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The Best Show on WFMU => Show Discussion => Topic started by: DJ Clem on February 23, 2011, 04:12:26 PM

Title: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: DJ Clem on February 23, 2011, 04:12:26 PM
When Tom and Chris Elliot were talking about FOX's early bizzaro comedy lineup, I can't believe  this chestnut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Hoover) wasn't mentioned:

Quote
Charlie Hoover(Tim Matheson) is a man who just reached middle age when one day the voice within his head materializes in the form of Hugh(Sam Kinison[!!!]), a foot high miniature alter ego. Hugh guides Charlie on the path to getting his life in order.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Christina on February 23, 2011, 04:23:38 PM
Oh, my god. I remember that show.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Bernard on February 23, 2011, 05:28:03 PM
Interesting...I don't remember that show, but I'd love to see it.

Just a hunch: Maybe Tom didn't bring it up b/c some of the episodes were co-written by Joe Toplyn, who also worked on Monkeyshines.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: yesno on February 23, 2011, 05:36:36 PM
Skank!
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: buffcoat on February 23, 2011, 09:02:26 PM
I was a Herman's Head man, myself.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: DS1077 on February 23, 2011, 09:06:23 PM
Found this clip of "Babes" and it's everything I could have hoped for: Babes: Opening Credits (both versions) and series intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ssgOyL0JLM#)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on February 23, 2011, 09:16:55 PM
Skank!

SHUT YOUR STINKIN' TRAP!

Speaking of, here's one of my favorite bits from The Ben Stiller Show:

Melrose Heights 902102402 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2jRDNtnc48#)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: patfromlansing on February 23, 2011, 09:43:28 PM
Oh my gosh....Melrose Heights!!!   I loved that sketch, I remember telling my 5th grade class about it and no one seemed to appreciate it.   Thanks for sharing that one.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: orangewhip on February 24, 2011, 08:52:25 AM
lest we forget Beans Baxter?

Beans Baxter Promo Commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKnslQvLMlE#)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: yesno on February 24, 2011, 09:40:08 AM
Parker Lewis Can't Lose.  "Synchronize Swatches."
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Greggulator on February 24, 2011, 09:52:58 AM
I believe Fox had a short-lived show called "Down the Shore" which was about a summer rental down at LBI and proof that this lineup was indeed ahead of its time.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: break on February 24, 2011, 11:05:16 AM
I need to go on a Best Show tear to catch up to this weeks show.  It was already killing me knowing about the Chris Elliott interview, but to hear crummy early-90's Fox programming was discussed?   

I remember always watching the sketch show The Edge when it was on, absolutely no idea if it was actually any good since I was 12.  All those early 90's Fox shows are burned into my brain because my family didn't have cable, worshipped "The Simpsons", and would give any other comedy thing that was on a chance. 
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: pscan on February 24, 2011, 11:18:43 AM
I have fond memories of a show from that era called Flying Blind, that featured Tea Leoni. It was sort of like a TV adaptation of Jonathan Demme's Something Wild, minus the homicidal Ray Liotta content...
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: mike_b on February 24, 2011, 11:34:53 AM
Am I really the only dude here who remembers Whoops! ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woops! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woops!)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Greggulator on February 24, 2011, 11:37:38 AM
I have fond memories of a show from that era called Flying Blind, that featured Tea Leoni. It was sort of like a TV adaptation of Jonathan Demme's Something Wild, minus the homicidal Ray Liotta content...

I would LOVE to see Flying Blind. I remember that show being hilarious when I was a kid, even though it seemed really adult. (Flying Blind episodes are on YouTube! Just dug that up.)

It wasn't on Fox, but there was a short-lived ABC sitcom called The Marshall Chronicles which was on around the same time that was me and my mom's favorite TV show for a while. I have NEVER been able to find anyone who remembers this show.

The post-apocalyptic comedy Woops! was the first show I remember watching ironically.

