"Titus" (2000) TV series 2000-2002

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Creators:

Brian Hargrove
Jack Kenny
Christopher Titus
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

20 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A mechanic, Christopher Titus, along with his brother and his friends, try to deal with his father, a lewd, crude, drinking multiple divorcee.

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Dysfunctional | Mechanic | White Trash | Drugs

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Christopher Titus	...	Christopher Titus / ... (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Cynthia Watros	...	Erin Fitzpatrick / ... (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Zack Ward	...	Dave Scouvel (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
David Shatraw	...	Tommy Shafter (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Stacy Keach	...	Ken Titus / ... (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Dylan Capannelli	...	5-Year-Old Titus / ... (32 episodes, 2000-2002)
Phoenix Forsyth	...	10-Year-Old Titus (24 episodes, 2000-2001)

(more)

Series Directed by
Gary Shimokawa		(8 episodes, 2001-2002)
Jack Kenny		(7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Brian Hargrove		(6 episodes, 2000-2002)
Joe Regalbuto		(6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Robert Berlinger		(5 episodes, 2000-2001)
Kevin Charles Sullivan		(4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jeffrey Melman		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
John Amodeo		(2 episodes, 2001-2002)
Bill Shea		(2 episodes, 2002)

Series Writing credits
Christopher Titus		(31 episodes, 2000-2002)
Brian Hargrove		(30 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jack Kenny		(30 episodes, 2000-2002)
John R. Morey		(12 episodes, 2000-2002)
Patrick Meighan		(11 episodes, 2000-2002)
Robert Hawkins		(9 episodes, 2000-2002)
Sally Lapiduss		(5 episodes, 2000-2001)
Christopher Case		(4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jennifer Fisher		(4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jim Hope		(4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jacqueline Davis		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Chris Sheridan		(3 episodes, 2001-2002)
David L. Moses		(2 episodes, 2001-2002)
Matt Ember		(2 episodes, 2002)
Nancy Steen		(2 episodes, 2002)
Shawn Thomas		(2 episodes, 2002)

Series Produced by
Brian Hargrove	....	executive producer (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jack Kenny	....	executive producer (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Christopher Titus	....	executive producer (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
John Amodeo	....	supervising producer / co-executive producer (46 episodes, 2000-2002)
Sally Lapiduss	....	co-executive producer (30 episodes, 2000-2002)
Randy Wespiser	....	associate producer (30 episodes, 2000-2002)
Chris Sheridan	....	supervising producer / producer (26 episodes, 2000-2002)
Christopher Case	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (25 episodes, 2000-2002)
Michael Hanel	....	executive producer (25 episodes, 2000-2002)
Mindy Schultheis	....	executive producer (25 episodes, 2000-2002)
Matt Ember	....	consulting producer (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Jennifer Fisher	....	co-producer (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
David Hartle	....	associate producer (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Jim Hope	....	co-producer (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Nancy Steen	....	consulting producer (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Kelly Lee	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 2000-2002)
Adam Belanoff	....	co-executive producer (6 episodes, 2000)
Faye Oshima Belyeu	....	producer (4 episodes, 2000)

Series Original Music by
Christopher Titus		(54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Victor Guardia		(21 episodes, 2000-2002)
Brian Hargrove		(21 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jack Kenny		(21 episodes, 2000-2002)
Tom Rizzo		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Bobby Byrne		(27 episodes, 2000-2002)

Series Film Editing by
Kris Trexler		(29 episodes, 2000-2002)

Series Casting by
Suzanne Goddard-Smythe		(54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Sheila Guthrie		(54 episodes, 2000-2002)

Series Production Design by
Steve Olson		(20 episodes, 2000-2002)
Roy Christopher		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
William V. Ryder		(1 episode, 2002)

Series Set Decoration by
Richard C. Walker		(26 episodes, 2000-2002)

Series Costume Design by
Cliff Chally		(12 episodes, 2000-2002)
Bonnie Nipar		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Makeup Department
Roxanne Baker-Sarver	....	hair stylist (17 episodes, 2000-2002)
Vikki McCarter	....	makeup artist (17 episodes, 2000-2002)
Christa Reusch	....	makeup artist (17 episodes, 2000-2002)
Laurie Heaps	....	hair stylist (9 episodes, 2001-2002)
Karen Bartek	....	hair stylist (5 episodes, 2000-2001)
Christina Raye	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 2000)
Clinton Wayne	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
John Amodeo	....	unit production manager (46 episodes, 2000-2002)
Kim Sherwood	....	production supervisor (43 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ralph Paredes	....	post production supervisor (24 episodes, 2000-2002)
Faye Oshima Belyeu	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 2000)
J.P. Shields	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dana Jackson	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (28 episodes, 2000-2002)
Bill Shea	....	first assistant director (27 episodes, 2000-2002)
Michael Shea	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 2000-2002)
Velvet Andrews-Smith	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes, 1999)

