Molly Ringwald starred in "Townies", a short-lived sitcom on ABC. 15 episodes were taped, but only 10 aired. Molly, Jenna Elfman, Bill Burr, and Lauren Graham starred as 20-somethings in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was like Friends, but stuck in a backwater.

Here is the pilot episode (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QElL8GI3_5w).

I grew up in that very backwater lol...I didn’t see them at the time but Molly Ringwald and the rest of the cast did hang out in Gloucester that summer. I thought the show was funny. Others did not. After a few episodes the newspaper ran an article with residents’ reactions. Most did not like the show’s putdowns toward the town, i.e. “everything smells like fish.” I watched all of the episodes a few years back. I thought it was well done and it had a great cast. Should have at least gone on a whole season.

Yup, I remember promos/previews for this!

I wished I had watched it, but I didn't. Maybe I'll check it out sometime on the Internets (lol).

Wow great find!

I grew up in that very backwater lol...

Wow! Cool connection, SM!


I didn’t see them at the time but Molly Ringwald and the rest of the cast did hang out in Gloucester that summer.

I guess for research into their roles?


I thought the show was funny. Others did not. After a few episodes the newspaper ran an article with residents’ reactions. Most did not like the show’s putdowns toward the town, i.e. “everything smells like fish.” I watched all of the episodes a few years back. I thought it was well done and it had a great cast. Should have at least gone on a whole season.

Yeah, I hate it when the network pulls a show before all of the episodes have even aired. Seems like a waste of money and a disservice to any fans the show may have attracted.

Yup, I remember promos/previews for this!

I wished I had watched it, but I didn't. Maybe I'll check it out sometime on the Internets (lol).

I didn't watch it either. *guilty look*

At the time, I was working a lot of evening shifts.

Gloucester, the home of Gortons fish products found in your local supermarket's freezers. Gloucester's air is much cleaner than it was 50-100 years ago.

Wow great find!

Yeah, I didn't expect to find the whole pilot. Apparently, all of the aired episodes were on YouTube at one time, as I found a "Townies" playlist, but all of the episodes except the pilot were gone.

Gloucester, the home of Gortons fish products found in your local supermarket's freezers. Gloucester's air is much cleaner than it was 50-100 years ago.

I did not know this. Next time I eat some Gortons fish products, I will think of Molly Ringwald and Townies!

Now, where's that Fish emoji?! Or at least the Julie Anne Haddock emoji!? :lol:

Yeah, I hate it when the network pulls a show before all of the episodes have even aired. Seems like a waste of money and a disservice to any fans the show may have attracted.
You and Charlotte Rae both! (and me) I'm sure you remember her talking about that in her book, upon the quick demise of "HOT L Baltimore".

At the time, I was working a lot of evening shifts.
I was in school, just occupied by other TV, lol---namely, "Friends". I was a HUGE "Friends" fan back in the day. I mean, I still love the show, but I was ALL about it when it was a "current show", lol.

Now, where's that fish emoji?! Or at least the Julie Anne Haddock emoji!? :lol:

[gets Molly's little guitar and sings]"Trust the Gorton's fishermaaannnn!"[/sings]


-

You and Charlotte Rae both! (and me) I'm sure you remember her talking about that in her book, upon the quick demise of "HOT L Baltimore".

I won't read Charlotte's book until this summer, when I have more time. But I'm looking forward to it.


I was in school, just occupied by other TV, lol---namely, "Friends". I was a HUGE "Friends" fan back in the day. I mean, I still love the show, but I was ALL about it when it was a "current show", lol.

I didn't watch Friends until the second season, but quickly became a fan, too, and began recording all of the episodes on DVR. The writing was so clever, and it's held up surprisingly well all these years. The last few years were less hilarious than Seasons 1-6(ish), after which the bakery burned to the ground and the girls started a tacky Spencer's rip-off store, with... wait... Wrong show. But still it's true, about the decline in quality. Still, it was pretty good even in its later years. I can still hear the infamous bagpipe scene in my head, with Phoebe screeching along, and Rachel/Jennifer unable to hold back her laughter! :lol:



[gets Molly's little guitar and sings]"Trust the Gorton's fishermaaannnn!"[/sings]
-

Ahahahahaha! I thought of the same jingle! :lol:

And thanks so much for rectifying the lack of a fish/haddock emoji!

