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Sammy (TV series)

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Sammy
Sammy Blake (left) and James Blake (right)
Created byDavid Spade
Drake Sather
Voices of
Narrated byDavid Spade
Opening theme"Sammy" (instrumental)
ComposerJim Latham
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (11 unaired)
Production
Executive producersDavid Spade
Drake Sather
Richard Raynis
Brad Grey
Marc Gurvirz
EditorMark Deimel
Running time22 minutes
Production companiesBrad Grey Television
Desert Rat Productions
Adelaide Productions
NBC Studios
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseAugust 8 (2000-08-08) –
August 15, 2000 (2000-08-15)

Sammy is an American adult animated sitcom that aired on NBC in 2000. Created by comedians David Spade and Drake Sather, the series only had a two-week run, from August 8 until August 15, 2000. The artstyle of the series is reminiscent of Klasky Csupo cartoons as Everett Peck was the character designer for the series.

Sammy, along with another animated sitcom, God, the Devil and Bob, was conceived by NBC in order to capitalize on the fledgling trend of animated programs geared towards adults. When God, the Devil and Bob attracted low ratings and controversy due to its subject matter, it was quickly cancelled and sold to Cartoon Network to be a part of its Adult Swim block years later. This left Sammy in limbo, not premiering until early August 2000 with minimal promotion and fanfare. NBC was contractually obligated to air the first two episodes, and once both premiered, the show was quietly cancelled. According to Olivia Hack (who voiced Lola), 13 episodes were produced.

It was the last series by Adelaide Productions to use traditional cel animation aside from the opening theme being animated in digital ink and paint.

Premise

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The show is an animated sitcom whose central characters are James "Jamie" Blake and his father Sammy, both of whom are voiced by David Spade.[1] Within the show, the younger Blake is a successful actor who lives in Los Angeles with his two brothers. The show features plot lines in which the father attempts to reconcile with his three estranged sons. Spade said that the show took inspiration from his own estrangement from his father.[2]

Broadcast

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Citing low ratings, NBC withdrew the show after only two of its thirteen episodes aired.[3]

In 2021, a crew member from Sammy sent the episodes to a fan who released the episodes periodically on his YouTube channel, with the final episode being released on December 31 of that year.[4]

Critical reception

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David Bianculli of the New York Daily News criticized the show for a lack of humor. He also thought that Spade voicing both of the lead characters was "distracting".[1] A review in Variety was negative toward the show for similar reasons.[5]

Cast

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Episodes

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No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars"Bob Hathcock & Rich WilkieDrake Sather & David SpadeUnaired
James Blake reunites with his father, Sammy Blake, as he tries to re-establish relations with his family just as James' movie career is taking off. James' superagent, Mark Jacobs, attempts to keep the 'heat' on James while fending off Sammy's attempts at getting involved in James' career.
2"House of Pain"Bob Boyle & Todd FrederiksenSam Johnson & Chris MarcilUnaired
James hears from his mother, Marie, that they're tearing down his childhood home to build a shopping center, so he gets the house delivered to James' residence on the back of a flatbed truck. Him, Gary, and Todd fight in terms of what to do with their childhood 'paradise.'
3"Denver"Jennifer GravesJustin AdlerAugust 8, 2000 (2000-08-08)
When James' mother Marie finds out that her ex-husband Sammy is living with James and Todd, she drags her new husband Steve out to Los Angeles to "save" them, but instead finds herself again falling for his charms. James' agent Mark gets a book deal for James, but when it has to be written in two days, he forces Mark and Kathy to write it instead.
4"Malibu"Dave EdwardsBonnie KallmanUnaired
James's plans to get some R&R by renting a house in Malibu are foiled when his entire family shows up to hang out. James & Sammy end up feuding over the affections of Cleo, a woman they meet on the beach, who turns out to be a stalker. Kathy and Mark look after Wiley and Lola at a celebrity children's party where Mark thinks he can make some 'contacts'. Gary and Emily have rekindled their romance with the help of Emily's new bikini.
5"Fair"Stephen LewisGlenn EichlerUnaired
James is looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home, until he finds out his agent, Mark has booked him to appear as "Mongo Man" at the county fair. He invites his brothers Todd and Gary and Gary's family to come along, but Gary doesn't want Sammy coming because of his bad influence on the kids. Gary's fears become real when Sammy stows away in the family car and then accidentally is left alone with Gary's kids, who end up stranded upside down on a broken ride while Sammy is at the bar.
6"Sammy Makes Amends"Chuck Klein & Erik WieseFrank van KeekenAugust 15, 2000 (2000-08-15)
A joy ride in James' new sports car ends in a near-death experience for Sammy, causing him to reassess his past and use his "second chance" to make amends with his sons, with disastrous results. Incensed by their ungratefulness at his attempt to become a "normal" father, Sammy runs away to Mexico, and when his sons try bring him home, they end up in trouble and Sammy must come to their rescue in a Tijuana jail. James' agent Mark has brokered a deal that will bring James' "Mongo Man" movie character to toy store shelves as an action figure. But a broken mold and an ever-accommodating Kathy as the new model turn the toy hero into a doll with a broader appeal than they had originally planned.
7"Son of Sammy"Tom ElleryJ.B. CookUnaired

James bribes Sammy into spending a quality-time weekend with Gary and his wife, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, James takes in his assistant Kathy when she breaks up with her boyfriend.

Note: Pauly Shore guest stars as Kathy's ex-boyfriend.
8"Biography"Rich WilkieDan McGrathUnaired
James learns he will be the subject of an A&E Biography profile, but the program will instead air on the E! Network. No one, particularly James, looks forward to being grilled by A. J. Benza.
9"100th Episode Party"Bob BoyleLarry SolomonUnaired

James throws the 100th episode party of the show Hey Rebecca. Meanwhile, Kathy grows annoyed at her role as James' assistant, and Sammy is dared by Gary to get a job and work for an entire week.

Note: Alyssa Milano guest stars as herself.
10"Gary's Trophy"Todd FrederiksenJustin AdlerUnaired
Gary wins an award from accounting, and the entire family goes back to their home in Denver for Gary's award ceremony.
11"Mark's 40th"Rafael RosadoBonnie KallmanUnaired

A group of agents sit together and retell the story of when Mark Jacobs quits his job as James's agent during his 40th birthday.

Note: David Duchovny guest stars as himself.
12"Gabriella's Return"Tim EldredKeith LeslieUnaired

Todd reunites with Gabriella, the mother of their two children and moves in with the family after Lola ends up in her house.

Note: Megan Mullally guest stars as Gabriella.
13"Earthquake"Stephen LewisDrake SatherUnaired
After Sammy ruins his son's baseball trophy, James suspects that his father was lying about going to his childhood baseball game, so he finally decides to kick him out of his house. Things seem to go uphill until an earthquake happens in Hollywood which separates the Blake family. James and the others try to find their family members among the wreckage in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, James' agent Mark marries hundred-year-old celebrity Louise Peaks.

References

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  1. ^ a b "'SAMMY' - JUST SHOOT IT David Spade's 2 voices don't add up in cartoon". New York Daily News. August 8, 2000. ProQuest 305611045. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "David Spade's life inspires animated 'Sammy'". Florida Times Union. July 10, 2000. ProQuest 414245388. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "NBC pulls plug on David Spade's Sammy after just two weeks". Variety. August 18, 2000. ProQuest 266902678. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  4. ^ SAMMY (S1E13) | Lost David Spade cartoon, 2000, 31 December 2021, retrieved 2022-06-02
  5. ^ "Sammy". Variety. August 8, 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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