Hang Time (TV series)

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)

This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (January 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Hang Time" TV series – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

1995 American TV series or program

Hang Time

Created by|

* Troy Searer
* Robert Tarlow
* Mark Fink

Starring|

* Reggie Theus
* Dick Butkus
* (for remainder of cast, see below)

Music by|

* Alan Ett (1995)
* Mark Heyes (1996–2000)

Opening theme|

* "Runnin' with this Dream (Hang Time)" (1995)
* "Me and My Friends at Hang Time" (1996–2000)

Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 6[1]
No. of episodes| 104 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers|

* Mark Fink (1995)
* Peter Engel (1996–2000)

Producers|

* Roxie Wenk-Evans (1995)
* Jon Spector (1996)
* Javier Winnik (1997–2001)
* Marco Bario (1997–1999)

Production location| Indianapolis, Indiana
Camera setup| Multi-camera
Running time| 30 minutes
Production companies|

* NBC Studios
* Peter Engel Productions (1996–2000)

Original release
Network| NBC
Release| September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09) –
December 16, 2000 (2000-12-16)

Hang Time is an American teen sitcom that aired on NBC from September 9, 1995, to December 16, 2000, as part of the network's Saturday morning program block for teenagers, TNBC. Created by Troy Searer, Robert Tarlow and Mark Fink, the series featured extensive cast changes throughout its six-season run, similar to its TNBC stablemate Saved by the Bell: The New Class. The show's title is taken from a sports term referring to how long a basketball player stays in the air after leaving the ground for a slam dunk. Hang Time won a Prism Award in 1999 for its accurate depictions of drug use in the season four episodes "High Hoops" and "Breaks of the Game".[2]

## Synopsis

[edit]

The series follows the Deering Tornados boys' varsity basketball team at fictional Deering High School in Deering, Indiana.[3] In the pilot episode, Julie Connor (Daniella Deutscher) transfers from Chicago, Illinois and earns a spot as the team's first female player after impressing Coach Bill Fuller (Reggie Theus), a former NBA player. Though initially met with resistance, she wins over her teammates, including star player Chris Atwater (David Hanson), Danny Mellon (Chad Gabriel), who quickly develops a crush on her, the confident Michael Maxwell (Christian Belnavis), and the country-raised Earl Hatfield (Robert Michael Ryan). Head cheerleader Mary Beth Pepperton (Megan Parlen), initially jealous due to Julie’s closeness with her then-boyfriend Chris, eventually comes around. Team manager Samantha Morgan (Hillary Tuck) begins dating Danny later in the season.

In Season 2, Saved by the Bell executive producer Peter Engel took over as showrunner, bringing major changes to the series. Half the main cast was replaced, with only Daniella Deutscher, Megan Parlen, Chad Gabriel, and Reggie Theus returning. New team members included Josh Sanders (Kevin Bell), a former Little League star coaxed back into sports; Vince D'Amata (Michael Sullivan), a Chicago native and former alternate; and Theodore "Teddy" Brodis (Anthony Anderson), Coach Fuller's godson and son of a former pro player. Paige Peterson joined as Cindy Amy Wright, the new head cheerleader, replacing Mary Beth, who was promoted to team manager. Her struggles in the role led to a demotion to assistant manager, where she ultimately excelled. The season also shifted in tone, blending topical teen issues like drug use, underage drinking, and sexual harassment with comedic storylines typical of other TNBC shows.

The remainder of the series saw multiple cast changes, most notably the Season 4 addition of former NFL player Dick Butkus as Coach Mike Katowinski, the Tornados' new head coach. Although Hang Time ran for six seasons, with earlier episodes implying Mary Beth and Julie were near college age, only Daniella Deutscher and Megan Parlen remained with the show for its entire run.

Season 3 introduced Adam Frost as star player Michael Manning, who became Julie’s on-again/off-again boyfriend, and Amber Barretto as Kristy Ford, the new head cheerleader after Amy's unexplained exit. Kristy later became entangled in Mary Beth’s comedic mishaps and was eventually promoted to team manager by Coach Katowinski, who fired Mary Beth after repeated mistakes. Frost and Barretto were the only new cast members to stay through the later seasons alongside Deutscher and Parlen.

In the series finale, “Graduation On Three,” the remaining students graduated and headed to different colleges, except Eugene, who was offered a job after his college plans were left unclear. Coach Katowinski’s future was also unspecified, though he continued coaching the now all-boys team at Deering High.

