The Baxters
Encyclopedia
The Baxters is an American
situation comedy
television series produced by Norman Lear
. The series premiered in broadcast syndication in 1979 and lasted two seasons, ending in 1981. The series was the first "interactive" sitcom depicting a middle-class St. Louis
family, and in its second season, a different Baxter family featuring an all new cast.
Each 30-minute episode was split into two-parts; the first half, a vignette dramatizing the events in the lives of the Baxter family, and the second, a live studio audience "talk-show" segment where audiences were given the opportunity to participate and voice their opinions about the issues raised in that week's episode.
) was an insurance salesman and Nancy (Anita Gillette
) a housewife and mother. Naomi (Derin Altay), was their adopted 19-year-old daughter, Jonah (Chris Petersen
) was their 14-year-old son, and their youngest, Rachel (Terri Lynn Wood) was their 10-year old daughter. The series followed the Baxter family as they dealt with various important and, in some cases, controversial, issues of the day. In one episode they were faced with whether to commit Mother Baxter to a nursing home; in another, whether the fact that Jonah's teacher was a homosexual would harm their son; and in another, Fred faced a dilemma over whether to turn a small, money-losing apartment house he owned into condominiums, thus forcing out some of the tenants.
The second season featured an all new cast as another Baxter family; Jim Baxter (Sean McCann
) became a schoolteacher and his wife Susan Baxter (Terry Tweed) returned to work. Their kids were now 19-year-old Allison (Marianne McIssac), 14-year-old Greg (Sammy Snyders) and 10-year-old Lucy (Megan Follows
). The format, however, was essentially the same.
Unlike most other sitcoms, each episode was open-ended, the first half of each episode being a vignette featuring the Baxter family and presenting a situation or dilemma they faced, and the second half, an "instant analysis" talk-show format, giving a live studio audience and guests a chance to talk about the topic being presented. Stations carrying the show could choose between producing their own discussion segments locally, or presenting a national version of the segment which, during its first season, was produced in Los Angeles
, and in its second season, Toronto
. The discussion moderator in the second segment was different in each city, and in some local markets, viewers were invited to call in and voice their reactions.
Boston, in early 1977, where it had been created by a former divinity student named Herbert Jessup as part of his Sunday morning public-affairs show. Jessup persuaded station management to try it in the early evening, where it gained a loyal following. During the WCVB-produced seasons, before syndication, the initial cast was mostly composed of local Boston actors.
After two seasons as a local show in Boston, Producer Norman Lear
offered to produce the program in Hollywood and put it into nationwide syndication for the 1979-1980 season. For the Lear
incarnation of the series, the show was re-cast with nationally known actors including Larry Keith
, Anita Gillette
and popular teen actor of the time, Chris Petersen
(credited by several online sources, including IMDb, as "Chris Peterson", but this is a misspelling).
Lear withdrew after one year, and for the 1980-1981 season the program reverted to its Boston originators, who syndicated it themselves and production shifted to Toronto
, Ontario
. When the show made the move, the family was recast with popular Canadian character actor Sean McCann
and well-known Canadian child actors Sammy Snyders, and Megan Follows
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
television series produced by Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
. The series premiered in broadcast syndication in 1979 and lasted two seasons, ending in 1981. The series was the first "interactive" sitcom depicting a middle-class St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
family, and in its second season, a different Baxter family featuring an all new cast.
Each 30-minute episode was split into two-parts; the first half, a vignette dramatizing the events in the lives of the Baxter family, and the second, a live studio audience "talk-show" segment where audiences were given the opportunity to participate and voice their opinions about the issues raised in that week's episode.
Synopsis
The Baxters were an "average" middle-class family living in a suburb of St. Louis. Fred Baxter (Larry KeithLarry Keith
Larry Keith was an American actor who was a longtime cast member on the ABC soap opera All My Children and was the first American to play the role of Henry Higgins in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady....
) was an insurance salesman and Nancy (Anita Gillette
Anita Gillette
Anita Gillette is an American actress, most notable for her work on Broadway and as a celebrity guest on various game shows....
) a housewife and mother. Naomi (Derin Altay), was their adopted 19-year-old daughter, Jonah (Chris Petersen
Chris Petersen (actor)
Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
) was their 14-year-old son, and their youngest, Rachel (Terri Lynn Wood) was their 10-year old daughter. The series followed the Baxter family as they dealt with various important and, in some cases, controversial, issues of the day. In one episode they were faced with whether to commit Mother Baxter to a nursing home; in another, whether the fact that Jonah's teacher was a homosexual would harm their son; and in another, Fred faced a dilemma over whether to turn a small, money-losing apartment house he owned into condominiums, thus forcing out some of the tenants.
