Co-Ed Fever: Difference between revisions

*Co-Ed Fever*
Co-Ed Fever
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Martin Ransohoff; Michael Elias; Frank Shaw
Directed by	Marc Daniels
Starring	David Keith; Heather Thomas; Alexa Kenin; Cathryn O'Neil; Tacey Phillips; Jillian Kesner
Theme music composer	Alan Bergman; Marilyn Bergman; Henry Mancini
Opening theme	"Dear Mom and Dad"
Composer	Henry Mancini
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6 (5 unaired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Martin Ransohoff
Producer	Frank Shaw
Running time	22–24 minutes
Production company	Filmways
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	February 4, 1979

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Co-Ed Fever is an American sitcom that aired on CBS in 1979. The series attempted to capitalize on the success of the motion picture National Lampoon's Animal House. It was the third of three "frat house" comedy series to air in early 1979 (the others were ABC's Delta House and NBC's Brothers and Sisters). After CBS aired the first episode of Co-Ed Fever as a "special preview" on February 4, 1979, the airing's low ratings and viewer complaints caused the network to cancel it before it ever aired in its planned Monday-night time slot.

Co-Ed Fever ranked number 32 on TV Guide's 50 Worst Shows of All Time list.^[1]

Synopsis

The series is set in Brewster House, a dormitory on the campus of Baxter College, a formerly all-female college that has just started to admit male students.^[2] Co-Ed Fever stars Heather Thomas (as Sandi), Alexa Kenin (Maria a.k.a. "Mousie"), Cathryn O'Neil (Elizabeth), Tacey Phillips (Hope), and Jillian Kesner (Melba) as residents of Brewster House, who are joined by David Keith (Tucker Davis), Christopher S. Nelson (Doug), and Michael Pasternak (Gobo). Jane Rose plays the "spaced-out" housemother Mrs. Selby and Hamilton Camp plays the role of Mr. Peabody.

The episode "Pepperoni Passion" was aired as a "special preview" at 10:30 p.m. EST on February 4, 1979, immediately after the airing of the movie Rocky. However, Co-Ed Fever was canceled in the period between the airing and the scheduled premiere date of February 19, the result of low ratings, viewer complaints and censorship issues because of content (a problem that also affected its rival shows). CBS scheduled another new sitcom, Billy, in its time slot. Six episodes were completed, but only "Pepperoni Passion" was broadcast in the United States; however, all six were aired in Canada (on BCTV in Vancouver) in a late-afternoon weekend time slot. The Brewster House set was later reused as the girls' dormitory during the first season of The Facts of Life, which premiered during the summer of 1979.

Episodes

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"Pepperoni Passion"	February 4, 1979 (1979-02-04)
Trouble ensues when an all-girls college goes co-ed. Mousie pines for Tuck, who's interested in Melba, who just isn't interested.
2	"Pilot"	Unaired
3	"Disco Tuck"	Unaired
4	"Double Exposure"	Unaired
5	"Mid-Term Panic"	Unaired
6	"Goodbye, Mrs. Selby"	Unaired

Critical response

In a contemporary review for the Boston Phoenix, critic Larry Simonberg wrote "don't even bother to wonder what decade [the show] is supposed to be taking place," that "this show is supposed to be about sex, but sex [...] is not anything to be worried about," and that "it demonstrates [...] contempt for the way people actually behave. It has a false heart."^[3] A review of the show in TV Guide described it as a "lame farce."^[4] Critic Alec Donaldson wrote that "college dorms always make for fun times, but not in this show. It was more flop than fever," and "this show unfortunately flunked."^[5]

References

^ TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-7607-5634-8.
^ (12 January 1979). "College fun big success in Hollywood". Montreal Gazette. United Press International.
^ Simonberg, Larry (February 27, 1979). "Electric Eye - Higher education and the lowest of comedy". Internet Archive. The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ "Co-ed Fever". TV Guide. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ Donaldson, Alec. "Flops, Failures and Funny Moments: The 70s Shows That We'd Rather Forget". Microsoft Start. Microsoft. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

External links

Co-Ed Fever at IMDb
Sitcoms online listing for Co-Ed Fever, including pictures and cast list
YouTube video showing series promo and first few minutes of pilot

[1] TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-7607-5634-8.

