Comedy Theater

Last updated
Comedy Theater
Genre Anthology series
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Running time30 minutes
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseJuly 17 (1981-07-17) –
August 28, 1981 (1981-08-28)

Comedy Theater is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC in the summer of 1981. The 30-minute episodes consisted of unsold television pilots for situation comedies.

Contents

Background

The practice of television executives of ordering dozens of pilots for proposed television series each year – far more than their networks could possibly broadcast as series – created a sizable body of unsold pilots that had never aired. [1] Packaging these unsold pilots in anthology series and airing them during the summer provided television networks with a way of both providing fresh programming during the summer rerun season and recouping at least some of the expense of producing them. [1] Comedy Theater was one of these series, aired by NBC in the summer of 1981, [2] and it consisted of unsold pilots for situation comedies. [2] Stars appearing in the series included Ted Danson, Tony Lo Bianco, and Jeffrey Tambor. [2]

Broadcast history

Comedy Theater ran for seven episodes over the course of seven consecutive weeks in the summer of 1981, airing on NBC from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday evenings. [1] It premiered on July 17, [1] and its last episode aired on August 28. [1]

Episodes

SOURCES [1] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Dear Teacher" Herbert Kenwith John Baskin & Roger Shulman July 17, 1981 (1981-07-17)
After a fifth-grade teacher begins dating the man of her dreams, she learns that he is the father of her most precocious and troublesome student. Starring Melinda Culea, Rebecca York, Ted Danson, Nan Martin, John Welsh, and David Hollander.
2"The Grady Nutt Show" Jack Shea Barry Adelman, John Aylesworth, & Barry Silver July 24, 1981 (1981-07-24)
A Christian pastor in a small town has a sense of humor, and it helps him solve a variety of problems. Starring Grady Nutt, Elinor Donohue, Candy Azzara, Peggy Pope, Deborah Foreman, and Michael Dudikoff.
3"Pals" Bob Claver Larry Rosen & Larry Tucker July 31, 1981 (1981-07-31)
When a man and his hapless brother-in-law visit Mexico to buy a painting, they get arrested for stealing a chicken and destroying religious artifacts. Starring Tony Lo Bianco, Jeffrey Tambor, Woodrow Parfey, Nedra Volz, Luis Avalos, Linda Carlson, and Margaret Willock.
4"Wendy Hooper, U.S. Army" Jack Shea John Aylesworth & Aaron Reuben August 14, 1981 (1981-08-14)
A banjo-playing entertainer hoping to make it big in country and western music joins the United States Army Signal Corps in the mistaken belief that it will help launch her show business career. Starring Wendy Holcombe, Joe Santos, Dana Elcar, Norman Alden, Helen Page Camp, and June Berry.
5"Why Us?" John Bowab Brad Buckner & Eugenie Ross-Leming August 21, 1981 (1981-08-21)
After a female auto mechanic and a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.) get married, their teenage daughters compete for the attention of a handsome college student. Starring Joanna Gleason, John Lawlor, Kim Richards, Lauri Hendler, and Lance Guest.
6"National Lampoon's Two Reelers" Kenneth Gilbert Matty Simmons & Hugh Snyder August 28, 1981 (1981-08-28)
While on vacation in Central America, two bumbling American college students become involved in a local revolution and end up helping to take a coffee shop and its waitress hostage. Starring Stephen Furst, Rodger Bumpass, and Penny Peyser.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "UNSOLD PILOTS ON TELEVISION, 1956–1966". tvobscurities.com. Television Obscurities. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "UNSOLD PILOTS ON TELEVISION, 1967-1989". tvobscurities.com. Television Obscurities. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Prime-time network TV listings for Friday July 17, 1981". ultimate70s.com. Ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Prime-time network TV listings for Friday July 24, 1981". ultimate70s.com. Ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Prime-time network TV listings for Friday July 31, 1981". ultimate70s.com. Ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Prime-time network TV listings for Friday August 14, 1981". ultimate70s.com. Ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Prime-time network TV listings for Friday August 21, 1981". ultimate70s.com. Ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Prime-time network TV listings for Friday August 28, 1981". ultimate70s.com. Ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
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