TV Time Capsule

‘I Dream of Jeannie,’ Uncorked Again (And Again)

On October 20, 1985, Barbara Eden reprised her most famous role in “I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later,” an NBC TV movie based on the network’s 1965-70 sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie.”

The flick finds Jeannie’s marriage to astronaut Tony Nelson being tested: When he postpones his retirement to go on one last mission, she takes their teenage son T.J. and moves out.

“Dallas” star Larry Hagman, who played Tony in the original “Jeannie” sitcom, reportedly wanted too much money to appear in the movie, so producers replaced him with “M*A*S*H’s” Wayne Rogers.

Two of Eden and Hagman’s original co-stars did return: Bill Dailey reprised his role as Tony’s best friend and fellow astronaut Roger Healey, while Hayden Rorke – in his final performance – again played NASA psychiatrist Alfred Bellows.

Mackenzie Astin, son of ’60s sitcom stars John Astin and Patty Duke, played T.J.

“I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later” is notable for featuring the first on-screen appearance of Eden’s navel, which NBC wasn’t allowed to show in the ’60s.

That probably helped the movie draw an impressive 18.4 million homes, making it the week’s 11th most-watched broadcast.

Exactly six years later – on October 20, 1991 – NBC aired a second reunion movie: “I Still Dream of Jeannie.”

This time, Tony was away on a top-secret mission, forcing Jeannie to hit singles bars in search of a new temporary master.

Daily again played Roger, Christopher Bolton portrayed Tony Jr. and Hagman’s “Dallas” nemesis Ken Kercheval appeared as one of Jeannie’s suitors.

“I Still Dream of Jeannie” was seen in 11 million homes, finishing 39th in the weekly ratings.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Sunday, October 20, 1985:

7: World Series, Game 2 (ABC), “60 Minutes” (CBS), “Punky Brewster” (NBC)

7:30: “Silver Spoons” (NBC)

8: “Murder, She Wrote” (CBS), “Amazing Stories” (NBC)

8:30: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (NBC)

9: “Crazy Like a Fox” (CBS), “I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later” (NBC)

10: “MacGyver” (ABC), “Trapper John, M.D.” (CBS)

 … And the lineup for Sunday, October 20, 1991:

7: “Life Goes On” (ABC), “60 Minutes” (CBS), “True Colors”(Fox), “Adventures of Mark & Brian” (NBC)

7:30: “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” (Fox), “Eerie, Indiana” (NBC)

8: “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC), World Series, Game 2 (CBS), “In Living Color” (Fox), “Man of the People” (NBC)

8:30: “America’s Funniest People” (ABC), “Roc” (Fox), “Pacific Station” (NBC)

9: “Dynasty: The Reunion, Part 1” (ABC), “Married … With Children” (Fox), “I Still Dream of Jeannie” (NBC)

9:30: “Herman’s Head” (Fox)

 

The Record

For the week of October 20, 1985:

Top novel: “Texas” by James A. Michener

Top song: “Take On Me” by a-ha

Top movie: “Commando”

Top TV show: “The Cosby Show” (NBC)

In the news: President Reagan touted the proposed “Star Wars” missile defense system

… And the week of October 20, 1991:

Top novel: “Scarlett” by Alexandra Ripley

Top song: “Emotions” by Mariah Carey

Top movie: “Other People’s Money”

Top TV show: World Series, Game 6 (CBS)

In the news: Bill Clinton sought the Democratic presidential nomination

 

Caption: NBC’s advertisements for “I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later” from TV Guide’s October 19, 1985, issue, and “I Still Dream of Jeannie” from the magazine’s October 19, 1991, edition.

America Meets ‘Roseanne’

On October 18, 1988, 21 million households tuned into the debut of ABC’s “Roseanne” – the network’s highest-rated sitcom premiere since “Joanie Loves Chachi” six years earlier.

Standup comic Roseanne Barr starred in “Roseanne,” which chronicled the life of blue-collar housewife and mother Roseanne Conner.

In “Life and Stuff,” the pilot, Roseanne deals with complaints about daughter Darlene (Sara Gilbert) misbehaving at school, then returns home from work to find husband Dan (John Goodman) hasn’t fixed the plumbing.

Critics called “Roseanne” the best sitcom since “The Cosby Show.” (Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner produced both shows.)