[13weeks-2] (12 January 1979). "College fun big success in Hollywood". Montreal Gazette. United Press International.

[3] Simonberg, Larry (February 27, 1979). "Electric Eye - Higher education and the lowest of comedy". Internet Archive. The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

[4] "Co-ed Fever". TV Guide. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

[5] Donaldson, Alec. "Flops, Failures and Funny Moments: The 70s Shows That We'd Rather Forget". Microsoft Start. Microsoft. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|American sitcom}}
+{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date = October 2019}}
 {{Infobox television
- | show_name           = Co-Ed Fever
+| image                = Co-ed-fever-made-cbs.jpg
- | image               = Co-ed-fever-made-cbs.jpg
+| caption              =
- | caption             =
+| genre                = [[Sitcom]]
- | genre               = [[Sitcom]]
+| creator              = Martin Ransohoff<br>Michael Elias<br>Frank Shaw
- | creator             = Martin Ransohoff<br>Michael Elias<br>Frank Shaw
+| director             = [[Marc Daniels]]
+| starring             = [[David L. Keith|David Keith]]<br>[[Heather Thomas]]<br>[[Alexa Kenin]]<br>Cathryn O'Neil<br>Tacey Phillips<br>[[Jillian Kesner]]
- | director            = [[Marc Daniels]]
+| theme_music_composer = [[Alan Bergman]]<br>[[Marilyn Bergman]]<br>[[Henry Mancini]]
- | starring            = [[David Keith]]<br>[[Heather Thomas]]<br>[[Alexa Kenin]]<br>Cathryn O'Neil<br>Tacey Phillips<br>[[Jillian Kesner]]
+| opentheme            = "Dear Mom and Dad"
- | theme_music_composer= [[Alan Bergman]]<br>[[Marilyn Bergman]]<br>[[Henry Mancini]]
- | opentheme           = "Dear Mom and Dad"
+| composer             = Henry Mancini
+| executive_producer   = [[Martin Ransohoff]]
- | composer            = Henry Mancini
+| producer             = Frank Shaw
- | executive_producer  = [[Martin Ransohoff]]
- | producer            = Frank Shaw
+| company              = [[Filmways]]
- | studio                 = [[Filmways]]
+| runtime              = 22&ndash;24 minutes
- |distributor           =  [[MGM Television]] (current)
+| country              = United States
- | runtime             = 22&ndash;24 minutes
+| channel              = [[CBS]]
- | country             = United States
+| first_aired          = {{Start date|1979|2|4}}
- | channel             = [[CBS]]
+| num_episodes         = 6 (5 unaired)
- | audio_format        = [[Monaural]]
+| num_seasons          = 1
- | first_aired         = {{Start date|1979|2|4}}
+| list_episodes        = #Episodes
- | num_episodes        = 6 (5 unaired)
 }}
-'''''Co-Ed Fever''''' was an American sitcom that aired on [[CBS]] in 1979. The series attempted to capitalize on the success of the motion picture ''[[National Lampoon's Animal House]]''. It was the third of three "frat house" comedy series to air in early 1979 (the others were [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Delta House]]'' and [[NBC]]'s ''[[Brothers and Sisters (1979 TV series)|Brothers and Sisters]]''). CBS cancelled ''Co-Ed Fever'' [[List of television series canceled after one episode|after only one episode]], and all three series were off the air by the end of April 1979. The series was so low rated, it never made it to its regular time slot, Monday night, instead having aired as a "special preview" the night before.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=Tim|last2=Marsh|first2=Earle|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books|isbn=0-345-45542-8|pages=233}}</ref><ref name="co-edexpires">(11 February 1979). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fi5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KE8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6785,1427557&dq= "Co-Ed Fever" Expires], ''Bonham Daily Favorite'' (UPI story)</ref>
+'''''Co-Ed Fever''''' is an American sitcom that aired on [[CBS]] in 1979. The series attempted to capitalize on the success of the motion picture ''[[National Lampoon's Animal House]]''. It was the third of three "frat house" comedy series to air in early 1979 (the others were [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Delta House]]'' and [[NBC]]'s ''[[Brothers and Sisters (1979 TV series)|Brothers and Sisters]]''). After CBS aired the first episode of ''Co-Ed Fever'' as a "special preview" on February 4, 1979, the airing's low ratings and viewer complaints caused the network to [[List of television series canceled after one episode|cancel]] it before it ever aired in its planned Monday-night time slot.
