50 Fascinating Fun Facts about Popular TV Shows 2023 - retoreview
TV shows have become a staple of our daily lives, providing entertainment, escape, and often, a sense of community. From the early days of black-and-white television to the streaming wars of today, TV shows have captivated audiences with their compelling stories, characters, and worlds. But did you know that there's a treasure trove of fun facts and behind-the-scenes trivia about your favorite TV shows? In this article, we'll explore 50 fascinating fun facts about popular TV shows, from classic sitcoms to modern dramas.
1. Friends: The show's original title was "Insomnia Cafe," and the iconic fountain in the opening credits was actually located on the Warner Bros. lot, not in New York City.
2. The Office: The show's theme song, "The Office Theme," was composed by Jay Ferguson, who also wrote the theme song for the hit '80s TV show "Family Ties."
3. Breaking Bad: The show's creator, Vince Gilligan, initially pitched the series as a "Mr. Chips turns into Scarface" story, referencing the classic film "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" and the infamous drug lord.
4. Game of Thrones: The show's pilot episode was directed by Tom McCarthy, who went on to win an Oscar for his film "Spotlight."
5. Seinfeld: The show's co-creator, Larry David, provided the voice of George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees, in several episodes.
6. The Sopranos: The show's iconic opening sequence, featuring Tony Soprano driving through New Jersey, was shot using a specially designed camera rig mounted on the hood of a car.
7. The Simpsons: The show's creator, Matt Groening, named several of the characters after members of his own family, including Homer (his father's name) and Marge (his mother's name).
8. Mad Men: The show's creator, Matthew Weiner, originally pitched the series as a movie before turning it into a TV show.
9. The Big Bang Theory: The show's set is decorated with real scientific artifacts and references to famous scientists, including a portrait of Albert Einstein in Leonard and Sheldon's apartment.
10. Stranger Things: The show's creators, the Duffer brothers, originally planned for the series to be titled "Montauk" and set in Long Island, New York.
11. The West Wing: The show's creator, Aaron Sorkin, wrote or co-wrote every episode of the first four seasons.
12. The Crown: The show's costume designer, Michele Clapton, created over 7,000 costumes for the first two seasons, including Queen Elizabeth II's iconic outfits.
13. The Handmaid's Tale: The show's source material, Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, was published in 1985 but saw a resurgence in popularity following the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
14. Cheers: The show's theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics.
15. This Is Us: The show's creator, Dan Fogelman, previously wrote the hit movie "Crazy, Stupid, Love" and the animated film "Tangled."
16. The Walking Dead: The show's makeup effects designer, Greg Nicotero, was a protege of legendary horror makeup artist Tom Savini.
17. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: The show's title character, Midge Maisel, is based in part on real-life comedian Joan Rivers, and show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino has said that Rivers was a huge influence on her career.
18. Parks and Recreation: The show's co-creator, Michael Schur, also co-created the hit sitcom "The Good Place" and served as a writer and producer on "The Office."
19. Stranger Things: The show's creators, the Duffer brothers, were inspired by '80s films such as "E.T.," "Stand By Me," and "The Goonies."
20. The Handmaid's Tale: The show's cast includes several actors who have also appeared in other popular TV shows, including Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), Joseph Fiennes (American Horror Story), and Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black).
21. The Office: The show's famous "Dundie Awards" were actually inspired by a real-life awards ceremony that show writer Mindy Kaling attended at her previous job.
22. Game of Thrones: The show's visual effects team, led by VFX supervisor Joe Bauer, won a total of 17 Emmy Awards over the course of the series' run.
23. Friends: The show's producers initially cast actress Jane Sibbett as Ross's ex-wife, Carol, but ultimately replaced her with actress Anita Barone for the pilot episode.
24. The Sopranos: The show's creator, David Chase, was inspired to create the series after reading a book about the real-life DeCavalcante crime family, which operated in New Jersey in the 1980s.
