"Taxi" (1978) TV series 1978-1983

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Creators:

James L. Brooks
Stan Daniels
David Davis
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

12 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The staff of a New York City taxicab company go about their job while they dream of greater things.

Plot Keywords:

New York | New York City | City | Taxi | Taxicab

Awards:

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 21 wins & 45 nominations

Cast

Judd Hirsch	...	Alex Reiger (114 episodes, 1978-1983)
Danny DeVito	...	Louie De Palma (114 episodes, 1978-1983)
Marilu Henner	...	Elaine O'Connor-Nardo (114 episodes, 1978-1983)
Tony Danza	...	Tony Banta (114 episodes, 1978-1983)
J. Alan Thomas	...	Jeff Bennett (114 episodes, 1978-1983)
Christopher Lloyd	...	Reverend Jim Ignatowski (84 episodes, 1978-1983)
Andy Kaufman	...	Latka Gravas / ... (79 episodes, 1978-1983)
Jeff Conaway	...	Bobby Wheeler (50 episodes, 1978-1982)

(more)

Series Directed by
James Burrows		(75 episodes, 1978-1982)
Noam Pitlik		(11 episodes, 1981-1983)
Michael Zinberg		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Richard Sakai		(4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael Lessac		(3 episodes, 1981-1982)
Danny DeVito		(3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Howard Storm		(2 episodes, 1981)
Stan Daniels		(2 episodes, 1982)
Harvey Miller		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
James L. Brooks		(111 episodes, 1978-1983)
Stan Daniels		(111 episodes, 1978-1983)
Ed. Weinberger		(111 episodes, 1978-1983)
David Davis		(109 episodes, 1978-1983)
Ken Estin		(20 episodes, 1979-1983)
Glen Charles		(17 episodes, 1978-1982)
Les Charles		(17 episodes, 1978-1982)
Barry Kemp		(14 episodes, 1978-1981)
Sam Simon		(13 episodes, 1981-1983)
David Lloyd		(12 episodes, 1979-1983)
Howard Gewirtz		(10 episodes, 1979-1982)
Ian Praiser		(10 episodes, 1979-1982)
Earl Pomerantz		(9 episodes, 1978-1981)
Katherine Green		(4 episodes, 1981-1983)
Barton Dean		(3 episodes, 1978-1983)
Michael Leeson		(3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Holly Holmberg Brooks		(3 episodes, 1981-1983)
Danny Kallis		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Dennis Danzinger		(2 episodes, 1981)
Ellen Sandler		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Produced by
James L. Brooks	....	executive producer (109 episodes, 1978-1983)
Stan Daniels	....	executive producer (109 episodes, 1978-1983)
Ed. Weinberger	....	executive producer (109 episodes, 1978-1983)
Richard Sakai	....	associate producer / producer / ... (87 episodes, 1979-1983)
Glen Charles	....	producer (62 episodes, 1978-1982)
Les Charles	....	producer (62 episodes, 1978-1982)
Ken Estin	....	producer (43 episodes, 1981-1983)
Cary Matsumura	....	associate producer (24 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sam Simon	....	producer (24 episodes, 1982-1983)
Budd Cherry	....	associate producer (20 episodes, 1978-1979)
David Davis	....	executive producer (20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Greg Nierman	....	associate producer (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Howard Gewirtz	....	producer (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ian Praiser	....	producer (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Robin Green	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Bob James		(106 episodes, 1978-1983)

Series Cinematography by
Kenneth Peach		(59 episodes, 1980-1983)
Edward E. Nugent		(44 episodes, 1978-1980)
Kenneth Peach Jr.		(4 episodes, 1981)
Sol Negrin		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
M. Pam Blumenthal		(105 episodes, 1978-1983)
Jack Michon		(14 episodes, 1980-1981)
Steve Shultz		(14 episodes, 1982-1983)
Andrew Chulack		(12 episodes, 1981)
Roger Tweten		(11 episodes, 1982-1983)
Bernard Balmuth		(9 episodes, 1982)
Douglas Hines		(7 episodes, 1981)

Series Casting by
Susan Arnold		(24 episodes, 1979-1980)
Vicki Rosenberg		(22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Joan Sittenfield		(21 episodes, 1980-1981)
Rhonda Young		(20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jennifer Jackson Part		(20 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Production Design by
Ed LaPorta		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Ed LaPorta		(22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Kenneth A. Reid		(21 episodes, 1980-1981)
Tom H. John		(20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Tommy Goetz		(20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Lynn Griffin		(14 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mary Dodson		(10 episodes, 1979)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles E. Tycer		(38 episodes, 1981-1983)
Fred S. Winston		(32 episodes, 1979-1982)
Joseph A. Armetta		(20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Sharon Thomas		(10 episodes, 1980-1981)
Steven Potter		(6 episodes, 1979)

Series Costume Design by
Ralph T. Schlain		(1 episode, 1979)