-In 2002, ''Co-Ed Fever'' ranked number 32 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s 50 Worst Shows of All Time list.<ref>{{cite book|title=TV Guide Guide to TV|year=2004|publisher=Barnes and Noble|isbn=0-7607-5634-1|pages=228}}</ref>
+''Co-Ed Fever'' ranked number 32 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s 50 Worst Shows of All Time list.<ref>{{cite book| title=TV Guide Guide to TV| year=2004| publisher=Barnes and Noble| isbn=978-0-7607-5634-8| page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780760756348/page/228 228]| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780760756348/page/228}}</ref>
 ==Synopsis==
-The series was set in Brewster House, a [[dormitory]] on the campus of Baxter College, a formerly [[women's college|all-female college]] that had just started to [[mixed-sex education|admit male students]].<ref name="13weeks">(12 January 1979). [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z08xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yaEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5737,1272808&dq= College fun big success in Hollywood], ''Montreal Gazette'' (UPI story)</ref> ''Co-Ed Fever'' starred [[Heather Thomas]] (as Sandi), [[Alexa Kenin]] (Maria ''a.k.a.'' "Mousie"), Cathryn O'Neil (Elizabeth), Tacey Phillips (Hope), and Jillian Kesner (Melba) as residents of Brewster House, who are joined by [[David Keith]] (Tucker Davis), Christopher S. Nelson (Doug), and [[Michael Pasternak]] (Gobo). [[Jane Rose]] played the "spaced-out" housemother Mrs. Selby; [[Hamilton Camp]] was Mr. Peabody.
+The series is set in Brewster House, a [[dormitory]] on the campus of Baxter College, a formerly [[women's college|all-female college]] that has just started to [[mixed-sex education|admit male students]].<ref name="13weeks">(12 January 1979). "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z08xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yaEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5737,1272808&dq= College fun big success in Hollywood]". ''[[Montreal Gazette]]''. [[United Press International]].</ref> ''Co-Ed Fever'' stars [[Heather Thomas]] (as Sandi), [[Alexa Kenin]] (Maria ''a.k.a.'' "Mousie"), Cathryn O'Neil (Elizabeth), Tacey Phillips (Hope), and Jillian Kesner (Melba) as residents of Brewster House, who are joined by [[David L. Keith|David Keith]] (Tucker Davis), Christopher S. Nelson (Doug), and Michael Pasternak (Gobo). [[Jane Rose]] plays the "spaced-out" housemother Mrs. Selby and [[Hamilton Camp]] plays the role of Mr. Peabody.
-The episode "Pepperoni Passion" was aired as a "special preview" at 10:30 pm (ET) on February 4, immediately after the airing of the movie ''[[Rocky]]''; however, the series was cancelled in the interim between this airing and the scheduled premiere date (February 19). Six episodes were completed, but only "Pepperoni Passion" was broadcast in the United States; however, all six were aired in Canada (on [[CHAN-TV|BCTV]] in [[Vancouver]]) in a late-afternoon weekend timeslot. The Brewster House "set" was later reused as the girls' dormitory during the first season of ''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'' which premiered during the summer of 1979.
+The episode "Pepperoni Passion" was aired as a "special preview" at 10:30&nbsp;p.m. EST on February 4, 1979, immediately after the airing of the movie ''[[Rocky]]''. However, ''Co-Ed Fever'' was canceled in the period between the airing and the scheduled premiere date of February 19, the result of low ratings, viewer complaints and censorship issues because of content (a problem that also affected its rival shows). CBS scheduled another new sitcom, ''[[Billy (1979 TV series)|Billy]]'', in its time slot. Six episodes were completed, but only "Pepperoni Passion" was broadcast in the United States; however, all six were aired in Canada (on [[CHAN-TV|BCTV]] in [[Vancouver]]) in a late-afternoon weekend time slot. The Brewster House set was later reused as the girls' dormitory during the first season of ''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'', which premiered during the summer of 1979.
