used to be part of the military.
Kevontay Jackson as Jerome, a predatory older teenager in the neighborhood, who robs small kids, like Chris, on the block. His catchphrase is, "Hey! Little dude from across the street, lemme hold a dollar."
Ernest Thomas (Roger Thomas from What's Happening!!) as Mr. Omar, a funeral director, who lives above Chris and his family. He is seen with a different newly widowed woman for almost every appearance he makes. He claims to be just consoling these attractive women in their time of grief, though it seems very much as if he's trying to get close to them for purely sexual reasons.
Ricky Harris as Malvo, a petty criminal who robs Chris at Doc's and threatens to kill him if he identifies him. Later, after he gets out of jail, he forces Chris to chain-snatch a gold medallion.
Myzel Robinson as Fat Mike, who protects Chris from local thugs and makes friends with him.
Whoopi Goldberg as Louise Clarkson, the antagonistic neighbor, who insults Chris and infuriates Rochelle.
Paige Hurd as Tasha, Louise's granddaughter. She lives with her grandmother and sees Chris frequently. According to Chris, she is the only girl who doesn't hate him.
Jeris Lee Poindexter as Edgar Devereaux a.k.a. Kill Moves, an insane crackhead. He was once an air traffic controller and once taught Drew some karate moves at the laundromat. Kill Moves is actually a millionaire but he prefers to live freely on the streets.
Jackée Harry as Vanessa, Rochelle's bubbly, wisecracking girlfriend and one of the gossipy workers at the local beauty salon.
Everybody Hates Chris
Recurring characters continued
Tasia Sherel as Pam, another of Rochelle's girlfriends at the local beauty salon.
Corleone Junior High/High School staff and students
Travis T. Flory as Joey Caruso, the racist school bully who routinely picks on Chris. Ironically, he is obese and short, similar to some of the kids he has picked on Jacqueline Mazarella as Ms. Morello, Chris' naively racist teacher. In an effort to be sweet, kind, and supportive, she unintentionally comes off as racist against African Americans.
In some episodes however, it seems as if she's deliberately being racist against African Americans and just making it appear as if it's a mistake. Despite this, she's very much attracted to African American men.
Lynda Scarlino as Mrs. Milone, the elderly school monitor. She's often seen disciplining someone. Her way of "hating" Chris, is that she disciplines Chris even when he hasn't done anything wrong.
Jason Alexander as Principal Edwards, the eccentric new principal of Corleone, who tricks Chris into confronting Caruso, and in a later episode, is stuck indoors with Chris during a snowstorm.
Sam Mandel as Fisher, who helps forge Chris's report card. He later helps Chris retrieve Chris's father's Playboy magazine from Mrs. Milone.
Chris Rock as Mr. Abbott, an unhelpful school guidance counselor, with a strange speaking manner. Mr. Abbott has anything but good news for Chris. He even informed Chris how he would have to take "remedial classes." It comes to a point where Rochelle ends up having to come up to the school to have a talk with Mr. Abbott, as she wasn't impressed by his "guiding", making that known in her humorous manner.
Kwame Boateng as Albert, the new black kid at Corleone who befriends Chris, which makes Greg jealous.
Everybody Hates Chris
Former recurring characters
Jude Ciccolella as Dr. Julius Raymond, the former principal at Corleone Junior High.
Keesha Sharp as Sheila Ridenhour, the family's next door neighbor and a good friend of Rochelle's. Julius usually feels uncomfortable around her because she's an attractive woman who is attracted to him, which Rochelle does not know about. Sharp however left after nine episodes to play the role of Monica full-time on Girlfriends for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons.
Aree Davis as Keisha Ridenhour, Sheila's daughter and Chris's dream girl, who unfortunately fancies Chris' younger brother Drew. In Season 2, Keisha moved away to Compton, ironically believing it to be a crime free city.
Everybody Hates Chris
Memorable guest stars
Chris's extended family
Just as wacky and memorable as Chris's immediate family, they turned up in the episode "Everybody Hates Funerals". However, Mike and Maxine have been the only family members to appear in more than one episode
Jimmie Walker (J. J. Evans on the sitcom Good Times) as Gene, Rochelle's father, who dies of a heart attack at the dinner table on his first appearance on the show. However, he reappears to comfort Rochelle as a ghost later on in the same episode. Gene reappeared in flashbacks in "Everybody Hates Gambling", where Rochelle says that Gene gambled on just about anything and "Everybody Hates the Port Authority", where Chris and Julius lose all their money in a card game.
Loretta Devine as Maxine, Rochelle's soft-spoken, helpful, sometimes very troublesome mother. She and Rochelle don't always get along because she's critical of Rochelle and likes to take over, which Rochelle doesn't take well at all. She also caused chaos when she visited for her husband's funeral. In a later episode Rochelle tries to set her up with a date, but it didn't go well. Maxine is also a mathematician and taught Rochelle everything she knows about math and helped out Chris with his math. It was said on one episode in particular, that she's an even bigger "ghetto snob" than Rochelle.
Monica Calhoun as Aunt Charlotte "Grievey", one of Rochelle's sisters who only appears at funerals and cries a lot. Ikonastarr as Aunt Mousey, another one of Rochelle's sisters who is so named because she talks like a mouse and only speaks when spoken to.
Wayne Brady as Uncle Louis, Julius' successful, highly skilled, and charismatic younger brother, of whom Julius is very jealous. Earthquake as Uncle Mike, Rochelle's lazy, freeloading, and obnoxious older brother. He knows how to get on Julius' bad side, such as by roaming about the house in Julius' clothes or giving him out-dated tickets to sports games.
Everybody Hates Chris
Others
Gary Basaraba as Art Wulliger, Greg's divorced father who never lets him have friends over. Orlando Jones as Mr. Newton, the substitute teacher, who's exacting towards Chris, and Chris only, because he wants him to get As.
DJ Quik as Hilton "Hilly Hill" Reed, the DJ, who takes over Chris's DJing duties at a party. Richard Lewis as Kris, a mysterious man whom Chris befriends at the hospital.
Michael Spellman as Magician the Magician, a magician who once scared Julius with a rabbit.
Christina DeRosa as Trixie, a young, tough New York stripper that Chris falls for.
Vincent Pastore as Paulie, a bookie who threatens "Chrissy the Black" unless Doc loses a basketball game.
Robert Wuhl as Abe, a pawnbroker who gives Chris everything he needs to be a DJ.
Phylicia Rashād as Kathleen Devereaux, Kill Moves' estranged mother whom Chris helps him find.
Tommy Davidson as Eddie, a bank robber whom Julius takes to Las Vegas while working as a cab driver despite his initial reluctance to do so.
Everybody Hates Chris
Guest stars
Chris Rock and Ali Leroi, the creators of Everybody Hates Chris, cast celebrities from popular television programs to play Chris's extended family and citizens: Jackée Harry, who was better known for playing Sandra Clark on 227, but quite well known for playing Lisa Landry on Sister, Sister was cast as Vanessa, the hair stylist at the local beauty salon.
Moesha’s Shar Jackson appeared on an episode of Everybody Hates Chris, playing a mother named Alyson whose daughter, is rebellious.
Eva Marcelle, JB Smoove, Tony Rock (Chris Rock's real-life younger brother), Keesha Sharp, Aree Davis, Jacqueline Marzarella, Ricky Harris, Lauren London, Megan Good, etc. are among the people that have appeared on the show.
Whether these guest stars will reappear on the show is unknown.
Everybody Hates Chris
Plot summary
The show revolves around the everyday life of Chris, a 15 year-old ninth grader. Chris is just an average boy (and one of the few 'normal' characters on the show), surrounded by a collection of crazy characters that act as if they "hate" him. Chris attends an all-caucasian school with not only students who pick on him, but teachers as well, and lives in a dangerous neighborhood.. Like that of Wile E. Coyote--if things are going Chris' way throughout an episode as favorably as could be, they'll find a way to backfire on him during the episode (often by the end). If things aren't going Chris' way, things always manage to get worse for him, whether or not he tries to change the course of events.
The guest characters on the show all seem to have it out for Chris, for some unknown reason. In fact, comedian Chris Rock, who the show is based on, made a guest appearance as the school's guidance counselor, Mr. Abbot. Mr. Abbot also seemed to dislike Chris and unhelpfully focused on how Chris was in trouble academically. Even the warmest of guest characters have some inexplicable dislike of Chris, such as a guest who was also named Kris (Richard Lewis), who was injured and in hospital.
In the third season finale, Chris graduates from Corleone Junior High School, but his joy is cut short when Greg moves to a new school -- Chris quickly hatches a plan to go to Greg's high school.
When Chris goes home, things don't get any easier because his bizarre family life presents its own set of problems. The show is comparable to both Wonder Years and Malcolm In The Middle.
During the series' run, Everybody Hates Chris was set in different time periods throughout the 1980s. The first season was set in 1982-1983. The second season was set in 1984-1985. The third season is set in 1985-1986. For the fourth season (which might premiere in September or October again), the series is either set to 1986–1987 or 1987–1988.
Everybody Hates Chris
Motifs
Much like the comedy series Family Guy and Scrubs, Everybody Hates Chris will often make a joke, then cut to a clip that enacts what was said—whether it be a hypothetical situation, or an exaggeration of a situation the family is said to have experienced in the past.