Series Makeup Department
Jerry Cash	....	makeup artist (58 episodes, 1978-1981)
Charlotte Harvey	....	hair stylist (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Charlene Roberson	....	makeup artist (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Larry Abbott	....	makeup artist (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ray Sebastian	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Management
Gregg Peters	....	unit production manager (85 episodes, 1978-1982)
Ronald E. Frazier	....	executive in charge of production (59 episodes, 1979-1982)
Michael Stanislavsky	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Stanislavsky	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (71 episodes, 1978-1983)
Carlo U. Quinterio	....	second assistant director (43 episodes, 1979-1981)
Stewart Lyons	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (29 episodes, 1978-1980)
Susan Norton	....	second assistant director (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Gregg Peters	....	assistant director (20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Lorraine Raglin	....	second assistant director (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Jack Clements	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Art Department
David L. Snyder	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James R. Wright	....	production sound mixer (107 episodes, 1978-1983)
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer (4 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Stunts
Lee Pulford	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1978)
Bobby Bass	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1982)
Tony Danza	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1982)
Gene LeBell	....	assistant stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Cliff Concialdi	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Michael Hofstein	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Joel Thurm	....	original casting (106 episodes, 1978-1983)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ralph T. Schlain	....	costumer / wardrobe (83 episodes, 1978-1982)
Sharon Day	....	costumer: Marilu Henner (22 episodes, 1979-1980)
Annette Gagnon	....	costumer (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Rudy Garcia	....	wardrobe: men (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Dolores Murray	....	costumer: women (8 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Music Department
Bob James	....	composer: song "Angela" (1 episode, 1982)

Series Other crew
James L. Brooks	....	executive consultant / executive creative consultant (107 episodes, 1978-1983)
Gil Clasen	....	technical coordinator (106 episodes, 1978-1983)
David Davis	....	title visualization / executive consultant (86 episodes, 1979-1983)
David Lloyd	....	executive script consultant / executive story editor (71 episodes, 1979-1983)
Donna Wheeler	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (65 episodes, 1978-1981)
Robin Chambers	....	talent coordinator / assistant: Mr. Daniels (64 episodes, 1978-1981)
Barbara Duncan	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels / talent coordinator (63 episodes, 1980-1983)
Mark Harrah	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (63 episodes, 1980-1983)
Rosemary Dorsey	....	script supervisor (62 episodes, 1978-1983)
Judi Brown	....	script supervisor (45 episodes, 1979-1981)
Ken Estin	....	program consultant / story editor (45 episodes, 1979-1981)
Sandra Lovelace	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (44 episodes, 1980-1983)
Barry Kemp	....	executive script consultant (42 episodes, 1979-1981)
Cathy Clark	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (40 episodes, 1979-1982)
Elizabeth Hill	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (32 episodes, 1979-1981)
Dixie Reinhardt	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (24 episodes, 1979-1980)
H. Adele Woodson	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (24 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ronald E. Frazier	....	production executive (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Kimberly Allen	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sharon Feldstein	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Katherine Green	....	story editor / executive story editor (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sue Herring	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Patricia S. Marino	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels / assistant: Cary Matsumura (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tommy Goetz	....	consultant (21 episodes, 1980-1981)
Jay Kleckner	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (21 episodes, 1980-1981)
Richard Sakai	....	assistant: Mr. Cherry / assistant: Mr. Daniels (20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Catherine Tessier	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (20 episodes, 1978-1979)
Greg Nierman	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (20 episodes, 1980-1981)
Nat Bernstein	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Glen Charles	....	executive consultant (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Les Charles	....	executive consultant (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Leslie Maier	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Lynne Nessel	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Sam Simon	....	executive story editor (20 episodes, 1981-1982)
Matthew Carlson	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels / assistant: Mr Daniels (19 episodes, 1979-1980)
Andrea Davis	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (17 episodes, 1978-1979)
Larry Foster	....	assistant: Mr. Cherry / assistant: Mr. Daniels (17 episodes, 1978-1979)
Lea Goldbaum	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (17 episodes, 1978-1979)
Howard Gewirtz	....	story editor (17 episodes, 1979-1980)
Charlotte Gray	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (17 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael Griffith	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (16 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ian Praiser	....	story editor (15 episodes, 1979-1980)
Shawn Goodman	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
James Wright	....	production executive (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Harvey Miller	....	executive consultant (12 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robin James	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (7 episodes, 1980-1981)
Cary Matsumura	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (7 episodes, 1981)
Chris Painter	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (7 episodes, 1982)
Robin Green	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels / executive assistant: Richard Sakai (6 episodes, 1982)
Tina Levine	....	assistant: Mr. Daniels (6 episodes, 1982)
Edward Neumeier	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• John-Charles-Walters Productions
• Paramount Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978-1982) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• TV.München (1995-1996) (Germany) (TV)
• Veronica Omroep Organisatie (1979-198?) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (1980) (West Germany) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min (115 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:PG (season 1) | USA:TV-PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Dover Garage - 534 Hudson Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

John-Charles-Walters Productions

Trivia:

The theme song's full title was "Angela (Theme from 'Taxi')", was written/performed by Bob James and was from his 1978 album "Touchdown". The title track "Touchdown" was the song Bob had actually written for the theme, but Taxi's producers liked the short cue Bob had written/recorded for one brief scene with Alex (Judd Hirsch) and a young woman, Angela, and used that instead.

Quotes:

"Reverend" Jim Ignatowski: If you find yourself in a confusing situation, simply laugh knowingly and walk away.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America: Would Ya Hit a Guy with Glasses?: Nerds, Jerks & Oddballs (#1.1)" (2009)

Greatest Sit-Com

Taxi was, and still is, the greatest sit-com I've ever seen. The Louie DePalma, Iggy and Rieger characters were simply magnificent creations. I would laugh until I cried while watching this show. It's still funny today in re-runs. Louie's "affair" with Emily (which was revived in a later episode) is particularly hilarious. Iggy playing piano at a black-tie

gala (as Elaine's "date" for the evening) is both amusing and heart-warming. The scripts were excellent as they blended wry, sarcastic humor with some degree of pathos in each episode. This show succeeded at a time when there was no "political correctness" to erode its rough edges. It's very doubtful one of the three major networks would create and air a show like this in today's more conservative climate.