RUNNING THE HALLS FAQ
Ian J. Ball
FAQ & EPISODE GUIDE:
by Ian J. Ball
This version: 1.1
Last updated: September 1, 1994
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
0.0) Introduction
0.1) What is a FAQ? What is an Episode Guide?
0.2) Where the Author Can Be Reached
1.0) Running the Halls
1.1) What is Running the Halls?
1.2) The Cast & Episode Guide of Running the Halls
1.3) Background on the Actors
0.0) INTRODUCTION
This FAQ deals with the NBC television show, Running the Halls, which was
shown as part of NBC's T-NBC line up that was inspired by the success of
the series Saved by the Bell.
This is the first edition of a file that will be occasionally posted
to answer Frequently Asked Questions about the show Running the Halls
which was part of NBC's children's/teenager's TV line-up, T-NBC.
Permission is granted by the author to distribute this file in an
UNMODIFIED form to other networks and BB's, etc. Rights to modifications
to this file are reserved by the author.
Note: This document may freely copied and distributed for personal
use or for the sake of information purposes only. It may be
distributed in its entirety, with all original author and copyright
information intact. Any sales of this document or use of it in a for-
profit project, or use in any other capacity save those already
mentioned, is expressly forbidden without the specific consent of
the author. Copyright, Ian J. Ball, 1994.
0.1) What is a FAQ? What is an Episode Guide?
A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) or a FAQL (Frequently Asked Questions
List) is a document that serves to answer commonly (or perhaps not so
commonly) asked questions about a particular subject. Such a document is
usually posted to the internet (or to an online service) to the various
groups or BB's (bulletin boards) to which it is relevant, in the hopes of
answering these often asked questions.
An episode guide is a document that serves to provide information about
each episode of a particular TV show. This episode guides will provide a
short synopsis of the plot of each episode, and the guest credits for that
episode.
0.2) Where the Author Can Be Reached
This is the first edition of this FAQ & episode guide, and it is probably
either incorrect in parts or is missing useful information. If any person
has any questions, comments or suggestions about this FAQ, please contact
Ian J. Ball at:
i...@argon.chem.ucla.edu (9am to 5pm, Pacific Time, weekdays)
IJB...@aol.com (all other times)
Any help on this project will be appreciated.
1.0) RUNNING THE HALLS
1.1) What is Running the Halls?
After the success of Saved by the Bell, the original series, NBC wanted to
expand its T-NBC Saturday morning line-up. So after starting California
Dreams in 1992, NBC launched a third comedy in the fall of 1993. This
show, Running the Halls (RtH for short in this FAQ) which debuted on NBC
on September 11, 1993, was the first T-NBC comedy not to be produced by
Peter Engel of SbtB and California Dreams fame (though its Executive in
Charge of Production, as with Saved by the Bell-the New Class, California
Dreams and Name Your Adventure, was Gary Considine). The producer of
Running the Halls was Steve Slavkin. There were 13 first-run episodes
shown Running the Halls' first (and only), '93-94 season.
This show, also unlike the other two, was set in a private boarding school
by the name of Middlefield Academy. However, like the Saved by the Bell,
Running the Halls primarily focused on the adventures of three girls and
three boys, particularly the scheming, "Zack Morrisesque" Andy McBain.
Rounding out the cast were the Headmistress, Miss Gilman, and her comical,
student lackey, Mark "The Shark" Stark.
What made Running the Halls different than its T-NBC predecessors was its
use of ridiculous and surreal plot developments and imagery to further the
comedy. In this way, Running the Halls cast itself as the successor (of
sorts) to the FOX TV show, Parker Lewis (Can't Lose). Some felt that RtH's
use of this innovative comedy style made RtH superior to its T-NBC
predecessors.
But like Parker Lewis, Running the Halls was also too sophisticated for
its teenaged audience. RtH suffered from low ratings, and was canceled by
NBC after just one season. Its last episode, a repeat, aired on September
4, 1994. Its time slot was taken up by a second episode of Saved by the
Bell-the New Class for that show's second season.
1.2) The Cast & Episode Guide of Running the Halls
Season 1 (Grade 9):
The first (and only) season of Running the Halls focused in on the
development of the characters of the two rooming groups, the girls and the
boys. Particular attention was paid to the characters of Andy McBain,
Holiday Friedman (especially after she and McBain became an item), and to
a lesser extent the characters of Miles Taylor and Mark "The Shark" Stark.
