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.
Everybody Loves Raymond
Rucurring Characters
Lois Whelan (Katherine Helmond): Debra's mother (also starred in Who's The Boss and Soap.....maybe other stuff that I will learn about later).
Linda (Maggie Wheeler): Wife of Bernie and friends of Ray & Debra.
Warren Whelan (Robert Culp): Debra's father.
Gianni (Jon Manfrellotti): A contractor, ex-futon repairman, and friend of Raymond. He was also on The King of Queens.
Judy (Sherri Shepherd): Robert's NYPD patrol partner.
Nemo (Joseph V. Perry): Pizza Restaurant owner.
Andy (Andy Kindler): A fellow sportswriter and friend of Raymond.
Uncle Mel (Phil Leeds): A relative of the family that makes several appearances.
Garvin (Len Lesser): A friend of Frank.
Bill Parker (David Hunt): Ray's nemesis neighbor (played by the real life husband to Patricia Heaton) Parker is often seen showing Ray up as a father, and Ray often makes jokes that Debra wishes she had married him instead.
Carrie Parker: wife of Bill Parker Stefania Fogagnolo (Alex Meneses): Robert's ex-girlfriend from Italy.
Peggy Ardolino (Amy Aquino): Single mother of Ally's best friend who has bullied Ray and later becomes Peter's girlfriend.
Marco Fogagnolo (David Proval): The intimidating Italian father of Stefania.
Doug Heffernan (Kevin James): A friend and golf buddy of Raymond's and an IPS deliveryman (a takeoff on UPS). (See The King of Queens.) Before 1998 James appeared as Kevin, a fellow sports writer who worked for the Mets.
Gerard (Fred Stoller): Ray's annoying cousin.
Lee and Stan: Friends of Marie and Frank.
Harriet Lichtman: Marie's bridge partner, and Frank's fantasy woman. Often talked about and only appears in season 8, in the episode "Who's Next?".
Albert, played by Ray Romano's actual father, Albert Romano.
Albert is a lodge friend of Frank and has been seen in various lodge-related episodes.
Molly, played by Ray Romano's actual daughter, Alexandra Romano. Alexandra plays Ally's best friend Molly in the contemporary era, but was first seen as a flower girl in a flashback of Ray and Debra's wedding.
Everybody Loves Raymond Notes
There were 6 different intros to the Everybody Loves Raymond series. One for a specific episode, and 5 for the 5 different seasons. Seasons 4, 5, 8, and 9 didn't have introduction sequences. The episodes in those seasons would start without one.
Phil Rosenthal and Monica Horan are "real life" husband and wife.
Phil Rosenthal, Monica Horan and Tom McGowan are all graduates of Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. The show makes frequent mentions/visuals regarding the university, including Ray's Hofstra tee-shirt (he usually wore in bed scenes), a Hofstra magnet on the Barone's refrigerator, and a stein with the University seal on the table behind Ray's couch. The university was also featured in season 6, episode 11 ("The Kicker"), when Frank and Robert attend a football game with Hofstra playing Northeastern and in season 8, episode 17 ("The Ingrate') where Ray receives an honorary doctorate degree in which Ray is wearing an actual Hofstra PhD candidate cap and gown and holding a Hofstra Honorary degree.
Phil Rosenthal and his wife continuously give back to their alma-mater. On October 2005, Phil and his wife (Monica Horan) hosted a live (sold out) performance of Everybody Loves Raymond: Inside the Writers Room at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse at Hofstra University.
The Everybody Loves Raymond score, including the opening and closing themes, was composed by longtime session drummer Rick Marotta and includes piecesof Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'[2]
In early seasons, Kevin James frequently appeared as one of Raymond's friends, called Kevin. Kevin James later assumed the title role in his own sitcom, The King of Queens, and was from then on Ray's friend Doug. Ray, Robert, Debra, Marie and Frank also guest-starred as the Barones on The King of Queens in several episodes.
As well as appearing on The King of Queens, Ray and Frank appeared in an episode of the sitcom Cosby, and Ray appeared on The Nanny and Becker.
The title of Everybody Loves Raymond has been spoofed by many shows. Chris Rock spoofed the show's title for his own show called Everybody Hates Chris. The ABC drama Lost also spoofed the show's title for the second-season episode "Everybody Hates Hugo." A Law & Order episode has a parody title "Everybody Loves Raimondo's."
The Futurama movie, Bender's Big Score, contains a reference to a 30th century television show called, "Everybody Loves Hypnotoad." And the "Bender's Big Score" DVD contains an extra feature of an entire episode of "Everybody Loves Hypnotoad."
Some of the returning characters, as well as many walk-on roles, have been played by various cast members' families.
In the Judd Apatow movies The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, characters played by Paul Rudd have referred directly to the show. Lines include "That's just a good show, I tape it sometimes..." (when lending the main character a box of pornography, accidentally containing the Everybody Loves Raymond VHS) and "Marriage is like an unfunny version of Everybody Loves Raymond, but it doesn't just last 20 minutes... it lasts forever."
In Brad Garret's Show, 'Til Death, Ray Romano appears as an extra, (The episode where Brad's wife on the show are fighting over how he slapped her while going on a trip somewhere) After Ray shouts at Brad's wife, (Geeze Lady! What more do ya want! - Said because Brad is saying he's sorry and everything) Brad's wife asks who that was, and Brad replies with "It looks like someone I used to work with."
Click here for a great Everybody Loves Raymond video clip
Everybody Loves Raymond Events
Robert and Amy's wedding: The episode that may be the biggest moment on the show, while not necessarily the highest rated, was the May 19, 2003 episode in which Robert married his long-time on-again, off-again love, Amy MacDougall. With the marriage came several new recurring characters, including Amy's parents and brother. A rumored spin-off featuring Robert and Amy never materialized.
Mother's Day Fight: One event in the series that could be the most dramatic was the month-long feud between Debra and Marie. The argument lasted four consecutive episodes, between the 6th and 7th seasons.
The Finale had Ray getting his adenoids removed and he had trouble coming out of anesthesia. The final shot of the show referenced the Last Supper.
Seasons 1 through 6 all ended with flashback episodes.
Everybody Loves Raymond International Broadcasters
Network Ten in Australia aired the show right from its beginning to its end and occasionally shows repeats of the show to this day. FOX Classics has Pay-TV rights to the series in Australia and airs the show weeknights and occasionally holds marathons including one hosted by Doris Roberts. Paramount Comedy Channel in the United Kingdom currently airs the show. It often devotes whole days, usually at the weekend, to showing a season in its' entirety.
In Norway TV3 is currently airing the show. The show was also aired on TV2 when the episodes were new. In Turkey it is aired on the subscription based channel ComedyMax.
It is also on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom every weekday morning at 7:30am, usually airing the episodes and seasons in order of their first broadcast. Reception
U.S. Television Ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Everybody Loves Raymond on CBS.
Note: Each U.S. network television season starts in late September and ends in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps. All times mentioned in this section were Eastern & Pacific
With the exception of the 2004-2005 season, the ratings data seen in this table is from Nielsen Media Research which was published in a May 15, 2005 USA Today article.[3]
The series-finale scored a 20.2 household rating, 32.94 million viewers (29% of all viewers at the time) and an 11.2 rating among adults 18-49. At 8pm, Everybody Loves Raymond: The Last Laugh averaged a 15.3 household rating, 24.52 million viewers and a 7.5 among adults 18-49.
