User reviews

TYPECASTING is that pigeon holing process in the theatrical business which limits an Actor to a particular kind of roles; largely because of a high degree of success in a specific role. It is much more prevalent in Film than in the Legitimate Theatre; where Actors giving live performances oft relish the chance to tackle a part considered more difficult and not for them. (It's provides a challenge and a chance to show off their thespianical prowess; the sort of opportunity that seldom is afforded one in the Movies.)

BEING typecast in the Motion Picture & Television Business often leads to a steady, albeit not necessarily spectacular, career; as one will often be in demand for their skills in providing just exactly what they need in a given film, particular scene. Hence, we would by way of example, say if we needed: a Drill Sergeant (Joe Sawyer, Nat Pendelton), a Floozy (Barbara Nichols,), Gangsters (Marc Lawrence, Sheldon Leonard, Vic Tayback), Gossips (Cora Witherspoon, Margaret Hamilton), Drunks (Arthur Housman, Jack Norton, Frank Fontaine, Foster Brooks), Cops (Tiny Sandford, Dick Lane, James Burke), etc., etc. You get the picture, right Schultz?

HENCE down to this modern day, we have the practice is still alive and thriving in this Multi-Media Age. To this very day an Actor, such as this Dabney Coleman, have not only been shackled with it; but also turned it into opportunity.

THE versatile Mr. Coleman has done a perhaps most of his best work as a cad, a heel, a womanizer and the like. Much like a lot of the previously mentioned folks, there is one character type that he does and does better than any other; and that would become his bread & butter.

WITH the coming of BUFFALO BILL (Stampede Productions/NBC TV, 1983-84) the cantankerous character, that had been perfected in so many roles* by Coleman, found a home in the Sitcom. Sitcom, you say? Yes, for it's not a Western, like GUNSMOKE or BONANZA; nor a Western Spoof, like MAVERICK or RANGO.

THE Series was centered on one Bill Bitterman, a local Television Celebrity in Buffalo, New York; hence the title, clever, no? Buffalo Bill is the guy with the AM or Noontime Soft-News and Local Happenings show.

BELYING his "Happy Talk", friendly to everybody TV Persona, the real Buffalo Bill is an absolute louse; possessing absolutely NO redeeming qualities. It is the contrast and sometimes conflict between the two 'personalities' that provides us with our story lines and laughs. The Ringside Seats which we have as TV viewers give us an optimal view of the void and great contrast between the two faces of the main character.

AS for a favourite episode, we recall one in which Bill is getting a new assistant (a make-up man, I think). It's a Black Man, Newdell (Charles Robinson); and as we might've suspected, Bill doesn't like Blacks. His constant complaining about everything is brought to new heights as he fears that "they" are taking over. The episode hits a high point in a very cleverly designed and executed scene which turns out to be a dream, or to be more specific, a nightmare to Buffalo Bill.

IN this most unusually rendered sequence in any sitcom that we can recall, ever; we see Bill literally surrounded by Black Men and Women, wherever he turns at his workplace, down at the TV Station. He turns every which way and in a rapid fire and cleverly edited montage of occurrences, he winds up running from the building. All the while he is being pursued by a veritable posse of Black Folks. The whole thing is done as if it were in a silent film with a background score of Ray Charles doing his hit song "Hit The Road, Jack!"

AS for our least favourite, we recall one in which his "main squeeze"(significant other, lady friend, concubine, lover) Jo Jo White (Joanna Cassidy), winds up pregnant (knocked-up, in a family way, on the nest). She would prefer to legitimize the relationship through the now old and quaint institution of Marriage. Bill wanted her to abort the unborn; preferring not to get into another Marriage, especially at his age, now classified as "Middle". In the end, Ms. White opts for an abortion.

THE controversy over Abortion On Demand not withstanding, the whole half-hour episode was very unfunny and was not the proper subject matter for a primetime network family hour show. Don't you agree? ALL in all though, we found the series to be original, interesting and usually genuinely funny.

OH yeah, by the way; as pitifully abbreviated as the show's run was, the entire series is available to fans via DVD.

