Sermonette
Encyclopedia
Sermonette is a generic term for short, locally-produced inspirational messages that were aired by many U.S. television
stations during their sign-on and sign-off periods.
While some of these segments carried the actual program title of "Sermonette," there were a variety of names used by individual stations, such as "Prayer for Today," "Give Us This Day," "Words of Inspiration" or the like.
Sermonettes were generally about three to five minutes in length, and featured religious clergy from churches in the local station's coverage area
. Reflecting the majority religious faith in the U.S., the clergy involved were almost always Christian
(Protestant or Roman Catholic), although in TV markets with a large Jewish population, a rabbi
might occasionally be called upon. The segments were pre-taped for airing at their normally scheduled early morning or late night time slots.
Some stations also presented a nationally-distributed filmed or videotaped inspirational message, either in addition to, or replacing, local messages. One of the best-known national sermonettes was A Seed from the Sower, presented by Dr. Michael Guido.
Along with films featuring the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner
(the U.S. national anthem
) and other patriotic or inspirational short features, sermonettes gradually disappeared from U.S. TV schedules as more and more stations switched to 24-hour programming, eliminating the classic sign-on and sign-off routines.
In the United Kingdom
, similar short religious programs used to be broadcast at end of schedule, but were called "epilogues" rather than "sermonettes and broadcast on ITV
."
In the 1970s, comedian Chevy Chase
delivered a parody sermonette as a regular on Saturday Night Live
, speaking as the pastor of the "Church of Confusion".
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
stations during their sign-on and sign-off periods.
While some of these segments carried the actual program title of "Sermonette," there were a variety of names used by individual stations, such as "Prayer for Today," "Give Us This Day," "Words of Inspiration" or the like.
Sermonettes were generally about three to five minutes in length, and featured religious clergy from churches in the local station's coverage area
Coverage map
Coverage maps are designed to indicate the service areas of radiocommunication transmitting stations. Typically these may be produced for radio or television stations, for mobile telephone networks and for satellite networks. Such maps are alternatively known as propagation maps...
. Reflecting the majority religious faith in the U.S., the clergy involved were almost always Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
(Protestant or Roman Catholic), although in TV markets with a large Jewish population, a rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
might occasionally be called upon. The segments were pre-taped for airing at their normally scheduled early morning or late night time slots.
Some stations also presented a nationally-distributed filmed or videotaped inspirational message, either in addition to, or replacing, local messages. One of the best-known national sermonettes was A Seed from the Sower, presented by Dr. Michael Guido.
Along with films featuring the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
(the U.S. national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
) and other patriotic or inspirational short features, sermonettes gradually disappeared from U.S. TV schedules as more and more stations switched to 24-hour programming, eliminating the classic sign-on and sign-off routines.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, similar short religious programs used to be broadcast at end of schedule, but were called "epilogues" rather than "sermonettes and broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
."
In the 1970s, comedian Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
delivered a parody sermonette as a regular on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, speaking as the pastor of the "Church of Confusion".