My Sister Sam

My Sister Sam
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Stephen Fischer
Written by	Lisa Albert; Dennis Danzinger; Diane English; Stephen Fischer; Karyl Miller; Danny Jacobson; Gary Murphy; Tom Palmer; Ellen Sandler; Ramona Schindelheim; Korby Siamis; Larry Strawther
Directed by	Peter Bonerz; Zane Buzby; Matthew Diamond; James Gardner; Ellen Gittelsohn; Barnet Kellman; Steve Zuckerman
Starring	Pam Dawber; Rebecca Schaeffer; Jenny O'Hara; Joel Brooks; David Naughton
Theme music composer	John Bettis; Steve Dorff
Opening theme	"Room Enough for Two" performed by Kim Carnes
Composer(s)	Steve Dorff
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	44 (12 unaired)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Diane English
Producer(s)	Danny Jacobson; Karyl Miller; Korby Siamis
Editor(s)	Dann Cahn; Tucker Wiard
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Pony Productions; Warner Bros. Television
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	October 6, 1986 –; April 12, 1988

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.

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.[1]

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.[2]

Cast

Pam Dawber as Samantha "Sam" Russell
Rebecca Schaeffer as Patricia "Patti" Russell
Joel Brooks as Jordan Dylan "J.D." Lucas
Jenny O'Hara as Dixie Randazzo
David Naughton as Jack Kincaid

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).

Production notes

The series was created by Stephen Fischer and was developed by Pam Dawber's production company, Pony Productions (in association with Warner Bros. Television).[2][3] Dawber and her Manager, Mimi Weber, spent three years searching for the most ideal television series project for their company to co-produce, but after screening several of them, Dawber had not found one that truly spoke to her. In the midst of this search, she and Weber produced a few TV movies under the Pony Productions nameplate, in which Dawber played lead roles.

By late 1985, Stephen Fischer and Diane English submitted their screenplay to Dawber and Weber, one centering on the life and times of a young photographer on the fast track who takes in her teenage sister, titled Taking the Town (based on the phrase "taking the town by storm"). At last, Dawber found a fulfilling script, and the creative team (she, Weber, Fischer and English) had the pilot successfully pitched to CBS. The network gave it a berth on its successful Monday night sitcom lineup for its 1986-87 fall schedule, originally as Taking the Town, with the title changing to My Sister Sam as summer pre-promotions ramped up.

The series was initially intended to be a starring vehicle for Dawber, who found success on television opposite Robin Williams in the ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy.[1] Dawber later said that she wanted the focus of the show to be on the cast as a whole, stating, "I am not a comedian. I'm a reactor to all the zany people who revolve around me."[4]

My Sister Sam was executive produced by Diane English and Mimi Weber and shot at The Burbank Studio.[4]

Theme song

The series' theme song, "Room Enough for Two", was written by Steve Dorff and John Bettis and performed by Kim Carnes.[5] Dorff won a BMI TV Music Award in 1987 for his work on the series.

Reception and cancellation

My Sister Sam premiered on October 6, 1986, scheduled between Kate & Allie and Newhart, both hit shows for CBS.[2] The series earned solid ratings and was ranked #21 by the end of its first season.[6] Due to its success, CBS renewed the series for a second season.[7] CBS then moved My Sister Sam to Saturday nights opposite The Facts of Life, which was a part of NBC's successful Saturday night comedy lineup.[8] By the end of October 1987, the show's audience had dwindled to one of the lowest on network TV ranking at #71.[6][9] The series was put on hiatus in November 1987 but remained in production while the network decided its fate.[10][11]

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.[12][13] 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.[14]