Each episode title begins with "Everybody Hates" (with the exception of the pilot, which also had a different opening theme).
Every episode ends with the words "Everybody Hates Chris," heard in song. This also happened in season 1 when the second commercial break started.
The show has a Cold Open-2 Act format, with varying ABC(D) story lines.
Jokes about race relations almost always occur when Chris is in school.
Everybody Hates Chris
Running gags
Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (December 2007)
Although an episodic sitcom, in which characters' situations change from episode to episode, there are several character tendencies, thematic elements, and sayings that continue throughout the series. These include:
Drew, Chris's younger brother, is taller and looks much older than Chris does. In real life this still occurs, as Tyler is 21 days older than Tequan.
Whenever Uncle Mike refers to Julius, he will yell "BIG MAAAAN!!!"
Whenever Vanessa visits, she and Rochelle are usually excited in their wild fashion about something, often tickets to concerts. Julius, being very frugal, will always know the exact monetary value of anything he feels is being wasted by the family. Whenever Chris is in any major trouble, Rochelle is the only character to always give him a "whooping".
Robitussin is the cure for every—and any—family injury or illness, according to Rochelle. This is a reference to a joke Chris used during his Bigger & Blacker comedy special. Rochelle is always making sure that no one thinks of her or her family as poor (an example quote: "Girl, whatchoo talkin' 'bout food stamps? Who's sellin' food stamps? I ain't sellin' no food stamps!"), yet she judges everyone else because she is a "ghetto snob."
Chris and Greg are obsessed with the movie Rocky and its sequels, referring to it often in several episodes. Rochelle uses a range of vibrant and colorful threats. (such as "I'll slap the caps off your knees!" "I'll slap you into another nationality!" "I'll stick my foot so far up your behind, you'll have toes for teeth! I'll smack you into another family!")
Whenever Chris is in trouble, especially with Caruso, Greg runs away.
Whenever a girl talks to Chris, Greg always tells him "You are so in there."
Whenever Rochelle leaves a job, her last words before actually going are always "I don't need this. My man has two jobs." Rochelle loves Turtles, a chocolate pecan candy. Tonya never resists the opportunity to get her brothers into trouble.
Julius and other characters buy various items from Risky that are always faulty (and implied to be stolen).
Jerome essentially robs Chris and other neighborhood kids by saying "Lemme hold a dollar."
When Risky appears, there is always a whisper of someone in the background saying "Riskay"
When Chris is asked a yes-or-no question in the context of the episode, the narrating Chris (as an adult) usually says the opposite answer of his younger self.
Whenever Chris falls onto, gets hit by (not seriously), or climbs onto a car for any reason, the owner would lean out of the car and shout, "Get off of my car, fool!"
Chris' last name Rock, is never mentioned in the series. Mr. Omar will often recount stories centered on the demise of his client's husbands, ending with his signature line "Tragic".
Everybody Hates Chris
Awards and nominations
2006 Golden Globe Awards
Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy (nominated) 2006 NAACP Image Awards
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series — Tyler James Williams (Won)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series — Tichina Arnold (Won)
Outstanding Comedy Series (Won)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series — Ken Whittingham (nominated)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Terry Crews (nominated)
2006 Writers Guild of America
New Series, Television — Aron Abrams, Rodney Barnes, Chris Rock (nominated)
2007 AFI Awards
Episode list
Season Ep # First Airdate Last Airdate
Season 1 22 September 22, 2005 May 11, 2006
Season 2 22 October 1, 2006 May 14, 2007
Season 3 22 October 1, 2007 May 18, 2008
Season 4 22 October 3, 2008 May 22, 2009[10]
Everybody Hates Chris
DVD releases
Season Episodes Discs DVD release date Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
1 22 4 USA: October 10, 2006 UK: August 30, 2007 [1] AUS: August 16, 2007
Commentaries by the cast and crew, Everybody hates the making of Everybody hates Chris, Everybody hates the set, Everybody hates video cameras, bloopers, deleted scenes, cast auditions. Some of the music found in the show has been replaced by alternate songs and/or covers of the songs in the DVD release. This is mentioned on the back of the DVD packaging and is due to copyright issues, which has affected many DVD releases of television shows. Season Episodes Discs DVD release date
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 2 22 4 USA: October 9, 2007 UK: AUS:
Everybody hates the cast and crew again, Everybody hates a day in the life of Tyler James Williams, Everybody hates Mr. Omar's women, Everybody hates Vincent's school tour, Everybody hates stand-ins, Everybody hates Caruse-isms, Everybody hates Mrs. Marello's racism, Everybody hates wardrobe, and a gag reel.[11] Season Episodes Discs DVD release date
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 3 22 4 USA: August 26, 2008 [12] UK: AUS: U.S. broadcast history
September 2005 – May 2006: Thursdays 8:00pm/7:00pm
September 2006: Sundays 7:00pm/6:00pm
October 2006 — March 2008: Mondays 8:00pm/7:00pm
March 2008 - : Sundays 8:00pm/7:00pm
Click here to see a great Everybody Hates Chris video clip
Everybody Hates Chris
International broadcast
Belgium by VT4
Brazil by Sony Entertainment Television (on Cable TV) and TV Record
Canada by Citytv
Croatia by Nova TV
France by M6
Germany by ProSieben
Ireland by TV3 Ireland
Israel by Bip
Italy by Comedy Central Italia
Latin America by Sony Entertainment Television
The Netherlands by Veronica
New Zealand by TV3
Norway by TV2 Norway
Serbia by Fox televizija
South Africa by SABC 1
Australia by Network Ten (Originally)/ Ten HD Sundays at 5:00pm
United Kingdom & Ireland by Paramount Comedy, Fiver and MTV One
Venezuela by RCTV
Portugal by RTP2 (no longer broadcasting) and RTP regional channels (RTP Açores and Madeira) (re-runs)
Everybody Hates Chris
Ratings
2005-2006 season, #120 4.3million avg. [14]
2006-2007 season, #137 2.7million avg. [15]
Notes
On the Australian satire The Chaser's War on Everything Chris Taylor tries to change the name of the show to Everybody Hates Chas, Everybody Hates Craig, Everybody Hates Rove, Some People Hate Chris and Most People Hate Chris But Some People Don't Think He's Such A Bad Bloke.
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Dirty Jobs
Dirty Jobs
Category: Reality Television
Star: Mike Rowe (also narrator for Mythbusters and Most Dangerous Catch?---to be verified)
Opening Theme: "We Care A Lot" by Faith No More
Number of Episodes: 78
Original Run: November 7, 2003 to present
Dirty Jobs is a Discovery Channel show. In the show Mike Rowe takes on jobs that are seen as "dirty" because they are difficult, strange, and/or messy. He works with the professionals of each job to show who does what job and how. The show premiered with three pilot episodes in November 2003. It returned as a series on July 26, 2005. The episodes shown on the European Discovery Channel sometimes include scenes that were not included in the U.S. version
An Australian version of the show commenced airing on the Nine Network from October 7, 2007.
Mike Rowe is a smart quick-witted television personality. The way he interacts with the people in the blue-collar jobs he is exploring makes the show the success it is.
The show is filmed so that Rowe is seen as a fully-involved assistant during a typical work day. He does the actual work and faces the actual risks of job. The usually cameraman is Doug Glover, who often gets just as dirty as Rowe does. Rowe is always muttering, on camera, about how Dave Barsky (field producer for the show) is putting him in another dangerous situation to get "the shot".
Mike Rowe makes jokes about the jobs but he never makes fun of the workers themselves. The show is about showing what people will do to earn money.
The show always begin with Mike Rowe's quote as follows: "My name is Mike Rowe, and this is my job: I explore the country looking for people who aren't afraid to get dirty—hard-working men and women who earn an honest living doing the kinds of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Now... get ready, to get dirty."Dirty Jobs is a spin-off of from a segment host Mike Rowe did on a local San Francisco program called Somebody's Gotta Do It. He did a very graphic piece on cow artificial insemination, Rowe got all kinds of letters. Rowe then sent the tape to the Discovery Channel and they made it a show (Dirty Jobs).
Dirty Jobs is now produced by Craig Piligian (executive producer) of Pilgrim Film & Television. The Discovery Channel executive producer is Gena McCarthy. Craig Piligian is also the producer of American Chopper and American Hot Rod. Mike has stated in recently aired promos (done along side a large sow) that he originally wanted to honor his father, and grandfather, by bringing fame to the less-than-glorious careers.
In July 2006, the show aired two special episodes, one at the beginning and one at the end, of Discovery Channel's Shark Week. Mike Rowe hosted these. Rowe was shown doing a number of jobs related to the animals. He took on the job of a shark repellent tester and a shark suit tester. Both of those jobs involved Rowe jumping into a shark feeding frenzy. The show titles were "Dirty Jobs That Bite" (the opening show) and "Dirty Jobs That Bite Harder" (closing show).
In late August of 2006, the show made its 100th episode. To celebrate it a two-hour episode showing Mike's day with the U.S. Army's 187th Ordnance Battalion at Fort Jackson. There were bloopers and an "about me" segment of Mike's crew. Mike Rowe and Dave Barsky played a guitar/banjo duet and performed a song about the 100 dirty jobs. The show aired a 2-hour 150th job special in early December 2007.
