Forgotten TV shows I still like. Comedy is of course subjective. Getting a sitcom on the air is tough, and getting one that resonates with mass audiences is even tougher. 1990’s The Marshall Chronicles did not catch on, with is too bad because it’s some hilarious, brilliantly written comedy.

Marhsall Brightman (Joshua Beckett) is an ordinary, if neurotic, teenager in the ‘80s. Except that he lives in Manhattan. So instead of taking the bus to school, he takes the subway. He and his friends hang out at the bodega instead of at the mall. And so on. Marshall has a crush on Melissa (Nile Lanning), the prettiest girl in school. But uh-oh, she’s dating Marshall’s bully Johnny (Gabriel Bologna). Along for the ride are Marshall’s two best friends, the wisecracking Sean (Bradley Gregg) and the ditsy Leslie (Meredith Scott Lynn). Marshall’s parents (Jennifer Salt and Steve Anderson) are also here for some classic sitcom parental cluelessness.

The show’s influences are evident, the films of Woody Allen foremost. I wonder if the pitch was just, “Woody as an ‘80s teen show.” But the show is also standing on the shoulders of other New York-set teen shows of the era (era), like Welcome Back Kotter or Head of the Class. Even the famously naughty Night Court seems to be an influence, as Marshall and his friends often navigate the seedier sides of NYC. Then there’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, as Marshall likes to break the fourth wall and speak directly to the viewers, just as Ferris often did.  

Lots of talent behind the scenes. The Marshall Chronicles was created by Richard Rosenstock, who was a producer on Newhart, The King of Queens, Will and Grace, The Big Bang Theory, Family Guy, and a co-executive producer on Arrested Development. Other writers and directors on the show include TV legend James Burrows, famous for his work on Taxi, Cheers, Frasier and a bajillion other shows. There’s also Ken Levine, who’s written for M.A.S.H., Cheers, and The Simpsons. (This is not the last time I’ll write about Levine in this blog series).  

Despite the big city setting and the – let’s face it – Jewishness of it all, Marshall is nonetheless an everyman. His trials are everyone’s trials. He’s too smart for his own good, which gets him into trouble without him realizing it. He tries to be honest and do the right thing, only for it to backfire on him. On second thought, maybe that’s not a good description of an everyman. Maybe it’s more that I personally find Marshall relatable. Is Marshall all of us, or am I Marshall?

Other observations:

• The music of Randy Newman is certainly not for everyone, and I find him hit or mess, but his theme song for the Marshall Chronicles is a real banger.
• Yes, that’s young Adam Sandler in one episode as the teen who says, “What do I look like, an usher?” His character’s name in the credits is “the usher.”
• Seinfeld was originally called The Seinfeld Chronicles. Allegedly, the name was changed because producers feared stiff competition from The Marshall Chronicles. The first regular episode of Seinfeld aired the same week as the last episode of The Marshall Chronicles.
• The YouTube rip of The Marshall Chronicles has all the original commercials, including the pizza ad with the dog who says, “I love you!”

We’ll never know what might have been. If the show had lasted for several seasons, would Marshall have graduated and gone to college? Would he and Melissa have made it work? Maybe it’s for the best that all we get are these six episodes. They contain all we need from Marshall and co., and episode six concludes on a good note. Definitely check it out.

Next: Cicely, Florida.

* * * *

Want more? Check out my novel MOM, I’M BULLETPROOF. It’s a comedic/romantic/dramatic superhero epic! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XPXBK14.