Episodes

Season 1 (1986–87)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	1	"Samantha Russell, Man Stealer"	Ellen Falcon	Gary Murphy & Larry Strawther	October 6, 1986 (1986-10-06)
2	2	"Patti's Party"	Ellen Falcon	Lisa Albert	October 20, 1986 (1986-10-20)
3	3	"Shooting Stars"	Ellen Falcon	Danny Jacobson	October 27, 1986 (1986-10-27)
4	4	"What Makes Samantha Run?"	Ellen Falcon	Tom Palmer	November 3, 1986 (1986-11-03)
5	5	"Roomies"	Ellen Falcon	Karyl Miller & Korby Slamis	November 10, 1986 (1986-11-10)
6	6	"The Aunt Elsie Crisis: Day One"	Ellen Falcon	Karyl Miller	November 24, 1986 (1986-11-24)
7	7	"Teacher's Pet"	Ellen Falcon	Lisa Albert	December 1, 1986 (1986-12-01)
8	8	"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"	Ellen Falcon	Ramona Schindelheim	December 8, 1986 (1986-12-08)
9	9	"Babes in the Woods"	Tom Cherones	Tom Palmer	December 15, 1986 (1986-12-15)
10	10	"Jingle Bell Rock Bottom"	Ellen Falcon	Diane English	December 22, 1986 (1986-12-22)
11	11	"Club Dread"	Ellen Falcon	Larry Strawther & Gary Murphy	January 12, 1987 (1987-01-12)
12	12	"Anything for a Friend"	Ellen Falcon	Danny Jacobson	January 19, 1987 (1987-01-19)
13	13	"Almost In-Laws"	Ellen Falcon	Lisa Albert	January 26, 1987 (1987-01-26)
14	14	"Go Crazy"	Ellen Falcon	Danny Jacobson	February 2, 1987 (1987-02-02)
15	15	"Another Saturday Night"	Ellen Falcon	Korby Siamis	February 9, 1987 (1987-02-09)
16	16	"Family Business"	Ellen Falcon	Karyl Miller	February 16, 1987 (1987-02-16)
17	17	"Making Up Is Hard to Do"	Ellen Falcon	Dennis Danziger & Ellen Sandler	February 23, 1987 (1987-02-23)
18	18	"If You Knew Susie"	Ellen Falcon	Tom Palmer	March 2, 1987 (1987-03-02)
19	19	"Sister, Can You Spare a Fifty?"	Ellen Falcon	Teleplay by: Korby Siamis Story by: Karyl Miller & Korby Siamis	March 16, 1987 (1987-03-16)
20	20	"Exposed"	Ellen Falcon	Teleplay by: Diane English Story by: Ramona Schindelheim & Diane English	April 6, 1987 (1987-04-06)
21	21	"Campaign Contributions"	Ellen Falcon	Ramona Schindelheim	April 13, 1987 (1987-04-13)
22	22	"Fog Bound"	Burt Metcalfe	Teleplay by: Susan Beavers & Stephen Fischer Story by: Stephen Fischer	May 4, 1987 (1987-05-04)

Season 2 (1987–88)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
23	1	"Goodbye, Steve"	TBA	TBA	October 3, 1987 (1987-10-03)
24	2	"And They Said It Would Never Last"	TBA	TBA	October 10, 1987 (1987-10-10)
25	3	"Deep Throat"	TBA	TBA	October 17, 1987 (1987-10-17)
26	4	"Never a Bridesmaid"	TBA	TBA	October 24, 1987 (1987-10-24)
27	5	"Who's Afraid of Virginia Schultz?"	TBA	TBA	October 31, 1987 (1987-10-31)
28	6	"Drive, She Said"	TBA	TBA	November 7, 1987 (1987-11-07)
29	7	"Revenge of the Russell Sisters"	TBA	TBA	March 15, 1988 (1988-03-15)
30	8	"Play It Again, Sam"	TBA	TBA	March 22, 1988 (1988-03-22)
31	9	"Ol' Green Eyes Is Back"	TBA	TBA	March 29, 1988 (1988-03-29)
32	10	"Life, Death and Admiral Andy"	TBA	TBA	April 12, 1988 (1988-04-12)
33	11	"It's My Party and I'll Kill If I Want To"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
34	12	"Good Neighbor Sam"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
35	13	"Patti, I Have a Feeling We're Not in Oregon Anymore"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
36	14	"The Art of Love"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
37	15	"Camp Burnout"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
38	16	"Grand Prize"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
39	17	"Walk a While in My Shoes"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
40	18	"The Wrong Stuff"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
41	19	"The Thrill of Agony, the Victory of Defeat"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
42	20	"The Good, the Bad and the Auditor"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
43	21	"Earthquake"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (Unaired)
44	22	"A Day in the Lives"	TBA	TBA	Unaired (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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Home media

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.

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for *My Sister Sam*
Year	Award	Result	Category	Recipient
1987	BMI Film & TV Awards	Won	BMI TV Music Award	Steve Dorff
1987	Primetime Emmy Award	Nominated	Outstanding Costume Design for a Series	Bill Hargate (costume designer) (For episode "Jingle Bell Rock Bottom")

gollark: Maybe right-to-repair will become a more mainstream political thing, but it probably won't actually *happen* in most countries, despite definitely doing more for environment wotsits than plastic straw bans and whatnot.

gollark: I mean, I think a decent amount of the money is wasted.

gollark: Targeted adverts, though?

gollark: Adverts are currently evil and will get increasingly bad as people begin to realize that advertising may not actually be as effective as is hoped and the adtech industry tries to squeeze blood out of a stone by frantically scooping up more and more data.

gollark: More predictions: people will continue to try and get rid of plastic straws and do other such entirely ineffective stuff because environment.

