So a minor detour from sitcoms, today we shall discuss the syndication arm of CBS Corporation. CBS Television Distribution was established in 2007 as a result of the consolidation of CBS' syndication arms. However, the unit has roots that go as far back as 1953. So lets dissect the library and the history. Initially, CBS launched a distribution arm under the trading name of CBS Television Film Sales. That's quite a mouthful, only to shorten it to CBS Films in 1958. CBS Films was responsible for the handling of any CBS programming.
Unfortunately in 1970 the syndication arm was forced to spin-off, this is due to a new law implicated by the FCC. This forbid any network from owning any of its programming, the law was known as the Financial Interest and Syndication Rules (fin-syn) which was later repealed. The CBS Films division was re-christened as Viacom Enterprises, the name is a combination of Video, Audio and Communications.
Under Viacom CBS' sitcoms and dramas were distributed including but not limited to: I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, Petticoat Junction and All in the Family. Viacom was the sole distributor for these sitcoms and programs until the '90s. Columbia Pictures Television would later acquire All in the Family in 1991, and after the acquisition of Paramount Pictures by Viacom the syndication branch was dissolved and folded into Paramount Domestic Television in 1995. Around the same time the fin-syn laws were appealed. Viacom also launched a production unit which produced shows including Diagnosis Murder and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The company was starting to decline in the 2000s and by 2004 it would be absorbed into Paramount Network Television.
Paramount Domestic Television began its life as the syndication arm of Desilu Studios, known as Desilu Sales. Paramount acquired the Desilu Studios from Lucille Ball in 1967 and renamed it as Paramount Television. Desilu was known for the Star Trek franchise as well as the series Mission Impossible, which CBS holds the rights to as of this day. Desilu Sales was renamed Paramount Television Sales, Inc. and later would be rebranded as Paramount Domestic Television in 1982. As PDT the company was well known for its syndicated series Entertainment Tonight, as well as repeats of popular Desilu/Paramount programming including Star Trek. The success was strong enough for Paramount to produce new shows and continue already existing shows that were axed by their networks including Webster, as well as Star Trek: the Next Generation. As Paramount Network Television the company produced many successful programs including Cheers, Wings, Becker and Nash Bridges (acquired through Rysher)
Paramount Domestic Television would later continue to build its library upon Viacom's acquisitions of various libraries including Worldvision Enterprises, Rysher Entertainment, Republic Pictures and Spelling Entertainment. One of the syndication arm's most popular program was that of Judge Judy, which was inherited via Worldvision (which was originally ABC Films and the sole distributor of Hanna-Barbera content until 1986) and Big Ticket Entertainment. Paramount Domestic would handle programming from Viacom Enterprises, Worldvision and other libraries it had acquired. This did not include CBS' library as another distributor was involved there.
Another proud name in CBS' syndication legacy is KingWorld Productions, founded by Charles King in 1964. The syndicate was responsible for the distribution and sale of Hal Roach's Our Gang series, which was renamed The Little Rascals. KingWorld however began to build its syndication library when it launched its Camelot Entertainment Sales barter syndication unit, and acquired the distribution rights to daytime game shows including Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. The company is also known for it's affiliation with Harpo Productions as it helped launch The Oprah Winfrey Show. In its later years the syndicate launched KingWorld Direct (an "As Seen on TV" service) and more successful talk shows includingDr. Phil, and even invested in news magazine shows such as Inside Edition and American Journal. The company was later purchased by CBS Enterprises in 2000, and after the consolidation of CBS' Eyemark Entertainment unit would serve as the network's syndicate.
Eyemark Entertainment was founded in 1996 when CBS acquired Westinghouse Broadcasting and integrating it into CBS Enterprises. It was formerly known as Group W Productions from 1961-1996, and distributed a variety of programming including the well known series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After CBS' merger of KingWorld and Eyemark the company was merged once again with Viacom. However, Paramount Domestic Television and KingWorld would continue to operate separately.
