ONE SEASON WONDERS: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

On Wednesday, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at 1996's Mr. & Mrs. Smith!

MR. & MRS. SMITH

September 20, 1996 - November 8, 1996

9 episodes

CBS

Starring: Scott Bakula, Maria Bello, with Timothy Olyphant and Ray Dotrice

Created by: Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar

Plot: "Mr. Smith" (Bakula) is a spy who works for a private security organization under Mr. Dig (Dotrice) and with a partner (Olyphant). He meets a rival, "Mrs. Smith" (Bello) who loses her job after a failed mission and she teams up with Mr. Smith as they continue to spar.

Brief Pilot Review:

Mr. & Mrs. Smith was a nicely shot pilot for 1996. Set and filmed on location in Seattle, it made great use of its location with lots of on-location filming that worked quite well. It wasn't up to today's production standards of course but it definitely didn't feel as drab as so many dramas did back in the 1990s. It felt like the network spent some money on it and the show made an effort to be a little more stylish, which is fitting for a spy show. The other strong part of the pilot was the stars. Scott Bakula and Maria Bello had an easy chemistry when they were fighting and an easy chemistry when they were on the same side (and there was a lot of both in the pilot).

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1996-1997 Fridays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Fridays in the 1996-97 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30	10:00
Sep	Family Matters	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Clueless	Boy Meets World	20/20
Oct
Nov		Boy Meets World	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Clueless
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar				Step by Step
Apr
May

After two years of a very steady lineup for ABC's TGIF, there were many changes for the 1996-97 season. Both Step by Step and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper were held for midseason (and Mr. Cooper didn't even air until summer). Family Matters continued at 8pm while Boy Meets World was slated to close out the block at 9:30pm. In between were two fairly high profile new shows. At 8:30pm was Sabrina the Teenage Witch which starred then-Nickelodeon star Melissa Joan Hart as the title character from the comic book. At 9pm was Clueless, based on the hit 1995 movie of the same name. The series was a rare single camera sitcom in an era where multi-cam sitcoms were pretty much the only format on TV. Some characters reprised their role on the show though star Alicia Silverstone did not make the jump with Rachel Blanchard taking the lead role. ABC was pinning its new TGIF revamp around Clueless expecting that show to be the big hit, but it was Sabrina that ultimately proved to be the new hit. After just a couple weeks, ABC shuffled the lineup around and made Sabrina the 9pm tentpole while Clueless got bumped to 9:30pm and Boy Meets World returned to 8:30pm. Clueless was cancelled by ABC after 18 episodes and was picked up by UPN for a second season. ABC started to regret the cancellation when Clueless began to repeat well in the summer. They couldn't get it back from UPN but they did prevent it from launching on UPN until September when the rest of the UPN lineup started in late August. Speaking of changing networks, it was the changing of the guard at the end of the season as the production company behind 

Family Matters and Step by Step (which returned after Clueless ended for the season) was feuding with ABC and its new corporate parent, Disney. So ABC ended the season with only Boy Meets World and Sabrina slated for another season. And of course, 20/20, which remained a big hit at 10pm.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 11/18/22

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - CBS MIDSEASON PLANS

After NBC, ABC and FOX all announced midseason plans on the same day last week, CBS announced its midseason plans this week. There wasn't too much to see with only two new shows joining the fold. A RuPaul hosted version of the game show Lingo will make its debut on January 11, airing between The Price is Right at Night and Tough As Nails. Then on February 23, a sneak preview premiere of the new drama True Lies will air after Young Sheldon and Ghosts. It will then settle into its regular Wednesday 10pm slot after the return of Survivor on March 1. Elsewhere, as previously announced, freshman drama Fire Country will get the coveted post-AFC Championship Game slot on January 29 and a three show NCIS crossover event will kick off the midseason on January 2. 

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Eleven (Part 1)

On Thursdays, I take a critical look at a TV show by season. Here's a look at Season 11 (Part 1) of Happy Days!

HAPPY DAYS: SEASON ELEVEN
1983-1984

22 episodes

Happy Days ends its long run with the eleventh season. It's an improvement from the misguided and almost unrecognizable tenth season, but it doesn't restore the show back to its former glory. The closest it comes is when former star Ron Howard returns for a two part episode early in the season. The show also benefits from Scott Baio and Erin Moran returning to the series as full time characters and the departure of many superfluous and unmemorable characters. It helps send the show off in a way that leaves a slightly better taste in the mouth.

