Dabney Coleman's sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-22-2022, 06:38 AM

Which one would you say is the best? Dabney Coleman starred in two comedies on NBC: Buffalo Bill and Madman of the People and one for ABC: The Slap Maxwell Story. In each show, he played a selfish, egotistical misanthrope.

Another comedy on Fox, Drexell’s Class, tried to soften Coleman’s character slightly by making him a teacher (who was only teaching to work off his sentence for tax evasion), but he still hated his coworkers. All of these shows were short-lived, mostly because Coleman’s characters were irredeemably unlikable.

TJ · 04-24-2022, 05:52 PM

Buffalo Bill is easily his best. They had a great cast. The series received 11 Emmy Award nominations, including two for Coleman for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. It was canceled too early. It's the only one of his sitcoms that was released on DVD.

I remember TV Land airing The Slap Maxwell Story. You forgot to list Courting Alex, which aired on CBS in 2006.

I liked him in WarGames and Cloak & Dagger. He's just a solid character actor.

He seems very likable off-screen. I watched a good documentary on him a few years ago. It's on Tubi.

Not Such a Bad Guy: Conversations with Dabney Coleman
https://tubitv.com/movies/514455/not...dabney-coleman

stevea · 04-24-2022, 07:30 PM

Great show, Buffalo Bill. I need to dig out that set and re-watch.

Although ratings rule, it's too bad it was cancelled so soon.

TJ · 05-27-2022, 11:35 PM

Dabney Coleman turned down the lead role on Eisenhower & Lutz, which went to Scott Bakula. He thought the character was too nice. It's no wonder why he didn't play any likable sitcom characters. He did The Slap Maxwell Story instead.

https://jacksonupperco.com/tag/eisenhower-lutz/

Edison · 05-28-2022, 02:02 AM

Ah, still miss that SOB..um..Sweet Old "Bill".

TMC · 04-10-2026, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Poor Dabney Coleman! He couldn't headline a hit TV series if his immortal soul depended on it!

04-22-2022, 06:38 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Dabney Coleman's sitcoms Which one would you say is the best? Dabney Coleman starred in two comedies on NBC: Buffalo Bill and Madman of the People and one for ABC: The Slap Maxwell Story. In each show, he played a selfish, egotistical misanthrope. Another comedy on Fox, Drexell’s Class, tried to soften Coleman’s character slightly by making him a teacher (who was only teaching to work off his sentence for tax evasion), but he still hated his coworkers. All of these shows were short-lived, mostly because Coleman’s characters were irredeemably unlikable.

04-24-2022, 05:52 PM	#2
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,648	Buffalo Bill is easily his best. They had a great cast. The series received 11 Emmy Award nominations, including two for Coleman for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. It was canceled too early. It's the only one of his sitcoms that was released on DVD. I remember TV Land airing The Slap Maxwell Story. You forgot to list Courting Alex, which aired on CBS in 2006. I liked him in WarGames and Cloak & Dagger. He's just a solid character actor. He seems very likable off-screen. I watched a good documentary on him a few years ago. It's on Tubi. Not Such a Bad Guy: Conversations with Dabney Coleman https://tubitv.com/movies/514455/not...dabney-coleman
	Last edited by TJ; 04-30-2022 at 11:54 PM.

04-24-2022, 07:30 PM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,168	Great show, Buffalo Bill. I need to dig out that set and re-watch. Although ratings rule, it's too bad it was cancelled so soon.

05-27-2022, 11:35 PM	#4
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,648	Dabney Coleman turned down the lead role on Eisenhower & Lutz, which went to Scott Bakula. He thought the character was too nice. It's no wonder why he didn't play any likable sitcom characters. He did The Slap Maxwell Story instead. https://jacksonupperco.com/tag/eisenhower-lutz/

05-28-2022, 02:02 AM	#5
Edison Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 01, 2006 Posts: 2,430	Ah, still miss that SOB..um..Sweet Old "Bill".