In 1996, TV Guide ranked “Life and Stuff” 40th on its 1996 list television’s 100 most memorable moments, praising the authentic details found in the episode’s opening moments (seen in the video clip below):

The kitchen was a mess, cereal littered the table, the furnishings looked shabby, and the kids were sniping at each other. … Then came Rosey: bumptious, brazen, crabby, and brutally honest. Wearily watching her kids squabble, she drawled, “Now I know why some animals eat their young.”

“Life and Stuff” ranked fifth in the weekly ratings.

The series remained a fixture of Nielsen’s top 5 for most of its nine-season run. 

“Life and Stuff” is part of the “Roseanne: The Complete First Season” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Tuesday, October 18, 1988:

8: “Who’s the Boss?” (ABC), “High Risk” (CBS), World Series, Game 3 (NBC)

8:30: “Roseanne” (ABC)

9: “North & South, Part 1” (ABC), “Fatal Judgment” (CBS)  

 

The Record

For the week of October 16, 1988:

Top novel: “The Cardinal of the Kremlin” by Tom Clancy

Top song: “Red Red Wine” by UB40

Top movie: “The Accused”

Top TV show: World Series, Game 5 (NBC)

In the news: Andrew Cuomo quit his legal job to build housing for homeless families

 

  

Captions: “Roseanne” cast members John Goodman and Roseanne Barr in a photograph from TV Guide’s October 1, 1988, fall preview issue (top); Goodman and Barr on the magazine’s January 28, 1989, cover (middle, illustration by Richard Stark); ABC’s advertisement for the series premiere, from the magazine’s October 15, 1988, edition (bottom).

‘Wind on Water’ Sinks

On October 17, 1998, NBC introduced “Wind on Water,” one of the decade’s most critically despised – and shortest-lived – shows.

The one-hour drama crossed “Baywatch” with the 1960s western “The Big Valley,” throwing in a dash of “Romeo & Juliet” for good measure.

Bo Derek starred as steely widow Ceci Connolly, who was determined to keep her family’s Hawaiian cattle ranch from falling into the hands of dastardly developer Gardner Poole, played by Lee Horsley.

The cast also included William Gregory Lee and Brian Gross as Ceci’s sons Cole and Kelly, and Shawn Christian and Jacinda Barrett as Gardner’s children Val and Kate, who loved Kelly.

In the opener, Gardner – hoping to pressure Ceci into selling him the Connolly ranch – diverts its water supply; Cole and Kelly ride to the rescue, squaring off against Val in a surfing tournament with a $60,000 grand prize.

USA Today’s Robert Bianco described “Wind on Water” as “remarkably terrible” and “amusingly awful.”

The Washington Post’s Tom Shales declared it was “a show of no substance whatever,” wondering why NBC didn’t call it “Bo on a Beach.”

The “Wind on Water” premiere was seen in 4.7 million homes, ranking 80th in the weekly ratings. In week two, the show dropped to 3.4 million homes and 101st place.

There was no week three.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, October 17, 1998:

8: “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC), “Early Edition” (CBS), World Series, Game 1 (Fox), “Wind on Water” (NBC)

9: “Fantasy Island” (ABC), “Martial Law” (CBS), “The Pretender” (NBC)

10: “Cupid” (ABC), “Walker, Texas Ranger” (CBS), “Profiler” (NBC)

 

The Record

For the week of October 11, 1998:

Top novel: “Bag of Bones” by Stephen King

Top song: “The First Night” by Monica

Top movie: “Antz”

Top TV show: “ER” (NBC)

In the news: Democrats praised soon-to-be-impeached President Clinton

 

  

Captions: “Wind on Water” cast members, from left, Jacinda Barrett, Matt George, Brian Gross, Lee Horsley, Bo Derek, William Gregory Lee, Matthew Stephen Liu and Shawn Christian in a photograph from TV Guide’s September 12, 1998, fall preview issue (top); NBC’s advertisement for the series premiere, from the October 17, 1988, edition.

‘Mork & Mindy,’ Married!

On October 15, 1981, “Mork and Mindy” got married.

TV Guide described “The Wedding” in a special “Close Up” sidebar:

They have been living together for the past three seasons, so it’s really no surprise that something more meaningful wouldn’t come of it sooner or later. And tonight, it’s wedding bells for Mork and Mindy.

Ah, but the course of true love never did run smooth, and although Mindy’s dad finally gives the couple his blessing, Orson refuses.

