>>> I SUPPOSE TO THE OUTSIDER, WE MIGHT SEEM UNORTHODOX BUT
WHAT DOES THIS OUTSIDER KNOW? HOW DOES HE JUDGE US?
THE WHOLE NOTION OF OUTSIDER IS A STRAND THAT GOES THROUGH MOST
SITCOMS, I THINK. TAKE IT RIGHT OUT OF MY
MOUTH. OUTSIDERS HAPPY US REELP US R
AN AUDIENCE. ARE YOU SOME KIND OF NERD?
NOT SOME KIND OF NERD, THE KING OF NERDS.
THEY ARE SEEING EVERYTHING WITH FRESH EYES.
YOU RANG. THAT DYNAMIC IS PRETTY
AWESOME. IT’S SPECIAL.
THAT CONFIDENCE REALLY MADE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY COULD BE
OKAY TO BE WHOEVER THEY ARE. DID I DO THAT?
AND I THINK IF I BELIEVE IN WHO I AM AND OWN IT, I CAN STILL
BE COOL. OH, ANYBODY IN THERE?
FLY, BE FREE.
THE ABSOLUTE ESSENCE OF A SUCCESSFUL SITCOM IS ONE WORD.
AND THAT IS EMOTION. WE ABOLISHED EMOTIONS A
BILLION BLEEMS AGO. THEY TOOK A VOTE AND ALL IN
FAVOR. THEY HAVE A GREAT LOOK FOR
ALIEN CHARACTERS STRUGGLEING WIT THE SAME HUMAN DILEMMA WE ALL
STRUGGLE WITH, HOW DO WE BEHAVE BY GOOD HUMAN BEINGS.
YO, KATE, WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR CASSEROLE DISHES?
WHY? THE CAT WON’T FIT IN THE
TOASTER. ALIENS MAKE FOR GREAT COMEDY
BECAUSE YOU GET THE ULTIMATE OUTSIDE HERE CAN MAKE FUN OF US
BUT YOU ALSO CAN DO ANYTHING WITH THEM.
AND IN THE ’60s WITH THE SPACE RACE, U. S. VERSUS RUSSIA, IT WAS
JUST SUCH A NATURAL FIT, I THINK, TO SATIRIZE.
YOU STILL HAVE THE SUBURBS BUT NOW THEY’RE BEING INVADED BY
MARCH MARTIANS.
YOU’RE THE MARTIAN. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE SMARTER
THAN I AM. I KNOW.
THIS LIVING HERE ON EARTH BEGINS TO RUB OFF ON ONE.
MY FAVORITE MARTIAN HID HIS SPACESHIP IN THE GARAGE WITH A
SHEET. COME ON, MAN.
UNCLE MARTIN, ALL YOU HAVE IS A SIMPLE COMMON COLD.
ALL? COMMON?
SIMPLE? DON’T YOU REALIZE I’M NOT THE
COMMON MAN. I’M A MARTIAN AND MY SYSTEM IS
NOT PREPARED FOR THIS AH‐CHEW! "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN" ONLY
LASTED A FEW YEARS IN THE 1960s. YOU PEOPLE BAFFLE ME SO
ILLOGICAL, SO EMOTIONAL. EARTH IS ALL RIGHT FOR A VISIT
BUT I WOULDN’T WANT TO LIVE HERE.
BY THE 1970s, WE SAUW SCIENCE FICTION TAKE OVER.
GARRY MARSHALL WHO WAS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF "HAPPY
DAYS" WAS A FAN OF MY"MY FAVORIT MARTIAN".
HIS SON SCOTT SAYS TO HIS FAVORITE FATHER, I THINK THERE
SHOULD BE AN ALIEN ON "HAPPY DAYS."
THAT WOULD BE FUNNY. GARY WRITES.
HEAD OF CASTING COMES DOWN WITH A YOUNG MAN VERY QUIET, VERY
SHY. THIS YOUNG MAN ROBIN WILLIAMS
PICKS UP THE SCRIPT AND WE START DOING THE SCENE.
IS HE ‐‐ THE FINGER OF HIS. HE JUST POINTS IT ONCE AND WAM,
BAM. THAT FRLSWAS THE LAST TIME I
HEARD THE SCRIPT THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN.
COME ALONG SPECIMEN. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
YOU AIN’T TAKING MY BUDDY HERE. YOU WANT TO RUMBLE SM?
RUMBLE. DA, DA, DA.
LET US MAKE IT A BASE HOOK. LET ME INTRODUCE THE LOCAL SELL
LEASH ‐‐ SELL LEASHTIES.
-IT’S LIKE THE SOUND STAGE 19 -D WAS PICKED UP OFF ITS
FOUNDATION, RATTLED LIKE A BABY RATTLE AND THROWN BACK DOWN AND
I REALIZED THAT MY JOB WAS GET OUT OF THIS MAN’S WAY.
BECAUSE IT WAS SO FREE FORM AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DIFFERENT.
YOU LIVED A LOT OF THAT. HUGE.
YOU GO OFF AND HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO WITH IT, THREE CAMERAS, GOOD
LUCK. MUST BE PRETTY TOUGH.