NOTE: * We've been a scratchin' our heads, but I'll be damned if all we can think of is two (2) non-cad roles that Mr. Dabney Coleman has done. Those two would be as Hanoi Jane's Husband in ON GOLDEN POND (IPC Films, Incorporated Television Company/Universal Pictures, 1981) and as Detective Mike Logan's soon to be retiring boss, Lieutenant Kevin Stolper in the LAW & ORDER Made for TV Movie, EXILED (Wolf Films/NBC TV, 1998 ).

HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE: The real, original "Buffalo Bill" Cody died on January 10, 1917; which was incidentally the very same day that my Mother, the still up and about at 91 years old, Bertha Ryan (Nee Fuerst)!

BUFFALO BILL was originally received like a Neil LaBute or Todd Solondz movie; the few who liked this program LOVED it, while the masses who didn't like it LOATHED it.

There had been sitcoms starring essentially unlikable characters before, such as ALL IN THE FAMILY and FAWLTY TOWERS, but Archie Bunker and Basil Fawlty were veritable pussycats compared to Dabney Coleman's Bill Bittinger, host of a Buffalo, NY talk show. Think Coleman's "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" of a boss in the movie 9 TO 5 and you pretty much have his BUFFALO BILL character, only here he's surrounded not by feisty secretaries but by wimps and sycophants. His stage manager Woody (John Fiedler) worships him, his research assistant Wendy (a young, nubile Geena Davis) is flustered around him while his director/longtime girlfriend Jo-Jo (Joanna Cassidy) puts up with him primarily out of self-loathing.

Brandon Tartikoff wrote in his memoirs that his greatest regret as NBC head was canceling BUFFALO BILL in 1984; one more season and it might have become a hit. Executive producer Bernie Brillstein went on to oversee THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW, and he's said he considers that successful HBO sitcom (also about an insecure talk show host) to have been the critical and ratings hit BUFFALO BILL should have been.

The series was created by the great comedy team of Tom (ALF) Patchett and Jay (MOLLY DODD) Tarses, who wrote the funniest episodes of THE BOB NEWHART SHOW in the 1970s. They bitterly broke up by the end of this show's run. I suspect that even if BUFFALO BILL had become a SEINFELD or FRIENDS-level hit, they'd have broken up anyway because the show was emotionally draining for an early-1980s sitcom. In one two-parter Jo-Jo, pregnant with Bill's baby, vindictively gets an abortion. In another episode, the racist Bill fires his black makeup man Newdell (Charlie Robinson), only to have a nightmare where he's chased by grotesque black stereotypes who lip sync to Ray Charles' "Hit the Road, Jack." Bill rehires Newdell and is congratulated on his enlightenment. In other words, WE GOT IT MADE or MAMA'S FAMILY this wasn't.

While BUFFALO BILL may not offer instant gratification, sticking through the entire run is worth it. Each member of the outstanding ensemble gets a moment to shine, the guest stars include Martin Landau and Jim Carrey (who impersonates Jerry Lewis) and the story lines are well-constructed with intelligent dialogue. In a stroke of good fortune, all 26 episodes were released in a no-frills three-disc DVD set in the fall of 2005 -- unfortunately, licensing issues prevented the "Hit the Road, Jack" sequence from making this set. Do yourself a favor and pick this up. There won't be another sitcom quite like BUFFALO BILL on network TV anytime soon.

In the history of comedy television, as I recall there were only three great shows with the format of a media setting, one a radio station and the other two television – WKRP in Cincinnati for radio and the other two for television, the Mary Tyler Moore Show and this, The Buffalo Bill Show. All for the same reasons, worked – great settings conducive to funny situations, great well-developed interesting characters, great writing, great funny story lines, and willingness to push the envelope on social issues. Fortunately, The Mary Tyler Moore Show caught on immediately and lasted many years providing us with many shows to watch today in syndicated reruns. WKRP in Cincinnati caught on, but unfortunately for that show a little too late also as there was still a lot of mileage left in it. An attempt to bring it back failed when after a few years it had been canceled with only a few of the original characters as many of the others had already moved on to other projects. The old magic, however was gone and the second version just didn't have what the old one had. It's the first version of WKRP in Cincinnati with Johnny Fever and the rest of the original characters that people remember and love, not the second. So why you might ask do I write so much about the Mary Tyler Moore Show and WKRP in Cincinnati and so little about the Buffalo Bill Show? Because the Buffalo Bill Show, is in the same league with those two others. And if you loved those two shows, no doubt about it, you'll love Buffalo Bill, too, that's why. I guarantee it. Maybe because it lasted less than one season, it is least remembered. Unfortunately it failed to catch on in time, depriving us of the treasures Mary Tyler Show provides us with today and WRRP could have provided us with. Even today, few people are aware of this gem. Mention The Buffalo Bill Show with The Mary Tyler Moore Show or WRKP and most people never even heard of it. And such a same it is, too!