Yeah, I didn't expect to find the whole pilot. Apparently, all of the aired episodes were on YouTube at one time, as I found a "Townies" playlist, but all of the episodes except the pilot were gone.
Aww that sucks :(



I didn't watch Friends until the second season, but quickly became a fan, too, and began recording all of the episodes on DVR. The writing was so clever, and it's held up surprisingly well all these years. The last few years were less hilarious than Seasons 1-6(ish), after which the bakery burned to the ground and the girls started a tacky Spencer's rip-off store, with... wait... Wrong show. But still it's true, about the decline in quality. Still, it was pretty good even in its later years. I can still hear the infamous bagpipe scene in my head, with Phoebe screeching along, and Rachel/Jennifer unable to hold back her laughter! :lol:



:brent

I won't read Charlotte's book until this summer, when I have more time. But I'm looking forward to it.
WHAT?? All this time you have (passively) given the impression you've read or even OWN Charlotte's book, and you've never read it?? What have you been waiting for?? She was MRS. GARRETT! Unlike Lisa, her book was about her career, with some juicy facts of "Facts"!

Okay, time to rectify, Mister.

Retro this summer IF NOT SOONER ---> :read:


I didn't watch Friends until the second season, but quickly became a fan, too, and began recording all of the episodes on DVR.
Uh, what? Hold on sir, you are not that young. ;) Was DVR even invented in 1995? lol I recorded mine on a VCR, Sonny! :grr:


The writing was so clever, and it's held up surprisingly well all these years.
Of course it has. Why wouldn't it? :confused: You just can't beat terrific writing with terrific casts (see "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "The Golden Girls").



The last few years were less hilarious than Seasons 1-6(ish), after which the bakery burned to the ground and the girls started a tacky Spencer's rip-off store, with... wait... Wrong show. But still it's true, about the decline in quality. Still, it was pretty good even in its later years.
Yeah, I've got seasons 1-8 on DVD, haven't felt the need to go beyond.


I can still hear the infamous bagpipe scene in my head, with Phoebe screeching along, and Rachel/Jennifer unable to hold back her laughter! :lol:
YES! As Lorsie would say: "Classic Pheebs! :rofl:"


And thanks so much for rectifying the lack of a fish/haddock emoji!
My work for the night has been done! :lol:

I won't read Charlotte's book until this summer, when I have more time. But I'm looking forward to it.
Nice, let me know any interesting tidbits!
WHAT?? All this time you have (passively) given the impression you've read or even OWN Charlotte's book, and you've never read it?? What have you been waiting for?? She was MRS. GARRETT! Unlike Lisa, her book was about her career, with some juicy facts of "Facts"!

Okay, time to rectify, Mister.

Retro this summer IF NOT SOONER ---> :read:



Uh, what? Hold on sir, you are not that young. ;) Was DVR even invented in 1995? lol I recorded mine on a VCR, Sonny! :grr:



Of course it has. Why wouldn't it? :confused: You just can't beat terrific writing with terrific casts (see "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "The Golden Girls").




Yeah, I've got seasons 1-8 on DVD, haven't felt the need to go beyond.



YES! As Lorsie would say: "Classic Pheebs! :rofl:"



Well some writing, as great as it is, can still become out of date. The fat Monica jokes seem more and more sad as years go on. Not to mention the shots of the twin towers throughout seasons 1-7 make the show instantly dated.

:lol: Classic Pheebs indeed!

Nice, let me know any interesting tidbits!
You too??

Lorsie, you've got homework! There are lots of interesting tidbits in there!!

Lorsie ---> :read:


Well some writing, as great as it is, can still become out of date.
Yeah, but the greats are greats for a reason. :) And F'll probably be in reruns for, like, ever, lol.


:lol: Classic Pheebs indeed!
:lol:

And Ross is really funny there too!

OMG have you guys watched F bloopers on YouTube?? Lisa Kudrow has the most infectious laugh you've ever heard! :rofl:

WHAT?? All this time you have (passively) given the impression you've read or even OWN Charlotte's book, and you've never read it?? What have you been waiting for?? She was MRS. GARRETT! Unlike Lisa, her book was about her career, with some juicy facts of "Facts"!

Okay, time to rectify, Mister.

Retro this summer IF NOT SOONER ---> :read:

No, you have misunderstood: I read Kim's book and Geri's book. I even read part of Molly's book, but it was too horrible to endure, even as a fan of the Lost Girls. I would read a Julie Anne, Julie Pie, Felice, Mindy, or Nancy book, but Molly's book was... just not to my taste.

I have not read Charlotte's book. I will read it this summer, when things slow down at work.


