What happened to the Pam Spin-off?

[Joshua1991]

In the episode "Goin' for Mine", it was a backdoor pilot for a supposed Pam spin-off that never went anywhere else on FOX. So what happened for the reason of the spin-off not making the cut? Also what happened to Pam's job at the record company was it ever mentioned after the episode?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Joshua1991

In the episode "Goin' for Mine", it was a backdoor pilot for a supposed Pam spin-off that never went anywhere else on FOX. So what happened for the reason of the spin-off not making the cut? Also what happened to Pam's job at the record company was it ever mentioned after the episode?

The spinoff was never picked up when presented to Fox so it never happened

[GSU2004]

I think the political climate at Fox had a lot to do with it. This was time when they were trying to veer out of urban oriented-focused programming. Remember this is when they tried to 'white-en up New York Undercover' for that terrible last season. There was a campaign to save Living Single. It was supposed to be a midseason replacement but brought back for 13 episodes in the fall season. My theory is that Pam's spinoff couldn't bring them the crossover appeal. This was when Fox was gunning at NBC in the ratings.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by GSU2004

I think the political climate at Fox had a lot to do with it. This was time when they were trying to veer out of urban oriented-focused programming. Remember this is when they tried to 'white-en up New York Undercover' for that terrible last season. There was a campaign to save Living Single. It was supposed to be a midseason replacement but brought back for 13 episodes in the fall season. My theory is that Pam's spinoff couldn't bring them the crossover appeal. This was when Fox was gunning at NBC in the ratings.

She wasn't all that strong of a character to carry a show on her own anyway

[ThomasE]

I think that she could have held her own. She proved it on Martin.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I think that she could have held her own. She proved it on Martin.

That would have been a good show for a TV One original but there was no TV one at the time

[ThomasE]

This is true. It could have been a TV One show although I think it could have had a chance on FOX as there were other Afro Amer shows on FOX at the time.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

This is true. It could have been a TV One show although I think it could have had a chance on FOX as there were other Afro Amer shows on FOX at the time.

Yeah I think the only one left was Living Single and that was cancelled in December of 98

[EccentricGenius]

I watched "Goin' For Mine" last night on MTV2 for the first time in a really long time, and I was surprised at how brilliant it was. I'd known, for many years, that the episode was a backdoor pilot for a proposed spinoff featuring Tichina Arnold's character, Pam James, eyeing a vacant A&R position at a record label called Keep It Real Records (after being fired from Gina's advertising agency due to downsizing). It's unfortunate that the episode never evolved into a weekly series...it would've been a terrific series.

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by GSU2004

I think the political climate at Fox had a lot to do with it. This was time when they were trying to veer out of urban oriented-focused programming. Remember this is when they tried to 'white-en up New York Undercover' for that terrible last season. There was a campaign to save Living Single. It was supposed to be a midseason replacement but brought back for 13 episodes in the fall season. My theory is that Pam's spinoff couldn't bring them the crossover appeal. This was when Fox was gunning at NBC in the ratings.

I agree, GSU2004. Fox was attempting to revamp its image by cancelling a lot (if not all) of its African-American and urban-themed programming such as "Martin," "Living Single," and "New York Undercover." During the 1996-97 season, Fox's Thursday night schedule (the aforementioned "Martin," "Living Single," and "New York Undercover") was indeed giving NBC's competing "Must See TV" lineup ("Friends," "The Single Guy," "Seinfeld," "Suddenly Susan," and "ER") a run for its money.

Fox debuted two new urban-oriented series during the 1997-98 season, "Between Brothers" and "413 Hope Street." Though "Between Brothers" returned for an additional four-episode run on UPN in early 1999 (a little more than a year after it aired on Fox), neither "Brothers" nor "413 Hope Street" lasted a full season; in fact, "New York Undercover" returned in January 1998 to replace the critically acclaimed but unsuccessful "413 Hope Street," which lasted ten episodes ("New York Undercover" went on hiatus after its third season in 1997 to accommodate the premiere of "413 Hope Street"). "New York Undercover" (for its fourth [and final] season, which was heavily preempted by Fox) lasted only twelve more episodes before Fox cancelled it in the summer of 1998 (leaving one episode, apparently the series finale, unaired). "Living Single" was also cancelled by Fox in early 1998, after a five-season run (its hour-long finale aired on New Years Day).

You also have to remember that "Ally McBeal" premiered on Fox during the 1997-98 fall season; "Ally McBeal" quickly became a critics' darling and by the following spring, the series had become a pop-culture phenomenon. Perhaps the success of "Ally McBeal" may have played a hand in Fox abandoning all African-American and urban-oriented series in favor of more adult (and upscale) programs such as the aforementioned "Ally McBeal."

It was unfortunate that Fox declined to pick up "Goin' For Mine" for an entry on its schedule lineup during the 1997-98 season. I watched "Goin' For Mine" last night on MTV2 for the first time in a really long time, and I was impressed. It was a wonderful episode, and Tichina Arnold delivered a delightful performance.