Starring:

Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli (22 episodes)

Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham (22 episodes)
Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham (22 episodes)

Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola (22 episodes)

Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham (20 episodes)
Anson Williams as Potsie Webber (5 episodes)

Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips (12 episodes)

Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham (3 episodes)

Lynda Goodfriend as Lori Beth Cunningham (3 episodes)

Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccolo (2 episodes)

Don Most as Ralph Malph (1 episode)

Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio (1 episode)

Kevin Sullivan as Tommy (4 episodes)

Harris Kal as Bobby (3 episodes)

Pat Morita as Arnold Takahashi (1 episodes)

234. Because It's There (9/27/83)

After finding a note taped to the bottom of a childhood cookie jar, Fonzie decides to try to conquer Suicide Hill on his motorcycle.

The final season of Happy Days begins with a twist on the theme song that makes the harmony line on the chorus the melody line, it's unusual and different after years of a very similar theme. The show is also "back to basics" in terms of the cast. Jenny, Ashley, Heather, Flip and K.C. are gone abruptly. Even Joanie doesn't appear in this episode. This is yet another in the "jump the shark" family of episodes with a nearly 40 year old Fonzie going up a ridiculous hill on his motorcycle. Some of it is tied to Fonzie's realization about who he is now but I would have preferred to see him not conquer the hill.

RATING: 4/10

235. The Ballad of Joanie and Chachi (10/4/83)

After a fight between Joanie and Chachi, Joanie decides they need to break up while Chachi decides to propose to her.

This episode marks a big milestone in the Joanie and Chachi relationship. After being together for quite awhile including on their own spinoff, Joanie and Chachi break up in this episode. I think it needed to happen to not have the eleventh season be a rehash of the ninth season. This was the right move temporarily to get the show and these characters to their endpoint. There's sort of an awkward subplot with Fonzie not being able to see after going to the eye doctor.

RATING: 5/10

ONE SEASON WONDERS: Moloney

On Wednesday, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at Moloney!

MOLONEY

September 19, 1996 - May 22, 1997

21 episodes
CBS

Starring: Peter Strauss, Nestor Serrano, Wendell Pierce, Cherie Lunghi

Created by: Ronald Bass & Jane Rusconi

Plot: Nicholas Moloney (Strauss) is a psychologist who is also a Los Angeles cop. Because of that, he can make arrests which can lead to conflicts of interest with his job as a psychologist. He works with Lt. Matty Navarro (Serrano), Dr. Sarah Bateman (Lunghi) and his poker buddy, D.A. Cal Patterson (Pierce). 

Brief Pilot Review:

This was a very gentle procedural that offered nothing offensive or exciting. I can already tell as I start to write this review that it's going to be hard to write two paragraphs about this show. It might be one of the most non-descript, boring shows to last a full season. The hook was of course that the lead character was not just a cop but also a psychologist so they were trying to mash two procedural characters together. But all that led to was some really exhausting dialogue between Moloney and Dr. Bateman about the difference between being a cop and being a doctor. It was nauseating to listen to. On top of that, we also had a scene set in a courtroom so we really ticked off all the procedural mainstays.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1996-1997 Thursdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Thursdays in the 1996-97 season! Also, after this week of posts, I will be taking a one week break for Thanksgiving!

ABC	8:00	9:00	10:00
Sep	High Incident	Various Programs	Turning Point
Oct		Murder One
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb		Thursday Night Movie
Mar		Vital Signs	Turning Point
Apr
May		Thursday Night Movie

Thursdays belonged to NBC so the other networks sort of threw up their hands with no one really going after the Peacock as they tried at the beginning of previous seasons. ABC went with a pair of modest second year dramas. At 8pm was High Incident. The police drama had aired on Monday the previous spring and was sent to the wolves against Friends on Thursday. It lasted the whole season but the ratings were poor and the show was cancelled at the end of the season. At 9pm was Murder One, which had been ABC's big swing the previous season. They had put it head-to-head against ER where it quickly failed and then they tried to save face by moving the acclaimed drama to Mondays. It got renewed for a second season, mostly based on prestige, but was no longer a high priority for the network. Unlike the innovative approach to the first season of one trial over the course of an entire season, the second season, which added Anthony LaPaglia to the cast, tackled three different trials. It was pulled from the night in February and eventually replaced by the reality show Vital Signs, hosted by Robert Urich. Newsmagazine Turning Point rounded out the night.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 11/11/22