This merger unfortunately hindered Viacom's stocks and therefore National Amusements, the owner of the conglomerate announced it would divide the company. On December 31, 2005 Viacom was split into two new companies, CBS Corporation which consisted of CBS, KingWorld and Paramount Television. Viacom was launched as a separate company, and controlled Paramount Pictures and MTV Networks. CBS announced early in 2006 that they'd take control of the Paramount Television library, also licensing the Paramount name from Viacom. The company was re-branded as CBS Paramount Television and was divided into two units: CBS Paramount Network Television (which was a merger of CBS Productions and Paramount Network Television) and CBS Paramount Domestic Television. This merger happened two years after Viacom merged both CBS Broadcast International and Paramount International Television into CBS Paramount International Television.
Now under the control of CBS, the distributor was responsible for programming from both Paramount and Viacom's television libraries. The merger would not take effect on screen until Memorial Day 2006. Unfortunately, this was an interim replacement as CBS was restructuring the company and unveiled a new unit on September 26, 2006. CBS Television Distribution was the re-branding of CBS' distribution arms. It combined KingWorld Productions, CBS Paramount Domestic Television and CBS Home Entertainment (although this division was reactivated a year later). The merger would not take effect until Fall 2007 when its on-screen identity appeared on Entertainment Tonight. Beginning in 2007 CBS would start phasing out any old logos on home media or streaming releases of any CBS programming. Substituting them with CPNT and later on CBSTD.
By May 2009, CBS announced it had given up its license to the Paramount name. As a result it re-branded CBS Paramount Network Television to CBS Television Studios. As well as its international arm as CBS Studios International. CBSSI is also responsible for distributing programming internationally that CBS does not own domestically, including The King of Queens and Sex in the City. However, this would not be the end of Paramount Television as Viacom had announced in 2013 that they would relaunch the division. Unfortunately, any previous Paramount programming will still lie with CBS through CBS Studios or CBS Studios Productions, LLC. (for any Viacom Productions programming)
From CBS to Viacom to Worldvision to KingWorld to Paramount, the Desilu Studios has come a long way. CBS Television Distribution has a proud history and a strong library, and will most likely continue to build onto it in the future years. Who knows what they'll acquire next?
After successfully selling scripts for Alvie Flynn and Archie Bunker's Place David Angell began to further his writing career when he joined the now widely known NBC sitcom Cheers. Angell later became a producer alongside James Burrows and Glen and Les Charles. The concept was a long process, the creators wanted a show that had the feel of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The writers had considered Americanizing the Brit-com Fawlty Towers, set in a hotel or an inn. After settling on a fictional bar, the series became similar to the radio show Duffy's Tavern. The show is set in Boston, MA. Starring Ted Danson as Sam Malone, a once great baseball player who is a recovering alcoholic. After losing a bet Sam is now the sole owner of the bar.
Other cast members included Nicholas Colassanto as the naive bartender Ernie"Coach"Pantusso, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Rhea Perlman as the outspoken Carla Tortelli , George Wendt as the pessimistic Norm Peterson and John Ratzenberger as know-it-all Cliff Clavin. Sam and Diane were the core focus of the show being referred to as the Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn role types. The show's theme song "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" was written and performed by Gary Portnoy, and serves as the show's tagline. While the intro for the series is a minute long, there is a much longer version of the theme song. However, the network would not use any other verses because of several risque lines.
The show was not well received in its first season and was nearing cancellation and ranked 74th out of 77 shows. NBC however decided to give the series a chance and renewed it for another season. Reruns greatly helped improve the show's ratings and reputation. The show even earned five Emmy awards out of thirteen nominations, including an Outstanding Comedy Series of 1982–83. The show would eventually replace the low ratings series "Taxi" and "Fame".
