TV Show Mash-Up

[WordWolf]

4 hours ago, GeorgeStGeorge said:

The Carol Burnett Show?

George

No, but you're not as far off as you were. 

[WordWolf]

This show had a single episode with Desi Arnaz.  Also appearing in the episode was Desi Arnaz Jr.  In effect, he played Desi Arnaz in a few scenes.   In the same episode, someone else briefly played Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo.")

Desi himself played Roy Nitti in at least one scene, and spoke as himself. He also did a poetry reading of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." (Although, the next week, they did not actually have Charo show up to do a poetry reading as promised.)  Later, he did a musical performance, both singing and with the conga drum.  Strictly speaking, Jr did not play Sr on stage, but for most people, it probably worked out the same. He played Ricky Ricardo, in effect pretending he was Desi Sr playing Ricky Ricardo.    There was also a single episode with Carrie Fisher.  Who played a sort-of Annette Funicello role in one of those scenes from a beach movie (beach blanket something-or-other.)   

[WordWolf]

This show had a single episode with Desi Arnaz.  Also appearing in the episode was Desi Arnaz Jr.  In effect, he played Desi Arnaz in a few scenes.   In the same episode, someone else briefly played Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo.")

Desi himself played Roy Nitti in at least one scene, and spoke as himself. He also did a poetry reading of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." (Although, the next week, they did not actually have Charo show up to do a poetry reading as promised.)  Later, he did a musical performance, both singing and with the conga drum.  Strictly speaking, Jr did not play Sr on stage, but for most people, it probably worked out the same. He played Ricky Ricardo, in effect pretending he was Desi Sr playing Ricky Ricardo.    There was also a single episode with Carrie Fisher.  Who played a sort-of Annette Funicello role in one of those scenes from a beach movie (beach blanket something-or-other.)   On the other hand, nobody played Generalissimo Francisco Franco, because he was still dead.  

[WordWolf]

This show had a single episode with Desi Arnaz.  Also appearing in the episode was Desi Arnaz Jr.  In effect, he played Desi Arnaz in a few scenes.   In the same episode, someone else briefly played Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo.")

Desi himself played Roy Nitti in at least one scene, and spoke as himself. He also did a poetry reading of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." (Although, the next week, they did not actually have Charo show up to do a poetry reading as promised.)  Later, he did a musical performance, both singing and with the conga drum.  Strictly speaking, Jr did not play Sr on stage, but for most people, it probably worked out the same. He played Ricky Ricardo, in effect pretending he was Desi Sr playing Ricky Ricardo.    There was also a single episode with Carrie Fisher.  Who played a sort-of Annette Funicello role in one of those scenes from a beach movie (beach blanket something-or-other.)   On the other hand, nobody played Generalissimo Francisco Franco, because he was still dead.  Perhaps they should have gotten George Carlin to play him...it's not like he was a stranger to that show. 

[WordWolf]

This show had a single episode with Desi Arnaz.  Also appearing in the episode was Desi Arnaz Jr.  In effect, he played Desi Arnaz in a few scenes.   In the same episode, Garrett Morris briefly played Louis Armstrong ("Satchmo.")

Desi himself played Roy Nitti in at least one scene, and spoke as himself. He also did a poetry reading of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." (Although, the next week, they did not actually have Charo show up to do a poetry reading as promised.)  Later, he did a musical performance, both singing and with the conga drum.  Strictly speaking, Jr did not play Sr on stage, but for most people, it probably worked out the same. He played Ricky Ricardo, in effect pretending he was Desi Sr playing Ricky Ricardo.    There was also a single episode with Carrie Fisher.  Who played a sort-of Annette Funicello role in one of those scenes from a beach movie (beach blanket something-or-other.)   On the other hand, nobody played Generalissimo Francisco Franco, because he was still dead.  Perhaps they should have gotten George Carlin to play him...it's not like he was a stranger to that show.  Another episode had a scene decided upon by sound of applause. Jill St John appeared. The audience got to vote on the next skit, whether it was "Mac Arthur and Wife," "Macbeth and Wife", or "MacDonald and Wife." (So we got "MacDonald and Wife.") 