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - MIDSEASON PLANS FOR ABC

It was a busy Monday as three broadcast networks revealed their midseason plans. There is no particular order of importance so I just went alphabetical. ABC announced premiere dates for three new shows. Procedural drama Will Trent will air on Tuesday nights at 10pm starting January 3. It will follow a colonized night for The Rookie with the original series moving to Tuesdays at 8pm and The Rookie: Feds sliding up an hour to 9pm. Unscripted series The Parent Test will air Thursdays at 9pm while the Thursday dramas are on hiatus. It will also get a preview in December. The Gina Rodriguez comedy Not Dead Yet will premiere with two episodes on February 8 and then settle into its regular Wednesday 9:30pm timeslot as Home Economics will wrap up its season after 13 episodes. That same night, A Million Little Things returns for its fifth and final season as the show will officially wrap things up (which was expected). Finally, the Milo Ventimiglia spy drama The Company You Keep takes over the Sunday 10pm slot starting February 19, the same night American Idol returns for a new season. Also notable was The Wonder Years being pushed to summer.

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Ten (Part 2)

On Thursdays, I take a critical look at a TV show by season. Here's a look at Season 10 (Part 2) of Happy Days! For Part 1, click here!

223. Hello, Pfisters (1/4/83)

Ashley attends her parents' 30th anniversary party in an attempt to reconcile with them but ends up getting drunk and making a fool of herself.

This episode is sort of a successor to the Christmas episode as it focuses more specifically on Ashley's fractured relationship with her parents. The show was definitely trying to give Ashley more depth as a character and while Linda Purl is better than Ted McGinley, she's not that strong of a comic actress. So when the show is requiring her to be drunk at the wedding reception, she can't really pull it off with the comic timing necessary. It's not horribly bad but it just doesn't stick the landing. This is probably Heather O'Rourke's best episode to date though.

RATING: 5/10

224. I Drink, Therefore I Am (1/11/83)

Flip starts drinking despite Roger's warnings and ends up in a car that hits Heather. Jenny, K.C., Melvin and Bobby plan for a winter carnival.

Oof. This is a terrible episode. First of all, it has a very healthy dose of the new characters. But it also veers pretty hard into the "very special episode" territory. While it doesn't make light of drinking and driving, it really doesn't have major consequences for Flip and his friends HITTING A CHILD WITH THEIR CAR WHILE DRINKING AND DRIVING. Like that's a really serious offense and yet the show treats it a little bit like it was just a dumb mistake by Flip and then everything is fine at the end of the 22 minutes, including in the eyes of Fonzie and Ashley, the girl's MOTHER. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

RATING: 0/10

ONE SEASON WONDERS: Arsenio

On Wednesday, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at Arsenio!

ARSENIO

March 5, 1997 - April 23, 1997
7 episodes
ABC

Starring: Arsenio Hall, Vivica A. Fox, Shawnee Smith, Alimi Ballard and Kevin Dunn

Created by: David S. Rosenthal

Plot: Michael Atwood (Hall) is a TV sports host based in Atlanta recently married to high powered attorney Vivian (Fox). Vivian's aimless younger brother, Matthew (Ballard), also lives with them. Rounding out the main cast is Michael's co-host and friend, Al (Dunn), and Vivian's best friend, Laura (Smith).

Brief Pilot Review:

This pilot seemed like a fairly realized show for a mid-1990s sitcom pilot. I'm a little surprised it didn't succeed. Arsenio Hall and Vivica A. Fox are the definite strong points of the pilot. They have an easy chemistry with each other and work well in the format. While Hall is tamed a little bit by being in a conventional sitcom format, it's clear he feels comfortable performing in front of a live audience and he settles into his role quickly. Fox is also a natural on screen. I think it was a good choice to make them a recently married couple. The pilot explored the early days of marriage as they try to navigate their newly intertwined lives plus they were both very successful in their careers which was still not that common for black-led sitcoms at the time other than The Cosby Show. 

