Buddies (TV series)

Last updated
Buddies
Buddies DVD Cover.jpg
DVD cover
Genre Sitcom
Created by Carmen Finestra
David McFadzean
Matt Williams
Directed by Paul Lazarus
John Pasquin
Andrew Tsao
Starring Dave Chappelle
Christopher Gartin
Tanya Wright
Richard Roundtree
Theme music composerDerrick Perkins
ComposerBrian Bennett
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersCarmen Finestra
David McFadzean
Matt Williams
ProducerGayle S. Maffeo
Production location Burbank, California
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesWind Dancer Productions
Touchstone Television
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseMarch 5 (1996-03-05) 
May 29, 1996 (1996-05-29)
Related
Home Improvement

Buddies is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from March 5 to May 29, 1996. [1] It was created by Carmen Finestra, David McFadzean, and Matt Williams and starred Dave Chappelle, Christopher Gartin, Tanya Wright, Jeff Rawluk and Richard Roundtree.

Contents

History

Home Improvement connection

Comedians Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer attracted the attention of TV network executives with their guest appearance on the (4th season) March 14, 1995, episode of ABC's highly rated sitcom Home Improvement . [2] The storyline had Chappelle and Breuer play friends who appear together on Tool Time to ask Tim Taylor advice on their girlfriends. The characters' single outing on the episode proved so popular that ABC decided to give Chappelle and Breuer their own half-hour sitcom.

Cast changes

After subsequent rehearsals, Breuer was replaced with Christopher Gartin as Chappelle's "buddy". The unique comic timing and chemistry that Chappelle had with Breuer, his real-life friend, was not present with Gartin, and Breuer's abrupt firing exacerbated ill will. This prevented Chappelle and Gartin from developing the rapport and chemistry necessary for the characters' believability and likeability. [3]

Broadcast

Buddies premiered on Tuesday, March 5, 1996. The show garnered disappointing ratings. Buddies was cancelled on April 3 after airing only five out of the 13 produced episodes. [4] [5] Chappelle himself was not proud of his involvement with Buddies in retrospect:

It was a bad show. It was bad. I mean when we were doing it, I could tell this was not gonna work. [6]

Cast

Episode list

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Pilot" Andrew Tsao Carmen Finestra & David McFadzean & Matt WilliamsMarch 5, 1996 (1996-03-05)
2"A Room with a Pyew" John Pasquin Trish BakerMarch 13, 1996 (1996-03-13)
3"Regarding Henry"Andrew TsaoSharon D. JohnsonMarch 20, 1996 (1996-03-20)
4"Famous Last Words"John PasquinMark St. GermainMarch 27, 1996 (1996-03-27)
5"Marry Me...Sort Of" Paul Lazarus Daphne PollonApril 3, 1996 (1996-04-03)
6"Lights, Camera...Yuck!"Paul LazarusPeter TolanApril 10, 1996 (1996-04-10)
7"Pet Peeves"John PasquinRobert ZappiaApril 17, 1996 (1996-04-17)
8"The Content of Their Character"John PasquinLisa DeBenedictis & Daryl RowlandApril 24, 1996 (1996-04-24)
9"There Goes the Groom"John PasquinRichey Jones & Todd JonesMay 1, 1996 (1996-05-01)
10"The PSA Story"John PasquinBob Burris & Michael WareMay 8, 1996 (1996-05-08)
11"John, I've Been Thinking"John PasquinArt EverettMay 15, 1996 (1996-05-15)
12"Engagement Hell"Andrew TsaoSteve GabrielMay 22, 1996 (1996-05-22)
13"Whack and Blight"Andrew TsaoPeter TolanMay 29, 1996 (1996-05-29)

Home media

Best Buy released an exclusive DVD on May 15, 2005, that contained 10 episodes of Buddies, including all 8 unaired episodes. [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Home Improvement</i> (TV series) American television sitcom (1991–1999)

Home Improvement is an American television sitcom starring Tim Allen that aired on ABC from September 17, 1991, to May 25, 1999, with a total of 204 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons. The series was created by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra, and David McFadzean, and, despite not being a favorite with critics, it was one of the most watched sitcoms in the United States during the 1990s, winning many awards. The series also launched stand-up comedian Allen's acting career. The show grossed more than $500 million in syndication revenue by 1996.