[Raf]

SNL

[WordWolf]

15 hours ago, Raf said:

SNL

It is.   Often with George Carlin in early seasons,  Garrett Morris was one of the Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players.  A running gag was to point out in the news segment that Generalissimo Francisco Franco was "still dead." 

When Desi Sr hosted, they spoofed "the Untouchables" (a Desilu program)  and "I Love Lucy." Allegedly, they showed some of the concepts they had for the show originally- and Desi Jr played Ricky in each version. 

"I Saw Lucy" (but we never actually got to SEE Lucy), "I Loathe Lucy"(too physically hard on Lucy, being hit like that), "I Love Louie" (but Satchmo was on contract with a different studio), etc.   

Personally, I'll never forget the poetry reading, with Desi Sr speaking like Ricky Ricardo, and reciting poetry by Lewis Carroll.  *looks over the sheet* "Hhaber- woeky.  By Luis Car-roll." 

When Carrie Fisher hosted (after Star Wars had come out), Leia beamed down into a beach party. (Yes, she beamed down. Don't blame me.)    And of course, all these skits with spoofs of different things.  

 

 

[Raf]

Hoping this one is easy.

I'm looking for the name of a SPINOFF of a successful TV series whose name is a play on the first half of a popular expression. This spinoff's name IS the second half of that same expression.

Both are comedies.

The original series is actually an American adaptation of a successful British tv comedy. That comedy originally had the name of what would later become the American spinoff.

The British version also had a spinoff with an unrelated name. Yes, the American spinoff was an adaptation of the British spinoff. However: The British spinoff was a big hit, while the American spinoff is routinely listed among the worst spinoffs of all time. 

[Raf]

Let's try this chronologically.

There was once a British TV comedy series. It was almost named for the second half of a well-known proverb (not a biblical proverb. Just a well-known expression, an aphorism, in the vein of "All's well that ends well"). 

So this British TV comedy ALMOST had the same name as the second half of this pithy saying. It ended up with a completely different name, and it was a hit. It eventually got a spinoff with another completely different name. The British spinoff was also a hit.

In the US, they decided to adapt the original series for American audiences. To name this series, they turned to the same pithy expression that almost provided the original British series with its name. Instead of looking at the second half of the expression, they took the first half and tweaked it, turning it into a pun of its original meaning.

So the US series was a huge hit, making stars of its entire main cast, many of whom are primarily known for their roles on this series to this day (one was quite famous BEFORE he was cast to replace a departing cast member, but the rest became famous for this series).

Eventually, the series wore out its welcome, but the lead actor was still a popular star believed to be the glue that held the series together. So they gave him a spinoff with the same premise as the spinoff to the British series. To name the spinoff, they went back to the same pithy expression and took the second half, the same title that was first pitched for the original British series. 

Unlike the British spinoff, the American spinoff flopped.

Name the American spinoff.

Edited 5 hours ago by Raf

[Raf]

Ok, so you have a US comedy that stuck around long enough to wear out its welcome (eight seasons).

Its stars are famous primarily because of their roles in this show.

Two went on to star in other shows, so it's not like their careers just vanished. But still. They are remembered primarily for this one. 

One supporting star was famous before this show and is better remembered for his role in the earlier show. He was not an original cast member. He was brought in to replace two actors who went on to star in their own spinoff, which did not do well. The two actors he replaced are primarily remembered for this show.

Of the original cast, there is one surviving member who is pretty much known solely for this role.

Three title cast members survive. All are women. All are known primarily (if at all) for their role in this series.

Only one of the cast members joined the spinoff. 

Now, once you realize the name of the series, the earlier clues should tell you the name of the spinoff even if you don't remember it.