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TV Show Mash-Up


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The creator of this show made television history by becoming the first person to write an entire 22-episode season of a television series, this show's third season. He also wrote the fourth season and all but one episode of the fifth season.

The actors and actresses were never told in advance what was in store for their characters. Each new episode was just as much a surprise for them as it was for the viewers.  Each major character and storyline had a "trapdoor" designed into it, allowing the creator to integrate unforeseen changes during production without changing the main plot.

A Star Trek regular had a recurring role in this show, quite different from his Star Trek role.

Two of the actors were married, one who had been a regular on CNN and the other a staunch conservative, occasionally substituting for Michael Savage on his show.  Unsurprisingly, the marriage didn't last.

George

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That's the one.  Walter Koenig had a recurring role as basically a Gestapo-like leader in Psi-Corps.  It's always odd to see him talking without the Russian accent.

Andrea Thompson was a Psi-Corps agent in the first two seasons.  Her husband, Jerry Doyle, was station chief of security.  Interesting side note about Doyle:  he ran for Congress in California in 2000.  He lost to the Democrat.  He then spent the next few years actually paying back the debts he incurred during the campaign.

George

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This was an ensemble show. In one episode, some characters were challenged on how well they knew another.  Among the questions they missed were-

-how is his name spelled on his TV Guide subscription (which they stole weekly)

-what is his job

 

Among questions they got correct were what he claimed was his biggest phobia and his actual one (the actual one was "Michael Flatley, lord of the dance.") 

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During his audition, the actor trying out for the lead did something only someone like his character would do. He got the job on the spot, the series creator remarking "He was the only ____ to audition." (The blank is NOT the title of the show, or part of it. But it's a giveaway).

The lead actor was gifted at improv, so much so that the writers used to leave gaps in the script with the instruction, ___ goes off here.

 

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If you look at some of his really old stuff, his standup from before he got the "Mork and Mindy" gig, you;ll see some of the things he eventually put together as Mork.  There was some awkward stuff that imitated some kind of robot, and so on.   Once he put it together as a space alien, though, it all began to fit together and work.

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The Scottish-origin comedy troupe known as "Monty Python's Flying Circus" has had their hits and misses over the decades.   Between their television show, their movies, and later their live specials, they've put together old material and new material, and just been funny in their own ways.  While doing that, they've spoofed or poked fun at all sorts of things (like kidding Prince Charles to his face that his Mother was still on the throne.)    All sorts of things of theirs have been considered quotable by various types of fans and geeks.  They have fans all over the English-speaking world, and some fans in places where English is not the main language. 

One of their comedy skits involved a food inspector who made a visit to a chocolate factory.  He was investigating claims that there were unsafe ingredients in their chocolate snacks.  The company owner proudly pointed out how he used all natural ingredients- which didn't change how unsafe some of his all-natural ingredients were.  Among the problem products were an actual dead frog covered in chocolate, and a "Spring Surprise" where the eater was surprised when blades sprang out to stab their mouth when they tried to eat the confection.

A number of years ago,  another Scot was accused of ripping off an idea from that skit.  Although they denied any connection whatsoever, I personally think they copied it ACCIDENTALLY but did so anyway.  This Scor became a household name around the world, and very famous, for what they did which included this idea (not that this idea was particularly important.)  They became incredibly rich, and world famous. 

What is this Scot's name?

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12 hours ago, GeorgeStGeorge said:

Unless the Scot's name is also the name of a TV show, I'm not sure this is the right thread for this.

George

PS: Clever hiding of the Scot's gender...

This is the wrong thread. When I intended to make Monty Python the ANSWER, it was the right thread. However, I took a wrong turn.

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Next show.

This show took place in Bensonhurst, although one episode mentioned someone traveling to them "all the way from Bensonhurst".   To be specific, most of the episodes centered around 328 Chauncey Street. We had occasional get-rich-quick schemes thought up by one of the characters. Among them were selling a mystery appetizer, and selling a kitchen all-in-one utensil. Among the ideas that were mentioned but not shown was glow-in-the-dark wallpaper, and buying an empty lot adjacent to a planned movie theater (but it was a drive-in, so...)    One main character worked for the city, and another for a privately-owned company. What was this show?

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This show took place in Bensonhurst, although one episode mentioned someone traveling to them "all the way from Bensonhurst".   To be specific, most of the episodes centered around 328 Chauncey Street. We had occasional get-rich-quick schemes thought up by one of the characters. Among them were selling a mystery appetizer, and selling a kitchen all-in-one utensil. Among the ideas that were mentioned but not shown was glow-in-the-dark wallpaper, and buying an empty lot adjacent to a planned movie theater (but it was a drive-in, so...)    One main character worked for the city as "an engineer of subterranean sanitation, and another for a privately-owned company as a driver. What was this show?

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