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Everybody Loves Raymond Awards
Emmy Awards:
Outstanding Comedy Series (2003, 2005) 2 wins
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Ray Romano (2002)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Patricia Heaton (2000-2001) 2 wins
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Brad Garrett (2002-2003, 2005) 3 wins
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Doris Roberts (2001-2003, 2005) 4 wins
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for "Baggage" Tucker Cawley (2003) 1 win
Everybody Loves Raymond Screen Actors Guild:
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2003) Writers Guild: Episodic Comedy for "Italy" Philip Rosenthal (2002) 1 win
Nominations
Emmy Awards:
Outstanding Comedy Series (1999-2005) 7 nominations
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Ray Romano (1999-2003, 2005) 6 nominations
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Patricia Heaton (1999-2005) 7 nominations
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Brad Garrett (2000, 2002-2005) 5 nominations
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Peter Boyle (1999-2005) 7 nominations
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Doris Roberts (1999-2005) 7 nominations
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, 6 nominations: Philip Rosenthal and Ray Romano "Bad Moon Rising" (2000), Philip Rosenthal "The Angry Family" (2001), Jennifer Crittenden "Ray's Journal" (2001), Tucker Cawley "Baggage" (2003), Mike Royce "Counselling" (2003), Philip Rosenthal, Ray Romano, Lew Schneider, Steve Skrovan, Jeremy Stevens, Aaron Shure, Mike Royce, Leslie Caveny, Tom Caltabiano "Finale" (2005)
Golden Globe Awards:
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series-Comedy Ray Romano (2000-01) 2 nominations
Screen Actors Guild:
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1999-2000, 2002-2006) 6 nominations
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Ray Romano (2000, 2002, 2003-2005) 5 nominations
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Brad Garrett (2004)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Peter Boyle (2002, 2004) 2 nominations Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Patricia Heaton (2002-2006) 5 nominations
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Doris Roberts (2004-05) 2 nominations
Achievements
Bravo placed the Barone family at number 41 on their list of 100 greatest TV icons of all time TV Land placed Frank's exclamation 'Holy Crap' at number 79 on their list of 100 greatest catchphrases of all time. TV Land and TV Guide placed
Marie's vagina sculpture at number 62 on their list of 100 most unexpected moments in TV history. TV Guide placed Ray Barone at number 10 on their list of 50 greatest TV dads of all time.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
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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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.
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.
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.
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.
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Conrad Bains (the father of the two boys and Dana Plato's character....mmmmmm but we miss her too) died on January 16, 2013. He was 89 years old.
Gary Coleman Dies At Age 42 (May 28, 2010).
Dana Plato died May 8, 1999 at the age of 34 years. She died as a result of an overdose of the painkiller Lortab along with Soma.
These deaths are all sad and untimely. I don't know how healthy Conrad Bains was in general but he didn't seem like a smoker or drinker.
Gary Coleman had all kinds of health and life problems.
Dana Plato may have been with us today if she was more careful with her meds. Sometimes it's good to have handlers to watch your moves. She seemed to have disconnected from the celebrity circuit so there was no one watching her. She was planning all kinds of comeback activities but that ended.
When Menchaca awoke shortly before 9 p.m., he couldn't wake her. "Robert called out, 'There's something wrong with Dana,' " says his mother, Marcela Menchaca, a nurse technician who was sitting outside with Albert, another son. "We dashed over there and started CPR." It was too late.
Although friends believe Plato might have been upset by the predictably cruel jokes that accompanied her visit to the Stern show the day before, authorities at this point regard the death as an accidental overdose. "There was no indication of suicide," says Moore Police Sgt. Scott Singer. Indeed, advises Ernest D. Lykissa, M.D., a Houston toxicologist, Lortab is easily abused and potentially lethal, especially when combined with Valium. Lortab, he adds, "is a nuclear bomb you give yourself."
Yet some who knew Plato couldn't help assuming the worst scenario. Since her early teens, the actress had taken one unsavory detour after another, until her life and career turned into that tragic cliche of the TV age: the cute kid star who stumbles into adulthood—then free-falls. In the 15 years since she was written out of Diff'rent Strokes, Plato crossed the line from fame to notoriety, most notably in 1991, when she held up a Las Vegas video store with a pellet gun, taking $164. Plato's victim, a cashier, reported to 911: "I've just been robbed by the girl who played Kimberly on Diff'rent Strokes."
She repeatedly admitted to substance abuse, chiefly of Valium and alcohol. "I was so wasted, it would take me a good five days to sober up and go to work," Plato told the cable entertainment channel E! last summer. She had a rough time being a mother to her son Tyler, 14, who for the most part has been raised by his father, Lanny Lambert, who lives in Tulsa, and paternal grandmother, Joan Richardson. Plato was often broke, even though she once earned $25,000 an episode for her series. She posed for Playboy in 1989 and, at her nadir, starred in a 1997 soft-core porn flick, Different Strokes: The Story of Jack & Jill...and Jill. In the words of former Partridge Family star Danny Bonaduce: "[Former child stars] have got a big billboard that says 'failure.' "
Yet, Plato occasionally pulled herself together—and somehow preserved a fundamental if odd sweetness. Sara Corwin, an L.A. photographer who was a friend, recalls, "She would call me at all hours to tell me things like, 'I just saw the most beautiful flower today.' " Even when she wound up working as a cashier in a Las Vegas dry-cleaning shop in 1990, customers were touched by her friendly lack of airs. "Normally," noted onetime customer Phil Harrington, "you don't have a former TV actress picking up your pants." Of course, beneath the gentle manner was a truly troubled soul. Plato's former drug counselor Ray Slaughter told E! last summer that at one point she was drinking almost a gallon of vodka a day. As of last September she was still making attempts to stay sober, says Gerald Wolff, her manager from 1993 to 1998. "But," he adds, "she started to go crazy again. I was hoping she was going to straighten herself out."
The same has often been said, over the years, about Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges, who played Plato's two brothers, Arnold and Willis, adopted by her cheery father, Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain). Bridges, now 33, has a police record dating back to 1983. In 1990 the former cocaine addict was acquitted of shooting an accused drug dealer in an L.A. crack house. The diminutive Coleman, 30, feuded with his parents over his $6 million fortune, worked as a security guard at a mall and, last year, was arrested for allegedly punching a female fan who had approached him for an autograph. Diff'rent Strokes' creative supervisor Al Burton remembers meeting Plato at a party in 1990. "She told me, 'I just posed nude for Playboy, Gary is suing his parents, Todd was arrested. That Drummond sure was a terrible father.' "
Bridges recently told USA Today he now stays sober with a 12-step program, and Coleman was required to take anger-management classes after pleading no contest in the autograph incident. Plato, though, always remained a concern to former teen star Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show, 1958-66), now 53 and head of A Minor Consideration, a watchdog organization for the rights of child actors. "I was doing the Sally Jessy Raphael Show [in May 1990] with Dana," he says, "and she bumped into me before the show, fresh out of the bathroom, with cocaine powder all over her nose. Five minutes later she was on the air saying she's clean and sober." Plato, he says, "lied to everybody."
Menchaca, who met her in Tulsa only four months ago, is distraught over the suggestion that drugs caused her death. "Dana's name has been dragged through the dirt," he says. "I want the world to know what kind of person she was. I learned from her it's the little things that count. Never take life for granted."
Plato kept trying to repair her own damaged life. She went on Stern's show to refute the claims of a woman named Jennifer Wejbe, who had once been her L.A. roommate. Wejbe told The National Enquirer in March that she and Plato had been lovers, that Plato was still a drug user and that the actress had run off with her money. Callers to the show mocked Plato as a has-been, a lesbian and a mental case. The occasional well-wisher reduced her to tears.
Plato, says her cousin Kim Jaafil of Northridge, Calif., was "always an outgoing, bubbly kid, very happy and well-adjusted." Still, her world was never stable. She was given up for adoption at birth by her mother, Linda Strain, then 17 and now the married mother of three in Springfield, Mo. Her adoptive parents—Dean Plato, who owned a trucking company, and Kay, who oversaw her career—divorced before Dana was 4. After that, Dean seldom played a part in her life, except in 1984, when he unsuccessfully sued her for support. Not long after the adoption, Kay was diagnosed with a rare blood disease that killed her 20 years later. Because of her illness, Jaafil suggests, "Kay wanted to give Dana everything while she was still around."
As a child star, Dana lacked very little. She began acting at age 6, appearing in some 250 commercials before Al Burton cast the then-13-year-old in Diff'rent Strokes. "But she was always insecure," says Sy Levin, who managed her from age 13 to 17. "She was third on the totem pole. It was always Coleman, then it was Todd. Then it was her."
There were problems far more serious than professional rivalry. At 14, according to Levin, she overdosed on Valium. By the time she was 15, she was coming to the set drunk. "She would show up in a daze, in a funk," says Burton. Then, at 18, she got pregnant by her 21-year-old boyfriend, and her Strokes stint was over. Conrad Bain, for one, was disturbed by her recklessness. "She deliberately got pregnant while doing the series," he says. "When I spoke to her about it, she was enthusiastic about having done that." She later told him, "When I get the baby, I will never be alone again."
