Hang Time (TV series)

Hang Time
Format	Sitcom
Created by	Mark Fink Troy Searer Robert Tarlow
Starring	(See entire cast list below)
Country of origin	USA
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	104 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Peter Engel
Running time	21 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC
Original run	September 9, 1995 – December 16, 2000

Hang Time is an American teen sitcom that aired from 1995–2000. It aired on Saturday mornings on NBC as part of the network's TNBC morning block. It was created by Troy Searer, Robert Tarlow, and Mark Fink. Producer Peter Engel took over Fink's duties at the start of Season 2 after Mark Fink decided to leave the show. The show was about a boys' high school basketball team, the Deering Tornadoes, with one of the players being a female at a fictional Indiana high school. The show lasted six seasons, during which the cast was changed almost in its entirety. Only two castmembers (Daniella Deutscher and Megan Parlen) stayed with the show throughout its entire run, similar to Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

Cast

• Daniella Deutscher as Julie Connor
• David Hanson as Chris Atwater (season 1)
• Chad Gabriel as Danny Mellon (seasons 1–3)
• Megan Parlen as Mary Beth Pepperton
• Hillary Tuck as Samantha Morgan (season 1)
• Christian Belnavis as Michael Maxwell (season 1)
• Robert Michael Ryan as Earl Hatfield (season 1)
• Reggie Theus as Coach Bill Fuller (seasons 1–3)
• Kevin Bell as Josh Sanders (season 2)
• Michael Sullivan as Vince D'Amata (seasons 2-3)
• Anthony Anderson as Teddy Broadis (seasons 2-3)
• Paige Peterson as Amy Wright (season 2)
• Adam Frost as Michael Manning (seasons 3-6)
• Amber Barretto as Kristy Ford (seasons 3-6)
• Mark Famiglietti as Nick Hammer (season 4, guest star season 5)
• Dick Butkus as Coach Mike Katowinski (seasons 4-6)
• Danso Gordon as Kenny 'Silk' Hayes (seasons 4-6)
• James Villani as Rico Bosco (season 4)
• Jay Hernandez as Antonio Lopez (seasons 5-6, recurring season 4)
• Phillip Glasser as Eugene Brown (seasons 5-6)

Guest appearances

Four NBA players appeared as guest stars in season 3. Damon Stoudamire in Season 3 Episode 8, Gary Payton in Season 3 Episode 9, Kobe Bryant in Season 3 Episode 11 and Shareef Abdur-Rahim in Season 3 Episode 14. Mitchell James "Mitch" Richmond appeared in Season 4 Episode 6.

• Dustin Diamond appeared as himself/Screech in season 6 Episode 6 "At The Movies." He also appeared in the Kobe Bryant episode, Season 3 Episode 11.

WNBA star Lisa Leslie has also appeared on the show in a guest appearance.

Scott Whyte appeared as Joey in the season 3 episode, "Fighting Words".

Episode list

Main article: List of Hang Time episodes

Character history and cast changes

Hang Time was best known for its notorious cast changes, a device similarly used in other TNBC sitcoms (e.g. Saved by the Bell: The New Class). The show originally started out with new transfer student Julie Connor trying out for the boys' varsity basketball team, much to the dismay of fellow team captain Chris Atwater and head cheerleader Mary Beth Pepperton. The other players on the team were Danny Mellon, Earl Hatfield and Michael Maxwell. The first season also introduced Bill Fuller as he adjusts to his job as coach of the Deering Tornadoes and getting used to the enthusiastic team manager Samantha 'Sam' Morgan.

However, NBC executives were not pleased with the first season (for reasons unknown) and the characters of Sam, Chris, Earl and Michael Maxwell did not return for Season 2. Although it was revealed that Sam was at school in Chicago and that Chris had gone to college, no mention was made of the remaining characters.

Season 2 brought in new characters Vince D'Amata, Teddy Broadis (Coach Fuller's god son), Josh Sanders and new cheerleader Amy Wright. Also, Mary Beth became the new team manager, the position previously held by Samantha last season.

More cast changes ensued for the show's third season. Josh and Amy were written out of the show and replaced with new try-out Michael Manning (famous for his catchphrase "Michael MANNING!!!") and Kristy Ford as a new, spunky cheerleader. The season finale showed Coach Fuller receiving a new job offer at Southern Florida University. The following season introduced the team's new coach Mike Katowinski and new team members Nick Hammer, Kenny 'Silk' Hayes and Rico Bosco replacing the departed Danny, Teddy and Vince. It was mentioned that Vince, Danny, and Teddy have moved away to go to college.

Season 5 introduced team member Eugene Brown, replacing Rico (who went on to pursue the school's wrestling team). Nick Hammer appeared in the season premiere as it was revealed that he was offered an out of state scholarship and he was leaving Deering. Also the character of Antonio Lopez, who was introduced the previous season, is also a new team member. The cast for the fifth season remained the same for Season 6.

Issues addressed

See also: Very special episode

Similar to Saved by the Bell: The New Class, the show dealt with many of the issues that everyday teens faced. During the series' run, the show has addressed issues of dating, drug and alcohol use, racism, sleep deprivation, a character dealing with HIV discrimination and other school-related issues.

International

• In Canada, the show was also shown on NBC - without simsubbing.
• In Australia, the show was shown on Seven Network.
• In the United Kingdom the show was shown on Channel 4 but more recently Trouble (TV).
• In the Czech Republic, the show was shown on TV Nova.
• In Estonia, the show was shown on Kanal 2.
• In the Philippines, the show was shown on Studio 23.
• In The South Korea, the show was shown on SBS.
• In [Republic of Ireland], the show was shown on [Network 2].

External links

• Jump The Shark - Hang Time
• Article: Changes to Hang Time in Season #2
• Hang Time at the Internet Movie Database
• Hang Time at TV.com