In
1989 Fox introduced a show that until that time was untried:
A soap opera format program
based on teenagers. It was to center
on the lives of a group
of high school students that came from
families of upper, middle,
and lower class standing in the community.
Greg Watkins was cast
as Billy Pressfeild, the eldest son of a
successful, upper class,
automobile dealership owner. Billy, a senior,
liked cars, sports and
girls, not necessarily in that order. He was
popular and had few troubles,
but perhaps his biggest challenge was
dealing with his father's
remarrying so soon after his mother's death.
What made matters worse
was the fact that his new "mom" was but
a few years older than
himself.
Tribes was aired in seven
large test-market cities, but was canceled by
Fox executives mid way
through it's second season after having taped
just over one hundred
episodes. Shortly thereafter, Beverly Hills
90210 was introduced
and started what was to become a growing
wave of programming geared
towards teenagers.
|