<i>Full House</i> American television sitcom (1987–1995)

Full House is an American television sitcom created by Jeff Franklin for ABC. The show is about widowed father Danny Tanner who enlists his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis and childhood best friend Joey Gladstone to help raise his three daughters, eldest Donna Jo Margaret, middle child Stephanie and youngest Michelle in his San Francisco home. It aired from September 22, 1987 to May 23, 1995, broadcasting eight seasons and 192 episodes.

<i>Boy Meets World</i> American television sitcom (1993–2000)

Boy Meets World is an American coming-of-age sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly that aired on ABC for seven seasons between September 1993 and May 2000. The series centers on Cory Matthews and his friends and family, as he progresses from childhood to adulthood. Episodes chronicle the everyday events of Cory's home and school life; his teacher and neighbor George Feeny delivers life lessons as Cory learns to cope with social and personal issues of adolescence. Cory has strong relationships with his older brother Eric, younger sister Morgan, and parents, Amy and Alan. Cory's friendship with Shawn Hunter and romantic interest in Topanga Lawrence serve as central focuses of episodes. Overarching themes include a focus on family and friendships as well as discovering one's identity. Further characters were introduced in later seasons; Jonathan Turner, Eli Williams, Jack Hunter, Angela Moore and Rachel McGuire.

<i>Dinosaurs</i> (TV series) American sitcom television series

Dinosaurs is an American family sitcom television series that aired on ABC. The show, about a family of anthropomorphic dinosaurs, was produced by Michael Jacobs Productions and Jim Henson Television in association with Walt Disney Television and distributed by Buena Vista International, Inc. The characters were designed by Henson team member Kirk Thatcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Chappelle</span> American comedian and actor (born 1973)

David Khari Webber Chappelle is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle's Show (2003–2006) before quitting in the middle of production during the third season. After a hiatus, Chappelle returned to performing stand-up comedy across the U.S. By 2006, Chappelle was called the "comic genius of America" by Esquire and, in 2013, "the best" by a Billboard writer. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 9 in their "50 Best Stand Up Comics of All Time".

Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedians Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show and starring in the majority of its sketches. Chappelle, Brennan, and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22, 2003, on the American cable television network Comedy Central. The show ran for two complete seasons. An abbreviated third season of three episodes aired in 2006, compiled of previously unreleased sketches.

<i>Thats So Raven</i> American television sitcom (2003–2007)

That's So Raven is an American television teen sitcom that was created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman, and aired on Disney Channel for four seasons between January 2003 and November 2007. The series centers on Raven Baxter (Raven-Symoné), a teenager with hidden psychic abilities. Episodes show Raven experiencing visions of future events; she must also deal with the social and personal issues of her youth. Raven often misinterprets the events she foresees, and intervenes to prevent a vision from coming true or to protect her friends and families. She uses her skills in fashion design to create elaborate disguises she wears during these schemes. Raven's secret is shared with her best friends Eddie Thomas and Chelsea Daniels, along with her brother Cory and parents Tanya and Victor. The series explores supernatural elements, family, friendship, and adolescence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Taylor Thomas</span> American actor, voice actor, and director

Jonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor and director. He is known for portraying Randy Taylor on Home Improvement and voicing young Simba in Disney's 1994 animated feature film The Lion King and Pinocchio in New Line Cinema's 1996 film The Adventures of Pinocchio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Fillion</span> Canadian-American actor (born 1971)

Nathan Fillion is a Canadian-American actor. He played the leading roles of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds on Firefly and its film continuation Serenity, and Richard Castle on Castle. As of 2018, he stars as John Nolan on The Rookie and was an executive producer on the show as well as its spin-off series, The Rookie: Feds.

<i>Boston Legal</i> American legal dramedy television series (2004–2008)

Boston Legal is an American legal drama and comedy drama television series created by former lawyer and Boston native David E. Kelley, produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for ABC. The series aired from October 3, 2004, to December 8, 2008. The series stars James Spader, William Shatner and Candice Bergen. It is a direct spin-off and continuation of the TV series The Practice, with several characters from the eighth season of that series moving to Boston Legal. While never a Nielsen ratings smash hit, the show was critically acclaimed. It received 26 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, including for Outstanding Drama Series in 2007 and 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Weinger</span> American actor (born 1975)

Scott Weinger is an American actor. He is best known as the voice of the Disney character Aladdin in the 1992 animated film and various follow-ups, and as Steve Hale on the ABC sitcom Full House and its Netflix sequel Fuller House. For ABC, he wrote and produced for the television sitcoms Galavant and Black-ish and was a co-executive producer of ABC's The Muppets.

