This series had a wonderful theme song during the introductory credits. In many ways, that theme song is the only really memorable thing about this series.
A viewer could see the remnants and traces of a potentially strong television series buried underneath the compromises imposed by 1978 producers and censors (and the public): the adult humor tamed and sanitized until only hints of any original cleverness or insightfulness remained, the situations made "safe" and uninspired, and easy and by-the-numbers bids for audience acceptance (therefore generic and unsuccessful) creeping in within the first couple of episodes.
Hour-long comedy series have trouble gaining steady audiences to begin with, even those that work within the strictures of their era instead of trying to push the envelope without success as this one did. To their credit, the cast and crew and writers seemed to do the best that they could with what they were allowed to have.
Today, as an uncensored cable TV series, this series would have stood a chance to fulfill its potential for adult humor and commentary, but not back in 1978. Adult humor and mature commentary only work if the humor is allowed to remain adult and the commentary is not reduced by producers to pandering fluff.
A viewer could see the remnants and traces of a potentially strong television series buried underneath the compromises imposed by 1978 producers and censors (and the public): the adult humor tamed and sanitized until only hints of any original cleverness or insightfulness remained, the situations made "safe" and uninspired, and easy and by-the-numbers bids for audience acceptance (therefore generic and unsuccessful) creeping in within the first couple of episodes.
Hour-long comedy series have trouble gaining steady audiences to begin with, even those that work within the strictures of their era instead of trying to push the envelope without success as this one did. To their credit, the cast and crew and writers seemed to do the best that they could with what they were allowed to have.
Today, as an uncensored cable TV series, this series would have stood a chance to fulfill its potential for adult humor and commentary, but not back in 1978. Adult humor and mature commentary only work if the humor is allowed to remain adult and the commentary is not reduced by producers to pandering fluff.