Mork’s Orkan boss is dead set against the nuptials. Mindy is, after all, a lower form of life: she chews her food. And besides, marriage has been illegal on Ork for the last two million bleams. But that’s not about to stop Mork, who gets himself a morning coat and, with his best man Exidor (nattily attired in a formal straitjacket) in tow, troops to the altar, prompting an enraged Orson to begin, slowly changing the groom into a – sheep dog.

Mork: Robin Williams. Mindy: Pam Dawber. Exidor: Robert Donner. Fred: Conrad Janis. Cora: Elizabeth Kerr. Cathy: Shelley Fabares. Voice of Orson: Ralph James.

“The Wedding,” the second episode of “Mork & Mindy’s” final season, wasn’t among the week’s most-watched shows, but today it’s remembered as a fan favorite.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Thursday, October 15, 1981:

8: “Mork & Mindy” (ABC), “Magnum, P.I.” (CBS), American League baseball playoffs (NBC)

8:30: “Best of the West” (ABC)

9: “Bosom Buddies” (ABC) “Mickey Spillane’s ‘Margin for Murder’” (CBS)

9:30: “Taxi” (ABC)

10: “20/20” (ABC)

 

The Record

For the week of October 11, 1981:

Top novel: “The Hotel New Hampshire” by John Irving

Top song: “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

Top TV show: “Dallas” (CBS)

New at the movies: “Chariots of Fire”

In the news: President-elect Reagan vowed to work closely with Congress

 

 

Caption: ABC’s advertisement for “The Wedding” episode of “Mork & Mindy,” from TV Guide’s October 10, 1981, issue.

‘Happy Days:’ Richie Cunningham, Tough Guy

On October 14, 1975, ABC aired “Richie Fights Back,” the “Happy Days” episode that TV Guide and TV Land have each declared the sitcom’s best.

The plot: Clean-cut teenager Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) is being terrorized by neighborhood bullies Rocko and Frankie (guest stars Jeff Conaway and Ken Lerner), so he enlists diner owner Arnold (Pat Morita) to teach him jujitsu.

When that fails, Richie’s cool, motorcycle-riding friend Fonzie (Henry Winkler) teaches him to act tough. “Of course, with that Howdy Doody face, you can only be so tough,” Fonz says.

The episode culminates with a showdown at Arnold’s, where Richie tries to throw Rocko but manages only to whip the thug’s leather jacket to the ground.

Finally, Richie resorts to acting like a madman – running around Arnold’s and leaping on tables – until Rocko becomes convinced he’s crazy and runs away.

“Richie Fights Back” finished 19th in the weekly ratings.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked the broadcast 88th on its list of television’s 100 greatest episodes; four years later, it placed 86th on TV Land’s list of the top 100 sitcom episodes.

It was the only “Happy Days” episode included on either list.

“Richie Fights Back” is part of the “Happy Days: The Third Season” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Tuesday, October 14, 1975:

8: “Happy Days” (ABC), “Good Times” (CBS), World Series, Game 3 (NBC)

8:30: “Welcome Back, Kotter” (ABC), “Joe and Sons”  (CBS)

9: “The Rookies” (ABC), “Switch” (CBS)

10: “Marcus Welby, M.D.” (ABC), “Beacon Hill” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of October 12, 1975:

Top novel: “Ragtime” by E. L. Doctorow

Top song: “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka

Top TV show: World Series, Game 5 (NBC)

At the movies: “Let’s Do It Again”

In the news: Democrats were urged to nominate a woman for vice president

 

 

Caption: “Happy Days” cast members Ron Howard and Henry Winkler on TV Guide’s January 10, 1976, cover (photograph by Mindas).

‘The X-Files:’ ‘Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose’

On October 13, 1995, Peter Boyle guest starred on Fox’s “The X-Files” as Clyde Bruckman, an ill-fated insurance salesman whose psychic abilities make him the target of a serial killer.

The episode, “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” was seen in 10.5 million homes, ranking 27th in the weekly ratings. It later earned Boyle a guest actor Emmy Award.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked the installment 10th on its list of television’s 100 greatest episodes.

The publication called it “the finest achievement in a series that continues to break, then rewrite, the rules,” praising Boyle’s performance as “astonishing.”

As Boyle recalled in the magazine, playing Bruckman was “not without struggle. I’m in Vancouver [where ‘The X-Files’ was filmed], it’s a cold August day, and I’m not smiling. When I play a character who has to die, it gets me a little depressed.”