Lost to the collective memories of the public is one show I'll never forget where Dabney Coleman, the always self promoter tries to land himself a part in a movie being filmed in Buffalo and is asked to take a screen test. He shows up at some apartment where he reads a romantic scene with an extremely obese woman. It has to be watched to be fully appreciated, though some people might take offense to making light of overweight people. But that was the Buffalo Bill Show, never afraid to go where other shows wouldn't. Or the show where Buffalo Bill's young daughter from Fresno who he hadn't seen in years comes to Buffalo and moves in with his black make-up artist with whom he has less than perfect rapport. But it was all in good fun and provided some side-splitting laughs.

There is good news. Fortunately, this just came out on DVD. Somebody beside me apparently realized how great this show was and recognized there is a market for it. Unfortunately, there are only 24 episodes to watch. But 24 are better than nothing. Watch them if you can beg, buy, borrow or steal a copy of this. If you haven't seen this show before, find out what we missed.

I watched this show when it was on in prime time in the early 80s but never saw it again until i purchased the DVD set just the other day, I'm about halfway through the 26 episodes and i have to say that I'm really enjoying it, Dabney Coleman is at his best here playing the egotistical Bill Bittinger and is surrounded by a great supporting cast,and although its well done, its not surprising it was canceled after only 2 seasons, the story lines and Bill Bittingers abrasive character was too much for TV at the time, it probably would have done much better today.

I grew up and still live in Toronto Ontario, and Buffalo New York is not all that far from here,so i found it appealing how they captured pretty much what Buffalo TV was like and its well worthwhile to view this series.

I was inbetween broadcasting jobs and this came out. Abashedly true to life in the 80's and before, for the broadcasting industry. A real shame when it was cancelled.

When will the network suits realize that they have genius within their grasp: they've screwed up TWO Dabney Coleman series' in one decade and, of the two, this one is the saddest loss.

In "Buffalo Bill", Coleman plays Bill Bittinger, the host of a local talk show in Buffalo, New York (naturally), who isn't above a little pushing, shoving, name-calling and double-dealing to get what he wants from his show, co-workers, fans, guests...the list goes on and on.

And of course, as created by the creative team of Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, it is not lacking for sardonic wit and commentary so biting it leaves a mark. Just check their credits - they're no strangers to this territory.

And the supporting cast contains no slouchers. Joanna Cassidy, John Fiedler, Geena Davis (!), Charles Robinson (Mack from "Night Court"); every one of them is a pro and shine their brightest. But the best support comes from Max Wright, who plays Bill's station manager - the ever-paranoid Karl Shub.

But this show was at its best when Coleman was at his most corrosive. There were touchy subjects delved into here (racism, work ethics, demanding relationships, etc.), all sharpened to razor-keenness and delivered unflinchingly with only the slightest sugar-coating.

And HERE'S the weird part: after winning accolade after accolade from reviewers, magazines, TV fans and just about everybody else...it got CANCELED! WHY??! Well, probably because it dove a little TOO deep into what goes on behind the scenes of a TV show. Oh, those crazy network suits and their 180's....

Well, far be it from me to second-guess what NBC was thinking when they got rid of this singular gem in their schedule. But it was a bad move on their part, to say the least. Maybe they figured having "Hill Street Blues" was enough?

Ten stars for "Buffalo Bill", and one bonus star for Dabney Coleman at his best. If you ever get a chance, shuffle off to THIS "Buffalo".