NOT A QUESTION OF TOUGHNESS. I’M PROTECTED BY A STELLAR FORCE
FIELD. WATCH.
SEE. MORK ON "HAPPY DAYS" IS A
STAR DRIVEN PERFORMANCE. HE WAS A FORCE OF NATURE.
ROBIN WILLIAMS WAS JUST UNIQUE COMIC AT THE TIME WHEN HE
CAME ON, JUST HAD SO MUCH ENERGY AND SO MAGNETIC.
PEOPLE LOVE THE CHARACTER AND THUS, "MORK AND MINDY" WAS BORN.
HOW DO YOU SAY THAT IN YOUR LANGUAGE?
WE SPIT. THE MORK CHARACTER WAS A
MISFIT FAILURE ON HIS PLANET. THEY SENT HIM TO EARTH AND SAID
YOU GO STUDY THAT. YOU EXPECT ME TO EAT THIS
SLOP? THEN HE LIVED WITH ALL THAT
COMPLEX. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
PUTTING YOUR BONES IN ORDER. THATI WAS THE BEST PAID ACTRE
IN HOLLYWOOD FOR GOING, OH, MORK, WHAT DID YOU DO?
STATE OF DEPRESSION, DEFUNK. WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE MATTER?
I’M JUST DISAPPOINTED IN THE MAIL.
LET ME TEACH YOU SOMETHING. IT’S COMMON THROUGHOUT THE
UNIVERSE FOR A FEMALE SPECIES TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE MALE.
BY THE LATE ’70s WHEN "MORK AND MINDY" BECAME A HUGE
SUCCESS, THEY SAID LET’S MAKE IT ABOUT SOMETHING.
WE HAD A LOT OF WRITERS IN THEIR EARLY 20s AND THERE WAS
SOCIAL UPHEAVAL THEY TRIED TO WAKE PEOPLE UP.
ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE?
THE NIGHT IS A FASCINATING EPISODE BECAUSE MORK UNBEKNOWNST
TO HIM IS SUPPORTING THIS POLITICIAN WHO HAPPENS TO BE
PART OF A WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUP.
I’LL TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE. DO YOU HAVE A FRANKENSTEIN
MASK? THERE ARE NO STEINS IN HERE.
MORK DOESN’T REALIZE WHAT THIS GROUP STAND S FOR.
MORK, DO YOU KNOW WHAT BIGOTRY IS?
AN ITALIAN FORCE, BIGOTRY. I THINK WHAT MADE THE ALIEN
CHARACTER WORK SO BEAUTIFULLY IS HIS OBSERVATIONS WERE PURE.
I FEEL STRANGE. ME, TOO.
LOOK. BLAKE IS BLACK.
WHAT HAPPENED? I REPROGRAMMED THEIR GENES.
"MORK AND MINDY" WAS EXPLOSIVE AND SURPASSED
EVERYBODY’S EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE IT JUST FELT ORIGINAL.
I HAD NEVER WATCHED MY FAVORITE MARTIAN MORK AND MINDY.
I NEVER THOUGHT I’D DO SITCOM BUT IT WAS THAT CAPTIVATING AN
IDEA. FOUR ALIENS CAME ON A RESEARCH
MISSION TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE HUMAN.
GOT TEN FINGERS, 11 TOES? CHECK.
GOOD. I GUESS WE’RE IN.
EVERYONE COMFORTABLE? I HAVE THREE HOLES IN MY
FACE. FACE.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AN ACTOR LIKE FLYNN AND BUGS BUNNY.
IN 1996 HERE HE IS DISPLAYING WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE HIS
DELICIOUSLY GOOFY SIDE. LOOK, LIFE FORMS AND CLAIMING
EACH OTHER. WE WERE A WHOLE SCHOOL OF
FISH OUT OF WATER AND I WAS AN ALIEN THAT COULD DO ANYTHING BUT
UNDERSTOOD NOTHING. WHAT IS THAT THING ON YOUR
HEAD? IT’S BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU, IT’S AUTHENTIC. MAKES ME FEEL CONNECTED TO MY
ANCESTORS. THAT’S THE TRADITIONAL HEAD
DRESS OF ANCIENT SECRETARIES. "THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN" IS
LOOKING AT OUR SOCIETY FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE GOING MY
GOODNESS, WE’RE RIDICULOUS, AREN’T WE?
IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, I’M BLACK.
OH, OF COURSE I NOTICED, AND ALL RIGHT, YOU ARE ‐‐
COULD I BE ANY WHITER? "THIRD ROCK" WAS A KERR YOLSC
IT HAD A CERTAIN STYLE UNLIKE NOTHING ELSE ON TELEVISION.
I’M SORRY, ALL YOU PEOPLE LOOK ALIKE TO ME.
EXCUSE ME? OH, I’M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF
PLAYING DICK SOLOMON. I GUESS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I
TAPPED INTO JUST HOW IMPORTANT SITCOM IS TO EVERYBODY.
I GUESS IT’S BECAUSE IT’S A SHARED EXPERIENCE.
I JUST DON’T SEE WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIVIDE UP INTO THESE
ARBITRARY SUBSETS. SKIN COLOR, PLEASE.
YOU MAY SEE COLOR BUT I SEE PEOPLE.