It's also unfortunate that Fox turned its back on African-American viewers during this period; African-Americans helped transform Fox from simply "the fourth network" into the mainstream network that it is today. According to Chuck D's wonderful book "Fight The Power," Fox was able to obtain the broadcast rights to NFL games away from CBS (CBS regained broadcast rights in 1998) because of the network's popularity that was built from African-American viewers. A few of Fox's mainstay programs like "The Simpsons," "In Living Color," "Married...With Children," "Cops," and "America's Most Wanted" were heavily watched by African-Americans.

A similar situation (pertaining to Fox reducing the number of African-American and/or urban-oriented programs airing on its schedule) arose in 1994, when Fox cancelled "Roc," "The Sinbad Show," the groundbreaking sketch comedy/variety series "In Living Color," and the critically acclaimed dramedy "South Central."

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by EccentricGenius

I agree, GSU2004. Fox was attempting to revamp its image by cancelling a lot (if not all) of its African-American and urban-themed programming such as "Martin," "Living Single," and "New York Undercover." During the 1996-97 season, Fox's Thursday night schedule (the aforementioned "Martin," "Living Single," and "New York Undercover") was indeed giving NBC's competing "Must See TV" lineup ("Friends," "The Single Guy," "Seinfeld," "Suddenly Susan," and "ER") a run for its money.

Fox debuted two new urban-oriented series during the 1997-98 season, "Between Brothers" and "413 Hope Street." Though "Between Brothers" returned for an additional four-episode run on UPN in early 1999 (a little more than a year after it aired on Fox), neither "Brothers" nor "413 Hope Street" lasted a full season; in fact, "New York Undercover" returned in January 1998 to replace the critically acclaimed but unsuccessful "413 Hope Street," which lasted ten episodes ("New York Undercover" went on hiatus after its third season in 1997 to accommodate the premiere of "413 Hope Street"). "New York Undercover" (for its fourth [and final] season, which was heavily preempted by Fox) lasted only twelve more episodes before Fox cancelled it in the summer of 1998 (leaving one episode, apparently the series finale, unaired). "Living Single" was also cancelled by Fox in early 1998, after a five-season run. (its hour-long finale aired on New Years Day).

You also have to remember that "Ally McBeal" premiered on Fox during the 1997-98 fall season; "Ally McBeal" quickly became a critics' darling and by the following spring, the series had been a pop-culture phenomenon. Perhaps the success of "Ally McBeal" may have played a hand in Fox abandoning all African-American and urban-oriented series in favor of more adult (and upscale) programs such as the aforementioned "Ally McBeal."

It was unfortunate that Fox declined to pick up "Goin' For Mine" for an entry on its schedule lineup during the 1997-98 season. I watched "Goin' For Mine" last night on MTV2 for the first time in a really long time, and I was impressed. It was a wonderful episode, and Tichina Arnold delivered a delightful performance.

It's also unfortunate that Fox turned its back on African-American viewers during this period; African-Americans helped transform Fox from simply "the fourth network" into the mainstream network that is today. According to Chuck D's wonderful book "Fight The Power," Fox was able to obtain the broadcast rights to NFL games away from CBS (CBS regained broadcast rights in 1998) because of the network's popularity that was built from African-American viewers. A few of Fox's mainstay programs like "The Simpsons," "In Living Color," "Married...With Children," "Cops," and "America's Most Wanted" were heavily watched by African-Americans.

A similar situation (pertaining to Fox reducing the number of African-American and/or urban-oriented programs airing on its schedule) arose in 1994, when Fox cancelled "Roc," "The Sinbad Show," the groundbreaking sketch comedy/variety series "In Living Color," and the critically acclaimed dramedy "South Central."

ROC is on my DVD list too

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

ROC is on my DVD list too

TVFactFan, I'd love to see "Roc" on DVD someday, too...along with "South Central."

"Roc" was critically acclaimed throughout its three-season run; it even started airing live (similar to NBC's long-running "Saturday Night Live") beginning in season two. The sitcom reverted to its pre-taped format for its third and final season.

I still "Roc" occasionally on Bounce TV from time to time...what an underrated series that was. Had the programming execs at Fox been more sympathetic, it would've lasted as long as "Family Matters" (nine seasons) or "The Jeffersons" (eleven seasons). Oh, well...can't win for losing.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by EccentricGenius

TVFactFan, I'd love to see "Roc" on DVD someday, too...along with "South Central."

"Roc" was critically acclaimed throughout its three-season run; it even started airing live (similar to NBC's long-running "Saturday Night Live") beginning in season two. The sitcom reverted to its pre-taped format for its third and final season.

I still "Roc" occasionally on Bounce TV from time to time...what an underrated series that was. Had the programming execs at Fox been more sympathetic, it would've lasted as long as "Family Matters" (nine seasons) or "The Jeffersons" (eleven seasons). Oh, well...can't win for losing.

I used to watch it on BET in college

[EccentricGenius]

I used to watch "Roc" not only during its original run on Fox (1991-94), but also in syndication and on cable networks like BET and TV Land in the late '90s and early 2000s.

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yeah I think the only one left was Living Single and that was cancelled in December of 98

The hour-long series finale of "Living Single" aired on New Years Day 1998, TVFactFan...not December 1998.