HARRY ANDERSON: TV'S ALL STAR PLAYER

With the passing of Harry Anderson today, we are reminded of the star power that fueled network television in the 1980s and 1990s.  Although "Night Court" and "Dave's World" are not as visible today as other comedies, both were Top 25 shows when television was a shared experience.  Transitioning from street magician to sitcom lead, Harry Anderson was lead-in to struggling sitcoms starring both Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano.  While many "Saturday Night Live" performers are known for their leaps to movie stardom, Anderson went from recurring performer doing his magic act in studio 8H to the top sitcoms of the 80s.

You did not miss the Thursday night line-up on NBC in 1984.  Anderson had recurred as con man "Harry the Hat" in the earliest episodes of "Cheers."  After a disastrous fall 1983 where NBC debuted nine flop shows, "Night Court" debuted in January 1984 as a Harry Anderson starring vehicle.  In fall 1984, "Night Court" moved to the post-"Cheers" slot.  "The Cosby Show" debuted and the entire night became 3 hours on one channel that dominated television.  "Night Court" ran for 9 seasons.

The line-up of "Cosby," "Family Ties," "Cheers," "Night Court" and "Hill Street Blues" didn't last forever.  "Night Court" was the most expendable of the group, not being tied to another show or a studio with a show on that night.  It moved to Wednesdays, and faltered a few times on Fridays, but eventually became the lead-in to "Seinfeld" in 1991.  On December 8, 1988, while "Court" was sequestered to Wednesday nights, it returned to Thursdays at 9:30 for a repeat and it topped the ratings as the #1 show that week.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/12/13/Night-Court-repeat-tops-the-list/2751597992400/


"Night Court" was expected to end in 1991 after a disastrous Friday night of transplants from other nights. ("Quantum Leap," "Night Court," "Wings" and "Midnight Caller" which actually was a solid night of B-listers.  Few networks have had that on Friday nights since then.)  "Court" returned to Wednesday and built up the critically-acclaimed "Seinfeld."  It got an unexpected ninth season and, by 1992, the shows were flipped and "Seinfeld" moved to 9:00.

After the series ended, Anderson returned in 1993 as columnist Dave Barry in "Dave's World."  A freshman hit, "Dave" was part of CBS's dominant Monday comedy line-up for two seasons until, like "Night Court," it moved to Wednesdays and Fridays to boost other nights.  No longer a top show, "Dave's World" was the lead-in to "Everybody Loves Raymond" in the fall of 1996.  Fortunately, "Raymond" moved to the former "Dave" slot on Mondays at 8:30 and became a hit (after a new Cosby show, no less).  "Dave's World" faded away in 1997.

As an assistant in the programming department at CBS in those days, I attended a few tapings and after-parties.  Harry Anderson always seemed to be a friendly guy in a tough business.  I was a few booths away at an after-party from Anderson and former NBC president Brandon Tartikoff, after Tartikoff had guested in a season premiere.  They were partying, having been reunited from their glory days of "Night Court."  In 2018, sitcom revivals have become king.  Anderson was one of the few who had two comedy hits.