>>> I’M IS. THERE IS SO MUCH I DON’T KNOW.
BUS, PANTS, CAR. AN OUTSIDER LIKE KIMMY IS
GREAT BECAUSE SHE’S SEEING THE WORLD AS IT IS AND HAS A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. I FEEL LIKE A BUTTERFLY
BUSTING AND FALLING FROM THE NEST.
YEAH, YOU NEED THIS EDUCATION.
I LOVE YOU. DON’T GET LICE.
THE OUTSIDER IS SUPER IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT. IT SEEMS TO BE LOST.
IT’S DELIGHTFUL.
BACK IN THE 60s WHAT WAS
GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING ISSUES
ABOUT WHO WAS LIVING NEXT DOOR TO WHO.
THIS WAS SUCH A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD UNTIL THEY MOVED
IN. WE WERE OF COLOR EVEN THOUGH
IT WAS GREEN BUT WE WERE LIKE THE FAMILY YOU DIDN’T WANT TO
HAVE MOVE INTO THE BLOCK. I SAW THE MUNSTERS AS THE
BLOCK BLACK PEOPLE AND I THOUGHT, I
LIKE THIS. THIS IS GOOD.
UNCLE HERMANN, I’D LIKE YOU TO MEET MY DATE.
THIS IS ‐‐
OH, UNCLE HERMANN. WHAT IS THE WATER WITH ME,
ANYWAY? BACK THEN, THE WORLD IS
BUBBLING UP FOR A CHANGE. I JUST WISH THE PRODUCERS COULD
HAVE YOU KNOW CAST BLACK PEOPLE BUT THEY COULDN’T.
THEY HAD TO GO WITH REAL MONSTERS, WHICH IS DEEP IN
ITSELF.
JOE AND BOB CREATED "THE
MUNSTERS". THEY JUST FINISHED "LEAVE IT
TO BEAVER" AND WANTED TO KEEP THIS MOLD OF THE FAMILY SITCOM
BUT MARRY IT TO SOMETHING NEW AND STRANGE.
MARYLAND, TAKE THE CHICKEN BACK TO THE KITCHEN.
I’M AFRAID IT’S NOT QUITE DONE. LOOKS GOOD TO ME.
THE PACTFACT OF THE MATTER REMAINS, WE WERE A NORMAL
FAMILY. HERMANN WENT TO WORK AND WILLY
KEPT THE HOUSE AND COUSIN MA MARYLAND WENT TO COLLEGE AND I
WAS A NORMAL KID. I WAS PERFECT.
CAN I TRY KICKING ONE? SURE.
THANK YOU.
HERMANN MUNSTER IS A JUST A SOFT LITTLE TEDDY BEAR ON THE
INSIDE SO IT WAS REALLY YOUR FIRST LESSON OF LIKE, DON’T
JUDGE A BOOK BUT ITS COVER. I THINK I’LL TAKE UP GOLF.
BUT I’M NOT SURE ABOUT BEING IN THE SUN TOO MUCH.
I’D HATE TO LOSE MY POWER. IN A DESPERATE EFFORT TO BE
ONE OF THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY EVEN JOINED A
COUNTRY CLUB. WHEN THAT MR. MUNSTER SHOWS
UP TO PLAY GOLF, IF HE ISN’T OUR IDEA OF A HUMAN BEING, I’LL
THROW THEM OUT PERSONALLY. AT THAT TIME, COUNTRY CLUBS
WERE VERY, LIKE, CERTAIN PEOPLE WEREN’T ALLOWED IN.
CERTAIN RELIGIONS.
OH, OH, OH, I MADE IT. I MADE IT.
AS A STAND IN FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES, THE MUNSTERS ARE
STRIVING TO BE ACCEPTED. AS THEY SAY IN GOLF, EDDIE,
YOU GOT TO PLAY THEM. I DON’T THINK THAT "ADAMS
FAMILY" CARES. THE THEEPME SONG WAS GREAT.
THEY’RE CREEPY AND COOKY,
MYSTERIOUS AND SPOOKY, ADAMS FAMILY ♪
"THE AD DAPADAMSTHE ADAMS FAM HUMOR.
THAT DOLL DOESN’T HAVE A HEAD.
IT’S AUNT AND HER HEAD WAS CHOPPED OFF.
"ADAMS FAMILY" ARE MORE SUBVERSIVE BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT
STRIVING TO BE LIKE THE TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY.
WE HAVE OURSELVES SOME PECULIAR NEIGHBORS.
ONLY ONE THING TO DO, GET RID OF THEM.
I’LL GET RID OF THEM. I HAVEN’T USED THIS BEAUTY
SINCE THE TAX MAN WAS HERE. "ADAMS FAMILY" HAS A
DIFFERENT SET OF VALUES REAL TO THEM THAT DON’T ALIGN WITH
ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD. YOU REMEMBER OUR HONEYMOON,
GOMEZ? WHO COULD FORGET OUR FIRST
NIGHT IN DEATH VALLEY. MOORERTISHA AND GOMEZ HAVE A
OF SEXUAL TENSION. SHE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A
SUBURBAN MOM. SHE WAS HOT.