The main story line was the romance of McBain and Holiday, and a sub-plot
toward the end of the season was the developing romance between David
Reese and Molloy Simpson.
As stated above, RtH was canceled after just one season.
Running the Halls cast:
Andy McBain -Richard Hayes
Miles Taylor -Craig Kirkwood
David Reese -Trevor Lissaeur
Molloy Simpson -Lackey Bevis
Holiday Friedman -Laurie Fourtier
Nikki Watson -Senta Moses
Mark G. "The Shark"
Stark -Richard Speight, Jr.
Miss Karen Gilman -Pamela Bowen
Guest stars of note:
(1.2,
1.12) Mr. Perlman -Philip Perlman [unbilled in 1.2]
(1.3) Tiffany -Tamica Washington
(1.4) Ferris Bachman -Mike Sabatino
(1.5) Coach -Johnny Dark
(1.5) Football players -Dirk Cheetwood
(1.5) -Dean Wesley Bennett
(1.5) -Billy Boulton
(1.6) Super (Carl) Cooper-Michael Bower
(1.8) Mr. Hank Penner -Ron Karabatsos
(1.9) "Gorilla-gram" -unbilled
(1.9) Abdul -unbilled [Seen unbilled,
in the background,
of episodes 1.9-11]
(1.10) Mr. Sherman Renfield,
the conductor -William Marshall
(1.10) Vanessa Renfield -Marta Boyett
(1.10) Phyllis von
Hertzberg -Clarissa Mancuso
(1.11) Stanley Schnitzer -K. Michael Maschek
(1.12) Jessica Rollins -Lee Armstrong
(1.13) Reno Davis -Todd Sheeler
(1.13) Biker dude -Charles Dahlgren
Episode 1.1-The first day at Middlefield Academy, and the Shark makes
McBain, Taylor and Reese roommates, and they soon start to
compete with girl roommates Molloy, Holiday and Nikki; Miss
Gilman is introduced; setting: Middlefield Academy,
anywhere?, USA
Episode 1.2-McBain and Reese fight over prospective date Holiday for a
school dance, endangering their friendship
Episode 1.3-Nikki and Holiday battle for a spot on the cheerleading
squad; the boys sell food while trying to avoid the Shark
Episode 1.4-McBain and Molloy are rowing partners for an intercollegiate
race, until they fight, and then fall for each other; the
others fight over painting a mural
Episode 1.5-McBain must pass a geography test to play in the big
football game, but Taylor refuses to change McBain's grade
angering McBain and the team
Episode 1.6-McBain and Holiday manage student council campaigns for
Taylor and Nikki respectively, leading to dirty tricks, and
eventual romantic union
Episode 1.7-Reese accuses Molloy of stealing his term paper leading to a
trial; McBain, Holiday and Taylor steal a rival school's
mascot
Episode 1.8-The gang tries to keep the Shark away from a party the boys
are holding in their room; Nikki tries to get dates for
Reese and Molloy
Episode 1.9-The pressure grows on McBain as he draws closer to breaking
a big basketball record and Middlefield draws closer to the
basketball title; Holiday gats day-care duty
Episode 1.10-An alumni prompts Reese and Molloy and McBain and Holiday
to go on a treasure hunt; Taylor falls for the alumni's
daughter
Episode 1.11-Reese loses Miss Gilman's watch; Taylor attempts to learn
magic; the gang tries to get tickets for a rave
Episode 1.12-When Holiday is forced to leave Middlefield, McBain finds
himself in the arms of another; the others accidentally
distribute copies of a science test
Episode 1.13-Before spring break, it looks like McBain and Holiday are
going to break up when she dates a musician; the gang
prepares to go to Mexico for Spring Break
1.3) Background on the Actors
As NBC didn't provide information on Running the Halls on AOL, I have no
information on the stars of RtH except that both Pamela Bowen (Miss
Gilman) and Richard Hayes (Andy McBain) were in episodes of California
Dreams. Pamela Bowen was also seen in an episode of "Matlock", and I have
it on good authority that she is married to a member of the rock band
"Kiss".
If they turn up anywhere, please let me know at IJB...@aol.com.
--
IJB...@aol.com
i...@argon.chem.ucla.edu