TV Series That Used A Curtain Call
On occasion, television series have included curtain calls at the conclusion of their runs, with the cast breaking character and often showing the audience and crew:
- In 1977, the Australian prime time soap opera, Number 96, paid homage to both its cast and loyal audience by devoting a significant part of its final episode (#1218) to a curtain call of many of the series' regular stars, past and present.
- Also in 1977, the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, entitled "The Last Show" ended with Mary Tyler Moore addressing the studio audience and introducing and paying tribute to her castmates. Discounting live broadcasts of the past and shows-within-shows such as The Honeymooners, this was one of the first times a filmed American network series had broken character in this fashion.
- In 1990 the final episode of Cop Rock, a short-lived attempt at a musical police procedural series, ended with the cast and crew breaking character and gathering to perform a closing song.
- Also, in 1990, The finale episode of Newhart titled, "The Last Newhart" ended with a curtain call, very reminiscent of the "Mary Tyler Moore" finale as originally broadcast, with Bob thanking the studio audience, and the cast members, to thunderous applause. Unlike the "Mary" finale, whose credits were replaced with the generic type in syndication, but recently restored on the season 7 set, "Newhart"'s finale has always aired in reruns with its curtain call end credits intact.
- In 1992, the final episode of The Cosby Show ended with actors Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād breaking the fourth wall and dancing past the cameras and towards the studio audience.
- In 1995, the final episode of Full House ended with the main cast all coming to take a bow as the words "Our Thanks, Our Love" appear on the screen.
- In 1999 the final episode of the sitcom Home Improvement used the same curtain call technique as The Mary Tyler Moore Show by having the cast break character and take a bow after the story ended.
- In 2009 and 2010 after every episode of the UK comedy series Miranda. Each main character waves farewell followed by a bow.
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Famous quotes containing the words series, curtain and/or call:
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—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)
“Once the curtain is raised, the actor ceases to belong to himself. He belongs to his character, to his author, to his public. He must do the impossible to identify himself with the first, not to betray the second, and not to disappoint the third.”
—Sarah Bernhardt (1845–1923)
“Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.”
—Bible: New Testament, Mark 10:18.
Jesus.