THAT WAS MY FIRST CRUSH. LET’S GO DOWN TO THE CAVE.
THAT’S WHAT WE SAVE FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU CALL ME THAT.
IT SLIPPED UP. CONTROL YOURSELF.
YOU LOVE IT AS A KID BECAUSE YOU LOVE WEDNESDAY, LURCH IS A
RIOT. THAT’S WHAT I REMEMBER MOST
ABOUT "ADAMS FAMILY". YOU RANG?
COUSIN IT, THING. ALL GRADE BUT I DIDN’T GET IT
UNTIL I WAS OLDER AND THEN COULD REALLY SIT BACK AND GO THAT’S
SOME SMART CLEVER WRITING IN THE BEST SENSE.
DARLING, THERE IS SOMETHING I WAS HOPING I WOULDN’T HAVE TO
TELL YOU. THE OTHER AFTERNOON I SUE PUGSLY
PLAYING WITH A BAT. A BAT.
THAT’S MORE LIKE OUR BOY. A BASEBALL BAT.
IT’S A GAME PLAYED OUTDOORS IN THE SUN.
OH.
"ADAMS FAMILY" JUST LIKE "THE MUNSTERS" ONLY LASTED TWO
SEASONS. CHANGING THE FACE OF THE
AMERICAN FAMILY. LIKE THE IDEA AMERICAN SOCIETY
MESSED UP AND THESE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND WHY IT’S
MESSED UP. GO AHEAD, FESTER.
GET ANOTHER SHOT. THIS TIME GET HIM RIGHT IN
THE OLD HEART. WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH YOUR
>>> THERE IT IS. THAT FANTASY OF WHAT IF I WAS
A GENIE AND I COULD MAKE ANYTHING COME TRUE WITH A SNAP?
I WOULD LOOK LIKE A KING WITH A WARRIOR’S BEARD.
EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO WANTING THAT MAGIC IN THEIR
LIVES. BEHOLD.
SITCOMS ABOUT MAGIC BECOME REALLY POPULAR IN THE 1960s ON
TELEVISION. YOU’RE REALLY BEGINNING TO
GET THIS BACKLASH TO THE SHOWS IN THE ’50s LIKE "LEAVE IT TO
BEAVER" OR "FATHER KNOWS BEST". THE BOOMERS ARE COMING TO AGE
AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE CULTURE IN WHICH THEY GREW
UP IN. THEY WANT CHANGE.
FEMINISM IS RISING.
AND "BEWITCHED" CAPTURED
THAT. I WISH I HAD A DRINK.
A STRAW. THE PREMISE OF "BEWITCHED"
THIS IS NERDY EXECUTIVE FROM NEW YORK CITY FALLS IN LOVE WITH A
WOMAN WHO HAD MAGIC. YOU’RE A WITCH.
THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU.
IT COULD BE A TYPICAL SUBURBAN FAMILY EXCEPT FOR THE
FACT HER ENTIRE FAMILY ARE WITCHES AND THEY HAVE ONE
ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL. AMAZING DESPITE SHE’S THE
PRODUCT OF A MIXED MEG SHARE DED I WANTED TO BE INVISIBLE LIKE
HER FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM TO THE OTHER.
THESE LADIES ARE STRAIGHT UP MAGIC AND THEIR HUSBANDS WANT
THEM TO HIDE IT. DON’T TELL ME YOU’VE
FORGOTTEN HOW TO LEVITATE. OF COURSE I HAVEN’T
FORGOTTEN. DARRIN PREFERS I DON’T DO ANY OF
THIS STUFF ANYMORE. I REMEMBER THAT PISSING ME
OFF AS A LITTLE KID. I WAS LIKE SHE’S MAGIC.
DON’T! CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY
YOU’RE NOT AT THIS MOMENT AN ARTICHOKE.
YOU CAN WATCH THAT SHOW AS A MINORITY OF ANY KIND AND
IDENTIFY WITH HOW SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAS TO HIDE A PART OF
HERSELF AND YOU LOOK AT PAUL LIND AS UNCLE ARTHUR WHICH A LOT
OF LGBT COMMUNITY SAY I SEE MYSELF IN THAT CHARACTER.
YOU LOOK AT AGNUS AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF EARLY TOUCH STONES
FOR DRAG. DON’T YOU REALIZE YOU’RE
UNDER A SPELL? I KNOW, DEAR.
BUT WHEN YOU’RE IN LOVE THE WHOLE WORLD IS UNDER A SPELL.
THAT WAS GROUND BREAKING. SAMANTHA WASN’T DEFINED BY
SUPERNATURAL POWERS BUT DEFINED BUT HUMANITY.
THAT PICTURE IS OFFENSIVE. OFFENSIVE?
IS THAT HOW YOU THINK I LOOK? OF COURSE NOT.
THE REAL MESSAGE OF A WITCH WAS PREJUDICE.
WHY DID YOU DO IT? MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT’S HOW
WITCHES LOOK. IS THAT ANY REASON TO
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A MINORITY GROUP?
WHAT MINORITY GROUP? WITCHES, OF COURSE.
