Cracking Up
Encyclopedia
For the movie, see Cracking Up (film)
.
Cracking Up is an American
television sitcom
created by School of Rock
writer Mike White, who also served as the series' head writer
. It aired on the Fox Network
on Monday nights from March to May 2004. The title of the program and the name of the psychiatrist, Dr. Bollas, are comic allusions to Christopher Bollas
, a psychoanalyst, and to his book Cracking UP (Routledge, 1996).
) who is sent to examine Tanner Shackleton (Bret Loehr
), a child of a Beverly Hills family, only to discover that Tanner doesn't have any problems — his family does. After the pilot episode, the story was about Ben Baxter (Jason Schwartzman
), a student who moves into the Shackletons' guest house, interacting with Tanner (Bret Loehr
) and his crazy family.
was moved from Sundays to Mondays along with reruns of That '70s Show
in an attempt to boost ratings for Cracking Up, but ratings for both shows suffered, causing Fox
to return the shows to their normal nights and cancel Cracking Up. The show was cancelled after six episodes, leaving six unaired.
Cracking Up (film)
Cracking Up is a comedy film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. Originally titled Smorgasbord, it was filmed in June 1982 and only received limited distribution in the United States....
.
Cracking Up is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
created by School of Rock
School of Rock
School of Rock, also called The School of Rock, is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike White, and starring Jack Black...
writer Mike White, who also served as the series' head writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
. It aired on the Fox Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
on Monday nights from March to May 2004. The title of the program and the name of the psychiatrist, Dr. Bollas, are comic allusions to Christopher Bollas
Christopher Bollas
Christopher Bollas is a British psychoanalyst and writer.-Early life and education:Bollas grew up in Laguna Beach, California and later graduated in history from UC Berkeley. As an undergraduate Bollas studied intellectual history with Carl Schorske, psychoanalytical anthropology with Alan Dundes,...
, a psychoanalyst, and to his book Cracking UP (Routledge, 1996).
Synopsis
In the pilot episode, a psychiatrist (Henry GibsonHenry Gibson
Henry Gibson was an American actor and songwriter, best known as a cast member of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and for his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.-Early life:...
) who is sent to examine Tanner Shackleton (Bret Loehr
Bret Loehr
Bret James Loehr is an American child actor most known for playing Timmy York in the 2003 horror film Identity and for playing as a recurring in the 2004 Fox's sitcom Cracking Up.-External links:*...
), a child of a Beverly Hills family, only to discover that Tanner doesn't have any problems — his family does. After the pilot episode, the story was about Ben Baxter (Jason Schwartzman
Jason Schwartzman
Jason Francesco Schwartzman is an American actor and musician. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the Hollywood films Rushmore, Spun, I Heart Huckabees, Shopgirl, Marie Antoinette, The Darjeeling Limited, Funny People, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World...
), a student who moves into the Shackletons' guest house, interacting with Tanner (Bret Loehr
Bret Loehr
Bret James Loehr is an American child actor most known for playing Timmy York in the 2003 horror film Identity and for playing as a recurring in the 2004 Fox's sitcom Cracking Up.-External links:*...
) and his crazy family.
Reception and cancellation
The show did not last out the season due to mixed reviews and mediocre ratings caused by a Monday night time slot. The Bernie Mac ShowThe Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom featuring comic actor Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. The show aired for five seasons , concluding with a half-hour series finale on Fox....
was moved from Sundays to Mondays along with reruns of That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
in an attempt to boost ratings for Cracking Up, but ratings for both shows suffered, causing Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
to return the shows to their normal nights and cancel Cracking Up. The show was cancelled after six episodes, leaving six unaired.
Special guest stars
- Henry GibsonHenry GibsonHenry Gibson was an American actor and songwriter, best known as a cast member of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and for his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.-Early life:...
- Dr. Bollas (Episode 1, "Pilot") - Zooey DeschanelZooey DeschanelZooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress, musician, and singer-songwriter. In 1999, Deschanel made her film debut in Mumford, followed by her breakout role as young protagonist William Miller's troubled older sister Anita in Cameron Crowe's 2000 semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous...
