Throb is an American sitcom that aired in syndication from September 6, 1986, to May 21, 1988. The series, created by Fredi Towbin, was produced by Procter & Gamble Productions in association with Taft Entertainment Television, and was distributed by Worldvision Enterprises. The series' rights are currently held by CBS Television Distribution.

Throb
Title card
GenreSitcom
Created byFredi Towbin
StarringDiana Canova
Jonathan Prince
Maryedith Burrell
Jane Leeves
Richard Cummings Jr.
Paul Walker (season 1)
Sean de Veritch (season 2)
Music byTena Clark
Opening theme"Throb" – performed by The Nylons
Ending theme"Throb" – performed by Diana Canova and The Nylons
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes48
Production
Executive producerFredi Towbin
ProducerJason Shubb
Production companiesSwany, Inc.
Procter & Gamble Productions
Taft Entertainment Television
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseSeptember 6, 1986 (1986-09-06) –
May 21, 1988 (1988-05-21)

Synopsis

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The series revolved around a thirty-something divorcee named Sandy Beatty (Diana Canova), who gets a job at a small new wave record label, Throb. Beatty's boss is Zachary Armstrong (Jonathan Prince), who had a huge crush on Sandy. Beatty also has a 12-year-old son named Jeremy (played in the first season by Paul Walker and in season two by Sean de Veritch). Beatty's best friend was Meredith (Maryedith Burrell), a single teacher who lived in her building, and her co-workers included hip business manager Phil Gaines (Richard Cummings, Jr.) and British-born Prudence Anne Bartlett, who was nicknamed "Blue" (Jane Leeves).

During the second season, Sandy moved from her original apartment to the recently vacated penthouse in her building. She took in her co-worker Blue to help out with rent but the differences between straitlaced, somewhat conservative Sandy and the free-spirited Blue became more pronounced as they both lived and worked together. However, they were still friends.

Casting

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This show was the first time many American TV viewers saw Jane Leeves, who later gained fame as Daphne Moon on Frasier. Paul Walker played Jeremy Beatty for the first season, and would become a leading man in Hollywood some 15 years later, particularly after his breakthrough role in The Fast and the Furious.

The creation of the Zachary Armstrong character, and the casting of Jonathan Prince in the role, was inspired by the (then) current rising fame of Michael J. Fox. Prince bore a strong physical resemblance to Fox, and played Zachary with many similar characterizations as Fox's Family Ties character, Alex P. Keaton. Like Alex Keaton, Zachary was also a young, diminutive overachiever on the fast track who found himself attracted to women who were both older and taller than he, the main object of his affection being Sandy.

Cast

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Episodes

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Season 1: 1986–1987

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Pilot"Linda DayFredi TowbinSeptember 20, 1986 (1986-09-20)
22"Our Song"Linda DayGeorge TibblesSeptember 27, 1986 (1986-09-27)
33"Getting to Know You"Phil RamunoStory by : Mark Duvall & Jay Wolf
Teleplay by : Lee H. Grant
October 4, 1986 (1986-10-04)
44"My Fair Punker Lady"Linda DayStory by : Sandy Krinski
Teleplay by : Hollis Rich
October 11, 1986 (1986-10-11)
55"I Lost Him at the Movies"Linda DayHollis RichOctober 18, 1986 (1986-10-18)
66"Something Extra"Michael LessacAndy Cowan & David S. WilligerOctober 25, 1986 (1986-10-25)
77"Bus of Dreams"Barnet KellmanMichael Lessac & Fredi TowbinNovember 1, 1986 (1986-11-01)
88"The Concert"Phil RumunoMichael ShortNovember 8, 1986 (1986-11-08)
99"The Party"Phil RamunoAndy GoldbergNovember 15, 1986 (1986-11-15)
1010"Tassles"Renny TempleFredi TowbinNovember 22, 1986 (1986-11-22)
1111"Wedding Bell Blue"Tony SingletaryFredi TowbinDecember 6, 1986 (1986-12-06)
1212"Nothing Personal"Tony SingletaryRichard MarcusDecember 13, 1986 (1986-12-13)
1313"Confidence Game"Phil RamunoHollis RichJanuary 24, 1987 (1987-01-24)
1414"Brief Encounter"Phil RamunoStory by : Sue Herring
Teleplay by : Hollis Rich
January 31, 1987 (1987-01-31)
1515"Genius"Barnet KellmanJeffrey DuteilFebruary 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)
1616"An Oldie But Goodie"Barnet KellmanStory by : Seth Weisbord
Teleplay by : Joel Kimmel & Ann Gibbs
February 14, 1987 (1987-02-14)
1717"High Anxiety"Nancy HeydornRichard MarcusFebruary 21, 1987 (1987-02-21)
1818"Death Be Not Weird"John BellHollis RichFebruary 28, 1987 (1987-02-28)
1919"Buffalo"Renny TempleFredi TowbinMarch 21, 1987 (1987-03-21)
2020"Party Games"Barnet KellmanBarry RubinowitzApril 25, 1987 (1987-04-25)
2121"Moonlighting"Phil RamunoStory by : Jerry Rannow
Teleplay by : Laura Levine
May 2, 1987 (1987-05-02)
2222"Two Flights Up"Phil RumanoStory by : Jill Sacco & Barbara J. Herndon
Teleplay by : Richard Marcus
May 9, 1987 (1987-05-09)
2323"Nashville, Almost"Phil RamunoStory by : Daniel J. Finneran
Teleplay by : Fredi Towbin & George Arthur Bloom
May 16, 1987 (1987-05-16)
2424"Rainy Day People"Steve ZuckermanJeffrey Duteil & Hollis RichMay 23, 1987 (1987-05-23)