Click here for a great Dirty Jobs video clip
The special showed footage of Rowe's 150th job (working on a yak and bison farm in Montana) and footage of a party held at a San Francisco junkyard where people featured in past Dirty Jobs segments were united with Rowe.
Each episode ends with a segment where Rowe tells the viewers that the show's continued existence depends on viewer submissions of suggestions for additional dirty jobs, and instructs them to go to the show's website for details on how to submit ideas. Rowe has often noted that the show would be lost without the viewer contributions. The Discovery Channel has been flooded with idea submissions. In July 2007 Rowe was a guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He told Ferguson "I haven't had an original idea since then."
There was stuff that was "too gross" to make it on air. One such situation was a segment filmed by Dirty Jobs in 2003. It involved roadkill taxidermy. According to roadkill taxidermy artist Stephen Paternite the segment was cut by the Discovery Channel as "too gross." The segment involved Mike Rowe and Paternite gathering skin dead raccoons, which Paternite will eventually turn into art pieces. The segment is available on Paternite's website and on You Tube under the name "Too Gross for Discovery." Other segments that were not aired include the "body farmer" and crime scene investigators. Even aired segments can be heavily edited, such as the "skull cleaner" segment. Parts of it were seen as too graphic for television.
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
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Thursday, May 3, 2012
Life With Boys
Life With Boys
Promotional cast photo. Jake Goodman, Nathan McLeod, Torri Webster, Michael Murphy and Madison Pettis (from left to right)
Format Teen sitcom
Created by Michael Poryes
Directed by Stefan Scaini
Steve Wright
Starring Torri Webster
Madison Pettis
Nathan McLeod
Michael Murphy
Jake Goodman
Sandy Jobin-Bevans
Opening theme "A Wonderful Life" by Katia Zuccarelli
Country of origin Canada
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 14 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Michael Poryes
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) Nelvana Studio
YTV
Broadcast
Original channel YTV (CAN)
Nickelodeon (USA)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original run September 9, 2011 – present
External links
Official website
Life with Boys is a Canadian teen sitcom that started broadcasting in Canada on YTV in September 2011. It follows Tess Foster (Torri Webster) as she copes with living in a home with just boys: her father, Jack, and three brothers, Gabe, Spencer and Sam. With the help of her best friend Allie (Madison Pettis), she pulls through.[1]
ShowPremise
Each half-hour episode follows 14-year-old Tess Foster as she navigates her way through the turmoil of teen life while living at home with her single, overprotective dad and three brothers. Although Tess adores the four important men in her life, they do have four totally different perspectives. Despite the shortcomings of being the only girl in a male household, the boys can sometimes offer solid advice. Whether it’s building up the courage to talk to a boy, dealing with an obnoxious one, or coping with the repercussions of being the only girl on the boys’ wrestling team, Life With Boys sheds a comedic light on many of life’s difficult moments.
ShowCharacters
Main characters
Tess Foster (Torri Webster) is the main protagonist of the show. Tess is 14 years old and the only girl in a house of all boys. She is a typical teen who loves clothes, boys, and wrestling. She is dating Bobby Parelli.
Allie Brooks (Madison Pettis) is Tess' best friend, a bright and popular cheerleader who loves makeup and fashion and is typical girlie girl. She's a fixture at the Foster household, despite never quite understanding how Tess can survive life in a house full of boys.
Gabe Foster (Nathan McLeod) is a 16 year-old heartthrob who loves shelling out girl advice to his younger brothers. A self-professed babe magnet, Gabe likes to play the field, and almost always has a girl on his arm.
Sam Foster (Michael Murphy) is Tess' twin brother who is a bit of a geek. Sam has a massive crush on Allie, but his efforts to woo her always end in rejection.
Spencer Foster (Jake Goodman) is the youngest of the Foster clan, eight year-old Spencer is precocious scary-smart, and uses these tools to his advantage. His older brother Gabe is his idol, and he always seeks out his advice!
Jack Foster (Sandy Jobin-Bevans) is Tess, Gabe, Spencer and Sam's dad and is also the Gym Teacher at the high school. He can be a bit overprotective of his family, but he struggles the most with Tess.
Recurring characters
Bobby Parelli (John-Alan Slachta) is a wrestling champion. He was Tess' enemy. Now he and Tess are dating.
ShowEpisodes
Main article: List of Life with Boys episodes
Season Episodes Originally aired
Season premiere Season finale
1 22[2] September 9, 2011 TBA
ShowChannels
YTV
Life with Boys began airing on YTV in Canada Friday night's starting in September 2011.
On October 16, 2011 Madison Pettis (Allie) was a guest on YTV’s Sunday Big Fun Movie Coraline. She was interviewed by Laura in-between some of the commercial breaks. Madison said that she was living in Los Angeles but is happy to be filming Life with Boys in Ontario, Canada. She said her favorite thing about the show was her and Torri Webster’s (Tess) cool wardrobes.
Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland)
Nickelodeon UK showed a sneak peek (Episode #1) of Life With Boys on October 21st 2011 after the new Nickelodeon Movie, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. The show fully premiered on November 21st 2011 along with the new show Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
Nick Extra
Main article: Nick Extra
On December 31st 2011, Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland) released a short labelled Nick Extra with Life With Boys. It showed behind the scenes of the show and an interview with Torri Webster, Nathan McLeod, Michael Murphy & Jake Goodman.
ShowInternational release dates
Country / Region Channel Series premiere Title in country
Canada YTV September 9, 2011 Life with Boys
France Canal J November 20, 2011 La vie mouvementée de Tess Foster (The Eventful Life of Tess Foster)
United Kingdom
Ireland Nickelodeon (UK and Ireland) November 21, 2011 Life with Boys
Netherlands
Flanders Nickelodeon (Netherlands & Flanders) February 13, 2012
Germany Nickelodeon (Germany) February 20, 2012 Allein unter Jungs (Alone Between Boys)
Sweden Nickelodeon (Sweden) February 20, 2012 Life with Boys
Denmark Nickelodeon Denmark February 20, 2012
Philippines Nickelodeon (Philippines) March 15, 2012
Greece Nickelodeon (Greece) April 12, 2012
Spain Nickelodeon (Spain) April 16, 2012 Mi vida entre chicos (My Life with Boys)
Nigeria Nickelodeon (Africa) April 23, 2012 Life with Boys
Hungary Nickelodeon (Hungary) April 23, 2012 Fiúkkal az Élet (Life with Boys)
Russia Nickelodeon (CIS) April 23, 2012 Жизнь среди мальчишек (Life Among the Boys)
Turkey Nickelodeon (Turkey) April 23, 2012 Oğlanlarla Hayat (Life with Boys)
Poland Nickelodeon (Poland) April 23, 2012 Tess kontra chłopaki (Tess vs. Boys)
Brazil Nickelodeon (Brazil) May 2012
United States Nickelodeon June 2012 Life with Boys
Australia Nickelodeon (Australia) 2012
New Zealand Nickelodeon (New Zealand) 2012
ShowReferences
^ Press release (August 18, 2011). "Torri Webster And Madison Pettis Star In Nelvana Studio's Life With Boys Premiering September 9 On YTV". Reuters. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
^ Shows A-Z life with boys on nickelodeon
ShowExternal links
Promotional cast photo. Jake Goodman, Nathan McLeod, Torri Webster, Michael Murphy and Madison Pettis (from left to right)
Format Teen sitcom
Created by Michael Poryes
Directed by Stefan Scaini
Steve Wright
Starring Torri Webster
Madison Pettis
Nathan McLeod
Michael Murphy
Jake Goodman
Sandy Jobin-Bevans
Opening theme "A Wonderful Life" by Katia Zuccarelli
Country of origin Canada
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 14 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Michael Poryes
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) Nelvana Studio
YTV
Broadcast
Original channel YTV (CAN)
Nickelodeon (USA)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original run September 9, 2011 – present
External links
Official website
Life with Boys is a Canadian teen sitcom that started broadcasting in Canada on YTV in September 2011. It follows Tess Foster (Torri Webster) as she copes with living in a home with just boys: her father, Jack, and three brothers, Gabe, Spencer and Sam. With the help of her best friend Allie (Madison Pettis), she pulls through.[1]
ShowPremise
Each half-hour episode follows 14-year-old Tess Foster as she navigates her way through the turmoil of teen life while living at home with her single, overprotective dad and three brothers. Although Tess adores the four important men in her life, they do have four totally different perspectives. Despite the shortcomings of being the only girl in a male household, the boys can sometimes offer solid advice. Whether it’s building up the courage to talk to a boy, dealing with an obnoxious one, or coping with the repercussions of being the only girl on the boys’ wrestling team, Life With Boys sheds a comedic light on many of life’s difficult moments.
ShowCharacters
Main characters
Tess Foster (Torri Webster) is the main protagonist of the show. Tess is 14 years old and the only girl in a house of all boys. She is a typical teen who loves clothes, boys, and wrestling. She is dating Bobby Parelli.