Last year, when TV Guide produced a second list of television’s top 100 episodes, it again included “Clyde Bruckman,” although this time the installment dropped to 35th.

“Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” can be rented for 99 cents or purchased for $1.99 from iTunes and downloaded for 99 cents at Amazon.com. The episode is also part of “The X-Files: The Complete Third Season” DVD set.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Friday, October 13, 1995:

8: “Family Matters” (ABC), “Dweebs” (CBS), “Strange Luck” (Fox), National League baseball playoffs (NBC)  

8:30: “Boy Meets World” (ABC), “The Bonnie Hunt Show” (CBS)

9: “Step By Step” (ABC), “Picket Fences” (CBS), “The X-Files” (Fox)

9:30: “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” (ABC)

10: “20/20” (ABC), “American Gothic” (CBS)

 

The Record

For the week of October 8, 1995:

Top novel: “The Lost World” by Michael Crichton

Top song: “Fantasy” by Mariah Carey

Top movie: “Seven”

Top TV show: “ER” (NBC)

In the news: Republicans voted to relax protections for endangered species

 

 

Caption: Peter Boyle and “The X-Files” stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in a scene from “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose.”

Andy Warhol Sails Aboard ‘The Love Boat’

On October 12, 1985, Andy Warhol portrayed himself on ABC’s “The Love Boat” – an episode TV Guide called one of the show’s campiest.

The storyline has Warhol boarding the Pacific Princess and encountering Mary Hammond (Marion Ross), a Kansas housewife with a secret: She was once known as Marina Del Rey, a green-haired bohemian who appeared in “White Giraffe,” an avant-garde Warhol film.

Mary fears this awkward reunion will sink her marriage to George – played by Ross’s “Happy Days” husband, Tom Bosley – a conservative businessman who doesn’t know about her past.

The episode also features Andy Griffith and Cloris Leachman as an ex-con and his wife, as well as Milton Berle. Teri Hatcher, who played a Pacific Princess showgirl that season – the show’s last – also appeared.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked the installment 82nd on its list of TV’s 100 greatest episodes.

The list included Ross’s recollection of working with Warhol, who died 499 days after the broadcast:

“I told Andy, ‘You know, you’re a really terrible actor, but I will help you!’ … He was very scared to be an actor. He was very sour-looking and damaged-looking, but he turned out to be the sweetest guy in the world. I feel so privileged; he wrote in his [now published] diary, ‘I really love [Marion] so much. She’s a wonderful person, and she helps me.’”

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, October 12, 1985:

8: “Hollywood Beat” (ABC), “Airwolf” (CBS), American League baseball playoffs  (NBC)

9: “The Love Boat” (ABC), “Out of the Darkness” (CBS)

10: “Lime Street” (ABC)

 

The Record

For the week of October 6, 1985:

Top novel: “Lake Wobegone Days” by Garrison Keillor

Top song: “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits

Top movie: “Commando”

Top TV show: “The Cosby Show”

In the news: The Achille Lauro hijackers were charged

  

 

Captions: “The Love Boat” star Ted Lange and Andy Warhol in a scene from his “Love Boat” episode (top, courtesy of Mental Floss); ABC’s advertisement for the broadcast, from TV Guide’s October 12, 1985, issue (bottom).

Turning On ‘Charmed’

On October 7, 1998, the WB introduced “Charmed,” a supernatural series about sibling witches who fight evil.

In “Something Wicca This Way Comes,” the first episode, the three Halliwell sisters – who live in modern-day San Francisco – discover they are actually powerful witches, each with a special gift: Prudence (Shannen Doherty), the oldest, is telekinetic; Piper (Holly Marie Combs), the middle sister, can freeze time; and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) is psychic.

The sisters also learn they are the target of witch-hunting warlocks, murderous demons and other evil-doers.

Aaron Spelling produced “Charmed,” selling the series with a 28-minute pilot, which was never broadcast and featured Lori Rom as Phoebe.

“Charmed” represented a comeback for Doherty, who – four years earlier – had walked away from Spelling’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” amid tabloid reports of on-set tantrums, off-screen partying and other bad behavior.

Critics couldn’t resist commenting on Doherty’s new role – USA Today’s Robert Bianco wrote that “the idea of Shannen Doherty as a witch does have a certain intuitive appeal” – but most reviewers welcomed the actress back to prime time. One exception: the Washington Post’s Tom Shales, who described her as being destined to “play fat-faced Monica Lewinsky somewhere down the road.”