Years later, Plato told fellow camper Charles Inman that she didn't regret the decision to have her child. Tyler was born in July 1984, four months after Plato married Lambert. "I would never trade Tyler for anything," she said. But when the couple divorced in 1989, custody of Tyler was awarded to his father. With her substance-abuse troubles, "I was making him crazy," she later said in an interview with USA Today, "so I sent him away." The boy lived with Plato periodically, however, and she hoped to have him back soon, according to one friend. "She wanted her son," says Inman. "She wanted unconditional love."
Plato was devastated when her mother Kay died in 1988. "They had remained very close," says Jaafil. "It was a real blow"—one Plato believed tipped her into the drinking-and-drug spree that climaxed with her comically inept 1991 video-store robbery. Her disguise of dark glasses and black hat was so transparent "even she knew it was a laughingstock," says Clark County D.A. Stewart Bell, her attorney at the time. "The robbery was a cry for help." (She got out of jail when Wayne Newton, who'd never met her, posted her $13,000 bail. "He felt sorry for her," says his spokeswoman. "Here she was alone in a jail cell, and no one came forward.") Another cry for help came that December, when Plato began forging Valium prescriptions. She earned two five-year probation sentences for the offenses.
That same year, Plato sought out her biological mother, Linda Strain, and eventually appeared with her on The Maury Povich Show. "Linda was thrilled," says Strain's sister Becky Heidger. "We watched this girl grow up on TV. She looked identical to our brother's daughter, but we never put two and two together." The reunion was short-lived, however. Plato eventually stopped speaking to Strain. "Dana turned Linda's world upside-down and made it wonderful," says Heidger, "for a very short time."
Meanwhile, there were many people trying to keep Plato emotionally grounded. She was always welcome in Tulsa by her ex-mother-in-law. "I was very fond of her," says Joan Richardson. "We were her only family." Says child-actor advocate Paul Petersen: "I can't tell you the number of checks I had to give Dana to cover the rent." Last year he introduced her to Fred Potts, 41, an aspiring filmmaker in Tucson. They became engaged last June but soon broke up over her drug use. Still, Potts encouraged her to leave L.A. behind. "She was going to settle in, be an Arizona beach bum, sit by the pool, relax, no drugs, no alcohol," says Potts. The move never happened: "I never got an explanation." And former Family Affair child star Johnny Whitaker, 39, now a talent manager, took her on as a client. Himself in recovery, he talked to Plato about sobriety and asked her to check in daily. "But she'd only call about once or twice a week," he says. "For the past three weeks, Dana hadn't called at all."
By then, she was with Robert Menchaca, whom few of Plato's friends had even heard of until her death. "I didn't meet Dana as a celebrity," says Menchaca. "We dated a few times, and things just clicked." Now he, too, has lost Plato. At a press conference at his home on May 11, he said, "I'll always love her, and I know the millions of fans out there love her."
A viewing was held in nearby Oklahoma City for Plato's family that same day. Her son Tyler "is holding up well," says Whitaker, who spoke with him by phone. "His grandmother tells me he's the spitting image of Dana. And he asked me, 'When all this is over and done with and I come to Los Angeles, do you think that you could manage me?' I guess it's in the blood."
Tom Gliatto
Champ Clark, Ken Baker and Monica Rizzo in Los Angeles, Laurel Brubaker Calkins in Houston, Gabrielle Cosgriff in Moore, Mary M. Harrison in Missouri, Melissa Schorr in Las Vegas, Tim Roche in Navarre and Bob Meadows in New York City.
May 29, 2010 Saturday
Okay so I mentioned Gary Coleman died yesterday....well he was taken off of life support by his wife.
I had a late night so I fell asleep before I could tell you what I know. I don't think it's a case of "I know something you don't know." I could have taken my computer to the gala event I was at buy how would I hold the wine glass and plate of stuff that is just crackers with fancy looking stuff on it?
I was away from my computer from 8am to about midnight but I was on my feet too so when I booted my computer up I was on fumes.
Okay so here is what I heard on the radio and then again on the news at 11pm.
Gary Coleman had some kind of a fall and hit his head. He was rushed to the hospital where he slipped into a coma Thursday May 27, 2010. He was on life support until some time Friday May 28, 2010. On Friday his wife decided to take Coleman off of life support and so Gary Coleman died at the age of 42.
I used love watching Diff'rent Strokes for many reasons. "What you talking about Willis?" as well as other witty comments from Coleman and the rest of the gang. It didn't hurt that Dana Plato (Kimberly) was so cute.
Dana Plato was another tragic story. She died of an overdose from Vanadom and Vicodin.
I will try to come back to that another day.
Coleman was hugely famous for his role on Diff'rent Strokes but not much after. He was a security guard and did some other dead end jobs. He did try to become governor but everything he did ended badly. His health was never good. He got in trouble with the law on many occasions. He took his parents to court around the time he was on Diff'rent Strokes because they weren't handling his money properly.
Coleman filed bankruptcy around then too.
We will all miss Gary Coleman. I think he was a nice person in general. He had a lot to deal with it from birth. I will watch the news and listen to the radio and read the newspapers and scour the internet. When I heard Gary Coleman died I looked at the radio and yelled "What you talking about?"
**************************
Diff'rent Strokes Format: Sitcom Created by: Jeff Harris, Bernie Kukoff Starring: Gary Coleman (1978-1986), Conrad Bain (1978-1986) Todd Bridges (1978-1985), Dana Plato (1978-1984), Charlotte Rae (1978-1979), Nedra Volz (1980-1982), Mary Jo Catlett (1982-1986) Janet Jackson (1980-1984), Dixie Carter (1984-1985) Danny Cooksey (1984-1986), Shavar Ross (1980-1986), Mary Ann Mobley (1985-1986)
Country of origin: United States No. of seasons: 8
No. of episodes: 189
Production
Running time: 30 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel: NBC (1978-1985), ABC (1985-1986)
Original run: November 3, 1978 – March 7, 1986
Chronology
Followed by The Facts of Life
Diff'rent Strokes is a popular American sitcom that aired on the NBC television network from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986, when the series was again cancelled. The series can been seen in reruns on DVD, BET and WPCH-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.
History
This sitcom starred Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson and Todd Bridges as his older brother, Willis. They played two African-American children from a poor Harlem neighborhood whose deceased mother previously worked for a rich white widower, Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain), who eventually adopted them. They lived in a penthouse with Mr. Drummond, Mr. Drummond's daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato), and their maid.
There were three maids during the show's run: Edna Garrett (played by Charlotte Rae), Adelaide Brubaker (played by Nedra Volz), and Pearl Gallagher (played by Mary Jo Catlett). They lived on Park Avenue in New York City. As Arnold, Coleman popularized the catch phrase "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?". It often varies, depending on whom he is addressing--"Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Kimberly?, "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Dad?", "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Sam?", etc. The series was popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and is still mentioned in pop culture references today.
In Season 1, Charlotte Rae appeared in every episode as Edna Garrett, but she departed the show partway through the second season to star in her own top-rated, long-running spin-off, The Facts of Life. Following Rae's departure, Nedra Volz took over as the housekeeper, Adelaide Brubaker. Although she was not part of the official cast in Season 2, Volz appeared several times.
In the fourth season, future Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Janet Jackson played Willis's steady girlfriend Charlene DuPrey. Janet Jackson remained on the series (although she was not a cast member) until the end of Season 6, when Charlene and Willis decided to break up.
In Season 5, Mary Jo Catlett portrayed Pearl Gallagher, the last of the three maids, and joined the cast as a series regular. Pearl appeared in almost every episode until the final season. Midway through Season 6, Dana Plato became pregnant and approached the producers of the show to include her pregnancy. Initially they agreed to add it, but later recanted and she was fired. Plato's character, Kimberly, was written out of the storylines by saying that she lived in Paris for a couple of years. Plato did not appear as a series regular in the final two seasons of the series, but she made occasional guest appearances. By Season 7, ratings were beginning to sag, so new characters were added to open up future storylines. Dixie Carter and Danny Cooksey portrayed recently divorced television aerobics instructor Margaret "Maggie" McKinney, and her son, Sam McKinney. Carter and Cooksey joined the cast for Season 7 as series regulars. Philip and Maggie developed interest in each other and married at the end of the sixth season with special guest stars including Rae, Goodman, Volz and Jackson.