Allie Brooks (Madison Pettis) is Tess' best friend, a bright and popular cheerleader who loves makeup and fashion and is typical girlie girl. She's a fixture at the Foster household, despite never quite understanding how Tess can survive life in a house full of boys.
Gabe Foster (Nathan McLeod) is a 16 year-old heartthrob who loves shelling out girl advice to his younger brothers. A self-professed babe magnet, Gabe likes to play the field, and almost always has a girl on his arm.
Sam Foster (Michael Murphy) is Tess' twin brother who is a bit of a geek. Sam has a massive crush on Allie, but his efforts to woo her always end in rejection.
Spencer Foster (Jake Goodman) is the youngest of the Foster clan, eight year-old Spencer is precocious scary-smart, and uses these tools to his advantage. His older brother Gabe is his idol, and he always seeks out his advice!
Jack Foster (Sandy Jobin-Bevans) is Tess, Gabe, Spencer and Sam's dad and is also the Gym Teacher at the high school. He can be a bit overprotective of his family, but he struggles the most with Tess.
Recurring characters
Bobby Parelli (John-Alan Slachta) is a wrestling champion. He was Tess' enemy. Now he and Tess are dating.
ShowEpisodes
Main article: List of Life with Boys episodes
Season Episodes Originally aired
Season premiere Season finale
1 22[2] September 9, 2011 TBA
ShowChannels
YTV
Life with Boys began airing on YTV in Canada Friday night's starting in September 2011.
On October 16, 2011 Madison Pettis (Allie) was a guest on YTV’s Sunday Big Fun Movie Coraline. She was interviewed by Laura in-between some of the commercial breaks. Madison said that she was living in Los Angeles but is happy to be filming Life with Boys in Ontario, Canada. She said her favorite thing about the show was her and Torri Webster’s (Tess) cool wardrobes.
Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland)
Nickelodeon UK showed a sneak peek (Episode #1) of Life With Boys on October 21st 2011 after the new Nickelodeon Movie, The Boy Who Cried Werewolf. The show fully premiered on November 21st 2011 along with the new show Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness.
Nick Extra
Main article: Nick Extra
On December 31st 2011, Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland) released a short labelled Nick Extra with Life With Boys. It showed behind the scenes of the show and an interview with Torri Webster, Nathan McLeod, Michael Murphy & Jake Goodman.
ShowInternational release dates
Country / Region Channel Series premiere Title in country
Canada YTV September 9, 2011 Life with Boys
France Canal J November 20, 2011 La vie mouvementée de Tess Foster (The Eventful Life of Tess Foster)
United Kingdom
Ireland Nickelodeon (UK and Ireland) November 21, 2011 Life with Boys
Netherlands
Flanders Nickelodeon (Netherlands & Flanders) February 13, 2012
Germany Nickelodeon (Germany) February 20, 2012 Allein unter Jungs (Alone Between Boys)
Sweden Nickelodeon (Sweden) February 20, 2012 Life with Boys
Denmark Nickelodeon Denmark February 20, 2012
Philippines Nickelodeon (Philippines) March 15, 2012
Greece Nickelodeon (Greece) April 12, 2012
Spain Nickelodeon (Spain) April 16, 2012 Mi vida entre chicos (My Life with Boys)
Nigeria Nickelodeon (Africa) April 23, 2012 Life with Boys
Hungary Nickelodeon (Hungary) April 23, 2012 Fiúkkal az Élet (Life with Boys)
Russia Nickelodeon (CIS) April 23, 2012 Жизнь среди мальчишек (Life Among the Boys)
Turkey Nickelodeon (Turkey) April 23, 2012 Oğlanlarla Hayat (Life with Boys)
Poland Nickelodeon (Poland) April 23, 2012 Tess kontra chłopaki (Tess vs. Boys)
Brazil Nickelodeon (Brazil) May 2012
United States Nickelodeon June 2012 Life with Boys
Australia Nickelodeon (Australia) 2012
New Zealand Nickelodeon (New Zealand) 2012
ShowReferences
^ Press release (August 18, 2011). "Torri Webster And Madison Pettis Star In Nelvana Studio's Life With Boys Premiering September 9 On YTV". Reuters. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
^ Shows A-Z life with boys on nickelodeon
ShowExternal links
A Different World
A Different World (TV series)
Format: Sitcom
Created by: William Cosby Jr., Ed.D.
Starring: Lisa Bonet (1987-88), Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison Marisa Tomei (1987-88), Darryl M. Bell (1988-93), Cree Summer (1988-93), Charnele Brown (1988-93), Glynn Turman (1988-93) Dawnn Lewis (1987-92), Michelle Smith (1987-1991) Sinbad (1988-91), Mary Alice (1988-89), Lou Myers (1989-93) Karen Malina White (1992-93), Jada Pinkett (1992-93) Ajai Sanders (1992-93), Loretta Devine (1987-88)
Opening theme performed by: Phoebe Snow (Season 1), Aretha Franklin (Seasons 2-5), Boyz II Men (Season 6) Country of origin: United States
No. of seasons: 6 No. of episodes: 144 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s): Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Debbie Allen (Seasons 2+), Caryn Mandabach, (seasons 5+), Susan Fales (Season 6)
Running time: 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel: NBC
Original run: September 24, 1987 – July 9, 1993
A Different World is an American television sitcom which aired for six seasons on NBC (from September 24, 1987 until July 9, 1993). It was a spin-off series from The Cosby Show, originally centered around Denise Huxtable (portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet) and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college in Virginia. Later seasons of the show focused on other characters including Dwayne Wayne (portrayed by actor Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (portrayed by actress Jasmine Guy).
While it was a spin-off from the Cosby Show, A Different World typically addressed issues that were avoided by the Cosby Show writers (race and class relations, the Equal Rights Amendment). One episode that aired in 1990 was one of the first American network television episodes to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Reruns can be seen weekdays on BET as well as in syndication in select cities.
The success and popularity of A Different World is credited with an increase in enrollment at historically Black colleges and universities during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
A Different World
Cast
Mary Alice - Leticia "Lettie" Bostic (Episodes 13-20, 23-44)
Darryl M. Bell - Ronald "Ron" Johnson, Jr. (Seasons 2-6, recurring in Season 1)
Lisa Bonet - Denise Huxtable (Season 1, guest-starring in Episode 49)
Charnele Brown - Kimberly Reese (Seasons 2-6)
Loretta Devine - Stevie Rallen (Episodes 1-9, 21)
Jasmine Guy - Whitley Gilbert (except Episode 22)
Kadeem Hardison - Dwayne Wayne (except Episode 22)
Michelle Smith - Brenda Jackson (Seasons 1-4)
Dawnn Lewis - Jaleesa Vinson (Seasons 1-5)
Patrick Malone - Terrell Walker (recurring in Season 6)
Lou Myers - Vernon Gaines (Seasons 3-6, recurring in Season 2)
Jada Pinkett - Lena James (Season 6, recurring in Season 5)
Marie-Alise Recasner - Millie (recurring in Season 1)
Bumper Robinson - Dorian Heywood (recurring in Season 6)
Ajai Sanders - Gina Deveaux (Season 6, recurring in Seasons 4 and 5)
Sinbad - Walter Oakes (Seasons 2-4, recurring in Season 1)
Cree Summer - Winifred "Freddie" Brooks (Seasons 2-6)
Marisa Tomei - Maggie Lauten (Season 1)
Glynn Turman - Col. Bradford Taylor (Seasons 2-6)
Cory Tyler - Terrence Taylor (recurring in Seasons 4 and 5)
Karen Malina White - Charmaine Tyesha Brown (Season 6, guest-starring in Episode 113)
Hillman College Reunion
In August 2006, Nick At Nite aired a weeklong marathon of A Different World episodes. Lisa Bonet, Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, and Sinbad reunited for short vignettes that provide a glimpse of the current state of their characters. Nick at Nite's Hillman College Reunion[2] website added details beyond those shown on television.
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
A Different World
Season 2 changes
During the summer of 1988, Lisa Bonet announced that she and husband Lenny Kravitz were having a baby. It was felt that viewers would not accept Denise Huxtable as an unwed mother, having grown to know her as a "good girl" after four seasons of The Cosby Show and A Different World. Thus it was decided that Denise would drop out of Hillman, return home to her family, and eventually travel to Africa throughout the fifth season of The Cosby Show, ensuring that viewers would not see a pregnant Denise. This led to Debbie Allen becoming the chief creative force behind A Different World, and to the revamp that placed Whitley and Dwayne at the center of a wider ensemble, dealing with more relevant issues of the day. Allen, an alumna of Howard University, made a conscious effort to make Hillman resemble an actual historically black college as much as possible. The first season of Hillman's student body consisted of both black and white students, but this was changed at the beginning of the second season and was maintained until the series ended.
Marisa Tomei and Marie-Alise Recasner were replaced by Charnele Brown and Cree Summer. Darryl M. Bell and Sinbad were promoted to the principal cast, which (coupled with the addition of Glynn Turman and Lou Myers) allowed the show to provide a more equitable balance of male and female perspectives.
Dwayne's status as the campus nerd was gradually phased out, and Ron was transformed from devoted boyfriend to notorious womanizer. The replacement of the passive Millie with the more confident Kim as Whitley's roommate and confidante helped to make Whitley a more sympathetic character.[citation needed] The addition of Freddie preserved other elements of Season 1, as the character represented both the Bohemian aspects of Denise and the studious nature of Maggie.
