TAXI turns 40 years old

One of my favorite shows, “Taxi,” debuted 40 years ago today (September 12, 1978).  The show won numerous Emmys during its 5-season run, launched several stars (Judd Hirsch, Tony Danza, Marilu Henner, Christopher Lloyd, Carol Kane, Danny DeVito) and had high ratings for seasons 1 and 2… then it got moved to a new time slot, ratings plunged, and it was canceled by ABC after season 4.  But that fall, the show was given a new lease on life at NBC, running on Thursday nights between “Cheers” and “Hill Street Blues” (billed as “The Best Night of TV on TV” in promos).  Sadly, by the spring of 1983, “Cheers” ranked 75th and “Taxi” was 73rd.  The former got renewed for a second season, but “Taxi” was dead.  Which is too bad… “Cheers” jumped in the ratings over the summer of ’83 and during season 2, ratings continued to climb.  In the fall of 1984, the Thursday night lineup added “The Cosby Show,” and ratings went through the roof.  If “Taxi” had hung on just two more years, it would have been a ratings powerhouse again... and it’s weird that this article from The Hollywood Reporter doesn’t mention that.
And here is the SNL monologue that is mentioned in the HR article, when the cast took what turned out to be premature curtain calls for the series.