Carter departed from the series at the end of the seventh season. In the summer of 1985, NBC canceled the series due to poor ratings. In the final season of the series, Mary Ann Mobley replaced Dixie Carter as the new Maggie McKinney Drummond, and ABC aired the show on Friday nights. ABC canceled the series after 19 episodes, and aired its final episode on March 7, 1986.
The show was a success mostly because of its attempt to bring together two parts of society that usually would not be combined. The pragmatic compromise of the show later won its acclaim to Broadway.
Diff'rent Strokes
Cast
Conrad Bain - Phillip Drummond Gary Coleman - Arnold Jackson
Todd Bridges - Willis Jackson
Dana Plato - Kimberly Drummond
Charlotte Rae - Mrs. Edna Garrett
Shavar Ross - Dudley Ramsey
Nedra Volz - Adelaide Brubaker
Dixie Carter/Mary Ann Mobley - Mrs. Maggie McKinney-Drummond
Danny Cooksey - Sam McKinney
Mary Jo Catlett - Pearl Gallagher
Diff'rent Strokes
Spin-off
The television sitcom The Facts of Life (1979 – 1988) was a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes, involving Mr. Drummond's former maid, Mrs. Garrett, as the house-mother for a dormitory at an all-girls private school. The series was introduced in the first season Diff'rent Strokes episode "The Girls School". There were a number of changes made for the actual series; and Kimberly (featured in "The Girls School" as a pupil of the school) did not appear in the spin-off. In addition, Charlotte Rae was guaranteed that she could return to Diff'rent Strokes, should the new series fail. When The Facts of Life proved to be a success, a number of its characters made guest appearances on Diff'rent Strokes.
Diff'rent Strokes
Ratings
Diff'rent Strokes was a hit for the first three seasons. This is a list of the ratings:
1978-1979: #27
1979-1980: #26
1980-1981: #19
Post-show troubles
Three of the child stars ended up having problems after the show ended. Dana Plato went on to pose for Playboy, and also appeared in softcore films. She was later arrested twice (once for armed robbery, again for forging a prescription for Valium). She died of a drug overdose in 1999 at the age of only 34.
Todd Bridges was arrested in 1994 after allegedly ramming someone's car after an argument. He also had issues with illegal drugs for several years, before turning his life around. He has since traveled across the U.S.A., touring schools discussing the dangers of drug use.
In 1989, Gary Coleman sued his parents and his former manager over misappropriation of his trust fund. Although he was awarded over $1,000,000 in the decision, he filed for bankruptcy in 1999. Coleman was charged with assault in 1998 after he punched a woman while he was working as a security guard at a shopping mall. In 2001, Coleman (still working as a security guard) was videotaped trying to stop a vehicle from entering the mall. The driver ridiculed him, and released the tape to be broadcast on numerous television shows. In the mid-2000s, Coleman lent his voice and likeness to the controversial videogame Postal2. In 2007, Coleman was cited for disorderly conduct in Provo, Utah for having a "heated discussion" with a woman.
Later appearances
A decade after the series ended, in 1996, Gary Coleman and Conrad Bain reprised their roles for an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air entitled "I, Done Part 2". In their scene, they reference Willis by name before meeting Will Smith's character, leading to Coleman uttering a variation of his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' about, Will?"
Very special episodes
Diff'rent Strokes was also known (and frequently mocked) for its many "very special episodes", most notably an anti-drug episode ("The Reporter", in Season 5) that featured then-First Lady Nancy Reagan, who promoted her "Just Say No" campaign, and an episode that guest starred Gordon Jump as a pedophile bicycle-shop owner, who attempted to sexually molest Arnold and his best friend Dudley (Shavar Ross). The sexual abuse episode was credited somewhat for bringing the crime of child molestation (and its warning signs) more into the public eye.
Other episodes involved Arnold and Willis being rejected by Mr. Drummond's old prep school because they aren't wealthy enough, a con artist (played by Whitman Mayo) posing as a relative of Arnold and Willis in an attempt to get access to the inheritance they were left by a former neighbor, and Kimberly's new love Roger (who turns out to be racist) not allowing his sister to go to their school's costume ball with Willis because of his race.
In another episode on the dangers of hitchhiking, Kimberly and Arnold were abducted by a deranged man (played by Woody Eney), who initially acted as a "Good Samaritan" and a very nice guy by giving the two of them a ride, and inviting them to his apartment.
In the final season (when the show moved from NBC to ABC), the one-hour season opener revolved around Sam being kidnapped by a bereaved father (played by Royce D. Applegate) to replace his own dead son. In yet another episode, the family discovered that Kimberly was suffering from bulimia after witnessing her devour an entire sheet cake, and then go to the bathroom to vomit.
Another very special episode dealt with Arnold and Sam meeting a street performer. After a performance, she has an epileptic seizure and Sam is scared and thinks she is dying. The boys feel uncomfortable around Karen the performer and when they are making jokes about her seizures, they find out that Pearl, the housekeeper herself has epilepsy but, unlike Karen, has control of her seizures by taking medications.
Music connection
The name of the show was derived from a popular catch phrase, "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks", popularized by rock band Sly & The Family Stone with their 1968 hit "Everyday People." The show's theme song was written by Al Burton, Alan Thicke, and Gloria Loring.
************************************* The following video is a tribute to celebrities who are no longer with us, including Dana Plato. *************************************
Docudramas
Two unofficial docu-dramas were produced about the show:
In 2000, FOX broadcast a one-hour television movie, After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped. This film, which starred unknown actors, focused on Dana Plato's life after the show, leading to her untimely death. Todd Bridges guest starred in this film as a drug dealer who sold drugs — to a younger Todd Bridges.
On September 4, 2006, NBC aired a television drama entitled Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff'rent Strokes. The film, which chronicles the rise and decline of the sitcom's child stars, also features recent interview clips with Coleman and Bridges. The two also star in the movie as themselves (briefly) in the final scene, standing by Dana Plato's grave.
(Kim Richards on Diffrent Strokes. She was great in Return from Witch Mountain and the other Witch Mountain movies that I still want to see)
International Show Titles
The show was also known as:
Country Show Title
Spain Arnold
France Arnold et Willy
Argentina Blanco y negro
Italy Harlem contro Manhattan (1980-81), Il mio Amico Arnold (1981-1986), Arnold (after 1988)
Brazil Minha Família é uma Bagunça
Japan Arnold boya wa ninkimono
************************************* The following video requires some viewer discretion....not a lot but some people should not wear some things. Basically there is no big deal but parents might want to watch the video first.
The video is from a wrestling video game where some wierd wrestlers take on Mr. Drummond, Kimberly, and Arnold. Guess who wins....... Send me $10 and I'll tell ya. No no.....don't watch the video first. Send the money first.
Enjoy if you have taken my warning under consideration and decide to proceed. *************************************
DVD releases
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released Seasons 1 and 2 of Diff'rent Strokes on DVD for Region 1.
DVD Name Ep# Release Date
The Complete First Season 24 September 14, 2004
The Complete Second Season 26 January 31, 2006
Watch chu talking about?
Avenue Q
The Broadway musical Avenue Q contains a character named Gary Coleman, who, in the opening song "It Sucks To Be Me," sings "I'm Gary Coleman from TV's Diff'rent Strokes. I made a lot of money that got stolen by my folks. Now I'm broke and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes — but I'm here, the superintendent, of Avenue Q," to which the rest of the cast responds (in song) "It sucks to be you!" Before this line, when the character enters, the music plays "Now the world don't move..." which is the first five notes of the Diff'rent Strokes theme song. Dialogue references to Diff'rent Strokes, such as "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" are also included in the musical. The character of Gary Coleman was originally portrayed by actress Natalie Venetia Belcon. When the real Gary Coleman was asked about the Avenue Q character, Coleman responded, "I wish there was a lawyer on Earth that would sue them for me."
Conrad Bains (the father of the two boys and Dana Plato's character....mmmmmm but we miss her too) died on January 16, 2013. He was 89 years old.
Gary Coleman Dies At Age 42 (May 28, 2010).
Dana Plato died May 8, 1999 at the age of 34 years. She died as a result of an overdose of the painkiller Lortab along with Soma.
These deaths are all sad and untimely. I don't know how healthy Conrad Bains was in general but he didn't seem like a smoker or drinker.
Gary Coleman had all kinds of health and life problems.
