tvholic

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6 Backdoor Pilots (and why they belong at the back door)

A "backdoor pilot" doesn't refer to some TWA navigator with an unusual fetish; it is a term used in the TV industry to describe the use of an established TV show to test the waters for a proposed new series. Confused? Here are some examples: 1. The Multi-cultural Brady Bunch Spin-off that Never Was During the final season of The Brady Bunch, the Brady family generously relinquished most of a 30 minute episode in order to introduce their neighbors, Ken and Kathy Kelly (portrayed by Ken... READ ON

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Mom's the word: When sitcom stars start expecting

What producers do when the rabbit dies"¦ The rest of us can complain about maternity leave not being long enough, and unfeeling male bosses not understanding the need for additional restroom breaks. That's just par for the course when an average working American woman gets pregnant. But what happens when you're a major player on a popular television series? I Love Lucy Sometimes, the bundle of joy is written into the script. That's how Lucille Ball's unexpected... READ ON

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Confessions of a TV-holic: We Still Love Lucy

Even if you've seen each episode 1,762 times, I Love Lucy fans still delight in "I didn't know that!" and "Did you notice that"¦?" moments. Here are a few of my favorite behind-the-scenes tidbits. TVLand currently shows I Love Lucy with an edited version of the original opening credits, but the introduction most fans associate with the show is the elaborate script credits over a satin heart that was used when the show first went into syndication. Why were the... READ ON

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Confessions of a TV-holic: 5 Cases of Unwanted Fame

Actors are a mercurial bunch, to say the least. They can land a career-making role, only to spend the rest of their lives complaining about it. A few cases in point: 1. The guy who didn't want to be Mike Brady Brady Bunch dad Robert Reed had been was a thorn in producer Sherwood Schwartz's side since Day One. He always maintained that he'd only signed his Brady Bunch contract because the pilot was lame and it wouldn't get picked up as a series. The show had also been described to him... READ ON

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Sitcom-munication Breakdown: When Sitcoms Go Global

OK, I'll admit it "“ I cut my teeth on a channel selector, and the only tan I've ever gotten came from a cathode ray tube. I'm Kara, and I'm a TV addict. How suffocating is this monkey on my back? Well, whenever I travel, one of the first things I do upon checking into my room is to turn on the TV and search the available channels. Stateside, I suffer from withdrawal if TV Land is unavailable. While abroad, I'll sit through any show if I recognize the theme song, despite... READ ON