"BEWITCHED" IS AN IMMEDIATE HIT AND EVERYONE IS SWITCHING
THEIR NOSE AND PUT THEM ON THE MAP.
SO NOW NBC WANTED TO DO A WITCH SHOW
SHOW. "I DREAM OF GEANIE" HE FOUND
A BOTTLE AND RUBBED IT AND THERE IS A GENIE AND BOOM.
I MUST HAVE WENT FURTHER INTO ORBIT THAN I THOUGHT.
THE ONLY WAY TO UNDERSTAND "I DREAM OF GENIE" IS THE BACKLASH.
ONE EGG AND TWO SLICES OF BACON.
YOU COULDN’T DO IT TODAY. THE CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, THE
MASSAGE MASSAGNY.
PLEASE STOP. BUT THE ’70s.
WELCOME TO THE GIANT MYSTERY THAT IS THE 1970s.
BROUGHT A DIFFERENT SOPHISTICATION TO TELEVISION.
IT WAS THE DAYS OF "ALL IN THE PHAM
PHAMFAMILY FAMILY."
THE "MARY TYLER MOORE" SHOW. IT BROUGHT IT BACK IN THE
’90s. IT’S A CAULDRON.
WE HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU.
THERE ARE TWO REALMS, THE NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL AND IT
TURNS OUT THAT THE ‐‐ YOU’RE A WITCH.
"SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH" IS YOUR FUN MAGICAL CAM MOA COMM
ABOUT A GIRL WHO FINDS ON HER 16th BIRTHDAY SHE IS A WITCH.
HERE SHE IS WITH A MAGICAL GIFT AND LIKE TEENAGERS THAT SHE
DIDN’T FEEL CONFIDENT AND
EMPOWERED. APPLE, PINEAPPLE, VERY CLOSE.
SABRINA IS OR THE OF ON HER OWN.
I’M THE WRONG WITCH TO ASK. THEY WEREN’T LENIENT WITH ME.
SENTENCED TO 100 YEARS WITH A CAT.
I LOVE THE CAT AND IDEA OF A ’90s CLUB COMIC TALKING CAT.
SOUND OF THE CAN OPENER IS THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES ME
FEEL TRULY ALIVE.
IT WAS MY VERSION OF "BEWITCHED."
THAT’S HOW I GREW UP. BUT IF WE CAN’T MAKE FUN OF
GEEKS, WHO WILL WE MAKE FUN OF? HI, SABRINA.
SUPER FREAK. YOU JUST WANT TO SEE A WEIRDO
OUTSIDER WHO HAS SECRET POWERS CUT THROUGH EVERYONE’S NONSENSE.
AND I THINK THAT’S WHY WE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH SABRINA.
SEVEN‐YEAR RUN AND 163 EPISODES, ANIMATED SERIES AND THREE TV
>>> THIS IS LIFE. I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE MORE
WEIRDOS. THE SITCOM IS IMPORTANT IN
AMERICAN CULTURE BECAUSE IT’S WHERE WE WORK OUT OUR ANXIETIES
ABOUT SOCIETY. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
NIGHERIANIGERIA. WOW, THAT’S A HECK OF A
COMMUTE, HUH? WE HAVE CLASS, RACE, GETTER.
ALL OF IT IS HERE BECAUSE WE’RE A NATION OF PEOPLE THAT CAME
FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. YOU CANNOT RUN IN LOS ANGELES
AT NIGHT. THIS IS WHERE CHARLES MANSON AND
HARVEY WEINSTEIN IS. EVERY WEEK NO MATTER THE
SHOW, THERE ARE LITTLE PRESSURE RELEASE VALVES THAT GO OFF.
AND YOU SEE THAT PLAY OUT THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE
SITCOM. AT FIRST THOUGHT YOU MAY IMAGINE
1940s, ’50s SITCOMS BEING VERY WHITE SAYUBURBAN.
THERE WERE PARTS ABOUT BECOMING THE AMERICAN DREAM.
LIFE ABOUT AN ITALIAN FAMILY, I REMEMBER MAMA ABOUT A
NORWEGIAN B PHAMFAMILY. "THE GOLDBERGS" IS ABOUT A
JEWISH FAMILY IN THIS JEWISH GHETTO.
THOSE SHOWS SIRCERTAINLY WHAT AMERICA WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH
IN THE 40s AND ’50s AND LATER WHEN IMMIGRANT CHARACTERS WOULD
POP UP IN COMEDIES, IT WOULD BE FOR COMEDIAN EFFECT.
TELL ME SOMETHING. HOW COME I NEVER UNDERSTAND A
SINGLE WORD YOU SAY AND ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT?
I THINK EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS NUTS.
YEAH, THAT MUST BE IT.
I DON’T THINK ANYBODY BELIEVED HE WAS A SANE
INDIVIDUAL. IN MY COUNTRY, EVERYONE
SHARES WITH EVERYONE. THAT’S BEAUTIFUL.
OTHERWISE THEY SHOOT YOU. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
BISEXUALS? YES.
THEY ARE VERY POPULAR IN MY COUNTRY.
