Blossom (TV series)

Blossom
File:Blossomlogo.jpg Blossom Title Card
Created by	Don Reo
Starring	Mayim Bialik Joey Lawrence Michael Stoyanov Jenna von Oÿ Ted Wass Finola Hughes Courtney Chase David Lascher Barnard Hughes Melissa Manchester Sean Pasternak Portia Dawson
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	114
Production
Running time	22 minutes
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	January 3, 1991 – May 22, 1995

Blossom was a half-hour comedy television series broadcast from 1991 to 1995 on NBC, Mondays at 8:30pm (after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). The series starred Mayim Bialik as Blossom Russo, a teenage girl living with her father and two brothers. It was created by Don Reo. The series also found some popularity in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, where it was shown on Channel 4.

When Blossom premiered on NBC January 3, 1991, Blossom was 13 years old, and was arguably the most mature member of her TV family. The series begins with Blossom's mother having left the family to pursue her own life and career and the family trying to adjust. Blossom's dad Nick (Ted Wass) is a session musician who was frequently between gigs and tours. Her oldest brother Anthony (Michael Stoyanov) is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. Joey (Joey Lawrence), the other brother, is a fairly stereotypical "dumb jock," known for his popular catch phrase "whoa" (drawn out in a falsetto). Blossom's best friend Six LeMeure (Jenna von Oÿ) also plays a significant part in her life. A sweet girl, and an especially fast talker, Six was best known for her tendency to ramble at an almost incoherent pace, reminiscent of the "Micro Machines man" from the 1980s commercials. Blossom also frequently got advice from famous celebrities in fantasy scenes.

Five seasons of Blossom were produced, with a total of 114 episodes. The theme music was "My Opinionation" by Mike Post and Steve Geyer and performed by recording artist Dr. John. (Note that 'opinionation' is not a real word.)

The phrase "a very special Blossom" entered into slang lexicon in reference to a number of episodes given such billing by the network, usually in reference to a show addressing a specific social issue. The term has since become used pejoratively to refer to television shows with heavy-handed moralizing.

Trivia

• In the first season, Phylicia Rashad (in a nod to her role on The Cosby Show) played Blossom's vision of an ideal mother during a dream sequence in one episode.
• In the pilot, Joey Lawrence's character is named Donny; for the series run, the character was renamed Joey.
• It has been said that Will Smith appeared on the show as Will (his 'Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air) as a cameo appearance.
• The character of Six was originally going to face a teen pregnancy in the fourth season. However, NBC vetoed the idea due to it being too controversial for the time. "Blossom" would have been the first major sitcom to tackle such an issue involving a main character.
• Bill Bixby directed several episodes of the show before his death in 1993.
• The show was in syndication from 1995-1998

Blossom was popular among teens and adults and remained on the air for 5 years. Blossom was known in particular for her groundbreakingly stylish hats, which pioneered a new trend among all age groups at the time.

External links

• Blossom - Pazsaz Entertainment Network
• BBC Comedy Guide