As announced in May 1983, the Fall 1983 Thursday lineup consisted of, in order of time sequence starting at 8pm (Eastern) / 7pm (Central), Gimme a Break!, Mama's Family, We Got It Made, Cheers and Hill Street Blues. Season three made its debut on September 27, 1984 and finished its run on May 9, 1985. It was also the last season to feature Nicholas Colassanto, whose health was beginning to decline and later passed away after the filming of "Cheerio, Cheers". Kelsey Grammer also joined the cast as upper-class psychiatrist Frasier Crane, beau of Diane and the rival of Sam. When season four premiered it was decided that Coach was written out as in subsequently passed away.
This prompted the writers to hire Woody Harrelson to play Woody Boyd, a not-so bright young man from Indiana who was said to be Coach's pen pal. However, instead of letter exchanging they'd exchange pens. In this season Sam returns to Boston after failing to stop Frasier and Diane's wedding, but learns that Frasier was stiffed at the altar. Sam finds Diane at a convent and after making her reconsider, he rehires her. Frasier however loses his job and becomes an alcoholic frequently visiting the bar.
Season five began on September 25, 1986 and finished its run on May 7, 1987. Part of NBC's Best Night of Television on Television (later branded as "Must See TV") 1984–85 Thursday lineup, consisting of (from 8 pm Eastern) The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Night Court and Hill Street Blues, was a ratings success. In 1987 Cheers entered its sixth season and the first five went into syndication via Paramount Domestic Television (now CBS Television Distribution). Season six saw the addition of Kirstie Alley to the cast as Rebecca Howe, a somewhat neurotic corporate bar owner and co-manager of Cheers. Rebecca was the replacement for Diane and later became a potential love interest of Sam.
Season six saw Sam sell the bar to a high end corporate company known as Lillian Corporation and leave on a yacht. Rebecca would be seen pining for the head of Lillian Corp. Carla with child, and Rebecca hired another bartender Wayne (Jonathan Stark) and makes changes to the bar. Including everyone forced to wear uniforms, Sam however returns and wishes to work as a bartender again. This serves as a problem for Rebecca, she has to fire one bartender and Sam proposes a contest to make a Screaming Viking drink mix. Wayne loses and decides to quit, allowing Sam to work at the bar again.
This season also saw Sam attempting celibacy, Carla getting married, and the start of the sexual tension between Sam and Rebecca. After the initial run of the sixth season which ran from September 24, 1987 to May 7, 1988, scheduled against The Cosby Show, A Different World, Night Court, and hour-long drama L.A. Law.
The series approached its seventh season, indirectly led by the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike. However, a long period of reruns immediately preceded the premiere on October 27, 1988. The seventh season saw Frasier and Lilith's marriage and her being with child, it also saw Carla's marriage being strained due to her husband's career as a hockey player, and Woody would begin dating Kelly Gaines (played by Jackie Swanson). Season seven would be the final season to feature Dave Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee as writers. The three had left the series to form a band new production company known as Grub Street Productions.
Season eight made its premiere on September 21, 1989 and ran til May 3, 1990.
Season eight would also help launch the acting career of Thomas Haden Church (pictured on the right), who guest stars in the seventh episode "Death Takes a Holiday on Ice". Playing a character by the name of Gordie Brown who turns out to be a colleague of Carla's deceased husband Eddie. Who was killed after saving another player from being struck by a vehicle. Carla also learns Eddie led a secret life and had a second marriage while they were together. Church would later end up being cast in NBC's upcoming sitcom "Wings", but that is another story for another blog.
Season eight also saw Rebecca fearing she'd die alone and end up marrying a charming embezzler named Robin Colcord (played by Roger Rees. Lilith gives birth to a baby boy named Frederick while Frasier is not there, Sam is! Cliff appears on Jeopardy!, Robin sets up a trap for Sam, Norm, Cliff and Carla by rigging his yacht with a bomb while they try to win a race. Woody meets Kelly's mother who performs sexual advances towards Woody.
