Car 54, Where Are You?
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| Car 54, Where Are You? | |
|---|---|
 Opening title sequence for Car 54, Where Are You? |
|
| Format | Situation Comedy |
| Created by | Nat Hiken |
| Starring | Joe E. Ross Fred Gwynne |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 60 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | September 17, 1961 – September 8, 1963 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Car 54, Where Are You? was an American sitcom that ran on NBC from 1961 to 1963. Episodes had various directors, the most recognized being Al De Caprio. Filming was done mainly in The Bronx.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
The series followed the madcap adventures of NYPD officers Gunther Toody (Joe E. Ross) and Francis Muldoon (Fred Gwynne) in the fictional 53rd precinct in the The Bronx.
[edit] Cast
- Joe E. Ross as Officer Gunther Toody
- Fred Gwynne as Officer Francis Muldoon
- Hank Garrett as Officer Ed Nicholson
- Jim Gormley as Officer Nelson
- Albert Henderson as Officer Dennis O'Hara
- Bruce Kirby as Officer Kissel
- Al Lewis as Officer Leo Schnauser (1961-1963)
- Beatrice Pons as Lucile Toody
- Charlotte Rae as Sylvia Schnauser
- Paul Reed as Capt. Paul Block
- Joe Warren as Officer Steinmetz
- Nipsey Russell as Officer Anderson
[edit] Background information
Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis would later appear together again in The Munsters (1964-1966). Much of the script was written by Nat Hiken. Joe E. Ross and Beatrice Pons were teamed once more as husband and wife (Ross played the witless Rupert Ritzik in Sergeant Bilko, Pons his wife Emma). Silvia Schnauser (Charlotte Rae) also appeared in Bilko as "The Twitch", and Gwynne made an appearance as a prodigious eater.
[edit] Technical detail
- The TV show's police cars used on location shots were actually bright red but on black and white film would appear dark, similar to that of real NYPD RMP units of that era (black and green with a white roof and trunk). Hence filmmakers achieved a realistic appearance without alarming bystanders during production.[2]
[edit] Theme song
The lyrics to the show's theme song:
- There's a holdup in the Bronx!
- Brooklyn's broken out in fights!
- There's a traffic jam in Harlem
- That's backed up to Jackson Heights!
- There's a scout troop short a child!
- Khrushchev's due at Idlewild!
- Car 54, where are you?!
A parody of the song was used in the ad campaign for the Mario Bros. game for the Atari 2600. The lyrics go as so:
- Something's gumming up the plumbing,
- Poor Luigi's in a bind!
- Giant turtles out to get him,
- Creepy crabs are right behind!
- Fighter Flies, jeepers cripes!
- They're all coming up the pipes!
- Maaaaario, where aaaare yooooou?!
There is also a mondegreen of the theme lyrics. One line has been misheard as "Khrushchev's nude and I go wild!"
In the episode, "Christmas at the 53rd," there are a few songs. One of these is a variation on "A Policeman's Lot is not a Happy One." Muldoon sings this and these are the lyrics:
- Not so long ago each man in the police;
- Was respected and admired, yes he was;
- But today if you go visiting your niece;
- Chances are she'll say, "Hey Ma, here come the fuzz!"
- If you want to see just how we get the brush off;
- Watch the TV news and pictures in the times;
- There you'll only see policemen guarding crush off (sic);
- While that lawyer, Perry Mason, solves the crimes!
- Oh, when attorneys show detectives how it's done;
- A policeman's lot is not a happy one!
- Then there's that day thanks to extraordinary fitness;
- That you apprehend the robber you pursue;
- But the case depends upon a single witness;
- Who looks around the room then points to you!
- And let's not forget the poor patrolman squawking;
- About pounding beats on up and downhill grades;
- For remember, when he isn't busy walking;
- He's marching in St. Patrick's Day parades!
- Oh while the brass who sit reviewing have their fun;
- A policeman's lot is not a happy one, happy one!
[edit] 1994 film
Car 54, Where Are You? was made into a 1994 movie, filmed mainly in Toronto, starring David Johansen.[3]