The Hollywood Reporter is quoted as stating that when Debbie Allen became the producer-director of A Different World after the first season, she transformed it "from a bland Cosby spin-off into a lively, socially responsible, ensemble situation comedy."
The Museum of Broadcast Communications states that Debbie Allen:
a graduate of historically black Howard University — drew from her college experiences in an effort to accurately reflect in the show the social and political life on black campuses. Moreover, Allen instituted a yearly spring trip to Atlanta where series writers visited two of the nation's leading black colleges, Morehouse and Spelman. During these visits, ideas for several of the episodes emerged from meetings with students and faculty."
A Different World
Notable episodes
In Season 2, the episodes "No Means No" deals with date rape. Freddie has a crush on Hillman's new top-notch baseball star Garth Parks (played by Taimak). Dwayne hears Garth discuss a disturbing incident involving another woman. Dwayne goes to Walter (Sinbad) for advice, and Walter tells him about date rape. Dwayne tries to warn Freddie, but she does not believe Garth would do such a thing. Later at a dance Garth goes off alone with Freddie and attempts to rape her, but Dwayne finds them and fights Garth. At the end of the episode Walter takes Garth to the police station for his assault on Freddie and rape of the other woman.
In January 1991 (seven days before the beginning of Operation Desert Storm), Blair Underwood guest-starred in "War and Peace," an episode written by Jasmine Guy and Dominic Hoffman about the impending Persian Gulf War. It was one of the only television series to address this topic in the days leading up to the war. In the fourth-season episode "Ms. Understanding", Hillman student Shazza Zulu, peddles a book he has written and self-published that is highly critical of African-American men and their allegedly sexist behavior. The episode is based on the controversy surrounding the book The Blackman's Guide to Understanding the Blackwoman [sic]. This book, written by controversial African American author Shahrazad Ali, blamed many of the problems within the Black family and the Black community on African American women. Though most Black women found the book highly offensive and intellectually deficient[citation needed], African-American men purchased hundreds of thousands of copies in 1989 and 1990, leading to a temporary rift between many African American men and women. Ali's book is mentioned specifically in the 1990 episode "Time Keeps On Slippin'," where Ron suggests putting it in the time capsule to represent a female point of view, but is shouted down by the women in the group. It should be noted that Ms. Ali’s beliefs stem from her fervent belief in Faradian Islam and her membership in the Nation of Islam.
The fifth-season episode "Mammy Dearest" addresses two subjects almost never discussed on prime time television: the "mammy" image and its negative effect upon African-Americans' sense of beauty and self-worth, and the little-known fact that some well-to-do African-Americans actually owned slaves themselves. Kim is disheartened with the display of several "mammy" dolls in a cultural exhibit, while Lena informs Whitley that her ancestors were slave owners.
Various episodes in the last two seasons of the series referenced contemporary high-profile cases of sexual harassment, such as the Mitsubishi scandal and the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings. In the episode "Bedroom at the Top," Whitley is sexually harassed at her new job by an executive. The Anita Hill hearings also are mentioned in the episode "The Little Mister," in which Dwayne dreams about the 1992 elections imagining himself as Hillary Clinton, while Whitley is Bill.
In Season 6 episode "Homie, Don't You Know Me?" also known as "The Lost Episode", rapper Tupac Shakur portrays Lena's (Jada Pinkett) old boyfriend from back home. The two bump heads over Lena's new college "attitude", not to mention her new boyfriend Dorian (Bumper Robinson). This is one of the few television sitcom appearances made by Tupac.
A Different World
Opening credits
Like its parent series The Cosby Show, A Different World altered its opening credit sequence at least slightly almost every season. Kadeem Hardison is the only person featured in every variation of the opening credits, however Dawnn Lewis appears in all but the last season's.
Season 1 - Joint and individual scenes featuring Lisa Bonet (Denise), Marisa Tomei (Maggie), Dawnn Lewis (Jalessa), and Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne) frolicking on the campus of Hillman College. Jasmine Guy (Whitley) and Loretta Devine (Stevie) are named but not shown, nor is Mary Alice (Lettie) when she replaces Devine. Episode 22 removes the names of Hardison, Guy and Devine/Alice, replacing them with Ted Ross (Dr. Harris) and Vernee Watson-Johnson (Carla). The theme song is sung by Phoebe Snow.
Season 2 - Series of individualized scenes featuring Jasmine Guy, Dawnn Lewis, Kadeem Hardison, Mary Alice, Darryl M. Bell (Ron), Sinbad (Walter), Charnele Brown (Kim), Cree Summer (Freddie), and Glynn Turman (Col. Taylor). Lisa Bonet and Marisa Tomei are not present. The theme song has been slightly altered and is now sung by Aretha Franklin.
Season 3 - Same as Season 2, except Lou Myers (Mr. Gaines) replaces Mary Alice.
Season 4 - Same as Season 3.
Season 5 - Same as Season 4, except Sinbad is removed, and Darryl M. Bell's scene is re-shot to reflect this, Michelle Smith's name was written out of the series but was still shown.
Season 6 - Completely new series of individualized scenes. Dawnn Lewis is removed. Many of Jasmine Guy's and Kadeem Hardison's scenes are together, reflecting Whitley & Dwayne's new marital status. Charnele Brown and Lou Myers share scenes. Ajai Sanders (Gina), Jada Pinkett (Lena), and Karen Malina White (Charmaine) are added. Dominic Hoffman (Julian), Gary Dourdan (Shazza), Patrick Malone (Terrell), Bumper Robinson (Dorian), and Jenifer Lewis (Dean Davenport) are not named but clearly shown. The ending sequence features the cast, directors,including Debbie Allen, and writers coming together in a circle. The theme song has again been slightly altered and is sung by Boyz II Men.
Click here to see a great A Different World video clip.
A Different World
Cosby connections
As a show developed by Bill Cosby for a character from The Cosby Show, A Different World naturally had many connections to its parent program, even before the latter program was created. The third-season finale of The Cosby Show, entitled "Hillman", was essentially a pilot episode for the new show.
The theme song was co-written by Stu Gardner, Bill Cosby, and Dawnn Lewis — who later became a cast member. In the online interviews related to the 2006 "Hillman College Reunion," Lewis revealed that her being approached to write the song and to audition were two separate events within a short time of each other, such that she thought it was a practical joke by her friends. The song was performed by Phoebe Snow in Season 1, by Aretha Franklin in Seasons 2 through 5, and Boyz II Men in Season 6.
The spin-off program featured many appearances by characters from the parent program, especially in the initial season, in which Denise's father, mother, younger sisters Vanessa and Rudy, brother Theo, and grandfather Russell all appear on the show, either at Hillman or at the other end of a phone call. Denise's departure from Hillman after Season 1 did not stop her mother from reappearing on the show. Three of Phylicia Rashad's four appearances as Hillman alumna Clair Huxtable took place after Season 1, and in one of these, she brought her younger daughter Vanessa to tour the college.
Producer/director Debbie Allen is the sister of Phylicia Rashad, Allen made one guest appearance on The Cosby Show, playing an aggressive aerobics instructor who helps Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) slim down for a special occasion. Allen appeared in later season's of ADW as Whitley's physchiatrist. Dwayne and Whitley also visited the Huxtable home in an episode featuring the revelation that Denise had married and would not return to Hillman.
A young Kadeem Hardison also appears in the Cosby Show as one of Theo Huxtable's friends in the Gordon Gartrell episode, although Hardison is not playing Dwayne.
Like Lisa Bonet, Karen Malina White brought her Cosby Show character to Hillman. Charmaine was the best friend of Clair Huxtable's cousin Pam Tucker. Her Cosby costar Allen Payne turned down an offer to bring his role as Charmaine's boyfriend Lance Rodman to A Different World as a regular during Season 6, preferring instead to pursue a movie career; he and Jada Pinkett starred in the 1994 film Jason's Lyric, which is considered to be a milestone in both of their careers. Payne did appear in one episode in which Charmaine visits Hillman as a prospective student, bringing Lance along to see if he can gain admission as well. When Charmaine arrives at Hillman, she and Lance are maintaining a long-distance relationship and he is mentioned in multiple episodes.
A Different World
Connections to "School Daze"
During the first season of A Different World, film director Spike Lee's second theatrical release, School Daze, opened nationwide. The setting of the film was Mission College, which is also a fictional historically Black college in the South.
Regular cast members Jasmine Guy (Whitley), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne) and Darryl M. Bell (Ron) all had roles in the film, as did recurring cast member Dominic Hoffman (Julian). Over the course of the series, several other actors from School Daze made appearances, including Tisha Campbell, Art Evans, Guy Killum and Roger Guenveur Smith.
Although Joe Seneca did not appear in A Different World, he is featured prominently in the third season finale of The Cosby Show, which served as a pilot for A Different World.
A Different World
DVD releases
Urban Works released Season 1 of A Different World on DVD in Region 1 on November 8, 2005. Several release dates for Season 2 were announced (May 2006, July 2006 & September 2006) but it was never released. Urban Works was acquired by First Look Studios in early 2006 and it subsequently purchased the rights to the show but has yet to release any further seasons on DVD. It is unknown if the remaining seasons will be released at some point.