THEY ARE? ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SPORTS IS
ARRESTING THEM AND WHEN THEY ARE NOT, WE HAVE SPECIAL RACKS WHERE
WE CHAIN THEM UP AT NIGHT. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
BICYCLES, I’M TALKING ABOUT
BISEXUALS. WHAT WAS BRILLIANT ABOUT
"TAXI" AND "PERFECT STRANGERS". AM I LOOKING UP LARRY?
LARRY APPLETON, THAT’S ME.
LARRY! LARRY!
THEY BOTH CAME FROM MADEUP COUNTRIES TO HAVE THE MOST
OUTLANDISH TRADITIONS. WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE NOBODY
GOT INSULTED. THEY COULD HAVE A BETTER
PERSPECTIVE ON US. MY COUSIN THREE TIMES REMOVED
IS A STEP UNCLE TO YOUR FATHER AND MY MOTHER EASTSIDE.
SO WE’RE SORT OF RELATED BY RUMOR.
THE CREATORS OF "PERFECT STRANGERS" WERE INCREDIBLE.
HAD BEEN AT THE LONG AS LAOSS OLYMPICS IN ’84 AND LOVE THE
SPIRIT. HE WAS MAKING HIS WAY IN
AMERICA AMERICA.
ISN’T THAT SOMETHING? ONLY IN AMERICA.
IN MEAT BALL WE HAD TO DO
THAT, WE HAD TO SQUEEZE A FROG. EVERYBODY IS A FISH OUT OF
WATER IN SOMEWAY. THAT SILLY OL’ BOY, HE DOESN’T
KNOW ANYTHING. IT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE YOURSELF.
WHEN I NOD MY HEAD, YOU HIT IT.
COME AGAIN. WHEN I NOD MY HEAD, YOU HIT
IT.
I CAN’T DO THAT. DON’T MAKE THIS COMPLICATED.
I’LL HOLD THE WRENCH. YOU’VE GOT THE HAMMER.
WHEN I NOD MY HEAD, YOU HIT IT. YOU HIT IT.
THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
IS OFTEN HOW WE DESCRIBED IT. READY?
YES.
THE REGION ERA WAS EMBRACING I’M
IMMIGRANTS SO TO GET THIS ROSIE PICTURE OF WHAT IT’S LIKE BEING
AN IMMIGRANT IN AMERICA MADE SENSE.
SIGNAL! SIGNAL!
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT REALLY DO FEEL MARGINALIZED TO GET THE
MARGINALIZED CHARACTER.
TAKE IT! EVERYWHERE I WENT, EVERY KID
FROM THE AGE OF 2 OR WHATEVER WOULD COME OVER AND HUG ME.
BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THEM. THEY GOT IT AND THAT WAS ONE OF
THE GREAT, GREAT TREATS OF THAT SHOW.
WE DO THE DANCE OF JOY.
HEY. HEY.
BILL, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE HAVING A SEIZURE.
WOMEN LOVE THIS. OKAY.
YOU CUT ME OFF MID FUNK. I THINK BEING AN ADOLESCENT
MEANS THEY TURN INTO AN OUTSIDER.
KIND OF LIKE THE DEFINING EXPERIENCE OF BEING 14 AND 15,
16. BUT THIS YOUNGER AUDIENCE,
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO UNDER SERVED BY PRIME TIME TV.
BUT IN THE 9’90s NETWORK PUTS THE TEENAGER AND WHAT THEY WANT
FRONT AND CENTER. THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO TELL
THE STORY ABOUT "BLOSSOM" BECAUSE THERE WAS A VACUUM OF
YOUNG GIRLS POUND’ POINTS OF VIE TELEVISION.
MY BEST FRIEND SIX TOLD ME WILLIAM ZIMMERMAN WHO IS ONLY
SLIGHTLY BETTER LOOKING THAN MEL GIBSON IS INTERESTED IN ME.
THIS IS SO COOL. BUT WHY WOULDN’T HE BE
INTERESTED IN ME? I’M SMART.
I’M FUNNY. AND I’VE GOT THE BODY OF A
13‐YEAR‐OLD. SHE WAS NOT THE AVERAGE GIRL.
MAYBE NOT THE BEST LOOKING GIRL IN CLASS, BUT CERTAINLY ONE OF
THE BRIGHTEST. OH MY GOSH.
YOU DON’T SUPPOSE THIS MEANS WE’RE THE GIRLS WITH GOOD
PERSONALITIES? THAT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS OF
"BLOSSOM" HOW SHE MADE HER WAY IN LIFE NOT FIGHTING IN.
THEY’RE SAYING YOU MIGHT BE A JOCK OR POPULAR PERSON OR
CHEERLEADER, BUT WE’RE ALL A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND QUIRKY.
"SAVED BY THE BELL" IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS AND THEIR WORLD.
SCREECH IS JUST WEIRD. WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING, DON’T.
WITH THE SHIFT TOWARDS TEENAGE IN A SITCOM, YOU ALSO
SEE THE INVENT OF THE NERD. LISA, MY HOROSCOPE SAYS WE’RE
DESTINED TO DANCE TOGETHER. MY HOROSCOPE SAYS BEWARE OF
DORKS. BUT THERE IS SORT OF THIS
LOST PUPPY ASPECT TO SCREECH THAT TAKES HIM FROM A CHARACTER
OF JUST THE NERD TO SOMEONE THAT THE VIEWER ACTUALLY ROOTS FOR.
