Ensemble sitcoms where only 1 or 2 actors are credited in the opening - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PhoenixAcres · 11-11-2018, 10:02 PM

Mary Tyler Moore Show (only Mary)
Bob Newhart Show (only Bob and Suzanne Pleshette)
Green Acres (only Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor)

stevea · 11-11-2018, 10:26 PM

Gomer Pyle USMC - only Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton

Home Improvement (early seasons) - only Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson (I think)

going way back - Our Miss Brooks - only Eve Arden

My Three Sons (seasons 1 - 5) - only Fred MacMurray and William Frawley (later William Demarest)

AMackII · 11-11-2018, 10:46 PM

The Odd Couple - Only Tony Randall & Jack Klugman

stevea · 11-12-2018, 12:45 AM

I think The Lucy Show credited only Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance in the early years, and Ball and Gale Gordon in the later years.

Sanford and Son credited only Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson.

Some of the ones we're mentioning probably wouldn't be considered ensemble casts, though.

IllinoisTVFan · 11-12-2018, 02:48 AM

The Andy Griffith Show

The Brady Bunch

This seems to be especially common in the 50's and 60's.

DJM77 · 11-12-2018, 06:52 AM

WKRP In Cincinnati

TV Guy · 11-12-2018, 11:05 PM

It was more common for the child actors to be relegated to the closing credits in the early days of television. Even Eight is Enough, which aired in the 1970s, originally only billed the parents and the actor playing the eldest son in the intro. It wasn’t until season 3 when the other seven actors were moved into the opening credits.

jehobden · 12-04-2018, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

WKRP In Cincinnati

WKRP finally added the full cast in the opening in Season 3. This was rare for MTM sitcoms, which usually only credited the star, except Bob Newhart where Suzanne Pleshette was also front-credited. Newhart did credit the full regular cast, but only with names, not pictures or scenes w/ the actors.

RetroGuy2000 · 12-04-2018, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

It was more common for the child actors to be relegated to the closing credits in the early days of television. Even Eight is Enough, which aired in the 1970s, originally only billed the parents and the actor playing the eldest son in the intro. It wasn’t until season 3 when the other seven actors were moved into the opening credits.

Yep. When the show originally aired, my family would always joke about how only the oldest son mattered to the parents on the show, based on those credits.

It was the same with The Waltons, as I recall. What was it about that era when only the oldest son mattered?

bgva · 12-04-2018, 02:53 AM

IIRC, most (if not all) of the MTM sitcoms of the 70s only billed the main actor/actress, with some crediting one supporting actor/actress. As jehobden noted, WKRP started crediting the full cast in season 3 (1980).

Not sure if you could count it as an ensemble comedy, but Buffalo Bill from the early-80s.

Lorimar Television · 12-14-2018, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

Home Improvement (early seasons) - only Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson (I think)

Nope they always had the full cast in the intro

Duster76 · 12-19-2018, 10:13 PM

Unintentionally, a confusion developed with the start of this thread, many of the shows mentioned are not ensemble shows.

The Odd Couple is about Felix and Oscar, Green Acres is about Oliver and Lisa. Remember just because there are other characters in a series doesn't make it an ensemble show. None of the series Lucy starred in come close to fitting the definition.
Gomer Pyle does not fit the definition.

Here's a working definition:

"There is no one protagonist. The plot and its narrative don't revolve around a single, "most important" main character. Instead, it shares a cast of characters with (almost) equal screentime and importance to the plot".

Facts of Life, yes, Golden Girls, yes, Maude, no! It's A Living, yes, Friends, yes, Our Miss Brooks, no! 30 Rock, yes, NewsRadio, yes, Dick Van Dyke Show, no!

11-11-2018, 10:02 PM	#1
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Ensemble sitcoms where only 1 or 2 actors are credited in the opening Mary Tyler Moore Show (only Mary) Bob Newhart Show (only Bob and Suzanne Pleshette) Green Acres (only Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor)

11-12-2018, 06:52 AM	#6
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,560	WKRP In Cincinnati
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri! Last edited by DJM77; 11-20-2018 at 07:29 PM.

11-11-2018, 10:26 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,494	Gomer Pyle USMC - only Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton Home Improvement (early seasons) - only Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson (I think) going way back - Our Miss Brooks - only Eve Arden My Three Sons (seasons 1 - 5) - only Fred MacMurray and William Frawley (later William Demarest)

11-11-2018, 10:46 PM	#3
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,214	The Odd Couple - Only Tony Randall & Jack Klugman

11-12-2018, 12:45 AM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,494	I think The Lucy Show credited only Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance in the early years, and Ball and Gale Gordon in the later years. Sanford and Son credited only Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson. Some of the ones we're mentioning probably wouldn't be considered ensemble casts, though.

11-12-2018, 02:48 AM	#5
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	The Andy Griffith Show The Brady Bunch This seems to be especially common in the 50's and 60's.

11-12-2018, 11:05 PM	#7
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	It was more common for the child actors to be relegated to the closing credits in the early days of television. Even Eight is Enough, which aired in the 1970s, originally only billed the parents and the actor playing the eldest son in the intro. It wasn’t until season 3 when the other seven actors were moved into the opening credits.

12-04-2018, 02:53 AM	#10
bgva Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 10, 2015 Location: VA Posts: 413	IIRC, most (if not all) of the MTM sitcoms of the 70s only billed the main actor/actress, with some crediting one supporting actor/actress. As jehobden noted, WKRP started crediting the full cast in season 3 (1980). Not sure if you could count it as an ensemble comedy, but Buffalo Bill from the early-80s.

12-19-2018, 10:13 PM	#12
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,644	Unintentionally, a confusion developed with the start of this thread, many of the shows mentioned are not ensemble shows. The Odd Couple is about Felix and Oscar, Green Acres is about Oliver and Lisa. Remember just because there are other characters in a series doesn't make it an ensemble show. None of the series Lucy starred in come close to fitting the definition. Gomer Pyle does not fit the definition. Here's a working definition: "There is no one protagonist. The plot and its narrative don't revolve around a single, "most important" main character. Instead, it shares a cast of characters with (almost) equal screentime and importance to the plot". Facts of Life, yes, Golden Girls, yes, Maude, no! It's A Living, yes, Friends, yes, Our Miss Brooks, no! 30 Rock, yes, NewsRadio, yes, Dick Van Dyke Show, no!