7.3 /10 2 Votes
8.1/10 TV Created by Stephen Fischer Final episode date 12 April 1988 | 7.1/10 IMDb Genre Situation comedy First episode date 6 October 1986 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Written by Lisa AlbertDennis DanzingerDiane EnglishStephen FischerKaryl MillerDanny JacobsonGary MurphyTom PalmerEllen SandlerRamona SchindelheimKorby SiamisLarry Strawther Directed by Peter BonerzZane BuzbyMatthew DiamondJames GardnerEllen GittelsohnBarnet KellmanSteve Zuckerman Starring Pam DawberRebecca SchaefferJenny O'HaraJoel BrooksDavid Naughton Theme music composer John BettisSteve Dorff Cast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My Sister Sam is an American sitcom starring Pam Dawber and Rebecca Schaeffer that aired on CBS from October 6, 1986 to April 12, 1988.
Contents
- My sister sam 1986 1988 open and theme song
- Synopsis
- Cast
- Guest stars
- Reception and cancellation
- Syndication
- Rebecca Schaeffers death
- DVD releases
- References
My sister sam 1986 1988 open and theme song
Synopsis
The sitcom follows the lives of a 29-year-old San Francisco freelance photographer named Samantha "Sam" Russell (Pam Dawber) and her 16-year-old sister Patti (Rebecca Schaeffer). Sam's life is turned upside down when Patti, who has been living with the sisters' Aunt Elsie and Uncle Bob in rural Oregon after the death of the girls' parents, shows up on Sam's door step and announces that she is going to live with Sam.
The supporting cast includes Sam's neurotic agent Jordan Dylan "J.D." Lucas (Joel Brooks), Sam's sarcastic assistant Dixie Randazzo (Jenny O'Hara) and Jack Kincaid (David Naughton), Sam's womanizing photojournalist neighbor who frequently stops by Sam's apartment.
Cast
Guest stars
Notable guest stars in the series included Scott Bakula (episode 1.7), JoAnn Willette (episode 1.18), Robert Pastorelli (episode 2.11, who was hired by Diane English for Murphy Brown soon after), Rob Estes (episode 2.18), Ed Marinaro (episode 2.19), and Cristine Rose (episode 2.20).
Reception and cancellation
My Sister Sam premiered on October 6, 1986 at 8:30 EST, scheduled between Kate & Allie and Newhart, both hit shows for CBS. The series earned solid ratings and was ranked #21 by the end of its first season. Due to its success, CBS renewed the series for a second season. CBS then moved My Sister Sam to Saturday nights at 8:30 EST opposite The Facts of Life, which was a part of NBC's successful Saturday night comedy lineup. By the end of October 1987, the show's audience had dwindled to one of the lowest on network TV ranking at #71. The series was put on hiatus in November 1987 but remained in production while the network decided its fate.
CBS brought the series back to the air on March 15, 1988 due in part to letters from fans and the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike which affected the production of other television series for CBS and the other two major television networks (NBC, ABC). CBS chose to move My Sister Sam yet again to Tuesday nights. By April, ratings had failed to improve and the series was again pulled from the lineup. CBS announced the series' cancellation in May 1988, leaving 12 episodes of the second season unaired.
Syndication
After the series was canceled by CBS, the USA Network picked up syndication rights and eventually aired all 44 episodes, including those never shown on CBS.
Rebecca Schaeffer's death
On July 18, 1989, more than a year after My Sister Sam had been canceled, series cast member Rebecca Schaeffer was fatally shot in the doorway of her Los Angeles apartment building by Robert John Bardo, an obsessed fan who had been stalking her for three years. In August 1989, Pam Dawber, Joel Brooks, David Naughton and Jenny O'Hara reunited to film a public service announcement for the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence in Schaeffer's honor.
DVD releases
The show's pilot episode appeared on the bonus disc Warner Bros. 50 Years of TV Commemorative: Volume 2. It was packaged with some releases of Murphy Brown Season 1 DVD set. No other episodes of the series have been released on DVD.