25. The West Wing: The show's cast includes several actors who went on to become major stars, including Rob Lowe, Bradley Whitford, and Allison Janney.
26. Breaking Bad: The show's main character, Walter White, was initially supposed to die at the end of the first season, but the show's writers decided to keep him alive and see where the story took him.
27. The Crown: The show's first two seasons were filmed almost entirely in the UK, with locations including Lancaster House, Eltham Palace, and Ely Cathedral.
28. Stranger Things: The show's opening sequence, featuring the show's logo and theme music, was inspired by classic '80s films such as "The Thing" and "The Terminator."
29. The Handmaid's Tale: The show's second season was directed entirely by women, including showrunner Bruce Miller and several guest directors.
30. Friends: The show's cast famously negotiated as a group for higher salaries after the first season, paving the way for future ensemble cast negotiations in Hollywood.
31. Mad Men: The show's opening credits, featuring a silhouette of a falling man, were created by design firm Imaginary Forces and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Design.
32. The Big Bang Theory: The show's creator, Chuck Lorre, also created the hit sitcoms "Two and a Half Men" and "Mom."
33. This Is Us: The show's cast includes several actors who have also appeared in other popular TV shows, including Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), Mandy Moore (Scrubs), and Sterling K. Brown (American Crime Story).
34. Breaking Bad: The show's iconic blue methamphetamine was actually made from rock candy, and was created by the show's prop master, Mark Hansen.
35. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: The show's opening credits, featuring Rachel Brosnahan's character performing a stand-up routine, were choreographed by Emmy-winning choreographer Marguerite Derricks.
36. The Office: The show's iconic "That's what she said" catchphrase was actually first used by Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott, in the second season episode "Sexual Harassment."
37. Stranger Things: The show's creators, the Duffer brothers, originally pitched the show as a limited series, but Netflix convinced them to expand it into a full-fledged series.
38. The Handmaid's Tale: The show's iconic red handmaids' robes were designed by costume designer Ane Crabtree, who based them on a combination of Puritan clothing and Soviet uniforms.
39. Friends: The show's famous Central Perk set was actually built on a soundstage in Los Angeles, and is now part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood.
40. Breaking Bad: The show's final episode, "Felina," was written and directed by show creator Vince Gilligan, and received widespread critical acclaim.
41. The Crown: The show's first season received 13 Emmy nominations and won three, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Claire Foy's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II.
42. Mad Men: The show's creator, Matthew Weiner, was inspired to create the series after reading a book about the advertising industry in the 1960s.
43. The West Wing: The show's creator, Aaron Sorkin, is known for his fast-paced, witty dialogue, which has been praised by critics and fans alike.
44. The Big Bang Theory: The show's creators, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, originally wanted to cast a real-life physicist to play the role of Sheldon Cooper, but eventually decided on actor Jim Parsons after he auditioned for the role and impressed them with his performance.
45. Stranger Things: The show's iconic "Upside Down" alternate dimension was created using a combination of practical and digital effects, and was inspired by the work of artist H.R. Giger.
46. The Office: The show's "Mockumentary" style, in which characters speak directly to the camera and the action is presented as if it were a documentary, has since been replicated in other popular comedies such as "Parks and Recreation" and "Modern Family."
47. Friends: The show's famous "Rachel" haircut, worn by Jennifer Aniston's character, was actually a mistake made by hairstylist Chris McMillan, who was rushed for time while styling Aniston's hair for the show.
48. Breaking Bad: The show's final season was split into two parts, with the first half airing in 2012 and the second half airing in 2013, to allow the writers and producers more time to wrap up the storylines.
49. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: The show's setting, 1950s New York City, was recreated using a combination of practical sets and visual effects, and was praised for its attention to detail.
50. The Handmaid's Tale: The show's themes of oppression, resistance, and female empowerment have made it a powerful and impactful series, and it has been praised for its timely social commentary.
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