Paramount Comedy Channel

...had not heard of the Paramount Comedy Channel. It quickly became the reason why we kept Sky, though. It would be the only channel I would miss if we gave Sky up. It has actually been in existence in the UK since 1995, as a joint venture between Viacom and BskyB.

Paramount is famous for its Hollywood studios, of course, but they also produce comedy shows themselves. The channel in the UK shows their own shows and also buys others in, ...
...your favourite show when on Paramount the most you have to wait is 24 hours. Junk food television, but I love it!

Here is a run-down of the current schedule, together with information about the programmes that I watch (I haven’t commented on the ones I don’t, for obvious reasons).

09:00 A DIFFERENT WORLD (the spin-off from The Cosby Show, featuring the Cosby’s daughter Denise)

09:30 MOONLIGHTING ... more

I used to think comedy was the highest form of art. The ability to make someone laugh is a gift, and such a valuable one too. However, after the events in the US last week, comedy seems trivial at best. It does show the tenacity of the human spirit, though. The British, in particular, have a unique ability to laugh in times of adversity. So I hope no-one will be offended by this, a trivial op (at best!).

When we signed up for Sky, about 2 years ago, I had not heard of the Paramount Comedy Channel. It quickly became the reason why we kept Sky, though. It would be the only channel I would miss if we gave Sky up. It has actually been in existence in the UK since 1995, as a joint venture between Viacom and BskyB.

Paramount is famous for its Hollywood studios, of course, but they also produce comedy shows themselves. The channel in the UK shows their own shows and also buys others in, notably some good British/Irish ones (Father Ted, Drop the Dead Donkey, etc.) and some abysmal Australian ones.

Some people complain that the programmes on Sky are generally repeats, and are usually on at the same time each day. Programmers call this a ‘stripped’ schedule. I actually like this quirk. I like to know at any given time of the day which comedy show will be on if I turn on the TV. Why wait a whole week to see the next episode of your favourite show when on Paramount the most you have to wait is 24 hours. Junk food television, but I love it!

Here is a run-down of the current schedule, together with information about the programmes that I watch (I haven’t commented on the ones I don’t, for obvious reasons).

09:00 A DIFFERENT WORLD (the spin-off from The Cosby Show, featuring the Cosby’s daughter Denise)

09:30 MOONLIGHTING (also repeated at 15:00)
The famous clash of egos – Cybill Shepherd & Bruce Willis – worked well, producing a chemistry between the stars that still bounces off the television screen today,

10:30 CYBILL (repeated at 16:30)
More Cybill Shepherd. This time she stars pretty much as herself, an aging actress. The writing is good, though, as are her co-stars, causing her to shine. Her co-star is Christine Baranski, playing her best friend Maryann. She is superb. She had a one-off appearance in ‘Frasier’ as Dr Nora. Apparently, she won’t let her children watch television, she doesn’t approve of the sex and violence. Maybe she should keep them out of school as well.

11:00 KING OF QUEENS
Another vehicle for a comedian I hadn’t heard of before watching Paramount, Kevin James. I hated this when I first saw it but it has grown on me. Kevin’s wife is played by Leah Remini, who played one of Carla’s daughters in Cheers. Kevin James is a good friend of Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond. They often appear in each other’s shows, as themselves.

11:30 CAROLINE IN THE CITY (repeated at 16:00)
Not the favourite of many people, this nevertheless has produced some memorable, classic episodes.
#Typical line from the series : A dialogue between Caroline and Annie is overhead by Richard, who hates Annie;
Caroline: “And ...”
Annie : “And what?”
Caroline: “I sense a big but coming.”
Richard: “Don't keep her waiting Annie, turn around.”

12 noon EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND (repeated at 2.30am)
My personal favourite, this hasn’t yet appeared on terrestrial British TV, but has been running in the States since 1996. Raymond is played by the comic Ray Romano. I hadn’t heard of him before I saw this series, but he is excellent. Apparently he is most famous on the New York club scene. He has an unusual appearance – being both attractive yet comical-looking. The series is about him and his family – his wife, children, parents and brother. His parents live across the street from them and constantly interfere in their lives. The show is successful because of the larger-than-life characters and superb comic timing. Ray developed the idea for the sitcom based on his real relations, which is rather scary! His wife is played by Patricia Heaton, who I recognised from the film Beethoven (she played the yuppie). She was also in SpaceJam.
#Typical line from the series : An episode where Ray’s mother had got into healthfoods. She made mock turkey out of tofu. The expressions on the faces of the family was pure comic genius. Ray’s brother managed to swallow his piece of ‘turkey’, then said, slowly, “Well, I never thought I would say this, but can someone pass the broccoli?”

12:30 MARRIED WITH CHILDREN (repeated irritatingly frequently)
Loathe this one.

13:00 GRACE UNDER FIRE
Sassy Southern woman with attitude. Can be OK.
#Typical line from the series : "Take off that tie. People don't wear ties in this house unless there s a casket in the next room."

13:30 ROSEANNE
Doesn’t need an introduction. Has stood the test of time.

14:00 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN (also 7pm)
4 aliens on a mission to learn about humans and earth (the 3rd rock from the sun). Some truly hilarious episodes, some dreary ones.

14:30 JUST SHOOT ME
Another one that hasn’t appeared on terrestrial channels, this is an excellent show. It stars George Segal, backed up by some brilliant actors who have marvellous characters to get their teeth into.

