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The Associates (American TV series)

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American sitcom television series For the Canadian series of the same name, see The Associates (Canadian TV series).
The Associates
GenreSitcom
Created by
Developed byMichael Leeson
Directed by
Starring
Theme music composerAlbert Brooks
Opening theme"Wall Street Blues"
performed by B.B. King
written by Albert Brooks
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (4 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerMichael Leeson
Production locationParamount Studios
CinematographyLeonard J. South
Editors
  • Douglas Hines
  • C. Cory M. McCrum-Abdo
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 23, 1979 (1979-09-23) –
April 17, 1980 (1980-04-17)

The Associates is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from September 23, 1979 to April 17, 1980. Despite being cancelled after nine of its thirteen episodes aired, it was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Synopsis

The show is centered on a group of three young novice lawyers who worked at a Wall Street law firm. Based on the novel of the same name by John Jay Osborn Jr., the series stars Martin Short, Alley Mills, Shelley Smith, as associates, Joe Regalbuto, as partner, Wilfrid Hyde-White, as senior partner, and Tim Thomerson, as mailboy/gofer.

Cast

Production

The series was based on the book, The Associates, by John Jay Osborn, Jr., author of The Paper Chase, but he was "not intimately connected with it". Episode seven featured guest star John Houseman reprising his role as Professor Kingsfield.

Release

The Associates, from the producers of Taxi, was critically acclaimed in the fall of 1979. But, ABC-TV fell from its ratings perch that fall when they moved their schedule around. Mork & Mindy was moved to Sunday night to challenge CBS's most established night of the week. The Associates was scheduled to follow Mork & Mindy as a promising new comedy series. Mork & Mindy, however, was crushed by CBS's Archie Bunker's Place. ABC moved Mork & Mindy back to Thursday, but it would never recover its ratings glory. One Day at a Time was the direct competition to The Associates. After five episodes of The Associates, a later four weekly episodes were shown in 1980 on Thursdays at 9:30. The press heavily criticized ABC for not giving the show a chance.

Episodes

Nº Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"The First Day"James BurrowsStory by : Charlie Hauck
Teleplay by : Michael Leeson		September 23, 1979 (1979-09-23)
The associates learn the ropes on their first day at the firm while the founder decides between two attorneys seeking partnership.
2"Is Romance Dead?"Tony MordenteDavid LloydSeptember 30, 1979 (1979-09-30)
Tucker uses tips from a book on romance to try and impress Sara.
3"Tucker's Courtroom Coup"Tony MordenteDavid LloydOctober 7, 1979 (1979-10-07)
Marshall asks Eliot to defend a client whose ex-lover is suing him.
4"Mr. Marshall's Love Affair"Tony MordenteDavid LloydOctober 14, 1979 (1979-10-14)
Marshall's intended helpmate flirts with Eliot.
5"The Deadly Serve"Tony MordenteJohn Steven OwenOctober 28, 1979 (1979-10-28)
Eliot accidentally kills a partner in a game of squash.
6"Eliot's Revenge"James BurrowsStory by : Rich Reinhart
Teleplay by : David Lloyd		March 27, 1980 (1980-03-27)
Eliot argues with his former professor about a case.
7"Danko's a Daddy"James BurrowsDavid LloydApril 3, 1980 (1980-04-03)
Johnny tries to see his illegitimate son over the mother's objections.
8"The Censors"Tony MordenteStan Daniels &
Ed. Weinberger		April 10, 1980 (1980-04-10)
Tucker defends a network censor being sued by a producer.
9"The Party"James BurrowsEarl PomerantzApril 17, 1980 (1980-04-17)
Leslie falls for a teacher who despises conservative lawyers.
10"A Date with Johnny"Tony MordenteEarl PomerantzN/A
Johnny goes on a date with a married co-worker.
11"Tucker's Co-Op"Charlotte BrownDavid LloydN/A
Tucker moves into a co-op apartment, Marshall buys the penthouse above, and shows up unexpectedly.
12"Inferno"Charlotte BrownDavid LloydN/A
The lawyers try to find escape routes when a fire starts in the building.
13"The Out of Town Trip"Tom TrbovichRich ReinhartN/A
The associates defend the head of a tire company accused of misusing funds, while Leslie quits the firm thinking it represents criminals.

Syndication

The series had a complete run on BBC Two in the UK in 1982. The series was rerun on USA Network in 1985, A&E in 1988, followed by reruns on Comedy Central and TV Land in the 1990s.

In Italy, the series aired on Rete 4 as I novellini (Newbies) in 1982.

Award nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1980 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Stan Daniels and Ed. Weinberger (for episode "The Censors")
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Michael Leeson and Charlie Hauck (for episode "The First Day")
Golden Globe Award Best TV-Series - Musical/Comedy -
Best TV Actor - Musical/Comedy Wilfrid Hyde-White

Further reading

References

  1. Ess, Ramsey (4 October 2013). "Martin Short's First Starring Role: 'The Associates'". Vulture.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  2. "Television This Week". The New York Times. September 23, 1979. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  3. Osborn, John Jay Jr. (1979). The Associates. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-27097-4. Retrieved 3 September 2024 – via archive.org.
  4. "Notes on People". The New York Times Company. September 14, 1979. Retrieved 3 September 2024. it's absolutely slapstick and I'm not intimately connected with it, and so there's time to teach contracts
  5. ^ "Prime-time network TV listings for Thursday March 27, 1980". Ultimate 70s .com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  6. Brown, Les (September 10, 1979). "ABC Is Off and Running In Fall Race for Ratings". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  7. "SOMETIMES THE GOOD SHOWS DIE YOUNG". Chicago Tribune. San Francisco Chronicle. 2 January 1999. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  8. Brant, Marley (2006). Happier Days: Paramount Television's Classic Sitcoms, 1974-1984. Billboard Books. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-8230-8933-8.
  9. "Brooks, James L. 1940–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  10. Shales, Tom (28 December 2023). "The Soul Of a TV Season". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  11. Upperco, Jackson (9 September 2015). "John Charles Walters Goes Uptown: A Look at THE ASSOCIATES". Jackson Upperco .com. Retrieved 3 September 2024.

External links

James L. Brooks
Films
Written and
directed
Written and
produced
TV series
created
See alsoGracie Films
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