1990: 'The Famous Teddy Z' Fizzles on CBS
On this day in 1990, CBS aired the final episode of The Famous Teddy Z.
The series starred Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer as a mail clerk in a Hollywood talent agency who catapaulted to a wunderkind position within the agency, thanks to a chance encounter with the agency's biggest star.
Co-stars included Alex Rocco, who played Al Floss, a veteran agent unhappy with Teddy's meteoric rise. Rocco — perhaps best known as Jo's father for seven seasons on The Facts of Life — won a 1990 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on Teddy Z.
The Famous Teddy Z was inspired by the real-life story of Jay Kantor, a mail clerk at MCA who, in 1947, was sent to pick up Marlon Brando at the airport and, during the ride back to the agency offices, impressed Brando so much the actor requested him as his agent.
CBS wasn't so impressed with the show, which was pulled from the network's prime-time schedule with five episodes yet to air.