Dana Plato may have been with us today if she was more careful with her meds. Sometimes it's good to have handlers to watch your moves. She seemed to have disconnected from the celebrity circuit so there was no one watching her. She was planning all kinds of comeback activities but that ended.
When Menchaca awoke shortly before 9 p.m., he couldn't wake her. "Robert called out, 'There's something wrong with Dana,' " says his mother, Marcela Menchaca, a nurse technician who was sitting outside with Albert, another son. "We dashed over there and started CPR." It was too late.
Although friends believe Plato might have been upset by the predictably cruel jokes that accompanied her visit to the Stern show the day before, authorities at this point regard the death as an accidental overdose. "There was no indication of suicide," says Moore Police Sgt. Scott Singer. Indeed, advises Ernest D. Lykissa, M.D., a Houston toxicologist, Lortab is easily abused and potentially lethal, especially when combined with Valium. Lortab, he adds, "is a nuclear bomb you give yourself."
Yet some who knew Plato couldn't help assuming the worst scenario. Since her early teens, the actress had taken one unsavory detour after another, until her life and career turned into that tragic cliche of the TV age: the cute kid star who stumbles into adulthood—then free-falls. In the 15 years since she was written out of Diff'rent Strokes, Plato crossed the line from fame to notoriety, most notably in 1991, when she held up a Las Vegas video store with a pellet gun, taking $164. Plato's victim, a cashier, reported to 911: "I've just been robbed by the girl who played Kimberly on Diff'rent Strokes."
She repeatedly admitted to substance abuse, chiefly of Valium and alcohol. "I was so wasted, it would take me a good five days to sober up and go to work," Plato told the cable entertainment channel E! last summer. She had a rough time being a mother to her son Tyler, 14, who for the most part has been raised by his father, Lanny Lambert, who lives in Tulsa, and paternal grandmother, Joan Richardson. Plato was often broke, even though she once earned $25,000 an episode for her series. She posed for Playboy in 1989 and, at her nadir, starred in a 1997 soft-core porn flick, Different Strokes: The Story of Jack & Jill...and Jill. In the words of former Partridge Family star Danny Bonaduce: "[Former child stars] have got a big billboard that says 'failure.' "
Yet, Plato occasionally pulled herself together—and somehow preserved a fundamental if odd sweetness. Sara Corwin, an L.A. photographer who was a friend, recalls, "She would call me at all hours to tell me things like, 'I just saw the most beautiful flower today.' " Even when she wound up working as a cashier in a Las Vegas dry-cleaning shop in 1990, customers were touched by her friendly lack of airs. "Normally," noted onetime customer Phil Harrington, "you don't have a former TV actress picking up your pants." Of course, beneath the gentle manner was a truly troubled soul. Plato's former drug counselor Ray Slaughter told E! last summer that at one point she was drinking almost a gallon of vodka a day. As of last September she was still making attempts to stay sober, says Gerald Wolff, her manager from 1993 to 1998. "But," he adds, "she started to go crazy again. I was hoping she was going to straighten herself out."
The same has often been said, over the years, about Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges, who played Plato's two brothers, Arnold and Willis, adopted by her cheery father, Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain). Bridges, now 33, has a police record dating back to 1983. In 1990 the former cocaine addict was acquitted of shooting an accused drug dealer in an L.A. crack house. The diminutive Coleman, 30, feuded with his parents over his $6 million fortune, worked as a security guard at a mall and, last year, was arrested for allegedly punching a female fan who had approached him for an autograph. Diff'rent Strokes' creative supervisor Al Burton remembers meeting Plato at a party in 1990. "She told me, 'I just posed nude for Playboy, Gary is suing his parents, Todd was arrested. That Drummond sure was a terrible father.' "
Bridges recently told USA Today he now stays sober with a 12-step program, and Coleman was required to take anger-management classes after pleading no contest in the autograph incident. Plato, though, always remained a concern to former teen star Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show, 1958-66), now 53 and head of A Minor Consideration, a watchdog organization for the rights of child actors. "I was doing the Sally Jessy Raphael Show [in May 1990] with Dana," he says, "and she bumped into me before the show, fresh out of the bathroom, with cocaine powder all over her nose. Five minutes later she was on the air saying she's clean and sober." Plato, he says, "lied to everybody."
Menchaca, who met her in Tulsa only four months ago, is distraught over the suggestion that drugs caused her death. "Dana's name has been dragged through the dirt," he says. "I want the world to know what kind of person she was. I learned from her it's the little things that count. Never take life for granted."
Plato kept trying to repair her own damaged life. She went on Stern's show to refute the claims of a woman named Jennifer Wejbe, who had once been her L.A. roommate. Wejbe told The National Enquirer in March that she and Plato had been lovers, that Plato was still a drug user and that the actress had run off with her money. Callers to the show mocked Plato as a has-been, a lesbian and a mental case. The occasional well-wisher reduced her to tears.
Plato, says her cousin Kim Jaafil of Northridge, Calif., was "always an outgoing, bubbly kid, very happy and well-adjusted." Still, her world was never stable. She was given up for adoption at birth by her mother, Linda Strain, then 17 and now the married mother of three in Springfield, Mo. Her adoptive parents—Dean Plato, who owned a trucking company, and Kay, who oversaw her career—divorced before Dana was 4. After that, Dean seldom played a part in her life, except in 1984, when he unsuccessfully sued her for support. Not long after the adoption, Kay was diagnosed with a rare blood disease that killed her 20 years later. Because of her illness, Jaafil suggests, "Kay wanted to give Dana everything while she was still around."
As a child star, Dana lacked very little. She began acting at age 6, appearing in some 250 commercials before Al Burton cast the then-13-year-old in Diff'rent Strokes. "But she was always insecure," says Sy Levin, who managed her from age 13 to 17. "She was third on the totem pole. It was always Coleman, then it was Todd. Then it was her."
There were problems far more serious than professional rivalry. At 14, according to Levin, she overdosed on Valium. By the time she was 15, she was coming to the set drunk. "She would show up in a daze, in a funk," says Burton. Then, at 18, she got pregnant by her 21-year-old boyfriend, and her Strokes stint was over. Conrad Bain, for one, was disturbed by her recklessness. "She deliberately got pregnant while doing the series," he says. "When I spoke to her about it, she was enthusiastic about having done that." She later told him, "When I get the baby, I will never be alone again."
Years later, Plato told fellow camper Charles Inman that she didn't regret the decision to have her child. Tyler was born in July 1984, four months after Plato married Lambert. "I would never trade Tyler for anything," she said. But when the couple divorced in 1989, custody of Tyler was awarded to his father. With her substance-abuse troubles, "I was making him crazy," she later said in an interview with USA Today, "so I sent him away." The boy lived with Plato periodically, however, and she hoped to have him back soon, according to one friend. "She wanted her son," says Inman. "She wanted unconditional love."
Plato was devastated when her mother Kay died in 1988. "They had remained very close," says Jaafil. "It was a real blow"—one Plato believed tipped her into the drinking-and-drug spree that climaxed with her comically inept 1991 video-store robbery. Her disguise of dark glasses and black hat was so transparent "even she knew it was a laughingstock," says Clark County D.A. Stewart Bell, her attorney at the time. "The robbery was a cry for help." (She got out of jail when Wayne Newton, who'd never met her, posted her $13,000 bail. "He felt sorry for her," says his spokeswoman. "Here she was alone in a jail cell, and no one came forward.") Another cry for help came that December, when Plato began forging Valium prescriptions. She earned two five-year probation sentences for the offenses.
That same year, Plato sought out her biological mother, Linda Strain, and eventually appeared with her on The Maury Povich Show. "Linda was thrilled," says Strain's sister Becky Heidger. "We watched this girl grow up on TV. She looked identical to our brother's daughter, but we never put two and two together." The reunion was short-lived, however. Plato eventually stopped speaking to Strain. "Dana turned Linda's world upside-down and made it wonderful," says Heidger, "for a very short time."
