SNL: Behind the Scenes

WKRP: Behind the Scenes

SNL Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes: “Leave it to Beaver”

Behind the Scenes: “I Love Lucy”

Paisano Productions

Failure to Launch...

In the late 1970's, Paramount found that its previously maligned franchise Star Trek was booming. Demand for the show's reruns, which had been purchased as part of its Desilu deal, was huge. A growing cult of fans had made the show successful, so Paramount saw an opportunity. It had previously attempted to startup a television network in the 1950's that had eventually failed to capture an audience. The huge success that Paramount was having in network television at the time made the studio think that it should try starting up a network again. And why not use its hottest property to launch that network? Thus the Paramount Television Service was born.

The network would launch with a reboot of Star Trek called Star Trek: Phase II. It would star most of the original cast (Leonard Nimoy wasn't interested) and would provide PTS with a recognizable program right off the bat. The network soon ran into trouble; Star Trek was proving to be an issue because of its hefty cost and production disagreements. It soon became apparent that the network wasn't going to work out. 

Star Trek: Phase II became Star Trek: The Motion Picture, with Leonard Nimoy rejoining the cast and its original failure at NBC all but forgotten.

Comic Con Geekend: ABC Takes Out Batman

When ABC canceled Batman, most of Hollywood was in shock. Why would they cancel such a successful show? As it turned out, Batman was the most expensive show on ABC's lineup, and the network was looking to cut its programming budget. All was not lost, however, because NBC was eager and willing to pick the show up. Unfortunately, an overzealous Fox staffer had already had the sets dismantled. (Fox had produced the show for ABC.) When NBC found out that it would have to rebuild the expensive sets, they decided not to bring the show back. ABC and a random staffer had succeeded to do what no villain was ever able to do; they took out Batman.

TV Behind the Scenes

TV Behind the Scenes

TV Behind the Scenes

TV Behind the Scenes