Roundhouse (TV series)

Roundhouse
Created by Buddy Sheffield
Rita Sheffield Hester
Developed by Rita Sheffield Hester
Buddy Sheffield
Benny Hester
Written by Bernie Ancheta
Becky Hartman-Edwards
Sheila R. Lawrence
Nancy Neufeld Callaway
Buddy Sheffield
Rita Sheffield
Directed by Rita Sheffield
Ron Andreassen
Bruce Gowers
Gary Halvorson
Paul Hoen
Linda Mendoza
Dennis Rosenblatt
Kent Weed
Music by Benny Hester
Buddy Sheffield
Composer(s) Benny Hester
Eric Hester
Frank Musker
James Raymond
Marty Walsh
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 52
Production
Executive producer(s) Rita Sheffield Hester
Buddy Sheffield
Benny Hester
Location(s) Nickelodeon Studios (Season 1)
CBS Studio Center (Seasons 2–4)
Running time 22–24 minutes
Production company(s) Rebel Entertainment
Release
Original network Nickelodeon
Original release August 15, 1992 (1992-08-15) – December 24, 1996 (1996-12-24)

Roundhouse is an American television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 1992 through 1996.[1]

Background

Roundhouse debuted as a part of the original SNICK lineup on Nickelodeon in 1992 and continued airing on the network through the end of 1996.[2]

Buddy Sheffield, a former writer for In Living Color, and Rita Sheffield Hester created and produced the series. Recording artist Benny Hester was the music producer as well as co-producer of the series. They titled the show in reference to the roundhouses used by railroad companies to turn trains around and get them on the right track. This was in line with the show's theme song, in which the characters stated "we can go anywhere from here". In addition, the stage for the show mirrored the interior of a roundhouse.

Episode format

Each episode revolved around the Anyfamily and their problems in daily life. The half-hour show, taped in front of a visible live audience, was broken up into sketches, dance sequences, and musical performances by both cast members and the house band. After everything is resolved story-wise, a cast member would say the words "Reprise the Theme Song and Roll the Credits"; the cast then sang the theme song a cappella with a dance to close the show off. All music used on the show was written specifically for Roundhouse. Crystal Lewis and Shawn Daywalt were the principal vocalists for many of the songs in the first season. After Lewis left the series to pursue a career in Christian contemporary music, she was replaced by Lisa Vale, who left the series after Season 2 due to her pregnancy at the time and was replaced by Amy Ehrlich and Jennifer Cihi for Season 3. Natasha Pearce became the series principal vocalist in Season 4, but Vale returned for the fourth season as well.

Cast

Death of Dominic Lucero

Following the show's first season, cast member Dominic Lucero was diagnosed with lymphoma and left the show for treatment, returning for 3 episodes in the show's third season. Lucero died on July 1, 1994 at the age of 26, and the season 4 finale was dedicated in his memory (opening with "This one's for our friend Dominic, who couldn't be here"). At Lucero's request, his condition was not made public, and as a result, the audience was unaware of his condition. His name remained in the opening credits for the remainder of the show's run.

Roundhouse band

Episodes

Season 1 (1992–93)

Season 2 (1993)

Season 3 (1993–94)

Season 4 (1994–96)

Production: sets

The first season was filmed on Stage 19 at Nickelodeon Studios in Universal Studios Florida, along with the opening credits filmed in the New York section of the park.

Remaining seasons were shot on Stage 4 at CBS Studio Center in Hollywood, California.

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Recipient
1993 Won Young Artist Awards Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Youth Series or Variety Show Cast
1994 Nominated Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Cable or Off Primetime Series Cast
1993 Won CableACE Award Original Song ("I Can Dream") Benny Hester and Buddy Sheffield
1995 Nominated Original Song ("Second Chance") Eric Hester
1994 Won Youth In Film Awards Best Original Song ("Can't Let Go") Benny Hester and Marty Walsh
1994 Won Ollie Award[3] Excellence in Television Programming for America's Children - American Center for Children's Television
Roundhouse Producers

Syndication

YTV in Canada also aired the series during its initial run on Nickelodeon. After the show ceased production in 1994, reruns aired on both BET and MTV. Currently, reruns are sporadically featured on the TeenNick late-night block The Splat.

VHS release

To date, two episodes have been released on VHS.

Episode VHS Title
"New Kid In Town" SNICK: Volume 1: Nick SNICKS Friendship
"You Can't Fire Your Family" SNICK: Volume 2: Nick SNICKS The Family

References

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