Molloy (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Molloy is an American
TV series that aired on Fox
from July 25 to August 29, 1990. It starred Mayim Bialik
as a carefree New York
-native preteen girl, whose life is turned upside down when her divorced father moves her to Los Angeles
upon remarrying. The series was created by George Beckerman, and executive produced by Lee Rich. Chris Cluess and Stu Kreisman were also executive producers.
. Molloy was used to seeing her father fly in on weekends for visitation rights, and thought she knew him all too well, until she found her world turned upside down. Her mother suddenly passed away, and Molloy had no choice but to relocate and move in with Paul and his family. Molloy was excited about the new location, but not necessarily about having a new, extended family. She was weary of Paul's second wife of three years, Lynn Walker (Pamela Brull
), a vivacious, savvy mother who was all too hip for the mascinations of her children, self-absorbed teen Courtney (Jennifer Aniston
) and young Jason (Luke Edwards
). Molloy viewed them as all largely disrupting her life and previous freedom as an only child. For the first time, she was discovering differences and conflicts with Paul that she never knew existed, since they were now living under the same roof for once. In zany, comical fashion, Molloy cooked up schemes and went to great lengths to break the family up, but ultimately found that despite her qualms, there was a lot of love to be discovered and shared within the new family.
Much of Molloy's displeasure in her new world originated from snobbish Courtney, who couldn't be bothered by another precocious little sibling, and from day one was constantly at odds with Molloy. Paul and Lynn mediated when called for, and at times, Jason served as an ally to Molloy in her competition with Courtney (mostly, he kept to himself, and the ever-present headphone set he wore at the kitchen table). A silver lining to the new arrangement was Paul's new job as program director and producer at local KQET-TV. He oversaw the production of Wonderland, a children's variety show, in which Molloy earned a regular part. Her co-stars on Wonderland consisted of a mixed group of child and adult actors, including portly veteran performer Simon (I.M. Hobson), who appeared in character as a squirrel, ditsy teenager Sara (Ashley Maw) and hip Louis Duncan Jackson (Bumper Robinson
), who fancied himself with the special moniker "D'Uncann" and felt he was ready to hit primetime.
's title character in childhood flashbacks in Beaches (1988). During the 1989-90 TV season, Bialik committed to two pilots; that of Molloy and for NBC
, Blossom
, from Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. The two projects were in vast competition with each other, as both vied to be a successful starring vehicle for the young actress. Molloy went into production first, with a six episode order commissioned by Fox for the summer of 1990. After these six were completed, Bialik then shot the original pilot for Blossom, which NBC was going to air as a comedy special that summer as well. On July 5, 1990, two weeks before Fox's premiere of Molloy, NBC aired the Blossom special to positive ratings. With both projects riding on each other's misfortune for survival, it was up to the Fox series to do well - which it didn't. After lackluster ratings in its tryout run, Molloy was canceled, thus allowing NBC the option to put Blossom into production as a regular series.
. After the seven episodes of Molloy were produced, John was then hired to perform the theme for Bialik's other proposed project, Blossom. John went on to have a lasting association with the young actress, as Blossom ran for five seasons on NBC (1991-1995).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
TV series that aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
from July 25 to August 29, 1990. It starred Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Hoya Bialik is an American actress who also holds a PhD in neuroscience.Her most notable TV roles have been as Blossom Russo on NBC's Blossom and as Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.-Early life:...
as a carefree New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-native preteen girl, whose life is turned upside down when her divorced father moves her to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
upon remarrying. The series was created by George Beckerman, and executive produced by Lee Rich. Chris Cluess and Stu Kreisman were also executive producers.