DVD Name Release Date Ep # Additional Information Season 1 November 8, 2005 24 Cast interviews, Out-takes, A retrospective overview of the series with cast members, Additional sixth-season "lost" episode guest-starring rapper Tupac Shakur (a childhood friend of Jada Pinkett Smith).
The show's DVD release is rated PG for suggestive dialogue by MPAA.
U.S. television ratings
1987-88: #2
1988-89: #3
1989-90: #4
1990-91: #4
1991-92: #17
1992-93: #86
African-American households
1987-88: #2
1988-89: #1
1989-90: #1
1990-91: #1
1991-92: #1
*************************************************
Car Repair
For the best car repair service go to Don's Auto Clinic at
1950 Ellesmere Rd #21 Scarborough ON, M1H 2V8 Phone: 416-438-9575
Make an appointment and don't worry about what kind of service you'll get because it's the best. I've been going there for at least 3 years. (Zane Ladhani---of Zane's Comedy Warehouse www.zanes-comedy-warehouse.com)
Don't ask for a discount because you won't need one.
Chinese Food
Chinese Food is great and there are a lot of restaurants but if you want to go to one of the best chinese food restaurants in Toronto then go to Kim Kims at
Kim Kim Hakka Chinese Restaurant 1188 Kennedy Road Scarborough, ON M1P 2L1 416-757-8300 (Near Kennedy and Lawrence)
I ususally have the Curry Chicken on Rice but you'll be happy with whatever you order.
If you can't handle spicy food tell them when you order.
Don't ask for a discount because you won't need one.
Real Estate Services
The best real estate agents in Toronto are the Wright Sisters. They
are the right choice whether you're buying or selling property.
Lindsay & Melanie Wright Sales Representatives
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage 2237 Queen Street East Toronto ON M4E 1G2
Office: (416) 699-9292 Toll Free: 1-866-921-9292 Fax: (416) 699-8576
*************************************************************
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Format: Sitcom
Created by: Carl Reiner (father of Rob Reiner--you know Meathead from All in the Family)
Starring: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Larry Mathews, Richard Deacon, Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert
Country of origin: United States
No. of seasons: 5
No. of episodes: 158 + 1 reunion special
Production
Running time: approx. 25 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel: CBS
Original run: October 3, 1961 – June 1, 1966
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American television situation comedy which initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966. The show was created by Carl Reiner and starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Reiner had in fact starred in the original, unsuccessful pilot episode, Head of the Family (this was seen on the Nick at Nite service of the Nickelodeon cable channel, shortly after the series itself was added to its schedule in the 1990s). After its rejection, Sheldon Leonard took an interest and helped Reiner revive the project, convincing him to recast, and to switch to the three-camera/studio audience production format.
Totalling 158 episodes and five seasons, the show was also produced by Reiner, who wrote many episodes and played the part of Alan Brady. Reiner based the main character on himself and the Brady character on his former boss Sid Caesar. Many of the show's plots were inspired by Reiner's experiences as a writer for Your Show of Shows (which starred Caesar). The Dick Van Dyke Show was the recipient of 15 Emmy Awards.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Main characters
Robert "Rob" Petrie (Dick Van Dyke), the head comedy writer for a fictional New York TV variety series called The Alan Brady Show. The role of Rob Petrie was almost given to Johnny Carson, but Sheldon Leonard, the show's executive producer, suggested Van Dyke.
Laura Meeker/Meehan Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore), Rob's wife. A stay-at-home mom and former dancer in the U.S.O. (where she met Rob). The role of Laura proved to be the most difficult to cast. About 60 actresses auditioned for the part before Moore was signed, and she almost didn't go to the audition.
Maurice "Buddy" Sorrell (Morey Amsterdam), an energetic (and at times facetious) "human joke machine" (as was Amsterdam himself), one of the comedy writers; he's constantly making fun of Mel Cooley (the show's producer) for being bald (and dull). His character is loosely based on Mel Brooks who also wrote for Your Show of Shows. He makes frequent jokes about his marriage to his wife "Pickles". On several occasions it is hinted that he is a non-practicing Jew. He owns a large German Shepherd and plays the cello. Amsterdam was recommended by Rose Marie as soon as she had signed on.
Sally Rogers (Rose Marie), another of the comedy writers (and the comedy trio's designated typist), who is always on the lookout for a husband. She never drinks and quotes frequently from her aunt Agnes (though she always gets the quotes wrong). She has an on again off again relationship with her boyfriend Herman Glimscher who seems to be too much of a mommy's boy to get married. She frequently scares men off with her sense of humor.
Click here to see a great Dick Van Dyke Show video clip.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Supporting characters
Richard "Ritchie" Rosebud Petrie (Larry Mathews), Rob and Laura's son.
Melvin "Mel" Cooley (Richard Deacon), the balding producer of the "Alan Brady Show" (and Brady's brother-in-law), who is constantly fighting with Buddy, who often calls him "Mr. Potato Head".
Jerry (Jerry Paris) and Mildred "Millie" Krumbermacher Helper (Ann Morgan Guilbert), the Petries' next-door neighbors.
Other less frequently seen characters include:
Alan Brady (Carl Reiner), the egocentric, toupee-wearing star of the "Alan Brady Show".
Stacey Petrie (Jerry Van Dyke), Rob's brother, banjo player, and one-time sleepwalker, played by Dick Van Dyke's real-life brother.
Fiona "Pickles" Sorrell (Barbara Perry/Joan Shawlee), Buddy's slightly nutty wife.
Herman Glimscher (Bill Idelson), Sally's occasional and "nerdy" boyfriend. In the 2004 Reunion Special, Sally and Herman had been married for years. (In an early episode Sally referred to him as Woodrow)
Sam and Clara Petrie (Tom Tully/J. Pat O'Malley and Isabel Randolph), Rob's parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Alan Meehan (Carl Benton Reid and Geraldine Wall), Laura's parents.
Freddie Helper (Peter Oliphant), Millie and Jerry Helper's son.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Storyline
Storylines deal with Rob and his two coworkers, Buddy and Sally, who write material for the TV show. Mel Cooley, a balding straight man (and recipient of numerous insulting one-liners from Buddy), is the show's producer and the brother-in-law of Alan Brady, the show's seldom-seen star. As Rob, Buddy, and Sally write for a comedy show, the premise provides a built-in forum for them to "be funny." Other stories focus on the home life of Rob and Laura, who live at 248 Bonnie Meadow Road in suburban New Rochelle, New York. Frequently seen is their young son, Ritchie, as well as their neighbors, Jerry and Millie Helper.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Influence
The show was an excellent vehicle for Van Dyke's physical comedy and sight gags. The classic example is the scene in the opening titles, in which Van Dyke enters through the front door and trips over the ottoman. (This opening was added beginning in the second season of the series. The first season's opening credits were a composite of promotion stills and screen grabs from the pilot episode.) Producers filmed three versions: one in which Van Dyke trips over the ottoman, one in which he steps around it, and a rarely seen third variation in which Van Dyke avoids the ottoman and then trips on the carpet. Viewers were kept wondering which version would be used on any particular episode, as the show's editors were instructed to use them randomly.
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The series was considered a trailblazer for its comparatively realistic portrayal of relationships — although the Petries slept in separate beds — and caused some mild controversy because of Mary Tyler Moore's decision to wear capri slacks in an era when most sitcom wives wore dresses and skirts, even though Lucille Ball had previously worn capri slacks on I Love Lucy.
The show included humorous but intelligent portrayals of other subjects not previously seen on sitcoms, including religion, race, death, infidelity, and psychiatry. One episode dealt with Ritchie Petrie's use of profanity; another involved his parents' explaining to him the "facts of life," the term used on shows at the time for sex.
The storylines gave viewers an "inside look" at how a TV show was run and written. This was rare at a time when situation comedy was limited to occupations other than show business. It also gave the cast an opportunity to do "variety" episodes that included stand-up comedy, music, and other non-situation segments.
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Carl Reiner originally planned to produce and star in the series, which was going to be titled Head of the Family. A pilot episode was made in July of 1960, but it was unsuccessful. Executive producer Sheldon Leonard liked Reiner's concept but felt that Reiner was miscast. Leonard cast Dick van Dyke as Rob Petrie, and Reiner was recast to better effect as Alan Brady (a character called "Alan Sturdy" in Reiner's unsuccessful pilot), the egotistical television star for whom Rob works. In the early episodes, Reiner was only shown with his head turned away from the camera. His voice would also be heard in many commercial announcements when the characters are watching TV or as a radio DJ. Both Leonard and business partner Danny Thomas also appeared on the show guest roles.
Reiner always maintained that he never intended for the series to run more than five seasons, making this one of the first successful American TV series to end on its own accord while still popular rather than through cancellation. It has done extremely well in syndicated reruns, most notably on Nick at Nite from 1991 to 2000, then on its sister cable network TV Land from 2000 to 2007.
The Dick Van Dyke Show is considered to have been an inspiration for many later sitcoms, in particular the long-running Mad About You. Carl Reiner even reprised the role of Alan Brady for an episode.