Lilith writes a new book for women, which becomes a success, using Sam's experiences with women as an example. Robin and Rebecca get engaged but she later learns he is just marrying her to gain access to the company's accounts, and she becomes unsure about whether or not she should turn him in. Season eight closes with a cliffhanger involving Rebecca and Sam.
Season nine opens with a continuation of the finale, involving Rebecca trying to forget what happened on the couch with Sam. She pursues Robin, despite Sam's disapproval. This season also saw a special one hour episode to commemorate 200 episodes, hosted by John McLaughlin of The McLaughlin Group fame. The cast also stars in this special as well as Shelley Long after her very heavy publicized and criticized exit in 1987. Nicholas Colassanto is also honored in a tribute.
Other season highlights include Woody endorsing a product he despises, Sam dating John Hill's daughter as revenge when Hill takes advantage of Cheers' new coupon booklet which Woody is responsible for. Cliff and Norm walking around apparently decapitated, Sam and Rebecca trying to purchase the bar's toilets and pool room from Hill. Rebecca employing Norm to paint Sam's office, Sam babysitting Frederick and wondering if he is really his father.
Season ten made its premiere September 19, 1991, the NBC line-up also consisted of The Cosby Show, A Different World, Wings (originally a mid-season replacement in 1990) and L.A. Law. In season ten Sam and Rebecca's relationship furthered after Sam decided he wanted to finally settled down. Choosing Rebecca as his partner, but things were complicated and it derailed their relationship. Harry Connick, Jr. guest stars as Woody's cousin who develops feelings for Rebecca. Woody proposes to Kelly after almost losing her to Henri, and the season closes with a wedding episode. The season concluded on May 14, 1992 and the series ranking #4 in ratings.
Season eleven premiered on September 24, 1992 with The Little Match Girl, which involves Rebecca almost burning down the bar after deciding to quit smoking. As dramatic as it is, the rest of the season has a few good laughs. Including Sam gripping with the fact that he is a sex addict, Woody running for an election, Frasier and Lilith separating leading to a romantic fling with Rebecca. Cliff putting his domineering mother in a retirement home, Rebecca finally finding true love in a plumber named Don, and Norm becoming a taster in a brewery. In the triple length series finale which aired on May 20, 1993 Diane makes a surprising return, and learns how vulnerable Sam is at the moment.
Diane and Sam briefly get back together only to end their relationship while on a delayed flight.
The series ends with Woody winning the election, Rebecca preparing for a honeymoon after marrying Don, After deciding to go their separate ways, Diane and Sam depart. Diane goes to Los Angeles, and Sam returns to Cheers to see his friends again. After the gang heads home, Norm stays behind and tells Sam
that he knew he would return to Boston for his "one true love", saying:
"You'll always come back to her." The episode ends with someone attempting to come into Cheers with Sam replying "Sorry, we're closed!"
After Cheers aired its final episode, a special credit appeared after the Paramount logo. Unfortunately, it was cut out in syndication and is not preserved on the DVD release from CBS Home Entertainment. The series also dawned a spin-off involving Frasier Crane (Grammer) who moves to Seattle after his divorce from Lilith. The original show continued to rerun in syndication and was available in 39 countries and 179 American television markets and 83 million viewers. The series has aired on various networks including Nick@Nite, TV Land and Hallmark Channel. Because of its ongoing success the series underwent a careful restoration in 2001, and was fully rendered in high-definition on Netflix in 2011.
In 2003 Paramount Home Media Distribution began releasing the series on DVD, and in 2006 when the distribution changed hands CBS Home Entertainment began to release the show. While Paramount opted to keep most of the music, CBS had to substitute certain musical pieces due to copyrights. On March 6, 2012 CBS Home Entertainment released a fan favorites DVD consisting of episodes viewers voted for via FaceBook polls. On May 5, 2015, CBS DVD released Cheers- The Complete Series on DVD in a deluxe box set, but unlike the individual seasons this release does not offer any blurbs of the episodes or seasons.
