Sammy (TV series)
An adult animated sitcom that lasted only two weeks on NBC.
Sammy was an adult-oriented animated sitcom from the United States that NBC broadcast in 2000. Comedians David Spade and Drake Sather created the show, which lasted only two weeks, premiering on August 8 and concluding on August 15 of that year. The series marked the final production from Adelaide Studios to rely on traditional hand-drawn cel animation, except for its opening sequence, which used digital ink and paint.
The show centered on James "Jamie" Blake, a successful actor living in Los Angeles with his two brothers, and his father Sammy. David Spade provided the voices for both characters. Storylines followed the father’s attempts to reconnect with his three estranged sons. Spade noted that the premise drew from his own strained relationship with his father.
NBC originally developed Sammy alongside another adult animated sitcom, *God, the Devil and Bob*, hoping to ride the growing wave of animated programming aimed at grown-ups. When *God, the Devil and Bob* drew poor ratings and controversy over its content, it was quickly canceled and later sold to Cartoon Network for its Adult Swim block. This left Sammy in an uncertain position; it did not premiere until early August 2000, with little promotion or public attention. NBC was legally required to broadcast the first two episodes, and after both aired, the show was quietly dropped. Voice actress Olivia Hack, who played Lola, stated that 13 episodes were produced in total.
The cast included David Spade as Sammy Blake and James Blake, Harland Williams as Todd Blake, Bob Odenkirk as Gary Blake, Maura Tierney as Kathy Kelly, Andy Dick as Mark Jacobs, Julia Sweeney as Marie La Peer, Jeffrey Tambor as Steve La Peer, Olivia Hack as Lola Blake (episodes 3–13), Janeane Garofalo as Emily Blake and Rebecca Rebeccatin, Mila Kunis as Lola Blake (episode 2), Pauly Shore as Nelson, David Cross as Craig Blake, A. J. Benza as himself, Alyssa Milano as herself, David Duchovny as himself, Drew Hastings as Dr. Breman, Referee and Border Guard, Frank van Keeken as Theadeus, Mark Fite as Bartender and Doorman, Tony Plana as Kiosk Owner and El Capitan, Becky Thyre as Girl 1 and Microphone Girl, Candi Milo as Pilar and Mexican Woman, Rolando Molina as Barkeep, Mexican Guy, Deputy and Lieutenant, Sally Kellerman as Cleo, and Nia Vardalos.
Critical reaction was negative.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Animated sitcom
- Company
- Desert Rat Productions / Brad Grey Television / NBC Studios / Adelaide Productions
- Creator
- David Spade / Drake Sather
- Executive Producer
- David Spade / Drake Sather / Richard Raynis / Brad Grey / Marc Gurvitz
- Voices
- David Spade · Bob Odenkirk · Andy Dick · Maura Tierney · Harland Williams · David Cross
- Narrator
- David Spade
- Theme Music Composer
- Chris Lang · Eric Cunningham · Sebastian Robertson
- Composer
- Jim Latham
- Open Theme
- "Sammy" (instrumental)
- Editor
- Mark Deimel
- Runtime
- 22 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sammy, along with another animated sitcom, God, the Devil and Bob, was conceived by NBC in order to capitalize on the fledgling trend of animated programs geared towards adults. When God, the Devil and Bob attracted low ratings and controversy due to its subject matter, it was quickly cancelled and sold to Cartoon Network to be a part of its Adult Swim block years later. This left Sammy in limbo, not premiering until early August 2000 with minimal promotion and fanfare. NBC was contractually obligated to air the first two episodes, and once both premiered, the show was quietly cancelled. According to Olivia Hack (who voiced Lola), 13 episodes were produced.
The show is an animated sitcom whose central characters are James 'Jamie' Blake and his father Sammy, both of whom are voiced by David Spade. Within the show, the younger Blake is a successful actor who lives in Los Angeles with his two brothers. The show features plot lines in which the father attempts to reconcile with his three estranged sons. Spade said that the show took inspiration from his own estrangement from his father.
The artstyle of the series is reminiscent of Klasky Csupo cartoons as Everett Peck was the character designer for the series.
Reader's Guide
Sammy is notable primarily for its extremely brief broadcast run and its place in the late-1990s/early-2000s wave of adult-oriented animated sitcoms. The series was part of NBC's attempt to capitalize on the trend, but after the cancellation of its companion show God, the Devil and Bob, Sammy was left with little promotion and aired only two of its thirteen produced episodes due to low ratings. Critical reception was negative: David Bianculli of the New York Daily News criticized the show for a lack of humor and found Spade voicing both lead characters 'distracting,' while a review in Variety was similarly negative. The series holds a technical distinction as the last Adelaide Productions series to use traditional cel animation (except for the digitally inked-and-painted opening theme). Its legacy is largely as a footnote in animation history—a short-lived project that failed to find an audience despite a notable cast including Bob Odenkirk, Maura Tierney, and Janeane Garofalo.
Did You Know?
- The series was created by comedians David Spade and Drake Sather.
- Only two of the thirteen produced episodes ever aired on NBC.
- David Spade voiced both lead characters, Sammy Blake and James Blake.
- The art style was reminiscent of Klasky Csupo cartoons due to character designer Everett Peck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sammy (TV series)?
Sammy is an adult animated comedy that aired on NBC during the summer of 2000. The series followed a successful Hollywood actor named Jamie Blake, his two brothers, and their father Sammy navigating life in Los Angeles.
Who created Sammy (TV series)?
Comedian David Spade developed the show together with Drake Sather. Spade additionally voiced two of the principal characters, lending his voice to both the father and the adult son.
How long did Sammy (TV series) run on television?
Although thirteen episodes were produced, NBC only aired two before the series was dropped. The entire broadcast spanned a single week, from August 8 to August 15, 2000.
What made Sammy (TV series) unique within Adelaide Productions' output?
It was the last Adelaide Studios project to depend on traditional hand-drawn cel animation for its main content. Only the opening credits sequence departed from that method by using digital ink and paint.
Why do fans consider Sammy (TV series) a notable Adelaide Productions entry?
Its extremely short two-week window on air makes it one of the studio's briefest television projects. It also stands as the final Adelaide production to feature hand-drawn cel animation, marking a turning point in the studio's visual style.
More in Television Series by Adelaide Productions 1-18
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