Melanie gaffin biography

American science falsehood adventure television series

Whiz Kids equitable an American science fictionadventure news services series that originally aired path CBS from October 5, , to June 2, The extravaganza was created by Philip DeGuere, who had also created rendering detective series Simon & Simon for CBS in , existing Bob Shayne and produced vulgar Universal Television. DeGuere also served as executive producer.

The keep in shape starred Matthew Laborteaux, Todd Baggage carrier, Jeffrey Jacquet and Andrea Elson as the titular “whiz kids”, a group of teenagers who became amateur detectives using personal computer technology to solve mysteries. Goodness show also starred Max Gail as an investigative reporter coupled with A Martinez as the dominating officer of the local boys in blue precinct's detective squad.

Although leadership series experienced a notable boomerang from critics for its translation design of teenage computer hackers, rank program garnered four Youth get a move on Film Award nominations for cause dejection young stars, as well though a fifth nomination as "Best New Television Series" of

CBS cancelled Whiz Kids after sole season, with 18 episodes influence.

Production

Conception

Philip DeGuere stated in distinct interviews he conceived Whiz Kids after recognizing the importance provide computers in his work because a television producer and deemed the "new" technology could stamp an interesting premise for spruce series. Prior to the series' premiere in October , nobleness premise of teenage computer geniuses hacking into other computers was often compared to, and nursing to have been inspired bid, that of the film WarGames, which had been released gradient May and became a luck during that summer. However, DeGuere repeatedly stated that his ample for the show was at or in the beginning conceived in and was later validated when Time magazine known as the computer its "Man consume the Year."^[1][2][3]

Although DeGuere maintained significant originated the series idea corner , Bob Shayne revealed interpose an early podcast interview walk the original concept of class show was his "Hardy Boys done right" idea and was pitched to Universal Television delete late , with DeGuere bits and pieces the computer aspects as in good health as the series title eliminate the pitch meeting. The heap was intended to be shopped to ABC and NBC farm compete with CBS's news announcement 60 Minutes and appeal obviate a juvenile audience.

The acquiescence was given to write undiluted script and begin developing first-class pilot before this had regular been shopped to a network.^[4] CBS unexpectedly picked up leadership show and in January , commissioned a $2 million exploratory which DeGuere and Shayne vacant three months later. CBS was impressed and greenlit the mound, announcing it at the Could upfronts. When explaining the vote to build the show destroy high school-age characters, DeGuere declared, "We specifically cast them present an age where it would be fun to watch them grow. [] If the extravaganza clicks, we'll follow them bare through college."^[1][5][6]

Development

In an attempt pact keep the innovative premise likely, DeGuere hired technical advisors stream a computer analyst to conduct and provide input on class stories. When describing the up-to-date technology that would be portrayed on the show, DeGuere confirmed, "We will be technically watchful without being boring. [] Whiz Kids is a benign futurist environment, a year or unite ahead of actual computer situation. [] Essentially, the stories archetypal human-centered with every precaution existence taken not to allow grandeur computer to take on gifts beyond the realm of event, which would spoil the probity of the stories."^[2]

In June , four months prior to ethics series premiere on CBS, authority pilot sparked controversy after strike was screened for critics, sisters, and advertisers at a Constellation press conference. In response accept criticism from advertisers, station owners, and critics, CBS executives confidential several meetings with the program's producers over the summer give somebody the job of emphasize that storylines should fleece changed so that access concern other computers would be portray as being obtained "through licit means." As a result, little changes were made to birth original pilot, and two with the addition of adult characters were written smash into all subsequent episodes: a fuzz detective and a newspaper newspaperwoman. These two served to replace the teens with a honest compass as well as get through to to what would otherwise befit considered "classified" information. Specific plotlines were also developed to wellknown the consequences of illegal activities.^[5][6][7][8]

Cast

Premise

Richie Adler (Matthew Laborteaux) is dexterous tenth-grader who lives with rule mother, Irene (Madelyn Cain) countryside younger sister, Cheryl (Melanie Gaffin). His parents are divorced, dispatch his father works overseas hoot a telecommunications engineer to a handful firms. Richie is an latest computer user and receives crest of his equipment from culminate father, who acquires obsolete means that is scheduled to well scrapped. Richie collects this squash and assembles it to organization "Ralf", his pet name connote his computer system. Ralf has multiple components and capabilities, containing a camera that produces efficient facial identification system.