Season 2: 1987–1988

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
251"Moving In"Stan HarrisFredi Towbin & Hollis RichSeptember 19, 1987 (1987-09-19)
262"The Spa"Stan HarrisHollis RichSeptember 26, 1987 (1987-09-26)
273"Torn Between Two Lovers"Gregory LehaneAndy GoldbergOctober 3, 1987 (1987-10-03)
284"Future Shock"Phil RamunoStory by : Molly G. Towbin
Teleplay by : Fredi Towbin
October 10, 1987 (1987-10-10)
295"Good Vibrations"Phil RamunoLaurie NewboundOctober 17, 1987 (1987-10-17)
306"Whose Coup Is It Anyway?"Gregory LehaneMichael GordonOctober 24, 1987 (1987-10-24)
317"Last Night at the Fire Station: Part 1"Phil RamunoMichael Gordon & Fredi TowbinOctober 31, 1987 (1987-10-31)
328"Last Night at the Fire Station: Part 2"Phil RamunoMichael Gordon & Fredi TowbinNovember 7, 1987 (1987-11-07)
339"Garden Party"Gregory LehaneDiana CanovaNovember 14, 1987 (1987-11-14)
3410"Selling Out"Gregory LehaneGlenn Leopold & Kevin HoppsNovember 21, 1987 (1987-11-21)
3511"The Golden Guys"Gregory LehaneStory by : Fredi Towbin
Teleplay by : Fredi Towbin & Hollis Rich
December 5, 1987 (1987-12-05)
3612"One Christmas"Gregory LehaneHollis Rich & Fredi TowbinDecember 12, 1987 (1987-12-12)
3713"Mary Heartless"Joe RegalbutoDoug McIntyreJanuary 2, 1988 (1988-01-02)
3814"Men Without Lips"Marc GassJane Gould & Shelly LandauJanuary 30, 1988 (1988-01-30)
3915"Make a Joyful Noise"Gregory LehaneBill Barker & Julieta EnglandFebruary 6, 1988 (1988-02-06)
4016"The Cable Show"Gregory LehaneHollis Rich & Fredi TowbinFebruary 13, 1988 (1988-02-13)
4117"Here Come the Amish"Phil RamunoMichael GordonFebruary 20, 1988 (1988-02-20)
4218"Only the Lonely"Joe RegalbutoLawrence H. LevyMarch 5, 1988 (1988-03-05)
4319"There's No Place Like Home"John J. DesmondLaurie NewboundMarch 12, 1988 (1988-03-12)
4420"Summer Job"Phil PamunoStory by : Michael Gordon
Teleplay by : Michael Gordon & Fredi Towbin
April 23, 1988 (1988-04-23)
4521"Neil Returns"Gregory LehaneHollis RichApril 30, 1988 (1988-04-30)
4622"Jung Love"Marc GassMichael GordonMay 7, 1988 (1988-05-07)
4723"The Grammy"James WiddoesBarbara J. Herndon & Jill SaccoMay 14, 1988 (1988-05-14)
4824"She Can't Sing, Don't Ask Her"Gregory LehaneStory by : Lisa Chernin
Teleplay by : Diana Canova & Colleen Dodson
May 21, 1988 (1988-05-21)

References

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