-Another new sitcom, ''[[Billy (1979 TV series)|Billy]]'', was scheduled on CBS in ''Co-Ed Fever's'' regular timeslot, instead. By airing once, ''Co-Ed Fever'' at least fared better than ''[[Mr. Dugan]]'', another sitcom that CBS planned to air during the spring of 1979; the [[Norman Lear]]-produced comedy about a black congressman never aired at all, due to complaints from real black congressmen.
 ==Episodes==
+{{Episode table |total_width=70 |background=#1A6610 |overall=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=
-{{Episode table
-|total_width=63
-|background=#FFD700
-|overall=
-|title=
-|airdate=
-|episodes=
 {{Episode list
@@ Line 46: / Line 40: @@
 | Title = Pepperoni Passion
 | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1979|2|4}}
-| ShortSummary = Trouble comes in with the boys when a girls' school goes co-ed. In the opener, Mousie pines for Tuck, who's interested in Melba, who just isn't interested.
+| ShortSummary = Trouble ensues when an all-girls college goes co-ed. Mousie pines for Tuck, who's interested in Melba, who just isn't interested.
-| LineColor = FFD700
+| LineColor = 1A6610
 }}
 {{Episode list
@@ Line 54: / Line 48: @@
 | OriginalAirDate = Unaired
 | ShortSummary =
-| LineColor = FFD700
+| LineColor = 1A6610
 }}
 {{Episode list
@@ Line 61: / Line 55: @@
 | OriginalAirDate = Unaired
 | ShortSummary =
-| LineColor = FFD700
+| LineColor = 1A6610
 }}
 {{Episode list
@@ Line 68: / Line 62: @@
 | OriginalAirDate = Unaired
 | ShortSummary =
-| LineColor = FFD700
+| LineColor = 1A6610
 }}
 {{Episode list
@@ Line 75: / Line 69: @@
 | OriginalAirDate = Unaired
 | ShortSummary =
-| LineColor = FFD700
+| LineColor = 1A6610
 }}
 {{Episode list
@@ Line 82: / Line 76: @@
 | OriginalAirDate = Unaired
 | ShortSummary =
-| LineColor = FFD700
+| LineColor = 1A6610
 }}
 }}
+==Critical response==
+In a contemporary review for the ''[[Boston Phoenix]]'', critic Larry Simonberg wrote "don't even bother to wonder what decade [the show] is supposed to be taking place," that "this show is supposed to be about sex, but sex [...] is not anything to be worried about," and that "it demonstrates [...] contempt for the way people actually behave. It has a false heart."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simonberg |first1=Larry |title=Electric Eye - Higher education and the lowest of comedy |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1979-02-27_8_9/page/n30/mode/1up |website=Internet Archive |date=February 27, 1979 |publisher=The Boston Phoenix |access-date=2024-01-25}}</ref> A review of the show in ''[[TV Guide]]'' described it as a "lame farce."<ref>{{cite web |title=Co-ed Fever |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/co-ed-fever/1000204092/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=2024-01-25}}</ref> Critic Alec Donaldson wrote that "college dorms always make for fun times, but not in this show. It was more flop than fever," and "this show unfortunately flunked."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Donaldson |first1=Alec |title=Flops, Failures and Funny Moments: The 70s Shows That We'd Rather Forget |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/flops-failures-and-funny-moments-the-70s-shows-that-we-d-rather-forget/ss-AA1l6MZ9#image=14 |website=Microsoft Start |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=2024-01-25}}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 91: / Line 88: @@
 ==External links==
 * {{IMDb title|id=0078586|title=Co-Ed Fever}}
-* {{tv.com show|co-ed-fever|Co-Ed Fever}}
 * [http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/41287 Sitcoms online listing for ''Co-Ed Fever''], including pictures and cast list
 * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClD8Fidcd_k YouTube video showing series promo and first few minutes of pilot]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Co-Ed Fever}}
 [[Category:1979 American television series debuts]]
 [[Category:1979 American television series endings]]
-[[Category:1970s American sitcoms]]
+[[Category:1970s American college television series]]
-[[Category:CBS network shows]]
+[[Category:1970s American teen sitcoms]]
-[[Category:American college television series]]
+[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
-[[Category:English-language television programs]]
+[[Category:American television series about teenagers]]
 [[Category:Television series canceled after one episode]]
+[[Category:Television series by Filmways]]
 [[Category:Television series by MGM Television]]
+[[Category:CBS sitcoms]]