Buffalo Bill
1983 - 1984
A behind-the-scenes look at the daily grind of cantankerous local talk show host, "Buffalo" Bill Bittinger, and his beleaguered staff in Buffalo, New York.
- Stars: Dabney Coleman, Joanna Cassidy, Max Wright, John Fiedler, Geena Davis, Meshach Taylor, Charles Robinson
- Created by: Tom Patchett, Jay Tarses
- Tags: workplace
Where to Watch :
Episode Tropes
Season 1
- The Piano Movers: Episode 3, "Woody Quits" (1983). After Woody quits, Newdell takes over temporarily as stage manager, and because he doesn't know about the special wide door just for this explicit purpose, he tries to bring a piano in through the regular stage door, and it gets stuck.
- Going Co-op: Episode 3, "Woody Quits" (1983). After Bill berates him, Woody quits and shows up at Bill's door to announce that he owns Bill's apartment building, and it's going co-op, so he has to buy his apartment or leave.
- Centerfold: Episode 6, "Wilkinson's Sword" (1983). A reporter photographs the whole staff of the show for a magazine article at the exact moment Karl tells everyone the show has been canceled.
- Unwanted Surprise Party: Episode 11, "The Fan" (1983). It's Bill's birthday, and the staff is planning a surprise party for him, which they know he'll hate. To their surprise, he leaves the studio right after the show and has Woody deliver a message to everyone that he's not coming to the party.
- You are Not the Father: Episode 11, "The Fan" (1983). An obsessed fan claims she's having Bill's baby, and she threatens to kill him and herself if he doesn't marry her.
- Stalker: Episode 11, "The Fan" (1983). An obsessed fan constantly calls Bill's apartment and won't leave him alone.
- The Shrine: Episode 11, "The Fan" (1983). Bill's stalker has a shrine to him on the wall above her TV, which includes photographs and newspaper clippings.
Season 2
- Here's Johnny!: Episode 2, "Jerry Lewis Week" (1984). Karl is fed up with Bill not listening to him, so he steals a promotional stuffed bear that Bill has been using to get free car service and hides it in his office. When Karl refuses to return the bear, Bill grabs an emergency fire axe, chops a hole in the door to Karl's office, pokes his head in and says, "Heeeeere's Billy!"
- Big Mouth: Episode 3, "The Interview" (1984). A TV reporter interviews members of the staff about Bill, clearly digging for dirt, and they all slip up and say disparaging things about him.
- Beauty Pageant: Episode 7, "Miss WBFL" (1984). The station is holding a beauty pageant with Bill emceeing, and Bill doesn't think any of the contestants are pretty enough, so he convinces Wendy to enter, but Wendy has second thoughts when Jojo asks her to sign a petition against the pageant. Meanwhile, when one of the other contestants drops out, Bill's daughter, Melanie, takes her place.
- Home Sweet Office: Episode 9, "The Girl on the Jetty" (1984). When Karl's wife kicks him out, he spends the night in his office and uses the shower in Bill's dressing room, upsetting Woody considerably.
Character Tropes
- Unseen Character: Mr. Wilkinson - Played by ?