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1996-1997 Wednesdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Wednesdays in the 1996-97 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30	10:00
Sep	Ellen	Townies	Grace Under Fire	The Drew Carey Show	Primetime Live
Oct
Nov
Dec	Grace Under Fire	Coach	The Drew Carey Show	Ellen
Jan
Feb
Mar				Arsenio
Apr
May				Ellen

ABC's Wednesday night comedy block was the perfect example of a "solid but not great" lineup. The night didn't have a Home Improvement style hit or an instant flop. A lot of the veterans plugged along and two newbies did alright but ultimately didn't make it. But the night got a huge amount of attention at the end of the season when a certain sitcom character came out of the closet and made nationwide news. Before Ellen became a cultural touchstone, it was just a modest sitcom performer leading off the night to start the season. It led into Townies, a new sitcom starring Molly Ringwald and two actresses mostly unknown at the time - Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham - as a group of friends in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Grace Under Fire continued as the 9pm anchor but the one-time breakout hit took a big dive in the ratings as star Brett Butler's erratic behavior was contributing the show's quick decline. On the ascent though was the 9:30pm entry, The Drew Carey Show. After a modest performance in its first season, Drew broke out and quickly became the best performer of the night. ABC responded accordingly with a rejiggering of its lineup in December. Grace moved up an hour while Drew became the new 9pm anchor and Ellen, as it started to court controversy, was moved to the more "adult" time at 9:30pm. Replacing the cancelled Townies at 8:30pm was the ninth season of Coach, which had been languishing on Saturdays. It was ultimately cancelled after a long run where it always did very well when it followed a hit but couldn't venture out on its own and be successful. Ellen was temporarily moved to Tuesdays to make room for Arsenio, a sitcom that had high expectations because it brought Arsenio Hall to a sitcom after his very successful run as a late night host. Also starring Vivica A. Fox, the series was not an outright flop but it couldn't find a way to break out and was cancelled after just seven episodes Check back tomorrow for a One Season Wonder post on Arsenio!. Ellen returned to the night and Ellen DeGeneres' character famously came out of the closet in a late April episode that drew huge ratings and huge amounts of controversy. That seems crazy now that a plotline like that would be a nationwide news story but it was a different time in 1997. Throughout the season, Primetime Live continued at 10pm.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 11/4/22

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - SHORT RUNS FOR NEW CW SHOWS

The CW is continuing to become a shell of what it once was. There was the bloodbath last year that saw an unprecedented number of cancellations in one season for the network. That was followed by the Nextstar sale and final season announcements for Riverdale and The Flash. Then we got the cancellation of Nancy Drew and this week it was the cancellation of Stargirl after its current season. So it wasn't surprising, but it was notable, that their two new freshmen entries - Walker: Independence and Supernatural prequel The Winchesters won't be getting back orders. The CW insists that both series are still in place for the 2023-24 schedule but there just seems to be no direction for the network at this point. There also continue to be layoffs and a search for a creative direction as far as content goes. Right now, it seems like we know everything The CW does NOT want to be but we don't know anything it WANTS to be.

EPISODE GUIDES: Happy Days Season Ten (Part 1)

On Thursdays, I take a critical look at a TV show by season. Here's a look at Season 10 (Part 1) of Happy Days!

HAPPY DAYS: SEASON TEN

1982-1983

22 episodes

This is the infamous season of Happy Days. Ron Howard and Don Most are long gone. Scott Baio, Erin Moran and Al Molinaro are only there occasionally as they spent their time on Joanie Loves Chachi and Anson Williams has become an afterthought by this point. So we are left with a shell of the show Happy Days once was. Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley and Marion Ross are still around but this season is primarily focused on brand new characters or characters we barely got to know up to this point. It's a rough one all around. I'm glad Happy Days got one more season after this one to right some of the wrongs because this would have been a sad season to go out on.

Starring

Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli (22 episodes)

Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham (22 episodes)
Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham (22 episodes)

Anson Williams as Potsie Webber (5 episodes)

Cathy Silvers as Jenny Piccolo (17 episodes)
Ted McGinley as Roger Phillips (17 episodes)

Linda Purl as Ashley Pfister (15 episodes)

Crystal Bernard as K.C. Cunningham (15 episodes)

Erin Moran as Joanie Cunningham (6 episodes)

Scott Baio as Chachi Arcola (6 episodes)

Al Molinaro as Al Delvecchio (1 episode)

Heather O'Rourke as Heather Pfister (12 episodes)

Billy Warlock as Flip Phillips (12 episodes)

Pat Morita as Arnold Takahashi (8 episodes)

Kevin Sullivan as Tommy (5 episodes)

Scott Mitchell Bernstein as Melvin Belvin (4 episodes)

Harris Kal as Bobby (4 episodes)

Ed Peck as Officer Kirk (2 episodes)

212. A Woman Not Under the Influence (9/28/82)

Fonzie has a desire to settle down when he meets a woman named Ashley, but she is not interested in him.

