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ONE SEASON WONDERS: The Preston Episodes

On Wednesdays, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at 1995's The Preston Episodes!

THE PRESTON EPISODES











September 9, 1995 - October 28, 1995
8 episodes
FOX

Starring: David Alan Grier, Judith Scott, Tommy Hinkley, Matthew Walker, Brent Hinkley, Clive Revill
Created by: Jace Richdale

 Plot: Recently divorced English professor David Preston (Grier) moves to Manhattan and begins working for a gossip magazine for a much younger boss, Adam Green (Walker). The rest of the cast included his immediate supervisor, Larry (Revill), co-worker Kelly (Scott) and oddball Harlow (Brent Hinkley) while his home life includes oddball neighbor Derek (Tommy Hinkley - apparently not related to Brent).

Brief Pilot Review:
It was very common in the mid 1990s to have sitcoms (and sometimes dramas) set in the publishing/magazine realm. It was definitely a big thing that lasted for years but has disappeared as a trend as that industry has gone through major changes and hard times. This show certainly felt like a male version of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and it made that feeling abundantly clear with a Mary tribute at the end of the episode. I've never been a big David Alan Grier fan, but he's pretty solid here and has some funny moments. I think he's gotten a little too broad in later years, but he was still young here and his comic timing lands for the most part (except for his screams when he sees his neighbor). 

The rest of the cast is pretty forgettable although I liked his parents (guest stars Lynne Thigpen and Ron Canada) as well as his ex-wife (guest star Deborah Lacey). That was probably the show I was more interested in that his scenes at the workplace or with his neighbor. It wasn't a really special pilot by any means but it definitely had enough funny pieces that I can see why FOX was hopeful in picking it up because some of the pieces were there to possibly become a funny show.

What Went Wrong:
After airing only Cops and America's Most Wanted on Saturdays for a year and a half, FOX tried to carve out a comedy presence on Saturday nights for the 1995-96 by airing The Preston Episodes after the fourth season of the returning comedy Martin, which had a loyal but small audience. The pairing and the Saturday night slot seemed like an odd spot for a more sophisticated sitcom like The Preston Episodes. FOX gave it a chance to find an audience by premiering it two weeks earlier than the official start of the season.

The Preston Episodes was a vehicle for David Alan Grier who was best known at the time as a popular cast member on the recently ended FOX sketch comedy show In Living Color. Reviews were actually somewhat positive for The Preston Episodes. The Los Angeles Times said the show affirmed that Grier was "one of TV's most talented and versatile actors" while the Chicago Tribune said "most of the writing is smart and sly." But the FOX comedy attempt was a complete bust. The Preston Episodes ended up as the lowest rated show on TV in the 1995-96 among the major four networks. Martin did not fare much better but FOX rescued the veteran show and moved it over to Sundays.

Tomorrow: A look at Happy Days Season 8 (Part 2)
Next Wednesday: A One Season Wonder look at First Time Out!
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