Uh, what? Hold on sir, you are not that young. ;) Was DVR even invented in 1995? lol I recorded mine on a VCR, Sonny! :grr:
I was a charter Dish Network subscriber, in 1996, as the over-the-air antenna at my house would only receive a very poor-quality NBC signal, and nothing else. Dish gave me the option of 40 additional channels, including Nick, Nick at Nite, TV Land, etc. And in 1999, they introduced the ability to pause, play back, rewind, and record shows through their DVR system. I stopped watching commercials altogether, and haven't watched commercials for many years.


Yeah, I've got seasons 1-8 on DVD, haven't felt the need to go beyond.


Yep, same here!

OMG have you guys watched F bloopers on YouTube?? Lisa Kudrow has the most infectious laugh you've ever heard! :rofl:

I agree! Yes, I love the blooper reels.

No, you have misunderstood: I read Kim's book and Geri's book. I even read part of Molly's book
Aha! I have not "misunderstood"! :nonono:

Well, perhaps you could say I "mis-inferred". :lol:

See, I knew you read those books (and just a bit of Molly's), but when we've brought up Charlotte's book in various threads you never explicitly stated, to my recollection*, that you hadn't yet read her book.

*(that statement is just in case you did say so, as I honestly just don't recall. That's "the Mr. Gideon clause" saving myself :lol:)


I was a charter Dish Network subscriber, in 1996, as the over-the-air antenna at my house would only receive a very poor-quality NBC signal, and nothing else. Dish gave me the option of 40 additional channels, including Nick, Nick at Nite, TV Land, etc. And in 1999, they introduced the ability to pause, play back, rewind, and record shows through their DVR system. I stopped watching commercials altogether, and haven't watched commercials for many years.
Hmm, so that would be season 5 or 6 of "Friends", in 1999 (depending which part of the year).

I also "don't do" commercials anymore. :snob:

Thank you DVR! :clap:

No, you have misunderstood: I read Kim's book and Geri's book. I even read part of Molly's book, but it was too horrible to endure, even as a fan of the Lost Girls. I would read a Julie Anne, Julie Pie, Felice, Mindy, or Nancy book, but Molly's book was... just not to my taste.


Really? Why's that? I think you might have mentioned before but I forget.

Really? Why's that? I think you might have mentioned before but I forget.
It's basically too "frou-frou" for his taste...all about relaxing on your pillow in your chateau room in France while your assistant goes out to get some specialty cheese that you're waiting on, or something like that, lol (that was like a year ago when he said that).

Picture Jo trying to read a Blair book and you'll get it. :lol:

:snob: :rolleyes:

I flipped through it at a bookstore once, wishing there were some FOL goodies in there.

It's basically too "frou-frou" for his taste...all about relaxing on your pillow in your chateau room in France while your assistant goes out to get some specialty cheese that you're waiting on, or something like that, lol (that was like a year ago when he said that).

Picture Jo trying to read a Blair book and you'll get it. :lol:

:snob: :rolleyes:

I flipped through it at a bookstore once, wishing there were some FOL goodies in there.

Ah, but does she teach you where to get a decent Escargots au Beurre Persillé? :lol:

Ah, but does she teach you where to get a decent Escargots au Beurre Persillé? :lol:
LOL! What??? :lol:

Aha! I have not "misunderstood"! :nonono:

Well, perhaps you could say I "mis-inferred". :lol:

See, I knew you read those books (and just a bit of Molly's), but when we've brought up Charlotte's book in various threads you never explicitly stated, to my recollection*, that you hadn't yet read her book.

*(that statement is just in case you did say so, as I honestly just don't recall. That's "the Mr. Gideon clause" saving myself :lol:)


I definitely told you that I hadn't read it, because I asked you what was in it! :lol:



Hmm, so that would be season 5 or 6 of "Friends", in 1999 (depending which part of the year).

I also "don't do" commercials anymore. :snob:

Thank you DVR! :clap:

YEP! :clap

LOL! What??? :lol:
Snails..... :lol:

It's basically too "frou-frou" for his taste...all about relaxing on your pillow in your chateau room in France while your assistant goes out to get some specialty cheese that you're waiting on, or something like that, lol (that was like a year ago when he said that).

Picture Jo trying to read a Blair book and you'll get it. :lol:

That's it exactly.

Lorimar, it was like reading a book written by Blair! I'm not kidding!

Every sentence was seemingly crafted to sound like it came from Blair. I could even "hear" it being spoken by a particularly full of herself Blair, trying to impress "the girls" with stories of fabulous European wealth.