- Heidi (Episode 2, "Birds Do It") - Marne Patterson - Eve (Episode 2, "Birds Do It")
- Jack BlackJack BlackJack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
- Bruce Philapousis (Episode 3, "Scared Straight") - Kyle GassKyle GassKyle Richard Gass , also known as KG or Kage, is an American rock musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is a member of the bands Tenacious D and Trainwreck. In Tenacious D , Gass plays lead guitar and sings backup vocals, and also plays the role of Black's comic foil in most of their comedy...
- Naked Man (Episode 4, "Panic House") - John C. ReillyJohn C. ReillyJohn Christopher Reilly, Jr. is an American film and theater actor, singer, and comedian. Debuting in Casualties of War in 1989, he is one of several actors whose careers were launched by Brian De Palma. To date, he has appeared in more than fifty films, including three separate films in 2002...
- Steve Evers (Episode 6, "Prom Night") - Amy SedarisAmy SedarisAmy Louise Sedaris is an American actress, author, and comedian. She is known for playing the character Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central television series Strangers with Candy. Sedaris regularly collaborates with her older brother, humorist and author David Sedaris...
- Marla (Episode 6, "Prom Night") - Bret LoehrBret LoehrBret James Loehr is an American child actor most known for playing Timmy York in the 2003 horror film Identity and for playing as a recurring in the 2004 Fox's sitcom Cracking Up.-External links:*...
- Tanner Shackleton
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | Pilot | March 9, 2004 |
| 1-2 | "Birds Do It" | March 10, 2004 |
| 1-3 | "Scared Straight" | March 15, 2004 |
| 1-4 | "Panic House" | March 22, 2004 |
| 1-5 | "Grudge Match" | March 29, 2004 |
| 1-6 | "Prom Night" | April 5, 2004 |
| 1-7 | "Daddy's Home" | Never aired |
| 1-8 | "Learning Disability" | Never aired |
| 1-9 | "The Fixer" | Never aired |
| 1-10 | "The Pool Man" | Never aired |
| 1-11 | "The Bully" | Never aired |
| 1-12 | "Come Home Lassie" | Never aired |
Main crew
- Paul WeitzPaul WeitzPaul Weitz may refer to:*Paul J. Weitz , American astronaut*Paul Weitz , American filmmaker...
.... executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
(12 episodes, 2004-2006) - Mike White .... executive producer (12 episodes, 2004-2006)
- Chris WeitzChris WeitzChristopher John "Chris" Weitz is an American producer, writer, director and actor. He is best known for his work with his brother, Paul Weitz, on the comedy films American Pie and About a Boy, as well as directing the film adaptation of the novel The Golden Compass and the film adaptation of New...
.... executive producer (9 episodes, 2004) - Dana Baratta .... supervising producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
- Brad GreyBrad GreyBrad Alan Grey is the Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a position he has held since 2005. Under Grey’s leadership, Paramount has finished No.2 in market share in 2008, 2009 and 2010 despite releasing significantly fewer films than its competitors.Since arriving at Paramount in 2005,...
.... executive producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006) - Kim Hamberg .... associate producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
- James C. Hart .... producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
- David Hemingson .... co-executive producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
- Alan J. HigginsAlan J. HigginsAlan J. Higgins is an American television producer. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and is the brother of actor David Anthony Higgins and Saturday Night Live assistant producer/Late Night with Jimmy Fallon announcer Steve Higgins...
.... co-executive producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006) - Phil Lord .... consulting producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
- Christopher Miller .... consulting producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006)
- Peter TraugottPeter TraugottPeter Scott Traugott is an American television producer who is currently the President of Television at Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.-Career:...
.... executive producer (2 episodes, 2004-2006) - Denis Biggs .... producer (unknown episodes)
- Gregg Glickman .... associate producer (unknown episodes)
- Danielle Weinstock .... co-producer