Series Art Department
D.A. Zingelewicz	....	painter (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Larry J. White II	....	lead man / leadman (44 episodes, 2000-2002)
Beth Sheldon	....	property master (13 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ron Jancula	....	property master (7 episodes, 2001-2002)
Fritz Ebner	....	props (3 episodes, 2000)
Paul Arthur Hartman	....	lead man (unknown episodes, 2001-2002)
Sam Dean	....	propmaker (unknown episodes)
Josh Hadley	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Leslie Lawson	....	stand-by painter (unknown episodes)
John S. Ogden	....	propmaker (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Tamara Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording / ... (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Patrick Grandclaudon	....	sound designer / sound editor (53 episodes, 2000-2002)
Bob La Masney	....	re-recording / sound re-recordist (23 episodes, 2000-2002)
Bruce Arledge Jr.	....	production sound / production sound mixer (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Klaus Landsberg	....	production sound (4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Russ Gary	....	production sound / production sound mixer (2 episodes, 2000)
Boyd Wheeler	....	re-recording (2 episodes, 2002)

Series Special Effects by
Ron Petruccione	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Adam Howard	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Brian Simpson	....	stunts (1 episode, 2001)
Shauna Duggins	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2002)
Mitch Gould	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Emiliano Novelli	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Michael J. Sarna	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Paul E. Short	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Tim Bellen	....	Steadicam operator / camera operator (43 episodes, 2000-2002)
Tony Varuola	....	best boy electric (33 episodes, 2000-2001)
Bill Sordal	....	key grip (9 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ken Spencer	....	gaffer (9 episodes, 2000-2002)
Steve Bellen	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Jim Chizmar	....	grip (unknown episodes)
James M. Chizmar Jr.	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Dale Hunter	....	high definition video engineer (unknown episodes)
Raffaele Massa	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)
Henry Minski	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Greg G. Reeves	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Tom Wholey	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Dana Olson	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marie H. Burk	....	costume supervisor (13 episodes, 2000-2002)
Brandt Huseby	....	key costumer / costumer (9 episodes, 2000)

Series Editorial Department
Richard Garibaldi	....	final colorist (23 episodes, 2000-2001)
Christopher Hyssong	....	post-production assistant (9 episodes, 2001)
Ralph Paredes	....	post-production coordinator (3 episodes, 2000)

Series Transportation Department
Bruce Comtois	....	driver (14 episodes, 2000-2001)
Mike Paventi	....	transportation coordinator (8 episodes, 2000-2002)

Series Other crew
Eva Charney	....	dialogue coach (54 episodes, 2000-2002)
Shawn Thomas	....	assistant: writer / production staff (53 episodes, 2000-2002)
Susie Gunter	....	script supervisor (36 episodes, 2000-2002)
K. Scott Dunn	....	production coordinator / production assistant (27 episodes, 2000-2002)
Chip Foose	....	consultant: Hot Rod (27 episodes, 2000-2002)
Caroline McLaglen	....	production staff (26 episodes, 2000-2002)
Kevin Charles Sullivan	....	technical coordinator / associate director (26 episodes, 2000-2002)
Michael Eidam	....	assistant to writer / production staff (25 episodes, 2000-2002)
Tommy Primeau	....	production staff (25 episodes, 2000-2002)
Gavin Dunne	....	production staff (23 episodes, 2000-2002)
Christopher Hyssong	....	assistant production coordinator / production staff (23 episodes, 2000-2002)
Stacy Polifka	....	production staff (23 episodes, 2000-2002)
Patrick Meighan	....	story editor / production staff (22 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jeff Hodsden	....	production staff (22 episodes, 2001-2002)
David L. Moses	....	production staff (22 episodes, 2001-2002)
John R. Morey	....	story editor / production staff (21 episodes, 2000-2002)
Debbie Cleaver	....	production staff (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Joseph Conway	....	production staff (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Juan Gavarette	....	production staff (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Robert Hawkins	....	story editor (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
David Metrick	....	production staff (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Lenn K. Rosenfeld	....	production staff (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Mary Stewart	....	assistant: Christopher Titus (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Kate Tamalonis	....	production staff (19 episodes, 2001-2002)
Angela Hamilton	....	production coordinator (9 episodes, 2000)
Jennifer Fisher	....	executive story editor / story editor (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Jim Hope	....	executive story editor (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Garfield Whitman	....	assistant: Christopher Titus / production staff / ... (7 episodes, 2000-2002)
Eric Fieland	....	production staff (4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Ritch Shydner	....	executive story editor (3 episodes, 2000)
Mike Paventi	....	technical coordinator (2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Nick Pavonetti	....	production staff (2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Joe Black	....	production staff (2 episodes, 2000)
Kim Sherwood	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 2000)
Erin Titus	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2000)
Esther Himbaugh	....	script supervisor / technical coordinator (2 episodes, 2001-2002)
Steve M. Miliotti	....	craft service (unknown episodes)
Emily Rice	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Kelly Wold	....	assistant: Stacy Keach (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television

Distributors

• Fox Network
• Fox (????) (Japan) (TV)

Other Companies

• Bryant & Johnsen  main title sequence
• CBS Studio Center  filmed at
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (54 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

'Stacey Keach' was so convincing as Christopher Titus' angry father that Christopher admitted in interviews that he was often physically intimidated by him during filming.