Synposis
Molloy Martin (Bialik) was a happy-go-lucky 11-year-old who was reasonably well-adjusted to a household of divorce, living with her single mother in New York, while amiable father Paul (Kevin Scannell) was remarried and living in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Molloy was used to seeing her father fly in on weekends for visitation rights, and thought she knew him all too well, until she found her world turned upside down. Her mother suddenly passed away, and Molloy had no choice but to relocate and move in with Paul and his family. Molloy was excited about the new location, but not necessarily about having a new, extended family. She was weary of Paul's second wife of three years, Lynn Walker (Pamela Brull
Pamela Brull
Pamela Brull is an American actress.-Career Filmography:*Living in Peril....Det. Siccarelli *The Pretender....Kitty Morgan *The Bachelor's Baby...Pamela Brull (born 1954) is an American actress.-Career Filmography:*Living in Peril....Det. Siccarelli (Feature Film, 1997)*The Pretender....Kitty...
), a vivacious, savvy mother who was all too hip for the mascinations of her children, self-absorbed teen Courtney (Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Joanna Aniston is an American actress, film director, and producer, best known for her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends, a role which earned her an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.Aniston has also enjoyed a successful film career,...
) and young Jason (Luke Edwards
Luke Edwards
Lucas Daniel "Luke" Edwards is an American actor. He began taking acting lessons for fun on his mother's suggestion and landed his first television role in 1988 on an ABC Afterschool Special episode...
). Molloy viewed them as all largely disrupting her life and previous freedom as an only child. For the first time, she was discovering differences and conflicts with Paul that she never knew existed, since they were now living under the same roof for once. In zany, comical fashion, Molloy cooked up schemes and went to great lengths to break the family up, but ultimately found that despite her qualms, there was a lot of love to be discovered and shared within the new family.
Much of Molloy's displeasure in her new world originated from snobbish Courtney, who couldn't be bothered by another precocious little sibling, and from day one was constantly at odds with Molloy. Paul and Lynn mediated when called for, and at times, Jason served as an ally to Molloy in her competition with Courtney (mostly, he kept to himself, and the ever-present headphone set he wore at the kitchen table). A silver lining to the new arrangement was Paul's new job as program director and producer at local KQET-TV. He oversaw the production of Wonderland, a children's variety show, in which Molloy earned a regular part. Her co-stars on Wonderland consisted of a mixed group of child and adult actors, including portly veteran performer Simon (I.M. Hobson), who appeared in character as a squirrel, ditsy teenager Sara (Ashley Maw) and hip Louis Duncan Jackson (Bumper Robinson
Bumper Robinson
Bumper Robinson is an American actor and voice artist. Robinson got his nickname because he repeatedly bumped into things while running through his home as a young child.- Life and career :...
), who fancied himself with the special moniker "D'Uncann" and felt he was ready to hit primetime.
Development
Having built a budding career and TV and films since the age of 9, Bialik was vigorously sought as a TV series lead after her widely praised performance as Bette MidlerBette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
's title character in childhood flashbacks in Beaches (1988). During the 1989-90 TV season, Bialik committed to two pilots; that of Molloy and for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, Blossom
Blossom (TV series)
Blossom is an American sitcom broadcast on NBC from January 3, 1991 to May 22, 1995. The series stars Mayim Bialik as Blossom Russo, a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers. It was created by Don Reo.- Synopsis :...
, from Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. The two projects were in vast competition with each other, as both vied to be a successful starring vehicle for the young actress. Molloy went into production first, with a six episode order commissioned by Fox for the summer of 1990. After these six were completed, Bialik then shot the original pilot for Blossom, which NBC was going to air as a comedy special that summer as well. On July 5, 1990, two weeks before Fox's premiere of Molloy, NBC aired the Blossom special to positive ratings. With both projects riding on each other's misfortune for survival, it was up to the Fox series to do well - which it didn't. After lackluster ratings in its tryout run, Molloy was canceled, thus allowing NBC the option to put Blossom into production as a regular series.
Theme Song
The series' theme was a cover of "Accentuate the Positive", performed in an upbeat jazz style by Dr. JohnDr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
. After the seven episodes of Molloy were produced, John was then hired to perform the theme for Bialik's other proposed project, Blossom. John went on to have a lasting association with the young actress, as Blossom ran for five seasons on NBC (1991-1995).