The tenth season of Happy Days premieres with a very revamped show. Joanie, Chachi and Al are gone, Jenny and Roger have finally made it to the opening credits and the show has added Linda Purl, Heather O'Rourke and (officially) Billy Warlock. It feels like a very different show. The smart move is adding in a long-term romantic interest for Fonzie, and not one who feels like all the other girls. The show seems to recognize with this plot that it was necessary for Fonzie to grow up some. On the other hand, the better choice might have been to just end after the ninth season.

RATING: 6/10

213. Letting Go (10/12/82)

Joanie and Chachi return from a summer in Chicago but Joanie gets into a fight with Howard and Marion after telling them she wants to live in Chicago.

This episode feels like it was intended to be the season premiere. There's no mention at all of Ashley and very little interest in the new characters in general. Instead, it centers on wrapping up Joanie and Chachi's storyline on Happy Days as they head out to Joanie Loves Chachi (which had already aired for a few episodes the previous season). This is a nice episode with some sweet moments for Howard, Marion and Joanie. It just seemed weird being the second episode of the season. We also get a rare look at the Cunningham bathroom.

RATING: 7.5/10

ONE SEASON WONDERS: Homeboys in Outer Space

On Wednesday, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at Homeboys in Outer Space!

HOMEBOYS IN OUTER SPACE

August 27, 1996 - May 13, 1997
21 episodes
UPN

Starring: Flex, Darryl M. Bell, Rhona L. Bennett, Kevin Michael Richardson, Paulette Braxton

Created by: Ehrich Van Lowe

Plot: Astronauts Ty Walker (Flex) and Morris Clay (Bell) fly around in a winged car called the "Space Hoopty" in the 23rd century. The car is piloted by female computer Loquatia (Bennett).

Brief Pilot Review:

Oof, this is one of the worst One Season Wonder pilots I have watched. I'm already predisposed to not love sci-fi comedies and then we have 90s era special effects and visual imagery (and on a UPN budget) so it's not even interesting in that way. This show tried to be hip but I can't imagine it played that way even then. It was one of those "lowest common denominator" shows. It had a rowdy studio audience, obnoxious mugging to the camera and stupid lines like Flex saying "I think whoever put the extra T in butt knew exactly what he was doing" as he stares at a hot woman.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1996-1997 Tuesdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Tuesdays in the 1996-97 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30	10:00
Sep	Roseanne	Life’s Work	Home Improvement	Spin City	Various Programs
Oct					NYPD Blue
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb		Various Programs
Mar		Ellen			The Practice
Apr	Home Improvement	Soul Man			NYPD Blue
May		Roseanne

ABC headed into the 1996-97 season with the same three anchors on Tuesday night: a fading Roseanne and a still potent Home Improvement and NYPD Blue. Two new shows rounded out the fall lineup. At 8:30pm was Life's Work, a family sitcom starring Lisa Ann Walter. This was yet another sitcom centered around a stand-up personality like the shows that aired before and after it. It lasted until February when it was pulled from the lineup and eventually cancelled. The 9:30pm entry was more successful as it featured the heralded return of Michael J. Fox to network TV. The Family Ties actor had a middling film career after the Back to the Future franchise and was ready to come back to TV. The sitcom, which came from Bill Lawrence and Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg, starred Fox as the Deputy Mayor of New York City. It wasn't a breakout hit some thought it might be but it was a strong new performer for ABC. NYPD Blue had a later start as usual while ABC previewed some other shows like Relativity. Roseanne was expected to end in the 1995-96 season but star Roseanne Barr had a change of heart and the show got a last minute reprieve. That led to a widely disliked final season that saw the ratings plummet for a former #1 show on TV. It ended with a whimper and was off the air for much of the final two months before airing its finale in May. Two shows had brief runs in the spring in favorable slots that led to them getting renewed. When Roseanne was on hiatus, ABC aired repeats of Home Improvement at 8pm and that led into the new sitcom Soul Man. The series, which starred Dan Aykroyd as a preacher and father, was set in the same world as Home Improvement and aired only three episodes in its first season. But those three episodes were strong enough to get it renewed. NYPD Blue went on hiatus for a short time to make room for the David E. Kelley drama The Practice. The legal drama did well enough in six episodes to get renewed.