When “Friends” debuted in 1994, it quickly became a massive hit and would go on to become one of the best sitcoms of the ’90s. Of course, that meant that every network immediately wanted to have a “Friends” of their own, so many knock-offs started flooding the airwaves. Most of these shows came and went without much fanfare, but one of them was a surprising misfire considering the cast and its lead: ’80s movie icon Molly Ringwald.
“Townies” was Ringwald’s second attempt at sitcom stardom, following her brief time on “The Facts of Life.” “Townies” was set in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and followed a group of friends who deal with work, relationships and navigating life in the ’90s. Whereas “Friends” took place in New York, “Townies” was all about getting out of their small town and trying to move to the big city.
The show was a flop with critics, who panned it for its low-brow writing and unimaginative plotlines. Ratings-wise, it couldn’t keep pace with the glut of other sitcoms on the air, failing to break into the top 50 programs. So, after airing just 10 out of the 15 episodes that were filmed, ABC decided to pull the plug and ultimately cancel the sitcom altogether. Looking back, however, it’s hard to believe this show failed considering who they surrounded Molly Ringwald with.
The cast of Townies was loaded with future stars
To say the cast of “Townies” was littered with stars would be an understatement. The entire main cast either already had success or was destined for greatness. The star of the show was, of course, Molly Ringwald, who had already become an ’80s movie darling. She was definitely the biggest name attached to the project at the time, but there was plenty of talent around her. The other two female leads were Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham. One year after “Townies” was canceled, Elfman found sitcom success with “Dharma and Greg.” Graham was a relative unknown at the time, but just four years later, broke through as Lorelai on “The Gilmore Girls,” which is getting its own documentary that Graham will take part in.
The men also had bright futures post-“Townies.” While the world wasn’t familiar with Ron Livingston at the time, three years after the show went off the air, he would star in “Office Space,” which has achieved cult status over the years. Bill Burr, meanwhile, was a Boston-area comic at the time who hadn’t yet become the well-known stand-up comedian/actor that we know today. Even the supporting cast had star power. The owner of the diner where most of the action took place was played by Conchata Ferrell, who already had a long-established television career. Seven years after “Townies,” she’d land the role of her lifetime as Berta on “Two and a Half Men.”