<i>Doogie Howser, M.D.</i> American medical comedy-drama television series (1989–1993)

Doogie Howser, M.D. is an American medical sitcom that ran for four seasons on ABC from September 19, 1989, to March 24, 1993, totaling 97 episodes. Created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, the show stars a young Neil Patrick Harris in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Cook</span> American actor and comedian (born 1972)

Dane Jeffrey Cook is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He is known for his use of observational, often vulgar, and sometimes dark comedy. He released six comedy albums: Harmful If Swallowed (2003), Retaliation (2005), Vicious Circle (2006), Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden (2007), and Isolated Incident (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Song</span> American actress (born 1988)

Brenda Song is an American actress. Born in California, Song began her career at the age of six, working as a child model. She made her screen debut with a guest appearance on the sitcom Thunder Alley (1995), and went on to roles such as the children's television series Fudge (1995) and the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (1999). She starred in the Disney Channel original film The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000), which won her a Young Artist Award. She subsequently signed a contract with Disney Channel and earned widespread recognition for playing the titular character in the action film Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006), and London Tipton in the comedy franchise The Suite Life (2005–2011), earning her acclaim and two Young Hollywood Awards. She additionally played the character of Tia on Phil of the Future (2004–2005), and had starring roles in the television film Get a Clue (2002), the sports comedy film Like Mike (2002) and the comedy film Stuck in the Suburbs (2004).

<i>Clerks: The Animated Series</i> American animated sitcom

Clerks is an American adult animated sitcom created by Kevin Smith for ABC. Based on Smith's 1994 comedy film of the same name, it was developed for television by Smith, Smith's producing partner Scott Mosier and former Seinfeld writer David Mandel with character designs by Stephen Silver, known for character designs in Disney Channel's Kim Possible and Nickelodeon's Danny Phantom. It is the first television show to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse. It is Disney’s second adult animated television series after The PJs.

<i>Samantha Who?</i> American television sitcom

Samantha Who? is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from October 15, 2007, to July 23, 2009. The series was created by Cecelia Ahern and Donald Todd, who also served as producers. Although highly rated during its first season, the sitcom lost momentum and viewers throughout its second season, and ABC canceled the show in May 2009 before the remaining seven episodes were burned off the 2008–09 TV schedule.

<i>One Tree Hill</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of One Tree Hill, an American teen drama television series, began airing on October 5, 2005. The season concluded on May 3, 2006, after 22 episodes. It is the final season which aired on The WB television network as the network merged with UPN to form The CW. It is also the final season with Craig Sheffer as Keith Scott.

Peter James Tolan III is an American television producer, director, and screenwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Katz</span> Television producer and talent manager

Barry Katz is an American television producer, film producer and talent manager. He was the owner and founder of the Boston Comedy Club in New York City and helped launch the careers of many successful comedians, including Bill Burr, Dane Cook, Louis C.K., Kevin Brennan, Bert Kreischer, Wanda Sykes, Dave Chappelle, Whitney Cummings, as well as Saturday Night Live alumni Jay Mohr, Jim Breuer, Darrell Hammond and Tracy Morgan.

References

  1. Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 477–478. ISBN   0-7868-6359-5.
  2. Home Improvement episode listing for "Talk to Me." IMDB.com.
  3. "Spin Off: Buddies and Home Improvement. Poobala.com. Last accessed November 10, 2007.
  4. Buddies page at TV.com. Last accessed November 14, 2007
  5. Arnold, Thomas (August 26, 2005). "Disney Gifts Wal-Mart Holiday DVD Exclusive". hive4media.com . Archived from the original on November 22, 2005. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  6. "Chappelle: An Act Of Freedom." CBS News December 29, 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2022
  7. "Best Buy to get exclusive release of Dave Chappelle's 1996 series." Archived 2007-12-05 at the Wayback Machine TvShowsOnDVD.com. April 25, 2005.
  8. Best Buy ad for DVD release. Archived 2007-11-23 at the Wayback Machine Best Buy. Last accessed November 10, 2007.