Meanwhile, there were many people trying to keep Plato emotionally grounded. She was always welcome in Tulsa by her ex-mother-in-law. "I was very fond of her," says Joan Richardson. "We were her only family." Says child-actor advocate Paul Petersen: "I can't tell you the number of checks I had to give Dana to cover the rent." Last year he introduced her to Fred Potts, 41, an aspiring filmmaker in Tucson. They became engaged last June but soon broke up over her drug use. Still, Potts encouraged her to leave L.A. behind. "She was going to settle in, be an Arizona beach bum, sit by the pool, relax, no drugs, no alcohol," says Potts. The move never happened: "I never got an explanation." And former Family Affair child star Johnny Whitaker, 39, now a talent manager, took her on as a client. Himself in recovery, he talked to Plato about sobriety and asked her to check in daily. "But she'd only call about once or twice a week," he says. "For the past three weeks, Dana hadn't called at all."
By then, she was with Robert Menchaca, whom few of Plato's friends had even heard of until her death. "I didn't meet Dana as a celebrity," says Menchaca. "We dated a few times, and things just clicked." Now he, too, has lost Plato. At a press conference at his home on May 11, he said, "I'll always love her, and I know the millions of fans out there love her."
A viewing was held in nearby Oklahoma City for Plato's family that same day. Her son Tyler "is holding up well," says Whitaker, who spoke with him by phone. "His grandmother tells me he's the spitting image of Dana. And he asked me, 'When all this is over and done with and I come to Los Angeles, do you think that you could manage me?' I guess it's in the blood."
Tom Gliatto
Champ Clark, Ken Baker and Monica Rizzo in Los Angeles, Laurel Brubaker Calkins in Houston, Gabrielle Cosgriff in Moore, Mary M. Harrison in Missouri, Melissa Schorr in Las Vegas, Tim Roche in Navarre and Bob Meadows in New York City.
May 29, 2010 Saturday
Okay so I mentioned Gary Coleman died yesterday....well he was taken off of life support by his wife.
I had a late night so I fell asleep before I could tell you what I know. I don't think it's a case of "I know something you don't know." I could have taken my computer to the gala event I was at buy how would I hold the wine glass and plate of stuff that is just crackers with fancy looking stuff on it?
I was away from my computer from 8am to about midnight but I was on my feet too so when I booted my computer up I was on fumes.
Okay so here is what I heard on the radio and then again on the news at 11pm.
Gary Coleman had some kind of a fall and hit his head. He was rushed to the hospital where he slipped into a coma Thursday May 27, 2010. He was on life support until some time Friday May 28, 2010. On Friday his wife decided to take Coleman off of life support and so Gary Coleman died at the age of 42.
I used love watching Diff'rent Strokes for many reasons. "What you talking about Willis?" as well as other witty comments from Coleman and the rest of the gang. It didn't hurt that Dana Plato (Kimberly) was so cute.
Dana Plato was another tragic story. She died of an overdose from Vanadom and Vicodin.
I will try to come back to that another day.
Coleman was hugely famous for his role on Diff'rent Strokes but not much after. He was a security guard and did some other dead end jobs. He did try to become governor but everything he did ended badly. His health was never good. He got in trouble with the law on many occasions. He took his parents to court around the time he was on Diff'rent Strokes because they weren't handling his money properly.
Coleman filed bankruptcy around then too.
We will all miss Gary Coleman. I think he was a nice person in general. He had a lot to deal with it from birth. I will watch the news and listen to the radio and read the newspapers and scour the internet. When I heard Gary Coleman died I looked at the radio and yelled "What you talking about?"
**************************
Diff'rent Strokes Format: Sitcom Created by: Jeff Harris, Bernie Kukoff Starring: Gary Coleman (1978-1986), Conrad Bain (1978-1986) Todd Bridges (1978-1985), Dana Plato (1978-1984), Charlotte Rae (1978-1979), Nedra Volz (1980-1982), Mary Jo Catlett (1982-1986) Janet Jackson (1980-1984), Dixie Carter (1984-1985) Danny Cooksey (1984-1986), Shavar Ross (1980-1986), Mary Ann Mobley (1985-1986)
Country of origin: United States No. of seasons: 8
No. of episodes: 189
Production
Running time: 30 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel: NBC (1978-1985), ABC (1985-1986)
Original run: November 3, 1978 – March 7, 1986
Chronology
Followed by The Facts of Life
Diff'rent Strokes is a popular American sitcom that aired on the NBC television network from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986, when the series was again cancelled. The series can been seen in reruns on DVD, BET and WPCH-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.
History
This sitcom starred Gary Coleman as Arnold Jackson and Todd Bridges as his older brother, Willis. They played two African-American children from a poor Harlem neighborhood whose deceased mother previously worked for a rich white widower, Philip Drummond (Conrad Bain), who eventually adopted them. They lived in a penthouse with Mr. Drummond, Mr. Drummond's daughter Kimberly (Dana Plato), and their maid.
There were three maids during the show's run: Edna Garrett (played by Charlotte Rae), Adelaide Brubaker (played by Nedra Volz), and Pearl Gallagher (played by Mary Jo Catlett). They lived on Park Avenue in New York City. As Arnold, Coleman popularized the catch phrase "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?". It often varies, depending on whom he is addressing--"Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Kimberly?, "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Dad?", "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Sam?", etc. The series was popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and is still mentioned in pop culture references today.
In Season 1, Charlotte Rae appeared in every episode as Edna Garrett, but she departed the show partway through the second season to star in her own top-rated, long-running spin-off, The Facts of Life. Following Rae's departure, Nedra Volz took over as the housekeeper, Adelaide Brubaker. Although she was not part of the official cast in Season 2, Volz appeared several times.
In the fourth season, future Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Janet Jackson played Willis's steady girlfriend Charlene DuPrey. Janet Jackson remained on the series (although she was not a cast member) until the end of Season 6, when Charlene and Willis decided to break up.
In Season 5, Mary Jo Catlett portrayed Pearl Gallagher, the last of the three maids, and joined the cast as a series regular. Pearl appeared in almost every episode until the final season. Midway through Season 6, Dana Plato became pregnant and approached the producers of the show to include her pregnancy. Initially they agreed to add it, but later recanted and she was fired. Plato's character, Kimberly, was written out of the storylines by saying that she lived in Paris for a couple of years. Plato did not appear as a series regular in the final two seasons of the series, but she made occasional guest appearances. By Season 7, ratings were beginning to sag, so new characters were added to open up future storylines. Dixie Carter and Danny Cooksey portrayed recently divorced television aerobics instructor Margaret "Maggie" McKinney, and her son, Sam McKinney. Carter and Cooksey joined the cast for Season 7 as series regulars. Philip and Maggie developed interest in each other and married at the end of the sixth season with special guest stars including Rae, Goodman, Volz and Jackson.
Carter departed from the series at the end of the seventh season. In the summer of 1985, NBC canceled the series due to poor ratings. In the final season of the series, Mary Ann Mobley replaced Dixie Carter as the new Maggie McKinney Drummond, and ABC aired the show on Friday nights. ABC canceled the series after 19 episodes, and aired its final episode on March 7, 1986.
The show was a success mostly because of its attempt to bring together two parts of society that usually would not be combined. The pragmatic compromise of the show later won its acclaim to Broadway.
Diff'rent Strokes
Cast
Conrad Bain - Phillip Drummond Gary Coleman - Arnold Jackson
Todd Bridges - Willis Jackson
Dana Plato - Kimberly Drummond
Charlotte Rae - Mrs. Edna Garrett
Shavar Ross - Dudley Ramsey
Nedra Volz - Adelaide Brubaker
Dixie Carter/Mary Ann Mobley - Mrs. Maggie McKinney-Drummond
Danny Cooksey - Sam McKinney
Mary Jo Catlett - Pearl Gallagher
Diff'rent Strokes
Spin-off
The television sitcom The Facts of Life (1979 – 1988) was a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes, involving Mr. Drummond's former maid, Mrs. Garrett, as the house-mother for a dormitory at an all-girls private school. The series was introduced in the first season Diff'rent Strokes episode "The Girls School". There were a number of changes made for the actual series; and Kimberly (featured in "The Girls School" as a pupil of the school) did not appear in the spin-off. In addition, Charlotte Rae was guaranteed that she could return to Diff'rent Strokes, should the new series fail. When The Facts of Life proved to be a success, a number of its characters made guest appearances on Diff'rent Strokes.
Diff'rent Strokes
Ratings
Diff'rent Strokes was a hit for the first three seasons. This is a list of the ratings:
1978-1979: #27
1979-1980: #26
1980-1981: #19
Post-show troubles
Three of the child stars ended up having problems after the show ended. Dana Plato went on to pose for Playboy, and also appeared in softcore films. She was later arrested twice (once for armed robbery, again for forging a prescription for Valium). She died of a drug overdose in 1999 at the age of only 34.
