NEW YORK, NY, November 30, 2000 – Santa is answering an A.P.B. sent out by fans of Car 54, Where Are You?, the early ’60s sitcom based on the misadventures of two of New York’s finest. Thanks to old Saint Nick and programming honchos at MetroChannels, Officers Toody and Muldoon are leaving the 53rd Precinct and high-tailing it over to Metro (Time Warner Cable – Channel 70, Cablevision – Channel 16) for a 24-hour marathon of 48 back-to-back episodes of this slapstick law and order comedy, beginning 6 AM on Christmas Day – Monday, December 25.
When it premiered in September, 1961, Car 54, Where Are You? was the first-ever television series to put a comic spin on the serious business of law enforcement. The show chronicled the odd couple pairing of the short, noisy and excitable Gunther “Ooo Ooo” Toody (played by veteran comic Joe E. Ross) and the tall, reserved and oft-embarrassed Francis Muldoon (Fred Gwynne), partners patrolling the 53rd Precinct in the Bronx. Unlike contemporary police dramas, these cops encountered far more comedy than crime. Much of the action in the series took place in the precinct house itself, particularly the locker room, where the stars would engage in comedy reminiscent of early film pioneer Mack Sennett’s Keystone Cops.
Fans of another vintage TV sitcom, The Munsters will be as jolly as the “man in red” to see Fred Gwynne (who starred as Herman Munster in the later series) interacting here with his to-be co-star Al Lewis, The Munsters’ wacky Grampa who plays Patrolman Leo Schnauser in this earlier series.
Other notable cast members include the hilarious Nipsey Russell (Dispatcher Andy Anderson) and Beatrice Pons (the long-suffering Lucille Toody).
Car 54, Where Are You? is one of seven classic comedies and dramatic shows about New York that air during Metro’s TVNY block.
So, tune out your screaming kids, spike up the eggnog and tune into Metro on Christmas Day, because Car 54, Where Are You? is on its merry way.
Rainbow Media’s MetroChannels are the first and only suite of television networks devoted entirely to the experience of living in the New York metropolitan area. MetroChannels consist of METRO, Metro Learning, and Metro Traffic&Weather. METRO showcases what New Yorkers are passionate about by providing regularly scheduled original programs focusing on everything from fine dining to live music and sports, classic New York TV series and documentaries about the people, places and history of New York. MetroLearning provides unfiltered coverage of events unfolding in the many diverse communities throughout this metropolis. Metro Traffic&Weather is the tri-state’s first and only 24-hour local traffic, transit, and weather channel. Since its 1998 launch, MetroChannels has received numerous accolades for its programming — the 1999 & 2000 Community Spirit Award, New York Festivals Awards, Omni Awards and the Communicator Awards. In addition, MetroChannels was among the top 10 networks nominated for the 1999 local New York Emmy Awards.
Rainbow Media’s MetroChannels are the first and only suite of television networks devoted entirely to the experience of living in the New York metropolitan area. MetroChannels consist of METRO, Metro Learning, and Metro Traffic&Weather. METRO showcases what New Yorkers are passionate about by providing regularly scheduled original programs focusing on everything from fine dining to live music and sports, classic New York TV series and documentaries about the people, places and history of New York. MetroLearning provides unfiltered coverage of events unfolding in the many diverse communities throughout this metropolis. Metro Traffic&Weather is the tri-state’s first and only 24-hour local traffic, transit, and weather channel. Since its 1998 launch, MetroChannels has received numerous accolades for its programming — the 1999 & 2000 Community Spirit Award, New York Festivals Awards, Omni Awards and the Communicator Awards. In addition, MetroChannels was among the top 10 networks nominated for the 1999 local New York Emmy Awards.
Contact:
Carrie Nork/Sal Cataldi
212-244-9797
Lisa Rogen
212-324-8552