The second season featured an all new cast as another Baxter family; Jim Baxter (Sean McCann
Sean McCann
Sean McCann may refer to:* Sean McCann , Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, succeeding Dermot Earley* Sean McCann , Canadian television actor...
) became a schoolteacher and his wife Susan Baxter (Terry Tweed) returned to work. Their kids were now 19-year-old Allison (Marianne McIssac), 14-year-old Greg (Sammy Snyders) and 10-year-old Lucy (Megan Follows
Megan Follows
Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows is a Canadian/American actress. She is most known to international audiences for her role as Anne Shirley in the acclaimed 1985 Canadian television miniseries Anne of Green Gables and its two sequels.-Biography:Follows was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the...
). The format, however, was essentially the same.
Unlike most other sitcoms, each episode was open-ended, the first half of each episode being a vignette featuring the Baxter family and presenting a situation or dilemma they faced, and the second half, an "instant analysis" talk-show format, giving a live studio audience and guests a chance to talk about the topic being presented. Stations carrying the show could choose between producing their own discussion segments locally, or presenting a national version of the segment which, during its first season, was produced in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and in its second season, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The discussion moderator in the second segment was different in each city, and in some local markets, viewers were invited to call in and voice their reactions.
Season 1 (1979-1980)
- Larry KeithLarry KeithLarry Keith was an American actor who was a longtime cast member on the ABC soap opera All My Children and was the first American to play the role of Henry Higgins in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady....
as Fred Baxter - Anita GilletteAnita GilletteAnita Gillette is an American actress, most notable for her work on Broadway and as a celebrity guest on various game shows....
as Nancy Baxter - Derin Altay as Naomi Baxter
- Chris PetersenChris Petersen (actor)Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
as Jonah Baxter - Terri Lynn Wood as Rachael Baxter
Season 2 (1980-1981)
- Sean McCannSean McCann (actor)Sean McCann is one of Canada's most successful character actors and has been in the business for over 40 years. Winner of the prestigious Earle Grey Award for his lifetime achievement in television, Sean McCann has appeared in over 150 movies, television shows and plays.- Notable roles and awards...
as Jim Baxter - Terry Tweed as Susan Baxter
- Marianne McIsaac as Allison Baxter
- Sammy Snyders as Gregg Baxter
- Megan FollowsMegan FollowsMegan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows is a Canadian/American actress. She is most known to international audiences for her role as Anne Shirley in the acclaimed 1985 Canadian television miniseries Anne of Green Gables and its two sequels.-Biography:Follows was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the...
as Lucy Baxter
Production
The program originally began as a local production at WCVB-TVWCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
Boston, in early 1977, where it had been created by a former divinity student named Herbert Jessup as part of his Sunday morning public-affairs show. Jessup persuaded station management to try it in the early evening, where it gained a loyal following. During the WCVB-produced seasons, before syndication, the initial cast was mostly composed of local Boston actors.
After two seasons as a local show in Boston, Producer Norman Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
offered to produce the program in Hollywood and put it into nationwide syndication for the 1979-1980 season. For the Lear
Norman Lear
Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude...
incarnation of the series, the show was re-cast with nationally known actors including Larry Keith
Larry Keith
Larry Keith was an American actor who was a longtime cast member on the ABC soap opera All My Children and was the first American to play the role of Henry Higgins in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady....
, Anita Gillette
Anita Gillette
Anita Gillette is an American actress, most notable for her work on Broadway and as a celebrity guest on various game shows....
and popular teen actor of the time, Chris Petersen
Chris Petersen (actor)
Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons...
(credited by several online sources, including IMDb, as "Chris Peterson", but this is a misspelling).
Lear withdrew after one year, and for the 1980-1981 season the program reverted to its Boston originators, who syndicated it themselves and production shifted to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. When the show made the move, the family was recast with popular Canadian character actor Sean McCann
Sean McCann
Sean McCann may refer to:* Sean McCann , Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, succeeding Dermot Earley* Sean McCann , Canadian television actor...
and well-known Canadian child actors Sammy Snyders, and Megan Follows
Megan Follows
Megan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows is a Canadian/American actress. She is most known to international audiences for her role as Anne Shirley in the acclaimed 1985 Canadian television miniseries Anne of Green Gables and its two sequels.-Biography:Follows was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the...
.
External links
- The Baxters episode guide at TV GuideTV GuideTV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
- The Baxters episode at the Museum of Classic Chicago Television