15:00 Moonlighting repeat

5:30pm SEINFELD (also 11:30pm on Sundays only)
I didn’t understand the Seinfeld phenomenon until it came onto Paramount. I got into the habit of watching it daily while I prepared the evening meal (we have a television in the kitchen, I don’t chop vegetables on the living room carpet). It is excellent. Jerry Seinfeld, the comedian, plays himself, with a great supporting cast of just 3 characters – Elaine (his ex-girlfriend), George (a friend who still lives with his parents and has trouble getting a date) and his odd neighbour Kramer (who practically lives in Jerry’s apartment, eating most of his food). Jerry used to actually live at the address he is supposed to live at on the show.
#Typical line from the series : Jerry’s standup – “What is it with police? They arrest a guy, beat him with batons, kick him in the ribs, THEN make sure he doesn’t bang his head getting in the car!”
I also loved the time Jerry answered the phone to a tele-sales person : “I’m sorry, I’m tied up right now. Give me your home number and I’ll call you back later. Oh, you don’t like people calling you at home? Well, now you know how I feel.”
Another one was : George: “All these years I've really wanted the two of you (Jerry & Elaine) to get back together”
Elaine: “Well that's because you are an idiot George”

18:00 CHEERS (repeated just after midnight)
The Cheers series starred Ted Danson as Sam Malone. He had already made some movies (e.g. ‘Body Heat’), but this did his career even more good. The series ran for 11 years and was at the time the most successful television series ever. It spurned that other classic comedy, Frasier. Frasier was a character in the Cheers series. It surprised many people that his was the character to pick for a spin-off. However, a combinaton of outstanding writing and talented co-stars helped make the new series a phenomenal success. Shelley Long played the love interest, Diane, for 5 of the 11-year run.
Cheers Trivia : How many children did Carla have? Lots. She had 4 at the beginning of the run, but acquired 4 more by the end (one more to her ex, Nick Tortelli, one to a visiting doctor and twins with ice-skater Eddie Le Bec).
#Typical line from the series : When Carla said, “I think I’m going to be pregnant for the rest of my life, just like it says in my yearbook.”

18:30 Roseanne repeated

19:00 3rd Rock From The Sun repeated

19:30 DHARMA & GREG
I have done a whole op on Dharma & Greg (Hot Monkey Love). Briefly, it is about an extremely mis-matched couple and the conflict between them and their odd parents.
#Typical line from the series : ?

20:00 Married With Children repeated

20:30 Just Shoot Me repeated

21:00 SPIN CITY
The hit comedy about the major and his staff. This series starred Michael J Fox originally, but Charlie Sheen took over when Michael’s Parkinsons Disease got too bad for him to continue. Paramount are showing the very first series (starring Michael) again at the moment. Michael was superior though. He is Canadian and adopted the J in his name, his middle name was originally Andrew (Michael A Fox doesn’t sound quite the same though). He was an early hit on television as Alex, the brainy kid in Family Ties, which he appeared in for 7 years.

21:30 BECKER
Starring Ted Danson, this is a comedy that grows on you, if you give it chance. He plays a crusty, opinionated doctor (he should write on Ciao).

22:00 FRASIER
This show can’t be mentioned without a word about it’s co-creator and executive producer, David Angell. David and his wife Lynne died on the first aeroplane that flew into the World Trade Centre on 11th September 2001. He had, according to his friends and partners, “One of the sharpest comedy minds ever to write for television”. He worked on Cheers as well as Frasier. Frasier won 5 outstanding comedy Emmys in a row (a record).
Frasier has been running since 1992 and continues to scoop awards.
#Typical line from the series : Frasier, when Daphne accused men of using sex to get what they want: “How can men possibly use sex to get what they want? Sex IS what they want!”

23:00 SHOOT THE MESSENGER
A new game show created for Paramount, hosted by Bradley Walsh.

23:30 MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS
Needs no introduction. I never ‘got’ this first, second or third time round. I watched it last night, though, and actually managed a smile or two. Maybe it was the wine.

0:00 Cheers repeated

0:35 TAXI
One I didn’t watch first time round (it was on terrestrial television years ago), so the whole series was a treat for me.

1:05 Everybody Loves Raymond repeated

1:30 A Different World repeated

2:00 THE COSBY SHOW
When I first watched this it was as a teenager. Seeing it again as a parent gives it a whole new appeal.

2:30 WHO’S THE BOSS
The better, US version. Not bad.

These last two I have never been up late enough to watch, so can’t comment.
3:00 LINC’S

3:30 TAVARE TIME

In no way connected with this op, just as a bit of personal information for readers who have managed to get this far - I want to tell you that I have written this op as something of a celebration. Today I completed my first book. Not, please note, the first book I have ever started, but the first book I have ever finished. The secret of getting to the last fabulous page (what a FEELING!)? It is the same as J R Tolkein's (I think it is the only thing we have in common) - I wrote it for my daughter. Apparently he wrote The Hobbit for his children. They sat at the dinner table every night listening to the latest chapter.

So why did this work for me this time, when I have lots of half-finished books strewn around the house? Simple. “Have you written any more of the book today Mummy?” “What happens next?” (I have no idea!) “Does he die?” (only if I'm in a really bad mood). The pressure of my daughter's inquisitive and eager mind gave me the impetus to work through and finish the book - long after I had lost interest in it.

So if you want to write a book and haven't been able to get beyond the first couple of chapters, write it for someone else and tell them. You'll never hear the end of it!  

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