Long before "Larry Sanders", this series took a look at what goes on during and behind the scenes at a talk show. This is Dabney Coleman at his best. His portrayal of the philanderer Bill Bittinger is brilliant. And Joanna Cassidy is wonderful as JoJo, his on-again, off-again romantic interest. After all these years, I still consider this to be one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. It's a shame that few people have seen it.

Not ahead of it's time but firmly planted in the times. It gave us a nice look at the nastiness of the age. Hilarious. Probably one of the top three comedies to hit the airwaves. I have a distinct memory of laughing so hard that I fell off the couch. I have tried by hook or crook to get copies. I also think it's cancellation represents the true death of the soul of this country. The country had decided that it could not tolerate smart people writing for television. I don't know what it's numbers were but with a show of this quality it's bad business to not give it time to at least develop an audience. So, what's new another tragedy perpetuated by the Network idiots.

Only once in a while does a show this clever come along. Buffalo Bill Bittiner (Dabney Coleman) is an arrogant, self-centered, misogynistic pig, who hosts a low budget local talk show in Buffalo, NY. While the concept of an off-color comedy based on such a vile character will not appeal to all audiences, this show had many layers, and was very well written and executed. On the surface, the show focused on the offensive, yet hilarious, antics of Dabney's character, but below the surface is an insecure, paranoid, confused, and cowardly train wreck of a man -- not that one should feel sorry for him. Bill Bittiner may think his "assertive" antics conceal his flaws and insecurities from his co-workers and talk show audience, but these antics are transparent to everyone but Bill, and only added comedic and ironic flavor to the show.

Not only was Dabney Coleman brilliant in this role, but so was his supporting cast. His research assistant was played by a young Geena Davis, his faithful stage hand by the late John Fiedler (the voice of Piglet), and his makeup man was played by Charles Robinson, who later directed Night Court. There were also a number of notable guest appearances such as: Oscar winner Martin Landau, comedian Julie Brown, and an uncredited appearance by Jim Carrey. Most of the show focused on Bill Bittinger's antics, but there were also some genuine moments and meaningful side-skits acted out by Coleman's diverse cast of supporting characters.

This show did not do so well in prime time, and I was very disappointed to see it canceled.. I suspect that too many viewers found Coleman's character too much to bear, even if taken with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, I was thrilled when I found out that the complete series was released on DVD, even though it took 20 years.

After a wait of 20 years I was finally able to obtain the 3 disc set of Buffalo Bill, a favorite of mine from the 80's. Watching it again only underscores my fond memories of classic leading edge humor on TV and I recommend it to all who appreciate extraordinary quality. The writing and cast selection defy criticism as each actor was perfect in their part-----many have gone on to even greater successes.

Cancellation of the series absolutely defied logic as it was a clear winner. Kudos to all associated with the production----a true classic to make all very proud. Thanks for a great job!!!

Bob Schoenberg, Brewster, NY

This was a terribly funny corruscating comedy centered upon a loathsome boss at work. The show was consistently surprising - fast-moving with real bite. I loved it - it's a shame it was taken off the air so soon. I'd love to see a DVD of the episodes.

Dabney Coleman can deliver terribly funny terribly unprofessional lines better than any actor I know - the striking thing is that they seem so natural to the character he plays. Joanna was a perfect foil.

The series was just perfect - but not promoted well enough before it was cancelled to build up a head of steam among the audience.

Come to think of it, they could just put the series on again today - Coleman is very much still around. It would be loved.

A nasty, mean-spirited, and duplicitous lead character (Dabney Coleman) made for a comedy series that is always outrageous. And very, very funny.

When Dabney got too ornery, the series could always shift its focus to his co-star, Joanna Cassidy, cool on the surface, hot underneath.

Dabney's later series, "The Slap Maxwell Story", was the same idea, only his character had been defanged, and the venom removed for safety.

That long line of great shows that were canceled or short - changed by television decision makers: HE AND SHE, TAXI (which at least managed to get through four seasons), BEST OF THE WEST, and this show.