Quotes:

Christopher Titus: Everyone's a racist. It's the one thing that makes us all the same.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding (2004) (TV)

A Ground-breaking high wire act between tragedy and comedy - the best and most unique sitcom since "Seinfeld"

Network: FOX; Genre: Sitcom, Dysfunctional Family Sitcom; Content Rating: TV-14 (for language, violence, nudity, strong sexual content, crude humor & dark, adult content); Available: DVD; Classification: Modern Classic (Star range: 1 - 5);

Season Reviewed: Complete Series (3 seasons)

If the sitcom is dying, nobody told Christopher Titus. "Titus" is the spiky-haired comedian's 1-man show, "Norman Rockwell is Bleeding", translated into a 1-set, multi-camera, studio audience sitcom. More than that, "Titus" is a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. It rocks the audience and the genre, breaking rules left and right and turns the mold of the sitcom inside-out in the process.

Like "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Titus" is a post-modern dysfunctional family sitcom in which what may have been the children of television dysfunctional families 2 decades ago ("The Simpsons", "Rosanne", "Married… with Children") have now grown up and are trying to make their own way - unable to shake their parents and upbringing. "Titus" is the autobiographical life story of it's namesake lead who grew up with a drunken, abusive father (Stacy Keach) and a deranged schizophrenic mother (played by a different actress in each season). To help and hinder him along the way are his borderline retarded half-brother Dave (Zack Ward), his effeminate best friend and the show's "normal" character Tommy (David Shatraw) and the grounding support of his fiancé Erin (Cynthia Watros). Most sitcoms pair an average guy with a hot babe without explanation. On "Titus" there is one, but I wouldn't dare spoil it.

Titus breaks the 4th wall and narrates these stories from a bare room furnished only with a wooden chair and overhead light bulb - these scenes filmed in raw black & white. This "neutral space" serves as a metaphorical playground of the mind, representing sitcom Titus' thoughts and self-perceptions. In the tour de force episode "The Breakup" (that will no doubt separate the drive-by sitcom viewer from the show's hardcore target audience) Titus gets into a fight with Erin to sabotage his own happiness and "neutral space" Titus becomes a boxer. When his parents appear to reconcile, his inner child comes out and "neutral space" Titus literally regresses to 5-year-old Titus.

Not to insinuate that "Titus" with it's occasional moralizing and fascinating abundance of psycho-babble is anything really sophisticated. Actually, the show is stupid humor at its funniest. It is fast, shameless and brazen in it's stupidity. There aren't many places where you will see people thrown through plate glass windows or getting hit in the face with a rake handle (twice!) for a laugh, but "Titus" is goofy enough to go there. Sometimes I laugh in spite of myself, sometimes the gags flop on the floor and inspire a cringing wince. But the show is at such a constant fever pitch that duds are quickly lost in the avalanche of lunacy that is heaped into the lap of the audience. Amid the insanity, the scripts are spiked with an acerbic wit.

The skill and chemistry of the cast sell the show in it's more childish moments. Christopher Titus is new to the game and at times it shows, but he bounds around with endless energy, delivers a fresh voice to the TV landscape and displays a rarely seen naked honesty that fills the lead role of this televised therapy session just fine. Shatraw has an impressive skill for physical comedy, throwing his body around in a way that many actors now wouldn't have the guts too. Watros is sublime and gives the show it's biggest anchor of credibility. Keach, of course, is an absolute joy. Ken Titus is an instantly classic character. Watch him liven up any scene with just a look. Everyone here is in pitch perfect harmony with the tone and vision of the show. They all come to the project with a single-minded determination and belief in what they are doing. The show has the look and feel of a play with all the players doing a dance. They are excellent.

The show also pioneers a style of comedy you never see on TV: the cathartic laugh. The story lines herein are made up of such traditionally audience repelling topics as spousal abuse, child molestation, alcoholism, murder, suicide and post-9/11 airline fears. In finding humor in what is essentially a tragic story, it seems that creators Christopher Titus, Brian Hargrove and Jack Kenny have crafted an entire series out the "Very Special Episodes" that would grind any other sitcom to a melodramatic halt. Uncomfortable tension broke with fits of laughter. In the wrong hands, this type of material could easily be a disaster but Titus and Kenny hone the show with expert precision. They do a brilliant thing by wrapping this edgy too-hot-for-Fox material in a stupid-funny sitcom wrapper, giving the audience a tangible chaser to help swallow it all down. Many times a "Titus" episode would end on a note that glued me to the couch in silence for a few minutes, both out of shock at what I'd seen and out of pride and admiration for how well they where able to pull off this high-wire act.

"Titus" had a high hit-and-miss ratio. Dave's ability to get a dog to drink milk from his mouth ranks as a low (or high) point. But warts and all it is the soul vision of it's creator - and how unique is that? It was a NASCAR series before NASCAR fans became a political voting block. It is a serrate look at modern America that took the gloves off and left marks. It is the dysfunctional family sitcom updated and on steroids. "Titus" wasn't quite perfect, but it pushed the limits of the sitcom further than anyone has before. Based on Fox's cowardly reaction we will not likely see something like it any time soon.

* * * * ½ / 5