Van Dyke returned in 1971 in an unrelated vehicle, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, which despite running for three years is rarely shown in syndication.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Reunion special
On May 11, 2004, CBS aired a reunion special, The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited. Produced by Carl Reiner, who referred to the hour-long special as "The 159th Episode," the show reunited cast members Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Larry Mathews, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Jerry Van Dyke, and Bill Idelson. Reiner reprised his role as Alan Brady. Deceased cast members Morey Amsterdam, Richard Deacon, and Jerry Paris were remembered in flashbacks.
The main plot of the special involves the relatively healthy Alan Brady asking Rob and Sally to write his eulogy so that he knows in advance what will be said about him after he dies. The Petries and Sally, along with Rob's brother Stacey and longtime friend Millie, discuss ideas that are illustrated by way of flashbacks to the old show. The special ends with Van Dyke and Moore, out of character, reminiscing about the series as more flashbacks are shown. Ray Romano hosts the special.
Van Dyke and Moore reprised the Petrie characters as they were in 1979, and also later in life as seniors, in an episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Variety Hour" on March 25, 1979.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Episodes
DVD releases
For reasons that are unclear, six episodes from the second season have lapsed into the public domain, and as a result are widely available at Walmart and 'dollar stores' for $1-$2 per DVD or VHS tape.
Image Entertainment has released all 5 Seasons of The Dick Van Dyke Show on DVD in Region 1. Season sets were released between October 2003 - June 2004. Also, on May 24, 2005, Image Entertainment released a 25-disc boxset of the entire series.
DVD Name Ep # Release Date
Season 1 31 October 21, 2003
Season 2 33 October 21, 2003
Season 3 31 February 24, 2004
Season 4 32 April 27, 2004
Season 5 31 June 29, 2004
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Car Repair
For the best car repair service go to Don's Auto Clinic at
1950 Ellesmere Rd #21 Scarborough ON, M1H 2V8 Phone: 416-438-9575
Make an appointment and don't worry about what kind of service you'll get because it's the best. I've been going there for at least 3 years. (Zane Ladhani---of Zane's Comedy Warehouse www.zanes-comedy-warehouse.com)
Don't ask for a discount because you won't need one.
Chinese Food
Chinese Food is great and there are a lot of restaurants but if you want to go to one of the best chinese food restaurants in Toronto then go to Kim Kims at
Kim Kim Hakka Chinese Restaurant 1188 Kennedy Road Scarborough, ON M1P 2L1 416-757-8300 (Near Kennedy and Lawrence)
I ususally have the Curry Chicken on Rice but you'll be happy with whatever you order.
If you can't handle spicy food tell them when you order.
Don't ask for a discount because you won't need one.
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
Real Estate Services
The best real estate agents in Toronto are the Wright Sisters. They
are the right choice whether you're buying or selling property.
Lindsay & Melanie Wright Sales Representatives
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage 2237 Queen Street East Toronto ON M4E 1G2
Office: (416) 699-9292 Toll Free: 1-866-921-9292 Fax: (416) 699-8576
*********************************************
Real Estate Services
One of Toronto's Best Real Estate teams is
the Wright Sisters.
They are the right choice
whether you're buying or selling property.
Lindsay & Melanie Wright Sales Representatives
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.,
Brokerage 2237 Queen Street East Toronto ON M4E 1G2
Office: (416) 699-9292
Toll Free: 1-866-921-9292 Fax: (416) 699-8576
Tell them Zane sent you.
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke
Born: Richard Wayne Van Dyke, 13 December 1925 (1925-12-13) (age 82), West Plains, Missouri, USA
Occupation: Actor, comedian, producer, writer
Years active: 1955–present ********************** Spouse(s): Margie Willett (1948–1970) (According to Wikipedia)
Margie Willett (12 February 1948 - 1984) (divorced) 4 children (According to IMDb) ********************** Married: Marjorie Willett, 1948; three daughters and two sons (According to The Museum of Broadcast Communications) ********************** Wife: Margorie Willett (high school girlfriend, m. 12-Feb-1948, div. 4-May-1984)
Son: Barry Van Dyke (actor, b. 31-Jul-1951 with Willett)
Daughter: Carrie-Beth
Son: Christian
Daughter: Stacy
Girlfriend: Michelle Triola Marvin (b. 1933, former companion of actor Lee Marvin) (According to NNDB) ************************
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Wayne “Dick” Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an American actor, presenter and entertainer, with a career spanning 5 decades. He is best known for his starring roles in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis: Murder.
Biography
Early life
Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri and grew up in Danville, Illinois, USA, the son of Hazel Vorice (née McCord) and Loren Wayne "Cookie" Van Dyke, a traveling salesman for the Sunshine Biscuit Company with a talent for comedy. He attended elementary school in Danville starting in 1931. In 1938 the Van Dykes, of Dutch origin, moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana for two years, and returned to Danville in 1940 where he attended high school. As a child, he was inspired to go into show business by watching Laurel & Hardy films at the movie theater.
After appearing in many high school plays and community theater productions, Van Dyke enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. There he participated in stage shows and worked as a radio DJ. He appeared on a variety of television shows such as The Phil Silvers Show, The Garry Moore Show, What's My Line and To Tell The Truth. He also hosted CBS Cartoon Theater, Laugh Line and Mothers Day. His big break came on April 14, 1960, on Broadway as Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie. He received the Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in 1961. He was spotted by Sheldon Leonard who was looking for a comedic actor to star in a new situation comedy created by Carl Reiner. Another actor considered for the role was Johnny Carson. During the early run of the show, Van Dyke also served as the host of "Flair," a daytime magazine show on ABC radio patterned after NBC's Monitor, premiering October 3, 1960.
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Dick Van Dyke
Television career
Van Dyke starred in a popular situation comedy called The Dick Van Dyke Show, from 1961 to 1966 in which he played a comedy writer named Rob Petrie. Complementing Van Dyke was a veteran cast of talented comedic actors including Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Jerry Paris, Carl Reiner (as Alan Brady), as well as a newcomer to television Mary Tyler Moore, who played Rob's wife Laura Petrie. He won three Emmy Awards and the series received four Emmy Awards as outstanding comedy series. From 1971 to 1974, Van Dyke starred in an unrelated sitcom called The New Dick Van Dyke Show in which he portrayed a local television talk show host.
To entice Van Dyke to return to series television, CBS literally built a studio in Carefree, Arizona, the star's new home town, for the purpose of filming it. Reviews and ratings were generally good and the show lasted three seasons. When the network executives refused to air one episode on the grounds that it was too sexually charged, producer Carl Reiner walked out on the series; Van Dyke decided not to renew. The seventies found Dick on NBC with his own hour-long variety show called Van Dyke & Co. It aired between September and December 1976. When Carol Burnett's main foil Harvey Korman quit her long-running variety series, Van Dyke took his place. This was the first time he played second banana on television, and there were very few comedic sparks between Dick and Carol. He left after one season.
In 1988, he starred in a short-lived sitcom, The Van Dyke Show in which he portrayed a retired Broadway Star. Dick's real-life son Barry was a regular. From 1993 to 2001 Dick portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan in the long running television series Diagnosis Murder, a medical/crime drama; son Barry co-starred. A 2004 special, The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, was heavily promoted as the first new episode of the classic series to be shown in 38 years. Dick and his surviving cast members recreated their roles; the program was roundly panned by critics.
He also has made many guest appearances on other television programs throughout his lengthy career, and continues to be in demand.
Dick Van Dyke
Film career
Van Dyke began his film career by reprising his stage role in the film version of Bye Bye Birdie in 1963. Although Van Dyke was unhappy with the adaptation because the focus was shifted to Ann-Margret's character, the film was a major success. He followed that up with Walt Disney's Mary Poppins in 1964, in which he played Bert, a Cockney chimney sweep, and also, in heavy disguise, the bank's elderly chairman, credited in that role as "Nackvid Keyd" (an anagram for "Dick Van Dyke"). Van Dyke's attempt at a cockney accent (lapsing out of it at times) was nonetheless widely ridiculed and is still frequently parodied. It is still often cited as one of the worst attempts at a British accent by an American actor, a fact acknowledged with good humour by Van Dyke himself on the 2004 DVD release of the film. But the film was very popular and innovative and also showed his versatility as a singer and dancer. One of his showcase songs, "Chim Chim Cher-ee", won the Oscar for the Sherman Brothers, the film's songwriting team.
Van Dyke made several more comedy movies throughout the 1960s including What a Way to Go!, Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., Fitzwilly, The Art of Love, Never a Dull Moment, and Divorce American Style. Although most of his movies from this era were relatively unsuccessful, the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a worldwide success and is still fondly remembered today. In later years, Van Dyke would complain that he had "never made a good movie."
Click here to see a great Dick Van Dyke video clip.
Dick Van Dyke
Dramatic roles and career comeback
In 1969, Van Dyke appeared in the comedy-drama The Comic, which was written and directed by Carl Reiner. Van Dyke plays a self-destructive silent-film era comedian who struggles with alcoholism, depression and his own rampant ego. Reiner wrote the film especially for Van Dyke, who would often talk of his admiration for silent film era comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Ben Turpin and his hero, Stan Laurel. He also began starring in a series of commercials as a spokesperson for Kodak.