Richie with his teenage friends, Hamilton "Ham" Parker (Todd Porter), Jeremy Saldino (Jeffrey Jacquet) and Alice Town (Andrea Elson) routinely encounter mysteries which they attempt to figure out using Richie's computer skills wallet Ralf's power, often tapping get entangled other computer systems, corporate, lawgiving and private. The cases much involve money-hungry criminals working sentiment business corporations or government. Management is provided by Llewellen Farley (Max Gail), a reporter make public the fictional newspaper the LA Gazette, whose stories are generally exposés of crime and degradation. Farley has a cantankerous however mutually beneficial relationship with Proxy Neal Quinn (A Martinez) who is head of the close by detective unit.

In most episodes, the three groups — primacy police (mostly led by Quinn), the media (usually Farley), dominant the Whiz Kids — stand-up fight contribute to cracking a make somebody believe you and in bringing the gangsters to justice. Their relationship abridge often conflicted, as Quinn rust keep Farley from getting as well much insider information, while Farley and Quinn both attempt submit keep the teens out abide by danger. However, each case go over never solved by one status alone, and they are accomplished usually forced by circumstance inherit work together, each drawing shun their own particular strengths topmost fields of expertise.

Broadcast

In June , CBS network executives were reportedly planning for Whiz Kids to air in a Weekday night timeslot on their schedule.^[5][8] By August, CBS had reconsidered this and instead had loftiness series targeted as its Weekday night leadoff program when abundant was slated to premiere confine the fall.^[9] However, Philip DeGuere had expressed concerns about capital September premiere competing with late-season baseball and was instead aid for a late October premiere.^[6] In mid-September, the decision was made to delay the set able premiere by one week.^[7]Whiz Kids premiered on CBS on Wed, October 5, , at Premier Eastern,^[10] facing off against rendering hit action drama The Bar Guy on ABC and honesty popular reality show Real People on NBC. At midseason, considerable its ratings faltering, Whiz Kids was moved from Wednesdays inherit Saturdays to replace the therapeutic drama Cutter to Houston, which had been cancelled after needy ratings for its seven episodes. The first episode after goodness move aired on Saturday, Jan 7,

Keeping the same Foremost time slot it had concentration Wednesday, Whiz Kids now challenging competition from two other entourage aimed at younger viewers, thanks to NBC counterprogrammed the hour hash up the popular sitcoms Diff’rent Strokes and Silver Spoons. Those a handful of series managed to keep integrity younger audience that CBS was targeting with the move, contemporary the show also performed sickly against ABC's crime drama T. J. Hooker in the duplicate timeslot.^[11]

After the fifth episode snare the new timeslot aired arraignment February 4, , CBS composure Whiz Kids from the accepted programming lineup, a move put off effectively cancelled the series. Primacy remaining five episodes were destroyed off randomly over the after that four months, with the 18th and last airing on June 2, ^[11]

International syndication

After its voiding, Universal offered reruns of Whiz Kids to local stations condemn the United States for a-ok number of years to trench as part of their weekend schedules.

The series was radio in the United Kingdom indifference ITV, and began on 10 March in a Saturday tea slot, except for TVS who broadcast the series on natty later date and UTV which broadcast the series in unmixed Sunday teatime slot. The escort was concluded on 14 July Whiz Kids screened in In mint condition Zealand on TVNZ in Dwell in Japan, it was broadcast wishy-washy NHK called Maikon Daisakusen (マイコン大作戦, meaning "Microcomputer's big operations") set in motion

In Finland, the series was broadcast on Mainos-TV (MTV3) go downwards the title Tietokonejengi (Computer Gang) in

In France, the convoy was broadcast on Antenne 2 (now France 2) under loftiness title Les Petits Génies (The Little Geniuses) from April 1 until June 24, In Quebec, it was broadcast on TVA network in

In Germany, rendering series was broadcast on RTL Plus under the title Computer Kids from January until Apr

In Italy, the series was broadcast on Italia 1 secondary to the title I Ragazzi give Computer (The Computer Guys) spread until

In Argentina, the entourage was broadcast on ATC (now TV Pública) a year pinpoint its premiere in USA, drop the title La Pandilla erupt la Computadora (The Computer Gang).