“Charmed” itself received mixed reviews: Cox News Service’s Kevin D. Thompson compared the series to Spelling’s earlier hit “Charlie’s Angels,” calling the new show “funny, spooky and entertaining,” while Bianco concluded “‘Charmed’ has witchcraft but precious little magic.”

The “Charmed” debut was seen in 7.7 million homes, tying with its Wednesday night lead-in – “Dawson’s Creek” – for 78th in the weekly ratings, making it the most-watched series premiere in the WB’s history.

Doherty departed the show at the end of “Charmed’s” third season – this time amid rumors of backstage tension with Milano. Prudence was killed off and replaced by Rose McGowan as Paige – the Halliwell siblings’ long-lost half-sister – who remained with the series through the end of its eighth and final season.

“Something Wicca This Way Comes” is part of the “Charmed: The Complete Series”  DVD set.

 

Also on TV

On October 7, 1998, the WB also aired the season premiere of “Dawson’s Creek;” ABC broadcast “Dharma & Greg,” “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,” “The Drew Carey Show,” and “The Secret Lives of Men,” a sitcom starring Peter Gallagher and Bradley Whitford, as well as “20/20;” CBS showed “The Nanny,” the Faith Ford sitcom “Maggie Winters,” the romantic comedy “To Have and to Hold” and “Chicago Hope;” on Fox, the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians, 4 to 2, in a National League baseball playoff; NBC’s lineup consisted of “Dateline NBC,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “NewsRadio” (featuring Jon Lovitz’s first appearance as the late Phil Hartman’s replacement) and “Law & Order;” and UPN introduced the action show “7 Days” with a two-hour premiere.

 

The Record

During the week of October 4, 1998, the number ones were Tom Clancy’ “Rainbow Six” (novel), Monica’s “The First Night” (song) and “Antz” (movie). In Washington, Democrats rallied around President Clinton as Republicans moved closer to impeaching him.

  

Captions: “Charmed” cast members, from left, Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs in a photograph from TV Guide’s September 12, 1998, fall preview issue (top; Doherty and Combs by Fergus Greer, Milano by Kate Garner); the WB’s advertisement for the series premiere, from the October 3, 1998, edition (bottom).

You Go, ‘Gilmore Girls’

On October 5, 2000, the WB introduced “Gilmore Girls,” a popular comedy-drama about a single mother raising her 16-year-old daughter in a small Connecticut town.

Lauren Graham starred as free-spirited and quick-witted Lorelai Gilmore, who gave birth to Rory (Alex Bledel) when she was 16. This made the pair seem more like friends than family, with similar tastes in music, clothes and junk food.

Lorelai manages the Independence Inn in picture-perfect Stars Hollow, whose quirky denizens include Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy), the inn’s klutzy chef, and gruff diner owner Luke Danes (Scott Patterson).

In the untitled pilot, Lorelai reluctantly asks her estranged parents – wealthy Emily and Richard Gilmore (Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann) – for financial help when bright Rory is accepted at Chilton Academy, an expensive private school.

The parents agree to loan Lorelai the money – but only if she and Rory will have dinner with them each Friday night, a ritual seen in many episodes.

“Gilmore Girls” was developed with a pool of funds from major advertisers – including General Motors, Procter & Gamble and Sears – who said they were tired of hawking their products on network shows that exhibited excessive sex and violence.

The sponsors, who had no say in the content they bankrolled, hoped to replicate the success of the WB’s squeaky-clean family drama “7th Heaven.”

Gavin Polone, a “Gilmore Girls’” executive producer, resisted the comparison and claimed he wasn’t aware of his show’s connection to the family friendly fund until it was reported in the press.

“‘Gilmore Girls’ is not saccharine in the least; it’s very dissimilar from ‘7th Heaven,’” he told the Associated Press. “I think it will end up satisfying the people who want more family-friendly shows inadvertently, rather than intentionally.”

The Los Angeles’ Times Howard Rosenberg agreed, praising “Gilmore Girls’” depiction of “mother-daughter bonding that is tender, warm and loving in a natural way without heaping on the schmaltz.”

USA Today’s Robert Bianoco called the show “joyfully charming.”

The “Gilmore Girls” debut was seen in 3.5 million homes, ranking 67th in the weekly ratings. The series originated on Thursdays then moved to Tuesdays and aired seven seasons, transitioning in 2006 to the CW, the network created by the WB-UPN merger.

