The Steven Banks Show

The Steven Banks Show was gone before it could be appreciated. It was the black sheep of PBS, but considering that the Peeb was programming nothing but McNeil/Lehrer and Ken whosit's Baseball, it's a wonder this oddity made it on the air.

It would never have made it on regular TV, but may have done well on HBO or Showtime.

I recall one ep when a character said something about the kid from "Lost in Space" and mispronounced his name. "Billy MUMMY" A second later, Bill Mumy walked in and tore the guy a new one for his ignorance.

There was the Chelsea Clinton/Veruca Salt comparison where Steven saved Chelsea's life at a carnival.

Funny stuff.

Too good.

This came on PBS in 1994 when the network tried to modernize themseleves with this sitcom and the game show "Think Twice". PBS would rather forget about this show, but it was actually pretty good. Starring comedian Steven Banks, Teresa Parente, and Michael Kostroff, this was about Steven getting deal with all sorts of adventures along with his friends Pepper and Mariana (whom he secretly loved). Not only did the three main stars would have main characters, but they would play other characters. I do remember Penn and Teller guest starred one time. The show was also produced by Brandon Tartikoff, and filmed at WYES in New Orleans. The show only lasted a few weeks, and ended off on a cliff hanger. It was not bad, but that laugh track bothered me. And the stuff that ran during the end credits were pretty weird. Still, it was a good launching pad for all three stars. Banks is now a writer and producer for many Hollywood movies and TV shows, Parente hit it big with the reoccuring character Miranda Veracruz de la Jolla Cardenal on Married With Children, and Kostroff is a guest star on many TV programs. What PBS considered their folly, was a the start of better things for the cast members.

This is a terrific comedy sitcom that played on PBS in the summer of 1994. It was funny and clever and very creative. People who complain that today's TV programs all look the same and none take chances or show much originality should check out The Steven Banks show. I enjoyed how only three actors played all the different roles in the show. It was very creative, like a great off- Broadway play. If you ever have a chance to see it, go for it.