Todd Bridges was arrested in 1994 after allegedly ramming someone's car after an argument. He also had issues with illegal drugs for several years, before turning his life around. He has since traveled across the U.S.A., touring schools discussing the dangers of drug use.
In 1989, Gary Coleman sued his parents and his former manager over misappropriation of his trust fund. Although he was awarded over $1,000,000 in the decision, he filed for bankruptcy in 1999. Coleman was charged with assault in 1998 after he punched a woman while he was working as a security guard at a shopping mall. In 2001, Coleman (still working as a security guard) was videotaped trying to stop a vehicle from entering the mall. The driver ridiculed him, and released the tape to be broadcast on numerous television shows. In the mid-2000s, Coleman lent his voice and likeness to the controversial videogame Postal2. In 2007, Coleman was cited for disorderly conduct in Provo, Utah for having a "heated discussion" with a woman.
Later appearances
A decade after the series ended, in 1996, Gary Coleman and Conrad Bain reprised their roles for an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air entitled "I, Done Part 2". In their scene, they reference Willis by name before meeting Will Smith's character, leading to Coleman uttering a variation of his catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' about, Will?"
Very special episodes
Diff'rent Strokes was also known (and frequently mocked) for its many "very special episodes", most notably an anti-drug episode ("The Reporter", in Season 5) that featured then-First Lady Nancy Reagan, who promoted her "Just Say No" campaign, and an episode that guest starred Gordon Jump as a pedophile bicycle-shop owner, who attempted to sexually molest Arnold and his best friend Dudley (Shavar Ross). The sexual abuse episode was credited somewhat for bringing the crime of child molestation (and its warning signs) more into the public eye.
Other episodes involved Arnold and Willis being rejected by Mr. Drummond's old prep school because they aren't wealthy enough, a con artist (played by Whitman Mayo) posing as a relative of Arnold and Willis in an attempt to get access to the inheritance they were left by a former neighbor, and Kimberly's new love Roger (who turns out to be racist) not allowing his sister to go to their school's costume ball with Willis because of his race.
In another episode on the dangers of hitchhiking, Kimberly and Arnold were abducted by a deranged man (played by Woody Eney), who initially acted as a "Good Samaritan" and a very nice guy by giving the two of them a ride, and inviting them to his apartment.
In the final season (when the show moved from NBC to ABC), the one-hour season opener revolved around Sam being kidnapped by a bereaved father (played by Royce D. Applegate) to replace his own dead son. In yet another episode, the family discovered that Kimberly was suffering from bulimia after witnessing her devour an entire sheet cake, and then go to the bathroom to vomit.
Another very special episode dealt with Arnold and Sam meeting a street performer. After a performance, she has an epileptic seizure and Sam is scared and thinks she is dying. The boys feel uncomfortable around Karen the performer and when they are making jokes about her seizures, they find out that Pearl, the housekeeper herself has epilepsy but, unlike Karen, has control of her seizures by taking medications.
Music connection
The name of the show was derived from a popular catch phrase, "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks", popularized by rock band Sly & The Family Stone with their 1968 hit "Everyday People." The show's theme song was written by Al Burton, Alan Thicke, and Gloria Loring.
************************************* The following video is a tribute to celebrities who are no longer with us, including Dana Plato. *************************************
Docudramas
Two unofficial docu-dramas were produced about the show:
In 2000, FOX broadcast a one-hour television movie, After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped. This film, which starred unknown actors, focused on Dana Plato's life after the show, leading to her untimely death. Todd Bridges guest starred in this film as a drug dealer who sold drugs — to a younger Todd Bridges.
On September 4, 2006, NBC aired a television drama entitled Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff'rent Strokes. The film, which chronicles the rise and decline of the sitcom's child stars, also features recent interview clips with Coleman and Bridges. The two also star in the movie as themselves (briefly) in the final scene, standing by Dana Plato's grave.
(Kim Richards on Diffrent Strokes. She was great in Return from Witch Mountain and the other Witch Mountain movies that I still want to see)
International Show Titles
The show was also known as:
Country Show Title
Spain Arnold
France Arnold et Willy
Argentina Blanco y negro
Italy Harlem contro Manhattan (1980-81), Il mio Amico Arnold (1981-1986), Arnold (after 1988)
Brazil Minha Família é uma Bagunça
Japan Arnold boya wa ninkimono
************************************* The following video requires some viewer discretion....not a lot but some people should not wear some things. Basically there is no big deal but parents might want to watch the video first.
The video is from a wrestling video game where some wierd wrestlers take on Mr. Drummond, Kimberly, and Arnold. Guess who wins....... Send me $10 and I'll tell ya. No no.....don't watch the video first. Send the money first.
Enjoy if you have taken my warning under consideration and decide to proceed. *************************************
DVD releases
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released Seasons 1 and 2 of Diff'rent Strokes on DVD for Region 1.
DVD Name Ep# Release Date
The Complete First Season 24 September 14, 2004
The Complete Second Season 26 January 31, 2006
Watch chu talking about?
Avenue Q
The Broadway musical Avenue Q contains a character named Gary Coleman, who, in the opening song "It Sucks To Be Me," sings "I'm Gary Coleman from TV's Diff'rent Strokes. I made a lot of money that got stolen by my folks. Now I'm broke and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes — but I'm here, the superintendent, of Avenue Q," to which the rest of the cast responds (in song) "It sucks to be you!" Before this line, when the character enters, the music plays "Now the world don't move..." which is the first five notes of the Diff'rent Strokes theme song. Dialogue references to Diff'rent Strokes, such as "Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" are also included in the musical. The character of Gary Coleman was originally portrayed by actress Natalie Venetia Belcon. When the real Gary Coleman was asked about the Avenue Q character, Coleman responded, "I wish there was a lawyer on Earth that would sue them for me."
Different World
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
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
Thursday, May 16, 2013
What I watched today
Okay not just what I watched today but the last two days.
Mythbusters
Jamie and Adam and of course
Phineas and Ferb
League of Super Evil
Nearly Naked Animals
Big Bang Theory
Don't try This at Home
Never Ever Do This At Home
Mythbusters
Jamie and Adam and of course
Phineas and Ferb
League of Super Evil
Nearly Naked Animals
Big Bang Theory
Don't try This at Home
Never Ever Do This At Home
Friday, May 10, 2013
Anger Management
Anger Management
My Thoughts:
Charlie and Kate have sex but agree never to become a couple. They are both therapists and friends and FRIENDS YES! YES! YES! OH GOD YES!
Who thought checkers could be so exciting. I think you would agree that Charlie wants him and Kate to be a couple because they are so good together. They act like the best couple ever. They seem to finish each other's sentences and they know what each other is thinking almost all the time.
If one thinks of having a quickie the other is almost always completely ready. I just saw an episode where Charlie decides to go to his sister's baby shower and he take Kate.
Charlie and Kate completely win the couple's question game. They have all the answers that only an in sync couple could have.
Watch the show and clean up when you're done. The show is not for kids but I'm sure teens are getting together with alcohol stolen from their parents and other protection etc items too. These teens are watching the show like it was the perfect sex ed class.
This would be a mistake but I know teens that have gotten into trouble before their 16th birthday. Well that's another topic.
Enjoy the show and then go back to reality. Unicorns do not exist, except in our fantasies....well not mine.
Read the facts about the show ----*****yes it's from wiki and I will edit it down.******
It's just that Anger Management is on and I want to see some of the episodes before it's taken off the air......after a lot of good seasons.
General information about the show:
Anger Management is an American comedy series that premiered on June 28,
2012.
The series is based in-name only on the 2003 film of the same name and
stars Charlie Sheen in a role very loosely similar to the one originated by
Jack Nicholson from the film. Anger Management broke a ratings
record with 5.74 million viewers on its series debut night and ranks as the
most-watched sitcom premiere in cable history.