References

Holston, Noel (October 20, 1986). "'My Sister Sam' needs a stronger focus". The Vindicator. p. 21. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
O'Connor, John J. (October 20, 1986). "TV Review; 'My Sister Sam', Series Starring Pam Dawber". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
Terry, Clifford (June 6, 1987). "Dawber Moves From Mindy To TV Mogul". Sun Sentinel. pp. 11–D.
Buck, Jerry. "Pam Dawber reacts to people". Kentucky New Era. p. 4B. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (1995). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (6 ed.). Ballantine Books. pp. 718. ISBN 978-0-345-39736-2.
"Saturday, Time Slot Slams 'Sam' Into 71st Place, Down 50 Notches". Akron Beacon Journal. October 22, 1987. p. C6.
"'Once a Hero' Is No Hero to ABC - Axed". The Fresno Bee. October 9, 1987.
Donlon, Brian (October 8, 1987). [/USAToday/access/55749523.html?dids=55749523:55749523&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+08%2C+1987&author=Brian+Donlon&pub=USA+TODAY+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=%60Max+Headroom%27+could+be+headed+for+the+ax&pqatl=google "'Max Headroom' could be headed for the ax"] Check |url= value (help). USA Today. p. 3D. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
"'My Sister Sam' Loses Views In Move To Saturday Lineup". Akron Beacon Journal. October 14, 1987. p. D6.
"CBS Adding Two New Series and Returning An Oldie In New Shuffle". The State. December 8, 1987. p. 6B.
Gliatto, Tom (March 8, 1988). "CBS Shuffle". USA Today. p. 1D.
O'Malley, Kathy; Gratteau, Hanke (March 22, 1988). [/chicagotribune/access/24674324.html?dids=24674324:24674324&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+22%2C+1988&author=Kathy+O%27Malley+and+Hanke+Gratteau&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=GOPERS+ON+THE+GO+.+.+.&pqatl=google "Gopers On the Go"] Check |url= value (help). The Chicago Tribune. p. 14. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
Matt, Roush (March 9, 1988). "'Molly Dodd' gets a date; 'Night Court' will move". USA Today. p. 3D.
"CBS Pulls Plug on '&' Shows". Miami Hearld. May 27, 1988. p. 1B.
"Short-lived series find new life on cable". Austin American-Statesman. May 5, 1991. p. 8.
Johnson, Beth (July 14, 1995). "A Fan's Fatal Obsession". ew.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
Tom, Green (August 16, 1989). "'Sister Sam' cast honors slain co-star". USA Today. p. 1D.

External links

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[holston-1] Holston, Noel (October 20, 1986). "'My Sister Sam' needs a stronger focus". The Vindicator. p. 21. Retrieved May 11, 2013.

[nytimes-2] O'Connor, John J. (October 20, 1986). "TV Review; 'My Sister Sam', Series Starring Pam Dawber". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2013.

[3] Terry, Clifford (June 6, 1987). "Dawber Moves From Mindy To TV Mogul". Sun Sentinel. pp. 11–D.

[buck-4] Buck, Jerry. "Pam Dawber reacts to people". Kentucky New Era. p. 4B. Retrieved May 11, 2013.

[5] Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (1995). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (6 ed.). Ballantine Books. pp. 718. ISBN 978-0-345-39736-2.

[akron-6] "Saturday, Time Slot Slams 'Sam' Into 71st Place, Down 50 Notches". Akron Beacon Journal. October 22, 1987. p. C6.

[7] "'Once a Hero' Is No Hero to ABC - Axed". The Fresno Bee. October 9, 1987.

[8] Donlon, Brian (October 8, 1987). [/USAToday/access/55749523.html?dids=55749523:55749523&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+08%2C+1987&author=Brian+Donlon&pub=USA+TODAY+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=%60Max+Headroom%27+could+be+headed+for+the+ax&pqatl=google "'Max Headroom' could be headed for the ax"] Check |url= value (help). USA Today. p. 3D. Retrieved May 11, 2013.

[9] "'My Sister Sam' Loses Views In Move To Saturday Lineup". Akron Beacon Journal. October 14, 1987. p. D6.

[10] "CBS Adding Two New Series and Returning An Oldie In New Shuffle". The State. December 8, 1987. p. 6B.

[11] Gliatto, Tom (March 8, 1988). "CBS Shuffle". USA Today. p. 1D.

[12] O'Malley, Kathy; Gratteau, Hanke (March 22, 1988). [/chicagotribune/access/24674324.html?dids=24674324:24674324&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+22%2C+1988&author=Kathy+O%27Malley+and+Hanke+Gratteau&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=GOPERS+ON+THE+GO+.+.+.&pqatl=google "Gopers On the Go"] Check |url= value (help). The Chicago Tribune. p. 14. Retrieved May 20, 2013.

[13] Matt, Roush (March 9, 1988). "'Molly Dodd' gets a date; 'Night Court' will move". USA Today. p. 3D.

[14] "CBS Pulls Plug on '&' Shows". Miami Hearld. May 27, 1988. p. 1B.

[15] "Short-lived series find new life on cable". Austin American-Statesman. May 5, 1991. p. 8.

[16] Johnson, Beth (July 14, 1995). "A Fan's Fatal Obsession". ew.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.

[17] Tom, Green (August 16, 1989). "'Sister Sam' cast honors slain co-star". USA Today. p. 1D.