Dabney Coleman is still active, God bless him, as a performer - but his really meanest days are behind him. Nowadays he can be seen playing nicer, older men. But when he started, on MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN, he was a despicable, power-hungry, lecherous creep. And he continued that persona in film and television program until about five years ago. NINE TO FIVE is the best example of this but there are other examples - his ambitious C.I.A. official in THE TALL DARK MAN WITH ONE RED SHOE (American version) is another example. And there was this show, that lasted one season only twenty three years ago.

Bill Bittinger was the host of a talk show in Buffalo who had no redeeming features at all. He had a following in Buffalo, but he never can break into national exposure - no matter what he tries. He gives agita to his producer (Max Wright) by his antics and comments that raise the hackles of various people and groups. He treats his staff (Geena Davis, John Fiedler, Charlie Robinson, Joanna Cassidy) as dirt. And he always ends up looking like an ass. Occasionally he is able to break even. In one episode he insults Fiedler, who (for some reason) really admires him. Fiedler quits, and Coleman finds he was absolutely essential to his success on the air. Fiedler, it turns out, also invested his salary wisely, and is Coleman's landlord. Coleman manages to apologize in a matter of speaking to Fiedler, which Fiedler (knowing Coleman's personality) is willing to accept.

In another episode, Coleman manages to talk himself into a corner (on "principle") that enables Wright to take him off the air. He's replaced by episodes of M.A.S.H. (which Wright likes because he likes the character of Radar). Eventually, much to Wright's surprise and dismay, Coleman manages to get back on the air by the end of the episode.

The best episode has been described - where Coleman's bigotry leads to his firing Robinson, and his having a nightmare that he is being pursued by the most violently imagined African-American stereotypes. I have never heard "Hit the Road Jack" since without thinking about this episode.

BUFFALO BILL was one of the best comedies in television history. It only lasted that one season - pity. But then television network programming executives frequently lack vision and patience - and certainly they lack pity.

Imagine that "The Dick Van Dyke Show" had centered on Carl Reiner's Alan Brady character and you will have a pretty good handle on Dabney Coleman's "Buffalo Bill" series.

Despite the many conspiracy theories there is little actual mystery regarding the early cancellation of Coleman's series; it simply failed to find an audience large enough to sustain it. Awards and critical acclaim won't take a show very far; especially back in the days when the three networks were pulling in the vast majority of television viewers.

If a quality show is a little different (insert "The Big Bang Theory" here) it will start slow and must show "steady" progress toward building a larger viewing audience. The progress only happens if it "holds" onto its initial group of viewers while adding new viewers each week that it is broadcast. Generally this only works if the show has figured out what it wants to be and consistently delivers a weekly product. Once firmly established a show has the luxury of an occasional clinker episode.

Unfortunately, "Buffalo Bill" was perhaps the most inconsistent series in the history of television. I hung with it throughout its entire broadcast run and was amazed by the wild swings from week-to-week. Episode 7 "Guess Who's Coming To Buffalo?" was an absolute gem, and several other episodes were equally inspired; but you never quite knew what you would get. Friends could be talked into one viewing. If it happened to be the right episode they would be hooked. If they saw a dog episode they would never watch again.

The cast was rarely the problem, although someone should have figured out that the best moments seemed to come when Dabney Coleman and Pippa Peartree were interacting as father and wayward daughter. These provided an amazing mix of comedy and poignancy; yet they were far too few. Contrast them with the much more frequent stuff involving Charles Robinson's Newdell, which was generally awkward and forced; both the writing and the execution. You don't have to look further than decisions like this to see that the producers had some serious "don't have a clue" moments.

The self-absorbed title character was often the source of the ratings-killing inconsistency. The humorous moments came from his exaggerated character flaws; imagine a self-promoting version of Sheldon Cooper. The "wheels fall off" moments were typically those showcasing his unlikely need for the approval of others; they could never quite settle on just who Bill was. The more his character wobbled between extremes of selfishness and vulnerability the harder it was take vicarious pleasure in his antics.

The uniqueness of the series was in its attempt to integrate comedy with serious subjects. Too often this crossed the line into overwrought melodrama. But when they got the balance right it worked as well as anything that has ever been on network television.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.