Cast
Main
•Charlie Sheen as Dr. Charlie Goodson, a former minor-league baseball
player who became an anger management therapist
•Selma Blair as Dr. Kate Wales, Charlie's therapist/colleague and friends
with benefits
•Shawnee Smith as Jennifer Goodson, Charlie's ex-wife
•Daniela Bobadilla as Sam Goodson, Charlie's teenage daughter
•Noureen DeWulf as Lacey, Charlie's anger management patient
•Michael Arden as Patrick, Charlie's anger management patient
•Derek Richardson as Nolan, Charlie's anger management patient
•Barry Corbin as Ed, Charlie's anger management patient
Recurring
•Brett Butler as Brett, the bartender at a tavern Charlie frequents.
•Michael Boatman as Michael, Charlie's neighbor and friend
•James Black as Cleo/Derek, a "gay" member of Charlie's prison anger
therapy group. In "Charlie's Patient Gets Out of Jail", Cleo is released on
parole and reveals to Charlie that his real name is Derek and that he had a
wife before going to prison, claiming he's only "Prison Gay".
•Darius McCrary as Donovan, a gay member of Charlie's prison anger
therapy group and Cleo/Derek's domestic partner.
•Stephen Taylor as Wayne, a member of Charlie's prison anger therapy
group.
•Aldo Gonzalez as Ernesto, a member of Charlie's prison anger therapy
group.
•Katlin Mastandrea as Olivia, Sam's best friend.
•Martin Sheen as Martin Goodson, Charlie's hyper-critical father
Production
On July 18, 2011, it was announced that the show based on the 2003 film of
the same name was in development with Charlie Sheen starring in the role
originally played by Jack Nicholson from the film. The series is Sheen's
first acting role since he was officially fired from the hit CBS sitcom Two
and a Half Men. On October 27, 2011, it was announced that FX had
picked up the series with an initial ten episode order which, if successful, FX
would then order an additional 90 episodes under a syndication model
crafted by Debmar-Mercury. On August 29, 2012 it was announced that the
show would be picked up for a further 90 episodes. On January 9, 2013,
FX president John Landgraf said that there will essentially be "45 new
episodes per year". Landgraf also announced that Martin Sheen, who guest-
starred in Season 1 as Charlie's on-screen father, will become a Season 2
regular cast member. While he did continue appearing on the show, it was
only in selected episodes and he was not promoted to Season 2 regular.
Casting
Casting announcements began in January 2012, with Shawnee Smith and
Selma Blair first cast as the two female leads. Smith was cast as Charlie's
ex-wife and Blair was cast as Charlie's therapist and possible love interest.
Several actresses tested for the two female lead roles, including
Julie Benz, Jenica Bergere, Elaine Hendrix, Kate Reinders and Nicole Hiltz.
Next to be cast was Noureen DeWulf, in the role of Lacey, a spoiled rich
girl who is sentenced to join the therapy group after shooting her boyfriend
in the testicles when he cheated on her. Michael Arden and Daniela
Bobadilla were cast as, respectively, Patrick, one of the members of the
therapy group, and Sam, Charlie's 13-year-old daughter. Barry Corbin
was cast as Ed, a cranky Vietnam veteran and member of the therapy group
who is angry at everyone. Derek Richardson was the last actor cast in the
series, in the role of Nolan, a member of the therapy group whose anger
issue is that he has no anger.
Denise Richards, Lindsay Lohan, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Brian Austin
Green have made guest appearances.
Charlie Sheen's father, Martin Sheen, has been added to the cast for the
second season. FX president John Landgraf said, "I thought it would be a
better series if it was also a multi-generational series".
My Thoughts:
Charlie and Kate have sex but agree never to become a couple. They are both therapists and friends and FRIENDS YES! YES! YES! OH GOD YES!
Who thought checkers could be so exciting. I think you would agree that Charlie wants him and Kate to be a couple because they are so good together. They act like the best couple ever. They seem to finish each other's sentences and they know what each other is thinking almost all the time.
If one thinks of having a quickie the other is almost always completely ready. I just saw an episode where Charlie decides to go to his sister's baby shower and he take Kate.
Charlie and Kate completely win the couple's question game. They have all the answers that only an in sync couple could have.
Watch the show and clean up when you're done. The show is not for kids but I'm sure teens are getting together with alcohol stolen from their parents and other protection etc items too. These teens are watching the show like it was the perfect sex ed class.
This would be a mistake but I know teens that have gotten into trouble before their 16th birthday. Well that's another topic.
Enjoy the show and then go back to reality. Unicorns do not exist, except in our fantasies....well not mine.
Read the facts about the show ----*****yes it's from wiki and I will edit it down.******
It's just that Anger Management is on and I want to see some of the episodes before it's taken off the air......after a lot of good seasons.
General information about the show:
Anger Management is an American comedy series that premiered on June 28,
2012.
The series is based in-name only on the 2003 film of the same name and
stars Charlie Sheen in a role very loosely similar to the one originated by
Jack Nicholson from the film. Anger Management broke a ratings
record with 5.74 million viewers on its series debut night and ranks as the
most-watched sitcom premiere in cable history.
Cast
Main
•Charlie Sheen as Dr. Charlie Goodson, a former minor-league baseball
player who became an anger management therapist
•Selma Blair as Dr. Kate Wales, Charlie's therapist/colleague and friends
with benefits
•Shawnee Smith as Jennifer Goodson, Charlie's ex-wife
•Daniela Bobadilla as Sam Goodson, Charlie's teenage daughter
•Noureen DeWulf as Lacey, Charlie's anger management patient
•Michael Arden as Patrick, Charlie's anger management patient
•Derek Richardson as Nolan, Charlie's anger management patient
•Barry Corbin as Ed, Charlie's anger management patient
Recurring
•Brett Butler as Brett, the bartender at a tavern Charlie frequents.
•Michael Boatman as Michael, Charlie's neighbor and friend
•James Black as Cleo/Derek, a "gay" member of Charlie's prison anger
therapy group. In "Charlie's Patient Gets Out of Jail", Cleo is released on
parole and reveals to Charlie that his real name is Derek and that he had a
wife before going to prison, claiming he's only "Prison Gay".
•Darius McCrary as Donovan, a gay member of Charlie's prison anger
therapy group and Cleo/Derek's domestic partner.
•Stephen Taylor as Wayne, a member of Charlie's prison anger therapy
group.
•Aldo Gonzalez as Ernesto, a member of Charlie's prison anger therapy
group.
•Katlin Mastandrea as Olivia, Sam's best friend.
•Martin Sheen as Martin Goodson, Charlie's hyper-critical father
Production
On July 18, 2011, it was announced that the show based on the 2003 film of
the same name was in development with Charlie Sheen starring in the role
originally played by Jack Nicholson from the film. The series is Sheen's
first acting role since he was officially fired from the hit CBS sitcom Two
and a Half Men. On October 27, 2011, it was announced that FX had
picked up the series with an initial ten episode order which, if successful, FX
would then order an additional 90 episodes under a syndication model
crafted by Debmar-Mercury. On August 29, 2012 it was announced that the
show would be picked up for a further 90 episodes. On January 9, 2013,
FX president John Landgraf said that there will essentially be "45 new
episodes per year". Landgraf also announced that Martin Sheen, who guest-
starred in Season 1 as Charlie's on-screen father, will become a Season 2
regular cast member. While he did continue appearing on the show, it was
only in selected episodes and he was not promoted to Season 2 regular.
Casting
Casting announcements began in January 2012, with Shawnee Smith and
Selma Blair first cast as the two female leads. Smith was cast as Charlie's
ex-wife and Blair was cast as Charlie's therapist and possible love interest.
Several actresses tested for the two female lead roles, including
Julie Benz, Jenica Bergere, Elaine Hendrix, Kate Reinders and Nicole Hiltz.
Next to be cast was Noureen DeWulf, in the role of Lacey, a spoiled rich
girl who is sentenced to join the therapy group after shooting her boyfriend
in the testicles when he cheated on her. Michael Arden and Daniela
Bobadilla were cast as, respectively, Patrick, one of the members of the
therapy group, and Sam, Charlie's 13-year-old daughter. Barry Corbin
was cast as Ed, a cranky Vietnam veteran and member of the therapy group
who is angry at everyone. Derek Richardson was the last actor cast in the
series, in the role of Nolan, a member of the therapy group whose anger
issue is that he has no anger.
Denise Richards, Lindsay Lohan, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Brian Austin
Green have made guest appearances.
Charlie Sheen's father, Martin Sheen, has been added to the cast for the
second season. FX president John Landgraf said, "I thought it would be a
better series if it was also a multi-generational series".
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