The Heights (American TV series)

The Heights is an American musical drama series that aired Thursday at 9:00 pm on Fox from August 27 to November 26, 1992.

The Heights
GenreMusical drama
Created byEric Roth
Tony Spiridakis
StarringJamie Walters
Camille Saviola
Alex Désert
Charlotte Ross
Zachary Throne
Theme music composerBarry Coffing
Steve Tyrell
Stephanie Tyrell
Opening theme"How Do You Talk to an Angel" performed by the Heights
ComposersShawn David Thompson, Zachary Throne, Jamie Walters
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producerTony Spiridakis
ProducersAaron Spelling
E. Duke Vincent
EditorMichael B. Hoggan
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time45–48 minutes
Production companySpelling Television
Original release
NetworkFox
ReleaseAugust 27 (1992-08-27) –
November 26, 1992 (1992-11-26)

Synopsis

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The Heights centered on a fictional band (also called the Heights) made up of mostly working-class young adults. Episodes regularly featured one of their songs.

The eventual theme song for the show, "How Do You Talk to an Angel" (sung by cast member Jamie Walters), went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was the first song from a television show to top the Hot 100 since 1985, as well as the first song by a fictional band to top the Hot 100 since 1969. The Heights premiered on August 27, 1992, to low ratings, and never gained a substantial audience. Fox canceled the series less than a week after the theme song fell from the number one spot.[1]

Cast

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  • Ray Aranha as Mr. Mike Lee, Stan's father
  • Alex Désert as Stan Lee, bass player
  • Ken Garito as Arthur "Dizzy" Mazelli, drummer
  • Cheryl Pollak as Rita MacDougal, sax player
  • Donnelly Rhodes as Harry Abramowitz, Jodie's father
  • Charlotte Ross as Hope Linden, guitarist
  • Shawn David Thompson as J.T. Banks, lead singer
  • Zachary Throne as Lenny Wieckowski, keyboardist
  • Tasia Valenza as Jodie Abramowitz, Dizzy's girlfriend
  • Jamie Walters as Alex O'Brien, singer-songwriter

On the soundtrack album, session musicians played most of the backing tracks, although the cast sang their own vocals. On the single "How Do You Talk To An Angel", the instrumentation was entirely performed by session musicians, while the vocals were entirely performed by all seven "Heights" members (with Jamie Walters on lead). However, some of the actors were actually also musicians, and on a few album tracks, Jamie Walters played guitar, Zachary Throne guitars, keyboards and bass, Cheryl Pollak saxophone and Ken Garito drums, percussion and guitar.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Talk to an Angel"Donald PetrieTony SpiridakisAugust 27, 1992 (1992-08-27)
2"Children of the Night"Sandy SmolanTony SpiridakisSeptember 3, 1992 (1992-09-03)
3"Decisions"John NicolellaMatt DearbornSeptember 10, 1992 (1992-09-10)
4"Natalie"Donald PetrieTony SpiridakisSeptember 17, 1992 (1992-09-17)
5"Shooting Stars"John NicolellaParis QuallesSeptember 24, 1992 (1992-09-24)
6"Flashback"UnknownJames KramerOctober 1, 1992 (1992-10-01)
7"So Hot"James HaymanJames Kramer & Matt DearbornOctober 22, 1992 (1992-10-22)
8"On the Road"Jefferson KibbeeStory by : Janna King
Teleplay by : Tony Spiridakis
October 29, 1992 (1992-10-29)
9"The Big Day"Jefferson KibbeeTony SpiridakisNovember 5, 1992 (1992-11-05)
10"Honeymoon"Steven RobmanParis QuallesNovember 12, 1992 (1992-11-12)
11"Strains"Jefferson KibbeeTony Spiridakis & Matt DearbornNovember 19, 1992 (1992-11-19)
12"Nightmares"John NicolellaStory by : James Kramer
Teleplay by : James Kramer & Paris Qualles
November 26, 1992 (1992-11-26)
13"The Big Chance"Steven RobmanStory by : Matt Dearborn
Teleplay by : Tony Spiridakis & Matt Dearborn
N/A

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
1993 BMI Film & TV Awards Special Recognition Barry Coffing, Stephanie Tyrell, and Steve Tyrell
For the song "How Do You Talk to an Angel"
Won
1993 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics Nominated

See also

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  • Catwalk, a 1992–94 TV series about a fictional band, with several of the same songwriters called the Heights.
  • The Monkees, a 1966–68 comedy television series about a band who achieved huge success in real life.
  • California Dreams, a 1992-96 Saturday morning series about a fictional band which also had music by Steve Tyrell and which used Heights theme co-writer Barry Coffing and cast member Zachary Thorne as singing voices for two of the characters.

References

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  1. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book Of Number 1 Hits (5 ed.). Billboard Books. p. 812. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6.
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