In 1971, Van Dyke starred with Hope Lange in another sitcom called The New Dick Van Dyke Show. He portrayed Dick Preston, a local talk show host in Phoenix, Arizona. Van Dyke was actually living in Carefree, Arizona at the time and the show was filmed there in a new Scottsdale Road facility, Southwestern Studios.
In 1973, Van Dyke voiced his animated likeness for the October 27, 1973 installment of Hanna-Barbera's The New Scooby-Doo Movies, "Scooby-Doo Meets Dick Van Dyke" (aka "The Haunted Carnival"), the series' final first run episode.
In 1974, Van Dyke received an Emmy nomination for his role as an alcoholic businessman in the television movie The Morning After. It was at this time that Van Dyke admitted he had recently overcome a real-life drinking problem.
In 1974, he played another atypical role as a murdering photographer in Negative Reaction, an episode of the popular series Columbo; two years earlier, he was dialogue coach for another episode, Dagger Of The Mind. He also began doing public service announcements for the National Fire Protection Agency through 1984. Van Dyke returned to comedy in 1976 with the sketch comedy show Van Dyke and Company, which also starred Andy Kaufman and Super Dave Osborne. Despite being cancelled after only three months, the show won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy-Variety Series, beating Saturday Night Live.
Dick Van Dyke
Dramatic roles and career comeback continued
In 1977, Van Dyke then joined the cast of The Carol Burnett Show after Harvey Korman left the show. Unfortunately, his comedy style did not work as well with Burnett's, and he left the show after three months. For the next decade, he appeared mainly in low-rated TV movies. One exception was another atypical role as a murdering judge on the first episode of the TV series Matlock in 1986 starring Andy Griffith. In 1988, Van Dyke returned with another sitcom called The Van Dyke Show, which co-starred his son, Barry. The show was cancelled after just five episodes.
His career seemed essentially over by 1989 when Dick Van Dyke started a career comeback. First, he took a guest starring role on NBC's hit TV series The Golden Girls playing Dorothy's (Bea Arthur's) beau, who decides to give up being a lawyer to become a circus clown. The role earned him his first Emmy nomination since 1977. In 1990, Van Dyke, whose usual role had been the amiable hero, took a small but villainous turn as the crooked D.A Fletcher in Warren Beatty's movie Dick Tracy. The reviews he received for Tracy led him to star in a series of TV movies on CBS that became the foundation for his popular television drama, Diagnosis: Murder, which ran from 1993 to 2001. He first played the character, Dr. Mark Sloan, in an episode of Jake and the Fatman.
He continued to find television work after the show ended, including a dramatically and critically successful performance of The Gin Game, produced for television in 2003 that reunited him with Mary Tyler Moore, a 2004 on Scrubs, where he played a doctor who could not keep up with the changing ways of medical care, and in 2006 accepted a starring role as college professor Dr. Jonathan Maxwell for a series of "Murder 101" mystery films on the Hallmark Channel.
Van Dyke returned to motion pictures in 2006 with Curious George as Mr. Bloomsberry and as Cecil in the Ben Stiller film Night at the Museum.
Other work
Van Dyke was a great admirer of Stan Laurel and even gave the eulogy at his funeral. He also produced a TV special soon afterward, A Salute to Stan Laurel. He once met Laurel and told him he had copied a great deal from him. He said Laurel only laughed and said, "I've noticed that." Van Dyke once did a sketch on his sitcom in which he imitated Laurel. After the show aired, he phoned Laurel to ask what he thought of it. To Van Dyke's surprise, Laurel said he still owned one of "Stanley's" bowler hats and would have lent it to Van Dyke for the sketch if he had only asked.
Van Dyke received a Grammy Award for his performance on the soundtrack to Mary Poppins.
One of Van Dyke's modern passions is producing 3D computer graphics. He is credited with the creation of a 3D rendered effect shown in Diagnosis: Murder, and continues to work with LightWave 3D.
Personal life
Van Dyke is the older brother of actor Jerry Van Dyke, who is best known for his role on the TV series Coach.
He married Margie Willett in 1948, with whom he had four children: Christian (Chris), Barry, Carrie Beth and Stacy. They divorced in 1984 after a long separation. Van Dyke's son Barry Van Dyke and grandson Carey Van Dyke are also actors; both, along with other Van Dyke relations and grandchildren, appeared in various episodes of the long-running Diagnosis: Murder series. All of Van Dyke's children are married, and he has seven grandchildren. His son Chris served as district attorney for Marion County in the 1980s. Among his cases was the so-called I-5 Killer, Randall Woodfield. Dick resides with longtime companion Michelle Triola.
In 1987, his granddaughter Jessica Van Dyke died from Reye's Syndrome, which caused him to do a series of television commercials to raise public awareness of the danger to children. He is still the National Spokesman of the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation.
He has also served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
In 1970, he published "Faith, Hope and Hilarity: a Child's Eye View of Religion" a book of humorous anecdotes based largely on his experiences as a Sunday School teacher.
Van Dyke is a computer animation enthusiast and has displayed some of his CGI work at trade shows. This interest is referred to in the 2004 TV movie The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, which shows that Rob Petrie has also become a CGI hobbyist. For a long time he used an Amiga 4000 with a Video Toaster for creating his CG work.
As an a cappella enthusiast, Van Dyke has sung in a group called "The Vantastix" since September, 2000. The Quartet has performed several times in Los Angeles as well as on Larry King Live, The First Annual TV Land Awards, and sung the National anthem at three Los Angeles Lakers games including a nationally televised NBA Finals performance on NBC.
Van Dyke has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6675 Hollywood Blvd.
Work
Albums
Put On A Happy Face (with Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix) (2008)
Stage
The Girls Against the Boys (November 2 – November 14, 1959) Bye Bye Birdie (April 14, 1960 – October 7, 1961) (left the show when it moved to the Shubert Theatre) The Music Man (June 5 – June 22, 1980) (Revival) Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (guest star from January 24–January 26, 2006)
Filmography
Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
What a Way to Go! (1964)
Mary Poppins (1964)
The Art of Love (1965)
Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. (1966)
Divorce American Style (1967)
Fitzwilly (1967)
Never a Dull Moment (1968)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Some Kind of a Nut (1969)
The Comic (1969)
Cold Turkey (1971)
Tubby the Tuba (1976)
The Runner Stumbles (1979)
Dick Tracy (1990)
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) (cameo)
Batman: New Times (2005)
Curious George (2006)
Night at the Museum (2006)
Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian (2009)
Television
The Morning Show host (1955)
CBS Cartoon Theater (1956)
The Chevy Showroom Starring Andy Williams (1958)
Mother's Day (1958–1959)
Laugh Line (1959) (canceled after 3 months)
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1966)
Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman (1969)
Dick Van Dyke Meets Bill Cosby (1970)
The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971–1974)
Julie and Dick at Covent Garden (1974)
The Morning After (1974)
Columbo: Negative Reaction (1974)
Van Dyke and Company (1976)
The Carol Burnett Show (cast member in 1977)
True Life Stories (1981)
The Country Girl (1982)
Drop-Out Father (1982)
Wrong Way Kid (1983) (voice)
Found Money (1983)
Breakfast with Les and Bess (1985)
Strong Medicine (1986)
Ghost of a Chance (1987)
The Van Dyke Show (1988)
Matlock (1990)
Daughters of Privilege (1991)
The House on Sycamore Street (1992)
The Town That Santa Forgot (1993) (voice)
A Twist of the Knife (1993)
Becker (1999) (Becker's Father)
Diagnosis: Murder (1993–2001)
Paul O'Grady does America (2003)
A Town Without Pity (2002)
Without Warning (2002)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (2002)
The Gin Game (2003)
The Alan Brady Show (2003) (voice)
The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited (2004)
Scrubs (2004)
Murder 101 (2006)
Murder 101: College Can Be Murder (2007)
Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses (2007)
Murder 101: Locked Room Mystery (2008)
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Car Repair
For the best car repair service go to Don's Auto Clinic at
1950 Ellesmere Rd #21 Scarborough ON, M1H 2V8 Phone: 416-438-9575
Make an appointment and don't worry about what kind of service you'll get because it's the best. I've been going there for at least 3 years. (Zane Ladhani---of Zane's Comedy Warehouse www.zanes-comedy-warehouse.com)
Don't ask for a discount because you won't need one.
Chinese Food
Chinese Food is great and there are a lot of restaurants but if you want to go to one of the best chinese food restaurants in Toronto then go to Kim Kims at
Kim Kim Hakka Chinese Restaurant 1188 Kennedy Road Scarborough, ON M1P 2L1 416-757-8300 (Near Kennedy and Lawrence)
I ususally have the Curry Chicken on Rice but you'll be happy with whatever you order.
If you can't handle spicy food tell them when you order.
Don't ask for a discount because you won't need one.
Real Estate Services
The best real estate agents in Toronto are the Wright Sisters. They
are the right choice whether you're buying or selling property.
Lindsay & Melanie Wright Sales Representatives
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd., Brokerage 2237 Queen Street East Toronto ON M4E 1G2
Office: (416) 699-9292 Toll Free: 1-866-921-9292 Fax: (416) 699-8576
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