Sonny Rollins Sitcom Theme

[JSngry]

...a short-lived ABC(?) sitcom from the late-80s/early-90s(?) that had as it's theme Sonny Rollins playing "I told Every Little Star"? Not the Contemprary Leaders version, but a new one, apparently recorded specifically for the show? I meant to VCR an episode just to have the theme in my Rollins collection in some form, but never did.

Details would be appreciated, and, as always, thanks in advance!

[Michael Fitzgerald]

That would be "Billy".

It was an odd spin-off from "Head Of The Class" from the season when Howard Hesseman left and Billy Connolly (the Scottish comedian) replaced him. The character Billy MacGregor was in both. In "Billy" our hero had no green card, moved in with the single mother of one of his night-school students and, as they say, hilarity ensued. Well, for 13 episodes.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles...299000321.shtml

Mike

[JSngry]

Wow, that was fast!

Not only did Sonny play the theme, but the show co-starred Clora Bryant!

Or does that say Clara? You know how us old folks and our vision is...

Anyway...

Any discographical info on the Rollins theme? A long shot, I'm sure, but one never knows...

[Michael Fitzgerald]

The only other versions I know of by Rollins are from the 1959 European tour with Henry Grimes and Pete LaRoca.

Mike

[clifford_thornton]

That would be "Billy".

It was an odd spin-off from "Head Of The Class" from the season when Howard Hesseman left and Billy Connolly (the Scottish comedian) replaced him. The character Billy MacGregor was in both. In "Billy" our hero had no green card, moved in with the single mother of one of his night-school students and, as they say, hilarity ensued. Well, for 13 episodes.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles...299000321.shtml

Mike

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I remember that dude - but couldn't remember the name of that show. The things Organissimo dredges up!

[bertrand]

I saw one episode of this, but do not remember Rollins at all.

Here's a marketing idea: put out a DVD for TV shows that were cancelled after just a few episodes, and include episodes that were made but never aired. I bet it would sell like hotcakes with the right ad campaign. Make 'em limited edition. Call 'em 'TV Connoisseurs' or something like that.

Bertrand.

[Quincy]

Here's a marketing idea: put out a DVD for TV shows that were cancelled after just a few episodes, and include episodes that were made but never aired.  I bet it would sell like hotcakes with the right ad campaign.  Make 'em limited edition.  Call 'em 'TV Connoisseurs' or something like that.

←

It's worked at least once. There was a science fiction show called Firefly by the creator of Buffy the Vampire. Both shows had a massive cult following although unlike Buffy Firefly only ran for a few episodes on Fox. The cult following and subsequent DVD sales of Firefly led to a movie being made that might still be in theaters now called "Serenity." I think they're still waiting on worldwide numbers to figure out whether to make a movie sequel, restart the tv series or if it's that's all folks.

Edited October 25, 2005 by Quincy

[RDK]

Serenity tanked. Better example is Family Guy on Fox.

The Trio cable channel (now defunct, or near it?) had a series a year or so back featuring unaired TV show pilots. Pilots are a blast to watch, if only because so many of them are so bad.

The problem with releasing short-run series on DVD is that since they failed the first time and never had enough episodes to syndicate, there's not much of an audience for them now either. To release them requires a lot of money re: royalties and residuals. Unfortunate but true...