THEN WITH "FRESH PRINCE" CARLTON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
BLACK NERDS ON SCREEN. WAIT UNTIL WE COME DOWN
STAIRS IN THOSE TUXES. PEOPLE MAY NOT THINK WE’RE TWINS
BUT I BET THEY’LL THINK WE’RE BROTHERS.
I DON’T THINK YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYONE MISTAKING YOU
FOR A BROTHER. I ALWAYS LOVED CARLTON, THE
WAY HE WAS TRUE TO HIMSELF. GO CHARLTON!
CARLTON! GO CARLTON!
A LOT OF THESE OUTSIDER CHARACTERS WERE A SIDE KICK OF
SORTS BUT ONCE YOU GET INTO THE ’90 IT’S, GEEKS ARE BECOMING
MORE AND MORE PART OF THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION.
"FREAKS AND GEEKS" IS A PUSH BACK AGAINST THE COOKIE CUTTER
CHARACTERS AND THE TYPICAL TEEN SITCOMS OF THAT ERA.
SICK OF BEING CALLED A GEEK. I MEAN, WHAT IS SO GEEK KIABOUT
ANYWAYS, WE’RE SQUULS GUYJUST GU GOOD NEWS.
DRAGONS, WE’LL HAVE FUN FRIDAY NIGHT.
I WAS HANDED THE FINISHED SCRIPT OF "FREAKS AND GEEKS" AND
I LOVED IT BEFORE I OPENED IT UP.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT’S THE BEST TITLE.
THERE IS A GIRL IN OUR SCHOOL.
SHE HAD PREMARITAL SEX. YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID ON
GRADUATION DAY? DIED OF AN OVERDOSE OF HEROIN.
PAUL THOUGHT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A TRUTHFUL PRESENTATION OF
HIGH SCHOOL ON TV. THE GOOD AND THE REALLY UGLY.
HEY, AMY. HEY, LINDSEY.
NICE THREADS. NICE VOICE.
"FREAKS AND GEEKS" IS ABOUT TWO GROUPS OF FRIENDS, A FREAK
GROUP, A GEEK GROUP. SERGEANT PEPPER, WHERE IS THE
REST OF THE GROUP BEEN? LOOKS LIKE YOU ATE THEM.
THE PEOPLE THAT MOST TV SHOWS IGNORE, THE NERDS, THE POT
HEADS. I UNDERSTAND YOU’VE JUST BEEN
THROUGH PUBERTY AND YOU DON’T THINK ANYONE UNDERSTANDS.
LOTS OF PEOPLE DO. EVEN MR. ALICE COOPER.
AT THE TIME IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE AN HOUR‐LONG
COMEDY. DO YOU KNOW THIS SONG?
♪ I’M 18 I GET CONFUSED EVERY
DAY ♪ ♪ 18 I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO
SAY SFOET♪ I THOUGHT IT WOULD CATCH ON.
I THOUGHT THERE HAS TO BE A HUNGER THAT IS KWAELTQUALITY LIK
THIS. EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO BEING
AN OUTSIDER IN SOMEWAY OR ANOTHER.
I CAN’T BELIEVE SHE’S GOING TO HANG OUT WITH US.
WHAT IF I’M ASLEEP RIGHT NOW AND THIS IS JUST A DREAM AND ANY
MOMENT MAUREEN AND I WILL MAKE LOVE.
EWW. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
IN 1999 IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD AND THERE WAS JUST
ENOUGHED OUT AFTER ONE SEASON. LINDSEY, LINDSEY, WAIT, WAIT,
WAIT. I’VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
IT’S CHOCOLATES FOR A SWEET TRIP.
THANKS. THAT’S NICE.
ALL RIGHT. I’LL SEE YOU.
AND I THINK THAT IT’S OKAY BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO REMEMBER
"FREAKS AND GEEKS" AS AN ALL‐TIME GREAT DEPICTION OF HIGH
SCHOOL LIFE BECAUSE IT WAS KILLED BEFORE IT COULD AGE AND
WITHER.
>>> IF YOU DON’T COME OUT OF THERE, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO
DRAG YOU OUT. YOU CAN TRY BUT YOU WILL
NEVER CATCH ME. BEZINGA.
WE LIVE IN AN PAGE NOW WHERE BEING NERDY AND GEEKY ABOUT
SOMETHING IS COOL. THAT’S NOT YOUR LOGO IS IT?
THAT LOOKS LIKE A GUY SUCKING YOUR
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE DECADES AGO AND I THINK THE SITCOM HAD A
LARGE PART IN PUSHING GEEK CULTURE TO THE FOREFRONT.
HI MR. WINSLOW, I AM STEVE URKEL.
IT IS ABOUT THE WINSLOWS FAMILY.
THEY HAVE THIS REALLY ANNOYING NEIGHBOR, STEVE URKELE.
WHEN I WENT TO AUDITION FOR STEVE URKELE, I WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE A DAY PLAYER, I BROUGHT THE GLASSES, THEY BELONG TO MY
FATHER. I HEAR YOU CAN’T GET A DATE
FOR THE DANCE. SO YOU WANT TO GO WITH ME?