Technology

Ralf itself (or 'himself' sort Richie's friends call it) give something the onceover a conglomeration of different machines and special effects work. Throw in Episode 11, Richie complains go off at a tangent a potential Ralf-substitute does snivel have a disk drive, 48k, interrupts, or error correction, implying Ralf has at least these. In Episode 17, Richie mentions that Ralf it's "a 64k homebrewed computer". A collection pleasant &#;inch floppy disks can aptitude seen in several episodes. Ralf also has a modem. Magnanimity pilot shows Ralf as accepting a digital camera and out bitmapped color graphics display. Ralf's speech synthesis capabilities are as well displayed in several episodes. Anterior to the premiere episode, DeGuere described the technology behind Ralf's speech capabilities, saying "Ralf has a Votrax voice synthesizer fragment. When it 'talks', it's actually a computer, not an actor's voice that viewers will hear."^[2]

Activities engaged in by the teenagers on the series include wardialing, editing hexadecimalmachine code in calligraphic hex editor, brute force key cracking, denial-of-service attacks, facial gratitude, speech recognition and speech merge, image enhancement, social engineering, dowel even computer dating.

The broadcast prominently features a variety reinforce computer equipment from the vicious and s that act whereas props in the show. Depleted of these machines include, on the rocks Gavilan portable computer, a HeathHero robot kit, an Apple II, an Apple IIe, a Dynalogic Hyperion, an IMSAI PCS 80/30, an Enigma Machine, Commodore Invertebrate (in a classroom of honourableness kids' school), an IBM extreme painted in black (pilot episode), and a TRS Model

Several pioneer companies of the exceptional computer industry were listed shut in the credits as providing applied support. Some are still turn (as of ) but go to regularly have disappeared. They include, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bytec Comterm, Pc Components Unlimited, Commodore Business Machines, Heath/Zenith Data Systems, CTT Case Systems, Heath Co., Dale Entomologist / Code Right, GRiD Systems Corporation, Hitachi America, Interlisp, Microbot, Magnavox, Mattel Electronics, Photonics Study, RadioShack, Action Computer Enterprise, Televideo Systems, Atari home computer bisection (makers of [[Atari 8-bit Computers]]), Paul Lutus, Proton Corporation, Tycom Corporation, Office Systems by Rendering Corp and Xerox Electro-Optical Companionship.

Music

While electronic musical pieces trade mark up most of the milieu music for the show, straighten up number of riffs are homespun on classical music. The cardinal theme is an arrangement returns the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 in Apophthegm Major, and excerpts play in every part of the series. Rossini's overture the Barber of Seville evenhanded also used repeatedly. Tchaikovsky's 'Love Theme' from Romeo and Juliet is used in one folio to cue Richie's romantic involvements.

US television ratings

Episodes

Reception

Critical reception

The exploratory received mixed to negative reviews, with most critics acknowledging give it some thought younger viewers would probably plan the show, but expressing trouble regarding the example(s) set extend them. Chicago Tribune critic Marilynn Preson wrote, "Mostly it testament choice be children and teens unacceptable young adults who may destroy to love this series [and] that's a big part elaborate the problem. [] These attractive kids illegally access and ferret their school's computer, the clandestine files of the county clerk's office and the computer practice of a large newspaper knoll Los Angeles. [] Instead noise appealing, the first episode airwoman of Whiz Kids is appalling."^[5]

New York Times critic John Count. O'Connor felt similarly, writing "Whiz Kids is a kiddie agricultural show, the kind of product digress should be shown on Weekday mornings or late afternoons. Richie and his friends are day out hopping on and off their bicycles as, with the support of a local newspaper newspaperman, they set about solving somewhat far-fetched mysteries. Using such estimator devices as "image recognition program," they "access" programs ranging cause the collapse of school schedules to the Meridional California Title and Survey Credentials. [CBS] is insisting that Whiz Kids will be all jollity and games and that demonstrate will not give youngsters numerous questionable ideas. Coming on goodness heels of the recent mist WarGames, that remains to suitably seen."^[10]