The “Gilmore Girls’” pilot can be downloaded for $1.99 at iTunes. The episode is also part of the “Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series” DVD set.

 

Also on TV

On October 5, 2000, the WB also aired the season premiere of “Charmed;” ABC broadcast “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire;” CBS showed “48 Hours;” NBC offered a one-hour “Friends” rerun; and the New York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants, 5 to 4, in a National League baseball playoff on Fox. ABC, CBS and NBC also showed the vice presidential debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman.

 

The Record

During the week of October 1, 2000, the number ones were Tom Clancy’s “The Bear and the Dragon” (novel), Madonna’s “Music” (song) and “Remember the Titans” (movie). In Washington, Republican lawmakers tried to restrict the so-called abortion pill.

  

 Captions: “Gilmore Girls” stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Biedel in a photograph from TV Guide’s September 30, 2000, fall preview issue (top, photo by Challenge Roddie); the WB’s advertisement for the series premiere, also from that edition (bottom).

Class Begins in ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’

On October 4, 1990, Fox launched “Beverly Hills, 90210,” the high-school drama that ushered in an era of youth-oriented shows in prime time.

The series originally focused on Brandon and Brenda Walsh (Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty), 16-year-old fraternal twins from Minnesota who move with their parents to Southern California when the father gets a new job.

“Class of Beverly Hills,” the 90-minute pilot, introduced Brandon, Brenda and their privileged classmates at West Beverly Hills High, including spoiled Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) and cocky Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering), the son of a sitcom star.

Other cast members: Gabrielle Carteris as bookish Andrea Zuckerman, Brian Austin Green as nerdy David Silver and Luke Perry as brooding surfer Dylan McKay, who arrived in the second episode.

Darren Star created “Beverly Hills, 90210,” basing the show on his experiences growing up in Potomac, Maryland, a wealthy Washington, D.C., suburb. Aaron Spelling produced the series, casting daughter Tori as Donna Martin, another of Brandon and Brenda’s classmates.

Critics gave the pilot mostly tepid reviews.

The Washington Post’s Tom Shales called it “a black hole in the already vast and empty TV schedule,” while the Los Angeles Times’ Howard Rosenberg predicted it would leave viewers feeling like they’ve been “watching for 90 days.”

USA Today’s Matt Roush was kinder, calling the first episode “promising” and comparing its sensitive portrayal of teen life to a John Hughes movie.

Fox aired “Beverly Hills, 90210” on Thursdays until 1992, when it shifted to Wednesdays, which became its longtime home.

The show started slow – the first episode was seen in 6.7 million homes, tying with ABC’s “Cop Rock” for 79th among the week’s 92 prime-time broadcasts – but eventually it became a hit among younger viewers.

The series underwent changes large and small during its 10-season run: The characters graduated from high school, went to college and began careers; the plots grew soapier; Priestley, Doherty, Perry and Carteris departed, although Perry eventually returned; and Fox dropped the comma from the title.

“Beverly Hills, 90210” also spawned multiple spinoffs and imitators, including “90210,” a sequel show that the CW introduced in 2008.

“Class of Beverly Hills” can be streamed for free at CBS.com and downloaded for $1.99 at iTunes. The episode is also part of the “Beverly Hills, 90210: The Complete First Season” DVD set.

 

Also on TV

On October 4, 1990, Fox also aired a rerun of “The Simpsons;” ABC broadcast “Father Dowling Mysteries,” the James Earl Jones drama “Gabriel’s Fire” and “Primetime Live;” on CBS, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4 to 3, in the first game of baseball’s National League playoffs; and NBC offered “The Cosby Show,” “A Different World,” “Cheers,” the season premiere of “Grand” and “Law & Order.”

 

The Record

During the week of September 30, 1990, the number ones were Stephen King’s “Four Past Midnight” (novel), Nelsons’s “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” (song) and “Pacific Heights” (movie). In Washington, President Bush urged lawmakers to approve a bipartisan budget plan to reduce the deficit by raising taxes.

 

  

Captions: “Beverly Hills 90210” cast members, from left, Shannen Doherty, Jason Priestley, Ian Ziering and Jennie Garth in a photograph from TV Guide’s September 15, 1990, fall preview issue (top, photographer unknown); Fox’s advertisement for the series premiere from the September 29, 1990, edition (bottom).