Thunder Alley (TV series)

Thunder Alley
The Thunder Alley season 2 cast (from left to right), Edward Asner, Kelly Vint, Robin Riker, Haley Joel Osment and Lindsay Felton.
GenreSitcom
Created byCarmen Finestra
David McFadzean
Matt Williams
StarringEdward Asner
Diane Venora
Robin Riker
Kelly Vint
Lindsay Felton
Haley Joel Osment
Jim Beaver
Andrew Keegan
ComposerHoward Pearl
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes27
Production
Executive producersCarmen Finestra
Dan Guntzelman
David McFadzean
Matt Williams
ProducersBob Burris
Tim Doyle
Barry Gold
Dan Guntzelman
Gayle S. Maffeo
Michael Ware
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesWind Dancer Productions
Touchstone Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 9, 1994 (1994-03-09) –
July 4, 1995 (1995-07-04)

Thunder Alley is an American sitcom that aired from March 9, 1994 to July 4, 1995, on ABC.[1]

Premise

The show stars Ed Asner as retired race car driver Gil Jones. The unaired original pilot episode featured Felicity Huffman in the role of Bobbi Turner, Gil's daughter. When ABC picked up the series, Huffman was replaced[2] with Diane Venora. The pilot was reshot and Venora played the role for eight episodes before she was replaced by Robin Riker in the second season, who played the role for the remainder of the series.[3]

The story involved Bobbi returning to her old hometown, after a divorce to live with her father. In tow were her three children: Claudine (Kelly Vint); Jenny (Lindsay Felton); and Harry (Haley Joel Osment). The new family quintet lived in Gil's home above Thunder Alley, the specialty racing garage Gil operated. Rounding out the cast was Gil's dim-witted mechanic sidekick, Leland DuParte (Jim Beaver). In the show's second season, Andrew Keegan joined the cast as Jack Kelly, a local boy who helped around the garage. The first season was set in Indianapolis, Indiana, followed by Detroit, Michigan in the second season.[4]

Production and broadcast history

Thunder Alley was created and executive produced by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean for Wind Dancer Productions and Touchstone Television. The director of a majority of episodes was Robby Benson.

The show debuted to good ratings, finishing its first season the number 12th program with an average household share of 15.9,[5] helped in part by its being paired with the hit Home Improvement, coming from the same producers.[6] However, it struggled in its second season when it was slotted as the lead-off show on Wednesday nights. It was canceled in the spring of 1995.

Cast and characters

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
18March 9, 1994 (1994-03-09)May 4, 1994 (1994-05-04)
219September 14, 1994 (1994-09-14)July 4, 1995 (1995-07-04)

Season 1 (1994)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"The Prototype"Barnet KellmanCarmen Finestra & David McFadzean & Matt WilliamsMarch 9, 1994 (1994-03-09)29.2[7]
22"The Love Triangle"Robby BensonRobert ZappiaMarch 16, 1994 (1994-03-16)25.2[8]
33"Chore Patrol"Andy CadiffTim DoyleMarch 23, 1994 (1994-03-23)23.1[9]
44"Girl's Night Out"Robby BensonDeborah PearlMarch 30, 1994 (1994-03-30)27.3[10]
55"Bloodsuckers"Robby BensonTim Doyle & Steve GabrielApril 6, 1994 (1994-04-06)23.3[11]
66"Happy Endings"Robby BensonRita Hsiao & Robert ZappiaApril 13, 1994 (1994-04-13)25.1[12]
77"A Fist Full of Phyllis"John RagoJoey Murphy & John PardeeApril 20, 1994 (1994-04-20)20.8[13]
88"As a Manner of Fact"John RagoSteve GabrielMay 4, 1994 (1994-05-04)20.2[14]

