Thank God You're Here (U.S. TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Thank God You're Here


caption =
genre = Improvisation comedy
creator = Working Dog Productions
developer =
presenter =
starring = Host
David Alan Grier
Judge
Dave Foley
Repertory Company
Chris Tallman
Maribeth Monroe
Brian Palermo
Nyima Funk
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme = "Come Anytime" by Hoodoo Gurus
endtheme =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 7
list_episodes =
producer = David Alan Grier
executive_producer = Fax Bahr, Cécile Frot-Coutaz, Adam Small
location = flagicon|USA Los Angeles, CA, U.S.
camera =
runtime = 60 minutes "(Including commercials)"
network = NBC
picture_format = 480i (SDTV)
720p (HDTV)
audio_format = Stereo
first_aired = April 9, 2007
last_aired = May 14, 2007
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = Original Australian version of "Thank God You're Here"
website = http://www.nbc.com/TGYH
imdb_id = 0983782
tv_com_id = 68730

"Thank God You're Here" was a partially improvised comedy television program based on the Australian TV show, broadcast by NBC. The show was hosted by David Alan Grier and presided over by judge Dave Foley. The pilot was shot on November 9, 2006 and NBC initially ordered six episodes [cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070226nbc02 |title=NBC Press Release |accessdate=2007-08-09 |format=HTML |work= [http://www.thefutoncritic.com thefutoncritic.com] ] . The show debuted with a two-hour, double-episode premiere on Monday, April 9, 2007 at 9pm ET. It was produced by FremantleMedia North America, with Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Fremantle, Fax Bahr, and Adam Small as executive producers.

The show aired on Mondays for its first two weeks. It was moved to Wednesdays on April 18, 2007.

On May 14, 2007, after the initial order of 7 episodes aired, the series was officially cancelled by NBC. [cite web |url=http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/05/2007_cancelled_shows_several_nbc_cancellations.php |title=2007 Cancelled Shows: Several NBC Cancellations |accessdate=2007-05-20 |format=HTML |work= [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com tvseriesfinale.com] ]

Summary

"Thank God You're Here" showcased the improvisational skills of a group of four actors each week, as they walked into a live sketch without having seen a script for it. The only clue the actors had as to the content of the sketch, and the role they would be playing within the sketch, was their costume.

Upon entering the sketch, the actors were greeted with "Thank God you're here!" from another actor in the sketch. The one notable exception to this occurred when George Takei, dressed as a surgeon, entered the scene and uttered the first line as "Thank God I'm here!", much to the delight of the audience. Outside of the principal actor, all actors in the sketch had a script which they more or less followed, depending on the improvisations. Sketches had no set ending point - instead, they went on until the judge (Foley) stopped them with a buzzer. Also, in each episode one of the skits would feature David Alan Grier in a surprise cameo.

At the end of the show, the judge chose a winner from among the four actor contestants. The winner was awarded a trophy. Unlike the Australian version, no honorable or dishonorable mentions were chosen.

Cast

* David Alan Grier — Host
* Dave Foley — Judge
* Chris Tallman - Ensemble
* Maribeth Monroe - Ensemble
* Brian Palermo - Ensemble
* Nyima Funk- Ensemble

TV rating

"Thank God You're Here" was rated TV-PG. However, in the second episode, the show popped up with a TV-14 rating after the commercial break. It was probably due either to a technical difficulty or the second skit was not as appropriate as the others. However, the second episode was TV-PG.

List of episodes

Episode 3: April 16, 2007

Episode 6: May 9, 2007

Episode 7: May 16, 2007

Notes: This episode featured an appearance by Jerry Springer and was originally supposed to feature Alanis Morissette, who ended up pulling out.

References

External links

* [http://www.nbc.com/TGYH Official site at NBC.com]
*
* [http://www.tv.com/show/68730/summary.html Thank God You're Here at TV.com]