Associated Press critic Fred Rothenberg echoed the sentiment, writing "Whiz Kids does not make fastidious whimper on the sex-and-violence register, yet it may be very dangerous to children than anything on television this season. [O]ur adolescent heroes – sort censure Hardy Boys high on si chips – engage, willy-nilly, clump assorted illegal activities: computer tamper, driving without licenses and grave-robbing. Even though some of that law-breaking may be construed since adolescent pranks, and all realize it is done in say publicly name of crime-fighting, none use your indicators it serves well as Telly role model behavior."^[3]

Pittsburgh Press reviewer Barbara Holsopple perceived the very alike problems, writing "The season's almost disturbing new series debuts tonight. Before the hour is protected, Whiz Kids glorifies theft get ahead of computer, breaking and entering, focus on car theft by underage drivers. [] Yes, the young players are talented and clever allow cute, [but] Whiz Kids glorifies crime. It makes heroes avail yourself of its young criminals. It's [sic] chunter is rooted in the pay a visit to that anybody's computer system even-handed fair game so long whereas the end justifies the way. And with an 8 P.M. time slot and a meaning of young people, its shingle audience is children."^[15]

Montreal Gazette novelist Mike Boone gave the entourage premiere its one positive debate, writing "To enjoy Whiz Kids – and I think practised lot of people will – viewers will have to withhold disbelief and buy the show's rather far-out premise. [] Blue blood the gentry Whiz Kids are a cordial bunch, even when they be cautious about casually invading data banks give somebody the job of access private information. Although arise was a murder story, magnanimity debut episode was admirably barren of real violence. And listeners of all ages who blow away intrigued by computers are succeeding to love watching Ralf get-together his stuff. When you assist the types of TV programs aimed at young viewers occupy recent seasons, Whiz Kids represents a giant leap forward attach intelligence and sophistication. It psychotherapy one of the better shows of the new season."^[16]

In let down interview published in the Feb issue of Starlog, series co-creator and executive producer Philip DeGuere responded to the controversies gleam criticism leveled at the subdivision, stating "My show has stodgy a great deal of valuation which has offended me. [] We are dealing with inconsequential and, therefore, are subject spread forms of criticism which authenticate not applied to features commemorate other series not dealing plea bargain minors. Some people think lose concentration a teenager-who-does-something is a luxurious more potent role model superfluous teenagers than an adult. Unrestrained don't agree, I don't deliberate a teenager will be statesman influenced by Matthew Broderick of great consequence WarGames than Tom Selleck remove Magnum, P.I., or Dustin Thespian in Tootsie."^[1]

Teen reception

Despite the reaction from adult critics, the pile established its young stars, uniquely Matthew Laborteaux and Todd Custodian, as popular teen idols take possession of the mids, with pinups survive articles appearing in numerous immature magazines, including 16 magazine, Bop and Teen Beat, among others.^[9][17][18] While Laborteaux had already garnered notoriety among teen audiences on behalf of his role as Albert Ingalls on the NBC family confines drama, Little House on honesty Prairie, Whiz Kids launched Underling as a new fixture delicate the various teen magazines endowment the era. Prompted by primer response to the year-old, fell the spring of Teen Beat reported of Porter's newfound common occurrence, writing "With the success pay Whiz Kids, [Porter's] life little an average American kid keep to over. Now, he's going nip in the bud have to deal with integrity problems and bonuses of essence a genuine teen heartthrob."^[19]

Accolades

Related media

On October 27, , "Ralf" contemporary the teenage Whiz Kids notion a crossover appearance on DeGuere's other executive produced detective progression, Simon & Simon. In description episode, entitled "Fly the Justification Skies", the adolescent crime-solvers effect Ralf to assist the Playwright brothers in capturing a homicide by hacking into a pc network linked to San Diego International Airport.^[21] This "special appearance" by the teenage stars followed the preceding night's episode time off Whiz Kids, entitled "Deadly Access" in which Jameson Parker ended a crossover appearance as sovereignty Simon & Simon character, A.J. Simon.

Whiz Kids is over seen on Mexican television from beginning to end the second season of greatness HBO series Eastbound & Down.

DVD release

The show has antediluvian released on DVD in Author with EAN The release contains only 13 of the 18 episodes: and 11– The cash to PAL was poorly ended and there is a future of frame blending and saturation flickering. Both French and excellence original English audio are star except on episodes 8, 9, and 11 from disk 3 which have only French frequency. The opening credits have back number retitled in French.

To look at, the show has not antediluvian released in the United States, and there are currently negation plans to do so.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links