The Terrible Catsafterme

SEASON 1 – CBS

Based on the British sitcom “Till Death Do Us Part” created by Johnny Specht in 1965. Further developed by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin. 

Opening song “Those Were the Days” written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, performed by Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton. 

• 000. Justice for All – UNAIRED 1968
  • It is the anniversary of working class married couple Archie and Edith Justice. While they are out at church, their daughter Gloria (Kelly Jean Peters) and her out-of-work student husband Richard “Dickie” (Tim McIntire), who Archie often refers to as ‘Meathead’, prepare a surprise party, and arrange for their black next-door-neighbor Lionel (D’urville Martin) to assist in delivering flowers and a gift to Edith as if it were from Archie. The Bunkers return home early from church because Archie is irritated with Reverend Felcher for his socialist propaganda and walks out, only to catch Dickie and Gloria in a passionate embrace. Archie is constantly at odds with Dickie over his liberal activism and they proceed to argue throughout the entire brunch, broaching topics from Archie’s opinions about blacks and Mike and Gloria’s stance on atheism. Lionel arrives with the gifts, and then takes delight in acting like a stereotypical black simpleton in front of Archie, knowing that Archie is a non-intellectual bigot who adamantly claims not to be one. At one point both Lionel and Dickie question Archie to see if he is Jewish just to get under his skin. When Edith opens her lace napkins, she is touched, and Archie is surprised to find out that they were sent by him. Edith reads the card out loud, and it appears that Archie is touched by it. Dickie tries to prod him to admit it, and then provoke him by telling Archie that it’s not like he wrote the card. Archie says that the person who picked it out requires good taste, to which Dickie reminds him that it was actually him who picked out the card. 4/14/20

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SEASON 1

Created by Eric Monte

Opening theme: “What’s Happening!!” by Henry Mancini

NOTE: This series is a revival of the sitcom “What’s Happening!!,” which was based on the film “Cooley High”

• 001. Raj Returns – 9/7/1985
  • Roger “Raj” Thomas (Ernest Thomas) has been living away from Watts for years, working as a writer, but now returns back to town with his new wife Nadine Hudson Thomas (Anne-Marie Johnson), a social worker. They purchase the house where Roger grew up, now that his mother has remarried and moved to Arizona. Rogers old friends Shirley Wilson (Shirley Hemphill) and Dwayne Nelson (Haywood Nelson) are keeping watch on the house, and when they see the lights on, they believe there are intruders in the house. Roger and Nadine also think there are intruders, so they early attack each other before having a fond reunion and catching up. Now that Rob’s restaurant has closed, Shirley is in-between jobs, but waiting for something to pan out the next day. Dwayne has been working with computer following a stint in the Army. Their old friend Rerun is working at K-Doe’s Used Cars, and doing their commercials. Dwayne calls Rerun (Fred Berry) to tell him to hurry over to the Thomas house because there is an emergency. When he arrives, he is less than enthusiastic to see Raj and leaves immediately. He refuses to talk about him with Dwayne, who invites them both to meet at the dilapidated Rob’s. Once they get there and the old memories start coming back, they make up, and Rerun admits he is being childish, jealous that now that Raj has returned as a successful author, he will be in his shadow again, despite doing commercials himself. Raj admits that he sold very few books and is far from successful. Shirley shows up and tells them that she attempted to buy the restaurant but didn’t have enough money. Nadine talks Raj into going into the deal, so he becomes a silent part-owner. Teddy Wilson plays a bum named Mr. Lee living in Rob’s. 4/8/20

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SEASON 1 – NBC

Created by Fred Barron, Dottie Dartland, and Marco Pennette

Theme music by Jonathan Wolff

• 001. The Pilot – 9/21/1995
  • Caroline Duffy (Lea Thompson) is a cartoonist of the syndicated comic strip Caroline in the City living in Manhattan with her cat Salty. She lives in an apartment across the hall from her best friend Annie Spadaro (Amy Pietz). After a some unsuccessful attempts, she hires sardonic struggling artist Richard Karinsky (Malcolm Gets) as her colorist who only takes the job to make ends meet. Caroline has just broken up with Del Cassidy (Eric Lutes), the president of Cassidy Greeting Cards that handles the Caroline line of products. When she finds out that Del has a date that night, she pretends she also has a date and that they’re going to Remo’s… where Del happens to be taking his date. She tries to come up with a date and ends up meeting a man named Jeff (Jason Workman) by randomly throwing fruit out the window and seeing who it hits. It turns out that Jeff is married, so Caroline ends up by herself at Remo’s, running into Del and his perky blonde date Debby (Christine Taylor). Del find this out when Jeff calls and heads to Remo’s to deliver the note, and ends up kissing her and posing as her date. Del ends up jealous and Caroline admits the ruse. He wants to get back together, but she questions his commitment, so they agree to be friends. Andy Lauer is Charlie, Del’s delivery boy. Tom La Grua is Remo. John Mariano is Johnny the Maitre d’. Cathy Ladman is Caroline’s ultimate fan. Sean Sullivan is colorist applicant Monroe. 4/4/15

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SEASON 1 – CBS

Theme music written by Eliot Daniel

NOTE: This series was loosely based on the radio show “My Favorite Husband” which aired between 1948-1951. When Lucille Ball was asked to take that series to television, she refused to appear without her husband Desi Arnaz. 

• 000. Pilot – UNAIRED, filmed 3/2/1951
  • Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo is happy keeping  his wife Lucy at home to do the housework, cook the meals, and bear the children, but she has aspirations of breaking into show business. Ricky keeps it a secret as to when the TV sponsors are going to come check out his show to see if he has a future in TV. During rehearsal, Pepito the Clown (Pepito Perez) does his routine by imitating a baby and riding a tiny bike, but then gets injured on a full-sized bike. Ricky suggests that Pepito recuperate at his apartment before showtime. Lucy then finds out that the sponsors will be in the club that night. She ends up standing in for Pepito and shows up dressed as a hobo known as “The Professor” and does an act with a cello and seal horns. Lucy ends up getting a TV offer and Ricky doesn’t, but Ricky convinces her that she belongs at home to clean, bake, and raise his children. She tells him that she has a surprise for him… that she has made him a pie. Bob LeMond is the announcer. Joanne Perez appears as herself as Pepito’s wife. NOTE: This pilot was later remade as The Audition. 5/26/15

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