Season 2 (1994–95)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
91"Never Say Die"Robby BensonLissa LevinSeptember 14, 1994 (1994-09-14)20.4[15]
102"Speak No Evil"Robby BensonBarry GoldSeptember 21, 1994 (1994-09-21)13.0[16]
113"Easy Money"Robby BensonJake Weinberger & Mike WeinbergerSeptember 28, 1994 (1994-09-28)13.8[17]
124"Get a Job"Robby BensonBob Burris & Michael WareOctober 5, 1994 (1994-10-05)14.4[18]
135"First Date"Robby BensonRobert ZappiaOctober 12, 1994 (1994-10-12)16.7[19]
146"Give 'Em Hell, Bobbi"Robby BensonSteve GabrielOctober 19, 1994 (1994-10-19)15.1[20]
157"Sex, Lies & Popcorn"Robby BensonBob Burris & Michael WareOctober 26, 1994 (1994-10-26)15.4[21]
168"The Garage Sale"Robby BensonMichael B. KaplanNovember 2, 1994 (1994-11-02)15.6[22]
179"Accidentally at First Sight"Robby BensonDeborah PearlMarch 7, 1995 (1995-03-07)22.3[23]
1810"Are We There Yet?"Robby BensonLissa LevinMarch 14, 1995 (1995-03-14)19.9[24]
1911"Breaking Away"Pat Fischer-DoakMichael B. KaplanMarch 21, 1995 (1995-03-21)20.0[25]
2012"The Trouble with Harry"Robby BensonRobert ZappiaMarch 28, 1995 (1995-03-28)20.1[26]
2113"Workin' Man's Blues"Robby BensonBill FreibergerApril 4, 1995 (1995-04-04)19.6[27]
2214"A Little Me Time"Robby BensonBarry GoldApril 11, 1995 (1995-04-11)19.1[28]
2315"I Am Spartacus"Robby BensonMichael B. KaplanApril 18, 1995 (1995-04-18)15.3[29]
2416"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"Pat Fischer-DoakJake Weinberger & Mike WeinbergerApril 25, 1995 (1995-04-25)16.8[30]
2517"Just a Vacation"Robby BensonPaul A. KaplanMay 2, 1995 (1995-05-02)20.2[31]
2618"Buzz Off, Buzzard Boy"Robby BensonSteve GabrielMay 9, 1995 (1995-05-09)18.6[32]
2719"No Swing Set"Robby BensonCarmen Finestra & David McFadzean & Matt WilliamsJuly 4, 1995 (1995-07-04)8.2[33]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Recipient
1995 Young Artist Awards Nominated Best Performance: Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series Andrew Keegan
Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV Series Lindsay Felton

References

  1. ^ Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. pp. 452–454. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
  2. ^ Lowry, Brian (1993-12-07). "Huffman exits ABC's 'Thunder Alley'". variety.com. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  3. ^ Meisler, Andy (1994-10-16). "A Familiar Name, but I Can't Place the Face". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  4. ^ Lindquist, David (July 10, 2016). "'Stranger Things' joins roster of set-in-Indiana shows". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  5. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1469. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  6. ^ Bierbaum, Tom (1994-04-13). "CBS elbows past ABC". variety.com. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  7. ^ DeRosa, Robin (March 16, 1994). "Premieres give ABC pull". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  8. ^ DeRosa, Robin (March 23, 1994). "Wednesday wins for ABC". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  9. ^ DeRosa, Robin (March 30, 1994). "Winner ABC can thank the academy". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  10. ^ DeRosa, Robin (April 6, 1994). "ABC gets help from 'These Friends'". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  11. ^ DeRosa, Robin (April 13, 1994). "Hoops figure in to CBS' net again". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  12. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 20, 1994. p. 3D.
  13. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 27, 1994. p. 3D.
  14. ^ DeRosa, Robin (May 11, 1994). "ABC keeps hammering away". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  15. ^ Gable, Donna (September 21, 1994). "'Girl' helps ABC start fall season on top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  16. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. September 28, 1994. p. 3D.
  17. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 5, 1994. p. 3D.
  18. ^ Graham, Jefferson (October 12, 1994). "CBS edges into No. 1 spot, but can it stay?". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  19. ^ DeRosa, Robin (October 19, 1994). "Regular series put ABC back on top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  20. ^ DeRosa, Robin (October 26, 1994). "'Grace' leads ABC to tie with CBS". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  21. ^ DeRosa, Robin (November 2, 1994). "ABC is 'Home' alone at the top". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  22. ^ DeRosa, Robin (November 9, 1994). "'Cagney & Lacey' makes winning return". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
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  29. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 26, 1995. p. 3D.
  30. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 3, 1995. p. 3D.
  31. ^ DeRosa, Robin (May 10, 1995). "Ratings go to the movies". Life. USA Today. p. 3D.
  32. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 17, 1995. p. 3D.
  33. ^ "Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. July 12, 1995. p. 3D.