I might have to go to the TV Museum and see if they have any of these shows for viewing for a "20 years later in retrospective" review.

Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: MikeInManhattan on February 24, 2011, 12:12:58 PM
one word: BABES!
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: badgrammer on February 24, 2011, 01:49:20 PM
one word: BABES!

Whoa! I just figured out that Wendy Jo Sperber died in 2005. I had no idea!
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: MikeInManhattan on February 24, 2011, 05:30:01 PM
I also remember a really disturbing War of the Worlds series though I haven't seen/heard mention of it since it originally aired.  I remember a pregnant woman was inhabited by an alien in a dept store dressing room and when the baby was born it was actually an alien. I'm still not too crazy about dressing rooms. No wonder Fox had such a seedy reputation then.

P.S. Glad to see someone mention Beans Baxter. I used walk around the house singing Beans Bastard nonstop and escaping reprimand by claiming that was the actual name of the show.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: snailed on February 24, 2011, 06:54:15 PM
Charlie Hoover is only available in Spanish on Youtube, thus making it slightly more watchable since we do not have to hear Kinison's actual voice:

Charlie Hoover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHMEVOz-X1o#)
 
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Jason from Huntsville, AL on February 24, 2011, 07:34:16 PM
I also remember a really disturbing War of the Worlds series though I haven't seen/heard mention of it since it originally aired.  I remember a pregnant woman was inhabited by an alien in a dept store dressing room and when the baby was born it was actually an alien. I'm still not too crazy about dressing rooms. No wonder Fox had such a seedy reputation then.

I think "War of the Worlds" was syndicated.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Jon on February 24, 2011, 09:46:57 PM
I also remember a really disturbing War of the Worlds series though I haven't seen/heard mention of it since it originally aired.  I remember a pregnant woman was inhabited by an alien in a dept store dressing room and when the baby was born it was actually an alien. I'm still not too crazy about dressing rooms. No wonder Fox had such a seedy reputation then.

I watched that show when I was little, and I remember drawing a picture of my family with huge 3 fingered alien hands coming out of their stomachs after seeing it. My parents didn't let me watch it again after that.
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: andrew in philadelphia on February 25, 2011, 06:56:14 AM
I remember watching my fair share of Drexell's Class with Dabney Coleman. It was dreadful.

Also, there was a show called Danger Theater with Adam West and Diedrich Bader that was a half-assed spoof of Hawaii Five-O and Renegade (I believe the Hawaii Five-O segment was hilariously titled "Tropical Punch.") I'm guessing they were going for a Police Squad! vibe but the thing was a disaster and was cancelled quickly.

Danger Theatre - The Searcher - Opening Titles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQzyvD3nSng#)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Christina on February 25, 2011, 07:05:16 AM
That reminds me of something - youse guys have all heard about Lookwell, right? Written by Conan and Smigel and starring Adam West, they filmed a pilot but it didn't get picked up?

Lookwell! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBQ3HbB0c8Y#)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Christina on February 25, 2011, 07:08:16 AM
And then there's Heat Vision & Jack, directed by Ben Stiller and starring Jack Black & Owen Wilson:

Heat Vision and Jack (Part 1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHvjcsELcjA#)

Heat Vision and Jack (Part 2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE0PtCh2AyM&feature=related#)

Heat Vision and Jack (Part 3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDGA8PgivNI&feature=related#)
Title: Re: FOX's early-90s comedy lineup
Post by: Eric Fishlegs on March 08, 2011, 11:17:42 PM
Am I really the only dude here who remembers Whoops! ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woops! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woops!)

WOOPS! had one funny line that cracks me up to this day. At the start of the frst episode they explained the concept and how they had declared world peace and to celebrate they were parading the world's nuclear weapons through the street before destroying them. One of the trucks hit a pothole hole, the bombs all blew up, destroyed the world and "all in all it was a pretty lousy parade."

Fox also had a sitcom set in a women's prison that I think starrred Rosie O'Donnell.