## Cast

[edit]

Actor  | Character  | Seasons

|
|

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6
Daniella Deutscher | Julie Connor  | Main
Megan Parlen | Mary Beth Pepperton  | Main
Chad Gabriel  | Danny Mellon  | Main |
Reggie Theus | Coach Bill Fuller  | Main |
David Hanson  | Chris Atwater  | Main |
Hillary Tuck | Samantha Morgan  | Main |
Christian Belnavis  | Michael Maxwell  | Main |
Robert Michael Ryan  | Earl Hatfield  | Main |
Kevin Bell  | Josh Sanders  |  | Main |
Michael Sullivan  | Vince D'Amata  |  | Main |
Anthony Anderson | Theodore "Teddy" Brodis, Jr.  |  | Main |
Paige Peterson  | Cindy Amy Wright  |  | Main |
Adam Frost  | Michael Manning  |  | Main
Amber Barretto  | Kristy Ford  |  | Main
Mark Famiglietti | Nick Hammer  |  | Main | Guest
Dick Butkus | Coach Mike Katowinski  |  | Main
Danso Gordon  | Kenny 'Silk' Hayes  |  | Main
James Villani  | Rico Bosco  |  | Main |
Jay Hernandez | Antonio Lopez  |  | Recurring | Main
Phillip Glasser | Eugene Brown  |  | Main

## Episodes

[edit]

Main article: List of Hang Time episodes

Season| Episodes| Originally released

|
|

First released| Last released
1| 13| September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)| December 2, 1995 (1995-12-02)
2| 13| September 7, 1996 (1996-09-07)| November 30, 1996 (1996-11-30)
3| 26| September 13, 1997 (1997-09-13)| December 6, 1997 (1997-12-06)
4| 26| September 12, 1998 (1998-09-12)| December 5, 1998 (1998-12-05)
5| 14| September 11, 1999 (1999-09-11)| March 11, 2000 (2000-03-11)
6| 12| September 23, 2000 (2000-09-23)| December 16, 2000 (2000-12-16)

## International broadcasts

[edit]

Country  | Network

|

Australia | Seven Network
Canada | Global
Chile | Channel 13 (Chile)
Czech Republic | TV Nova
Estonia | Kanal 2
Ireland | RTÉ2
Italy | Italia 1
Guatemala | Trecevision
Malaysia | TV2
New Zealand | Channel 4
Philippines | Studio 23
Poland | TVN, ZigZap
Republic of Ireland | Network 2
South Korea | SBS
United Kingdom | Channel 4 (first-run)
Trouble (reruns)
Republic of Turkiye | TRT 1

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "BBC - Comedy Guide - Hang Time". Archived from the original on November 19, 2004.
2. ^ Nick Madigan (March 9, 1999). "Media addiction depiction". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
3. ^ N.F. Mendoza (October 1, 1995). "SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO; High school Hoosiers court the kid audience for NBC's Saturday morning". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 293117018. Retrieved February 18, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* 1996 site
* Official 1998 Website
* Hang Time at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

TNBC

* All About Us
* Brains & Brawn
* California Dreams
* City Guys
* Double Up
* Hang Time
* Just Deal
* NBA Inside Stuff
* Name Your Adventure
* One World
* Running the Halls
* Saved by the Bell
* Saved by the Bell: The New Class
* Sk8

* Children's programming on NBC

* v
* t
* e

Children's programming on NBC in the 1990s

First-run
animated series|

* Smurfs (1981-90)
* Kissyfur (1986–90)
* Camp Candy (1989–91)
* Captain N: The Game Master (1989–92)
* The Karate Kid (1989–90)
* Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983–91)
* ALF Tales (1988–90)
* The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990–91)
* Gravedale High (1990–91)
* Kid 'n Play (1990–91)
* Space Cats (1991–92)
* Yo Yogi! (1991–92)
* Super Mario World (1991–92)
* ProStars (1991–92)
* Wish Kid (1991–92)

First-run
live-action series|

* Saved by the Bell (1989–93)
* Guys Next Door (1990)
* Saturday Morning Videos (1990–92)
* NBA Inside Stuff (1990–2002)
* Chip and Pepper's Cartoon Madness (1991–92)
* Double Up (1992)
* Brains & Brawn (1993–94)
* Saved by the Bell: The New Class (1993–2000)
* Name Your Adventure (1993–95)
* Running the Halls (1993–94)
* California Dreams (1992–96)
* Hang Time (1995–2000)
* City Guys (1997–2001)
* One World (1998–2001)

Related|

* Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990)
* TNBC (1993–2002)
* Modern animation in the United States

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template