The show Brandon Tartikoff most regretted cancelling. He probably remembered how Cheers was in dead-last after its first season, and how it not only found an audience, but found enough of an audience to literally go from worst to first. He probably thought, in hindsight, Buffalo Bill might have done the same. After some thought, I don't think it had much of a chance of doing that. Sam and Diane, Cliff, Norm, Coach; they may have been flawed like all good characters are, but they were still written to be likeable and sympathetic. Bill Bittinger was designed to be an anti-hero; a jerk you loved to hate, or hated to love. Not to sound elitist, but the network audience of 1983 just wasn't sophisticated enough to get it. It was, in short, an HBO show before there ever was such a thing.
I've read about this show. Critically lauded, short lived. Pretty much describes every TV show Dabney Coleman was in. Seemed to have better luck working in hit films, though.
The man that Dabney Coleman had his arm around (0:49) was the actual mayor of Buffalo at that time. James Donald "Jimmy" Griffin served for 16 years as the Mayor of Buffalo, New York (1978-93).
Two minutes in, there is a commerical for Ice Pirates starting Friday at a theater near you! I saw it, two days later, on that (rainy) Sunday afternoon. I was 10 and my older sister took me. Good times.
In the opening intro, may favorite moment is when Bill is given the Indian headdress at 0:45. The look on his face says it all; "If you can fake sincerity, you've got it made".
Sounds like on WNBC Channel 4 in New York, likely Sue Simmons would have done a News 4 New York preview within the station ID (apparently alternating every week with Chuck Scarborough).
@@jeffreyd399 True. And trying to keep it clean and stocked had to be hard, too. But Wendy's had a salad bar and buffet for a few years in the early 90s.
Somebody should upload "Church of the Poisoned Mind" off the NBC airing -- or even off an edited A&E airing. The DVD had a song-and-dance number (Dabney Coleman and John Fiedler sang some old standard) chopped out of it.
The show Brandon Tartikoff most regretted cancelling. He probably remembered how Cheers was in dead-last after its first season, and how it not only found an audience, but found enough of an audience to literally go from worst to first. He probably thought, in hindsight, Buffalo Bill might have done the same.
After some thought, I don't think it had much of a chance of doing that. Sam and Diane, Cliff, Norm, Coach; they may have been flawed like all good characters are, but they were still written to be likeable and sympathetic. Bill Bittinger was designed to be an anti-hero; a jerk you loved to hate, or hated to love. Not to sound elitist, but the network audience of 1983 just wasn't sophisticated enough to get it. It was, in short, an HBO show before there ever was such a thing.
Dabney is so underrated
I've read about this show. Critically lauded, short lived. Pretty much describes every TV show Dabney Coleman was in. Seemed to have better luck working in hit films, though.
The rest of the cast was pretty good, too, IMO.
Brandon Tartikoff said his only regret as president of NBC was cancelling this show.
Oh the 80s. Full of so many short lived shows
Matlock?
@@Qaranwadani1993 I said “short lived”
The man that Dabney Coleman had his arm around (0:49) was the actual mayor of Buffalo at that time. James Donald "Jimmy" Griffin served for 16 years as the Mayor of Buffalo, New York (1978-93).
Two minutes in, there is a commerical for Ice Pirates starting Friday at a theater near you! I saw it, two days later, on that (rainy) Sunday afternoon. I was 10 and my older sister took me. Good times.
Charlie Robinson would join the cast of Night Court that same year
Later that September.
2:00, " Ice Pirates " , was responsible for raising awareness of the danger of " space herpes " infestations .
Looks like Joanna Cassidy in the control room.
This episode ranked 57th out of 69 shows airing that week, with a 12.1 household rating.
LOVED this show.
The voice over for the Ice Pirates movie promo is done by Bill Woodson ("Later, in the Hall of Justice...")
1984? This show is _that_ old? Thirty-seven years ago but I remember quite a lot about 1984.
Got my first BMX in 84 🇬🇧🙏
In the opening intro, may favorite moment is when Bill is given the Indian headdress at 0:45. The look on his face says it all;
"If you can fake sincerity, you've got it made".
I loved him in Buffalo Bill. Rest in peace Mr Coleman
Brandon Tartikoff regretted canceling this one.
Used to see this show promoted ALL the time, but literally never watched it. Thank you.
So this is the show *ALF* was a consolation prize for. It’s pretty good but it is pretty dry.
Sounds like on WNBC Channel 4 in New York, likely Sue Simmons would have done a News 4 New York preview within the station ID (apparently alternating every week with Chuck Scarborough).
Bufflao Bill was the 3rd-to-last show after 2 years on NBC.
Bill's mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore.
Love The Ice Pirates. Saw it in the theater 3 times.
Lol @ Mister Roberts"Contains Adult Language"
How Buffalo, NY has changed since this show aired in 1983-84
13:35, I bet the Burger King salad bar didn't last long at all.
It didn't. I remember it, though. They offered salad in pita bread for a while.
@@MR_MRM_ Crazy, I'm not going to Burger King to eat healthy. That's probably why it failed lol.
@@jeffreyd399 True. And trying to keep it clean and stocked had to be hard, too. But Wendy's had a salad bar and buffet for a few years in the early 90s.
Yep, I was right. Dabney Coleman was in this.
Won an Emmy for it, too.
He did not. He was nominated both seasons, but that's all.
Justin Theroux said he based his SW character "Master Codebreaker" on Dabney Coleman.
I am still laughing about it.
Meshach Taylor would later land his biggest success as Anthony Bouvier on Designing Women a few years after this series.
Awesome theme song!
Linda yu, haven't seen her in ages...is she still around.
She retired from WLS/ABC7 Chicago a few years ago. She occasionally makes special appearances for the station.
It puts the lotion in the basket or it gets the hose again
We're talking proud. Slapp Happy Maxwell Storytime
Geena Davis would guest star on Family Ties later that year.
🎵 Hey Bungalo Bill....
Gee wee ,this is so dated ,but fun
Somebody should upload "Church of the Poisoned Mind" off the NBC airing -- or even off an edited A&E airing. The DVD had a song-and-dance number (Dabney Coleman and John Fiedler sang some old standard) chopped out of it.
Best
Gina Davis was 80s hot.
Where's the copyright information?
Wasn't buffalo bill the serial killer in silence of the lambs? Lol
ETA: looks like this guy is murderer too lol!
A bad spoof of Network. I'm mad as hell oh wait no I'm not.
This is bad, just absolutely awful!