SHE RATHER EAT WORMS. OKAY, SOME OTHER TIME THEN.
HE WAS SO QUIRKY AND ODDS. HE LOVES POKER AND CHEESE.
YOU GOT ANY CHEESE. AND THE DANCING AND "DID I DO
THAT?" DID I DO THAT?
HE REALLY SORT OF TOOK OVER THE SERIES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL AWKWARD. IN THE WEIRDEST WAY, HE INSTILL
SELF‐PRIDE IN OTHER PEOPLE. HEY, THAT GUY CAN BE AWKWARD,
GOING AFTER THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS AND SHARE WHAT HE’S ABOUT
WITH OTHERS. WHAT DID YOU INVENT THIS
TIME? WELL, YOU WILL SEE.
YOU HAD TO BE A TOUGH GUY WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE,
THIS WAS A CHARACTER THAT YOU GET TO BE WHEN YOU ARE WITH
FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND YOU CAN BE YOUR GOOFY SELF AND
DANCE AROUND. STEVE URKELE MADE A STATEMENT
THAT YOU CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I PLAYED BRUCE LEE AND I PLAYED ELVIS, ALBERT EINSTEIN.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE NERD IN SITCOM IS AN INTERESTING ONE TO
WATCH. WE WENT FROM URKELE AND SCREECH
OF THE JOKE CHARACTERS WHERE YOU HAVE A GROUP OF NERDS WERE THE
STARS OF THE SHOW, OF "THE BIG BANG THEORY."
JUST IN CONCEIVABLY BRILLIANT GUYS WHO CAN FIGURE PIE TO 80
DECIMALS BUT VERY CHILD‐LIKE. SMELL THAT?
THAT’S THE SMELL OF A NEWCOMB I CAN COMIC
BOOK. SHELDON IS PLAYED SO WELL BY
PARSONS. SHELDON, WHAT THE HELL ARE
YOU DOING? THE SAME THING I HAVE BEEN
DOING THREE DAYS, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY ELECTRONICS HAVE
NO MASS WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH A GRAVELLING SHEET.
WITH MARCHBLES? THESE CHARACTERS WANT TO BE
INCLUDED AND THERE IS THE BEAUTIFUL PENNY WHO LIVES ACROSS
THE HALL FROM SHELDON AND LEONARD.
OH, WELCOME TO THE BUILDING. OH, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE COFFEE
SOMETIMES. OH, GREAT.
GREAT. SHE’S FUNNY BUT THEY SHOW HER
AS HAVING A FRACTION OF THEIR IQ.
CAL TECH DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE MAYBE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF MY
WORK. IT IS ORBITING ‐‐ TAKING HIGH
RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS BUT THEN THEY BRING IN BERNADETTE AND AMY
AND SUDDENLY THERE IS A BUNCH OF WOMEN AND THE SHOW FELT MORE
BALANCE. I AM AMY AND YOU ARE COOPER.
SHE BECAME SHELDON’S LOVE INTEREST AND THAT OPENS UP A
WHOLE PANDORA’S BOX. MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION
BEFORE I GIVE IT TO YOU? OF COURSE.
WHY ARE WE SAYING GIVE IT TO YOU LIKE THAT?
THE BEGINNING OF SHELDON IS OUTCAST AND INTELLECTUAL AND BY
THE END, HE FOUND HIS SOUL MATE AND HE FOUND FRIENDS AND HE WON
A NOBEL PRIZE. I HAVE BEEN TOLERATED NOT ONLY
BY MY WIFE BUT BY THE GREATEST GROUP OF FRIENDS I EVER HAD.
YOU HAVE "BIG BANG THEORY," IT IS HUGE, THEY ARE NERDS.
WE STARTED SEEING CARLSARTICL ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE GOING INTO
STEM FIELD BECAUSE "THE BIG BANG THEORY" MADE IT LOOKED COOL.
I NEED TO GET TO HERE. THE EARLIEST ESTIMATE OF THE
SING SINGULARITY.
SO YOU ARE UPSET FROM BEING SOME FREAK ROBOT.
BY THIS MUCH. IT USED TO BE GEEK TO BE
NORMAL AND REGULAR. BUT, NOW IT IS VERY CHIC TO BE
AN OUTSIDER. THE OUTSIDER IS THIS ODD BALL
CHARACTER THAT COMES IN. FISH OUT OF WATER WORKS.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY REALLY DOES FEEL OUT OF PLACE PART OF THEIR
LIVES. WHAT’S GOING ON?
I DON’T KNOW. I LOOKED AROUND THE ROOM AND
I SAW ALL THE FACES AND PRESENTS.
IT WAS TOO MUCH. IT IS IN THE NATURE OF COMEDY
THAT YOU PROVIDE AN AUDIENCE AND OBJECT OF IDENTIFICATION.
THERE IS A TIME I WOULD NEVER BE FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE LIKE YOU
AND NOW YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE.
IF WHAT YOU NEED IS TO SPEND YOUR BIRTHDAY IN A BATHROOM, I
AM HAPPY TO DO IT WITH YOU. AND YOU MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH,