Phenom (TV series)
| Phenom | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Dick Blasucci Marc Flanagan Sam Simon |
| Written by | Adam Chase Beverly Donofrio Marc Flanagan Fred Garver Danny Kallis Lawrence Meyers Frank Mula David Richardson Steve Sanders Sam Simon Kathy Ann Stumpe Ira Ungerleider Jon Vitti |
| Directed by | Art Dielhenn Danny Kallis Will Mackenzie Ed. Weinberger |
| Starring | Angela Goethals Ashley Johnson Jennifer Lien Judith Light Todd Louiso Sara Rue William Devane Beverley Mitchell |
| Theme music composer | Carly Simon |
| Opening theme | "The Promise and the Prize" performed by Carly Simon |
| Composer(s) | Michael Andreas Stephen Graziano Scott Harper Fred Mollin Tom Scott |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Dick Blasucci James L. Brooks Danny Kallis |
| Producer(s) | Hudson Hickman Richard Sakai Kathy Ann Stumpe |
| Cinematography | Jo Mayer |
| Running time | 22 - 24 min |
| Production company(s) | Columbia Pictures Television ELP Communications Gracie Films |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | September 14, 1993 – May 10, 1994 |
Phenom is an American sitcom about a tennis wunderkind that aired on ABC from September 14, 1993 to May 10, 1994. The series stars Angela Goethals, Judith Light, and William Devane.
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[edit] Synopsis
Fifteen-year-old Angela Doolan (Goethals) has the potential to be a sports superstar but worries about losing her normality and severing her family ties. Angela's father has deserted the family to rediscover his youth and dally with younger women, leaving her mother Dianne (Light) to raise her children (including older son Brian and youngest daughter Mary Margaret) and try to keep a lid on her bitterness. Added to the fray is Angela's obsessive tennis coach Lou (Devane), who is determined to bring out the champion in Angela regardless of the cost to her growth as a person.
Phenom was placed in the ideal time slot of Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c, between Full House and Roseanne. The series initially did well in the ratings but failed to sustain strong numbers; ABC pulled the plug on the show after one season.
[edit] Cast
- Angela Goethals — Angela Doolan
- Judith Light — Dianne Doolan
- Ashley Johnson— Mary Margaret Doolan
- Todd Louiso — Brian Doolan
- William Devane — Lou Del La Rosa
- Sara Rue — Monica
- Jennifer Lien — Roanne
- Beverly Mitchell — Clara
- Debra Jo Rupp — Sister Mary Incarnata
[edit] Production notes
The series was created by Dick Blasucci, Marc Flanagan, and Sam Simon. Dick Blasucci also served as executive producer alongside Emmy Award-winner James L. Brooks and Danny Kallis.
Despite being one of the show's main stars, William Devane did not receive on-screen credit in any of the episodes. Devane was originally slated to get second billing in the cast, between Judith Light and Angela Goethals. He reportedly fought to have top billing, or at least shared top billing with Light, in response to his Knots Landing notoriety. Both the producers and ABC refused to move Devane's billing, feeling that Judith Light having sole first billing would draw in more of the female 18-49 demographic, which are attractive to advertisers, and would bring back ABC viewers who had made Light's previous series, Who's the Boss?, a success. Devane ultimately told the producers that if he couldn't get a billing change, that he would rather not be credited at all.
Phenom's theme song, "The Promise and the Prize", was written and performed by Carly Simon.
[edit] Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | Pilot | September 14, 1993 |
| 1-2 | "Angela's First Kiss" | September 14, 1993 |
| 1-3 | "Secrets" | September 28, 1993 |
| 1-4 | "Angela Gets Crushed" | October 5, 1993 |
| 1-5 | "Daddy's Home" | October 12, 1993 |
| 1-6 | "Game Face" | October 19, 1993 |
| 1-7 | "Angela's Wild Ride" | October 26, 1993 |
| 1-8 | "Answered Prayers" | November 2, 1993 |
| 1-9 | "Crazy for You" | November 9, 1993 |
| 1-10 | "There's No Place Like Home" | November 16, 1993 |
| 1-11 | "A Lou-Daughter Picnic" | November 30, 1993 |
| 1-12 | "A Very Doolan Christmas" | December 14, 1993 |
| 1-13 | "Brian and the Tennis Star" | January 4, 1994 |
| 1-14 | "My Little Tony" | January 11, 1994 |
| 1-15 | "Men are Dogs" | February 1, 1994 |
| 1-16 | "Spring Break-Out" | February 8, 1994 |
| 1-17 | "What's in a Vow?" | February 15, 1994 |
| 1-18 | "Dianne's Young Buck" | February 22, 1994 |
| 1-19 | "Angela's Fifteen Minutes" | March 15, 1994 |
| 1-20 | "It's a Wonderful Mid-Life Crisis" | April 5, 1994 |
| 1-21 | "Just a Family of Doolans Sittin' Around Talkin'" | May 3, 1994 |
| 1-22 | "Strictly Lunchroom" | May 10, 1994 |
[edit] Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Youth Actress Leading Role in a Television Series | Angela Goethals |
| Best New Television Series |
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| Won | Best Actress Under Ten in a Television Series or Show | Ashley Johnson (Tied with Ashley Peldon for Shameful Secrets) |
[edit] External links
- Phenom at the Internet Movie Database
- Phenom at TV.com
- Phenom at epguides.com