That works just fine for about a minute on FOL, but is utterly dreadful as a 100-200 page book.

I couldn't believe Molly would ever write that stuff. In her interviews, she seems much more down to earth. But she did.

That's it exactly.

Lorimar, it was like reading a book written by Blair! I'm not kidding!

Every sentence was seemingly crafted to sound like it came from Blair. I could even "hear" it being spoken by a particularly full of herself Blair, trying to impress "the girls" with stories of fabulous European wealth.

That works just fine for about a minute on FOL, but is utterly dreadful as a 100-200 page book.

I couldn't believe Molly would ever write that stuff. In her interviews, she seems much more down to earth. But she did.

:lol: Maybe she just came back from shooting movies in Paris

:lol: Maybe she just came back from shooting movies in Paris

I don't doubt that for a moment.

I don't doubt that for a moment.

Heck maybe she wrote it IN France.

Heck maybe she wrote it IN France.

...while at that cute little cafe on the Champs-Elysees at Christmas, watching craftsmen demonstrate the time-honored tradition of making a wine cozy, and her personal assistant was picking up the Bree from the local gourmet cheese shop next to a fancy little bistro down the road from where she shot an avant garde film in the 1990s with a director who later invited her to his vineyard on Cape Cod, while they sipped Champagne in his solarium and talked about how important it is to own a few designer scarves and how difficult it is to find a good personal assistant, and then she mentions she refuses to wear t-shirts because they're just so pedestrian, when who did they run into but her Tai Chi instructor, etc, etc. I have never read any book in my life that felt more pretentious, vapid and shallow than this one, and I know I'm not the only one (https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Pretty-Back-Friendship-Lipstick-ebook/product-reviews/B003GYEGXY/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar).

Snails..... :lol:

:lol:

But where did you get that?? Did you Google something funny to put here? It's not mentioned in FOL, is it?

Or are you a French mime with a beret and a baguette in your bicycle basket really living in France? :rofl:

(just a little stereotyping fun there, haha)

:lol: Maybe she just came back from shooting movies in Paris

I don't doubt that for a moment.

"I'll show that Al Burton I'm good enough for Paris too, that scrawny nerfbag!"

I guess for research into their roles?

And to take pictures for the opening credits. If you watch them, all of those scenes are on location. I don’t know any stories about local people meeting though. But I assume a few did.


Yeah, I hate it when the network pulls a show before all of the episodes have even aired. Seems like a waste of money and a disservice to any fans the show may have attracted.[/QUOTE]

It was so common to see something go off the air back then, so I was that surprised. I remember assuming That even though I liked FRIENDS it would be canceled after a few weeks. Townies was definitely trying to ride the FRIENDS wave. I do think it was funny and I got a kick of seeing my hometown as the setting of a sitcom, but alas, I may have been the only one..!

:lol:

But where did you get that?? Did you Google something funny to put here? It's not mentioned in FOL, is it?

Or are you a French mime with a beret and a baguette in your bicycle basket really living in France? :rofl:

(just a little stereotyping fun there, haha)

I Googled! :lol:

And to take pictures for the opening credits. If you watch them, all of those scenes are on location. I don’t know any stories about local people meeting though. But I assume a few did.

That's cool; I can just imagine some huge FOL fan meeting Molly on the docks of Gloucester, telling her how much s/he loved seeing her on FOL...

So what made you move from Gloucester to NY?


It was so common to see something go off the air back then, so I was that surprised. I remember assuming That even though I liked FRIENDS it would be canceled after a few weeks. Townies was definitely trying to ride the FRIENDS wave. I do think it was funny and I got a kick of seeing my hometown as the setting of a sitcom, but alas, I may have been the only one..!

I will be looking for more episodes, and will share them here if I find them.

I was just really interested in moving there after college and having the experience.

The funny thing is I had only a dim concept of what Facts of Life was that year. I did t find reruns u til a year later and it was a while before I found out Molly Ringwald has been on it!

Oh, wow!

Oh my God, I loved this show when it first came on! Thanks so much for posting the pilot! I wish they had given it more of a chance!

Oh my God, I loved this show when it first came on! Thanks so much for posting the pilot! I wish they had given it more of a chance!

Yeah, I feel a bit guilty that I never tried it out. They definitely had a talented cast: all big names, now.

So I watched the episode from the link and I liked the nostalgia of it. I didn't like it as much as I remembered liking it when it first came on, but like I said before they didn't give it much of a chance. It could have been good even if it only ran for a couple of seasons.